Chapter 12: A Thousand Times Over
"Well men," the doctor, Dr. Capaldi, said. "Everything seems to be where it needs to be. All of your organs have relocated to their proper spots, and nothing seems to be the matter with any of you." The eight men sitting in front of him all let out a breath they didn't know they were holding. "However, if any of you see anything suspicious about anyone's well being, please be sure to bring them right back here to me."
"As well as that," said the policeman standing next to Dr. Capaldi, "Anything that happens to you that is connected to this case needs to be reported to us at the station." Officer Braddock scratched his head. "Once Mendoza is released from this hospital, he will instantly be put under our supervision. Then we can begin questioning him. We thank you all for your confessions, and we will need all of you to be present at the trail."
"Trial?" Norm frowned. "My boys are needed back in England next week!"
"I'm sorry, sir, but we need them here to testify against Dr. Mendoza." Officer Braddock said.
"You've got three young men who live here that can easily testify for you! Besides, I don't want this kind of thing known to the public. It would ruin their image!" Norm fought back.
"Norm, cool it," George said, resting a hand on his shoulder. "It's fine. We're okay with that."
"I'm not!" Norm spat, "This entire thing has ruined everything! Our schedule, your music, it's even set back history. You four are the most famous band in history, and this little catastrophe will have your heads, your fame."
"Just relax, Norm," John snapped. "The only people who are going to know about this are the professionals and the jury, right officer?"
"Right. We wouldn't do anything to try and put you off, sir." Officer Braddock smiled.
"Right now the only thing putting the four of you back is Mr. McCartney's condition," Dr. Capaldi added.
"Yeah, don't worry," Micky added. "The six of you will be back in England before you know it!"
"They're right, Norm," Shake finally said. "We can't change what happened, there's no reason to be upset."
Norm huffed at his colleague's comment and folded his arms. "Fine." He grumbled.
Another nurse came into the room, asking for Dr. Capaldi's attention for a minute. Dr. Capaldi excused himself and left with the nurse, leaving the officer with the eight men. "I thank you all for your cooperation. I will contact you if I need anything. Good day," Officer Braddock tipped his cap and left the men in the waiting room of the hospital.
Dr. Capaldi quickly reappeared. "I have some news for all of you. Mr. McCartney has regained consciousness. I'm about to go check in on him now, as for you three," Dr. Capaldi turned to the three Monkees, "I just got a call from the veterinarian's office. Mr. Nesmith has made it through surgery and is on the road to recovery. He just came to a few minutes ago. We still do not want to give him the antidote until he has completely recovered, but at this point at least we know he will make it."
"Thanks Doc," Micky smiled and turned his attention to his band mates. "Think we should go visit him now?"
"I don't see why not." Peter replied. "I mean, he's probably having a fit because he's still a monkey."'
"Right," Micky said, beginning to walk towards the front doors of the hospital. "Give Paul our best wishes, we hope to visit sometime soon." Peter and Davy followed, waving their goodbyes to the Beatles.
"Will do, same to Mike from us!" John bellowed, turning towards the double doors where Dr. Capaldi stood, waiting to take them down to Paul's room.
"I don't know about this, guys." Davy muttered as they all got out of the MonkeeMobile at the veterinarian's' office.
"What do you mean?" Peter asked.
"I mean…" Davy felt himself shrink. "It won't…"
"What, Davy?" Micky poked. "Something is wrong, obviously."
"Yes, yes there is. Mike's an animal, that's what's wrong." Davy grumbled. He leaned against the MonkeeMobile. "I- I have to confess…"
"Confess…?" Micky asked, hoping his tone of voice would urge the Englishman to finish his sentences properly.
"When I was in the castle, with Paul and Mendoza. The monkeys…"
"What about us?" Peter asked. Not sure where this was going.
"It didn't…" Davy continued. In the moment, when everything was happening so fast, Davy didn't have enough time to even process this. However, now that everything was slowing down, everything was comprehensible, he just couldn't handle it. "It didn't feel like they were you three. It felt like you guys were still missing, and with a stroke of luck, Paul and I were being helped by three monkeys."
"It was us, Davy." Micky reassured, leaning against the car next to the Englishman.
"I know it was you, I consciously knew it was you. I just couldn't believe it." Davy frowned. "I knew the facts, but I just didn't believe them. Though in the moment, with everything happening so quickly, I didn't have time to recognize that I didn't believe it."
"But now you do." Peter concluded. The three men fell silent for a moment. Davy took a deep breath and stood up straight.
"I know Mike is in there," he pointed to the veterinarian's office. "That's a fact. I just… don't believe he is in there. I won't believe it till I see him human again. When he's like this, it's like he's not really him. He's not a monkey..."
"He's a Monkee with two e's." Micky finished.
"Right," Davy nodded.
"You don't have to go in, you know." Peter said, placing a hand on Davy's shoulder. "Micky and I can go by ourselves. We'll tell Mike that you're back at the pad, sleeping."
"Right, I'm sure he'll believe it." Micky gave a curious smile. "I mean, it's not like you haven't been up all night long battling an evil scientist and his assistant with Paul McCartney."
Davy chuckled. When Peter said sleeping, a rush of fatigue overcame the boy. He really was tired, and Micky was right. He had just been battling Dr. Mendoza and Groot all night long. "You know, I might actually do that."
"What?" Micky asked, as though the conversation never happened.
"Sleep. I'll lie down in the back seat at sleep." Davy let out a large yawn.
"Good idea," Micky said, patting him on the back. Peter and Micky moved away from the car as Davy opened the back door. "Are you going to be alright?"
"I think so." Davy yawned again. "The faster Mike heals, the better."
"Right," Micky said, he and Peter slowly moving towards the veterinarian's office. "We'll see you in a little while." The two waved as Davy slammed the door shut to the car, dozing off into a wondrous sleep.
Davy was somewhat aware that he was in the pad. He walked down the spiral staircase, not really anticipating anything. He placed himself at the table, where a box of cereal and a milk carton sat, complimented by a bowl and spoon. Unconsciously, he picked up the box and spilled the pale cereal into the bowl. Once he set the box down, he heard a voice.
"Good morning, Davy." It was Mike. Davy frowned. He knew it was Mike, yet he could only tell because of the green wool hat on top of his head. His face was a blur, and so was his torso.
"Good morning, Mike." Davy replied, reaching for the milk.
"Where's Micky and Peter this morning?" Mike asked, opening up a black and grey newspaper.
"They went the vet's office." Davy replied, looking down at his cereal now. The conversation continued.
"Ah, yes, I forgot about that." Mike said, as if he knew why they left. "What time do you think they'll be back?"
"I don't know," Davy said through a mouth full of cereal. "Noon?"
"I hope so." Mike said, flipping a page of the newspaper.
Suddenly the front door swung upon, revealing the hyper drummer, panting and panting.
"Micky?" Davy asked, standing.
"RUN!" Micky huffed, running in after he caught his breath, grabbing Davy by the arm and pulling him from the pad.
"What's going on?" Davy demanded as he and Micky ran out of the pad and onto the beach.
"The animals, they're taking over the world!" Micky yelled, pulling Davy this way and that.
Davy did not question the fact that animals were taking over the world. Instead, he inquired, "Where's Peter?"
"They turned him into an animal!" Micky bellowed, continuing to run. "We have to get out of here!"
Davy turned his head to see if they were being followed. After looking back and forth a few times, he tugged on Micky, causing them both to fall into the sand. Davy stood, brushing himself off. "Micky, no one is following us!"
Micky bounced up, looking wide-eyed beyond Davy. "You don't see it?" Micky pointed behind him. Davy looked back, still seeing nothing behind him.
"There is nothing there!" Davy yelled at him. Micky, still scared stiff, began to walk backwards.
"We have to leave, now!" Micky said, grabbing Davy's hand again. Davy pulled away.
"Calm down, Mick. There is nothing-" Micky forced Davy's body to turn around. That's when Davy finally saw it. Coming quickly upon them was a stampede of various animals, all of which looked extremely upset. "Oh dear…" Davy gulped. They both broke out into a run, Davy catching up with Micky easily, almost surpassing him.
"D-a-v-y!" An unfamiliar voice called out. "M-i-c-k-y!"
"D-a-v-y!" Another voice called out. "M-i-c-k-y!"
"Oh no," Micky yelled. "It's Peter! He got Mike!"
"WHAT?" Davy yelled, tripping over his feet, falling into the sand.
"Davy!" Micky yelled, slowing down and turning around.
"Micky, keep going!" Davy yelled, trying to get back up. He felt his body begin to vibrate and the shadows of lions, giraffes, elephants, monkeys, and other animals came over him. Davy screamed.
