Once Upon a Supernatural

Chapter XXIII: Fighting the Beast

Dean parked in front of the boarded up library and found Emma standing alone by the door, one hand against her forehead and the other holding the sword. She noticed his arrival when he opened and shut his car door with a loud squeak and slam.

"Where's Cas?" Emma asked.

Dean shook his head, "I don't know. I couldn't get ahold of him. I would be worried, but I can't afford it at the moment. Have to concentrate on us and finding this magic. What about the puppet?" Dean asked, looking around the library and trying to peek between two boards.

"He um... Well he's literally a puppet," Emma said weakly. "I guess the curse finally was too much. He's gone. I was too late."

"I'm sorry Emma," Dean said sympathetically. He understood the burden of having other's lives on your conscious. "But it's not your fault."

"I didn't believe him, Dean! I didn't believe you, I didn't believe Henry! And now everyone is suffering because of my stubbornness; no one more than Henry and Sam! That is on me, Dean," she said as her eyes began to become glossy. She'd been crying way too much tonight; she needed to sharpen up. Tears and self-loathing were not going to save Henry. "How am I supposed to live with myself if I'm not able to save them?"

Dean's face dropped and his eyes seemed distant. What she'd just struck something in him; something deep and personal. Like he'd been in this situation before. "We're going to save them. I made you a promise. I made Henry a promise. You didn't ask for this; you didn't deserve to have your entire life uprooted when you were a newborn and have this destiny thrown on you. When all this is over I have half a mind to sock Rump and the mayor just for messing with your life like this."

Emma scoffed, "You're not the only one."

Dean reached out and grabbed for Emma's hand, squeezing it. Neither of them were touchy-feely people. So for him to extend this type of comfort, it really meant a lot to Emma. She felt so many things in this hand exchange: trust, hope, sympathy, faith, understanding. She became so overwhelmed that she pulled him towards her and hugged him. There was no tension, no surprise. He embraced her body against his because deep down, he needed this too. He needed to know that she trusted him, that she understood him, that she had faith in him. This was her way of communicating that; and she got the feeling he understood her. She felt his entire body sigh in relief.

"Well, well, well. Isn't this just darling," Regina's cold words snapped at them as she walked up to the library. Emma and Dean released each other, but she still clung to his hand. Subconsciously she wasn't sure if she just needed his support, was holding him back from punching Regina, or using him as an excuse not to punch the woman herself. "But if you don't mind I'd like to get along with saving my son."

Emma felt like there was a tang of jealously in her tone as she looked between her and Dean. "Regina, if we are going to do this we have to work together. Let's just put our personal animosity aside and focus on finding this cure and saving both Henry and Sam. Got it?"

Regina stood there for a second in defense, but eventually sighed a breath of defeat. She nodded, then pulled out her keys to unlock the doors. When they opened, Regina led the way in, followed by Emma then Dean.

"What is this place?" Emma asked as Regina flipped on the lights.

"Would you like a tour, or shall we get to it?" Regina said in annoyance.

Dean interrupted, "Lead the way."

The pair watched as Regina walked over to wall covered with a mirror in the shape of a tree hanging against a wall. When she pressed her hand to it, the entire wall began to rise revealing an old fashion elevator behind it.