Chapter 9
Robbie was unconscious by the time they finally reached the neighboring city. Robbie's still form draped over his arms, Sportacus jumped down from the poled platform and raced through the doors. The nurses took one look and reacted immediately. The room was filled with white as Sportacus was surrounded. Hands were reaching out, touching, testing. Sportacus felt someone tug on his sleeve, and as he turned to respond someone wrested Robbie from his hold. He watched helplessly as a flock of nurses and doctors wheeled him to some back room, just standing numbly in shock.
"…sir? Sir? We need you to answer some questions. It's very important." One nurse had remained behind, one hand poised on a clipboard. "Will you come with me?"
Sportacus nodded and followed her in a daze, simply walking without even the normal spring in his step. Leading him into a small, private waiting room, the nurse pressed him into a chair before taking a seat herself.
"My notes here say that our patient was just released a few days ago. I take it you are his designated caretaker?"
"Yes. Do you know what's wrong? I followed all the instructions Dr. Dynamic gave me…" Sportacus fidgeted in agitation.
The nurse sighed. "That's what we're trying to figure out, sir…Sportacus? Had you noticed any unusual changes in his behavior? Were there any medical conditions we were not informed of last time?"
"I…I don't know," Sportacus confessed, wide eyed. "He's just…Robbie. He's been sleeping a lot, but I think that's normal for him. He's been taking his pills, so it shouldn't be an infection." He paused, considering. "He's just been resting all day, and I've never heard of washing up hurting anybody."
The nurse tapped her pen against the clipboard. "What about his eating habits? Has he been eating and drinking enough?"
"I think so, though he's really a picky eater. He didn't like most of the stuff I made for him. I think he's just not used to it because he eats so much junk food."
The nurse paused. "Could you say what sorts of thing he would normally have in his diet?"
"Erm…I'm not sure. Lots of sugar, I think."
The nurse nodded, standing suddenly. "I'm going to go check with the doctors. Could you stay here, please? We'll send someone when we have news."
The waiting was unbearable. Sportacus paced back and forth in the small, box-like room. He wasn't claustrophobic by any means, but his muscles tingled in nervousness, pushing him to action. What if I did something wrong, made him worse? He wondered fretfully, completing his 50th circuit of the area. Some hero I am…
His thoughts were cut off as the door squeaked open once more, this time admitting Dr. Dynamic and Lisa.
"Doctor, Miss Lisa, is Robbie alright? He's not getting worse, is he…?"
Lisa smiled reassuringly and tried to get Sportacus to sit while Dr. Dynamic took the chair right across from him. "He's just fine, now. He's resting and the heart palpitations are under control."
"But…what happened? I followed all of your instructions about the bones and everything!"
"And you did very well in doing that. The broken bones were not the cause of the problem, most fortunately. Infections of that sort can get very nasty, even deadly," Dynamic explained. "Mr. Sportacus, have you ever heard of hyperthyroidism or Graves' Disease?"
"N-no," Sportacus said, paling. "What is it?"
"To put it in the simplest way possible…your thyroid gland is one of the main organs that determines your metabolism. How fast you burn calories, how fast your blood sugar drops. Once we determined that Mr. Rotten's symptoms all indicated dangerously low blood sugar levels we were able to stabilize him very easily. However, the results from the blood lab came back and we are fairly certain that he has Graves' Disease."
"Graves' Disease?"
Dynamic sighed. "Mr. Rotten's thyroid will most likely continue to stay hyperactive for the rest of his life. There is no real known cure, but it is easily treated. He simply needs to be sure he keeps his blood sugar at a safe level. Lisa will be giving you a list of recommended foods and beverages for future reference, and I recommend getting a bottle of glucose tablets from a pharmacy in case of emergencies."
Sportacus blinked in surprise. "Wait…are you saying that all that junk food and sugar is actually good for him?"
"Most likely his body instinctively knew what it needed. Sometimes food cravings are not a result of addictive qualities but the body's attempt to get something it is lacking." Adjusting his glasses, Dynamic stood. "Mr. Rotten should be perfectly fine in a few hours, and at that time he will be free to go. Now, I must be off. Lisa here will answer any further questions and show you to his room."
Robbie was slumbering peacefully as Sportacus stood beside the small hospital cot, examining the instructions he had been given. I can't even believe it. This is the exact opposite of everything I've ever learned! They told me how it was possible, but…sugar being good for you? He frowned to himself. I wonder if they'd let me have some of those rubber gloves they have…
Robbie began stirring, cutting his musings short. Sportacus leaned over the side of the bed with a worried expression just as Robbie opened his pale gray eyes. A strange expression flickered briefly across his face and was gone.
"Well…isn't this the second time I've woken up in a hospital with you playing Guardian Angel? Or was the rest only a dream-UHN." The rest of his words faded away as Sportacus enveloped him in a crushing hug, smiling in relief.
"Sp…Sport. Air!" Robbie gasped, and Sportacus finally loosened his grip slightly.
"I'm sorry, Robbie." Sportacus whispered into his shoulder, so quietly Robbie almost didn't hear it.
"Sorry? For what, Sportadolt? You tried poisoning me with that…food of yours, for lack of a better term…but now you know better." Sportacus, however, refused to let up, clinging to him stubbornly. "…I'm not going anywhere, if that's what you're worried about."
"…it's just…I felt so helpless. I had no idea what to do! No way to save you, stop whatever was happening! I guess I'm just used to being able save everyone I care about."
Robbie's cheeks turned slightly rosy at this. "You can't save everyone all the time, you idiot. You're too selfless for your own good." Clearing his throat awkwardly, he continued. "So…do we get to leave here soon? Hospitals kinda creep me out."
Sportacus finally released him, his eyes looking suspiciously blurry. "Oh, yes…The doctors said as soon as you woke up and got checked out by a nurse they'd let you go. I'll be right back." Straightening, he cart wheeled through the door and was gone.
A/N: Apologies to anyone who has Graves' and/or knows more about it than I do. My information came from a friend who has it and a little bit of research.