#my granny will use this as leverage against me later the next time she does something bad to me but oh well fuck it

[scum-belina]

I just got a dress at this tiny western boutique located in my town's farmers market for this spring and summer that would and will make any man's dick pop off and fly into space when they see me in it. It's a true Lana del Rey incident clean up on aisle 69 garment. If I don't meet my man this year and get to wear this out on a date it will be a dire crime.

[fidothefinch]

maybe it's enough (to know that we were here together)

For Dick & Damian Week 2021, day 2: "He's my son!"

I wrote this over the last two hours. Fair warning, it is not proofread. Title from Kina Grannis's "For Now," for fake-deep reasons.

(More warnings: this story strongly features hospitals and difficulty breathing (and poison). Please take care of yourselves and skip it if it will hurt you, especially because of the last year we've all shared <3)

Nightwing woke up with a gasp like it was the first breath he had taken in a long time. He floundered for a moment, instinctively worried he had just surfaced from Gotham’s harbor (it wouldn’t be the first time), but it only took one hard smack of his wrist to recognize the very solid ground beneath himself.

Panting, he leveraged himself to his side to empty his stomach onto the concrete.

Something was wrong. He tried to check his surroundings, but he was only able to make out grey blobs that may have been buildings and wildly swinging lights.

No, they weren’t swinging. That was just his vision.

He squeezed his eyes shut, wishing he could just will vertigo away. It wasn’t a feeling he was used to; growing up swinging from a trapeze conditioned him to enjoy the swoop in his stomach. But right now, he was either on a boat or drugged.

Sirens doppler-ed towards and away from him, somewhere down below. Definitely drugged, then.

He lifted one hand to his pounding head and was happy to find his domino was still in place. So were his gloves. But when he checked, he was missing an Escrima stick and a handful of wingdings. He grappled with his memory, trying to pull up some idea of what could have happened. A fight, obviously. But was he in Gotham? Blüdhaven? Somewhere overseas?

He flipped to his back and stared at the sky, still breathing like he had just run a marathon. Drawing in air was like drinking through a silly straw. Above him, the sky was a mottled green-black, the wind rolling the clouds inland. The motion threatened to make him sick again. He considered the merits of rolling to his side, just in case, when his eyes caught the flicker of a familiar shape against the clouds.

The Batsignal.

So, he was in Gotham. Now that he thought about it, that felt right. He could recall riding in earlier on his bike, the wind whipping through his hair, weaving through wild traffic. But traffic had been going the wrong way? Everybody had been leaving the island. . .

He sat up suddenly. “Robin!”

Sitting up was a bad idea. He pushed through his temporary blindness to wobble to his feet, anyway. “Robin!” he called again.

Damian didn’t answer. He was nowhere to be found.

More sirens rang down below him, passing in the same direction the last set had. Dick scrambled to the edge of the roof to watch the ambulance pass. What he found took his breath away. Cars lined both sides of the road, all headed toward the bridge that led off the island. All empty, abandoned. There didn’t seem to be a soul in sight, except the emergency response vehicles speeding down the clear sidewalks.

Everything snapped into focus, and Dick’s memory returned. Somebody had called the Gotham PD with a thirty-minute warning before releasing an aerosolized drug into the sewer system. Nightwing had sped into town as quickly as he could, and Batman teamed him up with Robin to cover the south quarter, and they had gotten separated—where was Damian?

Dick leapt off the building, shooting his grapnel as he fell to swing into a perfect arc to the ground. His bike wasn’t within eyesight, so it was too far. He took off, running after the ambulance.

Toward the hospital.

-

“Sir, you can’t be here.”

Dick had never seen the hospital so busy. Patients were lined up along the walls and hallways, crammed into the rooms like sardines. The staff actually ran between beds, looking haggard and exhausted already. Dick stood out like a sore thumb in his Nightwing gear, but nobody had the time or energy to move him.

Except the head nurse, behind the desk. “You have to leave,” she said. “We don’t have room.”

“Is Robin here?” Dick asked. He had scanned the pinched faces of the patients he passed on the way back into the ER, but nobody was familiar. He was almost thankful; the victims of the poison were sweating profusely and gagged on their own breath.

“I can’t tell you that,” the nurse said.

“I need to know that he’s okay,” he pleaded, leaning into his palms. They had been planted on the desk for stability, but now they were the only thing grounding him in his panic. “Please.”

All of Gotham was supposed to be evacuated, but there were still so many people too slow, too many people without a way off the island. When the threatened poison hit the city, there were too many people left behind. Nightwing had rushed over from Blüdhaven as fast as he could, but by the time he had joined the rest of the Bats it was too late. Half of Gotham was sick. Dying.

And somewhere in the panic, as noxious steam shot from the sewers and spilled from the vents, he had lost Robin.

The nurse studied his face, her lips pursed. “Robin was admitted two hours ago.”

Dick’s knees nearly buckled with relief (it had nothing to do with his legs feeling like jelly). “Where is he?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

“Why not?” Maybe the words were clipped, but he didn’t have time for this.

“No visitors. Hospital rules.”

“He’s just a kid!”

“Then maybe you should have helped him evacuate,” she said, levelling a glare at him that could melt glass. “Instead of encouraging him to run straight into the line of danger.”

Now Dick growled. “You don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“I think he’s better off here than with you.”

“He’s my son!” Dick slammed his fist on the counter between them, making the nurse jump. He would have time to feel guilty about it later. “If you don’t tell me where he is, I’ll find him myself.”

She opened and closed her mouth a few times, not getting any words out.

“Nightwing!” somebody else called. Dick spun around (too quickly), and another nurse was gesturing quickly behind herself. “I’ll take you to him.”

“Moira—” the head nurse started. But she wasn’t fast enough to catch Dick as he weaved through the maze of gurneys.

The nurse had dark circles under her eyes, and her bun was frayed. “Pediatric wing,” she huffed, already jogging down a wide white hallway. Dick followed, heart racing. “His oxygen was too low. He must have gotten a face-full of the stuff.”

“What does that mean?” Dick asked.

Her face screwed up. “He’s on a ventilator.”

Dick’s heart squeezed in panic at the words. He began to mentally prepare himself for what he would find.

The nurse he was following stopped abruptly, almost making him run into her. She flipped a hand at a set of double doors. “Stairs,” she explained. “You’ll have to go up to the third floor. Room 329.”

Dick didn’t question why she wasn’t coming; she had work to do. He nodded as he pushed through one of the doors. “Thanks.”

By the time he reached the third floor, he could tell that he had been dosed. Maybe not as badly as the other patients there, but three flights of stairs should have been child’s play for him. He arrived to patient hallway sweating and panting too hard, jelly legs making their displeasure felt.

There were doctors and nurses in this wing, too, but they were also scrambling too quickly to give him more than a passing glance. The crammed hallways on this floor were even more disconcerting, because the flushed, moaning faces were those of children.

None of them were the one he was looking for.

He forced himself to slow down, not able to bear the idea of passing Damian’s room and missing him accidentally. When he found room 329, he steeled himself before barreling through the door.

There were two beds crammed inside the small space, made possible only because the beds were child-sized. The smiling clouds painted on the ceiling were a harsh contrast to the dark, noisy machines wound around the beds.

Damian was in one of them.

Dick rushed to his side, sparing barely a glace toward the other child. Damian looked tiny, dwarfed by the size of the gurney and the mouth of the ventilator. His domino was in place, but somebody had flipped the screen over the eyes back, so Dick could see that Damian was asleep. The IV in his elbow connected to several bags, and Dick had no doubt at least one of them was a sedative. They would have to, to put him on the ventilator.

Dick snaked his gloved fingers into Damian’s bare ones and squeezed lightly. Even through the gloves, he could feel the smallest pulse.

He legs threatened to give out beneath him again.

And, well. Then they did.

A passing doctor saw him just as he had sprawled on the floor like a starfish. “Nightwing? What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

Dick shook his head, gesturing to his chest about the tightness still persisting htere. “Just dizzy.”

The doctor clucked his tongue, reaching out to the chair wedged into the corner. “Think you can get in this chair?”

Dick nodded (a mistake), and with the doctor’s help he was able to slide into the seat. The doctor flit out of the room and returned less than a minute later with a nasal cannula and oxygen tank.

Dick waved it away. “I’m fine.”

The doctor rolled her eyes. “Uh-huh, and I am, too.”

Dick didn’t fight it when she applied it. The steady stream of dry oxygen through his nose was a relief, and his head began to clear again almost immediately. “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it,” the doctor waved.

Dick stopped her on her way out the door again. “Wait.”

She paused, obviously a little irritated at being interrupted.

Dick blushed in apology. “When will he be taken off the ventilator?” he asked, gesturing toward Damian, in the bed.

The doctor only shrugged. “When he’s ready.” And she left, hustling toward her next patient.

Dick pulled his glove off and ran his free hand through Damian’s hair, brushing back the strays. It was still damp with sweat.

However long Damian was asleep, Dick would be there when he woke up.

[swanqueeneverafter]

53. A Bitter Case, Pt.4

Mr. Gold’s Shop. Back Room. (Mr. Gold sits in the back room of his shop, tinkering with something. Frustrated, he stops what he’s doing and catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror. Looking away, he picks up a pair of scissors and considers them for a long moment.) Shop Front. (A short time later, Mr. Gold emerges from the back room with a new haircut to find Mr. Hyde and the Evil Queen waiting for him.) Evil Queen: “Wow. Look who cleans up nice. I like it. Highlights your eyes.” Mr. Gold: “We're closed.” Evil Queen: “Oh, for me, I think you'll make an exception. Why the change?” Mr. Gold: “That would be my business.” Mr. Hyde: “Changing your appearance can't help you. Oh, you can change the outside, but what's inside is still there.” Mr. Gold: “Get out, both of you.” Mr. Hyde: “In due time. I'm looking for something I believe that you have here, an old cameo necklace.” Mr. Gold: “I know the one.” Mr. Hyde: “Give it to me.” Mr. Gold: “And what will you be giving me in return?” Mr. Hyde: “Nothing. You are no longer the Dark One, So I-” (Mr. Hyde begins to choke as Mr. Gold magically strangles him. After a sort time however, Mr. Hyde begins to laugh. The Evil Queen joins in.) Mr. Gold: “Why won't he die?” Evil Queen: “Because you can't kill him, just like Regina couldn't kill me. And now he knows it, so unless you want to spend the rest of your days choking him...” (Mr. Gold releases Mr. Hyde.) Mr. Hyde: (Gasps, coughs and stands:) “About that necklace. (Turns to where Mr. Gold indicates and walks over to it:) There it is. It has great meaning to me.” Mr. Gold: “And now it belongs to me.” Mr. Hyde: (Examining the necklace:) “Not anymore. I'm taking it, and you're letting me. These stories... they're going to play themselves out, whether you like it or not. Uh, and I sense you may not.” (Smiling, the Evil Queen and Mr. Hyde leave the shop.) Storybrooke General Hospital. Psychiatric Ward. (Entering the code for the door, Regina enters the hospital basement, carrying a a covered platter.) Nurse Ratched: (Hurrying over to her:) “We’ve got a problem. Hyde’s gone.” Regina: “Gone? What do you mean, gone?!”

Mills House. Kitchen. (Emma sits at the kitchen counter as David serves her breakfast.) David: “Here you go.” Emma: “More pancakes.” David: “What, can't a father cook for his daughter?” Emma: “Sure, but I'm the Savior, not a Romanian power lifter.” David: (Kissing her on the head:) “Enjoy the breakfast.” Emma: “This is about my visions.” David: “No. You have a pregnant woman in the house now and I know just how hungry they can get.” Snow White: (Chiding:) “David.” David: (Smiles:) “It’s true.” Emma: “Yeah, I’m not buying it.” David: “Fine. It's about your visions. And, since you’ve moved in with Regina and Henry, I’ve missed having you around. I don’t see you as much.” Emma: “Dad, we work together. But if it makes you feel better, you can come cook me breakfast whenever you want.” David: “Are you sure Regina sees things that way?” Emma: “Dad, stop. You know you’re welcome here anytime. (Looking at all the food before her:) These leftovers, however, will probably last the next month or so.” Snow White: “This is good. Things are getting back to normal.” Henry: (Entering:) “You ready for your first day back at school, Grandma?” Snow White: “You know it.” (Regina enters the house alongside Dr. Jekyll.) Regina: “Good morning... people who do not live here.” (Emma rubs David’s arm soothingly as he shakes his head.) Snow White: (Seeing the concerned look on their faces:) “Oh, this can't be good.” Regina: “We need to talk.” David: (Carrying Neal:) “Whatever this is, we'll take care of it. You and Henry get to school. Remember... back to normal. (Snow hands David her cup and leaves with Henry. Taking a sip:) Ugh, cinnamon.” Regina: “Thank you! (David looks to her, surprised:) It’s awful, right?” (Emma smiles as her father and Regina have finally found some little thing in common.) Emma: “So, what's wrong? Shouldn't you be in the lab, working on your... potion?” Dr. Jekyll: “Technically, it's a serum. And I'm afraid there's been a complication.” Regina: “It's Hyde. He's escaped.” Dr. Jekyll: “I was at the lab until early morning. When I returned to my room at Granny's, I found this. (Holds up the necklace:) It belonged to a woman I cared deeply for. Hyde knew. He's trying to taunt me with it.” Emma: “We need to get you back to the lab. Now we don't just need the serum to defeat the Evil Queen. We need it to finish Hyde.” The Land Of Untold Stories. Past. (Working in his lab, Dr. Jekyll becomes increasingly more agitated before throwing his work into the fireplace.) Rumplestiltskin: “Looks like someone's lost control of their inner beast.” Dr. Jekyll: (Turns to face him:) “Who are you? How did you get in here?” Rumplestiltskin: (Laughs:) “Doesn't matter, dearie. But what does is, I am here to help you.” Dr. Jekyll: “I-I don't even know you.” Rumplestiltskin: “Yes and no one knows about you. It seems the Land of Untold Stories has been the perfect place for you, until now.” Dr. Jekyll: “The land of what? (Shakes his head:) Why would you help me?” Rumplestiltskin: “Well, let's just say I have a vested interest in your work. Now, do you want my help or not?” Dr. Jekyll: “How?” Rumplestiltskin: “Have you ever stopped to consider what you think of as weakness is really... strength? Perhaps using that serum to get in touch with your deepest desires is exactly what you need.”

Dr. Jekyll: “Even if you were right, the serum isn't finished. I-I can't get the active particles to suspend in...” (With a flick of his wrist, Rumplestiltskin completes the serum.) Rumplestiltskin: (Giggles:) “All science needs is a little magic. Congratulations, dearie. You're a genius. (Giggles:) Now, if we can just get that pwetty young friend of yours to finally notice you.” Dr. Jekyll: “You mean Mary?” Rumplestiltskin: “Ooh, she's right within your grasp. The question is, how far are you willing to go to get what you want?” (Dr. Jekyll drinks the serum as Rumplestiltskin watches on. After a moment, the serum takes effect and Dr. Jekyll begins to writhe in agony on the floor.) Storybrooke. Mills House. Present. (The doorbell rings and Belle answers the door.) Belle: (Seeing her husband:) “Why are you here?” Mr. Gold: “Belle, it’s all right, I came to protect you... to protect you both.” Belle: “The only one we need protection from is you.” Mr. Gold: “Well, I'm afraid that's not the case. Hyde has escaped. And since he wants to use you as leverage against me, I have to make sure he can't do that.” Belle: “Why would Hyde care anything about me? What did you do to him? (Mr. Gold hesitates:) Of course. Why would you tell me? You know what? I don't care. I've got friends who can protect me. You... you can just go.” Mr. Gold: “You know what, Belle, if you want me to go, fine. But first...” (Casts a spell on the house.) Belle: “What the hell did you do?” Mr. Gold: “Regina and Miss Swan make for quite the team, but not even they can protect you at all times. So I’ve cast a protection spell on this house, one which will prevent Hyde from coming to hurt you... and also make it impossible for you to leave.” (He turns and begins to walk away.) Belle: “No, no! (Attempts to breach the spell but is prevented by magic:) How dare you?! You can't just lock me in a case like one of... one of your objects!” Mr. Gold: “Apparently, I can. One day, you'll thank me for it.” Storybrooke Elementary School. (Henry and Snow White walk the halls together.) Henry: “It's good to have you back, Grandma.” Snow White: “It's like I never left.” Violet: (Stepping out from a classroom to meet him:) “Morning, Henry.” Snow White: (As Violet kisses Henry:) “That's different.” Henry: “I hope you have a good day.” Snow White: (Chuckles:) “You, too. (She turns and bumps into someone:) Oh, I am s... Ohh.” Shirin: “Ohh, I'm so sorry.” Snow White: “Oh, no, it's fine.” Shirin: (Chuckles:) “I just, um... I think I'm lost. Do you know where room 20 is?” Snow White: “I do. That's my classroom.” Shirin: “I'm your new teacher's aid. My name is Shirin.”

Snow White: (Shaking her hand:) “Oh, from the Land of Untold Stories, like the students. It's very nice to meet you, Shirin. I'm Snow.” Shirin: “As in Snow White, the princess? (Snow nods:) What's a princess like you doing working here as a teacher?” Snow White: (Chuckles:) “It's complicated. I don't know how much you know about the curse that created Storybrooke?” Shirin: “Very little, I'm afraid.” Snow White: “Well, the short version is, I didn't always know I was a princess. I mean, I did, and then I didn't. And, well, then I did again. But when I didn't, I was a teacher. And even though the curse is long gone, I realized... I really loved teaching.” Shirin: “That's very admirable. But I supposed I shouldn't be surprised. You're Snow White. Your reputation precedes you.” Snow White: (Bell rings:) “Oh, yes, it does. Let's get started. (They begin walking to class:) Uh, have you ever built a birdhouse?” Doctor Whale/Frankenstein’s House. Dr. Jekyll’s Lab/Garage. (Regina, Emma, David and Dr. Jekyll are gathered at the makeshift laboratory.) Emma: (On The Phone:) “We’re at the lab. I'll let you know as soon as we get to Hyde. Bye. (Hangs up:) Guys, that was Belle. Gold trapped her in the house with some kind of protection spell. He thinks Hyde's coming after her.” Dr. Jekyll: “The Dark One's wife? I thought she was under a sleeping curse.” Emma: “No, she’s... living with us for awhile.” Regina: (Folding her arms:) “It's always out of one prison, into another with her.” David: “I don't get it. Why would Hyde go after her?” Emma: “We need to speed this up. Are you close with the serum?” Dr. Jekyll: “I'm afraid I've hit a bit of an impasse.” David: “All right. What about Gold?” Dr. Jekyll: “You think he'd be willing to help us?” Emma: “You told us he helped you finish the original serum, and he wants Hyde gone just as much as we do. Regina, you think you could talk to him?” Regina: “Yeah, I can talk to him.” Emma: “Dad and I will track down the Evil Queen and Hyde. (Picking up the weapon that worked on Hyde previously:) Call us when the serum's ready.” David: “Leroy, you and Doc keep an eye on things here.” Leroy: “Yeah, don't worry, brother. We've been keeping an eye on things since the day we hatched.” Dr. Jekyll: “Wonderful. I-I was hoping someone would make a run to Granny's for a mutton sandwich. And, uh, extra pickles.” Leroy: “Dwarfs aren't errand boys.” Dr. Jekyll: “It helps me think.” Leroy: “It better, or you're gonna see my dark side.”

The Land Of Untold Stories. Past. (Mr. Hyde and Rumplestiltskin enter the Scientific Academy for a ball.) Rumplestiltskin: “Are you ready for your debut?” Mr. Hyde: “I don't feel like the same man. (Passes a mirror:) I-I don't look like him, either.” Rumplestiltskin: “Because you're not the same man. In fact, you're not a man at all, really. You're parts of a man... the parts, scars and all, that Jekyll wanted to hide from the world. (Chuckles:) As a matter of fact, maybe that's what you should call yourself... Mr. Hyde.” (The doors to the great hall open and Mr. Hyde enters.) Mr. Hyde: (Approaching:) “Dr. Lydgate.” Dr. Lydgate: “I'm sorry, but have we met?” Mr. Hyde: “No. I'm here on behalf of a mutual friend... Dr. Jekyll. I'm Mr. Hyde.” Mary: “Hyde? I don't believe Henry's ever mentioned you.” Mr. Hyde: “Hasn't he? He's certainly mentioned you, and for good reason. You must be Mary.” Mary: (Extends her hand:) “Why, yes.” (Mr. Hyde kisses her hand.) Dr. Lydgate: “Mary, why don't you go and get our, uh, uninvited guest a drink?” Mary: “Of course, Father.” (She leaves.) Dr. Lydgate: “If this is about Dr. Jekyll's membership in the Academy, I've already told him no. If he thinks sending some... ruffian will change my mind...” Mr. Hyde: “That's exactly what he thinks, Doctor. You see, he told me the story of you and your new lab assistant. That's her over there, isn't it? She's pretty. She's young enough to be your daughter. Now, that's a story I imagine you'd like to keep hidden, but I'm sure Mrs. Lydgate would be very interested in hearing it... or Mary, for that matter. Look, here comes Mary now.” Storybrooke. Present. Dr. Hyde’s Lab. (Leroy returns with the food from Granny’s and places it on the table.) Dr. Jekyll: “Excellent.” Leroy: “Now, unless you need a back rub or a foot massage, can I get to doing what dwarfs do best?” Dr. Jekyll: “Which is...?” Leroy: “We're the kingdom's guards, its protectors, the mighty wall between chaos and calm.” Evil Queen: (Entering:) “Excellent... because chaos is here.” Doc: “It's the Queen!” Evil Queen: “You miss me?” Leroy: “All right, sister. Let's dance!” (With a wave of her hand, the Evil Queen puts Leroy and Doc to sleep.) Dr. Jekyll: “No, no, no. H-How did you find me?” Mr. Hyde: (Walking forward:) “Oh, you led us right to you... (Holds up the necklace:) with this. You see, my new friend cast a beckoning spell on it. So now, my lesser half, shall we see what I, the monster you made... can really do?”

Storybrooke Elementary School. (Snow White stands at the head of the class as the bell rings.) Snow White: “Okay, so, for our first lesson, I thought we would jump right in. Newton's Third Law of Motion states that for every action, there is an opposite but equal reaction. Who wants to come up here and solve for ‘X’? Come on. There must be one of you brave enough to give this a try?” Mr. Gold’s Shop. (Mr. Gold stands behind the counter as Regina enters.) Regina: (Noticing Gold’s new look:) “Well. I like it. Highlights your eyes.” Mr. Gold: “Well, thank you very much. Decided to do a spot of shopping now you've lopped off your dark side?” Regina: “I take it you've seen my other half.” Mr. Gold: “Is there something you want?” Regina: “I want to talk to you about casting a protection spell over my house.” Mr. Gold: “And I want to talk to you about harboring a man’s wife from him.” Regina: “Not my idea. It was your grandson’s. He’s looking out for his grandmother.” Mr. Gold: “That boy is becoming as meddlesome as his mothers. (Sighs:) The protection spell is designed specifically to keep Hyde out and Belle in. You may come and go as you please.” Regina: “Ah. Speaking of which, Jekyll has a head start on you with a new serum, one that can destroy Hyde for good this time. He just needs your help.” The Land of Untold Stories. Past. (Dr. Jekyll awakens in his lab, not knowing how he got there.) Rumplestiltskin: “Rise and shine! (Giggles:) Well, well, someone had quite the night.” Dr. Jekyll: “I did? What happened?” Rumplestiltskin: (Chuckles:) “Check your pockets.” Dr. Jekyll: (Pulls a box from his pocket, laughing:) “An Academy pin? I did it! But how?” Rumplestiltskin: “Well, it seems your other half can be quite persuasive.” Dr. Jekyll: “Oh, it really worked! Do you know what this means? Everything's going to be different now... my... my ideas, my work.” Rumplestiltskin: “Just one thing missing.” Dr. Jekyll: “You mean Mary.” Rumplestiltskin: “You know, that party was filled with suitors. You wouldn't want any of them scooping her up before you had the chance, now, would you, hmm?” Dr. Jekyll: “She doesn't even know how I feel.” Rumplestiltskin: “Why don't you tell her?” Dr. Jekyll: “Well, I wouldn't know how.” Rumplestiltskin: “Just swig some more of that serum and let Mr. Hyde do the talking for you.” Dr. Jekyll: “Mr. Hyde? My other half has a name?” Rumplestiltskin: “Yes. He couldn't very well walk around calling himself Dr. Jekyll, now, could he?” Dr. Jekyll: “Wh-Wh-Why do you care if I end up with Mary? You still haven't explained what it is you want.” Rumplestiltskin: “Well, isn't it obvious? I'm interested in that serum.” Dr. Jekyll: “Why?” Rumplestiltskin: “Because I need it! Now... one success proves nothing. Two? Well, then we'd know you really had something. So, what do you say, Dr. Jekyll? Ready to let Mr. Hyde back out to play?” Storybrooke. Present. Dr. Jekyll’s Lab. (As Dr. Jekyll staggers to his feet, Regina and Mr. Gold enter to find the lab ransacked.) Regina: “What the hell happened here?” Dr. Jekyll: “They came for the serum, smashed everything.” Mr. Gold: “Can't say I'm surprised that your, uh, stronger half got the better of you once again. Pretty much how it goes with you two.” Dr. Jekyll: “You didn't care about me or my work, did you? Or even what you unleashed?” Mr. Gold: “I didn't unleash anything. You did. That man out there? He's not some monster from the deep. It's you... except stronger and smarter.” Dr. Jekyll: “No. He isn't, not this time, 'cause I had a feeling Hyde would find us, so I hid... (Pulls a vial from his pocket:) a little extra, just in case.” Regina: “Oh, great! Let's do this. Gold?” Mr. Gold: “Hand it over. It'll only take a moment.” Regina: “I don't think I'll be... ‘handing over’ our only weapon. You can work your magic from right there.” Mr. Gold: “Very well.” (Suddenly, Gold lunges forward and rips Dr. Jekyll’s heart from his chest.) Regina: “What are you doing?!” Mr. Gold: “The Evil Queen may not care about innocent bloodshed, but we both know that you do.” Regina: “You did make a deal with her.” Mr. Gold: “Oh, no. I’m not the Dark One anymore, dearie. I don’t need deals, I only need to keep my word. I promised to protect my wife and child and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Now hand it over. (Reluctantly, Regina hands Gold the vial:) You'll thank me for this, Regina. You see, what happened in New York was merely the beginning of your lesson. One day, you'll finally realize you can no more rid yourself of your darkness than I can. Catch.” (Mr. Gold tosses the heart up in the air. As Regina catches it, Mr. Gold has already disappeared.)