I apologize sO MUCH for the late upload. Lots of end-of-the-year studying, and during that time my computer gets snatched up so I can't write. I'm not doing the shoutouts this time because I want to get this out ASAP, but I'll do it next time. Please lemme know what you think, and again I apologize for the late upload.

Chapter 5:

"Poison on the bolt?"

The doctor nodded solemnly, "I'm afraid so."

Paige stood, anger radiating off her, "What kind of poison are we talking about?"

He sighed, "From what we know, and that isn't much yet, our best guess would be rat poisoning. Listen, Mrs. Dineen, I wish I could stay and talk but I've just been called..."

"How long does he have to stay here?" Paige demanded.

Doctor Burke rubbed a hand thru his hair, "I would say overnight, the bolt had such a small dose on it. I wouldn't worry, he's stable now."

Paige watched helplessly as the doctor rushed away, disappearing into a mass of nurses and patients.

As she walked into the room, she could hear Sylvester's wails. The hospital was not his bed, and Sylvester was going to throw a tantrum until he could go back home, was Toby's explanation. The doctors offered to drug him, but Sylvester's tolerance for certain drugs were significantly lower than normal, and so nothing could be done.

Toby looked up briefly as she entered the room, before looking back down at the man screaming on the bed. Paige sighed, "Did they have to restrain him?"

"He threw the tissue box at a nurse." Toby stated simply, returning to his job of calming Sylvester. "This is an all-night job, Paige. I'll take the first shift, and I'll wake you when it's your turn."

Paige didn't know how she was going to sleep, but it didn't take long for her to drift into a weak, fitful sleep.

It was when she awoke, that she noticed the screaming, wailing noises of the man on the bed...were quieted. Quickly, Paige bolted upright, expecting the worst...but instead, she was astonished.

"The Borogoves looked flimsy and miserable, and the Mome Raths bellowed and whistled, "Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub Bird, and shun the fuming, furious Bandersnatch!"

Paige sat up a bit straighter, taking in the sight of the prestigious Walter O'Brian, holding the open book, "Alice in Wonderland." Beside him, Toby had fallen asleep, snoring against the wall, perched precariously on a rickety stool.

"With Vorpal Sword in hand, He rested by the Tumtum tree, thinking, reflecting on time spent seeking his fearsome foe. And, as he thought, The Jabberwock tore through the dense wood, eyes aflame, howling. As blows exchanged, the Vorpal Blade cut and thrust. The Jabberwock, slain, was left in the woods, as He shambled back with its head."

Paige propped herself up on her elbow, smiling softly. The man's curly hair was in disarray, probably from disturbed sleep. She couldn't help but see how his eyes flashed over the words on the paper, shining and glowing. He seemed different, strong even, with that book in his hands.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O fabulous, joyous day! Hoorah! Hooray!" He chuckled and snorted in his joy."

Paige couldn't help giggling, when she heard Walter's voice get excited. He turned his head quickly, his face seeming to darken. "Oh please..." She murmured, "Keep going."

Without a word to her, Walter continued reading, but the life he had shown was a simple glimmer, and he was almost a shadow of himself.

"It was 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and the lithe, slimy Toves spun and bore into the rain-soaked hillside. The Borogoves looked flimsy and miserable, and the Mome Raths bellowed and whistled-"

He cut off, snapping the book shut with such a clap that Paige worried that Sylvester would wake up, and start his relentless screeching, but the large man only shifted, settling once more.

"I didn't see you there." Walter said softly.

Paige smiled, "Well when I was last awake, you weren't here for me to tell."

Walter nodded shortly, "I called a friend. Checked myself out, I'll check back in when we get Sly back home." He looked down at the sleeping man, a ghost of a smile on his face.

Paige sighed, shifting herself around in her chair, "I didn't know you knew Sylvester."

"I know him well." Walter said shortly, "He used to come into my room and listen to me read. He loves that."

"Why don't you do that anymore?"

And just like that, the shield was back up, and Walter was again, 'Mr. O'Brian'. "I don't believe my personal life is any of your business."

Paige sat silent, jotting down mental notes. No talking about...whatever she just talked about. "So...if you know Sylvester, do you know Happy?"

"Again, quite well." Walter said simply, "She would sometimes accompany Sylvester to my room for some mechanical advice, if I could give any...and by mechanical advice, I mean she wanted to ask if I could help her convince the orderlies to get her another vehicle. She loves this book." He mentioned absentmindedly, "Said that she felt like she was Alice sometimes, just falling down an endless rabbit hole-" He cut off, as if just noticing who he was talking to, "You don't care."

Paige blinked, "But I do-"

"No you don't, none of you ever care. You're awake now, you're watching Sylvester, I'll take my leave-"

In a swift moment, Paige was standing in the doorway, "Now you listen to me O'Brian." She steamed, "Your friend is hurting, and when he wakes up, he's going to want you. Not Toby, not me, but you. You said you were staying, so you're staying. And another thing, don't you ever think I don't care, because I do care, very much, if I didn't care I would have quit my job weeks ago. That list of rules is enough to drive...anyone away." She stopped. "That's why you do it."

Stunned from her tirade, Walter blinked, "Why I do what?"

"Give every new orderly that giant, unfollowable list. You want to drive away anyone who doesn't care; you're protecting your friends. I mean, I wouldn't want just anybody taking care of my son, so instead of not knowing what they'll do behind your back, you test them." She sat down in her chair, "I'm right, aren't I?"

He didn't answer.

But, Toby did.

"Walter, see what I mean? She's sharp, I knew she'd figure it out sooner or later." Toby, who apparently had not been sleeping during Paige's angry tirade, stood up. "Good work, Mrs. Dineen." He smiled.

Paige sat back, a weight lifting off her shoulders.

Just in this moment

For this one second

Paige Dineen had done something right.