Chapter 4
"I can't let you do this!" Doctor Caldwell protested as Rapunzel tried to push past him.
"This could be our only opportunity!" She argued. He knew she was right and they both knew that Doctor Lebowitz was staring at them. The German went to say something but at that moment, Eugene burst through the door to the doctor's office and Lebowitz got the back of the door smacked into his head. He crumpled to the ground and quickly Eugene scooped him up and put him into a nearby chair.
"Good God!" Caldwell couldn't believe what just happened.
"Do what you're going to do and be quick about it. The guards will be back with his family and who knows how long Gunter will be out," Eugene tried to get him to focus.
"Let's just hope you haven't knocked all those years of medical knowledge out of his head," Caldwell shook his head and ushered Rapunzel into the room where the patient had been setup.
"What should we do?" The doctor asked.
"Well the last time, my powers worked with a tear so we have to make me cry," Rapunzel reasoned.
"You can't completely heal him though. People will get suspicious," Caldwell reminded her.
"Well I've never tried a partial but if you want to burn him again afterwards be my guest," the Princess shrugged.
"All right, let's just try it. If we don't do something quick, he'll die anyway," the doctor shrugged as well.
"Ok, first step, I have to cry," she looked down and say the work boots the doctor was wearing. They were much clunkier than her petite slip on shoes.
"Step on my foot, hard," she ordered. Caldwell looked at her like she was crazy.
"That was a direct order," she said. He nodded and picked his foot up. As it came down, he squeezed his eyes shut. Rapunzel braced for impact and stifled a yell, by biting down on her lip hard, when the heel of his boot hit her toes. Tears formed in her eyes and she quickly recited the magic words while letting her tears drip onto the dying man. Slowly, Caldwell opened his eyes and watched to see if anything happened. At first, it looked like nothing happened. Then suddenly the man's eyes opened. He tried to speak but no words formed.
"Take it easy now," Caldwell went to his side and tried to reassure him.
"His skin color has improved and the burns look less severe but…" the doctor trailed off.
"What is it?" Rapunzel asked, holding the damaged foot and rubbing it.
"It doesn't look like the infection is gone. His skin is still an odd color and his eyes look like your father's," Caldwell shook his head.
"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Rapunzel asked. She never got an answer however as the man's wife burst through the door, upon seeing she was pregnant, Rapunzel and the doctor panicked before quickly ushering her out of the room.
"Why can't I see him?" The woman demanded.
"He has contracted the disease the King has. I cannot in good medical judgment, let you infect yourself and your unborn child," Caldwell explained. The woman looked as though she was about to faint and quickly the guards helped her to a chair.
"I cannot raise this child by myself," she was completely distraught.
"We're working toward a cure, I promise as soon as I know something, I'll send word to you. Now let me have a look at you, to make sure he hasn't already passed it to you," Caldwell told her. She nodded and the guards helped her up and into a second private room.
"What happened to Doctor Lebowitz?" One of the guards asked; concerned to see the doctor out cold.
"Apparently in Germany, they don't teach people to stand away from doors," Eugene shrugged. This seemed to satisfy the men and they left, leaving Rapunzel and her husband alone.
"We have a problem," the former blonde said.
"What do you mean?" Eugene asked. Rapunzel quickly explained what had happened and the former thief shook his head.
"Can you contact Soley?" He whispered.
"I don't know," Rapunzel shrugged.
To Be Continued…