Once Upon A Time: Into The Devil's Den, Part One
By Rebekkalee Mouri-Hibiki
(ABC owns this show but I'm borrowing it... just for a bit. Feel free to tweet me: RCoventry613)
Emma Swan sat at her desk in the Sheriff's office, staring at the newspaper as she ate lunch. Storybrooke was so quiet, it was about all she could do until it was time for her to go out on patrol. The paper was, of course, filled with drivel about how great Madam Mayor Mills was and innocuous local stories. Emma threw the paper aside and muttered, " Just another wonderful day in paradise. "
" Oh good, " Mr. Gold's voice startled Emma. She looked up to find him standing in the doorway of her office, smiling that creepy smile that made her skin prickle more than a bit.
He was wearing a black suit, black tie and a dark emerald green shirt. Emma couldn't help but notice his fondness for dark colors. She also couldn't help but notice how she felt when he was around. She couldn't put a name to the feeling but he was the only person that gave her such goosebumps.
" You're not busy, " He seemed amused by the fact he had made her jump.
Emma let out a frustrated sigh. She hated the way, in spite of having to walk with a cane, Mr. Gold could be as quiet as death when he wanted to be. She gave him a very stern glare, " Don't startle me like that. I could have shot you. "
Mr. Gold chuckled, " I don't think you would have done that. "
" If you keep scaring me like that I just might, " Emma said.
" Is that a threat? " Mr. Gold furrowed his brow.
Emma shook her head, " No. Just a warning. Why are you here? "
" I need your assistance in a small matter, " Mr. Gold replied.
" What kind of assistance? " Emma arched an eyebrow. She quickly hoped that she wouldn't regret asking the question. She knew, with Mr. Gold, it could be anything. " I can't agree until I know what I'm getting into. "
Mr. Gold took a few steps into the office, " Oh, it's nothing really. I have to clean out the house of an evicted tenant. "
Emma was slightly relieved that the task was something so mundane. She still owed him a couple a favors so she was on edge about when he would call them in and what they would be. " Let me get my coat, " Emma said as she stood up. She furrowed her brow, " Wait. If it's nothing, why do you need me? "
Mr. Gold exhaled, " This tenant has been very... let's say difficult in the past. Since I'm on probation, I cannot carry a weapon. "
" So you're afraid he'll get violent when he finds out you're kicking him out? " Emma asked. She didn't have to be reminded he was on probation. She had been in the courtroom when he had been sentenced after the incident with Mr. French, the man who had been foolish enough to rob him.
" You could say that, " Mr. Gold nodded. " He's also adamant that I will not take his possessions. "
Emma put her hands on her hips, " Why are you taking his things? "
" My lease agreements have the stipulation that, upon eviction, all possessions in the premises become mine to do with how I wish. It's sort of a way to recoup my losses if the tenant has anything of value, " Mr. Gold explained.
" But isn't that a little unfair? " Emma hadn't heard of the terms of his lease agreements and made a mental note never to sign one. " Those are his things. "
" The agreement clearly states it and he signed it after reading it, " Mr. Gold said in a tone that bode no argument. " A deal is a deal you know. "
Emma sighed as she slipped into her jacket. If it was one thing she had learned, it was Mr. Gold loved making deals and keeping people to them. He was also very careful about keeping them legal with no loopholes. " I guess so. "
Mr. Gold stepped away from the doorway as Emma approached, " After you. I will tell you the address once we get in the car. "
Emma stood on just inside of the front door, keeping an eye on the front of the tiny house to make sure no one was coming. Mr. Gold was inside, packing things into boxes. Once everything was packed up, he would carry them to the police car outside. At least that was what he told Emma. She was pretty sure she'd end up helping him put the boxes in the car.
~ He's probably going to want me to help him unload once we get to his shop as well, ~ She thought as she leaned against the door frame. She muttered, " The glamorous life of a small town sheriff, " and sighed.
The thought had barely crossed her mind when she heard a speeding car then two gunshots. The sounds seemed like they were coming from the backside of the house, the side that had a window that faced a small alleyway. She grabbed her gun and took off for the back of the house. She found the door of a back bedroom wide open, Mr. Gold sitting on the floor.
" Emma, " He gasped, his right hand was gripping his left upper arm. " Emma, I've been shot. "
" I can see that, " Emma holstered her gun and knelt down when she reached his side. " Move your hand. Let me see it. "
Mr. Gold moved his hand and hissed a bit, " How bad is it? "
" I can't tell, " Emma could see blood on his jacket sleeve but the wound was obscured from view. " You need to take you jacket off. "
" Alright, " Mr. Gold started to fumble with the buttons, Emma reaching in to help him. They got them undone and he eased off the right sleeve. He yelped in pain when he tried to slide it off his left.
" Let me, " Emma gingerly took the shoulder of the jacket in her hands and slid it off the injured arm.
" Can you see it now? " Mr. Gold asked.
" Not really, " Emma said. " I need to get your shirt out of the way. We need to cut it open. "
" This shirt is silk, " Mr. Gold snapped. " You're not cutting it. "
" It's already ruined, " Emma snapped back. " You'll never get blood out of it and the bullets burned a piece out if it. "
" Fine then, " Mr. Gold said. " How bad is it? "
Emma sighed, " From what I can see, it looks like you were grazed by both bullets. Whoever that was was a pretty good shot. "
" If he were a good shot, I'd be dead, " Mr. Gold said crisply.
Emma shrugged, " I suppose he was a lousy shot then. "
" What's that supposed to mean? " Mr. Gold gave Emma a dirty look.
" Nothing, " Emma growled. " Oh, never mind. We need to get you to the hospital. "
" No, " Mr. Gold said. " No hospitals. If it's only a flesh wound then a bandage should suffice. "
" But, " Emma started.
" I said no hospitals! " Mr. Gold said sharply.
Emma furrowed her brow, " But you came to get Ashley's baby when it was in the hospital. "
" That was different, " Mr. Gold said evenly.
Emma stood up, " Have it your way then. I need to go get the first aid kit from the back of the police car. "
" Then go get it, " Mr. Gold nearly hissed.
Emma walked out of the house and to the police car. After rummaging around in the trunk for a second, she found the thing she was looking for. She carried the first aid kit back inside, going back to Mr. Gold. " Be as still as you can so I won't cut you as I'm cutting the sleeve. "
Mr. Gold frowned for a moment then sighed, " Go ahead. "
Emma opened the first aid kit, put on a pair of rubber gloves and found a pair of small scissors. She carefully slit the sleeve, cutting it away from the wound. She found a small bottle of alcohol and got some gauze. " This is going to sting but I have to clean it to see how bad it is, " She warned Mr. Gold as she poured the alcohol onto the gauze.
Mr. Gold hissed when Emma started to clean the grazes even though she was being very careful. He watched her for a moment then said, " You are being quite tender, my dear. "
" I just don't want to make you hurt any more than you already are. I've been grazed before and I know it stings like a bitch, " Emma muttered as she worked on the wounds.
" You shouldn't use such language, my dear. You are much too beautiful for such crass words, " Mr. Gold said almost tenderly.
Emma didn't reply though she did feel her face grow warm at the compliment. She could feel him staring at her as she worked and it was all she could do to keep her hands steady. His comment came quite close to unnerving her but she managed to barely stay in control.
She was so close to him, she could hear him breathing. Every so often, she felt his breath on her face. It tickled a bit and made her skin tingle. She felt like her heart was in her throat and she slowed her breathing, trying to get it under control.
" How bad is it? " Mr. Gold asked once Emma had the smeared blood cleaned away.
" They're not very deep. I need to put some antibiotic on it then I'll wrap it, " She told him.
" Take your time, " Mr. Gold said in a way that made a shiver run down Emma's spine. He watched as she put the ointment on his wounds, " Your hands are shaking. "
" It's the adrenaline, " Emma replied quickly, realizing she was failing to keep them steady. Being so close to him was making that unnameable feeling grow inside of her. Was it fear or dread or... or... She just couldn't name it.
" You'll have to help me up when we're done, " Mr. Gold said quietly. " This bad leg of mine... "
" I understand, " Emma wasn't looking forward to getting him that much closer to her. She got a large gauze pad out and placed it on the wounds. She then found some rolled gauze and wrapped it around his arm until she was sure it would stay in place. She sighed after taping it, " That should do it. "
" Help me up, " Mr. Gold said. " I'm on my cane and it's starting to hurt my leg. "
Emma had hoped for more time to prepare herself but she steeled herself the best she could. " I'll stand up first then get you, okay? "
" Yes, " Mr. Gold nodded once.
Emma stood up then squatted down, easing her arms under Mr. Gold's, " On three, " She said once she had a good hold of him. They counted together, Emma lifting him as he held onto her tightly. She could feel his breath on her neck, causing a bit of an inward shiver.
Having him so close allowed his scent to fill her nostrils. He smelled like a campfire with undertones of a masculine scent. Once he was to his feet, he let go very slowly as he steadied himself. Emma felt like she was losing something as he released her from his embrace. Her heart pounded in her chest and her mouth felt dry. She was confused by how she reacted but didn't have the time or the will to ponder it.
" Could you please give me my jacket and cane, Miss Swan? " Mr. Gold asked, snapping Emma back to reality.
She leaned down and picked up his suit jacket. She held it out to him, " Here. "
He examined the ruined sleeve and frowned, " I really liked this jacket. "
" Well I'm sure you like your life more, " Emma replied as he put the ruined jacket back on. She picked up his cane, " I think we should get out of here before that person decides to come back and finish the job, don't you? "
Mr. Gold took the cane and sighed, " I guess we should. I would like to take what I have packed up at least then I can come back for the rest when he is locked safely away. "
Emma rolled her eyes, " You're reprehensible. "
" No. I'm determined to get what I came here for, " Mr. Gold corrected Emma.
" Greedy bastard, " Emma muttered as she picked up one of the boxes in the room.
" Ah, ah. Language my dear, " Mr. Gold said in an almost sing-song voice.
Emma blushed, realizing she had said her thought out loud. She sighed, " I'm sorry. "
" Don't worry. I've been called worse, " Mr. Gold replied. " Regina has called me worse. Much MUCH worse. "
