"Put your head between you knees," Dr. Bates instructed him, reaching out and pushing Fenton into a chair and positioning his head forward. Fenton had paled so considerably that Dr. Bates thought the man might pass out. "Breathe," he ordered.
After a few seconds Fenton sat up. "Are you sure?" he demanded, fear showing in his eyes.
"No, I'm not," the doctor answered. "That's why I want some tests run. But I am convinced that there is something wrong with Joe and if he doesn't undergo these tests then we may not discover what it is. And that could be fatal if it is his heart."
"I understand," Fenton replied. "When do you want him to have the tests?"
"Today," Dr. Bates stated. "I'm going to make out a list of instructions and I want you to take them to Bayport General Admissions. They will start the tests and I will be over as soon as I finish up here."
Fenton nodded. "One more thing," Dr. Bates said. "He will have to spend the night. One of the tests requires around the clock monitoring."
Fenton nodded. "Are you going to tell Joe?" he asked.
"He will have to know," Dr. Bates said. "He is going to have the tests and he isn't the sort to just let people do things to him without asking questions. Lying won't help him but if he knows what he may be facing then perhaps he will be more compliant."
"Joe? Compliant?" Fenton asked in a bemused tone. Never, he thought. Not without a battle.
Joe returned to the room a little later and Dr. Bates went to check the X-rays. Joe lay down on the examining table and closed his eyes. "Son?" Fenton asked, his tone soft.
Joe opened one eye and looked at his father. "Are you all right?" Fenton asked.
"Yeah," Joe answered, closing his eye again. "Just kind of tired. I think I'll take a nap when I get home."
"Son," Fenton said, clearing his throat. "Dr. Bates wants you to go to Bayport General for some tests."
"Today?" Joe demanded wearily. He really was tired. Not sleepy tired exactly, just tired.
"Yes," Fenton answered. "He said you would have to stay the night."
"Okay," Joe agreed. That wasn't so bad, Joe thought. He could at least get some rest there.
Joe's ready acceptance of the plan without questioning why only served to deepen Fenton's fear that Joe was sicker than he was letting on. "Son?" he asked again after swallowing the lump that had risen in his throat. "You did tell Dr. Bates everything, right? There isn't anything else wrong that you didn't mention? No matter how small or insignificant you think it might be?"
"What's wrong?" asked Joe, opening his eyes and sitting up. "What did he tell you while I was gone?"
"Shh," Fenton said, putting a hand on Joe's shoulder to keep him from getting off the table. "He doesn't know for sure what's wrong but..." he swallowed before continuing. "But he says the rheumatic fever you had last summer has left you with a heart murmur."
"Is that all?" asked Joe without any concern. He lay back down. "Mrs. Bender has one of those. She was born with one."
Before Fenton could say anymore Dr. Bates returned to the room. "Nothing is showing up on the X-rays," he said. "And that probably means the swelling is caused by fluid retention."
"Is there anything I can take for that?" asked Joe.
"There is," acknowledged the doctor. "But I want to run some other tests before I give you anything."
"Yeah, Dad mentioned that," Joe said. "Just overnight, though?" he asked. "We're playing Southport this weekend and I need to get some practice in."
"We'll know more after the tests," Dr. Bates said, not making any promises. "Here is the paper I mentioned," he said, handing a sheet of paper to Fenton. "I had Nurse Wilkinson call so they will be expecting Joe."
"Thank you," Fenton said, taking the paper.
"I'll be there in a little while to go over the results with you," the doctor continued. "You might want to have Laura and Frank there," he suggested in an aside as Joe got off the table and went behind the curtain to dress.