Chapter 10
Phineas was feeling better by the minute, thanks to the oxygen and IV antibiotics he'd been given over the past 6 hours. He'd waited long enough, he had to start looking for Jeff. He'd been told there were police cruisers in front of the hospital and though he'd told them to move, they hadn't. He knew Jeffrey well enough to know that he could be outside right now, trying to figure out how to get in. If he saw Bogg, he'd know it was okay.
So, he climbed out of bed, pulled the IVs out and the oxygen off, and got dressed. He worked as quickly as he could and only had to stop once to put the oxygen back on to catch his breath. Then he slipped out of the cubicle and walked quietly to the doors of the ER.
As he got close, he saw a boy rush inside and pause briefly, then run to him like a magnet drawn to a piece of steel. Jeffrey jumped into his arms and held on tight, and Phineas too, wrapped his arms tightly around the boy, neither of them saying a word. Finally Phineas heard Jeffrey sob once and whispered to him, "you're okay."
They stood together, holding onto each other as though there was no one else on earth, until finally Phineas realized he was starting to feel dizzy and out of breath.
"There's a chair behind you, sit," said a new voice and he sat down as he felt a strong hand push down on his shoulder.
Jeff loosened his grip when he felt the wheelchair and looked at Bogg, he didn't look well.
"Listen Jeff," said one of the medical workers, "your Dad needs to be inside right now, on oxygen, okay? You can talk later."
Jeff nodded and turned to Bogg, "let's go inside Dad, you need to be inside," he said, and moved to the side of the wheelchair so he could walk beside it as they wheeled Bogg back into the hospital.
Phineas smiled and nodded. Once inside, they put the oxygen back on and Dr. Grant came in to examine him.
"I don't want you to talk, just listen," he said sternly, pointing his finger at Bogg's chest. "If you want to live to finish raising this son of yours, you'll stop talking and lay here quietly. Do you understand what I'm telling you? Just nod, don't talk."
Phineas nodded as Jeff's expression changed to one of worry.
Then the doctor turned to Jeffrey, "and your job is to stay here and make sure he takes it easy, he'll be okay if he takes it easy, do you understand," and he pointed at Jeff as he spoke.
Phineas mouthed the words, "one thing " and put up one finger.
"Alright, just one thing," Dr. Grant said in exasperation.
Phineas his head toward Jeffrey, "tell me everything that happened to you today."
Jeff smiled and started talking while Phineas relaxed and listened. The doctor smiled and shook his head as he restarted the IV, then left them with Jeff still talking.