Closing her front door Regina made her way into the kitchen, still full, from Grannies grilled chicken she took her plate of wilting salad from the fridge and scraped it into the bin knowing that it wouldn't be any good for the next day. She felt drained, a part of her would be glad when she had gotten through all the newbies and she wouldn't have to conduct anymore of these interviews, she would just have to find other ways to distract herself from Robin, because listening to all these peoples stories was hard and it was beginning to weigh heavy on her.

Stepping into the hot shower she let out a sigh, enjoying how the powerful water felt as it hit her body. She was so tired that she wanted to fall straight into bed afterwards, but she knew that Emma would be dropping Henry off very soon, so after casting a longing look at her bed she made her way downstairs to wait for them.

Eager for something to do while she waited Regina got out a couple of mugs and began heating up some milk in a saucepan to make Henry and Emma hot chocolate, she had just finished adding the cinnamon they both loved so much, a taste they seemed to have acquired from Snow White when she heard the front opening, the sound of giggling met her ears as the front door closed again.

She smiled to herself pleased that Henry was having fun with his other mom. "Hey mom" he called out "In the kitchen" Regina replied, seconds later Henry appeared smiling in the doorway an air of excitement about him, Emma hung back a little behind him "did you have a nice time" Regina asked her arms open to receive her son "I sure did" he replied enthusiastically, stepping into his mother's embrace and giving her a squeeze,

"why don't you tell me all about it while you drink your cocoa" Regina said gesturing to the full mugs waiting on the kitchen island, "you too Emma" she said gesturing for the woman still hovering in the door way looking unsure as to whether she should come in or not, to sit next to their son.

Taking the seat next to Henry, Emma thanked Regina and took a sip of her drink, she groaned a little as the delicious combination of chocolate and cinnamon hit her tongue "Wow this is amazing" she exclaimed in delight "you're welcome Regina said raising an eyebrow slightly, amused by the younger woman's reaction.

Regina began to wash the dishes while she listened to her son excitedly gabble on about the things he had be doing with Emma and Killian, she raised her eyebrow again as he recounted some of the stories that Killian had been telling him about his past adventures, but she remained silent, watching as the colour rose in Emma's face and she squirmed trying to anticipate how Regina might react.

The stories weren't too outrageous the pirate just seemed to get a bit carried away when reliving his glory days. Once upon a time Regina wouldn't have let any chance to berate Emma pass her by, and this would have proved to be a perfect opportunity for her to do just that, thankfully those days of pettiness were behind them, although judging by Emma's current behaviour she still wasn't entirely secure in her belief that they were, at least not when it came to Henry, sometimes when it came to him she still looked like she was half expecting Regina to scold her.

Extending a reassuring smile in Emma's direction, Regina watched as the blonde visibly relaxed and took another sip of her cocoa while Henry continued to talk. Henry finally fell silent as he finished his drink, then yawning he dropped his empty mug into the sink of bubbly water kissed Regina on the cheek, hugged Emma goodbye and ran upstairs to have his shower before bed leaving Emma and Regina alone in the kitchen.

"How are you doing" Emma asked tentatively "I was worried about you last night "I'm fine thanks Emma" Regina automatically replied "honestly I am" she insisted when Emma gave her a look that said she didn't believe her "ok" Emma conceded, and realising that Regina wasn't ready to talk yet she dropped the subject.

"Well I guess I had better be getting back now, thanks for cocoa, It may have been the best I've ever tasted" now it was Regina's turn to raise an eyebrow in disbelief, "No, I mean it" Emma enthused "It was amazing", "well I'm glad you enjoyed it" Regina replied moving to the front door and holding it open as Emma passed, "goodnight Miss Swan" "night Regina" Emma called back as she strode down the drive towards her yellow bug "see you tomorrow."

Closing the door on Emma, Regina returned to the kitchen where she poured two glasses of ice cold water from the fridge, taking them upstairs with her she popped one on her bedside table and took the other to her sons room, knocking the door gently she waited for Henrys "come in mom" before she opened his door and went into his room, she smiled as she saw him sitting in bed reading by the light of his lamp,

"don't stay up too late sweetheart" she said kissing his head as she popped the glass of water on the coaster next to Henrys lamp, "I won't mom, I promise" he said taking a sip of his water, Regina ruffled his hair affectionately and left the room pulling his door closed behind her.

She got her sleeping tablets from the medicine cabinet in her bathroom and took them with her water, got into bed and waited for sleep to claim her, but for the first time her sleeping tablets seemed to be failing her, sleep just wouldn't come, she tossed and turned trying to get comfortable,

she put a pillow next to her and held it hoping it would bring her some comfort and help her doze off, it had helped in the past but not even that worked this time, the tears were starting to flow now, pain built in her chest, her fingers hovered above the place that she knew her heart lay, but as always she resisted the temptation to remove it for a while.

Instead she sat up and took a t-shirt out of her bedside drawer holding it up to her nose and inhaling the scent on it. It was one of Robins she had found it flung over the back of a chair after he died. She smiled through her tears as she remembered telling him that he was as bad as Henry for throwing his dirty washing anywhere but the wash basket, without really thinking about it she put the t-shirt on the pillow that lay next to her and cuddled into it inhaling Robins scent, not long after that sleep finally claimed her.

She tossed and turned, bolts of lightning flashing through her dreams, she called for Robin like she did every night searching for him to no avail, running through the endless corridors of the town hall, a shrill ringing cut through the air, still she pressed on still searching for Robin, the ringing sounded again, it was louder and seemed closer this time, "Robin" she called out desperately, trying and failing to ignore the annoyingly persistent ringing, spinning on her heel she finally looked towards the source of the ringing fireball in hand.

"Owww" she yelled rubbing her head, stars dancing in front of her eyes as her room slowly came into focus she was sitting on the floor beside her bed having just fallen out of it judging by the pain in the side of her head she had hit it on her beside unit on the way down, but at least the infernal ringing had stopped,

she was just starting to get herself up off the floor when an odd noise drew her attention, glancing around she saw the handset from her phone lying on the carpet a short distance away and realised the noise was someone talking, groaning she picked it up sitting on her bed before raising it to her ear,

"Regina, Regina, are you ok?" Emma asked "Yes" Regina snapped back "and you had better have a very good reason for calling me at…" she glanced at her alarm clock "two thirty in the morning Miss Swan" "Sorry Regina, there was an incident at the town hall, its mostly under control, but we've got a problem at the hospital, I know its late but we could really use your help over here" there was brief silence as Regina considered what Emma had said before she sighed and replied "I'll be right over".

Standing up she dropped the phone back into its cradle before glancing down at her attire and giving her hands a wave, she felt the magic flowing through her as she was engulfed by a swirling cloud of purple smoke which quickly cleared too reveal that she was now wearing a comfortable dark grey pant suit over a black shirt.

With a satisfied nod she padded out of the room and after popping her head around Henry's door smiling as she took in the sight of her sleeping son, she headed down the stairs. Head still smarting from its collision with her unit she took a couple of aspirin and left a note for Henry just in case he woke up whilst she was gone, slipped on her heels and with a flick of wrist disappeared in another cloud of purple smoke promptly reappearing in the waiting room of the hospital startling those still waiting to be seen with her sudden appearance.

Striding over to reception heels click clacking on the hard hospital floors she saw Emma waiting for her looking in completely the wrong direction nervously chewing her lip, "looking for someone" she asked as she drew level with Emma causing the blonde to jump violently, "you're here" Emma squeaked looking a little like a rabbit caught in headlights as she turned to face her, quickly regaining her composure, she cleared her throat and continued "Good, we need your help with a patient."

Brows furrowed in confusion Regina followed the saviour as she continued to explain, "there was a fire at the town hall, but its ok she added hastily, everyone got out, a few have been treated for minor burns and Dr Whale has admitted three so that can be monitored due to smoke inhalation, it's just as a precaution though, from what I can gather Whale isn't overly worried about them, the fire seems to have been started when of the children knocked over a candle, but there was no permanent damage, Zelena's fixed everything and my parents are there helping to settle everyone back in, once he's finished here Archie is going to stop by and offer his services to anyone that might need them before he heads home, which brings me to our patient. Archie's with her now but he hasn't been able to get through to her, she's completely freaked out, won't let anybody near her and she keeps calling out for you"

Regina's furrow deepened, "Me" she asked "yes. that's why I called you, I thought maybe you could get through to her" Emma stopped outside a door reaching out for the handle before turning back to face Regina "Are you ready for this" she asked the mayor, Regina nodded, Emma turned the handle and pushed the door open.

Stepping into the room the brunette slowly looked around taking in her new surroundings, a table had been knocked over its contents strewn across the floor, a nurse sat on one side of the room dressing a wound on Dr Whales hand and Dr Hooper sat in a chair on the opposite side of the room, fingers together under his chin deep in thought.

Regina followed his gaze to the back right hand corner of the room, where a terrified figure was hunched over rocking, repeatedly whispering Regina's name, she was the only one who didn't look up when the two women entered the room, "be careful" Archie cautioned as the mayor edged closer to the terrified woman in the corner "she's armed."

Nodding Regina continued towards the woman hands held out in front of her as she squatted down to her level "It's ok" she soothed the other woman's immediately reacted to the sound of the mayor's voice, her left hand shooting forwards to wrap itself around Regina's right wrist, as terrified blue eyes flew up to meet her concerned brown ones,

"Brianne" Regina exclaimed finally able to recognise the other woman, "Regina" she pleaded frantically "don't let them hurt me, don't let them lock me away, please we have to save Boe" "It's ok" Regina reassured her, realising that waking up in middle of another house fire just hours after reliving the last one in the Mayor's office must have bought that past trauma to the surface causing Brianne to think that she was back there again,

"no one's going to hurt you or lock you away they are here to help" moving in closer Regina put her arm around the frightened woman's shoulders pulling her in close, Brianne released her arm and relaxed into the brunette closing her eyes, Whale now patched up saw an opportunity and slowly moved forward syringe in hand, but Brianne opened her eyes before he got close enough "GET BACK" she yelled waving a pair of scissors at him.

Holding her free hand up to indicate that Whale should stop Regina pulled back enough to look at the woman that she was holding "It's ok, no one is going to hurt you, you don't need those" she soothed moving her hand round and holding it out towards the other woman, somewhat hesitantly Brianne placed the scissors into Regina's out stretched hand, and hiding them down by her side she made them disappear in tiny puff of smoke not wanting to startle the frightened girl next to her.

"Boe" Brianne shuddered tears streaming down her face "shhh, remember you told me how you and Aceso rescued Boe and the two of you ran away together " Regina asked, the younger woman's brow furrowed in confusion "but how" she asked "the fire only just happed" "that was a different fire" the brunette explained, "look around" she urged "this isn't a tent in the enchanted forest, it's a hospital in Storybrooke, the fire that just happened, happened in the town hall where you were staying"

She watched as comprehension slowly dawned on Brianne before the younger woman sagged against her, "now Dr Whale has something to help you rest, you'll feel better after some sleep, will you let him give it to you?" the Mayor asked, the tearful blonde nodded and Regina beckoned Whale forwards, "will you stay with me" Brianne asked her just before the doctor administered the sedative,

"of course I will" she replied and turning to Emma she said "I need you to stay at the mansion tonight, I don't want to have Henry wake up to a, empty house in the morning, I've left him a note just in case he wakes in the night and goes down for water but I expected to be home long before morning" "sure, no problem" Emma replied leaving the room closely followed by Archie.

Brianne's head now lulled on Regina's shoulder her eyes out of focus, between them Whale and the nurse lifted her onto a gurney and wheeled her to a private ward where they moved her over to a bed, and changed her into a hospital gown, and inserted a drip before exiting the room.

Regina who had hung back behind the curtains so as not to encroach on Brianne's privacy moved into the room as soon as the doctor and nurse had left. Settling herself into the chair next to the sleeping woman's bed, the brunette kicked her heels off and tried to make herself comfortable, closing her eyes she thought about the situation she had found herself in, here she was sitting in the hospital with someone who had been a complete stranger before yesterday and she still couldn't shake the feeling that she knew her from somewhere, there was something so familiar about the petite blonde, but try as she might Regina just couldn't place her.

Eyes still closed she tried to empty her mind of thoughts that disturbed it, she listened to the faint buzzing sound that emanated from the bright strip lights that shone brightly above her and the reassuring beeping from the machine that was monitoring Brianne's vitals until exhaustion finally overwhelmed her and she drifted off to sleep.

She didn't know how long she slept but when she woke the room was in shrouded darkness the only sources of light came from the glow of the machine that was still beeping steadily and the moonlight creeping through the gaps in the blind, somebody had turned the strip lights off silencing the buzzing and placed a blanket over her lap. Sparing a final quick glance in a sleeping Brianne's direction Regina snuggled deep into the blanket and fell straight back to sleep.