I do not own Ratched.

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

Huck Finnigan Lives Again: A Ratched Fairytale

William Holden Swings For The Fence


And some, by the way, . . .

"Hey, how come those two dumb dykes put you in charge of the nursing staff?!"

. . . do not appreciate it in the least.

"Good morning, Al. What seems to be the problem?"

And are voicing their disdain . . .

"The problem is, Halloween Mask, that I've been working here for years, much longer than you have!"

. . . that seems to have been brewing for a while . . .

"I'm older and I've served my time! But she promotes you! What makes you so goddamn special?!"

. . . at top volume right in front of the nurse's station.

And Huck Finnigan . . .

"Why don't we go into my office and we can talk there?"

. . . takes a breath.

"No, goddamnit! We can talk right the hell here!"

And comes around to face the sullen, glowering man . . .

"Al-"

. . . currently making a complete ass of himself.

"That Bucket bitch walks around all high and mighty, lookin' down that narrow lesbo nose at everyone-"

In front of all who care to see.

"Al, let's step outside-"

And Huck tries . . .

"-like her shit don't stink-"

"Al-"

. . . to control his own rising temper.

"-and now she goes and promotes you to head nurse! You're a fucking wheelchair pusher, you make the beds, you don't even look like a person anymore for Christ's sakes-"

And the crowd of anxious rubbernecking hospital staff . . .

"Al, let's stop right here-"

. . . gather and oogle . . .

"What you doin', huh?"

. . . from a safe distance.

"Porkin' 'em both to get the job?"

And Huck knows this is going south very, very quickly.

"How's that Bucket bitch's snatch, huh, must be dry as the fuckin' desert-"

"Al-"

And everyone can hear it.

"And that Ratched, looks like she'd take it right up the ass over the bathroom sink-"

"Al-"

And Huck can feel the blood rising in his face.

"What's the grand plan, Halloween Mask, you gonna stick it to her next-"

And Huck realizes Grace has stepped up to his left, closer than anyone else has dared , and what in God's name is she doing so close-

"Just a bunch of fucking whores in a crazy house-"

And his body moves forward of its own accord.

The full weight going into the swing of his right arm, the tightly packed fist.

Healing shoulder, sling free for a few days now, promising there will be severe consequences to this physical action for quite some time to come.

Following through anyway to deliver the knockout punch to the chin of the ranting man whose reflexes are more than a little slower on the uptake.

The blow drives an ice pick of blinding pain into his healing shoulder, nearly sending him to his knees.

But Huck stubbornly stays on his feet as the other man's head snaps back and his eyelids droop like a sleepytime doll.

Bulk swaying momentarily.

Before dropping to the pristine tile floor like a sack of old potatoes.

Before Huck.

Huck, teeth clenched tightly against the screaming pain of his shoulder, gnarled left side of his face pulling tightly against the right.

Heart racing, stomach churning sickly.

And yet, somehow, still finding the willpower to speak calmly, clearly.

To the slightly cross-eyed man struggling to sit up from his stupor.

"I don't have a beef with you, Al. I really don't. If you want to discuss your concerns, I'd be happy to talk in private."

As Huck grips his screaming right shoulder and arm tightly with his scarred left hand.

"But I really can't allow you to speak so coarsely of any woman, in their presence or out. They don't deserve it. I won't have it."

Ignoring the burning bile in the back of his throat.

"Now I want you to pick yourself up off the floor and go on home for the day. You'll still get your pay. And you take the time to decide if you want to continue on as an employee of this hospital."

And taking care of this damn business.

"If you do, you'll have to treat everyone here with dignity and good manners."

Unfortunate as it is right out here in front of God and everyone in the hospital.

"If not, I'll have to insist you find gainful employment somewhere else."

He turns to two guards standing fairly close, alert, hands on batons.

"Take him to his car. Stay with him 'til he's safe to drive. Make sure he leaves."

They nod, near in stunned unison, and move to the semi-conscious man on the floor.

Huck turns, beads of sweat standing out on his furrowed forehead.

And without another word, moves through the gathered crowd toward the kitchen.

They part like the Red Sea before Moses and he keeps his eyes blankly ahead, not ready to deal with anyone else's wellbeing.

"Quite a punch there, William Holden. You sure rang his bell."

"Thank you, Mrs. Kee."

For the moment.


Thanks to DinahRay for reviewing the last chapter. Hope you're not getting bored. :)