Click to play audio title from Tonya Brylee Harper (Whonovan).

Nurses' Breakfast

(Note: Fun section with cute interactions among friends, though not without problems, namely Marilee Who and her wretched crew. Introducing Tonya Harper, who while in Whoville, uses the name surnameWhonovan in an attempt to hide from out-of-towners she has offended, and hide who she really is and what she's done from Whoville as well. She makes only a brief appearance as Marilee's sidekick in this section, but will show up in later sections. Introducing Capri Monroe, who is a good friend of Pippi's, and in the process of moving into Whoville. She is one of the out-of-towners Tonya Harper/Whonovan has angered.)

As the nurses set out the next morning, Kelsey watched the scenery go by outside for the most part in silence. She had gotten a better night's sleep than in the last few days, but she still felt a little on edge.

Liza was in a very good mood, still thinking of the blast they had last night, and the torment she planned to inflict on Tora and Augustus later. "I wonder if William will be up yet?" she mused. "From what Pippi said last night, it sounds like he could be out of it still."

"I'm sure he will be," Kelsey agreed. "He hasn't been looking too good lately. I think we should talk to Rocket about it when we get to the restaurant."

"Yes," Liza agreed. "I wasn't even sure he was going to make it into the car for the ride home."

They stopped to pick up Rocket and continued on.

The conversation was about doctors and nurses overworking themselves, and who they had found dozing off during meetings or taking a few winks during their rounds and between appointments.

Rocket showed them a picture she had snapped of Whocares when he had fallen asleep in a hospital chair. He had his thumb in his mouth and his head was held in place by his position in the chair.

Liza burst out laughing. "I still find myself waking up with a piece of the blanket in my mouth, though I don't remember putting it in there. I must do it in my sleep," she said.

Kelsey couldn't help but be drawn into her friend's delight. "Oh boy...better never let Marilee find out!"

"Oh, gosh, no!" Liza chortled. "Somebody should take a camera to her private moments and see how she likes it."

Rocket and Kelsey looked at each other, digesting that image. "Ewww!!!" they both squealed, dissolving into helpless laughter.

"C'mon, Liza," Rocket said inbetween giggles. "Let's get some breakfast!"

"Definitely, I'm famished!" Liza raced around to the driver's side of the car and got in, in record time.

"Hah! Beat ya!" she called back to her friends. The other two scrambled in after her, squealing and laughing that Liza was unfair. Liza laughed, and started the car.

The drive to the restaurant was filled with chatter and giggles, and no one seemed to mind the couple of red lights along the way.

But the warning bell went off. "Oh, shucks, getting low on gas," Liza remarked. She smiled, "It'll be all right, it's only the first warning. I'll fill it up on the way back."

Someone threw a couple of Whodollars at her for the tank. She didn't catch who it was since she was driving. Both the other Whos were giggling.

"Thanks," Liza said with a smirk.

They drove on until they arrived at the restaurant. "Looks busy, I hope there's a good parking space," Liza said. She saw one, but when she was about to turn in, someone else did. "Drat...That always happens!" A few spaces over to the right, someone was backing out. "Oh, good." Liza waited for the car to leave, then took that parking space. "All right!" she exulted, turning off the engine, opening the door and getting out. Her friends came out of the car after her. They walked in and told the host they were a party of three, and wanted a non-smoking table. Luckily there was no wait for a non-smoking table this time, and they were seated in a bright area next to a window. They all piled into the booth, enthused and hungry, attacking the menus with determined looks.

"Well, this looks good, I think I'm going to have the blueberry waffle," Liza said.

"Chocolate chip pancakes for me!" Rocket said.

"Those are so messy!" Kelsey laughed. "Just plain old, buttermilk pancakes for me."

"Heh, I think we all have good taste in food," Liza grinned.

The waiter was headed their way, but got sidetracked by the people in the next booth, who were hidden by a divider with potted plants and ferns in it. Soon after he came by and took their orders, dropped off water glasses and was off again, taking the menus with him. The girls were free to gab.

"So, Kelsey," Rocket began. "Why did you get the special treatment today? Going in an hour late, I mean?"

"It was Indy's idea," she replied, smiling, "She had me give some of her flowers from the station to Luna and Serena. I snuck them into their rooms without them knowing. Then she took me to her own room and told me to take it easier. I don't know what gave her the idea I needed one, I didn't think it was that obvious." She blushed a little.

"It's obvious, Kelsey," Rocket nodded. "You've been pretty trashed ever since we busted Indy out of ICU."

"Well, yeah, I guess I've been pretty tired," Kelsey agreed. "And I didn't get the fun of tripping Tora up when she tried to take out Luna and the Wickershams! You must have *loved* that!*

Liza laughed. "Yes, after the fact. Once she was out of commission and we were out of that deathtrap, I started to laugh about it."

Soon the waiter came with their food and food for the next table. The nurses dove into their breakfasts with great appreciation - and ravenous appetites.

"I just wish I had been there to see Pippi take Wilfred and throw him around like a ragdoll..." Kelsey sighed. "After all he's put us and William through, it would have been so nice to see justice done."

"Yeah," Rocket agreed. "The basilisk deserved it - and more."

They were very contented until tension crept into the air at a fuss coming from the next table. The waiter had just come by their table, asking how the food was, and was greeted with three very appreciative women. But then, he moved on to the next table. It wasn't long before a grating, angry female voice was heard complaining. "First you don't bring it fast enough, now you bring me the wrong meal! I specifically said I wanted steak and eggs, and for the eggs to be over-easy and the steak *rare* This is well-done! What did you do, throw it in the crematorium instead of the oven?"

"I am so sorry, Miss Marilee!" the waiter was all over himself apologizing. "I'll get it done the way you want." He scrambled to take the plate away from her and began to leave.

Another nasty female voice said next to her, "Yeah, unless you want your restaurant to get an "F" on the four o'clock news, you better get it right next time!"

"It's six o'clock, you idiot!" Marilee shot back.

"So my tongue slipped, it's not as if you never make mistakes!" her companion shot back.

Kelsey choked violently on her pancakes. Rocket's eyes grew wide in terror at recognition of the first woman's voice.

"Ohmigosh...No, it can't be..." Liza moaned.

Another customer was just being seated at the table on the other side of Marilee's. She had overheard the exchange, glared at Marilee on her way by, and sized up the second person with a rather hateful expression.

The nurses heard snickering coming from the reporter's table, then Marilee laughing out loud. There was rustling, then the reporter leaned around the booth and smiled at them. She had a tape recorder in her hand.

Kelsey's heart skipped a beat as Marilee clicked the "off" button.

"Demn, that's illegal," said Liza.

"No, it ain't," Marilee grinned. "Man, you three are just full of information aren't - " she caught sight of their nurses uniforms. "Oh! No wonder! You work at Whoville General," she beamed. "Well, I wasn't going to believe you, but hey, if you're in uniform, I guess I gotta."

Rocket was so infuriated she had to consciously put down her utensils, the knife of which she was holding so tight her knuckles were going white. Marilee's scabby crew were chortling and cackling in the booth out of their sight. Liza glared at Marilee, not knowing what to say other than, "Oh, get a life."

"You even think of going near Indy before she's ready," Kelsey snarled, standing up. "And you're going to see the hospital - from a patient's point of view!"

"Kelsey, no!" Rocket warned.

"Oh? And what, girlfriend," Marilee sniped. "You gonna have Pippi take me out too? Like Whoticore?"

"I'd listen if I was you," Liza chimed in, looking daggers at Marilee.

At this, the lone woman in the other booth behind Marilee's stood up and approached her table. The sight of her caused the second sniper who spoke previously at Marilee's table to turn a bit pale.

The scabby cameraman yanked on Marilee's skirt to get her attention.

"Hey!" Marilee snapped. "Hands off - " she said, turning around.

"Look here, Miss Marilee," the tall woman confronting the reporter and crew said sharply. "You go after any o' these people, an' you'll have me to deal with...Word's already got 'round 'bout yer reportin' several fatalities that didn't happen...an' ya know, some of us outta-towners are wonderin what yer motive was fer that..."

At this, Liza laughed. "Holy mackrel, I guess that *would* make headlines all over the place!"

Marilee, stupidly, wasn't immediately intimidated. "Oh, well, if you're from out of town, what the hex do you care?"

The other woman scoffed. "So...You're not capable o' carin' fer anybody outside o' town...Pity any o' yer family that moves outta town then..." Her sneer turned to a serious expression in a moment. "An' your gonna start carin' sooner than ya think if ya don't stop mouthin' off, an' apologize t' them," she indicated the nurses, "an' t' the waiter ya treated like trash."

"Excuse me," the other little sniper said. "I need to go to the lady's room." She slipped out past Marilee and tried to avoid the strange woman's glare as much as she could while she retreated. "I'm not finished with you yet, Tonya." the woman snapped coldly after her. Turning back to Marilee, she growled, "Yer little friend's got the right idea." And with that, she returned to her own table, waiting, hoping there wouldn't be any more fireworks to interrupt her meal.

Just then, the waiter came with her meal, and Marilee's third. Even though the food was right this time, and no one else had taken but a few bites, Marilee, huffed. "Come on - we got some research to do." They all stood up.

Liza watched, snickering. "I guess she's been put in her place." Rocket glared hatefully at the newscrew as they left. Kelsey was just shaking, looking sick and angry. "All that food," Liza said. "What a waste."

In the meantime, Brylee Whonovan came back to the table, only to find her crew had disappeared.

"Your pals left you with the bill, Tonya." the formidable woman at the other table snapped at her.

"Kiss off, Capri!" Tonya Brylee flung back, and wasted no time exiting the restaurant. Evidently these two knew and couldn't stand each other.

Liza laughed. "Sheesh, what a ridiculous scene."

"We gotta bigger problem than the scene," Rocket said. "If that wench tries to come to the house to see Indy..."

"Demn..." Liza said.

"Their address is unlisted," Kelsey pointed out quickly. "It would take them a while to find it, if they have connections like that."

"Weasels like that know other weasels," Rocket growled.

"What worries me is that if Marilee's slimy and slick enough to get into the hospital records...she could find out anything."

"Maybe Pippi can help us protect it...hack into city records or something like that. Erase anywhere Marilee could look?" Rocket offered.

"Yes, that's an idea...I sure hope she can do that," Liza said. "Even if she could, I wonder if she would do that? She seems pretty big on ethics and might not feel right about it."

"We gotta do something," Kelsey said, almost frantic.

"Let's not panic - yet," Rocket spoke up. "We gotta think about it first."

They turned to Liza, hoping she would have an idea - any idea of what to do.

"Search me," said Liza. "I'm at as much of a loss as you are."

"Well..." Rocket said slowly. "Indy has friends at her office - KWHO, right? Maybe they can watch Marilee for us...warn us if she gets too close or looks like she's going to try something."

"And if they don't, she'd sure put the pressure on them," Liza grinned.

"Does anyone remember their names? Did Indy ever tell us?"

"Well, I don't know if it means anything, but aside from Sarah, Indy's always joking around with Jennah or Chad during the broadcasts...and I think I've seen her with them in public as well."

"Okay...great!" Rocket agreed. "We should contact them, then. Hmmm...women are pretty competitive in the workplace, so I'm betting Jennah would be better to contact first."

"Yeah," Liza agreed.

"And as far as Marilee is concerned, everybody else is competition," she snickered.

"I'll contact Jennah," Rocket volunteered.

"No...I was the first one to open my big, fat mouth in public," Kelsey said guiltily. "I'll do it."

"When are you going to get a chance to do that, Kel?" asked Rocket. "You are at Serena's all day and anyone could overhear you calling the station."

"I don't know!" Kelsey snapped, tears forming in her eyes. "But we can't let Marilee screw up everything. We worked so hard to get us all out of there and put Whoticore away. Like Pippi said, this is gonna hurt the case against him," she started crying. "I don't want him out on the street again!"

Liza reached out to comfort her. "I'm sure it won't come to that, Kel. The police already have enough on him to make sure that won't happen. But, as to additional evidence of other crimes he's done we don't know about yet...Pippi's probably talking about Marilee disturbing that evidence.

"Hon...let us take care of this. Liza or I will call the t.v. station," she patted Kelsey on the back reassuringly, along with Liza. "You just take care of Indy and watch the house for us. Call us if ANYONE comes around that shouldn't be there."

"Okay..." Kelsey said, trying to control her tears.

Rocket looked over Kel's head at Liza, worry for their friend clearly on her face. Liza returned the look. It was a good thing for Kelsey that Indy had told her to take some time off, but if the stress kept up like this, she would need more time.

"Look..should we try to finish breakfast?" Rocket asked. "Does anyone still have an appetite left after that?"

Liza looked down at her plate. It was two-thirds empty. "Well, not really, but at least there's not a lot left over," she said.

Rocket looked at Kelsey. "You hardly touched your food, Kelsey."

"I'm okay...let's just get the heck out of here," she said, dabbing at her face with her napkin.

"If this was Chinese or pizza I'd suggest we take this home," said Liza, "But warmed-over pancakes - nah."

"I'll grab something at Serena's," Kelsey said over her own plate. "There's no lack of food around, despite Wickersham2's ravenous appetite."

"That's true too." Liza chuckled. "Between him, Wickersham1, and Indy, the grocery bill has got to be tremendous over there."

Rocket giggled, glad to see that Kelsey still retained some of her sense of humor.

"Hey, if we contact the station, maybe we can drop the hint that this is costing the Whoot-of-a-Times one heck of a grocery bill and can they chip in for Indy's keep?"

Liza guffawed. "That's a great idea!"

"I hope it doesn't sound tacky, like they can't afford it," she continued. "But it'd be nice to pay them back in some way for what they're doing. It's the only way I can think of right now."

"Yeah," Kelsey said, taking a shuddering breath, finally getting herself back under control. "I don't think her insurance is going to cover this kind of care."

"They'll probably be glad to chip in. I wouldn't be surprised if Indy paid them back for their hospitality once she's on her feet and out on her own."

"Serena would never accept it," Kel said, looking at Liza. "She loves Indy to death. You should see them together. She thinks of that girl as her own child."

Liza smiled warmly. "That's Serena, all right. Does Indy return the feeling? I haven't been around enough to be sure, but she seems pretty happy over there."

Kelsey nodded enthusiastically. "I'm pretty sure she does. She sure doesn't turn down those hugs."

Liza laughed. "Funny, isn't it? She's really changed since that day in Luna's pre-op room experience, and I wonder why." Then she grinned, thinking of something else. "It's amazing, really. When you think of this: Here we have two reporters, one's as bleedin sour and obnoxious as they get, and the other is so humorous and friendly. Then look at William and Wilfred...same thing. One so-called doctor who turned out to be anything but...And William, who's everything a doctor should be."

"Yeah..." Rocket said distantly. "And Serena and Luna. One sweet and loving, the other cool and dark. Very strange."

"Wickersham1 and 2...One is so quiet and sensitive. The other is brash and reckless."

"At least we know who is on who's side," Kelsey said, starting to relax again.

"Yes, that's true," Liza agreed.

Rocket checked her watch. "Guess we better get going, huh? I wonder when William's going to wake up?"

"Oh, right, and I have to begin my reign of terror soon," Liza grinned.

"Oh, oh!" Rocket giggled. "I can't wait to see that! You have to let the Mayor have it too, you know!"

Kelsey finally cracked a smile and laughed. She grabbed each of the nurses's hands tightly. "You have to tell me every single detail or I'll be furious with you both!"

"Oh, no! We can't provoke your wrath!" Liza laughed. "I'll even try to get in a few pictures too, if possible! That Augustus is such a pompus jerk. I'm going to have fun not giving him everything he wants."

"Great!" Kelsey smiled. She started to get out of the booth. "Shall we go, then?"

"Yes, let's," Liza agreed. She stood up next.

Rocket got up last. "Wait a sec, before we leave." She headed for the booth of the woman that was behind Marilee's.

Capri Monroe had been quietly observing and listening, but was too shy to approach them. So, seeing Rocket come over there, she smiled.

Rocket was hesitant as well. She, like the others, had seen the look of dislike, and heard the wicked, sharp tone the woman had taken with Marilee and wondered how they would be received. So a smile was reassuring. "Uh, hi," was all she managed to get out.

"Hello there, yer friends of Pippi an' Indianna, eh?" Capri asked.

"Yes," Rocket said. "You know Pippi? And Indy?"

"Well, I'm gettin to know Indy. Pippi an' I are close friends. I'm Capri Monroe," she replied, smiling pleasantly.

She looked at Rocket, a bit concerned. "I couldn't believe that bloomin' idiot reporter, Marilee...She treated that waiter like crap, then it looked like she was botherin' ya...an' well...I can't stand the like o' her or that offish little gangsta hacker brat she's got workin fer her. Shouldn't surprise me - those two endin up chums."

"You're not alone," Kelsey said. "Half the town - the half she's harassed, can't stand her, either."

Rocket giggled.

Capri snorted. "She needs to get a real job...Well, I was only gonna be here fer the day since Pippi needs me around in case there's anythin at this Whoticore's house that might be dangerous 'er somethin', but if there's anythin' else you need my help on, name it an' I'll see what I can do."

Liza snickered at the idea of Marilee getting a 'real job'. Kelsey sucked in a breath at the mention of Whoticore's name.

"Why does she think there would be something that dangerous there?" asked Rocket. "Oh, did she tell you about him trying to kill Dr. Whocares with a poisonous ring?"

"He stole the ring from - someone," Kelsey said, almost slipping but catching herself before mentioning Luna's name. She didn't want to let anything else slip about the family. Things were getting pretty exposed about them as it was.

"Yeah, she told me all 'bout 'im an' 'is depraved agenda...We both been up against the like before..." Capri replied, crossing her hands over her chest.

Rocket looked at Liza, then back to Capri. "Really? Geez!"

"She told me that mad doctor nearly got Indy, too." said Capri.

"Yeah, nearly," Liza agreed.

"I didn't think there was anyone as sick in Whoville as Whoticore," Kelsey muttered.

"Nah, the other sickos weren't here in this town...they were some place else," Capri replied.

The nurses breathed a sigh of relief.

"An' now they're nowhere else..." Capri continued. "But Whoticore sounds just as bad, at least in 'is smug manner as the others were. An' harmin' sick people when 'e was 'sposed to be savin 'em - is right down there on the sick scale."

There were vigorous nods of agreement on that point. Capri smiled at the three nurses.

"We're very lucky to have Pippi here," Rocket said. "She's helped in more ways than she knows. Without her..." she shook her head.

"I can say that as well. "She's a good friend...an' she helped nurse me back to health when I was sick with a ragin' fever. I'd loved to have seen 'er give it to that blighter Whoticore. She told me she lost 'er temper with him - big time an' tossed 'im around a bit."

"Oh, boy! Did she ever!" Liza laughed.

"Yeah...and dangled him out of the window!" Kelsey added.

"Holy smokes!" Capri chortled. "She didn't tell me that part of it!"

"Threatened to drop him..." Rocket confirmed. "Several times. I sure wanted to myself after what he did to Dr. Whocares."

"And Whoticore really did try to kill him," Kelsey said, holding her arms tight around her. "He had a lethal dose of poison in that ring. The only reason he failed is because he's such an arrogant S.O.B.!"

"That's often the undoing of louts like that...they think they're above the law an' above everybody else, with superior inteligence - yadda yadda...But that's what eventually helps bring 'em down," Capri grinned. "They're so absorbed in self-worship that they overlook somethin', er make some incredibly stupid move..." she giggled. "Then, boom! Game over!"

The nurses laughed at the description.

"Did you mean it when you said if Marilee bothered us, you'd do something about it? I mean, how could you..." Kelsey asked Capri.

"Yeah, are you as strong as Pippi?" Rocket grinned, looking at Liza.

"Yeah, I'd like to see Marilee dangled out a window," Kelsey laughed.

Capri laughed. "Not a chance. Pippi could beat me any time...But I have other ways of dealin' with a little brat like Marilee."

"The image works for me," Liza grinned.

Capri laughed. "Yeah, an' it'd make great hard copy if Marilee was put out a window...But she sure wouldn't want cameras shoved in 'er face!"

More laughter issued from the nurses. It was so good to talk to someone else who seemed to be on their side. Capri grinned at them, glad to have not scared them off along with Marilee.

"Oh...I am so glad to hear there's someone else on our side," Kelsey breathed, relieved. "But if that wench shows up at Serena's doorstep lookin' for Indy - " she shrugged helplessly.

"Well, I dunno where Indy's stayin right now...But Pippi does. She won't let that bubbleheaded bleached-blonde pull any monkeyshine."

"I guess we gotta tell her, huh," Kelsey said, looking at the other nurses.

"Oh, man..." Rocket said, shaking her head. "Luna's gonna absolutely freak. She HATES reporters!"

"Eh?" Capri looked confused. "I thought Indy was stayin at a place an' made a new friend with that name? At least, that's what I think Pippi said."

Rocket and Kelsey looked at each other and nodded. "She's - staying at Serena's. Luna is her daughter. She lives there too, and yeah, she and Indy are friends."

"I guess she realizes Indy's no Marilee," Capri speculated.

"I guess," Rocket agreed. "Luna has just always had a good feeling about her from watching her on t.v. and well, when you compare her personality up against Marilee's - off or on the tube makes no difference."

Capri laughed. "That's true."

"I'd bet their web sites would be totally different too. I've seen some of Indy's...they're a cut-up." She grinned and chuckled to herself.

"Oh! I've seen Marilee's," Liza laughed. "They look like an ad for a cross between a streetwalker and a drag queen - crass, tacky and totally false!"

"Oh, gads...Ewww!" Capri made a horrible face.

"And I mean *everything* false," Liza added, putting her cupped hands under her chest to emphasize the point.

"Whereas Indy's are an attempt to point out what's false an' what ain't. She can even take a pathetic sob story an' turn it inta somethin' funny...if it was fiction to begin with, that is."

"Marilee's has a link to - get this...her favorite vibrators!" Liza said, disgusted. "Like eww!"

Capri's eyebrows raised. "Ugh - you have got to be kidding - talk about no self-respect, shameless - now I've heard it all." She clearly was caught between disgust and disbelief, and wanting to laugh.

"Yes, please!" Rocket said. "Nothing is personal with that one!"

"Good night! Well, I guess that explains why she thinks everybody else should air their dirty laundry with no problems...*tsk tsk* Beastly." said Capri. "I'll warn Pippi if she hasn't checked out Marilee's site yet and sure as heck ain't gonna encourage anybody else t' go there."

"Yeah..." Liza grunted. "Unless it was to hack it!"

"An' shut it down - now there's an idea!" Capri grinned broadly.

"We were kinda hoping Pippi - or someone could do that for us," Liza ventured cautiously. "I mean Serena's address is unlisted, but there are places Marilee could get it from."

"The phone company, the utilities," Rocket agreed.

"She probably has moles all over town," Kelsey sighed.

"That's the trouble with tabloid people, they don't usually work alone. They're like roaches, into everything an' not always easy to spot 'til it's too late." Capri shook her head and continued. "Well, I'll talk to Pippi about it...and if she can't do it, our other mutual friend Ameh could, and definitely would, Ameh has no qualms about doing that sorta thing."

Kelsey sagged in relief, then laughed with her co-workers at the description of Marilee as a roach.

"Oh...Capri, if you could convince Pippi to protect their privacy, we would be so grateful!" Rocket told her.

Kelsey and Liza nodded in agreement.

"I'll talk to 'er 'bout it, if she realizes we're doin it to protect someone, I'm sure she'll agree."

Capri found herself suddenly surrounded by the three, smiling, hugging and shaking her hand. She laughed and accepted their gratitude. "You gals're just what I've always thought Whos would be like...you an' Indy o' course," she grinned.

That remark prompted more giggling and smiling as they displayed their thanks to her. She laughed right along with them.

"We gotta get to work, Capri," Liza said, pulling out a business card. "Here's Dr. Whocares card. You can reach all three of us at his extension."

"Thanks!" Capri said, taking the card. "I guess Pippi'll be on 'er way to the house pretty soon now. It was nice meetin ya."

"You too. And yes, please warn her. Tell her what happened, how horribly sorry we are that Marilee found out where Indy is staying," Liza told her.

"I'll pass it along to 'er," Capri assured them.

The nurses went and paid the bill at the register, then left in as good a mood as when they had come.