Lori Fitzgerald and Charlie Prescott, bundled up in the cold air, are participating the all-too-familiar pastime of hiking through the local forest preserve, a familiar book under his arm. However, this time daylight shines through the trees of an early Sunday morning.

"It feels like we were out here yesterday," Lori comments.

"Technically the day before yesterday," Charlie corrects kindly. She sighs, flustered.

"We just need to become perfect and then we won't have to deal with this." Charlie laughs.

"You first. Because when that book comes after me for my fear of clowns I'm moving permanently."

Lori pouts comedically. "Then I'll be stuck with a clown for all eternity. That wouldn't be very fair."

"Well… wait a second." Charlie halts and she follows, concerned. He looks around to see they are in a very sparse area with few trees around. "Where are we?" She shakes her head and he consults his map, pulling it out of his bag. "I don't think we've ever been in this section before."

"Well, this is what happens when we get off topic and don't pay attention. Come on. We'll just go back the way we came." The two turn around and start heading the other way, Charlie sticking close to Lori's side. He looks at her, a little worried but trying to hide it.

"What if we can't find our way back?" Lori gives him a comforting smile.

"Then I'll call Hannah and we'll coordinate some way for them to find us, granted she hasn't killed Michael yet."

"Why do you stick them together if we're worried about murder?" he asks. "I don't mind either one. You don't mind either one. But they mind each other. It seems logical to do it another way."

"Ah, but I want to be with my best friend for split-ups," Lori admits.

"Split-ups?" he asks, baffled.

"That's my official name for them," she says proudly. Charlie looks around, obviously growing more nervous and concerned.

"Lori, I don't really recognize this part-"Suddenly the ground from under them sinks and both are sent plummeting down while screaming into a deep hole.

XXX

So follow me down

(Lori stands with the book)
Where to?
Outta this town

(Charlie examines his map)
With you
Girl, you're movin way

(Hannah is typing away at her computer)
Too slow

So follow me down

(Michael grabs the first aid kit from a cabinet)
Which way?
Down, down, down
I'll show you around
Okay
There's a place we gotta go

(The Disney Encyclopedia begins to glow. Lori sighs)

Follow me, follow me

(Lori, Hannah, Michael, and Charlie are running through the preserve, freezing once on each of their faces)
Fa la la la la

Follow me, follow me

Fa la la la la

(Lori comes to a halt and the others crash into her, sending them all to the ground)

Lori Disney? (Not Likely!)

Episode 8: All Females is Poison

XXX

Michael Harms and Hannah Frost both exit the cafeteria. They are both clearly frazzled and annoyed at one another like always. Hannah comes to a stop and sighs, looking over her shoulder. "Come on. You have to follow us." A second later Grumpy emerges through the doors behind them and catches up.

"You call that food?" He grumbles, causing them to roll their eyes. "I've had rocks in the mines with more flavor than any of that so called 'pudding'."

Hannah pulls out her phone and starts texting. "I can't wait for you to meet Lori. You two are going to get along so well." She notices Michael looking puzzled at Grumpy. "What's with the face? It's more stupid looking than usual," she says harshly. Michael gives her a glare.

"Wow, someone's getting desperate and childish. I was just wondering who he's here for. It's only been a day since Timothy and we haven't been in particularly foul moods. Well, some of us."

"We can speculate later. It's Sunday and I want to go sleep in like I should." She glances at her phone, biting her lip.

"She hasn't texted you back yet?" Michael asks. She shakes her head and dials, waiting for a moment.

"Nothing." She and Michael lock eyes for a moment, both are getting worried.

Grumpy sighs loudly, drawing their attention. "Well, you promised me a trip home. Where is it?"

They take a beat before Michael pulls out his phone. "I'll try Charlie. Call again." Both dial and frown after a minute. "Voicemail," he says, hanging up.

"Voicemail," she repeats, doing the same. She goes into her messages. "They were headed into the preserve last she texted me."

"They would answer. Something's wrong." Hannah instantly nods.

"Let's go." She starts, but he grabs her wrist.

"Hannah, we can't just go running into the preserve. It's too big. That chances of us finding them-"

She pulls her arm away, narrowing her eyes and growing angry. "So, you're saying we just sit here and twiddle out thumbs?!"

He puts his hands up at her sudden change in attitude. "I'm just saying we need to think first!" he argues defensively.

"Screw you!" she retorts, taking off at a run. He takes a moment before following.

"Come on Grumpy!" he shouts. Grumpy reluctantly follows.

"No one is ever okay with moving slow anymore. We always have to be in such a hurry," he mutters loudly to himself.

XXX

Charlie lets out a small groan as he opens his eyes. He slowly sits up, holding his head. Lori is sitting next to him in obvious agony, her broken arm free of the sling and clutching her good arm. She is soaked from head to toe with the muddy water around them. Charlie, meanwhile, is on a dry patch of mud, the book next to him. "What-what happened?" he asks, disorientated.

"We fell down what looks to be an old well judging by the mud and water," Lori hisses through her pain, trying to be calm. Charlie looks up to see they are in a small round pit about twenty feet below where they fell. "It must have been partially covered by weeds and such, but couldn't hold our weight," Lori concludes. He takes her in and notices her good arm is at an awkward angle.

"What's the matter with your arm?" he asks, concerned.

"I broke it while being chased by a leopard," she says as though it's obvious.

He frowns, crossing his arms. "I know that! The other arm."

"Ah, it just pulled out of its socket," Lori says as if it's nothing, though that's clearly untrue. "I'm sure the Doctor can fix me right up. Must have happened in the fall."

Charlie grips his head, thinking. "No. No. I remember. We were falling and you caught- oh Lori, I'm so sorry," he says horrified. "You caught me and I did that to you. Oh, this is all my fault. Now I hurt your other arm."

She gives him a comforting smile. "It'll be alright. I'm fine. The Doctor will enjoy popping it back as punishment for getting recklessly endangered again. If he can pop it back. Ah, I'd really hate to have to go to the hospital and explain to my parents again. They might drive down and drag me home themselves. Hey, we should focus," she says, getting back on track. "Sorry."

Charlie nods. "Yeah. Alright, we need Hannah and Ben to find us. Our phones!" He pulls his out of his pocket. "Great. Mine's dead. I knew I should have charged it!"

"Mine's in the water around here somewhere, so I'd imagine it's dead-dead. So no phones," she concludes.

"We could try climbing out," he suggests, rising to his feet.

She shakes her head. "I can't use either of my arms, so that is beyond out for me. We may be able to get you up and then you can get help." Charlie nods and grips the dirt only for it to come crumbling down on him.

"These walls aren't going to hold me," he says frustrated, throwing a clump in his hand to the ground. "I could end up burying us. Where does that leave us?"

"Cold and wet at the bottom of a well in the middle of nowhere," Lori concludes. Charlie slides down the wall, head in his hands. "Sorry, that was being a way downer. I'm sure Hannah and Michael are on their way with a plan... maybe."

They sit for a long moment when muffled voices echo from above them. Charlie rises. "That has to be them. HELP! HELP! OVER HERE!" he shouts up at the top of his lungs, hands cupping his mouth.

"CHARLIE?!" Hannah's voice comes through, growing louder.

"WE'RE OVER HERE! WE'RE OVER HERE! WATCH OUT FOR THE HOLE!"

Lori gives him a weak smile, shivering slightly. "See, we're going to be just fine."

XXX

Hannah and Michael stumble upon the now uncovered hole. They kneel and look down to see Charlie and Lori looking up at them. All four suddenly look relieved. "Oh my God! Are you guys okay?!" Hannah shouts down.

"Peachy!" Lori answers. "We'd really like to get out of here though honestly! It's a little cold!"

"Can you two climb up at all?!" Michael shouts as Grumpy finally catches up to them, panting and grumbling to himself.

Charlie shakes his head. "Lori can't because of her arms and besides the walls too crumbly!"

Grumpy looks down the hole. "They're trapped down there?" he inquires.

"Yeah," both Hannah and Michael answer.

"Well, you'll probably see neither of them ever again."

"He's a joy to be around," Michael comments. Hannah just looks at him annoyed before rising to pace back and forth, growing more unraveled as she goes.

"What're we going to do?! We need to climb down there and pull them out! We have to hurry or they'll freeze and die and then I won't have a roommate anymore! I'll be all by myself! I'm going down!" She runs up to it prepared to jump before Michael grabs her.

"You need to calm down," he says calmly as she pulls herself free of his grasp. "Seriously, just throwing yourself down there is only going to make things worse. I know you're worried. I'm worried too."

"I'm not," Grumpy comments. They both shoot him a glare before turning back.

"Point is we both want them out. But we have to think this through so we don't make things worse."

Hannah throws her arms up. "Fine! Then what's your plan?! Because I sure don't have one!"

"My first plan is for you to breathe." She just glares at him. He looks around before walking towards the only tree a little distance from the hole. "Now, we have a tree right here. I could run and find some rope or cord to lower down there for them. We'll tie it around here."

Hannah shakes her head instantly. "Charlie might be able to get up that way, but Lori won't with her arm."

"Then I'll just have to go down there and help her," Michael concludes, judging how far it is from the tree to the hole.

"Michael, you're going to hold Lori and pull yourself up?" Hannah asks in disbelief. "No disrespect, but you don't look like the type capable of such feats."

He shrugs. "It's all we've got right now. You stay here with Grumpy. I will be back before you know it." He starts to take off.

"Wait!" He stops and turns back to Hannah. "How are you going to get back here? We barely found this place the first time." He falters and she shakes her head. "You're an idiot. Hand me your phone." He does and she pulls out hers. "I'm sending you this program I've been working on. It'll set this as a waypoint and measure how you get out so you can get back." She hands it back and Michael examines it, impressed.

"Why is it blank for the map in this area?"

"I've been working with Charlie from his map. We're in uncharted territory. Now, get going." He nods and takes off. She returns to her pacing, almost hyperventilating. "Oh God. Oh God. Oh God."

"He's probably never coming back. I wouldn't," Grumpy offers. Hannah has to hold her anger in and keeps pacing, fist clenched.

XXX

Michael approaches the physical plant on the edge of campus by the gym. He peaks inside the open door and see no one. He creeps in, keeping low, and starts looking through buckets of items scattered around. He finds a long, thick, yellow power cord and nods at the length. He grabs it and sneakily exits.

He glances at his phone which has a blinking path to a red dot. He follows it through the preserve and easily manages to find where Hannah and Grumpy are waiting. He holds up the phone with a smile. "You are brilliant." He ties the cord around the tree in a double knot and tugs to see that it's secure.

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Hannah asks, nervous.

"Well, I guess we'll see." He heads back to the hole with the cord. "Lori! Charlie! I'm tossing down a cord for you to climb up!" He tosses it down for it to abruptly stop. Charlie reaches up for it but can't grab it.

"It doesn't reach the bottom! It only goes about halfway! I can't reach it!" he shouts. Michael runs his hand through his hair and Hannah crosses her arms next to him, expressionless. They both stand for a beat. "Guys, Lori's really starting to not look so good. She's shivering and her lips are blue!"

"What now?" Hannah asks is a tone that makes Michael flinch. He takes a moment before becoming confident and walking to the edge.

"I'm going to have to pull him out," he concludes, picking up the cord.

Hannah looks at him darkly. "What if you fall in?! What am I supposed to do then?!"

Michael sighs, practically at wits end. "Hannah, I am so tired of arguing with you. It's all we do and it is getting exhausting. We've got nothing else- no other option."

"We could call the rangers," Hannah says, obviously grasping at straws.

He shakes his head. "And how are we going to explain ourselves and him. They're going to call our parents and… things will just spiral out of control. We both know Lori would rather stay down there than have us get others involved. Plus, I'm thinking we don't have a lot of time. She's becoming hypothermic. Now back off," he says finally. She reluctantly takes a step back and he starts to slide down the cord into the pit. She walks to the edge, watching intently.

"Maybe you can get both of them out and stay down there yourself!" She hears him laugh. Grumpy punches her in the arm.

"Now you're thinking!" She gives him a small smile before returning to her worried expression.

XXX

Charlie sees Lori's eyes drooping. He gives her a gentle shake. "Michael's coming." She nods and tries to stand up, face screwed in pain. He helps her, trying to be positive. "We're going to be out in a minute."

Michael comes to a stop about five feet above them; hand wrapped the end of the cord. He reaches his hand out, but Charlie can't even reach that.

"It's still too high," Lori comments. She shakes her head to clear the fog. "Charlie, grab the book." He does. "Now climb up on top of me," she orders, thinking of something.

"What?" She kneels down again.

"Just climb on my shoulders."

"I'll just hurt you more," he refuses. She gives him her sternest look.

"Charlie!" He nods instantly and scrambles on top of her shoulders, causing her to scream in agony as she stands up. Charlie then manages to grabs Michael's hand. He is pulled up off of her and dangles, hand wrapped around the cord. "Now climb up, both of you," she orders, sliding back to her knees exhausted.

Charlie looks panicked. "No, I can still grab you!"

"I don't think I can get back up," she admits, choking on the words. She looks at Charlie and sees his determination. She then looks up at Michael, who looks conflicted. "Doctor, get him out of here."

"I'm not leaving you! You need to get out of here more than I do!" Charlie cries distressed.

A corner of her mouth turns up. "I'll be fine. You'll figure something out. But you need to get out of here and into some heat and dry clothes."

XXX

Hannah and Grumpy are watching the scene from the edge of the hole. Hannah hears the arguing and starts pacing once again. "This can't get any worse. This can't get any worse. This CANNOT get any worse."

"Apparently it can," Grumpy cuts her off. He points to the tree and Hannah's eyes widen as the knot comes undone and the cord starts sliding across the grass towards the hole as Charlie screams. She grabs it and tries to hold on, sliding as well.

"Help me!"

Grumpy turns up his nose and crosses his arms. "Why should I?"

Hannah has had enough. "Get over here!" she says in a tone that makes Grumpy run over and grab behind her. She anchors her foot on a rock in her path. "Now… pull!" The two pull, faces strained, and with a great deal of effort manage to drag Michael and Charlie to where they can climb up and out. The two fall to the ground exhausted and panting.

Charlie shoots up and grabs the cord. "I have to go back down there!" Michael gently removes his hand and gives him his jacket. He looks Charlie over and sees outside of being a little cold he isn't hurt.

Hannah gets up and joins them. "No, we need to get you back to your room."

"But, Lori-"

"We'll tie it and I'll go back down there to grab her," Michael promises. "Wait! It touched the bottom when you two were holding it. You two can lower me down so I can grab her-"

"Michael, we barely pulled the two of you up," Hannah cuts him off. "We're not going to be able to do you and her, especially when she'll be dead weight."

"What if I was here to help pull and you went down?" Michael suggests.

"That's stupid and you know it," Hannah shakes her head. "I won't be able to hold her."

Michael is at his wit's end and snaps. "Then what do you suggest?!" The two move in closer, about to argue. Charlie pushes between them.

"Guys!" he says excited. "I know what we need to do! I know who we can send down there. If-if he goes down and all of us stay up here to pull, it just might work!"

"Who Charlie?" Hannah asks. He looks at her for a moment and she gets it. "Absolutely not! I refuse to get him involved! I don't want him involved! He doesn't want to be involved! We don't need him!"

Charlie stands his ground. "We have to try. I'm going to talk to him. He rock climbs all the time at the fitness center. It's the one thing he's good at. He can do it. I know it. He's strong enough. He may not look it, but-"

"Then let's stop talking and go get him," Michael concludes. Hannah gives him a death glare.

"Michael, you're not serious? Him?"

He looks at her and then Charlie before nodding. "Yeah. If it gets Lori out, I am." He holds up his phone. "Good thing I know how to get back. Come on squirt!" They take off as Hannah just glares after them, angry beyond belief.

Grumpy comes up next to her. "Just saying, they would probably listen if you weren't a woman. Everyone knows about your wicked wiles."

"I'm this close to hitting you. How's that for a wicked wile?"

XXX

Ben Prescott opens his door in his usual attire and tie, but also sporting a nice black eye. He finds an exhausted Michael and a Charlie covered in dried mud in the hallway. He looks at his watch to see its only noon before looking back up at them.

"I don't want to know." Charlie stops him from shutting the door.

"We need your help." He takes him in. "What happened to your eye?"

"Nothing. And no." Ben shakes his head. "I-"

"It's something only you can do," Charlie begs. "Otherwise, I would never ask. You know that."

Ben gets ready to close the door again. "I'm not-"Charlie suddenly gets down on his knees, tears in his eyes. Both Ben and Michael are taken aback. "What-?"

"Please," he pleads to his step-brother, not caring how humiliating he looks. "Just this once. You have to. She's my best friend and I don't want to lose her."

"Don't want to lose her?" Ben questions, perplexed.

Charlie nods, wiping his eyes. "Lori needs your help. She's trapped and-"

"Lori's in trouble?" Ben cuts him off, looking up at Michael. Both of them nod and he looks concerned for the briefest of moments before gaining composure. "Figures. Let's me grab my coat."

"Really?!" Charlie asks, rising as Ben puts on his coat and exits his room.

"Just this once… only for you." They head out at a run. "What do you need from me?"

XXX

Ben ties the cord expertly around his waist as the others all hold the other end at the ready. "I'll tug twice when I've got her," he says with authority and confidence. They nod, Hannah and Grumpy less eagerly, and he heads down- the group holding on tight.

"I can't believe you got him to agree to this," Hannah comments. They wait a moment before the two tugs come and they start pulling. "They're a lot heavier than the two of you," she grunts.

"Tell me about it," Grumpy agrees. They manage to pull back to the tree and Ben climbs up clutching a weak Lori around the waste. He harshly deposits her on the ground and unties the cord. Michael is instantly next to her, examining her glassy expression.

"She needs to get warm right now." Ben reluctantly hands over his coat as does Hannah. Charlie removes the extra one Michael gave him. Michael wraps them all around her and notices the arm. "What'd you do now?" he sighs.

"Can you fix it?" she asks pathetically and weakly. "I don't want to have to go to the hospital again." He takes her in a moment, his hand taking hers.

"Normally, I'd say hell no. I can do all sorts of damage- pinch a nerve." She nods. "You're just lucky I've been studying this stuff since I was five, work in a training room, and that you've had a really long day." She gives a ghost of a smile and he helps her up, supporting her. "Let's get you home and into a hot shower."

"Wait, open the book," Lori recalls. Charlie does and reveals a glowing poem to everyone's surprise. He holds it up to her so she can read it. "Let me send him back first."

"About time," Hannah and Grumpy say in unison.

"Heigh ho Heigh ho Stop frowning you're going home"There is the usual burst of light and he vanishes. Charlie closes the book and looks around, noticing something off.

"Where'd Ben go?" He is nowhere to be seen.

Hannah shrugs. "Ah, good riddance."

XXX

"Oww! Oww! OWWWW!" Lori cries as Michael tries to guide Lori's arm back into its socket as gently as he can. Hannah sits at her computer trying to block the noise out and Charlie sits across from her for support. Michael succeeds and back off as she moves it tentatively. He puts her other broken arms back in its sling.

"Thank you," she says sincerely. He pats her shoulder sadly, seeing how much pain she's still in.

"God, I wish I could give you some Tylenol or something. This book keeps putting you through an awful lot of grief."

"I know," Lori says through clenched teeth. "I hate that stupid book so much!"

Michael rises. "Alright, Lo. Get some rest." She ignores him. He sighs at another failed attempt. "Get some rest Lori," he says in his comforting tone. "Take a shower. Lie down. It's been a long day and it's only one-thirty."

"Who do you think the lesson was for?" she asks as he heads for the door. "Honest answer."

Hannah stumbles. "I don't…"

"Well…" Charlie contemplates.

"Ben," Michael says with confidence. They all look at him. "It was for Ben." He leans over and whispers to Lori, "The moment he heard you were in trouble he dropped all his pretenses to go down there and help you. When push comes to shove he was in your corner, just like Grumpy with Snow White. That's just my opinion though." He gives her a last nod, pats Charlie on the back, and heads for the door. "I'll be back in the morning."

Hannah laughs to herself. "He's obviously wrong."

Charlie smiles to himself. "There! I updated the map." He shows it to her. "I put a huge skull and crossbones over the hole so that never happens again." Lori smiles genuinely at him.

XXX

Ben opens his door that night to find Lori. She is cleaned up and in a new pair of clothes. She stands awkwardly for a moment, unsure what to say. His eyes go to her arm which also sports quite a few bruises.

"What happened to your eye?" she asks, noticing it for the first time. He shrugs and nods towards her arm.

"Does it hurt?" She looks at it and shakes her head.

"I'm fine." He takes this in almost in disbelief of her attitude. She fumbles before giving a smile and getting started. "Thank you. Thank you for getting me out of there. With the way things… with how I've… you didn't have to."

"But I did."

She looks down. "But you did." She takes another moment before looking at him again. "Would you please consider becoming a Companion officially?" she asks sincerely and politely. He takes that in. "If you say no, nothing will change. But I figured I'd just talk to you and ask. Please." He looks at her for a long moment. She grows disheartened. "I figured," she says, and turns to leave.

"A month." She looks back at him. "I'll become a full Companion for a month, the whole package- hunting in the preserve, learning lessons, helping characters any time I'm needed. Then I have the option to renew for a longer term or back away with no judging or harassing. Deal?"

Lori's face lights up in a smile "I absolutely think I can work with that." He gives a nod and pulls out his phone- pushing some things while she waits.

"I just unblocked your number. Text me when you've got something." She nods and starts to leave. "Have a good night Lori," He calls after her. She smiles at him over her shoulder.

"You too Ben. Welcome aboard."

XXX

Tune in next week for Ben's official turn as a Companion, but one of the older members is becoming quite unhappy with Lori's choice in new hires so far