Disclaimer: I don't own Harvest Moon!

Thank you soooo much for reviewing! hands out cookies yay! Oh yesterday I finished episode 23!... Just thought you'd like to know.. heehee! Anyways.. you're here to read right? Things are starting to get interesting... just starting...

Tales of the Village People

Episode 9--- In Need of Help

Alex was in disbelief. What was going on... how could he handle all this by himself..? He sat down and put his head on his desk, he hadn't slept in 2 days and was exhausted. He fell asleep.

"Alex? Alex wake up... Wake up... Alex.."

"Wha-" Alex woke up with a start and quickly turned in the direction of the person who woke him. When his eyes finally focused he saw Liz looking down on him.

"How long have I've been sleeping! How are they?" He ran past Liz and saw an older woman tending to Ann. Who seemed to have completely calmed down.

"Martha? What are you doing here?" Martha was one of his old teachers who taught him along side the Doctor.

"You can thank Liz. She came to Mineral town and got me last night. Alex, you are

in over your head here. You should have called for help when you couldn't figure out the problem with Kurt." Alex glanced at Liz and back at Martha feeling embarrassed. He didn't feel like a doctor... he wasn't one.

"Did you find out what was wrong with Kurt?"

"No... but by the time I got here Ann was showing all the same symptoms. She won't open her eyes, she doesn't make a sound... and she keeps coughing up something nasty... Thank the Harvest Goddess she isn't bleeding though. I've sent for more help Alex, we can't do this alone."

"Thanks for fixing the door Woody... I'm.. I'm sorry about Joe.. and Kurt too." Woody stood up and turned to Duke. He had just finished fixing Katie's door that Joe had broke from kicking it open.

"It's the least I can do... Haven't heard from Katie huh?"

"No. She's been gone since last night."

"She'll be back."

"I know, I'm just worried. She's been acting weird lately and well..."

"Duke, could you get some soda out of the freezer?" Eve had walked over to them.

"Oh.. sure."

"I have to get going anyways and start working on a new building Alex's new nurse requested."

"He got a new nurse?" Eve said looking at Woody.

"Oh yeah," Woody's face turned very serious. "He needs all the help he can get. Look around you, people are getting sick left and right... who's going to be next? They don't even know what's wrong with them."

"They don't?" Eve sounded nervous.

"Well, Alex couldn't tell me what was wrong with Kurt.."

Martha had finished explaining about Gina and Dia who would be arriving soon and turned back to Kurt.

"So what's wrong with Joe?"

"Oh.. I'm sure Joe will be fine." Alex was relieved to hear someone would be okay. He looked around and he suddenly got a sinking feeling... someone was missing.

"Where's Michael?" Suddenly Liz dropped the jar of herbs she was holding and Martha turned around to look at Alex.

"What?" Alex said anxiously.

"Ann's father... Michael... he's dead Alex."

"What?" He started feeling hot.

"There's nothing you could have done, he was dead before he was even brought here." Martha was trying to comfort him.

"What.. how...?"

"Bob is bringing him to Mineral Town as we speak... To be blessed by Carter."

"But I-" Alex leaned against the wall as he slowly slid down. He couldn't believe it. He had told Michael he would be okay... that he would get better... just four days ago...

End of Episode 9--- In Need of Help
Depressing ... poor Michael... why Michael? What did he ever do to anyone?...

Well...I'm going to put up 10 and 11 right now too.