Break a Leg

“Break a Leg”

I.

How in the hell did we get here? Emma thought to herself, glancing out the back of the ambulance. She tried to focus on the trees whipping past and not on the beautiful woman on the stretcher beside her. 

Of course it had been Snow’s idea. The eternal optimist, her idea had seemed so plausible at the time. Right after she had passed the toast at breakfast she announced that she had invited the Rumples and Regina to a “family” party for Henry’s birthday. Charming and Emma had both simultaneously choked. Charming had recovered quickly but Emma needed several forceful back slaps before she could sputter. “You invited the Rumples and Regina?”

 

               “Nothing can go wrong, Emma.” Snow had insisted, “We all love Henry. It’s the one thing that truly unites us. If we can all come together we can mend this awful divide.” She had looked so puppy-eyed hopeful that Emma had agreed against all her better judgment. But in the back of her mind she knew – you CANNOT put that many nuts into anything and expect not to choke. Especially magic wielding, socially maladjusted nuts….

A low groan pulled her attention back to the stretcher. “Do you want something for pain, Regina?” Emma tried not to look at the grossly swollen ankle that was twisted nastily to the left. “You don’t have to pretend to be all super mayor or anything…that has to hurt.”

                “This is nothing I can’t handle, Mrs. Swan.” Externally her face was calm and impassive around the features, only the slightest widening of the eyes and occasional moan hinted at the fact that internally Regina was screaming and using language that would put a blush on Leroy’s face.

                “Ma’am, we have morphine that can take away the discomfort.” The EMS’s voice was hesitant, obviously torn between backing up the savior and avoiding angering the queen.

                “Are you people deaf?” Regina’s anger had the paramedic backing up to the far side of the ambulance. “I said I was fine. Besides which, I blacked out which indicates a possible head injury and as such narcotics might not be a best idea until a concussion or internal hemorrhage has been ruled out. You people with your fake diplomas…”

                Emma and the EMS stared at her in stunned silence...

Regina straightened and glanced down at the offending appendage. “I’m sure this is nothing but a twisted ankle, nothing that I couldn’t put right myself in a minute.”

                “Why don’t you then?”  Emma’s was incredulous – she hadn’t even thought about it at the time when Regina was unconscious but now… “Wait. Why are we even in this ambulance?”

                Regina’s eyes flashed. “Henry was there and I promised no magic. You know this. I know this is a hard thing for some people to believe,” her voice was biting “but I am trying.”

                “What about Rumple? He can do magic.” Emma immediately turned her to tell the driver to turn around when she felt Regina’s hand grasp her arm.

              “Don’t bother” her eyes dropped, “Rumpleskilskin won’t help.”

                “Why not?” Emma demanded. God she was so sick of the drama. What was wrong with these people?

                Regina stiffed, “I’m sure you are aware of the Belle situation.”

                Emma rolled her eyes and sighed. “Fine. What is the plan then? You realize that your ankle is broken – right? Like so broken that it is probably going to require surgery? If you don’t magic it better you are looking at weeks if not months to fix it.”

                Regina’s hasty glance at her ankle told Emma volumes. One, that Regina hadn’t planned on a broken ankle. Two, that she hadn’t thought about the surgery or the recovery. Emma decided to push the attack. “I understand your promise to Henry but Gold hasn’t promised him anything. And no one wants you to be hurting.”

                “I’m positive my comfort is paramount to the good peoples’ happiness.” Regina scoffed. “I don’t want to discuss this anymore. I’ll wait to see the X-rays”