We're All Mad Here (Jefferson x OC)

Chapter Four

Serena groaned as she landed on her stomach outside the portal, in a clearing back in The Enchanted Forest. "I hate portal jumping."

"Can you get off me?" Jefferson asked as she realized she was laying on top of him. Neither of them knew how they ended up in that position, their memories of the actual going in between realms was a little fuzzy.

"Actually, I'm quite comfortable right here." She joked, resting her chin on the heel of her hand. He let out an annoyed sigh, regretting saving her from The Hare.

"I'm serious. Get off me." He groaned, pushing her away from him. "Something's poking me." He brought his hand to the back of his shoulder and grabbed the stick that was in his back. He hissed as he pulled out the stick, realizing it was an arrow that one of the guards fired.

"Wow. I guess they can aim." She teased as he glared at her. She then stood up and held her hand out to help him. He tossed the arrow to the ground and gave her his good hand, letting her pull him up. "Now, turn around."

"What?"

"Turn around."

"Why?"

"So I can help you clean up the wound." She gestured to his shoulder. "And make sure they weren't using magic arrows." He groaned and sat down on a nearby log as she followed and sat behind him.

"Do you even know how to stitch up a wound?" He asked as she tore away the fabric of his shirt. She used the ripped fabric to apply pressure and slow the bleeding. She then grabbed a needle and spool of thread from her vest, threading the needle.

"Of course, I do." She answered, handing him the spool of thread. "Here, hold this. I don't think it's infected but I don't want to take any chances." He took the spool and examined it, scrunching his eyebrows in confusion.

"Where did you get this?"

"I brought it from the palace."

"You carry a needle and thread with you?"

"I sneak out a lot." She shrugged. "Anyway, the thread is magic; It can heal wounds caused by magic. A precaution from Regina. Oh, and this is going to hurt, a lot." She began to sew up the wound, trying to be as gentle as possible.

He hissed as she stuck the needle into his skin, flinching slightly as it went into the flesh. She muttered a quiet sorry as she finished stitching his shoulder. A wave of exhaustion fell over her but she kept her eyes open, thinking it was just because she had been running from guards.

She dabbed the cloth on his shoulder to get rid of any excess blood that was left. Jefferson realized she hadn't spoke most of the time, but ignored it, figuring she was probably focusing on the stitches.

"That should do it." She said, drowsiness lacing her voice. She tried to hide it but he noticed and turned to face her.

"Are you okay?" He asked. She nodded as a response and took the spool of thread out of his hand. She stuck the needle in it before putting it back in her vest pocket and standing. She stumbled a bit, but shook it off. "Are you sure?"

"I'm fine, let's go." She started to walk away but realized he wasn't following. She turned around with a confused look to see him grabbing sticks.

"We need to wait till morning." He said, keeping his eyes in front of him. "It's too dangerous to walk through the forest at night." She opened her mouth to argue but closed it, knowing he was right.

It was getting dark, so the animals would be out soon.

As if he knew she was going to protest, he continued speaking. "You've never been out after dark, and if you have, it was under the protection of the royal guard. There are no inns around here so we'll have to make camp."