DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own 'Little House on the Prairie' or any of the original characters. Only thing I can lay claim to is the "guest star/s" and storyline.

A/N I have been able to; in spite of homework etc post chapters to my various stories in a decent time frame. Please understand though-I never promise anything when it comes to that. Not during while school is going on anyway. ALSO THE CHARACTER OF "DR. McCall" is purely made up UNLESS somewhere in the back of my mind-I actually remember a guest doctor's name from the show.

Come What May (Title May Change)

Chapter One

Opening Scene

Elizabeth whistled as she walked towards Dr. Baker's office. The sun was shining brightly and not a cloud could be seen in the beautiful blue sky. The fact that she felt like she was walking on air could be seen in her light and bouncy steps and in her sparkling eyes. Everyone who saw Miss Elizabeth guessed she'd just received her nursing certificate. After all; she had been away at school for that exact purpose.

Knocking on the door Elizabeth waited for Hyrum to answer. Sure, she knew tons of people who simply knocked and walked in. Somehow, it seemed a bit presumptuous to her so she waited. When no one answered she grew concerned. Dr. Baker had said nothing about being out of town and she hadn't heard of any accidents. For the first time in a long time she broke her own rule.

"Hyrum!" she called out as she opened the door, "Hy…" she let out a gasp as she saw him lying unconscious on the floor. Quickly she ran and knelt down beside him. Turning him over she checked for his pulse. Relief flooded through her…he was breathing!

SCENE ONE

Elizabeth sat on a chair next to the door while Mr. Ingalls stood by the window. Call it 'good luck', call it a miracle or whatever you wished. Dr. Baker's good friend Dr. Joseph McCall was in town visiting. When Elizabeth had ran over to the Mill and told Mr. Ingalls what she'd found? He'd turned around and ran for Dr. McCall.

When the curtains opened Elizabeth practically jumped to her feet. Charles stepped away from the window. "How is he?" Elizabeth asked; her eyes begging for good news.

Dr. McCall shook his head, "Best I can tell it's his heart. He needs plenty of rest," he paused, "and it prob'bly wouldn't hurt to convince him to get some tests done in Mankato." The rolling of his eyes, and exasperation in his voice, told them the good doctor had been unsuccessful in doing so himself.

"I will watch after him and I'll talk to him too!" Elizabeth said as she hurried past the man. Hyrum Baker had been the one good friend she'd really had; well, besides Robert and Anna Alden. She wasn't about to just stand aside and do nothing!

While Elizabeth was looking in on Hyrum, Charles and Dr. McCall talked. "I know you were planning on leaving on the stagecoach today," Charles looked a bit worried, "only I don't suppose you would consider staying a bit longer."

Dr. McCall glanced towards the back room then back at Mr. Ingalls, "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere until he's back on his feet. Only," he sighed, "if Mrs. Olsen gets to be too much? May I hide at your house?" he grinned and chuckled.

Charles busted up laughing, "Sure, we call always find a nice corner in the barn for you."

SCENE TWO

Elizabeth pulled the bedroom curtains open. Charles and Mr. Edwards had carried Dr. Baker up to the room above his office. "I thought you had a job waiting for you in Sleepy Eye." Hyrum said as Elizabeth stepped away from the window.

She shrugged her shoulders, "If I had the job I wouldn't be here would I?" 'Okay, so I had a chance to get it but turned it down to keep an eye on you. That is a minor technicality.' That thought was definitely a thought she was keeping to herself. He'd have a fit if he knew that little fact.

"So, you're stuck here caring for an old man." Hyrum was tired but not so tired he couldn't joke at least a little with Miss Elizabeth.

She only laughed, "Don't go worry about it. I'm not exactly a spring chicken myself. The gray hairs that are starting to show up here and there would tell on me if I tried denying it. Here," she helped him sit up straighter, "Mrs. Ingalls was going to bring some soup over from the café. You might want to be able to eat it without spilling it all over you."

000

As Caroline walked out of the café Mrs. Olsen came hurrying across the street. "And just where do you think you're taking that food?"

'Someone tied their corset too tight' Mrs. Ingalls thought as she politely smiled-as she kept walking, "Percival said if you had a problem with my taking this to Dr. Baker to go talk to him."

Caroline held in a chuckle but a grin spread over her face as Harriet huffed and puffed all the way back to the mercantile. She still had a hard time believing how well Percival could set that woman in her place if the need arose.

"Tell Hyrum he best hurry up and get back on his feet," Lars Hansen stepped out of his office, "he owes me a game of checkers!"

"Will do!" she laughed at the thought of how 'those two' just loved 'getting on each other's nerves'. They, and everyone else, knew it was just their way of having fun. They'd been fast friends for years.

"Think Doc will be okay?" Mr. Edwards turned to Charles.

"Sure, he will be back on his feet in no time; especially with Dr. McCall and Miss Elizabeth both looking after him." Charles reassured his friend. 'At least I sure hope he is. He's the best doctor I've ever known'.