Author's Note: Despite the tragedy of the two previous chapters, I'm trying to paint a more off-beat, laid back atmosphere in this chapter, just to balance things up. And in this chapter, there's a major revelation from a certain character, just to stir things up.

Legal junk: I don't own Hey Arnold, but Nickelodeon does and Mr. Craig Bartlett created it. But this fic belongs to me. Clear? Good.

Chapter 8: The hospital

At a medical center…

"Well Arnold, I'm excited to say that the wound of yours is recovering well ahead of schedule. And if it's continuing at this rate, you'll be out from the hospital by the end of next week." The veteran Dr. Steiglitz informed the teenage Arnold in his old, tired voice.

"Oh, jeez." Grandpa rolled his wrinkled eyes. "How long you've been in this hospital now, Arnold? A little shy over five weeks? And that little cut is going to take yet another week? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Your body is too frail. I'm telling ya, short-man, that wound on that arm of yours is nothing compared to MY bullet wound, and guess what? It took only a week for it tofully recover." He said it proudly.

"Well grandpa, you didn't get shot at point blank…"

Nevertheless, Arnold was taken aback by his grandfather's remark. "You got shot, grandpa? When? You never told me this before."

"Oh, boy... Here we go again." Miles rolled his eyes, as her wife Stella looking at him with a half-smile.

"You still don't believe me, eh boy?" He pointed his cane at his son. His aging body had gone considerably weaker since the past several years, but he was still healthy as a horse, nonetheless. "Well, it doesn't matter now, because I have a grandson and his friend here for me to tell my story and there's nothing you can do about it!"

"What exactly happened, Phil?" Gerald asked him with curiosity.

"Didn't I tell you not to call me Phil?! Anyway, during the Second World War, there I was in a place called Brecourt Manor, where the boys of the 101st Airborne and I were trying to destroy the German artillery guns. Gunfire crackles from everywhere, bullets whizzing from left and right of you, big booms came from the artillery, it was frantic I tells ya! But…" he paused for dramatic effect, "I saw one of my pals wounded, and he was lying in a middle of a crossfire! So, went over to him as fast as fast as I could and carried him into the trench that I was in earlier! Then, all of a sudden, a bullet struck my butt, knocking me and my buddy down! But thankfully, we were near the trench so the other guys grabbed us in and then a medic came and help us up."

"Wow, that's very brave of you grandpa. So what happened to that guy you rescued?"

"He got ran over by a drunk marine just a week after the battle." He uttered nonchalantly.

"Ouch. That's terrible."

"So, then I got decommissioned and I have to stay in camp peeling potatoes for the rest of my days in Europe. And then I single-handedly won the Battle of the Bulge by kicking the Fuhrer in the nuts!"

"Grandpa…"

"Oh, yeah. You've heard of that story before. Well, anyway, that ends that little story of mine. And try finding a moral behind it while you're at it."

Miles grinned at his father, who still had the guts trying to fool his son by telling the same old fake story. He never did participate in the battle that he told earlier, he came to Europe later as a replacement. Phil noticed the smug grin on Miles' face, and thought to himself to play some snide jokes on him and the rest of the people in the room.

"You still don't believe me, do ya?! I still have the scars to prove it! Wanna see it?!" He then clutched his pants, ready to pull it down. But everyone in Arnold's ward room shouted a loud "NO!" in a stressful tone.

"He, he, thought so." He then released his hands off from his pants.

"Jeez, Phil. Nobody wants to see that." Phil's wife Gertrude scoffed at him.

"Well, I guess we'll better be going honey. Hope you'll get well soon." Stella said to his son, as she stroked his long cornflower hair.

"I'll be fine mom. Don't worry about me much." Arnold gave him a warm smile as an assurance, and she replied it back. "I have to worry honey, you're my only child."

"Ah, don't be so overprotective on the boy, honey. He's tough as nails, just like his old man!" his father interjected.

Her mother smiled, and turned her face to Gerald, "Gerald, want us to give you a lift back home?"

"No thanks, Mrs. S. Phoebe just called and she said she wants to come over here with Helga. I… I want to see Pheebs for a while." He declined the offer politely.

She gave his son a soft peck on the forehead, "Sounds okay to me. You two take care now. Bye-bye honey, I'll come back again tomorrow." She waved at him as the rest of his family walked out from the ward, leaving Gerald, Arnold and Dr. Steiglitz in the room.

"Momma's boy." Gerald teased, smiling.

"Shut up, Gerald." Arnold said back.

---

Outside the hospital…

"I told you we should've moved away a long time ago! Now look at our son, Miles! Look at him! He got shot by of all people, his friend! HIS FRIEND!" she screamed loudly, and then her voice started to trail off melancholically, "Thank God our baby is alive… I-I don't want to lose him again Miles, please! Really, I don't want to! It's horrible for me enough to be absent from his childhood where he needed us the most!" she said with a broken voice, sobbing. She then hugged her husband tightly, crying.

"Okay… okay, Stella. God I was so stupid." He offered comfort to her, "You were right, and I was wrong. Oh God, what was I thinking earlier?"

Grandpa and Grandma, who were walking behind them, were looking at each other worriedly.

---

Suddenly the phone rang, Arnold tried to pick the phone up but the wound prevented his movement.

"What did I tell you about not moving your arm so much?" Dr. Steiglitz scolded him.

"It's okay, man. Let me get it for you." Gerald then walked to other side and picked the phone up.

"Arnold's temporary dwelling. This is his man Gerald speaking."

"Hi Gerald. How's Arnold doing?"

"Hey, 'sup Rhonda? He's doing just fine. How about you?"

"Not good. Like, the food here is appalling! I mean, yeckh! Where did they make all these stuff? Can it be any more tasteless?" Rhonda and Arnold stayed in the same hospital, but not on the same floor and she was being treated in a fancier ward room than Arnold's.

"Girl, what are you complaining about? I mean, look at Arnold. He's staying in a much cheaper ward and having more tasteless food than yours, but you don't see him complaining!"

She let out a sigh, "Alright, fine. I don't want to delay it anymore than we are now. Let's cut to the chase shall we?"

"What's up?"

"Ask Arnold to turn to Channel 5. There's big news about Curly. Oh, oh… don't hang up just yet, I want to talk with Arnold after this."

He held his palm over the receiver to avoid his voice to be heard over the phone, and turn his head to Arnold, "Channel 5 now man. Major news about the psycho."

"Whoa, really? That was quick. They've reached a verdict already?" He said with a quizzical tone as he picks the remote control next to him and changed the channel. The TV earlier was showing an animated movie about a kid who was trying desperately to save his neighborhood from being torn down by an evil entrepreneur. Arnold raised the volume up, as Gerald and Dr. Steiglitz looked at the TV screen in front of them, situated at a corner just below the ceiling. The TV screen now was showing an anchorwoman in front of the city's courthouse, presumably a reporter for the local news.

"In a decision that can be described as shocking, young Thaddeus Gammelthorpe, the perpetrator of the recent school shooting that stunned the nation was put into a high security mental hospital just a few minutes ago where he would be waiting for his trial due to the revelation that he was diagnosed with insanity earlier this week. His insanity status was concealed by his attorneys until today."

"To a nuthouse? Man, that's messed up." Gerald incredulously said. Arnold and Steiglitz ignored the remark and continued to watch the news.

"The young teen is accused of attempting to murder the daughter of the President and CEO of Lloyd's Monetary Firm and Associates, Buckley Lloyd. It was also believed that he shot two schoolmates of his during the murder attempt, where the brave heroes tried to suppress him down. Since the shootings the school is in a lockdown mode and the members of the faculty are barred from divulging any information to the media. Yet, our sources revealed that the school will be receiving extreme and severe penalty from the State Education Department for letting this horrifying incident to happen. Would this terrible event calls for stricter gun control laws, or just another scapegoat to blame violent videogames for this kind of act? Only time will tell. This is Marie Griffith, reporting for Channel 5 News."

"I can't hardly believe it. You kids these days…" Dr. Steiglitz muttered and shook his head as he walked out from the ward after watching the news.

A grin was spotted on Gerald's face as he watches the old veteran doctor exited the room. "Well doc, not all kids are like that." He then gave the phone receiver to Arnold, "Here man, she wants to talk with ya." Gerald then continued to watch TV, leaving Arnold alone to talk with Rhonda.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Arnold. So what do you think?"

"I dunno, I feel it's too lenient, but then again, it's reasonable I guess, considering he's insane and all. But, who would've thought he would go that far?"

"I think so too. I don't know, ever since the incident; call me crazy, I like, have some sort of funny feeling about him. I think they called it Stockholm Syndrome or something… whatever. Whichever the case, I'm going to pay him a visit after I'm out from this wretched place."

The words stunned Arnold for a while, "Are you… serious?" he replied back with incredulity, lowering one half of his eyebrow. Gerald sensed something was amiss about the conversation.

"The whole world has gone insane…"

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I like, feel responsible about his condition. I mean, I'm the reason why he did that to me and… to you and Helga… and the rest of the people in school. I'm really sorry that, like, you were caught up between our feuds, Arnold. It's my fault all these things happened."

"Don't feel sorry for yourself, Rhonda. It's not your fault. This thing could happen under many circumstances, not just you alone as the only factor. Try not to think much of it. More you think about it, the more you feel guilty about it."

"Still, I couldn't help myself. Like, I really think it was me that all these happened, and I just thought like visiting him would annul my guilt a little bit."

"Well, suit yourself. Whatever your decision is, I'll respect it. I just hope you'll make the right choice. You're a bold girl, Rhonda. Bold girl." Arnold finished the sentence copying Gerald's trademarked statement in a jokingly manner. Gerald gave him a soft snicker and continued to surf the channel while sitting on the chair next to the bed.

"Thanks Arnold. You're a true blue pal to everyone. So my knight in shining armor; why exactly did you want to save me? You like me, don't you?" Rhonda asked him in a very playful flirting tone, although she had already known to the answer why Arnold saved her: He always looked after his friends, no matter what.

"He, he… Well, if I won't then who's going to drive us nuts about our taste in fashion?"

"Why, that is so unfair! But… In all seriousness, thank you for saving my life Arnold. I'm greatly indebted to you."

"Don't mention it Rhonda. I'm just looking after my friends, that's all. Even if it kills me."

"He, he." She giggled. "Oh, catch with you later Arnold. There's someone at the door. I think it's Nadine."

"Man, what a coincidence! There's someone at my door too."

"It's Phoebe and Helga, man. Are you forgetting that they're coming?" Gerald suddenly interrupted as he got up from his seat.

"Gerald said it's Helga and Phoebe. Well, I can always count on him on knowing how someone's knock would identify the person who did it." Arnold sarcastically said.

"Man, that's uncalled for." Gerald replied as he makes his way to the door. Rhonda was giggling softly.

"Well, talk to you later Rhonda. Enjoy Nadine's company."

"Yeah, don't let that Pataki girl drive you up the walls. Ciao!"

"Goodbye." They both then hung up the phone.

As Gerald clutched the doorknob, he couldn't help but to wonder at what Arnold and Rhonda said before the conversation went silly. "Say, Arnold. About the stuff you talked to her earlier, what did she actually say?"

"Let the girls in first, and then I'll tell you."

"Okay, it better be worth it." He then opened the door, revealing Phoebe holding a box of chocolate with Helga behind her, holding a flower bouquet with a 'Get well soon' card to accompany it.

"Greetings Gerald, Arnold." Phoebe greeted them in a soft, sweet voice.

"Hello girls." The boys responded back in chorus. Arnold was surprised about the arrival of an unexpected guest - Helga, "Wow, Helga, you're finally here. I-I thought you'd never come… since you—"

"I said it before and I'll say it again, Arnoldo. Just because I hate you doesn't mean I'm cold and heartless! Jeez, and I just got here! Damn, you're really asking me to shove these flowers up your—"

"Helga, please." Phoebe politely asked her to stand down. "I hope you wouldn't mind these chocolates that Helga picked just for you Arnold."

Upon hearing that Helga became restless. She quickly darted near Phoebe's ear and whispered to her, "Phoebe… not now!"

"That's pretty thoughtful of you Helga. Hey, and it's my favorite too!" he complimented. "By the way, how did you two get here?"

"We got here by bus, as usual. We just so happened to stumble on Nadine along the way. She said she'll visit you as soon as after she visited Rhonda, and we would visit her after we visited you."

"So how's the wound, Arnold? Is it getting better?" Helga asked with curiosity and concern.

"It's getting better, thankfully. The doc even said I could get out from the hospital sooner at this rate." He briefly paused. "H-Helga… I'd like to apologize for not saying this sooner to you. Thank you for saving me."

"Well, that's great to hear Arnold… and thank you for saving me too." something's amiss. The main reason why she didn't visit him before was because she hated to see her beloved in a bedridden state. But, then again, it'll be the perfect opportunity to confess her love to him. She had told Phoebe about her plan many times during the three week period, although figuratively, without using any names. She was indeed surprised, but supportive of Helga's plan. Helga was quite nervous on the outcome of Arnold's reaction, like she would've imagined it before again and again. A little hint was given when they were on top of the FTi building, where she practically threw her guts out at him. Again, that was during their childhood, not the tumbling rollercoaster emotion of their teen years.

Phoebe saw her being reluctant again as she watched Helga returned into her bully mode back. She was definitely not pleased about it, because she remembered clearly: Helga spoke to her about her plans from early of the night to the wee hours of the morning, on the bus, at school, heck, even in the bathroom. It even affected her studies… she got her first B because of it, and suddenly she's not telling a single bit about her affection to him? She won't have it. She wanted Helga to confess it, right here, right now.

"Helga, don't you have something to say?"

"Like what?"

"Oh I don't know. Like your deepest feelings that you had harbored about him ever since you were three that you would kill yourself if he died?!" Phoebe can be really direct and cruel sometimes.

The boys was in shock after hearing that, "WHAT?!" they shouted out loud. Helga seemed defeated by Phoebe's word, although not very often. The last time she was like this when she and the girls were at Lila's house, where Phoebe gave her a good hard slap. Slowly she tried to gain her composure, and sit down next to Arnold and firmly clutched his hand.

"A-Arnold… do you want to know the real reason why I came to you and rescued you?" she asked him with an extremely nervous tone. "I-I… I love you."

"Gerald," Phoebe turned her head to him, "I think we should leave them alone." Gerald nodded his head, and he and Phoebe headed out. Gerald closed the door behind him.

"I think you owe me an explanation, Pheebs. What was that all about?"

She was about to answer it when all of the sudden the bell of the elevator dinged and out came the media group, interrupting them.

"I think his room is… there; to that hallway," a hospital staff pointed, and the press followed him.

"Here comes the media circus," Phoebe scoffed, slightly annoyed.

"Excuse me, is this Arnold's room?" one of the reporter asked.

"Yes, but we're afraid we can't let you in," Gerald replied.

"Huh, why? And who are you two?" the reporter asked again.

"He's having a private moment with another friend of ours. And we're his friends." Phoebe pointed out. "If you want to ask any questions, we'll be happy to answer it; as he and I are his spokesperson."

"Well, okay… at least it's better than nothing." "Teenagers…" "All right, does Arnold have learned the decision that has been imposed onto Mr. Gammelthorpe? And what about Ms. Pataki?"

Over the top for sure. In real life, Rhonda would've be glad that Curly is in that place and she'd never speak to him again. But, this is not real world, this is a story, a made up story by an amateur writer. Anyway, thank you for reading and please leave a review and please point the errors if you found one. Oh, be sure to check the finale of this story, which I'm going to update in a couple of days since it's already done and I'm in a process of proofreading it.