Rugrats and the Gray Plague
Premiss:
When a terrible Flu epidemic comes to town, will it change the Rugrats lives forever?
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Rugrats, or any other TV show that should cross over into this story, and this goes for any future chapters posted about this particular story. The characters are the property of their original creaters, unless otherwise stated.
Recap of Chapter 4: In the beginning of the chapter, the babies are at Phil and Lil's house, unaware of the real whereabouts of Tommy. But when they find Dil leaves and Tommy isn't present when Tommy's daddy appears, they venture over nextdoor to Tommy's, to find nothing but his plastic screwdriver, which is snatched up by Spike, and accidentally, ends up down in the basement. But before the babies even have a chance to rescue it, they're caught by Phil and Lil's mom, who takes them back to her house for a while, until they go to Susie's later on that very same day. At Susie's, the babies all make get well cards for Tommy, with the inticipation that they'd be going to see him the next day. Angelica fails miserably to destroy their get well cards, leaving a trail of destruction in the Carmichael's living room. Meanwhile, while Tommy is breathing on his own, he still has a high fever, so Lucy, AKA Dr. Carmichael suggests that everybody wait an extra day to go visit Tommy. But whehn the babies spy the Reptar wagon in Chuckie's yard the following day, they decide to venture off to the hospital themselves. What will happen next? Let's find out, in chapter 5!
Chapter 5
The babies continue to venture around corners in the Reptar wagon, keeping up with the ambulance. "Are we there yet?" Asked Chuckie, who appears to be slipping off the back of the wagon. "Hold on Chuckie, we're almost there!" Exclaimed Kimmi. The ambulance pulls into the hospital, with the Reptar wagon, not too far behind. When the ambulance stops, Chuckie lets go of the back of the wagon, and they stop. They spy the paramedics carrying the man on a stretcher through a set of doors. "Let's follow them," said Kimmi, as they get out of the Reptar wagon, and walk into the building. Their parents have caught up to them as well. They park the car in the nearest parking lot to the ambulance drive in place, and spy the Reptar wagon with no kids in it. "Ok the pups are definitely inside the hospital somewhere," said Betty. "Chaz, Kira, follow me, we're off to find them," she continued as the 3 of them walk into the nearest entrance.
The babies enter into a huge hallway, looking around, Chuckie says, "This place is so big, we'll never find Tommy." "Sure we will," said Kimmi. Meanwhile, down in the ICU unit, Dr. Carmichael, Didi, and a couple of nurses are gathered around Tommy's bed. "Well, he made it through the night breathing on his own," said a nurse with blond hair. Dr. Carmichael starts unhooking Tommy from all of the equipment, and they wheel his bed out of the room. Tommy is awake at this point, looking around as his bed rolls through the hallways of the hospital. The bed passes by where the other rugrats are standing. "I see Tommy you guys," shouted Chuckie. "Come on!" Exclaimed Kimmi, as they run after the bed.
Tommy is being rolled down the hall backwards, with the babies chasing the foot of the bed. As he looks around, he spots them getting closer. "Chuckie? Phil? Lil? Kimmi?" He asks in a croky voice. "I'm coming Tommy," shouted Chuckie as they near the bed, grab a hold of the footboard, and topple over on to the bed. Catching his breath, Chuckie adds, "Chasing after beds makes me tired." "Look, I think we're almost there!" Shouted Lil, as she points to a doorway that the bed goes through. They stop in a hospital room, where Stu, Didi, Dil, Susie, Chaz, Kira and Betty are all waiting for them.
Betty, Chaz and Kira scoop up their kids from the bed. "Oh, we're so glad you're safe," they all cried out, giving their kids a hug. After putting them down, Susie approaches the babies. "How did you guys get here?" Susie asked. They take turns telling of their adventure in the Reptar wagon to get to the hospital. "I have something for you Tommy," said Susie, as she picked up both, her get well card and Dil's. "This one's from me," said Susie, as she hands Tommy the get well card with Happy Bear on it. "Wow, thanks!" exclaimed Tommy, his voice still crokey. "What's wrong with your voice?" Asked Phil. "The doctors broked it," croked Tommy. "They stuck a tube in my mouth and it broked my voice." "I had that happen to me after my tonsels came out," said Susie. "But it will get better in a few days." "And wow, I like this rainbow," croked Tommy with a smile. "I helped Dil make that get well card for you," said Susie. Tommy sees Dil over in his stroller. "Ah, thanks Dilly," said Tommy.
"We have get well cards for you too," said Chuckie. Looking around, he notices everybody's get well cards are gone. "Oh no, in our attempt to get here, we losted the cards somewhere." "No you didn't," said Kimmi, as she pulled out everybody's get well cards from her diaper, and unfolded them. "You guys dropped them when we arrived at the hopcicle, so I grabbed them before we went inside," she added. She hands Chuckie, Phil and Lil their cards. "I drew you some dandelions Tommy, you like em?" He asked as he hands Tommy the card and he looks at it. Tommy shakes his head with a smile. "And this one's from me," Said Phil as he hands Tommy the picture of Reptar. "Reptar," Tommy whispers with a smile. "And I made you some mud pies!" Exclaims Lil as she hands Tommy her picture. Tommy grabs the picture and puts it down. "And here's my card," said Kimmi, as she hands it to Tommy. He looks at it, staring at the picture of Okey Dokey Jones dressed in a pirate, and her picture of the beach, he frouns. "What's wrong Tommy?" Asked Chuckie. Tommy answers in a sad, crokey voice, "The beach is where I got sick." "What do you mean?" Asked Phil. "Well, I met this kid Chongo, who was sick. I thought he just had a cold, but after not being able to eat, or breethe, and coming to the hopcicle, well, it's definitely the Gray Plague, and the scariest, must uncomfortablest place," Tommy added. "You? The bravest baby in the world, scared?" Asked Kimmi. "Um, yeah," replied Tommy with a froun. Susie comes back over to the bed. "So, do you like your get well cards?" Asked Susie. "Yeah, you guys are the bestest friends a baby ever had, but I still don't feel good, and just, wanna go home," Tommy continued. "Then let's go!" Exclaimed Chuckie, as he grabbed Tommy's hand, and the babies, got out of the bed. "But how are we going to get home?" Asked Phil. "Does anybody remember the way back to where we left the Reptar wagon?" Asked Lil. "Reptar wagon?" Asked Tommy. "Uh, yeah, you left it in my yard," answered Chuckie. "Susie, grab Dil, we're off to take Tommy home," said Chuckie. "And I remember the way," added Kimmi, as she headed towards the door of the hospital room. "Follow me!"
The babies head out into the hall, with Susie pushing Dil in his stroller bringing up the rear, and Tommy leaning on Chuckie. "Are you ok Tommy?" Chuckie asked. "Yeah, I'm just, very weak, and I feel achy all over, unable to move as fast as usual," he replied. "Well then, you lean on me, I'll make sure you make it," added Chuckie. As the babies head down the hall, a nurse stops them. "We're sorry kids, but this child hasn't been released yet," as she scoops up Tommy and carries him back to the hospital room. At that moment, Taffy shows up wearing a candy cane striped outfit and carrying her guitar in one hand, and a tray of food in the other. "What a surprise to run into you here minis," she said with a smile. "Look you guys, Taffy is here, I bet she'll take real good care of Tommy," said Kimmi. "Yeah, but… I wanted Tommy to come home," said Chuckie with a froun, nearly ready to cry.
The babies turn and follow Taffy back to the room. When they get there, they find a corner, and watch from a distance. Tommy is back in the room in his bed. Taffy approaches him carrying the tray of food. "I'm your candy striper partner, and I'm going to see that you get better," she said with a smile, setting the tray of food down on Tommy's bed. "But in order for you to go home, you need to eat all of this food, and take your medicine," Taffy added. The babies crawl out of their corner and hop up on to the bed. They spy the tray of food, with several bowls of food, with a spoon in each. "Look Tommy," said Chuckie. "All sorts of yummy food," he added. Tommy looks at Chuckie, then looks down at the bowls of soup and green jell-o. "Uh, Chuckie, I'm not very hungry," he added. "But you have to eat this Tommy, or we'll never go home," Chuckie added. "Come on Tommy, you're my bestest friend, and I know you can do this." "Ok," Tommy sighed. "I suppose I can try."
The babies each grab a spoon and start trying to feed Tommy, making a mess in the process. There's one spoon sticking up in a cup of pudding. "Don't worry guys I can feed myself," as Tommy reaches for the pudding and eats it. Later, when the bowls are empty, and a trail of food runs from Tommy's chin, to the covers, and on to the tray, all that's left is a bottle of apple juice. Tommy picks up the bottle and starts drinking it, when everyone's parents show up, and a nurse with dark hair brings up the rear, pulling the Reptar wagon behind her. "I believe this belongs to you," said the nurse pointing to the wagon. "Thank you," said Stu, as he gets the kids cleaned up, off of Tommy's bed, and into the wagon. The babies all start to cry. "Don't worry kids," said the nurse. "Tommy will be able to come home in a few days," she added.
Stu pushes the wagon out of the room, with Taffy, Betty and Kira following behind. Chaz approaches Didi, Lucy and Susie, carrying 2 party invitations and 2 tickets. "We'd like to invite Tommy and Dil to Chuckie's third Birthday party, and to go see Reptar Live with us next week," says Chaz, as he hands the items to Didi. "That's very thoughtful of you," answered Didi. "I hope Tommy can go too," she continued. "Mommy, do you think Tommy will be able to go?" Asked Susie. "That all depends," answered Dr. Carmichael. "This is a very bad illness, and what's most important right now, is that Tommy gets well," she continued.
Susie looks over at Tommy. He's frowning, and about ready to cry. "Awe, what's the matter Tommy?" Asked Susie as she neared the bed. "I don't like this, I can't do any of the things I like to do, I don't feel good, and my voice sounds awful," he added. "You're going to be ok Tommy, just give it some time," Susie added. "You know what Susie, you're right," said Tommy as a smile comes to his face. "I don't care what Angelica said before I came to the hopcicle, or what the Gray Plague told me in my dream, I'm gonna get better, and go home." "Would you like me to tell Chuckie, Phil, Lil, Kimmi and Dil that you'll be home soon?" Susie asked. "Please Susie, you and your mommy are my only hope right now," pleaded Tommy. "Sure thing, I'll be happy to," said Susie with a smile, as she patted Tommy's shoulder, and walked away.
Later on, the dark haired nurse returns, takes Tommy's blood pressure, and gives him some purple liquid medicine. "This medicine might not taste very good, but it will make you all better," said the nurse as she gives him the medicine. Tommy falls asleep as soon as the nurse leaves, and has another dream. Once again, the mean looking gray plague cloud is before him. "You're ruining my plan to destroy you," said the mean cloud. "Well, maybe it's cuz I don't want to go away," answered Tommy in a harsh tone. "Ha Ha," said the cloud. "Just wait and see, I'll destroy you when you least expect it," she added. "Oh yeah, and… I… Well I'll do the same thing to you," added Tommy. "You'll never make it silly old plague," he added, as he threw a treebranch in her direction. "Oh, you think so eh?" Laughed the cloud. "Yeah!" Added Tommy. "And my friends gave me get well cards, and are doing everything in their power to help me," Tommy added. "You'll never get away with this." "Hate to break it to you," said the cloud as she got closer to Tommy. "But those cards are just pieces of paper! They won't do anything!" "Maybe you're right," answered Tommy. "But I've got to try to get better. There's no way I'm gonna miss my bestest friends Birthday, or Reptar."
Suddenly, a bottle of that purple liquid medicine appears. "Recognize this young man?" Asked the gray plague cloud. "Sure I do," answered Tommy. "It's that nasty medicine I was given before bed." "Well, you'll still be taking this medicine after you go home," said the cloud. "And the majority of my victoms, never finish it because they cannot stand the horrible side effects, that are soon to come your way," she continued with an evil smile. "Side effects?" Asked Tommy. "And what are those?" The cloud answered him with an evil laugh, as she pushes him over on to the ground. "That's for me to know, and you, to find out. Good luck, you're gonna need it."
At this point, Tommy wakes up to a nurse taking his blood pressure again. "There we go, all done," said the nurse as she takes the blood pressure cup off of Tommy's arm. As she leaves the room, Tommy says to himself, "How is a baby suppose to get well and out of this hopcicle if we can't get any sleep?" He lies back on the pillows, but try as he might, he can't get to sleep.
This ends chapter 5. What will happen in chapter 6? Will Tommy get released from the hospital? What are the terrible side effects of the medicine? Will he get to go to Chuckie's Birthday and Reptar Live? Find out next time, as our story of the Gray Plague, continues.