Another fic I wrote. In this one Dorothy has a fever, all her Oz freinds freak out
Dorothy wasn't very concerned when she woke up with a headache, chills, and feeling of fatigue. Sure it had been a while since she’d been sick, but she was used to this type of thing, she always got sick around this time of year back in Kansas so why wouldn't the same thing happen in Oz?
She went to her Aunt Em, told her how ill she felt, and Em felt her forehead.
“You do feel a bit warm.” Aunt Em studied her niece’s face, “have you eaten anything yet?”
“No. I haven’t had much of an appetite this morning.” Dorothy shrugged, and then coughed into her elbow.
Em sighed, “I’d take your temperature, but I dont think Ive seen a thermometer, that wasn't meant for food, since we moved here.”
“I’ll try to catch Ozma and ask her to send one,” Uncle Henry said, putting his hat on, “Em, you take Dorothy back to her room, ‘an make sure she’s resting ‘till we find out if she’s trying to get sick on us or not.”
None of them were too concerned, they’d done this a few dozen times before. Ever since Dorothy first came to live with them they had to deal with the odd cold, fever, and even the flu once or twice.
Dorothy layed in bed while her aunt sat on the end and read a book, looking up now and again to make sure Dorothy was drinking the glass of water on her bedside. Even if she wasn't sick- she still needed to stay hydrated. Or so Em insisted.
Dorothy was used to this, all it would take was some rest and she’d be back on her feet in no time. Even if she wasn't exactly sick, she’d had ear and sinus infections before, among other ambiguous childhood illnesses. She was used to just waiting them out- due to how Aunt Em and Uncle Henry didn't have much money to go out and visit a doctor, or call one to the farm. They had water, a bed, and vegetables for soup. That helped clear her up all the time before.
But, and perhaps this due to her tired state, she had seemed to of forgotten the large group of friends she had accumulated over her years in Oz. Friends who came from a fairy land where people choose when they age- and the most ill a person got was only when they ate food that was too old, or not made properly.
She shouldn't of been shocked when Uncle Henry came back with The Wizard, carrying a medical bag, half the castle staff, and Ozma trailing behind him. Aunt Em shouldn't of either, yet both were initially confused.
“Evening Dorothy.” The Wizard nodded as he set the medical bag on a desk near her bed and took out a thermometer.
“Uh- ‘evenin, Wizard. Why is-”
“- Why is Ozma and half the castle behind me?” he asked with a half laugh as he cleaned the thermometer. “You remember how Fairy folk don't get sick right?”
“Right.” Dorothy rolled her eyes, how’d she manage to forget that?
Uncle Henry stood at the end of the bed beside Aunt Em, holding her hand, and shrugged.
“Your uncle tried to explain it to them but, open please-” he started, taking the Kansas girl's temperature as he continued, “but they insisted on making sure it wasn't some- curse or hex.”
“And even if it wasn't.” Ozma added as the wizard looked at the thermometer, she was turning her scepter over in her hands. “You're a princess, if the princess is i’ll she’s the right to care and assistance till she’s well again.”
“Yep, that's fever temperature.” Aunt Em stated, looking at the thermometer the Wizard handed to her.
“Looks like you’re not leaving your room for the next few days.” Uncle Henry added.
“And to make sure she’s not hexed or poisoned.” the Wizard said, taking out a bottle of sparkly white liquid, “the thermometer please.” Aunt Em handed the thermometer back. He placed the thermometer in the liquid and swirled the bottle a bit.
Ozma and the castle staff had their eyes on the bottle, tensely waiting for something. Ozma having a mix of concern and sternness on her face, Dorothy knew if it did end up being some kind of poison or charm making her sick Ozma’d be right on her way to both curing her, and finding the culprit.
And Dorothy knew said Culprit would have none of Ozma’s mercy.
“It’d be a surprise if this turned out to be magic though,” Dorothy thought, “it feels like any ordinary fever.”
The liquid in the bottle turned sky blue.
“She's clear, it's just a plain old fever.” The Wizard confirmed. There was a weak sigh of relief, given the Ozians in the room were not too sure what exactly a ‘plain old fever’ was, they were just glad their princess wasn't poisoned or a target of malicious magic.
“And how is a ‘Fever’ treated? What do people in Kansas do for it?” Ozma asked, walking to the end of Dorothy’s bed, looking from Dorothy to Aunt Em and Uncle Henry.
“Well most folk can afford a doctor visit, and if it's really bad they get medicine.” Uncle Henry explained. “But back on the farm we couldn't really afford much of that. So we had her rest, drink water, and eat things like soup.”
“It's not good to eat real heavy foods during a fever, the stomach tends to be- ‘easily upset’.” Em added.
“Don't forget fruit juice.” The wizard said, packing up the medical supplies. “Growing up, orange juice was always given to kids who were feeling ill.”
“Alright then, I’ll have the chefs start on that right away. Em, would you mind instructing them on what to do while making the soup?” Ozma asked Aunt Em, giving a nod to some of the castle staff to go and inform the kitchen.
Aunt Em looked over to Dorothy.
“Probably best you go as soon as you can, before the inevitable flood of ‘get well soon’ cards flood in when Ozma tells all of Oz that ‘Princess Dorothy is not to be disturbed till she recovers from her illness’.” Dorothy said, doing a haughty voice as she impersonated Ozma in a good natured taunt. Ozma stuck her tongue out at her before smiling, just glad her co-princess was on her way to recovery.
“Fair enough.” Aunt Em shrugged as she stood up and handed Henry the book she was holding, one of the castle hands accompanied her down to the kitchen.
“Is there anything specific you want right now?” Ozma asked Dorothy.
“Not really, apart from rest. The sooner I get over this the better, but do tell Toto where I am for me, will you?”
“Of course, and if you need anything else…” Ozma summoned a silver bell with a green diamond on the end of its handle. “Ring this.”
The ruler of Oz nodded and made her way out of Dorothy’s room.
“I’ll be helping your Aunt, do you want the window open so you can have som fresh air?” Uncle Henry asked, putting the book away.
“Yes please, but could you pull the curtain closed so the lights dimmed? Its a beautiful bright day outside, but its not helping the headache.” Dorothy asked. Henry nodded and adjusted the windows as she asked. The green curtain flushed the room in a soft green light.
“Take it easy now.” He said as he stood in the doorway.
“I’ll take it as easy as I can, knowing it won't be too long before the others make their way here to check on me.” she stated with a laugh. Henry chuckled,
“Yeah. They’d just be trying to help, they care about you a lot.”
“I know, I’d probably be acting just like Ozma if she was the one sick right now, especially since it be a curse or poison that’d be making her ill.”
“Most likely. I’ll see you ‘round lunch, if nothing else happens.” Henry nodded before leaving, shutting the door behind him and leaving Dorothy in the green lit room.
She laid down, nestling her head on the soft pillows, and did her best to get some extra sleep.
Dorothy wasn't too sure how long she had been sleeping when she felt something fuzzy beside her face. She opened her eyes to a little black mass of fuzz and fur looking at her face sympathetically.
“Hello Toto.” she chuckled as she sat up and hugged him. “I assume Ozma told you I was sick?”
Toto looked up at her with his big black eyes.
“Let me guess, she’s also told all of Emerald City by now, hasn't she?
“What do you think?” Toto sighed as he curled in her lap. Dorothy smiled fondly.
“Did she bother to explain it wasn't serious?”
“She told them it wasn't magic, that its a normal thing where we come from, and thats all I heard her say.”
“How’d our fellow ‘non fairy’ friends react?” She asked, leaning against the pillows like a chair back as she pet the black dog in her lap.
“Hm,” Toto snickered. “As you’d expect, they were sympathetic but otherwise unworried. Hank had to explain what a fever even was to Sawhorse.”
Then his ear flicked, and he lifted his head up to listen.
Toto listened and then got up and stood on the edge of the bed, ears cocked towards the door as he focused to understand what he was hearing. Then his ears returned to their resting position as he sat down.
Dorothy could hear them now, a set of metallic footsteps, light footsteps that rustled each time they hit the ground, and two sets of four large paws, all walking this way.
“I was wondering when they’d get here.” she picked Toto back up and held him as she waited for them to walk through her door.
As the footsteps got close she could hear what they were talking about.
“-don't know.” Scarecrow said, apparently just finishing a sentence. “She only ever slept as long as the night was on our adventures- but she wasn't sick then.”
“Tinman, you were human once, right?” Dorothy heard the Tiger ask.
“Yes but I was a Munchkin, not- whatever the people in Kansas call themselves.” the Tinman answered, sounding worried.
“Her Uncle did say she’s had this illness before.” the Lion added. “So she’s bound to recover from it easily. We shouldn't worry that much, right?”
The footsteps stopped right outside her door. None of them entered or even knocked.
Dorothy listened as her friends continued talking in the hallway, each a different variation of concern.
“Jellia Jamb said the Wizard confirmed it wasnt magic or poison, I guess this is just a thing people from Kansas go through.” Scarecrow said, Dorothy heard paper rustling, like turning pages. He must be reading something.
Then he sighed, closing whatever he was reading.
“Nothing in that one either?” Tinman asked.
“No. and that's the third one I brought with me. I know its not an Oz thing but with how many non-fairy people find their way here, not to mention the Wizard- who was the ruler for years, one would think we’d have something about ‘Fevers’ written down by now.” The Scarecrow sounded defeated.
Dorothy didn't mean anything cruel by it, but she had to cover her mouth to keep herself from laughing.
“Are they trying to find a cure of some sort?” she wondered. “Or are they just trying to learn so they can help?” Either way it was a very sweet, if unnecessary, gesture.
“I mean they have diseases I haven't even heard of in here, rainbow tongue, musical sneezes, reptilian/amphibian transformation, magic hiccups, and- i don't even know how to say that one.” Dororthy heard Scarecrow flip through the book, reading off its contents.
“According to her family- she just needs to rest it off.” the Tiger said.
“I know, I just wish we knew how to help.” Scarecrow said, defeated.
“We know, we’ve always been able to help her when she needed it before…” Tinman trailed off.
There was a pause of silence.
Dorothy listened for what they’d say next, she knew her friends would of been worried but she’s just realizing she underestimated how worried. She was half tempted to get up and tell them it wasn't anything that serious, but when she leaned towards the edge of her bed Toto looked back at her.
She needed to rest, even if it wasn't sleeping, and she knew he was going to make sure she got it. She leaned back against the pillows and sighed. She could call out but the fever was starting to affect her throat, and she did not want to make it worse by raising her voice.
Besides- even if she told them that a fever isn't that serious, it’d hardly change anything. They were her friends, they had faced peril after peril together. She was sick and they were worried, and nothing was going to stop them from worrying.
She just sat back and listened, her and Toto waiting to see what they were going to do. Then there was a snap, or a close approximation of a snap- given it was made with straw stuffed fingers.
“Let's go and talk to Betsy, Trot, Cap’n Bill, and Shaggy man. They’re bound to know something about this aren't they?” Scarecrow suggested.
“Good idea.” Tinman said.
“I think I saw her and Hank talking by the moat when we started for Dorothy’s room, we should be able to catch them if we go now.” Lion siad. Then the steps of her friends' faded away, the opposite direction of where they came.
“Must've thought I was sleeping.” Dorothy muttered to herself. Toto looked at her, then at the door, and back at here. A question in his eyes.
“Hm. No, it's really sweet they want to learn more about non-fairy stuff just to try and help. You can go and get them once they’re done talking with the others tho.” Dorothy answered. Toto nodded and curled back up on her lap. Dorothy sat there and thought to herself,
“If any of them ever were sick I suppose I’d be the same. I’ll have to make sure I tell them I appreciate their efforts- as unnecessary as they are.”
Unsurprisingly it didn't take long for several bouquets of flowers to be delivered to Dorothy. Each one from a different place in Oz. She had one pile of white and green flowers from people in the Emerald city, one of blue flowers from the Munckinds- who’s were the largest pile, one of yellow and tin flowers from the winkies, red flowers from the quadlings, and several purple bouquets from the gillikins. Most of which were lavender, which smelled very nice but started to take over the room. Dorothy had to ask Ozma to take some away, those ones were put in the guest bedrooms since lavender is known to help with sleep.
Needless to mention the cards attached. When Aunt Em came by with ‘dinner’, a light vegetable soup and apple juice with sliced strawberries in it, she mentioned how Uncle Henry had been helping the castle hands with sorting the cards.
“May as well be a post office down stairs.” she stated.
Not too long after her Aunt stopped by, her friends did as well, this time accompanied by Jack Pumkinhead.
“You dont think pumpkins can catch ‘Fevers’ do you?” Jack had asked when he saw Dorothy. She shook her head.
“Nope, as long as you're from Oz I doubt you can get sick from me.” she told him.
“But-” Scarecrow added, “we can carry germs- even if we can't get sick. So for the sake of our other non fairy friends- we have to stay a distance from Dorothy.”
“I don't think we could get to her past the flowers anyways.” Lion stated looking around at the piles of bouquets.
“I don't mind if any of you keep some of them, I don't have enough room for them.” Dorothy stated but her friends refused. “Speaking of the others, did any of you ask them what Fevers are like?”
“Betsy said they make you tired and give you a headache." Lion stated.
"Trot said she's only had a fever once, and it made her sick to her stomach." Tiger added
"Shaggy man and Capin' Bill said they make you shiver, feel awful, and like things are going in slow motion." Tinman finished with a concerned look.
“All around it sounds miserable.” Jack crossed his arms.
“You’re not wrong, it's no fun at all. But it happens all the time where I'm from. Just a side effect of living in a Non-fairy land I guess.” she told them.
“We’re glad.” Lion stated.
“And we’re gonna stay here till you’re better. So let us know if we can help with anything.” Tinman added.
“I already have the entire castle at my beck ‘n call, though I Suppose it's always been like that since I became a princess. But I'm glad you’re all here, and thank you for wanting to help.” she told them.
“Of course we’d want to help.” Scarecrow stated, almost astonished.
“Apart from being our princess, you're our friend.” Tiger added.
“Well, can you tell me how Ozma told you I was sick? I've been in this bed all day and to be honest Im more bored than tired.”
Dorothy listened to her friends talk, from them learning of her illness to things she hadn't been present for recently. Such as a small festival in the Winkie country, one Dorothy wasn't able to attend due to her and Ozma dealing with a request from the Queen of Xi that month.
Hours passed and Dorothy was just thankful to be with her friends, even if she felt quite awful they managed to make her smile. Night fell and they all insisted she go to sleep.
She complied, asking that some of her bouquet gifts be sent to be made into wreaths, so they’d take up less space in her room.
The following days were quite similar, Dorothy wasn't allowed to leave her room and her friends came to visit her. Trot and Betsy came by with handkerchiefs tied around their faces to protect them from catching her illness, the three of them talked of their fairy-land friend’s reactions to Dorothy’s current state. Agreeing with Dorothy that their care and concern was sweet, if unneeded. All in all, they were very thankful to be living in Oz.
Ozma was a frequent visitor to Dorothy, after her daily duties were finished of course. They’d sit and talk, Ozma always asking if Dorothy was comfortable or needed anything.
One day Billina stopped by to visit with a handful of her Dorothy Jr’s, both to check in on her friend and to teach her kids a bit of the world they both came from.
TikTok, the Woggle bug, Scraps, even Polychrome made a quick visit just to check in on her. Scraps tried to cheer her up with some cartwheels and had to be almost dragged out of Doroty’s room when she almost broke two vases. Dorothy promised she’s spend time with her when she was over her fever. The Woggle bug gave her some simple activity books to keep her simulated, cross words, word searches, scrambled word puzzles, things of that nature. TikTok offered to be the one to bring her things from the other non-fairy folk in Oz, since he was made of Copper and copper is one of the few metals known to be self sanitizing.
One day Dorothy awoke to find Ozma’s magic mirror in her room, most likely to let her see what her friends were doing as she recovered.
Almost a week later Dorothy was feeling much better, though they still insisted on three more days of rest to ensure the fever was fully gone. She already loved living in Oz, but these few days were just a reminder why she loved it so much.
When she was fully better she was going to hug all of her friends, at least those who enjoyed hugs that is. And was already planning to visit each of the four countries of Oz so she could thank those who sent her gifts in person.
But first, she was going to spend time with her friends. She just had to wait three more days to do so.
