It had been a very long night. But a productive night. For the longest time, he'd felt like looking into the curse at the town line was headache-inducing. For every answer he developed, two more questions followed. But finally, he was beginning to feel like he was on top of it, narrowing down the magic that was there, getting something accomplished. He might not feel like he was out of the woods yet with it, but he felt like he was getting somewhere. Of course, having a solid, completed potion at morning's first light helped that feeling.

During one particular experiment last night, he'd found a hint of magic in his samples of the curse that didn't belong, something weak. In exploring it a little more, he realized it was magic borne of the previous barrier, the one that kept people from leaving Storybrooke. Though he was committed to getting himself out to see Baelfire, he was also committed to keeping Belle safe. If that meant protecting the rest of the town just to protect her, then that was what he was going to do. Besides, what he'd had in mind was so easy that not doing it seemed foolish.

A few hours later, just as the sun came up, he'd completed his project. It was sealed inside a tiny glass vial but still not complete. Once it was done, when it was time, it would act as a barrier again, but this time in reverse. Once he returned with Baelfire, he could activate it, and it would form a seal around Storybrooke, keeping the outside world safely away from the town. It would be a precaution, just something for a little extra safety. However, the spell wasn't done yet.

The magic that he'd found inside the curse would work, but it was weak. It would need a powerful dose of magic before it was ready to protect the entire town, magic that he couldn't provide. It needed Light Magic. The Dark Curse had been made of Dark Magic to keep them in their cage. This had to be made of Light Magic to reverse it and keep others out. Fortunately, he had a plan for that.

David had mentioned when they'd gone to find Belle that they'd been working with Fairy Dust in the mines. Dove had informed him that the word on the street was that he was doing it so that he might open up a portal to get Emma and Mary Margaret back; as if that had any chance of working. Still, no matter the reasons, he knew the mines traveled throughout the entire town; if and when they found fairy dust there, that would do the trick. It was a small vial, but when willed properly, the potion would work with the fairy magic to spread it throughout the town and create the border. When the time was right…

He wrote out his notes on a small scroll so he wouldn't forget, then rolled the small potion up in it and slipped it into his black bag for safekeeping just as the sun came up. He used magic to take himself home so that he could shower and change clothes, before using magic to return to the pawnshop, glance over into the library to make sure nothing looked amiss, and then get down to work. After the night he'd had, he was happy to do some ordinary things in his shop: polishing, appraising, tinkering. It was nice to let his mind go blank for a few hours. In a perfect world, he'd be sharing this time with Belle, but until she decided the time was right, until she was ready to tell him that she wanted him back in her life for that hamburger, then he'd continue to keep his distance and watch from afar.

It was late afternoon when he finally sent out his usual check-in with Dove. Yesterday he'd concluded his time of spying on Smee. He'd brought him a list of places he'd gone to, the people he'd seen, and on occasion provided a picture for him. None of them were the wretched pirate. That, combined with his experiments the previous night, convinced him…he'd told the truth, Hook was not in this realm. Small favors, he supposed. But that didn't mean he was willing to let Dove go so easily. It was a small town, but he knew that it was bigger than it seemed. He wanted him for his eyes and ears out there, and that was why he'd sent him a message this afternoon.

Anything I should know about, Mr. Dove?

He expected silence or a snide remark. Instead, to his shock, he received a relevant update.

Not that I know of. Sounds like Dr. Whale and the Mayor are just settling an old score of some kind.

Well, that was a unique update indeed. And sent with such reassurance that it sounded like he thought he knew what he was talking about. If that were the case, it must have been all over town. If he needed to eat, or this had been before the Curse, he might have gone to Granny's and heard something, but he'd been camping out in his shop for days with little interaction with others. He didn't know anything of what he'd just sent him. So, he responded to the message.

Oh, how so?

He waited a solid five minutes for the answer, and when it came, he didn't think there was a way he could have prepared for it.

Turns out the guy is Dr. Frankenstein, like, the one from our memories. He resurrected one of the Mayor's old ex's using some kind of stolen magical heart from the cemetery. Things went very wrong for a while, but it sounds like everything is under control. She handled it, killed the guy again, or something like that. Anything else?

He smirked, practically hearing the snide remark that he'd been expecting in his head, already prepared with an answer.

Rent's due today. I'll assume you are doing your part.

There was no reply to that, but he was fine with that. Dove had given him other things to think about.

Frankenstein had resurrected Regina's "ex"? Daniel? With a magical heart from a cemetery? Well, he couldn't exactly see Regina willing to agree to such a thing given what had occurred the last time he'd "attempted" to resurrect Daniel; at least she shouldn't be if he'd done his job properly. But then why would Whale involve himself without request? What would make him want to do that? And a heart from the cemetery…well, now he knew for sure, Regina was keeping her magic in the cemetery, probably in that mausoleum that she kept her father in. There was a good chance that was also where she'd kept Daniel. But still, steal him of his own free will for no reason? It made not a single lick of sense.

The bell to shop rang. He nearly shivered when he looked up to see Whale, formerly known as Dr. Frankenstein, standing there. It was nothing specific that set a chill down his spine but rather a realization. The doctor had never been in this shop before. They'd never come face to face in Storybrooke before, never had the need to. But the image of Whale here now…it was familiar. What he was wearing, the box he was carrying, the pale look on his face, even the fucking light spilling into the shop, he'd seen all of it before! In a vision he'd had just before he'd sent Jefferson back with the Doctor to his own world. They'd argued, quarreled over whether magic or science was the greater power. Obviously, he'd been on the side of magic and the doctor on the side of science. But the vision had told him that someday a time would come with the Doctor would change his opinion and eat his words. Today was the day.

He put down his work and met Whale at one of the tables where he promptly set the box, a cooler, on the table and opened the lid. He had a strong stomach, but he didn't think that even a vision would have properly prepared him for the left arm sitting upon ice still dressed up in a white sleeve. He glanced up at the doctor and noted that his left hand wasn't sticking out of his sleeve as the right one was. He collected himself and glanced up at the doctor.

"When they say I charge an arm and a leg, that's meant as a figure of speech."

"Put it back."

"You want me to reattach your arm?" he questioned.

"Can you do it?"

"Of course," he answered. So…this was what would bring the doctor back to him after all these years? This was what he was willing to trade his opinion for. He had a bum leg, he couldn't blame him for wanting his arm back, but he wasn't about to forget what had happened before. "But first, tell me why."

"Because I want to use it again."

"Obviously," he chuckled, but not exactly what he was talking about. He wanted to hear the words. But seeing as how his Dove was only sending him the bare minimum of information these days, he also wanted answers. "I meant, why bring that stable boy back from the dead? Why now?"

Whale sighed and looked away. He shifted his weight and winced as he stared at the ground avoiding his gaze, classic indications of guilt. No matter why he'd done it, he obviously felt it hadn't been worth it in the end. "I thought…" he finally choked out. "I thought that if I helped her, she would return me to my world. I want to see my brother–to try to bring him back again."

"Again?" he prompted with genuine curiosity. The last time he'd seen Whale, he'd sent him back to his world with a magical heart, but that was where the story ended for him. He'd had no need of him after he'd succeeded with Regina. He'd never asked Jefferson again what had become of him. And so now he waited in eager anticipation of the story he didn't know.

Whale paused, sorrow written on his face. "The first time ended badly," he answered. "I need to return and try it once more."

He fought the urge to roll his eyes. He almost felt bad for the moron. His explanation made sense, but he'd made some great assumptions before acting that were his downfall. It was a piss poor plan. There was no returning to the other world, not without destroying this one, and considering that would mean leaving Henry behind, he really doubted that would happen just to return Whale to his brother. And really, there was nothing to be done. He'd provided the heart, the best heart that he had. If it "hadn't ended well," then there was really nothing else to be done that could change that from happening again.

"Well, it seems that's rather beyond her abilities," he informed him with a false smile. "My condolences."

Whale didn't particularly look surprised at the news. He merely nodded and peered down into the cooler. "Now, my arm. You said you can do it," he whispered.

"Oh, yes. But there's a difference between can and will," he smiled.

"Name your price."

"Say it," he ordered.

"Say what?" he asked innocently enough. Oh, how quickly they "forgot."

"You know what," he argued back. "You came here, not the hospital. So, say it."

Oh yes, he knew. The Doctor knew what he wanted and didn't want it. He enjoyed it, watching him twist and flail and sneer as they stood there before he violently shrugged his jacket off and revealed what the creature he'd made was truly capable of. His sleeve was torn off, soaked with blood on one side, but still, he glared at him as he took a deep breath and finally said, "I need magic."

And there it was, the line he'd heard all those years ago. The shiver he felt now was from complete and utter satisfaction. It was worth it to finally win that argument.

"That's all I needed to hear," he stated before waving his hand over to the one in the cooler. The magic barely took a thought, and the arm was back on the Questionable Doctor's shoulder as it should have been. He raised his hand in front of him and stared at it, completely amazed. But he didn't have time for amazed. He didn't have the patience for it. So, he extended his hand across the useless cooler toward the Doctor. "Always a pleasure doing business with you, uh, Victor," he beamed like the salesman he was.

The doctor reached out and shook his hand. Finally, their deal was complete.

And with this familiar scene, we conclude 2x05, and step in to 2x06 next. And you might think, hey, Rumple wasn't in 2x06, and you'd be correct, but those episodes he's absent from always give me the ability to add what needs to be added. Upon approaching this scene from 2x05, where Rumple was mostly out of the picture, you probably thought nothing important would happen, and yet, before Whale steps in, something significant does happen. Did you see what he put together and how? There's Belle's season 3 protection spell, locked, loaded, complete with instructions. I really liked bringing that into the picture earlier than 2x22 and having him think through how it would need to be used and also why he doesn't go off and use it right away. Sort of seems like something he might regret later, don't you think.

Thank you, Grace5231973, for your review of the last chapter. I hope that you'll enjoy this one just as much for what you expected as you do for what you didn't expect. Rumple is back and doing his thing in the next chapter. If you're ready, then on to 2x06! Peace and Happy Reading!