Chapter 10

The air had turned cooler in the three weeks leading up to Will's birthday, and the boys' thoughts turned to football. There had been fierce competition between John and Don's teams last year, with John, Maureen and Will winning by a two-point safety. Will requested a football scrimmage again this year. Don's backpain had leveled off to a dull, but constant ache and he had considered playing on the hover bike, but Maureen was afraid that someone might get injured. So he had to sit on the sidelines while John was permanent quarterback for both teams. This was not an easy thing for him to do. He was chomping at the bit to get out there, as he found himself yelling instructions to the players, particularly his wife. Maureen and Judy were teamed against Penny and Will, and there was no competition as the two children out ran and out caught the women.

As Judy jogged in from the playing field, Don playfully yelled at her, "You call yourself a wide receiver? Maybe we should change the title to clumsy receiver."

She stopped short with her hands on her hips and motioned for the football from her father. He tossed it to her, and her response to Don was to throw a perfect corkscrew straight at his head. His quick hands snatched the ball before it made contact with his nose. He leaned back and threw a perfect pass right back to her. This time she caught it, nestled it under her arm and ran straight for him. She tackled him off the bike and lay on top of him. Will jumped on top of her and shouted, "Pile on!" and before he knew it, Don was at the bottom of a pi1e of Robinson siblings. John and Maureen each peeled one off, and found Don laughing at the bottom, who was not willing to let Judy go until he tickled the ball away from her.

"You know, Judy, if you held onto the ball during the game as well as you are now, you and Mom could have won," Will admonished.

Judy struggled to keep the ball as she giggled. "Well, Will… I guess… my heart… just wasn't in the game this year. Don, stop!" She screamed as he tickled an especially sensitive area, and she lost her grip.

"I think you left your heart on the sidelines," Penny teased.

"You just wait until you fall in love, young lady. Then I'd like to hear what you have to say about hearts," Judy retaliated.

Penny stopped laughing and wrinkled her brow. Tears immediately filled her eyes. "Judy, how could you say that to me!" Then she turned and fled back to the Jupiter.

"What was that all about?" John questioned.

"Penny's afraid that she'll never meet anyone and get married." Will explained.

Judy and Maureen exchanged an understanding look. "I'll go talk with her, Mom."

"I'll come with you and get dinner started."

"I'm going too," Will added. "I have to find Dr. Smith so we can have our game of chess."

"Toss me the ball, Don." John caught it and joined the group.

Don watched them walk away and called, "Don't worry about me… I'll be fine… just lying here on the ground…"

John turned. "Don! Think fast!"

He tossed the ball and then jogged over to the hover bike, which had skidded several yards away from where Don was tackled. He couldn't resist taking a joyride before pulling up next to him. "When we get back to Marvenius, I have to steal one of these for myself."

"When do you think that will be?"

John parked the vehicle and hopped off. "I know you're anxious to go back, but it's only been six months."

Don propped himself up in preparation for being pulled onto the bike. John stood behind him and grabbed him under his arms. He must have had some adrenalin left over from his bike ride, because he yanked Don up much more roughly than usual.

Don didn't know what hit him. A burning sensation exploded from his lumbar area and traveled throughout his body. His left leg throbbed unmercifully, and his left foot felt as if it was being pierced by hundreds of needles. He lurched back against John and groaned in pain. John asked him what was wrong, but he couldn't respond.

John hated leaving Don alone and was tempted to just throw him on the bike and ride him back to camp, but he was afraid of hurting him further. So he told Don to hang on and sped back to the Jupiter for medical supplies.


"Penny, please let me in. I want to apologize for upsetting you. Then I promise I'll leave you alone." Judy stood outside the room she had shared with her sister. She was getting ready to override the lock when the door slid open.

"You don't have to say anything. I know I'm being stupid." Penny sat on her bed hugging her knees.

Judy sat on the edge of the bed. "You're not being stupid, Penny, you're being emotional. There's nothing wrong with that. I was the same way when I was fourteen, but it was a lot easier for me, because I wasn't drifting aimlessly in space wondering if I'd ever see another human besides my family."

"I just feel so lonely sometimes. I watch you and Don together and I get jealous. I'm afraid that I'll never have the chance to fall in love."

"I'm sorry, Penny. I didn't realize how hard it was for you."

"And I just hate being jealous, because I know I should be happy for you. Then I start to think about everything you and Don have been through, and I really feel terrible. Then I think that I just must be an awful person."

Judy hugged her sister. "You're not awful. You're a teenager and that's a confusing, emotional time. Don't worry about me and…"

She never finished her sentence, because her father burst into the Jupiter calling his family together. She and Penny raced into the control room.

"Something's happened to Don. Judy, take the bike back and stay with him. Dr. Smith, get the diagnostic tube ready. We need the backboard and oxygen tank. Maureen, meet me out front with them and I'll get the Chariot out. I'll explain on the way."


Only the children were banished from the medical bay this time as Dr. Smith and John prepared to put Don into the diagnostic tube. Judy and her father remained with him while the machinery did its work.

"I'm sorry, Judy. If only I hadn't been too rough with him…"

Judy gazed calmly at her father. He was amazed at the inner strength that resided in her eyes as she comforted him. "Don't feel guilty, Dad. This could have happened tonight when he pulled himself into bed."

His eyes welled up as he surveyed his daughter's face. When had the tables turned? He felt as if he was the child being protected and soothed by the concerned adult. He hugged her tightly, more for his own comfort than hers, and prayed that his son-in-law would be all right.


February 2, 2000

We still don't know exactly what's going on with Don. He's been in agony since yesterday, so we have him heavily sedated. He was able to tell us that he felt a burning sensation down his legs. The MRI indicated that something was happening with his spinal nerves, but it couldn't diagnose the problem.

My guess is, no, my hope is that whatever Dad did to him opened up the nerve pathways so the enzyme could flow and do its work. Maybe the pain is a side effect. Whatever is happening better run its course soon. I just can't stand to see him in so much pain.

Maureen tiptoed into the medical bay and found Judy fast asleep in a chair, pen in her hand and journal on the floor. Maureen picked up the journal and pulled the sheet over Don's shoulders. That was enough movement to stir Don into wakefulness.

"I'm sorry, Don. I didn't mean to wake you."

"S'okay." He whispered back. He turned and saw Judy asleep, her head rolled at an uncomfortable angle to the side. He nodded towards his wife and made a request. "Get her… to bed."

Judy was startled awake and immediately asked Don, "Are you okay?"

He managed a smirk and replied, "No."

"Then I'm not going to bed."

He closed his eyes and shook his head in exasperation.

Maureen chimed in, "He's right, Judy. I'll stay. You get some rest."

A voice from the doorway echoed, "You can both go to bed. I'm staying."

John strode into the room, and all Don could think of was that he wanted all of them to leave him alone. He reached out and caught Judy's hand and brought it his lips.

"Good-night."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded.

Maureen gave her husband a peck on the cheek and led her daughter out of the room. John settled into the chair and stared at Don. He had yet to lose his guilt over causing whatever it was that was happening to his son-in-law. He had seen Don and Judy struggle through so much already, he wondered what else could happen to them.

Don felt John's eyes on him and wondered what was causing the intense, pensive expression he wore. He caught his eye and arched his eyebrow at him. "You okay?"

John shook his head. "I'm okay. I just wish you were."

"Me too."

"I'm sorry, Don. If I hadn't…"

This was not something Don wanted to deal with right now. He slung his forearm over his eyes. "Stop. Please?"

"Alright." He wasn't sure if he should continue or leave Don in peace. His attention turned inward and he found himself mumbling his thoughts aloud. "I was thinking about the trials you and Judy have been through this year. I remember when Maureen and I were first married, how worried I was that she became pregnant right away, and we were both still in school. That seemed like such a tough time, but it was nothing compared to what you and Judy have been through this year. I wondered what we were going to do, but her family was there for us."

Don peeked out from behind his arm and gave John a ghost of a smile. "Just like now."

"Now?"

"For me and Judy."

"I wish we could do more."

Don grimaced when a wave of pain washed over him. 'Me too.'


The morning sun was giving way to afternoon shadows when Judy entered the med bay for a change of shift.

"Morning, Mom. I can't believe how long I slept."

"I can. You were exhausted."

"How has he been?"

"Your father said that he had a rough night."

Judy passed a hand over her eyes to wipe away the tears that were forming there. "Mom, it's been three days and nothing's changed. How much longer can he take this?"

"As long as he has to, Judy."


The air was cool and invigorating. He and his brothers were cutting a fast line through the crystal clear waters of the lake in front of their summer mountain home. Don was the youngest, but also the toughest. He was the one to beat in their competition. He had made it half way across when the water gradually became as thick as jelly. His arms struggled to break the surface of the thickened water and his legs could no longer flutter kick behind him and became useless appendages, causing his arms to tire and lose their strength. He sank ever so slowly to the bottom, his breath catching in his throat as his lungs became full of the gel that surrounded him.

Don drew a sharp breath and jerked awake. He had been kept so sedated, he had no idea what time of day it was or how much time had passed since he'd been in the medical bay. He heard voices speaking and had a distinct feeling of déjà vu. 'Three days?'

"Don?" Judy placed a soothing hand on his shoulder.

He was lying on his stomach and buried his head in the pillow. His mind was beginning to clear, allowing awareness of the relentless pain to return.

Judy removed her hand and stood, "Time for another sedative."

He gave a muffled, "No."

"No?"

"I'm… getting up."

"Don…"

"Judy…"

"You can't."

"I will."

Maureen observed their exchange and muffled a chuckle. "I'll find John or Dr. Smith to help you, Don."

Don rolled to his side and addressed Maureen before she left. "Tell Smith, exercise room. One hour."

"All right, Don, but I'll expect you for breakfast first."

Judy crossed her arms in front of her chest and stared at her husband. "What do you think you're doing?"

He sighed and grasped her hand, pulling her towards him and gesturing for her to lie down with him.

They wrapped their arms around each other and lay quietly for several moments.

"Don, is your pain any better?"

"No."

"Then why are you getting up?"

"I can't… lie here anymore. Sedatives don't help."

"You might hurt yourself more if you exercise."

He managed a pained laugh. "Can't get any worse."

"Don't say that. It can always be worse."

"How?"

"You could be totally paralyzed or you could be…" She couldn't bring herself to say the word.

He knew what she was thinking and didn't respond. 'Dying would take the pain away.' That thought spun around in his head like a vortex and implanted itself deep into the recesses of his mind. He knew that it was a final card he could play, but he couldn't do that to his wife... at least… not yet.


The exercise room was prepped and ready with Dr. Smith savoring his role as Don's exercise mentor. He stood in front of the equipment like a barroom bouncer, feet apart, arms crossed, ready for whatever the Major would throw at him today. Don entered in his chair, already exhausted from his basic self-care routine. Without John's help, he never would have made it down.

"Good afternoon, Major. I have prepared a rigorous routine of aerobic activity to start off your current round of rehabilitation."

"Can we take," he took a breath, "the word 'rigorous' out?"

Dr. Smith could see that the ordeal of getting out of bed had already exhausted the young man. "Perhaps tomorrow would be a better day to start?"

"No… I'm here. Let's go."

Dr. Smith started him on the stationary bike, and Don felt like he was starting boot camp all over again, only this was worse. The 'West determination' still coursed through his veins, but he had to dig deeper than ever to access it. After ten minutes on the bike, Don signaled that he had entered the cool down mode.

"Fine, Major, we will build up gradually. Now let us tests your strength to see how much you have lost."

After a series of moves on the weight machine, Dr. Smith had enough information to determine what the next round of exercise would encompass. "You have lost quite a bit of strength, but with increased stamina, you can achieve your former self."

Don shook his head, "Ghost of my former self…"

"Humph!... Is your pain worse?"

"No."

"Splendid, Major. Will I meet you here tomorrow?"

Don nodded, "Same time… same channel."