The following morning, Tony felt the pain, as he tried to get out of bed. Looking at his stomach, he seen the bright red around the staples.
"Claire... Claire, wake up."
"What is it, Tony?"
"I think I have infection in my wound. Have a look at it."
As Claire lifted the dressing, she seen the same thing.
"Chirst... let's get you ready. I'll take you back to the Hospital."
Waking J&J, she asked them to watch Graham and Julia, while she headed over with their father to the Hospital.
"Is dad okay,mom?"
"He will be, Jimmy. He just has an infection in his staples. We'll be home as soon as we can. I love you, boys."
"We love you too, mom."
While Jimmy and James got up for the day. They checked on Julia and Graham. Finding them both still sound asleep, they headed downstairs to start their saturday chores.
"Hey James, should we run the vaccume? Or wait till Julia and Graham wake."
Almost as if on cue, Julia came downstairs with Graham in her arms.
"Jimmy, James, where is mommy and daddy?" as she placed her brother in the playpen.
"Mom had to take dad back to the Hospital, he had an infection in his staples."
"Oh... is that the bacteria thing? Did I do it to daddy, by hugging him. I didn't mean to hurt daddy. I didn't."
Running back upstairs, Julia slammed her door and cried.
"Now what?" asked James.
"You just had to tell her, didn't you. You knew she would blame herself. Especially after jumping on him yesterday."
"I'm sorry, Jimmy. God, why does she have to be so dramatic all the time?"
"She's not dramatic. She's tender hearted. Learn the difference, James. Take care of Graham, while I go talk to her."
heading upstairs, Jimmy could hear her crying. Opening her door, he sat beside her on the bed.
"Julia, can we talk."
"I didn't mean to hurt daddy, Jimmy. I didn't."
"I know Julia. But daddy's infection wasn't caused by you jumping on him. Sometimes a little bit of dirt, or bacteria is left inside the body where the wound is. When this happens, it grows into infection. Daddy is going to be fine. He'll be given antibiotics, and sent home. Please understand, Julia. You did nothing wrong."
"Honest Jimmy? I didn't hurt daddy?"
"No Julia. You didn't. Now give me a hug."
Wrapping her brother in her arms, she kissed his cheek.
"I love you, Jimmy."
"I love you too, Julia. Now let's go have some breafast."
......................................
Over at the Hospital, Tony was taken right in.
"Let's have a look, Tony."
Lifting his shirt, the doctor, pressed around the wound.
"Oww... easy doc. That's sensitive there."
"That's quite an infection you have. I'm going to start you on an I.V drip with Clyndamycin. So you may as well get comfortable. You'll be here for a couple days."
"Days? Oh no. Forget it doc. You can send me home with an I.V drip. I'm not staying here."
Claire was shocked. In the seven years they had been married. Claire had no clue he was terrified of staying in Hospitals.
"Come on, Tony... you have to stay. It's only a couple days. You could have told me you were afraid of staying in a Hospital. This is one hell of a way to find out. Especially after seven years of marriage."
"I'm sorry, baby. I'm not scared of Hospitals. I'm concerned about my brother. With no one being there to protect you and our children. He has easy access."
"I'm sorry, Tony. You have to stay in. It's important to make sure that infection doesn't spread. I promise we will have you out as soon as we can."
"I said no. I'll take my chances at home. Now juice me up, then give me a script to take home."
"You'll have to sign a release form."
"That's fine. Just bring it, please."
Once the papers were signed. They gave Anthony a double dose of antibiotics with a script and sent him home.
"You are so stubborn, Indiana. Or do you have a death wish?" said Claire trying not to break.
"Hey... hey... come on , baby. I'm going to be fine. Please trust in me, okay? Believe me, if I was that infected, I would stay. But I'm not. Just trust in me. I'll be fine."
.................................
Meanwhile...
Julia heard the knock on the door. Seeing her brothers busy vaccuming, she answered it. Looking up at the guy, she recognized him from the school. Trying to scream, he covered her mouth, and carried her to the car.
"Shh... you be quiet, Julia. There is no need to scream. I'm your uncle Dominic. If you look at me closely, you will see how much your daddy and I look alike. Here, this is a picture of us, from when we were kids."
Julia looked at the picture, then at her uncle.
"Why are you taking me from my home. I want to go back inside."
"You can honey. I'm not trying to take you, I would never do that. I just need to let you know that I'm here if you need me, okay? You can always find me at the school. It will be our secret."
"I'm not suppose to know secrets. Cause I can't keep them. Mommy says it's because I forget, they are to be secrets. So you should tell me nothing, just let me go home."
Back inside the house Jimmy noticed Julia was gone, and the front door was open. Dropping the vaccum, he ran outside and found her sitting on the stoop.
"God Julia, you scared the hell out of me. You know not to go out by yourself."
"I wasn't out by myself. Uncle Dominic took me. He sat me in his car and told me secrets."
Looking around, Jimmy picked up Julia and carried her into the house. Locking the door, he sat her down.
"Julia... what did Uncle Dominic say to you?"
"He said it's a secret. I'm not suppose to tell."
Great! Any other day Julia would tell every secret she had. Now today. Today she'd say nothing. Hearing the door unlock, Jimmy turned and seen his mom and dad.
"Dad, we have a problem."
Tony couldn't focus. The double dose of antibiotics had left him dazed.
"I'm sorry son. Tell your mom, okay. I need to go too bed."
As Tony walked upstairs. Claire looked at her son as she said...
"Okay son, what seems to be the problem?"