"A-a-a- HOSPITAL?" Morty whimpered as he stared in front of them with shock. The portal had let them out just outside the building. Morty shivered; he hated hospitals, and he didn't want to know why Rick would be in one now. "Rick is here? Jesus, Bird Person...Y-you didn't tell me we were going to a hospital!" He looked around wildly, not sure where to begin.

Bird Person placed an unexpectedly gentle and reassuring hand on Morty's shoulder. "Your grandfather," he replied solemnly, "requires immediate medical attention that, unfortunately, I cannot provide."

"Wh-what….the heck happened?" Morty whispered, his throat catching as he spoke.

"It is unclear." Bird Person ushered him quickly inside. "We must give him the antidote immediately."

Morty ran up to the front desk and blurted out in one breath: "Hi, um, my name is, uh, Morty Smith, uh, my grandfather is Rick, uh, Sanchez, he's, he's a patient here?"

To his amazement the receptionist seemed to understand what he said, and quickly looked up the name. "Yes...Mr. Sanchez….he is in the CCU." She regarded the strange bird-creature. "And you are?"

"I am a member of-"

"He's a friend," Morty blurted out as fast as he could manage. "I-I'm sorry-" He swallowed hard. "You said-CCU?"

"Coronary Care Unit," the receptionist explained. "The good news is that they seemed to have gotten to him just in time."

"Coronary'?" Morty echoed, numbly. "As in-you mean-heart? He had a...oh my God….!" Morty felt sick. He gritted his teeth and gripped his hair in frustration, trying hard to keep himself from panicking. "Is-is he going to be-okay…?" He realized it was a stupid question as soon as the words fell from his lips. The receptionist gave him a sympathetic smile. "I am not at liberty to give out any more information. What young man is your age?"

Morty blushed. "I'm fourteen."

"Are your parents here?"

"N-no…"

"I'm sorry but we cannot authorize visitation to minors without parents present."

"What?" Morty felt his blood begin to boil. "I'm NOT a minor!" he exclaimed, "I-I-I'm fourteen!"

"I'm sorry young man but…" The receptionist blushed profusely. "That is our protocol."

"Well your protocol is-is-is-is- STUPID!" Morty shouted, stomping his foot in spite of himself.

"Morty-" Bird Person attempted to distract him from his temper tantrum, but Morty was livid.

"Th-this is the real problem with you people!" Morty's voice had risen to a dangerous pitch; others in the lobby were beginning to take notice. "You and your-your-your stupid 'protocol'!"

"Young man…" The receptionist's tone held a warning. "I am going to have to insist that you settle down…"

"And I'M going to have to insist that you LISTEN to me!" Morty hollered at the top of his lungs. "I-I-I'm the ONLY person he-he-he can reLATE to," Morty ranted, "OKAY?! He, he's my GRANDPA! I-I-I HAVE to see him-!"

"Morty?"

The voice stopped him cold. It was a woman's voice, a stranger's voice, but she'd said his NAME. Morty slowly turned around, still shaking from rage. He saw a young, incredibly beautiful African American woman, around his mom's age, he supposed, standing a few feet from him. "Wh-who are you," he stammered, "and….how do you know my name?"

"I know your Grandpa." Sandra stepped forward and gingerly held out her hand. As exhausted as she was from the whole ordeal, she was relieved that at least one family member was finally here. "I'm the one who dialed 911 and got the paramedics there in time."

"Oh…." Morty felt himself relax, if just a little. His eyes filled with tears at the thought of Rick being worked on by paramedics, and before he could stop himself, he rushed towards her and threw his arms around her. "Oh….my God...you-you SAVED him?-oh my God-TH-th-THANK you!" He buried his head in her chest, unable to help himself, and burst into tears. "I-I-I don't know what to say…" he stammered. "Just…" Embarrassed, he wiped his eyes. "Thank you," he whispered.

"Wow…" Sandra murmured, "I didn't even know he had a grandson…."

"Wait…" Morty stepped back. "H-how do you know Rick?"

"My Dad…." Sandra smiled down at him sadly; she wasn't sure how much he knew. "My Dad was...friends... with your dad….in the war…"

"Your Dad?" Morty furrowed his brow at her in confusion-when suddenly he realized who he meant- "Oh! You're-" He stopped himself, blushing profusely, unsure of how to continue. So this was Vincent's daughter? Morty simply stood there and stared; he honestly didn't know how to proceed. "Rick-uh-he told me about...about him…" Morty stammered, uneasy. Why was Rick with her? he couldn't help but wonder. "They were close huh?" he mumbled sheepishly, staring down at the ground with embarrassment.

"Yeah." Sandra felt her eyes well up at the statement. "They were."

"I'm his grandson. Morty."

"I'm Sandra." Sandra allowed a short handshake before immediately turning to Bird Person. "They had to restart his heart again," she whispered to him, but not out of within hearing reach Morty, who gasped with shock, his eyes welling up with tears again.

"Is he...awake?" Morty asked hesitantly, afraid of the answer.

Sandra shook her head for a moment unable to speak. "They said he's in a coma." She wiped her eyes with embarrassment. "I'm sorry Morty…"

Morty stumbled backwards, feeling suddenly dizzy. He fell into the nearest chair just before his legs gave out from under him. "I….have to tell Mom…." he mumbled.

"Where is she?" Sandra asked gently as she sat down next to him.

"Home." Morty groaned into his hands. "She and Grandpa got into this huge fight…." He winced at the memory of his father repeatedly kicking his grandfather's side. "She told him to...to leave…"

"WHAT?" Sandra exploded, causing Morty to jump in his seat. "Are you kidding me? WHY?"

"He…." Morty grimaced. "He got in a fight with...with my Dad and...and my sister...I…." He buried his head in his lap. "I guess that was just...the last straw for her-"

"Well that's just simply UNACCEPTABLE." Sandra jumped to her feet. "You're going to have to get her here."

Morty groaned again. "She won't listen to reason-"

"She'll listen to ME!" Sandra jumped to her feet. "Bird Person! Where is the portal gun?"

Bird Person blinked. "It is-"

"I have it!" Morty blurted out, "but-they don't know who-"

"Give it to me," Sandra demanded. "I will have a few choice words for those people!"

Morty stared at the young woman in shock. Everything felt in slow motion as he simply handed over the portal gun.

"Morty…" Bird Person cautioned, with unusual hesitation, "I would not-"

"How do you use this thing?" Sandra frowned down at the device.

"You-push in the coordinates-C137-" Morty heard himself-someone-saying in a voice even more monotone than Bird Person's, but he was too tired to stop them; he just wanted everything to be quiet, and go to sleep; he was exhausted.

"Got it." Sandra strode out of the hospital and into the darkness of the parking lot. Without hesitation she quickly punched in the correct coordinates, and almost immediately a green swirling portal appeared. Sucking in her breath, Sandra gritted her teeth and, with determination, she jumped through.