(We open in the small waiting room of the dentist's office. It's a bit cramped, but plesant. Davy pages through a copy of "National Geographic"; Peter sits nervously in the chair next to him. A young girl does paperwork behind a partition. A bowl of goldfish sit on her desk.)

Peter: You know, I think I left a cake in the oven at home...

Davy: *sighs* Petah, you've used about a dozen different excuses to try & leave. There's nothing to be afraid of, mate! Besides, I'm going in with you.

Peter: Really?

Davy: Really. :)

Girl: (She smiles and turns to Peter) Ok, which one of you is Mr. Tork?

Davy: *points* 'Im. ;)

Peter: (Gulps) I...I am. :o :(

Davy: Come on, Petah. *stands & pulls Peter up with him* :)

Girl: Dr. Anderson's ready for you now. (She smiles) Don't worry! I heard you and your friend. Dr. Anderson is a nice lady. She wouldn't do anything to hurt you on purpose! :)

Peter: On purpose? :( :o

Davy: Petah! Just go into the room, please! :P

Dr. Anderson: (A small, cheerful-looking woman in teal-blue doctor's scrubs peers into the room) Peter Tork?

Peter: Oh, that's me! :o

Davy: And I'm 'is shadow. 'E's a little nervous. ;)

Dr. Anderson: That's ok. A lot of people are nervous about going to the dentist. (She leads Peter and Davy into a small, bright room painted in soft mauve. The walls are filled with pictures of puppies, kittens, and vases of flowers. The shelves and counters are filled with clean and well-organized dentistry paraphanalia. Dr. Anderson leads Peter to a large chair next to a small sink.)

Davy: Isn't this nice, Petah? :)

Peter: Yeah. I like your pictures.

Dr. Anderson: Thank you. My oldest daughter painted some of the animal pictures. :)

Davy: You've got a real budding artist on your 'ands. :)

Peter: (As the doctor settles him down) Wow, she's very talented! :)

Dr. Anderson: Thank you! She loves animals, and painting them is her favorite hobby. (She clips a paper bib around Peter's neck) Now Mr. Tork, what seems to be the problem?

Peter: Well (he puts a finger in his mouth), the right side hurts when I chew. :p :(

Davy: 'E's got a toothache. :P

Dr. Anderson: Peter, please open your mouth as wide as you can.

Davy: And don't forget to say "ahhh!" ;)

Peter: Ok. Ahhhh! (He does so. Dr. Anderson puts on rubber gloves and a surgical mask and feels around in his mouth)

Dr. Anderson: (Touches one tooth) This one looks pretty...

Peter: (Yells) Ouuuuuuchhhh! :p :o

Dr. Anderson: ...bad. Looks like a cavity went really far.

Davy: *cringes* 'Ow bad, Dr. Andahson?

Dr. Anderson: You're lucky you got him in when you did. If you'd gone any farther, he would have needed a root canal for sure. :p

Peter: Oh no! :(

Davy: So 'e'll just need a filling then, right?

Dr. Anderson: I'm going to have to bring in the X-ray machine to check, but yes, I believe he should just need a few fillings. How long has it been since you've seen a dentist, Peter?

Peter: Three or four years...maybe? (Makes a face) I didn't exactly have the money for the dentist when I lived in New York. :p

Davy: We're lucky we 'ad it for 'im now. :P

Dr. Anderson: You really should get your teeth cleaned every six months to a year at the most. Your teeth are very important, you know! You can't eat without them! (She takes off the mask and the gloves) I'm going to get the X-ray machine. I'll only be a minute! :) (She walks out)

Peter: (Gulps) I hope getting a filling doesn't hurt too badly. :(

Davy: You'll be just fine, Petah. :)

Peter: (Looks around) This is a nice room. She really did it up well.

Davy: *nods* Yeah, she did. *pauses* Now, when she comes back with the x-ray machine, I'll 'ave to step out for a moment, but I'll be right back in as soon as she's done with it. :)

Peter: You'll be back? :(

Davy: Right back, I promise. :)

Davy: *grins* Wot would you guys do without me? ;)

Peter: (Looks around) I wonder what all these things are used for?

Davy: I really don't think we should touch 'er stuff...

Davy: *sighs* But maybe you won't be as nervous if you look at all this stuff before she uses it on you. ;)

Peter: I just want to make sure she isn't going to pull anything out! :p

Davy: She would've said if she was going to pull a tooth. *picks up a mask-like object with a narrow hose attached to it* This must be for the laughing gas. They use that or novacaine so that the patient doesn't feel any discomfort.

Peter: Can I see it?

Davy: The 'ose is kinda short on it...

Peter: I wanna see it! (He reaches for it)

Davy: Petah!

*They do a bit of tug of war over the mask... ending with a hissing noise when the narrow tube is yanked out of the tank that stands off to one side of the room.*

Davy: Oh no...

Peter: What's that sound?

Davy: *glances over toward the tank* I think we found the gas tank. :P

*Davy's starting to grin...* ;)

Peter: (He's starting to grin too) Uh...oh...

Davy: *chuckling* I think... we opened the laughing gas!

Peter: (also chuckles) Oh...no. Dr. Anderson will...be mad...

Davy: *still chuckling* Yeah, I think... she will! We gotta... close it up! *goes over to the tank & tries the knob*

Peter: (chuckles) Turn it this way! (He lunges for the tank)

Davy: *laughing* Okay! *both boys turn the knob... & it comes off in their hands*

Peter: (Laughing) Yikes! :)) :o

Davy: *laughing* Wait, I know 'ow to fix it! *grabs the water sprayer & points it at Peter*

Peter: (Laughing; puts up his hands) Don't shoot! I'm unarmed! ;) :))

Davy: *laughing; turns to the instrument tray* 'Ere! *tosses Peter the air blower*

Peter: (laughing; turns the air blower on Davy) Prepare to make your meeter! (Thinks as he laughs) Wait, that didnt' sount right... ;)

Davy: *laughing outright; spray Peter in the face with water* No, it didn't! :))

Peter: (also laughs outright) I'm gonna blow you away, Davy! ;) :))

Davy: *stops spraying Peter & holds his hands up; still laughing* Don't shoot! I give up! :))

Peter: Ok, I give up, too! (He drops the air blower, laughing his head off) :))

*They slump together, arms around each other, laughing their heads off.*

Dr. Anderson: (She wheels a machine in) Well, Peter, are you ready for your... (She stops the moment she sees the boys on the floor, laughing) What in the heck happened here? :o :p

*But the boys are laughing too hard to get any words out.* :)) ;)

(We leave Dr. Anderson as she goes to turn off the laughing gas tank and fade in on the Pad. Emma stirrs something in a pot while Mike reads the paper.)

Emma: (Looks at her watch) I wonder what's taking Peter and Davy so long?

Mike: Maybe Pete's mouth was in worse shape than we thought.

Emma: (She ladles liquid from the pot into a bowl) Here's my home-made chicken soup. It's my mom's recipe. Take it up to Micky. He should be ready for lunch and aspirin by now. :)

Mike: (Sighs and puts the paper down) All right, darlin'. (He takes the tray with the soup and some saltines to the tornado staircase)

*Inside the bedroom, Micky is sitting up in bed. He has a puzzle book resting on his raised knees, his tongue hanging out to one side, deep in thought.*

Mike: (Comes in) Hey, Mick. How you feelin'?

Micky: *looks up* Feeling like atleast I won't be running over anyone to get to the bathroom. ;)

Mike: You think you could keep this down? (He sets the tray on the other bed) It's Em's chicken soup. It's home-made. (Grins) It's good stuff. She's made it before. ;)

Micky: *sniffs the air; smiles* Oh, I HOPE I can keep it down. I actually finally feel hungry again!

Mike: I was wonderin' what it would take to get your stomach on the mend. ;)

Micky: You were wondering? ;)

Micky: *puts the puzzle book aside & lowers his knees* Hey, Mike? I, uh, I just wanted to, uh... well, what I'm trying to say... *rubs the back of his neck* :">

Mike: Yeah, Mick?

Micky: *mumbles* Thanks for putting up with me...

Mike: (Grins) You're welcome, Mick! You're one of my brothers. I'd do the same for any of the guys, or Lauren or Em, for that matter. ;)

Micky: I know, I just... I know I wasn't too easy to deal with yesterday.

Mike: (Grunts) You were sick, Micky. When people are sick, you sweat.

Micky: *snorts* I don't envy you doing that for me, Mike. But it felt good to climb into a fresh bed at any rate. :)

Mike: Yeah, you sweat like a pig, Mick! :P

Micky: *laughs* Yeah... yeah, I do. *sighs; looks down at his lap* And not to mention you guys taking turns staying with me...

Mike: We had to get some shuteye eventually, too. Em read to you. Peter kept yakking about his tooth. ;)

Micky: *looks up; nods* I really appreciate it. :)

Mike: Don't mention it, Mick. We just want to see you on the road to recovery and back with Lauren (grins) so I can sleep in my own bed soon. ;)

Micky: *chuckles* Me, too! ;)

Mike: Mick, one more thing before I leave you to lunch. (Frowns) How are you able to do that puzzle book without your glasses? :-/

Micky: *makes a face* I wasn't. I was just flipping through the pages looking for something I could read well enough to work on. I did a connect-the-dots... but I couldn't read the numbers. :P ;)

Mike: (Chuckles) Maybe you ought to just eat and take a nap. ;)

Micky: *nods, then shrugs* I think that's a good idea. ;)

(Cut to downstairs. Emma kneads dough, pulling and stretching. She drops the dough and washes her hands when she hears the phone.)

Emma: I'm coming! (She finally gets the bread dough off her hands and picks up the reciever) Hello?

Lauren: Hi, Em. :)

Emma: Hi, Lauren! How are you feeling? :)

Lauren: Much better, thank you. How's Micky doing?

Emma: Mike just went up to check on him and bring him soup. He's been keeping food down, or at least he was the last I checked, and he wasn't sweating like crazy anymore.

Lauren: *sighs* That's good... because I'm getting kinda lonely without him. :)

Emma: (Looks up; Mike's coming down the tornado stairs) Here's Mike now. (Puts her hand over the reciever) Mike, it's Lauren. She wants to know how Mick is.

Mike: (Takes the phone) Hey, Lauren. He's just fine. He was sittin' up and tryin' to do connect-the-dots without readin' the dots. ;)

Lauren: *chuckles* Poor Mick. Atleast he's trying. That's a good sign. ;)

Mike: He should be home by tomorrow at the latest, Lauren. :)

Lauren: Good... I miss him. :)

Mike: He misses you too, Lauren. Don't worry, you'll be back in his arms at this time tomorrow. (Makes a face) Or sooner. I want my bed back. ;) :p

Lauren: *laughs* Thank you, Mike. ;)

Mike: You're welcome, darlin'. (Cut to Peter and Davy trooping in the door) And it looks like Pete and Davy are finally back from the dentist's office. We're gonna let you go.

Lauren: Okay. Take care. I'll see you guys soon. :)

Mike: Right. (Puts the reciever down as he and Emma turn to the newcomers) Ok, fellas, what took you so long?

Davy: Well... ;)

Davy: Petah did get 'is tooth taken care of.

Davy: *sighs* But we broke the doctor's laughing gas tank. It took us forevah to calm down enough for 'er to work on Petah's tooth.

Peter: (Nods) The doctor wasn't happy about the laughing gas or that my teeth weren't in very good shape. She says I have to come back next month to get the rest of them cleaned.

Mike: Oh man...

Peter: (Smiles and holds out a small plastic bag with a colorful tooth print) But look what I got! (He pulls out a toothbrush) A new toothbrush! (He pulls out a small box) Mouth wash in a glass bottle! (He pulls out a little container) The smallest container of floss I've ever seen! :D

Mike: Not bad for a guy who didn't want to go. ;)

Davy: 'E was a real troopah. :)

Peter: (Frowns) She had to numb my mouth with needles before she fixed my tooth, and I didn't like that much. (Smiles again) But the drills didn't really hurt at all! Well, (thinks) the big noisy one hurt a little bit, but the needles were actually the worst of it. And she did put a filling in my bad tooth. :) :p

Davy: Me 'and is still feeling a little numb from Petah 'olding it when she started drilling. :P ;)

Mike: You boys think you're up for dinner? ;)

Emma: We're going to have my mom's famous chicken soup and fresh rye bread. :)

Davy: I know I am! :D

Peter: I love your fresh bread...AND it's something I can eat with my tooth! :D

Emma: (Nods) That's why I made soup. I figured it was the one food everyone here could eat, including Micky. ;)

Davy: Mick doing okay?

Mike: He was sittin' up, tryin' to do puzzles when I brought him his soup. He's not sweatin' like a crazy gymnast anymore, and as far as we can tell, his lunch stayed in his stomach. ;) :p

Davy: *smiles* That's a definite improvement. :)

Micky: *calls out* Are you guys talking about me?! My ears are ringing! ;)

Peter: Micky! You're not throwing up anymore! :D

Mike: I guess you're ok now, then. ;)

Micky: *leans on the railing on the second floor* And I got up on my own! Now, if only I could read.... *chuckles* ;)

Davy: Wait... 'o said you could read before? ;)

Micky: *grins* Davy, you're hilarious. :P ;)

Davy: Thank you, mate. ;)

Mike: You ready to eat your soup and bread with us, then go home? ;)

Micky: Yes... & YES! No offense to you guys, but... :D ;)

Emma: But you want Lauren. She just called, Mick. She wants you...bad. ;)

Micky: *wide grin* All the better reason to get a move on, then. ;)

Emma: I'm going to put the bread in the oven now. It doesn't take long to bake. And while it bakes (grins and hands Mike some bowls) Soup's on, boys! ;)

*We fade out as Micky comes down the tornado staircase and everyone gathers around the table for dinner.*