Once Upon A Time: Dancing With The Devil, Part Eleven

By Rebekkalee Mouri-Hibiki

Emma lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, the street light outside providing just enough light to see the rafters. After resetting the trap, Mr. Gold had retreated to the workshop while she guarded the upstairs part. In her mind, she kept going over and over the oddly tender moment that had happened almost two hours before. It had been so strange for him not to push her away after hitting on such a tender subject but the moment hadn't lasted that long.

It made Emma's heart hurt when she thought about the painful things Mr. Gold had endured. Regina always called him a coward but a cowardly person wouldn't have tolerated so much sadness and pain. She felt he was a much braver man than many she had met. Many would have given up but her kept on going.

Even after his crippling injury, he continued on. She shut her eyes, recalling the night in the kitchen when he told her about his fall. She could see the long, dreadful looking scars that lined his right leg in her mind as clearly as the night she first laid eyes on them. It was another thing that enforced her belief he was much stronger than even she had thought.

She frowned, recalling how Regina said she had known him for far longer. Emma wondered just what had happened between them to inspire such discord. Whatever it was, it had to have been something deep and painful. She heard the clock downstairs chime out that it was one and she opened her eyes.

" Any time now, " She muttered to herself. She had reviewed her notes and security tapes after talking to Mr. Gold and found there was indeed a pattern. All of the security cameras had been knocked out or otherwise disabled shortly after one in the morning. She blamed her lack of sleep for making her miss the detail.

One thing that's wasn't obvious was what Clarissa was really after. Emma didn't know what she could have done with the electronics she had taken. There was no place to sell stolen goods in Storybrooke, not that she knew of anyway. She would have suspected the thief was selling to the gypsies.

However, they had banished her and refused to deal with her according to the couple Mr. Gold had directed her to. She pondered it a little longer when she heard a scraping noise, like an animal clawing at the outside wall. She jerked the top sheet over her head to conceal herself as she continued to listen, the sound getting louder.

Emma heard the sound of the window across from her opening, squeaking as it was pushed up. There was a delicate thud and she assumed the intruder had made it inside. She held her breath, waiting for the unsuspecting thief to trip the first trap. Emma braced herself for the loud snap she knew was coming.

She furrowed her brow when it didn't come though. She moved the top sheet just enough to see the black clad Clarissa slip along the wall, heading for the door. She waited until Clarissa was out of sight before slipping out of the bed, grabbing her gun up from where she had put it down. ~How did she miss the trap? ~ Emma asked herself as she followed the path Clarissa took.

Emma made it down to the workshop as Clarissa headed toward the curtain. She saw no sign of Mr. Gold though. She moved towards the curtain, hearing the door creak behind her. She swung around, pointing the gun in the direction of the noise. She rolled her eyes when she saw Mr. Gold standing there.

He frowned then put his index finger over his lips to tell her to stay quiet. He pointed to the curtain and mouthed the word, " Go. "

Emma nodded and turned back to the curtain, moving it aside with the muzzle of the gun. She peeked out in time to see Clarissa staring at the necklace in the case. She seemed mesmerized by the crystal, only focused on it as she moved closer. Emma bit her lip as she watched Clarissa got in the vicinity of the other trap, ~Please step on it... please step on it... ~ She thought to herself.

A chill went down her spine when she felt Mr. Gold at her back. She glanced back for a moment but he gave her a cautionary look. She returned her attention to Clarissa She was almost on top of the trap, her foot going down on the release plate.

Emma held her breath, shocked when Clarissa jerked her foot back and looked around. She locked eyes with Emma, her expression becoming panicked. " Freeze! " Emma shoved the curtain aside. " Don't run! "

Clarissa looked around as if she were looking for an escape. She frowned, finding none. " I think you're trapped, " Emma moved slowly forward, getting within an arm's length of Clarissa. She took a hand off her gun to get her handcuffs. " Give up. "

Clarissa frowned, " No one can trap me. "

Emma was shocked when Clarissa suddenly kicked her gun out of her hand. It went flying behind one of the display cases, Emma glad the safety was still on. She didn't have much time to be grateful though because Clarissa then pounced on her, knocking her backwards into the work room. Emma fell to the floor as Clarissa began to pull her hair and slap her.

Emma flailed her arms, trying to knock the feisty little thief off. She forced herself up, throwing Clarissa to the floor and pinning her down. Clarissa narrowed her eyes before raising up and biting Emma on the right shoulder, straight through her sweater. She cried out as Clarissa held on tight, regretting the fact she had taken off her jacket.

They rolled around on the floor, Emma trying to pry her off. They slammed into the side of the worktable, the force sending several items from the edge of the table raining down on them. One of the things hit Clarissa square in the back of the head, knocking her out cold. It took Emma a moment to realize the thief was not moving before she pushed her off.

Emma sat up, reaching for her stinging shoulder. She looked at her fingers in the dim light, finding she was bleeding. She caught her breath, " Gold... where are you? "

" Right here, " Mr. Gold was standing next to the door that led to the apartment. He had most likely moved while Emma's focus was on Clarissa. " Are you alright? "

Emma frowned, " Define alright. "

He flipped on the lights, furrowing his brow when he saw the blood-soaked shoulder of her sweater. He came over quickly, looking down at her. " That's a nasty bite. "

" Yeah, " Emma nodded as she glanced up at him. She looked over at where Clarissa was. She was sprawled out on the floor, a trickle of blood coming from the corner of her mouth. She then looked around to see what had knocked her out.

She quirked her mouth, seeing the brick from earlier in the evening just a few inches from Clarissa's head. Emma looked at Mr. Gold, " Gold? "

" Yes? " Mr. Gold replied.

" Where did the brick come from? " Emma pointed at it. " I thought it was upstairs. "

" I brought it with me when I came down earlier, " Mr. Gold said. " Don't you remember? "

Emma thought back but she really didn't recall. She quirked her mouth, " Where did you set it then? "

" On the edge of the table, " Mr. Gold patted the table just above where Emma was sitting down. " Right here I believe. "

Emma looked up to where he was showing her. She looked at where the brick lay and tried to figure out if it could have landed where it had if that were true. She had seen him throw it with rather stunning accuracy before, lending some doubt to his story. She sighed, reaching up for the corner of the table and hoisting herself out of the floor.

She hissed in pain as she stood up fully, knowing full well she'd be sore as Hell in the morning. Mr. Gold touched the middle of her back, " We need to clean and bandage that shoulder. "

" I NEED to see if she's hurt and cuff her before she wakes up, " Emma said. The heat from his touch wasn't helping her get her nerves together.

" Then do it and we'll take care of you, " Mr. Gold said firmly. He then walked away, heading for where he kept his first aid kit.

Emma reached down to her belt and got the handcuffs out of their case. She knelt down, rolling Clarissa gently to the side. " Hey Gold? "

" Yes, my dear? " He replied.

" Bring me a pair of gloves if you have them, " Emma said as she eyed the back of Clarissa's head. She checked her pulse, finding she had one. She still wasn't certain who the blood on Clarissa's mouth belonged to though. Emma thought there was a good chance it was her own since Clarissa had bitten her so hard.

" Will these do? " Mr. Gold had come back over and was holding a pair of disposable vinyl work gloves.

Emma took them and pulled them on, " Sure. "

Mr. Gold stood there as Emma checked the back of Clarissa's head. " How is she? "

" No blood but she's going to have one hell of a headache when she wakes up, " Emma sighed. She frowned, " I may have to send her to the hospital to have them make sure she hasn't got a concussion. "

" Perhaps, " Mr. Gold said. " Do you think she'll be secure there though? After all, Mr. Nolan got up and walked out unnoticed. "

Emma remembered that all too well. She sighed, " Well, he was in a coma. No one knew he was going to just get up and walk out. They'll probably watch her better since she's a criminal. I'll have them restrain her I guess. "

Mr. Gold dropped a hank of rope next to Emma, " Tie her up... just to be safe. "

Emma eyed the rope and gave him a wry smirk, " What? No duct tape? "

" I have that too if you think you need it, " Mr. Gold replied flatly.

Emma shook her head, " No. I was trying to be facetious. I think the rope will be too much. "

" She's proven to be a skilled adversary, Miss Swan. Nothing will be too much, " Mr. Gold said. He eyed the handcuffs, " She may even be able to slip out of those. "

" I hope not, " Emma said as she stood back up and took off the gloves. She got out her cell phone and started to dial the number for the ambulance. She furrowed her brow at the odd look Mr. Gold was giving her. " What? "

" Your shoulder? " Mr. Gold motioned. " Don't you want me to take a look? "

" In a minute, " Emma waved him off.

Mr. Gold frowned and gave her a hurt look, " Alright. "

" What? " Emma said as the ambulance service answered. " Oh, hello Geordie. This is Sheriff Swan. Can you please send an ambulance to Mr. Gold's pawn shop please? I have a twenty-five year old female with a possible concussion. "

" Tell them no sirens please, " Mr. Gold interjected.

" No sirens, got it? " Emma said. She nodded, " See you in a few minutes. "

Mr. Gold waited until Emma had hung up the phone before he said, " Your shoulder. "

Emma sighed, " Oh yeah. Are you sure? The guys from the ambulance can look at it. They'll be here in a few minutes. "

" It's a bite, my dear. The sooner we clean it, the better, " Mr. Gold said. He pointed to the chair at the worktable, " Please, sit. I can let them in when they get here. "

Emma did as she was told, sitting down. He came over, eying her sweater. " I fear that may have to come off my dear. It's in the way. "

Emma frowned, realizing he was right. She gave him a cautionary look. It was one of the rare times she hadn't worn an undershirt. She sighed, " I haven't got a tank top on. "

" I won't stare, my dear, " Mr. Gold assured her. " I promise. "

Emma still felt reluctant but reached for the hem of the sweater anyway. She pulled it off, hissing because the action pulled at the bite. She set it down on the table and covered herself with her arms. Mr. Gold turned on the desk lamp, focusing the bright light on the wound.

He grabbed some gauze and a bottle of peroxide from the first aid kit. He frowned, " I can't help you if I can't reach the wound. "

Emma gave him a baleful look, moving her arms slowly. She was surprised when he handed her a piece of yellow cloth. " What this for? "

" To cover yourself, " Mr. Gold replied. " I wouldn't want you to feel uncomfortable. "

She nodded before there was a knock at the front door. " It's the ambulance, " Emma sighed as she wrapped the cloth to cover her chest. It made her feel a little less exposed but she was still a little uneasy because of how low she had to wrap it to keep the wound accessible.

Mr. Gold held the gauze out to her, " Hold this and I'll be right back. "

Emma took it as he went out of the room, waiting for him to come back. Less than a minute passed before two male EMTs came into back room. Emma pointed at where Clarissa lay on the floor. " She's right there. "

" Right, Sheriff Swan, " One of the men, a stocky dark haired man she knew was named Peter, said. " There's no room to get a gurney in here so we may have to carry her out. "

" Do what you need to do, " Emma said. " Just make sure she doesn't get away. She's under arrest. "

" Right, " Peter said and went to work checking Clarissa over. " She's not that big so I think we can swing it. "

The other EMT, a tall blonde haired well built guy, furrowed his brow, " Are you alright, Sheriff? "

Emma recognized the guy and knew his name was Rick. He had a bad habit of blatantly staring at her whenever he was at Granny's. She had tried to ignore it but it was obvious he had a thing about her. He wasn't a bad looking guy, but he had a well deserved reputation of being a rude jerk.

" She bit me, " She said stiffly when she realized Rick wasn't looking at her face. In fact, his eyes were unashamedly focused on her chest in spite of being covered. " You need to look her over. She got hit in the head with a brick. "

" Peter's got it. I can take a look at it, " Rick offered.

" We've got it under control, " Mr. Gold said stiffly as he walked back over to Emma. He had come back into the room without her noticing. " Go do what Miss Swan told you to do. "

Rick blinked " Um. Okay. If you need anything, let me know and I'll give it to you. "

Mr. Gold picked up the bottle of peroxide, ignoring Rick's offer completely. " Hold the gauze below the wound, " He instructed. When Emma did, he leaned forward and poured a little peroxide into the bite.

Emma hissed as the peroxide bubbled up and dripped down her shoulder. He got another piece of gauze, using it to carefully pat the bite dry. When he was satisfied, he threw the gauze in the trash and looked for a big enough bandage to cover the bite. " Do you need this? " Rick asked, holding out a large gauze pad as his eyes went back to Emma's chest.

" Thank you, " Mr. Gold took it gingerly as he gave the man a sideways look. He opened it and handed it to Emma. " Hold this. "

Emma nodded then watched as he got some antibiotic ointment out of the kit. He opened it and put some on the pad. Emma placed the pad on her shoulder as Mr. Gold looked for some tape. He found a roll of narrow tape and started to tear some off.

" This will work better, " Rick held out a roll of wide bandaging tape. Emma had noticed Rick hadn't been helping Peter at all. In fact, he had just stood there and kept staring at her. She felt uncomfortable with the way he kept looking at her.

" Thank you. Now do your job, " Mr. Gold took the tape. His tone sour like he had noticed that Rick was staring as well. Emma glanced up at him, his expression showing his displeasure in the way she was being stared at.

" I'm almost done down here, " Peter said. " Keep helping Sheriff Swan. "

Mr. Gold's frown deepened as he gave Rick a cold glare, " He's helped enough. "

Rick looked at Mr. Gold to say something but stopped cold when he saw the look on Mr. Gold's face. He stepped back from the table, looking a bit frightened. " Uh. Yeah. I think he's got it from here. "

" Okay then, " Peter stood up slowly. " Rick, carry the girl outside and we'll load her in when we get out there. "

" Sure, " Rick nodded. He then picked up Clarissa and carried her out of the back room.

Peter then turned to Emma, " I think you should stop by the hospital later and have Doctor Whale take a look at that bite to be safe. "

" Of course, " Emma nodded as Mr. Gold finished taping her shoulder. " I'll have him take a look when I come by to check on her. "

" Alright then, " Peter nodded. " Have a good night. "

" It can only get better, " Emma sighed. She watched as Peter left, listening as the door closed behind him. She startled suddenly when she felt something fall over her shoulders. She glanced down to find it was Mr. Gold's suit jacket.

" You can give it back tomorrow, " Mr. Gold smiled gently. " Now, hurry home and get a clean sweater. "