Playing the Fool

Chapter 24

Leaving the puzzle, (which was now four fifths finished) America walked over to tired looking Minnesota. Patting her shoulder, causing the girl to jump and give her country a weak smile.

"Hello again, you startled me for a moment... do you need something?"

"Sarah we need to know where Sam is, we found someone who can make a medicine to make him better."

Humming Sarah merely started taking random bowls from her cupboard, shaking her head every so often as if something was in her ear. 

"Well that's good, but Rome hasn't given the location of the plant yet. There's nothing wrong with him staying here... wait why would he stay here? You have some weird ideas America."

She laughed, setting down the bowls and turning back to smile at the very confused country.

"Are you feeling okay? You've been acting a bit... off"

"Off? Me? Oh Don't be so silly, love. I'm perfectly fine."

'Love? Since when did Minnesota start talking with a British Accent?'

America thought, as Sarah pushed him out of the kitchen.

"Now if you want to see D.C. he's asleep upstair, try not to wake him."

She giggled, America only nodded turning to head up the stairs. Taking one last look at the cheerfully humming state, he felt something was very very off about her. Deciding to worry about her later, he hurried up the stairs. Passing two locked doors America stopped when he came across the only open one. Inside covered in many many blankets, D.C. looked like he was resting at least partially better then he had been in the hospital. The weary looking teen had seemed to have gained back a little of the weight he had lost, but still shook even though he was covered with what looked like every blanket in the whole house.

"Don't worry bud, it's almost over. You'll be back on your feet in no time, and back at those meetings too. I can almost hear you response to that."

Mimicking D.C's voice, America spoke in the disgruntled voice that D.C. had used when America had first approached the Capital with his idea.

"America... you have to be kidding me. There's to way I could ever take your place, why can't you just explain your plans to them into a rational way... While I don't think that's that true, you basically want me to stand in your place and relay your ideas off like their my ideas. I just don't feel comfortable taking credit for other peoples work... I understand how you feel but... America... I just... *heavy sigh* fine... but only for a little while okay? This just doesn't seem right, you know..."

"Because... it does't... you... idiot..."

Whipping his head around, America say a slightly panting D.C. staring up at him. 

"Woah your awake, how are you feeling dude?"

Sam coughing weakly before giving him the thumbs down, 

"I feel like crap... but I'm getting a little bit better... I think at least, Sarah's got this- Wait! America you need to..."

Eyes crossing slightly, Sam glared weakly at the mirror across the room from him before passing out again. Sighing America patted his capitals head saying in a content tone.

"Rest easy buddy, we'll be able to fix this soon."

America failed to notice that the mirror in the room was the one he'd left with Minnesota, and the fact that it was a lot duller looking then before. If he's taken a closer look at it he might have seen the huddled shaking form of a younger version of the girl down stairs, crying into her knees. 

(To be continued...)