~Four year old Ruby in hospital~

                                                                        ~Ruby's P.O.V~

That night as I went to bed, I looked over at Johnny who was asleep in the toy box with his legs sicking out. I don't know how he could sleep like that, but after the evening I had with him, I decided not to wake him. I fell asleep dreaming about how Johnny B. Badd and I came to be friends.

                                                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was just four years old and I was in the hospital for an operation to get my tonsils out. I was scared and confused. My parents stayed by my side the whole time, but I didn't want to let them know I was scared, I wanted to be brave. But it was hard...

"Can I go for a walk?" I asked my parents.

"Sure" said my mommy, she handed me my stand that held my I.V medicine, we called it my buddy. "Take your buddy with you" she said. 

I did and walked around holding it. I walked the halls of the hospital wishing I could talk to someone about how scared I was for the operation.

Then I felt like someone was watching me, I turned saw someone hiding behind a janitor's cart.

I walked up to the cart and saw a teenage boy with a leather jacket. His eyes looked big and innocent, but he had a mischievous smirk on his lips.

"Hey, Red!" he greeted me.

"Huh?"

"Your hair, it's red, I think that's what I'll call you from now on" he said.

"Are you visiting someone?" I asked skeptical.

"Yeah, you!" he said "You wished for someone to talk to about your operation, right?"

I nodded, slowly.

"Well, now you got someone to talk to!" he said "I'm your imaginary friend and only you can see or hear me!"

"Really?" I smiled.

"Really" he confirmed.

"What do I call you?"

"I don't know" he shrugged "make up a name for me!"

"Uh... you kinda look like a Johnny?"

A nurse walked by us, she was dragging and yelling at a crying little boy who didn't want to take his medicine. When the nurse passed by, Johnny shoved the janitor cart right into the nurse, who fell over. The little boy ran away, giggling.

"That was a very bad thing to do!" I protested.

He smirked "I guess I like being bad."

"That's what your name will be!" I pointed.

"Johnny-I-guess-I-like-being-bad?" he asked.

I giggled "No, silly! Johnny B. Badd!"

"Hmm? I like it!" he smiled "I can't spell it though?"

"That's okay, I'm still learning how to read and write too" I nodded knowingly.

We walked to the hospital play room and colored together. I was coloring a princess and Johnny was coloring a motorcycle. 

"So why are you so scared for the operation?" he asked, reaching for the red crayon.

"Because it's my first time and it's scary!" I said "My mommy and daddy can't even come in the room with me when they put me to sleep! And what if I don't wake up after... like sleeping beauty?"

He gave me a look of sympathy. "Well... what if I stayed beside you during the operation, that way I could stay because your the only one who can see me, remember?"

"You would do that?" I asked.

"Yeah! And I'll even stay when they put you to sleep, no matter how scary the operation gets!" he vowed.

"Okay!" I said happily "But wait, what if I don't wake up like sleeping beauty?"

"Then I'll wake you up with a kiss" he joked.

"EWWW! No thanks! I'd rather kiss a frog!" I said.

He gave me an annoyed look. "Fine!" he said "I hope that frog gives you warts!" he stuck out his tongue at me.

I stuck out my tongue at him and we shared a smile.

That afternoon they were rolling me into the operating room, Johnny walked beside me holding my hand the whole way. The doctors and nurses were all wearing blue masks and white shower caps. I gulped, feeling my heart beat getting faster.

Johnny brushed my bangs out of my face the way my mommy and daddy did. 

"It's okay" he whispered "That's just so they don't get sick too."

I nodded slightly.

"Okay, next their going to put a funny mask on you... like on Halloween" Johnny explained to me "only this one will only cover your nose and face, just breathe into it and you'll be fine." 

I blinked as they put the mask on me.

"Breathe" he said softly "I'm right here now and I'm gonna be here when you wake up." he smiled...

...His smile was the last thing I saw before I passed out.

When I woke up, sure enough, there he was there in my hospital room my parents were sleeping in the arm chairs to my right. Johnny was smiling at me from the left.

"Hey, how are ya feelin'?" he asked.

I opened my mouth to speak, but he put a finger to his lips and shushed me. "The doctor said you can't talk for a few days" he explained "thumbs up or down?" he demonstrated with his thumb.

I gave him a thumbs up.

"Glad to hear it" he smiled. "Hey, how many of the thirty-two flavors of ice cream have you tried?" he asked.

I had only tried chocolate and vanilla, so I held up two fingers.

He looked at me shocked. "Only that many?" he asked.

I shrugged.

"Well, I heard the nurse say that you can have all the ice cream you want, to help you throat."

I smiled.

"But you have to rest first" he said "so go back to sleep."

I pouted.

"Don't worry I'm not going anywhere for a long, long time" he said.

I nodded understanding.

"Now go back to sleep!" he ordered playfully "I want ice cream!"

I smiled and went back to closing my eyes and dozing off.

AN: This chapter was inspired by two things: how Johnny volunteers as Captain Jack Sparrow at kids hospitals! And how I was in the hospital for a couple of weeks as a three year old! Comments please!