Rugrats and the Gray Plague

Premiss:

When a terrible Flu epidemic comes to town, will it change the Rugrats lives forever?

NOTE: This story takes place when the rugrats are still babies, at the age they were in the original series, but Kimmi is now 2-years-old, as it takes place after her Birthday, which was the final episode of Rugrats to air in Season 9 when the show was canceled.

Chapter #1

The weekend is approaching, and the whole gang is hanging out in the front yard at Tommy's house. "That was the best Birthday party ever!" said Kimmi, "I especially loved it that Taffy sang at my party, even if my Dummi Bears ice cream cake was all melted, it was fun anyway." Smiling, she continued, "I can't wait to have more fun this weekend!" "Um, Kimmi?" Chimed in Chuckie, "We won't be here this weekend, we're going to visit my grandma and grandpa." "You mean the ones who came for a visit when we learned about our family tree?" asked Tommy. "Those are the ones," said Chuckie. "Though I'd love to meet my grandma and grandpa on my new mommy's side, I bet they're real nice."

"Me and Lil won't be here this weekend either," said Phil. "We're going to visit our uncle Freddy," Lil added. "That guy who claimed brothers and sisters are monsters?" asked Chuckie in a shaky voice. "Yeah, but he's not so bad," said Lil. "Yes he is Lillian," argued Phil. "No he's not," said Lil. Angelica comes stomping along shouting, "Would you dumb babies put a lid on it?" She shoves her way through the group, nearly knocking Dil over. "Well, while you dumb babies go spend time with your not so interesting relatives, I'll be having another boring weekend myself, spending it with melon head and drool boy," she sighed.

We cut to the grown ups sitting on benches across the yard. "Hey Didi, I have a favor to ask," said Charlotte, "Drew and I have to go out of town this weekend for a very important business meeting, so would it be possible for you to watch Angelica?" Didi shakes her head. "I'm afraid we can't this time," she said. "Pop and Lulu have rented a condo for the weekend on the beach, and have invited Stu, Tommy, Dil and me to spend the weekend with them." "Well can't you guys just, bring Angelica along?" Charlotte asked. "You let her come along to the Grand Canyon and Los Vegas, and Angelica loves the beach," Charlotte added. "I'm sorry," Didi said, putting her hand beneath her chin. "The last time we watched Angelica for an entire weekend, we had to wait on her hand and foot, and she demanded chocolate pudding at 3 in the morning! We really, just cannot do it this time." "Alright fine," Charlotte sighed, "Drew, let's gather up Angelica, looks like we'll be taking her to my business meeting for the first time."

Meanwhile, Angelica is telling Tommy and Dil how she'll be in charge when they go to the beach, when her daddy walks up behind her. "Time to go princess, looks like you'll be coming with your mommy and me on our business trip," said Drew. "But, but, but, I want to go to the beach with cousin Tommy and Dil," cried Angelica. "Sorry Angelica, but you weren't invited. Now, let's go." Drew takes Angelica's arm, and Angelica, Drew and Charlotte, all get into their car and drive away. Meanwhile, Beddy walks over.

"Better get the pups ready to go see their uncle Freddy," she said as she scoopped up one twin in each arm. "See you later, have a nice weekend," as she walks away towards her front yard. Meanwhile, Kira walks up to Chuckie and Kimmi and takes each of them by the hand. "We'd better be going too," she said. "Chaz would like to leave in a couple of hours for his parents as soon as he closes the Java Lava for the night." "Have a nice time," said Didi with a smile on her face. As Kira walks down the sidewalk with Chuckie and Kimmi, Tommy waves goodbye.

Later on, everyone is on the highway, at one point, one car behind the other. Angelica's car is in front, followed by the Deville's, followed by the Finster's, with Tommy's family bringing up the rear. In the backseat of Tommy's car, Tommy smiles and says to Dil, "I'm looking forward to going to the beach Dilly, what a great place for an adventure." "Grandpa, Grandpa," Dil cries, "And we'll get to see grandpa too," said Tommy with a smile. The 4 cars come up to an intersection, and each car turns off into 4 separate directions.

Later that weekend, an announcement comes on the radio and TV news, presented by famous child psychologist, Doctor Lipschitz. "I have an announcement for all parents of young children," he said. "There is a terrible Flu epidemic going around, known as the Gray Plague. This illness is the leading cause of death in small children ages 3 and under. 95% of children are dying everyday from this terrible plague. However, you have a chance to stop it from hitting your child. Vaccinations for this Flu will be given in cities across this country up until 5:00 p.m. on Monday afternoon, but hurry, as there's only a limited supply to go around."

The Finsters see Doctor Lipschitz give his concerning speech on the TV at Chuckie's grandparents house. "I wouldn't worry," said Shirly, Chaz's mom. "As I always say, a slice of my home made apple pie, keeps the doctor away." She gives Chuckie and Kimmi a slice of apple pie. They start eating. "Grandma makes the best pie ever," Chuckie exclaimed. "Mmmm delicious," said Kimmi, as she takes another bite of pie.

"I'm sorry to say this Shirly and Marvin, but looks like we're going to have to head home early so we can get this vaccination for us, and our kids," said Kira. "We can't be too careful," Chaz added. "With us running a coffee shop now, we can't take any chances. Anyone could just, walk in, vaccinated or not vaccinated against this, Gray Plague." "Sorry you can't stay longer," Marvin said in a sad tone of voice as he looks over at his grand kids eating their pie. "It was nice having you while we could." "And Kimmi is just adorable," added Sherly.

Meanwhile, Lipschitz's speech comes across the television at uncle Freddy's. "Love to stay longer bro," said Beddy. "But I can't stand to have the Gray Plague harming the pups." "We'll leave tomorrow morning dear," said Howard, as he gets up off the couch and switches off the TV.

At Angelica's destination, she and her daddy are playing miniature golf while her mom attends a meeting. Suddenly, a vibration comes from Drew's pants pocket. He looks at his cell phone to find a text message from Angelica's preschool teacher. The message reads, "In order for Angelica to return to preschool after you return from your business trip, she must get the Gray Plague vaccination. It is deadly, and will only be available through Monday evening." Meanwhile, Charlotte walks out. Drew turns to her with a froun. "What's the matter dear?" asks Charlotte. "Looks like we're going to have to head home early, apparently there's some plague going around, and if we don't get Angelica vaccinated, she can't continue preschool," Drew added. Charlotte pulls out her cell phone and calls Jonathan. "Push back next week's meeting to next month, and hurry Jonathan, it's an emergency," she said. "If I don't take care of this now, my daughter's life could potentially end up on the line, not to mention, she'll have no chance at getting into Harvard if she can't even return to preschool." "Looks like we'll be heading home tomorrow," said Drew. "But daddy, you promised to take me to the Cynthia fashion show tomorrow," cried Angelica. "Sorry Angelica, but you can't always get what you want," said Drew in a rather stirn voice. "And if we don't take care of this now, well, it could lead to some serious problems down the road, you don't want to get sick to you?" Asked Drew. "No, but…" Angelica trailed off with a sigh, and turned away from her daddy, with a very sad look on her face.

Tommy's family is on the road in their car when Lipschitz's announcement about the plague comes over the radio. "Maybe we'd better turn around," said Didi. "And miss our weekend at the beach?" Stu asked. "But Pop and Lulu are expecting us!" Cried Stu. "Ok then, but we'll have to leave a day early then," said Didi. "Can't we leave on Monday? Lulu wants to take us to one of the best seafood restaurants there is for dinner Sunday night," said Stu as he turns into the parking lot. As he switches off the car, Didi sighs. "Well ok then, but first thing Monday morning, we're leaving."

Everyone gets out of the car as Lulu and Pop come out of their condo and gives everyone a hug. "I haven't been here since I was a little girl," said Lulu. "And now I get to share this grand experience with my new step son, daughter-in-law and grandsons," she added with a smile, as she takes Dil and Tommy into her arms. "Haven't seen a beach this good since the war," said Pop. "We were stuck there for 15 days, and I became known as Fisherman Pickles," he added.

Later that weekend, Tommy, wearing a blue bathing suit is playing on the beach when he spots another baby, wearing green swim trunks with black hair. "Hi, I'm Tommy," he said. The black haired boy smiles and says, "Hi, I'm Chongo. Wanna help me build a sand castle?" "Sure!" Tommy says. "And afterwards, we can dig wholes and look for buried treasure, and pretend we are pirates," he added. "That sounds like fun!" said Chongo.

The two of them play together on the beach. As they play, Chongo sneezes and coughs a lot. "Are you ok Chongo?" Tommy asks. "You sound like you might have a cold." "Oh I'm ok," Chonco said. "I'm use to it, I'm not the healthiest kid around, seeing my mommy and I must live outdoors." He points to a tall lady with long black hair, in a torn pink dress, getting together firewood and making a lean-two. "What's she doing?" Tommy asked. "Oh, my momnmy is building us a lean two," said Chongo. "It's a simple house made out of wood, with just enough protection to keep us dry at night if it rains." "Wow, so you and your mommy live outside all year long?" asked Tommy as he filled his bucket with sand. "Yeah, but I don't mind, living on the beach, it's like summer, all year long!" said Chongo with a smile.

Monday morning rolls around. As the sun rises, Angelica, Phil and Lil, and Chuckie's families, all pull into parking spaces at the flue clennic. As Beddy and Howard push the twins in their double stroller up to the door, followed by Chaz and Kira walking with Chuckie and Kimmi, and Drew, Charlotte and Angelica bringing up the rear, a security guard speaks loudly into a bull horn.

"Everyone must pick a number and wait in line for their turn. Once we're out of vaccinations, that's it. And finally, I should note that Nurse Happy will be checking you in once you get to the front of the line, and assisting in giving vaccinations will be our summer interns, Lizzie McGuire, Nina, Bobby Walker, Cousin Skeeter, TJ Hinderson, and if they ever stop playing video games down at the arcade, , Peter Hatcher, Lloyd Nebulon, and Marty will be assisting with this as well. Good luck, and good riddance, to the Gray Plague."

As the families wait in line, the babies have a conversation. "Chuckie? Kimmi?" said Phil and Lil in unison. "Phil? Lil?" said Kimmi and Chuckie back in unison. "What are you doing here?" Chuckie asked. "We're here to get some shot," said Phil. "Something about a Gray Plague," added Lil. "That's what Chuckie and I are here for too," added Kimmi. "I'm afraid of shots, they sting," said Chuckie, as he shivers in fear. "No worries Chuckie, I'll be here with ya, that's what sisters are for," said Kimmi with a smile. "All I know is, I had to miss my Cynthia fashion show to get this stupid shot that should only be given to stupid dumb babies who don't know any better," said Angelica in a loud, angry voice. "So if I must get this stupid shot, let's get it done and over with already, and make it snappy!" She continued, shouting at the top of her lungs as she pushes her way past the babies towards the front of the line.

A tall, large security guard dressed in black stops her. "Young lady? You need to go back with your parents, and get your vaccination when your number is called," he shouted. "But… But… But…" Angelica cried. "No buts," said the security guard, as he grabbed Angelica's hand and took her back to her parents. Meanwhile, Chuckie asks Kimmi and the twins, "I wonder where Tommy and Dil are? Shouldn't they be getting shots too?"

Back at the beach, it's now 8:00 a.m. and the Pickles are just getting in their car, about to pull away from the parking lot. "We should have left earlier," said Didi in an exasperated tone of voice. "Don't worry didi," said Stu. "Thanks to my latest and greatest invention, the Stu Pickles GPS, we'll make it home in no time." Stu punches in some numbers on a remote control pointed at a small rectangular box with a screen hanging on the rear view mirror. Nothing happens. Then Stu pulls out a microphone attached to the bottom left-hand corner of the rectangular box. "Take us to the Flue Clennic, at 66 Haywood Street," said Stu. A female robotic voice talks from the box. "Drive 2 tenth of a mile, turn right on to Highway 692." The Pickles turn on to this highway, only to get stuck in a major traffic jam, with wall to wall cars, all the way down the street. Tommy and Dil are in the backseat of the car, drinking their bottles of milk, Tommy is snuggling up with a Reptar doll while Dil is snuggling up with Goober, as the Pickles' car, slows down, to a snail's pace.

Will the Pickles make it home in time for Tommy and Dil to get vaccinated against the Gray Plague? Find out, in chapter 2.