Chapter 4

Face's homecoming had Mrs. B busting about. She had made his favorite foods and dessert. When she learned about a new addition to the family, she went out and got a larger dog bed and placed it in the boy's bedroom, and now she was anxiously awaiting his return.

"They should be here any minute, " she said to Charlie and Billie. "We will have to be extra careful around him; he is still weak and recovering from his ordeal." It was then that Charlie began to jump around and bark.

"I guess they are home," she said as she hurried to the door to let them in.

The first person she saw was her son BA carrying her youngest in the house. He was sleeping and looked all too weak. "Just take him into his room, Scooter. The covers are all pulled down," she instructed.

As he was laid in his bed, Face opened his eyes for a moment and tried to smile at Mrs. B, but that little effort nearly wiped him out. BA then put Charlie next to him, hoping the little dog would help him perk up some. A moment later, Maggie appeared and quickly jumped up and lay on the other side of Face. Charlie looked at the strange dog for a moment, touched noses, and then laid back down.

"I guess Charlie approves of Maggie," Murdock said as he came in next

Hannibal was the last one in, exhaustion just rolling off of him. "We got our boy back, Mrs. B, but it's going to take some time for him to recover. The doctor says that it has to be gradual so as not to overtax his system."

"I've made chicken and rice soup for him, and I know about the BRAT diet

(banana, rice, applesauce, and toast). These are easy foods for him to digest, and then when he is able, I will add lean meats to his diet. I'll take it slowly, and I don't want him to regress in any way."

After being pushed away from Face's room, Hannibal, BA, and Murdock retired to their beds for much-needed rest. Mrs. B had Scooter bring her rocking chair and place it in Face's room. Then he, too, left to get some sleep. "I will stay right here and watch out for our boy, " she told him.

Face slept for hours under the watchful eyes of Mrs. B, Charlie, and Maggie.

Hannibal was the first one to make an appearance. "How is he?"

"He's been asleep for nearly the whole afternoon, and he has been sleeping peacefully. He needs to wake up and eat a little something," Mrs. B replied.

"I'll stay with him while you prepare his supper," Hannibal offered.

After Mrs. B left, Hannibal went over to try and wake Face up. "Come on, son; it's time for you to wake. Mama B has prepared something special for you!"

"Hannibal?"

"Yeah, kid, it is me. You are home, and with Mama B's cooking, you will be back to normal soon. Do you need any help?"

"I need to go to the bathroom, Dad!"

Hannibal beamed when Face called him Dad. "Scoot to the end of the bed, and I'll help you walk to the bathroom."

As soon as Face was on the floor, his two protectors jumped down to follow. "You two will have to wait outside; the bathroom isn't big enough for the four of us," Hannibal said, chuckling.

Once Face was back in bed, Mrs. B arrived with his supper and set the tray down in front of him. It consisted of a few slices of banana, a small helping of rice, and toast with a smearing of grape jelly on it and for dessert, he was giving a small helping of applesauce. She also gave him a half cup of chicken broth. Face immediately zeroed in on the banana and ate each slice carefully, savoring the sweetness of the fruit. His next choice was the toast, and he slowly ate it as well; finally, he ate the applesauce, completely ignoring the rice. "I'm finished," he announced before taking the broth and swallowing a few sips.

"Aren't you going to eat any of the rice, dear?" Mrs. B asked.

"No, ma'am. I don't want any, although could I have some more of the banana?"

"Let's wait an hour and see how you handled what you've eaten so far."

"Okay, " Face said as he closed his eyes.

While Face was eating his supper, Hannibal took the dogs for their supper and a turn outside.

When Mrs. B returned to the kitchen, she found the others. "Did the kid eat his supper?

"Everything, except for the rice. He used to like rice, what happened now for him to turn his nose up at it now?"

"I forgot to tell you, Mama, but all Watkins gave the kid to eat was one small bowl of rice daily. He probably can't stand the sight of it by now." BA said.

"That brute! Well, I have other foods that Face can eat! He really liked the banana slices!"

Murdock quietly got up and went into Face's room, with Charlie and Maggie following close behind. It was so disturbing to see his little brother is such a unhealthy state. "Don't worry Facey, soon you will be up and getting into mischief again," he said in a whisper, not wanting to wake the boy. Murdock got in the rocker content to watch him sleep.

An hour later Mrs. B peaked in and found not only Face asleep but Murdock as well. What she found amusing were the dogs. Charlie was sleeping next to Face while Maggie was keeping vigil. Billie was sleeping on Murdock's lap.

Mrs. B came in to wake Face and found Charlie keeping watch while Maggie was asleep next to the boy and Hannibal in the rocker watching his boy sleep.

"Did he sleep well? Any nightmares?," whispered Mr. B.

"What chance would a nightmare have with Face's two protectors here," replied Hannibal with a smile. "So what is he having for breakfast today?"

"I thought that soft scrambled eggs, with toast and a cup of milk, for now. We will see how that sits with his stomach."

It was the third day since Face was brought home, and he was getting tired of the BRAT diet Mama B had him on. He wanted a cheeseburger with french fries and was scheming on how he could get it when Mama B came in with his supper.

"Mama, I'm tired of this soft diet. I want something I can sink my teeth in…can I have a cheeseburger with french fries?" He asked hopefully.

"Baby, your system is not ready for that type of food yet. However, I have brought you something you sink your teeth in, as you explain it."

"What?"

"I have made for you tonight baked chicken legs, with green beans and mashed potatoes, and for dessert chocolate pudding!"

It wasn't what he wanted, but at least it was solid food and not soft. Face smiled as Mama B put the tray down in front of the boy and watched as he dug in. A few days later Face was once again eating with his family and eating the same food as the rest of the family, although the food was still considered bland and his helpings were small. Mrs. B put the different condiments out so her son, especially, would be able to spice his food up to his liking.

"But it's been a week, Mama B since I was rescued. Why can't I have something different?" whined Face. "I'm tired of chicken!"

"I know baby, but I feel that your system isn't ready for something heavier, yet. Just wait a few more days then I'll give you something other than chicken," consoled Mrs. B.

"But I want something NOW. I WANT A CHEESEBURGER WITH FRIES!" shouted Face.

"You will not get anything that greasy for some time, young man, and I won't be shouted at. "Go to your room, young man, and be glad that I don't punish you!"

Face looked angrily at her but reluctantly trudged to his room grumbling as he went. "I don't see why I can have a burger." As soon as he arrived he saw his car keys and without further thought grabbed them and ran to his car. Charlie and Maggie ran after him but the golden retriever was the only one who jumped into the corvette behind him before Face took off leaving Charlie behind.

Charlie started barking at being left behind causing Murdock to come and investigate why. When he saw the Corvette gone, he ran back into the house shouting, "Face has driven off and he must have been in a hurry since he didn't take Charlie with him!"

Hannibal looked up from his coffee cup at the news. "Does anyone know why?"

"He's gone to buy himself a cheeseburger with fries. Hannibal, his system isn't strong enough yet for that type of food. If he eats that, it's going to make him sick!"

"Come on guys," cried Hannibal, as they left at the run and piled into the black van.

"Where would he go? What is his favorite place for fast foods?" Hannibal asked a the van took off for town.

"Yeah, I know," replied Murdock. "There is a little café downtown that he likes. They serve all kinds of foods, but their burgers and fries are the best."

"What's the name of this café, Captain?"

"Mom and Pop Café!"

It only took BA ten minutes to pull into the town and cruise down the main street. They all saw the Corvette parked outside with Maggie sitting on the passenger seat, and stopped next to it.

Hannibal hurried inside glancing around until he saw his son sitting at a booth at the back of the Café eating a huge cheeseburger. His plate looked like it contained a large number of fries. He was drinking a milkshake when Hannibal walked in. "FACE!" he yelled, causing not only his son to look up but others patrons enjoying their meals.

"Stop eating at once," he ordered, only to be ignored when his son grabbed some fries and shoved them into his mouth. Face didn't get to eat more because Hannibal was there and pulled him from the booth and his meal.

Hannibal pushed Face into BA's arms. "Take him to the van and make sure he stays there, but first get his keys!"

Hannibal walked up to the front to pay for Face's meal, then he joined his team at the Corvette. "Murdock, you drive his car home, BA will give you the kid's keys! Take the dog with you!" instructed Hannibal.

"Sure thing Colonel," and getting into the car and driving off with an unhappy Maggie in the front seat.

Face was mad and when Hannibal climbed in he lashed out. "You didn't let me finish my meal!"

"Kid, you disobeyed me and you ignored Mrs. B when she told you why you couldn't have fast food yet!"

"But Hannibal, I'm so tired of eating baked chicken," Face whined.

"I know you are, kid but this was not the way to go about it. Mrs. B is trying her best and you disrespected her. You will be punished for this disrespect and disobedience.

Face looked up, "but my backside hasn't healed yet!"

"I'm not going to spank you, kid but as soon as you are fully recovered you will be running one of my obstacle courses!" Hannibal said as he handed down the kid's punishment.

It was during the ride home and Hannibal heard Face cry, " I don't feel good," and then a moment later. "I think I'm going to be sick…pull over BA!"

BA came to a screeching stop on the side of the road as Face left the van and started to throw up the burger and fries that he had only eaten a few minutes ago. Hannibal got out to hold him as he continued to be sick by the side of the road. When he had finished throwing up what was in his stomach he continued to dry heave. "BA, call your mom and tell her what happened and what to be prepared for."

"You think you can last until you get home, kid?" asked Hannibal as Face's dry heaving came to an end.

"I hope so," replied a shaken Face as he weakly allowed Hannibal to help him back to the van.

"Lay down in the back, it will be easier on you," advised Hannibal, after he pulled out a mat for the boy to lie on.

In what was only a few minutes later but seemed longer to the sick boy, BA drove into the driveway. His mother was waiting at the door. BA gently picked up his little brother and carried him inside and straight to his room before depositing him on his bed. He then stood back to allow Hannibal and his mother to tend to the boy. Hannibal had him stripped and in bis pajamas quickly while Mrs. B pulled back the covers.

"Is he still vomiting?"

"Well, he tries, but nothing is coming out," replied Hannibal. "He emptied his stomach on the way home."

Mrs. B turned to Face and asked, " Do you still feel like you will get sick again?"

Face nodded before getting out of bed and running to his toilet to throw up again and like before, he had nothing left to throw up and was only dry heaving, but he couldn't stop.

"Hannibal will need some medicine to stop the dry heaving. Don't get anything that has to be taken orally," she whispered.

"I'll go right away," replied Hannibal and after a quick glance at his sick son, hurried away.

It took him an hour before he could get back, and the angry look on his face led the team to realize that their little brother was in more trouble. "What's wrong?" Murdock asked. "Face did something wrong," he guessed correctly.

Hannibal nodded and then gave the suppositories to Mrs. B. "This will work for the dry heaving and nausea he's experiencing, although you might need BA to hold him down when administrating them."

Mrs. B nodded before adding, "Hannibal will you and Murdock take the dogs out? They are getting underfoot. They don't understand."

"The easiest way will be if they are on leases," suggested Murdock as he left to grab their leases from where they were hanging in the kitchen. A moment later, the two men led the dogs out of the room. "You can come back as soon as Facey is better. I promise," Murdock told Maggie and Charlie.

They passed BA on their way outside. "Your mother will need your help with Face," Hannibal told him as they went out to put the dogs into the dog pen.

Upon arriving, they heard an indignant cry from their kid and knew that the drug had been administered.

After giving the drug time to work Mrs. B wearily entered the kitchen. "He's resting easily; the dry heaving is gone. It's okay to bring the dogs back in. Their comfort is needed now."

Murdock hopped up to do that when Hannibal added, "As soon as you do that, come on back; we need to have a family meeting about our youngest."