Title: The Doctor

Summary: Dr. Whale's past is revealed with the help of Regina and Jefferson. NoteAfter seeing stills from the promo (that you practically miss if you blink) and reading some theories I am 99.9% sure that this is accurate to who Dr. Whale is, the.1% of uncertainty is the fact that I haven't seen the episode The Doctor yet so if you do not want to be spoiled probably best not to read this. This is how I imagine the episode could go based on what I've seen thus far with my twists and hints at Mad Queen.

Chapter 1

Word count: 2635

Who are you Whale?

That's my business.


Regina had ridden her horse all the way there tears streaming down her face and dripping from her chin. Her mother had ripped the heart from poor Daniel's chest. All she wanted was to be happy and she might never have that now that her true love was dead.

Desperately she had sought the help of a man who was known for giving favors. She begged and pleaded, bribed with everything she could but he claimed magic could not bring back the dead. 'If magic can't what will? Is there someone in another land another realm?—' She could still hear the insane cackle he gave before confirming her suspicions, 'Good luck on trying to find someone who can travel through realms; they're very hard to come by. I should know from experience.' She had the evidence that there was some way to bring him back now she needed the concrete proof. 'If I did find someone who could take me how would I know where to go?' Naturally this was where he was ready to make a deal. 'Our future will have some bumpy roads along the way. I want to assure that I have a leg up on you. I'll need a fragment of your spirit, something I can always use in times of need to remind you who holds the power.' Regina had only thought a split second about what this deal might mean for her future but frankly, she had no future without Daniel and she would do anything to get him back. 'Done.' He snickered as he handed her a compass. 'This compass will work once you find your realm jumper. Once you transcend realms the arrow will point you to the man who can help bring back your dead lover. Just remember dearie, all magic comes with a price.'

Nevertheless, Regina did know someone who could travel through realms. She had known Jefferson all her life; both of their families dabbled in witchcraft, his father in a certain type of enchantment; one he had kept very clandestine. She and Jefferson had overheard his father discussing a deal to lift an item from another world, not long after they had realized exactly why Jefferson's family was so wealthy when they saw his father disappear down a top hat.

Regina wasn't sure if Jefferson would be willing to help her but she was confident that she could find a way to get his assistance. She dismounted her horse swiftly before pounding on the door of Jefferson's' families' estate. "Jefferson it's me." she cried, "Please open up!"

A lock clicked and Regina nearly stumbled into his arms as the door opened, "Regina? What's wrong?" he asked her his hands gripped around her arms, "Are you hurt?" the tears were stained on her cheeks but he couldn't see any physical injuries.

"She killed him." Regina burrowed her face into his chest, "She tore his heart out—we were going to run away – we were going to be happy." She stifled.

Jefferson closed his arms around her, Regina had confided in him about Daniel over the past year but he hadn't realized how serious it had gotten between the two. The way Regina's mother had mistreated her over the time that he had known her; he wasn't surprised something like this had happened. He was amazed that it hadn't happened sooner. "What can I do?" he inquired.

Regina pulled away from him, her hands still clasped onto his jacket. "There is something." Her eyes glistened in tears and she held up her new treasured trinket. "There is man in another realm. I'm told he has experience with raising the dead." She fought back tears as she clutched onto her friend pleading for him to lend a hand. "Oh please Jefferson you have to help me."

Jefferson grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into his room he didn't want anyone to overhear about his father's extraordinary hat. "Regina, you know we can't use his hat I'm not even sure how to operate it."

"We've seen him do it! You spin it on the ground and jump. How hard can that be?" Pleading never looked good on Regina but she had been so apt at it giving her recent circumstances. "No one will know! We'll be back before they even notice we're gone."

He sighed struggling to grasp all that Regina was asking of him. "Are you sure this man brings back the dead? What if Daniel won't actually be your Daniel and just a shell of him? Could you live with yourself if all that was brought back was a monster?"

Regina's voice turned rigid, "With some of the things I've done recently I'm no less a monster."

"I need to think about this Regina. I know you miss him but I cannot be sure this is the solution."

She pulled him into an embrace, "Oh Jefferson. The fact that you're even considering it is more than I expected." She smiled slightly before her face turned to a frown once more, "If it's not too much, could I stay here the night? I don't want to be alone."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Jefferson assured her. "I'll get some tea; we can talk until you get tired." When he returned Regina had already drifted to sleep. He set her tea down sitting in the chair opposite his bed. He watched her sleep, she was his very best friend and he loved her dearly. His feelings for her were more than friendship but he merely wanted her happiness. Love is sacrifice and for her happiness he would sacrifice it all. He was contemplating this mad idea she had, continually weighting the pros and cons until he too finally dozed off.


Regina awoke to the smell of breakfast, for a moment she had almost forgotten her sadness until she remembered Daniel no longer lived. "Good morning." Jefferson walked into the room holding a plate of food on a flank of wood. "I made you some breakfast."

The first true smile since Daniel's death shined on her face, "You are too kind to me Jefferson."

He set the tray on her lap, "I'm not so sure you'll think that after you hear what I have to say."

Her smile faded quickly and panic entered her voice instantly, "Whatever do you mean?"

Jefferson kneeled by her bedside. "Regina, I thought about it all night and I am not so sure your plan will work. The hat has rules, you see, the amount of people who go through the hat can only come back. It's impossible for us to go where we need to and bring someone back unless one of us stayed behind."

A light went off behind Regina's eyes. They narrowed at Jefferson, for a fraction of a second he thought maybe she was angry but he realized this was the spark of an idea, "So if we took a third party with us we could leave them behind and bring back the man I seek?"

"I hadn't thought of that." Jefferson admitted.

"Then you'll help me?" A hopeful look shimmered in her eyes and he didn't have the heart to say no to her. He nodded slightly and it was all she needed. Moving the tray to the side Regina jumped out of Jefferson's bed and into his arms, "I knew I could count on you." In her excitement she planted a quick peck on his cheek. "I'll figure out who our third party will be. All you need to do is meet me at my home, oh and I know you've made a leisurely pastime in herbology. If you could think of an herbal remedy that can keep this passenger succumbed, it couldn't hurt." She patted his arm, "See you tonight Jefferson." Regina couldn't help feeling elated as she left Jefferson's. She mounted her steed and imagined the journey they'd have that night for she already knew who their third passenger would be.


"I'm glad you've come to your senses Regina." Cora delighted over a cup of tea. "I knew you would come around."

Regina sipped from her teacup, "I realized when you killed him that I really hadn't understood what I was about to get myself into, and with a stable boy no less."

"I'm sure you'll be happy with the King dear."

"Mother." Regina started, "I know you want me to marry the King but, the man is over twice my age, you can't really expect him to be a suitable future for me? "

Cora sighed, "Oh? What do you know of the matter? You thought Daniel was a suitable future for you, and look how that ended."

"I have a feeling you'll approve of my choice this time."

She laughed heartily, "You really are my daughter aren't you? Already have your selection picked out and everything. Hopefully he won't be a disaster like the last choice you made; I hope this poor fellow doesn't meet the same fate."

A knock at the door was Regina's cue. "There he is now!" she exclaimed jumping out of the chair. "He is neither poor nor disastrous I'm certain you'll approve." Leaving Cora in the tea room Regina went to retrieve Jefferson at the front door, "Do you have it?" she whispered.

"I do, but Regina are you sure this is what you want to do?" He queried, "I don't want you to live with this regret."

"The only regret I'd have is if we didn't try."

He nodded putting the top hat he had taken from his father onto his head, "What is the plan then?"

"Follow my lead." Regina looped her arm through Jefferson's leading him into the tea room. "Mother, you know Jefferson."

Surprising Regina, Cora stood and actually had a smile on her face, "Jefferson, what a pleasant surprise. Please join us."

Jefferson tipped his hat to Cora bowing forward, "Mi'lady"

"No need for formalities Jefferson, please call me Cora."

"Dear," Regina said confusing Jefferson at first as he wasn't sure who she was talking to until he felt her squeeze his arm. "Why don't you get my mother and I some tea?"

"Of course." Taking the tea tray from the table he moved towards the kitchen. His heart was racing, his hands shaking. He wasn't sure if he could poison Cora, no doubt the poison wasn't harmful, and eventually she would wake. Nevertheless she would be stranded in another land with no means of return except for her magic. He thought of the man that they were doing this for. Cora had destroyed Daniel because he was what would make her daughter happy, in the end Jefferson had decided, he was here for Regina and Cora wasn't. He muddled the leaves and placed them at the bottom of Cora's teacup, they blended in with the rest of the dregs as he filled the cup back up with steaming liquid. He filled Regina's as well making certain he didn't forget whose was whose.

Returning to the women Jefferson tried his best to remain calm. He handed Cora her cup first insuring she received the right one. He placed Regina's on the table and took a seat beside her.

"My daughter's told me of your plans." Cora stated holding the teacup in her hands. Jefferson watched as her fingers coiled the handle lifting the cup to her mouth. "At first I was surprised." She admitted.

"Truly?" he questioned willing her to take a sip of the tea as it hovered by her lips.

She blew on the tea, "Certainly from a stable boy to such an aspiring young man like you, I was rather perplexed."

Jefferson hadn't gotten to find out the full lie to Regina's story for Cora finally took a sip of his slumber tea. Her head lolled over, the cup stumbled from her bony fingers and broke on the floor.

"Hurry." Regina said grabbing hold of her mother's arm.

Jefferson took the hat from his head and stood by her. Spinning it on the ground he held an arm in front of Regina to hold her back. The purple smoke billowed out from the hat surrounding the room. "Hold on!" he said grabbing a hold of Regina's arm and pulling her and an unconscious Cora through the hat.


Jefferson had never jumped through his father's hat before and was surprised when he realized there was a set of doors inside it.

"Remarkable." Regina grinned. She pulled the compass from her pocket. The dial spun round and round until it ticked back and forth for a moment. The arrow lay at a standstill pointing to a door; it was black with a spooky tree embossed on it. "This is it." She smiled. "This is it!"

Jefferson scooped Cora into his arms and followed Regina to the door. She reached for the knob and turned. The door opened wide a mirage behind it. He slowly reached his hand out sinking it into the foggy illusion. He grabbed onto Regina's hand just as he stepped through pulling her in with him.

Inside of this new realm it was the darkest hour. The dart on Regina's compass pointed the way behind them. He stepped forward with Cora still in his grasp. "Leave her here." He heard Regina say; her voice dripping in hatred. "She served her purpose." She looked over her shoulder at Jefferson and her once striking face held a sneer of such abhorrence he almost didn't recognize her.

Jefferson set Cora on the ground and picked the top hat from the floor, they couldn't forget that. He jogged after Regina for she had already started trekking into the woods. He caught up to her as she stood looking from left to right the spindle making her dizzy on the face plate of the compass.

"This way!" she shouted hurrying off into the forest. Jefferson followed trying to keep pace but she was always four steps ahead. He bumped into her when she had stopped suddenly. "What is it?" he asked but he saw the haunted house in front of him and realized her concerns. "We don't have to do this Regina." He reminded.

She shook her head and glared at him once more, "I have to." Her words were dripping in venom; if he hadn't poisoned Cora himself he had faith that Regina would have. She dashed forward before she could respond.

The windows of the spooky mansion had boards hinged to them. The glass on the front broken or cracked; Regina had pounded on the door but no one responded. Jefferson followed, his actions betrayed him but happiness for Regina was all he sought. He pounded harder on the door to no avail. "Stand back." He held his arm out protecting her. He leaned back and kicked the door in with all his might the wood cracked and swayed.

Entering the house it seemed abandoned but a mad cackle could be heard from the basement. Jefferson took the lead and walked down the stairs. Lights were flashing on and off like lightning. He shielded his eyes entering the cellar unsure of the situation he was walking in on.

A man in a white coat stood over a table. Wires connected from a machine to a body. The lights flicked on and off; Jefferson saw the corpse flipping like a fish on a stand.

Regina's eyes grew wide at the horror in front of her, "What is going on?" she shouted, "What are you doing?" The man turned to face them after turning to flip the switches off on his machine. "Who are you?" Regina's voice wavered in fear and uncertainty.

"I'm Victor, Dr. Victor Frankenstein and who might you be?"

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the big 'reveal' I am anticipating one or two more chapters of this but I am fairly certain this is who Dr. Whale is. If you need concrete evidence google Dr. Whale as Dr. Frankenstein and I'm sure someone's theory will show up. I am hoping to bring the next chapter out tomorrow or the next day.