Disclaimer: I own no part of the Once Upon A Time universe, settings or characters. No money will be made from this story.

AN: Story picking up right after Stable Boy. It isn't technically AU yet, but once the new episode airs it will be. Different parts of it will be told with the focus mostly on a certain character, and when it switches, I'll put the character's name as a heads up. Reviews are very appreciated, but by no means feel obligated.

Emma Swan.

Relief was the most obvious thing on Emma's face as she escorted her friend towards the station door. Not the only thing, though. Beneath that cover of relief stirred stress, confusion, exhaustion and a whole mess of other emotions that had to deal with the case. Despite all of it, she could honestly say she was doing ok, at least specific to that moment.

"Glad we can finally let you out of here."

Mary Margaret nodded, a smile offering the gratitude she had already expressed with more words than were necessary. She was obviously tired and would probably need to just have time to chill at home for the rest of the night. Still, as Emma studied her face it seemed like there was something else going on. There was a time for everything, and she held back prying, leaving it as a mental note for later. Besides, other than letting an innocent person out, there was still a lot left to the investigation. Emma glanced at the clock as they walked through the station.

"School just got out, but I bet you can visit your class tomorrow."

"Visit?"

"Yeah well, there's still the matter of Kathryn's initial disappearance. You're not being charged with anything but as a precaution right now the school has to hold off on you returning until the entire case is settled."

"Oh..." Mary Margaret's tone was understanding, albeit slightly disappointed. Emma was glad she took the news concerning her job well.

They reached the door and Emma extended her arm towards the handle. Mary Margaret suddenly reached forward and grabbed Emma's hand, slightly suprising the sheriff and stopping her from opening the door.

"Is someone out there?"

Emma noticed fear in Mary Margaret's voice and when she looked at her it seemed like the woman was nearly desperate for an answer.

"What? No one's out there." Emma did her best reassuring voice as she watched for a reaction.

"I'm sorry." Mary Margaret seemed to immediately relax. "I just..." In her usual way, it took her a moment to find the right words, and when she had them she offered a small smile. "I just don't think I'm up to talking to anyone."

"By anyone do you mean David?" Emma waited a second, letting Mary Margaret affirm that with her expression. Emma thought back to the last conversation she'd had with him. "I don't think he'll be coming by."

"Ok." Mary Margaret nodded and faced the door once again, but her face hadn't changed.

"But that's not it, is it? At least not completely."

"Emma, I'm fine, look I just want to go home."

In most cases she would press further but Emma backed off. She'd give her time to rest. Whatever was bothering her friend could be dealt with another day.

As soon as they stepped outside, Mary Margaret had a recording device shoved towards her face, causing her to startle backwards a couple steps.

"Care to comment on your situation?"

"Uh..." Before she could even process anything, Emma was already between her and Sydney.

"Go, Sydney."

"Look, the public has a right-"

"A right to what? To know how a listening device was placed inside the vase of flowers that you delivered to my station?"

Emma didn't back down. Sydney did. After trying to hide a surprised expression, his voice dropped from confident and pressing to very unsure. As he spoke his eyes averted Emma's and he shook his head defensively.

"I don't know any-"

"Go." Emma pushed past the stunned reporter with Mary Margaret at her side. As they reached Emma's car she called back over her shoulder, "Don't leave town."

"Thank you." Mary Margaret said as she sat down in the passenger's seat of the yellow bug.

Emma got into the driver's seat, let out a sigh, and was about to close the door when a loud screech suddenly cut through the air, followed by a large bang and metal crumpling, and like an echo another screech or two and softer banging of metal followed.

"Oh my God."

Horror and surprise crossed Mary Margaret's face, and Emma likewise as they exchanged looks.

Her friend was still in shock, but Emma was always an action type. She quickly grabbed her keys out of her pocket and then tossed them towards Mary Margaret. Her reaction time was slow and the keys fell to the floor by her feet.

"What are you doing?"

"My job. You go home."

Mary Margaret hesitated and then nodded, picking up the keys and exiting the car to switch seats.

The crash sounded like it had come from very close, a few streets over maybe. Emma hurried over in that direction, hardly bothering to notice if streets were clear as she crossed them. Soon she could hear sirens which told her that the ambulance was already alerted and on their way. Emma was just about sprinting when she reached the scene.

Three cars were jumbled in a mess, pushed half way up on the side walk. That meant there could have been pedestrians injured too. Another car was a short distance away from those three but looked about as banged up. They were spread out, and it looked like the main point of contact was at the turn. She took note, but it didn't hold her attention long. After noting the cars, she began to look around at the people.

Some were clearly panicked, and while not helpful that was to be expected. Most people around were just watching from a distance, at their houses or businesses. A man unfamiliar to Emma seemed to have taken charge, instructing a few others in searching. One person she did recognize in the organized chaos was Ruby, who was comforting someone that was on the ground clutching their legs, and another person Emma recognized was August, who was helping a limping woman away from a car and up to the curb. Emma guessed the man giving orders had been there when it happened, since he would have had more time than the others to get out of shock and think through things. She made sure to take an extra glance at him as she passed him so she would remember to question him later.

August turned around from helping the hurt woman sit down and ran over to block Emma. She looked up at him with a confused expression.

"Emma, wait."

"What are you doing, I need to get through here." Her eyes looked past him and when she tried to side step around him he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back in front of him.

"Emma." He said her name more sternly, but lower in volume. She looked at him, searching his face, and could tell there was something wrong, something more that she didn't know.

"What?"

She didn't have the patience to wait for an answer. As soon as the word shot from her lips she pulled herself away from him and walked on anyways. She picked up speed until she reached the cars and looked past the one in front of her to see that someone was on the ground in the middle of the mess. The person looked mangled, and had evidently lost a lot of blood. From the body's position to the cars it was probably a pedestrian crossing the street at the time.

August had followed her over. "Emma, please-"

"Oh my God, that's a kid." Emma ignored him, speaking very observationally although she was anything but calm on the inside. "That's..." Her eyes were wide and flickered rapidly between the body and the bag that lay side by side. Her voice came out in a sudden, choked tone.

"It's Henry."