"Doc! What happened?" Kate kneeled by the doctors side.
He was to busy picking up the smaller skeleton, to answer her. Sans were unconscious. And for good reason, judging by the fist-sized hole in his skull!
Gaster ran with the small skeleton to another room and Kate followed suit. She faintly heard Papyrus calling from down the halls, asking about what had happened. She didn't plan on answering him. Sans' life came first.
The doctor placed him on a operation table and ordered Kate to bring some tools. She hurried over to the cabinet, and grabbed the stuff. She quickly put them on the table beside the doctor. She didn't realize she was crying, before she saw the tears land on said table. The doctor went to work. Kate had no idea how moster-skeleton anatomy worked and she wasn't going to ask questions now. She just did as told and handed Gaster the right tools when ordered.
It took nearly an hour before they were done.
"Okay, subject 1 is stabilized." Gaster whiped his forehead and removed his gloves.
When Kate looked upon the small skeleton, she couldn't see any difference at all. All she could do, was trusting that the doctor knew what he was doing.
They both worked together to bring him over to some huge, strange glass container. It was filled with gooey liquid. After attaching some slim tubes, they dumped him down into the goo.
Both of the scientists sighted heavily.
Gaster sat in a nearby chair while Kate leaned her back against the wall, just to slide down and sit on the floor. Gaster leaned back and let his head fall backwards. He took off his glasses and closed his eyes. Kate took her head in her hands.
They just sat there for nearly 20 minutes. Resting.
"It was an accident." Gaster said, when he finally spoke up.
Kate lifted her head an looked at him.
"I accidently grabbed the wrong container. The mixed chemicals had an explosive reaction." Gaster whipped his face with his hand and put his glasses back on.
Kate were silent. There was nothing to say. She was sure that he already knew everything she could come up with. 'You should have been more careful', 'why was that container there in the first place?', 'how could you make such a mistake?'.
She just looked at him with tired eyes. Then she rested her head on her knees and finally spoke up.
"What are we gonna tell Papyrus?"
Papyrus were pacing back and forth in the cell. He was so worried.
He head heard a huge bang from what he assumed were where Kate, the doctor and his brother, must have been.
When he called, he got no answer. It had been quiet ever since. He had tried to sit down, but couldn't sit still. So he had just begun pacing.
Finally he heard several sets of footsteps coming his way. He stopped and looked down the hall. Kate and the doctor were both wearing weird expressions and he grew even more worried.
Kate walked up to the barrier, while Gaster stood a little further away.
"H..Hey Papi. Uhm. Sans he.." She tried to speak but were cut off by Papyrus.
"Is he okay?" Papyrus'es eyes were wide with worry. It almost tore her apart. She took a deep breath.
"Papyrus. There have been an accident. And your brother got hurt. He's stable... but... we're actually not sure if he's gonna make it or not." As she spoke, Papyrus were tearing up. He began sobbing into his hands and Kate gestured hurriedly for Gaster, to put down the barrier.
She went into the cell and embraced the crying skeleton.
"We'll do everything we can, to save him. I promise." She wasn't sure though. Papyrus seemed inconsolable as he cried into her shoulder. She looked behind her at the doctor, who obviously tried not to show any emotion, in front of the small skeleton. Could they really save Sans? He only had 1 HP and it seemed like a miracle that the explosion hadn't killed him on the spot. Gaster was obviously a great doctor who were very intelligent. She just wished she could have stayed just as calm as him.
Papyrus seemed depressed without his brother. Kate had tried spending more time with him, but he wouldn't smile and laugh like before. Hours went on. Then days. No progress in Sans' healing. He didn't seem to regain any HP no matter how much time passed. Before they knew, over a week had passed. Eventually he came somewhat around. He wasn't happy, but he began acting more like himself again.
Papyrus still had to go through, all of the testing. Even without his brother. Kate had convinced the doctor to wait with any physical experiments until Sans was better, so Papyrus could take some time to calm down. So instead of what was planned, they were now sitting with the IQ test-toys again. Papyrus were determined to please the doctor, with his puzzle skills and eagerly tried his best, in every challenge.
He had gotten somewhat better. But not nearly average. He was trying to solve the rubiks cube, when the doctor finally called it off.
"I don't think were going to get any progress. Were done for now." He said and rose from his chair.
"But I.." Papyrus tried to insist, but was cut off.
"Now! Subject 2."
Papyrus hung his head and rose from his chair. A moment later, the doctor escorted him to his cell.
Gaster sighted heavily when he returned.
"Yet, another failure." He sat down beside Kate and picked up his mug, which apparently had been filled in that short time, he had left the room.
"He just have other talents, than a big mind. He's pretty strong, as an example." Kate said, before sipping her coffee.
"Maybe, but I had expected better results, by now. I've taught them so much, but apparently it's only subject 1 who have some kind intelligent potential." He drummed his fingers on the table, thoughtful.
"You taught them?" Kate had to admit, that she had a hard time, imagining Gaster teach Sans and Papyrus basic knowledge. It just didn't fit, what that way he acted towards them.
"Yes."
"So they've been here for some time... I've actually been meaning to ask you... Are Sans and Papyrus.. your clones?"
There was silence between them for a minute.
"They are." He then confirmed. "How did you find out?"
Kate scratched her head thoughtful.
"Well... I've kind of had a suspicion, ever since I got here. At first, I thought they maybe were your children. They have a lot of you, in them. Sans have the potential of your intelligence and Papyrus have both your strength and kindness."
Gaster frowned.
"Kindness?"
"Oh! I almost forgot! Here!" She handed him the result of Papurys'es latest IQ test. "Even though the results aren't that impressive, I actually believe that he's quite smart. He's maybe just thinking in another way, than we does."
Gaster shook his head.
"I don't belive so. Subject 2 is just curious. If had any talent, then I would have noticed by now." He looked at the clipboard as he rose from his seat. "Failure. Failure. Failure. If only enthusiasm equaled adeptness, you would be less of a disappointment, subject 2." He said to himself.
Looking through the collection of toys, he noticed something were missing.
"Where's my rubiks cube?" He looked at Kate, who just shrugged.
Great, first the disappointing results and now, he had to go and scold a certain test subject.
Papyrus turned the sides of the small toys in his hands with big delight. He had just finished, what he meant was a great accomplisment, when he heard a voice right outside the cell.
"Subject 2." The doctor said.
Papyrus jolted. He'd been caught in the act. He quickly got on his feet.
"D..don't be mad! Don't be mad, I, I just.." He stuttered.
"How did you get that without my noticing?" The doctor asked, referring to the rubiks cube.
"I really liked.. I.. I wanted to practice! So, so I can show you how great I am at puzzles." Payrus stumbled over his words. If only the doctor could see what he was capable of. "I'm.. I'm really good a puzzles.."
"Subject 2." The doctor cut off.
"I.. I am! I really am! See! Look!" The skeleton lifted the toy, for Gaster to see. "See! It's all X's! And.. And to solve it, you have to make it all O's.. It.."
"Subject 2.." The doctor lifted his hand. "Give me the cube."
Papyrus held the cube close.
"I.. I think it's really clever. I don't think that anyone could come up with a puzzle like this. I think it's really good."
The doctor finally snapped. He used his magic to levitate the smaller skeleton over to the barrier.
"Give me the cube." He calm, but sternly, ordered.
Papyrus hung his head, as he finally gave in and placed the cube in the doctors hand.
"You are never to take anything back to your cell again, especially without informing me. Or the consequences will be dire. Do you understand?" He scolded.
"..I'm sorry.." The smaller skeleton said, with quivering voice.
"….. Don't do it again." Gaster ordered, before leaving.
"When will my brother come back?" Papyrus asked, before the doctor could leave. "I.. I wanted to show him my puzzle."
The doctor didn't turn around, as he spoke.
"Subject 1 is healing poorly. He has yet to regain consciousness." He explained, dryly.
"Oh..." Papyrus began tearing up. "I hope he comes back soon." The tears turned into sobbing and the smaller skeleton cried into his hands.
The doctor turned and looked at him for a moment.
"If your behave, I may return the cube later." He said, as he walked away.
Papyrus immediately stopped crying and looked up, still with tears in his eyes.
"Really? You mean it?" Thank you!"
"…. never do this again." The doctor simply said as he disappeared down the hall.
He entered the office seconds later, to find Miss Anderson sitting in her chair, reading.
He sat down himself for a moment, before he spoke up.
"..."
He looked at Kate.
"I know, you saw it."
"What are you talking about?" She asked, never looking up from her book.
"You were watching me and subject 2, just now." Leaning back in his seat, he sighted deeply.
"Me? Spying? Well, I would never... ever.." She began, as she was cut off.
"You're holding the book, upside down." He pointed out.
Kate blushed deeply as she stubbornly turned the book in her hands. She looked at the rubiks cube, before picking it up.
"X's to O's.. I was right. He's smart, in another way then you and I. It IS pretty clever." She put it back, before picking up her mug.
"If by clever, you mean stupid, then yes." He shortly looked at the toy, before returning to his coffee and cigarette.
"I had to go through hella lot of puzzles, to get here in the first place. He would totally fit in, up there." She smiled motherly before sipping her coffee.
"And what, are you trying to imply, with that statement?" He had taken off his glasses and looked skeptical at her.
"...that... Papi would be a great puzzle-maker? No? You don't think so?" She lifted her arms and made a scale motion.
Gaster blinked a couple of times. "Well, he have no business up there, so there is no point in thinking about that kind of nonsense." He put on his glasses and turned in his chair so he now faced his desk, with his back to Kate.
Kate shrugged, left the room and went back to work.
Gaster slummed in his chair and rested his skull in his hand.
"...God, what am I doing?".
Notes: This chapter was inspired by this comic: art/Don-t-count-on-it-578317117
I really hope you guys like it so far! Tell me in the comments what you think and thanks for reading! 3