A loud ringing was heard, which woke Ruby up. She reached out over to the clock and turned it off and rub her eyes. It was her first day as nurse and to be honest, she didn't know what she was doing. Why did she just take the job? Was it because of the pressure of the situation she was in, or was it because she thought Catherine was too much of a threat to the guests? Anyway, she had a job and she had to get ready for. She got out of bed, put on her new nurse cap and went out the door, but not before casting a glance to Sleepy, who was dreaming of some rainbow dragons.

The hallway was quiet and dark, only being lit by the candles on the walls. For some reason this didn't bother her. The atmosphere made her feel relaxed and welcomed, like she was home.

"I'm late for work! I'm late for work!" Ruby knew that voice. She looked behind and saw Stephen Haniwa, running towards her. "Here's my business card, maim." And then he ran off before Ruby can speak. What was he doing here? Wasn't he supposed to be home?

"Something wrong, dear?" Surprised, Ruby saw Gregory in front of her. "Do you know that man?"

"Yeah. I met him on the train."Ruby said with a hint mistrust. She was still upset that he had someone like Catherine working as a nurse and didn't tell her about it. "His name is Stephen."

"Stephen?" Gregory looked confused by this. "Oh, you mean Salaryman."His grin grew twice as long when said that."He's been a guest here for quite a while. Always busy, like clockwork."

"Clockwork." It was then that she remembered something. "Clock Master. He was fixing up a clock for me. "

"Do you want to check up on him then?"

"No, I can't. It's my first day of work and..."

"Now, now." He cut her off. "You don't have to do a thing unless it's brought up. You go check on your clock. Just head to the office by half six. Today is Salaryman's weekly check-up and I hope you don't ruin his routine."Ruby nodded as he went down the hall. "Now if you don't mind. I have my own routine to commit to."

"Okay." She said unsure of him. "I'll see you."

"See you earlier, friend." And he was gone with a chuckle.

"Earlier?" She asked herself confused, before heading off her way.

When Ruby arrived at the clock shop, she saw no one was standing in front of it. Not even the little boy that was so eager to fix the clock. She looked around for a bit until she heard an annoyed cry from the room next door. She took a peek inside and saw the boy was struggling to open the clock. The room had two beds instead of one and had several clock parts and half finished clocks scattered around the room.

"Come on, open." The boy growled at the clock, trying to open the door with a screwdriver. "Please open. Or the customer will be upset or Daddy will be more upset."

"Hello" Said Ruby, startling the boy. "How are you getting on?"

The boy shifted his eyes nervously, fidgeting with his screwdriver."Good, good. Nothing's wrong. Just trying to get this open. No help from Daddy needed at all."

"Okay. What's your name?"

"My Son."

"I know you're the Clock Master's son. I asked you your name."

"I told you. My Son." He answered annoyed.

"Oh." She said looking embarrassed."Where's your father?"

"He's in the bar. He's always there when he's depressed. So I'm trying to fix your clock before he gets back so he can be happy."

The Clock Master was depressed. Ruby thought she might go find him and ask what's wrong later, but now she's more interested in helping My Son.

"I got an idea. How about I help you."

"What?! No, no, no. I have to fix it." Gasped My Son.

"Are you're sure? You seem to be having trouble with it."

"I'm fine. Now let me work or I'll get Daddy."

"Okay. I'll go now." And she began to back away. She bumped into a shelf and a clock fell from it and she caught it. That was a mistake.

"DADDY!" Cried My Son.

Ruby ran for the door and opened it to find Clock Master standing there. And he didn't look happy.

"Are you picking on My Son!"Clock Master asked sternly.

"Yes she is Daddy." My Son replied.

"I'm sorry. I was only trying to help." Ruby tried to reason.

"Oh you're going to get it now." Clock Master's eyes rolled over and his moustache began to spin around at a fast rate.

"TIME...IS...MONEY!"

And then his key popped out of his head and a light engulfed Ruby.

When the light faded, Ruby founded herself in the lobby and saw Gregory looking through his books.

"I thought I'll see you earlier than this." Gregory said.

"How did I get here?" Ruby asked confused.

"I think you mean 'when'." A small ringing of a bell was heard from the desk and he picked a small alarm clock. "Well, it appears to be time for my break. See you later."

"Wait. What time is it?"

"About five past two." He replied with a smirk.

"What?!" she gasped."But it's still the morning. Is it?"

"Sounds like to me you made the ruler of time angry."Ruby held her head down in thought when a mischievous laughter came from the darkness.

And out came a small rat with light brown rat with blonde hair, wearing a red and yellow stripped shirt.

"Hi grandpa. I'm ready for my shift." He took a look at Ruby and smile. She tried to smile back but there was something in his eyes that made her nervous. "Who's the rag doll?"

"James." Gregory said sternly. "This is our new guest, Miss Ruby Gloom. And I want you to be extra nice to her and treat her like family."

"Like how that old hag treats you."

"Quiet James." He turned to Ruby with a broken smile. "This is my grandson, James. He's a sneaky but lovable little scamp and I hope you two get along."

"I'm sure we will." Ruby smiled. Then a thought came to her. "Is there any other family members I should met."

"Just my wife. She's working at the bar right now if you want to meet you."

"What about your Mama." James butted in.

"Shush." He snapped at James. "The bar is right above us if you're interested. Enjoy you afternoon, my friend." And he left the lobby to his room.

She didn't feel like being alone with James, so she went in search of the bar. It didn't take long to find it as it was a left from the stairs. The bar was a bit dark to suit the mood, with several tables scattered around with prompters drinking at them, a jukebox, and at the side, a bar counter with two familiar faces. Sleepy Sheep and Clock Master.

"Hi Sleepy." The sheep saw Ruby and gestured her to sit on the chair next to him, which was also next to the Clock Master. "How are you today?"

"Good. Just having some milk." He took a sip from his glass. "What about your, today?"

Ruby hesitated as she looked at the clock next to her. "I'll tell you later."

"Another beer, Natalie." The drunken clock slurred.

Another rat, a woman, came over with brown fur and long, black hair, wearing a white, buttoned shirt, blood red vest and a black skirt.

"Here you go." The woman said in an uninterested tone as she refilled his mug.

"Is there something wrong, Clock Master?" Ruby asked him.

"What's wrong?" He gave a sarcastic laugh. "You wouldn't understand. You still young and full of energy. You don't have the problems adults have. Getting slower and less helpful as time goes on. Until your just a busted up pile of unusable parts. And the responsibilities. How am I suppose to know if My Son is ready. He's got his whole life ahead of him and he can be anyone he wants to be."

"At least you have a son you love." The woman said.

"Like you understand. None of you understand!" He got up from his seat and stormed to the door when he tripped on his feet and fell face down on the floor. Ruby and Sleepy and looked at the fallen man with Ruby shaking her head sadly.

"Are you the doll my husband's talking about." The rat said getting Ruby's attention.

"Yes. I'm Ruby."

"Natalie." The rat introduced. "Do you want anything?"

"I'll have some water, please." Natalie took out a bottle of water and poured into a glass for Ruby. "Thank you."

"So, what brings you to this dump?"Natalie asked her.

"You mean the hotel? Well I was on a train, then I got lost and then I founded this place. The people seem nice, if a bit weird. "

"How was life before you came here?"

Ruby looked into her glass sadly. "I don't remember."

"What?"

"I don't remember anything. Just my time here. Everything before that is a blank."

Natalie just stared at her. Her uninterested face turned into mild shock.

"Well hopefully it won't last long."

"Won't last long? What do you mean?"

"Simple." Sleepy told her. "She's on about when you'll get you memories back."

"Yeah, sure." Natalie responded. "How about I get you a drink. On the house."

"No thanks." Ruby declined. "What are we going to do with Clock Master?"

"I deal with it." Natalie said as she proceeded to drag the clock man out of the bar. When she was gone, Ruby had a sad but thoughtful look on her face.

"Anything wrong Ruby?" Sleepy asked. "Is it your memory?"

"No. Just wondering about Clock Master."

"What about him?"

"I'm just concerned. He seems to be worried about his son."

"Who's son are you talking about, rag doll?" Said a new voice. The two saw James standing near them, giving his mischievous smile.

"James. Aren't you suppose to watching the front desk." Ruby said shifting away from him.

"What Grandpa doesn't know won't hurt him. So who are you guy's talking about?"

"Clock Master." Sleepy told him.

"That old geezer." James took the seat next to Ruby.

"Yeah." Ruby confirmed "He was going on about how old he was and that his son may not have the same desires. I think. I only just got the end of it before he knocked himself out. And it's not just him. My Son was very aggressive when I offered to help fix a clock, saying he has to do it for his father."

"Sounds like some dreams I had about some guy getting old and a boy worried about being a disappointment." Said Sleepy.

"Really. How did they end?"

"I woke up."

"Of course." Ruby deadpanned.

"I got an idea." James claimed.

"What is it?"

"We get them to talk to each other."

Ruby and Sleepy just stared at him for half a minute. "What?" they both said.

"Well, they are, in a way, afraid of each other. If we get them to discuss their problems, maybe they'll feel better about them and won't be so mean."

"James, that is a really good idea." Ruby said giving a big smile. "And I know how to do it. Sleepy, you go find Clock Master. Me and James will get My Son, and we'll met up in the library. Got it."

The two both nodded their heads and began to enact the plan.

"Sounds a lot better than mine idea." Sleepy said.

"What's that?"

"Counting sheep." Ruby just gave a heartfelt laugh with that answer. "I was serious." But it was still funny.

"You know James. I might be wrong about you." Ruby said as the two made it back to the clock shop.

"Why's that?" James asked.

"To be honest, I had this bad feeling about you for some reason. Maybe because you look like your grandpa."

"It's okay. No one likes grandpa." He said happily, which Ruby responded with a confused look. They then made it to the shop. "You go talk to the clock. I'll just wait here." He said stand in front of the shop.

"Alright." Ruby said as she went to knock on the door next to the shop. Moments later, My Son answered.

"Oh. Hello." My Son said with his opened grin.

"Hi. Listen, sorry about what happened earlier. I just wanted to help."

"It's okay."

"Really? You were making a big deal about it earlier."

"It's what Daddy always say, if you don't have a passion for what you do. Don't do it."

"Right, speaking of daddy, I was wondering if you would like to talk."

"About what?" his smile slowly fading.

"You know, just talk. Get some things about yourselves of you chests."

"I don't know. I still have to get the clock open and some other clocks need fixing."

"And this is why you should talk to him. You seemed to have trouble trying to open the small over that clock. Maybe if you dad help maybe you'll can be more comfortable with it. "

"Maybe. It might be a good idea to get his advice."

"That's the sprit. Now come on. I set up a meeting for you two in the library." As two began to head off, Ruby noticed something.

"Where's James."

"James." My Son asked nervously. "As in, Gregory's grandson James."

"Yeah." She answered. That bad feeling bubbling again. Before they did anything, they were pushed down to the ground. When they looked up, they saw James holding the jammed clock and giving a sinister giggle.

"James! What are you doing!" Ruby shouted."This wasn't part of the plan."

"What can I say. I'm a bad boy." And James ran off with the clock with Ruby and My Son in pursuit

"Careful now, Mr. Master. We're almost down the stairs." Sleepy told Clock Master as they made their way down the stairs.

"I don't need your help. I know how to climb up stairs." Clock Master slurred as he struggled to balance himself.

"Maybe we should've waited till you're not so drunk."

At the bottom, they saw James running past them with a clock with Ruby and My Son running after him.

"Was that James holding the clock that was for the guest?" Clock Master's tone becoming hostile.

"Maybe?"

Clock Master slowly made his way in the direction the children have gone, but had trouble standing up.

"Careful there, sleepy head." Sleepy told the still drunken clock. "Why not close your eyes and let me guide." Clock Master protested this but the sheep didn't budge.

Ruby and My Son kept running after the thief. While she didn't know how My Son was feeling, she was getting pretty tired.

"My Son. I don't think I can run any further."

My Son didn't say anything as he was more focused on the brat. But all of a sudden, he stopped.

"I got an idea." he exclaimed. "Lady. I need you to turn my key clockwise for two seconds." Ruby took hold of the key on his head. "If I don't survive this, tell my Daddy I died saving a clock."

Ruby gave a hesitated look. "Okay, I'm ready." And she turned the key.

When she let go, My Son eyes rolled into his head and his nose bleed went up and down faster than Ruby thought possible.

"TIME...IS...MONEY!"

And then he vanished in a strange light. Ruby was going to panic if it wasn't for the sound the sounds of fighting up ahead. When she arrived at the source she saw My Son and James fighting over the clock like a game of tug-and-war.

"Give me back the clock. It's not yours."

"But I want it play with it."

"Clocks are not for playing."

"Not with that attitude."

James then yelped in pain as Ruby grabbed him by the ear which caused him to let go and for My Son to fall on his back, clock in hand. When he got up, he saw that the clock door had opened. At the sight, he gave a huge smile of joy.

"What's going on here?" Came the booming voice of Clock Master he came into the scene with Sleepy holding his hand.

"Daddy look. The clock door is open. It's open."My Son said as he ran over to he's father. However, James, struggling to break free from Ruby's pinch, managed to trip the boy and the clock flew from his grip and crash into the floor, breaking into several pieces. The area was dead silent. My Son's face looked devastated. Not only had the clock been destroyed, but it happened in front of his father.

"My Son?" Clock Master quietly asked his son, but he just broke down crying and ran off.

"My Son! Come back!" Ruby said, letting go of James and running after the clock. This gave the rat the chance to escape.

"Woah. That's like his worst nightmare. Are you gonna do something Mr. Master?" Sleepy asked Clock Master, but he was gone. Looking around he saw the pieces of the clock, and taking out an empty pillow case, decided to pick them up.

Gregory heard a knocking at the door. When he opened it he saw James standing there.

"Hi Grandpa."

"What did you do James?" Gregory said with an annoyed expression.

"Nothing. I just wanted to hang out with you." James acting all innocent.

"I know you James. You don't come to me unless you did something, want something, or frame me for something."

"What. I did no such thing." A menacing clock-shaped shadow appeared behind James. "Maybe."

Clock Master was standing behind with a look that could kill.

"It was all his idea!" James pointed at Gregory.

"WHAT?!" he exclaimed "I had nothing to do with what he did." And he grabbed James by the arm.

"Hey. Let me go."

"Now why don't we just talk about this, like grown adults." Gregory timidly asked the angry clock

Clock Master just glare before saying...

"Time..."

"Oh, no." Gregory wept.

"Is..."

"Is this bad?" James questioned.

"MONEY!" and the rats were gone.

"Come on My Son. You father won't be mad at you." Ruby was outside the Clock's room, trying to comfort him from behind the door.

"No! My Daddy hates me! I'm a disgrace!" My Son screamed in sorrow.

Ruby signed at the response.

"Why not just go in there?" Sleepy arrived with a pillow case, holding it like a sack.

"I can't just walk in there without permission." Ruby told him.

"Okay." And he just opened the door and walked in.

Ruby rushed in after him and saw My Son packing suit cases of his stuff. "Are you leaving?"

"I don't deserve to live here with Daddy. I'm just a failure and will always be a failure." My Son wailed.

"Don't be sad." Sleepy told him offering him the pillow case. "I got all the pieces of the clock. Maybe you can fix it." The only thing My Son did was just cry and packed as Ruby tried to comfort him.

"My Son." Clock Master entered the room.

"Daddy. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..." My Son's rambling was stopped when his father gave him a hug.

"It's okay My Son. It's okay." Clock told is son, rubbing the back of his head trying to calm him down, as My Son's crying died down in his father's embrace.

Ruby and Sleepy smiled at the heart-warming sight and decided to give them some time alone.

"That went well." Sleepy said.

"Yeah." Ruby smiled. "So want are you going to do none."

"Go to bed" he yawned. "I'm tired."

"Okay. Good night Sleepy." They waved and went their ways, with Ruby deciding to go to the Nurse's office.

"Hey, lady. Wait." She heard My Son running over to her. "Do you want this?" He said offering a red fluffy collar with a golden key on it.

"What is it?"

"It was in broken clock. It must've been the thing that was jamming the clock." He told her. "All the other pieces are still fine, but we have no need for this."

"Okay, let me have a look." She took the collar and all of a sudden, several visions appeared. She stood daze for a second and then gave My Son a hugged. "Thank you."

"What for?" he asked confused.

"I remember. I have memories" And then she skipped on her way.

"hmm. That's strange."

Ruby woke up in a pink room. Her room. There were shades of pink around all the room, from the floor to the ceiling. She appeared to be a fan of hearts and crossbones as it appears to be design of her door, window and rug. Out of bed, she saw a black cat wearing a red collar with a key attached to it. The cat rubbed against her leg, giving a purr which sound like a violin cord.

"Hi Doom." Ruby greeted the cat. "How are you today?" Doom nodded . "I'm fine too." They made their way to the dressing table and freshen up for the day. Doom saw a piece of paper on the table and gave Ruby a sly look.

"Oh this? It's nothing." Ruby nervously said as Doom gave her a knowing expression. "Okay, you got me. I'm planning on making a surprise dinner for Skull Boy today." Doom gave her a curious note. "Everybody else won't be home tonight. Poe's visiting his relatives and everyone else is still on that tour. This could be my chance to tell him how I feel." Doom patted her shoulder with her tail and gave her an encouraging melody. "You're right. I shouldn't worry about it. It's just me and Skull Boy having a romantic dinner. What can go wrong" She signed as head out the room with Doom following.

"So you were sent to the Stone Age, got tramped by a stegosaurus, nearly burned in lava, got picked by raptors and got beaten up by a cave woman."

"Yes." Gregory told Ruby as she cared for his wounds.

"And you were stuck there for three hours."

"That's right."

"And James didn't get hurt by any of it."

"I know!" He said. "So how was your day? Meet anymore of our guests."

"Just your wife." She finished with the disinfected proceeded to bandage the wounds. "But you wouldn't believe what happened before I got here."

"I seen a lot of things in my life so I doubt I'll be surprised."

"I got a piece of my memory back." She told Gregory and he froze at the spot.

"Wha?" He stammered.

"I remember. I have a cat named Doom Kitty. I tell you, it's nice knowing there's someone there for you and knows what to say. I may not know some of the names I said, but it's something. Gregory, are you okay?" She asked when she saw that Gregory was as stiff as the dead and sweating like a hydrant.

"Me. Oh, I'm fine. Gotta go." And he rushed out the door. Ruby didn't pay much attention as her next patient arrived.

"Hey. You're not the nurse." Salaryman said as he came in.

"I'm the new nurse, Ms. Ruby Gloom." Ruby told him as she looked at a clipboard. "Now I understand it's your weekly check up today."

Cactus Gunman in:

Cliché Cowboy Adventures

This week's episode: the train damsel

Cactus Girl was tied to some train tracks, screaming at the top of her lungs.

(AAAAHHHHHHH! Someone help me!)

She struggled to break her bonds when she saw a figured coming towards her in the distance.

(Brother! Hurry and save me.)

Cactus Gunman raced to the tracks on his stallion. The horse tripped on a rock and was unable to get up. He grumbled for a moment before getting an idea.

(Taxi!)

Hells Taxi drove over to pick him up.

Cactus Girl saw Ambition heading towards her.

(Brother! The train's coming closer!)

Taxi was making it to Cactus girl until its tires blew out. Gunman got out and looked in the trunk to find a bicycle.

The girl was breathing heavily as doom was approaching her.

(Brother. Are you still coming to save me?)

Gunman was riding like the wind on the bike and would make it no time, if it wasn't for the bike suddenly breaking apart and turning into a unicycle.

Cactus Girl was getting bored now.

(Sigh)

Gunman was struggling to ride the unicycle and he fell off. He grumbled until he saw Cactus girl in front of him.

(Sister!)

Cactus Girl saw her brother.

(Brother!)

Gunman freed his sister from the track and rewarded him with a hug and she walked off. When Gunman followed her, the train ran over him, the sister turned around in shock when she realised what happened.

(Brother.)

The End

A/N This was longer than I thought. And others might be just as long or longer.

I was actually going to put James in the last chapter but he didn't fit. So I put him here along with the second guest. Now where and who will be Ruby's next memory.

Salaryman: Routine

James: Children.

Natalie: Jealously.