A/N: Wow. So busy. Finally found time to update!

Chapter 20: Coming together

Mr Wonka coughed himself awake. When the attack subsided he stared up at the ceiling for a moment or two wondering whether cough drops could really be considered candy when they tasted so vile. He had meant to invent some pleasant ones but he hadn't had a cough in so long he had clean forgotten such a thing existed. Feeling worse than an Oompa Loompa after a year deprived of cocoa beans, he threw the covers of his bed aside and got up. The floor was cold. Where were his slippers? Ah, there. He pulled on his dressing gown too and, to top the look nicely, he pulled his top hat onto his wild bed hair. In this bedraggled and sorry state he shuffled to the door. He hadn't managed to get more than five paces down the corridor before another coughing fit overtook him and he was forced to wait for it to subside before moving on. By the time he reached the glass elevator he was beginning to think that standing up had not been the wisest plan of action. Still, he had got this far. One button and a short elevator ride later and he would be outside the Bucket house where he would at least get a warm welcome from Charlie.

"Mr Wonka, what are you doing out of bed?" Mrs Bucket asked rather sharply as soon as she opened the door. Mr Wonka held up his hand and opened his mouth to answer but the sight of his hand without its customary glove threw him off completely. For some reason this set off another bout of coughing and by the time this was over Mr Wonka found himself staring at almost every member of the Bucket family.

"Er…hi," he said uncertainly.

"You don't look sound so good, Mr Wonka," said Grandma Josephine with kind concern in her eyes.

"He doesn't sound great either," said Grandpa George whose tone implied the coughing had offended him in some way. Mr Wonka ignored them all. There were two faces missing and he got the distinct impression he knew that if he found one he would find the other. Before he could ask however, Mr and Mrs Bucket exchanged a significant look.

"I think I should take you back to bed, Mr Wonka," said Mrs Bucket with a gentle smile, "You're really not doing yourself any good." But Mr Wonka shrugged off her offer of assistance.

"Where's Charlie?" he asked. The whole family seemed to freeze; even Mrs Bucket's smile flickered.

"He's gone out," she answered finally, "With Grandpa Joe." Fair enough, thought Wonka, pretty predictable stuff, so why did the old people all look like they were balanced on eggshells? His eyes narrowed.

"Where?" he asked. Mr Bucket made a funny noise with his throat that made everyone look round but he lost his nerve and shrank back behind his wife once more.

"They thought they'd take a walk as it's such a nice day," said Mrs Bucket over-brightly, "Now, how about that bed?" Wonka dug in his heels, a difficult thing to do in slippers. He was ill, darn it, he was in no mood to be messed about with.

"No," he said stubbornly, "I want to know where Charlie is."

"See, I told you this would happen," said Grandpa George.

"Sssh!" said everyone else except for Grandma Georgina who seemed to have fallen asleep standing up. Mr Wonka was about to give a triumphant 'Aha!' when he was seized, once again, by the need to cough. Mrs Bucket's anxious expression immediately changed back to one of sympathy. She stepped forward and attempted to take Mr Wonka's arm. His reaction was one of utter revulsion. He backed away holding his arm to him as if worried she might try and make a wild snatch at it, his eyes wide. Grandpa George sighed loudly which earned him more than one sharp look.

"I don't know why we can't just tell him that Charlie has gone to that Rose woman's house," he said grumpily, "Then we can all just go back to eating breakfast." Wonka stared at him quite unable to believe what he had just heard. Mrs Bucket bit her lip terrified that he was going to break down or something.

"What did you say?" he whispered. If he had not already been so pale Mrs Bucket was sure he would have gone completely white.

"I said Charlie has gone…" began Grandpa George but before he could get any further Mr Bucket let out a little cry and put his hand firmly over his father's mouth. He shot a small apologetic smile over to his wife but the damage was done.

"Mr Wonka, where are you going?" called Mrs Bucket after the chocolatier who had spun round and was now walking very fast back towards the glass elevator. He did not answer; in fact he probably did not even hear her. He knew where he had to go now, and being ill was not going to stop him. If Charlie was with Rose Wilson then that is exactly where he would go too.

Charlie was on his knees on the carpet gently slapping Rose's pale face but nothing happened. Grandpa Joe was watching from above, his knees not being up to bending around too much.

"She's still out cold, grandpa," said Charlie a hint of panic in his voice, "What are we going to do?" Grandpa Joe looked around for something they could use to wake the poor woman up. He was just thinking that a hot bowl of soup or something similar might do the trick when the room began to shake. Charlie leapt to his feet as Rose's ornaments began to shake on their shelves. Before Charlie could even ask what was going on the shaking stopped and there was a loud knock at the door. Grandpa Joe and Charlie both looked at each other.

"Should we open it?" whispered Charlie.

"I don't see why not," said Grandpa Joe stepping forward but Charlie grabbed his arm.

"What if it's Slugworth?" Grandpa Joe hesitated. He hadn't thought of that.

"Ok," he said dropping his voice down low, "Let's take a peek." He had seen that Rose had one of those peep holes in her door so she could see who was there before she answered it. If Slugworth was on the doorstep they would just keep the door closed. Simple. Together he and Charlie tip toed to the front door.

"Who is it, grandpa? Is it Slugworth?" Grandpa Joe pressed his eye to the hole.

"No!" he cried in surprise, "It's Mr Wonka!" Charlie did not waste another second. Grandpa Joe barely had time to leap out of the way before his grandson was pulling open the door.

Mr Wonka might have been expecting to see Charlie but he hadn't expected him to open the door. Such a small difference threw him out completely. He became aware of how cold it was standing outside in a dressing gown and slippers and of how badly he wanted to lie down.

"Charlie?" That one word trembled with confusion.

"It's alright," said Charlie gently, "We can explain but right now we need your help. Do you know how to wake people up when they've passed out?"

Rose felt the strangest of sensations, almost like she was returning to her body after a temporary absence. She lay completely afraid to move in case it hurt when she moved.

"I don't know…maybe the Oompa Loompas could do something." Her mind must have been shaken by the fall. There wasn't any such thing as Oompa Loompas.

"She looks like you did before you came to live in the factory, Charlie. It's clear she hasn't been eating enough chocolate." Chocolate. The word swam around Rose's brain and had a curious warming effect on her limbs. She finally felt like she had the strength to join the world. She opened her eyes.

Mr Wonka was leaning over to examine the patient. Prescribing chocolate as the cure seemed to be sensible but he had not brought any with him. Foolish, very foolish. He was just wondering what alternative he could use in the meantime when the face he was staring into suddenly stirred and a pair of eyes opened and looked straight into his own. He leapt back with a squeak.

"Oh, you did it, Mr Wonka!" cried Charlie happily, "She's awake!" He hurried forwards. "Are you alright, Miss Wilson?" Rose scrambled to her feet.

"M-M-Mr Wonka?" she stammered clearly recognising the man who was now behind Grandpa Joe. Wonka gave a start at being addressed.

"Don't worry," said Charlie quickly but Rose was already backing away.

"I...I didn't mean to," she said in a terrified whisper, "He…he didn't tell me the truth." Charlie tried again to intervene.

"Please, Miss Wilson, nobody's angry. We need to know whatever you can tell us." Rose looked at him and then she burst into tears and ran into the kitchen where they could hear her sobbing frantically. Mr Wonka looked completely stunned by her display.

"Charlie, what's wrong with her?" he asked looking apprehensive as if he thought whatever was ailing her might be catching.

"She's afraid," said Charlie wisely, "Sit down, Mr Wonka, and I'll tell you what she's told us so far." Mr Wonka did as he was told and listened as Charlie told him all about Slugworth poisoning the chocolate. He had just reached the part about Rose working for him when she reappeared, her face blotchy from crying. Everyone turned to look at her including Mr Wonka whose lilac eyes had hardened as soon as he had learnt that Rose Wilson worked for his greatest enemy, and to think earlier he had wanted to waste his precious chocolate on her!

Rose cautiously re-entered the room. She had heard Charlie try to paint her in a good light but by the look of things he had failed. Mr Wonka looked as if he would dearly like to get the opportunity to knock her out again. Rose's heart sank to the floor. She had taken heart, strangely enough, from Mr Wonka's lack of appropriate dress. She had allowed herself to believe that he would think kindly of her. She had been wrong, as usual. She was just about to try to speak when Mr Wonka's expression changed and he began to cough. It was a minute or so before calm was restored. Rose was speaking before she knew it.

"I have some cough syrup, if you want it." Mr Wonka looked at her as if she had just suggested he eat frog's liver. He did not answer. Charlie gave her a small smile which might have been an apology. Grandpa Joe cleared his throat which made Mr Wonka jump. Rose waited for him to speak with her eyes fixed firmly on her feet.

"Miss Wilson," he said, "Do you know anything else about Slugworth's plot to put Mr Wonka out of business?" Mr Wonka blanched. Rose continued to stare at the floor as she spoke.

"He…he said it would happen next Friday." She heard Mr Wonka let out a little cry of protest before Charlie managed to subdue him.

"And he said three hundred children would be affected."

"She's lying." Rose looked up and met those cold lilac eyes once more. She could not defend herself.

"I don't think she is, Mr Wonka," said Charlie but Mr Wonka would hear none of it. He sniffed and then, for the first time, he addressed Rose directly.

"Why should we trust you? If I was you and you were me, would you trust you?" Rose frowned.

"No, but…"

"Ah!" said Mr Wonka holding up one hand for silence, "Charlie, I think it's time we went back to the factory. We don't need her help."

"But Mr Wonka…"

"Come along, Charlie," said Mr Wonka shortly and Charlie fell silent. His shoulders fell but when Mr Wonka stood up he did too. Grandpa Joe couldn't meet Rose's eye as he passed her.

"But…" began Rose again. Panic was rising inside her. They couldn't go. She couldn't let this happen! "But I know where Slugworth is hiding the poisoned chocolate!" Charlie, Grandpa Joe and Mr Wonka froze in their tracks. Charlie was the first to turn round. His young face was shining with excitement.

"Can you show us?" Rose swallowed while she considered her answer. She had to do this, then she would be free, then she would never have to leave her house again. Very slowly, she nodded.

A/N: Not much of the story left to go. Two or three chapters, I think. It's hard to tell :-P

Hope you're still enjoying it. I'm sorry I couldn't reply to all your reviews like I normally do. Thank you to you all!