Chapter 14 Something's Wrong

The following day, after they had moved into a regular room and had had a good night's sleep, Jeff jumped out of bed and approached his friend. "How're you doing?"

"Better," Bogg answered, "I guess you're over the cowpox."

"Yep, I feel fine, and that's one fewer shot I have to get."

"Huh?"

"They're gonna to give me a whole bunch of immunizations while we're here," Jeff explained.

"They shoulda thought of that the last time."

"Yeah, the doctor said the same thing."

"Listen," Phineas began in a serious voice, and Jeff paused and looked at him. "I'm sorry I forced the cowpox on you." He paused, "I've seen people die of smallpox... I guess I was scared. I didn't think we could wait. I just don't want you to be scared of me. I'd never hurt you, please believe that." As he spoke, his voice got softer. He hoped the kid could forgive him.

Jeff stared at him, unsure what to say. He had hated Bogg at the time, and had even planned on leaving him when they got back to headquarters. But so much had happened since then that he just didn't feel that way any more.

"Remember when I woke up and we were in the lake?"

"Yeah."

"Nobody else would've sat all night in a lake, just because I was sick. I forgave you then."

"Thanks," Phineas said with a catch in his voice as Jeff leaned down to give him a hug.

When the breakfast trays were brought in, Jeff dug into his as though he hadn't eaten in a week, but Phineas just took a few bites and pushed the eggs around on his plate.

"You're not eating?" Jeff asked when he finished his meal and finally looked over at his mentor.

"I'm eating," Bogg lied and took another mouthful, but the truth was, his mind was filled with guilt and he just wasn't hungry. Jeff had forgiven him, and he felt relief at that, but there was more on his mind than that.

Jeff looked at him with concern and there was an awkward silence as he sat down beside the bed and stared at him. It had stretched out much too long when Jeffrey finally spoke. "Something's wrong," he said quietly, "is your arm really okay?"

"It's fine, well, it will be, don't worry," Bogg answered, forcing himself to smile. The kid was too perceptive, had always been that way.

"Well, something's wrong," Jeff persisted.

"I just need to think," Phineas finally told him.

"Think about what?" Jeff asked worriedly.

Phineas sighed. "I just need some time alone," he said finally.

"Oh." Jeff sat still, in shock for a few seconds. Bogg had never needed time like this before, at least he'd never said so. All Jeff wanted was to be with him, especially after all they'd been through.

Phineas looked up at the kid and realized he looked upset. He put his arm out and Jeff leaned forward and hugged him again, "it's okay, I just need some time." Phineas paused, "one of the therapy assistants is gonna give you a tour of headquarters."

Normally, Phineas knew this news would make Jeff happy, but now, he just left his head resting against Bogg's good shoulder and whispered "okay."

The knock at the door surprised them both and Jeff straightened up when a stranger walked in. His gray hair was short cropped and very thin on top and his eyes crinkled in the corners when he smiled at Jeff as he entered. "Can I come in?"

"Did you bring a tour guide?" Bogg asked.

"As requested," and he motioned to a young man who was trailing behind him. "How are you two doing?"

"Good," Bogg answered.

Jeff sighed and squared his shoulders as he walked toward the door. "I'll be back later."

After they left, the stranger walked in and sat down beside Phineas. "I'm Jack Skylar, one of the psychologists here," he said, "you asked to see someone?"

Bogg took a deep breath and sighed. "How much do you know about what happened to us?"

"Why don't you tell me what happened in your own words," Skylar answered, prepared to listen.

"Okay," Bogg answered quietly, and began talking. He explained Drake's past and how he had come to hunt them down. Then he tried to convey what his relationship was with Jeffrey, and what had happened when Drake finally caught up with them. As the last part of his story unfolded, his voice became unsteady and he had to stop several times before he could finish explaining what had happened.

After a silence, Skylar spoke, "okay, you've done a good job of setting the scene, now tell me why you wanted to see me?"

Phineas reached up and pushed tears out of his eyes before he spoke. "I let Drake walk up to Jeff with a loaded gun and pull the trigger." The anguish in his voice betrayed his distress more clearly than any words. "I had him in my sites, I could have put that bullet anywhere I wanted and I shot his omni ... twice."

"Voyagers don't shoot people, we instill that very thoroughly," Skylar said.

"Not in the time stream, no, but Drake's death wouldn't have changed history."

"You didn't know he had a gun at the time. The way you just described it to me sounds like it would've been more like a sniper attack. Could you live with it if you murdered him?"

"I'd rather live with that than without Jeff."

There was silence as Skylar pondered how to respond. "The only thing anyone can do is make every decision in the moment, the best they can. Anything else would be pre-meditated murder." He paused, "you only did what you were trained to do."

"I let him walk right past me and fire a gun at Jeff!" Phineas said again in anguish.

"But Jeffrey's alive, Phineas. You got him out of it."

"Wilson saved him, I tried but I wasn't fast enough."

They sat together for a few more minutes, then Skylar put his hand on Bogg's good shoulder and squeezed it. "I'll stop back in to see you tomorrow," he said as he stood up.