As they traveled through the streets to the hospital, everything was a blur to Molly . . . except Alvin in her gloved paws. That sight was all too crystal clear.
As they arrived at the hospital, Alvin was immediately rushed on a mobile lift into Intensive Care. The RS gang immediately surrounded Molly before she could enter the hospital.
Seeing that hospital security was being overwhelmed by the RS gang, Molly just took charge.
"Okay, everyone!" she said loudly. "I know you all need to get your pictures and story, and I need to get inside to be with Alvin. So let's make a deal. I'll give you a brief statement now, telling you what I know. You'll then let me inside peacefully, and later we'll have a follow-up press conference as soon as we know more about Alvin's condition, okay?"
The RS gang quieted down as they gathered more orderly around her.
"Thank you," Molly responded as the RS gang went silent around her. "Okay, he was fine last night, but this morning, he was all drowsy and he even said he was sick, so we're going to get a new gang member and doctor in two days if that's okay . . ."
Molly paused, as the emotions of that moment began to sink in and hit her, for the first time. She tried to regain her composure though.
"I raced around the track to find him," she continued, "knowing that would be faster than trying to get to the backstretch through the pits. When I saw him . . . it was surreal. He was always so careful. I never thought this would happen to him . . . to us . . . never . . ."
Molly now struggled to complete her statement as tears welled up, "I love him . . . and no matter what, I am not giving up on him. I meant what I said as we left the track. We will return . . . both of us . . . together. Thank you."
The RS gang then respectfully parted in silence, allowing Molly to enter the hospital. Mirror spoke up though as Molly passed.
"Molly," Mirror said, "Should I get Bell now?"
"Not yet, Mirror," Molly said, briefly stopping and turning towards her. "Bell needs two days to read about how to be a doctor. Then, you can bring her. I need to be with Alvin right now."
"Shouldn't you ask the spies permission to be with Alvin?" Mirror asked, right on the spot.
"Yeah, I guess," Molly replied sadly. "I'll ask Finnlette and Arrow permission to be with Alvin."
"You know what, Molly?" Mirror replied. "I'm gonna like Bell."
"I'm sure you will. Thank you, Mirror," Molly said as they briefly hugged before parting.
Molly then entered the hospital.
"Molly!" Finnlette administrator called out to her as she came towards her.
"We need to talk," Finnlette said. "Would you come with us into my office."
"Not before I see my best friend," Molly calmly responded.
"Of course," Finnlette conceded, ushering Arrow to escort Molly to the Intensive Care ward.
Soon Molly entered the room where Alvin had been brought. He was surrounded by a web of tubes and electronic cords, and his helmet and eyes were hidden by bandaging. Molly could hear gentle, rhythmic beeping on one of the monitors. She refused to let herself cry, instead summoning her strength.
"Alvin, are you okay?" Molly asked in concern as she wheeled up beside him. She reached out and stroked his not-so-injured paw with hers.
"They won't give us much time together here, so what do you want to do?" she asked him, despite knowing he probably wasn't able to respond.
"I know they'll tell me you're a 'total constructive loss'," she continued, "and want to just take you off life support. But if you'll trust me on this one, I don't want to do that. I believe that together, we can bring you back. It'll be hard, you may want to give up at times, but I believe we can do it. Would you trust me, buddy?"
"Yes, Molly," Alvin replied.
"Thanks, pal," she warmly said to him. "I'll take that as a 'yes'. Well, I don't know how long they'll keep you here," she then continued, "but I promise I'll be around here for as long as you are, and that I'll get you home as soon as possible. Hey, at least you're finally going to get the time off at home that you've been wanting. You just stick around beside me, too, okay? After all, you don't want to miss out on those sunrises, and all those races we've been going to, do you?"
"No," said Alvin. "Danielle wouldn't want me to miss them eiether."
"I didn't think so," Molly smiled. "We're communicating here. Thank you, buddy. This is keeping me going right now, in ways even I don't understand!"
"But just please stay with me here," she continued, finally allowing a tear to emerge. "I've waited far too long in life for you . . . and you may think this is selfish of me . . . but I haven't had nearly enough time with you yet!"
Molly leaned in towards him as she gently gave him a kiss on his paw.
"Molly, I'm sick, remember?" said Alvin.
"Of course I remember." Molly replied tearfully. "Here, I'll prove it!"
Molly moved behind him, and took out a map that Arrow had given her.
"Arrow gave this to me so I could find his house . . . you see, I fell in love with him," she said as she carefully put the map in his paws.
"There," she said with satisfaction as she finished. "If you want to find Mirror's house, it'll be easy. The map will show you how to get there, okay?"
She gave him a soft kiss on his side.
"Now, if you'll excuse me," she said, straightening herself up and brushing off her gloved paws. "I have to talk to Finnlette and Arrow. Save me a spot beside you here, I'll be back soon."
— — — — —
Molly didn't have to look for Finnlette. She and Arrow were waiting for her right outside Alvin's room. After Finnlette and Arrow had ushered her over to an office section of the hospital, they entered her plush office, and she closed the office door behind them. Finnlette then nodded at Arrow.
"Molly," Arrow began. "We're ready to do the x-ray test on Alvin. The doctors gave us permission to use his x-ray, however, they also think something may be wrong with his bones and he will need a cast."
"No!" Molly responded with determination.
"We knew you'd probably say that, Molly," Arrow continued. "I'm not saying that he does need a cast, I'm just saying that that doctors are just guessing why he's not feeling well. He's not blind, so that's good. It's not a physicle injury, it's just a sickness that we're not sure about. We don't know why Alvin's sick, Molly, so we need the x-ray to see his insides and then, we'll know what's wrong. After two days, Bell will be here with all the knowledge she will need to fix Alvin. With her new doctor skills, Alvin will be as good as new in no time."
"Thank you, Arrow," Molly said evenly. "I can appreciate your position, and your need to maintain objectivity. But just before I accepted his friendship proposal a while back, I offered Alvin and I to go skating, check out the local scene. He didn't even hesitate before telling me that he wasn't quitting on me. So I'm not going to hesitate now before telling you that I'm not quitting on him. If you'd prefer not to continue caring for him here, I'm sure I can arrange for his transport home, and for him to be quite well cared for there, for no matter how long it takes."
"That of course, is your decision, Molly," Arrow replied. "We can certainly perform the x-ray test now, and then we'll know what to do about it. When Bell arrives, we can tell her what's wrong with Alvin."
"I understand," Molly responded. "Let's allow him to rest for tonight. I will think about things further, and will be prepared to do the x-ray test tomorrow."
"Thank you, Molly," Arrow said. "You know, for most spouses in your position, I must say you're doing remarkably well."
"Thank you, Arrow," Molly replied, thinking briefly about explaining the 'conversation' she'd had with Alvin, but then deciding against it. "I gave Alvin the map to your house you gave me. I'm sorry, Arrow," she explained instead.
"That's okay," Arrow assured as Molly turned to depart.
"For me, it's also a choice," Molly added. "It's just not going to be over for Alvin and I yet, not by a long shot. I'll take him however he is, and work with whatever we have together. I love him, and I know he loves me. That's all there is to it."
"I can't help but admire that, Molly," Arrow concluded. "He's a very lucky skater to have you. I wish Finnlette, Bell and I could live with you. It would be the best therapy and medicine imaginable. Don't worry, we will do our best for him."
"Thank you, Arrow," Molly replied as she departed. "I know you will."
"Finnlette, thank you for your concern as well," Molly acknowledged to the still uncomfortable spy as she left out the door of her office.
Molly proceeded to cross the lobby from the hospital's administrative wing back towards the wing where Alvin was. But she was met by a lone friend.
"You going to do the x-ray test now?" Mirror asked.
"Actually, I'm not," Molly responded, taking a breath. "I'm going to let Alvin rest . . . and do the test tomorrow."
"Understood," Mirror replied. "I've talked with this 'Bell' person and she really seemed really willing to help. She told me that she'd been reading all afternoon about how to give checkups. So she knows how to do an x-ray test"
"I can't guarantee much of anything for you, for any real length of time," Molly cautioned. "Our sponsors may pull their support . . . the whole 'Alvin' phenomenon may evaporate."
"Then it will be part of Bell's new job to see that it doesn't," Mirror assured.
"Thank you, Mirror," Molly replied gratefully. "You know, you don't have to do this."
"Yes, Molly, actually I do," Mirror responded, " . . . I've been here before."
Molly could only smile with a tear of gratitude in her eye.
Mirror continued, "I just have to tell the others the good news here, file some report, and then I'm all yours. Shall we go out and tell everyone about Bell?"
— — — — —
Soon Molly was surrounded by not only the RS gang gathered outside the hospital, but by a throng of well-wishers and fans. A collection of flowers and mementos was also growing on the hospital's plaza. Before Molly stepped up to a cluster of microphones, Arrow came up beside her.
"What's going on, Molly?" he asked her.
"Bell just learned how to do x-ray tests," Molly politely whispered. "Do you want to tell them?"
"No," Arrow replied, "I think we all want to hear how Alvin's doing from you first."
Molly nodded and wheeled up to the microphones.
"Thank you all for coming," she began. "I want to just briefly inform you that Alvin is stabilized and seems to be resting comfortably. But we're not going to do the x-ray test until tomorrow."
A soft gasp arose from the crowd.
"Luckily, the newest member of our gang has learned how to do an x-ray test, so if she when she comes, she can help us," Molly continued. "Thank you for the concern all of you have expressed, and for your tremendous show of support here. This is frankly the beginning of a new and uncertain phase for Alvin and I. We don't intend to disappear, and if we possibly can, we intend to return to the track, sometime. We'd appreciate your continuing support. Thank you . . . that's all I have to say for now."
Arrow allowed Molly to step back as he stepped forward.
"Just so you know, Finnlette and I can't live wherever Molly comes from, but we don't mind if your new gang member comes to live with you," Arrow continued. "Her name is Bell and right now, she is reading about how to be a doctor. Right now, she can only do check-ups. She'll be here very soon."
Molly reemerged next to Arrow to hand the trophy to Mirror. Mirror not only gave her a thumbs-up, but also gratefully took the trophy and smiled.
"Congratulations on winning the race, Mirror," Molly said into the microphones again. "You can share it with Alvin when he's all better."
"Alvin," Molly said tearfully as she looked back and upwards towards his room in the hospital while still addressing the crowd, "Pal, we can't let all these folks down now. We gotta come through for them, okay?"
The crowd cheered again.
