The Gears in Motion

"How is she?" Red asked as soon as Victor walked out of the room.

"She'll be perfectly fine. She just needs her rest," Victor replied.

"And Greg?"

"He'll also be fine."

"I can't tell if that's good or bad."

"Me, either. I'll keep track of him."

"And I'll keep track of Alice." He extended his hand to shake, and she did. They paused for a moment, and she smiled. A moment later, he did, too. "We can do this, Victor. We can save the town and keep everyone alive. Everything will work out just fine."

Victor's smile softened at her assurance. "Thank you," he said.

"For what?"

"I happen to find your words soothing. It's been a nerve-wracking thirty-six hours." She chuckled, and they started walking down the hall side by side. On impulse, she reached for his hand. He started and jerked away.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, drifting to the side.

"Hey," he replied, reaching out for her. Her hand slid easily into his, and they drifted closer to each other. Their fingers laced together. "Monster to monster."

She nodded. "Monster to monster." She didn't know it, but he noticed that her voice wavered slightly.

OUAT

"You saw it?" John asked. He seemed to have completely forgotten about the rabbit leg in his hand. "You saw the Barrier?"

"For a moment," Bae replied, "after being in contact with Gerhardt, and you saw what we can do together. The magic here is also different than in the Enchanted Forest."

"You think that's involved, too?"

"I honestly have no idea what's going on, and I'm trying to figure it out."

"There's nothin' wrong with that. The entire thing's just plain weird."

"We think so, too," Morraine said. She poked at the fire and looked up at the three Merry Men. "This town is just as trapped as you were in Sherwood, as we were in Neverland."

"There's a way out," Bae said, "but since Rumpelstiltskin cast the curse that created the Barrier, it can only be broken by his death or the destruction of..." he caught himself, but he'd already captured the attention of the Merry Men. He sighed and said, "the knife. Even then, that could kill him."

"Why do you care so much?" John asked.

"Because he's my father," Bae said with more force than he intended. John leaned back, eyes wide. "He's my father, for all his faults and weaknesses as well as for all his strengths and best qualities." In a smaller voice, he said, "Besides, I just got him back. I don't want to lose him again."

"Well, lad, it sounds an awful lot like you might have to."

"Really?" Morraine asked. "Do you really need to do this right now? You know what? I have no words for you right now, so do us all a favor and drop the subject, alright?" John settled back a little bit and said nothing. "Thank you."

"There's still gonna be an inquest into Gisborne's death," Alan said. "Not only here, but back in Nottingham, as well."

"Screw Nottingham," John said sharply. "As long as we're here, what goes on here is our immediate focus."

"If we ever go back, though... Look, we're outlaws. We're going to be the first ones they look at."

"If they ever catch us," Bae said.

Will laughed. "That's true."

John shrugged. "I've yet to see a lawman that can catch a Merry Man," he added. "King's finest. Pah!" This elicited a laugh from everyone around the fire.

"But we're here," Bae said when he recovered himself. "We're here, and we have this world's system and problems to deal with. Gisborne is dead, so all that's left is the Barrier. And the thing in the tunnels, if it comes after us."

"And if it doesn't?" Will asked.

"Then we don't have to worry about it," Morraine said. "But until we're sure that's the case, we have to keep it in mind."

"If it does and we can't fight it?"

"Then we're all going to die."

"For now, let's focus on the Barrier," Bae said. "I'll talk to my father about it. I want to see what he knows and what he's willing to do."

"I'll go with you," Morraine said. "If anything changes, we'll signal using a flaming arrow."

"Just when I thought destroying those things was over." Again, the group laughed. "Alright," he said, but as soon as he spoke, he felt something change.

OUAT

Gerhardt started and stood. He first checked his brother's room, which was still empty. Then he grabbed his brother's gun, cocked it, and walked out the front door.

OUAT

D started awake and looked around. She wasn't restrained, but the room she found herself in was oppressive nonetheless. She got out of bed and hopped to the door, which she wrenched open. A pair of crutches was waiting for her as soon as she reached the first stage of her freedom, and standing before them were the brothers Frankenstein and Red. "He told us," she said, gesturing to Gerhardt.

"You're concussed," Victor said, "so be careful." He turned to his brother and said something in either German or Dutch, or a blend of both. Gerhardt nodded.

"I will," D said.

"You keep my brother safe," Gerhardt said to Red.

"I will," Red replied. "Good luck."

"Thanks." D took up the crutches and followed Gerhardt down the hall.

"Annie get your gun," Victor said to Red. "Looks like a fight tonight."

"Better go while we can still get some good seats," Red replied jokingly.