"Whale! Dr. Whale!" Snow White screamed as she ran ahead. The latest badguy was attacking Storybrooke and they'd once again set up triage in front of City Hall.
The blonde doctor looked up from where he was treating a head wound and saw Charming carrying someone. Something. No, it can't be.
After passing the gauze to the patient he ran from the tent to meet them.
And it was his worst nightmare since Gerhardt had been hurt...
On the grass in front of him was Ruby, clearly injured. She was in human form again but her stomach was bloody from what looked like a gunshot.
"What the hell happened?" he demanded. "I thought this was a magical fight!"
"I-it was but apparently this villain was prepared," Charming answered.
"It was silver?"
"We think so," Snow answered.
Victor turned to shout behind him, "Carter, Morely, take over on triage!"
The other two doctors nodded and Victor tossed his keys to Charming before carefully lifting Ruby into his arms. Emma ran back to the fight to help Regina.
"Nolan, you drive my car, we can set her in back."
"What? Where're we going?"
"Just drive!"
Turns out he directed them towards the woods. Not giving them a chance to say anything, he carried Ruby to the front door of a mid-sized cabin. He wasn't surprised to see Granny already there with her crossbow; just stopped to nod and kept going inside.
She'd already opened the paneled door to a secret room.
"What are we doing here? Shouldn't we take her to the hospital?" Charming asked, flustered.
"Really? Take a werewolf to the hospital, they'd lock her up!" he shot back. This town may be magical but he had a point.
"David, let him work," Snow cut in quietly.
Inside the room was like a normal bedroom. If you counted a pile of blankets in a circle to one side. Almost like a...den? The walls were rich greens and browns to mimic the forest.
Victor quickly pulled several monitors, medical equipment, IVs, and anything else he could need. Also shedding his white coat as he pulled on gloves.
"We created this room for Ruby to have a safe place. Better than locking her in the freezer." She usually did fine on wolf moons but just in case he wanted her to have somewhere. The walls were re-enforced, not to keep her in but to keep enemies out.
He was thankful he thought to keep supplies on hand but hated having to use them like this.
Tense moments passed as he worked to remove the bullet. It wasn't the same as causing damage to a human. Silver could kill her.
Finally two bullets clinked into the basin and Victor let out a long sigh.
"Is she ok?" Snow asked.
"In time she'll-" but he was cut off as Ruby's back arched and she let out a painful howl. Victor's hands were quick to try to soothe her. "Shhh, you're ok. I've got..."
But the brunette curled in on herself whimpering. That's when he noticed the wound emitting smoke. Before anyone could do anything, Ruby leaned over the side of the bed coughing and gagging. Harsh noises wracked her body as Victor held her up.
Snow had rushed over to stroke her hair.
"What the hell is that?" Charming asked in disgust and confusion.
The doctor looked and his face paled even further. "Damnit! I was afraid of that."
On the floor was a white mess mixed with black and green specks.
"Mistletoe," Granny informed them.
"Like the decoration?" Emma asked. She had run into the house to put up a protection spell as Regina and the fairies held the front lines. Once done she'd be back out there.
"To certain magical creatures it's deadly," Granny answered. "Son, do you still have-"
Victor looked up, swallowing harshly. "Ye-yeah, unfortunately." He gently set Ruby back on the bed after wiping the black gunk from her mouth. He leaned in and whispered, "I'll be right back. You hang on for me ok?"
All Ruby could do was lean into his hand, crying weakly. He got up trying to compose himself before turning to the others.
"I have something but need to go get it. Keep an eye on her. Gran, if the monitors go off, come get me."
And with a last look at the woman he loved he moved out of the room.
"Where are you going now?!" Charming called.
"To save my wife!"
What the doctor needed was hidden in a deep corner of his home lab in the garage.
Once inside the garage he desperately wanted to break down in anguish but Ruby didn't have time for that. What he needed to do would take too long as it was. Normally his lab was a safe haven but right now he only felt dread.
Taking a breath, the renowned and sometimes feared Frankenstein set to work.
Victor gathered violets, a venus flytrap (don't ask him why), and several other ingredients. Liquids that bubbled and glowed dangerously.
Finally he dug through cabinets and shelves for the small statue that had a false bottom. Holding the small cloth bag he ran to his tables and fired up the beakers and flames.
Inside the pouch held something from his world. When he'd grabbed it before going to the Enchanted Forest, he didn't think he'd ever need such a thing. But he'd heard it had strong properties.
He was reluctant to ask Regina or anyone to heal Ruby magically, but given the weapon and menacing mistletoe he didn't think magic would work anyway.
Mixing everything into a red and green liquid he added the leaves from his land. Roseweed Frankensense. If a different situation he and Ruby would laugh at the name.
Notes after notes and a few missteps happened. Finally the paste was done. He carefully packed it into a small container, keeping his gloves on.
Running back into the house 30 minutes later felt like long days later. He skidded to the secret room, shoes scuffing.
Their home. Somewhere they should share their whole lives together.
Shaking his head of thoughts that wanted to consume him, he moved forward into the room. Victor put on a confident air and steeled expression.
Kneeling on the bed next to Ruby he spoke, "someone get her legs and hold tight."
Snow and Charming both moved forward. "Watch her claws," Charming warned.
"She won't hurt me," the blonde answered firmly. That was the one thing he was sure of right now.
Granny had moved to the front door to guard. Even with the protection spell the house shook as the magic being thrown in battle got closer.
To be honest, everyone was surprised Emma and Regina were still holding their own.
Victor carefully took his lighter and lit the mixture, quickly pushing it into the wound. As expected Ruby let out a piercing cry at the pain, more white and black liquid bubbling onto her lips.
Her legs thrashed in the Charmings hold, forehead slamming hard into Victor's bicep, and nails digging into the matress. Victor leaned his upper body into hers keeping her down as much as possible. They all saw her wound glow orange and black smoke sizzle as it rid of the poison.
Finally Ruby's howls tapered off into soft cries as she collapsed back. Victor looked up, slowly letting go of her and taking vitals off of the monitors.
Suddenly there was a purple and white puff of smoke throughout the room and he practically threw himself over her. But it was just Regina and Emma. They seemed drained after such a long magic duel but ok.
"C'mon, Ruby, breathe for me," Victor coaxed, running his knuckles down her sternum. "Come back, please!"
Even more longest moments of his life ticked before seconds later Ruby took a huge gulp in. She was ok!
He crumpled next to her as the group breathed in relief. He watched as her glowing eyes that were only open in slits turned back to their normal green. And her fangs retreated as well.
She dazedly looked up, the first thing seeing was his blue eyes. A small smile appeared on her lips.
"Hey," she rasped, throat sore.
"Hey, thank God you're ok," he croaked out.
She groaned curling into his side. But moved again and she made a soft unhappy noise.
"What? What is it?"
Ruby tugged on the front of his shirt and mumbled, "jckt."
They all looked confused at the bark of laughter the doctor let out. "Yes, I didn't wear the leather coat," in reference to his normal lab attire. "Sorry, I was a bit busy."
He leaned down and gently kissed her forehead and cheek lovingly, gently passing a tissue over the woman's lips. He no longer cared who was around to see it. "Don't you scare me like that again!" accent filtering in a bit.
Ruby shook her head, smiling. "Ths mnstr not...anywhere..."
This monster isn't going anywhere.
"We're glad you're ok, Red," Snow told her with tears in her eyes.
Granny ushered the others out stating her granddaughter needed rest now.
"Wait, did he say wife?" was Emma's distant ask.
The couple laughed softly, smiling.
By the next morning everyone had left, the Frankensteins once again alone.
Victor moved around the room quietly, grabbing fresh clothes for himself, loose pajamas for Ruby, and fresh gauze and a few other medical things to change the dressing covering her stomach.
She may be a wolf but still needed a few days to heal.
Feeling eyes on him as he pulled a t-shirt over his head, he turned.
Ruby was staring at him, still bleary. "Well, that's a sight," and an attempted smirk as she looked him over.
He smiled going back to her. She tried sitting up to reach for her husband.
"Easy, easy. Lie back." He grabbed her hand and sat next to her.
She cuddled into him for a few moments. Her stomach hurt but not nearly as bad as last night. Feeling a deep sigh from Victor, Ruby looked up.
Dark circles shown under his eyes that were also red-rimmed. She brought a shaky hand to his cheek, rubbing it and tips of her fingers threading into his hair.
"You've been awake nearly 48 hours, you need sleep," she observed as her own eyes fluttered tiredly.
He looked at her as tears glazed over. "I can't come that close to lo-losing you!" was a harsh gasp.
"Shh," Ruby soothed. "I'm safe, I'm right here."
"That was too damn close, Liza," he told her.
She inhaled, nodding as his hand moved to the back of her head. "But I'm ok now. You did it. You're stuck with this wolf gal."
And as they stared at each other, just reassuring themselves they really made it, her words from long ago echoed through their memories.
Maybe there's still some stuff you can fix.