A/N: So sorry for the long wait, folks. Had one hell of a week. I worked harder than I thought I would have to on this one, and I hope you like it. Thanks so much for reading, and thanks as always, to those that review and keep me motivated. :)

Chapter 25

Hatter paused, searching the forest for the cause of the uneasy, hunted sensation creeping up his spine. Something was most definitely watching them, and the hair still standing up at the back of his neck told him clearly that whatever it was, it wasn't friendly. He tried to listen to the sounds of the forest, but all he could hear was Ryan's gasping breaths and little sounds of distress. He glared at him over his shoulder and brought his finger to his lips in a warning for silence. Hatter held up a hand, motioning for him to stay put as he circled their location.

Hatter listened and watched as he crept through the thick foliage, beyond annoyed that he had to protect the imbecile Ryan… who was currently whistling under his breath as he waited. It would serve him right if he got eaten, but it wouldn't help Alice. He ignored the stinging sweat that continued to drip into his eyes and had set the little cuts covering his arms on fire. He glanced down at his arms; he was bleeding outright now, just as Ryan was. Damn. The blood would surely attract any creatures that were in the area.

The forest had closed around them so completely that Hatter was no longer able to use the view of the city as a clear direction of travel, and he was now unsure of their direction. What they needed to do was to find the Tulgey River. If he could locate it, that would mean a clean water source for them, and more importantly, a path to follow directly to the city. The last thing Hatter wanted to do was to get lost and spend the little precious time he had wandering around in circles.

He paused to allow Ryan a moment to catch up to him, taking the opportunity to catch his breath and take a swig of water.

"Watch for a river," he said shortly as Ryan finally reached his side.

"We need to stop," Ryan gasped, one hand pressed to his side.

Hatter raked him with a disgusted sneer, "One moment, no more, Nancy boy. We've got no time."

Ryan looked as if he might argue, but as tried to meet Hatter's glower with one of his own, he shut his mouth with an audible snap. Hatter wasn't sure what he saw in his face, but he was glad of the lack of argument that resulted from it. He was sure there would be hell to pay when they finally emerged from the Forest of Wabe, but he was too worn through to care. If they never managed to make it through alive, it was a moot point anyway.

They had to move, because he was now more certain than ever that something was not just watching them… it was hunting them.

Alice looked from the Duchess, now the Queen, to Jack Heart and cleared her throat, "Hi, Jack."

He smiled, "How in the world did you get here?" Jack managed to ask after the initial shock had faded into curious disbelief.

"And why are you here?" the Duchess coolly added.

By the jealous glint in the Duchesses' eye, Alice could tell that she thought it was for a completely different reason. It didn't help matters that she'd been found waiting for Jack in his bed. Alice tried for a smile, but it came out tenuous and strained.

"Um. I'm not sure exactly how… I think I found a rabbit hole. I came to find Hatter," she hastened to explain to get that look off of the Duchess' face, "and I need your help," she stated, raising her chin defensively.

She was trying for confidant and poised, but she had the feeling that she hadn't managed it very well.

Jack narrowed his eyes, his initial surprise shifting towards anger at the mention of Hatter's name, "What is he doing here? I told him he could never return once he left."

Taken aback by the venom in his voice, she stammered, "He… he… didn't want to. He had no choice."

His look of blatant disbelief fueled her outrage on Hatter's behalf; Alice jumped off of the bed and stood to face him, "He could never return, huh? And why the hell not? If it weren't for him, you wouldn't have a kingdom. I think he deserves a little bit better than that from you."

Jack stared down her nose at her, "He was well repaid. I gave him everything he needed to make a life in your world, but it was not enough for him, was it? He had to try to undermine my authority, as well, and now he comes crawling back. Why? Does he need more money?" Jack asked snidely.

"What? No!" Alice retorted, "Everything he needed? He's in danger of getting deported, thanks to you! Did you think it was funny to sabotage his records, or did you just do it out of pure spite?" Alice demanded.

Jack glared back indignantly, "I don't have any idea what you are talking about. His records are in perfect-"

"You're Majesty, is everything well? I thought I heard…" a familiar voice called out, echoing resonantly down the hallway.

"Charlie?" Alice called out.

"Alice of Legend!" Charlie cried as he burst into the room, "It's a miracle! Have you come to stay?"

"No!" she emphatically denied, "No, I … I came back to find Hatter," she repeated, softer this time.

"The Harbinger is here, as well? Where?" he asked, looking around the room.

"I'm hoping you can answer that for me, Charlie. It's a long story," she explained.

"Jack… Alice… can we all sit down and sort out what is going on?" the Duchess interjected, "If you need help, of course we will help you," the Duchess cast a narrow eyed look at her new husband, "Won't we, Jack?"

Jack paused, taking a moment to collect himself, "Yes. Yes, of course."

Alice explained as quickly and concisely as possible why Hatter had come back to Wonderland, emphasizing that he was there under duress, and that she had to find him immediately. The telling took much longer than she would have liked; she couldn't help but feel she needed to hurry. As Hatter had told her so many times before, Wonderland was a dangerous place.

The Duchess had insisted that Alice call her Claramae, or Clara… that is, once she saw the ring on Alice's finger and realized that she had come seeking her own fiancée, not Jack. Jack had ordered that no one be admitted into his chambers, but thanks to the fact that this was his wedding day, that was unlikely to happen, anyway. Jack promised that he'd not left Hatter's records incomplete on purpose, and he grudgingly agreed to try to get the mix-up sorted, provided that Hatter kept a low profile while he was there. He expected Hatter to leave as quickly as possible, and his suits still had standing orders to arrest him on sight. He told Alice that it meant that Hatter shouldn't be seen… else he would arrest him and treat him as an enemy to the crown.

"Is this about how he left?" Alice asked.

"He told you what he did?" Jack questioned, the righteous indignation clear in his face.

"That he punched you out and then left without your approval? Yes. Get over it," she replied coldly.

"Do you understand what a delicate position I'm in here? What it looked like to my court? If a commoner like Hatter can-" Jack began.

"Commoner? Could you get more condescending?" Alice fumed.

Jack pushed away from the table and paced through the room, "That's what he is to my court. Such things may not matter in your world, but I assure you, they do in mine. I didn't make the sacrifices I did to lose my crown on the whim of a-"

"A what?" Alice asked, her tone low and deadly, "A hero? A man that threw away everything to help his people?"

"You believe that, don't you? Hatter has always cared about one thing. Himself," Jack disagreed.

"He stood by me through everything. He's still standing by me. And let me ask you this… Why did he ask me to let him contact the Resistance instead of just trying to escape Wonderland with me?" she countered.

"The Harbinger did seek to help our people, at much risk to himself," Charlie added.

"Jack, Alice! Please!" Clara interrupted, "If you'll excuse us?" she asked, pulling Jack away from the table so that they could speak privately.

Clara whispered furiously in Jack's ear, and Alice was relieved to see him calming down; they had both let their tempers run away with them… even the normally unflappable Jack. Clara was right. Getting angry with him wouldn't help, and she did need his help, like it or not.

"Look. I just want to get Hatter, and get back home. Will you help me?" Alice asked as they returned to the large circular table and again took their seats.

"Alice of Legend, it would be my honor to again assist you on this arduous task. I will gladly protect-" Charlie began.

"Thank you, Charlie," Alice interrupted. He'd go on like that all evening if she let him.

Jack smiled wryly, "I said I would help, and I will. What do you need?"

"Charlie, horses, some supplies… and a trip back home through the glass," Alice listed.

"We might have a problem with the last item," Jack admitted.

Hatter froze in place, listening closely; he'd heard something. He swung around, sword held high. A deep growl sounded from his left… he slanted his eyes towards the noise. He saw the eyes before he was able to make out the shape of the body; blood-red and glinting with malice. He froze, his heart hammering in his chest. Mottled green and grey patchy fur made up the angular face, all huge eyes and gaping mouth, its head was set upon a serpentine neck, and a double row of sharp serrated teeth glistened in the creature's maw. It growled again, and Hatter instinctively knew that the growl was not a warning… it was meant to incite fear.

The creature shifted its leonine body; the thick heavy tail tipped with a razor sharp black claw rose up to hover above its head. Hatter had heard of such creatures, but he'd never seen one; it was a bandersnatch, and it was furious… and if the drool hanging from its slathering jaws was any indication, it was also hungry. Hatter swallowed hard and cast his eyes about for an escape route. Fighting this thing would be a last resort; he didn't like his odds.

He backed up slowly, keeping his eyes fixed on the bandersnatch. Its limbs coiled and tensed. Shit, this won't work, he thought. No help for it.

"Ryan, climb a tree. Now!" he called out in warning, as he sprinted to the nearest tree with low enough branches for him to grab.

He jabbed the sword in the scabbard and pulled himself up, sure that the bandersnatch was close behind him. They had a reputation for killing their prey with remarkable cruelty and malicious glee, and they were reputed to have near human intelligence. He looked to the ground below him, but the bandersnatch was nowhere in sight. Panting, he tried to quiet his breathing and his heartbeat enough to where he could hear the sounds of the forest.

Ryan came crashing through the underbrush below the tree a few moments later, the bandersnatch fast behind him. Hatter cursed in frustrated anger as he leapt down from his safe perch and ran after.

"Oi! Over here! Come and get me," he cried, pulling the sword from the sheath.

He didn't take the bait; instead, the bandersnatch lowered his shoulders to the ground and prowled towards the terrified Ryan.

When he caught up to them, Ryan's back was to the white water of the Tulgey River; he was trapped. The bandersnatch would have him in an instant if he tried to run to the left or right. It was renowned not only for its bad disposition, but for its lightning speed. Hatter would have to kill it, if he could, or perhaps he could get it into the river. One thing was certain, there was going to be no running from it… not as close as he was.

"Ryan, when it turns toward me, you need to run. Get up a tree as high as you can go, and stay there," Hatter instructed.

Ryan didn't answer. It would all be for naught if he stood there frozen, too scared to run for it.

"Ryan!" Hatter shouted, "Answer me."

He was frozen in fear, and the bandersnatch was drinking it in greedily… and Hatter was running out of time.

Hatter edged closer to the animal, coming up on its left side. He was uncomfortably aware of how little protection from the creature's sharp claws and teeth that his t-shirt and jeans provided. He hoisted the sword and prepared for the charge and strike; if he missed, it would likely be the last mistake he'd ever make.

He ran in and struck downwards at the bandersnatch's long serpentine neck, hoping against hope that the anatomy of such a creature followed some common sense rules. He scored a hit, but not in the fatal area he'd aimed for. It did have the affect of turning the creature's attention to him, though… he supposed that was something.

He crouched low, holding the sword across his body in a guard position. The bandersnatch snapped its jaws and pounced. Hatter tried to bring the sword up through the soft underbelly, but he'd forgotten about the creature's clawed tail. He tucked and rolled out of the way, but he couldn't avoid it completely. The creature managed to cut a long gouge from one hip to the opposite shoulder blade, slicing across Hatter's skin. Hatter yelled out in shock and pain; it felt like a lash of pure fire across his back. The shock of it made him drop his sword, but he couldn't stop, he hadn't the time. He twisted his body as he landed on the forest floor, rose up on one knee and thrust his fist upwards under the fleshy soft part of the bandersnatch's jaw. He'd poured all the fear and rage he'd possessed into it as quickly as he could; he hoped it was enough.

Hatter felt the animal's fetid breath on his face one last time, and then its warm sticky blood was running down his arm. It snapped its jaws… then the light went out of its eyes and it collapsed over top of him. Hatter wearily wriggled out from underneath, pulling the sword along with him. Fury and impotent rage bubbled up inside of him. He'd almost died in this forsaken place, and for what? For the whims of a madman. He screamed out in incandescent rage and brought the sword down on the bandersnatch's neck, severing the head from the body.

Panting, soaked in sweat and covered with blood, he turned to face the still frozen Ryan, "Well, at least you found the river," he said as the rage drained out of him, leaving him deadened and empty.

TBC

A/N: Soooo… Jack didn't mess up Hatter's records after all (twisty, sneaky me). Hmm. Alice is most definitely back, and Jack will help (reluctantly) as will Charlie (happily), and Hatter is a sweaty bloody mess… Ok, so he's not wet, but he will be soon. *grins*

I hope that you enjoyed this one, and please take a moment to review and tell me what you think? Muse needs a dose of love... for that matter, writer does too. As always, thanks for reading.