Thank you for all your kind comments. This really means much to me! I'm afraid there will be some more angst and hurt/comfort, before Sportacus gets better...


Sportacus groaned, when Robbie poked and shook him, but he didn't wake up.

„Sportacus!", Robbie yelled annoyed. „I can't carry you. Would you please wake up?" Sportacus began to move. He turned his head towards Robbie and slowly opened his eyes. „Robbie?", he whispered, his voice barely audible. „What..."

„What I'm doing here?", suggested Robbie. „Well, the kids told me that you're in trouble and...and...they forced me to look after you." That wasn't entirely true, but Sportacus surely wouldn't mind. Weakly, Sportacus nodded. He looked as if he wanted to pass out again.

„What's wrong with you?", Robbie asked, eying him suspiciously. Diseases and viruses spread fast these days, and he didn't want to catch from whatever Sportacus suffered.

„I think I've been poisoned. I ate a strange fruit," Sportacus mumbled, closing his eyes. „Don't you fall asleep again!" Robbie slapped him lightly in the face. Shocked, Sportacus' eyes flew open.

„Who would poison you?"

When Sportacus looked at him with raised eyebrows, Robbie shook his head. „Oh no...It wasn't me. I would never...well maybe...but..." Robbie realized that he blushed. „I didn't do it."
„I know." Sportacus tried to smile, but his face was scrunched up in pain. His hand moved to his belly and he began to rub it.

„So, will you please get up? You need to see a doctor," Robbie insisted. He felt strange. On the one hand it was satisfying to see the hero so weak and hurting, but on the other hand, he was afraid that Sportacus refused his help and...died. Sportacus, however, shook his head.

„No doctor. Just need rest." And he let his eyes drift shut again.

„Fine," Robbie said and pouted. „Then I'll climb down and tell the children that you are very sick and don't want any help."

„No!" Sportacus sat up so quickly, he doubled over with pain. „All right...I try to stand up, but I'm not sure if I can..."

Robbie grimaced. He knew he couldn't carry Sportacus down that ladder. They would fall down and both die. Damn it! Why was this airship so high up in the air?

Carefully, Sportacus swung his legs round. He felt dizzy and tired. And why was Robbie here? His stomach churned. „Um...", he could hear Robbie say, „we better get you dressed first." Sportacus then realized that he only wore his blue shorts and a T-Shirt. Robbie had never seen him without his costume, although he had seen Robbie in all types of clothes – including his underwear. „Trousers," he said weakly and when Robbie wanted to object, because he didn't like to be given orders, a small opening appeared in the airship's wall. Darkblue jogging pants flew through it, and landed on Sportacus' lap. While Robbie was still wondering how on earth he had done this, Sportacus put the trousers on, grunting and shaking. „You sure you can climb down that ladder?", Robbie asked, turning to Sportacus, who was bent forward; his arms wrapped around his torso.

„We … can use my aircraft." Sportacus motioned towards his cockpit. „Sit down. I'll sit on your lap."

„What?", Robbie exclaimed, staring at Sportacus. „I won't..."
„Please, Robbie. I don't have the strength..."
„You will pay for that, Sportakook."
Robbie helped Sportacus up, wondering once more how the hero had become so weak, and walked him to the plane. He sat down jealously. He only had a digger. Why didn't he have an aircraft? Or a rocket? Sportacus could barely lift his legs, as he slid on Robbie's lap. The superhero was heavy and quite warm. His skin was clammy and Robbie could feel the slight tremors running through Sportacus' body. Robbie felt a pang of guilt. He hated being sick and he often was because of his unhealthy life. He always longed for someone, who took care of him. But all he heard and saw were those noisy kids and the laughing, flipping superhero. Sportacus leaned heavily against him and his curls tickled Robbie's chin. He had never been so close to another person and it didn't feel as uncomfortable as he thought it would be. „Now what?", he breathed.

„You have to pedal, I steer."

„No sports. Hello? I'm Robbie Rotten!" He could hear Sportacus chuckle. „It only works that way."

„I hate you!"

Sportacus usually shot across the sky in the speed of light. Robbie only managed to hold the aircraft in the air. It swayed and lost height, but it least they didn't crash down.
Sportacus said nothing. He was slumped on Robbie's lap and used the energy he had left to steer the aircraft. Slowly, they reached the ground. Even in his weak condition, he succeeded in landing safely. Robbie, who was glad it was over, let out a sigh. His muscles screamed. As soon as they touched the ground, Stephanie, the Mayor and Bessie ran towards them. They had landed right in front of the Town-Hall. Stephanie's smile faded, when she saw Sportacus sitting on Robbie's lap. He had closed his eyes. Sweat was pouring down his skin and he didn't wear his superhero costume. „What's wrong?", she asked, her voice shrill and load. „I don't know. He thinks he has been poisoned," Robbie answered, still slightly out of breath. „Poisoned?" Stephanie's eyes widened. „By whom? Robbie it wasn't you, was it?"

Annoyed, Robbie growled: „Pinkie, I already told you that I didn't harm the flipping elf."

„Sorry, but...", Stephanie paused, before crying out frightend, „we have to help him!"

„If somebody lent me a hand," Robbie remarked, squirming uncomfortably. „Oh, my...", Mayor Meanswell said and together with Bessie, who hastily put down her phone, they grabbed Sportacus' arms and firmly pulled him up. Sportacus groaned and his eyelids fluttered open. „Thank you," he whispered. He felt terrible. They were not supposed to see him like this. He had to be the strong superhero. Moreover, he was afraid. He didn't know what exactly was wrong with him. He thought that the fruit had been rotten or who could heal him? He was different from other people. He didn't believe a doctor could help him. Sportacus stepped out of his aircraft.

„Uncle Milford, will Sportacus be all right?", Stephanie asked. Her voice was thick with fear and tears. „Of course. Don't you worry, Stephanie."

„Stephanie," Sportacus whispered. Speaking was straining, but he needed to talk to her, before he might pass out again. „I'll be fine. I only need to rest. Don't be upset, Stephanie. You've done everything you could. Thank you very much. You are a true friend."
„A true friend," Robbie thought jealously. It hadn't been that pink girl, who had climbed up to that airship, and had brought Sportakook back down.

„Sportacus, we have a guestroom in the Town-Hall in case the President stops by," the Mayor suggested.

„Maybe I should call an ambulance," Bessie said, showing her cellphone.

„No...", Sportacus weakly objected.

Robbie raised an eyebrow. Why was the elf so damn stubborn? „No doctor, no hospital...I can't...I..." Suddenly, Sportacus cried out and collapsed. Horrified, Stephanie stared at him. Would he die? He mustn't die...Sportacus mustn't die.

„Milford," Bessie piped up, „why don't you take Stephanie home. Mr. Rotten and me will take care of Sportacus."
„I...", Robbie began, but fell silent at once, when Bessie glared at him. „Of course, I will."

„Robbie," Stephanie sniffed, „your cake is at my uncle's house. You can fetch it later."

Embarrassed, Robbie turned red. He had forgotten about that stupid cake. „Eh...thank you, Pinkie." He tried to smile, but failed miserably.

After Mayor Meanswell had led Stephanie away, Robbie bent down to Sportacus, slung an arm around his waist and pulled him up. Sportacus gasped, and without a further warning, he began to retch. Robbie let out a disgusted yelp and tried to hold him upright. Bessie shook her head. „This is no good...We should call a doctor."

„No!", Robbie shouted angrily. „You heard him." Why on earth was he defending Sportacus? Maybe he was sick, too.

„All right...let's tuck him in. He shouldn't be out here." Bessie grasped Sportacus' other arm, and they slowly walked to the Town - Hall. Luckily, the guestroom was just next to the Mayor's office. Robbie doubted that the President would ever sleep here. The room looked more like a storage room. There were dusty boxes full of files and books. The energymeter stood in one corner (the energy close to zero again), and some banners hung from the ceiling. The bed itself was no more than a pallet, but at least the room was equipped with a sink, too. They laid Sportacus on the bed, and he almost instantly turned around and curled himself up. „Bessie, could you fetch a bucket in case he becomes sick again?", Robbie asked. „Of course. I'll be right back." Puling out her phone, Bessie shuffled out of the room. Robbie didn't know why he was staying with Sportacus. Or why he took care of him. He had found him. So he could return to his lair and eat that cake, enjoying the silence.

What if Sportacus died? Could he die at all? Then, Robbie would be alone again. Bullshit. He always was alone. But still Sportacus had given him a reason to live. This sounded cheesy, but it was true. Without Sportacus, Robbie had nothing to do. He wouldn't have a reason to get up. He wouldn't read books, build machines or think about new disguises. Robbie looked at Sportacus. The hero was trembling. At first Robbie thought, Sportacus was whimpering because of the pain, but then he realized tha he was sobbing. Bewildered, Robbie sat down on the mattress. It all felt so wrong. As if he was caught in a bad dream. „Sportacus," he said, nervously licking his lips, „why are you crying?"

Sportacus stiffened. „I'm not...I'm...Robbie, I'm so sorry."
„Sorry for what?" Robbie couldn't believe he had this conversation with Sportacus.

„For causing so much trouble. It hurts so much, Robbie." Sportacus spoke slowly; each word was filled with pain.

„Why don't you want to go to a doctor?", Robbie asked.

„I'm not an average human. My body works differently. I don't think a doctor can help me."
„But what if we can't help you, either?", Robbie blurted out, immediately biting his lower lip.

„Maybe if you find that old lady..." Sportacus voice became almost inaudible. „What old lady?"

„She gave me the Sportscandy." Exhaustion took over and Sportacus finally fell asleep.

Robbie frowned. He had never seen an old lady in LazyTown.