Chapter 8
"Danny...wake up!"
Someone was shaking him roughly as he swam up out of deep sleep.
"Huh? Wha...?" Danny shook his head, trying to clear the cobwebs of slumber. He wanted nothing more than to return to blissful unconsciousness, where he wouldn't have to deal with...anything.
"DANNY!" A final rough shove. Now he recognized the voice that was trying to awaken him.
Keith!
He couldn't bring himself to open his eyes and look at his brother, he was too frightened.
"Oh, I give up!" He heard Keith exclaim. "I'm going back to bed."
"Danny, honey. Wake up." It was the soft, concerned voice of his mother.
He peeked at her with one eye. "Mom?"
She smiled at him. "You've been having a bad dream. I tried to wake you up, but you kept calling out for Keith, so I woke him up to see if he could bring you out of it. Are you alright? You were beginning to frighten me!"
As Danny listened to his mother's soothing voice, he calmed down considerably.
He nodded in answer to her question. "Yeah, I'm okay. Where did Keith go?" Suddenly, he had to see his older brother; he had to see his eyes.
Shirley smiled. "I think he went back to bed. Was your dream...about Keith?" Despite her warm smile, Danny could see concern in her eyes.
"I...I think so." Was it possible that the whole thing had been a horrible dream? He had to see Keith to be sure. He threw the covers back and got out of bed. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Chris in his bed, looking at him sleepily.
"I told you that he was dreaming about vampires!" He exclaimed as he punched his pillow halfheartedly and attempted to go back to sleep.
Danny ignored him and headed for the door without stopping for his robe. Shirley was close on his heels.
He didn't hesitate at Keith's door and barged right in.
"Keith? Are you okay?"
The eldest Partridge had obviously just settled down once again and was on the verge of sleep when Danny had walked into his room; unannounced and uninvited.
Keith sighed tiredly. "Have you ever heard of knocking?"
"Keith...just humor him. He's had a bad dream." Shirley warned.
The dark haired young man's eyes settled on his younger brother. "Yeah, I'm okay. Tired...but okay. Is that all you wanted?"
Danny looked into his brother's eyes. They were their normal hazel color. A lighter version of the color, signifying that he wasn't unduly upset; just plain old tired.
"Open your mouth. I want to see your teeth." Danny ordered.
Keith looked incredulous. "You're kidding." He looked up to their mother. "Tell me he's kidding."
Shirley shook her head. "No, he's not. Just show him your teeth so you can get back to sleep." She ordered him
Reluctantly, he sat up in bed, faced his younger brother and opened his mouth, pulling back his upper lip with his fingers. Then he released his lip and flopped back down in bed.
"Are you satisfied? Can I go back to sleep now?"
Great relief washed through Danny and he smiled widely. "Yeah. Thanks."
"Don't mention it. Now get out." Keith turned his back to them and pulled the covers over his head. "Turn the light off and shut the door." His request was muffled, but decipherable.
Shirley and Danny did as he asked. Shirley accompanied Danny back to his room.
As she tucked him back in, Danny asked another question.
"Mom...where's Mr. Kincaid?"
"He's on vacation. Visiting his mother. Danny you know that."
"He didn't come back early or...anything?"
She shook her head. "No. He's due to come back in a few days. We can call him in the morning if that would make you feel better."
Danny smiled. "Nah. That's okay. He's probably got enough to deal with." His memory of Mrs. Kincaid's sweet wackiness was still fresh in Danny's mind.
Shirley kissed him on the forehead. "Okay. No more staying up late and watching those awful movies, okay?"
Danny hesitated. He wasn't sure if he would be able to swear off of them completely. "Um..."
"Danny..." Shirley chided him.
"Oh alright. I promise."
Shirley smiled at him. "Go to sleep. No more bad dreams."
"No more bad dreams." He agreed and snuggled down under the blankets, feeling safe and warm.
"Good night, Danny."
"Goodnight Mom."
THE END
