Restart

The nurse yelped as Ty made his get away, flinging herself onto the barred door as it shut in her face. She was not a fangurl to be deterred, so she pounded her fists on the door until it suddenly opened. Nearly falling flat on her face, she looked around fervently for her heartthrob.

"Tyyyy," she called softly. Despite her fury that the movie star jumped ship on her, there was a playfully undertone in her voice. "Where are you?" She looked around, springing over desks and jumping through doors in search, as though to surprise him. "This isn't the place for hide and seek, pumpkin."

She pouted and put her hands on her hips. No where to be seen. Turning on her heel she looked in the opposite direction, not bothering to look in room number 248. She knew Ty wouldn't hide in the recently recovered stolen patient's room. Nuh-uh, she was his girl after all.

~~~~~~

Mary Jane looked hesitant even as John Luke was squirming in her arms to get on the bed. He was eager, much too eager to be near Chase and that worried her. He was just a little kid, how can he understand Chase's condition? From all his high energy, she could imagine John Luke getting on that bed and then start jumping on it like a trampoline.

She winced at the idea, but John Luke was small and knew how to get out of fixes like these. In no time at all he wiggled his way out of her arms and was on the spot where Chase offered before his sister could catch him. Sitting back Indian style, he placed his hands on his lap dutifully and grinned cheekily up at Chase, a giggle escaping through his teeth.

Mary Jane looked on in surprise.

Restart

Ty waited until he was sure the nurse was not looking his way before he ducked into the closest hospital room. Room 248. He did not know whose room it was, and he did not care. He shoved a chair up against the handle and closed the blinds, hoping she would not notice. He then crouched under the window, counting silently. He hoped she would give up soon, his leg was already starting to fall asleep.

----

Chase grinned back at John Luke. He looked up at Mary Jane and noticed her expression. He frowned slightly. "Layla," he said, nodding to his clothes which were folded up nearby. "Get the cards out of my pocket." Once she had done so, he handed the deck of cards to John Luke.

"You go play with those with Layla for a bit, okay kid? I gotta talk to your sister alone."

Layla studied her brother for a moment before she nodded and went to pick up John Luke.

"Come on, buddy," she said. "We'll wait outside for a little bit. Then you can play with funny Chase." She grasped Chase's fingers lightly for a moment before moving out of the room.

Chase waited until they were out of the room before turning to MJ with raised eyebrows. "She told you about me. Didn't she?"

P.S."Brooklyn!"

A (Slightly) Less Normal Life

Once Galvan and Zacce had finalized the treaty that brought Ditto Metru into the Intergalactic Alliance, the Lord Overseer turned to Chase.

"Alright, Professor, what's this document you need translated?" he asked, his voice surprisingly not as gruff as it had been.

Chase started, and then started quickly rummaging through his bag.

"Ah, right, well, uh, you see, Lord Overseer, I've been studying Dittotopian history, and have been quite fascinated with Ditto Metru. So little is known about it by the rest of the world, so I thought it would be fascinating to learn more about it. A friend found this manuscript for me, but it's in a language that I don't know," here he pulled out the parchment and handed it to Galvan and continued.

"I understand (Careful with it please. Thank you.) that it may have been written by one of the original settlers of this island. Any insight you may ha--"

"It's Matoran," Galvan interrupted as he perused the document. "The island was founded by a group of biomechanical beings from another universe. They were called Matoran, and they're the ones who built the island's propulsion system..." his voice trailed off and he glanced up at Chase, who was listening wide-eyed.

"I'd write this down if I were you, I'm only saying this once," he said before continuing. It took Chase a moment to get the hint, and he frantically scrambled to get his datapad and type furiously while the Lord Overseer continued his narrative.

"They arrived here around the year 850. They made the island mobile and began to explore the planet. Two hundred years later, they were attacked by pirates and wiped out. The pirates settled the island, and we're their descendants. There, that's the history of Ditto Metru. You can leave now."

"Ah, uh... but what about the manuscript?" Chase asked timidly as he finished writing.

"Oh yeah," Galvan humphed and nodded to his monkey-lizard. The animal cackled, jumped off his shoulder and scurried to a nearby filing cabinet. It yanked open the bottom drawer and pulled out a round, unmarked mask. With much giggling and muttering, it brought it to Galvan.

"This is a Matoran Kanohi mask," Galvan explained. "It gives the wearer the ability to translate any writing. Here, knock yourself out." He held the mask out to Chase, waggling it impatiently.

To Be Continued... (Part IV)

When we last left off, or, last the author remembers, Meav was freaking out over Jedi dragons while Kel and others warded off the monstrous Snow Bunnies, or something like that. The author does not quite recall what happened, but she knows something happened, and will just presume to pick up where the Desolation of the Snow Bunnies ended.

Meav shook her head and looked around, glad that both the Jedi Dragonians and the Snow Bunnies were gone. Now, the snow was quickly melting.

"Oh, look, a puddle!" Kel exclaimed, jumping over and into the puddle. A few seconds later, only a couple surfacing air bubbles showed that Kel had ever existed.

Meav shook her head again, and jumped in after Kel. She found herself tumbling through the air, through the now maddeningly familiar cavern, where the elf still sat, muttering and inspecting the runes on the floor. A moment later Meav hit the (rather cold) water, and found herself in a library, next to a beam of sunlight. The library, which was mostly brown and gold, was filled with strange persons, had lots of natural light, but mostly in beams that shined down through the various levels of the library, never hitting the floor until they hit the basement. Meav shook her head and stood up.

"If you are looking at the child who recently fell this way, she went that way," an olive skinned woman said, pointing. "Isis Athena was chasing her. You had better catch them before they get in the sun."

A shriek emitted out of one of the lower levels.

"I'm meltiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!!!!"

The woman peered over the balcony edge. A carrot top appeared below, slowly morphing into sugar water.

"That's funny, she's not supposed to do that unless she gets in the sun...."

Meav jumped over the edge of the balcony, but instead of hitting the floor of the library, found herself in landing in a jungle.

"Ho-la-la-ee-ay
Ho-la-la-ee-ay
Ho-la-la-ee-ay-ee-la-ee-ay-ee-lee-ay
Ho-la-la-ee-ay
Ho-la-la-ee-ay
Ho-la-la-ee-ay-ee-la-lee-ay-lee-o-lee-ay

I'd like to dance and tap my feet
But they won't keep in rhythm
You see, I washed them both today
And I can't do nothing with 'em..."

Meav shook her head (again), only to see seven dwarves come sliding down the palm trees.

"Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho
It's home from work we go!" They continued, getting in a line.

"Bonbonbur, at your service!" The first (rather fat) dwarf said, bowing.
"Oil'n, at your service!" The second (obviously mechanically inclined) dwarf said, bowing.
"Buffets, at your service!" The third...(who had a rather large nose), said, bowing.
"Bruises, at your service!" The fourth....with a black eye...said...bowing.
"Thorny, at your service!" The fifth....
"Nory, at your service!" The sixth....
"Dory, or, at least, um, I think that's my name um...Hi." The seventh said, looking confused.
"DORY!!!" The others cried.
"Ah! At your service!" he replied, doffing his cap.

"Um, hi, I'm looking for my sister."

"Sister!!!" Thorny (or perhaps Nory) exclaimed. The others laughed, then commenced singing again.

"Sisters...Sisters....There were never such devoted sisters,
Never had to have a chaperone "No, sir"
I'm there to keep my eye on her
Caring
Sharing...."

"Alright, alright, I get the point!!!" Meav exclaimed. "You know where she is?"

"She's off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of...Iz!" Oil'n exclaimed. "And she promised to bring me a crescent wrench!!"

"And me a pick-nick basket!"

"And a heart for the Tin Man Oil'n is making!!!"

"And some pins and needles for my brain to think on!"

Meav groaned and put her hands over her ears.

"Which way to Iz?"

"We recommend taking the platinum brick road."

"O...kay...." Meav turned and began her abysmal saunter to Iz on the platinum brick road.

To be continued....

Restart

The ICU hall continued with their activities without a mishap to the knowledge that an unauthorized person was wandering around or that a fan-nurse was on the hunt in the wing. Feet scuffled past in a hurry and mumbled conversations swept by room 248 without notice that the door was shut, not an odd occurrence by any means, or that the window blinds were drawn, which could have turned a head. But someone should have known that it was Miss Hennessey's ward door that was closed. However, seeing as everyone was busy with saving other ailing people, of course, that important detail was looked over.

Inside 248 was not much different--in the ignoring department. With two beds pushed back against the right side wall, only one bed was occupied and it, too, did not notice Ty's barricading entrance, disrupting as it was. As things quieted down the form lying on the bed did not even stir an inch in curiosity.

A beeping noise from a heart monitoring machine was the only indication that the form was living and breathing. Barely. With so many bruises and gashes it was a wonder there was a heart still drawing neon green squiggly lines across the monitor beside the bed. The beaten up form hardly looked female anymore but something that was run over by a truck. Her arms were blanketed in purple-black spots, her right hand and stomach were bound in bandages, and her lips were swollen, the lower one cracked.

Her chart at the foot of the bed read about her condition. Without the doctor jargon it simply stated that she has leukemia, at what stage unknown, and was severely beaten. With mentions of bruised ribs and more than likely concussion, there was major emphasize to the worry of internal bleeding and infection, especially since her right hand was already infected. There was no doubt it happened prior to the beating.

There was no conclusive agreement to possible treatments nor expected recovery mentioned for Dorothea Hennessey.

~~~~~~

Despite the rearranging John Luke was pleased with the offered chance to play cards. So when Layla came over to get him, he bounced lightly off the bed and into her arms, all smiles as he squeezed her neck. As she carried out of the room he tried to take the cards out of her hands, curious to see what kind of cards they were.

Mary Jane watched the two leave with a forlorn look, wishing she was going with them too, for the selfish reason of avoiding the reason why Chase banished them. She turned back to the invalid teen, her eyes dropping back down to his feet once again.

She nodded nimbly in response to his observation. "I was there when the doctor mentioned," she bit her bottom lip, uncomfortable with speaking about his condition, "it to your sister."

Restart

Tyler breathed easier when it appeared that no one was going to come after him. He stood slowly then and looked around the room he had locked himself in. His breath hitched when he saw the person l lying on the bed. His first thought was that poor woman, until he looked closer and recognized the battered form. Then a sob choked him and he fell to his knees beside the bed.

"Dotty! Dotty!" he gasped, unable to process what he was seeing. "What did you do to yourself?"

----

Chase ran his good hand through his hair agitatedly, wincing when his fingers came in contact with the ugly bruise on his forehead.

"Ugh, stupid doctors," he said, rather good-naturedly. "They can never leave well enough alone. Look MJ, just because I'm going to die sometime in the future, doesn't meant you have to treat me like I'm going to explode. I mean, it's going to happen gradually. Over time. Everyone kicks the bucket, I'll just be kicking it sooner than most." He tried to grin, but it faltered when he saw his words were not helping.

"Come on MJ," he pleaded, holding out his good hand toward her. "Don't be a buzz-kill. Seriously. You don't have to feel sorry for me. I made my peace about it a long time ago. This is why I didn't want anyone to know about it. I want to be treated like a normal guy. I don't want to be pitied or babied or any of that crap. You know what I mean?" He looked over at her imploringly.

P.S."Brooklyn!"

A (Slightly) Less Normal Life
Chase took the mask and held it up to his face uncertainly. He yelped in surprise as the mask suddenly sealed itself onto his face, and he nearly fell out of his chair.

"Are you alright?" Zacce asked with concern, shooting a worried glance at Galvan, who merely sat back and watched with a smirk.

"I...I'm fine, I think," Chase stammered as he steadied himself. His eyes peeked out from within the large eye-holes of the mask, and he looked around experimentally.

"It's... weird," he said, "I can hardly feel it now." He glanced at the manuscript as it lay on the desk and gasped.

"I can read it!" he exclaimed excitedly, snatching up the parchment and looking over it hungrily.

"Well?" Zacce asked with a smile as Chase fell silent while he read. "What does it say?"

"Uuuummmm.... Lord Overseer, you said the Matoran had been wiped out, yes? How reliable is your information?"

"It's the history that's been passed down to us, why?" Galvan replied suspiciously.

"Ah, well, you see, this is, uh, a journal entry from one of the Matoran, detailing the pirate attack, and what they did to escape being massacred."

"You mean, the pirates didn't destroy them?" Zacce asked in surprise.

"According to this, they sealed themselves in stasis pods deep beneath the island and went into hibernation. They could very well still be down there!"

"Well then, Galvan," Zacce said, rising to his feet and looking down at the man with a grin. "It looks like you've got your work cut out for you."

"You can't be serious, Nalum," Galvan scoffed. "If you think I'm endangering my people to go find a bunch of sleeping robots, you've got another thing coming!"

"They're sentient lifeforms, and as inhabitants of Ditto Metru, fall under the protection of the Intergalactic Alliance," Zacce said, his smile not faltering. "As Lord Overseer, it's your duty to release them from their exile, and either give them a place here, or see that they can find their way back to their homeworld."

Galvan stared at Zacce with an irritated frown, his monkey-lizard cackling hysterically all the while. He heaved a reluctant sigh and jabbed the comm button on his desk.

"Captain, arrange a squadron of men with digging and hauling equipment and assemble at the tunnel entrance. Professor Chase will be leading you in a little expedition to find some Matoran stasis capsules."

"I'd like to accompany the expedition, if you don't mind Professor," Zacce said to Chase.

"Mind?!" Chase exclaimed, so excited, his voice raised to a higher pitch than he realized it could go. "I'd be delighted!"

********

Solarflare stood on the landing platform and stared at the guards with crossed arms and a big smile on his face. The two armored guards tried not to look up at him, but their eyes kept getting drawn back to his face. They shifted restlessly, and Solarflare knew it was only a matter of time until one them finally snapped.

"Knock it off, already!" one guard finally shouted at him, and immediately snapped back to rigorous attention, undoubtedly flushing in embarrassment under his helmet. Solarflare grinned all the wider.

Suddenly, his internal radar began to register something approaching the landing area. His smile died and his optic sensors narrowed.

He's here, he thought. Gotcha.

Restart

Two things happened as Ty had his emotional breakdown. First, in his wailings Ty had accidentally pushed the bed Dotty was sleeping on when he fell down. This was not a pleasant accident, indeed, as the frame screeched obnoxiously from the jolt and practically shook everything that was on the mattress. Which, subsequently, jarred Dotty out of slumber. But that doesn't really have much relation with the second thing that happened, although that was what happened next.

What really woke Dotty was Tyler's cries, so loud was his voice beside her that it annoyingly startled her out of her light sleep. Moaning softly her mind was too hazy to utter a curse about it. This was the first real sleep she had all stinkin' day, being unconscious did not count as there was no rejuvenating factor that normally came after rest. Actually she felt worse than before it happened, not so ironically enough, which was why she tried to get as much sleep as possible.

She made a mental note for later, as she shifted unhappily into awareness, to kill whoever it was that awoke her. Err. Amend that, Dotty thought as she realized a problem with that. I'll hire someone to do it, then I can watch happily with a bowl of popcorn. Which reminded her to find out who this perpetrator was so she could get his name up on a "Wanted Dead or Deader" poster . . .

Turning her face ever so slightly, Dotty peeked under her eyelashes. Discretion was vital in a place like this hospital; she really did not want to be bothered with anymore. When she saw who it was, however, she rolled her eyes behind her closed eyelids.

"Jeez, Tyler," she grumbled. Her voice was gravely as it hurt to move her lips and breathing was an issue, too. But that didn't disrupt the exasperated undertone. "Get. A. Grip."

~~~~~~

Mary Jane nodded slowly. She did understand his reasons for keeping it a secret, but that still didn't justify the present guilt she felt. Moving around to his side, she took his offered hand.

"I understand, really I do," she said quietly. She bowed her head, the guilt too great to hold it up anymore, and she pressed her other hand over his hand she already clasped. "I-I just . . . I shouldn't have gone with you! If I hadn't this wouldn't of happened and your condition wouldn't have sped up. I made everything worse!" Her voice cracked in her wretchedness, and she squeezed his hand. Her emotions were still raw from the ordeal, so tears came unbidden to her eyes.

Restart

((Actually I said he "gasped" the words out. So unless Dotty had extra sensitive hearing while unconscious, he wasn't being loud at all. ))

Ty jerked his head up when he heard Dotty's voice. He stood and looked down at her, clenching his fists, flexing them experimentally as though he were getting ready to punch someone.

As it was he wanted to reach down and shake Dotty, but taking into account her present condition, he restrained himself.

"What. Happened." He ground out between his teeth.

-----

Chase rolled his eyes. "See, that's just what I'm talking about. It's not your fault, MJ. If it wasn't a car accident, I would have fallen out of a tree on my head, or gotten tackled in football, or fallen down the stairs, or something. You can't mess with destiny. If this was meant to happen, it would have happened no matter what you did." He grinned faintly. "I'm just glad you were there with me, kinda. I mean, not really I guess because I'm sure it was totally not fun for you to be there. But you know, I'm glad I wasn't alone."

P.S."Brooklyn!"

Restart

Dotty didn't have to look to know that Tyler was peeved about something. Jeez, what did she do now? It sounded almost like he was accusing her of beating herself up.

Behind another eye roll, which became visible as she slowly opened her eyes, she bit back the notion of telling him how ridiculous that would be if it happened that way. The mere mental picture she got from that idea was the silliest thing she ever saw. Beating herself up . . . With what? she wanted to ask. With my pathetic fists?

She didn't think even Tarzan could do a better job.

The dim light in the room was stifling. With the blinds closed for both the outside window and window that viewed the hallway, her eyes teared up still, for it was so painful to focus on anything. Tyler was a blurry, looming dark blob that hovered over her head, and if she hadn't of recognized his voice she would have called security at the sight of him. Not that the idea didn't tempt her.

She wanted to tell him to sit down because with him so high up it was straining her eyes, but Tyler didn't sound in the mood to be ordered around with.

"I-uh." Dotty swallowed hard and closed her eyes, relief flooding her instantly in the darkness. "I fell," she lied lamely, a smirk touching her swollen lips.

~~~~~~

Chase's words brought a smile to Mary Jane's face. A small one and bashful despite the circumstance. "I'm glad to be here with you, too," she said, only half lying. If a few things hadn't of happened to get here she wouldn't have mind for the world.

John Luke was having fun sorting through the cards in the waiting room. He and Layla had gotten half way through a game of Go-Fish when he started pairing off colors, shapes, and numbers off on his own terms that only he understood. He laughed as Layla tried to understand his rules when someone came up behind him and snatched a card from his hand.

"That goes, there!" Shane declared as he placed the card on top of one of the piles, grinning victorious when he got John Luke to yelp in surprise.

John Luke craned his head upwards to look up at his brother, tower over him from behind. He frowned at Shane sulkily and looked back down at where the card was laid. He gaped when he saw it was in the right place.

Restart

Ty scowled. He cursed in irritation. "Liar," he said flatly. "Cut the crap, Dorothea and tell me what the heck happened!" He clenched his fists and did his best not to move, knowing if he did it would be to punch something. And he did not want to go busting up his hand on the wall.

----

Chase's eyes lit up visibly at MJ's words. He had expected her to say something more along the lines of . . . well, he had not expected her to say anything at all, just smile that small, shy smile of hers. He wondered if his palm was a sweaty as it felt to him and hoped he could not feel his pulse racing.

He grinned crookedly. "Except, you'd rather it not be here, here." He tilted his head. "Seats at a movie theater perhaps? Or maybe a ride at a theme park? Oooh, you know what we should do? We should go water-skiing. I've never done it before myself, but I've heard it's wicked cool. Or maybe we could get one of those double bike things and bike around Ditto Town. Or maybe we could just go to the park and knock little kids off their swings so we can have a go. Or we could just get ice cream somewhere or--" he stopped himself and flushed.

"Sorry," he apologized. "I'm rambling again, aren't I?"

Layla looked up in surprise when Shane appeared. She stood and ran a hand nervously through the ends of her hair.

"Shane," she said, glancing at the door. "What are you doing here?"

P.S."Brooklyn!"

Restart

Dotty frowned at his harsh command, her lower lip growing puffier in the show of disapproval. He was being serious, she realized, despite his lack of sensitivity. But she was in a hospital bed for Pete's sake! One would think the appropriate thing to ask was how she was feeling.

Not that she was ever on the receiving end of appropriateness. . .

Her jaw clenched, anger flaring from the underlining meaning of that thought, and she shook her head, as if denying him access to top secret information.

~~~~~~

Mary Jane's smile grew wider as Chase rambled, his suggestions amazing her with each one popping from his mouth. She shook her head and laughed a little. "No, not really," she said, but then with another laugh she added, "Well, just a little." She lifted her free hand to express how much with a pinch on her thumb and index finger, but there was nothing in her tone that suggested she minded.

Ruffling his little brother's hair, Shane side stepped around him to stand before Layla, hands deep in his leather jacket pockets and crooked grin in place. "Um, I'm here to check out MJ. . .?" he said, a frown suddenly appearing, and he looked at the sitter questioningly, as if waiting for it to dawn on her.

Restart

Ty ran a hand through his hair agitatedly and looked around as if to located a place to sit, but he had used the chair to lock the door so there was nothing. He slapped absently at his pockets and then looked back down at Dotty, his frown deepening.

"Do you have any idea what you put me--" he cut off, swallowing hard. "What you put us through? Nate nearly killed me because he thought I had something to do with this."

----

"Sorry," Chase said with an apologetic laugh. "I talk a lot when I'm excited or nervous or afraid or too hyped up on sugar. I'm starting to do it again, aren't I? Okay, I'll shut up now. Tell me about you. Are you okay?" He took a deep breath, ignoring the ache in his ribs, trying to get himself to calm down.

Layla slapped her palm to her forehead. "Oh right, the note! Well, she's fine. A couple bruises and cuts, but she'll be alright. It's Chase who's . . ." her voice faltered. She shook her head slightly. "Chase will be fine eventually. Just has to stay here a couple nights." She smiled weakly as she looked up at Shane.

"But you probably don't care," she added slowly. She swiped at her face with her hands, wondering if she looked as awful as she felt. She had been doing her best not to burst into tears, seeing as John Luke had to be looked out for.

P.S."Brooklyn!"

Restart

"Well, gee, sawry," Dotty grumbled, ditching the no-talk policy since he brought up Nate. If she wasn't in so much pain she would have waved her hands in dramatic surrender. "But someone had to clean up your mess."

She was mad enough to tell him anything now, even if it was half the truth.

~~~~~~

"I'm fine," Mary Jane said with a nod. "Nothing broken. . ." She trailed off as she looked at the chairs behind her, and, finding it as a good enough excuse from continuing, she released Chase's hand and pulled up a chair. She tried to scoot it up as close to his bed as possible.

The seat was a lot lower than his bed was, so she had to crane her neck slightly to look at him. "Just shook up," she finished quietly.

Shane's frown deepened only slightly, but he didn't address her last remark. "You're the only one here?" he asked, looking behind her only to see John Luke. He half expected to see the rest of the Sutcliff zoo sitting out here waiting with Layla.

Restart

"My mess?" Ty gaped at her. "What do you mean my mess? You get yourself into messes Dotty. Whatever happened, I had nothing to do with it." He frowned again, wondering if it really was his fault and if he should be feeling extreme guilt right now.

----

Chase reached over and brushed his knuckles lightly against a bruise on her cheek. "I'm glad you're okay," he said softly, smiling somewhat shyly now. He frowned suddenly and his hand dropped from her face. "Hey, what happened to that other guy. The one that hit us. Is he okay?"

Layla looked around instinctively. "Yes . . ." she said slowly. "I did not want to bother the others with this. They'll find out soon enough anyway and they would be too rowdy to stay here."

P.S."Brooklyn!"