Blossom went back out into the waiting room to see Bubbles flipping through one of the magazines. She looked up when Blossom approached with a serious look on her face. Bubbles rose to her feet, a paleness showing in her face.

“What’s happened?” Bubbles asked.

“Buttercup took off after Butch started to flat line,” Blossom said.

“Oh, no, he’s not…”

“No, he’s alive, but Buttercup doesn’t know that.”

“Then we better go find her,” Bubbles suggested. She raced down the hallway with Blossom in search of their missing sister.

***********************************

It was early morning when Butch awoke. He felt a bit stronger and sat up in bed. He saw both of his brothers asleep in two chairs across the room. He pulled out the wires that attached to the machine next to his bed. It started to make noise so he pounded it, until it was silent. He looked back over to his brothers to see if the noise had awakened them, but they only stirred slightly and settled back into sleep.

He slid off the bed and attempted to stand. He hung onto the edge of the bed, until a surge of strength filled his body. Buttercup was close. He could feel it, and he was going to find her.

He sneaked out of his room, wearing little more than this hospital robe and gown. He walked slowly down the hallway with some strange instinct taking over.

There was a door leading to a stairwell. He pushed it opened thinking he would be alone to think of his next move, but he looked down to see someone huddled in the corner. It was a woman, and it looked like she had been crying.

“Excuse me,” he said. His voice was a little weak but still audible.

The woman looked up. The first thing he noticed was her beautiful green eyes. Her raven hair was in disarray and her eyes were red and puffy. She gasped when she saw him.

She rose to her feet while leaning up against the wall. She spoke almost in a whisper. “Butch, is that you?” He came closer to her, realizing that this was his Buttercup. She was close enough to touch him. She wanted to so bad, but her head told her not to. She turned away and started to cry. “Please, go away. You’re just a dream.”