Hi, I'm back! Thank you to Cartoonlover422 and Transformers 0 for reviewing the last chapter and let's crack on.
This is the last chapter. Webby's mention of the timeline is based off an order I've come up with to get all the episodes to fit into the two-month timeline that Huey mentioned in 'McMystery at McDuck Manor' ["She held us hostage two months ago!"]
Once again I know nothing of medicine.
See chapter 1 for the disclaimer.
It was 48 hours after Mrs Beakley had been loaded into the ambulance and Webby and Scrooge were currently sat in the back of Scrooges limousine on route to the hospital.
Webby was staring out the window watching the trees go by, feeling anxious and worried.
Scrooge was looking out the opposite window feeling exactly the same. He knew he should start a conversation, but couldn't seem to find the right words.
As they pulled up to a red light Launchpad checked his rear-view mirror and seeing the situation said as brightly as he could manage. "Won't be long now, Mr McDee. Five minutes or thereabouts."
"Yes, thank you Launchpad."
His driver took that as his cue to turn round to face them. "You alright there, Webbigail? Got those cookies safe?"
Webby smiled thinly and patted the box on her knee. She'd made some cookies for her grandma last night – with Donald's help. She figured her grandma might well need some cheering up after nearly dying and all.
She instantly regretted thinking that last part and scrunched her face up, trying desperately not to cry.
Launchpad saw this and said, hastily. "Ah, don't cry! C'mon Webs, cheer up? She'll be fine, I promise."
Scrooge reached out and pulled Webby into a hug. "There, there, lass. She'll be fine."
"You know what makes me happy?" Launchpad said, over the sound of furious honks from outside. "Picturing the open skies and an ocean which just stretches on for miles-"
"-You know what would make me happy, Launchpad?" Scrooge asked, rhetorically. "If you actually drove while the lights are still green."
With that Launchpad quickly turned back to the wheel pulling away just in time for the lights to turn red behind them.
Scrooge sighed as the sound of honking fell away. He resumed looking out the window, his arm still around Webby's shoulders.
After what seemed like forever, but was actually only a couple of minute, they arrived at Duckburg Hospital.
"Webbigail, wait!" Scrooge shouted as the girl scrambled out the car.
"We've got to go in!"
He got out his side, beginning. "I know that-"
"Where should I park, Mr McDee?"
Scrooge sighed and flung the driver's door open. "Anywhere Launchpad, just not in front of the exit this time. Now, Webbigail." He said, as Launchpad drove off with a roar. "Now we can go in." With that the girl – cookies in arms - rushed in the building, spotting the receptionist straightaway and running up to her.
"Where's my granny!?"
"Excuse me?" The women behind the desk spluttered, thoroughly taken aback.
Scrooge hurried in, mentally cursing when he saw what was going on. Smacking a smile in his beak he re-tightened his grip on his cane before walking over. "Hello…Shirley. Myself and Miss Webbigail here are here to see Mrs Bentina Beakley, she came in about two days ago?"
The receptionists face cleared and she checked the computer. "Ah yes. Mrs Beakley. Just give me one moment…" She picked the phone up and started speaking into it.
Webby had taken the lid of her cookies and was looking at them worriedly. "Do you think she'll like them? They're chocolate chips."
"I'm sure she'll love them." Scrooge said, trying not to express too much surprise at the fact that Beakley had a sweet tooth.
"Hopefully. Granny taught me how to make them. We always made them together." Webby put the lid back on and hugged them to her chest. "It feels like ages since we made them last, but it can't be because we only made them last time – wait let me try that again." Webby took a breath before carrying on. "The last time we made them was just before Mr Duck and the boys turned up and that was only…geez. Just over a month ago. Wow. Time flies."
"It certainly does." Scrooge said, noticing a doctor coming towards them. Sure enough…
"Mr McDuck? Miss Beakley? This way please."
"Actually, it's Miss Vanderquack. I'm her granddaughter."
"Very well."
Mrs Beakley, thankfully, was on the 1st floor, therefore they didn't have to go very far. The doctor opened the door and let Webby in, as Scrooge went to follow he put a hand out, effectively blocking him. "A word with you, Mr McDcuk, if you please."
"Ah, what have ah doon now?" Scrooge demanded as soon as the door had shut.
"Nothing Mr McDuck. I just thought you might like an update on how your housekeeper is and what she can and can't do."
Scrooge nodded, the doctor carried on. "She has two fractured ribs, the top two in fact. She is very lucky not to have punctured any vital organs and also not to have any spinal injury. She will require having an ice-pack on her ribs for twenty minutes every hour for the first week, then every two for the next one. She has pain medication that she must take daily, even if she feels better."
Scrooge nodded again.
"She's told me a bit about how much work she does at your manor." The doctor seemed to give Scrooge an look of contempt before going on. "Needless to say she won't be doing much for a while. Three to six weeks to be exact. She'll need to have a few short walks during the day to get her used to it, but no hovering, dusting, lifting heavy objects or anything that might strain her. Complete bed rest, except for the required walking during the 1st week at least. She can go home at the end of the week, but a nurse will be in to visit her the next day and then again two working days later. We'll take it from there. Now, any questions?"
"Does that mean she won't be able to fly for a while?"
The doctor paused, before saying cautiously. "Not for a while no."
"How long's a while?"
"It depends on her progress. I'd say a fortnight at the minimum."
"So, she couldn't fly in say...a couple of days?"
The doctor paused, and asked the old duck to repeat himself. Upon hearing the same question he clarified. "You mean in an aeroplane?"
Scrooge rolled his eyes. "No, in a boat. Yes, in an aeroplane."
At which the doctor proceeded to tell Scrooge exactly why that would not be happening anytime soon.
At the end of the complicated medical explanation, the old duck held his hands up. "Alright, simmer doon! I only asked because we were meant to be going to Macow in four days time-"
"Absolutely not, Mr McDuck. Absolutely not, do I make myself clear?"
"Perfectly. Can I go in now?"
The doctor fixed him with a look before gesturing to the door.
Meanwhile in Mrs Beakley's room, when Webby had first scuttled in it was to see her granny propped up in bed with an ice-pack on her ribs. "Granny?" She said uncertainly.
Mrs Beakley smiled. "Webbigail, it's good to see you."
"Oh, granny!" The girl ran to the bed, only to stop by the bed-side. "Can, can I hug you?"
Her granny smiled. "Of course you can, just don't fling yourself at my chest."
"Can I hug your arm?"
"Of course." With permission Webby proceeded to do just that. "Oh, I missed you!"
Bentina smiled, and shakily patted the top of her granddaughters head. "I missed you to, dear. Very much. What are those?"
Webby lifted her head, looking at her granny in confusion.
With her other arm Mrs Beakley gestured towards the box.
"Oh, those!" Webby let go of her granny's arm and opened the box. "I made chocolate chip cookies!"
Mrs Beakley found herself smiling widely. "Why, thank you, Webbigail. Are they chocolate chip?"
"They are! Mr Duck helped me make them. Louie helped for a bit as well, but Mr Duck sent him away because he kept eating the batter."
Mrs Beakley chuckled softly. "Why does that not surprise me? That boys stomach is a bottomless pit. Who brought you here, by the way?"
"BTW." Webby said, automatically. Seeing her grandmother frown, she hastily said. "Mr McDuck! But I think he's outside with the doctor now. Do you want one?" She abruptly lifted the box to her granny's beak. "Wait-"She pulled it away again. "Can you eat it alright?"
Mrs Beakley gave a small 'humph' before saying. "I fractured my ribs, Webbigail, not my jaw. I'd love one."
Just as they were both eating a cookie, Scrooge came back in, looking annoyed. "Blasted doctors. They think they know everything!"
Mrs Beakley swallowed the last of her cookie before saying, with just a twinge of amusement. "I take it he told you I couldn't work for a couple of weeks then?"
Her employer waved a hand. "I'm not bothered about that. You can't come with us to Macow. I'm going to need to get a refund, which is always a nightmare-"
"-Oh, I'm sorry, next time I break my ribs I'll make sure it's at a more convenient time to you!"
As Webby giggled, Scrooge frowned. "Ah, you know I didnae mean it like that. It's joost frustrating…" He ran a hand across his forehead. "The boys and Webbigail made you these." He took four cards out his inside-coat pocket.
"Oh, get well cards. How lovely."
"I made that one!" Webby eagerly pointed to the one with pink glitter all over it.
Mrs Beakley gave her a one-armed hug. "Thank you Webbigail, it's lovely. Ah!" She jolted in pain as the ice-pack slipped and fell on the floor.
Webby instantly picked it back up and held it to her grandma's ribs. "I've got it, I've got it! Is that better, granny?"
"A bit thank you, dear." She sighed. "I'm a bit tired."
Scrooge took that as a hint. "We'll go now. We'll come back on Thursday, stay for a bit longer."
"We could bring the boys!" Webby said, clutching her cookie-box to the chest.
Bentina winced at the thought. "I'd rather you didn't."
Scrooge opened the door. "Doon't worry, we won't. Come on Webbigail, let's leave your grandmother in peace."
Webby gave her grandma a cheerful wave as the door creaked shut. "She seems to be alright." She said, brightly as they started down the corridor.
Scrooge nodded. "I told you she would be."
With that they left the hospital.
