Time had lost meaning long ago for the girl trapped in darkness and despair. One small square of shifting light was the only evidence of its passing.

This day seemed as if it was trying to recover the lost joys and sorrows of all those wasted years in an instant. In a single day, her freedom, memory, and love had been restored. And now, standing in his shadow with the mist pouring out around them, she was watching all of that drown just as suddenly.

For a moment her thoughts were in such turmoil that she couldn't put two words together. Then, as the pieces clicked together and realization dawned, she didn't dare voice her fears – that might make them real.

His touch was gentle on her arm, his hands warm as they grasped hers. It seemed strange that such a light touch would belong to her beast. He had touched her so little before, it was a feeling unfamiliar and unexpected. Her heart tried to jump, but was too weighed down by the heavy burden of yet another break on his account.

The haze solidified enough for her to realize that he had been saying her name for some time. She had grown quite adept at letting time pass without notice, it would obviously take some practice to react to the present again.

She drew her eyes toward his face, concern etched into every facet of his expression. Yes, her behavior must be worrysome. It would be easy to believe a face like that, easy to think that his worry came from love. That face was a lie.

Drawing in a single shaky breath, she at last tested her voice, which came out quieter than she would like, but also steadier. This voice was also a lie. It was all the strength she had left to sound calm.

"You've done it again."

The confusion flickered across his face as he asked the obvious question. "What do you mean?"

She drew her hands slowly out of his grasp and begins taking small steps backwards, shoes slipping on unseen obstacles. He took limping steps forward, treating her like a frightened animal, trying not to startle but not to let her escape.

She chose her words carefully. For all the havoc inside her, it turned out to be a simple thing to communicate, almost obvious.

"Your power…means more to you….than me."

He shook his head, opened his mouth to deny it but she couldn't listen. "Please, please no more, Rumplestiltskin. I have nothing more. I have nothing to give you. I gave up my home, family, friends. Even my books are closed. My memory lost, my mind broken. The living dust that was my heart is cast along each line of your face. Don't ask me for anything else. "

Her white shoes skidded through the brush, leaves and rocks that lined the forest floor. Her legs were stiff and unwieldy from disuse, and she fell time and again, scraping her knees and the palms of her hands. Heartbeat thudding against her ribs, her strength gave out before she reached the edge of the trees. Her body was weak from years spent in a small, dark world of grey. All her substance had ebbed away long ago. The hearty, brave girl who had seen adventure in danger and opportunity in fear was whittled into the small frail thing folded in on itself in the dirt. No running, no fighting, just hiding like a little coward.

Yes, hiding. Once again she had to remind herself to be aware of the present. She listened carefully, but the forest was still after the storm Rumplestiltskin…no…his name was different here…it was Mr. Gold who had unleashed it.

She heard his voice far off, calling for her. So it would be different from last time. As the seconds had turned to minutes, hours, days and weeks she had hoped he would come after her, in vain. Now when she was desperate for escape, he pursued her. Crawling to the nearest tree as quietly as possible, she tried to pinpoint his location from the sound so as to shield herself from sight when he finally arrived.

Necessity positioned her facing the setting sun. The light burned and offended her eyes. It should be raining and dark. It was unfair that the world should carry on in its beauty when her heart was in such disarray. Forced to shut her eyes, pulse pounding in her ears, she remembered the doctor's advice. It was an exercise meant to calm her thoughts, to distract her from the delusions and keep her grip on reality.

"1…My name is Rose…2…I am twenty years old…3…I have trouble with my memory…4…Not everything I remember is real…"

She had recited the list so many times the words barely had meaning anymore, just a string of familiar sounds that helped to calm her. But this time she allowed her thoughts to linger on the fourth statement.

Was this…another delusion? It had been a long time since she'd had one of this intensity. It seemed real to the marrow of her bones. But wasn't it far-fetched? That she was a character from a fairytale? And even if she was, didn't fairy tales have happy endings? Could this kind of pain really be the product of her imagination?

And if she was deluded, why would Mr. Gold encourage her? Why take her into his arms? Why did his face have such unfathomable joy and pain when she had walked into his shop?

It was a stretch, but it was a preferable alternative. Maybe there was still a chance for a new story, one where she got to stay whole.

A cricket's loud chirp startled her to open her eyes. She had allowed time to shift again, swift and formless as water. Darkness was all around her. And she had no idea where she was.

She stood on legs sore from the exertion of the day, back stiff from maintaining one position for so long. Alert once more, she listened. Sound had returned to the forest: crickets, night birds, wind, leaves and water all joined the nighttime symphony, but there was no sound of pursuit.

They had journeyed uphill to reach the well, so it would seem that downhill was the most logical route. It turned out to be also the most difficult. The shade of the trees made the night ever darker, and each fall left her hands and knees more and more ragged. With the retreat of the sun the cold began to creep in, seeping through her jacket and thin hospital gown. Shivering, she made her way toward the sound of the water. There was more light here as the water reflected the moon, and a clearer though muddy path on the shore. She stumbled less often, and when she did fall the cold dampness of the banks dulled the sting.

It occurred to her that she had been walking far longer to get out than they had walked on the way in, but since she didn't know any other way to go and backtracking would be impossible, she continued on her journey. Besides, she didn't really know her destination, only that she was trying to get of the woods. Her teeth started to chatter as the temperature continued to plummet; her nose, fingers, and bare legs grew numb. The trees became endless black walls, showing no break through which she might escape.

At last she spotted it in the distance – a bridge. A bridge meant a road. A road meant people, and heat. This was her only thought as she increased her pace. As she reached it she noted a sign, hoping it would give her some indication of where she was, but it read only "Toll Bridge" in black and white, with a red "r" comically scribbled in as the second letter.

She began to scramble up the banks, only to find that her last challenge was one she could not overcome. With her extremities numb, the steep banks were an effective trap. Each effort was thwarted by loose rocks and mud slides. She could have backtracked to see if there was an easier path, but the weariness, weakness and despair were enough to discourage her. "And besides," she thought glumly "They'll only put me back in the cell."

With that she allowed herself to collapse at last, pulling her jacket closely around her in a vain attempt to block out some of the cold. She wondered if it was cold enough for her to freeze, but that thought frightened her back into her counting routine.

This time, it was a flash of light that broke through her eyelids. Bone-tired, it was an effort to crack her eyes to identify the source of the intrusion.

"Oh my god! I hate this bridge! Ruby, call an ambulance!"

She could hear women's voices but could only make out vague shapes. They didn't sound familiar. She felt something heavy draped around her shoulders.

"Can you hear me? Are you ok?" a woman's voice spoke urgently, commandingly. Something seemed special about this voice, but she banished the thought before it brought on another delusion. The face this voice belonged to came into focus, a pretty face. Angular jaw, full lips, black lashes framing blue eyes bright with purpose and intellect. Her wavy blond hair fell to the waist of her red leather jacket and spilled over her shoulders as she knelt.

"We're here to help you, but I need you to talk to us. Can you do that? Can you tell me your name?"

She tried twice to answer, but air came out without sound. The third time her voice managed to creak out between her lips. "I-I'm not sure."

The woman did not react. "That's ok. Do you know where you are?"

"No."

"Do you know how you got here?"

"I walked. I got lost. It was dark."

"Are you hurt?"

"Nothing that you can fix," she whispered. When the blond woman's eyebrows drew together in confusion and concern, she cleared her throat and corrected, "Nothing that can't be fixed." She held her hands out for evidence.

"I'm Emma Swann, I'm the Sheriff. I'm going to try and get you out of here. Do you think you can stand if I help you?"

She nodded as her arm was draped across the blond woman's shoulders. Leaning heavily, she managed to get back to her feet. Ascending the bank was still a struggle, and Emma had to all but carry her to accomplish it. Still, many minutes later they found themselves on the bridge, just as the ambulance pulled up.

She dug her nails into Emma's arm. "Please…please don't let them take me."

Emma put covered her hand with her own. "It's ok, they're here to help you. You've been out in the cold for hours alone. You need medical attention."

"No doctors. Don't let them take me back!"

The ambulance stopped and men in white suits jumped out of the back. Emma watched her with increasing concern, and she felt the panic welling up. The men headed straight for her and she started backing away, knowing she couldn't run far but that she couldn't go back in that hole. She looked at Emma pleadingly.

"Please help me! Stop them!"

Emma looked conflicted and confused, but it was obvious that the sheriff would be of no help. As she turned to run one of the men caught her arm and began dragging her toward the gurney. The buckles on the restraints glinted in the moonlight. At last she was unable to contain her terror, and she let loose a blood curdling shriek.

Suddenly, the man's hand was gone from her wrist, and another arm wrapped tightly around her waist. She struggled with her new, unseen assailant until she heard him growl, "Don't touch her!"

Without further reasoning, she collapsed into him with relief, twisting her fingers in the lapel of his jacket.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? You're the one that sent us out to find her!" Emma bellowed back. Rose looked over her shoulder to see the man who had grabbed her on the ground, clutching his head as blood ran over his fingers. Mr. Gold had one arm wrapped securely around her, and in the other he brandished his cane as though it was a sword. Emma had a gun drawn and pointed.

"Sheriff Swann, your services are no longer needed."

"Oh like that's going to work. She's suffering from exposure and she needs to go to a hospital. You just assaulted a medic and have taken a hostage so I strongly suggest you let her go. Otherwise I'll have to arrest you all over again and I promise you, I'll make sure the charges stick this time."

"I think you've forgotten one important point, Sheriff. You owe me a favor. And I'm calling it."

"No...way."

"I'm afraid you can't wriggle out of the deal now dearie. This girl is going to be delivered into my custody - permanently. These men will leave, and no charges will be filed."

"I am not going to let you hurt that girl." Emma set her jaw in grim determination.

His voice was dangerously low when he answered. "I would never, ever do anything like what you're suggesting. There is as much chance of me bringing harm to this girl as your bringing harm to Henry. And I will show no mercy to the person that tries to take her from me – a fact I intend to prove in the very near future. If you thought I was dangerous before, Sheriff, let me advise you: you haven't seen anything yet."

Emma took a step forward and Mr. Gold tensed in preparation, but both were halted by her urgent voice, slowly descending from hysteria. "I want to go with him. I don't want to go to the hospital. He won't hurt me. He'll protect me. There's no need to argue. Please, Sheriff, you'll let me go won't you?" Emma's blue eyes were like ice as she studied her, considering.

"You swear you won't hurt her? If she wants to go you'll let her?"

Setting his cane back on the ground, he bowed his head lightly. "You have my word."

"Fine. But you make sure she gets taken care of. And Mr. Gold – our business is done. No more favors."

With one last glance at the girl quivering in his arms, she turned on her heel and walked away.

No sooner had the sheriff turned than Mr. Gold gave his full attention to the girl in his arms. "We've got to get you someplace warm."

Emma's back stiffened for a moment, but then she kept walking.

"Will you come with me?" His eyes tensed lightly as he waited for her answer. Rose could only nod weakly. With the adrenaline of her fear waning, she felt her limit closing in.

They turned from the audience behind them, and Mr. Gold helped her to the black car not far off. Once inside with the heat blasting, he turned his attention to her battered hands. Without looking up, he began to speak softly, his lilting accent like a lullaby.

"There's something you don't understand. About the magic. Many things actually, but this one is the most pressing." His fingers glided over her scrapes, purple light illuminating her torn flesh briefly as he sealed it, leaving no mark. The relief was instant, and she sagged in her seat. Exhaustion threatened to take over, and as much as she wanted to stay awake, her eyelids began to sag. As consciousness faded, she caught one last sentence before sinking completely.

"I need my power to protect you."