"Speaking of seeing Charlie again, I think I should go..." Alan began.
"Dad, I don't think it's a good idea for you to go back there today. And Charlie agrees with me. He practically begged me to talk you out of coming to see him today."
Alan chuckled. "I guess his psychic experience really did upset him."
"Oh, man, Dad. If you even use the word 'psychic' when you discuss this with him, it will be all over. He won't hear another thing you say."
Larry and Megan came into the room, carrying cups of hot cocoa. "Here, Don," Megan said, handing him a cup. "We made enough for an army."
"Thanks," Don said.
"Were you two discussing psychic phenomena?" Larry asked as he handed Alan a cup. "You know how Charles feels about the paranormal."
"Oh, yes," Alan said. "But I think he just had an experience that may change his mind."
Larry took a sip of cocoa and grinned. "This is Charles you're talking about, right? Tell me, Alan, Don, have you ever had a great deal of luck when you've tried to get him to change his mind about anything?"
Don and Alan exchanged glances. "No," Alan admitted. "But there's always a first time."
"I'll admit," Megan said, "I haven't known Charlie anywhere near as long as you three have known him, but I think you've got your work cut out for you. And exactly what are you trying to change Charlie's mind about anyway?"
Don recapped the two phone calls, and Alan told them about his experience with Margaret.
"Well," Larry said, "I have to admit you've convinced me, but I tend to have more of an open mind about these things than Charles does. I am not convinced that we are capable of understanding everything about the human mind."
"Of course," Alan said, "you're not trying to discover the math of the brain."
Don yawned. "Sorry," he murmured. "I think I was heading for bed when Charlie called." He stood unsteadily.
Alan jumped up. "Let me give you a hand, Son."
"I'm okay," Don said. "Just a little dizzy."
Alan took Don's chin in his hand and studied his eyes. "I think I should take you back to the hospital. I'm worried about you."
"Alan," Megan said, "why don't we just keep an eye on him, watching for the symptoms of a brain injury? It's easy to do, and we can always get him to the hospital if we notice anything."
"Yeah, Dad. It works for me."
"It means we'll have to wake you up every two hours and make sure you're coherent," Megan said.
Don nodded. "I can handle that if you can."
"Yeah," Megan laughed, "I'll remind you you said that after we wake you up the third or fourth time."
"Hey, it beats going back to the hospital. What do you think, Dad? Can we do it this way?"
Alan sighed. "All right. But at the first sign that anything is wrong, you are going straight back to the hospital. Come on, let me help you."
Don grinned at Megan. "Well, you were able to change Big Papa's mind. There's hope you can change Baby Brother's mind about this psychic stuff."
Megan snorted. "Yeah, right. Alan, I think Don's showing signs of delirium."
Don held up his hands. "Okay. I surrender. Forget I said anything about changing Charlie's mind!"
"So, Charlie," Amita said, "what did Don have to say about your feeling that something was wrong?"
"He told me he wasn't going to give me grief about it." He grinned at Amita, "A course of action I suggest the rest of you take."
Colby said, "But where would be the fun in that?"
"Not everything has to be fun," Charlie said. "I mean, for some people, vacations are fun times. For other people, vacations are events that end up with twenty percent of the participants in the hospital."
"Oh, Charlie," David said, "don't get all cynical on us."
"Who's getting cynical?" Rachael said from the doorway. "My patients aren't allowed to be cynical."
"Nobody's getting cynical. I was just teasing him," David said.
Rachael fixed him with a glare. "I'm not sure if I should allow my patients to be teased either." She lifted Charlie's blanket and took a peek at his leg. "It's looking good. Have you been up and around?"
"Yes ma'am. I just got back from a grueling excursion to the bathroom and back."
"Good for you. How's the pain level?"
Charlie shrugged. "It hurts a little, but nothing I can't handle."
"Just don't try to tough it out, big guy. We're going to gradually wean you off the painkillers, so if it gets too painful, you let us know, okay? Especially if you can't sleep."
"I will. So far sleeping has not been a problem."
"Good. Now let's get your vitals out of the way." When she finished, she patted Charlie on the shoulder. "Looking good, Charlie."
"Speaking of looking good," Amita said, "do you think I could wash Charlie's hair for him?"
"Sure. We've got a basin at the desk that will make it very easy. Do you have shampoo, or should I bring you some?"
"We've got some. But if you have any towels..."
"Tons of 'em. I'll be back in a few minutes."
Rachael came back a few minutes later with an inflated plastic basin. "Okay, Charlie, just put the head of your bed down. You can put your neck in this cutout area, and Amita can wash and rinse your hair. It'll be just like being at the hairdresser's. And you'll be just gorgeous before you know it."
David nudged Colby. "I gotta get me one of those basins."
"Yeah. If it can make Charlie gorgeous who knows what it could do for you."
A pillow flew across the room, smacking Colby in the face. "Hey!" he yelled, "Charlie!"
