Chapter 38

I do not own anything from Wizard of Oz.

Sorry for any mix-ups in my last chapter with the labeling. This is Chapter 38. God! I am so sad this is ending soon.

Dorothy could tell Scarecrow had a lot on his mind as she continued to recover. He refused to tell her anything, saying that he just wanted her to get better.

She was now walking around on her own, and was off most of the machines that kept her in bed for days. She was beginning to get use to the technology around her. Scarecrow had taken her outside in a wheelchair, and she was amazed at how cars looked in 2014. People were walking around talking on their cell phones, and she found out the box the nurses used were called laptops and computers, which could store, send, and receive information over electronic sources. It was amazing, but kind of scary at the same time.

Dorothy sat there and watched the television. A lot was going on the world, and because of that box it all came to her. Things she never even imagined were happening in this world, and it made her nervous. She kind of missed her blissful ignorance of living on the farm when she was younger, and then in Oz in a way, but she soaked up all the information she could.

She tried to pick up the books that Scarecrow had brought her, but her mind was not into it. Besides, the one he picked up was called Fifty Shades of Grey. She was pretty shocked that kind of writing was allowed in books nowadays. She was far from a prude anymore, but this was not her time period. Scarecrow shrugged it off when she commented about it and said he just picked up whatever the bestsellers were.

"Are you going to tell me what's on your mind?" Dorothy asked as she adjusted in her bed.

Scarecrow was sitting back in the chair staring at the ceiling.

"The only thing on my mind is you getting well," he answered raising an eyebrow, but still looking up at the ceiling.

Dorothy scoffed. She hated it when he did that. He was trying to protect her from something and not upset her, and that was always one thing that they disagreed on.

"What?" He asked.

"I hate it when you do that," she answered.

Scarecrow sat up and adjusted to face her. "Do what?"

"I know something is bothering you," she said.

"Yes, but it can wait," he answered.

Dorothy looked down and shook her head. Scarecrow cupped her chin, and stared at her. "It can wait. Your healthy is my first priority," he reiterated to her.

Dorothy scrunched her eyebrows in thought. "So, are you going to tell me how this happened?"

She waived her hand around the room for emphasis.

"How we got here?"

"Yes."

"That much I will tell you," Scarecrow said looking at her amusingly.

Scarecrow began from when he carried her to the ledge of the castle tower. He stopped and looked around to make sure no one heard their conversation from outside of the room.

"Theodora appeared to me and kept insisting I take you back to your world," Scarecrow looked down and shook his head as the memories came flooding back.

"I really thought that was the end for us. There was no way I could open up the portal, and could not get a message to Glinda in time. However, I didn't know she was on her way. I knew you wouldn't survive, and thought this was it."

Dorothy began to blink back tears. She could tell what happened really affected him, and she took his hand in hers as he continued.

"I asked Theodora where to go, and all she said was she would take care of that. Apparently, Glinda got the message, and when I looked down again the portal was open. I had no idea where we would land. I knew it would be your world, but I thought it would have been in the year you told me it should have been. So, the future was just as much as a surprise to me as you."

Scarecrow looked around and again made sure no one was listening.

"All I remember is seeing what could have been outer space, and then a light began to shine. Then we were here," he continued.

"Here?"

"Yes, the next thing I know I was reading a sign that said 'Emergency Room' on it. I knew I had to take you inside. I remember seeing the hospitals from your time, but this was a shock to me too."

Dorothy's mouth formed a wow in the process as she took in the information.

Scarecrow shook his head in thought and then said, "I ran in here and was suddenly surrounded by the nurses asking what was wrong. I didn't know how to explain it, but they took charge, and everything was a blur after that," he finished looking down and squeezing Dorothy's hand.

"Isn't funny how the woman who tried to kill me over shoes is suddenly my savior?" Dorothy asked in thought.

"The questions I had to answer were nothing I had ever experienced before. Then they started asking me about your cuts and bruises. I didn't even know what to say. I even had to speak to someone called a social service person. I didn't know if you were going to live, and they were accusing me of things at first," Scarecrow said in disbelief.

Dorothy gasped. She hadn't even known about that.

"No wonder that one lady was in here talking to me," Dorothy said in thought.

It was understandable in a way, but it still made her angry. Her and Scarecrow had been through so much, and this was the last thing they needed.

She answered the woman's questions honestly, and no matter what she would stand by her husband. If they only knew what really happened they would both be put in a mental ward, and that wasn't just from Dorothy's times, it was true now.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as the tears began to gather.

Scarecrow smiled and took her hand, and kissed it. "I understand why they did it. You know as well as I do there were always severe punishments for violence against women in Oz when I was king."

"So, I have another question," Dorothy said as they sat there quietly for a moment.

"Ask away," Scarecrow said.

Dorothy couldn't help it, but she had to know. "How did you get the money to stay in the hotel? Even in my time they charged money, and it's not like you and I came here with that."

Scarecrow smiled at his wife. She was always very observant.

"Oh there is a farmhouse that is considered abandoned that a certain wizard still owns, and he had some money buried on the property. I found out that money is still good. Hence the clothes," he answered. "The man who worked at the hotel wanted something called identification, and I had to give up even more money just to get him not to ask about it."

Dorothy smiled. So, Oscar still owns that house, even though he would be long dead by now. She was so confused by this time travel thing. Identification for everything now, as Dorothy was discovering. She had read about these kinds of things in sci-fi novels, but never imagined them coming true.

"Are we stuck here?"

"No. We can go back anytime," Scarecrow answered darkly.

Dorothy cocked her head to the side. "What is it Scarecrow? Please tell me."

Scarecrow sighed. "Ozma is dead, Dorothy. The emerald is destroyed."

Dorothy gasped again. She thought so, but wasn't sure the right time to ask. She was disappointed she never had her revenge, but relieved at the same time. She mourned the emerald. It had been with her for so long, but knew it was time.

"Who? Glinda?"

"No, the citizens of Oz were healed, and attacked. Glinda couldn't even watch," Scarecrow answered.

In a way, Dorothy couldn't blame them, but it was still very violent.

"Boren killed Reginald and saved me," Scarecrow added.

"Is Boren dead?"

"No, he has been put in the cells. That is all I know right now. Glinda can't get close enough to see what is going on," Scarecrow said. "I never thought it would come to this."

Dorothy knew it was imperative they return to Oz, and soon. Things were not looking good out there.

"They think we are dead. There is no leadership right now, and there are rebellious factions trying to fight for power. Oscar suggested some elections, and some are responding," Scarecrow said with a haunting look in his eyes.

Dorothy looked at her husband, and realized he was fighting an inner battle. Then it hit her. No one knew Scarecrow like she did, and she knew what this was about. He was thinking of never going back to Oz, and yet he felt obligated to his people. Many of the usurpers of Ozma did risk their lives for him when he was captured in Aglas.

Now the people of Oz were rebelling because the king they wanted was now thought to be dead along with their savior. The cause of it all, Ozma, may have been gone, but there was no one there to guide them now. The people of Oz had been through hell, and now they had no guidance and nothing keeping them from fighting amongst themselves. No one they trust enough to give them the hope they so desperately needed.

"The new council is going to step in and regain control. People are calling for royalty to be demolished forever in Oz, and since most of the council is royalty already they are rebelling. I can't say that I blame them," Scarecrow said.

Scarecrow looked down, and back up to Dorothy sadly.

"Then we need to go back right away," Dorothy said.

Scarecrow didn't answer. Dorothy knew it. Scarecrow was done being a leader. This had been the last straw for him. (No pun intended) Almost losing her had taken its toll on him mentally, and he was suffering for it.

"Scarecrow?"

Scarecrow suddenly rose from the chair. "I need some air," he said.

Dorothy wanted to cry. She wondered a lot of things as he walked out of the room. She wondered if it was she that needed to go back and gain the peoples trust once more. She was considered the savior after all. This would take a big burden off of Scarecrow, but in the end it was his world, and his decision, and she had to support whatever his decision was.

She was tired of seeing her husband suffer like this. She sometimes missed the happy go lucky Scarecrow she met so long ago, but this is what war did to a person. It changed them forever. However, she would never give up on him no matter what happened.

Janice walked in after Scarecrow left to check on Dorothy and said, "Honey, I don't where you found him, but hang on."

Those words rang truer than Janice could ever imagine.

Dorothy laughed slightly.

"I'm serious. I will never understand why the girls like the bad boys," Janice said. "He is a good one."

That was still so true no matter what time period it was.

"Yes, he is."

Janice suddenly closed the door to the room much to Dorothy's surprise.

She positioned herself in the chair and looked at Dorothy quizzically.

"What?" Dorothy asked.

"You're really not from around here are you?" Janice asked. "It's Ok, my shift hasn't started yet. I just had to know."

"Why would you say that?"

"Well, first the clothes you both came in when you first got here, and just little things I have been seeing and hearing," Janice asked.

"Am I in trouble?"

Janice shook her head and smiled. "No, honey. This is personal between you and me. I have been a nurse for over twenty years, and I have seen it all, done it all, and heard it all. I know you and that man are unique."

Dorothy smiled back in relief. "I wish I could tell you more, but it is not my place. By the way, I really am from Kansas, just not what you think."

"I understand. Your man is haunted by something, and it is not of this world. I get it. I hope you are able to resolve what it is that you are involved in," she commented.

"That is very nice of you, and thank you," Dorothy said smiling at the nurse.

She was so appreciative of Janice. She was a very observant person, and knew Dorothy and Scarecrow were different right away.

"Whatever is going on in your world Dorothy Gale, I hope you both find some peace," she said.

…

Dorothy was released from the hospital not two days later.

She was so happy to be out of there finally. The paperwork she had to sign was unbelievable, and she could not fathom what this country had turned into. She complained about bureaucracy in her times, but it was nothing compared to now.

She was now dressed in a Tshirt and jeans that Janice told Scarecrow what size she thought Dorothy was.

She gave Janice a big hug before they left.

Scarecrow did his best to get Dorothy's size, but the jeans were still too big. However, she loved it they made denim for women nowadays.

Her illness was now in scientist's hands to be tested, but Dorothy knew better. They would probably never see it again.

Scarecrow was still fighting his inner battles, and she could see it as they took the taxi to the farmhouse. Scarecrow had been in contact with everyone through the crystal ball, which was surprisingly still there.

Oscar had made sure no one ever got to that property.

…

The barn was exactly how Dorothy remembered it. She was still a little weak, but Scarecrow showed where her things were stored when she first went back to Oz. She was amazed things were still intact.

She hugged a picture of her Aunt and Uncle to her chest as she looked around. It was severely faded, but she could still make out their faces.

"What an adventure Auntie Em," Dorothy whispered to the picture smiling.

Scarecrow stood at the barn door staring off into space.

She walked over to him, and they embraced for a while.

She looked up to her husband, and said, "Whatever your decision is I will stand by you."

Scarecrow ran his fingers through her hair, and said, "I never doubted that."

They had made one decision. They were going to go back to Oz, and assess the situation. Scarecrow decided they would keep low. Only their inner group knew they were still alive. It would be better to see things with everyone still thinking they were dead. He would make the decision from there.

In a way, Dorothy wanted to go back to Oz. It was her home, and where her and Scarecrow were making a life together before all of this happened. The other part of her wanted to stay and start a new life that was fresh for both of them away from the heartache they had experienced.

She was fighting that inner battle as much as Scarecrow was.

Scarecrow did mention he liked the new technology and would have loved to explore more of it.

She had a feeling their decision was made, but Scarecrow still needed more convincing.

The portal opened, and Dorothy held onto the picture of Aunti Em and Uncle Henry as they stepped back into Oz.