I do not own Ratched.

I do not own my angel boy Huck. But I love him.

Huck Finnigan Lives Again: A Ratched Fairytale

Stalling


The walk is going nicely.

More of a slow stroll in the sunny Northern California afternoon than a purposeful, directed stride.

At least he thinks it is.

And Grace . . .

"How is your shoulder?

. . . seems to be enjoying it as well.

"Is it healing?"

He nods.

"Yeah. I think so. It's going to take a while. But I think it will be okay."

She nods, his answer appearing satisfactory to her.

They're walking down the sidewalk of Mrs. Graham's street.

Huck on the outside, as a gentleman does, Grace on the in.

He has chosen to walk south.

"That's good."

Put her on his right.

"I'm glad."

So he can see her better. Hear her better.

"It could have gone so much worse."

And she can see the good part of him.

"What a relief that it didn't."

They are not holding hands.

His are in his pockets. Hers folded primly in front of her.

Well maintained turn-of the century abodes they amble past.

Nearly clipped lawns and properly trimmed trees.

There are butterflies flitting and birds tweeting.

And a gentle, kind lady by Huck's side.

And that's just fine . . .

"How's the hospital?"

. . . by him.

"It's fine. Everything has gone back to normal."

He doesn't really want to talk about the hospital.

"Most of the patients don't even know about what happened."

But it seems polite.

"It's like it was all a terrible dream."

And there are people there

"Ms. Wells is under stricter security than Dr. Hanover would have liked."

Who are just as real and living and breathing souls as him.

"But I think it's only safe."

As well as . . .

"I don't even want to think of what might have happened to you if it had all gone wrong."

. . . Grace.

"Yeah. Me either."


"They took Edmund Tolleson away."

The priest killer in the basement.

"He's gone."

Huck had heard it would be soon.

"And Nurse Ratched left as well."

Now this is a revelation.

"She said she was taking a friend of hers to Mexico for special cancer treatments."

And Huck feels torn.

"She resigned from the hospital."

On one hand, she was someone he looked up to.

Admired. For her compassion. Her strength.

"Nurse Bucket looked almost weepy when she told us."

And, embarrassingly, fell in love, however short a time, with.

"I don't mean to sound like a Chatty Cathy."

On the other hand, . . .

"I just got the feeling they couldn't stand each other."

. . . it's almost a relief that she's gone.

"And then they seemed like bosom buddies."

Especially if it's with someone she cares about.

"Yeah."

Perhaps someone like her

"Yes. They, uh, they certainly had their share of ups and downs.

Then maybe she can move on with her life.

"I suppose that can be the way of it with friends."

And he can move on with his.

"I suppose."

Whatever that . . .

"When do you plan on coming back to work?"

. . . may be.

"Oh, uh, well . . ."


Their walk is over.

He's taken her back to her truck.

She's all settled in.

And he realizes he doesn't want her to leave.

"Thank you for the walk, Huck."

And she, . . .

"Thank you for the apple pie. It was delicious."

. . . doesn't seem very eager to leave.

"I'm very glad your shoulder is improving."

In fact, she seems to be stalling.

"Thank you."

Though he can't fathom why.

"Would . . . would you like to have a picnic with me Saturday?"

And he would.

He really would.

But . . .

"Oh. Um, thank you for the invitation, Grace. But . . ."

. . . he . . .

"I can't."

. . . can't.

"Oh."

She looks disappointed.

"Alright."

Though not overly so.

"Maybe some other time."

And Huck . . .

"I'll see you back at work."

. . . can't quite bring himself to promise . . .

"Goodbye, Miss Miller."

. . . what he can't . . .

"Goodbye, Huck."

. . . deliver.

And then he watches her . . .

She doesn't know.

. . . drive away.

And I'm not ready to tell her.


DinahRay, I hope you enjoyed this little chapter

Thank you so kindly for reviewing before. :)