Operation Red Fox

Chapter Three: Commitments

A/N: So I lied. Most of these chapters are going to be long, but I prefer it that way. Comments and critiques appreciated. Enjoy!

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Chapter Three: Commitments

The Wicked Witch had gone into the office and disappeared quicker than Emma or Regina could see her face. And though the blood lock seal encompassing the office should have been foolproof, the witch escaped. Breaking the seal was known to be impossible thus far, as only those with a blood relation could get through it, yet Regina had never met the witch and somehow she roamed the Storybrooke streets free.

The group, currently consisting of Snow, David, Hook, Emma, and Regina, sat in the Charming apartment, reflecting on the previous night's events.

"So," David began, setting his hands on the counter and meeting the eyes of everyone sitting before him, "now that we know who we are dealing with, how do we find this Wicked Witch?"

Hook leaned on the post in the apartment, his one hand in his pocket and his hook held up to his chest. "Might I suggest we start by asking if anyone has seen a woman with green skin running around? Seems rather simple to me."

"We're cursed in Storybrooke," Regina said along with a side eye. "She'll look like any one of us."

Emma glanced at Regina then towards her father and Hook. "Then we start somewhere we know she's been. Regina's office."

"I've been over it with a fine-toothed comb. She left no trace." Regina went over in the early morning hours once the sun had come through the office windows, adding some yellow warmth to its strict black and white interior. She searched through the tampered equipment and spilled substances on the floor, but there was nothing.

"But you were combing for magic. Maybe there's physical evidence that you missed," Emma said, adjusting the beanie on her head all ready to go.

David slapped his hands on the table. "Good idea. We'll scope out the area, see if we can find anything to track her."

Regina's side-eyes increased until the eye rolls were loud enough for everyone to hear. "If you wanna waste your time playing Nancy Drew, be my guest, but we can't let Henry wander around alone with that witch and her flying monkeys out there. What would we tell him if he sees someone get dragged from the streets?"

Hook lowered his chin and raised a sharp brow, angling his glare at Emma. "Especially since one of these flying monkeys could turn out to be his father."

Snow, who sat on a stool beside Emma, touched her daughter's knee, seeing the sustain on her face at the mention of her first love. "Still no sign of Neal?" she asked.

Sighing, Emma hunched her shoulder. "No."

"Point being," Regina said, focusing the conversation back on the one person who mattered, "someone needs to protect Henry. He doesn't even know what's going on."

"We'll all protect him. Make sure he isn't alone." Emma said.

"I can watch him while you're out," Snow offered, eager to spend time with Henry. "I'm sure he'd love to visit the library. I can look for the storybook while I'm there.'

"Then it's settled," David. "Emma, Regina, Hook, and I will search the office, Snow you stay with Henry, and we'll regroup later."

Everyone stood up and started towards the doors, but Emma and Regina exchanged expressions. Emma gave a slight nod and though Regina tightened her lips, eventually she gave in too.

"Actually, before we go," Emma said, causing the group to stop. "Regina and I have something to tell you guys." She noticed a particularly concerned look on Hook's face. Regina looked nervous. "Last night at the stakeout, we were thinking about how long the curse might last. Henry doesn't remember her and it's not fair for her to be so separated from him. We decided uh... so she can be closer to him... well, we both thought that-"