Chapter Text
The King of Hearts strode into the laboratory, stifling a cringe at the bare white room.
"You sent for me?"
"Yes, Sire. We have found him."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course."
"Very well, then. Bring him in."
"Rabbit-hole is locked on. Initializing in 10...9...8..."
….......
Stephen backed away from the door slowly, trying to keep calm as long as he could despite the predators that circled him. He kept his eyes locked on Cutter's, drawing a painful sort of strength from the familiar sight. He didn't bother to look and see if Helen also watched through the other window; it really didn't matter now. She'd duped him... again. That didn't matter, either.
Cutter was alive, and would stay that way even if it took Stephen's life. And it would; the snarls and rumbling growls around him assured him of that. Still, he'd lived most of his life in one dangerous situation or another. Certain death wasn't that terrible a thought anymore. But the deaths of Cutter and the others on his team? That was unthinkable. Stephen had broken when Helen told him Lester had killed them all, had shattered past mending or so he'd thought. Seeing Cutter alive had been a healing revelation. For all that they fell back into bickering, he'd finally realized what he should have known all along.
He'd been alone as long as he could remember. No family, few friends, only an awkward illicit affair that did little to fill the loneliness. Then Helen disappeared, and he'd somehow inherited her husband as his mentor, then friend, then confidant and brother. God, he'd wronged his brother so many, many times. At least in this, he'd finally done something selfless.
He'd meant what he said; he couldn't take the risk of what would become of the family he'd claimed in the team, of what would be left if they lost their leader. They wouldn't lose Cutter, now.
The smilodon snarled, and Stephen swallowed. Cutter's pounding against the door was fading away leaving only the pounding of Stephen's own heartbeat in his ears.
The growling at his side grew to a fever pitch and a raptor finally lunged in, tearing into his shoulder. He screamed, the pain beyond what he'd even imagined. He shut his eyes tightly against both the pain and the sight of Cutter's horror. Then there was a roaring in his ears and the floor fell out from under him.
He let go of consciousness, welcoming death like a mercy.
……….
Screaming filled the room, bringing panic to the previously calm and collected scientists.
"What is that?"
"He's bleeding. Fetch a doctor!"
"Caterpillar, you swore the procedure was safe. If you've damaged-"
"Of course, it is safe. It seems he was damaged prior to the Rabbit-hole."
"Is that a jabber-"
"Do not be a fool. You know there are no jabberwocky in the Oysters' world."
"Then what is it?"
"I do not know. We must ask him when he wakes."
"If he wakes."
"He will wake, Sire. In the meantime, perhaps a scan is in order?"
"A scan? The Doctors are no more, Caterpillar. You know that."
"Of course. I was thinking, instead, perhaps a Cheshire."
"A Cheshire? Are there any still left…"
"Left whole in and of themselves? Only a very few, but one will be quite enough."
"Very well."