Author's Notes:

Things are a bit crazy at the moment so I haven't had time to look at pms lately. I'll catch up on them and Discord in the new year probably. Hope you enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 113

Stitches

"Hedy! You okay?" Mike yelled, skidding in through the door. "I saw on the camera-ah geez..."

"Help me here," Puppet snapped at the man. He almost had Spring completely released from Hedy's arm, but the cut was being pulled open by the strain of his prying, bleeding profusely.

"Spring was awake for a second," Hedy told them, hoping she wasn't slurring anything from the shock and trying to look anywhere else so she could distract from the pain. She blinked as she remembered something random. "Ugh. Helium isn't explosive…" she muttered.

Puppet gave her a look, mildly worried about the loopiness.

Hedy rolled her eyes at him.

Also, where was Jeremy? Did they get separated?

Mike went a bit pale when he saw the injury but he hurried over to help. Puppet glanced at the unconscious animatronic again and winced. He could imagine how Spring reacted.

Mike glanced at Hedy's pallid face, wincing with her as Puppet got another finger released.

"I got stitches a few times," Mike said with a strained laugh.

Hedy looked at him oddly. "W-what...?"

"Shut up. I'm trying to distract you," Mike said as he pulled where Puppet directed him to.

Hedy blinked while Puppet glanced at Mike. Did Mike just tell her to shut up?

"I cut myself when I was twelve," Mike said as they got the animatronic's hand free. He kept talking as he rifled through the first aid kit. "I snuck out to fish at a pond near our house. It was illegal but other kids were always doing it. Anyway. I got a fishhook in my leg then cut myself. I kind of swung the knife to cut the line. But I panicked and was a bit stupid with it. So I have this huge gash and a big fishhook in my leg."

"You get into harmful situations a lot don't you?" Hedy murmured.

"That seems to be the pattern. Anyway, I was so scared about getting in trouble that I didn't tell anyone. I ran back home and upstairs with my shirt wrapped around my leg and got my mom's sewing kit and some dental floss."

"You're an idiot," Puppet stated bluntly, pretty sure he knew where this story was going.

"So I stitched it up myself," Mike said proudly, ignoring Puppet.

Hedy stared at him for a second as Mike pressed a couple layers of gauze over her wound. She winced. "Do I want to know what happened next?"

"You do," Mike said with a grin. "It got infected."

Hedy huffed. "Heh." She jerked at the pressure he put on her arm. "Ow."

"Sorry," he apologized automatically as he helped Puppet shift Spring away just enough that Hedy's chair could move. He gestured for permission and pushed her toward the main room at her nod. He kept talking too. "There was green pus."

"Oh no..." Hedy said with a groan as she tore her worried gaze away from Spring as they left him for the moment.

Mike grinned at the proof she was effectively distracted.

"Yeah...It wasn't good. I didn't sanitize anything and the knife wasn't clean either. I was in the hospital with some powerful antibiotics for almost a whole week. Doctor said my stitches were great though. I messed everything else up, but the stitches? Mwah." He chef-kissed his fingers.

There was a short, strained laugh from Hedy as she shook her head.

Puppet didn't look impressed at all.

"I mean, they had to slice my pretty stitches, let it drain, and redo them when the infection was gone. So I was a little sad about that."

Puppet just shook his head. This guy was an absolute idiot. And apparently proud of it.

"I bet your parents weren't happy," Hedy said in amusement as she kept pressure on her arm as

they came out into the main room.

"Not particularly," Mike admitted with a smile. "The doctor's compliment did go to my mom's head though. She had this grand idea that I was going to grow up to be a surgeon. I got an earful when she found out I hadn't applied to any universities after high school."

"Then you ended up working here?" Puppet said, then paused.

"Pfft. Like I would tell her."

Puppet frowned. "What do they think you're doing then?"

"Starting an electrician's business," Mike said as he set the tablet in Hedy's lap and flicked through his own. "It was hard finding clients." He shrugged. "Looks like Chi found Bonnie."

Some part of Hedy's mind was starting to get worried. Where was Jeremy?

Puppet stared at Mike. "An electrician's business?" he looked around them pointedly.

"What? Yeah. Your generator is shit," Mike said, confused over what Puppet was pointing out. "Can't fix that without tearing wiring out of the walls."

"Damn," Hedy muttered.

Puppet just shook his head. "You're an idiot."

"I prefer 'unique thinker'," Mike said, not insulted.

"Prefer what you like, you're still an idiot," Puppet said in the exact same tone.

"Where's Jeremy?" Hedy cut it quietly, looking a little pale as she clutched her arm.

Mike winced. "Uh, one of the traps knocked him out. I got him to the office and stayed there the rest of the night but he's still out cold."

Hedy's eyes widened. "How long has he been out?"

"About three hours," Mike said.

"We'll get him and Spring," Puppet said. "You stay here." He gestured for the man to follow him. "Mike."

"Keep pressure on that," Mike said, nodding to her arm.

"I'm not about to pass out yet. It just hurts," Hedy told them, weakly flicking her hand.

Puppet could tell she was worried about her brother.

Mike followed after Puppet. "I'm not sure what hit him but it made him bleed," he admitted to the bot when they were out of Hedy's hearing.

Puppet gave him a side eye. "He was at least breathing when you left him wasn't he?"

Mike nodded. "Yes. I checked at least a dozen times." He paused. "The cat was sitting on his chest when I left. I don't know what that means. I don't know cats. It was either comforting him or claiming domination and victory."

"How the fuck did she..." Puppet sputtered before cutting himself off. "That fricking cat. Could be either. She shouldn't even be inside." He glanced at Mike with a squint. "Just like you."

Mike ignored that part. "You know who's cat that is?"

"Ours," Puppet snapped. "Well...Spring's. We threw her outside because we don't want her getting confused and going to Michael. He'd kill her to hurt Spring. Did you fucking let her in?"

"No!" Mike shook his head frantically. "She about gave me a heart attack when she showed up in the office."

Puppet groaned and shook his head.

Mike was silent for a beat. "You guys have a cat?"

"Yes. Not my choice," Puppet said shortly as he kept walking, ignoring Mike's stares. He turned into the guard office and stalled at the sight.

Where was a camera when he needed it? Even with the situation, he couldn't help be a little amused. Not that he would show it. And the blood on Jeremy's face was a little upsetting for Hedy's sake.

The cat sitting on the man's chest grooming herself was pretty funny though.

"Did she kill him?" Mike wondered under his breath. He really didn't know cats well.

Puppet stared at him. "Are you really an idiot or just pretending to be funny?"

"Yes." Mike nodded as he noticed Jeremy's chest shift with a breath.

Puppet tsked. "Shoo Kitty." He waved at the cat.

The cat continued to lick itself, ignoring him.

"You dumb little..." Puppet muttered, nudging the cat off Jeremy with his pointy foot.

"Mew!" the cat said happily, rubbing against him.

"Stop it! You're fur is a pain to get off," Puppet snapped, mildly disturbed why the angry little thing was being so agreeable suddenly. "Mike, get Jeremy up."

"She likes you," Mike observed, privately thinking that Puppet was kind of like a cat. Murder and all...

"She's dumb and she likes taking over my box," Puppet said irritably. "And hissing at anyone who tries to get her out. Kitty, move. Go find Spring and be useful or something. Human, you grab Jeremy's other arm."

"Um, okay," Mike moved a little slowly since the cat was staring intensely at him as he bent down to get Jeremy's arm. "Is she going to attack me?"

"Probably," Puppet said dryly with no patience as he lifted Jeremy, shifting most of the weight on Mike. He noted the blood Mike mentioned and frowned more, though Mike wouldn't have been able to tell. Expressions were in the eyes for Puppet.

"Back to Hedy?" Mike asked, stumbling under the weight.

Puppet grunted. "The Toys will bring the others to the room too. If we can find everyone. Hurry up will you, we need to come back this way for Spring before he decides to wake up again."

"I'm not exactly the weight lifter type," Mike complained, trying to keep up.

"I noticed," Puppet complained.

Mike rolled his eyes, noting the cat following them. "You didn't name it 'Kitty' did you?"

Puppet stayed silent.

"You couldn't have been more creative?"

Puppet shot him a warning look.

After quite a bit of struggle, they eventually hauled him into the right room.

Hedy still looked pale, but she hadn't passed out. Her eyes widened at the sight of her brother.

"He's breathing," Puppet said shortly as he hefted the weight onto Mike to set Jeremy down on the floor next to Hedy by the stage.

The Toys were busy looking for the Originals and moving them to the room as well.

Mike could have sworn the blue rabbit, who actually looked more green and orange than blue, looked surprised when he noticed the prone man.

"Hedy?!" Mangle nearly dropped Chica who was half awake and leaning on her at the sight of the blood.

Looking at everyone, it was clear that no one had a good night.

"I'm okay..." Hedy murmured.

They were a mess, to say the least.

Everyone had paint or some kind of food stuck in their gears, Originals and Toys alike.

Teddy was looking a little dizzy like he was having trouble standing upright, leaving Mangle to set Chica down and hesitantly head back out to look for someone else, despite the worry about Hedy.

Mangle was leaving black footprints and Hedy had a horrible moment where she genuinely couldn't tell whether it was oil or black paint.

"Chica, you should shut down for a little while longer," Hedy said to the chicken.

"I'm... I'm okay..." Chica didn't sound convincing and her eyes were screwed shut in pain.

"I'm serious. Shut down for a bit an-Freddy!"

The Toys that were present, Puppet, and Mike jerked at the shout and looked to see Freddy leaning in a doorway on his own, apparently having woken up and walked back to the main room himself.

Was everyone going to wake up before they should? Hedy fretted.

Did Ruby's stubbornness and lack of self-preservation rub off on them or something?

Hedy still looked pale as she glared at the Originals while Toby awkwardly helped Freddy to a seat on the floor.

Puppet squinted. "Mangle. Teddy. Come help me with Spring."

"Hedy's hurt-" Mangle was about to argue.

"She's fine for a minute," Puppet snapped as Mike muttered to himself, tearing open new packages of gauze as Hedy bled through the ones pressed on her arm.

He pressed some against Jeremy's head too but that bleeding had stopped a while ago.

That was good right? He glanced around the room at the ragged looking bots. Geez they looked bad...

Some were obviously more hurt than others while a few were lucky enough to get away with a mess.

Freddy's eyes zeroed in on the three humans, looking alarmed.

Puppet left with Mangle and Teddy, the Toys hesitant about leaving even for a minute.

"Hedy..." Freddy started, staring at Jeremy worriedly as Chica noticed the ex-night guard too.

"Someone needs to get Goldy's poster out of the salt," Hedy interrupted.

Toby muttered a curse cut off by programming as he bolted out the room to go do that.

"I think we need to look at your arm," Mike told Hedy.

"I'll be fine," Hedy said as Spring stumbled into the room, guided by Puppet and Mangle while Teddy followed behind nervously.

That was fast. Spring must have woken up and started walking to the main room like Freddy.

What was wrong with them? They didn't need to wake up so early.

Spring's eyes darted around in a panic, searching for her.

Mike put his hands on his hips. "How about we look at your arm before the bots break something stressing over you?" he suggested a little more firmly.

Hedy blinked at him while the bots, the ones who were conscious, looked surprised at the new guy's sternness.

Mangle expected Hedy to snap back and was shocked to see the mechanic glance away without a word.

Hedy forced out a small terse nod. She looked back to glare at Mike for so quickly figuring out he should use her worry about the bots against her.

Mike just gave her a cheery grin in response.

"Fine..." Hedy ground out bitterly.

Spring made a small pathetic noise as he sat next to Hedy, wincing from pain.

"And the sooner you're patched up, the sooner you can patch up the bots," Mike pointed out as he crouched down to look at her arm again.

He poked her hand out of the way and she reluctantly complied as he inspected the wound, peeling the blood soaked gauze away.

Hedy winced as the open air stung.

Spring leaned away from her at the sight of bright red.

"I'm sorry, Hedy," he said, sobs cracking his throat. "I'm so sorry."

Toby had apparently broken Goldy out of her salt trap because she appeared behind them both, startling Mike.

"It wasn't you, Spring," she whispered firmly just as Hedy was going to say the same.

The ghost bear didn't look much better off than the rest of the Originals. She looked like she wanted nothing more than to disappear back into her poster.

Mike startled at the appearance of Goldy but kept his attention on Hedy's arm.

"You definitely need stitches," Mike said.

"Oh Hedy..." Goldy said while some of the others made noises.

"I'll be fine," Hedy said. She eyed Mike with a look he really didn't like. "You know how to do stitches."

Puppet froze and stared at Hedy like she was insane. "Did you hear the same story I did?" He blurted out while Mike processed.

Mike panicked. "I can't do your stitches! You should go to the hospital for that!"

"I'm not going to the hospital just for stitches," Hedy snapped.

"You. Are. Nuts." Mike said.

"I'm not paying for an ER bill when I'm probably going to actually need it later this week," Hedy said and all the bots flinched at her bluntness. "You said you know how to do stitches."

"I did it once!" Mike said, regretting he even opened his mouth. He looked a little pale and frantic, waving his hands as he stepped back. "I sliced my leg with my dad's pocketknife and didn't want to get in trouble. Mom's sewing kit and dental floss! It got infected!"

"Well good thing we keep rubbing alcohol in the first aid kit. And we'll flush it out."

"Hedy, that looks pretty bad," Goldy said, "Maybe you should..." she cut off at Hedy's glare.

The mechanic was already in a stressed and foul mood from that night.

"Look," she said sternly, pinching her nose and accidentally smearing blood on her face. No one pointed it out yet. She looked down as the blood began to leak through the bandage. "I can't work with my arm like this and it's going to take two or three hours for me drive to the hospital, sit in a waiting room, get through that stupid paperwork and answer stupid questions, get my stitches, then drive all the way back here. I need that time to get you guys in 'working condition'." She spat the phrase and they could tell she was imagining punching the manager in the face. "Mike," she said a bit harsher than she meant.

The two humans stared at each other for a minute before Mike shook his head and mumbled about stubborn crazy idiots under his breath. He went hunting for clean water and antiseptic alcohol.

"I'm starting to like him," Mangle quipped when he was out of earshot. "He was brave enough to call you an idiot."

"Or he's just stupid," Bonnie muttered.

"He came back. Of course he's stupid," Foxy growled weakly as he leaned back in pain from his cracked limbs.

"I think he's sweet," Chica said quietly, "But yeah...he shouldn't have come back..." She shot Hedy a look that the mechanic intentionally ignored.

Hedy sighed and Chi wordlessly brought a wet paper towel (probably from the kitchen) and started wiping the blood off Hedy's face. Hedy looked at her in confusion and tried to push her away until she saw the red stains, then let the chicken finish.

Chi had been awfully quiet lately, maintaining a constant panic state. She kept herself busy, sometimes crying while she did so, but it was all she could do.

Hedy didn't deny her or Teddy's obsessive cleaning or any little moment of caretaking Chi could manage.

Mike came back a moment later, BB trailing behind with the water he held on for Hedy when he couldn't find her. Mike set the bottles and first aid box on the table and opened them.

"Should I be concerned that you even have stitching supplies in this?"

"Ruby put them there. Just in case," Hedy shrugged, eyeing the curved needle in violent distaste. "She and Foxy play with swords."

"They're dull," Foxy insisted, his eyes closed as he stayed leaning back. They could hear the pain in his voice as he spoke of Ruby. "Mine is at least..."

Mike glanced at the fox but didn't ask about the missing night guard.

He got the thread out and uncapped the alcohol, using some to disinfect his hands and under his fingernails, yelping as it burned torn cuticles and bitten down nailbeds.

"We...uh...we should wash it out first," Mike said while BB handed him the cup silently, wanting to be helpful.

Hedy nodded stiffly, tensing as Mike ran the water over the deep cut. There was already blood on the floor. The cleaners could handle some blood and water.

"Hold still."

"I'm trying," Hedy hissed. She was out of breath from keeping yelps back and there were tears in her eyes as Mike finished.

Mike winced as he got the alcohol and needle ready.

Hedy swallowed. "...someone needs to hold me down..." She suddenly didn't sound so sure about this.

There was a beat of awkward silence and Freddy was about to volunteer.

"Hedy...can I hold you?" Spring asked, his voice pained and cracking. He sounded like a pleading child.

Hedy looked up in a mild bit of confusion before her eyes softened.

Mike looked at her, needle and thread in hand.

Silently, Hedy gestured for Mike to follow.

No one said anything as Spring picked Hedy up out of her chair and held her close to his chest like a small child, but she didn't protest, her injured arm outstretched and still dripping diluted blood that Mike caught on another rag.

"Spring," Hedy said calmly through the pain, looking him dead in the eye, "Don't let me move. Make sure Mike gets to finish." She said it firmly. She reached and picked up a clean-ish cloth and stuffed it in her mouth, focusing on the faint disgusting taste of oil.

Spring nodded as tears leaked. He curled his arms, effectively trapping her in an embrace while one hand gently but firmly held her hand with the injury, keeping it outstretched and immobile. She could feel him tense and tremble. She couldn't move either of her arms if she tried and one of his arms pinned her legs too, just in case.

"Ready?" Mike asked, holding the alcohol.

Hedy glared at him mutely but there was fear in her eyes.

"Just do it, lad," Foxy said, eyes still closed, wincing while Toby ran out of the room.

Mike immediately dumped the liquid over the cut and Mangle whimpered before she could stop herself.

Hedy spasmed and bit down hard on the rag. She squeezed her eyes shut and Spring let out a small cry, immediately wanting to let her go as she struggled.

He cried but did as he was told even as Hedy fought and instinctively tried to wrench her arm away.

She buried her face in his chest and refused to make a sound. It was far worse than when Ruby helped her with the stitches in her stomach and chest several weeks before . She had a very high pain tolerance but she'd be lying if she said the strong pain meds she had at the time didn't help. Each time Mike had to stab the needle she hoped he was done and it seemed worse and worse each time.

It's just a little cut. It's just a little cut. It doesn't hurt that much. Not as bad as getting a bone reset.

Spring's heart broke as she let out a frustrated muffled scream into his chest through the gag in her mouth as Mike had to pour more disinfectant.

Chi was covering her ears while both Bonnie and Toby tugged at theirs.

Maybe she blacked out from the pain for the second (Hopefully not. That would be ridiculous.) but next thing she knew Mike had stopped and she could hear the blood pumping in her ears.

She dropped the rag from her mouth, teeth aching, and hung her head back. "Ow."

Spring was still crying.

"Spring. It's okay. I'm fine," Hedy said, soothingly, finally managing to wiggle an arm out of his loosened grip and gently rub his shoulder.

He shook his head frantically. "He got too close. I got too close. Too close. Too close..." he trailed off into mutterings and his grip on her tightened.

Goldy appeared beside them.

"Spring...Hedy's okay..." she cooed, hugging him, despite her own pain.

Ginny hadn't been pleased about them sitting out that night.

Spring continued to spiral, rocking back and forth with Hedy in his arms, and whispering "too close" over and over again. He didn't close his eyes but stared at the tiling with a distant look.

Everyone else just looked on sadly, Puppet sinking down into his box like a weight was being lowered on his shoulders.

Hedy countered every one of his mutterings.

"It wasn't close. I saw it coming, Spring."

"I hurt you."

"No Michael did."

"I might get close again."

"It wasn't you, it was Michael."

"I couldn't stop him."

"That's not on you, Spring."

"I could have fought harder."

"OR Michael couldn't have taken you in the first place. You don't have any responsibility for what Michael does to either of us."

"Your arm. It's going to scar..." Spring murmured.

"Spring, this isn't the first scar Michael's given me. I have some from when I was a kid and from when you and Ruby beat him. I like my scars. They're my victories," she said, leaning on him.

"I didn't beat him. Ruby did." He shook his head, drooped ears following the movement of his head like heavy dew-laden blades of grass.

"You beat him by staying alive," Hedy corrected. "Ruby won half the battle, you won the other half."

Spring was still shaking but now he settled into quiet sobbing and all they could do was let him cry it out while Goldy gave Hedy a teary grateful half-smile.

"Thanks, Mike," Hedy said, glancing at the man.

He shrugged. "Not the prettiest..." Mike admitted and Hedy looked.

"You bastard," Hedy deadpanned but honestly couldn't stifle the weak and tired smile.

Mike cracked a little grin.

Mike had been quick and did a good job, yet somehow managed to make the stitches spell out "HAHAHA" in her flesh.

It was exactly something Ruby might have done if the person getting stitches got them by being stupid but Hedy didn't mention that. Mike seemed so proud of himself, the jerk.

"Language," Spring cried weakly and still wouldn't let her go.

"You should get some rest Hedy," Goldy told her softly.

Hedy shook her head and reached for her tools, her hands shaking a little as Mike cleaned up the blood, eyeing her.

"Hedy," Goldy sounded pleading. "Please, you just had to stitch up your arm. Please just...just take a moment to breathe."

"No. I...I don't have time...I need..." Hedy tripped over her words.

Puppet came over and smoothly pulled her tool bag out of her already weak hold, meeting her glare as he shoved them in Mike's arms.

"Don't let her have those," he ordered the man.

Hedy mentally cursed them both as Mike stepped out of her reach with a worried look.

She needed to work but she didn't want to explain why.

Her meeting with the manager the previous day hadn't gone well. She needed to get everyone cleaned up and in working condition before opening. They were all covered in paint and glitter and foodstuff, nearly as bad as when they played hide and seek what seemed like ages ago. It was depressing that she couldn't find any amusement at their sorry sights.

They could clean themselves up but Teddy was looking dizzy so she needed to make sure he was okay.

Spring had bloodstains and the injuries Michael gave him.

Bonnie's hand was twitching and he was limping badly. What did Benji do to him? Why?

Felix was being cruel and had apparently slammed Foxy against something multiple times, his old injury of a crooked jaw back and his arm was hanging like it was broken. He seemed to have a limp to but he was either hiding it better than Bonnie or it wasn't as bad.

Even Goldy looked a little more beaten up than she usually did, despite having been kept out of the night.

Hedy wasn't threatening to work on her of course but she was worried. She had so much to do. She couldn't waste any more damages from the previous night that they hadn't let her look at were compounded.

They all looked so worried about her though. Even the Originals who really should be more concerned over their terrible states.

"Just take a moment," Mike suggested. "I can help clean up some of the bots."

Mangle was already helping Chica wipe off some excess paint.

Hedy did not look happy but she shifted out of Spring's hold and shakily stood for a moment before lowering herself to sit next to her still unconscious brother.

"Jeremy will be fine..." she said and they weren't quite sure if she was telling them or herself.

Jeremy stirred a little at the sound of her voice and Mike cracked a strained grin as Hedy let out a sharp relieved breath at the timing.

"Someone's going to need some ice," Mike said.

"I'll get it..." Chi said quietly.

Mangle was the only one really capable of helping Mike clean the others up. Teddy was still dizzy and Toby hadn't come back from fleeing from the stitches scene yet. The Originals didn't put up much of a fight though, clearly exhausted and in pain. Spring continued hovering close to Hedy even though he should really be sitting down too.

At least Hedy didn't fight from taking a break either. She didn't say much and stayed on the floor keeping an eye on Jeremy as he woke up, the shaking in her hands gradually easing as she tried her best to clean the dried blood from his scalp.

"Who punched me..." Jeremy mumbled with his eyes closed, wincing away from her touch.

"You got knocked out by one of the traps," Hedy told him quietly, trying to ignore the painful ache that was numbing her arm as she moved it and pulled at the brand new stitches.

"Oh..." Jeremy was quiet for a long time as he breathed deeply to ease a piercing headache. He didn't open his eyes against the harsh lights. "...so I think we might have fucked up tonight..."

"Hey! Everyone's alive so I'd say it was a success," Mike pointed out with a forced grin.

Everyone gave him incredulous looks as they paused in what they were doing for a moment.

"I'm an optimist," Mike said, smiling even as his tone dropped to a nearly-stern pitch as he handed Teddy another towel.

"Or just insane," someone muttered under their breath.

Mike thought for a moment. "Well...I'm here, aren't I?"

He jumped at the startled laugh that Hedy squeaked out.

Jeremy groaned and they weren't sure if it was pain or irritation.

"Don't move," Hedy said, sobering as she ran her fingers through Jeremy's hair looking for the wound as Mangle sat down next to them.

"O-ow ow."

"Shut up."

"Y-you look like you're about to pass out, Hedy," Jeremy said, "Wait what the heck happened to your arm!?"

Spring cringed back and hugged himself.

"Spr-," Hedy started in an attempt to halt the rabbit's self-destructive thoughts.

"Michael. Who else?" Mangle huffed, "Though I guess the kids are being stupid now too..."

Hedy opened her mouth to ask Mangle how she felt but the fox waved her off.

"I can work, Hedy. I'm fine," Mangle said. "Don't worry about me. Benji went after Teddy with something, but the rest of us Toys are fine."

The other Toys nodded in agreement while Teddy grimaced. The Originals all looked away from them.

"Okay...I just need-"

"A nap first," Mike cut in bravely.

"Schmidt I swear if you..."

"Just being honest! You want to electrocute yourself 'cause you can't see straight?"

"That can happen?" Jeremy looked a little alarmed. He barely knew anything about the bots systems.

"No!" Hedy lied in frustration. She pinched her nose, feeling the sticky slick of half-dried paint and the accompanying sting, "UGH! How the fuck does Ruby keep track of her bullshit!?"

A few bots flinched at the teen's name and Mike got an odd expression. All he knew of her was from those tapes and Hedy didn't know he'd listened to them.

"She's got a good memory," Foxy mumbled. "She's always thinking. Of where she put a trap last, of where she is in the building, of where the others are. She's just...always thinking."

Hedy was quiet for a minute with an unreadable expression.

With a loud huff she forced herself up and onto a work table.

"All right..." she said quietly. "We have less than three hours 'till opening. Let's get you guys ready for the kids. The cleaners can handle the building's mess."

Some of them looked like they still wanted to protest that.

"I'm fine," Mangle insisted and the other Toys nodded in agreement.

Hedy did not look happy with them but was too tired to argue.

"Foxy..." she called, gesturing at the table.

She should work on Spring first but he needed a little time to recover. He was still shaking...

Foxy was twitchy but for once he didn't try and argue.

That told her exactly how much pain he must have been in.

When they were done, or as done as they could be before the cleaners showed up, Mike helped Jeremy get to Hedy's car.

Hedy might have refused the hospital, but Jeremy needed to be looked at.

The bots didn't mention it, but they knew Hedy was going to the hospital anyway to see Ruby.

Jeremy overestimated his ability to get to Hedy's car himself when he managed to stand and was immediately dizzy.

Freddy had to awkwardly catch and steady him, before passing him off to their current/temporary night guard.

Outside, Mike waited until Jeremy was in before going around to the driver's side.

"You'll be okay right?" Mike asked, holding Hedy's driver side door open for a moment as he eyed her.

Hedy nodded, wincing as she gingerly flexed her arm. "I'm okay. Thank you."

Mike shifted. "I didn't really mean your arm. Not entirely. You...you look spooked."

Hedy stiffened a little. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Jeremy kept quiet, pressing an icepack to his head as he stared at the other two from the passenger seat.

"I'm just saying...you..." Mike cleared his throat. "Are you okay? Someone just attacked you. Stabbed at you."

"It's not the first time," Hedy said idly, earning an alarmed expression from Mike, pulling the door away from him. She closed the door and rolled down the window. "I suppose telling you not to come tonight won't do anything?"

Mike cracked a strained smile at her. "You won't stop trying to pressure me into leaving, huh?"

"Is it working?" Hedy asked dryly as she started the car and Jeremy leaned his head back with his eyes screwed shut.

"Nope," Mike's smile widened a little. "See you tonight."

Hedy nodded.

She and Jeremy didn't speak the entire drive to the hospital.

Hedy made sure her brother was checked into the emergency room before heading to another wing of the building.

The doctors and nurses recognised her and the looks of pity burned.

She stubbornly stared straight ahead until she got to Ruby's room. She didn't care if the blood on her sleeves shocked anyone.

She closed the door to the room behind her and squeezed her eyes shut. Maybe she was hoping Ruby would be sitting up and looking at her like she was crazy when she opened them.

When she did open her eyes it felt like she'd been punched.

There was a breathing tube down the teen's throat.