Hello, It's Mrs. Hyde

Chapter 15: Red Flags and Shackles

Jefferson nearly drops his coffee mug when she tells him.
"He saved you?" he repeats, brow furrowing. "Jess, the man's a mad scientist with a God complex."
Jessica, curled in one of Granny's booths in her borrowed red coat, stirs her coffee with unbothered grace. "That's rich, coming from the guy who used to live in a hat."
He shoots her a look.
"I'm serious," she says, quieter now. "He put my mind to work. My body. He gave me structure. Focus. I wasn't... drifting anymore."
Jeff softens for half a beat — until she adds, "And what he's been through, what Jekyll did to him—"
Jeff's jaw tightens at the way her posture subtly stiffens.
She hadn't even noticed.
But he had.
He doesn't press. Not yet.
Instead, he shifts gears, testing the waters. "This... Jekyll. He's the real monster, then?"
Jessica's fingers pause against her mug. "Everyone thinks they know the story. They don't. They've been played like a flute—"
"Jess—"
"Excuse me."
They both look up.
Killian Jones stands at the edge of their table, looking apologetic. Behind him, a blonde woman approaches — all polished leather and guarded calm.
Jessica narrows her eyes. "Let me guess. Storybrooke welcome committee?"
Jefferson exhales. "Damn it."
"I'm Emma," the blonde says. "This is Killian. We need to talk."
Jessica crosses her arms. "About?"
Emma offers a polite smile. "Conflict of interest. Given that you helped Hyde get here... we need you to come with us. Just until we can be sure where your loyalties lie."
Jessica eyes her warily. Her fingers twitch, glowing faintly red under the table. "I could disappear right now."
Jeff places a hand on hers. "Don't."
She looks at him, reading the calm reassurance in his eyes.
"Emma's the town savior," he says. "She helps people. It's what she does."
Jessica gives Emma a skeptical once-over. "Savior? Corny."
Emma shrugs. "I hate the title. I just help when I see someone needs it. That's all."
Jessica's interest sparks — respect flickering in her eyes. "Fair enough."

Storybrooke Jail — Basement Level

The cells are colder than they should be.
Jessica stands just behind Emma as they descend the stairs. Killian walks behind them.
Zelena, Snow, and David look up as she enters. None of them look thrilled.
"Don't worry," Jessica says with a smile. "No hard feelings about the trip over. Though, Snow, you really sold me on the whole small-town charm thing. My boss practically signed the deal on your name alone."
"Funny," David mutters. "He forgot to mention the takeover part."
Jessica ignores him. "Listen. If you want answers, I need ten minutes with him."
Snow and David exchange looks. Killian tenses.
"You really think that's wise?" David asks Emma.
Emma's gaze doesn't leave Jessica's. "Ten minutes. Then she's out."
She unlocks the door.
Jessica walks past her without hesitation.

Inside the Cell

Hyde lies on the cot, hands shackled behind his head. His gaze is distant, unreadable — until the door creaks open and his eyes snap toward her.
He sits up, slowly.
"You."
Jessica steps inside, arms crossed.
"You're not going to ask if I'm okay?"
"I assume you would've burned this place down if you weren't," Hyde says dryly.
Jessica approaches the bars, voice low. "I could proof us out right now. You and me. Gone."
Hyde looks at her — long, quiet.
"I'm right where I want to be."
Jessica's brows draw together. "Seriously? Are you trying to sound like a martyr?"
"When the time comes," Hyde says, "I'll call for you."
She stares at him, lips parting. "Oh, so now I'm your loyal call dog?"
Hyde's jaw clenches, but he says nothing.
"And what about earlier?" she demands. "You left me to wake up alone in the woods like a cursed orphan."
That gets his attention.
His head snaps up. "What?"
"I woke up alone," she says, voice cracking. "With a splitting headache. In the woods. No idea where you were or where I was. I had to cast a blood spell just to find my brother."
Hyde's eyes darken.
"Rumplestiltskin," he mutters. "He split us on purpose."
Jessica nods once. "Yeah. I got there eventually."
Silence stretches.
Hyde stands slowly, chains rattling. His gaze hardens.
"You shouldn't have come."
Jessica laughs, but there's no humor in it. "Oh, here we go."
"You don't belong here," he continues. "You're free now. Your brother and your niece needs you.It's a fresh start."
"I came back because you're my start!" she fires back, the confession catching even her off guard.
Hyde turns his back to her. "Then you're more foolish than I thought."
Jessica recoils.
"You really believe that?" she whispers.
"I do."
She takes a step closer to the bars. "Why?"
Hyde's voice is quiet. Measured. Brutal. "Because I don't care what happens to anyone else. Not your brother. This town. Not your family. Not even you."
Jessica blinks, stunned.
His words are like acid.
"You're lying."
He finally turns, and for the first time since she met him, she sees something in his eyes that isn't anger or calculation.
She sees fear.
"I don't lie," he says.
Her breath trembles in her chest. Her fingers curl around the bars.
Tears sting her eyes. "You saved me."
"I used you."
"I fought for you."
"I never asked you to. I told you not to come back."
Silence.
Hyde's shoulders rise and fall, ragged breath betraying him.
Jessica looks down. One tear escapes.
She wipes it away quickly, turning on her heel.
She walked up to the bars, arms crossed. "Why are you trying to take over this town?"
Hyde's gaze didn't shift. "Because the dark one offered it in the trace. Being here is all part of the plan"
"That wasn't part of the plan," she snapped.
"You've completed your part of the plan," he said smoothly. "You got me here. You helped finish the serum. The rest... was always going to end like this."
Jessica's brows furrowed. "You're telling me this was all transactional? That after everything we've been through, meant nothing and I'm just free to go?"
"You can do whatever you want now," he replied, voice flat. "You're not my responsibility."
The words hit her harder than she expected.
"You're a coward," she whispered. "You know that?"
Hyde didn't flinch. "I've been called worse."
She stepped forward, her voice rising. "You're not that different from Rumplestiltskin."
His head snapped toward her, eyes sharp. "We are nothing alike."
"Really?" she shouted — her voice breaking the walls between them. "Because he used me, discarded me, and then left me alone in the woods. And here you are, doing the same damn thing!"
Hyde's mask cracked.
He hadn't expected her to yell.
She never yelled. Not at him. Not ever.
But here she was — eyes wet, lips trembling, fists clenched at her sides.
"You're turning into him," she said. "And I won't be part of it."
He stood, rattling the chains. " Jessica it isn't personal. You don't understand—"
"I understand enough. And I think it's very personal." Her voice dropped to a whisper that cut even deeper. "If you want me gone, fine. I'm gone."
She turned, banging on the door. "Let me out!"
Hyde's jaw clenched. "What are you going to do now? Eventually, I will call for you but for now- "
Jessica spun around, eyes glowing faintly. "Find a new assistant to use!"
The hurt in her tone twisted in his gut like a dagger. She didn't believe he used her — not for a second — and that made it worse.
Hyde exhaled. "Please forgive me."
The door opened behind her.
Jessica laughed without humor, backing toward the exit. "You can be sorry when you find my body! Because you chose to stay here while Jekyll's still out there."
"Jessica please understand—"
"It's fine," she interrupted. "I've got my powers back now. So, I'll handle it."
Hyde lunged forward, chains jerking him back with a harsh clank. "Jessica, don't. Don't go after him. Not alone. I implore you"
Jessica paused.
Hyde looked into her eyes — and something inside him buckled.
That deadness.
That hollow, numb glaze that she'd carried when they first met — it was back.
"You have to live for yourself now," he said urgently. "Please."
She looked at him like he was a stranger. "I've been dead inside for a long time, Mr. Hyde. You were just a really great distraction."
A beat.
Jessica forced a broken smile. "But all good things must come to an end, right? Even us..I suppose."
She turned and walked away.
Emma stood just outside the door, leaning against the wall. Her eyes flicked between Hyde's twisted expression and Jessica's retreating back. The moment Jessica was gone, Hyde turned to the only window in his cell, shoulders heaving once in silence.
Emma watched him for a moment longer, then spoke to Killian.
"Can you take her home, Killian? Back to Jefferson."
Killian nodded and disappeared up the steps with Jess.
Snow appeared behind Emma, concern etched on her face. "Can she be trusted?"
"She just quit her job helping him," Emma said without hesitation. "If anything, I think she's done with him. At least for now."
"Are you sure?" David asked.
"I'm not sure about anything," Emma admitted. "But I know broken when I see it."
She turned back to the window.
Hyde hadn't moved