Chapter 3
Woodruff opened his eyes and yawned. He looked around in confusion as he saw that he was lying in an unfamiliar bed - before the events of the previous day came flooding back.
The collie looked at the clock. It was still early - it was 7 am. Woodruff could hear high winds outside on the streets of London and his bare arms felt quite cold - he was wearing a vest and an old pair of shorts. He didn't want to leave the warm bed, but he didn't see the point of trying to get back to sleep. He decided to go and have a wander around the pillar- box.
Putting a jumper on, Woodruff entered the hallway, gazing vaguely at the pictures on the walls. He went to the lounge and was surprised to see Kim on the couch, snuggled up in a blanket and reading a book.
"Kim?" asked Woodruff.
"Oh!" She gasped and jumped, before turning around and seeing the collie. "Oh, hi".
"Sorry. What are you doing up so early?" asked Woodruff, coming down the steps.
"Couldn't sleep worrying about Penfold", said Kim. Woodruff sat down on the couch next to her.
"He's fine", said Woodruff. "He'll be back here before you know it".
Kim gave him a sad smile.
"It's just - he's so little - and the hospital's so big - "
"Well, judging by the nurses I saw, I'd say he's quite lucky", grinned Woodruff, putting his feet up on the coffee table.
Kim rolled her eyes good-naturedly before going back to her book. Before long, she became uncomfortably aware that Woodruff was staring at her. When she looked around at him, he was staring intently at her, leaning his elbow over the sofa.
"Er - is something wrong?" asked Kim nervously.
Woodruff blinked, as though he'd been snapped out of a trance. "Oh - er - no - " He gave her an innocent smile. Kim smiled back uncertainly; Woodruff had not turned away. He seemed to be giving Kim some kind of fascinated look. Hoping that he would look at something else if she ignored him, she stared hard at the page of her -
Gah! I would have to pick a romance novel! she thought. She didn't know why, but having someone staring at her while she was reading about a boy and a girl declaring their undying love for each other was very off- putting, especially when that particular someone was looking at her as though she was made out of solid gold.
"Woodruff", she said finally. "Not to be rude - but could you please stop staring at me?"
"Sorry", Woodruff said. "It was hard to look away".
Kim blushed. She knew Woodruff was only being nice - but still, this was very embarrasing!
"Er - thanks - " she stuttered.
Woodruff then gave the young mouse such a charming smile that she found it hard to be annoyed with him. She couldn't deny it - he could be quite sweet when he didn't have such a hot temper.
"Kim?" yawned another voice. Kim and Woodruff both turned around to see Danger Mouse there, clad in his thick blue robe.
"Morning, DM", said Kim, standing up to meet him.
"It's a little early", frowned DM. "We won't be going to the hospital for a few hours yet".
"Hey, it's not exactly easy to try and sleep in the middle of something like this", pointed out Woodruff reasonably.
"I suppose you're right, Woodruff", said DM. "I didn't get to sleep for quite a while. I've been thinking - about Penfold, his injury - and I want to know what Count Duckula is up to".
Kim frowned. In all the dilemma surrounding Penfold's injury, she had forgotten about Duckula.
"Hey, he's probably just trying for a TV show", said Woodruff. "I guess he wanted to get you guys out of the way first - and lowered to the pleasures of shooting defenceless people". He immediately looked angry again. DM wondered briefly whether he should even bother with the pillarbox security - one look at Woodruff alone was enough to send any enemy running!
"You're serious about your new position, aren't you?' noted Kim.
The collie's angry look faded and he looked round at her.
"As serious as they come", he said.
Kim and DM exchanged an amused look - it was a well-known fact that many trainees didn't take their jobs quite as maturely as Woodruff in the beginning. Woodruff saw their look.
"What?" he asked.
DM grinned at Kim and she grinned back. They both had to bite their lips to keep themselves from laughing. Then they saw the collie raise an eyebrow and both quickly turned to face him.
"Let Uncle Woodruff in on the joke!" the dog was wailing.
"Don't worry, Woodruff", smiled Kim. "It's just - let's just say you seem to prefer serious training to socialising".
"Yes. It takes a very special kind of trainee to dedicate themselves to the agency", said DM.
Woodruff grinned.
"Ta very much", he said. "It's nice to know I'm appreciated".
"Sure you are", said Kim, as she took her book up from the sofa and stood up with it tucked under her arm. "You certainly have talent when it comes to self-defence".
Woodruff had gone pink by now. He had had quite a few compliments since he had started his agency routine, but the fact that this certain compliment was from Kim made it all the more special.
"Well, I'm going to go and fix some breakfast", said Kim. "Worrying about Duckula isn't exactly going to help anything - what will come will come, and we have to take care of it when it does".
Both DM and Woodruff gazed after Kim with deep admiration as the female mouse left the room and made for the kitchen. Woodruff in particular could not help but notice Kim's bodyline - her hips, her back and her shoulders. He turned away and began to wrap himself up in his own thoughts. And his main centre of thought was based on Valentine's Day. He definitely knew who he wanted to be his Valentine - but how exactly did Kim feel herself?
I'm going to go mad waiting, thought the collie mournfully.
Well - as he mother had used to say - good things came to those who waited. So Woodruff would just sit back, live his life as he always did and just see where it took him.
*
Count Duckula held the bottle up to the light and smirked.
He had been working most of the night to make the perfect - HATE potion. He had added countless ingredients, together with quite a lot of alcohol, made the perfect solution to destroying Valentine's Day! All he had to do was bottle it, put it into crates, and then get his string of henchmen to deliver a sample to every door in London.
Then Britain - and gradually, the world - would see the real meaning of life: the fact that people were selfish, arrogant and hateful.
But Duckula wasn't just going to stop at London. Oh, no. He planned to have these bottles shipped overseas - France, America, Italy, Canada! And Valentine's Day would be DOOMED. Forever and always. No-one could stop him - well, except maybe Danger Mouse.
Duckula wasn't worried about DM. The agency didn't know where he was situated, and even with the world's greatest secret agent on their side, they would still have a hard job finding the vampire duck. Besides, DM was probably too worried about Penfold to do anything else right now.
Duckula turned to the two new henchmen standing by the door. One was a sharp female hawk, her beady eyes bright and yellow. The other was a young tiger, his claws in noticeable view, his ears alert.
"Is F-Frankenstoat here y-y-yet?" asked Duckula.
"His car just pulled in", said the tiger. "Um - sir - " he added hesitantly. "I was just wondering - who IS Doctor Frankenstoat?"
"He's a s-s-stoat", said Duckula, as though this was the most obvious thing in the world.
The tiger went pink and fell quiet.
Duckula sighed and turned back to the large bottle. He had worked alongside Frankenstoat before (A/N: In the episode 'Duckula meets Frankenstoat') and they had planned to set a flock of bats on the world. Danger Mouse of course had foiled the plan. Now, Duckula needed the Professor back to assist him with this latest breakthrough.
At that moment, the labarotory door swung open and Frankenstoat stood there with two suitcases by his feet.
"Frankenstoat! It's g-g-good to see you!" cried Duckula. The stoat, however, did not acknowledge this greeting. He frowned at the vampire duck.
"This had better be a good plan, Duckula", he said in a slightly hoarse voice. "The last time we teamed up, that stupid rodent and his equally stupid assistant got in our way and destroyed the machine. The machine that I spent the best part of three years working on!" he snapped.
"Y-yes, of c-c-course", stuttered Duckula. Frankenstoat was a lot older than he was - he was in his middle sixties, whilst Duckula was only around Danger Mouse's age. It was natural for Duckula (although he tried not to show it) to feel slightly afraid of his ally.
"Alright. Take these cases", said Frankenstoat, throwing his luggage at the henchmen. They both looked over at Duckula, who nodded at them nervously to do as they were told.
"Come over here", he said to Frankenstoat once the henchmen had left the room. He led the stoat over to the table where the bottle was. He picked it up and put it in Frankenstoat's hands. The stoat gave Duckula a strange look.
"What are you getting at, Duckula?" he asked
"I'll g-g-get straight to the p-p-point", said Duckula eagerly. "The materials concealed in this b-b-bottle have been concocted into a sinister hate potion".
Frankenstoat's look turned to that of annoyance.
"Is this some kind of joke, Duckula?" he snapped. "You give me a call, say it's 'urgent' - and I come all the way down here to find that you've mixed up some fantasy medicine? What's the matter with you?"
Duckula could not help but glare at him.
"This isn't just some f-f-fantasy medicine", he said. "This is our t-t- ticket to destroying Valentine's D-D-Day!"
Frankenstoat goggled at Duckula.
"You're mad", he said finally. "Why would anyone want to destroy Valentine's Day? It's a pointless holiday of course, but why not leave those idiots out there to it? Why do we have to get caught up in it?"
"B-because", replied Duckula. "I w-w-want them to k-k-know what it's really like".
Frankenstoat raised his eyes to heaven.
"LOOK, Duckula", he tried. "I know you didn't have much company as a youth, but is that really an excuse to - "
"I'm s-s-surprised at you, Doctor Frankenstoat", replied Duckula. "I t-t- thought you would be all for it".
Count Duckula suddenly looked a lot more determined and fierce. Frankenstoat could not help but feel sorry for him. The boy HAD had it rough all through his childhood - but then again, Frankenstoat didn't have a lot of happy memories of his own life. Frankenstoat's parents had never understood his fascination for science and had finally submitted their son to an orphanage when he was just eleven. It had been a very long time ago, and that was partly the reason why he and Count Duckula had teamed up. They both knew what it was like to be neglected by your parents.
And Frankenstoat could not deny that the hopeful aura in the air in February annoyed him. Sometimes, even he had thought that maybe he could put a stop to it, but that idea was soon brushed away by other, more important matters.
But now...
"What exactly do you want me for?" asked Frankenstoat.
"I just want you to make some m-m-more. I remember the ingredients", said Duckula, pleased at this change in his old partner. "I h-h-have other things to d-d-do".
Maybe I should help him, thought Frankenstoat. He does need a change from the stage - and he deserves a second chance.
"Alright. Why not?" he asked. "It will give me some new area of research to study, and it does sound like a good plan. Tell me more".
Duckula, by now, was postively delighted that he had an old ally back, and immediately put an arm around Frankenstoat's shoulders.
"I'm g-g-glad we're finally s-s-seeing sense, Frankenstoat".
*
'Hello, Penfold", greeted DM, as he entered the private ward.
The hamster was sitting up in his bed. His arm and shoulder were fixed into a sling. He seemed to have some of his old vigour back, and grinned at his friends as they entered.
"Hello, Chief!" he enthused. "Cor, it's good to see you!"
"Penfold!" Kim ran in and over to the bed. She put an arm around Penfold, giving him a hug.
"Hey, Penfold", said Woodruff, as he came in behind Kim carrying a sports- bag. "We've brought you some stuff!"
"Thanks, Woodruff!" said Penfold.
"How are you feeling, old chap?" asked DM, as he and Woodruff sat on chairs beside the bed. Kim carefully sat at the end of the bed.
"Well, it was scary at first, but the doctor and nurses were very nice", said Penfold. "But I wish you could have stayed, Chief".
"Oh, Penfold, we were told that there was no point in staying", said Kim.
Penfold sighed.
"Oh, well, fair enough".
Woodruff reached across and gently ruffled Penfold's tuft of hair.
"Cheer up", he said. "You'll be rested up and repaired in no time at all. Then you can - oh, what's THIS?"
Woodruff had spotted something poking out from under the pillow. He reached for it as Penfold's face became one of alarm.
"It's - it's not mine - I don't know where it came from", he stuttered, as Woodruff pulled out a Valentine's card with two puppies on the front.
"Dear Penfold", read out Woodruff. "I hope that you get better so that you can be my Valentine. Love - Carlotta". He raised an eyebrow suggestively as he finised reading. A big grin spread over his features.
"Who's CARLOTTA?" grinned Kim. By this point, Penfold had gone a deep red.
"She's - she's one of the nurses", he said. "She's really lovely".
"Why, Penfold - " smiled DM. "Good for you, old chap!"
"No - it's just a friendly card - honest - she's just a really nice - "
"Oh, Penfold, don't feel embarrased", said DM. "There's no need to hide it - it's only natural at your age to start thinking about women".
"Yeah". Woodruff propped the card on the bedside table. "I mean, I was chasing girls around the playground when I was seven!"
"Well - if you're sure it's alright - " said Penfold. "See - I've never had a - a - "
"Girlfriend?" Kim finished for him.
"Yes, that", said Penfold. "I mean - I thought the Colonel might not - "
"Penfold, it's a Valentine's card!" said Kim. "The Colonel can't exactly get annoyed over something like that, can he?"
At that moment, the door swung open to reveal a young doe nurse, wearing a long nurse's uniform with a green-and-white-checked pattern. She was holding a bottle in her hands and she smiled at Penfold as she came in.
"Hello, Penfold. I need you to take some medicine", she said, going over to the bed.
"Alright, Carlotta", said Penfold. Woodruff's jaw dropped. DM nudged him slightly in the ribs, and Woodruff quickly closed his mouth up. They watched as Penfold obdiently opened his mouth, and Carlotte bent down and put a spoon with some sort of pink liquid into his mouth.
"How come he never lets us give him medicine at home?" hissed Kim in DM's ear. DM chuckled slightly. Kim was right - normally, Penfold hated taking medicine and would hide all around the pillarbox until DM or Kim found him and carried him to the kitchen. He would always take the medication with a screwed-up face, and then complain about the taste. But here, he was doing the exact opposite.
"Mmm - nice", said Penfold, as Carlotta closed the bottle up. "Thankyou, Carlotta".
"You're welcome", smiled Carlotta. "He's such a sweetie", she added to Kim and DM. "And so shy".
Penfold wished he could hide his head under the blankets - he was blushing so profusely.
"Yes, he's often like this", chuckled DM.
DM, Kim and Woodruff stayed and chatted with Penfold for about half an hour, until DM announced that they should be on their way.
"I'll be out in a minute", said Woodruff, as his two friends made for the door. "I'll meet you outside".
DM nodded, and then let Kim out ahead of him.
"Penfold", said Woodruff to the hamster, once they were alone. "I have a question".
"What's that?" asked Penfold.
"Does Kim have a boyfriend?"
If Penfold had not had a sling, he would have done a double-take.
"S-sorry?" he asked.
"Does Kim have a boyfriend? Are she and DM...?"
"Er - I don't know - I mean - I - Kim and DM - they're - I don't know - " finished Penfold lamely.
Woodruff waved a hand around.
"OK then. You're not sure".
Penfold shook his head.
"Alright". Woodruff stood up. "Thanks anyway. See you, Penfold".
Penfold raised his good arm in farewell as the collie left the room. Then he settled back on his pillows.
"Why did he want to know?" he wondered out loud. "Oh, 'ECK!" he suddenly cried. "I didn't tell him about the kiss!" He was sure that Woodruff would have really needed that information, whatever he was planning.
But what if...
"No", said Penfold to himself. "No. Woodruff would never - would he?"
Oh dear, he thought. What if it's true?
Is Woodruff trying to win over Kim?
*
Woodruff caught up with Kim and DM in the carpark.
"What happened to you?" asked Kim, as they jumped into the Mark III.
"Er - I just wanted to ask Penfold something", said Woodruff. Kim shurrged her shoulders and nodded.
"Would you like to join us for lunch, Woodruff?" asked DM.
"Sure, thanks. Then I'd better get back to my place", said Woodruff. "Thanks for putting me up for the night".
"That's perfectly alright", said DM. "Thankyou for being so supportive".
Woodruff grinned and sat back in his seat. He smiled across at Kim. His smile was returned without hesitation.
So, Penfold didn't know if there was anyone in Kim's life. Did that mean she was free? There didn't seem to be anything between Kim and DM, at any rate. But Woodruff couldn't just come on out and ask her - he would feel too self-conscious and eager.
Suddenly, Woodruff had an idea. How about a gift? That way, he could see what Kim was doing, and reveal his feelings at the same time.
Feelings?
Well, he had some. But if he was thinking of something definite, then obviously it was worth it, right?
Woodruff certainly hoped so.
Woodruff opened his eyes and yawned. He looked around in confusion as he saw that he was lying in an unfamiliar bed - before the events of the previous day came flooding back.
The collie looked at the clock. It was still early - it was 7 am. Woodruff could hear high winds outside on the streets of London and his bare arms felt quite cold - he was wearing a vest and an old pair of shorts. He didn't want to leave the warm bed, but he didn't see the point of trying to get back to sleep. He decided to go and have a wander around the pillar- box.
Putting a jumper on, Woodruff entered the hallway, gazing vaguely at the pictures on the walls. He went to the lounge and was surprised to see Kim on the couch, snuggled up in a blanket and reading a book.
"Kim?" asked Woodruff.
"Oh!" She gasped and jumped, before turning around and seeing the collie. "Oh, hi".
"Sorry. What are you doing up so early?" asked Woodruff, coming down the steps.
"Couldn't sleep worrying about Penfold", said Kim. Woodruff sat down on the couch next to her.
"He's fine", said Woodruff. "He'll be back here before you know it".
Kim gave him a sad smile.
"It's just - he's so little - and the hospital's so big - "
"Well, judging by the nurses I saw, I'd say he's quite lucky", grinned Woodruff, putting his feet up on the coffee table.
Kim rolled her eyes good-naturedly before going back to her book. Before long, she became uncomfortably aware that Woodruff was staring at her. When she looked around at him, he was staring intently at her, leaning his elbow over the sofa.
"Er - is something wrong?" asked Kim nervously.
Woodruff blinked, as though he'd been snapped out of a trance. "Oh - er - no - " He gave her an innocent smile. Kim smiled back uncertainly; Woodruff had not turned away. He seemed to be giving Kim some kind of fascinated look. Hoping that he would look at something else if she ignored him, she stared hard at the page of her -
Gah! I would have to pick a romance novel! she thought. She didn't know why, but having someone staring at her while she was reading about a boy and a girl declaring their undying love for each other was very off- putting, especially when that particular someone was looking at her as though she was made out of solid gold.
"Woodruff", she said finally. "Not to be rude - but could you please stop staring at me?"
"Sorry", Woodruff said. "It was hard to look away".
Kim blushed. She knew Woodruff was only being nice - but still, this was very embarrasing!
"Er - thanks - " she stuttered.
Woodruff then gave the young mouse such a charming smile that she found it hard to be annoyed with him. She couldn't deny it - he could be quite sweet when he didn't have such a hot temper.
"Kim?" yawned another voice. Kim and Woodruff both turned around to see Danger Mouse there, clad in his thick blue robe.
"Morning, DM", said Kim, standing up to meet him.
"It's a little early", frowned DM. "We won't be going to the hospital for a few hours yet".
"Hey, it's not exactly easy to try and sleep in the middle of something like this", pointed out Woodruff reasonably.
"I suppose you're right, Woodruff", said DM. "I didn't get to sleep for quite a while. I've been thinking - about Penfold, his injury - and I want to know what Count Duckula is up to".
Kim frowned. In all the dilemma surrounding Penfold's injury, she had forgotten about Duckula.
"Hey, he's probably just trying for a TV show", said Woodruff. "I guess he wanted to get you guys out of the way first - and lowered to the pleasures of shooting defenceless people". He immediately looked angry again. DM wondered briefly whether he should even bother with the pillarbox security - one look at Woodruff alone was enough to send any enemy running!
"You're serious about your new position, aren't you?' noted Kim.
The collie's angry look faded and he looked round at her.
"As serious as they come", he said.
Kim and DM exchanged an amused look - it was a well-known fact that many trainees didn't take their jobs quite as maturely as Woodruff in the beginning. Woodruff saw their look.
"What?" he asked.
DM grinned at Kim and she grinned back. They both had to bite their lips to keep themselves from laughing. Then they saw the collie raise an eyebrow and both quickly turned to face him.
"Let Uncle Woodruff in on the joke!" the dog was wailing.
"Don't worry, Woodruff", smiled Kim. "It's just - let's just say you seem to prefer serious training to socialising".
"Yes. It takes a very special kind of trainee to dedicate themselves to the agency", said DM.
Woodruff grinned.
"Ta very much", he said. "It's nice to know I'm appreciated".
"Sure you are", said Kim, as she took her book up from the sofa and stood up with it tucked under her arm. "You certainly have talent when it comes to self-defence".
Woodruff had gone pink by now. He had had quite a few compliments since he had started his agency routine, but the fact that this certain compliment was from Kim made it all the more special.
"Well, I'm going to go and fix some breakfast", said Kim. "Worrying about Duckula isn't exactly going to help anything - what will come will come, and we have to take care of it when it does".
Both DM and Woodruff gazed after Kim with deep admiration as the female mouse left the room and made for the kitchen. Woodruff in particular could not help but notice Kim's bodyline - her hips, her back and her shoulders. He turned away and began to wrap himself up in his own thoughts. And his main centre of thought was based on Valentine's Day. He definitely knew who he wanted to be his Valentine - but how exactly did Kim feel herself?
I'm going to go mad waiting, thought the collie mournfully.
Well - as he mother had used to say - good things came to those who waited. So Woodruff would just sit back, live his life as he always did and just see where it took him.
*
Count Duckula held the bottle up to the light and smirked.
He had been working most of the night to make the perfect - HATE potion. He had added countless ingredients, together with quite a lot of alcohol, made the perfect solution to destroying Valentine's Day! All he had to do was bottle it, put it into crates, and then get his string of henchmen to deliver a sample to every door in London.
Then Britain - and gradually, the world - would see the real meaning of life: the fact that people were selfish, arrogant and hateful.
But Duckula wasn't just going to stop at London. Oh, no. He planned to have these bottles shipped overseas - France, America, Italy, Canada! And Valentine's Day would be DOOMED. Forever and always. No-one could stop him - well, except maybe Danger Mouse.
Duckula wasn't worried about DM. The agency didn't know where he was situated, and even with the world's greatest secret agent on their side, they would still have a hard job finding the vampire duck. Besides, DM was probably too worried about Penfold to do anything else right now.
Duckula turned to the two new henchmen standing by the door. One was a sharp female hawk, her beady eyes bright and yellow. The other was a young tiger, his claws in noticeable view, his ears alert.
"Is F-Frankenstoat here y-y-yet?" asked Duckula.
"His car just pulled in", said the tiger. "Um - sir - " he added hesitantly. "I was just wondering - who IS Doctor Frankenstoat?"
"He's a s-s-stoat", said Duckula, as though this was the most obvious thing in the world.
The tiger went pink and fell quiet.
Duckula sighed and turned back to the large bottle. He had worked alongside Frankenstoat before (A/N: In the episode 'Duckula meets Frankenstoat') and they had planned to set a flock of bats on the world. Danger Mouse of course had foiled the plan. Now, Duckula needed the Professor back to assist him with this latest breakthrough.
At that moment, the labarotory door swung open and Frankenstoat stood there with two suitcases by his feet.
"Frankenstoat! It's g-g-good to see you!" cried Duckula. The stoat, however, did not acknowledge this greeting. He frowned at the vampire duck.
"This had better be a good plan, Duckula", he said in a slightly hoarse voice. "The last time we teamed up, that stupid rodent and his equally stupid assistant got in our way and destroyed the machine. The machine that I spent the best part of three years working on!" he snapped.
"Y-yes, of c-c-course", stuttered Duckula. Frankenstoat was a lot older than he was - he was in his middle sixties, whilst Duckula was only around Danger Mouse's age. It was natural for Duckula (although he tried not to show it) to feel slightly afraid of his ally.
"Alright. Take these cases", said Frankenstoat, throwing his luggage at the henchmen. They both looked over at Duckula, who nodded at them nervously to do as they were told.
"Come over here", he said to Frankenstoat once the henchmen had left the room. He led the stoat over to the table where the bottle was. He picked it up and put it in Frankenstoat's hands. The stoat gave Duckula a strange look.
"What are you getting at, Duckula?" he asked
"I'll g-g-get straight to the p-p-point", said Duckula eagerly. "The materials concealed in this b-b-bottle have been concocted into a sinister hate potion".
Frankenstoat's look turned to that of annoyance.
"Is this some kind of joke, Duckula?" he snapped. "You give me a call, say it's 'urgent' - and I come all the way down here to find that you've mixed up some fantasy medicine? What's the matter with you?"
Duckula could not help but glare at him.
"This isn't just some f-f-fantasy medicine", he said. "This is our t-t- ticket to destroying Valentine's D-D-Day!"
Frankenstoat goggled at Duckula.
"You're mad", he said finally. "Why would anyone want to destroy Valentine's Day? It's a pointless holiday of course, but why not leave those idiots out there to it? Why do we have to get caught up in it?"
"B-because", replied Duckula. "I w-w-want them to k-k-know what it's really like".
Frankenstoat raised his eyes to heaven.
"LOOK, Duckula", he tried. "I know you didn't have much company as a youth, but is that really an excuse to - "
"I'm s-s-surprised at you, Doctor Frankenstoat", replied Duckula. "I t-t- thought you would be all for it".
Count Duckula suddenly looked a lot more determined and fierce. Frankenstoat could not help but feel sorry for him. The boy HAD had it rough all through his childhood - but then again, Frankenstoat didn't have a lot of happy memories of his own life. Frankenstoat's parents had never understood his fascination for science and had finally submitted their son to an orphanage when he was just eleven. It had been a very long time ago, and that was partly the reason why he and Count Duckula had teamed up. They both knew what it was like to be neglected by your parents.
And Frankenstoat could not deny that the hopeful aura in the air in February annoyed him. Sometimes, even he had thought that maybe he could put a stop to it, but that idea was soon brushed away by other, more important matters.
But now...
"What exactly do you want me for?" asked Frankenstoat.
"I just want you to make some m-m-more. I remember the ingredients", said Duckula, pleased at this change in his old partner. "I h-h-have other things to d-d-do".
Maybe I should help him, thought Frankenstoat. He does need a change from the stage - and he deserves a second chance.
"Alright. Why not?" he asked. "It will give me some new area of research to study, and it does sound like a good plan. Tell me more".
Duckula, by now, was postively delighted that he had an old ally back, and immediately put an arm around Frankenstoat's shoulders.
"I'm g-g-glad we're finally s-s-seeing sense, Frankenstoat".
*
'Hello, Penfold", greeted DM, as he entered the private ward.
The hamster was sitting up in his bed. His arm and shoulder were fixed into a sling. He seemed to have some of his old vigour back, and grinned at his friends as they entered.
"Hello, Chief!" he enthused. "Cor, it's good to see you!"
"Penfold!" Kim ran in and over to the bed. She put an arm around Penfold, giving him a hug.
"Hey, Penfold", said Woodruff, as he came in behind Kim carrying a sports- bag. "We've brought you some stuff!"
"Thanks, Woodruff!" said Penfold.
"How are you feeling, old chap?" asked DM, as he and Woodruff sat on chairs beside the bed. Kim carefully sat at the end of the bed.
"Well, it was scary at first, but the doctor and nurses were very nice", said Penfold. "But I wish you could have stayed, Chief".
"Oh, Penfold, we were told that there was no point in staying", said Kim.
Penfold sighed.
"Oh, well, fair enough".
Woodruff reached across and gently ruffled Penfold's tuft of hair.
"Cheer up", he said. "You'll be rested up and repaired in no time at all. Then you can - oh, what's THIS?"
Woodruff had spotted something poking out from under the pillow. He reached for it as Penfold's face became one of alarm.
"It's - it's not mine - I don't know where it came from", he stuttered, as Woodruff pulled out a Valentine's card with two puppies on the front.
"Dear Penfold", read out Woodruff. "I hope that you get better so that you can be my Valentine. Love - Carlotta". He raised an eyebrow suggestively as he finised reading. A big grin spread over his features.
"Who's CARLOTTA?" grinned Kim. By this point, Penfold had gone a deep red.
"She's - she's one of the nurses", he said. "She's really lovely".
"Why, Penfold - " smiled DM. "Good for you, old chap!"
"No - it's just a friendly card - honest - she's just a really nice - "
"Oh, Penfold, don't feel embarrased", said DM. "There's no need to hide it - it's only natural at your age to start thinking about women".
"Yeah". Woodruff propped the card on the bedside table. "I mean, I was chasing girls around the playground when I was seven!"
"Well - if you're sure it's alright - " said Penfold. "See - I've never had a - a - "
"Girlfriend?" Kim finished for him.
"Yes, that", said Penfold. "I mean - I thought the Colonel might not - "
"Penfold, it's a Valentine's card!" said Kim. "The Colonel can't exactly get annoyed over something like that, can he?"
At that moment, the door swung open to reveal a young doe nurse, wearing a long nurse's uniform with a green-and-white-checked pattern. She was holding a bottle in her hands and she smiled at Penfold as she came in.
"Hello, Penfold. I need you to take some medicine", she said, going over to the bed.
"Alright, Carlotta", said Penfold. Woodruff's jaw dropped. DM nudged him slightly in the ribs, and Woodruff quickly closed his mouth up. They watched as Penfold obdiently opened his mouth, and Carlotte bent down and put a spoon with some sort of pink liquid into his mouth.
"How come he never lets us give him medicine at home?" hissed Kim in DM's ear. DM chuckled slightly. Kim was right - normally, Penfold hated taking medicine and would hide all around the pillarbox until DM or Kim found him and carried him to the kitchen. He would always take the medication with a screwed-up face, and then complain about the taste. But here, he was doing the exact opposite.
"Mmm - nice", said Penfold, as Carlotta closed the bottle up. "Thankyou, Carlotta".
"You're welcome", smiled Carlotta. "He's such a sweetie", she added to Kim and DM. "And so shy".
Penfold wished he could hide his head under the blankets - he was blushing so profusely.
"Yes, he's often like this", chuckled DM.
DM, Kim and Woodruff stayed and chatted with Penfold for about half an hour, until DM announced that they should be on their way.
"I'll be out in a minute", said Woodruff, as his two friends made for the door. "I'll meet you outside".
DM nodded, and then let Kim out ahead of him.
"Penfold", said Woodruff to the hamster, once they were alone. "I have a question".
"What's that?" asked Penfold.
"Does Kim have a boyfriend?"
If Penfold had not had a sling, he would have done a double-take.
"S-sorry?" he asked.
"Does Kim have a boyfriend? Are she and DM...?"
"Er - I don't know - I mean - I - Kim and DM - they're - I don't know - " finished Penfold lamely.
Woodruff waved a hand around.
"OK then. You're not sure".
Penfold shook his head.
"Alright". Woodruff stood up. "Thanks anyway. See you, Penfold".
Penfold raised his good arm in farewell as the collie left the room. Then he settled back on his pillows.
"Why did he want to know?" he wondered out loud. "Oh, 'ECK!" he suddenly cried. "I didn't tell him about the kiss!" He was sure that Woodruff would have really needed that information, whatever he was planning.
But what if...
"No", said Penfold to himself. "No. Woodruff would never - would he?"
Oh dear, he thought. What if it's true?
Is Woodruff trying to win over Kim?
*
Woodruff caught up with Kim and DM in the carpark.
"What happened to you?" asked Kim, as they jumped into the Mark III.
"Er - I just wanted to ask Penfold something", said Woodruff. Kim shurrged her shoulders and nodded.
"Would you like to join us for lunch, Woodruff?" asked DM.
"Sure, thanks. Then I'd better get back to my place", said Woodruff. "Thanks for putting me up for the night".
"That's perfectly alright", said DM. "Thankyou for being so supportive".
Woodruff grinned and sat back in his seat. He smiled across at Kim. His smile was returned without hesitation.
So, Penfold didn't know if there was anyone in Kim's life. Did that mean she was free? There didn't seem to be anything between Kim and DM, at any rate. But Woodruff couldn't just come on out and ask her - he would feel too self-conscious and eager.
Suddenly, Woodruff had an idea. How about a gift? That way, he could see what Kim was doing, and reveal his feelings at the same time.
Feelings?
Well, he had some. But if he was thinking of something definite, then obviously it was worth it, right?
Woodruff certainly hoped so.