The steady beep of the heart monitor slowly pulled José back into the land of the living. A pained groan left his beak as his body slowly began waking up, with it, the pain from the injuries he suffered from the night before.

“I see you are awake, mi amigo,” came a hushed, raspy whisper.

The green parrot stifled a pained grunt as he twisted his body slightly to see Panchito laid up in the bed beside him, bandages wrapped tightly around his head and wires attached to his chest. “Oh my goodness, Chito!” gasped the Brazilian with wide eyes at the extent of the other bird’s injuries.

The rooster chuckled lightly, though the action brought him slight pain. “Do not fret, Zé. It looks worse than it feels,” he paused for a moment. “Though that could just be the morphine speaking.” The Mexican then shifted his body to properly face his friend, holding out his hand for the other. “You gave me quite the scare when I woke up. The last thing I expected was to see you in such a terrible state.”

José placed his bare hand into the offered one, squeezing gently and rubbing a thumb along the back on it. “I could say the same to you,” the green bird whispered. “While fading in and out of consciousness, I could hear the doctors mention you had sustained a terrible injury as well. I had hoped it had been a dream conjured by the pain medicine, but I guess it was real. It was maddening to know you were hurt and I couldn’t do anything about it.”

Panchito brought his companion’s hand up to his beak and kissed the back of it, the action bringing a soft blush to the parrot’s face. “I reassure you that I am okay now, Zé. And I’ll try my best not to get injured like this again.”

“Well, that would be a load off our minds!”

Panchito and José turned at the sound of the voice to see Dr. Roxanne entering the room, a cup of coffee and a donut in her hands, along with a medical clipboard tucked under her arm. Despite looking exhausted, she wore a pleasant smile on her beautiful face, no doubt being thanks to her two patients being both conscious and in good spirits. “How are you two feeling?”

“We are, as you Americans say, alive and well , thanks to you Doutor Roxanne!”

“Agreed! Muchos gracias, Doctor Roxane! We owe our lives to you, well and truly!”

The younger female’s large brown eyes took on a misty quality at the heartfelt praise. “I’m just happy that you’re both okay,” she said, wiping away relieved tears from her eyes. “You have no idea how worried everyone was! They’re all camped out in the waiting room, so they’ll be happy to know that you’re awake!”

“Ay caramba! I am sure I gave everyone at the club a heart attack with the gruesome that happened there. Hehe if it wasn’t for ‘Naldo always on my tail feathers for smoking, I might not have had the lung capacity to get away.” The parrot laughed again though it sound shaky and hollow. Panchito squeezed his hand again.

“By the way, where is Donal’? Don’t tell me he did not wish to see us.”

Roxanne giggled before pointing to the corner of the room. There was Donald, curled up in the recliner, a blanket covering him courtesy of Nurse Minnie. “He hasn’t left your room since his shift ended. That’s part of the reason why I’m here; to give him a wake-up call and check your vitals.” With that, she walked over to the sleeping duck ang gently shook his shoulder. “Hey Dr. Donald, Dr. Donald? It’s time to wake up.”

“Mph--hm…wha…?” Donald mumbled groggily. His blue eyes blinked open, eyes quickly darting around the room before landing on the female’s cinnamon ones. “Huh Roxanne?”

“It’s me, Dr. D. Good morning!” the younger doctor greeted before handing the sleepy duck the coffee and donut. “Great news: Both Panchito and José are awake~.”

“Buenos días, Donal’.”

“Bom dia, ‘Naldo.”

Almost instantly, the male duck was wide awake and sitting up properly in the chair. He made short work of the breakfast Roxanne brought him, which earned him a scalded tongue and light scolding from the younger doctor, before accepting their medical charts and walking over to his two injured friends.

Not for the first time, Donald struggled to find the right words to say to the birds that wasn’t a rebuke. In the end, he settled on a somewhat awkward smile and asked how the two were feeling.

“We are certainly doing better than yesterday, my friend,” croaked José.

“Yeah, did anyone get the license plate on that bull?” joked Panchito.

“And the license for my attacker?” added José with a chuckle.

“I believe your mother said it was Raging Storm,” Roxanne chirped. “As for your attacker, José…”

“…They’re still looking over the security footage,” Donald finished, shaking his head in exasperated fondness. How these two could bounce back after such terrible events he’d never know.

“Ah figured as much. That one in particular always seemed to have it out for me…”

A chime echoed through the hospital, signaling the start of visiting hours. Roxanne clapped her hands in delight, announcing she would go collect their family and friends in the waiting room and reminding her colleague of his need to clock-in for his shift.

“Right, thanks for the breakfast and the wake-up call.”

The auburn haired girl smiled sweetly. “No problem, Dr. D.” And with that, she disappeared down the hall.

Now alone with his two friends, Donald shifted awkwardly from webbed foot to webbed foot as he struggled to come up with something to say. There were so many things he wanted to tell them when they were unconscious, but now he couldn’t come up with a single word.

Finally, he managed to muster, “W-Well, as Roxanne said, I need to go clock-in and check on my nephews. I’ll try to be back as soon as I can.”

“Yes, yes we understand. We wait eagerly for your return!”

“Yes, please hurry back, ‘Naldo!”

Donald started to turn and leave, but something was stopping him. A feeling in his gut not wanting to leave things as they were. After contemplating for a moment, he spun back around and marched over to his two friends. Before either bird could question him, he quickly and gently pressed his lips against Panchito’s chest and José’s tummy.

“Y-You two behave until I get back, ya hear?!” ordered Donald as he zoomed out the door, leaving both parrot and rooster flabbergasted in the wake of his dust.

José touched the place where Donald had kissed, a large smile blooming on his face. “So I guess this means we can start going out with him?”

“Oh? I was under the impression that we were all dating already!”

~*0o0*~

“Oh Panchito~ Mi pollito ~ I am so relieved that you are okay! And you as well, José! I am so grateful that both my boys are alive and well!” Mama Maria cried as she hugged both injured birds in her arms.

The hospital room was bustling with visitors when the duck returned from his rounds. He smiled to himself, for once perfectly fine with the noise coming from Panchito’s family, even accepting affection from Señor Martínez with open arms.

“While it is a bummer to be stuck in the hospital again, I am so happy to learn mi Mamá has helped improve the food!”

“Her cooking and guidance have been a big help here! The hospital’s ratings have shot up overnight!” praised Roxanne.

“How wonderful! I cannot wait for breakfast to be served!” said José.

“Not so fast, you! You’re being placed on a liquid-only diet until we heal that hole in your stomach! Water, juice, and light broth only!”

“Aww!”

“Sorry José, but for what it’s worth, your injury shouldn’t take more than a few days to heal. A week or two at the most,” added Roxanne.

“Do not worry José, when both you and Panchito are out of the hospital, we will have a great feast to celebrate! Donal’! I will make sure to make your portion a little less spicy,” the hen then turned to the female doctor. “And Roxane, I would love for you to join us as well.”

“I would be delighted, Mrs. Maria!”

“By the way, Mamá, is Raging Storm still out of his pen?”

“He unfortunately is, amigo,” piped up one of Panchito’s cousins named Miquel, a gold feathered rooster that Donald had treated several times before. “No one at the rodeo is brave enough to take him on. You have been the only one loco enough to tangle with that toro.”

“Not that you need to concern yourself with that at the moment,” interrupted the mother hen, her tone a gentle scold born from motherly worry. The only thing her son needed to focus on was his recovery.

‘So that bull is still on the loose?’ Donald mused to himself. He tucked that information away to deal with later.

Just then, Nurse Minnie poked her head into the room, the smile on her face both apologetic and amused. “Just a heads-up, José’s fangirls have arrived.”

“I knew they’d be here sooner or later. Send them in.”

~*0o0*~

“Senhoras, please do not cry! As you can see, I am alive and well!”

The hospital was now filled with the wailings and blubbering of José’s fangirls, relieved that their precious idol was still amongst the living. They all huddled around the injured parrot in a protective circle, between their cries also came vows of retribution. The horrid asshole who dared to hurt their beloved in such a way would pay dearly.

This brought a smirk to Donald’s face, wholeheartedly agreeing with the sentiment. He honestly wanted nothing more than to get his hands around that bastard’s neck and— A soft touch at the small of his back brought the duck out of his seething thoughts. He glanced backwards to see Panchito grinning up at him, clearly trying to calm him down. An arm was then swung around his waist, and he huffed before sitting on the bed at the rooster’s insistence.

“Looks like we will have to share Zé with all these señoritas, eh Donal’?”

Donald struggled not to react, still too embarrassed by his earlier actions, though try as he might, a reddish hue still painted his cheeks. It didn’t help that Panchito was stroking his thumb along his spine. There was definitely no taking back his previous actions. “Should we work out visitation days or something?”

The rooster let out a laugh, wincing slightly from the pain it caused him. “Now, now no need for that. I am sure we can all be one gran familia feliz!”

“Suuureee…” the doctor said with a playful roll of his eyes. “Just you, me, José, and these fourteen…wait a minute…” Donald did a headcount of the ladies, once and then twice more. He only counted thirteen. “Hey, where is—” he went down a list of names in his head. “…Angela? Why isn’t Angela here yet?”

The girls looked amongst themselves in confusion. None of them knowing where their comrade was. Donald hopped out of bed, quickly checking his cellphone. “I thought I made sure to call everyone. Hold on, I’ll be right back.” He stepped out of the room and ended up the balcony, cellphone currently dialing Angela’s number.

One ring, then two rings, and then, “H-Hello?”

“Angela, hey! It’s me, Dr. Donald. José’s awake and accepting visitors. Are you coming?”

There was a long pause before sniffles could be heard before transforming into full-blown sobs. “Oh Doctor D-Donald (hic) i-it’s all my (sob) fault! Waaahhh!”

‘I figured it was going to be something like this…’ Donald thought as he listened to Angela explain how her ex-boyfriend, thanks to his extreme jealousy, was the one who nearly ended the singer’s life. Not the first time the performing parrot has gotten attacked, but it’s never been this severe.

“I…I just feel so (sniffle) guilty! How could I ever face José now?!”

“Did you wish for José to be stabbed?”

“W-What? No! I could never!”

“Did you ask for your ex-boyfriend to attack him?”

“I wouldn’t do that either!”

“Then it wasn’t your fault, Angela. Trust me, José wouldn’t blame you for this,” the doctor concluded, hoping his words would calm her.

“I (sniff) Thank you, Dr. Donald. B-But is it really okay for me to visit?”

“We’re all waiting for you, especially José. He might think you don’t love him anymore if you don’t show up.”

“Then I’m on my way! I can’t leave my Brazilian prince waiting!”

The duck huffed out a laugh. “We’ll see you then—oh before you go, you mind sending me the name and a photo of your ex-boyfriend?”

~*0o0*~

A few afternoons later, Donald was at the rodeo where Panchito worked, being led by Miguel, along with several of the rodeo staff members. He hadn’t spoken to anyone about his plans, knowing full well that they’d try to stop him, but the doctor couldn’t risk the crazy rooster agitating his injuries trying to recapture the wayward bull. 

“Are you sure you want to attempt this, amigo?” asked Miguel for the tenth time since Donald arrived. “I know that ‘Chito spoke highly of your strength, but…”

“I’ll be fine,” Donald said, waving off the golden rooster’s concern. “I worked as a stable hand when I was younger, so I can handle this no problem!” He neglected to mention that he only worked with the smaller animals, like sheep and pigs, but hey, they didn’t need to know that. A minute later, the small group made it to area where the large bull was still running amok. Along the wall sat several staff members, each nursing their wounds. The duck would look them over after he was finished, provided he didn’t end up injured himself.

“Well, here we are. Do you have any sort of plan?”

“Hmm…” Donald hummed; eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. The big, brown bull moved tirelessly around the arena, bucking and strutting around like it owned the place. A rope was already tied around its thick neck, but no one seemed to able to close enough to grab onto the other end. Well, Donald was pretty quick on his feet; he figured he could nab the rope long enough for the others to help him. He told Miguel his plan.

“Okay…if you think that will work. Buena suerte!”

After a brief stretching of his limbs, Donald said a quick prayer before hopping into the ring. The bull thankfully hadn’t seen him yet, so he edged closer, hiding behind the wooden barrels scattered about the arena until he was only a few feet away from the beast. With his heart racing in his chest, Donald did a mental countdown before making a wild lunge for the rope.

He had it.

“H-Hey I got it! I got it!” exclaimed the doctor, pleasantly surprised that his luck held out.

Unfortunately, the bull had noticed his presence and wasn’t quite ready to be recaptured. With a snort, the beast took off like a shot, dragging the poor duck along for the ride. “WHOOAAA!”

“Hold on, Donal’!” cried Miguel as he jumped in to help, along with two other cowboys and a rodeo clown. Together, the group of five all pulled desperately on the rope, trying with all of their might to lead the wild animal back to his pen. For a moment, it seemed to be working with the bull reluctantly moving towards the open gates, but then Raging Storm darted in the opposite direction, ripping the rope clean from everyone’s hands.

Everyone, except for Donald, who was now paying for his resilience with an unplanned dirt bath.

“Donal’! Amigo! Please let go and let us call it quits! ‘Chito would never forgive me if something happened to you!”

At the reminder of why he was even doing all of this, Donald felt a pool of rage build up, superheating his body and firming his resolve.

“This…LOUSY…BULL…!!!”

His fists tightened harshly on the rope, wrapping the ends around them several times before digging his heels in hard. And with the strength born from the deepest pits of his fury, he gave the rope a mighty heave.

The bull was stopped short and went crashing to the ground. Silence filled the area, as everyone, particularly the bull, was stunned by the small duck’s immense strength. Shaking off the shock, Raging Storm stumbled back onto four legs before charging at Donald directly. What he hadn’t expected was for the much smaller being grabbing onto his large horns and stopping his momentum completely.

“THIS…” Donald growled as he raised a clenched fist. “…IS FOR HURTING PANCHITO!!”

*POW!!!*

The uppercut sent the beast flying backwards a few feet, flat on his back and dizzy from the blow. He struggled to get up and away from the approaching threat, but the doctor was already on him, using the rope truss him up like a Christmas present. Cheers erupted from the staff members and Miguel at the insane scene they had just witnessed.

“Now you listen and listen good,” growled Donald, wrenching the bull by the horn so he could look him in the eye. “…I understand that your job is entertaining rodeo goers but if I hear of anymore incidents happening after the show’s over, I will personally ensure that you’ll be supplying the local restaurant their next batch of Rocky Mountain Oysters! Do you hear me?!”

The bull’s face turned a ghostly white at the threat, mooing pleadingly for his handlers to save him from the furious duck.

(Back at the Hospital)

Panchito and José sat huddled on the same bed as they watched the video that Miguel sent over via cellphone. Their eyes were wide with shock and awe as a bruised and dirty Donald hog-tied and threaten to revoke the bull’s breeding rights.

“Will our little pato ever cease to amaze us, Zé?”

“I doubt it, ‘Chito.”

Mama Maria shook her head in disbelief. “So he can do all of that, but cannot handle spicy food?”

~*0o0*~

If anyone told Donald last week that he would be rushing to the hospital’s cafeteria for lunch, he would’ve laughed right in their face before dropping them off at the psych ward.

Thanks to Mama Maria, the food at the hospital had made a significant turnaround. Some had asked how such an improvement could happen. From what the duck had witnessed, it was Maria’s sweet, motherly teachings…and a wooden spoon to the back of the hand. There was still work to be done, but the mother hen had promised to drop by every now and then to check their progress.

“Maybe now, forgetting my lunch at home won’t feel like a death sentence,” Donald chuckled to himself. A quick glance at his watch showed that it was a quarter ‘til 5, the cafeteria would be closing soon. Just as he was about to lament about possibly missing out on the new and improved food, the sound of squealing rubber could be heard.

“Huh?” was all Donald could utter before he was blindsided and scooped up by a red and green blur. “Waaaak?! W-What in the—!”

“Hola Donal’!” welcomed Panchito, cradling his new passenger in one arm and tirelessly spinning the wheelchair wheels with the other.

“So nice of you to join us!” greeted José, a carefree smile on his face as he hung off the back of the wheelchair, providing the steering. “We are trying to get to the cafeteria before it closes. I imagine you are too, sim?”

“B-But do we have t-to go so fast?!” shrieked Donald as they took a corner so hard and fast that their mode of transportation lifted onto one wheel.

“Of course!”

*Paging Doctor Duck! Paging Doctor Duck!*

“Looks like duty calls,” Donald chuckled breathlessly as Panchito and José groaned loudly. “Please hang a right at the corner and drop me off there; I’ll meet you guys back at the room later.” Though they were disappointed, they did as asked, and Donald slid off of the rooster’s lap.

“Do not take too long, Donal’.”

“We will grab your portion and wait for you.”

“Ah you guys don’t have to…” but his words fell on deaf ears as the Southern birds peeled off down the hall before disappearing out of sight. “Welp, here’s hoping this won’t take too long.” As he neared the nurse’s station, he spotted Nurse Minnie standing next to police officer Horace Horsecollar. His heartrate spiked, as it always did when he saw a cop here. That usually meant a criminal was in need of medical attention. And if Donald was being called specifically, then that could only mean that the criminal was more prone to violence.

“Howdy Donald. Didn’t mean to interrupt your lunch break, but we’ve got a prisoner with a violent background in need of patching up,” the police horse said by way of greeting.

The duck shrugged as he accepted the medical chart from Minnie. “Eh, nothing I’m not used to.”

“Don’t worry, Dr. Donald, it’s really only minor bumps and bruises he sustained from a police chase. It shouldn’t take too much of your time if you can get him to cooperate. His name is Julian Jacamar and he’s currently in Room #105.”

The name caused Donald to pause mid-step before he continued on as normal. Surely, his luck wouldn’t allow for that Julian Jacamar to wind up at this hospital, right? He opened the door, and lo and behold, there was Angela’s ex-boyfriend, sitting handcuffed on the exam chair with a sour expression on his face.

Jackpot!

“Oh Officer Horace~ May I please have the key to the handcuffs? We won’t needing them.~”

The taller male did a double-take. “Are you crazy, Donald? That guy’s a dangerous thug with three prior arrests for assault and battery and several other arrest warrants pending. I can’t let you take that risk.”

Ugh, the news just keeps getting better and better with this guy. It was a good thing Angela finally left him, the scumbag. “Nonsense, Officer. Everyone needs a second, third…fourth chance in life! I trust he won’t give me any trouble.”

Minnie touched her colleague’s shoulder, eyes filled with concern and askance. She’s worked with him long enough to know when he was up to something. The duck smiled in return and secretly mouthed José’s name to her. Understanding filled her and she gave an imperceivable nod in return. “Don’t worry, Officer Horace, this isn’t anything that Dr. Donald can’t handle!”

“Well…if you two are absolutely sure…” Horace handed over the key to Donald. “Call me if you need any assistance with him; I’ll be right outside this door.”

“Thank you, Officer. And thank you, Nurse Minnie.”

“Please be careful, Doctor,” Minnie replied.

“Always am.” And with that, the duck entered the room before closing and locking it behind him.

~*0o0*~

“Hello, Mr. Jacamar! My name is Dr. Duck and I’ll be taking care of you today! Tell me, how are you currently feeling?”

“Feel freakin’ terrible, doc! Those mean cops really did a number on me, and these cuffs are too tight! Cuttin’ off my circulation!”

“Uh-huh,” Donald replied, not believing the act for a second. Still, he played along and pulled out the key, watching as the goon’s eyes lit up. “You poor thing. Let’s get those nasty things off you, yeah?”

“Yeah, please!”

Having anticipated the punch, Donald managed to turn his head slightly to avoid taking the brunt of it. The follow-up attack from the thug had him pinned against the wall by a beefy dark teal feathered arm.

“Ha! What an idiot! You soft-hearted types are all alike!” The stocky bird leered down at the shorter male. “Reckon I could make my getaway, thanks to you!”

“Oh you hit me,” Donald intoned in a deadpan voice. “That means I get to do this!” Before the other bird had a chance to react, Donald gripped the front of Julian’s shirt and jammed his knee hard into his stomach. The harsh exhale brought the doctor satisfaction as he reversed their positions, slamming Julian face first into the wall and wrenching his arm roughly behind his back.

“Gah! Fuck! Wh-What are you—?!” He never got to finish his outraged question as the health provider repeatedly slammed his face into the wall, the force of the blows causing the medicine bottles on the shelves to shake and chime together. By now, he felt dizzy and could feel his own blood dripping down his face. And yet, the attack never relented. “S-Stop…STOP! Why are you doin’ this?!” All of a sudden, the convict found himself flipped over so he could stare into hardened blue eyes.

“Are you familiar with the name José Carioca?” the doctor growled through clenched teeth.

The splitting headache delayed his understanding, but eventually a lightbulb went off. “Y…Y’mean that lousy playbird from the club?!” Julian realized his mistake too late as a hand clamped down hard on his windpipe. “Urk!”

“That “lousy playbird” Donald rumbled, hand turning tightening like a vice. “ …is my friend! And I’m gonna make you pay dearly for what you did to him!”

Upon seeing the vindictive glee in the duck’s eyes, Julian Jacamar did the one thing he thought he’d never do; he called for the police. “Help! Help! Police! Officer H-Hank…er Hall…whatever yer name is! Save me please!!”

(Elsewhere in the Hospital)

“Would you care for another doughnut?” asked Minnie as she refilled Horace’s cup with coffee.

“Yes, please!” said Horace as he accepted a Boston Crème one. “Thank you, Nurse Minnie!”

“My pleasure, Officer Horace!”

~*0o0*~

The shock and concern was to be expected as Donald returned to José and Panchito’s room with a bandaged cheek (courtesy of Minnie) and rumbled clothes. ‘Heh. You should see the other guy,’ Donald thought, still basking in the satisfaction from when he delivered his victim patient back to Officer Horace, blubbering and pleading to be taken back to jail. If Horace noticed that his charge would be leaving with more injuries than what he’d come in with, he didn’t say anything. Thankfully, he managed to wave away his friends’ concerns by blaming his usual bad luck and clumsiness.

“Just as promised, we grabbed some lunch for you and now we can all eat together!”

“What? Don’t tell me you guys actually waited?”

“Of course we did!” said Panchito. “We even made sure to get you some strawberry jello! That is your favorite flavor, is it not?”  

Warmth blossomed in the doctor’s chest at his friends’ consideration, quickly facing away to hide the blush on his cheeks. “…It is. Thank you.” Taking a quick peek back at them, he saw that they were staring at him expectantly, causing the blush to worsen. He sighed. “D-Do I really have to…?”

“We cannot have our ‘Hospital Date’ if you do not join us on the bed,” José stated matter-of-factly. The cheeky wink accompanying his words further elevating Donald’s heartrate.

Donald gawked. “H-Hospital date?! When did--who said anything about…?!” He eventually gave up and dropped his face into his palms. His next words came out muffled. “…why at the hospital…?”

The cowboy beamed. “Why not? This is where we all first met, so it is the perfect place!” Both he and José patted the empty space on the bed left for the doctor. “So, please come join us, Donal’.”

Despite his initial reservations, Donald couldn’t fight off a smile. “…Anything for you guys.”

“I’m expecting to meet this little one sometime in December. Would you like to meet them when they’re born?”

A pic for my fic "Luigi's Adventure"

“So much for clear skies for the rest of the week…” Donald grumbled softly, massaging his war-injured shoulder as rain fell heavily from dark grey skies.

It was a late, chilly, wet Friday evening and Donald had just finished doing his rounds, checking up on his resting patients and the nurses. Everything seemed to be in order, but the doctor, for some reason, felt uneasy, on edge.

“Is everything alright, Doctor D?” asked Roxanne as she fell in step with her senior colleague. In one of her hands was a clipboard and in the other was styrofoam cup filled with her usual pick-me-up green tea. “You seem more agitated than usual.”

“Hey Pop-rocks. I’m okay, just feeling a bit…I dunno…nervous? Anxious?” He couldn’t think of the right word at the moment but shot the younger doctor a reassuring grin all the same. “I think it’s just the rain getting to me.”

Roxanne’s gaze fell on the window that displayed the powerful thunderstorm raging outside. The rain fell in slanted sheets which made visibility nearly impossible. She bit her lip, worried about possible power outages and flooding. “I understand. Dreary weather like is never fun. Especially since it causes us to tend to more patients here.”

*BUZZ-BUZZ*

“Case in point…” muttered Donald, yanking out his beat-up pager to see the alert, Roxanne doing the same.

“Looks like duty calls,” said the female doctor with a shrug and smile.

“Looks like it…” the duck replied with a sigh. “Good luck, Pop-rocks.”

“You, too, Dr. D!” she looked back out the window at the driving rain. “…Something tells me we’re in for a busy day…”

~*OoO*~

Just as Dr. Roxanne predicted, the floodgates opened, and the hospital was flooded with patients due to the raging storm. Doctors and nurses were all scrambling to tend to the rapid influx of people, shouting over each other as they worked desperately to help their patients.

Donald ignored the increased pain in his shoulder as he worked hard to treat his current patient, an older, unconscious hound with a profusely bleeding arm. His hands moved quickly, yet steadily as he wrapped the unconscious man’s arm with a thick bandage. But just as he finishing up, Nurse Clarabelle’s voice rang through his ears.

“We need any available doctor and nurses to room #133 for a multiple stab victim in critical condition! Male, species: parrot, race: Brazilian! Please inform Dr. Roxanne when she finishes up with her current patient!”

Donald felt himself freeze up upon hearing the cow’s words, hoping against hope that she wasn’t talking about who he thought she was talking about. Worry and dread filled him, and he wanted nothing more than to check, but was stopped by Nurse Minnie’s soft voice.

“Are you okay, Dr. Donald?”

The duck snapped out of his stupor and immediately resumed his work, though his hands now held a slight tremble. The only thing he could do now was have faith that Roxanne or who was available could help him.

‘Please be okay, Joe…’ Donald offered up a silent prayer. ‘Please, please be okay…’

~*0o0*~

Two hours later, and the storm and the people just kept coming.

Donald choked down the rest of his apple cinnamon muffin and near-scalding coffee (courtesy of Max, who was bringing quick refreshments to the haggard medical staff) as he allowed himself five minutes of rest in the hospital’s breakroom. He had just checked in with his nephews’ babysitter, and besides the temporary power outage, the triplets were fine, which was a load off Donald’s already over-burdened mind.

José was thankfully out of surgery, but was still heavily sedated for the time being, his condition unfortunately, still unstable. Donald made plans to see him after he was finished with his other patients. A nauseating amount of regret of him transferring care to Roxanne was starting to hit him.

‘Nothing I can do about that now,’ the duck thought sullenly, crumbling up his trash and tossing it into the garbage bin. He rose from his chair just as the breakroom door opened.

“…Dr. Donald…”

Donald looked up to see Roxanne making her approach. He started to smile until he saw the distraught look on her normally cheerful face. His anxiety instantly sky-rocketed.

“W-What? What is it?!” the duck asked with caution.

“Oh, Dr. Doctor Donald…!” the red-head began tearfully. “It…it’s Panchito…!”

The news nearly floored Donald to the point where he had grab onto the armchair to keep himself upright. Not only was José injured, but Panchito was as well?! He forced his mind to focus as Roxanne tearfully tried to explain his injuries and how he was being prepped for surgery as they speak. Her shoulders shook as she struggled to keep to calm, tears pooling in her dark brown eyes. This was one of the pitfalls of working as a medical professional; one day you’ll have to save a loved one from a life-or-death situation. The additional fear of having their life in your hands, knowing that at any moment you could feel them take their last breath was something Donald had dealt with all the time back in the war. He had years of experience from his time in the service and at the hospital to draw from to maintain the cool, iron control for dealing with such stressful situations.

The younger doctor did not.

She would, in good time, gain the ability to compartmentalize one day. Until then, he as the senior doctor would help her through this.  The duck stepped forward and gently placed his hands on Roxanne’s quivering shoulders. “Breath, Dr. Roxanne. Remember the breathing exercises that you had me do whenever I need to keep my temper and not punch an already injured person?”

His comment thankfully got a wet giggle out of her before she followed his instructions. Deep breath in, hold for five seconds, and then exhale. They repeated this process until the trembling in Roxanne’s body finally faded. “You got this, Dr. Roxanne,” encouraged Donald, squeezing her shoulders again.

“…Thanks, Dr. D,” she said. The light in her eyes now shining once again. “I’ll make sure José and Panchito will be okay. All our patients will be okay!”

Donald smiled proudly and pet her on the head. “I know you will.”

~*0o0*~

In between patients, Donald made a quick visit to the waiting room and sure enough, Panchito’s mother was there along Señor Martinez. Upon seeing him enter the room, they rushed over to him with tears in their eyes. Donald accepted the bone-crushing hug and slobbery kiss as he did his best to comfort them.

“Oh Donal’! This is muy terrible! Nothing like this has ever happened before! It was raining so hard and one of the staff members was trying to take the b-bulls back to their pens! But, but the rain made them lose their grip on the r-ropes and Panchito wasn’t able to get out of the way fast enough...! A-And to hear that poor José is also hurt! Please tell me they will be alright!”

“Both of them will be fine,” Donald reassured. “They’re currently being treated by a colleague of mine, and I trust her more than any other doctor here to treat them!” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his handkerchief for her to dry her eyes. “Please have faith that they’ll be okay.”

The mother hen wiped her eyes and nodded. “I-I will.”

Seeing that the mother was still distraught, Donald wracked his brain to give her a distraction while they waited. An idea soon came to mind. “Hey Mama Maria, do you think you could help me with something? In fact, you’d be helping the hospital and making your son very happy.”

“I am happy to help with anything, Donal’. Just say the word.”

The duck took her hand. “Then please follow me.”

In no time, the doctor led them to the hospitals cafeteria, where the cooks were working tirelessly to provide food for everyone. Despite his complaints about their lack of skills in the kitchen, he knew they were trying their best.

“Mama Maria, I’d like you to meet our kitchen staff. They could use a lesson or two in making tasty meals for our guests, so I give you permission to command them as you see fit, because they really, really, need the direction. Can you do that for us, Mama?”

The Mexican female’s eyes seemed to sharpen now that she had a task and gave a firm nod. “I can. I will have this place ship-shape!”

“I know you will, “ Donald replied with a smile before turning to the kitchen staff to get their attention. “Everyone! This is Mama Maria, and she’s going to be helping you guys out in the kitchen! Treat her well, and listen to her instructions, okay?”

They all nodded, no doubt fearful of what would happen to them if they were to disagree. Satisfied, he wished everyone good luck before taking Señor Martinez’s reins to lead him to their next destination. “Oh, and Mama Maria, please try to make the dishes as mild as you can; not everyone has your son’s spice tolerance!”

The next stop was to the children’s ward. Donald spotted Minnie and several other nurses tending to the children there. It broke his heart anytime he saw kids hurt, but thankful despite the terrible weather none of the children were seriously injured and were in high spirits due in part to Max bringing in his video games for them to play.  The female mouse glanced up at him and smiled before her eyes went wide upon seeing the horse.

“Oh my!” she squeaked as Señor Martinez happily greeted her with an affectionate nuzzle.

“Hey Minns, I brought the kids a special guest.”

“I can see that!” Minnie replied with a giggle, softly stroking the horse’s muzzle.

Donald led the beast further into the room, the clopping of the horse’s hooves easily gaining everyone’s attention. They all gawked as he brought the horse into the center of the room. “Children, I like you all to meet Señor Martinez!”

Predictably, they all squealed in delight and gathered around Señor Martinez, happily petting his soft fur.

“Be nice and gentle with them and I promise to give you all the snacks you want, okay?”

The old, grey horse nickered and gave him one last lick before Donald had to leave to make 14 different phone calls to a certain group of females to let them know of José’s thankfully improving condition.

~*0o0*~

It was 01:45 am when the tide of people finally ebbed. Donald was dead on his feet, and yet he kept himself moving as he peeked into each room to make sure his patients were resting comfortably; the great news that both José and Panchito both were in stable condition and were recovering nicely in a shared room giving him the energy to continue.

Mama Maria was taken home by Señor Martinez once the skies cleared and made Donald promise to let her know if there were any changes in Panchito and José’s conditions before giving him a bone-crushing hug. Donald made sure to thank her and the horse both for all their help today.

As he made his way through the lobby, the duck spotted Max and Roxanne huddled together on one of the couches, Roxanne’s head resting on Max’s shoulder. They both looked completely worn out, unsurprisingly after a day like today.

“Hey Doctor D,” Roxanne greeted with an exhausted smile. “We managed to survive today…”

“We sure did, Pop-rocks,” the older male replied with a smile, reaching over and petting her head again. “I’m so proud of you. You too, Max.” he added, squeezing the younger male’s shoulder.

“W-What?!” hiccupped Max with wide eyes. “B-But I didn’t do much! You two were the ones who…”

“Max,” Donald interrupted. “If it wasn’t for you and the rest of the cleaning staff working as tirelessly as you did, us doctors wouldn’t have a clean space to treat our patients as quickly as we did. More than that, you personally went above and beyond your duties when you go out of your to entertain the children. Trust me, it’s a lot easier for us to treat the little ones after you’ve played with them.” He squeezed Max’s shoulder again. “Everyone’s job is important here, Max.”

“I told you, Max~” Roxanne teased with a sleepy giggle.

Max nodded sheepishly, his dark brown eyes looking a little damp thanks to the unexpected praise. “I…thanks, you guys…”

Donald glanced outside and stared up at the blessedly clear skies. “Why don’t you two head on home now since it’s stopped raining? We all need to rest after today like this one.”

“Okay, Dr. D,” replied the younger two.

With a smile and wave, Donald departed and made his way to the room where Panchito and José were resting in. The space was quiet, save for the twin beeping of the heart-monitors and Donald tried his best not to disturb that peace while his friends rested. Slowly and carefully, he looked over their heavily bandaged bodies. José’s entire torso was heavily bandaged from his stab wounds while Panchito’s head and chest were bandaged thanks to nearly being trampled to death by an out-of-control bull.

They were both so quiet and still in a way Donald wasn’t used to. It was…unnatural to see them this way. “To think it would take the both of you nearly dying for you to be quiet,” the doctor said with a jaded chuckle. He blinked when he felt something warm and wet on his cheeks, he reached up and was surprised to find tears there. What’s worse, they wouldn’t stop.

To think he almost lost two friends in one night…his two best friends. He felt his body tremble as the stress from last night caught up to him. It had been close, too close. If either one of them had died, Donald would’ve been heartbroken, but if both had died? Donald might’ve just keeled over right then and there. Once again, he silently thanked Roxanne and the nurses for saving their lives; he owed them big time.

Carefully, he reached out and touched their too still hands. “Please, don’t ever get hurt like this again,” he quietly begged. “I’ll listen all your songs, and watch your dances, and attend all of your shows…just please…don’t ever scare me like this again…”

After gently squeezing their hands, Donald made his way to a navy blue recliner chair in the corner of room and settled into it with a world-weary sigh. With the steady beat of the heart-monitors in his ears, Donald fell into a deep sleep.

“Wowie-zowie! Our first ever Mushroom Kingdom festival! How exciting!”

Mario smiled at his younger sibling’s childlike excitement as they walked together through the festival grounds, taking in the bright and colorful stalls, delicious smells, and pleasant atmosphere. Princess Peach, as reward for saving the kingdom from Bowser, had given them a sack full of gold coins to spend on anything they wanted. Luigi was particularly interested in all of the unique foods the kingdom had to offer, thrilled to discover new recipes to cook for Mario.

“Who knows? Maybe we might even find a mushroom you might enjoy, big bro!”

Mario chuckled at that. “You’re welcome to try, Lu.”

Many Toads varying in color moved all around them. Some perusing the many different tents and stalls, while others were peddling their wares. One Toad with magenta-colored spots waved eagerly to all potential customers, happily showing off her fruits and mushrooms. Luigi’s cerulean blue eyes lit up at the sight of the items and made his way over to the merchant.

Mario left Luigi to his shopping while he wandered off to look around some more. The older brother couldn’t help but smile as he walked amongst the kingdom’s residents, listening to sound of lively children running about, and the cheerful chatter of the adults talking and gossiping with each other. Every so often, he had someone come up to him, thanking him and Luigi for saving their kingdom and asking for an autograph.

He sighed peacefully, enjoying the warm breeze that caressed his face and brown locks. In no time at all, this place was starting to feel like home. Not only were the citizens welcoming and hospitable to the brothers, but they also accepted Mario and Luigi’s…special relationship, allowing them to show their love for each other without fear of ridicule or discrimination. Which was something they absolutely couldn’t do back home in Brooklyn.

Mario had happily taken advantage of their newfound freedom and showered Luigi with affection every chance he got. And though his little brother still had reservations, freezing up whenever the other so much as held his hand outside their newly built home, he was slowly, but surely becoming accustomed to it. Even going as far as to shyly return Mario’s kisses in front of others.

“Mario! Hey Mario, over here!”

The red-clad plumber turned to see Captain Toad waving his tiny arms at him. He smiled and made his way over to his friend. “Heya Toad, you’re selling stuff here too?”

The red-spotted Toad grinned brightly. “Of course! As an adventurer, I want to provide others with the tools to go exploring as well! Why don’t you take a look? You and your brother were planning on exploring more of the Mushroom Kingdom, right? I’ll even give you a special discount!”

“Wow, thanks Toad!” Mario said graciously, taking his friend up on his offer. He looked over the selections before picking out several pairs of shirts, gloves, boots and pants all praised for their durability and defensive capabilities. If it helped to keep Luigi safe, Mario would spare no expense.

“Oh! Before I forget, there’s something else Toadette and I wanted to show you!” He led the taller male over to an adjacent tent that had more feminine clothing. A pink Toad, also known as Toadette, was presiding over it and she grinned when she saw their approach.

“Hi Mario! Won’t you take a gander at my wares? I’m sure you’ll find something you and Luigi will like~~!”

‘This really is the perfect place for us…’ Mario thought with a smile, ocean blue eyes immediately narrowing in on a gorgeous green dress that would look perfect on Luigi. He purchased it without hesitation, already anticipating the joyful look on his brother’s face when he saw it. ‘Could this day get any better?’

*KA-BOOOM!!*

‘No, but it can get worse apparently…’ Mario thought bitterly as the sound of King Bowser’s laughter filled the air along with plumes of fire.

“GWA-HAHAHA! Run away in fear, you cowardly ‘shrooms! It’s Bowser’s time to do some shopping!” the draconic turtle sneered as the tiny people ran off in different directions to escape his flames. His scarlet colored eyes then narrowed in on a familiar looking green figure, who was currently trying to help put out the fires.  “…and I know exactly what I’m in market for~!” With the push of a button in his clown-copter, a robotic arm appeared and snatched up the younger plumber.

~*OoO*~

“YOU ROTTEN KOOPA! GET BACK HERE WITH LUIGI!!!”

“Gwa-hahaha!” laughed King Bowser as he watched Mario run after him as he flew high in the sky in his infamous Clown-Copter. Next to him was Luigi, all nicely tied up and crying desperately for his older brother. “Serves you right, Mario! You’re always keeping me away from my lovely Peaches! So, I’m returning the favor and keeping you from your precious brother!”

“DAMN YOU, BOWSER!”

Confident that the red-loving plumber wouldn’t be able to reach them, the fire-breathing turtle turned to his captive. Luigi was sniffling quietly to himself, cerulean blue eyes filled with tears as he stared up at the king with fear. Bowser smirked, crouching down so he could be more-or-less be eye level with the more reserved brother. “Oh, don’t make such a scared face, Green-stache! I won’t you hurt too much as long as you cooperate!” He used a razor-sharp claw to twirl and pull the side of Luigi’s mustache, similar to how he had during their first ever meeting.

“Y-You’ll never g-get away w-with this…!” Luigi asserted in a trembling voice.

“Oh?” Bowser asked mockingly, pulling harder on the enslaved human’s whiskers. The resulting whimper sent a small thrill through him. There was just something about the green-loving plumber that made him so much fun to bully. “You have that much faith in your runt of a brother?”

“I do!” Luigi managed to say in a surprisingly steady voice. His confidence in his older sibling was clear. “He’s rescued me from you before and he can do it again!”

Bowser growled angrily at the reminder and yanked harder on the younger brother’s ‘stache, feeling satisfaction at his pained yelp and renewed tears. From the ground, Mario continued yelling obscenities and threats if the Koopa king didn’t relinquish his sibling. The reptilian royal sneered at the older human’s persistence. There was always something odd about the plumbers’ relationship to him. That pesky Mario was continuously protecting and rescuing the citizens of this kingdom, especially the princess, but when it came to his brother there was an unyielding fierceness that wasn’t shown for anyone else. One could surmise that it was due to their brotherly bond, but to Bowser it felt much more than that.

“How does your brother even have time to protect Peaches when he’s so focused on you?” the king wondered. “One would think he was in love with you instead of the princess…” It had been absent-minded comment, but the reaction he received from green-clad male caught him by surprise. Green ‘Stache’s face turned a deep candied apple red, and he began stumbling over his words. ‘What?’ the large turtle thought incredulously. Leaning forward, he sniffed at the small human and could easily smell Mario’s scent on his reddened skin. Again, one could chock it up to them being siblings, however…

“Ack! Wh-What do you’re doing?!” shrieked Luigi when one of Bowser’s claws pulled the collar of his signature green shirt down.

“I don’t believe this!” Bowser laughed in disbelief when he got an eyeful of the numerous hickeys on the captured human’s neck. “Mario’s in a relationship with his own brother?! Oh man, this is just too good!”

“T-That’s none of your business!”

Bowser sneered before grabbing his captive and dangled him from his clown-copter. “How badly do you want your brother back, Mario? Or should I say…your lover?” The outraged noises coming from the older brother were hilarious to listen to, and the tyrant continued to laugh as he taunted his mortal enemy.

“M-Mariooo!” Luigi wailed helplessly, fearful of being dropped from such a great height.

“Don’t worry, Lu! I’ll save you!”

Bowser snorted at the lovers’/brothers’ display. It was beyond him that someone would go after their own flesh-and-blood when the beautiful Princess Peach was right there. ‘…Although…’ Bowser thought after a moment as he watched the younger male sob for his brother. The tears in his cerulean blue eyes reflected nicely in the sunlight and his desperate crying sounded appealing. ‘…there is something undoubtably cute about him. Maybe that’s why it’s so entertaining to mess with him…’ He gave his squirming prisoner another quick sniff. ‘And he smells so sweet…’

“I’ll tell you what, Mario…” started Bowser. “I’ll let you choose who you want to protect more! Peaches or your brother? I’ll gladly keep the one you don’t pick!” As if to prove his point, the fire-breathing turtle gave Luigi a rough nuzzle and a slobbery wet lick to his cheek, thoroughly enjoying Mario’s enraged shouts and Luigi’s squeal of surprise. “Hmm, you even taste sweet, too,” he purred. He continued to cackle until he noticed Mario had disappeared from view. “Huh?! Where’d he go?!”

Both Luigi and Bowser urgently looked around the area below them, and sure enough, the red-clad plumber was nowhere to be seen. “Did he just give up?”

“My brother would never do that!” insisted Luigi.

The pair began bickering with each other until a small shadow appeared above them. Scarlet eyes widened in surprise, not comprehending exactly what he was seeing until something round and fuzzy smacked him in the face.

“Mario!” exclaimed Luigi, tears of relief streaming down his cheeks as he watched his older brother, now donned in a Tanuki suit, fighting the Koopa King. The scuffle caused the clown-copter to lurch left and right as Bowser tried to pry Mario off his face and soon enough, thanks to several whacks of Mario’s thick tail, Bowser was sent sailing backwards into the control panel, accidentally damaging the piloting system with his sharp back spikes.

“Now look what you’ve done!” bellowed Bowser as he tried to wrestle with the controls to keep from crashing. It was worthless endeavor as the flying contraption spun out of control.

Thanks to the momentary distraction, Mario scooped up his bound brother and flew them to safety. “So long, King Bowser!”

“CUUUURSEE YOU, MARIOOO!!” roared the reptile as he careened off into the distance.

“Are you okay, Lu?” asked Mario as he checked over his sibling once they were safely on the ground.

“I-I think so. Thank you for saving me, bro!” He shifted as much as he could in his bondage to kiss Mario on the cheek. “Um, are you going to untie me?” He meeped at the chilling smile that spread across his sibling’s face.

“…Not just yet, Lu. First, I need to get you home to disinfect you.” He scowled at the memory of Bowser leaving his disgusting mark on his lover. “And then afterwards, we can see if that dress I bought you fits.”

“A new dress?” Luigi asked, blue eyes lighting up with excitement. “…But wait, I don’t need to stay tied up for that, right Mario? Bro?”

"Lovely Dress Luigi"

"Our Favorite Doctor"

Panchito and Jose: Who's our favorite doctor? This guy, of course!

The soft twitters of birds outside his window slowly pulled Donald from his slumber. His eyes drifted open, snapping close when the bright, morning light sent dagger-like pains into his skull. He groaned as he buried his face into his pillow in order to hide from the well-meaning sunshine.

‘Being hungover sucks.’

Daring to take a peek at his bedside alarm clock, Donald saw that it was a little after eight in the morning. He also took notice of the bottled water, aspirin, and a small note right next it. ‘Huh?’ he thought, quickly helping himself to the medicine and water before reading the note.

Hola Donal’,

We had a lot of fun with you last night and I can’t wait until we do it again soon! Also, do not forget that the rodeo is today. Zé and I look forward to meeting your sobrinos!

See you soon,

Panchito

Right, the rodeo is today. Ugh, why did he have to make such decisions when he was drunk? ‘Oh well. At least it’s not until this afternoon,’ he thought before flopping back down in his bed. ‘Wait…how did I…get back home?’

While memories from last night were a bit spotty, he clearly remembered being too hammered to drive himself back home safely. He also remembered turning down José’s offer to spend the night at the club, the parrot having a bed in his dressing room in case he was ever too partied out to make it home. Donald also recalled declining the offer because no amount of liquor was going to make him trust those bedsheets.

That meant that Panchito “good genes” González must’ve gotten him home. Pushing past the pounding in his head, he somewhat remembered the familiar neighing of Señor Martinez, a drunken farewell from José, a long and bumpy ride somewhere, and finally the gentle feeling of someone tucking him into bed and petting the top of his head.

“Dulces sueños, Donal’~~”

The doctor flushed pink. ‘Screw this. It’s much too early to be thinking about such things…’ the duck thought with a grumble, covering his head with his pillow and falling back asleep.

~*0o0*~

“Boys, stay close,” instructed Donald as he and his three nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, made their way through the crowded area. Currently, the small duck family was at the California Rodeo Salinas to watch “World Famous Panchito” perform his rodeo tricks. Donald hadn’t really been all that keen to watch such a thing, considering how often the rooster would show up at the hospital injured after his performances, but the triplets were excited to see the spectacle, so he couldn’t really complain. He even bought them cowboy outfits for the occasion.

“’Naldo! ‘Naldo, over here!”

The uncle of three turned to see José running up to them, looking unfairly more put together than Donald felt. “Afternoon, Jo---ACK!”

“Boa tarde, my friend! I have missed you so much!” the parrot greeted, wrapping up the duck in a tight hug.

‘It hasn’t even been 24-hours yet…’ the doctor thought, feeling his ribs creak due to the strength of the hug. He awkwardly patted the parrot’s back in return before introducing him to his boys. “José, I’d like you to meet my nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Boys, say hello.”

“Hello…”

“Mr. José…”

“…It’s nice to meet you!”

“So nice to meet you boys as well! I especially like your cowboy outfits. Did your tio buy them for you?”

“He sure did…”

“…Mr. José…”

“…He’s the best Unca ever!”

The lime green parrot nodded in agreement. “Of that, I agree with you!”

“So, where are we sitting, José?” the duck asked quickly. His face was red from all praise he was receiving.

The smile on the Brazilian playbird faltered, a pout pulling at his lips. “… “José”…?” he questioned softly.

Donald blinked in surprise before more recollections from last night came to mind. His face turned an even brighter red somehow and he felt a phantom burn on his skin where Panchito and José had kissed his scarred shoulder. “…Joe…”

José brightened right back up after that before linking their arms together like they had last night. “Come, I will show you to our seats. ‘Chito is waiting for us there since his event isn’t until later. Let us go!”

“Alright, no need to pull…”

~*0o0*~

Introductions to Panchito went similarly to what it had with José, including the same back-breaking hug. He remarked positively on the children’s cowboy outfits and even gifted them with child-size lassos to go along with their color-coded clothing.

“Wow!”

“Thanks!”

“Mr. Panchito!”

“You are most very welcome, my little niños!” the Mexican said. He then turned to Donald and José. “I have a little something for you two, as well,” he announced before somehow pulling out two sombreros from underneath his own and placing them on their heads. “There we go, amigos! Now we match!”

“Obrigado, my friend!”

Donald tottered a bit, the brim of the sombrero falling over his eyes, temporarily blinding him before he could right it. “Yeah, thanks…Panch,” the duck said, trying to ignore the way Panchito’s ruby eyes lit up at his nickname.

~*0o0*~

“Whooaaaa!!” screamed a man as he tumbled end over end through the air.

*Crash*

“Oof! Do you think that guy is alright, Unca Donald?” asked Huey.

Donald was already analyzing the man’s injuries in his mind. Judging by the angle the man’s arm and leg were now in, he surmised the man most likely had broken bones, bruised ribs, and maybe even a concussion. The deep, hoof imprints on the man’s derrière, courtesy of the bull, would also make it hard for him to sit down properly in the coming days. “According to my medical expertise…no.”

“I am curious as to why people enjoy pursuing such dangerous pastimes…” José wondered as the group watched the rodeo clowns load the unconscious man onto a stretcher and carry him away.

Donald huffed. “Funny, I thought you’d appreciate a “flirting with danger” lifestyle.”

José laughed sheepishly at that.

Eventually, it was time for Panchito to take the stage.  The bull he was getting ready to ride was named Raging Storm, and it seemed to be aptly named. The beast had already sent multiple people to the hospital.

“Will Mr. Panchito be okay, Unca Donald?” Dewey asked nervously.

“…He should be fine…” the uncle tried to reassure, but even he was feeling a little anxious. While never to the terrible extent like the other competitors, Panchito would often sustain many injuries because of his profession. Donald jumped when he felt something touch the back of his hand, looking down to see José’s yellow-gloved hand on his, gently squeezing it.

“‘Chito will be okay,” the parrot said with a confident smile.

Donald returned the reassuring gesture with a smile of his own, squeezing back. “Right.”

After the announcer did the countdown, Raging Storm was released from the pen. As predicted, the bull began tearing across the arena, bucking and kicking aggressively to fling his rider off. Panchito, being the skilled rider he was, easily weathered the storm, holding on with only one hand while swinging his sombrero with the other. The crowd erupted into cheers, growing louder with each passing second counting down.

‘How is it that these last few seconds feel like an eternity?’ thought Donald as he willed time to move a little faster. He worried that he was crushing José’s hand, but the parrot was holding his just as tightly.

Three seconds…

Two seconds…

One second…

The sound of the ending buzzer filled the area and Panchito effortlessly dismounted from the bull to the roaring sounds of applause. The doctor breathed out a long sigh of relief he hadn’t been aware he was holding. Huey, Dewey, and Louie were cheering like crazy in their seats along with José. Donald tried his best to clap as well but found it difficult since José still had a grip on one of his hands.

“See? I told you he would be fine!” the Brazilian exclaimed, though he looked immensely relieved as well. “C’mon, wave to him, ‘Naldo!”

Donald did as instructed and waved at his patient/friend when he looked in their direction. The rooster’s ruby eyes lit up when he spotted the duck and parrot, blowing a kiss their way. Donald tried to blame the residual adrenaline for the way his heart skipped a beat.

~*0o0*~

“Are you holding on tight, niños?” asked Panchito as he held on to Señor Martinez’s reins.

“We are!” chorused the triplets.

“Bueno! Okay, here we go!” Panchito gently pulled the horse forward, moving at an easy pace.

“Wheeee!!” cheered the children.

Señor Martinez tossed his head back and neighed happily as he proudly carried his three passengers.

Donald watched the scene unfold with a smile, happy that his nephews were enjoying going on a horseback ride. Due to his busy and hectic work schedule, it was rare for him to be able take his kids out for a day of fun. The excitement from today also meant the boys would sleep like babies tonight, saving him from their usual bedtime wars. Currently, he sitting on the porch of Panchito’s ranch, polishing off the delicious, yet incredibly spicy meal from Panchito’s mother, Maria González. José doing the same next to him.

“Would you care for seconds, boys?” asked Maria, a plump hen with similar colors to her son. A yellow apron tied around her waist.

“No, thank you ma’am,” Donald declined. His already burning mouth wouldn’t be able to take anymore punishment. “Ah, maybe a little water, please.”

“I would like to have more of your delicious food, Mamá Maria. Por favor. And might I add that your cuisine is muito delicioso!”

The mother hen let out a giggle. “My, what a charmer! I’m so pleased that my son brought home such impeccable men! And Donal’, you raised such wonderful, well-mannered boys.”

“Hehe thank you, ma’am,”  the duck replied with a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his head. The mother took away their plates and walked back indoors with the promise of seconds and Donald’s water.

 “Of course, you’d be able to handle spicy food just fine…” Donald muttered with a little jealousy.

José chuckled. “True, but now that we have been introduced and accepted into ‘Chito’s family, you can build up your spice tolerance!”

“Yeah, I guess I…” the doctor’s words trailed off when he fully digested the Brazilian’s words. Mama Maria’s words also mixing in and created a weird jumble in his mind, his heart once again squeezing in his chest. “…Stop that…” he grumbled, both to José and his annoying heart.

“Hmm? Stop what~~?”

Donald felt his cheeks heat up as José leaned forward, a coy smile on his beak and his eyes shimmering in the sunset like the topaz his Uncle Scrooge made him polish for only a few cents an hour. “That! You know what you’re doing! Stop that!”

Before the parrot could do anything more, Donald found himself ensnared by a lasso, Panchito holding the other end with a teasing smile on his face. “And that, niños, is how you lasso someone!”

“Whoa!” exclaimed Huey.

“So cool!” cheered Dewey.

“Will you teach us how to do that one day?” asked Louie.

“Of course!”

“Will you teach me as well, ‘Chito?” questioned José as he happily took advantage of Donald’s lack of mobility, poking his stomach and pinching his reddened cheeks. “It is definitely a…useful skill~.”

“Oh, indeed I will, Zé!” a playful smile spread across Panchito’s face as he stepped closer to his two friends, his voice lowering a couple of octaves. “Es un buen aspecto para el…”

Even with his very limited Spanish, Donald understood what the rooster said. Steam was practically shooting out of his ears and his face the color of cherries. “I said to stop that!”