Chapter 15 Dan
They moved into a small apartment later that day.
As Jeff rested on one of the beds, they heard a dog bark. He watched as Bogg tensed up and moved to the window. Suddenly he had an idea, "you know, Bogg," he began.
"Huh?"
"It was hard to tell you about Aunt Elizabeth," Jeff paused and waited for a response.
Bogg turned back from the window as the dog barked again, "I know, but aren't you glad you did?"
"Yeah. So I was thinking, since I told you something about my past, you should tell me something about yours. I mean, it's only fair."
Bogg straightened up and turned away from him. "What do you want to know?" he asked.
"Why you're afraid of dogs," Jeff said quietly.
"I'm not..." but he stopped himself, remembering their recent voyage to the zoo. "All right, I'm afraid of packs of dogs, and I'm cautious around all dogs, that's all," he finished.
"But why?"
"It doesn't work like that kid."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm glad you told me about your aunt, but that doesn't mean I'm obligated to answer your question."
Jeff lay quietly thinking. "Do you promise to tell me when I'm older?"
"I said I would, yes."
"Okay, then tell me something about your family. Something like I told you, but it doesn't have to be bad. Who was Dan? Tell me about him."
"How do you know about Dan?" Bogg asked in astonishment.
Jeff looked at him evenly. "After those wild dogs attacked you, you talked in your sleep," he paused, "a little. You said his name a few times."
There was silence. Bogg stared at his partner, remembering his nightmare. Some day he would tell Jeff the story of how Bogg had watched his brother Dan being attacked and virtually eaten alive by a pack of starving wild dogs. But, that was not a story for today, Jeff was too young for that story. Phineas knew that Jeff would probably see some horrible scenes during his time as a voyager, but he just couldn't bring himself to expose him to such a brutal scene any earlier than was absolutely necessary. Maybe today was a time to remember something good about Dan.
"Dan was my brother," Phineas began and was surprised that a lump formed in his throat. He knew his voice would be shaking, but decided to continue. He swallowed, "he was two years older than me. We did everything together. And no matter what happened, how dangerous it got, he was always my protector." Bogg took a deep breath and wiped his eyes, then he smiled.
"I remember once when I got stuck up in a tree..." Bogg talked for a long time about his brother, sometimes shedding a tear or two, but more often laughing as he remembered details about their childhood together. Jeff moved to sit beside him at the table and put his hand on Bogg's arm as the stories unfolded. He sat still and listened with rapt attention.
Finally, Bogg took a deep breath, "sorry I got so long winded, I've never told anyone all that before."
"I liked listening," Jeff whispered.
"I never had anyone who cared enough to listen before."
Jeff stood up and put his arms around Bogg, remembering how good it had felt at Kitty Hawk to finally talk about what had happened when his parents were killed. Bogg had been the only one willing to just sit and listen to the story. And he had listened to a lot more since then too.
When he let go, he spoke, "well, you do now."
"Thanks," Bogg told him and smiled. As much as he'd taken care of Jeffrey on this stop at headquarters, it suddenly occurred to him that Jeff had taken care of him as well. And he felt better than he had in a long time. "I guess that's what being a family is about huh?"
"Yeah," Jeff answered.