Hello Readers! Before we get back to our story - a quick question: I've had an idea niggling at my brain for a while now and it just won't go away. How would you feel about a sequel to "These Dreams" that sent Killian and Emma back into the dreamscape again? I'm not sure of all the logistics yet, but I just wanted to get a barometer. And would you prefer a complete story, or a series of running one-offs (kind of like Captain's Choice) that take place in and around the already existing story? Give me your thoughts, please.
Now let's get Killian and Emma back to Storybrooke...
Killian fell into step alongside Emma as they made their way east on 97th Street. They'd gotten breakfast along the way at a couple of different food carts, and Emma was currently munching on the last of her donut as Killian continued eating with great gusto.
"What d'you call this again?" he asked.
"A breakfast burrito. It's got eggs, bacon, potatoes, cheese and hot sauce in it."
"Well, it's food of the gods," he said, taking another huge bite.
"That's your second one," she pointed out. "And the first one was the size of a newborn."
"Well, I need to keep my strength up, don't I? I'm the leader of a prestigious organization now." He gave her a cocky grin and took another bite.
"Who made you leader?" she asked with a smirk.
"I earned it." He had a devilish gleam in his eye and she couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah. You did. But we need to get moving."
"You really think he'll be in the park?"
"The man lived in a tent in the woods for months after he got to Storybrooke," Emma said flatly. "He'll be there. He'll just have to be careful about staying there, so he probably moves his camp as soon as daylight hits. He's also more likely to be here at the north end, where the terrain is a little more rugged and there aren't as many tourist attractions."
She reached into her pocket, pulling out the cellphone and dialing it.
"Henry? Hey, how's it going?" She listened intently for a moment. "Well, that's some progress," she said. "Listen, I've got an idea and I don't want you to tell Regina about it until I definitely find him." She looked over at Killian, who was rubbing his belly slowly, now that the burrito was done.
"Yeah, that' who I'm going after - if anyone can give her hope, it'd be him," she continued. "We're going to go and check the park - the north end. The only thing is, I'm not sure how we're going to get him into Storybrooke."
Killian's face seemed pained now, and he was looking slightly green.
"Henry, I gotta go. See what you and Belle can figure out in the meantime. I love you. Bye." She ended the call and put the phone back in her pocket.
"You okay?"
"No." He rubbed his chest. "It feels like I swallowed hot coals, and a lot of them."
"I told you to say no to the jalapenos," she reminded. "You're going to pay for that later."
"What's life without a little spice, Swan?"
"Come on," she said, grabbing his arm. "We've got ground to cover."
###
"So what's the status?" Regina asked as Henry put his phone away.
"They're in New York, and they're trying to get a car for the drive up," he said. "Any more progress on the window?"
"It budged another half-inch after I blasted it with a fireball. Still not enough to get more than a finger out," she said disgustedly. "Not that I don't feel like sticking a certain finger out there several times a day..."
Henry snorted and Regina smiled back. "Henry, if I didn't have your visits to look forward to, this situation would be excruciating."
He gave her a hug, then an apologetic look. "I promised Belle I'd meet her at the library in ten minutes," he said.
"It's okay," she said. "Dr. Hopper's due here any minute. Guess I'd better finish my baking."
"That's one perk to having you stuck in a house all day," Henry pointed out. He hugged her again, grabbed his backpack, and walked to the door. The doorbell rang just as he was reaching for it, so he opened it, greeting Archie warmly.
"Go on in," Henry said. "She's got a surprise for you."
"A surprise?" Archie looked curious, stepping into the house and waving goodbye at Henry. "Regina!" he called out, closing the door behind him.
"In the kitchen!" she called back.
He made his way down the hall and into the kitchen, where Regina was crouched down in the corner. He stepped forward, wondering if she needed help.
"Regina?" he asked cautiously. "Is everything okay?"
"Of course," she replied. "And I have someone I want you to meet." She stood up, and then he could clearly see what she was crouching over. A dalmatian stood in her kitchen, wagging its tail and tilting its head to look at him curiously. Then suddenly the dog straightened, as if it had received a jolt. It leaped forward, jerking its leash out of Regina's hands and landed its paws on Archie's chest, nearly knocking him over.
"Easy!" Archie said, rubbing the dog's ars. "Easy boy." He looked over at Regina. "What a beautiful dog. Is he yours, Regina?"
"Mine?" Regina arched a brow. "Heavens, no. I'm not a dog person." She motioned Archie over to the living room, and the dog followed obediently as they took a seat on opposite ends of the couch.
"He seems very friendly," Archie observed.
"So you like him?" Regina asked. "Then why don't you keep him. We really don't have the room here."
"He doesn't have an owner?"
"Now he does," Regina said, watching Archie carefully. "You."
Archie looked down at the dog again. "What should I name him?"
"How about Pongo?" Regina suggested. "Does that work for you?" She stared at him again, looking for any sign that something had been triggered. Archie looked like he was on the verge of remembering, but wasn't quite there yet.
"It just so happens that I called you for a different reason," Regina said. "As mayor, it's my job to know my constituents. I've been notified that we have someone new in town, and I was hoping you could arrange an introduction."
Archie looked up from the dog. "You mean Dora?"
"Henry says she trusts you."
Archie smiled at that, then his smile faded. "I could try, I suppose, but I'm not sure where we'd find her."
Regina looked alarmed. "She's missing?"
"When I ran into her last, she was moving out of Mary Margaret's apartment, since Ms. Blanchard has regained consciousness. She didn't tell me where she was off to." He smiled a soft, tender smile. "She's quite a remarkable woman," he said. "Burdened, but stronger than she thinks. Some people just don't realize their own strength."
He stopped abruptly, realizing he'd been gushing, and started petting Pongo again. Regina eyed him thoughtfully.
"She speaks very fondly of you, too," she pointed out, "Or so Henry tells me."
Archie's head snapped up. "Really?" He backtracked, trying to sound more professional. "I'm glad to hear that she's reaching out to others," he said. "She needs to focus on sociali-"
He stopped again, only this time, he froze. His eyes widened, and then he sucked in a breath.
"Regina?"
"Archie?"
Pongo let out a bark, and Archie laughed, rubbing his head and ears again. "Yes, Pongo, it's me." He looked over at Regina. "It's really me."
Regina let out a sigh of relief. "Well, that's one more, at least."
"What's happened?" Archie asked.
"What's happened is Dora," Regina said. "And you're going to help us figure out why she's here."
###
Emma paced the hotel hallway, trying her best to blend in with the other people who were there for the "Digital Marketing and Social Media" Expo. She pulled out her phone, checking the time, then put it away again before pacing some more. At last, the door in front of her opened, and Killian stepped out, wearing a look of extreme chagrin.
"Any better?"
"There can't be anything left," he said glumly.
"Next time, listen to me when I warn you," she chided. "You don't know this world and I do. The grease from that damn burrito was running down your arm."
He rubbed his ear, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation. "I think we can resume our search now."
"Good," she said. "I got you this." She handed him a bright pink bottle and he looked at it curiously.
"What's this? An elixir?"
"It's Pepto Bismol. It'll help."
"Does it mix with rum?"
Emma made a face, not bothering to answer that. "We need to get out of here before someone realizes we're not guests of the hotel. Public bathrooms are in short supply in New York."
"Wonderful."
There was a wealth of discontent in that word.
###
David hugged Snow tightly as they watched the reunion between Abigail and Frederick. It had taken some machinations to get them together, tricking Catherine in closing her eyes and expecting a surprise and luring Frederick with the promise of a new star athlete who wanted to play soccer. They met in the park and it only took seconds for them to reconnect.
"True love," Snow sighed. "Isn't it wonderful?"
"It is," David replied, dropping a kiss on her forehead. "How did it go with Marco?"
"He was hugging Pinnochio - I mean, August - when I left. And August was turning back to flesh."
David's phone rang suddenly, and he fished it out of his pocket and checked the number.
"It's the autodial from the station. The alarm at Gold's shop is going off. I'd better get over there." He leaned down over Neal's car seat, kissing the baby on the head. "Take the baby home and I'll meet you there after I check things out."
Snow nodded. "Be careful."
David took off in a jog - Gold's shop was only a few blocks away. It was probably a stray cat or maybe even a couple of kids - who knew with this new curse. Everyone was stuck in a rough place. He drew his gun to be safe and stayed low as he crept up on the storefront. The pane of glass on the door had been shattered, and a quick glance inside showed a shifting of shadows - someone was definitely moving around in there.
"Don't move!" he shouted, wrenching the door open and flipping on the light. Dora jumped back with a shriek, raising her arms in the air.
David looked around, and the shop was a mess. Drawers had been opened, cabinets emptied, boxes overturned...
"What's going on, Dora? Why are you in here?"
She shook her head, remaining mute. David holstered his gun and walked slowly toward her.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he said. "I only want to talk to you."
She shook her head again, wildly. "Please," she begged. "Don't come any closer. Please."
Her fear was a very real thing, so real that David couldn't help but be moved by it. He stopped. "I know you won't hurt me, Dora," he said. "And I promise, I'm not going to do anything but talk."
She raised her chin, looking at him defiantly. "How do you know I won't hurt you?"
"Because you took care of my son," he said. "You took care of my son when he had no one else, and that counts for something with me. But we need to know why you're here."
Dora's face went white, and she stared at him, once again refusing to answer.
"Dora, please, won't you talk to me?" he held out a beseeching hand. "I don't know if you're responsible for what's happened -"
"Of course I am!" she shrieked. "Of course, it's me! Don't you see? You're all going to be in pain, and it's only going to get worse if you don't let me go!"
Her eyes were wild now, looking this way and that, desperately searching for an exit. She feinted to the left and David moved to counter but she shifted right, running past him for the door.
"Dora!" he shouted, running after her.
She ran right into the street, and an oncoming car swerved to avoid her, slamming into a telephone pole. The wires attached to it sparked, and the whole thing toppled, almost in slow motion, landing on the roof of the shop just as David came through the doorway. It rolled toward the edge, snapping off the sign overhead, which slammed down, hitting David in the back and throwing him face-down on the sidewalk, where he lay very, very still.
Dora's hand covered her mouth as she stared in horror at David on the ground, and the driver of the car slumped over the wheel. She backed slowly away, shaking her head.
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." she whispered in a litany, before she turned and ran back toward the woods.