A/N: This takes place before the gang escape, there are no OCs in this short. So in my human headcanon, Gill usually protects the Lab Gang so that they aren't taken to any of those horrific experiments aka "surgeries" the doctors put patients through or from being taken away via human trafficking. Though, he at first failed at protecting Chuckles, Gill also failed at protecting Peach one day. This short is about what happened. This takes place about a few months before the events of "Finding Nemo". This was kinda inspired by "Dental Tools" by RockDiva on here. I highly recommend it! It's really good! X3
Also, this story contains some dark themes and cussing so this deserves the semi PG-13 rating.
Hopefully you enjoy.
It was a typical day in the lab. Bloat and Gurgle arguing, Bubbles frantically messing with his pack of bubble solution, Deb debating with her "sister", Flo, Jacques and Peach exchanging some casual conversation in French, and Gill longing to escape. He's tried so desperately to get everyone out. Ever since he's met these people, he felt obligated to give them, and all the other patients that are still alive, the freedom and justice they so rightly deserve. He wishes for him and his friends to leave this evil hell hole, and just unwind in being independent, while also staying together.
The experience the gang has had in the lab wasn't exactly the best. They would've rather been thrown in prison. Basically, this human experiment/human trafficking laboratory's goal is to either sell organs, DNA, and other human substance at some black market, or sell innocent human beings to some sick people who wish to treat them as their slaves. So naturally the patients placed here would be put through torturous surgeries or just taken away from their families to be used.
Most of the time, patients lose limbs, organs, or anything else these sick people needed from them. Only a quarter come out alive. Obviously, the lab isn't well known under the public eye, thanks to this building being an abandoned hospital, and unsuspecting passbyers thinking that it's a regular functioning emergency hospital. Once Gill and the rest break out, he wants to try to file a lawsuit against the lab and put Dr. Sherman and his daughter, Darla in prison for good. Even then, prison wouldn't be a justified punishment because it was certainly less torturous than if you were a patient in the lab.
Gill was contemplating about escape plans as usual when Peach came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Gill, distracted from his thoughts, kissed Peach's cheek. "Heya, peaches." "Hey, are you alright? You seemed deep in thought." Gill turned his attention back over to Dr. Sherman, who was operating on a patient through the window. "I really don't know how we're gonna be able to pull off a lawsuit against this place. Will they even believe us?" Peach sighed. She knew when Gill was acting like this, doubtful and unsure. She stepped in and assured him the best she could. "Definitely. For one thing, we got enough evidence through the experience here. Plus, we got Nigel, who's a military inspector of this place. If he told the court the truth about what Sherman's been doing to us and loads of other patients, they'd have no choice but to believe us." Gill gave her a slight grin. She did have a point. There should be nothing to worry about. Even though he was still a bit doubtful, he could only hope.
"Yeah, I guess so. We should all just probably focus on the big task at hand. An escape plan." "You mean an escape plan that actually works?" Peach teased, making him chuckle and kiss her forehead. "Seriously though, hopefully you have a plan that'll benefit us." She added. "Don't worry, I just have to strategize better." "Hm." Peach glanced towards the others, frowning. Gill noticed and set a hand on her shoulder. "You okay?" It took her a moment before she responded. "Do you think we'll all still be together once we escape?" Gill grinned, gripping Peach's hand. "Of course we will. I promise you. We work together, remember?" Peach smiled back at him, kissing his cheek.
Suddenly, the door to the room swung open. Two doctors with masks covering their mouths and huge safety googles approached Peach. Gill held her hand tight, knowing it was his cue to protect her. "Patient #1002," One of the doctors started, referring to Peach by her patient number. "You are scheduled for a spinal surgery." Peach eyes widened. She tried to back away, but before she could, the second doctor managed to grab her and force her to let go of Gill's hand. He wasn't about to have any of it, so he grabbed one of the doctors and tried to pry Peach out of their grasp, but it proved to be difficult since he was trying to fight against two doctors. One of them managed to kick Gill in the stomach, causing him to fall to the floor. "GILL!" Screamed Peach. The rest of the gang had been watching the entire time and quickly came to his aid. They just stood there frozen with fear as the two doctors took Peach out of the room.
Meanwhile, she was struggling for her dear life, trying her hardest to break free from the doctor's grasp to no avail. Gill looked up to see that Peach and the doctors were nearly out of the door. He ran after them but before he could grab Peach, the door was shut and locked up. He tried to get the door to open but it was no use, they already had her. Gill's life suddenly flashed back to when he failed to protect Chuckles from his throat surgery nearly a year ago. How haunting it was to hear his uncontrolled laughter as he was being killed. How pathetic he felt after failing to reach Chuckles in time. It was about to happen again to the woman he loved most and he couldn't do anything about it.
"They got Peach!" Exclaimed Deb. "We got to save her!" Added Bloat. "Oui" Jacques agreed. "What are we gonna do, Gill?" Asked Bubbles. Gill didn't move. He just stayed knelt in front of the door. The voices of the gang started to fade until all he could hear was his heart beat. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he cried. He usually would show much emotion to the others. He wouldn't even cry in front of Peach. But at that very moment, there was no use to hide it. After almost a whole year, he was terrified. He couldn't let this happen! He won't let this happen! Not to Peach! Gill stood up and backed up bit, ignoring the questioning looks of the others.
He starts sprinting towards the door and rammed himself against it, trying desperately to break the door down. In spite of it being made of metal, he was still desperate to try. He does this about a couple more times before Bloat decides to intervene and pull Gill away from the door. "Gill, stop! There's no way you can break the door down!" He exclaimes. 'No! There's got to be a way! I refuse to let Peach die to the hands of these monsters!' Screamed Gill's thoughts. He tries desperately to free himself of Bloat's grasp, to no avail. Sure he was bigger and stronger than Gill, but that didn't stop him. He wouldn't let her become a victim to the wrath of this god forsaken hell hole! 'Those fucking bastards!' His mind cursed.
The doctors were on their way to an emergency room, gripping onto Peach's arms. She struggled in the doctor's grasp on her arms. She didn't say a word but constantly tried tugging herself away, only to be pulled back forward. In the corner of her eye, Peach saw someone in the room that she recognized, talking to Dr. Sherman. Her eyes widened as she turned herself a bit more and shouted the person's name. "Nigel!" Nigel flinched and glanced towards her. "Peach?" "Nigel! Help me!" "Peach!" Dr. Sherman decides to intervene, stepping in front of Nigel. "Keep your mouth shut, woman! You're only getting what you deserve." Peach was forced back around as the doctors rounded a corner and were out of sight. Nigel tried to run for her, but was stopped by Sherman. "If you so much as talk about this to anyone, I will personally kill you and everyone you know! Got it!?" He threatened. "Y-Yes, mate." Nigel stumbled, still petrified over what was going on.
They soon entered the room and forced Peach down onto the bed, being laid down onto her stomach. A third doctor came out with a blade. Peach's eyes widened, she had to get out of there fast! She continued to struggle her way off the bed until she felt a sharp pain going down her back. She screamed bloody murder. It was worse than having burning coal on her back. She opened her eyes and noticed a key sticking out in one of the doctor's pockets. It was her time to act. Once the doctors stopped holding her down, she turned herself back around and kicked the doctor with the blade to the ground. The other two doctors tried to hold her down, but this time, she was ready. She punched one of them in the nose and grabbed the keys out of the pocket of the other. Within a millisecond, she sprinted out of the room. The doctors got up and ran after her.
Peach was running down the hallway, avoiding people right and left. She saw an exit. Her ticket to freedom. 'We work together, remember?' Gill's voice rang in her ears. She knew she couldn't do it. Not without the others. She rounded the corner, avoiding the hands of the doctors trying to grab her. She saw the gang's room. She was almost there. She quickly halted, unlocked the door, and dashed straight in, shutting the door behind her and causing the doctors to bump into it.
Peach took a few breaths before glancing down at the keys. Overtaken with rage, she took the key to the room, bent it against the wall and tossed it across the floor. "Peach!" Cried the others. "Holy carp!" Exclaimed Bloat. "What happened out there!?" Asked Gurgle. "Are you okay!?" Asked Deb. Peach glanced down to see Gill on his knees. Her expression softened as she ran toward him. "Gill!" He turned around and saw her. He looked dumbfounded at first. Like it was all an illusion and she wasn't actually there, as if she came back as an angel. But when he looked into her eyes, he knew she was alive.
New tears formed as he stood up and let Peach leap into his arms. "Peach! Peaches! Oh my lord! I thought you-" He was cut off by Peach suddenly yelping in pain. He let go of her and saw that her back had been cut up. "Peach, your back! Holy shit! Are you okay!? I-I'm sorry I hurt you-" "I-I'm okay, I'm okay." Peach said, barely sounding like whisper. She was trembling. "Christ, love. You're shaking." 'What in gods name did they do to her!?' His thoughts screamed. "I got her, don't worry." Gill assured the others. They nodded and gave the two some space. "Come here." He hugged Peach again, gently this time. All she could do was cry against his chest. It all felt so surreal to her. "Here, I'll help you with the wounds." Gill helped her up and carried her over to where the first aid kit was.
Peach winced at the pain of a wet cloth being dabbed onto her back. "Hey hey, shh. You're alright." Assured Gill. "I'm doing this as delicately as I can, alright?" "S-Sorry." She quietly apologized. "No no, no need to apologize, love. I know it hurts. I actually should be the one apologizing." He admitted. "Huh? Why?" Asked Peach. Gill stood up once he finished patching up Peach's back. "I should've been able to protect you. I wasn't quick enough to act." He paused. "I-I let them hurt you." "Gill, you didn't know they were gonna go that hard on you." Claimed Peach. "I know, but I still should've ran faster towards the door." Gill retaliated. "How? You were kicked in the stomach. There was no way you could get up immediately after that. Hell, I'm surprised you managed to get close enough towards them before they closed the door on you." He sighed, accepting defeat. "You're right, as always." Gill's comment made Peach slightly smile.
"Those fucking bastards." He muttered. "How do they think it's okay to do this to people? Use us like objects and just toss us aside to let us die when we've grown useless to them. And to you of all people!" Gill calmed himself before he could go into a rant. "I'm so sorry. I wish I could've taken your place." "Gill, no! The last thing I would want is for you to get hurt. I'd feel worse if it was you being dragged out of here instead of me." Gill was about to protest, but didn't want to upset Peach more, so he just gently hugged her without a word. She sighed and nuzzled into his embrace.
"I-I thought I'd lose you like Chuckles. I heard a blood curdling scream and knew right away it was you." Tears fell from Gill's cheeks again. "When I heard you scream I ran back towards the door and rammed into it, punched it, kicked it. Tried anything to break it down, run after you and help you." Silence fell between the two of them. Gill glanced down at Peach and slightly chuckled, kissing her forehead. "I'm just glad you're alive. Relieved that you're standing here, nuzzled against me. How did you manage to escape and run back in here?" Peach proceeded to explain. "As I was being stabbed, I saw the keys that were in one of their pockets and it was like a sudden burst of adrenaline hit me. I attacked the doctors, grabbed the keys and just made a run for it." Gill grinned at her. "Hm, you may just be one of the bravest people I know." She blushed, playfully punching his arm. "Stop." She giggled. "I'm serious. It sounded like you put up a strong fight. I'm proud of you, Peaches." A wave of silence hit again.
Peach suddenly remembered something that went down before she was stabbed. "When I was dragged down the hall, I-I saw Nigel talking to Sherman. I called out for him and he witnessed me being dragged away, yelling for help. Before we left, I heard Sherman threaten to murder Nigel if he said anything about what he witnessed." Gill's eyes widened. "What!? That asshole! God I wish I could confront him about it. Once I sue him, he'll regret ever doing that." "But how are we gonna sue him if we have no evidence?" Asked Peach. "After we escape, I'll tell them that Nigel was threatened if he said anything. The court'll make sure Sherman won't hurt him." She sighed in relief, remembering something else. "It's odd." "Hm?" Hummed Gill. "While I was running back here, I came across an exit. I decided not to go to it." "How come? You could've been free." "Yeah, but I didn't want to leave you, worried that I might be dead. Plus, I remember you saying something along the lines of us sticking together." Gill chuckled, pecking her lips. "Hm, how did I end up with someone as amazing as you?" "Not sure, you needed a shoulder to cry on so I guess I just randomly appeared into your life." Peach teased, making him kiss her cheek. "Shut up." Gill laughed. They two chuckled for a bit before Peach laid her head against his shoulder. "I believe we'll get out of here. I can feel it." "So do I, love. So do I."