𝑶𝑪𝑬𝑨𝑵 𝑬𝒀𝑬𝑺 - Rumplestiltskin [1]

THREE

3|JOHN DOE

"You're right, he's waking up!" Henry called back to the three woman as he ran ahead to John Does room.

"Henry, you should stay back." Graham, the town Sheriff stopped the boy from entering the room with the empty bed.

"What's going on? Is it John Doe? Is he okay?" Mary Margaret bombarded the man with questions.

"He's missing." The man revealed, glancing at all three women before looking behind him at an angered Regina in the hospital room.

"I'll leave you guys to deal with miss queen over there and I'm off to shove my foot in places Whale won't enjoy." Bella smiled at the small group before walking past the Mayor and into the hospital room. "Is there a specific reason why you didn't call me in? I mean, a patient is missing and I find out like this."

"Ah, Dr. Richards." Dr. Whale greeted her as she folded her arms and raised an eyebrow at him. "I thought you might be occupied by your date last night."

"They cancelled." She informed him but did not back down. "But whether I'm caught up in my sheets or in another state that still doesn't mean you should not phone me. Now, if you'll excuse me I'm off to find a patient. Unlike you."

"You two were the only employees on the floor last night." Graham stated to the two maintenance staff as he and the three women stood in the security room. "And you saw nothing?"

"Not a thing."

"Did anyone walk by?" Emma continued to interrogate.

"I didn't see nothing." Leroy said aggressively.

"Miss. Blanchard, was there anything unusual you saw during your trip with your class?" The Sheriff asked the teacher, trying to figure out something.

"I don't think so." Mary Margaret answered to which Bella nodded along in agreement.

"We're looking at the wrong tape." Emma stepped forwards and took over the computer, clicking on to the correct files. "This is the ward where Henry's class put up decorations. If this was really the tape from last night, we'd see the banners the kids hung."

"You fell asleep again." Leroy scoffed and pointed accusingly at Walter the security guard.

"You selling me out?"

"I ain't getting fired for this."

"Least I don't drink on the job."

"Gentlemen, enough!" Graham broke them apart. "Where's the real tape?"

"He walked out alone." Mary Margaret said with a sigh after Emma played the correct tapes. "He's okay."

"Four hours ago." Emma pointed to the time. "Where does this door lead?"

"The woods." Bella informed them grimly. "We better get moving, that man has been in a coma for as long as I remember."

~•~

The group of four wandered through the woods, the sun starting to set making it harder to search for the missing John Doe.

"What is it?" Mary Margaret broke the silence as Graham bent down and focused on the ground.

"The trail runs out here." He told them, looking around for any other sign of him.

"You sure? 'Cause I thought tracking was one of your skills." Emma sassed while placing her hands on her hips.

"Just give me a second." Graham stood back up again and asked for peace, his eyes darting everywhere. "This is my world. I got it."

"Right. Sorry."