Hey all! I;ve been sick this week, so I wasn't able to write. Sucks. But I finally finished this chapter and feel much better. Hopefully I won't relapse. -crosses fingers- Enjoy!

As she never truly fell asleep, Alice wasn't particularly startled when the early warning raven started crowing madly as its cage shook. She opened her eyes and stretched, wincing as her sore ribs twinged in protest. Charlie shouted from within the barn, emerging a moment later in his long johns, wielding his sword.

"Intruders! I shall defend you, Justalice!" he announced boldly, bringing a smile to her face. So it was back to Justalice, again?

"It's just Jack, Charlie," she said, not even standing up. Of course, Hatter or her father would have sent up the alarm about her departure the second she and Charlie were out of the room. It was good of the prince to give her and the White Knight enough time to see the risen paladins to their rest before coming out after her. It spoke well of his respect for the warriors of the Kingdom and his feelings for her.

"Jack?" the still sleepy old knight asked, perplexed, lowering his sword.

They could hear the horse approaching long before it appeared on the west trail entering the clearing. However, instead of the bleached blonde head she was expecting to see atop the horse, there was shining midnight in its place.

Caterpillar pulled his steed to a halt and dismounted, loping the reigns around a tree branch. He nodded a greeting to the knight. The recognition between the two men told Alice they had met before now, probably when Charlie and his army were helping with the rescue effort in the casino rubble. The tall man located her easily, as purple tends to stand out against an earthy backdrop, and walked to where she was still resting against the ladder. His scrubs had been traded in for a pair of black slacks and a white button down, untucked, with the sleeves rolled up; far simpler than his Clubs' robes had been. He had trimmed his goatee, doing away with the ridiculous point at the end. He seemed far more comfortable in his own skin now. The new look suited him.

"I wasn't expecting you," she said by way of greeting. It wasn't unkind, just honest. He nodded.

"Jack is fairly swamped right now," Caterpillar excused his… friend? Cohort? "A coup is not as simple as just defeating the Queen. There is a lot of work still to be done."

Alice nodded. It was true and entirely reasonable. "Bullshit." She forgot to maintain her lady-like vernacular in the presence of her most avid supporter, but Charlie didn't seem to mind. "He's just not ready to talk to me, yet."

Her tone was weary as she shifted on her butt, using the ladder to pull herself upright. The tall man stepped closer, offering his aid but she waved him away. "I got it."

"I would like to apologize for my part in the deception," he said then. "If we thought there was another way, we'd have taken it."

Sir Charles cleared his throat, obviously feeling a bit awkward listening in on this subject of conversation. He excused himself on the premise of gathering wood for the morning's fire and left the clearing. His sense of honor never ceased to surprise Alice, who was used to the casual apathy of the modern Earth-bound male. Speaking of casual apathy…

"If he was going to lie his ass off to me anyway, you don't think you guys could have come up with something that didn't involve me-" she couldn't say "falling in love", because she didn't believe she had. Not really. "-getting my heart broken?"

There, that sounded properly serious and dramatic. It was true, also. He frowned regretfully, which did little to sooth her injured pride and nothing for her heart. At least he cared enough to feel bad about the whole thing. That was something.

"Look, I know you guys were desperate," Alice told him with a fatigued sigh. "I understand why you did what you thought you had to do, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. I'll get over it, but not today."

He nodded. Good. They understood each other. After a silent moment, Caterpillar looked about himself.

"I've never been to the Kingdom of the Knights," he remarked softly.

"It's something else," she nodded, pulling the coat around her, even though the sun was high enough now to have burned away much of the night's chill. The soft velvet against her hands reminded her. "The Resistance knows what Hatter did for Wonderland, right?"

Caterpillar's brown eyes returned to hers. "Yes."

She didn't leave it at that, wanting to make certain he understood what she was asking of him. "They know exactly what he did? How he sacrificed? That he's a hero?"

The man nodded firmly. "They know." His expression was shrewd as he looked at her, then added, "If your worried about Dodo, you don't have to be. He's been dealt with. His people know Hatter is not to be touched."

He didn't offer details on just how Dodo had been "dealt with" and she didn't ask. Had it been left up to her, she'd have chosen a punishment worthy of the Queen of Hearts. That thought was a little disconcerting, as she'd never been particularly murderous before coming to Wonderland. The man had shot Hatter and on that, she was downright bloodthirsty.

"Good. I want everyone to know," she stated, her tone brooking no argument. "Not just the fight at the casino, I want the whole realm to know everything he's done to save it."

The corner of Caterpillar's lips quirked up in respectful amusement. "Any other demands?"

Alice was about to shake her head, but stopped. "Come to think of it, yes," she said instead, taking advantage of Charlie's absence. Not that she thought he would be upset by her next decree, but it might make him feel pitied or beholden to her. "No one sets foot in the Kingdom until the White Knight gives his blessing."

This seemed to be a bone of contention for the Resistance leader. "This city belongs to the world, not one man. People need to see it to reconnect with what Wonderland once was and can be again."

"That's all true, but they'll just have to wait," she said, eyes hardening into blue-gray steel. "He's the last knight in Wonderland and this is his home. His people died here. I won't have tourists tramping around in here unless he's ready for it. I don't care how long it takes. No one enters this city. Your people owe him that respect."

One midnight brow lifted and while she was fairly certain he could see her point of view, he still challenged, "And on whose authority are you giving these commands?"

Alice lifted her own brow in return, lips curling ever so slightly in a crafty sort of smile. "I am the Alice of Legend, aren't I?"

She never could have come back with that if Sir Charles had been present. His eyes narrowed slightly as he took in her statement, jaw shifting to the side a touch in understanding. "Are you?"

The girl shook her head. "No. But no one believes that."

No matter how she protested or what her obvious shortcomings were, no one could accept the fact that she was nothing more than a girl who fell through a mirror and landed in a heap of trouble. It might be unethical, but for her friends she was willing to put that misconception to good use. Scruples be damned. Caterpillar chuckled softly and nodded.

"No, no one does," he agreed. The way he phrased it stood out in her mind. Could it be that Caterpillar himself was a believer? There was a surprising thought. She moved on quickly, not liking that someone who knew the truth about how and why she had come to Wonderland could be taken in by the ridiculous notion that she was something more than ordinary.

"Jack sent you to bring me back to the city?"

"To look after you. If you wish to return to the city, I will escort you. If you wish to stay here in the Kingdom, I will stay with you."

"Isn't there something more important you could be doing?" she pointed out. "I mean, I'm fine here with Charlie. I'm sure with all that needs taking care of, you should be back with Jack."

"True, but not my call to make," he shrugged. Alice tilted her head to the side.

"Is Jack King, now?" Why hadn't that obvious thought occurred to her until just then?

The tall man held out a flattened hand and teetered it back and forth. "Technically, no. He hasn't been coronated, yet, but it's just a formality."

"Right back into a monarchy?" Her brows furrowed in disbelief. Hadn't they learned their lesson with the Queen?

"It's what Wonderland knows. It's how things are done," he explained. "That may change one day, but not right now."

Alice supposed too much change all at once would do more harm than good. She turned to look up at the sun, just rising above the canopy. Charlie's incessant singing could be heard filtering through the trees and made her smile.

"Your father has been released from the hospital." That statement snapped her attention firmly back onto Caterpillar.

"What? Already?" That was way too fast. Wasn't it?

"As I said last night, his surgery was really quite minor. He'll be sore for a while, but that's about it."

She couldn't quite accept that her father being shot in the back could possibly be a minor injury, but that just might be her perception being a little skewed. "Where is he now?"

"With Jack. Helping to sort out the displaced oysters. It will take a day or so to work out who they all are and where and when they are from, then figure out what to do with them."

"What do you mean, 'what do to with them'?" Alice's brows furrowed again as she frowned over his choice of words.

"Some of those people have been here for years," he explained. "We can't just shove them back through the Looking Glass and wish them a safe journey. Some we can send back to a few minutes after they were taken, but for others that would be impossible. We have to fabricate plausible explanations for their absence, provide them with reparation for all that has been done to them."

"Send them back? What, in time?" The girl blinked.

"The Looking Glass does not only function on two dimensions. We can use it to choose a specific time as well as a location. Thankfully. Many of the oysters can go home and live their lives as though nothing ever happened."

It was a nice sentiment, but entirely false. Alice shook her head with a dry chuckle. "No, they can't."

Caterpillar understood what she meant and nodded. "It's the best we can do for them. The suffering caused by the Queen of Hearts will long linger in both our worlds."

It was a sad truth. One small, selfish woman had caused so much pain for so many. Alice was glad she was not charged with deciding her fate. She fingered the soft material of her - Hatter's - coat.

"How was Hatter when you left?"

The raven-haired man grinned. "Threatening to break out of the hospital and steal a horse to come out here after you."

Alice laughed and shook her head. That sounded like Hatter alright. "They are keeping him in bed, right?"

"Yes. The doctors are under orders to sedate him if he actually tries anything." The girl frowned at that. If they were to drug him if he attempted to make a break for it, that meant he was most likely sedated right now. She knew Hatter that well. Sitting and doing nothing when he thought there was something to be done would be like torture for the man. Hell, keeping still at all at any given moment was hard enough as it was.

She had to go back to the city. Her gaze turned towards the suit of armor hanging on its stand near the tub. It was unacceptable to just leave Charlie right now, not after all he had been through. But the man was in no shape to be gallivanting around the skyscape. The little oyster felt so torn inside, pulled in so many different directions. Back home, the only people she had to concern herself with were her mother and herself and her mother usually came first. Then, there came Jack and it was hard enough dealing with her feelings for him and her mother's trepidations. In Wonderland, she had so many people to be responsible for; Hatter, Charlie, her father, Jack… there was only so much of her to go around. She was spread ridiculously thin as it was with her injuries and lack of sleep.

"If I asked you to stay here with Sir Charles while I rode back to the city alone, would you?" Alice asked the tall man. He contemplated her for a moment before responding.

"As the Alice of Legend?" She shook her head.

"No. Just me asking. I can't leave him here alone, but I can't stay right now," she told him. Before Caterpillar could answer, the knight in question wandered back into the clearing, arms loaded with sticks. As he dropped them on the already sizable pile near the fire pit, the leader of the Resistance regarded him thoughtfully.

"Sir Charles," he said, striding over to the older man. "I was wondering if you would be so kind as to permit me to remain here in the Kingdom for a short time and, perhaps, show me around a bit? This great city is the lost heart of Wonderland. We must see to it that it does not remain forgotten."

Charlie nodded, spine straightening a bit, his eyes brightening. Alice's trepidation over her friend's emotional state eased considerably. The White Knight would be just fine. He was made of tough stuff, that Sir Charles.

"Charlie," she said softly to the white haired paladin, moving to take his hand and pull him away from Caterpillar for a private word. "I have to go back to the city."

He nodded, not surprised by her statement at all. "Your Harbinger will need looking after."

She tilted her head, brows furrowing just slightly at his insightfulness. When and how Hatter had gone from "vassal" to "harbinger" she didn't know, but would love to find out. Later. The girl leaned up and placed a kiss on the old man's cheek.

"I'll see you later, Charlie," she smiled up at him as his cheeks, nose, and scalp turned cherry red. He bowed shortly, lips pinching together to hide his giddy smile. Adorable old coot.

Caterpillar saddled Guinevere for her, as the White Knight was busy cooking up some jabberwock eggs for breakfast. Alice was sorry she would miss that, but - with the raven-haired man's help - mounted her horse and rode out of the Kingdom. The trail looked different during the day than at night, but was easy to follow. Finding her way to the Hospital of Dreams was a little trickier, as she did not know her way at all around the city. Unlike her previous forays into the metropolis, there were actually people milling about for her to ask directions. It looked like an entirely different place as Wonderlanders traversed the narrow pathways with ease.

It was only as Alice was crossing the bridge to the hospital that she realized she had not felt sick or gotten dizzy once. There was no vertigo, there was no cold sweat. She supposed her little flamingo flight had been more therapeutic than she realized. Though, once you've crashed a flying jet ski and lived to tell the tale, walking along relatively solid ground wasn't quite so horrifying anymore, was it? Not that the girl was one to tempt fate, so she kept her eyes to herself for the time being.

Inside the hospital, Alice made her way up to the room Hatter and her father had occupied the night before. She knocked lightly on the door and received an irritated grunt in reply. Shaking her head and smiling amusedly, she entered the room.

"Well, hello to you, too, sunshine," she teased. Hatter's head snapped towards her, his eyes lighting up. The girl couldn't remember her entering a room ever having quite that effect on anyone before and it gave her pause.

"You're back," he said, sounding relieved, shoulders relaxing against the pillow at his back. Those dark eyes took in the purple velvet and his lips twitched just barely. She had been right about it pleasing him to see her wearing his coat. Not that he let that take his attention from being annoyed with her. He gave her a look of reproof. "I was going stir crazy here. Do you know they tried to stick me with a needle when I said I was heading out after you?"

"I heard," she nodded, moving to retake her chair, which still sat between the beds. "I bet you've been giving the nurses all kinds of trouble."

He snorted indignantly. "I have not." Yeah, that was convincing. "Your boyfriend told them not to let me leave the room."

"Good. You don't need to be running all over Wonderland in your state," Alice told him with an chiding frown. Hearing him call Jack her boyfriend made her stomach twist uncomfortably. He frowned right back.

"I could say the same about you." His gaze flickered over each of her many injuries and bandages for what had to be the millionth time since he'd come out of sedation the night before. How those lovely chocolate eyes could go from sparkling to darkly fuming was a mystery to her. She quickly changed the subject.

"How was breakfast?"

His lip curled in disgust. "Atrocious." She let out a soft laugh at his distaste and was rewarded with a little smile curling up the corners of his lips.

"You poor thing," she teased gently. He nodded, poking out his bottom lip in a pout. Pouting was not something Alice had ever thought to associate with Hatter, so seeing that expression on his face was too funny and she laughed fully, hugging her sore ribs. The door opened and an orderly came in carrying a green plastic bag.

"Here are your-oh!" the man, who looked about Hatter's age, but a bit softer and rounder in every aspect, stopped short upon seeing the girl there. His blue eyes took on a panicked shine, flicking from her to the patient and back. "I, uh…"

Confused by the orderly's behavior, Alice looked to Hatter. "Just give 'em here," he told the man, motioning with his good hand. Jittery as a Chihuahua, he made his way across the room and deposited the bag on her friend's lap.

"The, uh-"

"I'll get it to you," Hatter told him firmly and the man nodded. He glanced at her one last time and scurried out of the room. The girl lifted her brows in question.

"What was that about?"

"I told you I was going stir crazy," was his response. Alice took the bag from him, then, and looked inside. The loud gold and crimson pattern caught her attention straight off and she knew exactly what she was looking at.

"Did you pay that guy to sneak you your clothes?"

Hatter shrugged, wincing as he forgot about his broken arm. "Not yet."

So, instead of making a loud, very noticeable exit, he was going to creep his way out of the hospital. The girl opened her mouth to scold him, when the door opened again. This time, a nurse entered carrying a clip board.

"Well, looks like you're getting your walking papers, Hatter," she said with a warm little smile. She was slim and pretty with copper red hair and fair, almost translucent skin; bright green eyes and pouting ruby lips. Her tone was as warm as her smile which tightened the little oyster's shoulders. Upon seeing Alice, the nurse's smile turned polite, but her eyes kept their intent cast, barely acknowledging her before moving back to the man in the bed.

"Really?" he asked, sounding dubious. "Because five minutes ago you told me I wasn't going anywhere."

Those too red lips gathered into a Betty Boop smile, her button nose wrinkling fetchingly. "Things change. The chief of staff called down and said you can leave whenever you want."

"But he just had surgery," Alice protested, concerned. The redhead turned to her, the ever shifting smile taking on a curve of condescension.

"I know it's hard to reconcile Wonderland medicine with that of your world-" Like she was from Jersey or something. "-but, Hatter is perfectly well enough to leave the hospital. So long as he follows his doctor's orders." This last bit was said to the man himself with a sickeningly cutesy tone of voice and a wag of her finger.

Alice didn't like the way the woman called him Hatter. Yes, it was his name, but there was something in the way she said it that irked the oyster. Like she was saying "steak" instead of "Hatter". Of course, her friend was attractive and charming as Hell. Even before the casino, the former-Tea Shop owner would have been quite the catch. Now that he was officially a hero, he would be a hot commodity indeed. The nurse reminded the girl of a shark, though.

"So, give me whatever I have to sign. I can't get out of here soon enough," he pronounced, holding out his hand for whatever forms were on the clipboard. The woman sashayed over, holding the paperwork for him to sign. It wasn't as awkward as she expected, leaving Alice wondering if Hatter was left handed.

"I'll get your clothes and - oh, what's this?" She took the bag from the girl and peered inside. Pursing her lips, she turned narrowed eyes on Hatter. "Naughty boy."

I think I'm gonna puke. With the nurse's attention firmly fixed on her patient, the little oyster was free to roll her eyes in disgust. The man's focus wasn't so set and he covered up a chuckle with a cough into his fist.

"If you would step out, I need to help your friend get dressed," the nurse said, turning back to Alice. "Unless you'd rather stay?"

Hatter sat up straight, wincing as his ribs twinged, holding out a hand to the nurse in protest. "Lacy-"

"No, it's fine," the little oyster said quickly, popping to her feet with an unconcerned smile. "I'll just be out in the hall."

She hurried out of the room so neither Hatter nor his new acquaintance could see the heat rising in her cheeks. The man needed to get dressed if he was going to leave and someone had to help him. She wasn't happy about it being Lacy, but there was no chance in Hell Alice was going to be the one. It would be too awkward, too uncomfortable. What if her eyes strayed into areas they had no business straying? She'd never be able to look Hatter in the face again. Which would be a shame, as she rather enjoyed looking at his face.

The girl started to regret her decision of leaving the two of them alone when she heard a feminine giggle from the other side of the door. That's just unprofessional. A few moments later, the door opened again. Lacy cast her an almost conspiratorial look as she passed by. Okay. Alice went back into the room to find Hatter trying to button his shirt with one hand. Of course, the redhead had helped him with his pants. The girl brushed his hand away and took over the task. It wasn't as though she hadn't already seen him shirtless, but the little glimpses of bare flesh beneath the scarlet material seemed somehow more intimate.

"Hatter," she began softly, meeting his eyes. "This shirt really smells."

He snorted with a little eye roll. "Unlike you, I wasn't given a costume change in the script," he snarked. Then, lifting his arm, he sniffed at the sleeve of his shirt and winced. "You're right. I hope the Suits left me at least one wearable shirt."

"Maybe Ratty can loan you something," she grinned at him, finishing up the last button.

"Am I offending your delicate sensibilities?" he inquired in response, reaching for his fairly ruined leather jacket. Alice nodded.

"Yes. I'm offended," she answered in a flat monotone. He only smirked, draping the jacket across his arm. "Tie?"

"They bloody well ruined it," he frowned, motioning her towards the door. "Cut it off when they brought me in."

"A travesty," she lamented, heading out into the corridor. "I liked that tie."

He nodded solemnly. "I threatened bodily harm if they tried that on me shirt. I love this shirt."

She smiled. "It suits you."

As they made their way to the elevators, his lips formed a little amused smile. "Just out of curiosity, are you wearing those shorts under your knightly trousers?"

"As a matter of fact I am," she told him, pressing the button, feigning insult at his humor over her choice of undergarments. If he hadn't been rude enough to look up her skirt in the first place, he never would have known about them. "I like those shorts."

The doors slid open and they stepped inside, Hatter hitting the button for the lobby. He grinned at her. "I do, too."

"I was right," she announced, shaking her head and trying not to laugh. "You're a pervert. I knew it the first time I saw you."

"Did you now?" he asked, brows lifting. She nodded emphatically. He smirked. "And you still let me climb down the ladder first. Interesting."

Alice chuckled, hanging her head at his quick reply. He was one clever bastard. They reached the lobby and headed for the exit only to be met by a small contingent of Suits. A cold wave of de ja vu washed over the girl and Hatter stiffened beside her.

"Miss Hamilton?" the Ace in the lead asked. She nodded in confirmation. "We've been assigned to escort you through the city. We have a transport waiting outside to take you where ever you need to go."

She glanced to the man beside her, who shrugged his good arm. Jack must have put some kind of bug on her to be keeping so close a watch as he was. And yet, the man still had not come to speak to her himself. It spoke loads about his character, that. She might have been judging too harshly, still stung over his lies.

"I have Guinevere," she began, but the man lifted a hand to stop her.

"We'll take care of the horse," he assured her.

"Good care of her. She belongs to a friend," Alice told him firmly. He nodded.

"Of course. This way." The Ace led the pair to the waiting transport and in minutes they were stepping out in front of Hatter's ransacked Tea Shop. The two stood side by side at the foot of the stairs, looking up at the ruined door. Alice's stomach clenched as she took in the broken windows, just imagining what kind of damage had been done to the inside of the structure. Without a word, Hatter's hand found hers and she gripped it firmly in return. Their footfalls on the stairs were almost in unison as they made their way up onto the porch.

A splash of rusty brown caught her eye and the girl swallowed hard as a wash of cold rushed through her. A scream echoed in her mind so loud it might have been real. The man March had killed, that was his blood. Right there by her foot was the blood that had poured from the knife wound in his gut. Midnight shadows blossomed at the edges of her vision, creeping their way across her view. Her breath was coming in short little pants, not enough to bring her brain the oxygen it needed. Over and over she saw the knife, glinting in her mind as it hadn't in reality - not with the sickly light that filtered into the city.

"Look at me," came a soft command inches from her ear. Her gaze obediently skittered away from the deathly maroon stain, finding a pair of deep chocolate eyes instead. The shadows dissipated like mist under the morning sun. Once he had her attention, Hatter gave her hand a very gentle tug. "Come on."

She nodded and they headed inside. Still, nothing could be said to ease her horror and anguish over the death of that poor, innocent man. Still, her friend did not try to fix it, knowing it could not be mended. His being there with her, emotionally more than physically, was enough to make it bearable. The girl shuddered to think of how things would have turned out if Ratty had not led her to this man. Without Hatter, Alice would have been just another oyster crushed by Wonderland.

Now, she was reminded of all he had sacrificed, all she had taken from him. The main room of the Tea Shop was a shambles. Only a few of the lighted shelves still produced illumination, one of them flickering weakly. The chalk board with all the teas and values on it was pulled from the wall and Dormie's podium had been knocked over along with many of the tables and chairs. Glass littered the floor, shining up at them as they passed and the poor light flicked across the smooth surface of the shards. A few random bottles of color lay here and there on the ground and the few remaining shelves; hundreds more had been smashed out of spite.

Hatter led her through the shop the way the rat-catcher had just days before, down the corridor to his office. The guilt Alice was feeling increased threefold. Both glass desks were overturned, one of them shattered. The white furniture was scattered, some of it laying on its back or side. A few of the chairs' upholstery had been slashed and stuffing spilled out onto the grass - what was left of the grass where it had not been trampled or turned a withered brown. The tea that had lined Hatter's shelving in here had been deliberately poured onto his lawn - apparently, killing it - the empty bottles lay unbroken on the dead grass. The wardrobe stood open, all the clothing inside strewn about the office. Several of the hats had been stomped on, the rest thrown carelessly aside.

The little oyster took all this in, her empty stomach twisting sickly. "Oh, Hatter," she breathed. "I'm s-"

"I wonder if Prince Jack will pay for a remodel," he cut her off, his voice sounding too unperturbed for her to accept. Sea-gray eyes turned towards him to find the man looking about the room with thoughtful detachment. How could be he so blasé about it all? His livelihood had been all but demolished, his things ransacked.

"Hatter," she began again, but he turned to her with softly pink lips turned up in a rueful little smile.

"They're only things, Alice," he reminded her gently, then chuckled. "Nice things, granted, but still. Nothing I can't replace. Everything important is safe and sound."

A warmth in his gaze gave her the idea he wasn't talking about his favorite hat or a family heirloom. Her breath hitched just slightly and his eyes flicked down to her parted lips, bringing a soft flush to her cheeks.

"AAAAAAAAEEEEEEE!!!" The two jerked apart as a very small attacker rushed from behind the tipped-over couch, wielding a metal pipe.

"Whoa!" Hatter released her hand and stepped aside as the tiny marauder rushed them, catching the pipe and bringing the little terror to a halt. "Oi, Dormie, calm down! It's me!"

"I don't care who- Hatter?" The little man's eyes popped open and he gawked at his friend, hands still raised over his head holding the pipe.

"Yes," Hatter confirmed with a very amused smile. "Now, would you kindly stop trying to kill me?"

"Hatter!" Dormie cried joyously, releasing the pipe to throw his arms around the other man's torso. Hatter grunted, dropping the weapon, face pinching in anguish as his tiny pal squeezed him as tight as his little arms would allow. Alice stepped in, carefully pulling the smaller man off his injured friend.

"I said stop trying to kill me," Hatter panted, hugging his now aching ribs.

"Sorry!" Dormie peeped quickly. "I'm just so happy to see you. There's so many rumors going around about the Battle of the Casino. I was afraid you were dead, Hatter."

Nodding, the dark-eyed man lifted his good hand, patting his friend on the shoulder. "It's okay, Dormie," he assured him, a little breathless from the pain.

"Dormie, help me for a second," Alice said, steering the little man towards the closest chair. It was the big wingback. Ignoring the screaming of her own ribs, she and Dormie righted the piece of furniture. She guided her friend into the seat and he let out a soft breath of relief. Before he could stop her, she moved away, gingerly picking up his scattered clothing. Dormie followed suit, looking a little dazed by it all.

"Alice, you don't have to do that," Hatter protested from his chair. The tiny man stopped dead.

"This is Alice?" he squeaked, eyes rounding like saucers. It was only then that the girl realized that, while she had seen Dormie before and knew who he was, the small man had no idea who she had been until that moment.

"Don't say it," she told him quickly, adding a softer, "Please. It's Alice. Just Alice, really."

Honestly, at this point, she wasn't sure why she bothered to try and convince people. No one listened to her and it would just have been easier to let them think what they wanted. Except that it made her uncomfortable. Except that it wasn't true. The mousy man just stared at her, speechless, a pair of Hatter's undershorts hanging from one hand. Shaking her head with an exasperated huff, Alice went back to her task.

"Dormie," Hatter called, retaking his friend's attention. "What's goin' on with the Resistance?"

As the effeminate little guy told Hatter what he wanted to know, she sorted through his clothes. Many of the shirts had been torn, but most of the rest - pants, coats, etc. - were only dirty or wrinkled. Choosing a dark green and black number, done in a sort of paisley pattern, Alice handed it to the smaller man.

"You need to change out of that shirt," she reminded Hatter, carefully helping him to stand. Leaving Dormie to aid him in removing the soiled crimson and donning the relatively clean jade, she turned back to the clothes she had been sorting through. It was a little childish, maybe, but she was willing to live with that, thinking it would have been a bit uncomfortable for all parties involved. Plus, she didn't want Dormie getting the wrong idea about her and Hatter.

The wrong idea? She didn't even know what the idea was to begin with. She admired the man, that she knew. Leaned on him far too much to be fair and was amazed that he not only allowed her to, but seemed to welcome it. Tempering his selflessness and heroism was that bizarre sense of playfulness. Hatter, she'd found, was downright sweet at times - often when he should have been serious instead. Though sweet was not really the word she'd have used to describe that moment by the fire, when he'd leaned in and she'd been so sure he was going to kiss her. Jack had put an end to that.

Jack. Her mind backed off the whole Hatter subject then. Her relationship with Jack was her romantic concern first and foremost. He said he loved her and she believed him. Didn't she? He had lied so many times, but he wouldn't have lied about that.

Clothes sorted and Hatter safely deposited back in his chair, Alice and Dormie focused on righting the room as much as possible. She did her best to ignore the wide-eyed looks the small man kept giving her. It wasn't hard since most of her focus was on ignoring the pain in her ribs and ankle as she hobbled about the room and lifted things she had no business lifting. If Hatter had known about her other injuries, he'd never have allowed her to lift a finger. Not that he didn't spend all the time she worked protesting that she didn't need to.

But she did need to. Needed to do something for him for a change. It wasn't easy, though and she was running out of steam fast. Even the little man was asking her if she wanted to take a rest, she was yawning so often. By the time she and Dormie finally managed to set Hatter's remaining desk to rights, her hands were shaking with fatigue. Hatter had had enough. More than enough, apparently, as he struggled up out of the chair and caught her arm in his good hand.

"Alright. No more, Alice," he said firmly. Turning to his friend and partner, he asked, "I don't suppose you'd run out and get us some lunch?"

"You betcha." The smaller man nodded eagerly and darted for the door.

"Dormie!" Hatter called after, bringing him up short. "There's a bunch of Suits out front. The Prince has them following me about." One side of his mouth curved upwards mischievously. "Ask them to pay."

Alice shook her head with a tired smile of her own as the tiny man scurried out of the room. Hatter chuckled and turned his attention back to the girl. "Come on. You need a lie down."

Instead of protesting, she let him lead her to the white couch and sat down on it. "Maybe just for a couple minutes."

"How much sleep did you get last night?" She shrugged noncommittally, drawing a knowing smirk from her friend. "That's what I thought. Go on, then."

"What about you?" the tired little oyster asked, laying back against the cushion.

"I've got some papers to go through," he said, reaching for the only slightly torn white throw she had redraped over the back of the couch. "I also wasn't running all over Wonderland last night when I should have been resting."

His gently admonishing tone made her smile. "Wasn't all over Wonderland."

He clicked his tongue down at her cheeky response, shaking his head, and spread the blanket over her with his good hand. Carefully crouching beside the sofa he gazed at her with a soft warmth than made her fingertips tingle. His left hand lifted, brushing his fingers against her forehead lightly as she had done for him in the hospital. Returning the favor, her own fingers trailed along his jaw, enjoying the rasp of his stubble against her skin. Slowly, Hatter leaned in and Alice closed her eyes against the onslaught of butterflies that erupted in her stomach. His lips touched her, but not on her own. His kiss was a light brush against her cheek that left her feeling disappointed, but filled with sweet warmth.

"Rest now," he whispered, drawing back. With his fingertips still lightly stroking her forehead and hair, the girl had little choice in the matter. Her eyes fluttered shut and the last thing she thought as she drifted off was how nice it was to be surrounded by all things Hatter.

Don't kill me for putting in another near miss. -hides-