Chapter 8 He'll Clobber Me
They landed at headquarters a few moments later. "Hey! I wasn't gonna bring us here, what's the big idea?" Bogg said, annoyance in his voice.
"The big idea is that you were hurt pretty bad when we landed in that river and you're sick too." When Bogg started to protest Jeff raised his voice. "And don't bother denying it!"
They were taken to the Infirmary right away for examinations. Jeffrey's right hand was x-rayed and a hairline fracture in one of the small bones of his hand was splinted.
"Do I really have to wear that?" he asked as Dr. Bradshaw pulled a sling out of a drawer in the corner.
"Just for a few days, why?"
Jeff sighed, "Bogg'll clobber me when he sees that," he said to the doctor.
Bradshaw had been turning to put away his supplies, but his attention suddenly shifted back to the boy and he sat down to face him again, a serious expression on his face. "Are you saying that Voyager Bogg has hit you?"
Jeff's jaw dropped open, "no," he answered in a shocked voice.
"You can tell me, you're safe here," Bradshaw continued.
"There's nothing to tell," Jeff said in astonishment.
"You just said that..."
"I meant he'd be mad, that's all," Jeff interrupted him.
The doctor paused, "and when he gets mad, what happens?"
Jeff stared at him, "nothing."
"What happens?"
"We argue sometimes, nothing happens."
"Does he often get mad when you get hurt?"
Jeff shook his head, confused, "he doesn't get mad when I get hurt," he said in disbelief.
"You said he'd be mad."
"Because I didn't tell him," Jeff paused, "we're supposed to tell each other if we get hurt. It's a rule we have, but he was hurt worse than I was, so I never told him about my hand."
They stared at each other for a few seconds. "I see," Bradshaw replied slowly. "So you're not saying that Voyager Bogg has hurt you in the past?"
"No way, he's great. He always takes care of me. You know that!"
Bradshaw nodded, "I believe you, but we would take complaints of abuse very seriously, so don't say anything like that again unless it's true, alright?"
Jeff sighed in relief and nodded, "I won't." Bradshaw put the sling on him and adjusted the fit, then smiled as they parted.
After Bradshaw left he thought about his comment and how much trouble it had almost caused. He remembered using those very words with Billy the Kid and he wasn't bothered at all by it. He would really have to work on considering where he was before he spoke from now on.
Author's Note: It always bothered me that Jeff said Bogg would clobber him in Episode 3, Bully and Billy. We all know Phineas would never hit Jeffrey, yet, kids do say the darndest things!