Chapter 28: Answers
Regina frowned as she sat at the hospital next to her brother's bed.
She had calculated that about fifty percent of their visits had taken place at the hospital. Considering everything, Harry looked like he was in pretty good condition. While his leg was a little banged up, Gold had already healed most of the damage. He had a mild concussion and some other bruises but the doctor on call said he'd probably be able to go home tomorrow.
She still couldn't believe everything that happened. That Moe French had gone that far off the deep end.
She never really had given the man much thought in the Enchanted Forest, which was why he ended up selling flowers and not working for the local sewage plant.
Hmm, if she ever decided to cast a dark curse again…
Well, that was if Moe French lived to see another curse. The injury that was caused by the shield that Gold had put on himself and Harry had been a pretty intrusive wound. And if he was healed, Regina didn't think she'd have enough self-control not to pull that man's heart out.
She was surprised Gold hadn't killed him yet either. Then again, he was Belle's father. And a missing heart would be a little difficult to explain.
She was pretty sure that Gold was going to decimate him by the time it was all over. It was just going to take some creativity. And convincing Belle that blood or not, the man deserved to be punished.
And if Gold wasn't going to do anything, Regina certainly was. Not that she expected she'd even get near the man since the paramedics had called the police since their was a gunshot wound on the scene.
Pity.
"Regina?"
Harry was awake. Regina was surprised. She'd expected him to be out the entire night.
Regina smiled. She needed to be calm. Children liked calm. That was another thing she learned the hard way. "Yes, Harry, it's me. Everything's going to be okay."
"My head hurts." He said.
"I imagine it does," She said. "Do you remember what happened."
He mumbled something about Humpty Dumpty kidnapping him.
Humpty Dumpty as far as Regina knew operated a waffle house. Yeah, she was that cruel. And yes, there was a dinner besides Granny's in Storybrooke that was so bad everyone thought it didn't exist. And yes, Humpty Dumpty did resemble Moe French in this world.
Odd she didn't recognize that. She would've used that to her advantage when building this world, Regina loved irony.
"Moe French is not Humpty Dumpty." Regina said. "Though, he does look at him."
Harry rolled his eyes. "My head hurts too much to even talk about the fairytale thing."
Regina nodded. "I know, it's hard, we don't have to talk about it today. I just want to know if you're okay."
"He saved me." Harry said. "Rumpelstiltskin saved me and he's my father."
"I know." Regina said trying to keep herself collected. "You know, what you've seen on TV and the movies isn't the truth. Did Henry explain that to you when he gave you the book?"
Harry shrugged. "He did mention it was different, I don't want to talk about this today. I…why did he even come? I can't make a deal with him."
"Harry," Regina said. "He's your father."
"I actually called him dad tonight," Harry said. "I didn't mean to, it just sort of came out. It felt weird to be honest."
"I don't think Gold expects you to call him dad anytime soon." Regina said, "Henry still calls Emma, Emma, and she's his birth mom."
Harry nodded, "But there was a part of it that felt almost right, Regina. That's what the weirdest part of all was, besides him saving me for nothing."
Regina shook her head. "Oh, Harry."
He shook his head, "I don't want pity."
"Who says I'm pitying you."
"You have a mushy look on your face."
"I don't do mushy." Regina said.
But he was right. She did feel pity for the boy. In a lot of ways, Harry's background reminded her of her own. Save for the fact that he wasn't raised by their psychotic mother. Instead, apathetic individuals, who signed away their guardianship rights without much of a thought.
Not that they ever had those rights, legally that is.
Harry laughed, "Yeah, I don't think I read about the Evil Queen crying over someone's sad childhood in Snow White."
"True," She said. "I don't cry. Or at least I don't now."
Harry shook his head.
"What?"
"You have mascara running down your face. I think you were crying."
Damn it.
Regina was kicked out of the room a few minutes later, when Harry's doctor was alerted to the fact he was awake and she ran smack into an arguing Belle and Gold.
"I take it the honeymoon is over," She said with a coy grin.
"We're not married." Belle pointed out.
"Sarcasm." Regina stated, "You're going to need it if you're going to be with him. What's going on?"
"I don't want to discuss this with you, Regina. You'll agree with him."
"You and I both know, we don't get along that well." Regina claimed.
Belle shook her head. "I think you two agree about my father."
"Wanting to kill him for almost killing my brother? Yes, I agree to that." Regina said.
"I said nothing about killing him, sweetheart." Gold told Belle.
Like it mattered. The small brunette rolled her eyes before stomping off.
"Thank you, Regina." Gold said sneering at her. "I didn't even say the 'K' word."
"Then why is she upset?" Regina asked. "Surely, she thinks old Humpty Dumpty needs to be punished."
"Moe is not Humpty Dumpty. I thought that moron worked at that place that makes Granny's look like a five star diner."
"Well, he does look like that moron, doesn't he?"
"He does actually." Rumple said, "When did you come up with that revelation?"
"I didn't Harry did. He's awake, by the way."
Rumple glared at her. "Why didn't you say something earlier?"
"Because it's obvious that there's trouble in paradise. And you two didn't exactly make it easy."
"Well, as nice as this little chat is, I'm going to talk with my son now."
"Dr. Wu is evaluating him." Regina snapped. "And unlike Whale, Wu is an actual physician. You and I need to have a little chat."
"Oh God," Rumple said. "I don't want to talk Regina. I have spent all day trying to unravel a complex spell. Then I had to put that idiot French in his place, while saving my child's life. And now I have to deal with my fiancée trying to tell me to be the better man and let French walk because he's not in his right mind.
Honestly, I think Belle's not in her right mind right now."
"I would agree to that." Regina said, "French needs to pay."
"I didn't even take his heart."
"You really are getting soft with age."
Gold gave her a look.
"Well, used to you wouldn't have given a single thought before killing French."
"I was tending to Harry." Gold pointed out, "And I mentioned this to Belle."
"Let me guess, it wasn't getting you any bonus points."
He shook his head. "She wants me to ask for Moe to be transferred to Storybrooke. Do my so called Lawyer Magic, like I'd represent French. The point is, she doesn't want to let Moe go to a Land of No Magic Prison."
Regina snorted.
"My thoughts exactly." Rumple said. "I think she does realize that he needs to pay for what he did."
"He won't in Storybrooke," Regina said. "The Charmings are awful when it comes to criminal justice. And at this time, I will remind you that you helped Swan secure the position of sheriff."
"At the time it was the best decision, dearie."
Regina shook her head. It was time to get this conversation back on target. "So, did Humpty tell you what prompted him to kidnap Harry?"
"We really didn't have time to chit chat, considering he had a just pulled the trigger when I got there." Gold said, "I'm assuming it was because he wanted to rid Belle of her demon spawn."
Regina shook her head. "No, no, it's not adding up. How did he get the memory potion, Gold? There were three vials at your place. None of them were missing."
Gold frowned. "That is a good question. It's not an easy potion to come by. Most people can't even attempt to brew it"
"Someone else was involved." Regina said. "I really don't believe Humpty would've came up with the idea himself. He was never one for ingenuity."
"No," Gold said. "I need to talk to him."
"You really think he's going to give you answers. I doubt Belle would even let you in the room."
Gold frowned. "I could try to talk to her, I guess."
"You guess." Regina said. "God, you are so whipped."
He glared at her. "It's called being in a relationship, dearie."
"Whatever. Have your little talk, I'm going to get coffee and then check on Harry."
"I'll be checking on Harry." Gold said. "Let Belle have her space."
Obviously, this was the last thing Regina did.
After Gold and her part ways, she did go to the café to purchase a cup of coffee, but when she saw Belle inhaling a mocha. She had to pounce.
Hey, she never told Gold she agreed with his terms. And he should've known better to know that Regina was going to listen to him.
"You should try Starbucks, the coffee's even better. Then again, Granny's is absolute crap so there's nothing but going up from there." Regina said looking at the brunette.
Belle raised an eyebrow. "I don't want to talk, Regina. I told Rumple what I thought already."
"Yes, but you haven't talked to me." Regina said. "You're going to let Dumpty stay here, Bookworm"
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me." Regina said. "Your father is going to stay here and be prosecuted here. He needs to be punished."
"He can't survive this world." Belle said.
Regina rolled her eyes. Really? Belle was going to go with that argument.
Belle sighed. "I know I'm wrong, Regina. Trust me, I know. But he's my father. And I can't help, but not want to leave him here. He doesn't know this world."
"Yet, he kidnapped Harry and took him here. There's something wrong with that."
Belle looked down at her mocha, "Once again, it's just that…he's my dad."
"And Harry's Rumple's son. And my brother. Your fiancé and I just want justice."
"I haven't even talked to him yet." Belle said, "This isn't like Papa. I know he has his faults, but I don't think he'd go this far."
Regina rolled her eyes yet again. Seriously, they were about to pop out of her head. She really wondered what Rumple saw in the girl, other than being severely malleable. Trying a different tactic Regina added, "Fine. We'll talk to him. There are a few things I want to discuss with Dumpty as well."
"His name is Moe."
"He looks like Humpty Dumpty." Regina said.
"The guy who owns the waffle house that no one goes to because of Granny's?"
"That's the one." Regina said.
"He does look like my dad." Belle said. "That's so weird."
Again, would've rolled her eyes but she was just tired of that expression for the day. Which was why she asked Belle where Moe French's room was.
The thing about St. Ambrose (the hospital that they were at) was that it was ridiculously modern. She realized how out of date Storybrooke General was as she walked down the sterile looking halls, and saw nurses dressed in modern day scrubs rather than white panty hose and ridiculous hats.
Moe's room was up the stairs. Police officers were, of course, stationed outside since he was a kidnapper.
A wave of her hand though, and getting in was easy.
Belle shook her head. "I hate it when you do that."
"What? Use magic? Certainly, Gold uses it with you. "
Belle didn't say anything. Instead, she focused on Moe French who was currently sleeping in the bed.
Snoring was more like it.
Belle frowned. "He might still be out. He had to get surgery. Rumple refused to heal him."
"I wonder why?" Regina said.
Belle glared at her. "He could've died."
"And so could've Harry. You really should be praising Gold for having restraint. I'm tempted myself to grab old Dumpty's heart."
"He's not Humpty Dumpty."
"Whatever." Regina said as she walked over to French. She really could care less or not if he had surgery. He was going to talk one-way or the other.
"What are you going to do to him?" Belle asked.
Regina rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to pull out his heart, yet. If that's what you want to know, I'm just going to wake him up."
With a wave of her hand, the man's eyes snapped open. "Bloody…Belle, what are you doing here? And is that….what are you doing here, your majesty?"
"You're going to talk to me." Regina said.
"She's going to ask some questions, Papa, about why you kidnapped Harry."
Moe looked confused. Like he couldn't remember. Probably because the last time he had been awake he had still been drunk.
Regina rolled her eyes. "You took your grandson over the town line and tried to shoot him. I want to know who gave you that memory potion."
"Town line? Where am I?"
"Never you mind." Regina said. "I want answers. Who gave you the potion?"
Dumpty continued to play dumb.
Regina sighed. "Fine, if you're going to play it the hard way I'm ready to play a hard ball."
And much to Belle's aghast; Regina used that moment to pull out Moe French's beating heart.