Kayla
Still Ziggy/Dr. K
Sequel of sorts to 'Sleeptalking'
This was written before the episode 'Dr. K,' but was re-edited after the episode to fit in more snugly with Disney's storyline.
From then on, Ziggy became Dr. K's Curfew Caller. He would come into the Ranger Room at midnight every night, and tell her to go to sleep. Most of the time, she would still have a load of work to do, but Ziggy almost always managed to convince her to finish just one more thing and then make Dr. K promise she would sleep.
Just to make sure, he always escorted Dr. K back to her room, which was located on the northwest corner of her lab. They would discuss what happened during the day, and their personal feelings about the events. If he was lucky, Ziggy could get a giggle or two from Dr. K.
Her rare smiles were reward enough for him; her beautiful green eyes lighting up in delight was priceless.
Sometimes, the others would see Dr. K and Ziggy just walking and talking, discussing some not-so-relevant topics. They found this strangely odd- Ziggy, so full of life, and Doctor K, so deprived of one, finding a lot of common ground and really getting to know each other.
On the other hand, the others also saw this as a positive change- in both the Doctor and Ziggy. During the day, Ziggy would spend a lot of the day training, then maybe going to the local orphanage and teach children, sometimes managing to drag Dr. K along- onscreen, and, in rare cases, in person.
Dr. K now thinks of her personal health; the others won't have to force her out of that infernal leather chair and basically force feed the good Doctor whatever Flynn cooked for lunch that day. It wasn't that she didn't like Flynn's cooking, she did, it was just she was losing time she could have spent trying to stop Venjix. She would even go outside for a few brief minutes of fresh, filtered air.
Scott, Flynn, Summer, and Dillon knew change is coming. It was slow, true, but definitely there.
One night, Ziggy discovered a fact about Dr. K: she loves stuffed animals.
"Why are you staring?" Dr. K asked, the first time Ziggy saw the interior of her room; his jaw was open so wide it might as well be touching the floor.
"It's just that...well, I never thought you collected stuffed animals, Doc," Ziggy replied, collecting himself. "Otherwise, I would have bought you some new ones," he added sweetly, smiling.
"There are a lot of things you don't know about me, Ranger Green. Also, I look forward to the day you present me with a stuffed animal," Dr. K replied, a smug smile forming from her lips. "Now, good night," she said, remembering who she was- who she was supposed to be.
"Ranger Green?" Ziggy asked, stung. "I thought we were past that, Doctor K," he said, his head hanging down slightly.
At this, Dr. K sighed. "I'm sorry, Ziggy," she apologized. "But the truth of the matter is, I've never told anybody of my fascination with stuffed animals," she admitted, stepping away from the door and letting him inside her room, giving him permission to enter.
"I think it's cute, Doc K," Ziggy said, smiling as he picked up a brown bear with a green ribbon tied around its neck. The green ribbon read 'Milo.' Ziggy figured this was the bears' name, and his eyes lit up.
"Kayla," she blurted suddenly. "My name is Kayla," she repeated, calmly this time, sitting down on her queen sized white bed.
"So..." Ziggy said, sitting down next to her, bear still in his hands. Well, this is an awkward moment, he thought, looking at the bear. "Are you, um, giving me permission to call you that, Dr. K?" Ziggy asked, looking in every direction except hers.
"Only when we are not in the presence of others, Ra- Ziggy," she answered, a small smile finding its way to her lips.
"So, um, uh,... Kayla, what's this one's story?" Ziggy asked, playing with the bear on his lap, still avoiding the Doctors' eyes. Still, he loved her name; the way it rolled out of his tongue naturally, like he'd been saying it all his life, like he'd been calling her 'Kayla' since before time.
"Excuse me?" she asked, utterly confused with the question Ziggy had presented to her. "I don't understand."
"Well, everything has a story," Ziggy replied, now looking at Dr. Kayla. "How'd this bear find you?"
"It was a gift from my father," she answered, reluctantly. "He gave it to me for my eighth birthday, right before I was taken away to the Soup. I don't know whether he made it to Corinth or not. I barely remember what he looked like," she added, tears forming in her eyes. She sniffled.
"It's alright, to feel sad, Doc," Ziggy said, puling out a green handkerchief from his pocket and handing it to her, though not really understanding certain fragments of her previous statement. "Keeping all your emotions inside isn't the best way to go."
"Thanks, Ziggy," Doctor K said, wiping her eyes. "You're a good friend."
There was another awkward silence before Ziggy got up and said, "It's really late; I should get going, Doc." He gave her the bear and headed for the door.
"No," she told him. Ziggy turned around. "Keep it," she said, walking over to Ziggy and giving the bear back to him. She looked him in the eyes. "I know it's in good hands."
He smiled at her, accepting, walking slowly out of Dr. K's room.
"And Ziggy?" she asked, from the door.
"Yeah?" he asked, turning around.
Without hesitation, she walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek. "Good night."
"Good night,... Kayla," he replied, another smile on his face. He stayed there awhile, long after Doctor K closed her door.
An extra spring in his step was noticeable as he walked over to his room, bear in his arms like it was the most valuable thing in the world.
In a way, it was.
My apologies if this way kid of fast and corny, but here, it is 12:57, and I am reading this story off of my jounal in the dark.
Plus, this lack of light is making me sleepy.
Reviews are very greatly welcomed.