I enter the shop to find the shop floor empty. The little bell rings. In an instant Gold pokes his head around the doorway of the back room.

"You called the station?"

He nods. And then he slips back into the room.

I wind my way through his weird collection until I reach the doorway. No sooner I step into the room I see Caroline sitting behind his desk. She nurses a cup of coffee, and smiles weakly at me. Gold is perched on the end of the desk.

"Haven't seen Regina around, have you?"

"Not so far," I reply. "Why, what's up?"

"She's looking for Caroline."

I nod. I guess we knew this was coming sometime. The hospital records had pointed to her involvement, as Gold knew they would. And now somehow he knows that she's prowling the town in search of Caroline. And I'll bet he knows why, too.

"So you called… me?"

"I guessed Regina would head for the florist first, then me. That gave me time to get you here."

I don't get it. He's twitchy, listening out for the door, shuffling in his space.

"Do you... want protection?"

He nods. "I know Regina. I know how to handle her. But she doesn't."

He looks at Caroline, and she puts down her cup. She looks between us both, and I can see that she's shaking. Her eyes shine at the corners as teardrops build. She sucks them back, rubs at her eyes.

"Gold thinks this Regina person... She might want to put me back there. Back underground."

The dread she's feeling leaks into the room around us, makes me feel colder.

Gold reaches across the desk, puts his hand on her shoulder. I have that weird feeling again, like there's another layer of this stranger unfolding in front of me. I guess Henry had him pegged with that Beauty and the Beast stuff after all. Pain in the ass to most the world, but maybe there's something more human inside.

"Sheriff, I'd like another pair of eyes here when Regina undoubtedly-"

The little bell rings, the door slams shut.

"Gold," Regina calls loudly. "We need to talk."

I make for the door, but a sharp sob catches me. Caroline is shivering again.

"I don't want to... you won't make me... have to..."

She starts to panic, but Gold takes her chin gently, turns her face to his.

"Shhh," he says quietly. "I'll talk to her. The sheriff will stay here with you for now."

Well that's me told, I guess.

He gets up and heads out of the door, closing it gently behind him. I hear quiet voices beyond it, but can't make out the words. It looks like Caroline's listening too. She catches my eye, and then smiles a little. She sniffs back another tear.

"You okay?"

She nods.

"Gold... He says he's going to do anything he can to stop the Mayor putting me back in the hospital."

"Well you're backing a winner. He's a powerful guy around here. Things always seem to get done the way he wants them done."

She seems comforted by this, and stops listening for voices. I almost want to warn her about Gold, about what he's prepared to do when he says 'anything'. But I don't. She looks so fragile. If he's using his power to protect her, then why should I step in?

"He won't tell me how I know him."

I feign a little surprise.

"Well that's odd."

"I have a theory though."

I cross the room and perch myself where Gold was seated.

"Go for it."

She laughs just once. "It's silly I guess... But it was something my father said this morning. He doesn't talk to me much; he's just been letting me go my own way."

"And that's okay?"

She nods. "I think if he tried to be a proper dad it would upset me. The way he is now, it's all right."

So Gold's little meeting in the woods was more than just reuniting dad and daughter. I can't help the creeped out feeling about how much he's meddling in Caroline's life, and that she has no idea, but compared to screaming and crying in the hospital, I have to admit Gold's way of quietly running her life does seem to be working.

"So your theory?"

"My father said something to one of his assistants. It was something like 'Gold always thinks he can have everything that belongs to me'. So I think maybe me and Gold, before I was locked away... we could've been..."

I can actually feel my eyes widen in shock.

"Really?" I ask.

I mean sure, I definitely thought from Gold's perspective that he had some feelings for Caroline. But for her to feel anything back, to even broach the idea of that... I guess I wasn't prepared to hear that part.

"When he's here I feel safe. I'm freaking out, you know, with that woman out there. But he's here... so it's okay."

I nod, and I wonder if the disbelief is still showing on my face, because she's starting to look away like she's embarrassed.

"Sure, I can understand that."

She looks back at me, smiles again.

"And when we talk, I feel like I've spent so much time with him. Like I've told him everything before. I mean, why would I feel like that?"

I guess she makes sense. I can feel a question bubbling up to the surface of my mind, and I'm not sure I want to know the answer. But it starts falling out of my mouth nevertheless.

"And you think he's attractive?"

She smiles widely. "Maybe not to everyone," she inclines her head to me. "But I do. Kind of a lot."

The voices outside the door become raised, as though they're coming closer. Caroline shrinks a little behind the desk. I shift my weight in front of her and she shies away behind me.

"I am here to speak to Sheriff Swan, and frankly it's none of your concern why."

"I know damn well that's not true."

"Ooh. Nasty. It doesn't become you, Gold. Now-"

The door flies open in her usual fashion. She smiles that sickly smile of camaraderie at me.

- :: -

"Good evening Sheriff."

Her voice catches me off guard. It almost sounds friendly. Against all instinct I rise from the desk, raise my head over the sheriff's shoulder. She's a dark figure in a power suit, smiling playfully at us all.

And then I see her eyes, and I know. She was the visitor. The silent eyes that have watched me for as long as I can remember. I feel a sickly lurch in my stomach. She smiles at me directly.

"Ah, and Miss French is here. Well isn't that helpful."

Gold stands behind her in the doorway, he's looking at me too, but it's almost as if he can't see me. His eyes are glassed over, his mind clearly working overtime. It gives me a little hope.

"Well hey there Madam Mayor." Emma smiles and grimaces at the same time. "Whatever can I do for you this fine afternoon?"

"I'm here to report a situation, Miss Swan."

The Mayor looks at me again, and this time the smile is wider.

"I'd like you to escort Miss French to the station."

Emma cocks her head to the side. "Of course you would. And for what reason?"

"I've been having a little chat with Caroline's father, and apparently she's exhibiting some violent behaviour. He claims she struck him unprovoked last night."

Gold snaps from his thoughts, looks at me questioningly. Emma turns too, and her eyes are wide with surprise. I was hoping not to have to bring this up… ever.

"Y-You weren't there. You didn't see how it happened."