"Near-by," Gold replied. Rachel jumped when she saw him.

"Mr. Gold?" she asked. She blinked. "Wait, she has Tina too? Why?"

"Cora and I have had a sort of... falling-out, you might say," Gold replied, glancing down the hall. Tina was close, he could tell.

Hook nodded and motioned for Gold to lead the way. It was his woman, after all.

Gold didn't even bother to wait for the go-ahead from Hook. He started down to where he had traced the tracking spell. This door, however, was locked. No matter. He could still get in.

Tina got up from where she'd been sitting when she heard the door being jiggled. She looked briefly astonished when she saw it was Gold, and she blinked. Twice.

"What, did I miss some party invitation or something?" she asked, moving cautiously across the room, which was really no better than an earthen cell.

Hook snorted. "I see why you keep her around," he said to Gold with a little grin, though he kept his arm around Rachel.

Gold just ignored Hook and gestured for Tina to come.

"We should go," he said. "While I could take care of Cora if I need to, I would really rather not have to today."

Tina nodded after a moment, moving out of the room and into the hallway, glancing around.

"Well, as far as evil lairs go, this one isn't bad," she muttered to Rachel.

"I was in a fully-furnished bedroom," Rachel murmured back. "I think you got the short end of the stick on this one."

Gold kept Tina close to him as they went, making sure to stay alert for any sort of shift in the magic he could feel. With some luck, they would be able to get out before Cora noticed them.

"Well damn." Tina kept glancing around nervously. She hadn't even gotten a look at Cora; she'd just woken up in the cell without any kind of notice or evil villain monologue or anything.

"Leaving so soon?" Cora asked from behind them, sounding disappointed. "Oh, we were going to have such fun, too, Rapunzel."

"You know, Cora," Gold said, turning around without missing a beat, "I find that while some rebellion is good in my students as it encourages them to learn, this much is rather detrimental all around. I do not appreciate the appropriation of what belongs to me."

"Well I had to find some way to get your attention." Cora smiled. "Besides, I had no idea you were so possessive of her."

"I'm possessive of everything," Gold pointed out, raising an eyebrow. He waved a hand at Tina, telling her to go. He would catch up to her later.

Tina hesitated for a few moments before she left with Hook and Rachel. Gold could take care of himself, and in a magic battle she would be nothing but a hindrance.

Gold kept his attention on Cora so he could make sure Tina got away safely. Once Tina was gone, he smirked just slightly. Now he didn't have to worry about her getting caught in the crossfire.

Cora noticed the smirk and returned it with one of her own, raising one eyebrow at him. Now they would test and see who had improved more over the years.

Tina let Hook lead the way, until she realized he was heading back directly to the ship. Then she stopped, trying to get her bearings to go back to Gold's castle.

Rachel saw Tina pause, and nudged Hook.

"We need to help her," she said softly. "I have no idea where we are right now, and I doubt she really knows, either."

Hook sighed. "You really want to go back to the crocodile's castle?" he asked.

"Yes." Tina gave him a look.

"Alright. This way." Hook changed direction.

"Thanks," Rachel murmured to Hook. She stayed close to him as they walked.

Hook stopped just down the road from the castle. "There you are, back safe and sound."

"Thanks." Tina looked more relaxed once she was back in an area she knew. "I'll wait here for Gold."

"Are you sure?" Rachel asked, looking her friend over worriedly.

"Yeah, I'm sure," Tina said with a little smile. "I've got my own room that's not in the tower and everything. I'll be fine here."

"If you're sure," Rachel said. She gave her friend a hug. "Be careful, alright?"

"I will. I'll come visit you soon, too." Tina hugged her back, giving Hook a Look over her shoulder.

Hook just grinned. Oh yes, he got the message loud and clear.

Rachel just rolled her eyes. She knew how Tina was.

Tina waited until they'd started walking again to make her way into the castle, going to pace the main room to wait for Gold to come back.

And he did come back. It took several hours, and he seemed more bruised and beat-up than he would have before, but he did come back still on his own two feet and under his own power.