Author's Note: I don't own etc, characters etc, from Once Upon a Time.
His hand found the hilt of his sword easily, removing his faithful weapon from its scabbard for the fifth time that day. With precise moves and a strong forward thrust, the drunken rapist fell off his victim to the floor in a bloody heap. Graham's blood spattered hand smeared crimson across his brow before scratching at the stubble covering his chin. He was no hero, no knight in shining armour but he couldn't stand scum that took things that didn't belong to them.
Graham looked from the limp body to the dirty blonde cowering at the head of the bed. She was still trembling, her eyes unseeing but fixed on her attacker. He noticed in the dim lighting what looked to be dark red trickling down the inside of her thigh. His blue eyes looked away to protect her modesty to some degree.
Looking around the room his eyes fell on a struggling form, another woman with brown hair. She'd been tied to a chair and appeared to have an assortment of bruising to her face. Upon closer inspection, he found her upper lip to be split and her wrists and ankles to be bleeding from the rope cutting into her flesh. Silent tears continued to slip down well worn paths on her cheeks. Her eyes locked on the blonde. Despite her injuries she continued to struggle against her restraints.
Slowly stepping towards the distressed woman, Graham laid his sword on the table. As he reached the bound woman, he slid down to one knee, extracting his dagger hidden in his boot and began cutting her free. It was as though she had just noticed his presence because she jumped to the right almost toppling herself over.
With a gentle hand to her knee he spoke kindly "I won't hurt you".
There was fear in her eyes for a moment until they steeled over with anger.
This changed quickly to sadness as a choked "'Gina" sounded across the room and she looked back to the blonde.
Slowly the ropes were removed. Before the last piece was untangled from her wrist, the woman stormed past him, practically dragging the chair over to the bed.
He watched the brunette's loving hands roam no further than the blonde's waist before the blonde collapsed into the other woman. He hated this part the most, the aftermath. Graham hoped that not too much had happened before he got there but the state of the two women told a different story. The brunette had obviously been watching for a long time.
Rising quietly, overlooking the scene, he listened to the whisperings of sweet words to comfort, to soothe. Blue eyes closed as he heard the brunette's apologies for not being able to do anything. The strangled words of "I love you". "I'm sorry". "Forgive me".
With his sword and dagger in place, Graham bent over, easily lifting the legs of the dead man. He dragged the son of a bitch across the room. As he reached the door a voice stopped him.
"Thank you," fell so quietly from the blonde.
She was staring at him, bottom lip still trembling but she had thanked him.
The woman with her arms wrapped protectively around the blonde, simply smiled a small smile, nodding her head slightly in acknowledgement. Words of gratitude stuck in her throat. Not many acknowledged his existence nor voiced their appreciation. He just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Graham bowed slightly in return, his gruff voice wishing them a safe night before he disappeared out their door with the body.