Cruelty to Professors

Breakfast is silent and awkward to say the least. Kara and Scarlett have gained the air of someone eating eating their last meal before they are hanged, but the professor is not turning back on his decision. Flora is quiet, she doesn't want her new friends to leave and Clive keeps staring at Scarlett when he thinks no-one else is looking. Luke doesn't like the professor being mad, and Emmy is unwilling to break the silence everyone else has created.

Something falls through the letterbox, and Luke runs to collect it. Flora has her weekly letter from Bruno and the other residents of St Mystere, which makes her smile. Luke has a letter from his parents, and the professor has bills. When all the bills have been read and dismissed, he notices another letter. Handwritten address, creamy, thick and overall expensive paper... Everyone is watching the professor and his letter. Slowly opening it, he reads it out.

"Professor Layton.

I hope this letter finds you in good health. If only I could say that my village were healthy too. I don't mean to burden you with our troubles, but there is no-one else I can turn to. It is a long shot that you will come anyway, as I doubt you remember me. You were my professor in university, teaching me archaeology. However, that is not important. My village, Leorra on the west coast of America, is wracked with a terrible disease, nicknamed the one-week plague."

Luke interrupts. "What, you get it for a week?"

"No Luke. You get it, then you die in a week." Everyone pales.

Layton continues reading. "My daughter Stephanie has it. She's only 2. Please, professor, you have to help us.

People say that a house on a nearby island is cursed and spreading the plague. No-one will go near it.

My Stephanie has had it a day. 3 are dead already.

In the fervent hope you will come, I am prepared to pay any expenses, such as the boat ride over.

Please professor,

Gordon Edgley."

Silence falls across the table. "Will you go?" Flora asks.

"Of course. People need my help."

"Who's coming?" Clive's eyes make it clear he is to be on that list.

The professor sighs. "I can't make any of you do this. You might die."

"You might die, professor. You're my only family." Clive points out.

"Me too." Flora looks close to tears, and Kara puts her arm around her, pulling her in.

"Well, Kara and Scarlett are going to school, and the rest of you, I can't stop you. I like having people I can trust around me, but I don't want to put you in danger."

It is quiet, and then Luke puts his hand on the table. "I'm going."

Emmy does the same. "You might need some backup. A fighter on hand."

Clive nods. "I want to help people after... What I've done. I'm coming." Scarlett and Kara look confused by the "what I've done" and Flora mouths that she will explain later.

Flora takes a deep breath, and places her hand on the table. "I am coming. Please professor," She notices his look. "I want to come. Don't try to stop me."

There is a silence. "Then please get your things. We will leave after putting the girls on a train."

0-0-0

There is a sad air at the station. The train draws up, and Flora hugs the two girls unexpectedly. "It was nice meeting you two."

"You two Flora." Kara murmurs. "Keep safe."

Luke waves, and Scarlett ruffles his hair, making him wrinkle his nose, and her giggle at his expression. Clive nods at them both, looking at Scarlett longer and she blushes, staring at the floor.

"Well. It was nice seeing you professor." Kara says sarcastically.

The professor sighs. "Kara, please, don't be like that. You know this is unacceptable and-"

"Oops, I think we might miss the train. Goodbye everyone!" she interrupts with false brightness. Scarlett smiles pne last time at Clive, Emmy, Luke and Flora, deliberately not meeting the professor's gaze. They get on the train, not looking back. The professor watches until the train is out of sight, sighs and turns back to the Laytonmobile. No-one says anything, or comments on the sadness in his eyes.

0-0-0

"Kara, that was cruel." Scarlett admonishes when they sit down.

"Really? I didn't see you apologising." Kara is in a Very Bad Mood, so Scarlett shuts up, and instead gets her laptop from her bag to find out how long the have before they are back at the manor. Her eyes widen.

"Kara,"

"What?"

"You might wanna see this." Kara peers over her shoulder, and then she grins, bad mood forgotten.

"Oh yeah, two tickets to Leorra! We are going to the US baby!" she crows, gaining some strange looks, but she doesn't care. If they get off in two stops then they can be in time for the ship to take them to Leorra, and they can join the adventure.

A/N; Oh my lord, there are so many references in this!

Well done to anyone noticing these;

Room 221, hall B: 221B, Sherlock

One week plague; slightly edited Dr Who quote, "The girl who waited", originally the One day plague. What, you get it for a day? No, you get it then you die in a day.

Gordon and Stephanie Edgley; Skullduggery Pleasant.

Oh, and yes I am shipping my sister's character with Clive. She doesn't even know :) I'm so evil :D