A gift for howdydoodly on Ao3. After I ready their story 'December 26', I realized I agreed with them wholeheartedly about the Grinch needing more serious fics. So here is one, a surprise gift that I hope will brighten their day.

Bricklebaum had always been a nuisance, but ever since the Christmas party, he had become unbearably nosy, at least as far as Grinch was concerned. He was even approaching the house now, bringing leftovers and an obnoxious positivity that grated on Grinch's nerves. He wasn't quite sure why he was so bothered by his neighbor, but he really didn't want to be around him. So when Grinch got up that morning, he was determined to stay home and not step foot outside. Just one day to himself. That's all he wanted.

Max fetched him his coffee, but Grinch noticed him scratching at his ear a lot. That set his nerves on edge, so he kept his eyes on Max that morning. His play was less energetic, and he was so tired. Halfway through the day, Grinch knew that something was wrong. He let Max fall asleep in his lap then carried him to his bed under the cabinet. When he'd tucked him in, he withdrew and had to forced himself to calm down. He couldn't. If something was wrong with Max, he didn't know what he'd do.

He hurried for his never-used phone and flipped through the notes he'd left. He knew Bricklebaum had given him his phone number a hundred times, so surely he'd have a copy! When he found the number, he dialed and waited with bated breath. But it went to the answering machine telling him to leave a message. Grinch slumped. He didn't know why he should bother. Nobody had ever helped him before. But Max's tired face floated in his mind and he forced himself to speak after the tone.

"Hey, uh, Bricklebaum. I… Max isnt feeling so well, and you always talk about helping animals, so… if you could come over and take a look at him? I'll, uh, pay you for whatever you need. Please?" Grinch paused then grumbled to himself. 'Oh, what's the use." Speaking up he said. "I just… if you can't, it's no big deal. I'm… Never mind. This is stupid."

Grinch slammed the phone down and groaned, fighting back tears. He couldn't lose Max. That dog had been in his life for less than a year, but he was so loyal and kind and intelligent. He was fierce enough to protect him and strong enough to pull his sleigh. Grinch went to the kitchen and picked up Max, holding him in his lap as he thought numbly that he was going to lose his dog.

'Not Max. Not Max. Not Max,' he begged again and again.

Grinch sat on the floor for awhile, holding Max to his chest and listening to him breathe. He ignored the phone ringing, knowing it was Bricklebaum to tell him of course he wouldn't help. Nobody ever helped him. They hadn't even cared when he'd left, and he'd been a child.

There was a heavy knock on the door. Max stirred and raised his head, and Grinch's heart leaped in his throat. Could it be? He set Max aside and hurried for his door, Max trailing along behind him. Maybe it was Cindy-Lou? But no. When he pulled the door open it was Bricklebaum. Relief changed to terror as Mabel, recognizing him from his sleigh heist, let out a booming bark and lunged forward.

"Ah! No no no!" Grinch yelped, grabbing Max into his arms protectively.

"Whoa, Mabel? What's wrong with you?" Bricklebaum exclaimed, snagging her collar.

Mabel growled and glared at Grinch. "I'll tell him! I'll tell him!" he cried. "Just… just don't hurt Max!"

Mabel snorted and Bricklebaum gazed at Grinch in astonishment. "Well I'll be. You're an animal whisperer!"

"If you insist," Grinch said. Mabel growled. "I'm getting to it, furball." He sighed and glanced at Bricklebaum. "Obviously I stole the sleigh off of your roof. Your dog there is quite… protective of your property. And she remembers me."

Mabel growled, and Max's ears perked and he growled back. "Oh, stop it, Max. Bricklebaum won't let her tear me to pieces no matter what she says."

"Mabel wants to do that, eh?" Bricklebaum asked.

"More or less," Grinch said awkwardly. He didn't quite want to repeat what she'd said, but Bricklebaum had the gist.

"Mabel, how could you be so rude to my friend?" Bricklebaum asked. Mabel whimpered and hung her head.

"Oh, she was just being protective," Grinch said dismissively. "She is a very good dog."

Mabel's ears perked a little and she gave Grinch an appraising look. Bricklebaum studied him then grinned. "Well, no hard feelings. I got the sleigh back, and it's even better than before. Did you do something to it?"

"I added a few things," Grinch admitted, adjusting his grip on Max to clutch him to his chest.

"How did you manage that?" Bricklebaum asked.

"I tinker," Grinch said shortly.

Max wriggled in his hands and Grinch quickly put him down. Max and Mabel stared at each other then sniffed curiously. Bricklebaum leaned down to pet Max.

"I hear you aren't feeling well," he said.

Max blinked and looked up at Grinch, his expression surprised. Grinch crossed his arms and glanced away. "Don't look at me like that. I'm not stupid. You haven't been feeling well all day."

Max glanced between Grinch and Bricklebaum then made a noise. Grinch snorted. "If I didn't think he could help, I wouldn't have called him."

"Well, I'll sure see what I can do for you…?" Bricklebaum stared at Grinch expectantly.

"Oh. Uh, Max, this is Bricklebaum. Bricklebaum, Max."

"Good to meet you, boy," Bricklebaum said. He scratched at his ears then leaned forward. "I think you have an ear infection."

Grinch's heart clenched. "What does that mean?" he asked anxiously.

"It means that he just needs some medicine in his ear a few times a day for a few days. Don't worry, Grinchy. I'll mix it all up and tell you what to do."

Grinch was reassured by his neighbor's confidence, and he watched as Bricklebaum took out some natural ingredients and began to made some medicine for Max.

"All natural?" Grinch asked.

"Of course," Bricklebaum assured him. "Don't want to hurt the animals I help."

Grinch didn't quite know what to do while Bricklebaum worked. He hesitated. "Want some coffee?"

"Sure, Grinchy," Bricklebaum said.

"I'll be right back, Max," Grinch said, and Max thumped his tail then turned his eyes back to Bricklebaum.

Grinch used his coffee maker to make two cups of coffee. He added cream but didn't bother trying to draw anything. It would taste the same anyway. Grinch carried the two cups into the room, and Max thumped his tail again.

"Coffee," Grinch muttered.

"Thanks, Grinchy," Bricklebaum said. He grabbed his lower back and stood up. "Mm."

"What's wrong with your back?" Grinch asked.

"Ah, overworked it the other day. It hurts."

"Oh." Grinch hesitated. "Hang on a second."

He hurried to his bathroom and dug around in the cabinet before he found the cream he'd invented years before. Being alone, accidents were dangerous, and pain was scary. This was some of the strongest muscle-relaxing cream he could make, and he used natural ingredients, so maybe Bricklebaum would find it useful.

Grinch came back down to find Bricklebaum wasn't in the hall anymore. He followed his neighbor's humming to find him looking around his workroom.

"Hey!" he cried.

Bricklebaum jumped and turned, surprised. "What's going on?"

"Why are you in here?" Grinch asked, hovering in the doorway and clutching at the bottle in his hands.

"Oh, Max was just showing me this room. Not sure why, though." He paused, scrutinizing Grinch. "I take it I shouldn't be in here?"

Grinch hesitated again. "I don't see why you shouldn't… but nobody's ever been in here besides me and Max." He looked around at the mess from Christmas. "I, ah, haven't cleaned up yet. You know from the…" He waved his hand, reluctant to bring it up.

"Christmas?" Bricklebaum asked.

"Uh, yeah. That."

Grinch's face burned as Bricklebaum studied him. Desperate to change the subject, Grinch walked over and handed him the bottle. "Here. This should help with your back," he muttered then strode past the short Who and went to put his bench in order. He hadn't been down in his workshop since Christmas Eve. He hadn't had the heart to do anything after how it had ended.

"You're real good at tinkering, aren't you?" Bricklebaum said.

"I dabble," Grinch said. One of the accordion shoes fell off the bench and he grabbed for it to stop it's extension. Bricklebaum walked over.

"What's that?" he asked.

"Oh, just something I invented," Grinch muttered. "It doesn't matter. Probably useless."

"What does it do?"

Grinch glanced over and shrugged then slipped the shoes onto his feet. He took two steps back then flexed and the shoes sprang up, sending him fifteen feet in the air. He wobbled for a moment to catch his balance then strode around the room. "It's like walking on stilts," Grinch said. "But much more flexible. Easier to keep your balance, too." He bounced onto his heels and the mechanisms folded back into the shoes, then he stepped forward to lock them in place.

"Well, I'll be," Bricklebaum said in wonder. "You invented those, huh? Can I try?"

Grinch removed the shoes and Bricklebaum took them and slipped them on. Grinch leaned down and tightened the straps, and the shoes suddenly fit much better. "I made it out of a material that can constrict or expand for the wearer," Grinch said, not seeing the intrigued look on Bricklebaum's face. "That way anybody could adjust them. He stood up and stepped back.

"How do they work?" Bricklebaum asked excitedly.

"It's based off of weight and pressure," Grinch said. "Flex your heels downward, and it'll release the extenders. Careful or you'll lose your balance when you shoot up. Then when you want to take them down, bounce yourself down onto them with enough force and they'll become shoes again. Take a step, and it'll lock them in place so they won't extend without being triggered again."

Bricklebaum nodded. "So if I do this…" He leaned back and the shoes released, extending high into the air. Bricklebaum nearly fell, and he staggered around the room as he tried to keep his balance. When he was steady, his face morphed from one of concentration to one of joy as he walked carefully around the room. "This is incredible, Grinchy!" he hooted.

"Is it?" Grinch asked, unable to stop from smiling as Bricklebaum laughed.

"Yes!" Bricklebaum exclaimed, and he stepped right beside Grinch then stopped. "And you said to do this." He bounced and the shoes came down. "And then this." He stepped forward and felt something click in the shoes. "Wow! They work!"

"Of course they work," Grinch scoffed. "I wouldn't have used them if they didn't."

"What else did you use?" Bricklebaum asked.

Grinch stiffened. "What?" he asked tightly.

"You know, when you tried to steal Christmas."

Everything in Grinch suddenly screamed, and he took a step back. "Thanks for helping with Max," he said, his voice becoming emotionless. "Now I think you'd better go."

"Oh, come on, Grinch, don't be like that," Bricklebaum said.

"Don't be like that?" Grinch said. "Don't be like what exactly, Bricklebaum?"

Bricklebaum hesitated. "I didn't mean to offend you."

"Max, take our guests to the door," Grinch said softly, and he turned away and sat down at his workbench.

Max yipped once. Then he did it again. Grinch could sense Bricklebaum hovering behind him.

"Max is asking you to follow him," Grinch said in a low voice. "Please do."

"What about the shoes?" Bricklebaum asked.

"Keep them. They're useless," Grinch muttered. "Now leave." Bricklebaum patted his back, and he flinched. "Please leave!" he shouted, wincing as his voice cracked.

"Okay then. You should swing by sometime, Grinchy. I'd love to have you for dinner."

No response. At least until Bricklebaum was halfway out the door.

"Love to have me? Yeah right," Grinch muttered. He was so used to his cave that he didn't think that his voice would carry. Bricklebaum heard though, and he walked to the door with Max.

"Oh, before I go," Bricklebaum said.

Max growled.

"You really are a smart dog," Bricklebaum murmured. "But I need some paper. Gotta write down what he should do for your ear."

Max actually looked thoughtful then padded over to a shelf and pulled out a notebook with his teeth. He carried it over to Bricklebaum, who took it and watched in astonishment as Max then fetched a pen. Bricklebaum wrote down careful, detailed instructions then invited him to call with any questions. That done, he turned, scratched behind Max's ear, then called for Mabel.

"Thanks for having us," Bricklebaum said.

Max inclined his head and panted up at him with a big doggy smile. Bricklebaum then turned and left. He didn't know what had made Grinch shut down like that, but his mind was whirling with thoughts. The first thing he had to do was figure out how to talk to Grinch without getting kicked out. That Who was determined to not be friends with him, but Bricklebaum saw somebody who desperately wanted friends but who had no idea what to do to get or keep them. That's why Bricklebaum always took extra care to be friendly to the green Who. He liked Grinch and could tell he was lonely, and he really just wanted to help. The problem was, he didn't know how. That didn't deter him. Bricklebaum would figure it out somehow. In the meantime, he was determined to show off Grinch's incredible invention in town.

"Come on, Mabel," Bricklebaum said. "I think Cindy-Lou and Donna will love to see these."

And off they went.