Collaboration between GhostShadow as Henry, and I as the Mysterious woman and Dr. Faye Stevenson

*~*~*

After the slight shenanigans at the school, Henry quickly cleaned himself up as best he could before leaving the school to head for the sheriff's office. 

The walk there wasn't terribly bad, and Henry didn't want to risk his car being parked there in case of suspicion. He looked through the windows before walking through the front door, eyes almost immediately landing on the Mysterious Woman in the cell. 

"Hello, Sweetie." He greeted with a sly smile, approaching the cell with a slight swagger to his step, pulling the key from his coat pocket. 

The woman stopped humming when she felt a pair of eyes on her, and she smirked when the door opened and she was greeted with Henry's voice. She stood and turned to face him, and started, "Hello, Fox-"

She stopped when she caught whiff of his scent. Her smirk fell, and her shoulders slumped. She commented dryly and her joviality gone, "[i]Her[/i] perfume...and that smell of desire. You made out with [i]her[/i]..."

Henry's smile fell just as quickly as it came. He knew there was no point in lying to the Woman, and prayed she would be understanding. "Yes...I did. It was the only way I could get the key while being inconspicuous." He explained in a bargaining tone, hiding the fact that he thoroughly enjoyed the kiss - and hoped for more later. 

The woman paid careful attention to the scent that permeated off of him, ready to detect any lies that he may utter. What he said was the truth, supported by the key's presence, but she knew that he enjoyed being with the woman. She didn't make any move to attack Henry like she had with Regina, and she said tartly, "I see," 

She then commented with a light hearted tone to hide a hidden pain that she would never show to anyone, "Well, you certainly [i]are[/i] a lady killer, hm?" She then warned still using the light hearted tone, "Just be careful in playing with the mayor. I'd rather [i][u]not[/u][/i] see you as her puppet,"

"I understand." He responded seriously, but offered a small, almost sad smile as he approached the cell; inserting the key into the door with an audible [i]clack[/i] as the door subsequently swung open with a [i]creak[/i]. 

"You're free now." He stated matter-of-factly before continuing. "Try not to get yourself arrested again, be it for my sake or not. I don't think I can pull that stunt again." He warned, but his tone was warm, and his eyes shone with a certain brightness. 

The woman walked through the open door after Henry opened it, and she said "Very well. And I shall make my disappearance. It may be a while before you ever see me again," She stopped walking after she passed Henry and she turned to face him, and she told him, "If you have any problems, Dr. Stevenson is a pret-ty good...listener," 

"I'll keep that in mind." He responded with a simple nod, his hands going to his coat pockets as she made her disappearance. He followed out the door shortly after, not wanting to be caught in the sheriff's office by anyone less-than-savory. 

He stood on the side of the road for what seemed like forever, figuring out just what to do until he remembered - he had to volunteer. 

The woman walked out as well, taking great care to make sure that not a single soul saw her flee the prison, and make it back to Dr. Stevenson's home, through the back door. There, the woman changed to comfortable pajamas before she switched back to Dr. Stevenson.

The doctor woke up in the chair, finding a glass of scotch next to her. As soon as she thought she slept in because of the alcohol, she panicked and quickly got dressed and hurried for the hospital for work, ignoring the throbbing bruise and cut on her face that she received from Mr. Gold's cane. 

She rushed into the hospital, and checked in. Dr. Whale spotted her and he asked in concern, "Dr. Stevenson! There you are! What happened?" Dr. Stevenson shook her head and said "Nothing, nothing. Dr. Whale, what's the report on the patients?" 

The day continued on like normal as far as Faye knew. 

Henry sat alone in Snow's room, the steady [i]beeping[/i] of the heart monitor being the only sound besides the careful rustling of pages and the sound of his own voice as he read, looking up from the book constantly to see any sign of life. 

"Once upon a time there lived a lovely princess with skin as white as snow and appropriately named Snow White. Her mother died when Snow was just a young woman and her father eventually married again. This new Queen was stunning beyond all measure, but she was also very cruel. The wicked stepmother was very angry and jealous of Snow White and so she ordered the Huntsman to take Snow White to the forest and kill her. “I want you to bring back her heart,” she ordered. But when The Huntsman reached the forest with Snow White, he took pity on her and set her free. He killed a stag and took its heart to the Evil Queen and told her that he had killed Snow White."

After taking care of other patients that needed urgent attention, she went to go and check on Jane Doe. She stepped in to see Henry was there reading to her. She wasn't sure why, but she felt...somewhat relieved to see him. She remained silent as she watched him, with a small kind smile appearing on her face. 

Henry didn't seem to notice Dr. Stevenson as he continued to read. But every so often, he would let one of his hands brush across the Jane Doe's; as if he was trying to goad her awake, or enjoy her touch. "If only you could see me now." He said in a voice that was just barely above a whisper. "Not a silly old cat now, am I?' He asked, though he knew no one would answer him. 

Dr. Stevenson raised an eyebrow, just barely hearing what Henry had just said to Jane Doe. She had caught the words 'cat' and 'am i' from his quiet voice. She cleared her throat and she spoke up, "I hate to interrupt, Mr. Carlyle. I just wanted to check in on Miss Doe," 

Henry jumped, startled, obviously not expecting anyone else to come in. "Oh, yes, of course. Excuse me, Dr. Stevenson." He said politely, moving away from the bed to allow her access. 

Dr. Stevenson nodded and she answered politely, "Thank you," before she moved to get diagnostics on Miss Doe's condition. So far, it seemed as though Miss Doe was the same as ever, much to her disappointment.

He got a good look at the cut that dotted her forehead, narrowing his eyes. "Might I inquire how you got that cut there, Doctor? Looks nasty - no offense." He stated in a peculiar manner. 

Dr. Stevenson had finished when Henry asked about her wound. She touched her wound, wincing slightly, and she answered "An uncooperative patient. Don't worry, it's part of the occupational hazards,"

Henry couldn't help but give a slight wince, as though a blow had fallen on him. "Being a doctor's more dangerous than I thought, then. Hope elementary students aren't as bloodthirsty." He japed with a friendly smile, leaning against the wall; eyes kept on the doctor as she examined Snow. 

Dr. Stevenson chuckled in a grim tone, "It's not as dangerous as you're thinking. It's natural for people to lash out, especially when it seems that their situation seems...hopeless," 

"I've been talking to your roomate." He started, trying to make conversation. 

Dr. Stevenson paled at the mention of her roommate, knowing who he was talking about, and she groaned "Oh dear...Whatever she did, I greatly apologize for her actions. If there's anything I can do to make up for whatever she did, let me know," 

Henry's expression turned from one of base amusement to confusion. "Apologize? I quite enjoyed talking to her. She's very...feisty." He settled on, smiling once more. "Ran into her at the Rabbit Hole, then it seems we kept bumping into each other." He commented with a slight roll of his shoulders. 

Dr. Stevenson was surprised at what she heard, and she asked confusedly "Oh...really? I-I see," She then apologized, "I apologize for my outburst then. Normally if someone brings her up as a conversation topic, it's to complain about what she did. I'm glad to hear she hasn't caused you any trouble..." She then grumbled under her breath, "Yet, anyways..."

"Oh she's not caused me any trouble. Quite the contrary, honestly. I think she wants to go on a date with me, though." He added, scratching the back of his head. Normally he'd be more composed around Dr. Stevenson. But his regular interactions with her at Rumpelstiltskin's castle loosened him up a bit - even if she didn't remember him or anything about the Enchanted Forest. 

Dr. Stevenson widened her eyes slightly, and her cheeks turned pink at the mention of what her 'roommate' may want with him. She stated "O-Oh," She had no idea what she wanted to say, but she felt awkward now. She cleared her throat and she asked stuttering a bit "Forgive me for being brash, but do-do you want to date my roommate...?"

Henry raised his eyebrows at the question, a coy smile teasing at the corner of his lips as he thought about the inquiry for a few moments. "Sure, why not? She's quite easy on the eyes and has a remarkable...for want of a better word, aura around her." He answered with a small chuckle. "I'm sorry, did that make you uncomfortable?" He asked, hands in hs coat pockets once again. 

Dr. Stevenson shook her head and answered "No. No, of course not! I'm just concerned because most relationships that my roommate starts up...almost never ends well. I just really would hate to see you get hurt because of my roommate. Also she doesn't exactly have the best reputation in town...." 

"Well, I like people who have flaws - makes them more real." He replied nonchalantly, studying Dr. Stevenson with an almost intense gaze while he was speaking. 

"You know, you remind me of someone I knew awhile back." He began, running a single hand through his hair. "I don't know if I'll see her again, but she was very beautiful like you - and remarkably intelligent. Funny how people can remind you of old friends." He said in an almost reminiscent tone. 

Dr. Stevenson didn't respond to his comment about people having flaws, remembering how she had to be perfect to everyone around her.

She snapped out of her brief reverie when Henry mentioned how she reminded him of an old friend. She nodded in agreement at his last comment as she stated "Thank you for the compliment, and yes it is quite strange," She looked at him carefully, and she couldn't help but get the feeling that he seemed familiar...

"Ah well..." He finished, looking at Snow White on the bed. "Any change?" He asked, his voice turning dour and serious instead of warm and giddy. 

Dr. Stevenson shook her head and answered seriously "Sadly no...Thankfully, she's still stable," She then asked, "Mr. Carlyle. Are you sure you don't know her? I believe you mentioned something about a cat a little earlier,"

Henry nodded solemnly as she spoke, giving a passing glance to Snow before looking back at the doctor. "No, I don't know her. She, like you, just reminds me of someone before. As for the cat - little poem I learned as a child. Recite it from time to time, force of habit." He lied, but his tone didn't give away any false deception, even his eyes stared plainly into the doctor's. 

Dr. Stevenson sighed as she answered, "I see..." She couldn't help but get the strange feeling that he was lying to her, but she didn't bring it up. Instead she ignored the feeling as a figment of her imagination. Before she could ask Henry anything, her pager beeped loudly and she said "Oh, I have to go. Maybe we can talk later, Mr. Carlyle?"

"I'd quite like that. Go on then, off you pop. No need for someone to die of cardiac arrest because I was keeping you." He joked with a warm grin, waving her off. 

Dr. Stevenson smiled and laughed a bit at the joke, and she waved bye to him, and as she left, she said to him, "I'll see you later, Mr. Carlyle,".

After she said that, she rushed to the patient that was in the ER.