Witness to the truth
Chapter Four
Authors Note: Another chapter up aren't you guys lucky? This is up later than usual because I've been at my dads and trying to get on the computer there is like trying to get blood out of a stone. Anyway on to the serious part of this note, contrary to popular belief, (i.e. mine) I do not own Hey Arnold. I know this may come as a shock to you all, I know it does to me, I was so surprised when the security guard wouldn't let me passed, but try to keep calm and read the fic.
Helga was bored, not just slightly bored but mind numbingly, teeth achingly, brain freezingly bored! Rearranging the furniture and cleaning out the cupboards had done nothing to alleviate the boredom, neither had cooking a three-course meal, cleaning every ornament in sight and building an army of snowmen with Arnold. Although on the plus side she now had an army big enough to attack Big Louie's gang, and if the snowmen were to magically come to life they would probably win, and scare the crap out of a lot of people at the same time.
Sniggering Helga let her mind wander as she swept snow from around the base of a large oak tree; all of a sudden she was wearing something glittery and gorgeous, clingy in all the right places and sweeping in the rest. The broom she was carrying turned into Arnold looking dashing in a midnight blue tuxedo and completely free from weapons. Smiling she twirled around the snow covered garden sweeping as she went.
'Having fun Helga?' Arnold's voice broke her train of thoughts and grinning she gestured to the broom,
'It's a good dance partner but a bit too quiet.' Arnold grinned and pulled the broom away from her, throwing it into the bushes he held his hand out and said,
'May I have this dance?' Accepting his hand Helga moved closer to him and they danced to an imaginary tune.
'Bet you twenty bucks they sleep together.' Mike said as he and Jim watched Arnold and Helga dance, Jim considered the offer then said,
'You're on.'
'Arnold it's freezing out here and we have an audience.' Helga said as they waltzed around the garden,
'I don't think the snowmen will say anything.' Arnold teased as he dipped her,
'Not the snowmen silly, Jim and Mike, they are watching from the living room window.' Helga could have sworn that Arnold was blushing, from the fact his work mates were watching him dance in the snow or from how close they were standing Helga couldn't tell she just hoped he couldn't see her blushing.
'Do you wanna stop?' She said as he twirled her, Arnold grinned,
'Nah, this is the nearest thing they have come to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Let them watch.' As he dipped her he caught sight of a glint from behind the bushes, not wanting to panic Helga he pulled her up and said with a smile on his face,
Helga, there is a man in the bushes behind you, don't look, carry on dancing, and don't panic, just do as I tell you. Okay reach into my pocket and pull the gun out.' Shakily Helga reached into his pocket; she would have loved to have seen the looks on Jim and Mike's faces as it most likely looked incredibly incriminating for them.
'I got it, now what?' Helga asked as she held the gun so that it couldn't be seen.
'Pass it to me, I'm going to take your hands and twirl you, give it me then.' Nodding Helga, plastered a smile on her face, all the joy of the afternoon now gone, and the fear of being killed remaining. Arnold stepped back and took both her hands in his, she passed him the gun and he spun her round, as he pulled her towards him he fired three bullets into the bush.
'What the fuck!' Jim yelled as he pulled his gun out and ran outside, Mike swore in annoyance and pulled his own gun out following Jim into the snow covered garden.
'What happened?' Jim asked as he reached Arnold and Helga, Arnold kept hold of Helga's hand and together they moved towards the bush, as they looked at the man sprawled in the snow Helga gasped.
'Brainy!' Checking his pulse Arnold looked up grimly,
'He's alive, I hit his arm and his leg, the third bullet is buried in the tree. Jim, Mike, take him into the living room, I'll have to remove the bullets and then when he comes round I'll tie him to a chair.' Helga shuddered at the look on his face; it was a cross between hurt and anger,
'Is, why, was, is he working for Big Louie?' She finally blurted out, Arnold looked at her and a glimpse of worry was seen in his emerald eyes,
'I don't know yet. I'm going to need your help though, we need to get those bullets out.' Nodding Helga pulled her coat off and knelt besides Brainy who was lying on the couch, his pale skin even paler and blood staining his camouflage gear.
'Brainy, are you awake?' He moaned and Helga felt fury run through her veins, bunching her hands into fists she silently cursed him for disturbing her moment with Arnold. Leaning closer to him she hissed,
'Brainy you bastard you better have a better excuse than trying to kill me for this little visit now open your fucking eyes before I shoot them out.' Her threat had the effect she desired, Brainy's eyelids fluttered and Helga found herself looking into a pair of cold steel grey eyes.
'Bitch!' He groaned,
'Oh pipe down you windbag.' She said scornfully,
'Arnold, he's awake.' She called; Arnold appeared with a bag filled with medical tools, he tossed a pair of gloves to Helga and put the second pair on himself,
'Well not for long, I'll have to knock him out again so I can get the bullets out.' Sneering at Brainy Helga said bitterly,
'Allow me.' Punching him as hard as she could she allowed all her pent up aggression and fear to add some force to the punch, it worked as Brainy's head snapped back and he was knocked out cold.
'Remind me never to make you angry.' Mike said as he eyed her warily,
'We went to school with this bastard!' Helga said as calmly as she could, gritting her teeth she rubbed her sore fist,
'He stalked me for years! Always behind me whenever I wanted some time for myself, I was never alone with him around, never! Now he's trying to bump me off! If I had known he would become a cleaner for the Mafia I would have done more than break his nose when he snuck up on me.' Arnold pulled a scalpel out of his bag and pulling Brainy'' shirt off pulled the T-shirt up and sliced into his arm, Helga worked quickly mopping up blood and moving Brainy's arm when Arnold ordered. Eventually he grabbed a pair of tweezers and pulled a bullet out of the hole, passing it to Helga he quickly sewed up the hole and moved onto the leg, the bullet was in his shin and grimly he ripped the leg off his pants and surveyed the hole.
'It broke the bone, it's completely shattered. It'll need to be amputated.' Helga felt the colour drain from her face,
'Amputate?' Arnold grinned slightly,
'Not by me, I don't have the tools.' Making a mental note to find out how Arnold knew to perform surgery Helga sighed with relief. As Arnold fished in the hole and pulled out a bullet she watched in fascination as he sewed the hole up and bandaged the leg tightly.
'When he wakes up call me, I'm going to clean myself up, Helga, I need to talk to you.' Nodding Helga stood up and followed Arnold into the bathroom he faced her with a look of pride on his face.
'Helga, I just wanted to say you were great out there. I am so proud of you, you stayed calm and when I was removing the bullet you didn't freak out, a lot of people would have.' Smiling Helga shrugged,
'And that punch would have floored George Foreman.' Arnold said with a grin, Helga's smile wilted a little and he frowned,
'Your hands hurting a lot isn't it?' Nodding Helga held her hand out; it was swollen and bruised round the knuckles.
'He's one bony guy' She said with a smirk, on impulse she hugged Arnold,
'I am so glad you are my bodyguard. Thanks.' Arnold hugged her back and felt Helga wince, pulling back he said worriedly,
'Whats wrong, are you hurt?' Laughing Helga pointed to his blood stained clothes,
'You're a mess.' Sheepishly Arnold started to remove his shirt, Helga blushed and with a slight wave left the room,
'Helga, he's coming around.' Jim said, he was sitting by Brainy and every so often he would check his pulse.
'Arnold should be out in five minutes, I'll stay with him.' Jim nodded and went to sit in the chair by the fire, moving towards the couch Helga saw that Brainy was indeed starting to come round. As she sat on the floor next to him she watched as his eyes opened and he tried to sit up.
'I wouldn't move if I were you, you've just undergone surgery, you might be in a bit of pain.' She couldn't help but smirk as she talked to him; he was obviously looking for somebody, but who?
'Who.... Who operated on me?' He managed to ask before collapsing back against the cushion,
'Arnold did. You remember Arnold don't you? The guy who always helps people out, even scum bags like you. You owe him your life, so be grateful.' Brainy seemed to consider this finally he said,
'Fuck you Pataki!' Then he reached up with his good arm and felt his cheek,
'You punch hard for a girl.' Smirking Helga was about to say something when Arnold appeared,
'Brainy, good to see you're awake. Now tell us why you are here, and don't bother trying to escape, your shin bone is shattered, you couldn't go any further than the couch without collapsing in complete and utter agony.' Helga was surprised, something had changed Arnold since they were at school together, the Arnold she knew was soft hearted, this Arnold was cold towards Brainy, not that she minded, he deserved to die in agony.
'Arnold, I need to talk to you.' Brainy managed to say, Arnold raised an eyebrow,
'Go ahead Brainy, the floor is yours. Or should I say the couch?' Brainy sneered at him and said coldly,
'Alone, without Pataki and her watchdog.' Arnold frowned and glancing at Helga said with a sigh,
'Helga, you and Jim go do something. Find Mike, make sure we are left alone until I call.' Nodding Helga squeezed his shoulder fixed Brainy with a cold glare and left, Jim stood up and glanced at Brainy and said pleasantly,
'You'll have quite a shiner in the morning.' As he left he laughed and Arnold raised an eyebrow,
'Okay, we are alone. Talk.' Brainy seemed to recover from the pain in his arm and leg and sitting up he said urgently,
'Okay Arnold, I talk you listen, got it?' Stunned Arnold nodded,
'I'm not a member of Big Louie's gang, nor am I trying to kill Helga, I have an urgent message from Captain Malone.'
'What?' Arnold was instantly worried at the way Brainy was avoiding his gaze,
'She's dead. No I didn't kill her, but I sort of know who did.' Arnold nodded for him to go on,
'Steel edge Joey.' He got to her, I found her, she was still alive, it seems that Joey slipped up, he wasn't wearing a mask, she knows who he is, but she couldn't tell me, all she could tell me was that I had to warn Arnold, and not to trust anybody.' Leaning forwards he winced as he did,
'I'm sorry Arnold but I swallowed something that would kill me.' Arnold nodded and his eyes widened as Brainy whispered something in his ear.
When Helga returned ten minutes later Arnold was just covering Brainy's face with the blanket,
'Is he..?
'Yeah, the injuries were to much for him. You will be glad to know that he wasn't trying to kill you, he was trying to warn you, us.' Helga frowned,
'What?' Arnold shrugged,
'I don't know, he died before he could tell me.' Helga looked at him and frowned, Arnold was pale and obviously agitated, he seemed to be fighting an inner battle, one she hoped he wouldn't lose.
Okay that's it for now. Hope you enjoyed it, well you should do, it had plenty of action, adventure, blood and the death of a stalker. Who talked in full sentences and delivered a cryptic message to Arnold. Hehehe. You're gonna have to wait to find out what though.
Chapter Four
Authors Note: Another chapter up aren't you guys lucky? This is up later than usual because I've been at my dads and trying to get on the computer there is like trying to get blood out of a stone. Anyway on to the serious part of this note, contrary to popular belief, (i.e. mine) I do not own Hey Arnold. I know this may come as a shock to you all, I know it does to me, I was so surprised when the security guard wouldn't let me passed, but try to keep calm and read the fic.
Helga was bored, not just slightly bored but mind numbingly, teeth achingly, brain freezingly bored! Rearranging the furniture and cleaning out the cupboards had done nothing to alleviate the boredom, neither had cooking a three-course meal, cleaning every ornament in sight and building an army of snowmen with Arnold. Although on the plus side she now had an army big enough to attack Big Louie's gang, and if the snowmen were to magically come to life they would probably win, and scare the crap out of a lot of people at the same time.
Sniggering Helga let her mind wander as she swept snow from around the base of a large oak tree; all of a sudden she was wearing something glittery and gorgeous, clingy in all the right places and sweeping in the rest. The broom she was carrying turned into Arnold looking dashing in a midnight blue tuxedo and completely free from weapons. Smiling she twirled around the snow covered garden sweeping as she went.
'Having fun Helga?' Arnold's voice broke her train of thoughts and grinning she gestured to the broom,
'It's a good dance partner but a bit too quiet.' Arnold grinned and pulled the broom away from her, throwing it into the bushes he held his hand out and said,
'May I have this dance?' Accepting his hand Helga moved closer to him and they danced to an imaginary tune.
'Bet you twenty bucks they sleep together.' Mike said as he and Jim watched Arnold and Helga dance, Jim considered the offer then said,
'You're on.'
'Arnold it's freezing out here and we have an audience.' Helga said as they waltzed around the garden,
'I don't think the snowmen will say anything.' Arnold teased as he dipped her,
'Not the snowmen silly, Jim and Mike, they are watching from the living room window.' Helga could have sworn that Arnold was blushing, from the fact his work mates were watching him dance in the snow or from how close they were standing Helga couldn't tell she just hoped he couldn't see her blushing.
'Do you wanna stop?' She said as he twirled her, Arnold grinned,
'Nah, this is the nearest thing they have come to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Let them watch.' As he dipped her he caught sight of a glint from behind the bushes, not wanting to panic Helga he pulled her up and said with a smile on his face,
Helga, there is a man in the bushes behind you, don't look, carry on dancing, and don't panic, just do as I tell you. Okay reach into my pocket and pull the gun out.' Shakily Helga reached into his pocket; she would have loved to have seen the looks on Jim and Mike's faces as it most likely looked incredibly incriminating for them.
'I got it, now what?' Helga asked as she held the gun so that it couldn't be seen.
'Pass it to me, I'm going to take your hands and twirl you, give it me then.' Nodding Helga, plastered a smile on her face, all the joy of the afternoon now gone, and the fear of being killed remaining. Arnold stepped back and took both her hands in his, she passed him the gun and he spun her round, as he pulled her towards him he fired three bullets into the bush.
'What the fuck!' Jim yelled as he pulled his gun out and ran outside, Mike swore in annoyance and pulled his own gun out following Jim into the snow covered garden.
'What happened?' Jim asked as he reached Arnold and Helga, Arnold kept hold of Helga's hand and together they moved towards the bush, as they looked at the man sprawled in the snow Helga gasped.
'Brainy!' Checking his pulse Arnold looked up grimly,
'He's alive, I hit his arm and his leg, the third bullet is buried in the tree. Jim, Mike, take him into the living room, I'll have to remove the bullets and then when he comes round I'll tie him to a chair.' Helga shuddered at the look on his face; it was a cross between hurt and anger,
'Is, why, was, is he working for Big Louie?' She finally blurted out, Arnold looked at her and a glimpse of worry was seen in his emerald eyes,
'I don't know yet. I'm going to need your help though, we need to get those bullets out.' Nodding Helga pulled her coat off and knelt besides Brainy who was lying on the couch, his pale skin even paler and blood staining his camouflage gear.
'Brainy, are you awake?' He moaned and Helga felt fury run through her veins, bunching her hands into fists she silently cursed him for disturbing her moment with Arnold. Leaning closer to him she hissed,
'Brainy you bastard you better have a better excuse than trying to kill me for this little visit now open your fucking eyes before I shoot them out.' Her threat had the effect she desired, Brainy's eyelids fluttered and Helga found herself looking into a pair of cold steel grey eyes.
'Bitch!' He groaned,
'Oh pipe down you windbag.' She said scornfully,
'Arnold, he's awake.' She called; Arnold appeared with a bag filled with medical tools, he tossed a pair of gloves to Helga and put the second pair on himself,
'Well not for long, I'll have to knock him out again so I can get the bullets out.' Sneering at Brainy Helga said bitterly,
'Allow me.' Punching him as hard as she could she allowed all her pent up aggression and fear to add some force to the punch, it worked as Brainy's head snapped back and he was knocked out cold.
'Remind me never to make you angry.' Mike said as he eyed her warily,
'We went to school with this bastard!' Helga said as calmly as she could, gritting her teeth she rubbed her sore fist,
'He stalked me for years! Always behind me whenever I wanted some time for myself, I was never alone with him around, never! Now he's trying to bump me off! If I had known he would become a cleaner for the Mafia I would have done more than break his nose when he snuck up on me.' Arnold pulled a scalpel out of his bag and pulling Brainy'' shirt off pulled the T-shirt up and sliced into his arm, Helga worked quickly mopping up blood and moving Brainy's arm when Arnold ordered. Eventually he grabbed a pair of tweezers and pulled a bullet out of the hole, passing it to Helga he quickly sewed up the hole and moved onto the leg, the bullet was in his shin and grimly he ripped the leg off his pants and surveyed the hole.
'It broke the bone, it's completely shattered. It'll need to be amputated.' Helga felt the colour drain from her face,
'Amputate?' Arnold grinned slightly,
'Not by me, I don't have the tools.' Making a mental note to find out how Arnold knew to perform surgery Helga sighed with relief. As Arnold fished in the hole and pulled out a bullet she watched in fascination as he sewed the hole up and bandaged the leg tightly.
'When he wakes up call me, I'm going to clean myself up, Helga, I need to talk to you.' Nodding Helga stood up and followed Arnold into the bathroom he faced her with a look of pride on his face.
'Helga, I just wanted to say you were great out there. I am so proud of you, you stayed calm and when I was removing the bullet you didn't freak out, a lot of people would have.' Smiling Helga shrugged,
'And that punch would have floored George Foreman.' Arnold said with a grin, Helga's smile wilted a little and he frowned,
'Your hands hurting a lot isn't it?' Nodding Helga held her hand out; it was swollen and bruised round the knuckles.
'He's one bony guy' She said with a smirk, on impulse she hugged Arnold,
'I am so glad you are my bodyguard. Thanks.' Arnold hugged her back and felt Helga wince, pulling back he said worriedly,
'Whats wrong, are you hurt?' Laughing Helga pointed to his blood stained clothes,
'You're a mess.' Sheepishly Arnold started to remove his shirt, Helga blushed and with a slight wave left the room,
'Helga, he's coming around.' Jim said, he was sitting by Brainy and every so often he would check his pulse.
'Arnold should be out in five minutes, I'll stay with him.' Jim nodded and went to sit in the chair by the fire, moving towards the couch Helga saw that Brainy was indeed starting to come round. As she sat on the floor next to him she watched as his eyes opened and he tried to sit up.
'I wouldn't move if I were you, you've just undergone surgery, you might be in a bit of pain.' She couldn't help but smirk as she talked to him; he was obviously looking for somebody, but who?
'Who.... Who operated on me?' He managed to ask before collapsing back against the cushion,
'Arnold did. You remember Arnold don't you? The guy who always helps people out, even scum bags like you. You owe him your life, so be grateful.' Brainy seemed to consider this finally he said,
'Fuck you Pataki!' Then he reached up with his good arm and felt his cheek,
'You punch hard for a girl.' Smirking Helga was about to say something when Arnold appeared,
'Brainy, good to see you're awake. Now tell us why you are here, and don't bother trying to escape, your shin bone is shattered, you couldn't go any further than the couch without collapsing in complete and utter agony.' Helga was surprised, something had changed Arnold since they were at school together, the Arnold she knew was soft hearted, this Arnold was cold towards Brainy, not that she minded, he deserved to die in agony.
'Arnold, I need to talk to you.' Brainy managed to say, Arnold raised an eyebrow,
'Go ahead Brainy, the floor is yours. Or should I say the couch?' Brainy sneered at him and said coldly,
'Alone, without Pataki and her watchdog.' Arnold frowned and glancing at Helga said with a sigh,
'Helga, you and Jim go do something. Find Mike, make sure we are left alone until I call.' Nodding Helga squeezed his shoulder fixed Brainy with a cold glare and left, Jim stood up and glanced at Brainy and said pleasantly,
'You'll have quite a shiner in the morning.' As he left he laughed and Arnold raised an eyebrow,
'Okay, we are alone. Talk.' Brainy seemed to recover from the pain in his arm and leg and sitting up he said urgently,
'Okay Arnold, I talk you listen, got it?' Stunned Arnold nodded,
'I'm not a member of Big Louie's gang, nor am I trying to kill Helga, I have an urgent message from Captain Malone.'
'What?' Arnold was instantly worried at the way Brainy was avoiding his gaze,
'She's dead. No I didn't kill her, but I sort of know who did.' Arnold nodded for him to go on,
'Steel edge Joey.' He got to her, I found her, she was still alive, it seems that Joey slipped up, he wasn't wearing a mask, she knows who he is, but she couldn't tell me, all she could tell me was that I had to warn Arnold, and not to trust anybody.' Leaning forwards he winced as he did,
'I'm sorry Arnold but I swallowed something that would kill me.' Arnold nodded and his eyes widened as Brainy whispered something in his ear.
When Helga returned ten minutes later Arnold was just covering Brainy's face with the blanket,
'Is he..?
'Yeah, the injuries were to much for him. You will be glad to know that he wasn't trying to kill you, he was trying to warn you, us.' Helga frowned,
'What?' Arnold shrugged,
'I don't know, he died before he could tell me.' Helga looked at him and frowned, Arnold was pale and obviously agitated, he seemed to be fighting an inner battle, one she hoped he wouldn't lose.
Okay that's it for now. Hope you enjoyed it, well you should do, it had plenty of action, adventure, blood and the death of a stalker. Who talked in full sentences and delivered a cryptic message to Arnold. Hehehe. You're gonna have to wait to find out what though.