CHAPTER THREE: Runaways

"Isadora!" Sunny yelled. Isadora and Duncan walked around the dumpster with big smiles on their faces. They ran up to the Baudelaires.

"Violet, Sunny, Klaus!!" Duncan yelled.

"And a baby?" Isadora asked.

"Kit Snicket's. Beatrice." Sunny said. They explained the whole story to the Quagmires.

"But where's Quigley?" Asked Violet. Isadora smiled.

"Come on out," Isadora said. Quigley walked out. His hands were shoved in his pockets and his head was down. "He was nervous," Isadora whispered with a chuckle. Violet gently turned the baby and hugged Quigley with one arm. He looked towards Duncan as she hugged him, but looked away.

As we know, Quigley and Violet do have feelings towards each other.

But Duncan does also.

Jealousy filled Duncan's eyes. Quigley let go.

"Hey, Vi." He said. "Good to see you…again."

"Can we, uh, talk like…in private?" Violet asked. Quigley looked at Duncan again and looked back. He nodded. Violet handed the baby to Isadora, the girl dying to hold the cute Beatrice. They walked around the dumpster. Quigley looked uneasy. "Quigley, look. I know Duncan is…is…"

"…is…absolutely in love with you?" Quigley asked. Violet gasped.

"But…Quigley… I like…you different than I like him…"

"And I think you're amazing, Vi." Quigley said sweetly.

"But you're afraid to hurt your brother." Violet smiled. He blushed and nodded. She rubbed his arm. "That's okay. It's really sweet." She looked around. "Let's walk, okay?" He nodded and they began walking. "Fiona Widdershins."

"Who?" Violet laughed.

"She was this girl, about Klaus' age, on the Queequeg. Her name was Fiona. Klaus was…" She laughed. "…was totally falling for her."

"Aww, how cute." Quigley teased.

"But… It turns out, she was practically using him. She broke my little brother's heart." Violet looked at him with sad eyes. "I wanted to punch her face in."

"And how does this all tie in…?" Violet laughed and smiled.

"He may be jealous. Duncan. But you're his brother and he's protective, like any brother would be." He looked at her confused.

"He'll get over it, I promise. He'll see how happy we both are." She smiled. He smiled back. "He doesn't want to see you get hurt."

" Duncan?" Violet nodded.

"But I won't break your heart."

They kissed.

They walked back happily. Sunny was on Klaus' shoulders, and Duncan was playing with the baby with Isadora.

"Beatrice is so cute," Isadora said, trying to fuse Duncan down by not talking about what happened.

"I don't know what to think of her as," Violet joked. "Am I her sister or her step-mom." They all laughed.

"I can be auntie!" Sunny yelled. They laughed harder.

"Sure you can." Klaus said with a smile.

"I can already tell that Klaus is going to be real tough on Sunny's boyfriends over the years. He is very protective of Sunny." Violet whispered to Quigley. He laughed quietly and smiled. Duncan glared. "Don't worry." Violet whispered. She squeezed his hand.

The next morning…

The Quagmire's slept on the other side of the green dumpster. The Baudelaire's on the other. They woke up to the wailing of Beatrice.

"Shh," Violet said calmly. Her eyes were purple and tired, and the sky was painted a medium-dark purple-ish black. She rocked the baby in her arms. "Shh, shh…" She said tiredly. Isadora woke up, but the rest slept soundly.

"What's wrong," She whispered. "Is something the matter?"

"Beatrice won't calm down. I think she's sick." Isadora looked closer at Beatrice.

"Let me get my notebook." She grabbed her notebook and flipped through the papers. "I think she has Epiglottitis. Here's what I have," She read. "Epiglottitis, also known as supraglottitis, is a potentially life-threatening infection of the epiglottis. The epiglottis is a leaf-shaped flap of cartilage that covers the voice box, protecting it from food, drink, and anything else that goes down the throat. Epiglottitis occurs when a bacteria infects the epiglottis and other nearby tissues, making them so tender and swollen they can eventually block the airway." Violet got nervous. "This is a serious disease."

"Read more." Violet demanded.

"It may start out like a run-of-the mill sore throat, but the symptoms quickly intensify. Within hours, your baby's throat will hurt so much that she'll do anything she can to avoid swallowing. She'll refuse food and drink, and even if she's not normally a drooler, she'll start dribbling profusely."

"So what do we do!" Violet asked.

"We need a hospital."

"But we can't go to a doctor! Who! Where! I'm only a teenager!"

"Vi, it's okay. We'll find one. Do you remember the town in which you lived?" Isadora asked calmly.

"Yeah…It's right here."

"Then we can find one. Awaken Klaus, we'll need him." She paused. "Just wake everyone. We need everyone's help." They woke them up and explained the situation.

"Okay, we're going to have fake names. Beatrice will be Kit Bleedoite. I just made it up, and wanted to use Kit. I will be Viola Bleedoite, and Isadora will be Isabel Bleediote." Violet announced.

"We will go to Children's Hospital down on Fifth Avenue. Keep watch. See you later, hopefully, and stay safe." Isadora said. They began walking, and then jogging and soon running. It took about twenty tired minutes to get to the Hospital.

"Emergency!" Violet, aka Viola, yelled running in the door. They ran to the desk. "This baby is in serious danger."

"Names," the snobby lady at the desk said.

"My name is Viola Bleedoite. My fri—sister here is Isabel Bleedoite. The baby in danger is Kit Bleedoite."

"Have you been here before?" The snob asked.

"No! The baby is in serious danger! She has Epiglottitis!"

"I think that is for the doctor to decide young lady. Now, sit down and wait over—"

"NO!" Isadora yelled, as the three, Violet, Isadora and the baby dashed down the hallway to the E.R. "Doctor!" They yelled. "We need a doctor!!!" A nice doctor came up to them.

"Let them stay," He snapped at a nurse trying to escort them away. "This baby may have Epiglottitis!" They did several tests on poor Beatrice. Isadora flipped through her notebook.

"Vi, listen. 'The anesthesia will allow the doctor to safely examine her and place a breathing tube past her swollen epiglottis into her airway.

Next, she'll be taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) and given intravenous liquids and antibiotics. Because of the discomfort, she'll likely be kept sedated until it's safe to remove the breathing tube — that is, once the doctor feels certain the infection is under control and the swelling has subsided enough so she can breathe easily. This will probably take two or three days.

Afterward your baby may need to stay in the hospital a few days longer to receive intravenous liquids and antibiotics. When you take her home, you'll continue giving her antibiotics by mouth to banish any bacteria lingering in her system.'" She read. About two hours later, a nurse came by.

"Miss…and Miss. Bleedoite. Well, she does have Epiglottitis. We're treating her now. Why didn't she get the HIB vaccine?" Violet looked at Isadora. She flipped in her notebook quickly.

"Epiglottitis was usually caused by the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacteria. Once a common and dangerous childhood condition, epiglottitis is now rare, thanks to the introduction of a vaccine against Hib in 1988. (Most babies are now routinely vaccinated against Hib by the age of 1)." Isadora whispered.

"Uh…" Violet started. "Okay… Her—Our mother died giving birth to her. She was born on an island…where we have lived for quite some time." The snobby nurse softened.

"I'm so sorry." She said and then walked away. Hours later, they finally got word from the doctor.

He smiled.

"Baby Bea—Kit will be better. She's free to go. But be careful with her. Where is your father?" Violet looked at Isadora, who looked at her.

"Oh, we live just around here." Isadora lied. "Our father is at home, watching our other baby brother. He couldn't leave because he broke his leg. He thought we're old enough to handle, so he sent us with baby Be—Kit." She replied convincingly.

"Well, make sure she's in good care, okay?" The doctor said. They nodded.

"Thank you, Sir." They said, gently putting Beatrice in a safety stroller the hospital had given them. "We will, Sir."

"Call me Dr. Charles." He called. Violet glanced back at him quickly and he smiled. They strolled out. Soon, they were back at the dumpster area. They told them all about they're trip. Violet pulled Klaus aside.

"I saw Charles, Klaus." She whispered.