Yay! I got off work an hour early! :D Plot poochie is out on his walk so I have the whole place to myself for fifteen minutes-just enough time to post another chapter. ;) Get ready for some sick JOE! lol!

*Chapter Ten*

It was hot. He felt like his body had been thrown like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the blazing furnace. Pushing the covers off of his heaving chest, he tried to escape the torturous heat, but a hand restrained him. The blankets were once again tucked under his chin; a cold cloth relieved him of the licking flames, but only for one brief, wonderful minute and then the heat returned.

"Off...get...it...off..." He murmured, trying to break loose from the vice-like grip pinning his aching right shoulder to the mattress.

"Easy, Joseph. Just take it easy; stop fighting me." He knew that voice, but didn't have the energy to open his eyes and see who it was. It hurt to think, it hurt to breath...

A hacking cough rumbled forth from his compressed chest. But he had no energy, and he nearly strangled himself before the icy hands pulled him into a sitting position and began pounding on his back. His shoulder ached abominably, but he didn't care; all he cared about was breathing again.

"Joe! Help me, Joe...I'm stuck down here!"

Danny? Why was he...

Of course! They were both still stuck down in that hell-hole of a well. Why oh why had he not listened to Pa?

"Pa...Pa, please! Help me, Pa. OH, GOD IN HEAVEN, HELP ME!"

Nothing.

Joe called a bit louder—straining his ears for an answer that did not come. His hair lay plastered to his pale forehead and sweat refused to form on the superheated skin.

Suddenly, a dreadful shadow filled his mind; Little Joe felt the panic rising within him along with the fever.

"Dannyyyy?" Another cough bubbled up inside him, but it was no use; he was drowning and there was nothing he—or anyone else—could do about it.

Children obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right. Honor your father and mother—which is the first commandment with a promise—that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land...Pa was quoting the scripture verse again in that stern voice of his.

"Pa...Pa...please, I'm sorryyyyy..."

It may be for years and it may be forever... Ben had no idea why the verse from Kathleen Mavourneen sneaked into his brain, but it seemed oddly appropriate as he waited for Doc Martin to exit his youngest's room. It had been Joe's favorite song since the first time he heard a drifter sing it and now Ben could not stop the mournful tune from echoing in his mind. Closing his eyes, he slowly slid down the wall until he was in a sitting position, his head buried in his hands.

It may be for years and it may be forever...

"Pa...Pa, please! Help me, Pa. OH GOD IN HEAVEN, HELP ME!" Little Joe's scream cut through the silence of the house and Ben bolted to his feet, threw back the door and charged into the sickroom.

What he saw made his heart stop. Joe's hair was a mess of damp curls. A wet cloth that had been used to cool his forehead now lay discarded on the bed and his face was contorted in pain as he tried to take in a rattling breath. Ben nearly recoiled from the wraith-like figure that his son had become Joe was paler than death, his once bright green eyes were now sunken deep in their sockets and a dribble of spittle slid down his chin.

"Ben! Get out of here!" Doc Martin struggled to turn his patient onto his side.

"Pa...Pa...please, I'm soryyyyy..." Ignoring the doctor's order, he rushed towards the bed and helped Paul roll the boy over.

"Shhhh...Son, of course I forgive you, rest now...rest." It seemed as if Joe heard his father's words, for he no longer jerked away from the two men. His breathing slowed considerably\ and without knowing what he was doing, Ben began to sing the familiar words, "Kathleen Mavourneen, the grey dawn is breaking..."

I can honestly say that I've been sick but not THAT sick-or at least not that I can remember. Geez! This chapter looked so huge on Openoffice and now it is so miniscule here! Oh well...drat! Plot poochie is back! I better hit post before he catches me! :O Please review, pretty please!