9 – "I suppose it's like the ticking crocodile, isn't it? Time is chasing after all of us."

I wonder how many times I can apologize for delaying this before I'm actually finished with the story. We're up to, what? Twice? You all probably deserve more. I'm terrible if I don't have a deadline. However, I have an awesome Sherlock story I desperately want to start working on, but have vowed that I shall go no further until Here and There is complete. So good news for you lot. Anywho, this is the second to last chapter and it's got ALL the action! I won't bore you with excessive commentary to make up for the long wait with this, so here ya go!

Making her way back through Storybrooke, Abby hardly noticed anything beyond her highly focused goal of returning home and speaking with her pirate. She hadn't any idea what she would say, or if there were even words to express properly what she'd just discovered, but she felt adamant that something needed to be done, as quickly as humanly possible. Her nearly frenzied travels were abruptly interrupted by Emma, however, not long after she vacated Gold's shop.

"Abby, we've found Cora and Regina; we need you at Granny's now!" the sheriff hollered as she rushed toward her. Abby purposefully ignored her friend and continued on, pausing only when Emma forcibly blocked her path. She huffed out a sigh in frustration and made to slide past.

"It can wait – I need to find Killian," she stated as Emma firmly grasped her arm, eyes concentrated on the road leading to her home rather than on her companion's anxious expression. "I'll fetch him and meet you there!"

"He's already there – Cora has him!"

Emma's latest statement finally seemed to beat through the singularly focused fog to penetrate her concentration. Abby shook herself harshly and narrowed her gaze at Emma, her expression swiftly turning determined. She cast one last glance down the road leading to her home before spinning back to face the woman. "Let's go, then," she demanded, and the two shifted direction, heading towards the diner and inn. A by now familiar group of individuals, this time including an eager Henry, anxiously awaited them.

"There you are, Abby," David nearly sighed before efficiently bringing everyone to order. He purposefully made eye contact with each person present before beginning, ensuring everyone's focus was centered on his words. "Leroy and his crew found what appears to be a hidden passageway in the mines, leading toward the cemetery. We're guessing Cora and Regina have been using it to sneak in and out of town."

"Do we have any proof beyond vague conjectures?" Abby demanded immediately, tightly crossing her arms over her chest. "And why are we only discovering this passageway now? I was told they've been found, not that we had some general idea of where they could be."

"Relax, Taylor, we wouldn't disturb you without reason," Leroy shot back at her. The two exchanged heated glares biting enough to weaken the knees of any invading army, halting only when Mary Margaret stepped between them.

"Enough, from both of you," she ordered, head darting from one to the other and back again. "The passage only appears when it's in use – one of the creators of it must be inside for it to be obvious to anyone else, which is why we're only learning about it now. The dwarves were working the mines when they heard Cora and Hook going through not long ago."

"And no one thought to follow?" Abby shot back, attempting to stifle the unreasonably rising panic that came from the news. She couldn't tell from Mary Margaret's tone whether the pirate's participation was voluntary or otherwise, leaving her particularly uneasy. "They could be anywhere at this point!"

"Abby, either calm yourself or we will be forced to lock you away until you are!" David interrupted, eying her with a mixture of irritation and incredulity. She gave a shaky sigh and nodded once, her jaw solidly set. Shooting her a final uncertain glance, he continued, "By the time anyone reached it, the entrance was blocked. We have the area guarded if they try to get back out that way, but plan on staking a direct attack on her mausoleum. It's been searched before, obviously, but we may have better luck finding them now that we have a better grasp of the situation as well as a decent idea that's where they're hiding."

"Should we ask Gold to come as well?" Emma inquired, thumbs hooked in her belt loops and a finger absentmindedly stroking the barrel of her gun. Her father frowned slightly but nodded.

"It would probably be best," he grudgingly agreed. "Everyone should collect whatever they feel they might need – remember who we're dealing with here – and meet outside the cemetery in half an hour. I'll go speak with Gold." They began to disperse, but he looped a hand around Abby's elbow before she went far, blue gaze scurrying over her face with concern. "Do not try to face them alone, please, Abby. I know you're concerned about Hook – "

"I am valiant, David, not stupid," she interjected, wrenching her arm easily from his grasp. "I'll follow your demands, but only because they are sound." With that, she once again made for her home.

Unsurprisingly, Abby was the first to arrive at their appointed location, various daggers strategically placed about her person and SEVEN AT ONE BLOW prominent at her midsection. She'd opted for a more traditional outfit, trading jeans for light breeches, sweater for one of her specifically tailored jackets, and flats for sturdy leather boots. One such boot tapped anxiously in the dirt, the only outward indication of her unsettled mental state. Signs of Killian littered her house when she arrived – books scattered about his favorite armchair, a blanket laid out beneath his usual place in her backyard, a dirty teacup resting in the sink. Most unnervingly, however, was what she found in her room when she went to change. At the foot of her bed rested his hook, obviously freshly polished from the shocking glint of the metal, and a note containing a single letter – C. The sight both reassured and terrified her; while it very nearly proved Killian did not go with Cora willingly, it meant that he'd been taken by force instead. Neither option had been particularly promising, but the thought of Killian in trouble caused her chest to clench unnaturally.

She debated silently with herself the entire walk to the cemetery's iron gates. Killian was more than capable of taking care of himself – he typically had a weapon literally fixed into his arm, for heaven's sake – but against the combined magical force of Cora and Regina, he neared powerless. She couldn't help but blame herself for the way the situation played out; she'd left him alone, without even a meager ward to halt any unwelcome visitors from passing through her door, while confronting Gold. It wasn't as though she could have taken him along (particularly given the knowledge she'd gained), but regardless she blamed herself heartily. Until he was found, there was little else she could do.

Emma arrived not long after Abby resorted to pacing to relieve her pent up tension. Realizing that the action was necessary for her to remain relatively composed, Emma merely stood by, a mildly concerned expression on her face. The others soon followed, congregating around David and a stoic Gold.

Pulling out the hook and note from one of her jacket's various pockets, she offered them to the assembled crowd for inspection. "I found these when I left to prepare. I think we can assume Killian did not go willingly."

"I thought Cora was done with Hook?" Mary Margaret mused as she glanced at the solitary sprawling shape across the piece of paper. "She said as much when they both arrived."

"Apparently not," David replied, whirling back on the rest. "Right, we'll all need to be on our guard. Leroy, let's have you and the rest of the dwarves on lookout. The less going in to overwhelm them, the better chance we have at getting out of this without bloodshed. Abby, it may be best if – "

"Do not even suggest it, Nolan," Abby growled, clasping the dagger at her hip threateningly. "There's no way in hell I'll stand off to the side like some pathetic maiden while Killian's in trouble."

"What happened between you two anyway?" Emma asked, attempting to mask her excitement behind a sheet of general curiosity. "And when did you start calling him Killian?"

"Since she learned he's her true love," Gold interjected matter-of-factly, drawing out a muted gasp from most around them. Emma's grin broadened as Abby rested her hands at her waist, scowling stonily at the man.

"By all means, Gold, share all of my personal information with half the bloody town," she grumbled sullenly. "Care to reveal the back story as well? Get it all out there for everyone to titter about?"

"Nothing for me to titter except 'I told you so,'" Emma remarked with a smug smile, earning herself a sharp shove from Abby. Before Emma could do more than chuckle, David halted them with a raised hand.

"While I am fascinated to learn more about this apparently recent infatuation, we've more pressing business to attend to." His focus centered on Abby, studying her with a troubled intensity. "I won't force you to stay out, Abby, but if it's between defeating Cora and Regina and rescuing Hook, you know which I'll choose. I have to do what's best for everyone."

She gave him a single curt nod. "I understand. You lot take care of them; I'll get Killian." Before she could continue, however, an odd tingling began in her fingertips, quickly spreading throughout her body. It felt more unpleasant than painful, as though she were being forcibly summoned in a very specific direction, and started just below her navel before spreading hastily to her extremities. The others noted her pause, watching as she gradually spun to face the general direction of their destination. As she took a step forward, the sensation amplified, causing her brow to furrow in perplexity. Gold, however, appeared to comprehend what was occurring.

"A tracking spell, I assume," he said, stepping forward to wave a hand just above her skin. A faint, misty fog the same shade as her eyes floated from her lazily. "No sign of who's placed it, but given our current situation, it seems rather obvious. We certainly have the element of surprise on our hands, then."

"Let's go, quickly, before they have more time to prepare," David declared, leading them silently forward. The dwarves spanned out into the graveyard, surrounding the mausoleum in a tight ring of focused warriors. Abby followed close behind the prince, the tingling progressing into a sharp prickling the farther they went. By the time they reached its impressively looming entrance, the awareness was nearly unbearable.

"A bit uncomfortable, are we?" Gold muttered close to her ear, humor laced in each syllable. Forcing herself not to physically attack the man for his cheek, she clenched her jaw and merely nodded. He chuckled lowly and continued, "Once we enter, it should subdue. Follow the pulling sensation, deep within your chest, and it will lead you to him."

He silently magiced the door open, instantly tempering the pain to a more manageable level. Just as predicted, a commanding sensitivity centered in her midsection guided her forward. She cautiously stalked forward as she whispered back at Gold. "Him?"

"Hook. Cora's using your connection to bring you to him. In order for a tracking spell to work, there must be a link, some reason for one individual to seek out another. Your recent revelation should make this reasoning obvious."

The group continued down the hallway almost silently, Abby taking over at the front and following the spell like an enchanted bloodhound. Eventually, they rounded a bend and heard voices talking quietly.

"We've a half hour, forty-five minutes at most, before she should arrive," Regina stated, the sounds of a chair scraping across the floor in the room beyond echoing back at them. "Might as well make yourself comfortable, Captain."

"I'll stand, thanks very much," came his stinted reply, followed by scuffling and grunts that could only signify his being forced into the seat. Carefully removing one of her daggers, Abby inched ahead, the others close behind.

"There now, isn't that better?" Cora crooned, her heels clicking dully on the floor. "No need to be so obstinate."

"What do you plan to do to her?" he demanded, his heavily veiled desperation and fear clear to Abby's ears. She swallowed once and adjusted her weapon's grip, motioning the others to flank the nearly closed door that hid the trio.

"You'll see soon enough, pirate, never fear," Regina answered, her smirk conveyed easily through her words.

"Oh come, daughter, we mustn't let him miss out on all of the fun," Cora scolded playfully, footsteps reverberating down the narrow corridor as she paced the room's length. "Shall we give him a small taste?"

All she needed was the subtle wince of pain from Hook to convince Abby to throw open the door, a second dagger now bared in her free hand. Her minor army followed, only slightly delayed, and brandished their weapons as well. Hook sat tied to a chair opposite, face slightly contorted as he shivered once. Abby efficiently ignored the stunned expressions of Cora and Regina as she rushed to his side.

"Killian," she muttered, relief flooding her senses when his bright eyes opened in surprise. They battled between reassurance and fear as he leaned toward her automatically.

"Abby," he whispered, an almost smile gracing his lips. "You came."

"Of course I came, you idiot," she replied with a smirk, cutting through his bindings easily. "Couldn't bloody well not with that blasted tracking spell tugging away at me. Besides, rescuing you appears to be my purpose in life."

"Don't remind me," he groaned as he stood, pulling her into a fierce hug.

"As charming a picture the two of you make, we've business to attend to," Gold called out to them, causing both to twist about. Regina stood before David and Mary Margaret, while he and Emma stood before Cora. Reaching for the loop in her belt that securely held his hook, Abby smirked up at the captain and handed it over.

"Looking for this?" she inquired, savoring his appreciative grin.

"My hero," he remarked with a roll of his eyes as he efficiently reattached it, leading her toward the tense group and taking his place facing his abductors. Cora and Regina, meanwhile, wore matching scowls of fury.

"Give up now, the both of you, before any serious damage is done," David demanded, sword at the ready.

Grimace reverting to a grim sneer, Cora shook her head. "We bare no ill will with you, Charming, nor any of your people. We simply want the Warrior and her pirate."

Abby sensed more than saw said pirate shifting his stance so that his body more firmly blocked her from the mother and daughter pair. "I've told you before, Cora, you'll not have her. I'd give my life first."

"As pleasant a thought as that is, I'm afraid it goes entirely against our plan," she responded, casually waving a hand and trapping the two in a shimmering invisible shield. Without much conscious thought, Abby reached out for Killian's only hand, gripping it fiercely in her sweaty palm. His responding squeeze was as strong as her own. The moment the spell was cast, the others burst into action, lunging forward with weapons and magic. As they battled their respective partners, Abby turned solemnly to her companion.

"This is entirely my fault," she stated with certainty, lips contorted in a frown. "If I hadn't gone to Gold…"

"Why did you visit the Crocodile?" he inquired, softly brushing her arm with the cool edge of his hook. Sighing, she leaned her head into his shoulder and began her explanation, concluding with her arrival to stage his escape. He remained silent throughout her narrative, listening and observing the fight thoughtfully.

"You love me, then," he outright stated, no hint of uncertainty behind the words.

Lifting her head, she scowled up at him. "All that and the only thing you get out of it is that I love you?"

He chuckled and beamed, placing a soft kiss to her temple. "It's the only thing that mattered." Outside their shell of safety came a dull vibration as everyone present stumbled, caught by the magic one of them summoned. The next moment, all but Cora were blown backwards, Abby and Hook stumbling particularly badly against the sides of their confine. She stalked forward, raising a hand to jerk the two to their feet, and glared triumphantly at them.

"You people never learn," she declared, breaking the shield to face them directly. "I am not one to toy with, particularly when you stand between myself and my goal. From the moment I slipped Hook that spell, you've both been mine…and it is time to stop fighting."

"Couldn't agree more," Abby replied, and shot out a single, highly concentrated spell. She watched Cora shoot backwards against the opposite wall before the abrupt release of excessive power sent her into darkness.