Title: Outbreak of Fear
Chapter: 7
Author: squeezynz@free.net.nz
Universe: Land of the Giants
Rating: PG, Adventure
Archive: just let me know where, please
Feedback: cherished and adored
Spoilers: Nope
Disclaimer: all IA's, and the actors, no money, no fowl, no fair

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" It's not fit for a dog to be out in this weather," Tiron muttered, wiping the fog of the inside of his windscreen for the umpteenth time. The windscreen wipers were going at full speed and barely coping with the drizzle being thrown at the car. The air was full of leaves and dirt and broken branches, the wind buffeting the car and making it sway as he crawled along the back road to his house. He had already put his lights on although it was only late afternoon. " Just one more stop and I can go home," he told himself, peering ahead, trying to pierce the swirling clouds of mist and drizzle that slashed across an exposed piece of the road. He slowed even more, feeling the gust of wind pushing at his car as it inched its way forward. A sudden gust and a loud crack signalled a tree coming down over the road, right in front of Tiron's car. He braked sharply, skidding slightly as the tyres slewed on the greasy surface. The tree bounced as it hit the ground the branches waving madly. Tiron lurched forward as the car stopped, his belt stopping him inches from the steering wheel, then he flopped back, glasses askew and regarded his near miss.

" I'm not going to get to see Mrs.Parteon's bunion after all, what a shame," he muttered to no-one in particular. Putting the car in neutral, he attempted to exit the car only to find a branch jammed against the drivers door. Realising just how close he was to the tree, Tiron put the car into reverse and slowly backed away, doing a couple of turns and ending up facing the way he'd come. This time when he stopped the car he didn't bother to get out, it was simply a waste of time, he couldn't go forward to his next house-call, so he'd might as well go home. Karla would be there by now to go over the patients records and type up his notes, so why not get out of this storm and sample Karla's homely fussing. Since his wife had died he'd come to value Karla's care, tonight would be a night to let fate take a hand. Doctor Tiron took one last look at the fortuitous tree and headed home.

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Karla entered the front room and switched on the light. Rastus snuck in behind her and ran over to the table, jumping up before Karla could stop him, pressing his nose to the bars in an attempt to push through and get at the tasty morsels inside. The Little People were scrabbling to get as far from the cats nose as possible, and Karla grabbed at Rastus, finding only fur in her fingers as he leaped off the table back to the floor and fled out the door. Karla walked back and shut the door to obviate any further interruptions. Pulling up the chair she sat down and regarded her tiny prisoners.

The man in the red suit, now only wearing his trousers and t-shirt, looked decidedly grey, his arm, still cradled against his chest, looking swollen and discoloured. It was obviously broken, but that hadn't stopped him getting to his feet when the cat had threatened them. The other man, and women had also risen, standing protectively around the injured man. Karla decided to take pity on them.

" I could set and dress that arm for you, would you let me ?"

The man in red, looking ready to faint from the pain, spoke.

" My name is Steve, these people are Mark and Valerie, what's your name ?"

" Oh, its Karla, I'm Doctor Tiron's nurse,"

" Karla I would love for you to take care of this arm for me, its hurting like the blue blazes," Steve gasped, his face going even whiter.

" If I open the cage door, do you promise not to run ?" Karla asked, watching the reactions of the Little People.

" I don't think I could run if I wanted to," Steve responded, the other two just stood near him, offering no assurance but not looking like they'd leave without him either.

" Okay, I'll carry the cage to the surgery, I'll try not to jolt it too badly, then I can give you something to dull the pain. Now brace yourselves as best you can."

The three in the cage grabbed at the bars, then Karla gently lifted the cage off the table and started towards the door. They all heard the sound of the front door opening, and Karla reached for the door as it opened itself.

" Karla ?" Doctor Tiron spoke first.

" Oh Doctor, you did surprise me, I was just going to the surgery, you'll never guess what I found in your garden," Karla held up the cage. To his credit Tiron didn't react at all, except to express surprise at Karla's capturing the Little People. When he was told that Steve had a broken arm he quickly directed Karla to the surgery, taking off his coat and dropping his bag on the floor of the hallway. The nurse set the cage down on a bench top, then reached out and released the door catch, letting it swing wide. Steve eased himself away from the bars and stepped out, onto the bench surface. Karla immediately secured the catch to prevent Mark or Valerie getting out.

" You'd better come to the end of the bench, I'll get the gas to ease the pain," said Doctor Tiron, quickly creating a pad for Steve to lay down on. Karla got the bowl to make up the plaster for a cast, and helped Tiron connect the tubes to the gas tanks. Using the smallest mask they held it over Steve's head. He could hear the hiss of gas and felt the effects right away, his head swimming and his vision going black. Mark and Valerie watched from the cage, glad to see Steve's face relax as the gas took effect. As soon as they judged Steve to be well under, Tiron took his arm and examined it, finding the clean break. He straightened the arm carefully, then used some tiny sliver's of wood for a splint. With Karla's help they plastered the arm with minute strips of plaster bandage, until Steve's arm was coated from wrist to elbow. During all this Steve was completely relaxed, his face free of the pain. The whole operation only took half an hour, then Tiron took another gas tank, this time of oxygen, and held that over Steve's face. Steve came round in short order, surprised to find it all over and a new cast on his arm. He lifted it, and looked up into the faces of Tiron and Karla.

" Thank you....thank you,"

" You'll still experience some pain until the cast dries completely, so take great care with it, and don't try to lift anything or knock the cast for atleast a week. You didn't break the skin so there shouldn't be any infection, but I'll give you a broad spectrum antibiotic just to be on the safe side." Steve listened to all the instructions as Mark and Valerie looked on.

" Doctor....what are we going to do with these creatures ?"

" What do you think I should do with them ?" Tiron shot back, as he prepared the antibiotic solution.

" I....I don't know, I've always understood them to be enemy aliens, but they don't really live up to that, do they ?"

" No Karla, they don't really seem to be a threat, in fact I think it's really the other way round," Tiron responded, trying to gauge her reaction to the unusual situation. He had faith that Karla's compassion would win out of her loyalty to "the state". At least, he hoped so.

" I suppose...." Karla started, " I suppose we could let them go ?"

Tiron let go a sigh of relief, his faith had been justified. He turned to give Karla a wide grin of pleasure.

" Thank you Karla, don't be cross, but I think you should know, this isn't the first time I've met these small people."

Karla's mouth dropped open in surprise.

" I treated Mark and Valerie for gas poisoning, they have been here most of the week."

Karla still hadn't managed to get a word out, her dumbfounded expression sufficient.

" They were in the spare room, upstairs," Tiron explained. Karla finally found her voice.

" Of course, that's why you locked it...I did wonder," Her face fell, " why didn't you trust me enough to tell me ?"

"It wasn't a matter of trust, I didn't want to get you involved in case there was any trouble," Tiron soothed, patting her on the arm.

" Well, now we have them here, how do we get them back to wherever they came from ?" asked the nurse, looking at the three faces watching them from the table.

" Doctor Tiron, Jubel was chased by some thugs, he tripped and dropped us, that's why we were trying to get back here when Karla found us. We don't know where he is, or if he's okay," said Steve.

" If you'll trust me, I'll take you all back to wherever you're camped, maybe I'll find Jubel as well," Tiron offered. He handed Steve a tiny vial to drink, after a moment hesitation Steve downed the lot, grimacing at the bitter taste.

" We can only tell you it was an abandoned farm, within walking distance for Jubel, from your house." Steve explained, getting to his feet. Karla was fashioning a tiny sling to support his arm, she passed it to him and helped him ease it over his head.

" I think I know where you mean, it's the same place you found those gas tank, of course, I do know it, is that where Jubel was holed up ?"

" Yes, in the barn,"

" Well, I think we should wait 'till morning, by then this storm should have blown itself out," Tiron suggested.

" We have another man here in the house, Dan, we don't know where he is but he's should be close by," Steve told them," and could you release Mark and Valerie ?"

" Of course, sorry, should have thought of that before," Tiron reached for the door of the cage and released the catch, Mark and Valerie stepped out and came over to where Steve stood.

" I'll go round the house and call for him, he knows me," said Tiron turning to go. Suddenly a voice shouted from the floor, looking down Tiron saw Dan standing next to the table leg.

" I heard everything, could you lift me up ?"

Tiron knelt down and put his hand palm up for Dan to climb onto, then he lifted him up and set him on the table near his friends. There was a brief, joyful reconciliation, then the Little People all turned to their Giant benefactors. Karla had been clearing away the bits and pieces used for setting the arm, but she soon came over and regarded their new charges.

" Where are we going to put you for the night, with Rastus around we can't leave you in the open," said Karla.

Doctor Tiron appeared to be deep in thought, rubbing his chin and obviously pondering the logistics of something.

" Do you have an idea Doctor Tiron ?" asked Steve.

" Well yes I do, but I don't want to offend you," Tiron replied cryptically.

" As long as its warm, dry and out of the wind, it'll be paradise," Valerie joked, winning a smile from the men around her.

" Well its certainly to your scale and very comfortable. My late wife had a hobby, she made doll-houses, completely furnished and equipped, but to your scale. They were considered works of art. I gave most of them to a museum after she passed away but I kept one, it's in the attic. Do you think it might do for the night ?"

" It sounds heavenly," said Valerie, exchanging a look with Mark.

" It certainly would be an honour, if you don't mind," said Steve, thinking of the possibility of a soft bed for once.

" I think it would do admirably Doctor, I'll get something to carry the Little People up there in, plus we'll need a few supplies, water, food et cetera," Karla bustled off, shutting the surgery door behind her.

" Looks like we landed on our feet again," said Dan in an aside to Steve. The two men exchanged relieved looks and settled themselves to wait for the nurses return. Doctor Tiron finished tidying up the surgery and went out to get his bag and hang up his coat.

Karla returned with a tray holding several intriguing articles, a small container of water, a tiny bottle cap containing food and several other items.

" Climb on board, I'll carry you up the stairs, the Doctor has gone on ahead to check out the house and keep Rastus from following us. Come on, your transport awaits," said Karla, holding the tray close to the table edge for easy access.

The four friends walked onto the tray and settled down for the ride. Karla carried them carefully out from the surgery and up the first flight of stairs, then the second flight up to the attic, via a narrow set of steps.

In the attic they found Doctor Tiron regarding an ornate dolls house, standing on its own plinth set on a table top. The house had been covered by a cloth that the Doctor held in one hand, standing there staring down at his late wife's consuming passion. Karla set the tray down and held it while the four Little People stepped off and approached the house. A single light bulb illuminated the shadowy attic, casting odd shadows over the sides of the house, making crazy patterns from the ornate gables and fret-work. Tiron's eye's looked suspiciously moist and he blinked to clear his vision. Karla unloaded the rest of the items on the tray and stepped back, tucking the tray under her arm. Tiron sniffed and turned his attention to the people waiting patiently in front of the house.

" It's all complete, I've kept it covered so it shouldn't be too dusty, there is a power switch inside the front door, for activating the ground floor lights, there's another on the second floor for those lights too. There isn't any running water, of course, but the sinks will hold water, and the utensils are all useable. The furniture is hand made and very sturdy so don't be afraid to use the chairs and other things. Do you think it will do ?"

" Doctor Tiron, its marvellous, your wife was very talented," said Steve, peering into the windows.

" She was, very. I'll leave you now, I'll check that Rastus is kept downstairs until the morning and we'll discuss how best to get you back where you belong then," Tiron concluded.

Valerie had gone up the front steps to the porch and approached the front door. She grasped the handle and pulled, finding the door easy to open. The other three followed her, after collecting the supplies Karla had left them, Steve turning to wave to Tiron and Karla as they left the attic. Tiron switched off the overhead light, leaving the house softly glowing in the darkened room. Steve shut the front door of the dolls house behind him and turned to survey the interior of the house.

Mark and Valerie had entered the first room on the right, Dan and Steve followed. They found a pretty parlour decorated in what would have been early colonial style on Earth, there were small tables and a fireplace, ornate but comfortable looking armchairs and paintings, nicknacks and artificial flowers for decoration. Curtains hung as the windows, both lace and heavier velvet, and the floor had finely woven carpets with elaborate patterns.

" It's so surreal, as if we've stepped back in time," said Dan, picking up a china bowl displayed on a small side table. Everything appeared to be exactly to their scale, even the mirror above the fireplace, reflecting their careworn appearance in such sumptuous surroundings.

" I'm afraid to touch anything or sit on the chairs, in case I damage something," said Mark, turning slowly in the centre of the room, taking it all in.

" Let's check out the other rooms and the upper floor, I need to get my head down, it's starting to pound," Steve stated, the others quickly left the room and split up to investigate the rest of the rooms on the ground floor. They met back at the staircase to find Steve sitting on the bottom step, lines of weariness etching his face.

" There's a kitchen and laundry room at the back," Dan told them.

" I found a music room, complete with a piano, and music," said Valerie.

" I found a study with the walls lined with books. There's nothing in them, but the desk is a work of art," said Mark.

"Let's see what's upstairs, Dan, could you lead the way, I'll switch off the light down here if we've seen all there is to see," Steve waited until Dan had switched on the upstairs lights before turning the switch off for the downstairs. Then he joined them on the landing as they surveyed the doors opening off the upper hallway.

" I'll take the door on the left, Monty ," Dan joked, going to the second door and opening it. He found a pleasant bedroom with a single bed, the whole room done in tones of soft yellow and peach. The bed was covered in an embroidered coverlet and the pillows looked inviting.

" Guess I found my room," said Dan. Steve had tried the first door and found a similar room , also with a single bed that was all done in muted tones of blue and grey. The bed was the same as Dan's and Steve sat down gingerly on the edge of the mattress, pleased to find it was soft and springy. He lay back and stretched out, sighing with the pleasure of getting horizontal. He thought briefly of going downstairs and having some of the food to eat but his body decided for him. Before he had a chance to kick off his boots his eyes had closed and he was out cold. Dan, coming back to see how he was, finding him sprawled on the coverlet, his arm still in it's sling, his boots half off the bed.

" Just couldn't wait, could you Steve," Dan chided softly. He pulled Steve's worn boots off, and eased the sling over his head, releasing his arm, in its plaster cast, to lay flat on the bed. Then he folded the coverlet over Steve as best he could and left him there. Steve's only response was to turn slightly onto his injured side and snuggle into the pillows. Dan turned and left his Captain to sleep it off, closing the door behind him. He saw Valerie and Mark, further down the corridor, but decided to let them sort their own arrangements out, his own bed beckoning.

Valerie reached the next door after Dan's and found a small, but well equipped bathroom, complete with sink, bath, mirror and towels. She looked longingly at the bath but realised they would have no way of heating the water. A heavy sigh escaped her as she reluctantly turned her back on the small room. Further along Mark had reached the other door and had it open. Valerie quickly joined him and gasped when she saw the room in front of her. It was a dream come true.