Run Down

The Meeting

It was a strange feeling. She'd woken up in a small room with a hand on her arm which she was acutely aware of, but then her eyes met his and the pressure of his touch seemed to increase, a comforting warmth spreading through his fingers into her skin.

The last thing she remembered was talking on the phone with mother; clenching her fists and biting her tongue so she wouldn't voice one of the many retorts fighting it's way out of her mouth. Regina, dear, it's just that you're not getting any younger. Such a flippant statement said so frequently to Regina that it had almost become a mantra. She knew it wasn't true and she knew she didn't need anyone but herself to rely on, but it was constant. And slowly, although she would never admit it, the thought chipped away at her.

But her situation had been confirmed by this blue-eyed stranger. She'd been hit by a car, his car in fact; she had the thumping headache to prove it. He was looking at her, Robin, guilt for his actions flowing from him like streamers.

"It's okay, you know, there was no real harm done. I was the one not paying attention." She tried to reassure him, although she wasn't sure why, and offered as much of a smile as her throbbing scull would allow.

"I still feel incredibly guilty, even if you say you are okay!" He said to her. It's alway the people who aren't fine that try to pass off they are. And this woman clearly wasn't.

"No I'm fine, look I need to talk to my mother." she said as she tried to move herself from the bed again. Robin could see that she was reaching for her handbag, with great difficulty and pain.

"Allow me?" He said as he grabbed the handbag and put it on her lap, "I should go back to my son." Her eyes went wide at the mention of Roland so he quickly told her he wasn't hurt before carrying on, "I'm glad your okay and I'm so very sorry about everything." He said with real sincerity, the guilt he felt was crushing and she was being so reasonable it almost made him feel worse.

"Thank you. For coming to check on me. I appreciate that I've not been the victim of a hit and run." Was that the trace of a smirk he saw playing on her lips? "Now go, I really am fine, go and see your son."

"I'm glad you've found the bright side." Robin ran a hand through his hair and smiled back, adding before he walked towards the door, "I'll come back tomorrow."

"Honestly, you don't have--"

"I want to."

He headed out of the room and she was alone, with only the hospital equipment for company. The leather bag was open, her now scratched phone had been placed on the top after she imagined it slid out of her hand when she hit the ground. She pulled it out and clicked the button, lighting up the screen with two missed call from her mother and a voicemail. Regina dialled the number, ignoring the message, and Cora picked up on the third ring.

"Regina? What happened, dear? I was worried when you ended the call so suddenly and didn't pick up." She sounded concerned, which is why her mother was so dangerous. She'd lure you in just to slam you down.

"I'm in the hospital," at Cora's oh, Regina! she added "but I'm fine, I was hit by a car, but I'm fine." The Mills women did not show weakness.

"How could you be so careless?" And of course, this was all Regina's fault, what else could be the explanation? "You could have been killed!"

"I'm fine, mother." She said, exhaustion finally catching up to her. "I doubt I'll be in longer than a couple of nights."

"Well at least that's something."

There was a few more minutes of conversation before Cora had to attend to something evidently more important than her only daughter in the hospital. Regina couldn't say she minded. She sighed, puffing out her cheeks as she scrolled down her contact list a bit further and hit the dial button.

"You won't believe what's happened."