Voyagers Asylum

Chapter 9: Complements

Phineas tapped on Jeffrey's door and poked his head in. Jeffrey was sitting up in bed with blue shorts, his right leg bandaged and supported by a bunch of pillows. He was reading a Mark Twain novel. On the side of his bed was a wooden nightstand, piled high with other books and comics and a plate of half-eaten chocolate chip cookies with a glass of milk. He smiled at his partner and waved at him.

"You can come in, Bogg, it's all clear."

Phineas laughed and entered, taking a seat on the cozy armchair close by. He kicked off his shoes and put his feet up on the bed.

"Heh, the clean up crew gets a little annoyed with dirty footprints in their snazzy rugs. So, how have they been treating you around here? I'm sorry I had to leave for a while, but a Voyager's work is never done, is it? I missed you though, traveling without my kid partner is like missing a limb."

Jeffrey's cheeks flared and he looked down, picking at the small lint on his sheets. "I appreciate that, Bogg. It's okay. The doctors here are really cool! Look at this!" Jeffrey lifted his white tee shirt and proudly displayed his stomach. The whip wound was coated in a gelatin like substance and barely visible, as were the other small wounds on his body.

"That's terrific! The medicines they have here work miracles."

"Yeah, I'm smuggling some to the boys when we visit the old orphanage again. Don't tell!"

Phineas zipped his lip. "Of course not."

"When I was feeling better, Olivia came and wheeled me around the complex. This place is so awesome, I don't know why you didn't like it."

Phineas laughed at his enthusiasm. "You're right, it's extremely awesome. I guess when you're a student, you're trying to figure everything out and don't appreciate the surroundings. All you care about are passing classes and studying for tests."

"But you barely did that anyway, Bogg. So why didn't you like it?"

Jeffrey giggled when Phineas eyed him with mock anger. "Wiseguy! I loved it once I got used to it and learned what a toilet bowl and computer was. I was just too busy complaining about the coursework, but they're state of the art around here, even if they look 19th century. Great facilities."

Phineas pushed Jeffrey's blanket aside and moved onto the edge of his bed. He tousled his hair and took a deep breath, gulping down a few tears. Jeffrey held his arm.

"Bogg, it's okay. I'm fine. It took a few days to clear my head, but I'm good, really."

"I see that, Jeff, and it's a huge relief for me. I was trying to imagine the ordeal you went through and it broke my heart to think about you and all those kids. I'm so glad we didn't go down to that torture room. I would have been very tempted do some damage on those two animals." Phineas lamented, his expression darkened.

"You kept your cool pretty good, Bogg, but your sure did give it to them when you had to!" Jeffrey punched his fist in his palm, but then became somber again.

"Bogg, I was thinking a lot about what you said, about history and the rose colored glasses? I have a lot to learn. It's not so much the events, but about the conditions that make people what they are. When things should sometimes be black and white, us humans make them gray and I forget that. Am I making sense?"

"You're making a lot of sense, more than some adults would. You'll learn just fine, Jeff. I'm just very concerned about you up here." Phineas pointed to his forehead and tapped it gently.

Jeffrey rubbed his nose, feeling his tears well up again. Every time he and Phineas shared a moment like this, he cried. "I'll…I'll never forget what I saw and heard Bogg, it was sickening and really hurt…hurt me…inside. I felt more pain in my heart than I did on my body. I felt so helpless, all those poor kids were stripped of their humanity and they had nobody to love them. I'm so lucky to have you, Bogg. You, Lilly, and everyone around here at VHQ really care about me. I'll try not to take that for granted anymore."

Jeffrey held up his arms and Phineas embraced him. He patted his back and rocked him while he cried.

"Jeffrey, shh, I'm always here for you, I'll try never to let that happen again. I'm sorry I lost you." Phineas rambled compassionately.

Jeffrey pulled away after a few minutes. "Thanks, Bogg, I really needed to do that…I couldn't with anyone but you. I'd be too embarrassed."

"Aww, don't be, but I'm glad we're that comfortable with each other. I just have this way about me. Every time I'm with someone, they cry their eyes out!"

Phineas smiled brightly and threw out his arms with a shrug and Jeffrey laughed.

"I don't know what it is, either! Hey, have you heard from Lilly?"

"Not since we got here a few days ago. I think she went back out into the field. I really wished she didn't. Lilly's taking it rough too. She's been through as much as I have and it's harder for her to cope. She says she's gonna write a book called, 'How to deal: Femininity and Voyaging.' She cracks me up sometimes."

"I know, she's really funny. I heard she went on her vacation. Bogg, do you like her? I mean like her, like her? I think she's great, she's sweet, and very pretty, you and her always hit it off, when you're not arguing over something stupid." Jeffrey rolled his eyes.

Phineas sat back and smiled wistfully, then he glanced at him with a lopsided grin. "Does it show that much? Lilly and I have a very comfortable friendship, ahh, I should call it more than that, but essentially, that's what it is."

"My father always said, that the woman you love and marry should be your best friend in the whole world before anyone else. What do you think?"

"I'd say your father was absolutely right. As much as we forget, men and women unquestionably need each other and…they complete each other." Phineas gazed out the window by Jeffrey's bed. The skies sparkled with a purple glow. Aside from Jeffrey, Lilly had been the only other person on his mind while he fulfilled his routine voyages.

"That's so nice, Bogg. I bet if you tell that to any woman they'd melt in your arms."

Phineas chuckled and pulled the blanket over Jeffrey. "Hey, don't ever tell that to just any woman! Only the woman that you know for sure is…the one. Otherwise you'll become a heartbreaker."

"Gotchya! So, what are you gonna do now?"

"I spoke to the brass here and they said it's time for us to have a vacation. I didn't argue with that. Once we're back in the field, we'll make that trip to London again and see Daryl and Firth. For now it looks like I'll be able to spend some time shuffling around campus with you."

Jeffrey stared sympathetically at his wrought up partner. He saw the stress and agitation that wore on him in his eyes and mannerisms. A week or two here at Headquarters wasn't going to help Phineas overcome it. An inspiration dawned on Jeffrey.

"Bogg, No, you're not staying with me. I have a much better idea…"

~Oo~

Lilly inhaled the warm, clean air of her surroundings. She gazed contemplatively at the large water fountain in the center of the Piazza Navona in Rome. Happy couples and tourist families and locals strolled by, taking in the elegant architecture and enjoying the variety of markets and shops. She picked at a slice of strawberry cheesecake in an open-air Café. Lilly was always entranced with Italy's beauty, especially from the way it was presented in the movies of the fifties. She decided to spend her vacation time touring the country in the month of July, 1955.

This was her third day, and while she felt rested, she couldn't shake the loneliness again. She forked another piece of cheesecake in her mouth. If she didn't stop whining to herself, she would skip Venice and the Gondola rides. Going to the city on the water would not help her overcome her feelings. She glanced down at her white sandals and noticed the strap was loose. As she bent down and adjusted it, and a tall shadow blocked the sunlight. She froze when she felt a strong, manly hand on her shoulder.

"Scusarmi, la signorina. Questo posto è portato?" The man asked.

Lilly blushed and sat up. She straightened her yellow sundress and anxiously fixed her hair bun. She fumbled through her purse for her Italian to English dictionary, but didn't make eye contact. The man laughed and he bent over, cupping her chin.

"I said, excuse me, Miss, but is this seat taken?" She raised her eyes with shock; the stranger was none other than Phineas Bogg.

He looked startlingly handsome in a cornflower blue gabardine shirt with short sleeves and khaki slacks. She admired his brown and tan spats. His hair was trimmed and slicked back in wet curls atop his head. He looked the image of a fifties male model. He carried a dark blue suitcase and set it by his feet. He pulled up the chair across from her and reached for her plate.

"Don't mind if I do."

"I don't mind, I've eaten too much already. Phineas, when did you get here?"

"Five minutes ago. I watched you from across the fountain, you looked a little unsure of yourself." He said through mouthfuls of cheesecake.

"Oh, I was just trying to figure out my itinerary." She laughed nervously and pulled out a small notepad. "How did you find me?"

"The handy, dandy Voyager Locator of course, and our friend Bobby Peters at Headquarters spilled the beans. I'm not bothering you, am I?" He patted his mouth with her napkin and pushed the empty plate aside. "I could get some Roman lunch then leave."

Lilly gazed at him with profound relief. "No! Don't do that! You're not bothering me at all, it's nice to see you here. But what about Jeffrey? He's still in recovery and…"

"Jeffrey is the one who demanded I come. It was his idea. He's happy as a clam at VHQ and Bobby is making him his assistant at the Omni Control Center for the next week or so. That leaves me out of the loop. He's healed up very well, considering."

"It's the mental scars I'm more concerned about." Lilly said.

"I know, I feel the same way, but he insists he's fine. He's had time to clear the air and we discussed everything. I know he's putting on a brave act, but I think it's good for him to be there and get his mind off all the darkness. My kid's a trooper."

"He must get it from you, that willing Voyager spirit. You know that your quote is taught in class nowadays, "A Voyager's got to have spirit, so when everybody's telling you you're wrong you got the courage to fight back, and a Voyager's got to be able to make people take a new look at a situation, to give people the confidence to take that one extra chance.' That's very inspiring Phineas." She smiled.

Phineas shrugged modestly. "I meant every word of it. Ya see! They don't tell me these things! I had no idea what a campus hero I was until this past week. When I went to the cafeteria you'd think a King walked in or someone important."

"You truly are the golden child! And you've done so much for the cause, Phineas. Everyone loves you. So, you're just stopping to say hi, right? After today, I'm off to Venice."

"Ahh, Venice! You don't think I'd let you ride the Gondola alone, do you?"

"Alone? Why would I be alone? I have the…the gondolier…" She stammered.

Phineas grabbed her hands and caressed her fingers. "Don't kid a kidder, Lilly. I'm here for a vacation too, and I was hoping to spend it with you."

His eyes bore into hers and she held her cheek, feeling the heat rise again. "Are you sure? There's so much more in the world to see and so many places and eras to go…"

Phineas sighed and got up from his chair. He pulled her to her feet.

"Of course there is, but this is where you are and this is where I want to be."

Lilly adjusted the purse on her shoulder and he picked up the suitcase. They sauntered toward the fountain, allowing the cool water to delicately spray their faces. Phineas continued to hold her hand as they watched the sunlight create rainbows through the streams of water.

"I know the beaches along the Italian Riviera are gorgeous. I've seen them, but not in the tourist sense. Did you hit those yet?" He wondered.

"No…I was planning to, nothing like a fun day at the beach."

"Nope, nothing like it, especially when you're with a friend."

Phineas turned to her, staying at arms length, and they stared at one another. Lilly cocked her head and pursed her lips, her eyes questioned him.

"I suppose you'll join me, as that friend."

Phineas drew her near to him and leaned toward her, his lips slightly brushed hers.

"I'll join you however you'd like."

Lilly beamed and put her arms over his neck.

"How could I refuse that?"

"I don't know. Do you want to?"

"Absolutely not." She whispered, and kissed him.

Phineas put his arm around her waist and they strolled through the square. He kept her close to his side and exhaled contented.

"Lilly, did I ever tell you my philosophy on man and woman?"

"No, I don't believe you have, this ought to be good." She mused.

Phineas laughed and kissed her on the forehead. "I'm sure you'll tell me your opinion."

"Okay then, hit me."

"A man and a woman in love should become best friends. And…as much as we forget, men and women unquestionably need each other…"

The End.