The first gunshot burst the bark of a tree at Killian's right and he inhaled, jumping a hissing snake as Clara cried out just beside him. He knew he was crushing her hand, but his heart was hammering in his chest and he refused to slow, tempted to lift her into his arms to carry her towards the sand he knew sat too far away. Behind them Barnibus and the other three men were making their way through the jungle, each firing off shots at random and Killian could only hope they would run out of bullets before capturing him.

With a half laugh, he considered that at least in a hand-to-hand competition, he'd stand a chance… and maybe Clara could… help? Glancing at her, eyes wide as she refused to take her eyes off the horizon, he decided she would be a force in a fight; he decided with her at his side he couldn't lose. Of course, he also considered he hadn't been free of trouble since finding her.

"Killian!" Barnibus shouted out.

He didn't stop, simply jumped a log and listened to the small noise of effort Clara gave to make it over as quickly as she had to to keep up with him. The trampling behind them was getting louder and he cursed under his breath knowing if he released her – if he let Clara go – he could escape with little effort. And for a moment, glancing down at her, dress bunched up in her fist, face reddened with exertion, he considered it.

What sort of husband would I be, he argued with himself, so willing to leave her behind?

She's not your wife, he reminded himself.

She could be, he considered.

Clara tripped suddenly, sending her rolling into the grass at his side and Killian stumbled with her before grabbing hold of her shoulders, hands awkwardly searching for her arms to pull her back up as she shook her head and mumbled, "No, you go, go on!"

Dragging her up, he responded roughly, "Not a chance, Clara," and he glared to express the finality of his answer before she could protest.

They continued on, both ducking when another set of shots rang out from behind them. "Killian, doesn't have to end like this," Barnibus breathed.

Good, Killian thought, old man's tiring out. Clara glanced up at him and he almost laughed – she was considering giving that man another chance. He was tempted to shout at her, to call her incredulous and mad, but his feet dug into softer earth and he trudged forward, yanking her with him until they stumbled blindly back into the harsh sunlight and fell into the white sand.

"Get to the long boat, Clara," he shouted.

She was nodding, trying to lift herself up, but finding it difficult in the small heels she was wearing. Killian lifted his head as Barnibus emerged from the jungle, gun raised at Clara, and just as he fired off a shot, he was tackled into the ground unexpectedly.

"Reggie?" Killian managed.

He watched the man, soaked by the sea, bits of green weeds hanging off his shoulders, pounding into the man underneath him a moment. And then he heard Clara let out a small gasp of surprise and he glanced down at her, sitting up just at his feet, left hand rising slowly to touch her right shoulder and he could see the blood working its way down the sleeve of her dress.

Inching forward, he called hesitantly, "Clara?"

She didn't respond, only looked up to the three men who now came to a stop at the sand, and then to where Reggie was still pounding away at Barnibus. She couldn't tell whether the older man was dead or unconscious, but Clara desperately wanted the world to stop spinning. Quietly, voice hushed and frightened, she called out, "Stop, Reggie. Please, stop."

The man's fists slowed, and she began to crawl towards him, wincing, right arm bent to curl just under her breasts and Killian moved to stop her, but she reached up and grabbed the larger man by the waist. Reggie's bloodied fist halted in mid-air and he turned to look down at her, the rage in his eyes softening as he looked her over and then shook his head, "Miss, you've been shot."

Clara laughed lightly, eyes disappearing into amused slits, and then looked back to Killian, "A pirate shot me, Kill…" her voice faded and she fainted.

The three men began to shift forward, guns raised, but Reggie stood to full height and they cowered, seeing Barnibus unmoving beneath him. "You'd been killed," Killian offered.

Reggie turned back to him and shook his head, "No, sir. I was shot."

"Bloody sharks, mate," Killian gestured out into the ocean, "How did you…"

"I didn't say I was wounded," Reggie muttered. "Vest's pretty thick," he explained, dropping down beside Clara as Killian bent to listen to her heartbeat, "Your woman alright?"

With a frown, he shook his head, "We need to get her back to the Jolly Roger. I can…" he began, tugging at the shoulder of her dress to reveal the ragged hole there, "I can sterilize this, remove the bullet, patch her up…" his words got caught in his throat – he'd never thought of the pain of a bullet wound before; knew it was because it was her that he'd even stopped to consider it.

It would be excruciating.

He suddenly wanted to be back in her world and he chuckled to himself before Reggie gave him a rough shove that sent him onto his backside. "Don't laugh at her pain," he growled.

Setting his jaw tightly, he shifted back up and slipped his arms underneath her knees and neck and lifted her, telling him, "In her land – where she's from – they're not as barbaric; it was an ironic laughter. There she wouldn't worry about the irrational ways of a pirate, but there – I have no doubt – would exist the means to cure her with less pain and fewer scars."

Reggie stood beside him, hands out to balance Killian as he stood with Clara in his arms. "She's lost quite a bit of blood for a woman so small."

He understood what the man meant and he dropped his head slightly, uttering lowly, "I wish Clara had never come here."

And like a crack of lightning, the Blue Fairy floated before them, look of reproach staining her face.