Finding You Always

Tougher Than the Rest

Chapter 138: Tougher Than the Rest

David parked his truck haphazardly in the driveway and ran inside their home. Hurrying to the bedroom, he turned the dial and put in the combination for their safe. He opened it and grabbed the chalice, all while eyeing the genie lamp that now rested in their safe too. It was very tempting. A genie could easily get him past the shield around Zelena's farmhouse and it would be over for Jekyll then. But he pulled his hand away from it. He knew the risks of using it were too great though. A million other things could go wrong by releasing a genie in Storybrooke and he wouldn't take the easy way out. He would confront Jekyll and stop his torment of his beloved Snow. The doctor may have been an actual genius, but neither magic nor science was going to stop him from protecting the woman he loved. He shut the safe and spun the dial, before hurrying back out to his truck with the chalice. Yes, Jekyll may have been a genius, but he was a husband and father that would do absolutely anything to protect his family. And that's why Jekyll was going to lose.

He sped back toward town and rounded the corner onto Main street a bit too fast, but he was Sheriff and this was as urgent as any situation. His brakes screeched, as he parked in front of Granny's again and jumped out of the truck.

He stopped in his tracks then when he came face to face with Jekyll, who had suddenly appeared in the middle of the street. He unsheathed his sword and leveled it at the doctor, who rolled his eyes.

"Please...I'm not really here. Honestly, what does she find to talk about with a simple minded fool like you?" he goaded, as his image rippled. David lowered his sword, realizing he was just a hologram.

"Maybe she likes that I'm not a coward that refuses to face an adversary and instead slithers in the his hidey hole like the snake he is. Maybe she's my wife and my true love and maybe I know her better than anyone," David retorted.

"And what is your point?" Jekyll questioned.

"My point...is that you may be obsessed with Snow, but you don't know her, so don't even try to suggest you know anything about her. You don't care what she wants. All you know is that she doesn't want you and so you've decided that you're going to somehow force yourself on her. I may not be as smart as you, but you're pathetic," David spat.

"Then let's settle this once and for all, Charming. I'll be waiting outside the farmhouse," Jekyll proposed. David smirked.

"Oh I'm sure, ready with some kind of device or magic to take me out, because I know you'd never challenge me physically. No...as much as I want to lock you up where you can never hurt Snow, I'm not taking your bait. I promised my wife I wouldn't confront you alone and I don't break my promises to her," he refuted. Jekyll smirked.

"Well, well, perhaps there are some brains behind all that handsome, after all. Still...in the end, you'll never outsmart me and you'll never see me coming, I can promise you that, Prince Charming," he said.

"We'll see," David shot back, as the hologram disappeared. He clenched his fist and then the chalice, before hurrying inside.

"I got it..." he said, as he pointed it at the mirror, willing it do what he wanted. It glowed and zapped the mirror. James and Aphrodite disappeared and then reappeared before them.

Xander hugged James fiercely and David watched the emotions on his brother's face. He was still taken aback by the love and affection when he received it from them. It was still a new thing to him, even as he hugged back. David also noticed the tension between him and the blonde Goddess next to him. He'd know that tension anywhere, as it was the kind of tension that was often so prevalent and thick between him and Snow. He smirked, as he noticed the bruise on his jaw and they shared a look.