HELTER SKELTER

Chapter Twenty Three

Everyone cleared out of the infirmary except for the Beatles, Roger and the Doctor. They were leaving when the Doctor had a sudden thought. He told them that he was making them some medicine as well.

"Paul became ill from all the stress he's been under and I'm sure you've experienced the same stress," the Doctor said to them. "So I'll give the same medicine to all of you as a precautionary measure before we go see Altok."

While he was mixing the medicine, the others were watching Paul while he slept peacefully. Martha had climbed up on the bed and was sprawled across his legs, resting while she watched the Beatles and Roger.

"You know, mates, after hearing about all this Paul is dead stuff, I can't help but think the lad looks like a corpse just laying there unmoving," John said to the others.

"Don't be so morbid," George said.

"I can't help it. I've heard so many of these death clues that now when Paul's sleeping, I imagine him in a coffin," John replied. "I can't help it if I've been around death for the past few days."

John smirked. He bent over and laid his open palm above Paul's head.

"Now what are you doing?" Roger said.

"Look, it's the open palm of doom above Paulie's head. Paul will diiiiie," he said, giving them an ominous look.

"Leave him alone, you git," George said as John snickered and took his hand away.

The Doctor came up to them with a small tray. On the tray were four glasses with the same red liquid he gave Paul. Everyone took a glass and tasted it.

"Ugh! I can see why Paul was making faces at this stuff," Ringo said. "This is disgusting."

"Hold your nose, lads," John said.

They pinched their noses and quickly downed it while the Doctor checked on Paul.

"The puffiness is nearly gone," the Doctor said to them. "I think this is the best thing he could have done. He'll heal up now and be strong and healthy again. As will all of you," the Doctor said, holding up the tray so everyone could put their glasses back on it. "Also remind me to shield your minds before we go look for Jane and William. I made the mistake of leaving Jane defenseless; I'm not going to make that mistake again."

"Doctor?"

The Doctor held up his finger when he heard William speak.

"Yes, William?" he said.

"I've been listening to your conversation. I'm alone at the moment. They split us up but I have an idea…"

"Are you alright before you tell us your idea?" the Doctor said while the others listened.

"So far. They haven't done anything except tell me I'm going to be brainwashed again and put somewhere else and I'll never see my friends again, shite like that. I'm past being threatened like that; I've been through too much for it to scare me. But if Jane isn't protected like I am, then I want them to deal with me. The last thing I want is for Jane to be hypnotized and enslaved. The thing is, I think they're gonna try to hypnotize me and send me back after Paul. I know they said they'd leave him alone but he knows too much, all of you do. He's too much of a risk to be left alive so my thought is if they try to hypnotize me, I'll play along with it and pretend to be brainwashed. I know what it feels like to be under their influence so I think I can convince them I'm under their power. Perhaps if they think I'm brainwashed, they'll allow me to move more freely. They did it the last time."

"Be careful though, William, if they find our you're pretending they might put you to death."

"I will but it really doesn't scare me," William said. "But I know it would devastate Paul and Jane if I were killed so that's why I'll be sure to be convincing."

"Is he still chatting with you?" John asked the Doctor.

"Yes, he is," the Doctor said.

"If I speak, he'll hear me, yeah?" John said.

"Yes but…wait, William, hang on, I'm getting a communicator for John. He wants to say something."

"Okay," William said.

The Doctor took out four communicators and he put one behind John, George, Ringo and Roger's ears. When he told him they were ready, John cleared his throat.

"William?" John said.

"Yes?" William replied.

"Look, I know you and I haven't been that close. At least not as close as you've been to Paul. But you gotta understand that it's been odd for us having someone around who was going to replace our best mate."

"I know that and that's why I've tried not to get in your way or step on any toes. I realize how awkward it's been…"

"Yes, but let me finish, okay?" John said. "It's been rough for you as well especially since Paul brought you into a situation that was sorta tense but I just want you to know that you're a good man and I've never wanted something like this to happen to you. I don't know what you've been tellin' the Doctor but I have a feeling it has something to do with being a martyr and sacrificing yourself for Jane and I want to say please don't, okay? You're too good a person to waste your life on that lot."

"I agree," Ringo said. "You're a nice bloke and we're just startin' to get to know ya and get used to ya. We nearly lost Paul and we're on the verge of losing Jane, we don't want to lose you."

There was silence for a moment.

"I…I don't know what to say, thank you," William said. "To be honest, I was trying to be a martyr; I just had a plan to see if I could fake being brainwashed and find Jane in all this mess. But thank you. I want to be friends with all of you, not just Paul."

"Well, you have it, mate. And speaking as your friend, I want you to be careful, whatever it is you're planning, okay?"

"Yes," William said.

"Good luck, mate. We're tuned in now so we can hear you," John said. "Jane, love, how about you?"

"I'm alright for the moment. They left me in a locked room. And I second what you said. William, if you do this pretending to be brainwashed thing, please be careful."

"I will," William said.

"Is Paul alright?" Jane asked.

The Doctor leaned over and checked him. He smiled when he noticed all the puffiness was gone from his face and the bags under his eyes were gone. He looked healthier than he had ever seen him. He looked at the others.

"I think I'm gonna wake him," the Doctor said. "He might be ready."

They nodded and the Doctor put his fingertips to Paul's temples and closed his eyes. Paul frowned in his sleep and then his eyes slowly opened as the Doctor took his fingers away.

"Hello," the Doctor said while Martha got up and walked up to his head.

Paul grinned when Martha licked his face in greeting.

"Yeah, yeah, ya walking mop, I see ya," Paul said, scratching her ear. "How long has it been?"

"Not long. We haven't spoken with Altok. We've been chatting and I noticed you looked healthier so I thought I'd wake you up and ask. How do you feel?"

"Mate, I don't know what that stuff is but I haven't felt this good in years."

"Same here, I feel healthier as well," John said.

"What? He gave you some?"

He and the others nodded.

"Yeah, I decided to give them each a dose to cure up any health problems they may have," the Doctor said.

"Well, I don't know about you but I feel like a million pounds right now," Paul said.

"You look like it too," the Doctor said. "The light is back in your eyes."

Paul's eyes bulged when John suddenly seized his cheek and pinched it.

"And the puffiness is gone from his face," he said in a falsetto voice as he pinched his cheek.

Paul stared at his band mate while the others giggled. John smiled and shrugged. While he sat up, the Doctor explained what William told him.

"Mate, be careful if you do that," Paul said to William when he finished.

"I will. I…shit, someone's coming, I need to stop talking."

"Be careful," Paul hissed at him.

"Yes, mummy."

Everyone snickered at the shocked look on Paul's face when William said that. He grinned.

"Behave, son," he teased back while everyone giggled.

They shut up when they heard someone yelling at William to get up. Paul gritted his teeth when he heard what sounded like a slap.

"Bastards," he muttered under his breath.

"Come on, you worthless hunk of flesh!" someone said to William.

They heard a door slam and figured William was being escorted somewhere. The Doctor looked at the people surrounding him.

"Come on, let's go chat with Altok and find out what he knows," he said to them.

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