The Case Isn't Over

"I swear," Greg said, staring up at D, who even on crutches was intimidating him. "I didn't call anyone. I don't even know what I'm getting into here."

"Cut the Joe Q. Public act," D shot back. "Is Alice on her way or not?"

"I didn't call anyone. I told you."

D pressed the bottom of one of her crutches into Greg's throat. "You said yourself that you were looking for a town full of magic so you could prove to the world that you're not crazy and that your wife isn't crazy. You even said someday you'd see something no one would believe, and the night of the accident, you did. I know you did, because you broke my leg with your car when I tried to stop magic man from being an idiot. You saw that, and knowing you, you called someone. Tell me who, and tell me if they're coming."

Greg hesitated, breathing heavily, and D pressed the crutch deeper into his throat. "Yes," he said at once. "I called Alice. She's gonna come looking for me. She'll be boozed up off her ass, high on her meds, and she might have a few men with her, depending on how much like partying she's feeling. Two days, tops." D pulled the crutch back, and Greg gasped and coughed, but he didn't take his gaze off her. "I can't fix it now. She's already made her mind up."

D crutched her way to Greg's bedside and stared down at him, her face cold. "You're getting us into this mess, so you're gonna help us get out. If you chicken out, I will find you, and I'm no Princess Charming." She turned and left the room. Greg wasn't sure whether to be relieved or terrified for his life.

OUAT

Gerhardt stiffened and turned, pushing Victor behind him. The unconscious man stirred and shifted position with a groan, and then he got to his feet and rubbed the back of his head. "Well, I have to say, that was impressive," he said, popping his neck and lowering his hand. He approached the brothers and examined Gerhardt. "You look so much healthier in grey. Perhaps I should send you back and feed you to that vampire you mentioned."

Victor drew a gun and approached Gisborne, and Gerhardt held up an arm to stop him. "I failed you once as a brother," Victor said in German. "I'm not going to do so again."

"Not against this man. He's too dangerous," Gerhardt replied. Gisborne flicked his wrist, and the gun flew out of Victor's hand. "Run," Gerhardt whispered, giving Victor a sharp shove away from him. "This is about to get ugly."

Gisborne advanced on Gerhardt, who very quickly realized he had no idea what he was doing. Victor, instead of running, scrambled for the gun and fired three shots, all of which Gisborne magically returned. He ducked, and the bullets embedded themselves in the trees behind him or disappeared entirely. Gerhardt seized the opening and punched Gisborne in the temple. This time, for good measure, he slammed the latter into a tree several times with all the force he could muster. Again, Gisborne went limp, but Gerhardt had to be sure this time, so he shoved his nose deep into his skull.

He stood and walked over to Victor, and he extended a hand. Victor allowed Gerhardt to help him to his feet, and Gerhardt said, "I forgive you."

"Thank you."

"Now come on. We need to get out of here before he wakes up again, which I don't doubt, considering." Victor looked over Gerhardt's shoulder at Gisborne, and it dawned on him the volumes his brother's assessment spoke.

"Yes, let's go," he whispered. Side by side and with their arms draped over each other's shoulders, they walked down the path that led to Storybrooke.

OUAT

"Any news, good, bad, or ugly?" August asked when D met up with him in his room at the Bed and Breakfast.

"Two days, tops," she replied, sinking onto the bed. "Random people can come into this town, but hardly anyone can leave. It's like a cage at a zoo."

"A town-wide freakshow."

"We either have to restore the Barrier to outsiders, or we have to break the cage."

"Either way it requires a shitload of us."

"Or just the new guy and Rumpelstiltskin." He looked at her. "Don't pretend this isn't that serious."

"I'm not."

"Whatever plan we go with, though, we have to keep the local leadership in the loop."

"Better start making phone calls, then."

OUAT

"I have a guest bedroom," Victor said as he led Gerhardt into his apartment, "but I hardly have any guests, so you can sleep there. Or on the couch." Gerhardt looked around, shrugged, and flopped onto the couch. Victor joined him, and he threw an arm around Victor's shoulders.

"It's good to be back," Gerhardt said.

"It's good to have you back," Victor replied. The phone rang. "I'll get that." He walked into the kitchen and answered the phone with a brusque, "Whale."

"You're not at the pier, are you?" Red asked.

"...No."

"So where are you?"

"At home. Why?"

"What're you doing there?"

"I'm here with my brother."

"What? How?"

"Could you come by the apartment? I have a lot to explain to you, and I hope you understand that I don't want to run up my phone bill doing it."

"Everything's okay, though, right?"

"Yes."

"My shift's over in ten minutes, I'll be there in twenty."

"Okay. Was I needed while I was out?"

There was a pause, and he guessed she was blushing slightly. "Not that I know of."

"Thank you."

"I'll see you soon." He nodded as she hung up, and he returned the phone to its cradle.