A/N: Thanks for the great reviews. :) Yay. :)

Closing her book, Helga looked at her dad's face. Frowning, she stood up to take a break. She left his room to wander down the hallway to catch other families speaking to their loved ones. There they were talking back from their beds. While she didn't know their prognosis, she still envied them for having their own loved one awake and speaking to them.

"Baby sis?"

Helga wasn't aware that Olga was in front of her. She was solely focused on everyone else around that she didn't see her. "Hey. Uh, I am taking a break from reading Pride and Prejudice. Dad really likes that book."

Smiling at that newfound information, Olga knew he loved a certain soap opera, and was into some sappy romantic flicks. "They say that's really good, right?"

"Yeah. It shows in studies and all."

Taking her sister's hand, Olga guided her to the nearest row of chairs. "What is also bugging you?"

Placing her hand to her forehead, Helga looked at her. "Nothing was taken from the house. Nothing was suspicious found in the house, but dad was tasered. Dad is not this big time jerk like he was before." Spotting Olga's unhappy expression there, Helga rolled her eyes. "Trust me, he was to many of his customers and other people before."

Waving her hand in front of her, Olga had to correct herself. "No I wasn't thinking that. I know what you mean. I want to know who did this too, but now I'm afraid of having you and mummy in the house alone."

"We can't run and hide. This is our house. To do that has him winning against us." Helga informed her.

"True, but I hate knowing it happened there." Olga pointed out.

"That stuff can always happen in Alaska." Helga countered back evenly.

Olga's shoulders sagged knowing that Helga will continue to try to one up her. "Yes. I did have a moose try to taser me with his antlers. It was quite odd."

Smiling at her joke, Helga glanced over to her phone just as it showed Lila's name on the screen. "You still speak to her?"

Hearing the hatred there, Olga patted her hand. "I do listen to what you told me. She has been stalking Arnold non-stop." Pressing ignore on her phone, she hated doing that. "She kept telling me that you stole him from her. She really believed that she had this relationship with him."

"How long has she been telling you this?"

"Too long now." Olga felt aged. "I knew it was a lie even then." Placing a smile back on her face to gaze at Helga, she felt a little better. "I remember when I saw Arnold a long time ago. He was so in love with you. I can still see how much that hasn't changed."

Embarrassed, Helga stood up. "I'm going to get something to eat. You want anything?"

"No thank you, Baby sis. I already had something. I'll go in there and speak to daddy."

Walking to the elevators, Helga yawned just as the doors opened up just in time for her to rush in. Resting her back against the wall, she waited to get to the ground floor. Hearing the chime ring, Helga left as soon as the doors opened up just for another surprise.

"Helga."

Stopping short, Helga placed her hand to her chest. "Oh man! We nearly missed one another." Smelling greasy goodness, she looked all around her till she spotted what was in Arnold's hand. "Oh please tell me that's for me."

"It's for you." Feeling the bag grabbed out of his hands, Arnold snickered at her enthusiasm. "Do you wanna eat outside?"

"Yes. Oh god yes." She moaned out while she grabbed his hand to drag him outside.

XX

Phoebe stared up at Helga's house almost in denial of what occurred there. Her pulse seemed to drop. Her skin seemed to get more clammy as her eyes drifted closer towards where the attic laid. A chill greeted her just as her eyes halted to where she needed to be. Phoebe wanted to find the culprit too. She wanted to help out Helga.

Gerald came closer cautiously afraid to frighten her as she stared at the large home. "Have you been inside?"

"No. Somehow I don't want to." Her eyes now focused on someone living. Someone animated.

"I can understand that." Hands in his pocket, Gerald shifted on his legs. "Have you been to the hospital?"

She nodded. "Yes. He is still out of it. Who could of done this?"

Wishing to provide this answer for her, Gerald spotted movement out of the corner of his eye. Movement that caused him to finally dash forward. It was time to catch him without having students in his way. Hearing Phoebe behind him, Gerald continued to run as he jumped a fence knowing he was gaining ground on his opponent. "Oh no you don't." He growled as he tackled him to the ground.

Phoebe caught up to Gerald as he stayed above, Brainy. Spotting something that tumbled away from Brainy she rushed up to it to grab it with a handkerchief. "Gerald, this is a taser." She raised it up in the air.

Standing up and dragging Brainy up with him, Gerald pushed him against the wall of a neighbors garage. "Alright. Did you taser, Big Bob?" Hearing no answer from Brainy, Gerald heard the sound of crackling in the air.

Stepping closer, Phoebe held the taser close to Brainy. "Answer the question. Did you attack, Mr Pataki?"

Brainy eyed them both as he continued to push against, Gerald. He wheezed even as he heard his small booklet fall down to the ground. He struggled more hoping they didn't notice it just so he can buy himself more time.

"Answer the lady, Brainy. Did you attack him?" Gerald hissed out angry at his uncooperative attitude.

"HEY YOU KIDS! GET OUT OF MY YARD!"

At the distraction of the neighbor, Brainy kicked Gerald in the knee before grabbing his booklet before rushing off. He could always get another weapon, but he couldn't replace his precious booklet.

Crouching down to Gerald, Phoebe placed her hand out to the man who came out. "We apologize to you sir, but that kid you saw us with attacked Robert Pataki. We didn't mean to trespass here."

Getting closer to them, the male placed his hands on his hips. "Well from where I was standing you both were threatening him. So you both get out of here if you know what's good for you."

Nodding her head, Phoebe put Gerald's arm around her shoulder to help him out of there. "We'll get him, but for now we have his taser."

Sucking some air through his teeth, Gerald felt his bone burning up. "Damn he got me pretty good. Should we tell the cops about this?"

She held up the taser with her free hand. "I don't know. We could try. Still we should put ice on you first."

XX

Wandering back into the hospital room, Helga felt almost pregnant from the double cheeseburger that Arnold brought her. Slipping into her seat with Arnold beside her, they both listened to Miriam speak to Bob. Hearing a slight moan her attention went to her dad's eyes to find him squeezing them tight while she tightened up her body in wait to see if this was the moment he'll awake.

"Nunnh. Wh-Wh-Whoe-Whoever st-st-stung me." Bob smacked his lips as his eyes still remained closed. "I'll kill."

"Bob!"

Dad!" Both Helga and Olga called out.

Opening his eyes, Bob saw that he was no longer in the musty attic any longer but in a sterile bright hospital room. There was his wife, and his two daughters surrounding him. Off to the side was Arnold as he went to the door obviously to call someone. "Oh good. I'm with you." He felt relieved not to feel so much in the dark anymore.

Feeling Arnold beside her again, Helga smiled at him as her other hand went in his. "I knew you'd kick ass and come back." She told her dad.

Bob smiled weakly at Helga. "Well you know me."

Coming in, the doctor went through with looking him over before asking him questions. Going through what happened in surgery he ended it by saying something. "You should thank your youngest daughter here. If it wasn't for her finding you in time, you would of been a goner for sure. It is a very useful thing to know CPR."

Helga waved it off. "Nah. My dad is too stubborn to go anywheres. It is all him."

Still as she thought about it all in retrospect, her dad was pretty lucky in hindsight.

XX

Phoebe had to fight the blush from forming on her face at seeing Gerald's exposed leg while he pressed ice against his leg. She was happy her parents were gone for the day so they wouldn't see a teenage boy sitting in the kitchen with just his boxers and t-shirt on. Still as legs went, Phoebe wasn't complaining.

"How is it feeling now?" She inquired as she measured the gap between the tongs on the taser.

He was actually enjoying the numbing coolness of the ice against his skin. "Truthfully? I can keep this ice on me longer. It feels good."

"May I see?"

Lifting the ice so she can take a look, Phoebe nodded her head at it. "The bump is down now." Pointing to the taser, he asked, "So do you really think that is it?"

"It is standard and it is a cheaper model. Helga will beat him up once she gets a hold of Brainy." Hearing her phone go off, Phoebe lifted it up. "Hello, Helga. Oh he's awake? That's wonderful to hear!" Listening to her, Phoebe's eyes directed to Gerald who was signaling that she should tell her. "Are you alone? Oh you are with Arnold right now. Well I'm at my house so do you mind coming over because I have something to talk to you about." Hanging up, Phoebe leaned back. "She had enough stress."

Getting up, Gerald grabbed his pants to slip on. "I know, but she should know about this. Since Arnold is with her, he'll help calm her down. It'll be fine. Right now Big Bob is out of the woods."

Feeling his cold hand on hers, Phoebe smiled up at him. "I'm glad you were with me today."

Sitting down beside her, Gerald moved a strand of hair behind her ear. "Hey don't think I didn't see you do some smooth moves behind me in that yard."

Giggling, Phoebe moved closer to him just to hear the sound of Helga's car rumbling down the street. "She's here."

"That is some engine."

Getting up to open the door up for her friend, Gerald was left in the kitchen to contemplate the almost thing that he almost was tempted into doing just now with her.

XX

"Was he literally coming out of my house, Gerald?" Helga asked again. If not very slowly as she pounded her finger against the table top.

"Yes. With my own two eyes I spotted him coming out of your house." Gerald confirmed again. He wasn't insulted she asked this question again seeing how tired she appeared.

She stood up. "I'm going to kill him." Getting up, Helga instantly left the house.

"Helga!" Arnold cursed himself. "Gerald your faster than me."

Standing up, Gerald ran off after her only to hear her car cutting out of there. "No that girl is faster than both of us put together. I'll go to her house. I'll call you."

Hearing the door open and close, Phoebe put her hands on Arnold. "Arnold?"

Standing up, Arnold was still determined. "I'm still walking to her house."

XX

Opening and slamming her door closed, Helga opened her front door up. "BRAINY!" Rushing up her stairs she got on her computer to log into the security system to double check to find what Gerald said was true. He was once in there. "I know you are in here, Brainy. What do you want?" He was clever enough to avoid the cameras a second time.

"Helga!" Gerald's voice called out from the bottom of the stairs.

She groaned out. "Upstairs." Hearing the sounds of his footsteps coming up, Helga felt tired as her head just drifted down to her desktop.

Reaching her room, Gerald felt her fatigue from where he stood. "Helga, maybe we take you to Arnold's so you can sleep."

Lifting her head up, Helga stood up slowly in a listless state. "Why is this happening?"

Gerald saw how she was about to stumble prompting him to step forward to steady her. "I don' t know. He stalked you for years. He probably saw something in you that makes him do crazy things."

"But for him to attack my own dad?"

"We'll have to ask him when we see him again and make sure he answers." Arnold's voice said softly as he entered the room to hold her in his arms.

"He was in my house. I have to tell the police." Helga said as she pointed to her computer screen.

Glancing at the video feeds, Phoebe went through it all since it had been set up. "There is outside coverage where Gerald and I were chasing him."

She lifted her phone up to her ear where she thought of the Detective. "This is Helga Pataki. I'm Robert Pataki's daughter. I have a possible suspect you may be interested in. My friends confiscated his taser from him after he ran away from my house. There is even a video feed of him leaving my house."

That night after the report was filed, but no Brainy was found, Helga decided to lay down beside Arnold as she rested the whole night through. Exhaustion weighed such a heavy hand to such a stressful time with her father in the hospital.

Monday at school was the usual heyday it seemed even as Arnold kissed Helga good bye before their first class. Sid was doing his own usual rushing after another blonde down the hallway since, Helga was off the market again.

"Morning Gloria. Can I carry your books?" He offered the pink clad beauty.

Smiling at him, Gloria gave him her books as she asked him about his weekend. "When we get to class, I want to give you some cookies that I made, Sid."

"Oh that will be great." After he helped her to class and deposited her books, Sid watched as she bent down to her book bag to get them. As she did, Sid couldn't help admire how she grew. While certainly attractive, Gloria was a lot more skinnier than Helga is.

Straightening up, Gloria opened up the tin to give him his pick. "I hope you love oatmeal raisin. They are my grandmother's recipe."

Hating oatmeal cookies, but accepting them in hopes of a date with her, Sid smiled. "Mmm I can't wait to eat them. Thank you, Gloria."

"Well that isn't no problem for a cutie like yourself." Smiling at him, Gloria placed her tin away.

Feeling he just received an in, Sid opened up his mouth to speak.

XX

"No." Curly answered in a bored tone wishing he could locate his friends so he can give Helga a bear hug for all the crap she's been through.

Rhonda jumped in front of him to hold the tickets in front of him. "You are going out with me and that is final."

Smirking at her as he took the tickets in his hand, Curly inspected them. "Oh these are front row."

"The best seats." She said with pride.

"Yeah." Seeing a popular jock coming towards him, Curly asked him. "Do you want to go to a concert with a hot chick? Well I hope you do because she's buying." Handing him the tickets, Curly walked off.

Snatching the tickets back from the jock, Rhonda went off in pursuit of Fallow. "You want me."

"No I don't and I find it pathetic that you are chasing after a guy who isn't interested." Turning around to face her, Curly gave her a brief once over. "Let me tell you in a language that you will surely understand. It is like mixing flannel with silk. You get the picture."

Disgusted by that match up, Rhonda had to maybe think that he was right. Maybe they weren't a perfect match.

XX

Standing up, Helga asked for the hall pass. Leaving her classroom, she ended up going to the bathroom to hide in the stall. Covering the toilet seat up with paper, she sat down, and found herself crying. It was such a maddening twenty-four hours, and she had only one person to blame.

"Helga?" Phoebe's tiny voice asked cautiously.

Of course Phoebe had to know her this well. "What?"

"Please open the door." She requested kindly.

Sniffling, Helga slid the latch open to allow her to come in with a hidden pack of kleenex from her purse. Oh her ever prepared, Phoebe. "Thanks."

"Sure." Leaning against the side, Phoebe placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I know that Arnold knew I was slipping up. I mean I'm sure he was expecting me to cut loose like Niagara, but I just fell asleep in his arms last night. I was trying to keep myself together for my mom and Olga. I hate the fact that my own dad got attacked because of Brainy. Can't he just go back home where his family actually misses him?" Helga got up to begin pacing.

"Do you want to talk to Dr Bliss about this?"

"No. Yes. Maybe." Her arms went up in the air, Helga than made them flop back down. "I don't know right now. Just-Just give me some time."

Understanding that she just went through something traumatic, Phoebe stepped forward to stretch her arms out in a universal gesture.

Seeing that gesture, Helga stepped into them. "Yeah I can use these right now."

"I know and I'm glad I'm here for you."

Smiling down at her tiny friend, Helga confessed. "You always have been."

He was wheezing while he ran. They located him heading back to her house and now he had to leave once more. He didn't want to get caught. He didn't want to end up going back to his family. They separated him from his Deity.

His lungs burned more and his nose was following suit. He wasn't made for this type of activity. He use to play sports just to be near her, but now he found himself collapsing onto the hard asphalt. Their rushed footsteps were still closing in and he spotted a nearby sidewalk grate leading below.

He rolled with all his might towards it and with his slim size, Brainy was in, and down below. Now he can hide anywheres down there. Let them locate him again. This time he had to be more careful.

This time, he couldn't get greedy.

It was so hard to eat right now when all you can feel is the emotions of the one you love so profoundly. Arnold knew that Helga was boiling to the surface. He saw how badly she wanted to release last night only to fall asleep instead. Sleep was still good for her to do. She definitely needed it.

H: Now it sucks that we don't share the same lunch.

Arnold smiled at the incoming text.

A: I know. I'd hold you during lunch.

H: Sounds nice. I also wouldn't mind another hamburger.

A: You had one yesterday.

H: What can I say? The girl loves her beef.

Chuckling at that, Arnold continued to text her.

A: This guy loves you.

H: I already told you that I love my beef. ;)

Getting that double meaning, Arnold adjusted himself.

A: People will think that we are doing something if they read our messages.

H: Well we're not.

There was a pause in the texting.

H: Well at least not yet.

A: Need a sponge bath?

H: Yes.

Arnold nearly fell off his chair with that response. He was sure she was distracting herself for the time being, but thoughts of sudsing her up went through his mind.

XX

Catching up to Arnold, Helga threw her arms around him. Her body relaxed instantly against him as they held one another. She didn't want to move whatsoever even though she knew she had to. "I told my family that I'll be at the hospital at six with food, but first I'll need to do some homework."

"Need help preparing the food?"

Pulling back, Helga responded with a cheesy smile. "Yes, but while I already did my homework during class time. I'm hoping for something unless you have homework."

"I done my homework already too. What did you want to do?"

Blushing, Helga moved away from him. "Just get in the car."

Laughing at her nervous tone of voice, Arnold thought she was so cute as he got into the passengers side. "What about Phoebe?"

"She's getting a ride with Ludwig today." Sliding into her vehicle, she instantly started it up.

Arnold fell silent even as he thought of his best friend. "How does she really feel about him?"

Shrugging as she drove along, Helga had a quiet response to his question. "She isn't in love with him." Turning the corner, her eyes went to him for the barest of seconds. "You hoping she still ends up with Gerald."

"Well he does. He thought something was about to happen on Sunday. That's all." Arnold didn't want to guess anything else as they continued to drive along. "Never mind. If it happens. It will happen."

"Yeah. We shouldn't get too involved. Once she ends up in college she'll be pretty busy with that." Turning onto the main drag, Helga headed towards her house while handing him her phone. "Do you mind pulling up that security app for my house. You know just to double check it." Giving him the password, Helga waited for him to say anything to her.

Loving the fact that she trusted him with the password, Arnold sifted through the footage that was past and current to find nothing unusual. "Nothing. No one has stepped foot in your house."

"Good."

"You'll still check once you get there."

Taking a shallow breath, Helga nodded her head. "Yeah. I know I'm being paranoid but I'm not taking chances right now."

XX

Elizabeth watched her son rub his temples for what seemed liked the thousandth time since she had been home. She remembered what his doctor told them that he will need a lot time adjusting to any environment after where he was. She heard what her own son told them, and she hated herself for placing him there.

"Did I endanger you by placing you in there?" She finally spoke up nervously.

Curly popped his head up. His hands stopped rubbing his temples. His eyes removed the fuzziness he was subjected to for the past hour after he got home. "No. You didn't know what was in there." His voice so small to himself. Was he lying for her sake or his? Or was he telling her the truth? Right now he felt strangely disjointed.

She wrung her hands. "You could always tell me when it all comes clear. I can tell myself that you have no clue right now."

"How?"

She cleared her throat as she straightened up her skirt. "Because I was in a place like that when I was fourteen. The place I was in was in a different state. Now it is closed up due to the controversy that surrounded it."

He noticed how haunted her voice sounded now. "What happened mom?"

"I was punished for something I didn't want to do. I didn't want to take my medications. They made me see things. So the Orderlies threw me into the mens wing." She looked away from her son. "At first nothing happened. First they acted nice." Lifting up her hair she revealed a mark. "They put me on that table to shock me. The inmates. When I came to."

Standing up, Curly wandered over to his mom to hold her. "Does dad know?"

She nodded her head. "Yes. My parents sent me away because they thought I was Satan. This is why I don't talk to them anymore. This is why I only spoke to my grandparents. They pulled me out of there once they found out where I was."

"I don't hate that you guys did that. I did need help honestly. I just hate how I ended up having to break down to end up there."

Elizabeth pulled away from her son remembering the broken photographs of one girl. "Yes I heard she is the one responsible for that. Does she know it is you yet?"

"No, but it is only a matter of time. I just know that I have some friends that are supportive of me."

Placing a hand under his chin, Elizabeth kissed his nose. "Than that is usually all you need."

Bob back in his attic. The dustiness pervading his nose as he moved along to his destination. There was a slight lump towards the side, but it was ignored for the most part. It might of been something that one of the girls placed up there for the time being. So there he was moving along.

His fingers fixed the electrical. He felt this satisfaction. The lump had moved, but lumps don't move nor sting you. This one did.

Bob woke up to Helga wandering into his room with Arnold by her side. She brought dinner. Now there was a restriction to his diet again that he must adhered to. Still he remembered that Helga told him who it was that did this to him.

"I remember that there was somebody else in the attic with me, but I thought it was just some lump." Bob told them in his deep voice. "I hope they caught him."

Helga came closer to him. "They didn't but they are still keeping a watchful eye out for him. So far he hasn't been back in the house."

"That's good." His eyes went to her. "Maybe you should stay with your boyfriend's family until he his caught. I'd feel better if you do."

Shaking her head, Helga wanted to, but there was mom. "I won't leave mom alone."

"I'll be here, baby sis." Olga assured her.

"Your job, Olga. You teach kids with special needs. You know how important it is to keep up with their studies." Helga pointed out.

She sighed knowing how that was. "True, but I can afford a few more days here."

Arnold spoke up. "Mrs Pataki can still stay at the boarding house if you are also concerned about her safety."

Bob smiled at him. "That is also a fine idea. I just don't want anything to happen to them."

Miriam shook her head. "Bob, you'll be home soon. A nurse will be hired till you are fully on your feet. I mean you can still conduct business from home. It'll be fine. I'll stay at the boarding house and Arnold's mom is helping me with the nurse. It'll be great."

Leave it to her mom to act all sunshiney about this whole thing. "I'll come home than." Helga smirked at the food being passed around. "By the way, that is eggplant parmesan. So enjoy."

Arnold almost snickered at the way his girlfriend winked. Even she can wink in the most sarcastic of ways.

"Will I every enjoy ribs again?" Bob complained as he cut into the dish.

"You will, but I will find ways of cutting the fat out of that too." Helga answered as she took a bite out of her food. While not a vegan, Helga wasn't complaining about the dish her and Arnold made. It wasn't half bad.

Taking a bite of it himself, Bob swallowed. "Hmm. Not bad."

Winking at Arnold in a more loving way it was her way of her silently thanking him for his help.

A/N 2: The last part in italics was Bob remembering what happened to him that day. Part dream/Part memory.

Also thought to share a moment between Curly's mom and himself however sad it was. :/ I grew up in this town where they actually had a place like this. It was on the next street over from where I grew up. The things you witnessed from the people who escaped from there or the things the nurses had come across made you feel sorry for people like, Curly or his mom who were placed there. People who just didn't belong. Eventually they moved that place away elsewhere, but that memory remained.