There is No Place Like Home

Part 3: Love, Hate, and Realities

"Lemme get this straight," Dorothy paced back and forth in the courtyard, "You're telling me that Lion and Glinda were in love, you gave Glinda this house because they planned to get married. She has an affair with the General, Lion finds out, leaves Glinda, and now the General and Glinda are in a full-fledged relationship?"

"Yes," Scarecrow nodded sadly.

"No." Dorothy rubbed her eyes and shook her head madly, "Everything is ruined. This isn't real, Dorothy. It can't be."

"Dorothy," Scarecrow pleaded, "Dorothy, it is real. You have to believe me."

"Tell me this: how did I get here? Why am I here?" Dorothy shouted, "Why have I ever been brought here?!"

Scarecrow jumped up from the bench and grabbed Dorothy's hand, "You come here because you are meant to be here. That's what Glinda says. She says whenever you are in danger, she knows. Like she's ..."

"Like a Guardian Angel?" Dorothy scoffed, "Scarecrow. How is that possible?"

"She's a Witch. There are no reasonable explainations when you're a Witch," he replied, "But she says she sent the tornado to you when you first came. The one meant to bring you here."

"So she tried to kill me too?!"

"No!"

"Then WHY?!"

"Because she knew that something bad was going to happen to you there. She says that by taking you away, it alters your reality. I don't know what the heck that means, but you're here now. Glinda says you belong to this world more than yours."

"So she sent the storm?" Dorothy whispered.

"What?"

"Nothing. I have more questions than answers, that's all." Dorothy slouched, absolutely defeated. She embraced her friend, "What am I supposed to do now?"

Scarecrow didn't answer at first. He hugged Dorothy back and sighed, "Be happy with me? Stay with me?"

Dorothy pulled away a little, "Like ... ?"

"I don't know. I'll stop talking." Scarecrow chuckled, "God! It's like I don't have a brain!"

Dorothy smiled, "'Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking.'"

"Ha! You remember," Scarecrow kissed her cheek and sat down again, "That was, what, five years ago?"

"Something like that," Dorothy sat as well and adjusted Scarecrow's hat. She found herself leaning closer to him as they talked. His voice was light and merry, the opposite of her smooth and sensual vocals. Real or not, the warm sun felt good on her skin, and something in this moment felt right. Even in all the chaos.

A few moments later, Lion came running out to the pair, "Tin Man is in trouble! Something's wrong with him!"

"What?" Dorothy leapt up.

"What kind of trouble?" Scarecrow asked.

"Come quick!" Lion said, "You'll see." The three ran back to the dining hall. Tin Man slumped in his chair clutching at where his heart would be. His eyes were wide and his mouth gaped open like a fish out of water.

"Tin Man!" Dorothy clung to his arm, "Oh, God, oh God, oh God!"

Glinda waved her wand repeatedly over his chest, "It looks like his heart."

"But... isn't it just a clock?" Scarecrow looked puzzled.

Tin Man wheezed loudly and muttered, "I ... had it connected ... to my system. It helped ... me have a biological schedule."