Chapter Nine

"I don't trust her."

Belle glanced back to where Henry was standing bent and reading over her shoulder. Blue had given them the book - really quite useless so far - and had scurried off to handle some business or the other. They had promptly been scooted out of the building itself, but they didn't force them off the property when Belle had reminded them oh - so sweetly that her husband - and therefore she as well - owned the building and the land it was on. They'd been allowed to sit on the porch at the very least after that.

"Blue?"

"Of course Blue," the teen huffed. "She's distracting us. That's the only thing that makes sense."

Belle couldn't really counter that statement so she sighed and closed the book. Her clear eyes turned to Henry who was texting. "Who are you trying to reach?"

"My mom. Regina. She'll be able to track her."

"Surely you don't think that Blue would be behind this, do you?" Belle asked.

"Maybe not behind it, but she definitely knows more than she's letting on. See? Mom agrees." He held his phone up for inspection and Belle giggled despite everything.

"Your mother is biased."

"So is Blue. Mom's tracking her."

Belle's phone buzzed and she saw an unfamiliar number appear and a text an address. Below that it said Send Henry home and meet us there. "Well that was fast." She lifted the phone for Henry to see. "Do you know where that is?"

"Here," he said and plucked the phone from her fingers. "Just click on this and it pulls it up on this map here. See? You're not really sending me home, are you?"

"Henry, this could be dangerous."

"And you might need my help. He's my grandpa. We were in this together."

"Operation Sandman. He told me."

"You know I'm just going to tell you in going home and then go anyway."

"Henry!"

"We're wasting time. Grandpa Gold needs us." He still hadn't given her phone back and didn't look like he was willing to as he took off down the icy path.

Belle grumbled to herself again as she followed.

He was curled on his side on the floor and it was like nothing had changed in three hundred years. As soon as his magic was gone he was reverted back to the trembling, worthless spinner. He had thought he could break the cycle. He had thought he could be brave. He had given his very life for his family, and where had it gotten him? He'd been leashed and caged, his son murdered, and his soul left more scarred than before. There was no better place in life for people like him. He was a villain, and villains didn't get happy endings.

Rumplestiltskin let out a soft moan as he curled into himself. Every inch of him hurt. Silas had taken full advantage of his already battered state to pummel him further. He'd gone quiet, content to step back and watch the once powerful Dark One twitch. Sooner or later his very human body was going to simply give up, and without his magic to heal him, Rumple thought his time might be coming to an end. He hated to do that to Belle and to Henry, but he could at least take a small comfort in the fact that they would most likely be safe once he was gone. These people were after him, not those that he loved. At least that was one good thing about people that were so convinced they were working for some greater good.

"Didn't think it would end like this, did you?" Silas asked, at his side again and he nudged battered ribs with the toe of his boot. "No, you thought you'd kill one if our own and it'd be fun. Not so fun now, is it?"

He was a fast learner, and much like David in the nightmares, it was a waste of breath to argue with Silas, and he didn't have a great deal of breath left.

A hand buried itself in his hair, hauling him up and Silas leaned in close. "I asked you a question."

"A question that has no answer," Rumplestiltskin snarled back. "If you're going to kill me, do it already."

"You don't get off quite so easy, Dark One." He dropped him back to the ground and he hit hard, pain racing through his whole body. He choked, finding the air he was trying to pull in thick and impossible to swallow. His lungs weren't working, and part of his mind reminded him of the dreams and how much like that moment of dying this felt like. It hadn't been so painful when he'd died to kill Pan. The dagger had done most of the work for him.

The door opened somewhere behind them and Rumplestiltskin cringed. Great. Just what he needed. More of them.

"What-?" Silas began, but he never finished it. There was a loud sound like someone being hit and then a thump as he fell to the ground.

Rumplestiltskin tried to turn, but every little movement threatened to drag him under. If he passed out now he was sure that he wouldn't find the strength to wake back up. His attacker's attacker shuffled in and then around where he could see bare feet until he knelt. Dark eyes flickered up to meet a pair the same shade and a laugh managed to escape, riding on a strained breath. He was either dreaming again or he'd already passed out and was gone. "Bae."

"Hey," his son greeted and reached forward, his hand trembling as he brushed hair out of his father's face. "What have they done to you?"

"Killed me, I'd say."

"No. No, not yet."

His hands moved down, easing Rumplestiltskin onto his back and a strangled gasp left the injured man. That's usually what jolted him out of a dream, but he wasn't sure he remembered death hurting quite that badly before.

"Easy, Papa," Baelfire coaxed softly and he laid his hand against the side of his face. "I've got you. There it is. Are these blocking your magic?"

Rumple shifted, trying to get a better look. "Just a dream, Bae. It'll be over soon."

"No, this is real. Papa? Papa, look at me."

The command cut through the fog and Rumplestiltskin hadn't realized he was drifting. He came back to consciousness with a jolt and found that he was being cradled into an almost sitting position, one arm behind his back and the other hand working at the cuff on the wrist closest to it. "I have to be dreaming," he murmured softly and felt the grip on him tighten. "You're gone. She stole you from me. You're gone." He closed his eyes against the hot tears that were streaming down his face and Bae pressed a kiss to his temple.

"I'm right here. They pulled me back to use me. Papa, I'm so sorry. I couldn't stop them from going after you. I tried… I tried to find a way to warn you."

"Pulled you back?" his father echoed, blinking rapidly to clear his vision. The cuff snapped off and Bae shifted behind him, easing him so that he was leaning against the opposite arm and he could work on the other one. Rumplestiltskin could feel his curse stirring just beyond his reach.

"Yeah. I'm not really sure how. All I know is that they've been using me for some kind of blood magic to manipulate dreams."

"Who are these people that can pull the vault to this side and open it?" Rumplestiltskin breathed.

"I don't know, but they're bad news." Bae paused, his fingers that had been working the cuff off moving to pull back his papa's jacket and he let out a startled sound. "I'm so sorry, Papa."

"Not your fault. I'm not… even sure you're really here right now," he chuckled and he thought he heard his son echo it.

"I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

The second cuff snapped open and Rumplestiltskin felt a surge of power enter him. His back arched and s startled, pained cry forced its way up from his chest and clawed its way out his throat. Bae released him as gently as he could, easing away as magic pulled and knitted wounds together, straightened bones, and closed internal injuries. Quick fixes for major damage such as he had been dealt were painful and often caused more trouble further down the road, but there were times when they were necessary. This was one of those times.

"Papa, we have to go," Bae whispered hurriedly and Rumplestiltskin pushed himself up on shaking arms and looked to the door. One lone cleric stood there, eyes wide and fear etched into every line of his face. He turned to call for help, but the words never left his mouth as his eyes grew a little wider still and the Dark One pulled straight from his curse.

The young man never stood a chance. He slammed hard into the wall as Rumplestiltskin pulled himself to his feet, the fact that his outstretched hand was trembling doing nothing to soften the blow. His body was weak, but now his magic wasn't. He slammed him again and again, bones shattering, splintering his limbs at odd angles and it wasn't until he felt a hand on his shoulder and his son's voice reached his ears that he stopped. "We have to go."

He looked back and he was quite certain he'd lost his mind, but he nodded anyway.

"Can you teleport us out of here?"

"Not through these wards," he answered breathlessly. Apparently that had taken more out of him than he realized.

"Can you make it on foot?"

"I'm going to have to. Do you know where the door is?"

"Not a clue, but I bet we can find it."

Rumplestiltskin felt his chest burn as they started forward at a faster pace than his body seemed pleased with. His magic allowed him to push forward though, cloaking the wounds that he'd have to deal with later. They were closed enough that he wouldn't bleed out in their escape, but the fact that he'd already lost so much blood made the hallway spin as he stumbled into it.

Bae reached out, his hand taking hold of his papa's arm and holding him steady. "You okay?"

"No, but we'll deal with that later."

"Can you fight them if it comes down to it?"

Rumplestiltskin paused and turned, studying the man standing before him. It could be a trick. He could be seeing what he wanted to see or the clerics could even be toying with him to make him think his son was there. They could be leading him to the slaughter - not that they needed to lead him to it - or anything number of other terrible and painful scenarios. His curse whispered warnings through his mind and he struggled to decide. He reached a hand up, thumb tracing the familiar line of his son's cheekbone and his vision blurred again. He didn't care. If he died protecting even the memory of his son, then it was worth it.

"Yes," he managed. "For you, Bae. Yes."

Shouts sounded down the hall and Baelfire took hold of him to pull him along. He was half a step ahead of him when they hit the end of the hall and pushed through the door that led into a foyer. The door leading to the outside was just ahead, and it seemed to easy. Something about this was too easy. "Come on," Bae urged and pulled at him.

Behind, his curse warned him and he threw a shield up as quickly as possible. Power slammed into them, knocking them both back hard and Rumplestiltskin knew who their attacker was. He struggled to sit up, hearing Bae curse and groan a few feet away, and Magnus moved closer. "We would have returned you to your life in thanks for your service, Baelfire," he said as Bae picked himself up slowly.

"I'd rather die again then help you kill my father," he growled dangerously.

"Very well. Then I will free both of your souls."

The next wave hit hard and it was everything Rumplestiltskin could do to protect them from the brunt of it. They were so close, and if they could cross the threshold of the wards he thought they'd have a chance, but his legs wouldn't carry him. "Bae, go," he whispered. "Please go."

"I'm not leaving you here."

"You have to."

Bae looked at him with that same expression he had when he was young. It was the one that said he wouldn't be swayed, no matter the cost. "Tough. I'm not going to." He reached out and without warning he hauled his papa to his feet, reaching for the door and they were picked up into the air and thrown through it by the next burst of power. Instinct carried magic and survival fueled it as they broke through the wards and disappeared.

Henry didn't need the phone's gps, but Belle did. She kept up with him reasonably well as they took a shortcut through the woods. He knew that they might find anything when they reached the house that Regina's quick tracking spell on Blue was leading them to. His grandpa might not be there at all. They had no real proof that the lead fairy had anything to do with it, nor that she would be fool enough to go directly there when she knew that they were all looking for Rumplestiltskin. But on the other side of possibilities, she could be leading them right there. He could be hurt worse than when they took him, and if he was, they couldn't waste any time.

The sense of urgency pushed him forward and when he felt a hand close in on his upper arm he was so focused on the path before him that he jumped and spun. Belle released him immediate, stepping back and raising her hands. "Hey, just me."

"Right. Sorry."

"Listen, Henry, we don't know what we'll find when we get there. You'll need to keep back. Your grandfather would never forgive us if you got hurt."

"He'd forgive you. He loves you."

"He loves you too. For his sake. Please?"

Henry huffed an irritated breath as Belle's phone buzzed in his hands, Regina alerting her that Emma, David, Mary Margaret, and Robin were moving closer to the house. She turned towards the teen, an explanation falling from her lips in hopes that she could persuade him. They were going to go in and rescue Rumplestiltskin while Henry was to wait and make sure they all came out of it alive. That was her plan, and while she assured him that it was an important part to play look out - and Belle probably thought it was - Henry couldn't find it in himself to agree. It might be silly, but this was his and his grandpa's operation. If he couldn't be a part of pulling him out of danger, what has he really contributing to it? What would a powerful sorcerer like Rumplestiltskin see in his less than powerful grandson other than a frightened little boy who'd come crying to him over a bad dream?

A strange feeling, almost like electricity, cut though the air, followed closely by a loud crash. Henry startled, almost dropping the phone, and turned to meet Belle's uneasy gaze. "Henry, don't-" she tried, but he tossed the cell back to her and took off in a sprint towards the sound. His tennis shoes crushed brittle leaves and slammed into piles of snow on the ground, but he didn't stop. That had been magic, he was certain of it, and where magic was in Storybrooke, Rumplestiltskin often wasn't far behind.

Henry hit the top of a hill and saw two figures piled halfway down. He started forward just as one started to sit up, hand going to his head like the world was still spinning. The teen couldn't quite see his face, but that didn't seem to matter when he did recognize the second figure's tattered coat. "Grandpa!" he called, gaining the attention of the second man and he turned to face him. Henry froze, his breath leaving him in a rush. "Dad?"

When he'd been young, Baelfire hadn't understood his papa's sudden and intense reliance on magic. It had been so overwhelming that he'd been certain that his father had been lost to it, consumed by the demon that eventually had let him go when he fell through the portal. Their time together rescuing Henry from Neverland had given him a glimpse of the man he'd known, but it was the time they'd spent after Rumplestiltskin had tried to save him from his own hasty actions that really proved that his papa had survived under the curse. He still wasn't certain how the spell had worked, but for a time they'd shared a mind, and in that admittedly bizarre experience they'd come to understand one another again.

Understanding did many things, but it did nothing to wash away the nauseated feeling that always clung to Bae after teleporting.

He sat up slowly, his head spinning and he wondered if he'd hit it coming through. He thought he heard something through the haze, but it was the familiar voice that said, "Dad?" that caused him to turn a bit too quick, stumbling to his feet as he did. Henry was already flying down the hill, eyes wide and fixated on him. His papa was coming to where he lay on the ground and Bae caught Henry fully in his arms, pulling his boy close. Thin arms wrapped around his neck tightly. "Dad," he managed again and Bae heard tears shaking his son's voice.

"It's okay, Henry," he managed, his own voice trembling as well. He'd never thought he would have a chance to see him again. He'd had such precious, little time with him before it all came to an end.

Henry pulled back just a little. "What about Grandpa?"

"I'm fine," Rumplestiltskin said from where he was finally making it to his feet.

Belle, who Bae hadn't even seen come up behind Henry, steadied his papa as the elder man swayed dangerously. Those clear blue eyes focused in on him and she smiled through the confusion written across her face. "Hello, Bae."

"Hey. It's...a long story," he managed and felt Henry looking up at him.

"I can imagine," Belle answered. "Rumple?"

"I'm alright, dear," Rumplestiltskin answered her as she tightened her grip on him.

Bae finally released his son just enough to take a step forward. "Papa..."

Dark eyes met his own, and he knew his father's mind was working through all the problems at hand, and there were more than a few. "You said they were using you for some form if blood magic?"

"For the dreams. Yeah. I think they made it so that you were the center of them."

"Of course," his papa breathed. "But how did they pull you from the vault?" He shook his head as if banishing the thought. "No, that's not important now. We have time for that."

Bae frowned and he felt Henry's worried gaze on him. He tightened his grip in a hug before finally releasing him in full and inching forward. Rumplestiltskin, while on his feet, looked like he might pass out at any moment. He swayed dangerously, but seemed too fixated on the problem to notice. He reached forward to steady him as Belle's phone began to buzz and she smiled her thanks as she took the call. "Regina? We found him."

"Hey, we're out," Bae said softly. "It sounds like some if the others were helping Belle and Henry look for you. Let's regroup and get you some help-"

"I'm fine."

"Yeah, you look great right now. Should I stop balancing you to test the theory?"

His father shot him a glare, but Bae couldn't help but smile a little. His papa had always been stubborn and focused. It was good to see his death hadn't completely shattered him. "I'm missing something," he snapped and his knees gave a little.

Bae wrapped his arms around him as they sank to the ground together. "Hey. You're fine, huh?"

"They're on their way," Belle announced softly. "They're right by here."

"He hasn't been sleeping," Henry offered. "The nightmares have kept us awake."

Not to mention the injuries he'd sustained, Bae thought, but he had no wish to make his son worry more. He had no idea how badly hurt his papa had been before the clerics had finally gotten ahold of him, but the worst of it looked far too much like a wound caused by a sword. If the dreams had become reality, they needed to get him to someplace he could get help.

Henry's voice seemed to pull his father into action, though, and he looked directly at him. "Of course."

"Of course what?" Bae asked.

"Henry, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be home," Regina's voice snapped through the woods before she came into view.

She was followed closely by Robin Hood whose eyes grew wide when he spotted Bae. "Baelfire?"

"I couldn't let them hurt him!" Henry argued as his other mother and grandparents slipped through the low hanging brush with Ruby in the lead. All gazes swiveled around, eventually landing on Bae.

Emma's was the one that cut through them all, her voice small and almost hurt as she whispered his name. Bae's mind snapped back to Neverland and the Echo Caves where she'd told him her secret. She'd wished that he'd been dead. It would have been easier. In that moment, even in the shadows of the forest, he saw that same confession in her eyes.

His father's sharp and irritated voice pulled his attention around. "By all means, Regina, let your current insecurities over who will take your son from you next stop me from saving his life."

"What the hell are you going on about?" she growled and looked ready to lob a fireball at him herself.

"Look," he snapped and when her eyes fell on Henry she seemed to see something that Bae could not.

"Can you stop it?" Regina asked tightly.

"I need time."

"Grandpa?" Henry asked nervously. "What's going on?"

"Nothing I can't fix," Rumplestiltskin said with a strained smile. He reached a hand out to him. "Do you trust me, Henry?"

"Definitely," the teen answered.

"Rumple," Regina snapped.

Emma stepped forward, finally shaking off the shock enough when Henry's wellbeing was in question. "What the hell is going on, Gold?"

Rumplestiltskin didn't seem to be paying any of them any attention. Bae couldn't help but feel like his papa and Regina could see something he couldn't. He squinted, feeling a little foolish, but the faintest lines began to shimmer. They were wrapped all around Henry, tightening around his wrists and ankles. They were wrapped around his middle as well and as Baelfire watched he saw more joining and the strands were growing taught, like someone was about to pull him away.

"Papa?"

"Quiet, Bae," he said tightly, and Bae's mouth snapped shut to let him concentrate. Rumplestiltskin's dark eyes slipped open to focus on Henry. "This may hurt," he warned.

"I trust you," Henry said again.

Baelfire had to bite his tongue as his son gave a sharp cry and those strings tightened. Rumplestiltskin had a grip on him, though, and as they tightened enough to draw a thin line of blood across one of the teen's cheeks, Bae's papa gathered him fully into his arms, hugging him tightly to him and glaring at something unseen beyond. "Did you think I'd make it easy for you?" he growled out through clenched teeth.

"I will admit that we expected you to choose your immediate needs over the boy and any damage we could do with him," a voice that Bae knew well filled the space in which they stood and Caiden appeared there, dressed in robes as his master usually was. His face was the same careful mask that hid any emotion he might be feeling securely behind it.

"To him. I won't let you harm my grandson," Rumplestiltskin snarled and Bae heard Henry make a muffled sound as the strings gave a pop loud enough for those that weren't magically inclined to hear and the teen slumped in his grandfather's arms for a moment. Caiden reacted to it as if the strings snapped back on him and a wince made it through his mask. It had been his magic trying to pull Henry away. "You should tell Magnus to face me himself instead of going after my family to bring me in."

"Your family will never be safe as long as that curse holds tight to your soul," the cleric said even as Rumplestiltskin passed a woozy Henry over to Bae who gathered his son up immediately and held tightly. If they tried anything again, they'd have to drag both of them along. "In the end, it is you that they will need protection from." Then he was gone, a swirl of smoky magic pulling him away.

"Well that was kind of crazy," Ruby murmured, breaking the silence that followed the abrupt departure. "Anyone want to fill us in?"

"Neal, it's not that we're not thrilled to see you, but you died. We buried you. How are you here?" Mary Margaret asked, eyes fixated on him like she'd seen a ghost. Well, Bae supposed she sort of had.

He didn't have a chance to answer the question, though, as Belle's startled voice called out his father's name. Bae looked over just in time to see Rumplestiltskin's eyes rolling back and his knees giving way under him as if everything he'd been using to keep him on his feet had suddenly hit its end. Belle didn't make it to him in time and he collapsed in a heap on the ground.

TBC

Notes: Anyone else wondering if they're setting Rumple up to be the Big Bad for the next half of the season? The thought is definitely bouncing around my head after last night's episode.

So, it will depend on how writing goes this week with balancing NaNo, but this may be the only update. I will try to update on Thursday too, but we'll see.

Next time - Emma tries to work through the fact that Neal is once again back in their lives while Bae confronts the Blue Fairy about what he heard.