Hello everyone! Here I bring you the new chapter! This one is an emotional one, but it had a special deliver on it that I hope you'll like.
Also, in this chapter there's a piece of art related with a scene it appears. This piece of art was done by whisperwillyou on Tumblr if you want to check it. Anyways, I hope I'll like the chapter
As always, I'd like to thank Empro-8 for helping me editing this story. Honestly, without her help this wouldn't be as good as it is, so thank you very much Empro-8 you're amazing!
Welp, I'll stop talking and let you read the chapter, enjoy it!
27.- How deep can injuries be?
They returned to Duckburg in record time. Launchpad had just finished repairing the plane when they staggered out of the building with an unconscious Huey in their arms. Mark Beaks and Falcon Graves were both securely tied back-to-back and put under Beakley's watchful eye. Seriously, that woman looked like a sergeant. Her gaze was so intense that not even Beaks dared to open his beak.
Fenton noted the state Graves was in. They told him it was Donald who left him in that state after he floated about torturing Huey. Seeing the hawk, a bird much larger than himself beaten so badly made the superhero wonder what would have happened to Beaks if Scrooge hadn't stopped his nephew. After all, the parrot was the one responsibility for all their heartache. He even threatened to kill Huey through a number of slow and painful ways if they didn't let him escape.
During the journey, Gizmoduck was asked to hold Huey, since his suit incorporated cooling functions that would help to lower the poor duckling body's temperature. It could at least prevent his fever from rising further. Fenton could see how Donald didn't look away from his nephew for a second, like he was afraid that he would disappear again forever. The Hispanic duck was heartbroken to see Donald like that, and hoped that his mother would never be in the same situation with him… too late for that. His mother had already been in Donald's position not long too long ago when he was in the hospital.
"We are about to fly over the Duckburg Police Headquarters, we'll be there in a matter of minutes."
"Oh really? That gives me an idea," said Scrooge with a smile. He grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and wrote something.
Then approaching the back of the plane, he grabbed something and put it on both villains, it seemed… a parachute? He also put the written note so that it was clearly visible, but couldn't fall. Next, he tied a rope around his waist and ordered the others to take a seat and buckle up. All except Donald, Scrooge convinced him to do the same he had done. He assured him that he would like what he was about to do.
The next thing the rich duck did was open the plane's back door while holding his grand-nephew's kidnappers to keep them from flying away.
His last action was to call his nephew over and say:
"Donald? Would you like to do the honors?"
Donald Duck smiled and approached the villainous duo. Grabbing Beaks by the shirt collar, he said:
"This for what you've done to my nephew."
He then pulled the ring that opened the parachute and booted them from the plane with a hard kick. The uncles watched with satisfaction as Beaks screamed when he fell, before the parachute caught air and descended right in front of the station's door. Several officers to immediately came out and grabbed them.
With a smile, Scrooge closed the door again and when he turned and saw the strange expressions, he explained:
"I didn't want them to come with us to the hospital, and I didn't want to stop to drop them off, so I applied the intermediate solution. And the note explains they're detained on charges of kidnapping, torture and attempted murder and that for more details contact me."
Fenton was amazed, but he didn't complain. That was the least those two deserved. Without further distractions, they then rushed the oldest triplet to the hospital. When they saw his condition, the doctors immediately took Huey to the intensive care unit to do a thorough examination of his condition and give him the care he needed.
The family was forced to wait outside. Obviously the doctors didn't let anyone pass while they were taking care of the boy. The family had no choice but to wait anxiously for someone to give them some news regarding Huey.
As they waited, going from one side of the room to the other, Donald turned to the rest and said:
"I want to be by his side when Huey wakes up."
Scrooge shook his head and looking sadly at his nephew, said:
"Sorry lad, I don't think it's the most appropriate."
Before the sailor-clad duck could even open his mouth to reply, Dewey asked:
"Why not Uncle Scrooge? I think Uncle Donald has every right to be by Huey's side when he wakes up. Why shouldn't he be there?"
The other little duck dressed in green, seemed as obfuscated as his brother. It was as if they both wanted to jump on the older duck for saying something like that. If only they knew… Fenton was about to explain what the kids' great-uncle had meant by those words, but Webby came before him saying:
"Boys, don't be mad at Uncle Scrooge. What he means is that probably the best thing is that none of us here will be by his side when he wakes up."
"What? Why?" the two brothers asked at the same time. Donald seemed to be wondering exactly the same thing.
Fenton sighed and it was he who responded this time explaining:
"While we were looking for Huey, we found a room full of costumes and masks of each one of the members of this family. All obviously worn, there was even a Gizmoduck suit, practically identical to mine. I think… I think they used all that to torture Huey. Making him believe that it was we who did it to him."
The eyes of those who were in the other rescue group widened at those words, and the reactions were not long in coming:
"What?"
"That's horrible!"
Mr. McDuck sighed and then said:
"We know. But not knowing what kind of torture the poor lad was subjected to, seeing any of us when he wakes up, could be… disastrous."
Donald looked at his uncle with a face full of fear and said:
"B-but then what do we do? The last thing I want is for my nephew to wake up among strangers."
The older duck looked at his nephew with compassion and putting his hand on his shoulder, said:
"I know Donald, but I'm afraid there's nothing more we can do."
"Or, maybe not..." Webby said suddenly. Everyone turned to look at her, and then Beakley asked:
"What do you mean dear?"
The girl with a bow in her hair turned to look at her grandmother and answered:
"Among all the costumes that were there... there was me, you, Granny, Uncle Scrooge, Donald, Gizmoduck... but none of Fenton. And I think Gyro's intern is a good friend of Huey's."
Fenton opened his eyes in surprise, he hadn't expected this young girl to know that. Although of course, she seemed to be really perceptive. It was logical to think she had realized something like that. Smiling with some emotion, he asked:
"Do you believe it?"
She turned to look at him and answered:
"I know Huey went to visit a friend at the hospital almost daily, and I think that friend was that duck."
Scrooge smiled then and said:
"That's right lass. I introduced them both myself."
"It's true…" Fenton said in a nostalgic voice. Then he realized everyone was looking at him, cleared his throat and quickly added:
"Er… I heard him comment to Dr. Gearloose."
Scrooge nodded and speaking to everyone present, but specifically to him, said:
"I think that lad could be very helpful to us. Gizmoduck, could you go to Gyro's lab and bring him please?"
Fenton smiled and quickly replied:
"On my way, Mr. McDuck. "
He then left the hospital and pretended to leave, waited a while, and re-entered the hospital in his civilian form, claiming he had been informed of the situation and was delighted to be able to assist in whatever was necessary.
The constant noise from the machines was all that could be heard in the room, Huey had been connected to several of them to keep his constants under control and make sure everything was going well. When the doctors managed to stabilize the duckling, they informed the family and moved him to a room. Fenton immediately went with him and stayed there while Scrooge and Donald talked to the doctor, who informed them the full extent of the physical damage, there was a significant probability the boy would also suffer psychological damage.
Apparently, this worried the doctor a lot, especially when he learned the details of what had probably been done to the boy. The doctor immediately suggested that Huey would need several tests when he woke up, something to which Mr. McDuck and his nephew completely agreed with. He also encouraged them, if the boy desired, to be one of the first people he saw when he woke up. That part especially pleased Donald, since the poor duck feared how long he would have to wait to see his nephew again.
Fenton sighed, the poor boy was lying down, but half incorporated (just as he was when he was hospitalized) probably to facilitate his breathing. He had several electrodes spread across his chest to monitor his heart rate, some more electrodes on his head to monitor his encephalogram. He also wore an oxygen mask over his beak, thus ensuring the boy received all the oxygen necessary to breathe. A band on his arm monitored his blood pressure intermittently. And an intravenous line had been placed in his other arm to supply him with the liquid, food, and medication the boy might need.
Huey had already been in those conditions for three days. During that time, as is logical, the police, his mother among them, contacted Mr. McDuck to ask him for details about everything that happened. The rich duck told them everything he knew. Informed them of the place where they had kept the boy captive, the state he was in when they rescued him… well, everything.
In those three days as well, Huey's fever had subsided, and although his temperature was still perhaps higher than it should be, it was no longer in those same high temperatures when they found him.
The Hispanic duck looked at the boy sadly. Since they moved the boy from the ICU, he hadn't separated from Huey for a second. He knew that his family was outside, waiting for Huey to wake up, from time to time one of them, especially the children, poked their heads to see if there had been any change. But so far there had been no such luck, no, the poor boy-
Huey's breathing hitched suddenly, and almost instantly the boy began to jerk. The heart rate machine indicating that his pulse had quickened. It seemed… as if he was having a nightmare, which had happened several times during those days. It took just a moment for Fenton to stand beside him, trying to calm him down. Placing a hand on his cheek, he did something his mom had done to him when she wanted to calm him down. He began gently rubbing his thumb in circles while saying:
"Huey, calm, calm, it's not real."
Little by little the duckling relaxed, which for Fenton was a relief. The Hispanic duck was about to relax when he suddenly saw the boy's eyelids begin to tremble. That caused Fenton to withdraw his hand in surprise, could it be…? Could it be Huey was waking up at last?
Slowly, very slowly, the boy's eyes began to open. He quickly closed them again, probably due to excess light. But they reopened again. Huey looked confused, as if he didn't know where he was, and it was logical. The only thing the boy had seen in the past weeks was the interior of that identical building to Waddle. Or, he had probably only seen the inside of that room which they had kept him locked up in.
Suddenly, the boy's gaze went to him. The boy narrowed his eyes for a moment and then his eyes widened in surprise. Fenton couldn't say for sure, but he thought he saw a gleam of joy in his gaze. The boy tried to sit up a little more, which after a little effort he managed. All without taking his eyes off the adult duck.
"F-F-Fenton?" Asked the boy hoarsely. Probably as a mixture of the lack of use, the disease and the constant pumping of dry air in his airways.
The Hispanic duck rushed to his side and replied:
"Yes, yes Huey, it's me. I'm here. I'm with you."
Huey looked around. He seemed puzzled. Looking back at the Hispanic duck, he asked, or at least tried to ask:
"W-where…?"
Fenton assumed the boy wanted to know where he was, so he explained:
"You are in the Duckburg hospital. You had been unconscious for three days."
Huey widened his eyes. After swallowing, asked again:
"And where is… Mark?"
The brown plumage duck raised an eyebrow, he didn't understand why the boy had called that parrot by his first name, but still, he replied explaining:
"He can't hurt you anymore, neither can Graves."
Again, Huey's eyes widened in surprise first, and then he lowered his head looking away when he asked with some disappointment in his voice:
"R-really?"
"Absolutely." Fenton replied. The truth, he was concerned that Huey seemed to regret he wouldn't see Beaks again. It was as if the boy really wanted to see him. As if, as if… he… wanted to be… at his side… that must be because of brainwashing, surely.
Argggg, it was clear Huey would need some time to recover. But in order to do so, the first thing he needed was to see his family, so, looking at the boy again, he smiled softly and said:
"Listen Huey… your family is here."
Huey looked at him again, and this time, Fenton detected anxiety on his face. This wasn't good. How deep was the damage done to the boy? The Hispanic duck saw Huey's beak shake before he managed to ask:
"My family?"
The machine beside him indicated that his heart rate had increased.
Oh, oh, that wasn't a good sign, he had to calm him down! Putting both hands on his shoulders, the adult duck assured the older triplet:
"Easy, Huey, easy, it's nobody in disguise. They're your real family. They've missed you all this time, they are very worried about you and they're also eager to see you. Do you want to see them?"
Fenton's words seemed to calm the altered duckling. The older triplet took several deep breaths and finally, in a voice… more or less normal, finally said:
"No, I mean… yes… I-I guess so. I-I really want to see them, it's just that…"
"Do you need a little time?" guessed the Hispanic duck. Huey looked down and slowly nodded, letting Fenton know he was right.
The older duck sighed and calmly said:
"Okay… I'll go warn them and I'll be right back, okay?"
"Okay…" Huey replied looking at him again. Then followed him with his eyes as Fenton headed for the door. When he got there, the Hispanic duck turned to look at him, and asked him:
"Shall I tell them to wait ten minutes?"
The brown plumage duck waited while the boy considered it for a moment until he finally replied:
"Yes… I think… I think it will be enough."
Fenton nodded and left the room, as expected, was soon approached by family members. He relayed to them what had happened. How Huey had woken up. His reactions to mentioning Beaks and mentioning them and how he had also agreed to be seen.
Since the boy had asked for a ten-minute wait, Scrooge considered they could take advantage of that time to notify the doctor that his nephew was conscious and explain what had happened. Everyone agreed with that. So, after finishing speaking, Fenton entered the room again while the others went to notify the doctor.
Once inside the Hispanic duck took a seat in the chair next to the bed, it didn't take long to see that Huey seemed to be nervous. Something demonstrable by the slightly accelerated pulse, his breathing a little panting and the appreciable tremor in his closed hands. Poor Huey… truth be told, the adult duck didn't know what to do or say to calm him down. He chose to tell him everything was going to be okay, but when he opened his beak to speak, Huey did it before:
"Fenton…"
"Tell me Huey." said the Hispanic duck almost immediately.
The older triplet looked him in the eye, there was uncertainty and fear in them. Then speaking tremblingly, he asked:
"Could you… could you take my hand when they come in, please?"
Fenton was surprised at that request. Why was he asking him something like that? Was he so scared to see his family again? Well, at least… that he agreed to see them was already a big step for him, so the brown plumage duck nodded and replied:
"Of course."
The older triplet breathed a sigh of relief, closing his eyes momentarily, when he opened them again, he looked at Fenton again with pleading eyes and said:
"Whatever happens, please don't let me go."
Fenton put his hand on the trembling duck's forearm and said:
"I promise I won't."
Huey smiled gratefully at Fenton's promise. But the smile quickly faded when knocks sounded on the door.
The boy knew it.
The time had come.
Okay… I know this chapter was… wow, I really liked write it from Fenton's POV, what do you think about it? Did you like it? Also, what do you think about Scrooge's special deliver? I thought it'd be funny to put something like this. And Webby? She really is a very perceptive person, and her idea probably helped them all with Huey's situation. Welp, as always, I'd like to hear what do you think about this chapter.
Okay, after say that, I really hope you all enjoyed this chapter, I also would like to thank you all those who've read this story, those who follow it or have it among their favorites and I'd like to especially thank: puppydogs68 and GiddyReflections for their reviews. Thank you very much, I really appreciate it!
Puppydogs68: Yes, Huey isn't fine, but it's more dangerous the psicological damage Beaks and Graves could have done to him
See you in the next chapter