"What do you mean someone wants to kill Walter...?" Fozzie asked, his voice all scared. Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Walter had gathered all the Muppets the next day in the studios. Everyone was listening carefully, shocked by what they were hearing from the three.
Gonzo rubbed the back of his head, uncomfortably. "Fozzie, could you not say that...? It's too dark to think about..."
Walter shrugged his shoulders. "I know it's dark, but he's right..." Many of the Muppets all exchanged looks of fear, and stood in place uncomfortably.
"Is there anything else the police found?" Scooter asked.
Kermit shook his head, trying to put on a brave face for everyone. "Not that we know of, yet. All we know about is the threat I got against Walter last night..."
Dr. Teeth held his hat his hands, playing with the fabric. He looked up. "What can we do to help?"
"Well, Walter is already staying with Piggy and I for a while. It's probably a safer option." Many of the Muppets nodded in agreement. Kermit cleared his throat and continued. "As for the rest of you, we only ask one thing."
They all inched forward.
"Everyone needs to stay together. No one travels around L.A. alone. Especially Walter, but everyone should to be safe."
"We'll protect Walter." Sam said, confidently.
"And we'll protect each other." Scooter finished. Walter smiled slightly, feeling happy that his family was looking out for him. But a part of him was a little embarrassed. It seemed like they wanted to protect him almost in a way in which he couldn't protect himself.
"Did you tell Lily what's going on...?" Rowlf asked Walter. Kermit shifted in place. No one noticed though.
"Yeah, I did. Her and my brother." Walter responded to the dog.
"Look everyone, we know this is shocking news. It's terrible, but we can't let it distract us from our lives. That's what...they'd expect from us. Remember, we have a live show at the Orpheum Theatre in a few days. We're not to going to let his get to us, okay? We just need to be careful..." Kermit said.
The Muppets all nodded, and proceeded to go pack up for the day.
When everyone was occupied, Walter began to walk away. Kermit stopped him.
"80's Robot will drive you, and you can go get your stuff from your apartment." The frog reassured him.
Walter nodded. "Ok, I will. Thanks." The boy tried to walk away again, clearly still uncomfortable from what was happening. Kermit stopped him, again.
"Were you...planning on seeing Lily...?" His leader asked. Walter put his hands in the pockets of his zip up sweater. He shrugged.
"I was hoping to...for a bit." He said, sort of quietly. Kermit cleared his throat.
"I know you want to, but maybe you should just come back to the house..." Kermit said. "Probably best for your safety..."
Walter tilted his head, looking at Kermit suspiciously. "Kermit, do you...not like Lily, or something?"
Kermit swallowed. "No, of course I like Lily." He said, truthfully. "I'm just trying to consider what's good for your safety. We have no idea where this threat is coming from, and we need to be cautious. And, I think that we might know what's better for you more than Lily-"
"More than Lily?" Walter interrupted, eyeing the frog. "Kermit, I've known her since I was five. Of all people, she should know me best."
"I know, but-"
"No, you don't know." Walter said, keeping his ground. He sighed. "Kermit, I looked up to you when I was growing up, but it's not like you knew who I was in return. To you, I was just another fan in the crowd."
"But you're not just another fan in the crowd!" Kermit said. "You're family, this is we're you belong." The frog tried to not go overboard with what he was saying. He didn't want to let it slip that he wants Walter as his apprentice right to his face. He wasn't ready to tell him, yet.
Walter ran his hand through his hair. "I know. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. But, I don't need you to tell me how to lead my own life, Kermit."
The boy tried to walk away for the third time, only to be stopped by Kermit again. The frog grabbed his sleeve, keeping him back.
"Don't walk away from me, young man. Not with a tone like that." He said, firmly. Walter looked at him funny, weirded out by Kermit's sudden parent-like tone.
"Young man...?" Walter said, trying to hide is slight laughter. Kermit flushed a darker green, feeling embarrassed. That sounded less awkward in his head.
At that moment, Walter started to see things from Kermit's perspective. If one of the other Muppets were threatened to be killed, Walter would want them safe too. It wasn't just that though. Walter was new, younger, and probably not as experienced in the public eye as everyone else. Kermit just wanted to make sure he was okay.
"You know..." Walter said. "I won't see Lily, tonight." Kermit looked at him, surprised by his sudden change.
"You won't?" Kermit asked.
"Yea..." Walter said, hunching his shoulders slightly. "Maybe it's best if I just stay hidden for a while. Lily will understand."
"Are...you sure?"
"Yeah, Kermit..." Walter said, a bit more sincerely. "This threat already has all of us scared, and stressed. I don't want to make matters worse."
"Hey Walter!" Scooter called, the boy turning his attention towards the stage manager. "Can we run through your number, quickly? Theres been a few technical changes."
Walter looked back at Kermit quickly. "I have to go, but I promise I won't." He began to walk off. "Whatever's better for everyone's reassurance."
The frog watched him walk off, an he felt a bit more relieved. After everything that happened last night, the frog could not stop thinking about it. If something happened to anyone, he wouldn't know what he would do. And of everyone, Walter was being threatened. Why the new kid? Kermit sighed, his head ached. He needed to just go sit in his office for a while.
"I'm glad you understand." Walter said, talking into his phone. The day was coming to an end, and Walter was sitting in the lobby of the studios. He was talking on the phone with Lily.
"Of course I understand, Walter. I didn't expect us to be seeing each other often after you told me someone wants to..." Lily drifted off, and Walter heard her breath a little choppy at the other end.
"Hey," Walter said, not wanting her to cry. "I'm okay, Lil. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying with Kermit, remember?"
It was quiet for a moment, before Lily spoke. "Yeah, I know. Just, call me when you can. I want to make sure you're safe."
"I will, I love you." Walter said, looking around the room. He hadn't realized how long he'd been talking. All the Muppets were in the lobby now, talking amongst each other.
"I love you, too." Lily said. They both hung up the phone, and Walter sighed. This was overwhelming. He was hoping 80's Robot would show up soon, so he could pick up his stuff from his apartment, and then get back to Kermit and Piggy's house. He needed to clear his head.
"Hey, Walter...?" Kermit said coming up to him. He walked sort of slowly, but Walter knew why. The frog was probably still embarrassed after calling him 'young man,' as though he was his father.
"Yeah, Kermit?" Walter said, trying not to show his embarrassment too.
"I know you're not going to like this, so I'll just be up front." Kermit said, his gaze on the floor. "I think...maybe you should stay away from the public, and studios for a while..."
Walter felt his throat dry up. A few of the other Muppets nearby heard Kermit say this, and looked towards him.
"What...?" Walter said, in shock. Kermit cleared his throat and continued.
"Just...for your safety. I think it would be better if you stay in hiding until this case has been tracked."
Walter would have protested, but could feel a bunch of eyes watching them. He didn't want to make a scene, but at he same time wasn't too happy.
"Okay..." Walter said, putting his hands in his pockets. "I think I'm...gonna take a walk." The boy quickly turned and went out the door of the studios. Kermit willingly followed behind, trying to stop him.
"This doesn't look good..." Gonzo said, following behind. Piggy followed too, allowing a bunch of the intrigued Muppets to so, as well.
Walter walked down the side walk, with Kermit pacing behind. The Muppets trailed behind them, listening to the two argue.
"Walter, come on. You know this is better for you!" Kermit said.
"I never said it wasn't!" Walter said over his shoulder. "I just need some space, that's all."
"You're clearly not okay with this." Kermit said, calmly. Walter stopped in his tracks, and turned to look at the frog. Kermit shook with fright when he saw Walter scowling at him, his eyes narrowed and his eyebrows down and together. He's never seen that look on Walter, before.
"Of course I'm not okay!" Walter said. "I'm not okay with any of this! I'm not mad at you about this though, I'm mad because everyone is acting like I can't handle myself!"
"Well, when someone in this family gets a death threat, it's not exactly something we take lightly." Kermit sassed back, bitterly. Many of the Muppets shared some uncomfortable looks. It was never a good sign when Kermit was talking back in an argument.
Walter broke his gaze from Kermit, but still looked angry.
"We all care about you." Kermit said. "No matter how many times you try to stop it, we're always gonna be trying to do what's best for you."
Walter began to pace backwards. "Well, tell me when you figure out exactly what that is." The boy said through his frustration. He then turned to leave, just in time for the light to turn red for the cars. The cars came to a halt, and Walter began to cross the street. The Muppets watched him walk away, feeling upset. Especially Kermit. If this was how all young people behaved, he didn't know how Jim was able to handle it when Kermit was younger.
As Walter crossed the street however, a car came driving down the opposite lane, chaotically. Fozzie was the first to notice.
"He's not suppose to be going, it's a red light." The bear said, quietly. The car wouldn't stop, and just kept driving towards the walking lane. Kermit looked at Walter.
"Walter...come back to the side walk." Kermit said, nervously.
"Leave me alone." Walter said, still walking across the street. He didn't notice the car coming in his direction. The Muppets kept shifting their gaze from Walter, to the zooming car.
"Walter! Come back, a car is coming!" Scooter called out.
"What're you talking about?" Walter said. "It's a red light-"
"WALTER, LOOK OUT!" Kermit yelled at the top of his voice. Walter shot his gaze up and looked towards the lane. A car came speeding right up to him, and Walter eye's immediately shot wide open. But, it was too late to make any sudden movements.
Walter felt his heart practically explode, as the bumper of the car came slamming against his chest and sent him flying onto the concrete of the street. His friends watched in horror, as his head hit the pavement. He was immediately out like a light.
"NO!" A bunch of Muppets yelled in unison. Traffic stopped at the horrible sight that had took place. The car that had just hit Walter however, took off without reason.
"Hey!" Gonzo yelled at the car that was taking off. "Get back here you no good-"
"Walter!" Piggy said, as her, Kermit, and some of the others kneeled down near his unconscious body. Gonzo forgot about his concern of the car and just went to kneel with the rest of the Muppets.
"Walter? Can you hear us!?" Kermit yelled, putting his hand on the boy's bleeding shoulder. "Oh no..."
"Come on buddy, wake up!" Fozzie said, desperately.
Animal came close to the boy's unconscious body, and then noticed the amounts of blood that was beginning to form.
"WALTER BLEED." Animal said, nervously.
"No...no!" Kermit said.
"Someone call an ambulance!" Scooter yelled. A bunch of people got out of their cars, and a woman pulled out her phone.
"Yes, hello!? A young Muppet was just hit by a car outside their studios, please hurry!" The woman said.
Though it only took less than two minutes for the ambulance to arrive, it felt like a long time for the Muppet family. Some tried to lift Walter slightly off of the ground, but Bunsen stopped them.
"There's too much blood." Bunsen said. "The medics should be the only ones moving him."
Kermit couldn't help but shake with fear, but held it back. He looked up from Walter to the rest of the Muppets. They all looked at the young boy, their faces already stained with tears. The frog stayed the closest to the boy, until he felt a big hand push him out of the way. The medics had arrived.
"We need oxygen, over here!" A man in a medical emergency suit yelled, studying Walter's body.
Another medic came rushing over with an oxygen tank. She strapped the oxygen mask on Walter's face, and tried to steady his breathing.
"We're losing him." She said, allowing the Muppets to further shake with fear. "We need to get him to the ER asap." Two other medics came with a gurney, and swiflty lifted Walter onto it. The mask was still on his face, but blood dripped from his back side.
"That's a huge mass of blood, sir." One medic said.
"I know, let's get him to the hospital, quickly." The head medic responded. As the other three wheeled him to the ambulance, the head medic looked at the Muppets.
"We can only take a few of you in the truck." He said, looking at the huge amount of colourful Muppet faces. "Who's it gonna be?"
"I'll go." Kermit said, walking. Fozzie, Gonzo, and Piggy followed too.
"The rest of us can take the Electric Mayhem bus." Dr. Teeth advised to everyone else. The rest of the Muppets scattered back to the studios, to get their lift.
The ambulance shut the doors of the truck, with Kermit, Fozzie, Gonzo, Piggy, and an unconscious Walter inside. They took off, racing to the hospital to save Walter.