Once Upon A Time: Through The Devil's Eyes, Part Nine
By Rebekkalee Mouri-Hibiki
Mr. Gold walked into the police station. He had heard the news that Mary-Margret had been arrested for bringing some sort of harm to Kathryn Nolan. Details were sketchy at best, every rumor varying from the next. Some said it was murder while others said it was simply a fight before Kathryn fled town for good.
Emma looked up from her desk as he came in. She frowned and got up, making her way to him quickly. " What are you doing here, Gold? " She asked in a sharp whisper.
Mr. Gold glanced to over to the holding cell where Mary-Margret was. She was curled up on the flimsy mattress with her back to the room. " So it's true, " He said quietly.
Emma looked over then back at Mr. Gold, " She's sleeping right now. She's exhausted, " She whispered. " Why are you here? "
" I have some news, " Mr. Gold said. " Can we go somewhere? "
" I can't leave her alone, " Emma whispered.
" Just for a moment? " Mr. Gold said. " We will only be a few feet away. "
" No closed doors, " Emma frowned.
" I wouldn't dream of it, " Mr. Gold said. He pointed to the adjoining room, " There? "
Emma rolled her eyes, " Fine but it had better be quick. "
" It will be, " Mr. Gold said. " Come, please. "
Emma followed him behind the wall that divided the reception area from the office. " What is so damn important, Gold? "
Mr. Gold sighed, " I saw Regina yesterday afternoon. "
" Oh? " Emma arched an eyebrow. " What edict did Madame Mayor deliver? "
Mr. Gold smirked, " She is going to allow you to have a deputy. "
" I have the money in the budget for that so I really didn't need her permission, " Emma said.
" And one officer, " Mr. Gold cut her off.
Emma blinked, " What? "
" She said she would allow it, " Mr. Gold said.
" I wonder what changed her mind? " Emma asked. " About getting me the officer. "
" I don't know. The important thing is that she did, " Mr. Gold smirked. " Our first battle is won. "
Emma smirked back, " So it seems. "
" Stay on your guard though, " Mr. Gold said.
" You don't have to tell me that, " Emma scoffed. " It is Regina we're talking about after all. "
" Yes, " Mr. Gold nodded.
Emma glanced back towards the office, " I need to get back in there. I have to stay here until Marco gets here later. "
" I see, " Mr. Gold said. He recalled that the elderly man often sat with prisoners when Graham was sheriff. He cocked his head to the side, " Do you need breakfast? I can go get you something at Granny's and bring it back. "
" Don't trouble yourself. I have donuts and juice in the fridge, " Emma sighed. " Thanks for asking though. "
" It would have been no trouble to get you something, " Mr. Gold said. " Nothing I do for you is any trouble to me. "
Emma shook her head, " I'm just not comfortable with it, Gold. "
" You're not comfortable or you're not used to it? " Mr. Gold quirked his mouth. She sounded like it had taken a lot of effort for her to say the words.
Emma opened her mouth to speak but stopped like she was thinking. She sighed, " I guess a little bit of both. "
" How can you not be comfortable being taken care of? " Mr. Gold took a step towards her, their eyes locking. He could see she was tired and troubled. He could see a bit of sadness in her eyes though she tried to hide it.
Emma frowned, " Because everyone that's ever done anything for me has wanted something for it. "
" And you're afraid of what I'm going to ask for in return? " Mr. Gold said quietly.
" Pretty much, yeah, " Emma said. " That's how you work, isn't it? "
Mr. Gold smiled gently, " Yes, my dear. It is. "
" So what's your price, Gold? " Emma asked.
" For what? " Mr. Gold asked as he moved even closer to her.
" For everything you've done for me? " Emma whispered. " Everything you've done without me asking you to do it. "
Mr. Gold smirked as he looked at her. He could smell her scent he was so close and it was making his heart beat a little faster. He brought his left hand up and placed it on her cheek, stroking it as he said, " To see your smile. That's all I require. "
Emma gasped, closing her eyes as he kissed her gently. He was pleased when she began to return the kiss. It was brief but enough to tell him that he wasn't in any danger if he tried it again. Unlike when Belle had kissed him, nothing happened.
When she had kissed him, he had felt his curse weakening but it hadn't gone away completely. In fact, it had come back stronger and taken a deeper hold on him. True love's kiss wasn't the catch-all it had been made out to be. The only way to break his curse was to be killed with the dagger that had made him what he was.
Emma opened her eyes, giving him a confused look as he took his hand away from her face. She blinked but said nothing.
" Emma? " Mary-Margret called from her cell. " Where are you? "
" I'm right here, " Emma called back. Mr. Gold detected a bit of a tremble to her voice. " I'm coming back in right now. "
" Oh okay, " Mary-Margret said.
Emma looked at Mr. Gold, " I got to get back in there. "
Mr. Gold nodded once, " I understand. Call me if you need anything. "
Emma nodded, " Okay. "
Mr. Gold watched as she walked back into the office, still looking like she was processing what had happened. He then turned, heading out to where Frederick was parked. He knocked on the hood of the car, letting Frederick know he was back.
He got in the back of the car, glancing at Frederick. " Where to, boss? "
" The shop, " Mr. Gold said.
" Right, boss, " Frederick said and started the car.
Rumplestiltskin gasped, waking up in pain. He took a few breaths before opening his eyes. He looked around, finding the cell that had been trapped in was now rubble. " She did it, " He muttered to himself. " That bitch did it. "
He tried to get up, finding his right leg was trapped under a huge rock. He pushed at it, hissing in pain as he realized his leg was probably broken... again. He summoned up all of his strength, shoving the rock as hard as he could. After a couple of tries, he managed to get it off.
In the dim light, he could see the flesh on the limb was shredded. It stung from the cold dirty air hitting it. There was a distant rumble and he knew he needed to get out of the mines before they collapsed any more. He looked at his leg then at the debris around him.
On the ground, he saw the broken bars that had made up the front of his cell. He dragged himself over to them, grabbing some of the shorter ones. He then tore the sleeves from his jacket, deciding they would be put to better use elsewhere. He made a makeshift splint to stabilize his leg then tried to get up.
He managed to claw his way to his feet, bracing himself against what was left of the front wall of the cell. He spotted another bar that would make a satisfactory walking staff and grabbed it. Once he was steady, he walked out of the cell. Each step caused great pain but he knew he had to keep going.
He made his way forward, his hatred and want for revenge on Regina growing with each excruciating step. It was no wonder she had agreed to his terms for the information about the curse. She had planned to let him die so she wouldn't have to carry through. As he made his way out, he concocted a plan that would make her sorry she had ever crossed him.
After what seemed like hours, he could feel and smell fresh air, letting him know he was nearing the surface. His body was tired but he managed to keep moving. He passed through a shaft of light, stopping when he saw his skin was no longer dark gold. He held up his left hand, staring at it.
" My power, " He muttered to himself. He didn't know why he hadn't realized it sooner but it seemed it was gone. He knew that couldn't be true though. In order for it to be really gone, someone needed to stab him through the heart with his dagger.
There was another rumble and he decided not to worry about it at that particular moment. His power or not much else would matter if he were crushed. The tunnel started to get lighter and the air fresher. He pushed himself to move faster, knowing freedom was well within his grasp.
For months, he had been trapped in that tiny cell, no way out and nothing to do but think. Memories had assaulted him, making his fragile sanity even more cracked and thready. Most days, all he found himself able to do was sit in a corner, trying to keep the walls from closing in on him. Claustrophobia was an understatement for what he suffered in that dank hole.
When he wasn't huddled in the corner, wishing for it all to end, he was screaming the walls down. He even climbed them in order to get so exhausted he would pass out. Sleep was his only escape but it didn't come easy. He often fought hard to slip into slumber and it never seemed to last long enough.
The only option out of his grasp was taking his own life. For a time, he wished he wasn't immortal so he could but somehow, sense creeped into his addled brain. He would just be proving everyone right that he was a coward if he did that. He wasn't going to let them be right.
He had his reasons for everything he did and he didn't care if they understood. He ran because he was useless in war and didn't want his son to grow up without a father. He risked his life to save his son from that same war, sacrificing his soul so he wouldn't have to go. Neither action had the desired result, leaving him viewed a coward and losing him his son.
His heart raced as the light grew brighter. He squinted his eyes, not accustomed to sunlight as he had once been. He reached the mine's entrance, collapsing as soon as he cleared it...
" Hello? " A man's voice brought him around. How much time had passed was anyone's guess. He inhaled deeply, coughing at the smell that surrounded him. " Sit up, sit up. "
Rumplestiltskin felt an arm behind his shoulders, lifting him into a sitting position as he adjusted to the air around him. He reached up to his face, finding his mouth and nose were covered with a mask. He panicked for a second before he realized what he was breathing was clean air and it was helping to clear his mind. He sucked in several deep breaths before whispering, " Where am I? "
" The hospital, " The man said. Rumplestiltskin glanced over at him, furrowing his brow when he recognized him. He couldn't recall his name though. The man gave him a gentle look, " My name is Doctor Whale. "
Rumplestiltskin blinked, looking this Doctor Whale over. He wore a white cloth coat over a suit and had a stethoscope around his neck. " Right, " He muttered.
" Do you know how you got here? " Doctor Whale asked.
Rumplestiltskin shook his head, " I was in the mines then I woke up here. "
" Yes. You were found just outside. That place is dangerous, " Doctor Whale said. He looked Rumplestiltskin over, " Of course I don't have to tell you that. You're lucky to be alive. "
Rumplestiltskin quirked his mouth. Doctor Whale's definition of lucky seemed odd. He looked down to find himself in a strange looking smock type garment. He noted that his skin was clean like someone had bathed him. He thought of his right leg, throwing the blanket that was across his lower body off.
He was shocked to see his right leg was in a sort of metal contraption that held it still. It was a lot like a splint but better in a way. He could see the wounds on his leg had been stitched closed, leading him to believe they were deeper than even he thought. " Why is my leg bound like this? " He looked at Doctor Whale.
" Your leg is broken is three places and had debris buried in it, " Doctor Whale informed him. " We couldn't put a cast on it because of the stitches. Once they heal, perhaps we can put on a proper cast. "
" Ah, " Rumplestiltskin said.
" Has it been broken before? " Doctor Whale queried.
Rumplestiltskin nodded, " Yes. Once. "
" I could tell. It wasn't set properly, " Doctor Whale nodded. " We did what we could but you may have a limp once it's healed. "
" I already did, " Rumplestiltskin said. He looked down at his left wrist, finding an odd looking blue band around it. He brought it up and peered at it. " Gold, " He muttered.
" Yes. That's your name, " Doctor Whale explained. He got a pad of paper and a strange looking instrument from his pocket. He used it to scribble on the paper so Rumplestiltskin assumed it was a quill of some sort. " Are you having trouble remembering things? "
Rumplestiltskin thought it over, realizing the new name fit him perfectly. He nodded, " Yes. A lot of things are quite hard to recall. "
" You have a concussion so that's not too odd. Do you remember getting hit in the head? " Doctor Whale scribbled some more.
Rumplestiltskin shook his head, " No. "
" Right, " Doctor Whale said.
There was a silence before a question crossed Rumplestiltskin's mind. He looked at Doctor Whale, " Who found me? "
Doctor Whale put the pad of paper away, " The Sheriff. He was out on patrol and saw you. "
" The Sheriff? " Rumplestiltskin furrowed his brow.
" Yes. Sheriff Graham, " Doctor Whale sighed. " He's been the sheriff for years. "
" Ah, " Rumplestiltskin said. He motioned lamely at his head. " The memory loss thing. "
Doctor Whale nodded, " Is there anything you'd like me to tell you? Maybe jog your memory a bit? "
" Yes. I would like to know what I do, " Rumplestiltskin asked.
Doctor Whale blinked, " You do a lot of things. You have a pawn shop and own a lot of properties around town. "
" Oh yes, " Rumplestiltskin snapped his fingers. " That's sounds familiar. I'm a wealthy man, right? "
" Yes. You're quite comfortable, " Doctor Whale nodded.
" And I have a large estate, " Rumple tried to recall the deal he had made with Regina.
Doctor Whale nodded and smiled, " Maybe you didn't get hit in the head as hard as I thought. You seem to be remembering everything just fine. "
" Well you did jog my memory, " Rumplestiltskin smirked.
" So can you tell me why you were in that old mine? " Doctor Whale arched an eyebrow.
Rumplestiltskin sighed, " I really can't remember that yet. Perhaps I wanted something for my shop? "
" Maybe, " Doctor Whale checked his watch. " I have other patients to attend to but I'll come check on you later. "
" Right, " Rumplestiltskin nodded. He watched as Doctor Whale started to walk away. " Oh, Doctor? "
Doctor Whale turned around, " Yes? "
" Can I have something to eat? " Rumplestiltskin quirked his mouth. " I'm starving. "
Doctor Whale smiled, " I'll see what I can do. "
After Doctor Whale left the room, Rumplestiltskin looked around the room then towards the window, wondering just where Regina had transported him to and what awaited him outside.