Finding You Always

Pressing On

Finding You Always

Chapter 8: Pressing On

The mood in Storybrooke was somber that Monday morning. The whole town was very nearly shut down, including the school, as the entire town mourned the sudden passing of their Sheriff. Emma clung to her father and he held her tightly, as she cried. Neither of them had known Graham very long, but they had grown very fond of him in just the few short days they knew him. His heart ached for his little girl too. He wanted to protect her from ugliness like this as long as possible, but he learned when he had to tell her Saturday morning that Graham was dead, that his baby girl had already experienced more than she should have.

Flashback

David's eyes were red and puffy that morning, as he attempted to drink some coffee. Emma would be awake soon and he would have to tell her about Graham. He hadn't slept a wink and had been forced to take charge as acting Sheriff. Graham's collapse was a mystery. He had been fine one minute and dead the next. The paramedics had tried to revive him, but it was no use. They had taken the body to the hospital morgue and there would be an autopsy straight away. The rest of the evening, he had grieved with Mary Margaret, Ruby and Granny at the diner. Then came the really difficult part in the morning.

Emma had awakened cheerfully, but had immediately noticed that something was very wrong. Daddy was already awake, though that wasn't unusual itself, she noticed his red eyes and sad expression immediately.

"Daddy..." she asked quietly. He looked over and managed a small smile just for her, though this one didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Come here princess," he whispered. His voice was hoarse and he swallowed the lump in his throat, as he pulled her into his lap.

"Why are you sad?" she asked. He gently tucked a piece of her blonde hair behind her ear.

"Something happened last night and it's very sad. But I want you to know that daddy is here for you and I'm not going anywhere," he started to say.

"What happened?" Emma asked.

"Sheriff Graham died last night," he told her, as he rubbed her back soothingly.

"Do you understand what that means?" he asked gently. Tears slipped down her cheeks and she nodded.

"Sometimes people died at the group home," Emma said quietly. David's heart broke a little more at that. Emma's file from social services had arrived yesterday and he had yet to look through it. He was almost afraid to. What else had his baby girl seen in her short ten years? What had he been unable to protect her from? He pondered this, as he held her while she cried.

End Flashback

People began to slowly disperse, as the casket was lowered into the ground. Granny was holding a wake at the diner and he took Emma's hand to follow Mary Margaret and Ruby when Regina stopped them.

"I know this isn't a great time, but we still need to talk about the town's protection," Regina stated.

"You don't have to worry. I'm more than able to take on Graham's role. This town will have a Sheriff," David promised.

"A little presumptuous of you, don't you think? You've barely been a deputy and now you think you can be Sheriff? Regina asked incredulously.

"Yes, Graham thought I could do the job and I will not let him down," David snapped back.

"That's noble, but I'll be appointing Sidney Glass as the new Sheriff. You'll answer to him, deputy," Regina replied.

"And what experience does a reporter have to be Sheriff?" David countered.