Protector of my Heart! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Nine ___________________________________
Meanwhile, as Catherine stood against the tunnel wall, waiting for Vincent, she heard Peter say, "Hiya Kiddo!"
And as Catherine looked up, she thankfully yet worriedly said, "Peter, you came back!"
To which Peter started to reply that he had forgotten to leave a supplement for Jacob, when suddenly he saw the concern in Catherine's eyes, and asked, "...why, is something wrong?"
To which Catherine compassionately explained, "Vincent is concerned how tired Jacob seems lately, and he is trying to convince him to come see you before you leave."
In a confused manner, Peter said, "But I was just here..."
And then because he wanted to put Catherine at ease, he changed his tone and continued, "...don't worry, I'll go in, and give him a once over."
As Peter entered the chamber, Vincent was just helping Jacob put on his wrap.
And as Peter made his presence known, a surprised Jacob said, "Peter, what are you doing here? Vincent had just convinced me to come and see you!"
To which Peter replied, "I forgot to leave your prescribed supplement..."
And then with a bit of concern, Peter asked, "What's going on old friend?"
With a bit of a irritated tone, Jacob scoffed, as he answered, by saying, "Oh there is much ado about nothing!"
Peter then winked at Vincent, as he took charge of the situation, and as he helped slip Jacob's wrap back off, he accusingly said, "Ah eh...right! So just tell me, what IS going on Jacob?"
To which Jacob defensively said, "Ah a bit of unsteadiness is all, and feeling tired...but what is wrong with a middle aged man taking an afternoon rest now, and again?"
Upon hearing how Jacob viewed himself, Peter smiled, as he said, "Well as much as I hate to admit it Junior, I am not sure, we qualify as middle aged anymore!"
And so as Peter lead Jacob to his bed, he commandingly said, "Come on, I am going to check you over."
But because the thought of "The Rival" football game struck Jacob, he then urgently asked Peter, "Aren't you concerned about missing your ball game?"
To which Peter, with his superb bedside manner, said, "You are my concern right now. So...you say you've been feeling tired...and unsteady..."
So while Peter was taking his blood pressure, Jacob resignedly sighed, as he admitted, "Yes...feeling unusually tired, bordering perhaps...on fatigue."
As Peter took in the information, he then strapped his stethoscope on, and asked, "And what about the unsteadiness?"
To which Jacob clarified, by saying, "I suppose one may exchange the word unsteady for dizzy...I have felt a dizziness of late..."
Upon hearing Jacob more accurately describing his symptoms now, Peter shook his head as he scolded, "I still can't figure out why you didn't tell me this when I was here earlier! You knew I was going to be away."
To which Jacob sheepishly said, "We were having such an enjoyable visit, I hated to taint it by bringing up something as menial as feeling sleepy eyed."
Upon hearing Jacob's excuse, Peter raised his eyes, to look disapprovingly at him, and said, "Famous last words...ahhh, we doctors DO make the worse patients!"
Vincent looked downward, as he smiled listening to Peter scold his Father. Because he knew there was no one else but Peter, who could talk to Jacob on his level, and bring him down from the role of doctor, to the role of being the patient.
Vincent then looked up, and watched Peter as he listened to his Father's heart. And as he did so, a dread fell on Vincent's own heart, as the inevitable fact of his Father growing older encompassed him, and he wondered what he would do, if anything were to happen to him.
As Peter then stood upright, he said, "I think you are stressed out, and you have not been watching your diet lately either...and...YOU have put on some weight!"
To which Jacob spewed, "Well that is expected is it not? It is the Holidays!"
With a sideways look, Peter sighted, "Two pieces of pie Jacob?"
Peter then turned to Vincent, and asked, "Do you think you could run things around here for about a week Vincent?"
To which Vincent with concern, replied, "Well, yes Peter...is Father's condition serious?"
Assuredly, but truthfully, Peter answered, "Only if he doesn't change his ways."
Peter then looked back at Jacob, and said, "Come on, I prescribe some R&R. You are going back down to Florida with ME! I want to keep an eye on you for a few days."
Upon hearing what Peter was suggesting, Jacob began to protest, saying, "Winterfest! I cannot chance missing Winterfest!"
To which Peter promised, "And neither would I. We will be back in plenty of time! Now come on and pack your things, so we can get to Charles' home in time for the second quarter."
Wondering how he could possibly leave, Jacob excitedly said, "Wait a minute, I cannot just leave the Tunnels again so soon...and what about an Airline ticket? One does need one of those!"
In response, Peter explained, "Pauline cannot fly out today with us as planned, so we'll transfer her ticket to your name. Now come on, no more excuses."
It was then Jacob looked helplessly toward Vincent, and said, "I...I am unsure what to do Vincent!"
As Vincent put his arm around his Father, he wisely advised, "You have always trusted in Peter's medical opinion when it came to treating any of us. If Peter feels going away on holiday is essential to your good health, then you must go Father."
Trying to fathom actually traveling again, Jacob then clarified, "So, you really do believe I should?"
Vincent discreetly looked up at Peter, and with hope, they shared a look, as it looked like this man, who was so set in his ways, just might consent to go!
So with one final push, Vincent lightheartedly said, "Yes I do Father, and it is after all, Doctors orders."
Jacob sighed, as he nodded, agreeing, "All right then..."
Supportingly, Vincent embraced his Father, and firmly told him, "This R & R Peter is prescribing, is not going to work, unless you can let go....and leave all thoughts of the tunnels behind..."
Appreciating Vincent's comment, Peter chimed in, "Vincent is right...do you think you can do that Jacob?"
Upon relinquishing his last bit of fight, Jacob with a bit of humor, shook his head in wonder, at the fact he was actually going to agree to this impromptu trip, and he then incredulously said, "Oh my Heavens, here I go again!"
With that said, Vincent then went to his father's wardrobe, and found the satchel he used for travel, and said, "We shall prepare then."
Feeling triumphant his patient was complying, Peter gleefully said, "Let me help Vincent. I know exactly what he will need! Only the bare essentials."
As Peter dug into the drawer, he pulled out a pair of boxer shorts, with huge red hearts on them! As he held them up, Jacob hobbled over, and he quickly grabbed them from Peter's hands, and with embarrassment, said, "Oh my, I had forgotten I had those!"
To which Peter burst out laughing, and asked, "What in the world? Where did you get the snazzy shorts?"
Jacob looked shyly downward, as he caught a glimpse of Vincent, who was finding this humorous too!
And so Jacob embarrassingly explained, and with a slight chuckle, said, "From Jessica, I suppose one might say they were a bit of a Valentine prank."
To which Peter surprisingly exclaimed, "Jessica? It's been years since you have been an item! At least I thought so..."
With a tip of his head, Jacob thoughtfully admitted, "You are right...it's been years...I suppose I never had the...pardon the pun, but never had the heart to throw them away."
After a few corny chuckles, Peter then said, "Well unless they have moth holes, PACK 'EM! They may come in handy, after all, one never knows when opportunity may strike, there are a lot of lonely widows down in Florida."
To which Jacob quizzically inquired, "I thought this trip was for my health?"
In reply, Peter smiled, and said, "Yes, for your health, you are to relax AND relieve stress! It is well known sexual relations is a great stress reliever!"
Stunned, Jacob shockingly said, "Peter! What a startling medical fact to repeat in front of the boy!"
To which Peter exclaimed, "Oh come on, Vincent isn't a little kid, and besides, it is a proven study. Everyone knows it!"
And then to reinforce Peter's comment, Vincent rocked back on his heels, and with his hands behind his back, he added, "Craig Mardu's research papers, convey that the excitement of a sexual activity, does indeed relieve stress, much more efficiently than the calm soothing thoughts one conjures up when meditating."
Upon hearing this fact, Jacob looked firstly to Vincent, and then to Peter and scoffed, "Hmm, how do you like that! All the time I wasted on Yoga, I should have been...well, I dare say what I should have been doing!"
The three shared a laugh at Jacob's comment, and then Vincent cleared his throat and said, "Well, I will leave you two to continue this conversation, and I will inform Catherine of your travel plans."
As Vincent stepped out into the tunnels, he was surprised to see quite a gathering had assembled around Catherine, and everyone wanted to know how Father was.
Mary was first to approach Vincent, and tearfully asked, "Is Father all right?"
To which Vincent assuredly nodded as he began to explain, "Yes Mary, Father is fine..."
And then, before Vincent could say anything more, Rebecca with great concern, inserted, "But Catherine said Peter is in there with him!"
And so in reply, Vincent calmly said, "Yes this is true, Peter is with him..."
But before Vincent could explain, Mouse nervously, butted in asking, "What is Peter doing to Father?"
Vincent then turned to Mouse, and assuringly said, "Peter has merely given Father a check up, and he feels there is nothing serious to be concerned about Mouse."
Wanting more details, Jamie impatiently inquired, "Nothing serious? But there is something? Well, go on Vincent! What does Peter think IS wrong with Father?"
In an effort to soothe her, Vincent carefully said, "Well Peter does feel Father is fatigued, and, it would be beneficial for Father to get away for some rest."
Upon hearing Father needs to get a way, Laura worriedly stepped up, and signed, "Where? To a hospital?"
In an attempt to calm Laura, and everyone else, Vincent shook his head no, and signed as he spoke, saying, "No, not to a hospital. Peter wants Father to accompany him back down to Florida."
To which Pascal in a surprise tone, repeated, "Florida? Again?"
But before Vincent could reply, Mary butted in and worriedly screeched, "For how long?"
Vincent tried to stay calm, as he explained, "For a week, maybe 10 days. Peter must make this trip at this time...and he would like to monitor Father in these upcoming days, and determine why he is feeling so fatigued."
Assessing this trip, William in astonishment said, "I cannot believe Father would go down to Florida now! What about Winterfest?"
It was then Vincent stepped up, to firmly say, "Everyone please...if Father senses all this trepidation from you, he will refuse to go!"
In an effort to get everyone on board, Vincent then explained his own feelings, as he said, "As for myself, I am relieved he will be in such close proximity to Peter. This way Father will not be able to mask any symptoms he may own."
Vincent then thoughtfully added, "Everyone understand, Peter cannot put this trip off, and with him gone...there is no one else to call, should Father fall ill."
Upon hearing Vincent's reasonable explanation, William still wanted an answer to his question! And so this time, he more calmly repeated, "But what of Winterfest Vincent? Do we still go forward, planning the celebration?"
In reply, Vincent nodded and said, "Yes William. Peter promises to have Father back in time for Winterfest. Neither one desires to miss our special celebration."
With all the questions squelched, Vincent walked up to Catherine, and said, "So, it appears our Father's will have a chance to become better acquainted."
Catherine smiled up at Vincent, and as she raised a brow, she teasingly asked, "And that is a good thing right?"
To which Vincent, with a touch of humor said, "Let us hope so Catherine..."
Just then Peter and Jacob emerged from the chamber's threshold, and as Jacob looked around in surprise, he said, "Oh My! What's all this?"
Vincent then informatively said, "Everyone knows you are leaving Father..."
With an appreciative nod toward his son, Jacob then stepped away from Peter's side, as he addressed his tunnel family, by saying, "I want to let you know, although I will be away, I will be with you in spirit."
Jacob then looked to Vincent and Catherine, as he sincerely requested, "Keep me apprised will you?"
To which Catherine shared, "If Vincent needs to contact you, I have Mother Alcott's phone number..."
As Catherine caught herself speaking of Mother Alcott in the present, she and Peter shared a brief moment, in which they both understood, how sad they were, she was gone.
And so as Peter cleared the emotion from his voice, he light heartedly said to Catherine, "Well, we're heading over to your Dad's to catch the rest of the game."
To which Catherine gave him a hug, and replied, "All right Peter..."
Catherine then turned to Jacob, and hugged him too, and said, "Safe travels to the three of you."
To which Jacob nodded, and said, "Thank you my Dear."
Jacob then looked to his son, and held out his arms to welcome an embrace, and as he did so, Vincent with a bit of emotion, said, "Safe trip Father."
Slowly Mary stepped toward them both, and softly said, "Well this is goodbye then..."
Mary then turned to Jacob, and in a delicate plead, she asked, "Take care of yourself Father, and listen to Peter. We...we need you to come back to us rested and strong."
In reply, and with a tremble to his smile, Jacob promised, "I will, and Mary...I shall count on you to assist Vincent."
Mary nodded indicating she would do what ever it took, and then sadly, she silently stepped back in line with the others.
With one last farewell, together Peter and Jacob left the tunnels, leaving everyone to wonder, and speculate about Jacob's health.
And after a long while, everyone finally dispersed, leaving Vincent and Catherine alone, and so he huskily inquired, "How long can you stay?"
To which Catherine looked up at him, and because knowing she had Noodles to care for, she thoughtfully said, "A little while longer..."
Vincent tipped his head slightly, and then took her hand, and slowly they walked through the tunnels, to his chamber.