1Hullo all It's been awhile. Sorry 'bout that! I've been tangled up in a project and couldn't spare the time for fun writing, but here be chappy 10:
Dr. Finklestein removed a curved scalpel from his autoclave. He cast a weary glance at Jewel. She remained incapacitated on the examination table, her chest cavity still open. Despite the doctor's generally unemotional approach to such things, he found it uncomfortable to dwell on the reality before him. Jewel needed repair. Sally had the necessary materials. That much was easy. It was the messy in-between which gave him pause. The heart wouldn't just leap from one woman to the other after all. Doctor Finklestein could barely admit to himself how uncomfortable the thought made him. All things relating to Jack aside, Sally could hardly be expected to give up her existence quietly. Could I even do it?, the doctor thought to himself. The doorbell rang and he groaned. It had started out as quite a kick having Jack and the Mayor visiting daily to beg, plead, and bargain for Jack's right to marry Sally. Now however, it had become more than annoying.
"I'm busy!", he bellowed at the door. He placed the scalpel on a steel instrument tray, beside an assortment of other tools. The bell rang again. This time the doctor didn't bother to dignify it with a response. After a moment, the downstairs door creaked open, then shut as someone entered. What nerve!, thought the doctor. He spun his temperamental electric wheelchair and headed down the ramp to give Jack a piece of his mind. The doctor reached the first floor and looked up in surprise. Jack was not the one who had come in, nor was it the Mayor. Standing in Doctor Finklestein's kitchen was Sally. She had not set foot in this place for months. It was a strange non-sequitur to see her once more. The two stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. The Doctor took in her wine dress and the silver locket. A thin band of satin ribbon wound across her hair. Light danced off of the blue diamond ring.
"You've done well for yourself," was all he could think of to say.
Sally felt an old insecurity creeping into her stuffing. She became aware that she was nervously wringing her hands. She stopped herself, and took a deep breath.
"I need to speak with you," she said.
The Doctor turned and directed his wheelchair back up the helical ramp. He felt more at home in his laboratory and much more in control.
"You'll need to come up here then, Sally. I am very busy and I can't waste my time standing around in the kitchen."
Sally blanched at the prospect of revisiting the lab, but she followed obediently, clasping her locket in her fingers. Once in the chilly, metal, room, she began again.
"You know why I'm here. I am asking you to please let go of me. You know I'm not yours. I never really was yours..."
"There is a paper in the town hall that says otherwise, my dear."
Sally bit her lip. She noticed Jewel, immobile on the same steel table where she used to lie for repairs. Unable to take her gaze from her sibling, she spoke again.
"I am sorry about Jewel, doctor."
"Those things happen, it's nothing that can't be remedied. Seeing as how you are aware of your...a-hem, sister's affliction. I'm somewhat surprised that you ventured over here all by yourself Sally."
Sally stepped toward the examination table. She peered at the dissected Jewel with mixture of terror and fascination.
"I don't understand.", said Sally. She wondered how he had managed to build Jewel without using any stitches on her face. Sally touched her own cheek self-consciously.
"Aren't you afraid that I might just do it now?", said the doctor.
"No. You would never do that to Jack. Not like this.", she said quietly.
Doctor Finklestein scowled. In a way she had called his bluff, but not exactly. It really had nothing to do with Jack.
"I want to marry Jack.", Sally said suddenly.
"I'm sure you do.", the Doctor said with a humorless chuckle. "That hardly makes you unique, Sally. What blasted female around here doesn't want to marry Jack?"
Sally felt her anger growing.
"I don't understand you. You made me! You gave me life! Why do you hate me so much?"
The Doctor removed his small, round glasses. He wiped the dark lenses with the cuff of his lab coat. His eyesight was quite poor without the glasses, and at the moment he could do without seeing her. He turned to the window, his remaining hemisphere of a brain searching for something particularly hurtful to say. Sally had hurt him badly, thus she deserved no less.
"You are the only failure I've ever made, Sally."
Satisfied at this, he replaced his glasses and returned to arranging scalpels, forceps, and clamps on the tray. Sally felt her face grow hot with an unpleasant mixture of frustration and anger.
"I am no failure," Sally said, shaking her head. Her voice rose as she continued speaking. "You're the only who thinks that. Out in town, I've done all kinds of things! I sew for everyone now. They all know I'm smart. Even the ones who don't like me, know I'm smart. And Jack... Jack loves me. He and I sit together all night and talk about everything. Jack asks my advice about things. You know he wouldn't talk to me like that if I were a failure."
"Sally, everyone in town knows what you and Jack do all night, and from what I understand, there isn't much talking involved.", sighed Dr. Finklestein.
"All I'm asking for is one sheet of paper and I'll leave you in peace forever. I'll never bother you again.", said Sally. Her voice was strained, struggling to keep from tears. "You're so smart doctor. You're a genius! Surely, there's some other way to make Jewel better."
Apparently unmoved, her creator shook his head.
"Sally, you were always so ungrateful. Never satisfied. I'm beginning to think that Jack is not the sharpest knife in the drawer for falling for you, of all people. For that, I am sorely disappointed in our king. I couldn't let that poor naive boy be taken in by your opportunistic game. It would be against my civic duty to allow someone like you to become Queen."
Sally's eyes stung.
"I love him! I mean really love him! I couldn't care less whether or not I become the queen!"
"I hear about all the presents Jack gives you. New dresses, jewelry... Just because I don't spend a lot of time around town these days, doesn't mean I don't know what goes on."
Sally felt the tears welling. Talking to the Doctor was hopeless. She brushed her hands over her eyes.
After she had gone, the Doctor backed away from his worktable. He held his metal head. She was just as stubborn as ever. Stubborn, and pushy, and selfish, and just as pretty as she had been the last time he had looked closely at her, a long time ago when he had locked her in her room. How on earth could this mess be solved? Even if Jack were willing to just give Sally back, fixing Jewel would require the almost unthinkable. The old man allowed himself that "almost", as a concession to his scientific nature. Surely, it could be done. She could be taken by force, restrained... It could be done, even if she screamed and cried right up to the last. Suddenly cold, he swallowed hard. Dr. Finklestien had seen Jack and Sally together in town on just a few occasions over the past months. Jack always looked so interested in what she was saying; he always seemed to have his arms around her shoulders or her waist. For her part, Sally always seemed to be smiling. Dr. Finklestien, though he would never admit it, even to himself, almost missed his ragdoll creation and the spontaneity she had brought to his drab life. He sighed deeply.