Disclaimer: I do not own Darkwing Duck, Scrooge or any other Disney character.

From the author: Little reading aid her. The 'scenes' that take place in LaunchPad's mind are in bold italic to make the story easier to follow. I hope.

PHENOMENON Part 7

It was now late after noon. The storm had finally died down. Darkwing had had a time convincing LaunchPad that his whole ordeal on the Silver Doubloon had been a dream.

Darkwing sat in the waiting room of the Hospital. He was worn out and soar from the events of the night before. Gosalyn had since, come too and the doctor's had given permission for her to go home as long as she stayed in bed for the next few days. LaunchPad was going to be kept under observation for awhile, but he was doing well and should be allowed to go home in a week or so.

As he awaited a nurse to bring Gosalyn, Darkwing found himself thinking about what had happened with LaunchPad. He couldn't help but wonder; if LaunchPad hadn't survived in his delusion. Would he have survived in reality? Perhaps LaunchPad subconscious had created a way to make it through. Using symbolism of things familiar to LaunchPad. The storm at sea. Well, obviously that was the last thing he remembered before the accident. The ship coming along when it did? That would symbolizea chance of survival. What about the storm that threatened to sink the ship. His fight to live, perhaps? LaunchPad almost died a couple of times. Fighting for one's life in a hospital bed, that could seem like fighting a storm at sea to the subconscious mind. What about Scrooge McDuck. That could have been LaunchPad's will to live. A symbol of authority. The need to make decisions. What about LaunchPad calling out for him? Hearing him, but somehow integrating his voice into the delusion. Maybe reaching out to somebody on the outside, reaching beyond his subconscious mind.

Darkwing shook his head, trying to clear his mind. He wasn't sure any of that made sense. He was just to tired to try and rationalize a dream, especially one of LaunchPad's dreams, at the time. He didn't want to think about it anymore – it was over. He just wanted to go home and rest, things would be a lot more clear to him when he got some sleep.

He closed his eyes taking in slow deep breaths. He just needed to relax. He didn't get a chance, however, when the nurse brought Gosalyn to him.

The nurse pushed the wheelchair the little girl was forced to ride in. When she saw her father waiting for her, her face lit up. "Da ...err... Darkwing!"

She opened her arms to him.

Darkwing rose from his seat and gave her a gentle hug. "Hay sweetie, how ya doing."

"Great." Gosalyn replied gingerly touching her lightly bandaged head "Circumstances given, that is."

Darkwing smiled warmly at her "You ready to go?"

Gosalyn nodded eagerly "Let's blow this joint!"

"You know." the nurse.

spoke up "It's usually against our policy to release patients under age to anybody but a parent or Guardian. Are you sure Mr. Mallard can't make it down here himself?"

"As I explained to the doctors, Mr. Mallard has the flu real bad or he would have been here to be with LaunchPad. Mr. McQuack is his friend too. I have his permission to take charge of his little girl."

The nurse looked at him suspiciously for a moment but wasn't in a mood to go head on with Darkwing Duck's infamous temper. She finally said 'Gosalyn has asked to see Mr. McQuack before she goes. The doctor has given her permission, as long as you keep it short."

Darkwing, at this point just wanted to go home, but he understood his daughters feelings and agreed.

The nurse pushed Gosalyn's wheelchair as far as LaunchPad door then let Darkwing take her in. LaunchPad was resting quite comfortably now having been given a mils sedative to help him sleep. He opened his eyes, he was groggy but he managed a smile when he saw the little girl. "Hey Gosalyn."

"Hey LaunchPad, how you feeling?"

"Hungry." the pilot answered seriously.

Gosalyn giggled and Darkwing rolled his eyes. "LaunchPad, I swear, you'd asked for something to eat at your own funeral!"

Just then they heard a commotion going on, out in the hall. There were quarreling voices echoing in the corridors. The voices were moving in the direction of LaunchPad room at a fast pace. One voice raised above the rest

"I don't care what the hospital rules are. I want to see him, now!" the voice range with a strong Scottish accent. LaunchPad eyes opened wide, he'd know that voice anywhere!

A few seconds later, an old duck in a tophat appeared in the doorway, followed by four kids and a plump woman.

"Mr McDee?" LaunchPad uttered in a dry raspy voice.

Scrooge was set aback to see his former pilot laying in a hospital bed, hooked to a heart rate monitor.

"LaunchPad...." Scrooge found himself at a loss for words, as he stepped into the room, paying no heed to the other two visitors already there.

"Mr. McDee, what are you doing here?" LaunchPad asked.

"What am I doing here!? LaunchPad what happened to you?"

"I was in an accident, our plane went down in the ocean...." LaunchPad tried to explain but Scrooge cut him off.

"I know all that already. But how did you get here and in that condition?"

LaunchPad looked at Scrooge a bit mystified then to Darkwing for help.

Darkwing turned to Scrooge "I believe that's what he was trying to tell you, if you'd just let him finish his sentence." Darkwing said crossly.

Scrooge's first reaction was to give this guy in the Halloween costume a dirty look. He wasn't accustom to being spoken to in that tone. But it dawned on him that he'd heard this persons voice somewhere before. "You. You're that Darkwing Duck!"

Normally, Darkwing would have been flattered that somebody recognized him just by his voice, but not this day. 'Yeah, that's right. Now as I said, my friend already told you what happened. Our jet went down in the water and....."

"I know all that!" Scrooge interrupted sharply. "I want to know how he ended up in the hospital?"

Mr. McDee, that's what we're trying to, the jet went down..." LaunchPad attempted once again to explain but was once again interrupted.

"LaunchPad, I already know that part. You told me about it on the ship remember."

"What ship?" LaunchPad asked getting confused.

Scrooge's scowled "What ship? The Silver Doubloon, you numb-skull!" he snapped, now getting frustrated with both of them.

LaunchPad looked at Scrooge in Surprise "Hey, Mr McDee, how'd you know about my dream?"

"What dream?"

"My dream about being on the Silver Doubloon with you and the kids and the storm almost sinking us and DW here..," he motioned to Darkwing

"..had to tell us how to turn the ship into a pontoon boat..."

"LaunchPad! That wasn't a dream you dolt. It all happened only a few hours ago. I was standing on the deck with you when you suddenly vanished. I looked away from you for just a second and you disappeared!"

"We thought you'd fallen in the water." Huey injected from where he and the other kids stood in the doorway. "We looked all over for you."

"We were scared you might have drowned." Webby piped in meekly.
Looking into LaunchPad's face and seeing only bewilderment, Scrooge turned to Darkwing. "You know it wasn't a dream. After all you were the one who told LaunchPad how to keep the Silver Doubloon afloat. I was there when you were giving him instructions over that weird walky-talky. It was a lucky coincidence for us that we did find LaunchPad when we did. If he hadn't been there to contact you, we'd all have surely perished at sea." Scrooges brows furrowed slightly "But I'll have you to know, for the record, that this old money bags has come up with more than his share of ideas that actually worked, thank you." Scrooge snapped, recalling the insult Darkwing had dealt him over the communicator. But he saw the duck suddenly go pale behind the purple mask. Darkwing looked for a moment s though he were going to pass out.

"Darkwing?" Gosalyn asked with concern, reaching out to take his hand.

"Here, Lad, I think you'd better sit down for a moment." Scrooge said taking Darkwing's arm and helping him to the chair next to LaunchPad's bed. At the moment, Scrooge felt guilty for having smarted off to the Masked Mallard. "I suppose you have had quite a day of it yourself, laddie.

This can all wait till another day, I suppose." He turned back to LaunchPad

"We'll be back tomorrow to see you LaunchPad. We'll get things straightened then." With that Scrooge started out the door "Come on kids, we'll find a motel for the night."

LaunchPad didn't dwell on the whole enigma. The sedatives were still working and he simply closed his eyes and was asleep. Gosalyn, who didn't have any idea of what was going on looked at her father who still looked to be in another world. "Dad?" she asked softly.

Darkwing glanced up at his daughter barely acknowledging her. 'What was all that about?"

Darkwing reached over and took his daughters hand. "Nothing sweetie, I'll tell you about it tomorrow." At least he'd try. It had been a very long trying day. What had really happened on the Silver Doubloon and that stormy night at sea. Darkwing didn't know, he wasn't sure he really wanted to. In his life, he'd come to believe in the impossible and have faith in miracles, and the psyche was indeed a peculiar thing, often defying rational explaination.

The End

Authors Note: I had actually planned for LaunchPad to die at the end, but I changed my mind.

Question: Since I am so fond of DWD?DT crossovers, would anybody like to see Scrooge McDuck return as the Masked Mallard?