"I wish you luck, Queen Poppy." Doctor Plum sighed.
"Aww, it'll be fine. Is he awake yet?" Poppy asked eagerly.
"No. I'm keeping him sedated. Yes, I set his leg, but he's still going to be in pain from it, not to mention his head trauma."
"Oh, okay. Can I see him?"
"Of course. Follow me." Dr. Plum nodded.
"Oh! Doctor? About Jenny, is she really going to be okay?" Poppy asked anxiously. The doctor gazed at her thoughtfully.
"Yes, she is. But it's only by a miracle that I'm able to say that! Bludger Venom is no joke, Queen Poppy!"
"Yes, I know." Poppy nodded solemnly.
"I ran some blood tests. It appears that she had adrenaline injected into her system, twice. That's the only reason I logically know she's alive. Whoever did that was a godsend! Otherwise, we would be having a very different conversation right now!" Doctor Plum said seriously.
Poppy stared in disbelief at the usually cheery purple physician. So, Jenny, one of her precious young friends and admirers had come a fraction of inch from...from...Ohhh, Branch! She thought to herself. Everybody who'd been on the berry picking expedition had said that Branch had ordered them to safety then he'd left to find Jenny, and shortly after had returned with her, passing her off to Biggie, and no time to escape for himself!
"It was Branch!" Poppy spluttered.
"What?" Dr. Plum arched her eyebrows as she led her around a privacy screen.
"Branch! It was Branch who saved her! It had to be. Who else would've thought to bring dire emergency medical supplies on a fun berry picking trip?" Poppy rambled.
"It fits. This guy is the most worrisome, paranoid troll I've ever seen!"
"Looks like this was one of those times that he had good reasons." Poppy sighed.
"Mmm. Well, there he is." Dr. Plum smiled as she stood beside Branch's hospital bed. He was out cold, his forehead wrapped in a bandage, gauze and bandages covered various parts of his arms and legs and were wrapped completely around his stomach. His right leg had tripled in size with the bulky plaster cast hugging it. His injured leg was propped up above his head on top of three pillows. He looked pale, but he was definitely breathing and as much as Poppy wanted to talk to him and hug him possibly to death, she didn't have the heart to wake him from his drugged, blissful slumber.
"Aaaww. My poor baby." Poppy gushed. She stepped near the head of the bed and reached out to stroke back his hair which had little specks of dried up blood in it. Yuck! Well, she'd set that to rights first chance she got! "Aww, Branchifer." She lightly kissed the uninjured side of his forehead. He grunted in his sleep and let out a peaceful breath.
"Well, I can see our hero is in good hands." Dr. Plum chuckled. "I'll leave you two alone for a while. I need to go check on Jenny."
"Okay." Poppy nodded. As the doctor turned to the other side of the large hospital pod to check up on her younger patient, Poppy gingerly climbed into the bed next to her brandished boyfriend, being careful not to aggravate his injuries. She tucked her feet underneath her, and ran her fingers softly over the unblemished parts of his left arm. "Don't you worry about a thing, Sweetie. I'm gonna take such good care of you." She grinned. "I'm going to spoil you so bad. I'm so proud of you, Branchifer. Without you, we'd have lost Jenny. I always knew you were a hero, but today, I'm extra happy-which is a lot of happy!-to brag that you're my hero! I'll get you all better in no time!" She nuzzled his left cheek, and continued running her fingers through his hair. "Just you wait and see!" She gave him a tiny kiss on the cheek.
"How is he?" Guy Diamond asked.
Poppy whipped her head around and gaped, open-mouthed to see the Snack Pack quietly peering into the room. "How long have you all been standing there?!" She gasped, her pink cheeks flushing darker magenta.
"Not long." Darnell shrugged.
"Hey, guys. How is Jenny?" Poppy asked quickly.
"Doc says she's gonna be okay!" Cooper announced happily.
"Gonna be miserable and have to stay in bed for a while, but she's gonna get better for sure!" Biggie added.
"Thank goodness." Poppy smiled.
"How's Branch?" Satin asked.
"He's resting. He's gonna be okay too! I'll have to nurse him for a while though." Poppy answered.
"We'll help!" Chenille offered.
"Yeah, Poppy! All of us!" DJ Suki chimed in.
"Anything you need, just call us up!" Cooper smiled.
"Thanks, everybody. What would I do without you?" Poppy beamed fondly at them.
King Peppy came to check on his daughter, her boyfriend, and their little friend. The Snack Pack finally dispersed from the hospital pod. Poppy visited Jenny and her parents while Branch slept. Peri and Amber had looked much happier than earlier, and she'd gotten to talk to Jenny for a little bit. The poor little trolling was very pale and languid, but happy to see her queen.
Poppy hated to leave Branch, but he'd been sleeping for hours with no signs of waking up, and Poppy did have to finish some jobs and let her people know about the condition of their friends and what the plan was for the Berry Festival. She called Dr. Plum in the evening to ask if there was any change, to which the physician told her no, but that Branch's vitals were stable and not to worry.
Poppy woke up before the morning sun had She hurried to the hospital pod with a basket full of goodies. She found Dr. Plum in the front, drinking some coffee. She looked tired. "Morning, Doctor Plum!" Poppy greeted happily.
"Huh? Oh. Morning, Your Majesty." Dr. Plum sighed. "You're out and about early."
"Uh huh! How is Branch? How is Jenny? How are you? Are you okay? You look exhausted."
"I'm fine. Branch and Jenny are okay. He hasn't waken up yet, but I expect he will in a little while. Jenny had convulsions last night but she's better this morning. Her parents stayed with her all night."
Poppy hugged the weary doctor. "You look like you could use a pick-me-up! Fortunately for you, I have just the thing!" She quickly rummaged through her basket and pulled out a platter of pink cupcakes, bombed out with rainbow sprinkles. "They're cherry flavored. I know you like cherry."
"Poppy." Dr. Plum smiled. "You always know just what to do to brighten our days!" She suddenly didn't look as tired.
"Here, sit down. Have a bite! Or two, maybe three! What the hair, have six! Take a load off. You need it! I'll look after your patients." Poppy said in bubbly voice.
"Alright. Just one cupcake." Dr. Plum agreed, grinning.
"Gotta go!" Poppy said and hopped inside. She really wanted to see Branch, but first, she had another delivery to make. She tiptoed to Jenny's section in the hospital pod. There, she found Peri pouring two cups of coffee and Amber was strewn on the hospital bed, her arms around Jenny. They were both asleep. "Morning, Peri!" Poppy whispered.
Peri looked up, wrinkles around his eyes that she hadn't remembered seeing before. "Your Majesty?" He croaked.
"I won't stay long. I just wanted to give you these. From the looks of you, you'll need it!" Poppy exclaimed. She reached into her basket again and presented him with a pot decorated with stickers. "There's some candy inside, and fruit snacks, and a coloring pack for Jenny. I know she loves sketching. Oh, there should be new stickers in there too!" Poppy explained. "And some ready made blueberry pancakes. All you have to do is warm them up!"
Peri smiled. "My queen, you are so kind. I can't thank you enough."
"Aww, it's nothing, really." Poppy shrugged. "You can't go wrong with blueberry pancakes and stickers! You can thank me by Jenny getting better, and you and Amber take care of yourselves. These should help!"
"They will, Queen Poppy."
"This is also for Jenny." Poppy held out a scrap-booked, pop-up card. It was blue with a sun, and flowers and candy on the ground. A miniature Jenny was lying in a white bed. Other felt figures popped up of Poppy, Branch, the Snack Pack, Dr. Plum, and Jenny's parents. Letters came up and the card cried, "GET WELL SOON!"
"Oh, thank you! Jenny is going to love it!" Peri's eyes lit up.
"See, care package is working already!" Poppy winked. "I'll see you guys later." She waved.
Poppy hurried to Branch's side. He was still in the same prostrate position, his enormous leg still sticking out, and his eyes still closed. "Even hurt, he looks so cute when he sleeps." Poppy gushed to herself. "Is this how he looked as a baby?" She climbed onto the bed, crossing her legs out in front of her. She pulled Branch's left arm into her lap and clasped his hand with hers. With her other, she stroked his upper forehead and his hair. "Branch?" She murmured quietly. "Bbrraannchh? Branch? Come on, Sweetie Pie! Time to wake up! Come on." She tried to coax him.
Branch slept on.
Poppy waited for ten more minutes, scrapbooking and still Branch was out. Once Poppy had finished her artwork, she was very bored. And Branch hadn't waken up. Geez, how long was the sedative actually supposed to stay in effect? Did the darn thing ever wear off? Must have been some pretty strong stuff the doctor had put into Branch's body!
Being bored, Poppy took her markers and began doodling little hearts and emojis on Branch's blue skin. Every part of skin she could find that wasn't covered in bandaged scars, she drew little happy pictures. She giggled to herself, proud of her work as she sat back and admired it. "Never thought I'd hear myself say this, but...oh gosh, you even cuter now!" She kissed him again.
Then Branch moved! His left arm reached up, even though he winced at the movement, he brought his hand to his face and scratched it. Poppy's silky artwork must have tickled his skin!
"Branch?!" Poppy gasped excitedly. "Branch! You're awake!"
"Ugh." Branch grunted groggily.
"You're awake! You're gonna get better!" Poppy cheered and clasped his neck in a choke hold as she smothered his face with kisses.
Branch gagged and the heart monitor that he was connected to began beeping loudly. "Po-Pop-" He tried to say.
"I knew you'd get better, Branchifer!" Poppy told him.
"Pop...can't...breathe!" Branch croaked desperately.
"Oh." Poppy laughed and sat up, loosening her grasp around his throat.
"What's going on?" Dr. Plum burst into the room, looking wide-eyed with worry.
"He's awake!" Poppy announced. Branch was holding his chest, and the monitor was still beeping.
"Give me some room, Poppy." Dr. Plum instructed. Poppy scurried off the bed and stood aside as the physician turned off the alarm on the monitor. Then she bent down next to Branch. "Branch? What's going on, dear? Are you having chest pain?" She asked.
"N-no." Branch shook his head, which made him grimace with pain.
"Are you sure? Tell me what's going on!" Dr. Plum told him as she put her stethoscope in her ears and started listening to his chest.
"Nothing." Branch drawled out hoarsely. "Just…" He rubbed his aching head.
"Breathe for me, Branch."
"I am breathing." Branch groaned. "If I wasn't, I wouldn't feel like a Bergen army was pounding the pavement inside my head." He stared straight ahead, looking wretched.
"Okay, buddy, sit up for me." The doctor told him. She carefully heaved him up so she could listen to his back. Branch flinched at the movement.
"Hey, babe." Poppy smiled brightly, squeezing his hand. "How do you feel?"
Branch glanced at her dazedly. "What do you think?" He muttered.
"Uhm…" Poppy bit her lip. Why had she asked such a stupid question? He looked miserable! It didn't take a genius to figure that out. "I guess...you've had better days?" Poppy offered.
A faint smile came to Branch's face. He'd expected her to act all goofily happy, without noticing his discomfort. That's how she would've responded a long time ago! But, she hadn't. She'd taken in his sickly appearance and understood that he wasn't in the mood. "You said it." He tried to joke.
"Ohh, Sweetie." Poppy patted his hand. "I'm sorry I startled you. Guess I was just so glad to see you awake that I forgot myself. Did I hurt you?" She asked worriedly.
"Don't think so." Branch sighed. "Something did though." He glanced around at his surroundings. "Wait. What-what am I doing here?"
"You got hurt, pretty bad." Poppy said.
"Oh. I guess that would explain why I feel like a cater-bus wreck." Branch's hand went to his side.
"Does it hurt bad?" Poppy's brows furrowed.
"I've had worse." Branch shrugged miserably.
"I find that hard to believe." Dr. Plum said as she set him back down into the pillows and listened to his belly, checking for any internal issues. Branch winced again, his hand coming back up to his head. It was throbbing like a Bergen drum! "Well, everything sounds clear." The doctor finally said, putting her instrument back around her neck. "How are you feeling, Branch?" She asked with her hands on her hips.
"What stepped on me?" Branch moaned, still holding his head. Almost everything hurt. His abdomen felt really sore, his leg felt numb, and his head wouldn't stop pulsating.
"A tree limb." Poppy said.
"Did I-aah! Was I chopping it down, or...did someone whack me with it?"
"We'll explain later." Dr. Plum said. "Your head hurt really bad?"
"You make it sound like a picnic." Branch said sourly. He was beginning to feel really nauseous from the pain.
"Here, let me get you something for that." Dr. Plum assured him. She walked to her medicine cabinet.
"I'll be right back, Branchifer. Don't go anywhere!" Poppy told him.
"Right." Branch growled, trying to keep the tears from his eyes. What world of discomfort had he woken up to? How did he get here in the first place? Why was he in the hospital? Why was everybody asking him stupid questions? Were they blind? Could they not see how much misery he was in? To make matters worse, his stomach began churning. He clutched his middle and his head, trying to brush away the roils of pain.
"You're gonna feel a little poke, Branch." Dr. Plum warned him.
"Whatever!" Branch cried. A small shot was the least of his worries. He couldn't stop them anymore, and the tears came out of his eyes. The sharp prick came into his arm but he hardly noticed it.
"There. You should start feeling better in a couple minutes." Dr. Plum said quietly.
"What did you do?" Branch asked, gulping.
"I gave you some potent pain relievers. And some anti-nausea medicine. It's a common symptom that comes with a concussion. It should start working in a few minutes." Dr. Plum touched his arm. "Try to breathe through the pain, and try to relax."
"Yeah, sure." Branch grimaced.
"I'll close the drapes." Dr. Plum offered.
"Branch?" Poppy spoke up when she returned. "I have something for you."
"Poppy, not now! Please! I'm not in the mood for glitter and boom boxes!" Branch wailed. He was actually weeping. Poppy gaped at him. Branch was normally a grouchy, hardheaded bear when he was under the weather. For him to be openly crying like this was alarming!
"Shh. That's not it." Poppy said softly, her heart aching seeing him hurt like this. She reached toward him.
Branch kept his eyes scrunched tightly as he felt Poppy pull his hand from his face. Then something like fluffy ice touched his head. "Gah!" He took in a sharp breath.
"Sorry!" Poppy said sympathetically as she adjusted it.
Branch forced himself to breathed in and out, and suddenly, the unexpected frigidity mellowed into a cool softness. He reached up and felt the object on his head. A towel, with...must have been a bag of ice! Was this, a cold compress? It kind of felt nice!
"I hope it helps." Poppy said nervously. "Whenever I had a bad headache, Dad would put a cold ice pack on it. That usually did the trick!"
"I think...it's working." Branch whispered, and his tense body muscles began to relax. "Feels really good, actually."
"Really?" Poppy smiled. "Oh, I'm glad! Are you beginning to feel a little better?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I am!" Branch said wistfully. "Thanks, Pops. Ohh. That's...good." He murmured.
"You're welcome, Branchifer." Poppy beamed and clasped his hand.
"Think...those meds...are working, Doc." Branch breathed happily.
"Good." Dr. Plum said approvingly, her arms crossed. "You rest, dear. Just rest."
"Mph." Branch groaned in pleasure. Within moments, his body had gone from misery 2.0 to beautiful numbness, the pain quickly ebbing away. He began to feel sleepy too. Oh, sleep! Yes! He didn't fight it, and let it take him from his current predicament.
Poor Branchy Boy! Don't worry. He'll be okay. And he will be returning to the stubborn, independent guy we all know and love as soon as he starts feeling better! But for now, I couldn't help babying him a bit.
How I wish I had made this fic's timeline after Trolls Band Together instead of before it!