A/N: Okay, so in the last chapter, I made Richie's condition something totally impossible, but that's what it's called fiction for, this is the final chapter, hope you enjoy.

As Richie awaited Martin to come and roll him into surgery, he currently had his hands full with Duncan.

"Open up," Duncan said.

"Uh-uh," Richie gritted through his teeth and shook his head.

"I know your mouth hurts, Rich," Duncan told him.

"Mhuh," Richie mumbled as he nodded.

"It's because you have a mushroom growing in there, now look, Martin said to see how far along the second base has come, do you want this operation to work or not?" Duncan asked.

Richie grabbed his notebook and scribbled down a note and handed it to Duncan: How's this doctor heard of me before?

"Well he was in Seacouver for a short amount of time, then he went to Denmark, then he came back here some time ago, then when I called him, he was on a plane heading to New York for business, then he hurried back over here. I think somewhere along that period of time, he came to hear of you," Duncan told him, "now come on, are you going to open your mouth or am I going to have to jerk it open with a pair of pliers?"

Richie unwillingly opened his mouth, it was almost impossible for Duncan to see the fungus growing in there, but sure enough in the back it was, a nurse came by for a minute to tell them that the doctors would be arriving shortly.

Richie grew tense and dug his nails (what short ones he had) into the bed.

"Oh come on Rich, the operation's not going to be that bad, they'll give you an anasteshia, roll you into surgery, come a couple hours, you'll be awake and you'll be back to normal," Duncan told him.

Richie worked up the strength in his mouth to ask, "they're not going to slip and cut my head off, will they?"

"Richie, you are going to be fine, you have to remember, I've known Martin for 350 years, he knows what he's doing," Duncan told him.

In came Martin, along with Dr. Steven Loeb and Dr. Thom Loren. They put Richie on a gurney and gave him an anastethic before they rolled him down to the OR, down the hall, Duncan met up with Tessa, who seemed more than anxious for the operation to be over.

"Are they sure they know how to do this?" Tessa asked, "this is the first time I've heard of a case liek Richie's."

"Same here, but I think considering he's been studying medical for 200 years, he should have some clue as to what he's doing, so if anyone can help Richie, he can."

"He's only 17, how in the world could he have gotten this?" Tessa asked.

"Medical problems like this know no age limit, Tess, but I have to agree, of all the people who could have something like this happen to them, I never figured Richie would be one of them," Duncan said.

Duncan turned to Tessa and saw that she was crying, this whole ordeal had been a lot on all of

them, but she seemed to be taking it the hardest, he tried to console her. "He's going to be allright Tess, the doctors know what they're doing. Besides, think of it this way, before you know it, he'll be back at home yapping his head off."

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After the surgery was over, Richie was put back into his room where Duncan and Tessa awaited the anastethic to wear off, after a few hours, Richie finally came to.

"Look who's alive," Duncan said, "So loudmouth, how're you feeling?"

Richie grunted and turned around.

"Allright, how's your mouth?" Duncan asked.

"My mouth?" Richie asked.

It was then that he noticed he wasn't in pain, "well what do you know? I suppose Dr. Frankenstein did know what he was doing...except it still kinda hurts like a razor blade dug into it...uh Mac..."

"Yes, Richie?" Duncan asked.

"Goodnight..."

Richie conked out and fell back down on the bed.

"What happened?" Tessa asked.

"I'm not sure, but I think that might have been a very strong anastethic Martin gave him, I'll have to see if he recommends anything," Duncan said.

"Anything about what?" Martin came in.

"What did you do the boy? A minute ago he looked alive, now he looks like I don't know what," Duncan told him.

"Just a little preperation," Martin told him.

"For what?" Tessa asked.

"Well, he needs to rest for a few days so his mouth can heal, when the funus started growing in there, it started indenting in his mouth, so he needs to rest it for a few days to make sure that when he does speak, he doesn't strike a nerve and add in the conversation ow ow ouch oof," Martin told them.

"So what's this mean?" Tessa asked.

"Well, while he's out from the anastethics, I'll have to give him a shot that'll make him sleep for 2 days, by then, he should be back to normal," Martin said.

"That he'll never be," Duncan laughed, "and we wouldn't have him any other way, so after you give him the shot, can we take him back home?"

"Of course, providing the police don't think you're sneaking out a corpse," Martin said.

"Martin, right now your sense of humor is very trying, keep it up and you'll get your jaw busted," Duncan told him.

"And you said MY sense of humor is trying," Martin said.

After Martin gave Richie the shot, Duncan and Tessa took Richie home, both relieved he was going to be allright after a couple of days, when they got back, Duncan took Richie into his room and put him in bed, then he closed the drapes and joined Tessa in the kitchen.

"How is he?" Tessa asked.

"Practically a zombie, but that's to be expected, I'll say this, he looks more peaceful now then he has in the last week," Duncan said.

"I'm just glad he's going to be allright, how did he get that anyway?" Tessa asked.

"They don't know, it's a rare case, the ratio of people who don't get it to those who do are about 20-1 I think," Duncan said.

"What do you think he's going to be like in 2 days when he wakes up?" Tessa asked.

"Mmmmmm...restless, hungry, and completely clueless as to why he slept through Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday," Duncan said.

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The next 2 days went by pretty smoothly, during that time, Richie was out like a light, hardly even moved, and even though they had Martin's guarantee of the sedative, Tessa snuck by the open doorway several times each day for the next 2 days just incase it wore off early.

Come Friday morning going into early afternoon, Duncan passed by the hall and Richie's room when he heard something. It sounded a bit low, like someone was muffling through a gag or something, then it grew to a distinctive 'MAAAAAAC!'

"I'm coming, Richie!" Duncan grinned, it was nice to hear the pain-in-the-neck talking again.

Duncan ran over to Richie's room and collided into Tessa on the way in, they found Richie standing on his bed looking almost hysterical.

"What's the matter, Richie?" Tessa asked.

"What's the matter? What's been going on around here? I feel like I've been asleep for years," Richie turned to his window and opened the drapes, "Have I been sick?"

The only time Richie had the curtains drawn in the day was when he got sick and didn't want any light, sound, or any other disturbence.

"Not really, just resting, so Tough guy, how's the mouth?" Duncan asked.

"Fine, but...wait a minute, it was already going on late afternoon after the operation, what day is this?" Richie asked.

"Friday," Duncan answered.

"Friday?" Richie repeated, "You let me sleep for 2 whole days? What in the hell is the matter with you, man?"

"Richie, calm down, the doctor said you needed to rest because of an aftermath of the surgery, so he gave you a shot that MADE you sleep for 2 days," Tessa said.

"Are you serious?" Richie asked.

"Yes."

"Well why didn't you say so?" Richie asked.

It wasn't what he said but how he had said it that seemed funny to them, the way he said it was like a mixture of screaming and whining, however, Richie was very serious, which was why he took offense when he saw Tessa laughing.

"What's so funny?" he asked.

"It's good to have you back," Tessa leaned over and kissed him on the forehead, that he also took offense at...

"TESS!"

"She's right, it's good to have you back, don't ever change," Duncan laughed.

"I don't think I have a choice," Richie said, "if I try, odds are you 2 are gonna hogtie me."

"Well I've never done it professionally, however...if you should try something stupid, illegal or something that'll probably get you killed, maimed, or beheaded, I'll be glad to practice with you," Duncan said.

"I'll have to keep that in mind," Richie said.

"Yes you will," Duncan said, "so, how do you feel?"

"Ehhhhhhh, hungry, restless, and miserable," Richie said.

"Miserable?" Duncan asked.

"Yeah, I slept through Wednesday and Thursday without any explanation that anyone's going to believe, my friends are going to think I died," Richie said.

"I wouldn't worry about that, I told them that you were recovering from rare and tempromental surgery," Duncan told him.

"...Thanks," Richie muttered, "you didn't tell them what kind, did you?"

"No, I just told them that it was very rare, and you may have died from it, if not that, your skull may have caved in."

"Ah, graphic detail huh?"

"Some, then I started going into detail of what would have happened had you NOT received the proper treatment, they didn't find that too pleasant," Duncan laughed.

"Well thanks, you saved my reputation on the streets," Richie said.

"Well, it was the least I could do."

"What?"

"Remember when I said that there was a plus side to your annoyance?" Duncan asked.

"Yeah, so?" Richie asked.

"Well...remember a minute ago when you were on your bed screaming at us?"

"Yeah, so?"

"So that's it, it's good to have you back," Duncan said.

"Really?" Richie asked.

"Of course, incase you forgot, the last 3 days have been quiet around here," Duncan told him.

Richie didn't know what to make of what Duncan just said, but he knew for a fact that he was right, it was good to be back.