A Voyager in need

Chapter 4: See you again, Ducky

Phineas woke up to cheerful music and laughter. He remained still. His body felt a harsh strain from the rigorous work he'd done the other day. Looking around, he realized that Jeffrey and Lilly weren't on the quilts. He forced himself up and washed his face from the bowl of warm water and soap the bartender provided. He approached the center of the bar astonished. The engaging music came from Lilly. She was playing the piano, surrounded by everyone else in the saloon. Jeffrey waved him to come, he was caught up in the merriment. Phineas pulled out a chair next to Jeffrey and Lilly winked at him.

"A kiss on the hand may be quite continental, but diamonds are a girl's best friend! A kiss may be grand but it won't pay the rental on your humble flat, or help you at the automat. Men grow cold as girls grow old and we all lose our charms in the end. But square-cut or pear-shaped these rocks don't lose their shape! Diamonds are a girl's best friend!'

'What is she doing?' Phineas thought. He went to the piano and closed the lid, abruptly ending her song. Everyone booed him away.

"Oh, that's the flop from last night! Come to ruin the party again!" Phineas turned at the insult and saw the bar women making faces at him. The blonde one who helped Lilly find a dress was the culprit. "Why don't you step aside and let her finish, bright eyes. We love her songs!"

Phineas ignored her and knelt down to Lilly. "Lilly! What's going on here? You know as well as I do that these songs are from the twentieth century. You can't mess with history like this. Didn't they teach you that in class? It's one thing to stay in a time-zone and recuperate, it's another to make yourself known and…"

Lilly grinned lopsided, her eyes were oddly glazed over. "I know, Ducky! 'The Butterfly effect.' C'mon, I'm just having fun. Don't be a grouch. Move it or lose it, I want to finish the song."

She pushed him aside and turned to the crowd. "Sorry! My…brother is such a party pooper! I got more songs in me! Tons!"

"Then keep on playin' doll face!" A cowboy yelled from the back.

Lilly struck up a few chords and continued the Marilyn Monroe tune. The saloon started jumping again. Her frothy music was helping everyone take their minds off the epidemic. Phineas rolled his eyes and joined Jeffrey to eat some breakfast. As soon as her next song ended she bounded to the table. She happily buttered up her toast and dipped it in her eggs. Her whole demeanor was playful and frenzied.

"Just yesterday you were in torture and pain, now you're hopping around like Bozo the clown, what happened?" Phineas wondered.

Lilly leaned over and played with his hair and then laughed aloud again. She slammed the table. "Bozo the clown! That's a good one! Well Ducky, remember the little yellow packets the doctor gave you?"

"Oh no, you didn't!" Phineas patted down his back pockets, they were both gone.

"Oh yes I did, sugar buns! Half the fun was trying to get them off you! Why were you holding out on me? That stuff is great! I mean, I know all about drugs being bad, Just say No, and I'm not addicted, but I really needed something and it worked so fast. It's…it's…medicinal. I feel wonderful!" She slurred with giggles.

Lilly motioned to get up and dance, but Phineas held her down. "Lilly, what do you think is gonna happen when it wears off? Your putting wear and tear on the wound and it won't heal right. Now relax and stop with the modern songs, we can't stay here much longer. Give me the other packet."

Lilly swatted his coat and pursed her lips like an angry little girl. She dug into the front of her shirt and threw it at him. "Okay, Phineas, I know. You're the seasoned Voyager and I'm the rookie." She playfully nudged him over and over until he pushed her hand away. "Wasn't there ever a time you broke the rules a bit?"

Jeffrey choked on his orange juice and Phineas gave him a dirty look.

"You mean is there ever a time he doesn't break the rules! C'mon on, Bogg, Babe Ruth, I taught you to pitch 1982 style and what happened? They were taking your picture for the morning paper!"

"Jeffrey! That was a red light zone, it was necessary to help…"

"Bogg, give it up! Remember Pearl Harbor and Jackie? First we had to stop her from getting lost in space and later she let us take the army vehicle back to 1860 to help Bill Cody and the Pony Express!"

Lilly looked at Phineas amazed and she wagged her finger. "Tsk! Tsk! Ducky, talk about a butterfly effect! I wonder how many people in history have seen you disappear too?"

Jeffrey was about to answer again and Phineas gave him a warning gaze. "We can't leave you until the morphine wears off and you can get around on that leg again."

"Oh, yes you can. I mean…you don't have to…but I saw Calamity. She told me I can stay at her place until I'm better. She invited us all to stay. I think she likes you, Ducky. Calamity is a woman of the world. She's been around the block a few times like those charming ladies over there, she told me so."

"Will you quit it with the Ducky stuff! And do you mind? There's a kid here. We have to leave. Jeff and I actually have a job to do."

Lilly's mood shifted and she seized his collar. "And you don't think I don't? I'm sorry I got injured, but I can't go back to VHQ for this. They'll pull me right out of the field. What would they think? One month on the job and boom, hurt already! I can't lose this position. I love it and I do take my work very seriously."

Lilly slumped in her chair, tears pooled in her eyes. "I know I'm a lousy Voyager, but I'll get better, I just started."

Phineas gave her a quick hug. "Lilly, we never called you a lousy Voyager, don't think that about yourself. You were trained by the best and they wouldn't have chosen you in the first place if they didn't see certain qualities right for the job. You have to believe that, okay?"

Lilly smiled through her tears, she was still clinging to him. "Okay, you know you're not as bad as I was starting to think Duc…Phineas."

"Thanks. I'm not bad at all. Okay…okay.…all right, Lilly!" He had to shake her off his neck when she started to kiss it and Jeffrey laughed.

Phineas sat back and lifted the glass to his lips. "I'll drink to that! Looks like we'll be spending another full day inside this saloon, we might as well get comfortable."

Jeffrey was finished with his breakfast. "Why don't we play some cards or something? C'mon, Bogg, show her how Schnibbits is done!"

~O~

Throughout the afternoon, Phineas and Jeffrey put up with Lilly's crazy antics and mood swings. At one point the bar women dolled her up, coloring the light brown beauty mole on her cheek a deep black and rouging her lips and cheeks. Phineas promptly washed it off her before she could begin her new 'career.' She beat Phineas twice in poker and played a game of Tequila Cruda with some of the cowboys. When Phineas and Jeffrey returned from chopping firewood, he saw them all licking salt off the back of their hands, downing straight shots of whiskey, and sucking on lemons. Lilly was winning.

Within the next hour, Lilly's constitution severely gave way. Her face went pallid and she ran to the washroom, holding her mouth. She threw herself on the floor and puked violently in a bucket. Phineas was right on her tail. She begged him to leave her alone.

"Puh...puh...please…just go away! This is so gross!" She cried out. Her stomach heaved again and she dipped her head to let out more vomit.

"I'm not going anywhere until you're done! Bat's breath! I knew this was gonna happen. Now don't let it sit in your stomach, use those two fingers!" He ordered.

Phineas stayed vigilant at her side, making sure she removed the morphine and alcohol from her system. At one point she became so faint her head nearly fell into the mess, but Phineas held it erect. He grabbed a towel and wiped her mouth each time more came up.

Lilly wasn't sure how long she'd been stooped over that bucket, but when her stomach felt empty she collapsed in his arms and cried. Phineas stroked her hair until she was able to calm down and control the shaking.

"Okay, okay, it's over. The worst is…out. You're gonna be fine, Lilly. I'm here."

He helped her wash up and put her on the quilts in the corner. After sponging the sweat from her brow and treating her wound, Phineas lay next to her. He kept an eye on Jeffrey. He was fine and was occupied talking and playing games with other kids.

Lilly tapped him with a weak smile and pointed to the upstairs rooms. "Hey you, don't get too cozy around here, they were flipping coins over who'll try to seduce you first! That blonde with the acne actually had the nerve to use a two headed coin!"

Phineas laughed wryly. "Well, that could've easily been avoided if you'd stuck to the story that I was your husband and not your brother."

"Sorry, I was irritated. Just watch out, you don't want to make a bad impression on Jeffrey."

"The kid and I do just fine. I'm trying to be a good role-model, but it's a struggle."

"I know, really. Keep it up. Jeff's a great kid with so many sweet qualities, you don't want him to lose that." She murmured. Lilly stroked his hand and he caressed hers. She pulled it away with an affectionate look and fell asleep.

~O~

By the time Phineas and Jeffrey left the saloon with Lilly, she felt extreme pain in her leg again and gave way to aggravated tears. Phineas made sure that Jeffrey was covered inside the wagon, in case he was exposed to any smallpox germs. He didn't care that Jeffrey insisted he'd had all his vaccination shots before school started.

Anyone who had to walk around town wore a kerchief over their mouth and Phineas did the same. He tried to hold back his tears as he saw families crying and mourning their dead loved ones. Covered bodies of all sizes were brought out and put onto a Prairie Schooner wagon. The Sheriff of Deadwood decided that they must be cremated far from town to kill the spread of the disease. There was no time for proper goodbyes and burials.

Phineas pulled up to Calamity's house by nightfall, she was expecting them and had dinner prepared. Phineas and Jeffrey ate quick and claimed they had to get out of the town soon. Nobody argued with that. Phineas also warned Calamity in private to be very frugal if she decided to use the morphine.

After their goodbyes, the Voyagers stood on the porch. The falling snow was exceptionally picturesque against the rugged landscape. Lilly gazed ahead serenely. She leaned on the doorway and kept a violet shawl draped over her arms. Phineas admired her profile as the soft light from inside cast a warm radiance around her.

"I really appreciate the help you both gave me. I'm sorry for all the trouble I put you through."

Lilly couldn't meet Phineas' eyes when she recalled her vomiting incident, but he'd made no further mention of it. Phineas Bogg had seen her at her absolute worst – ratted hair, dirty clothes, no makeup, puffy, bloodshot eyes, sweaty and spewing her guts. Through it all, he remained a complete gentleman and he never once backed away disgusted or made jokes at her expense afterward. He was just relieved that the morphine and alcohol mix didn't have a more adverse affect on her. She quickly changed the subject.

"Calamity's a rough and tough gal, but I don't know where we'd be if you hadn't come. What brought you to this time-zone anyway?"

"I don't know for sure." Phineas answered. "We had a run-in with some Tahitian natives and I turned the omni for any time zone without looking. It just happened to be here. Are you sure you wanna stay, I mean Calamity's a bit of a…"

"Profanity spewing drunk? I know that, there's truth to all the rumors. But she was also renowned for her kindness. I'll be fine. I'll be leaving her as soon as I can. It's still a green-light zone, and changes are happening as we speak. I can't let Headquarters know this. Promise me you won't tell them." She pleaded and he cracked a big smile.

He snapped his finger. "I was just about to write my dissertation for the Tribunal as soon as we left! Thanks for reminding me."

Lilly came closer and elbowed him. "You wouldn't dare!"

"I dare a lot, Lilly, but don't worry, your secret is safe with us."

Lilly grinned, then hugged Jeffrey and kissed him on the head. "Don't cut that hair or do any strange things to it!" She admonished.

"Okay, Lilly! This will be my permanent style. I think it fits in most time zones, like Bogg's pirate clothes."

Lilly hugged Phineas tight and just as she pulled away, he kissed her on the lips. The sweet moment passed before either could fully react. Lilly looked down and Phineas stepped away, opening his omni. However, the blush on their cheeks were evident.

"Uhh, hang on Jeff. Lilly, it's been quite a voyage. I wish you the best out there. Take care of yourself." Phineas swallowed hard as he looked into her eyes.

She gave him a pat on the arm. "I'll do the best I can. You too. Hey Jeff, look out for him okay? He's a troublemaker." She winked.

"Will do, Lilly. I don't let him get away with anything." He said seriously, but then melted into laughter.

"Maybe I'll see you again, Ducky."

"Well, only if I happen to waddle to your time-zone, darling Lilly." Phineas grinned.

Jeffrey knew exactly what was happening between them and he dug his fingers into Phineas' arm. "Bogg, we should go before Calamity sees us leave."

"Oh…right! Bye, Lilly."

Phineas pushed his omni and they took off. Lilly stood on the porch wistful. She definitely wouldn't mind seeing them again, but for now, she needed to heal and get back into the infinite field voyaging.