Chapter 1

"Thanks again, Mickey." Chief O'Hara mentioned as he finished filling out the report. "We didn't even know Miklos was back in town."

"Neither did I until he tried to knock me out." Mickey admitted. "Oh, and don't forget last time. Maybe you should find a way of securing him up before he wakes up."

"I've already got the boys putting him in a strait jacket chained to the wall of his cell." O'Hara explained. "A bit medieval, but the best we can do for that escape artist."

"Thanks, Chief." Mickey waved before leaving the police. He walked down the sidewalk with his hands in pockets as he took in the world around him.

"Hey Mickey, I heard you just got back in town." A voice called from in front of the War-Drum News. Mickey smiled at the old dog as he stopped a few feet away. "How's Ortensia recovering?"

"As good as she can looking after her children as well." Mickey laughed before admitting, "Really, she's doing well. Oswald's doing what he can to help her."

"I'd heard she got beat up pretty bad." The news hound admitted. "Anyway I could get an interview with her?"

"You'd have to ask her." Mickey shrugged. "Do you know their address?"

"No, could you give it to me?" Mr. Foozle asked, pulling out his notebook and pencil.

Mickey took the paper and quickly scribbled down an address close to his own before giving it back to the man.

"Thanks Mickey." Mr. Foozle said, reading the address. "I'll get over there right now and see if she'll give me some scoop."

"Good luck." Mickey wished before leaving the man who'd run back into his newspaper shop. As the mouse walked, he looked in the palm of his hand as a gold watch band twisted in his fingers. After checking it over, he shoved the watch in his pocket with a smile.

-.-.-.-

Knock Knock

"Oh, come on!" Oswald hissed under his breath. He wiped his hands on the apron tied around his waist as he put a pause on making dinner before walking out of the kitchen, glancing into the living room as he passed to see his wife sleeping on the sofa. The bandage around her head and cast on her left arm reminding him of what he couldn't protect her from.

Oswald opened the front door only to be surprised at seeing a reporter. His face hardened as he stepped out, onto the porch to shut the door behind himself so Ortensia wouldn't be woken up.

"Mickey said Ortensia might be able to give me an interview." Mr. Foozle explained.

"Mickey!?" Oswald exclaimed, surprised. "No, I told him she couldn't have any visitors. How did you even get our address?"

"Same source, your brother." Mr. Foozle admitted.

"Look, I'll give you the same thing I probably told you when I first talked to all the reporters." Oswald said, wanting to get back inside. "Julius and Pete kidnapped Ortensia and Minnie rescued her. If anybody, you could talk to Minnie if she hasn't told you her story already."

"She has. I published it yesterday." Mr. Foozle said as he put his pencil and paper back in his pocket. "Oh well, thanks for your time."

"I wanna know why Mickey sent you here." Oswald said, crossing his arms over his chest. "I told him she needed her rest."

"I don't know." Mr. Foozle shrugged. "Doesn't seem quite like him." He looked down at his left wrist only to pause. "You have any idea what time it is? I seem to have lost my watch."

"A little after five." Oswald said. "Good luck at the newspaper biz. I gotta get back to cooking diner."

"I hope Ortensia gets better soon." Mr. Foozle said as Oswald walked back into his house.

"Who was it?" a groggy voice asked as springs moved from under the weight.

"Just Mr. Foozle from the War-Drum." Oswald said, walking into the living room to see Ortensia rubbing at her eye with her good arm. "How are you feeling?"

"Sleepy." Ortensia smiled as Oswald sat down on the sofa next to her. She leaned her head on his shoulder, letting him place an arm around her. "Better, really, though it could be the pain meds."

"At least your fur's growing back." Oswald pointed out, running his hand over the small new furs on her right arm. "I gotta go back to cooking dinner."

"No, I want my snuggle bunny." Ortensia protested, moving her casted left arm to lay on his lap. "I'm not hungry anyway."

"Alright, snuggle kitty." Oswald smiled as he continued to stroke her soft fur, carefully avoiding the new fur and places he knew were still bruised.

The night before last kept running through his head, when he'd finally been able to land on the train and help Minnie take on Julius and Putrid Pete. How he wanted those two in jail, but they escaped. What they did to his wife… He pulled her closer, never wanting to lose her again.

A rumbled ripped through his thoughts before Ortensia started to snicker as she sat back up. "I guess you should get back to dinner, before your stomach complains any louder."

"It can complain all it wants, as long as I've got you." Oswald said, leaning back to her to kiss her on the cheek. As he sat back up his stomach growled even louder, as if in protest of what he said.

"Go make dinner." Ortensia ordered with a smirk. "At least Minnie offered to take care of the bunny children or you'd be making a lot more than just a small dinner."

"Thankfully." Oswald admitted, standing up. "I don't think I could keep them in line and take care of you."

"Hey!"

"You know what I mean." Oswald rolled his eyes with a smile before heading back into the kitchen.