Another Story, another Side
"So what do you two want to know first?" Claire asked setting a book down on a coffee table. Today Wakko and Dot were visiting her at the studio since Scratchy had to work late with a few clients. It was early evening and the sun was starting to set enough that it lit the room a bright and warm orange. Claire had offered for them to come over so they could have company, and so she could show them the picture book she had found in her belongings.
Wakko thought for a minute, "Anything would be great really Claire."
"How about the beginning?" Dot asked.
Claire smiled, "Alright makes sense now doesn't it?"
She sat down between the two siblings and opened the book to show pictures of her and Yakko causing trouble throughout the treatment center. The first one was of a very tired looking Claire and a smiling Yakko doing what he could to cheer her up. The following picture was of the two howling "Hello Nurse!" at two doctors that had treated the duo. Wakko and Dot smiled looking at their brother and felt that he was truly alive again.
"When was this taken?" Dot asked as she pointed to a picture with the two dressed up slightly.
Claire smiled weakly, "At the treatment center they held dances and other social events to help us socialize and make friends…Though mostly it was to take our minds off the fact that we were in pain and dying. This is one of the dances that they held for us while Yakko and I were here. The theme was fantasy castle Yakko told me that his attire was close to the costume that he wore in one of the episodes of Animaniacs."
"Yeah it does look familiar" Wakko noted.
The three of them continued to look through the pictures laughing, smiling, and at times one or all three of them were crying. The pictures were of either of the duo laying in a bed looking rather sick and down, and the other doing their best to cheer the other up. One that really hit the siblings hard was Yakko looking like he was about ready to die, but at his side was Claire holding the phone to his ear. Wakko remembered that call as clear as day, as did Dot. Both looked at the picture and felt their minds slip back to that night where their brother had called at 3 in the morning.
"Hello?" Wakko asked rather drained.
"W-Wakko?" a raspy voice asked.
Wakko was instantly awake, "Yakko!? Are you okay? You sound awful!"
"Easy there Wak, just having a bad day…I needed some comfort so I decided to call- I didn't wake you did I?"
"It's 3 in the morning, but its fine it's good to hear your voice."
"Wakko who's on the phone?" a tire Dot snapped in the background.
"Uhhh-"Wakko started.
"Wak, put me on speaker" Yakko coughed.
Wakko quickly put Yakko on speaker phone, "It's on."
"Thanks Wak, sorry Dot did I wake you?"
"Yakko!" Dot shot up now feeling bad, "Do you know what time it is?"
"Yeah sorry, was just feeling down and I needed to hear your voices." Yakko groaned.
The two siblings could hear another voice over the phone speaking softly and trying to ease their brother's pain.
"So how are you doing Yakko?" Dot asked weakly.
Yakko was having a coughing fit but managed to reply in between gasps, "I've had better days….this is the worst one to date. I just wanted to call to see how you two were doing and that I should be home in time for Christmas. I hate this place, but I found one thing that makes it bearable."
Before the Warners could continue their talk the line went dead. Wakko snapped out of the flashback and looked over at Dot who must have had the same thing on her mind. Claire looked at the two and handed them both something to wipe their eyes, she knew what night they were thinking of too. She had stayed at Yakkos side in fear that he was giving up on living. She was the one that suggested that he call his siblings and that maybe they could cheer him up, she was glad that it helped.
Dot looked up at Claire, "Were you the one thing that made it bearable?"
Claire nodded and moved a strand of hair out of her face, "Yeah guess you could say that. We made it bearable for each other. Yakko would cheer me up, and then I'd do the same for him. We were always together through surgeries, chemo treatments, and other activities too. Heck I remember the one time Yakko had an allergic reaction to a medicine and lost his fur….He was embarrassed to leave the room for weeks."
"He lost his fur?" Wakko asked shocked.
Claire nodded, "Yeah, but I had managed to save everything he lost and sew it all together into a sweater. He loved it due to the fact he stayed warm, and that he still had his fur."
Dot laughed a little at the thought, "I can't picture it to be honest, but sounds hysterical."
"He was so shy, but really appreciated what I did for him." Claire responded, "When his fur did grow back and I got worse he'd joke around and then give it to me so I'd stay warm." She pointed of a photo showing the antic in action. Yakko was at her bedside holding the camera with one hand and had his arm wrapped around a tired looking Claire, who was in the fur sweater.
Wakko and Dot broke out into laughter at the picture before them. They couldn't help but wonder though, did their brother have feelings for this girl that were more than a friend? A lot of the pictures showed them hanging on one another and being close. They had so many questions, but didn't want to bombard a tired looking Claire with them at the moment.
"So are you ever going to go back?" Dot asked noticing Claire wasn't looking well.
Claire shook her head, "Nah, how could I go back when my trouble buddy isn't there with me? I decided that I would continue treatment from home. Can't go back now, besides I get the feeling that if I did you two would be lonely." She quickly turned and began to tickle both Warners much to their laughs of protest.
The sight must have been something since Hello Nurse stood there for a few minutes smiling at what was before her. Dot and Wakko where laughing for once, it was sweet music to anyone on the Studio lot to hear the laughter of the two sweet children. She hated to break the moment, but she had to deliver news and medication.
"I'm sorry to interrupt." She started.
Wakko wasted no moment and jumped up into her arms, "HELLO NURSE!"
Claire and Dot looked at each other, "Boys."
"Claire I brought your medication at your grandfather's request, and also news for you two Wakko, and Dot. The studio is finally going to put your brother to rest since there was a bit of a dispute on who had the rights to a few things."
"Like what?" Wakko demanded.
"A few medical companies feel that if they could use some of your brother's blood cells they may be able to find a cure to the disease that is affecting so many toons. However, Yakko stated in his will that only one company would be allowed to have any rights and that's been settled. They plan on having the burial in a few days."
"I see" Dot looked down sadly.
Claire took her hand and then put a hand on Wakko's shoulder, "I hate to impose, but would you two like me t-"
"Of course we want you to come with us!" Dot cried.
Wakko nodded, "You were his friend too. His special friend it seems."
Claire blushed a little, "Well I wouldn't say that…"
Hello Nurse set a bottle down and proceeded to leave. Claire couldn't help it but with a small smile she perked up and howled, "Goodbye Nurse!" Much to her delight it caused Wakko and Dot to lighten up some and the room felt less heavy. She had really started to warm up to the Warner kids, and really wished that Yakko could still be there and enjoy the fun as well. The rest of the evening she showed the rest of the pictures to Wakko and Dot from her and Yakko's time at treatment. There was something on her mind though, something she wasn't sure if she should tell the two young Warners about death. Though her thoughts were destroyed as they reached the end the book and a piece of paper fell out of it.
Dot picked it up and handed it to Claire, "You dropped this."
Claire took it and began to tear up, "I had no idea this was in here, I've never seen it before."
"What is it?" Wakko asked peeking over her shoulder.
"A poem." Claire sniffed, "Yakko must of wrote this before he left."
All three of them looked down at the worn piece of paper and began to read it in their minds, hearing Yakko's voice speaking.
To My Special Friend
To my special friend who helped me feel less blue.
I don't think I would of survived if not for you.
Through the chaos we created
Think of all the people who weren't devastated.
We brought them cheers and laughs
We showed them comedy with class
Though if it weren't for you,
I don't know what I would do.
Until next time we see each other,
I hope that you don't find another
You're my special friend who kept me sane
Though is saying something since we're both insane.
I will remember our time together until the end
You were my truest and most special friend.
Until I see you again, Claire
Yakko Warner
"How sweet" Wakko sniffed.
Dot nodded, "Who knew he had a soft spot for poetry."
Claire was in tears now, "Yakko…."
Dot and Wakko looked at one another and nodded quickly pulling their new friend into a hug. She was more than just Yakko's friend she was his special friend. That changed how the two now viewed Claire, she was no longer just a friend. She felt more like an older sister that their older brother had asked to come to their rescue and comfort them. They couldn't be anymore happier with that, minus the fact that the world would be perfect if Yakko was with them still. Later that night Wakko once again retrieved his journal and began to write once again wondering if Yakko read what he wrote.
Yakko,
We found the poem you wrote to Claire before the last time you saw her. Why didn't you just tell her how you felt? Or were you unsure of your feelings? Knowing you, it was just shyness and afraid of being rejected. I can't help but feel that you asked her to come here before all of this happened, why else would she have come here or known where to find us? She's going with us when the actual funeral is, though we'll have to endure the dreaded viewing hours first…..It's getting late Scratchy is banging on the door for me to go to bed. Love you brother.
Wakko.
-End-