Chapter 2

Sportacus had just finished delivering dinner to a patient when the same nurse (Lisa, her name tag had said) flagged him down. "The doctors are ready to see you now. They'll be able to answer any questions you have, and then you'll be allowed to visit, alright?"

He followed Lisa, twisting and turning in the white, sterile maze until they reached a small group of doctors conferring amongst themselves. They turned at their approach, and Sportacus's heart sank as every last one of them assumed a sympathetic expression.

"Robbie, he's alright isn't he? He's going to be ok?" Sportacus worriedly asked.

One of the doctors, a kindly bald man rather reminiscent of the mayor, stepped forward. "Chances are good that he will recover, yes. However, he is seriously injured. His right leg was broken in two places and quite a few of his ribs are broken as well. He has fractures on his left arm and shin. He sustained serious head trauma, and unfortunately we don't know the extent or what the symptoms will be. It's different for every case. He also has some internal bleeding, and we've done all we can for that. He will need care for quite some time, both in the hospital and once he is released." At that, the doctor peered over his glasses at Sportacus intently. "We can discuss the specifics of his care once you are ready. Until then, you may stay in the room with him if you agree not to disturb him in any way. Otherwise, we can offer you a guest room here on the 3rd floor. Lisa informed us you would most likely want to remain close by, yes?"

Sportacus nodded, his throat closing up and leaving him speechless. As the doctors got paged away he followed Lisa through the doorway before coming to stand before an almost unrecognizable figure. Even paler than normal, Robbie's normal purple ensemble had been replaced with baggy white hospital garb, making him look even more slender than normal. Almost hidden beneath the wrappings, tubes, and other medical paraphernalia, Robbie's face was relaxed and peaceful. Sportacus couldn't ever recall seeing him look like that before. He looks so much younger, he thought as he took a seat beside the bed. Almost…pretty?

Sportacus shook his head and glanced mournfully around the room. Staying still and quiet like the nurses wanted wasn't going to be fun or easy, but he would have to do it. He was who he was, and he never let anyone down that needed him.

Hours and quite a few warnings later, Sportacus was frenziedly doing a string of calisthenics as quietly as possible. It just wasn't possible to just do nothing! He couldn't see how other people did it. He was on his 5th set of sit-ups when a muffled sound came from the bed. Springing to his feet, he flipped himself to the side of the hospital cot in time to see Robbie's gray eye slowly open, a pained and confused expression gracing his sharp features. His eyes drifted over to the man leaning over him and confused light in his eyes only increased.

"What…where am I?…who're you? Some kinda…blue pixie?"

Sportacus blinked in surprise. "Robbie? You're in the hospital. You got hurt pretty badly. You don't remember?"

"No, not really. Little bits and pieces, but…that explains this, I guess." He feebly touched the bindings around his head before dropping the arm back with a sigh. He settled down a little further under the covers, glancing back up at his visitor and giving a dreamy little smile.

Sportacus stared. He would have poked the man to ensure this was indeed Robbie if he wasn't certain that would only hurt him more. …why is he blushing? He looks happy. That's good! Sportacus settled on this explanation and returned the shy smile warmly, much to the patient's obvious delight. "Well, I can tell you anything you need to know. You fell off my airship in Lazytown, so we'll have to take care of you for a little while. Do you remember Lazytown? …Robbie?"

Robbie started out of his daydream, creasing his brow in thought. "Yes, vaguely. Lots of annoying, loud kids. Lots of boring, stupid adults, and…It's all a little hazy."

"The doctors told me it might be because you hit your head so hard. But don't worry! They told me it goes away after awhile." Sportacus cheerfully grinned, almost bouncing back and forth on the balls of his feet while Robbie stared with that odd expression again. "You'll probably have to stay here for a little while, then we can figure out what to do when they let you go."

Robbie blinked, his expression becoming more lucid as his location finally sunk in. "Stay? Here? That's impossible! Who knows what sort of healthy things they're going to do to me, make me do! Not to mention the food!" He gagged involuntarily at the thought. No nutritionist was going to get his sterilized paws on him, that's for sure!

"But Robbie, being in a hospital can't be that horrible! They only want to make you better. Besides, I hear their food is very good for you." Robbie's face contorted into a panicked expression and one of the little machines filling the corners of the room began to beep in warning. Eying the tiny flashing lights, Sportacus shifted uncomfortably. They're going to come yelling at me again. I can't leave the hospital yet, though!

Turning his attention back to Robbie, he shushed all his complaints by laying a hand gently on his unwrapped arm. "Robbie, I don't think it will be as bad as you think, but…what do you want me to do? You need help to get better."

"Since you seem to know so much, why don't you help me?" Robbie spat in return, red-faced and glaring. "I want to get out as soon as possible from this…hospital." He shuddered, then looked Sportacus directly in the eye. "I don't remember who you are, but if you're really interested in helping, you'll help me get out of here."

Sportacus blanched a little at the request, but he couldn't seem to draw his gaze away from Robbie's frank stare. Finally, he sighed and nodded his agreement. "No promises, but I will try to talk to the doctor. Just try to rest and get better, won't you…?"

But his companion, satisfied by the response, had already sunk back into unconsciousness.

"What? You want us to what?" Doctor Dynamic shouted, unable to believe his ears. "Do you not understand how critical his condition is? He needs proper medical care if he is to have a chance of full recovery!"

"I understand, doctor. However, Robbie was very unhappy the thought of having to stay here for so long, and all those little machines started going crazy when he was upset," Sportacus reasoned. "That's a bad thing, isn't it? Don't patients have to feel calm and safe to get better? I don't think he'll get better if he's so unhappy. Can't you tell me what needs to be done for him? I could probably take care of him, and then I could get back to helping people in Lazytown. I don't know how they're getting along without me!"

The heated argument continued, both sides scoring points before Doctor Dynamic sighed and buckled to Sportacus's sheer tenacity. "Fine! Fine! Just know that he's your responsibility from now on. Lisa will give you all the specifics for his care. Now just…go!…and no flipping on hospital grounds!"