"This was before the new system...what was wrong with Kel's back? That's kind of strange almost the same thing happened again." Dr. Early interrupted the nurse. He poured himself another cup of coffee, then did the same for Dixie.
"Well, Kel injured it just like he did now...plus got a good bump on the head. I can't remember exactly where he injured it, but it was bad. He was in bed for weeks."
"How many?"
"A couple. I saw Kel when I could. Seemed like forever till he was up and running about again."
Joe Early smiled and shook his head. "How long did he have the head deal?"
"A few days after the accident…then he wanted out of bed, but every time he moved the pain came back. He told me that he feared he'd never be able to play again."
"But you told him otherwise?" Joe grinned.
Dixie nodded. "He didn't believe me though."
"So from where you left off?"
"Okay, so we drove him to the hospital…"

-
Once at the hospital Kelly was taken to be examined while his parents waited nervously in the lobby. A few nurses came by and greeted Elizabeth McCall and asked why she was here, on her day off.
"I'm with some friends, their boy had an accident."
Dixie watched and listened in the seat, as she swung her feet back and forth. She looked nervously over at Blake who was sitting quietly still.
"Why don't you two sit down." Mr. McCall told the worrying couple.
Mrs. Brackett took the offer and sat down, but her husband remained standing, pacing back and forth with his hands set in his pockets.
"Mr. and Mrs. Brackett?" A blond-haired doctor asked as he stood in the doorway. Both parents hurried over to him.
"Well, Doc? How is he?" Julie Brackett was on the verge of panic.
"You both can relax. Your boy will be fine, just has got a back injury that will heal."
"So he is alright?" Dixie asked with joy bubbling up inside.
The doctor nodded and chuckled. "Though, he will have to stay in bed for a couple of weeks and take it easy. How did it happen?"
"He was climbing up the ladder and...uh, climbing down and he slipped and fell." Blake explained quickly.
"Can we see him?" Julia asked.
"Yes you may. I'm going to get a wheelchair." He stopped to say a quick hello to Dixie's mother before leaving to get a wheelchair.
The McCalls and Blake joined the Bracketts inside the examination room. Kel's eyes wandered from the window to his visitors. His lips formed a small smile. Julia leaned gently on the side of the table and put her hand on his cheek.
"How are you feeling?" She asked.
"He said I'd have to not move for a couple of weeks."
"Well, you're probably glad you won't have to go to school."
Kel grinned and nodded, but let out a groan as the pain began to come back.
"Just relax, okay." Mr. Brackett took a step towards his son.
"I don't want to lay here and do nothing." Kel complained, trying to control the tears which were threatening to escape and trying to ignore the pain.
The doctor came in with a wheel chair. He rolled it over to Kel, and his parents moved out of the way.
"Mr. Brackett can I have your help?"
Mr. Brackett nodded, "where do you want me?"
"To his feet. Okay, Kelly, this will hurt but we will be real careful."
Kel's blue eyes filled with fear as he braced himself for even worse pain than before. His fists were clenched and his shoulders were tense.
"Relaxe, Kelly. It's okay." The doctor said smoothly and laid a reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder.
Kel was in the chair in no more than a second. He covered his eyes as the tears slid down his face. He didn't have the strength to ask the guy why he was calling him 'Kelly'. Mr. Brackett took hold of the handles and rolled his son out , while Mrs. Brackett got his clothes.
"Thank you, doctor."
"You're welcome. Follow me to this room over here."
"Doctor, his head is also injured. I forgot to tell you with the back pain and all...but he thinks he's someone else." Mrs. Brackett spoke up, she had forgotten to tell the doctor.
"Someone else? Who is this someone else?"
"I have never heard of him...but-"
"It's his imaginary character he made up for himself. We were playing it when he fell." Dixie reported quickly.
The doctor nodded thoughtfully.
"I've had a few of those cases in the past, the patient eventually recovered. Never had it happen to a child though. At least it will be less stressful. With adults if they think they are someone else...they will try to do what that person does. Most of the time they don't obey orders and we have to keep them under restraint. But with a child, their imaginary character, one they made up, will do what the child wants them to do...I'm not sure if that's a good hypothesis, but it's what I can assume."
"It makes a little sense, I guess." Mr. Brackett nodded, still not too sure what the doctor had just said.
"In other words, I think people act more like the character if they see or read about them...not if it's made up." The doctor tried to explain again.
"So there is nothing you can do?"
"Nope, sorry." The doctor shook his head. "Just need to keep him in bed and under surveillance." He smiled.
"Yes, sir." Mrs. Brackett smiled in return and looked at her son who was still hiding his eyes from the people around him. "Why does he have to move?"
"He needs to go to a room instead of an examination room. Much more comfortable." The doctor smiled warmly at the worried looking mother. "He's a strong boy."
"Just, it looked like it hurt."
"Honey, Kel is okay, now...once he's in his bed then he will be fine."
"Couldn't he come home?"
"Mrs. Brackett, his back is injured and we need to make sure it gets better, he will be let out in a few days, then there will be more days in bed at home. Plus, since we are not familiar with this type of head injury we will have to keep him. He is a good example."
"You're not going to use him as one of your...testing things." Mr. Brackett turned on the doctor, eyes flaring up with anger. The doctor blinked in shock.
"I'm sorry." Kel's father lowered his head. "I just don't like the idea-"
"It will help other people."
"Honey, it's okay. What if some other child gets the same? What then?"
"Okay, okay." Mr. Brackett sighed and squeezed his wife's hand.
"I'll be here. He's in good company, too." Mrs. McCall noted.
Kel looked at each face as they spoke. He didn't like what he was hearing. His eyes traveled over to Dixie and the other boy with her. Who was that other boy? He looked familiar.
"Kel!"
A shake of the arm made Kel look away. He frowned at the man in front of him.
"Did you here my question?"
The boy shook his head.
"Are you okay with us leaving you here?"
"Leave? By my self?"
Mr. Brackett could tell if his son was unsure and his wife nudged his shoulder. He glanced at her and she shook her head.
"I mean, we're just going to step out of this room."
"Can mama stay?" He asked.
"I got to go, Kel."
"Why does everyone call me that? Who do you think I am?" Kel's confused mood quickly turned to anger, tears began to stream down his face.
"Easy, K-Jess. I'm sorry, we don't mean to call you that." His mother soothed him, wiping the tears off his cheeks.
"Make it stop, Mama. Please?" Kel whimpered and looked up pleadingly at his mother.
"What stop, Jess?"
"The pain...my back...it hurts so bad." The boy sobbed harder, his breath catching every now and then.
The doctor gave the boy something and he soon fell asleep. His features were soft and peaceful, and his hands were still tight inside his mother's.
"We'll bring over a pair of his pajamas." Mr. Brackett stated and guided his wife out the door.
Dixie lowered her head, she felt so bad that her friend was in so much pain. She wanted to stay with him, what if he woke up before his parents got back?
"Can I stay here?" She asked.
"Dixie we need to go home, your sister is all alone and dinner is still out. But, you can go back with the Bracketts I guess."
"Okay! Thank you!" Dixie hugged her mother.
"Can I come?" Blake asked.
"You can ask your parents." They told the anxious looking boy and walked out of the hospital.