The next night, Sam sat with his father.
"Dad, if you can hear me, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for what I said to you earlier. I was just so mad and you just didn't want to listen to me. I feel that you never care about what I say unless it has to do with work. But right now I don't care. Just please dad don't die on me. Please," Sam pleaded tears now flowing freely down his face.
Later that night, Octavius came over and checked on the railroad. It seemed to be doing fine, so he went to see how Jed was doing. When he went into the tent Sam was getting ready to give Jed some of the tea.
"How is he?" Octavius asked.
"Still the same," Sam said, "Will you help me give him the tea?"
"Sure. What do you want me to do?" Octavius asked.
"Hold him up while I give it to him," Sam said.
Octavius knelt by Jed and held him off the bed so Sam could give him the tea. After they were done, Octavius laid Jed back down
Sitting on the other bed Sam played with a button on his shirt. Sensing that he was being watched, "Is there something you need Octavius?"
"No, not at I just wanted to check in to see how things were," the general stated. "Oh and Octavia wanted to know how you were."
"I am fine," Sam replied. "Just fine."
"Are you-."
"I am fine, no, I am better than fine I'm great!" Sam spat sarcastically.
"Okay. Don't bite my head off," Octavius said.
"Sorry. But I am fine. How is the railroad?" Sam asked.
"Its fine," Octavius said, "Sam why don't you go find Octavia and go out for awhile."
"No I need to stay here with my Pa," Sam said.
"I will watch Jedidiah. You go," Octavius said.
"No! I left Pa once and he almost died! I'm not leaving again!" Sam yelled.
"Alright. I'll be in Rome if you need me," Octavius said.
Leaving Octavius spotted his daughter, "Octavia what are you doing out of the Empire?"
"I finished my work I was going to see Sam," she answered.
Taking her arm, "I don't think that is a good idea, he is not in the best mood."
"But, that is just because he is worried about Jedidiah," Octavia replied. "Don't worry, I will talk to him."
With that she walked to the tent.
Octavia walked into the tent and saw Sam by his father's side. Jed was still out. Sweat drenched his clothing and he trembled slightly. His blonde hair a little tangled.
"Hi Sam," Octavia said walking over and kneeling by him.
"Hey Octavia," Sam said.
"How is he?" Octavia asked.
"Still the same," Sam said.
They sat in silence for awhile. The only sound was the sound of Jedidiah's raspy breaths.
"Sam why don't you and I go out and get away from all this for awhile," Octavia said.
"No I'm not leaving my pa," Sam said.
"Please Sam. You are not fine. You need to get out and get your mind off things," Octavia said.
"No! I'm not leaving him!" Sam yelled.
Trying to keep calm, "Sam, I know how you are feeling truly, I do. But sooner or later you are going to have to come out!"
Gritting his teeth, "Like I told your father and you. I will not leave him, and anyways how would you know what it felt like to have your only family close to death! You know nothing!" Sam yelled.
"No Sam! You are the one who knows nothing!" Octavia screamed as she began to storm out of the tent. Before she left the tent she looked at Sam tears swelling in her eyes. "I know what feels like to lose your family, Sam, my mother was ill for a long time. I was nine." With that she left not turning back.
Breathing heavily Sam dug his finger nails into scalp. "How could I say that to her?" Sam cried.
"Say what?" Said a weak voice. Turning Jedidiah laid his eyes barely open.
"Pa," Sam said as he rushed over to Jed, "How do you feel?"
"Tired. Little cold," Jed replied.
Sam pulled off the blanket from the other bed and wrapped it around Jed.
"Do you need anything?" Sam asked.
"No not at the moment. Now you said what to who?" Jed asked weakly.
"I'll explain it later. Right now you need to rest and no arguments," Sam said.
Jed didn't even want to argue. He fell back asleep.
The next night Sam knew he had to make things right with Octavia; he felt awful about what he said to her. And even though he was nervous about leaving Jedidiah with someone else he knew it was somehow for the best. "Thanks a lot Mary for watching my dad for me," Sam said.
"No problem," Mary stated sitting down on the other bed.
"Now every hour give him the tea and pills," he stated. "Though if he is still sleeping like now, you won't have much trouble with him."
Shaking her head, "Don't worry about a thing he will be fine."
"Okay, I will be right next door in Rome so if anything happens you know where to find me," the boy said placing his cowboy hat on. "Goodness I know I'm forgetting something!"
Pushing the boy out, "You have forgotten nothing, but the way out! Now go, go get your girl back."
Sam nervously climbed into the Rome exhibit and walked over to Octavius.
"Um...Octavius is Octavia around?" Sam asked nervously.
"Well she is pretty upset with you right now and so am I. But I will give you one chance to apologize," Octavius said, "She is over at the fountain."
Sam went over to the fountain and found Octavia staring into the water.
"Penny for your thoughts," Sam said.
Octavia turned around and saw Sam.
"What do you want?" she asked.
"Hoping to apologize and say I was a total jerk," Sam said.
"I hope you have a lot of time on your hands, for you will be apologizing for awhile," the Roman girl responded. Returning to looking in the fountain.
Sitting next to her, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm--."
"What are you doing?"
"You said I would be apologizing for awhile so I thought I would start now, so...Where was I? Oh yes! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry--."
Covering his mouth with her hands, "I think I understand," Octavia giggled, "You are sorry."
"I am extremely sorry, for not listening to you, for speaking to you that way," Sam said. "I am sorry."
Smiling, "I forgive you," with that they kissed.
Sam and Octavia walked hand in hand over to Octavius.
"So I think it is safe to say you two have made up?" Octavius asked.
"Yes father," Octavia said.
"Oh by the way my father woke up yesterday. He seems to be fine," Sam said.
"Well let's go see him," Octavius said.
They made their way back to the Frontier.
When they got inside there stood Mary her hands on her hips, "You will take this medicine Mr. Smith!"
"I don't need it," Jedidiah stated.
"Pa!" Sam exclaimed. While Octavia and Octavius stood over next to the other bed. "You need to take your medicine!"
"Sam," he said weakly but still with command. "I don't need that medicine! When I was your age I never took medicine!"
Glaring at him, "Jed you need to take your medicine have you not learned that already?" Octavius stated.
"Octavius what are you doing here?" Jed asked.
"To see you. Now do you remember what happened the last time?" Octavius asked.
"Not really," Jed replied.
"Well you almost died. And I'm serious. The doctor had to use CPR to bring you back. Now either take the medicine or this time you might actually die," Octavius said.
Jed had a look of shock on his face.
"Fine. I'll take the stupid medicine," Jedidiah said.
Taking the tea and pills he took it all in. "There happy, everyone?" Jedidiah asked.