Disclaimer, you know.
Alex found himself waking up as rose laid Dorothy down in the bed. He wasn't worried at first but then he saw the look on rose's face.
"What's wrong?" Alex asked worriedly.
"Feel her forehead." Rose said.
Alex did and was shocked to find her considerably warm.
"She sort of passed out when we were at the lake, the effects of the lake can make you a bit giddy, the first time, so just let her sleep and if it doesn't clear up by sunrise I'll call the professor to take a look at her." Rose said.
"She had just gotten over being sick before we fled emerald city, I wonder if she's come down with that again." Alex said.
"Anything is possible but let's just let it wait till sunrise, if she still has the fever like I said I'll call the professor." Rose said before leaving the room.
Alex sighed and looked at the scepter, it was glowing dimly now. He let out another sighed before getting up and walking over to the desk. He pulled up the chair and sat down, watching Dorothy like he often did.
Meanwhile somewhere else.
Glinda was awoken by a strange sinking feeling. Something was wrong and she could feel it. She didn't know what she was feeling or why she was feeling it but she knew that something was wrong. She got up and stretched before walking out of her tent to find Ellie sitting by the campfire, wand drawn just in case.
"You feel it too don't you?" Ellie asked turning to her sister.
"Yes, something is wrong, but I'm not sure what." Glinda said worriedly.
"Wow, something that you don't know, that's a first in a while." Ellie said.
"Oh be quiet." Glinda said causing Ellie to giggle
"I don't think we should worry about it right now sis, if the situation decides to make itself apparent we can worry about it then." Ellie said.
"You might be right Ellie, but I still think something is really wrong, I might try and contact Dorothy in the morning just to make sure everything is alright." Glinda said.
Later back at rose's castle.
"Ms. Gale?" Came an unknown voice
Dorothy found herself being awoken by the feeling of a cold compress being placed on her forehead and an unknown voice talking to her. She tried to move and found that her muscles were sore and she felt weak. She slowly opened her eyes and was greeted with the sight of an old man. He had a careworn but not too old looking face, white hair that went over his ears, he wore a black suit and checkered pants and a hat that Dorothy didn't recognize the style of.
"Yes?" Dorothy finally answered.
"Ms. Gale, it would seem that you've gotten a fever." The man said.
"Great, that's exactly what I wanted to hear this morning." Dorothy weakly said closing her eyes.
"Ms. Gale…" The man started to say.
"Just call her Dorothy, she doesn't like formalities like that." Came Alex's voice.
"And you are?" The man asked.
"Alex, the one who's been sitting in this chair the entire time." Alex replied.
"Alex?" Dorothy asked weakly
"Yes dear?" Alex replied.
"Please be quiet." Dorothy said.
"Oh where are my manners, Ms. Gale, I am the professor." The professor said.
"Pleasure to meet you, I take it I'm not allowed to leave this room?" Dorothy asked turning her head to face him.
"Well, I really don't think that you are in any state to move to begin with, you must feel rather weak and sore." The professor said.
"Right." Dorothy said having not been able to think of anything else.
"Well, bed rest, lots of fluids, call me if she gets any worse." The professor said starting for the door.
"Oh won't you stay for breakfast for once Professor?" rose asked curiously
"Please Professor?" came Lily's voice.
Dorothy looked at the Professor, he was looking at both Rose and Lily. He then let out a sigh.
"Oh alright, you've convinced me, I'll take your invitation." The Professor said.
"Alex?" Dorothy asked curiously
"Yes?" Alex replied.
"Are you going to stay here?" Dorothy asked.
"You know I won't leave you." Alex said.
"No, don't let me hold you back, go eat breakfast with the rest of them." Dorothy said weakly.
"Are you sure?" Alex asked curiously.
"Quite." Dorothy replied.
"Dorothy if you need anything, just shout." Rose said.
"Well looks like I checked in at the right time." Came Glinda's voice.
Everyone turned to find Glinda staring at them through the mirror on the desk.
"Dorothy's sick again." Alex immediately said.
"I knew something was wrong, Toto get down, pockets make Toto behave." Glinda said.
"Glinda would it be possible to send Toto and pockets here?" Alex asked.
"Yes, why?" Glinda asked.
"They probably want to be with Dorothy or at least see her, remember we left them with you." Alex said.
"Right, Dorothy, how are you feeling?" Glinda asked curiously
"Sore and weak" Dorothy said.
"Dorothy, just get some rest, Rose, do you have any grapefruit juice? Oh hello professor, pleasure to see you again." Glinda said.
"Same to you Glinda." The Professor replied.
"I can juice a few grapefruits, but no we don't just have the straight up stuff." Rose said.
"That will do, last time it sped up Dorothy's recovery, so juice enough to fill a pitcher or jug and have Dorothy drink it throughout the day as well as water, do not add any sugar." Glinda instructed
No sooner had she finished her sentence did Toto and pockets appeared in the room. Toto barked a few times and jumped on the bed with pockets. Dorothy sighed and scratched Toto behind the ears. She then motioned for Alex to come over to her. As he came over she grabbed him by the collar and whispered something in his ear that only he could hear. He nodded and sighed before leaving the room with Rose and the Professor. Lily however stuck around and walked over. She scratched Toto behind the ears and picked up pockets making cute little kissing noises.
"She's a cutie." Lily said.
"Tell her thank you." Pockets said.
"She says thank you." Dorothy said
"You're welcome little cutie." Lily said putting pockets down and leaving the room
Dorothy sighed and squeezed her eyes shut. She felt sore all over, she did manage to get her arms around Toto and pulled him close. He barked and licked her on the face. She smiled and sighed before falling back to sleep.
Meanwhile in the forest.
"So she's sick then?" Ellie asked worriedly.
"Yes Ellie." Glinda replied.
"Maybe we should…" Em started to say.
"No Em." Glinda said.
"But you don't even know what I was going to say." Em said.
"You were going to suggest that we turn back and stay with Dorothy until she recovers." Glinda said.
"Okay, so you did know, but really one of us should go back, I know you sent Toto and pockets, but someone needs to go." Em said.
"Em, anyone who goes to her is out of protection, the only thing keeping them safe is the spell Locasta put on Alex." Glinda said.
"I shall go." Cassandra said.
"Me too." Angela said.
"No dear sister, you must stay, help them." Cassandra said disappearing with a flourish of her cloak
"You know, I hate my sister sometimes." Angela said.
"We know." Locasta said sighing.
Well Dorothy is sick again, and Cassandra has gone to her aid. How long will it take her to recover and will the jester find them before she recovers? Find out in the coming chapters.