Click to play audio title from Capri Monroe.

Arrivals and Conflicts at Whoville Generall

Naturally, Luna insisted on going into the hospital to see Wickersham1, and Rocket agreed.

They went to the emergency room to get the serum to the rest of the bite victims.

Treatment had already been administered to many of them, so Luna and Rocket's serum was largely unneeded, except for a few patients who were into the same alternative medicines as they were.

The hospital did end up having more cases than they could treat with their own supply of antidote, and the staf started running around, trying to get a new supply in.

This royally ticked off Luna. She snatched the antiserum vials in out of Rocket's hands. Disgusted that no one was paying attention to her, Luna held up the vials in her good hand for all to see, saying at the top of her voice. "Hello! Can I have your attention, PLEASE?!? This is anti-toxi-nockanite, in it's purest, herbal form, in case you care. I heard that Dr. Whoticore made off with YOUR supply, effectively leaving Whoville General without ANY antiserum for Grabies. Now, if you feel like condescending to - Horton forbid - HERBAL cures...you can save Sarah, Wickersham1 AND your precious Mayor's worthless hide IF you take this. If not, I'll just walk right out of here and their blood will be on your sterile little hands. It's up to you."

Some of the more timid staff and patients present shrank back or fainted at Luna's authoritiveness, others muttered things among themselves like "She must've taken too many herbs," or "Let somebody else handle her, I don't want to be the next one eaten alive," Others just walked out of the ER, fed up with the terrible attitude.

Sarah had been among the lucky patients to have received treatment before the supply ran out, so Luna would not have had to worry about her. She was also fortunate not to be in the er as witness to that awful display of temper..

"All right," said Liza, one of the nurses, doing her best to hide her annoyance with Luna's attitude, approaching Luna cautiously as if she was a wild animal who might charge and trample anything in her path. "Thank you for the serum, it will be put to good use, and Sarah is already being treated." She took the serum from Luna, then walked away.

However, conflict wasn't through with her yet.

There seemed to be a difference of opinion between her and Tora Frost Bearilou, a higher-ranking nurse over the serum, resulting in the first nurse being promptly dismissed from the ER until she 'calmed down'.

This was a joke, for the other nurse trying to lay down the law was far less calm. Tora snatched the serum vials away from Liza, stalked over to a shelf and unceremoniously shoved them in with the other medications as if they were trash she or her boss would worry about later.

Liza stuck around, and she threw a disapproving glance at the higher ranking nurse while watching her toss the serum on to the already crowded shelf. Until a new supply came in, this was all they could use to treat those who still hadn't received medication yet. Although it is only fair to add that Liza had her apprehentions about it.

Tora lost her temper when she saw that Liza wasn't going anywhere. "Liza!" she barked, walking briskly over to her. "I thought I told you you're not needed on this shift now!"

"And you tell me to calm down?" Liza countered. "Dr. Whoticore didn't tell me to leave, you did, and I'm not leaving until I get his permission or that of some other doctor."

"This ER is already crowded, and there's nothing for you to do, so why don't you," the other nurse's voice became silky smooth. "take a break for a while?"

Liza suddenly turned on Tora, her demeanor became angry, almost mennacing. "You've had it in for me ever since I was hired to work here, Tora, and for what, I have no idea. But if you think I'm going to let you trap me into getting myself fired, you have another thing coming! Now, either give me something to do or stay out of my way and let me at least take care of the patients in here that are still waiting!"

"Just go!" Tora bellowed, giving Liza the death stare, then turned her attention to her own personal hygiene.

The rest of the ER staff got back to the business of looking busy while doing absolutely squat once they got over Luna's tirade.

Liza wasn't interested in office politics or climbing the corporate ladder. That was Tora's department. She didn't work exclusively for Dr. Whoticore, and she definitely preferred being on Whocares's shift, but things just hadn't worked out that way this time, so she had to put up with Tora all night long. She just decided to lay low for a while, and try to help out where she was needed. She kept asking other nurses if there were any new cases of grabies being admitted, and the answer was always the same.

Just as she passed by the shelf where Tora had tossed the serum, Liza took the vials.

She hailed Kelsey over, for she was sent down by Whocares to check on the ER. "Kelsey, if you or Rocket hear of any new cases of grabies, I've got the serum on hand, right here."

"Thanks, Liza..." Kelsey didn't get further.

Tora waved Liza over from across the room.

Liza groaned. "The queen demands my presence..." she mumbled to Kelsey.

"Poor you, she looks like she's in a bear of a mood, too."

"Don't I know it. *sigh* Well, time to get my head bitten off..."

Liza had already started walking over to Tora when Tora lurched from her place and started toward Liza, nearly mowing several other nurses down in the process.

"What is your problem, Tora?" Liza demanded.

"If you use that stuff on anybody who gets admitted here, and they die, you'll have only yourself to blame, and I'll see to it you are fired!" Tora threatened.

Liza lost her temper completely. Before she realized what was happening, she hauled off and slugged Tora, a stinging, stunning slap across the face. "You are unbelievable!" she exclaimed. "If you veto this treatment, and people lose their lives, you will have only yourself to blame!" With that, Liza returned to the shelf to retreive the serum before Tora could.

Tora did give chase, but Liza was out of the ER and had grabbed the first elevator by the time Tora reached the ER door.

Tora growled, and went back into the ER. Maybe she couldn't catch Liza this minute and get the serum from her this second, but there were other ways she could prevent it from being used. "There will be no more cases requiring treatment," she hissed to herself as she stalked through the ER. She didn't care if a new supply of meds came in, Tora decided then and there that whatever the case, no one else was going to need it.

She approached the desk where an operator was waiting by the phone to answer any incoming calls. She made a big show of concern for the operator, telling her how tired she looked and that she should take a break.

Tora offered to man the phone. But luck was with her this time, the operator's shift was nearly up. Her replacement just hadn't arrived yet.

"She has now," said Tora. "Go on home and have yourself a good rest."

The operator agreed, and left.

Quickly, Tora rummaged through some papers, trying to find out who the next operator was. When she found the name and number, she called.

When the phone was answered on the other end, Tora went to work. "Hello, Nancy? This is Tora Bearilou. I'm calling to let you know that you don't need to come in, I'm already here, and with this place being so dead, I can take the calls while the other nurses look after the patients that are here, and any others if we get any more, that is."

She hung up.

No one saw her working on the phone itself, she managed to cover what she was doing quite well. When Liza or Kelsey came back, asking her if any new calls came in, she assured them none had, and was a little too relaxed about it.

Troubles, Terrors and Amazement

On the upper floor, Sarah was lying in the bed, feverish, flushed, but sleeping. Her family were all there, keeping vidual when Dr. Whocares and Nurse Kelsey brought Indy by.

Indy, unable to do a thing for her friend, feeling frustrated, sick and helpless, started to cry.

"I know, dear, " Dr. Whocares looked kindly at her. "Indy, Sarah will be fine." He patted Indy's upper arm.

While Dr. Whocares went in to take Sarah's temperature again, the nurse stayed outside to keep an eye on Indy.

When Dr. Whocares came out again, Indy started asking him to at least let her in to see her.

Dr. Whocares shook his head, "Not even the family can be in there right now, Indy," he replied. "She needs to get better and stronger, first. For that, she needs to rest. Now, I need to know about you. Have you been bitten?" he asked Indy.

"No." Indy explained she had fallen and hid her head during that unfortunate misadventure at Punker's and the factory, and that the scratches on her hand were from Serena's owl and that the scratches occurred before the fall.

"You've been exposed to the poisons from that environment. That explains your fever and it's making you uncoordinated. It can also cause problems like depression or irritability, so if you find you're feeling any of those things, they'll cease once the poisons are out of your system."

"What the frack's that got to do with Sarah!?" Indy demanded. "I'm all right!"

"Sarah hasn't been exposed to that environment and you have; and with her condition being what it is, we can't expose her to anything that'll make her worse or get in the way of the treatment."

"You're saying I'm contaminated!?" Indy started to get belligerent.

"Take it easy, Indianna," the nurse put a hand on her shoulder to keep her calm. She shot Dr. Whocares a concerned look.

Dr. Whocares nodded, then turned to Indy. "You're not all right, Indy, you need to recover and have your wounds looked after. For Sarah's sake as well as you and anyone else including her family's health, she needs to rest now. She'll be ready to see you very soon, Indy." Dr. Whocares turned to the nurse. "Put Indy in room 510, and see that she gets a fresh change of clothes and a lot of fluids, and try to get her to rest," he said.

"All right, Indianna," the nurse said as she wheeled her away. Indy put her face in her hands and sobbed, a definite sign she had sickened considerably by this time. Usually she could hold herself together much better than this.

"That was a brave thing you did, giving that serum to someone on the way here," the nurse tried to make Indy feel better.

It didn't work, Indy just sniffed. "Yeah, like I cared. The only reason I lifted a finger to help him is because Wickersham2 asked me to and no one else could at the time." But Indy couldn't calm down and stop crying.

The nurse kept trying to encourage her, but felt like it was a losing battle.

They finally got to room 510, and the nurse had Indy change out of her grungy clothes and into a hospital gown. Then she carefully washed Indy's hair, checked her temperature, heart rate, all the vitals.

"Is there anyone you want to call?" the nurse asked Indy.

"My friend LJ, she can bring me some clean clothes tomorrow. It's too late to call her now."

The nurse asked for LJ's number anyway, and then left for a few minutes. She returned with a tall glass of water, and another with some hot punch, and a chocolate bar to get Indy's blood sugar level up.

Sarah's cousin Tammy stayed up, watching Sarah through the window, but she couldn't have the music on now that it was so late.

Eventually, Sarah stirred slightly, and opened her eyes. She became frightened, in an unfamiliar place.

"Sarah-Marie, It's Dr. Whocares. You have been very sick, and you're in the hospital. Do you think you can take some water?"

"What?" Sarah asked. "I was sick - I'm so tired..." she suffered a coughing fit.

Dr. Whocares propped her up, reassuring her, he held a glass to Sarah's lips. "Here, drink this, it'll help you feel better."

When she had taken a little water, she said, "I remember, I was so frightened!" The fright was returning to her eyes.

"You had a terrible high fever, and it gave you nightmares," Dr. Whocares explained. "You're going to be all right, and so is your family and friends."

"I couldn't get him to stop saying--"

"Shhhh, Sarah, there, there. It was all because of the fever. It's not really going to happen," Dr Whocares reassured. He gave her some more water. Then he told her cousin Tammy to keep an eye on her while he checked on the other patients.

Tammy sat looking into the window at Sarah, and she made small talk, trying to lull Sarah back into sleep or at least make sure she stayed calm. Sarah settled down, and then Tammy had to go use the bathroom. She said she'd only be gone a moment. Then, she left.

Sarah fell asleep, and for a while, it was peaceful and uninterupted.

Background music for the Grinch

A small stirring was heard at Sarah's window. Someone was outside. Sarah startled in the bed. She was awake this time, she was sure of that.

The Grinch fiddled with the window trying to get it open. With a thrust, the window shot open, harder then he meant it to. "Demn Whoville windows!" he grumbled as he stepped inside the room.

Sarah cried out and made a lunge out of bed. "Who's there!?" she demanded in a voice that became stern with alarm.

The Grinch whipped around, and spotted Sarah. "Oh crap," he said.

Sarah' flailed her arms about, trying to scare off the intruder. Her eyes were wide and betrayed her fear.

But that old Grinch was so smart, and so slick, he thought up a lie, and he thought it up quick. "Now, don't be afraid of me, my dear," he said slowly. "I'm just...the plumber..." he thought up quickly, his eyes darting nervously. "You see, the door outside was locked, so I had no choice but to come in from your window. I hope I did not frighten you. Now, since I am a plumber, I must go to the restroom now, because...I'm a plumber."

Sarah listened to him. She felt some relief, strangely enough. This was not the same voice in her dreams. She wandered over to the sound of the voice and reached out. The Grinch noticed her hand coming toward him. "Nothing to see...or touch here, my sweet. Just a plumber!"

"I just wanted to make sure I wasn't dreaming you too," she said. "I don't know where the restroom is Sir, but thank goodness - at least you're not the Mayor! I thought you were him breaking in here."

The Grinch suddenly growled. "Now why would you think I was the Mayor?" he asked through clenched teeth. "Does the Mayor often come through windows? Does he often climb buildings???"

"I don't know," Sarah replied. "But then again I don't know how he planned on killing anyone...All I know is he said it and it was terrifying. He said he was going to kill the Grinch and probably others in this town. I heard it on tape last night. Then I kept dreaming it after I went home. But you don't sound like him," she said. "Which is good or I would've screamed so loud," she said. "I hope I never hear his voice again."

"Geez, you really are scared of this Mayor, aren't you kiddo?"

"He kept saying he had a town to attend to, and something about casualties, sir. That's frightening especially when it comes back in your dreams."

The Grinch snorted. "Well, you don't have any reason to be scared of him. He is no reason for a nightmare." The Grinch slunk closer to Sarah. "There are other things out there you need to be afraid of," he said in his throat.

Sarah spluttered and laughed. "I hope you're right." She shuddered.

"Of course I'm right!" Grinch exclaimed. "The only thing he can do is act all blustery and self-important."

"And make books open and shut without touching them?" Sarah asked.

The Grinch then moved back. "What kind of sickness do you have anyway???"

"Dr. Whocares said I got grabies but I don't know how. I've never been anywhere near a place where you can get that."

"Well greegrumps are the beasts that give you that," he said.

"A greegrump in town?" she asked.

"I heard one snuck into Whoville," he grinned evily.

"Then...well...Our neighbor's dog, or what I thought was the neighbor's dog - bit me yesterday afternoon. That must've been a greegrump then. It's the only contact I had with any other animal besides my own pets lately." she said. "It didn't make sense, that dog never bit before, and especially not me."

"Hmm..." The Grinch thought "Or maybe their dog was bitten by a greegrump, and then gave it to you? It must have had grabies."

"I don't know, that could be, I guess," Sarah said. "Which means the neighbors and anybody else could still get it unless they can treat the dog before it bites anyone else."

"Eh, I suppose. Well, it was nice meeting you..." The Grinch paused. "and what was your name?"

"Sarah-Marie Who. And it was nice meeting you too." said Sarah. Sarah started to cough again.

"Well...I think you had best get back to resting," The Grinch said.

"Yes, could you get me a drink or show me where to get one? I can't find my way around in here," Sarah asked.

"Uhh...yeah, sure, Wait here," the Grinch said To Sarah. "I'll bring some water to you."

"Thanks, sir," Sarah said.

The Grinch ventured out into the hallway, staying hidden amongst the shadows. There was almost no one on the floor.

The Grinch heard a door slam shut down the hallway. He walked toward it, ready to deck anyone who tried anything on him. He reached the closet door that had slammed shut earlier almost by itself. Someone was coming around the corner towards him! The only place to hide was the closet. He had no choice. He yanked open the closet door, and threw himself inside, where it was pitch black.

Back down the hall, Kelsey was just coming back from somewhere else in the hospital. She looked inquisitively down at the vague activity occurring down the hall, but couldn't make out much. She just figured it was a doctor looking in the closet for something, and continued on her way.

The Grinch breathed a sigh of relief, and was about to check outside to see if the coast was clear. He was about to leave the closet when one of the nurses threw the door open.

Their screams echoed up and down the corridor, followed by two thumps as the nurses fainted dead away and hit the floor.

The Grinch laughed. "I wonder who sent those chicks," he asked sarcastically.

The male attendants there were coming around from behind the nurses' station, running towards the sound of the screams. They all ran each other down trying to get to the screaming females. Exclamations of "Watch it!" and "Get your big feet outa my way, I got some chicks to save!" were heard as the clods bumbled their way toward the closet.

The Grinch just stood there, smiling evily, waiting for the retards to come. When they did, one of the newest orderlies on Whoticore's staff, a Wickersham cousin no less, this one was named Mauron, said, "Wow, that's the biggest, ugliest-looking, hairy frog you ever saw!" He pointed at the Grinch.

"That's not a frog, Mauron, you...moron! That's..."

Someone turned out the lights.

"Who the heck turned out the blasted lights?!?" exclaimed another.

"Eeeeeeeeek! Let's cut outta here!" exclaimed his companion orderly.

"We can't, you dipstick, it's dark in here!"

They forgot about the screaming nurses and tried to run out, bumping into walls and each other, trying to escape. The female nurses did much the same.

The Grinch pushed a button on the side of the wall, releasing a metal gate sort of wall blocking their escape. "Whoa, not so fast," he smirked. "The fun's only started!"

They all screamed and muttered things not fit to repeat. Then they started yelling at each other, blaming their fellow workers for the catastrophe.

Down one of the halls came two girls. One was leading the other, though she was having trouble not bumping into walls and fumbling along herself.

The Grinch turned around to see who was coming

"It just looks like we have a power outage, Sarah," Tammy was saying to the still feverish looking girl that held her arm.

The lights came back on.

"All that just over an outage?" Sarah asked. "Whew, I thought there was a shooting or something!"

"Ah," The Grinch said. "So good to see you again," he addressed Sarah. "And it was just a Grinching."

"Mr. Plummer? Did you get whatever needed fixed in the bathroom, fixed already?" Sarah asked. "Or did you cause the power outage instead?"

"Heh," The Grinch chuckled. "I'm not a plummer, doll face."

Tammy squeezed Sarah's arm with her free hand. "That's not a plummer, Sarah..."

"That's what he told me he was, Tammy. Yes, sir, that's what you said. So you were lying? Why did you break into my room then?"

There was an orderly who was carrying a pitcher of water. He was caught in the corridor near the Grinch when the lights went out.

"Oh yeah...that. Uh well..." The Grinch yanked the water pitcher from the orderly. "Here's the water you wanted," He handed it to Sarah, neatly avoiding the question.

"Thanks, Mr...Whatever your name is," Sarah nodded. She and Tammy started to turn to go back to Sarah's room. They didn't get too far, though.

"Is that how you whos adress a Grinch nowadays???" The Grinch yelled after Sarah and Tammy.

"Are you really the Grinch?" asked Sarah.

"He looks like the Grinch, Sarah," Tammy explained. "I'm not sure if it's really him or just some Who trying to play a prank." She and Sarah changed their minds about going back to the room, and ventured back to where they were in the hall.

"Oh it's the Grinch alright!" he exclaimed.

"Prove it please," Sarah said. "I want to see if you're really the Grinch and the only way I can do that is to see if you're as furry as legend says you are."

"Sarah doesn't give up easily, Mr. Grinch," Tammy said taking the water pitcher from her cousin.

"Who's!" he exclaimed, like it was such a big inconvenience.

Tammy laughed.

"Oh, come on, it can't be that bad," Sarah said to the Grinch. "Or are you scared?" she dared him.

""NOT!" he protested in an air of indignation.

Sarah laughed. "You are! And you sounded just like Indy with that 'NOT!"

The Grinch growled.

"So, will you prove your identity to me or are you not up for it?""

The Grinch let out a huge herumph, which caused Sarah to laugh again, but finally, he gave in. It might even be worth it if she shrieked and fainted like so many others. "If you insist, my dear. but leave your seeing-eye Who behind. Otherwise it's no deal and I blow outta here."

Tammy saw her cousin roll her eyes. "That's all right, Sarah, this is as close as I care to get to him." Turning to the Grinch, "Don't hurt her, because I'll come and make you want to 'blow' out of here," she warned.

"Cool it you two!" Sarah was actually beginning to look almost excited. She normally didn't forgive people lying to her, and would've thought it the most low-down thing to do to a sick person especially...but she made an exception this time. She really wanted to find out if he really was the Grinch, or else catch him in a lie and give him a hard time about it.

People were running in all directions and most had cleared out, scrambling for the elevators. Now It was just the two of them.

"I couldn't stay in my room when there was all that screaming," Sarah explained.

"Why, you're a brave little who, arent'cha?" asked the Grinch in bemusement.

"I don't know about that..." said Sarah. Sensing the Grinch very near, she reached out.

Background Music for Sarah

"You're very sure of yourself, aren't you, my dear?" the Grinch said more softly.

"Usually, yes," Sarah replied. "So are you, though...Except when it comes to your identity," she replied with a grin.

"Yes, well, everyone knows who the Grinch is," he mumbled.

"Well," Sarah said more gently. "I don't want to bring up any bad memories for you, Mr. Grinch. But you've been dealt a very unjust, unfair, rotten few deals. I wish I could've been there to stop it somehow or at least wack the heck out of the people who were so rough on you - and they know who they are."

Though she couldn't see it, he straightened his spine in surprise, a look of wonder on his face.

Sarah finally managed to reach up and find one of his hands. She shook it, holding it for as long as he would permit her to. "Pleased to finally meet you anyway, Mr. Grinch," she said.

The Grinch was speechless! He covered her hand with his other one, enveloping her in warm fur.

Sarah could feel that what was underneath the fur was warm, live, not a costume's glove.

She smiled warmly up at the Grinch, giving as much of his hand a squeeze as she could with her small, warm, delicate hands.

The Grinch noticed Sarah was barefoot as he looked down at the small woman. Knowing how cold the floor was and how weak she still was, he reached out and gently scooped her up into his arms. "You shouldn't be running around without your slippers, Sarah-Marie," he muttered, straightening.

Sarah positively beamed, and let herself lean against the Grinch, while she ran one small hand down one of his cheeks. "I left them at home," she replied. "But thanks for the concern."

"You'll catch your death, you know...and these stupid nurses will keep you here forever, poking and prodding you!" He began walking back to her room, carrying her easily. "Now when I put you back, I expect you to stay put, you hear me, Sarah-Marie?"

Sarah grinned. "Yes...Well, I'll try," she said.

"I expect you to stay put because, well, because I said so. Got that?"

"Yes, sir!" Sarah said with a laugh. "Maybe next time I get sick you'll come and treat me?"

"Maybe," he muttered, hating commitments. "You just do what you're supposed to and get well."

They reached the room. The Grinch moved inside and laid Sarah-Marie gently on the bed, then put a blanket over her.

Then, he shuffled to the door, disappearing into the darkness.

Sarah roled on her side, nestling into the pillow. She drifted off to sleep, smiling from ear to ear.