With ghostly tummy full of coffee, Ghost Chimp, M.D. allowed Polly to drive him to the hospital. He may have been able to turn on his tangibility at will, but he was still too short to reach the pedals.
"When they found 'im, he was covahed in mildew and looked like he'd been through the ringa a few times."
Tears fell down her cheeks at the memories.
"I just cain't imagine why someone would do this to my cheeky little monkey." She wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. "Sorry for gettin' so emotional on ya," she laughed a little.
Ghost Chimp, M.D. put a comforting hand on hers. "Ook ook ock, oook hoo."
"Yu'a sweet," she smiled.
They shared a nervous moment when no one quite knew what to do next, but they snapped out of it when the car heading right for them blared its horn. Polly had seemed to forget she was still driving.
The hospital loomed ominously next to the car. Ghost Chimp, M.D. squinted at the cold and tugged at his trench coat.
"Gee. I didn't know ghosts wah bothered by cold."
They were quiet in the elevator, Ghost Chimp, M.D. using the time to swipe the edge of his mirrored fedora to reposition it and practicing his dope ninja fighting skillz in the reflective elevator wall.
"C'mon, suga. I'll show ya where he's stayin'."
When they got to the hospital room, Ghost Chimp, M.D. didn't stop for Polly to open the door. He floated right through it, attracted to the banana bouquet someone had left for Louie.
"Ook?" he asked, and without waiting for an answer, said, "Ack," and took three. By the time Polly came in the room, he had securely hidden them away in his trench coat.
Louie attempted to open his eyes, showing that he was regaining consciousness.
"Aw, Louie!" Polly was at his side in a second, running her fingers through his hair.
Ghost Chimp, M.D. was unsure about helping him. He'd never liked spider monkeys. No one would if they'd had the childhood he had, but he really took a liking to Polly. Ghost Chimp, M.D. was all business with him.
"Ook ook hook?"
"Eya eek scree," came Louie's weak reply.
Polly's eyes went wide. "Did he just say what I think he said?"
Ghost Chimp, M.D. narrowed his eyes in all seriousness. "Ook Ackok."
¤§¤
Ghost Chimp, M.D. packed his essentials. He heard the door to his clinic close and Polly came running.
"Where ya goin', Mista Buttahs? Louie needs ya."
"Ook Ackok." He shook his head. "Eek ook. Hoot hoo ock ook ook."
"Tray-an--" she started but was interrupted by the door opening a lot less gently than when Polly had used it.
"Ghost Chimp, M.D.!" bellowed an annoyingly familiar voice. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" The ever-rotund Police Sergeant Ackels barreled toward Ghost Chimp MD's office. "You can't take this case from me! Not this time." Curls of smoke gathered around his ankles. "You!" he pointed accusingly.
"Me?" Polly asked innocently.
"Yeah," he growled menacingly.
Ghost Chimp, M.D. looked around suspiciously and a bit . . . confusedly. Oh, I've used all my available lys.
"You brought him on my case." Ackels grabbed Ghost Chimp, M.D. by the collar and leaned in. He escaped the grasp on Ackels sausage fingers and floated just out of their reach.
"I thought I was through with you butting into my job, keeping me from every chance of a promotion!"
"Ook uk ahk!"
"And you wouldn't've taken it if it wasn't mine."
Ghost Chimp, M.D. grabbed his pack and started toward the door. "Ook."
"You got time for any guff I got to give you."
Ghost Chimp, M.D. seemed to mull this over for a moment, then said a simple, "Hoo," and took off through the ceiling. He could still hear Ackels' outrage, but he had bigger fish to fry.