It's only been a week, woo! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed. Yes, I am supremely evil for leaving the last chapter the way I did. You're about to hate me even more. Sorry. (mostly lol) Feel free to tell me what you think in the comments! ;)

Chapter V: Interlude at Central

While Emma and Killian faced down whatever waited beyond the door on that train, things at Central were undergoing similarly tense and unusual circumstances.

The Fuhrer paced the confines of her office, occasionally glancing at the door or the line of windows on the opposite side, waiting for a sign of things to come. Elsa watched her from one of the plush black armchairs that sat before the large desk. She had been pulled away from training, which Mulan had happily taken control of, to be brought into the office. For what, she didn't know. The Fuhrer had remained tight-lipped on that aspect of the visit, only telling Elsa to sit and make herself comfortable.

She glanced out the window, noting the dying light of the sun. Regular office hours had ended half an hour ago, which meant whatever the Fuhrer had called her in for was officially off the record. They'd observed this protocol before, for emergencies and special situations.

Regina finally stopped pacing, stopping to lean against her desk. She'd shed her the outer coat of her uniform-not an unnatural occurrence in the office-but the rolled up sleeves and loosened necktie were definitely unusual. Elsa was used to seeing the Fuhrer completely put together, composed, not a hair out of place. But tonight, she seemed...harried. And while that in itself was not exactly a strange phenomenon for Regina, she was letting in show, which meant whatever had her so bothered was worth concern.

Elsa glanced at the slim silver watch on her wrist. She hoped whoever they were waiting for would be there soon. She hadn't eaten lunch-nerves were destroying her appetite-but she had planned to eat something for dinner.

"He'll be here soon." The Fuhrer's voice broke through her thoughts. Elsa glanced up at her, meeting the dark-eyed stare.

"May I ask who we're waiting for?" Surely that was within her rights.

Regina huffed and crossed her arms. "I need you here as collateral." Elsa's confusion must have shown, because Regina sighed dramatically and grabbed a pad of paper and pen from her desk. Elsa watched her write something down before tearing it-quietly, she noticed-and handing it to Elsa.

We're waiting for Gold. I need you to sit there and make note of anything he says or does.

Elsa nodded and held out a hand. Regina gave her the pen. A moment later, Elsa handed the paper back.

Gold. Major General Gold, assumedly. No one actually knew his first name. The military didn't require it-a fault in the system Regina had been trying to fix but it required so much paperwork a lot of it had fallen on her subordinates, namely Elsa. The fact that Gold had never thought to share his name was a mark of suspicion with the Fuhrer, but then, she was suspicious of everyone these days. Elsa didn't care that she didn't know his full name. Her father had taught her as a child that names have power, and if you didn't want someone to control you, you kept your name close. Elsa figured Gold was just old-fashioned that way.

She read the next note from Regina:

Mental notes. This is off the record, remember? I don't need him wondering about you being here any more than he already will. We're writing this because the office is bugged. And no, I don't know where it is.

Elsa just nodded. Regina took the paper from her, throwing it on the already prepared transmutation circle etched into the floor of her office-all the officers with private offices had them; it was another of Regina's ideas. She clapped her hands, a burst of flame appearing from her palms to strike down on the paper, turning it to ash.

A moment later, she had swept the small pile into the rubbish bin. Elsa got up and walked over to the window, looking out at the city. They were on the fifth floor, one up from Elsa's office. She could see the people below, most leaving the building. She recognized Archie by his trademark umbrella, hailing a cab. Leroy came out a moment later, yelling back at someone hidden from her view. She wondered if Mulan had left yet since the class they were supposed to be teaching together should have ended already.

Perhaps she should've retracted the unkind thoughts about her boss from before. Working with Mulan was...manageable, so far. Elsa couldn't deny that the woman was efficient though. And she didn't mind that Mulan wasn't all that personable. Elsa liked peace and quiet where she could get them, and in a place like Central, they weren't exactly readily available commodities.

Turning away from the window, she returned to her seat, glancing around the office. If it really was bugged,-because she couldn't be sure if Regina's paranoia was speaking for her again-where would it be?

Regina seemed to be following her train of thought because when Elsa pointed to the vent in the ceiling Regina shook her head and held up her hands. Elsa picked up the notepad and pen, scribbling a note and handing it to Regina.

She watched her read the note, expecting her to roll her eyes. She wasn't disappointed. Regina held out her hand for the pen.

I know it's bugged. Things that I said in confidence in this room have gotten out.

Elsa scratched it out and wrote back.

So this meeting…?

Regina glanced over her shoulder and nodded.

I suspect it's Gold.

Elsa said nothing more as Regina once again disposed of the paper. It probably should have surprised her that Regina thought Gold was the mole, but considering their history...From what Elsa had heard, when she first came to work for the military and Regina's mother, Cora, was still alive, she and Gold had been close. But there was gossip that while Cora pretended to be helping Gold gain a higher rank using her husband's connections, she had instead aided her daughter in becoming the new Fuhrer after the previous one passed away from old age. That was another sketchy subject.

Her train of thought was interrupted by a knock on the door. She exchanged a look with the Fuhrer, who went to sit behind her desk.

"Come in."

Elsa made sure her usual calm facade was in place as the door opened, but instead of seeing Gold, a much younger man walked in. His dark hair and beard neatly trimmed, blue eyes glinting with what Elsa knew from experience was a spark of ambition.

Regina had risen from behind her desk. "What the hell? Where's Gold?"

The man saluted. "Apologies, m'am. The Major General had a pressing appointment and won't be able to make it. He sent me in his stead."

One dark brow rose. Elsa felt sorry for this man. No one liked to deliver the Fuhrer news that was likely to piss her off. "And you are?"

"Arthur Pendragon, the major's personal assistant."

Elsa almost snorted. Almost. No one in the military had personal assistants. Some people liked to pretend Elsa was one, but she ignored them. The fact that Major General Gold was sporting a man calling himself that was not only laughable it was downright cheeky. Because if the Fuhrer didn't have an assistant, no one did. And sending him in Gold's place to basically blow off the Fuhrer, his boss, well...needless to say Elsa desperately wished she could leave before the proverbial shit hit the fan.

"I see." The calm tone of Regina's voice didn't fool Elsa. There was an explosion waiting just beneath the surface. "Did he happen to say what's more important than his meeting with me?"

"I'm not at liberty to say."

Regina didn't say anything, just sat back down, drumming her fingers on the desk and staring off into space for a moment. Before anyone could speak she'd fixed Arthur with a pleasant smile. "Well, I suppose the major is a busy man. Send him my best wishes and have him reschedule with me."

Arthur, looking a little lost, saluted Regina, nodded to Elsa, and left, closing the door quietly behind him.

Elsa waited.

One minute.

Two minutes.

Three.

Four.

Fi-

"THAT SON OF A BITCH!"

A paperweight went sailing across the room, colliding with the opposite wall and creating a decent-sized hole.

Elsa, used to such occurrences, calmly took the pad of paper and wrote something, handing it to the Fuhrer, who took it with a huff.

She glanced up a few seconds later, glaring, but took the pen and wrote back, sliding it over to Elsa when she finished.

See if you can find out who Gold is meeting. I'll get someone in here to check for bugs tonight.

Elsa nodded, holding in the sigh that begged to be released. She guessed her work for the day wasn't done.

~0~0~0~0~

Later, Elsa clicked off the light in her office. She had checked all the phone calls going in and out of the building the past three days, and nothing unusual had shown up, unless Leroy's hour-long conversation with Astrid from the bakery down the street could be considered highly suspicious activity.

"You're here late." She might have jumped if she hadn't been in this line of work as long as she had. Peering into the dark office area, she made out a silhouette by the main desk. A moment later, one of the overhead lights came on, revealing Mulan.

Elsa readjusted her bag over her shoulder, too tired and hungry for more tense conversations. "I got called in on some business for the Fuhrer."

Mulan's arms were crossed, her stance rigid. "And in your office?"

"More work," Elsa said, somewhat defensively. It almost seemed like Mulan suspected her of something.

The other woman nodded, eyes taking in Elsa's no-doubt haggard appearance. "You look like you could use a drink."

"More than one, I think." Where did that come from? I never drink.

Mulan's eyes crinkled at the corners, and it took Elsa a moment to realize she was smiling. That was certainly an expression she had never anticipated seeing on the always stern woman's face.

"I'm still new here, but I heard there's a nice bar around the corner. Good food too, apparently."

Elsa nodded. "I've been there once or twice."

"Care to show me around?"

Elsa hesitated. Of all the possible ways for this day to end, the last she had expected was going to get a drink with her new co-worker. But then, it really wasn't such a strange thing. And Archie was always encouraging her to look past her work and live a little. Maybe this was the perfect opportunity to do just that.

That was it, she decided. If Gold really was involved in some sort of subterfuge, it wasn't going to change overnight. She could afford to take a night off. The world wouldn't burn to ashes or fall apart that quickly.

This was her putting herself first for the first time in a long time."I'd love to."

She only hoped there would be no regrets come morning.