Chapter 7 Convincing Proxenus

Proxenus stopped by early the next morning and Bogg spoke to him while Jeff kept Ari busy.

"Of course I've considered it. I thought about it all night," Proxenus replied when Bogg asked him about caring for Ari.

"Then why don't you do it?" Bogg asked.

"I don't know about children, and his uncle would never let me take him anyway, he hates sheep herders."

Bogg stared at him. "Those are excuses and you know it."

Proxenus pointed his finger at Bogg's chest, "you don't know the first thing about it," he yelled angrily, jabbing him with his finger.

"I know everything about it, I got Jeff the same way!" Bogg yelled back.

Jeff and Ari came running from behind a tree, "we heard shouting," Jeff said, taking in the scene. He ran to get between the two men, "that's enough, you can talk about this without getting physical." He didn't want to say it, but he was still worried about Bogg's weakened condition.

"I told you he wouldn't want me," Ari said and turned and ran away.

"It's not that," Proxenus called after him and then sighed and Bogg saw his opening.

"He's only ten, he needs a family, not just a place to sleep. You're the only one who can give him that," he said.

Proxenus looked up at the sky and shook his head as Bogg continued to speak.

"It's not like it's forever, in seven years he'll be an adult," he said. "He just needs you now!"

Proxenus suddenly turned and hurried in the direction Ari had run and Bogg lifted the omni off his belt and opened it. He smiled and showed Jeff the green light.

"We did it!" he said. When Jeffrey didn't respond he looked at the kid, "what's wrong?" he asked when he saw Jeff's face.

Jeff paused, "you made it sound like a math problem," he said quietly, looking up at his friend.

Phineas coughed twice into his arm and shook his head, "what are you talking about?"

"Ten plus 7 is 17 and then he'll be gone," Jeff whispered and suddenly Bogg understood. "And 13 plus 4," Jeff paused, "are you just waiting til I grow up so you don't have to be stuck with me anymore?" he asked, staring at his mentor. He wasn't really upset, because he didn't really believe it, but for some reason he didn't quite understand, he asked anyway.

"I had to use that line," Bogg explained, "so he'd think it wasn't such a big commitment. I thought he'd be less scared, and it worked." He paused and put his hand on Jeff's shoulder, "if he knew how he'll feel about Aristotle, he'd be too afraid to take him in. I had no clue how I'd feel about you when we first met. And now look at me, I can't even function without you at my side."

"That's not really true," Jeff said.

"Well, I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you, that's true. When we were in that river, I thought I was going to lose my grip and you'd be gone." Jeff heard the emotion in Bogg's voice and knew he was telling the truth.

Jeff nodded, "you protected me from those rocks."

"Best I could, and you saved me too, didn't you?"

Jeff nodded and Bogg knew it was true. He'd heard about the rescue from Artemis.

"Seems kind of odd though," Jeff said.

"What's that?"

"Well, Aristotle will be one of the smartest and most famous men in history."

"So?"

"So, instead of being raised inside the town in an important family, he's going to grow up with a sheep herder. It just seems odd."

Bogg stared at him, "well, you're very smart and you'll probably do important things too, and I've always thought it was odd that you ended up with me. Maybe it doesn't matter who raises a kid. If he's meant to be great, he'll be great."

Jeff stared at him in silence for a minute, then reached up and touched Bogg's arm, "it matters," he whispered seriously, and Bogg smiled down at him.

"Well, it looks like we're done here, so let's go back to Steve Martin," Bogg said finally as he started to twist the dial on the omni.

"Can I see that for a second?" Jeff asked, putting his hand on the device, "just for a second," he finished.

"Why?" Bogg asked as he relinquished it to his partner.

"I just need to see one thing," Jeff said as he twirled the dial. He touched Bogg's shoulder, "sorry pal," he said as he pushed the button.

Author's Note: I always liked the scene in the episode "All Fall Down" where Jeff says "sorry pal" and omnis Bogg away from the fight because he's worried about him getting hurt.