Hey all! This is later than I thought it was going to be, but as usual life took over and all my time vanished down the drain. But here it is! It's a bit shorter than usual, but I liked it.

Many thanks to my beta, libaka, who read this last month and was as wonderfully helpful as always!

Disclaimer: I wish I owned Sisters Grimm. While I'm dreaming, a puppy would be nice. Any offers? :P

This is based in the second book, right after Sabrina has entered the underground chamber in the tunnels and Toby has pushed her on the ground.

35. Tattoo

At first, Canis is relieved that Sabrina is alive, although he could smell even from his cocoon that she was in pain and was afraid, and he could see that her arm hung at a bad angle. But, even with that, he at least felt that it was better to know that she was alive and mostly well than to continue to be trapped and not know if she was even still breathing. He'd made a vow, after all, to protect the Grimms. He'd never forgive himself if she was harmed on his watch.

Canis is proud of Sabrina, in his own way, when she gets Rumpelstiltskin to reveal his plan, and for the three children that the creature took in to reveal their true selves. It's better to know your enemies' faces and numbers than to know nothing about them, and they had more information now than they had at the beginning of the night. Canis ignores the part of him that wonders how they'll get out of this alive, and the part of him that knows that they have to defeat Rumpelstiltskin tonight or they will never make it back to their home in one piece. He knows that Rumpelstiltskin will simply blow up the barrier if they escape, and he'll do it if they don't. Their only option is to defeat him before he can get close to the barrier, and that means now. Unfortunately, the spider web is strong, and Canis can't break free as he is, and he won't bring out the Wolf in these close quarters. He knows that Sabrina cannot fight alone. Their hands are tied, literally, Canis thinks wryly to himself as he ignores Rumpelstiltskin's boasting and the corrupted children's high-pitched, echoing laughter. He makes eye contact with Charming, and shakes his head slightly when Charming asks with his eyes if Canis can free himself.

When Hamelin arrives, Canis is merely exasperated. He wonders if Hamelin would've continued with this moronic plan if his son were fine. As is, Wendell (Canis pities the boy marginally for having such a pathetic name) is not fine at all, and Hamelin gets up the guts to try to help the Grimms. Canis is relieved when Sabrina frees the others, and is slightly irritated when she is unable to free him before Hamelin is defeated. He wonders what Hamelin is good for is he can't even last as long as Sabrina has against Rumpelstiltskin. He has far more knowledge of the little rat than the girl does, after all.

Then Rumpelstiltskin reveals the last of his plan. Canis suddenly can't catch his breath, and his heart beats a painful tattoo against his chest. He doesn't think he's ever been so afraid in his life, when he meets Sabrina's eyes in the cave and knows without a doubt that Rumpelstiltskin will kill them all when he releases the Wolf. The Wolf knows no mercy, no love, no family, and Canis knows that there is nowhere to run.

The last thing Canis remembers before succumbing to the rage filling his mind and burning through his veins is Sabrina staring up at him, and the agonizing knowledge that he's become a grandfather in this child's mind, and he'll have to break her heart in order to give her the power to stop him.

It seems even shorter on here, argh... But I hoped you liked it! I'll update the next chapter soon, if life goes nicely.

Please R&R,

Tam