A/N: Chilly down, chilly down and R&R!
Disclaimer: No ownage. Bad luck.
"These…ah, sightings are causing an uproar amongst the patients, you say?" inquired the doctor, scrutinizing a rather nervous young orderly over her red-rimmed glasses.
"Yes, ma'am." he answered. "We had to empty the cafeteria when about half of the patients saw the--the monster." He flushed, as if embarrassed for using the word.
"Group psychotic episode." murmured the psychiatrist. "Very well. I have been going over patient records and I believe it would be best to sedate these patients." she waved a manicured hand over a small stack of manila folders. "That top one is first priority."
"Why is that, doctor?" asked the orderly curiously.
"All of the patients in that stack are schizophrenic, George." she replied. "As you know, schizophrenics are prone to see things that aren't there. They are also more likely to self-inflict pain."
George nodded eagerly. She gave him a tolerant, closed-lip smile. "The patient whose records are in the top folder is a paranoid schizophrenic. Do you know what that means, George?"
"It means the patient not only has hallucinations, he or she believes that these hallucinations are out to get him or her." he answered hurriedly.
"Correct in the essentials." she nodded kindly. "And that particular girl has hallucinations of monsters. So you'll understand why we don't want her to know of this. She may harm herself."
"I'll be sure to give her top priority." he said, bobbing in anxiety.
"See that you do." Dr. Ako returned in a steely voice. He left the room and she leaned back in her chair, steepling her fingers, deep in thought.
"Ahhhh! Monster!!!" the now-familiar cry pierced the air.
"Aw, fer Pete's sake!" grumbled Hoggle, slipping into another hiding place. If you were from the Underground, you might mistake these crazies for the sane ones. Over half of them could see the dwarf, as he had discovered, and most reacted this way.
"Mr. James, what is it?" an orderly gripped the middle-aged man's upper arm and turned him away from Hoggle.
"There's a troll under the water fountain."
Hoggle took this moment to escape. He darted out faster than you would expect from such a stocky little fellow and hurried into the next, blessedly empty corridor. He stood as tall as he could to squint at the names on the doors. As luck would have it, Sarah had taught him enough English during his visits to her that he would recognize her name if he saw it. This was not it. He followed the doors to the corner; none were Sarah.
He was just turning the corner to check the next hallway when he heard it again.
"Oh my God!! There's a leprechaun!"
This time, it was with a derisive snort that he hid himself behind an unlocked door, which happened to be the men's bathroom. He heard a stall door open behind him and swung around, prepared to defend himself. But it was just a balding man holding an oddly familiar-looking blonde toddler…
The man acted as if Hoggle didn't exist and went to wash his hands. The boy, however, looked directly at him and said in a high, clear voice: "Hog!"
Sarah looked up as her door opened, hoping against hope that it was Hoggle. But, no, it was two orderlies, looking at her like she had two heads.
"What?" she snapped, in no mood to be diplomatic.
Neither one answered. It was then that she noticed one of them was holding a rather large syringe and needle. She swallowed hard. The two men moved forward, forgetting to close the door behind them. Sarah climbed off the bed, on the opposite side of them, putting it between her and the orderlies.
Just then, the bathroom door across the hall swung opened and out toddled Toby, chasing after what looked awfully like…
"Hoggle!" she yelped. He turned and looked at her as Toby caught up to him and threw his fat baby arms around him.
"Hog!" he announced contentedly. Sarah's father came out of the bathroom next, looking confused.
"Toby, what are you doing?" he demanded, scooping the little boy up. As soon as he was free, Hoggle dashed between the legs of the bewildered orderlies and into Sarah's room.
Then Robert noticed his daughter. "Sarah!" he said delightedly. "We decided to surprise you and come visit early this week."
The two orderlies exchanged a glance. "Uh, sir?" said the younger of the two. "We actually have a situation on our hands. The patients all seem to be seeing the same monster, running around today. We need to sedate the patients. We can't have you visiting."
Robert's face fell. "Oh…I see…"
"However." said the second quickly. "The medication wears off after a few hours, so if you'd like to come back then, or even wait in the cafeteria, that would be fine."
"Oh! That would work."
"Dad--" Sarah tried to speak, but he cut her off.
"They'll bring you down to the cafeteria when you wake up, okay, Sarah?" he smiled cheerfully and Toby waved.
"Thank you, sir." said, the orderly, before shutting the door.
Sarah exchanged a panicked look with Hoggle.
"Now, Miss Williams, could you please just relax for me?"
"No way." she snarled.
"I promise this won't hurt."
"I don't care." she retorted. "I don't want to be knocked out."
"Miss…" the younger orderly tried to grab her arm, but she jerked free.
"Don't touch me!"
But, faster than she expected, the second orderly was behind her, pinning her arms to her sides.
"Let. Go. Of. Me." she growled, stamping on his foot with each word. Hoggle tried to free her, but he was no more substantial to the men than a ghost would have been.
The younger orderly approached with an apprehensive look on his face. She kicked at him and he stepped back.
"Just jab her already!" bellowed the bigger man holding her. "She's stronger than she looks."
Sarah felt a sharp stab on her revealed shoulder and everything started to take on a hazy quality instantly. The orderly's grip on her slackened, but still held her up as he led her to the bed.
She collapsed against the pillow, falling into the first real sleep she had had in a long time. As she lost consciousness, Sarah could swear that she heard a familiar lullaby playing her to sleep.
A/N: Mean, mean orderlies. Please read and review, you guys have no idea how much I love to hear feedback. Thanks to all who have read this story so far!!