Chapter 17 Sorting Things Out
When Jeff returned from therapy, he moved toward the table and sat down facing the closed box of Legos.
Phineas watched him with concern. "Hey, you okay?" he asked.
Jeff nodded, not wanting to speak.
"Come here," Phineas said as he reached out his left arm toward the boy. Jeff moved to the side of the bed. "You don't look happy."
Jeff looked at the floor, "I'm okay," he whispered.
"Do you still feel sick? You can tell me."
Jeff glanced away, took a deep breath, and then suddenly turned toward Bogg.
"I don't wanna leave you," he answered in a shaking voice.
Bogg's jaw opened. "What? Who said you were leaving? What're they telling you?" he said in a shocked voice.
Jeff spoke very fast, "you wouldn't talk to me, and it's my fault you got shot, and I know I couldn't keep up when Drake was ..."
"Hold on, stop," Phineas interrupted him. "There is no way anyone is taking you away from me, so get that out of your head right now!" he said loudly. "Who told you that? I'll give them a talking to they won't forget!"
Jeff felt the knot in his stomach loosen.
Bogg paused and stared at his partner. "How could you believe anything was your fault?"
"Then why wouldn't you talk to me?" Jeff asked.
Phineas paused, "I had some things to sort out," he whispered.
"About me?"
"Not about separating, that's for sure."
Jeff finally smiled and leaned down to hug his partner.
Phineas pulled him closer with his left arm. "I didn't do a very good job of protecting you. That's what I've been thinking about," he whispered as Jeff sat back up.
"No one could've done better Bogg."
Phineas shook his head, "When Drake's gun went off... I almost died inside... I did the best I could... and it wasn't good enough."
"But I'm okay."
"Not because of me."
Jeff paused, "I'm a lot safer with you, than without you."
Their eyes met, "maybe," Bogg conceded.
"Definitely."
Phineas sighed, "why don't you let me get some more sleep."
Jeff nodded and moved off the edge of the bed and back to the table. This time he opened the box of Legos and reached for the partially assembled locomotive he'd been working on. It had been stupid of him to think Bogg was planning on getting rid of him. How could he have thought it was possible, even likely? He shook his head and smiled. Nothing could break them up, they were a family and Bogg would always be there, trying his best to protect him.