Only one chapter to go! Yay! Thanks to all my reviews, I really appreciate every last one! Also, Alice Granger is an OC of mine, and I'll mention her in other stories. Enjoy the chapter, and don't FORGET TO REVIEW! I prompt everyone to join the Review Revolution - no matter how bad the story or chapter, you will review every single one you read. Spread the love!

Also, saw Rise of the Guardians tonight. O...M...F...G...I was freaking blown away. My heart thumped through the whole thing. Like Pixar this year, Dreamworks finally outdid itself. I knew they were capable. Expect shippings and stories from me XD

~Cel

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Part Four: Comforts From a Cockroach

"…Who is it?" A trembling voice asked. Doctor Cockroach could hear Susan sniffling and whimpering softly. He grimaced – she had been crying for quite some time. The poor dear, having to suffer like this. It was times like this Doctor Cockroach was thankful he was a man. Needless to say, that didn't discontinue his extreme concern and sympathy for the girl inside the room. He knocked again to remind her that someone was at the door, realizing he had paused for a few moments to recollect his thoughts.

"Susan, it's me. Please my dear, open the door. I wish to speak with you." Dr. Cockroach asked softly. He stood straight, waiting for Susan to either allow him entrance or reject his company. He seriously hoped that it wasn't the latter of the two, not that he'd every say that to anyone. There was a tense pause before Dr. Cockroach heard the distinct whoosh of the door sliding upwards, revealing a woman's room. Now that this was her home, the facility's psychologist had completely redecorated the cell. It was fairly similar to Susan's old room back in Modesto. There were a set of twin Tiffany-style lamps, a large, comfy loveseat, a huge bookcase filled with gigantic books, and an enormous comfortable bed. Within that bed, curled up underneath her blankets, was a sniffling Susan. Dr. Cockroach entered the room, making his way over to the bed. Once he was in the room, the door immediately closed behind him. The only light came from the faint lava-lamp-like nightlight in the corner of the woman's chamber which had to be kept away from the ever-fascinated B.O.B. Dr. Cockroach halted beside the foot of the bed, peering up at the miserable woman.

"May I come up, my dear?" He asked softly, as the gentleman he was. There was a pause, and then Susan nodded.

"Go ahead." She whispered meekly. Dr. Cockroach proceeded to skitter up the bedpost with no trouble whatsoever. He stepped onto the bed beside the lump under the blanket he assumed were Susan's large, yet dainty feet. She was curled up tightly under two blankets that were held close her body. They were pulled up right to her chin, and her eyes were even puffier and her cheeks even redder. She was having one hell of a bad day. Dr. Cockroach clasped his hands behind his back and walked the length of Susan's body, coming to a stop beside her face. She looked up at him with miserable eyes, her lower lip trembling. He smiled gently at her and sat down, crossing his legs.

"Oh my dear. My dearest Susan. It's been quite a day, hasn't it?" Dr. Cockroach said, scooting slightly closer to his giant friend. Susan's face screwed up as if she was going to burst into tears again, her lower lip quivering. She nodded, lifting a hand out from underneath a blanket. In that hand she clutched a wadded tissue. Wiping her nose and sniffling, she curled back up underneath the blanket after depositing the tissue in a large dustbin beside her bed.

"I'm so, so sorry Doc. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just got so angry." She sniffed and continued. "I got angry because I felt like I couldn't find one good man in my life, besides my daddy. Derek was a stupid selfish jerk. I can't believe it took me so long to see him for what he really was. When this happened when I was engaged to Derek, he just ignored me and pretended that it was for my own good – 'It's gonna make you stronger, Susan.'" She said mockingly, preforming a pretty good impression of Derek's whiny voice. "I felt like you guys were ditching me. I'm really sorry. I know that you guys would never do something like that. You're the greatest friends I've ever had. I didn't mean the things I said. Not one bit. I – I'm so sorry." Susan finished, burying her face into her pillow. Dr. Cockroach offered her a gentle smile and got to his feet, walking even closer to her. He sat down right next to her cheek, lifting a hand and placing it gently on her cheekbone. She opened her eyes at the touch and peered at the man next to her. He may have been much smaller than her, but to her, it didn't matter. Her friend was here, comforting her in her time of need.

"I understand Susan. Dearest Susan. I understand how hard this is for you. Remember, I was human once. As a scientist, I had many female acquaintances. Especially when we gathered for our annual science conventions. I often shared a hotel room with women. Sometimes, this happened to them. So, my dear, I really do understand. While I am unlike Monger, for I had no children or mate, I still found myself being asked by a lovely girl by the name of Alice Granger one convention to help. It had come on so suddenly, she was trapped in the hotel room. How could I say no? I distinctly remember there being a blizzard on that occasion. It was snowing so hard I couldn't even spot the Big Ben clock tower – we were stationed right next to it, mind you! But Alice was able to attend the next day's convention, and she even received an award for innovation." Dr. Cockroach finished his story with a chuckle at the memory. It had been quite a while since he had thought about Alice – or his past life, for that matter. It was rather astonishing that he was able to remember that much, and Susan couldn't help but smile at the story.

"Poor Alice. I bet the ladies were all over you, Doc. It's hard to find a man who would do something like that – and with a blizzard!" Susan said, forcing a giggle and trying her paramount best to keep the bitterness out of her voice. Needless to say, Dr. Cockroach chuckled and shook his head at Susan's comment.

"Alas, I never found myself with that kind of companionship. I was too in love with my work." Dr. Cockroach said, shaking his head and grinning. It had been all too true…even if he did bend the truth a little. Looking up at Susan, he continued. "And I am not the only one here who understands your predicament. Link, Insectosaurus, and Monger all understand. Yes, perhaps they are stubborn and embarrassed. But that's natural for men, Susan. Remember that they all care deeply for you. They were just as unprepared as you were, my dear. They did not ditch you, as you believe. They were out to help you. You are a part of our family now, Susan. And we monsters help our own." Dr. Cockroach said gently, reaching up with a hand to wipe away some of the moisture from Susan's cheeks with a thumb. Susan looked thoughtful for a moment, and then smiled widely.

"I couldn't ask for better friends. Thank you." She said softly, bringing up a hand to cup around the scientist. Her fingers wrapped around him lightly, bringing him to the crook of her neck for a tender embrace. The mad scientist couldn't help the small smile that crept onto his lips. Lifting his hands, he patted her neck, closing his large hazel eyes for a moment. Susan then scooped him up in her hand and deposited him in front of her. She opened her mouth to say something, but the words quickly morphed into a deep yawn. Dr. Cockroach chuckled.

"You're exhausted. Come now, why don't you rest for a while?" He said, patting her hand and turning away to leap off the bed. However, he suddenly felt a gentle pressure on his shoulder, halting his departure. Turning around in surprise, he found that it was Susan's index finger that held him. As he turned around to face her, he saw that her expression looked embarrassed and slightly guilty.

"Sorry, Doc…but, uhm…c-can you stay with me?" She said softly. Dr. Cockroach blinked a few times in surprise. Then, he smiled softly, understanding that Susan did not need a reason for her want of company. Of his company. He walked over to her and sat down next to her jaw. He crossed his legs, touching his fingers to her cheek and smiling up at her.

"Of course, my dear." He said, and she smiled tenderly at him. Her heavy eyelids slowly slid over her brilliant blue eyes, and within moments, Susan was sound asleep. The sound of her deep, peaceful breathing filled the quiet room. Dr. Cockroach smiled tenderly at her before reaching up and slowly taking a lock of snowy white hair. He ran her soft tresses through his incredibly small fingers, and then began to braid them once more. The repetitive movements of his hands and fingers was soothing, and her quiet breathing was so peaceful…and it was so pleasantly quiet and dark in here…closing his eyes for five minutes wouldn't hurt anyone …