Ch. 2

The Hatter ran a brush through his long ebony hair and smiled in the mirror. The only thing he was missing now was his white top hat. His entire out fit was pure white, from his tux to his shoes. The only black on him was his hair and his lips. He left the mask off now. Thanks to Alice he no longer felt that he needed to cover his face.

There had never really been anything wrong with it, other then the fact that he despised his eyes. Now he looked at his eyes in a different light. Alice had said they were unique and interesting so he let himself show them off.

Putting on his hat he walked away from the full length mirror that was by his bed and out into the living quarters. He was ready to go. The White Rabbit was sitting outside waiting for him. He had asked for some help in retrieving Alice. He wasn't sure how hard it was going to be to get her out of the hell she had been forced into.

"Good day Rabbit!" he said, waving to the tall young woman with long white rabbit ears.

"Good day." She replied, waving back.

Seconds later the March Hare came running up the path to the house.

The Hatter stepped outside to greet him.

"Hello dear friend." The Hatter said politely.

The Mach Hare nodded in response. Ever since the Cheshire Cat had cut out his tongue he hadn't been able to speak.

"Are we ready then?" The Hatter asked with a slight nod of his head.

"Yes, I believe so. Oh Hatter! I'm so excited! She's coming home!" The White Rabbit said joyfully.

"You have no idea, dear Rabbit, you have no idea." Hatter said closing his eyes before he could shed the tears that threatened to fall.

"Let's go then!" Rabbit said, taking a running leap back down the path and toward the forest.

The Hatter and the March Hare followed suit and let the White Rabbit lead the way. She knew her way better then they did any way. She even knew the short cuts considering she was always running a tad behind on the time.

Soon, my sweet Alice, soon you will be back with me and all will be well again, the Hatter thought as they crossed the first bridge that led down the path and out of the forest.

Alice lie in bed as the nurses looked her over. She was used to this by now. Her "daily" check up is what they called it. Every day at noon before lunch they would come in and check her heart rate, her color, and her temperature. They wanted to make sure she was staying healthy. At least, that's what they were telling her. She had no choice but to deal with it. If she was good, she got to go outside for an hour or so.

"Well, you seem to be doing well." The nurse she knew as Maggie said softly.

Alice just nodded.

"Poor thing, let's get you some food then shall we? You must be starved. You hardly touched your breakfast this morning." Maggie said, twirling her bright red curly hair around her finger like a small child.

There was an innocence about her that made Alice trust her most out of all the other nurses. She seemed to understand her more then the others. She was most definitely nicer to her then the others ever were. At least she tried to hold a conversation with her. Alice knew it was rude of her to remain quiet but she just couldn't think of the right things to tell the nurse. She was probably the only one that thought that Alice was remotely sane. She didn't want to change that by saying something that may sound too obsured for the ignorant to understand.

Maggie left the room for no more then a moment and came right back with a tray full of steaming chicken and noodles and a thing of mashed potatoes.

Alice smiled when she saw the food. It was her favorite meal in the whole hospital and it always seemed that whenever Maggie tended to her she got it. That just made her like the nurse even more then she already did.

Walking over to Alice Maggie set the food down on her make shift table.

"Here you go. I know how much you love this meal so I special ordered it for ya." Maggie said, winking as she sat down next to her.

Alice smiled and picked up her fork and began eating, taking only small bites to make the meal last.

"So tell me Alice, what did you dream about last night? Was it Wonder Land again?"

Alice nodded and looked up at the nurse with a sad expression on her face.

"It's okay Alice, you can talk to me. I won't tell any one. Your secrets are safe with me. If you ever need to talk to someone, I'm here, all you have to do is ask." Maggie said, smiling.

Alice just nodded. She didn't want to worry the poor nurse. At least this one was being sincere, unlike the other one, nurse what's-her-face that went and told her doctor the minute she had finished telling her about the Mad Hatter and everything they had done together. Of course the doctor just thought that it had been some horrible childhood memory caused by her uncle or something like that. She never really paid much attention to him any more.

"Well, I'm off. But just remember, if you ever need to talk, call for me." Maggie said, ruffling Alice's hair as she stood up.

Alice smiled and waved as the young woman left the room. She really was a nice woman. Too bad she couldn't tell her anything. She was sure that Maggie would have loved to hear about Wonder Land and all her adventures there.

Finishing her meal she set her plate aside and walked to her window. The sun was shining bright and it was a beautiful day but all she could find herself thinking about was the Mad Hatter and when he was coming to rescue her.

"Hatter… I miss you so. How much longer do I have to wait in this place before you come to save me?" She mind sent.

"Not much longer my sweet Alice. This I promise you. We are on our way, the White Rabbit, the March Hare and I. We are coming to rescue you."

Alice smiled. She loved being able to talk to him through her mind. It saved her so much trouble of talking out loud and making people skeptical about her mental state.

"Hatter, please hurry. I do miss you so…I can hardly stand this place." Alice sobbed mentally.

"I know my dear. I know. I miss you as well. I will get you out of there."

A tendril of sadness flowed over the line to her and she got but only a taste of what he truly felt.

"Please hurry…and do tell the Rabbit and Hare that I say hello and wish them a good day will you?"

"Yes my sweet Alice, I will tell them. Now get some rest. You seem tired."

"I am, very much so but I can't sleep well. I do not feel comfortable here. I will stay awake and wait for you my love."

"Very well, I will see you soon."

Alice smiled and closed the link between them. She was really getting the hang of this mind speech thing. It really was helping her. Especially now since she was speaking to him again.