Lawrence pulled into the driveway just as the sun was starting to peek over the horizon. He got out of the car and unbuckled Ferb's seatbelt. Carefully picking up his son, Lawrence carried the sleeping child into the house. He then sat in the chair, resting his feet on the ottoman; he tried not to rouse the young lad.
Linda came downstairs as she tied the ties of her robe. "How is he Lawrence?" She asked and Lawrence looked over to her. "Thankfully, it's only a sprained wrist and shoulder." He replied as he kissed his son's forehead. "He's got a sling for his arm and a bandage for his wrist."
Linda started making her way into the kitchen. "How about some breakfast?" Lawrence looked at the child in his arms. "Maybe in a little while. I want to keep an eye on Ferb."
A couple of minutes later she returned with two cups of coffee; offering one to Lawrence. Linda looked at the little boy, sleeping in his father's arms. "He looks so peaceful." She commented as she lightly touched the little boy's face. Lawrence shook his head. "Even in his sleep, he's hiding his true emotions."
Linda sat on the couch beside the chair. "That's impossible." She said as Lawrence hugged his son. "While we were waiting, he told me that he's not happy. When I asked him to elaborate, he said 'I don't fit in, no one wants me around. I'm the forgotten one.' I didn't know what to say. It's all true. He then accused me of lying to him." Linda's eyes went wide and she looked directly at him. "What brought that on?"
Lawrence sighed. "Ferb saw the hospital bracelet on his wrist. He knew his full name, that's not the issue. He then saw his birthday, as it appeared on the bracelet." Linda nodded. "Yes, I recall. February 20th. We all forgot." She said sadly and Lawrence shook his head. "No. That's what I told him his birthday was. His real birthday is February 29th. I tried to explain that the 29th only comes around once every four years, and he should have a birthday every year."
"Oh, Lawrence. You should have…" She started. "I'm not sure how I would tell a child that either. It must be difficult to have a birthday on the 29th of February; almost as difficult as the 25th of December."
Ferb started to shift and opened his eyes. Lawrence sat the lad on his knee. "How are you feeling now, son?" Ferb stared blankly at his father, then blinked. Linda reached her hand out and rested it on the little boy's shoulder. "Would you like some breakfast?" Ferb shook his head and slid off his father's lap; before starting up the stairs.
Phineas came out of his room and charged downstairs, he clipped Ferb's uninjured shoulder. Phineas turned around and grabbed the other boy in a hug. "You're home! Are you feeling better? Is your arm broken? Come on, let's go have breakfast. Mom said she'll make pancakes today, because you got hurt." Ferb struggled against his brother, before he fell forward; Phineas falling on top.
Linda sprang from where she was seated on the couch to help pull Phineas off the other child. "You've got to be more careful Phineas." She told her son gently. Phineas grabbed Ferb's hand and pulled him off the steps and into the kitchen.
Phineas climbed onto his chair and waited for Ferb to do the same. "Aren't you going to sit?" He asked and Ferb carefully pulled the chair out and climbed up; he then looked to the table. Phineas now got a good look at the bandage and sling supporting Ferb's right arm. Phineas' eyes went wide and he launched into another set of questions. "Does your arm hurt? Why don't you have a cast? Is the hospital really a scary place? How long do you have to wear that on your arm? Why did you fall out of bed?"
Ferb continued to look at the table. "Did you hear me?" Phineas asked, concerned about his soon-to-be-brother. Ferb nodded. "Is something the matter, Ferb?" Phineas inquired as he slid off his chair and stood beside his quiet friend who nodded again.
Ferb tried slipping off the chair to get away from everyone but the sling caught on the back of the chair; Ferb was stuck. He started to struggle and winced at the pain in his sore shoulder. Phineas tried to hold him still. "Stop moving. I'll help you." Ferb struggled more fiercely until the chair released its hold on the sling and Ferb fell into the table with a cry.
Linda stepped over from her place at the stove and held his shoulders. "It's okay Ferb. Just calm down." Ferb started to panic when he was suddenly lifted off the ground and placed behind the chair where he had been sitting moments prior. Ferb bolted from the kitchen, slamming his left arm into the wall, before stumbling up the stairs.
Lawrence, Linda and Phineas collectively winced in sympathy when Ferb hit the corner of the wall. "Watch where you're going twerp!" Candace was heard to say before she came into the kitchen. "So, what's for breakfast and what's his problem?"
Once Candace was in the kitchen, Phineas took off up the stairs in search of Ferb. Linda turned back to the stove. "Ferb injured himself last night." She answered her daughter. Candace started laughing. "What did he do? Grip his pencil too hard? No, let me guess… his ears started to bleed as he listened to Phineas. No, no… I've got it… he's yelled himself hoarse and is now told that he can't speak for a month!" She finished through her laughter.
Lawrence, unamused, listened to what the girl said. "That's enough, Candace." He told her. Candace looked up at him. "What! It's funny that someone who doesn't do anything gets hurt. He's not Phineas, who might run out in front of a car." With a shake of his head he turned to Linda. "This is exactly what happened to him before."
Linda looked quickly over her shoulder. "Candace, you're a big sister to the boys. You have to act like one. It's up to you to make sure that they stay safe." Candace nodded. "Okay Mom."
Phineas got to the top of the stairs and stopped for a moment. His bedroom door was open. He stepped over and looked into the room; Ferb was standing in the middle of the room, not making a sound. Phineas cautiously entered the room and looked at the other boy. "Ferb?"
Ferb didn't move or speak. He just continued to look out the window. Phineas stepped closer to him. "Ferb?" Again, there was no response from the young Brit. Phineas was hesitant to approach him. Part of him wanted to hug the other boy, yet another part wanted to run. Phineas stepped in front of Ferb and looked into his face; Ferb's eyes were closed.
Phineas ran from the room and charged down the stairs. "Mom!" He hollered. "Ferb's not answering me." Lawrence looked at the boy. "Where is he?" Phineas turned his attention to him. "In our room."
Lawrence hurried up the stairs and into the boys' room. Ferb was standing in the middle of the room. Lawrence gripped his son by the arms. "Ferb!" He yelled into the boy's face, which then contorted in pain. Ferb kept his eyes shut. Lawrence wrapped his arms around the lad. "Talk to me. Please. Tell me what's wrong."
Face buried himself into his father's sweater, Ferb started to whisper. "It hurts." Lawrence smoothed his son's hair. "Where does it hurt?" He whispered back, not noticing Linda and Phineas standing in the room. A slight shudder passed through Ferb's body. "Everywhere." Lawrence felt his son suppress the sob that tried to escape. Lawrence hugged him tighter.
"Come on Ferb, time for breakfast. Then you need to get dressed for play school." Linda said gently. Ferb clung onto his father and buried his face further into the sweater. "You don't have to go to play school today." Lawrence soothed. "You do however, need to have your breakfast. You can come to the shop with me."
Ferb finished his breakfast then got himself dressed. He was sitting near the front door trying to tie his shoes when Candace ran down the hallway. "I need to get to school. I'm not helping him get ready!" She yelled over her shoulder, presumably to her mother who asked her to help her brothers get ready.
Candace was out the door without her jacket before Linda had a chance to wish her luck on her spelling test.
Lawrence walked into the front entrance and noticed his son having issues with his laces. He knelt down and helped the youngster out. "I've not had to help you tie your shoes in quite a while." He said as he secured the knot. "There we go." Lawrence helped Ferb to his feet.
