Beyond the Call of Duty

True Love's Kiss

Regina charged through the front doors of the hospital, storming right up to the receptionist. She slammed her hands on the desk as she asked: "Where is my son?"

The receptionist told her that Mother Superior would take her to him, motioning to the petite brunette dressed in blue as she stepped forward. Concern filled Mother Superior's eyes as she approached Regina. "Madame Mayor, please follow me."

"Okay," Regina said, knowing she had no other choice if she wanted to see Henry. She would do anything for him – even endure the presence of the former Blue Fairy, who never once had helped Regina in the Enchanted Forest.

That certainly had changed under the curse.

Mother Superior brought her into the elevator and took her up to the same floor Robin was on. Regina's heart pounded faster as she hoped Henry was near Robin. At least he wouldn't be alone.

"He's over here," Mother Superior said, motioning to the nearest room. Regina saw Tuck standing outside with his arms crossed, his face pale as he watched what was happing with Henry.

"What's going?" she asked him, pushing past Mother Superior and standing next to him.

Tuck looked at her and tried to block her view. "Regina, I don't think you should go in there."

"He's my son," she protested, trying to push past him. "I need to be with him."

"You need to let the doctors work on him," Tuck protested, still trying to hold her back.

But Regina got past him, entering the room. She stopped short as she saw Henry lying shirtless on the hospital bed, different sensors covering his chest as wires ran to the various machines surrounding him. They all beeped and blared warnings as Whale flitted from machine to machine, a frown on his face. Henry looked pale and he laid so still, she feared that he was dead and her stomach turned as her legs gave out. "Henry!" she gasped out.

Strong arms wrapped around her as Whale looked over, frowning. Anger filled his eyes as he snapped: "Get her out of here!"

"No!" she pleaded as Tuck dragged her out of the room. "I need to stay with him."

"You need to let Whale do his job," Tuck told her. "You can help Henry by staying out here."

She took a deep breath, knowing he had a point. But a sob still came out as she looked at the blurry version of Tuck standing before her. "I can't lose him," she said.

"Why don't you come into Robin's room?" Tuck suggested. "You can still see Henry but will also be out of Whale's way."

"I should probably talk with Emma," Regina said, looking around for the sheriff. "Do you know where she is?"

He shook his head. "A rather official looking woman dressed in a suit and an official badge took her somewhere else. I guess to ask her questions. The sheriff can't investigate what happened to her own children. And since you're the mayor and his mother as well..."

She swallowed, nodding. "Someone else has to investigate. I'm probably next."

"Probably," he agreed. "Do you want me to come with you like I did last time?"

"I don't think that's necessary," Regina said. She then paused, thinking of the note in her purse. "Well, maybe. I might know someone who wanted to hurt Henry. Actually, he wanted to hurt me and wouldn't be above hurting Henry to do so."

Tuck frowned. "He? Do you mean Sidney? Is it out of the hospital?"

"I don't know," she replied. "But it's not Sidney. It's someone else. Do you remember that odd fellow you told me was looking for me the other day?"