1
The sun rose over Halloweentown, pouring rose-hued light across the ragged buildings.
Dr. Finklestein, already awake for over an hour following a fitful night's sleep, took one last look at his surgical workspace, then rolled down the ramp to his kitchen. He was about to leave for Jack's home when he saw Igor. His assistant lay asleep in a dusty corner, clutching a strange, sodden parcel.
The witches awoke at the sound of Dr. Finklestein's wheelchair crossing the square towards the Skellington mansion. Removing their sleep-masks, the women exchanged sly smiles. Why was the doctor going to Jack's? There could only be one reason. They leaned out through their doorway to watch events unfold. Several other townsfolk thought the same thing. A small crown lingered in the area, pretending to be busy. The musicians shook their heads sadly at one another. Fishgal hung on the side of her fountain, gazing up at Jack's tower.
Inside, the Pumpkin King and his ragdoll were completely oblivious. Jack awoke in a cheerful mood, determined that they not sink under their problems. Instigating some over-due, amorous activity was his first step toward that end. He advanced upon Sally the moment she opened her eyes. She laughed with surprise. Jack touched her nose with his finger, his voice taking on a tone of mock sobriety:
"Now, stop laughing. How on earth can one do this properly if you're laughing? "
Sally covered her mouth with her hands, giggling harder. He shook his skull.
"No, no, no... Come on! Pretend you're scared of it! I'd love that!" They both laughed at this and embraced under the blanket, falling into a deep kiss. Zero whined in his basket. He turned toward the wall. The door screamed.
"Hrm.", growled Jack. "I can't say as I'm all together surprised. To be continued, yes?"
"But I waaant you...", Sally whimpered, before heaving a conciliatory sigh. Jack kissed her forehead.
"I suppose I need to get dressed before attending to whomever that is." He left the bed with some reluctance and set about pulling on his suit. Sally watched him for a moment, before rising from the bed herself.
"Who is it love? Can you see?", Jack asked.
Sally crept toward the tall windows, peeking through a split in the curtain.
Her voice caught in her throat.
"It's Dr. Finklestein.", she said. Sally backed away from the window and sat nervously on the edge of the bed. Seated there, wearing only a pair of panties, her hair cloaking her arms and back, she looked particularly small and vulnerable. Jack worked his arms into the sleeves of his suit jacket.
"You stay inside. I'll go speak with the Doctor."
Sally shook her head. She pulled on a threadbare camisole, then reached for a dress and socks. "I'll come with you. It's about me."
"Sally, Dr. Finklestein hasn't come all the way over here before. If he's here this morning..."
"Then he wants to take me. I know that, Jack. I'm not going with him, but I don't want to hide." She nodded, adding: "The Pumpkin Queen can't hide."
Jack gave her a gentle smile.
Dr. Finklestein waited by the screeching wrought iron gate. He'd sent one of the musicians to ring the bell, as Jack's front steps were hardly wheelchair accessible. A short time later, Jack emerged from the house. The old man's recalcitrant creation held fast to Jack's hand, following a half-step behind him. The doctor smiled as the pair approached.
"Well, well. However did you accomplish it Jack? An unexpected sojourn to the human world?"
"I'm sorry?", Jack asked.
"The heart!", Dr. Finklestein insisted. "It's not perfect, a little bloated due to water, but there's no severe damage or malformation. You did well, my boy, I must say."
"To what heart are you referring?", Jack asked in confusion.
The old man's smile disappeared. His face took on a more typical peevish and impatient expression.
"The heart! The one you sent me - or left for me. Whichever."
"I didn't, Doctor.", stammered Jack.
"Well, it hardly crawled to my doorstep on its own! If you didn't send the heart, who did? There was no tag or marking. Just a tattered, soaked, cardstock box."
The group stood in silence, onlookers murmuring to one another about this latest surprising turn. The doctor spoke up once more. He waved his hand at Jack in a dismissive fashion.
"Fine. No matter. I have it. Therefore I have work to do. Good day, Jack."
"Wait!", Jack called. "Doctor! If you have a new heart, and you can fix your Jewel, then..."
He looked at the old man expectantly. Dr. Finklestein turned his wheelchair to face Jack and Sally once more. He clicked his tongue and exhaled.
"I'll have my Jewel. You'll have your Sally."
Jack grinned. The doctor turned his chair and buzzed away, driven to revive his female doppelganger as soon as possible. Sally pressed into Jack's ribs, weak with relief. He folded his arms tightly around her.
"I'll have my Sally.", he whispered to her. "You'll have your Jack."
The Pumpkin King and his soon to be queen retired to their house for the rest of the morning. Both were happy to continue the morning's diversions. It was only later, as they lay together in a warm afterglow, that the most obvious question reasserted itself.
"Where could it have come from? Someone helped us, clearly. But who?", Jack pondered. "I'd at least like to thank them, whoever they are."
"I would too.", said Sally. "Why wouldn't they want us to know?" Her voice trailed off. She suddenly had a strong suspicion to whom they owed this windfall.
That afternoon, Sally baked a dozen cookies. She used the candied spiders and chocolate chips as requested, and spooned melted chocolate and toffee in thin strings across the tops. Carrying her basket, she walked to the barren hillsides between the cemetery and the treehouse. Facing the rickety structure, she sat and waited to be found. It didn't take long. Lock, Shock and Barrel peered from their arboreal home.
"What's she doing out there all alone?", Barrel asked suspiciously. "This is a Jack trap! He wants us to go mess with her. Then he'll get us!" Barrel pounded a fist into his open hand for emphasis.
Shock clocked the smaller boy on the head.
"A Jack trap? No way. Jack doesn't set traps, that's what we do! Why's Sally out there though? Definitely something's up."
Lock had nothing to contribute, but was at least as curious as his cohorts. They piled into their elevator.
Sally cast a nervous glance behind her, toward the more familiar ground of the cemetery and the town. As the three children marched closer, she wondered if this outing would prove to be a mistake on her part. Still, she remained calm, swallowing any outward evidence of trepidation.
"What're you doing here, Sally?", Shock asked. "You're kinda far from town, aren't ya?"
"Well, she's been here before!", Barrel teased. "But last time you came all the way up to our place! Oogie loooved you!"
The trio laughed. Despite their apparent solidarity, Sally detected a trace of unease in Lock. She spoke.
"Lock, would it be possible to speak with you alone? Just for a moment?" Her voice was kind.
"Uh-uh, no way!", Shock said before Lock had a chance to answer. "We three stick together! If you want to talk to Lock, you talk to all of us! Right guys?"
Barrel nodded emphatically.
Sally didn't say a word in response, only shifted her placid gaze to the devil child.
"Yeah.", he managed.
Sally nodded. She stood and walked away. The trio scrambled in her wake.
"What? She's just leavin'! Hurry! Let's get her!", Barrel chirped. Shock yelled back:
"Get her?! Hellooo, she's Jack's girlfriend! If we 'get' her, Jack'll come looking, then we'll have to deal with him! Let's go back inside, it's gonna rain."
"I'll handle this. I'm gonna go tell Sally to leave us alone and never come back this way again.", Lock said, his voice decisive. You guys stay here."
"Why?", asked Shock and Barrel in unison. Lock thought fast.
"Because, that way if anybody catches me talking to her, they can't accuse us of ganging up on Jack's girl, right? Plus, you guys can keep watch in case Barrel was right and this is a trap."
Barrel stuck his chest out with pride that his theory was being taken seriously. Shock however, remained incredulous.
"Barrel's never right!", she snapped. Lock was already trotting away from them, following Sally. He hoped his companions weren't behind him. To his immense relief, they were not. Over the crest of a hill at the far edge of the pumpkin patch, he caught up with Sally.
"Wait! Wait up! What'd you want Sally?"
"Where are your friends?", she asked.
"They stayed back there. I told them to. What did you want?"
Sally reached under the linen cloth which covered her basket. She produced the bag of cookies. Lock's face lit up.
"You made me cookies? Alright! What'd you do this for Sally? I didn't help ya."
Sally shrugged.
"No, but you tried. Jack said that you honestly wanted to help. It wasn't your fault that the heart was no good."
"So you just made me these. For what? For trying?", Lock asked. She nodded.
"That's all. Just for trying."
Lock grinned.
"Cool! I didn't know I didn't even have to do anything and people would give me stuff!"
Sally smiled.
"Well, uh...thanks...for the cookies.", Lock said again. "But, there was the other thing too. The other thing I asked for."
"That I not tell anyone? I haven't told a soul, Lock. That's why I asked to talk to you alone."
"Yeah, oookay...that too. Good. Um, there was something else. Do I get that too? I mean, if you're offering..."
"Are you asking, Lock?"
He shrugged, an easy smile crossing his face.
"Sure."
Shock and Barrel busied themselves taking a roughshod inventory of their weaponry. It seemed a wise thing to do, just in case Jack was indeed planning some sort of attack. Shock scratched hash-marks on a crumpled sheet of paper while Barrel moved assorted spears, maces, and hammers from one side of the treehouse to the other. At long last, the elevator rope twitched. It was Lock, signaling that he needed a ride up. Shock lowered the cage.
"You said you'd be right back! I was pretty sure that Jack must have gotten you! Hey, what'd she do to you? You're...weird looking."
"Ew Lock, what happened? Your cheeks are all pink!", asked Barrel.
Lock could think of no suitable answer.