Disclaimer - I do not have any rights to the characters from Alice in Wonderland, nor will I make any money on this.

Chapter Two

Now

"I sincerely think that his restraint in the manner you've described to me is completely uncalled for. He seems the harmless type, from what I can hear. Well, harmless when he's sedated. Is there no other way I could try to talk to him? This setup seems so... criminal." The young man accompanying the doctor down the halls turned his head this way and that, listening around them.

"Apparently they've left out the parts of the man's story when he's crippled both staff members and other patients around here. Yes, he's mostly calm and harmless. But then he really goes all out, and then the institution is stuck footing the bill for someone's surgery. He's dangerous enough to those that can see him coming, to leave someone alone with him that's... well..."

The young man laughed. "Someone that's completely blind? I think that's the finish to that sentence you are looking for. I've been in worse situations, it comes with the job description. By the way, what brought on the idea to bring in someone of the cloth?"

The doctor shrugged, then blushed when he realized his companion in the hall would not be able to see the motion. Clearing the throat, he spoke. "It's a last shot, really. One of the orderlies mentioned in passing that for some of our patients, talking to someone of faith helps balance them out, at least for a short time." They continued down the hall, to one of the rooms further down. "That poor man has been pretty much ignored for... well, for some time. He's fed, he keeps himself clean, and we keep him sedated for his own peace of body and mind. But no one has been willing to sit down and talk for a while, he's considered pretty much a hopeless case."

The young man frowned at that comment. "No one deserves to be completely ignored, no matter what his crime or affliction. Now, if I'm picturing your words right, he's basically completely bound into a special restraint, so he can do no damage to me or himself?"

"That pretty much sums it up. The chair is welded to the floor, and he's in restraints from toes to neckline. And beware of his face, he's rather fast with biting. I've seen snakes strike slower on the nature channel, he's that fast at times. And a snake has the decency to give a warning, he just lashes out. A poor nurse had to have her hand put back together not too many weeks ago. We'll be recording both audio and video, but he won't be able to hear us. If it gets out of hand, we'll send in help. But you've been warned, he's wicked fast when he gets loose." The doctor stopped walking, they had arrived at the door in question.

"When he gets loose, not if. Such comforting words you have there. Please, open the door. For the life of me, I can't manage to find the doorknob."

"Are you sure you want to do this, Father Tyler?" The doctor hesitated, hand on the doorknob. "It's not going to help him."

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Leave me to help, it's in my job description. I'll be fine." Tyler grinned. He reached out, and found the doorknob. "Ah, there it is, it was hiding from me for a moment there. Go to your watching room, and let me go to work."

Then

"Ah, your Majesty, Mally mentioned something to me, that you wished to see me about something important?" Tarrant looked around, at all of the mirrors in the twisting room. He had never seen this particular room, even in his wanderings through the castle as a child. He was convinced it had spent Time hiding from him, as though it was being a downright meanie about being found.

There were hundreds of mirrors on the walls, more than he could count if he so desired to. They came in all sizes, some tiny enough to fit in someone's hand, to one that took up an entire wall. They showed scenes around Underland, and to other places that could only lay beyond the borders of the kingdom.

"Yes, Hatter. I have not found a solution to our mutual problem, getting Alice back to Underland, but I've stumbled across an item that might offer some relief to your worries. Please, follow me." Turning gracefully, Mirana walked through the twisting hall of mirrors, coming to a halt in front of one that currently was covered in a blue cloth.

Reaching out, the White Queen deftly removed the cloth, to reveal yet another mirror. No, not just yet another mirror, this one showed...

"Alice... that's Alice, I'd know her anywhere!" Tarrant resisted the urge to Futterwacken right that moment, he was so filled with joy. Glancing over to Mirana for only a second, he turned his eyes back to the image in front of him, this wonderful mirror that gave him a glimpse at his Alice, no, not his Alice, but Alice nonetheless.

"I've been checking mirrors for months, hoping for this kind of image. I cannot bring her here through this particular mirror, there seems to some sort of barrier. But I do hope that this will being you some happiness, some relief. She appears to be doing as well as can be expected, as far as the image has shown me." Mirana sighed to herself. Perhaps this would distract Tarrant long enough that she could get back to work on more than just finding a path for Alice to return to Underland. As much as she would love a solution to the thorny problem facing her, she had unfortunately been neglecting her duties as Queen. Thinking to herself that being Queen involved more than dealing with lovestruck madmen, she rested a dainty hand on his shoulder.

"You may remain here, in the Hall of Mirrors, for a while. But please, remember to come out for your other friends that are here in Underland. They too have been very worried about you, and it would not be fair to them if you abandoned them. Mally in particular has been missing your tea parties. Perhaps it would help the loneliness, and inviting your friends to your home for a small tea time would be a good idea?"

Tarrant finally tore his gaze from the mirror. "You are quite right, I've been a poor host as of late. It is completely unfair that I neglect my friends, they've stood by me through thick and thin. And it is high time for a relaxing afternoon sipping tea and chatting." He grinned, his eyes bleeding from the faded blue that had dominated them for so long to a much more comforting green. "If you would excuse me? I have invitations to write out, and the tea simply will not brew itself."

She nodded, and smiled herself. He took a hasty bow, and headed down the halls to the gardens on the grounds. If only it were so easy to please all of her subjects, the mused to herself. This should keep her Hatter distracted for quite some time.

Between One

"I have told you several times now, my name is Tarrant Hightopp. I am the hatter to her Majesty the White Queen, and I am in London looking for Alice. She simply must come back with me, she promised she'd come back. Now, are all of these chains really appropriate for a simple questioning?" Tarrant looked around the room he was currently stuck in, the chains on his ankles and wrists clinking with his movement in the metal chair he found himself sitting in. Time was being a right little bastard, he thought, for this to be taking to long. Certainly he had no proof of his existence in his pockets, but certainly they would know that it would not do to lie to someone in authority, correct?

The walls of the small room he sat in were of a dark brick, no paint hiding the complete ugliness of the dull grey coloring. The floor was slightly damp underfoot, and there was a horrid smell in the stuffy air. One of the two other men in the room was one of those in authority, still dressed in that pitiful uniform. Really, even a child could find better colors in the dark. The other was dressed in a boring white coat, black slacks peeking out from the ragged hem of the white coat he wore buttoned to the neck. Really, what was it with these London people and their fascination with black and white clothing? Alice was proof that fabric here Above came in more colors, why such a limited palette?

Completely ignoring Tarrant, the two men conversed. "He's been babbling that nonsense since he was picked up in the Piccadilly, assaulting passersby with this Alice nonsense. We've technically nothing we can hold him on, but he's most likely a danger to the community if we let him go. What do you think, doctor?"

The man in the white coat took a long look at Tarrant, then nodded. "Considering his mad raving and those outlandish clothes, he's most likely some family's insane relative, someone that has indulged him far too much. We'll post his picture in the usual places, but I'm pretty sure that any family would be glad to be rid of him. I'll write up the proper papers, and we'll take him off your hands." The doctor returned his attention to the Bobby. "Just keep him restrained until we can move him somewhere safer. You never know with his type, when it's going to be too much for him, and he has an episode."

Tarrant turned to the man in the white coat. "Is the place you are so intent on taking me the same place that Alice is at? I've come a long way to see her, it would be rather bothersome to not find her in a hurry."

"There is no Alice, it's all in your head. Now please, don't give these officers any trouble, that's a good lad."

"No Alice?" Tarrant's face went blank for a moment, then rage took his eyes as they easily slipped into that strange burnt gold that revealed to those in the know that he had lost his grip on calmness. The doctor saw the shade change, but could not believe his own eyes. What happened next was more than enough to take his mind off colors of someone's eyes.

Tarrant screamed, and struggled against the chains that held him bound. Slipping one wrist free before anyone could stop him, he used the length of chain to lash out at the doctor, blood splattering from the doctor's cheek as the metal cut through flesh. The doctor went to his knees from shock and pain, while the Bobby quickly closed in on the raving madman. All the officer received for his trouble was a lash of his own, as Tarrant struggled to his feet and swung the chain the other direction.

The cries of the wounded quickly brought more officers into the room, and Tarrant succumbed to the beating batons and kicking feet. Finally falling still on the now bloody floor, he could hear people talking around him, but it was so still and soothing on the floor that he really was not interested in paying much attention. The floor was not kicking or beating on him, it was holding perfectly still. He liked that kind of behavior out of a floor.

"Throw that madman into one of the holding cells! Doctor, you can have him whenever you want him! I'm not even wanting papers beforehand. Just get that piece of shit out of this building fast, or he might not live long enough to realize the mistake he's made!"

The doctor smiled through the blood drying on his face. "Oh, have no worry. He will pay, for a long time indeed." Then something resembling sleep knocked on Tarrant's mind, and he decided not to be too rude, so he opened the door to sweet oblivion.

Between Two

"Ah, my dearest sister, you are once again late in getting here! Have you learned nothing about being punctual in your overseas dealings? Would you keep a potential client waiting like this?" Margaret's smile took the sting out of her words, and motioned Alice into the sitting room. "Please, sit, and have a cup of tea."

Alice grinned for a moment, the impish light in her eyes sparkling. Taking a place in her favorite chair, she accepted the offered cup and took a sip. Not quite up to Tarrant's standards, she mused, but it would do. "You mentioned in your letter, that you had news for me?"

"Yes, very good news! Lowell and I are expecting our second child! Oh, this time I'm hoping for a boy to keep little Sarah company." Margaret was nearly beside herself in happiness, until she got a closer look at her younger sister's reaction. "Look, I know this brings up a sore spot in your own perfect life, but some of us don't have the stamina to sail around the world for excitement." Resting a hand on Alice's available hand, she lowered her voice. "Please, tell me that you are happy about this."

Alice smiled back, banishing her own internal thoughts about children. "I am more than pleased for you! Lowell has grown up quite a bit, and he's been a good father to Sarah and a better husband to you. I've had... doubts about him occasionally, but he's a right proper husband to my lovely older sister."

"And when will you introduce me to your future husband? Mother is beside herself worrying for you. You will be twenty-five soon, that's quite old enough to settle down and raise a family of your own. You've made your mark on the world, more than any woman could ever hope for in this society. Is there someone you're waiting for? Or did you meet someone overseas on one of your many voyages?" Margaret leaned closer, brimming with anticipation. "Please, tell all, every sordid detail!"

"You're worse than the Chattaway twins, all looking for a bit of voyeurism in their lives. And yes, there is someone special to me out there. I'm just having a bit of trouble getting back to him. But he is a devoted gentleman, he will wait for me. I just know he's sitting at his tea tables, and he'll remind me that once again I'm late to tea when I make a triumphant return." Alice finished the cup of tea, the dregs bitter in her mouth.

Margaret raised an eyebrow. "And where is this fine gentleman, that he leaves you stuck here with no ring on your finger?" Realization dawned on her. "Oh, not that foolishness of Wonderland again! You mean to tell me that you're pining for a man that does not even exist? This was silly as a child, Alice, and it's high time you grew up and faced that there is no magical kingdom down a rabbit hole. You've a great life, why bother with fiction? Certainly, there's plenty of nice real gentlemen that would be willing for a chance at your heart. But you're putting them off, to wait for a figment of your deranged imagination?"

The words left her lips before she could call them back, and Margaret had the sense of honor to blush. But the words were out in the open now, and could not be taken back into the silence. Alice carefully set her empty cup on it's saucer, and stood. "I think it would be wise of me to head home now. Please, give my hugs to Sarah. Have a good day."

With that, she calmly headed to the door of the sitting room and let herself out. Margaret sat still, not believing that she had said what had escaped her lips. Alice did not bother to look back at her grief struck sister.