Branch just wanted out!
He wanted out of his room, out of his bunker. His friends meant well, but they were all overly eager to help get him back on his feet. They stuffed him with sweets, forced him to take his medicine, fluffed out his bed, and sang extra happy songs, with extra, extra projecting! He almost actually wished to be back in Dr. Plum's hospital! At least there, things would be nice and quiet and the good doctor wouldn't speak to him more than professionally necessary, aka actually let him sleep! Seriously, how was he supposed to get quiet rest like this?
His only two consolations were that Poppy was resting, and that Guy Diamond had the decency to shoo everybody else out when it came to cleaning up and treating his wounds. "Those nasty creatures really did a number on you." Guy Diamond shook his head as he applied cleanser to the still red wounds on Branch's stomach.
"Tell me about it." Branch sighed, lying back into the pillows. The cleanser stung, but he wasn't about to let his friends see that! At least Guy Diamond was calmer than Poppy at this task, and didn't freeze up with tears, afraid to touch him!
"You were so brave, Branch."
"I just did what I could. It was terrifying." Branch shuddered. What if he hadn't been able to save all of his friends? What if they'd been torn or trampled to bits? What if he hadn't found Jenny? What if he'd been too late? What if he hadn't had the lifesaving medical kit on hand? What if they'd all died?
Guy Diamond had noticed the troll's tremor. "Sorry, Branch. Am I hurting you?" He asked with concern.
"No. I'm okay."
"You're sure?"
"Yeah."
"Well, Peri and Amber are very grateful to you for rescuing Jenny." Guy Diamond smiled.
"So am I. How is she?" Branch asked worriedly. "Is she okay?"
"She's still at the hospital, poor thing. But Dr. Plum said that she's improving."
"I'm so glad to hear that!" Branch exhaled.
"Yes. Alright. Done with that." Guy set aside the plastic jar of cleanser. "Time to tape you back up."
"Right." Branch rolled his eyes, sitting up. "I can do this part, thanks."
"Nice try." Guy smirked. "You need help. That's what we're here for."
"I think I've had all the help I can take." Branch complained.
"Arms up!"
"Feeling better, Popster?" DJ Suki smiled at Poppy. Poppy opened her eyes and saw that she was tucked cozily into a warm blanket on Branch's sofa.
"Oh!" Poppy sat up abruptly. "What time is it?"
"It's about one o'clock." Suki said with her hands on her hips.
"What?! You let me sleep that long? I can't do that!" Poppy gasped, jumping off the sofa. "Branch needs my help! Is he okay? He's not alone, is he?"
"Relax, Poppy." Suki put her hands on her shoulders. "Branch is okay. And no, he's not alone. Guy Diamond is treating his wounds right now."
"Oh, good. Wait, that's my job! I should get down there!"
"Whoa, whoa, slow down there, Your Majesty. Branch is okay. You need some lunch before you do anything that strenuous."
"Where is everybody?"
"Most of them went home after lunch. They wanted to stay, but they have to make preparations for the Berry Festival."
"Oh no, the Berry Festival!" Poppy smacked her forehead. "I'd forgotten all about it."
"Don't worry, girl. Your father is handling the plans for the festivities."
"Ohh, that's good. But I really wanted to be part of it!" Poppy pouted.
"For now, girl, you take care of our hero! And if you need anything, don't be afraid to ask! We're here for you, Poppy."
"Thanks." Poppy smiled warmly, hugging her good friend. "Guy Diamond! Thank you for your help! How is Branch?" She hugged the glittery troll.
"He's sleeping, Poppy. He's alright." Guy Diamond said kindly.
"Oh, thank goodness! I was pretty worried about him! Do you think he's getting better?"
"I can't say. I'm not a doctor. But...since he's been grouchy and stubborn, I'd say he's definitely feeling more like his normal self." Guy chuckled. "I took care of his wounds. They look okay to me, but Dr. Plum will be the better judge of that."
"Thanks, Guy." Poppy hugged him and Suki again. "I'll see you guys later."
"Bye, Poppy." Suki smiled.
"Oh, thank goodness! Finally, it's quiet!" Branch breathed in relief, as soon as he was sure that the last of the Snack Pack had completely left the bunker. His bedroom was cozy and peaceful, the way he liked it! But he was feeling restless. Time to get out of bed and get some tasks done! He'd missed a day and a half of jobs already! "Where are my crutches?" He glanced around. He noticed the said equipment leaning against the wall across the room. "Of course." He rolled his eyes. He needed them leaning against the head of his bed, within reach! "Are they all trying to keep me stuck in this stupid bed?" He extended his hair, even though made his forehead feel like someone was poking him with needles, his strands wrapped around the crutches and dragged them to his bedside. "That's better." He smirked, proud of himself and gingerly began to swing his legs over the side of the bed.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Where do you think you're going, sicky?" Poppy blurted out as she suddenly appeared on the elevator platform. Branch was so startled that he fell onto his back on the mattress. "Branch! Are you alright?" Poppy rushed to his side.
"Yes." Branch huffed as Poppy grabbed his hands and helped him sit up. "This is ridiculous, Poppy. I'm just injured, not crippled."
"Hush up. Are you okay?" Poppy asked. Branch just stared at her with a deadpan face. "Well?" No comment. "Aren't you going to say something?!" Poppy glared, exasperated.
"Will you make up your mind?" Branch crossed his arms. "First, you tell me to hush up and then you ask me a question! Which do you want me to do, answer you or keep my trap shut?"
"Ugh." Poppy rolled her eyes. Why did he have to be so dang adorable? He looked so extra cute with his scruffy bedhead, his sulky posture, that silly albeit curled lip, and his very squishy, squeezable toes wiggling restlessly. He could drive her absolutely crazy at times, with his serious logic, and dry humor. But he was just so precious that she couldn't stay mad at him.
"Ha, ha." Poppy huffed. "What were you trying to do?"
"Uh, getting up?" Branch groaned.
"You need to rest." Poppy insisted.
"I feel so stupid just lying here...doing nothing!" Branch complained.
"What? And miss out on all this special attention?" Poppy smirked. "Guess I'm losing my touch. Hmm. Maybe I should wear more glitter. Like, a lot more glitter-"
"You want me to go blind? Girl, please! I'm a sick man, remember?"
"Aaaww. Is the pop queen too much for you to handle?" Poppy asked flirtatiously.
"Always has been."
Poppy finally agreed to let Branch hobble around on his crutches as she had promised the day before, but she was never far from his side, ready to catch him him in case he fell. He made himself some coffee, the way he liked it. He sat at his study table, with his encased leg propped up on a chair, and went over some of his safety plans for the village. "Branch, what are you doing? I told you that Cooper and Prince D handled the alarm system." Poppy remarked, confused.
"If we want to stay safe from scrimps and bludgers, Poppy, it's going to take more than just an alarm system." Branch told her. "First of all, bludgers are known to live underground. If they come up, they usually prefer the wide, open spaces like meadows. They usually avoid crowded areas like the berry patch. What brought the one that struck Jenny so close to population? And the scrimps are not known to venture so far toward the forest of our village. They like lakes, watery spots. I can't wrap my head around what brought them here!"
"You're not going to let this go until you figure it out, are you?" Poppy sighed.
"No. I'm not. Poppy, we need to keep everybody safe! It's not enough to keep the scrimps out! We need to take the necessary measures to make sure they never come back." Branch said. Poppy hung her head. He was right. But how were they supposed to do that? Branch was just barely recovering, he couldn't go traipsing off around the kingdom investigating! It was too soon!
"I know." Poppy nodded. "But you have to rest. You can't just go out there right now!"
"I'm gonna have to." Branch interjected.
"Branch, please wait! You're not fully well yet! You'll hurt yourself more. Look, as queen, I can appoint some of the other trolls to do what you're planning. They can report back to you. How does that sound?"
"You're that determined to keep me stuck in here?" Branch half-teased.
"Branch, please! I'm trying to help you accomplish what you feel you need to do, at a safe pace. Look, if I was the one hurt like you are, and I had the notion to go out into the forest, what would you say? What would you tell me?"
"I'd tell you that fresh air is good for the body."
"Branch, I'm serious! What would you do if our roles were reversed?"
Branch rolled his eyes. "Fine. You've made your point."
Suddenly, there was a loud banging on the rock upstairs, startling both of them. "I'll get it!" Poppy assured Branch as he began to attempt getting up. She hurried to the elevator platform and pushed the lever up speedily. "Who's there?!" Poppy shouted.
"Poppy! We have some visitors from the other troll realms!" DJ's voice answered. "Delta, Dawn, Hickory, Queen Barb-"
"Really? I'm coming!" Poppy answered. "Branch, I'll be right back! Will you be alright?"
"Yeah! Is everything okay?" Branch called back.
"Yes. Just gotta go outside real quick! I'll be right back!"
"Okay."
Poppy opened the trap door and climbed out. "DJ, what are they doing here?"
"We heard that Branch was off his feet for what he done for his friends!" Delta smiled.
"Thought the boy could use some cheering up." Barb added. "How's he doing?"
"He's okay." Poppy shrugged. "Eager to get back on his feet. I'm having a hard time keeping him in the bunker to rest. He wants to get back into the forest, check things out, that kind of stuff."
"Sounds about right." Hickory chuckled, tipping his hat to Poppy. "Hoped there was somethin' we could do to help."
"Aaaww! You guys are so kind and sweet to think of him!" Poppy beamed, hugging each of them.
"We made y'all some rib-stickin' viddles." Delta smiled, handing Poppy a large basket. "Some stew, pies-"
"Ohh! Branch likes stew!"
"Brave thing he did, saving that little girl." Barb said proudly.
"A real hero, that boy." Delta agreed.
"That's my Branch." Poppy smiled happily.
"We figured y'all could use some extra hands for the berry festival."
"That would be wonderful!"
"Consider it done, Miss Poppy." Hickory smiled.
"Thanks, guys! Thank you so much. Would you like to see him for a few minutes?"
"Sure." Barb nodded. They followed Poppy down into the bunker.
"Wha-oh! Hi, guys." Branch blinked in surprise.
"Hey, Branch. You look like crap." Barb smirked.
"Nice to see you too, Rock Queen." Branch retorted dryly. "Your tender, bedside manner is so heartwarming."
"What they been feedin' you, Boy?" Delta stared at Branch in horror. "You're skin and bones! You just let us fix ya up with some good eatin'!"
"Can you get me a ticket out of here? That would be helpful." Branch remarked.
"Easy there, Branch." Hickory told him, holding up a halting hand. "Don't you go givin' this fine lady a hard time now!" He warned, tilting his head toward Poppy. "She's doin' her best to take care of ya. You'd better behave yurself, Partner."
"Why does everybody keep saying that?" Branch sighed.
" 'Cause you've got a knack for rock-headed heroics." Barb slapped him on the back.
"Ow." Branch frowned.
Poppy helped Delta put the food she'd brought in the proper storage places while Barb curiously inspected Branch's bunker. Hickory came close to him and said quietly, "But seriously, Branch. You really oughtta have a little more faith in your friends."
"What are you talking about?" Branch furrowed his brows.
"I know you wanna take care of everyone else, but I think that sometimes you put too much on your shoulders. Now, you need to let that leg heal. And it won't do it if you keep traipsin' off all over the village. We're here to help, Branch. Now, is there anything I can do for ya, something you're itching to get done? Say, something to keep everybody safe?"
"You don't have to. It's okay. I'll take care of it." Branch shook his head.
"And just how are you gonna do that? With the good doc in the middle of the village, yur friends everywhere, ready to report to the queen if they see you on your own, and Miss Poppy putting her heart and soul into spoiling you to death?"
More like smothering me to death.
"Branch, remember what it took to end the Rock Apocalypse?"
"What do you mean?"
"It wasn't Queen Poppy alone, sweet-talking Boisterous Barb into setting aside their different goals. It was all of us, coming together to bring true harmony. I don't think this scenario is much different. You need to heal, partner! If ya don't, you'll be worse off and it will take ya longer to get well. Have a little trust in yur friends, Branch. You're one outstanding troll, but that don't make you invincible. You're not alone anymore, remember?" Hickory smiled.
Branch sighed. "Well, if I'm really stuck down here…"
"How you holding up, Popsqueak?" Barb asked, throwing her arm around Poppy's shoulder.
"I'm good." Poppy shrugged. "Branch is one determined troll, which is one of the things I love about him! But...when it comes to convalescing? That's another story. He wants to get back on his feet, a little too fast."
"Honey, say no more!" Delta laughed. "You think that boy's hard-headed? You ain't never had to lasso a band of Country Trolls beaten up in a nasty skirmish and keep 'em corralled together for a week!"
"My brain's exhausted just hearing about it!" Barb crossed her arms.
Doctor Plum dropped by the bunker that evening to check up on Branch. She said that he could be up and about but should rest if he felt tired, and when he wasn't hobbling around, he still needed to elevate his leg. And also, no heavy lifting or work like that so that he didn't pull out his stitches. The cuts on his tummy were slowly beginning to heal, becoming less red. To Branch's delight, he had the doctor's permission to be up on his feet, but then her stern warning to not overdo it!
That night, Branch still had nightmares, but this time, he slept longer in between the episodes, and Poppy was there each time to wake him up and comfort him. Branch only hoped that she'd gotten some sleep herself!
For the next few days, Branch tried to get out of bed as soon as he was awake, and he refused to rest up at least until lunch time. By then, Poppy would give him his medicine and he would take a nap. Poppy gave him a sponge bath, which he secretly enjoyed immensely. It had made him dizzy with powerful feelings. By the third day though, Branch had very little energy when he woke up. The Snack Pack stopped by to help out and bring him more presents and get well cards, to add to his stash that Poppy made for him breakfast, lunch, and dinnertime. But Branch was not in the mood.
Branch pulled the pillow over his head to block out the noise that his friends called 'music'.
"Guys! Guys, I know you're trying to cheer Branch up, but right now he needs rest and quiet. So, we'll see you later." Poppy appeared. "Now, go on. Go on." She escorted her friends out of the bunker then returned to the bedroom.
"Thank you!" Branch exhaled blissfully.
"They're just trying to help." Poppy said.
"I know. But just...really bad timing." Branch sighed.
"How are you feeling, Sweetie?" Poppy came to his side.
"Absolutely ridiculous. I'm a spectacle now. Everybody comes to stare at me like I'm on display or something. I'm the same guy, you know?"
"Do I know." Poppy smiled. "Well, I'm actually glad that they woke you up. It's time for your medicine!"
"Oh, joy." Branch frowned.
"Come on, baby. You wanna get better, don't you?"
"Of course I do! But how am I supposed to do that if you're shoving meds down my throat? That stuff is toxic!"
"You want me to tell Doctor Plum that you said that?"
"Sure. Maybe she'll change it up so it doesn't taste like Bergen boogers." Branch cringed.
"Come on now. Open up. Here comes the hot air balloon," Poppy crooned, as if she was speaking to an infant.
Branch threw her his infamous glare of exasperation. What was she doing with him? Was he really the one who had suffered a minor head trauma? "I'm not three anymore." He muttered. "And it wasn't my arm that I broke. Give me that." He reached out for the spoonful of medicine. He gritted his teeth, as leaning forward sent a surge of throbbing pain up through his leg.
"Yeah. I don't think so." Poppy shook her head. "Open wide, Sweetie."
"I can do it myself!" Branch grumbled, grabbing the spoon. He forced it down his own throat. He grimaced sourly and gagged. "Bleh."
"That's better." Poppy patted his arm.