Mad woke up because his back was on fire. A solid line of agony traced where the Jabberwock had scratched him and when he moved, he could feel the stitches Killian put in tugging at his skin.

Piled on top of that was the reminder that Mad hadn't had hard liquor in over five years.

After his falling out with Tamsus, Mad had thought it best to avoid alcohol or anything else that might dull his senses.

He'd made an exception yesterday and whatever Killian had given him was strong. Mad's mouth tasted awful and he had a dull headache pounding just behind his eyes. He sat up and groaned, then grabbed his head when the sound pierced his skull.

The bright morning sun wasn't helping and Mad would have killed for a cup of hot, black coffee. Or seven. But Wonderland didn't have coffee. All it had was tea. Tea, tea, incessantly tea. Mad hated tea.

Squinting, he found Killian looking over the edge of the cliff they had climbed yesterday. Killian turned when he heard Mad move and smirking said, "Morning sunshine."

Mad shushed him. "Not so loud."

"Lightweight," Killian laughed before turning back to the cliff and Mad considered just pushing him off. He dismissed the idea as too much work and looked up when Killian said, "I think I know where we are. It's about two days walk back to the settlement. But that's at a heavy pace."

Killian sat down and said, "Since you're wounded, it'll probably take a little longer." He motioned for Mad to turn so he could take a look at his handiwork.

While Killian prodded at his back, Mad smirked and said, "I think you're just afraid you won't be able to keep up with me."

Killian snorted but didn't say anything though he did tug at one of the stitches. Mad cursed and thought that had been unnecessary. He sighed and said, "Look, if you just put some of that numbing plant stuff on it, I'll make it. Two days I can manage. Just gotta hang tough."

Killian huffed out a laugh. "I figured you'd say that. I already got some more."

"Well then what are you waiting on? An invitation?" Mad looked over his shoulder, grimacing when the stitches pulled.

Killian pushed his shoulder and said, "If you pop these, I'll just let you bleed."

Mad turned back around, rolling his eyes though a smile was pulling at the corner of his mouth. "You got a drink?" he asked.

Killian said, "Nope. We used it all last night on you. Waste of good booze if you ask me."

"I wasn't asking you. But I meant of water." Mad twitched when Killian smeared the numbing gel on. He sighed when it immediately worked and put on what was left of his shirt. He looked up at the already blazing sun and wished for more protection than a torn up piece of cloth.

He stood and Killian tossed him a canteen. "Easy on that. I doubt it'll last the rest of the day."

Mad shook the canteen and estimated that it was less than three-quarters full. He took a small mouthful and rinsed the taste of hangover out of his mouth. He spit, then handed the canteen back to Killian who just stared at him.

Killian looked at the canteen and said, "Really? You couldn't just deal with it?"

Mad narrowed his eyes and said, "Don't make me reconsider pushing you off that cliff."

Killian raised an eyebrow. "When did you consider it the first time?" Then he smiled a little. "Come on. We should be moving."

Mad stood up, his head still pounding. He hadn't had a hangover like this since he'd been a kid having his first drink. His stomach heaved and he spit again, refusing to be sick. He couldn't afford to lose the fluids. Plus he didn't think it was something Killian would let him forget anytime soon.

Not to mention, being sick would probably rip the stitches and Mad might not be able to keep pace with Killian if that happened. Killian kicked the remains of the fire around but there was still plenty of evidence that they'd been here and that at least one of them was hurt.

Mad could almost imagine Tamsus sniffing around like a bloodhound, tracking them using his scent. Then he shook his head, dismissing such a ludicrous idea. 

They walked in silence for about an hour before Killian said, "Who let off that shot? The Jabberwock wouldn't have come out if the shot hadn't drawn it out."

"Tamsus," Mad said between clenched teeth.

"Tamsus Heart?" Killian looked at Mad, paling a little.

"Yeah."

"But we left him on the other side of the Glass Plain! How did he get to us so quickly?" Killian asked as he skirted the edge of a Needle Tree. Mad hissed when he didn't move carefully enough and one of the needles seemed to jump at his hand.

Mad yanked the needle out and cursed when a thought came to him. "Because he's crazier than you and I put together. Crazy bastard must have run the gauntlet and crossed the Plain right after us."

Killian was silent for a moment longer, then said, "There's no way he was that fast. How would he have found the tunnel?"

Mad shrugged then cursed. The gel was starting to wear off. "He probably just knew that we were in Jabberwock territory and popped that shot off to cause us more trouble."

"Don't you mean to kill us?" Killian swore when he accidentally brushed a spine covered plant with flat glossy limbs.

Mad considered this, then shook his head. "No. Well, maybe," he conceded. "I think that he hoped it might take out one or two of us. But mostly no."

"Why do you think that?" Killian asked crossly. "Wouldn't he be happy if it killed us?"

"Well." Mad stopped, trying to edge between two Prickly Bushes. "He certainly wouldn't mind if a couple of us had ended up dead, but mostly Tamsus likes to do his own killing."

A thought came to Mad then and he asked, "How many people know about that tunnel?"

Killian instantly bristled only to, ironically, get whapped by the leaves of a Bristle Bush. Rubbing at his arm, he said, "No one who would tell the Ace of Hearts about it." He looked over his shoulder at Mad and asked, "Why?"

"Because Tamsus likes to do his own killing." When Killian looked confused, Mad explained, "Tamsus would never leave it up to chance like that. He wants to kill us himself. He needs to kill us himself."

Killian stopped walking. "So what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that Tamsus wouldn't have sent up that shot, waking up the Jabberwock and sending it after us, unless he knew we had at least a chance of getting some cover," Mad was starting to feel a little sick, both from this revelation and from his back sending waves of pain through him, rocking his stomach.

Killian noticed and told him to sit so that he could apply more of the plant gel. Mad sighed as it seemed to suck the heat from the skin around the stitches. Killian hadn't been kidding when he'd said it would be fast paced travel.

Killian looked at him and said, "You all right?"

Mad started walking again. "Is there a reason I wouldn't be?"

Killian smirked. "Aw, I'm just trying to watch out for ya buddy." Despite the light tone of his voice, Mad didn't miss the little flicker of worry in his dark eyes.

Mad shook his head and snorted. "Well, isn't that sweet. You know, I think you missed your true calling."

"Yeah? How's that?" Killian looked up, using the sun to determine how long they'd been traveling. 

"You would have done better as a nurse than a Jabberwock wrangler." Mad's foot slipped on a loose rock and his hand flew out, trying to keep his balance. It was just his luck to smack it right into the branches of a Needle Tree.

Killian laughed and said, "Now I bet you want me to nurse that."

"Well, if you're offering." Mad grinned, plucking the needles out.

"Not on your life pal." Killian slid down a steep hill made of more loose pebbles.

Mad followed, then jumped when he heard Gene's laugh in his head. 'You know somethin'? This kid's all right.'

He paused and rubbed at his eyes, jumping again when Killian tapped his shoulder. "Mad?"

He blinked and shook his head. "I'm fine. We need to keep moving."

Killian didn't argue but after that he did keep looking back at Mad, his gaze concerned.

Mad wished he would cut it out. He already had enough on his plate, he really didn't want Killian making him worry too. It was taking all he had to ignore how hurt he really was.