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.
NOTE: Starting in chapter 6, and going onwards till the end of the story, 2 new characters appear regularly. Myself, known in the story as Aunty Celeste, and my nephew Zachary. Everything is true about us except we don't live where the Rugrats live in reality, nor does Zack live alone with me, making me his care provider, and, I don't have a driverless car. Also, in reality, Zack isn't crawling yet at the time this story was written, but in the story, he is.
Recap of Chapter 8: Tommy is determined to stop taking his medicine. So he does everything he can the following day after Reptar Live to not get his first 2 doses of medicine, but his mommy and daddy win. For this reason, Tommy continues to suffer from the side effects, and his crankiness gets the best of him, when he and Chuckie finally have a chance to talk things out, ending up in war, as their toys are thrown all over the room. When Tommy and Chuckie are eventually, separated from one another by Tommy's parents, Kimmi and the twins feel it's time Tommy's medicine be destroyed, so they head into the kitchen and Kimmy pours Tommy's medicine down the drain in the kitchen sink. Meanwhile though, Tommy has fallen asleep, and has another dream, telling him he shouldn't quit the medicine, making him change his mind, but when he awakens, it's too late. The medicine has been destroyed, and Tommy's angrier than ever. Chuckie ends that day's playdate in tears, but will that all change the next day? And will the babies original thinking on making Tommy's medicine disappear end up coming true? And what about that missing screwdriver, will it ever be rescued from the basement? Let's go find out, in chapter 9.
Chapter 9
It's the following day, and Zack, Kimmi, and Chuckie end up at Tommy's house. They arrive there to find Tommy and Dil watching a Reptar video. "Hey Tommy," says Kimmi smiling. "Hey guys," says Tommy with a smile. "Um, hi Tommy," says Chuckie with a sigh. Tommy turns away from the TV towards Chuckie. "Hey I'm sorry about yesterday Chuckie," said Tommy as he gave Chuckie a hug. "Me too," replied Chuckie. As they're embracing, Zack points to the TV. "Hey, you guys are watching Reptar versus the mole people, it's my favorite!" "Um, I hope you don't mind, Zack came with us today," said Chuckie. "I don't mind," said Tommy with a smile. "And I'm happy to give you another chance," added Zack. "Come on guys, it's getting to the best part!" Exclaimed Kimmi as everybody sits back down to watch the rest of the movie. After the video is over, Chuckie asks, "So what are we gonna do now?" Tommy stands up with a smile, walking towards the open basement door, "Let's go rescue my screwdriver," he said with a smile, as the babies head towards the basement door, Angelica comes in the front door. "Hello babies," says Angelica as she holds up Cynthia and a bag. "So, you must be Angelica," said Zack pointing at her. "That's my name, don't ware it out," said Angelica. "Who are you anyway?" She asked. "I'm Zachary, and I'm off to help my new friends find a missing screwdriver downstairs in the basement," "You babies are going nowhere, I'm putting on a Cynthia fashion show and I need you babies to be the judges," she said. "I'll do it," said Kimmi. "Chuckie, you go with Tommy, I'll stay with Kimmi," said Zack, as Tommy and Chuckie head off to the basement.
Tommy and Chuckie head down the basement stairs. When they get to the bottom, Chuckie looks around, shaking nervously. "It's awfully cold and dark down here," he said with a tremble. "Hey, I'm feeling kind of cold too," said Tommy. "We must be in, the frozen north." They imagine they're in a snowy cold place at night. "So where could that screwdriver be?" Asked Chuckie. "Let's split up and look around," replied Tommy, as he pulled a flashlight from his diaper and turned it on. "Wait, I don't have a flashlight," said Chuckie. "Here you go," said Tommy with a smile, as he reaches up to a table at the bottom of the stairs, and pulls down a flashlight and hands it to Chuckie. The 2 of them split up, looking all over the basement for it. Suddenly, Chuckie spots the screwdriver, it has rolled under neath the hot water heater, but try as he might, he can't reach it. The water heater starts making loud noises, scaring Chuckie. "Tommy, help!" Yelled Chuckie. But he gets no answer from Tommy, so goes off looking for him.
When he finds Tommy, he's sitting down, holding his stomach, his face is a pail green. "Are you ok Tommy?" Asked Chuckie. "I don't feel good," answered Tommy. "I think that Gray Plague is back," he added. Upstairs, Kimmi and Zack start to grow bored of Angelica's fashion show. "Let's go find Tommy and Chuckie," said Kimmi. "They have been gone an awfully long time," added Zack as he crawls towards the living room door to the entry hall. "Hey, where do you dumb babies, think you're going?" Shouted Angelica. "We're off to go play with our friends downstairs," said Zack as he and Kimmi turned a corner. "See ya," Zack added, as they disappeared down the stairs. Angelica grumbled.
Kimmi and Zack get down there, to find Tommy and Chuckie, huddled together. "What's going on?" Asked Kimmi. "Tommy's not doing well," said Chuckie. He whispers to Kimmi in her ear, "We shouldn't have disappeared his medicine, I think his Gray Plague is back." "Did you guys find what you were looking for?" Asked Zack. "Yeah, but it's in a really scary place," as Chuckie pointed in the direction of the water heater. "Oh, it's under the water heater," said Zack. "Oh, that's what that is," said Chuckie. "Yeah," added Zack as he crawled towards the water heater. He tries reaching under it to get the screwdriver out, but try as he might, he can't get it. Then, he spots a broom in the corner of the room. "If someone helps me out, together, we can get this screwdriver out," said Zack, as he grabs the broom. "Go help Zack Chuckie," said Kimmi, "I'll stay here with Tommy." "But… I'm too scared," replied Chuckie. Tommy whispered as he was trying to catch his breath, "You can do it." Chuckie sighs, and heads over to the water heater. Zack is over on the side, with the broom on the floor, going under it. "Come on Chuckie," said Zack. "There's nothing to fear, but fear itself," Zack added. "Never heard that one," replied Chuckie. "Some wise guy said it," said Zack. "Now, I'm gonna push this broomstick under, and push the screwdriver out the other side. Be ready to catch it Chuckie," continued Zack. Chuckie sighed, "Ok," he said.
Zack pushes the broomstick towards the screwdriver, and it comes out the other side. "Grab it Chuckie," he yelled. As Chuckie grabs it up, they hear some coughing and choking across the room. "Help!" Yelled Kimmi. Chuckie and Zack run back to where Kimmi and Tommy are, to find Tommy has passed out, his face is blue, and he's having trouble breathing. "Stu! Didi! Help!" Yelled Chuckie. Stu and Didi are up in the kitchen. Stu is feeding Dil a bottle. "I'm coming Chuckie," Stu shouted, as he got up from the chair, and accidentally, dropped Dil on to the floor. "Dil!" Didi shreaked. Dil screams as he lands on the floor, blood shooting out the back of his head. "I'm coming," shouted Stu as he runs towards the basement door. "What's going on uncle Stu?" asked Angelica. "Not now Angelica," as Stu runs through the basement door, downstairs, to find the babies. "Oh no, Tommy!" Stu shouted. He snatches him up and runs back upstairs with him to Didi. "What happened Stu?" "Looks like Tommy is sick again," said Stu. "And Dil's hurt too," cried Didi. "And if it weren't for your stupid inventions, we wouldn't be in this mess with Tommy," shouted Didi. "And then, you injure our second son?" She continued. "I'm sorry Stu, but I'm rushing my babies to the hospital, and then, we're moving out. Me and the kids." She shouted. "Fine," argued Stu, "I've had enough of this dumb family anyway."
Angelica heard the whole fight going on in the kitchen from the living room. An ambulance shows up to rush Tommy and Dil to the hospital. By this point, Chuckie, Kimmi and Zack are back upstairs in the living room, Chuckie is carrying the screwdriver. "Give it to me," said Zack, as Chuckie hands Zack the screwdriver, and he puts it into his diaper for safe keeping.
Chuckie sees the ambulance drive off from the front living room window. "I hope Tommy and Dil are gonna be ok," said Chuckie. Angelica walks up to Chuckie. "Even if they make it out, which I highly doubt baldy will, this time, but even if they do, you won't see them anymore anyway Chuckie." Chuckie tries to hold back some tears. "And why not Angelica?" Angelica replies, "Didn't you hear the news? Uncle Stu and Aunt Didi are getting a divorce." "What's a divorce?" Asked Chuckie. "You babies are so dumb," answered Angelica. "A divorce is when 2 people don't love each other anymore, and leave. Yep, Tommy and Dil won't see their daddy anymore, and I'll never have to come play at this house with you dumb babies ever again," added Angelica with a smile.
Just then, her daddy Drew comes up to the door. Stu lets him in. "Hi bro," Stu says with a frown. "Boy, you look depressed," added Drew. "Yeah, Didi is at the emergency room with Tommy and Dil, and looks like she and I will be getting a divorce," added Stu with a sigh. "Well little brother, I've said it before and I'll say it again. You'll never make ends meet, you have no savings, and soon, you're about to have no wife and kids! If I were you, I'd give up being an inventor Mr. Pickles." He shouted. "Never!" Stu shouted back, punching Drew in the face. "Well," shouted Drew, "I don't wish to continue to see this family fall apart. We're out of here, forever! Come on Angelica," Drew added as he grabbed Angelica by the arm along with her things, and heads out the door. "Fine! I don't need you anyway! Good riddance to you, big brother." Yelled Stu as he slammed the front door closed.
Not 2 minutes later, the doorbell rings again. "Who is it now?" Grumbled Stu. "It's Aunty Celeste, here to pick up Zack, Chuckie and Kimmi," she replied. Stu opens the door. "They're in the living room, which is on your left," Stu added. Chuckie yells, "We're right here," from the living room front window. Celeste heads over to them, scoops up Zack in her arm, and Kimmi and Chuckie follow her out the door. "Time to go," she said, as they walk outside down the sidewalk to her car. Once in the car, Celeste smiles and says, "Looks like you 2 will get to sleep over with Zachary tonight," she smiled. "It will be Zack's first slumber party!" "How does your anty drive if she can't see anyway?" Asked Kimmi. Zack replied with a smile, "My aunty has a special driverless car that drives itself, so we can go anywhere we want." "Wow!" Chuckie adds with a huge smile, as the car pulls away from what will soon become Tommy's old house, and Stu's bachelor pad.
Down at the hospital, Dil now has stitches in the back of his head, and Tommy is once again, on life support. Dr. McStuffins has a talk with Didi out in the hallway. Didi has already explained to her about how Dil got hurt, and the incidents in terms of Tommy with his medicine, how he only took it for 2 and a half days, before some little friends of his, emptied the contents of the bottle down the drain. "The good news, Dil now has stitches, and, it appears from the EEG that no severe brain damage was done," said Dr. McStuffins. "As for Tommy though, things don't look so good," she added. "What is it doctor?" Asked Didi disappointedly. "Well, because he had the Gray Plague, and didn't complete the 7 day period of medicine, we have to say that his Gray Plague returned due to lack of medical care. So once he's able to breethe on his own again, I'm afraid there's nothing else we can do, except wait for the Gray Plague vaccinations to be offered in this town again," added Dr. McStuffins. "And what should I do in the meantime?" Asked Didi. "I'm in the process of going back to school to continue studying for my Masters in Child Development, and due to recent events, I'm getting a divorce from my husband, and Tommy and Dil will live with me," she said with a frown. Dr. McStuffins turned to her, and put a hand on her shoulder. "All we can do, is give Tommy a Life Support pendent to wear, which will sound an alarm should he have an episode, and, we'll put him on a waiting list for the Gray Plague vaccination, as getting the vaccination, even after catching the Gray Plague, is the only sure remedy to be rid of it," added Dr. McStuffins. Didi puts a finger to her mouth and sighs. "There's nothing more you can do?" She asked. "I'm afraid not Mrs. Pickles," replied Dr. McStuffins with a frown, patting Didi's shoulder. "All I can recommend, is to give it time. Sooner or later, things will get better," Dr. McStuffins added.
The following day, a you-hall was parked in front of Tommy's house. Didi, Betty, and Aunty Celeste were all working together to pack stuff up into it, while Zack, Chuckie, Kimmi, Phil and Lil were off playing in the yard. "Don't you think you and Stu ought to talk things out?" Asked Betty. "There's nothing more to discuss Betty. If Stu would rather put his whole focus on his inventions and no focus towards his family, then he can do that." Snapped Didi. "I don't need my boys growing up around that maniac, possibly ending up in custody of DSS down the road," Didi added. "As experience raising my nephew by myself, it hasn't been easy. Are you sure you can do this?" Added Celeste. "Celeste, I'm studying for my Masters in Child Development, and I read Lipschitz, I think I can handle it." Didi added as she continued to pack boxes into the you-hall.
The babies are playing in the yard, with a stuffed talking dog of Zachary's. Phil and Lil press on its stomach. "What's your favorite food, Zachary? My favorite food is, milk!" Said the toy. "That's a really neat toy," said Phil. "I like that it knows your name," added Lil. "Isn't it cool?" Replied Zachary. "His name is Scout and my mommy gave him to me before I moved here with my aunty! He's fun to play with, and sleep with at night!" Zachary added as he squeezed one of the feet. "2 minutes of bedtime music. Goodnight, Zachary." Said the toy as it began to play some soothing music. "Why are you being so nice to us Zachary?" Asked Phil. "I thought you didn't like us," added Lil. "Well, after playing with Tommy yesterday, giving him another chance, and having so much fun on that adventure to his basement to fetch his screwdriver, I decided, maybe I ought to give you guys another chance as well. I see while you may like mud and worms, that's not all you like, and it's better to give all babies a fair chance, cuz you just might be missing out on something fun!" Zachary said with a smile. "Tommy's screwdriver I forgot!" Said Chuckie frantically. "We still have it, and never gave it back to him cuz he left for the hopcickle." He added. "Where's the Reptar wagon guys?" "I don't see it Chuckie," said Kimmi with a frown. "But wait, there's the you-hall, you could leave it for Tommy there, and his mommy can give it to him later." Added Kimmi. Zack pulls the screwdriver out of his diaper. "I'll deliver it to Tommy's mommy's you-hall," he said with a smile, as he crawls towards it. "But you'd better hurry," adds Kimmi as she spies only a couple of boxes left outside on the lawn. "Tommy's mommy is almost done." Added Kimmi.
Zack crawls to one of the remaining boxes that's outside, pulls it open, and drops the screwdriver inside. "How did you get over here?" Asked Didi as she comes up to Zack in front of the box. She picks him up and carries him over to his aunt. Betty retapes the box shut and loads the last few boxes into the you-hall. "Well, looks like everything," said Betty, as she closed the back of the you-hall. "Bye everyone," said Didi, as she gave everyone a hug, walks around to the driver's door, gets in, and starts to drive away. As she's driving away, tears stream down Chuckie's face. "Bye Tommy," Chuckie whispered as the you-hall drove off down the street.
Originally, this was where my story was going to end. Ending it in tragedy. But a true Rugrats fan just, cannot end a Rugrats fanfic in this matter. And so, what will happen next? Will Kira and Betty ever speak to each other again? Will Stu and Didi make up, ending their divorce and getting back together? And will Tommy, finally get his Gray Plague vaccination, ending the constant miserable illness, and bringing the old Tommy back? We'll find out the answers to these questions and much more, when we dive into the exciting conclusion that's to come, in chapter 10.