Chapter Nine: When Madmen Meet

The Doctor never had an American take on "Fish Fingers and Custard" that tasted as well as the British kind than he did after having a quick lunch break at Granny's Diner on Red's recommendation. Fish sticks (as they were called there) and custard would be the only thing he would eat from there every breakfast, lunch, and dinner he spent while in Storybrooke. Upon leaving the diner with a satisfied stomach, he made a mental note to himself to thank Red for putting his favorite dish on the menu just for him. She certainly was looking out for him, even though he had no memory of her or the marriage they once had together.

As much as he looked forward to having the meal again at dinnertime, the Doctor knew that he needed to refocus on finding a way into the fairy tale world to rescue Jack, Emma, and Snow. While he approached the TARDIS, however, he heard a clicking sound and felt something press against the back of his head. He then heard a voice tell him, "Don't do anything stupid, Doctor. Just open that door and take me inside your TARDIS."

It was clear to the Doctor that he was legitimately being held at gunpoint, but he did not know by whom. Rather than question who the bandit was or his purposes for holding him at gunpoint, the Doctor opted instead for opening the right door of the police box and letting the both of them inside. As they entered the TARDIS, the Doctor heard a small gasp emerge from his hijacker; apparently, it was his first time in the TARDIS as well.

After momentarily taking in the reality of it being bigger on the inside, the man then instructed, "Okay, now the next part should be relatively easy for you – I want you to take me out of here."

"I'm afraid I can't."

He felt the barrel of the gun press harder against the back of his head.

"You can't? Or you won't?"

"No, I can't." He then turned around to face the man, which he did with ease after hearing the request and realizing that he was the only way this man could get what he wanted. Finally seeing the face of his hijacker, the Doctor surprisingly recognized him. "You're Jefferson."

"Yeah, we both already know that!"

"Actually, I don't know. But because Regina knows, I know, too." The Doctor's response brought confusion upon the face of his hijacker. "I've lost all the memories I had of the people here and the lives they had before. The Evil Queen – Regina – did something to me that robbed me of those memories. But, just recently, I gained all of her memories…and you were in them."

Jefferson chuckled amusingly. "For once, even I find something like that crazy to believe. But since it is Regina, and they are her memories, then you know why I have to leave this place."

"Yes, I do, but I'm telling you now that you can't leave."

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't!"

"Your daughter, Paige." The Doctor saw the threatening demeanor of Jefferson begin to fade. "I know that you lost her when you were trapped in Wonderland. And now that the curse is lifted on her, you're too frightened to see her again because of what she'll think of you. Leaving her isn't the answer, Jefferson."

"Yes, it is!"

"You will forget everything about her if you leave."

"That's the only way to get rid of the pain – to get rid of the misery I've felt for twenty-eight years watching her live not knowing who I was!"

"But she remembers who you are now! She's out there looking for you!"

Jefferson shook his head, refusing to accept the Doctor's claim. "Just start up your machine and take me away from this place. I don't want to be here anymore. I don't want to remember who I am or who I used to be."

The Doctor simply refused to acknowledge Jefferson's request.

"Don't make me shoot you, Doctor!"

"If you do, then who will fly the TARDIS? You?"

"I can try."

"No, you won't. No one can fly the TARDIS but me and one other person."

Jefferson's grip on the gun grew tenser as he continued to aim it at the Doctor's head. The Doctor remained confident, which amaze even him, considering the fact that he hadn't a clue what Jefferson's next move would have been. A few intense minutes of silence had passed and then Jefferson put down the gun, blowing out a frustrated breath. "Damn you," he whispered to the Doctor before storming out of the TARDIS.

With Jefferson gone, the Doctor sighed, feeling a little relieved that he once again avoided death. Although the memories he had of Jefferson were not his own, he wondered what history he did have with the Mad Hatter to evoke such a violent purpose in using the TARDIS as a means of escape.

Just outside the TARDIS, Henry – defying his grandfather's wish for him to go to school – had crossed the street corner to go into the police box, looking to the Doctor for help in finding Jefferson. However, he soon noticed the very man he had been searching for come out of the TARDIS himself for reasons unknown to Henry. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Henry tailed Jefferson, keeping a careful distance between the both of them.