Only in Your Dreams Chapter 8
Lance settled back onto the bed and closed his eyes again, waiting for Justin to return as Chris led the doctor out of the bedroom and down the hallway to Joey�s room all the while not knowing that Joey was again in the grips of yet another nightmare. In the meantime, once in front of Joey�s doorway, Chris watched as again the doctor stood just outside the door watching, or observing, what was going on inside the room. This time, the doctor was not watching a young man sleeping peacefully. He was watching a man enveloped in what seemed to be a dream. Chris also saw what was going on and moved to walk around the doctor, but an arm against his chest blocked his way. The pair watched as Joey writhed upon his bed, tangled in his sheets and moaning in apparent fear and frustration at what was taking place in his dream state.
Joey found himself to be standing in the middle of a rather large, empty room void of furniture or light fixtures, but strangely, the room was well lit, almost blindingly so. In confusion, he looked at the plain walls and ceiling for the source of the light shinning brightly in the room. Unable to locate the light�s source he looked down at his feet and saw candles lying on the floor along with several books of matches. As he considered what to do about the candles and matches, he heard someone approaching the room and he immediately sensed danger. At the same time that he sensed the approaching danger, the light in the room began to gradually dim causing him to feel panic at the thought of being in a darkened room all by himself.
�Candles�gotta light the candles,� Joey whispered to himself as he bent down and grabbed one of the books of matches and the nearest candle while in the background he could hear ragged breathing coming from outside the room.
He desperately struggled to return his attention to the task at hand and opened the matchbook in his trembling hands to reveal that there was only one match inside. He tore it from the book and struck it against its rough outer surface and, much to his relief, the match immediately flared. Carefully, he brought the blazing match close to the candle in order to light it, somehow knowing that in doing so, he would be protected from whatever lurked outside the room. Just as he touched the flame to the candle�s wick, a cold wind blew through the room and snuffed the flame out.
The smell of the extinguished flame mingled with the smell of ever growing fear as Joey, now in an almost a full panic, and growing darkness, reached for a second book of matches and found that there was again only one match. He struck the match and worked with more speed to light the candle, but the cursed wind again blew out the match.
He could now no longer see the remaining matchbooks or candles lying on the floor in front of him as the darkness fully engulfed him. He could feel the presence of terrifying danger approaching him as he blindly moved about in the room seeking sanctuary from��
Chris could barely keep himself from breaking the arm barring his path.
�How can you be so cruel to just stand here and watch him going through that?� he demanded.
�I know this is distressing for you to see, but I need to see if he can�� the doctor tried to explain to the young man pressing against his arm, but before his sentence was completed, Joey woke with a start and sat straight up in the bed. His chest was heaving as he struggled to regain control of his breathing and a layer of sweat across his face and chest was clearly visible. The doctor removed his arm and allowed Chris to enter the room.
�Joey? Joey?�
Joey�s head turned toward Chris and immediately he knew what was going to possibly happen again, but before he could make it to Joey�s side, he felt the doctor brush him aside as he made his own way to the bed.
�Joey�I�m Dr. Shannon. Let�s get your head back down on the pillows.� He noted the clammy feel of Joey�s arms as he gently eased the ghost white, shaking man back down then he pointed to Chris and ordered him to put some pillows under the young man�s feet.
�Get my black box, Chris when you finish with that.� Chris quickly grabbed pillows, putting them under Joey�s feet and then trotted to the doorway to grab the box that the doctor had dropped in his hurry to get to Joey.
When Chris returned with the box the doctor immediately opened it and produced a small bottle. After opening it, he turned his attention back to Joey who was still pale and breathing rapidly, his eyes closed and seemingly half-conscious. He waved the bottle under Joey�s nose until he saw alertness gradually returning to the young man.
Joey cringed at the offensive smell of spirits of ammonia that now seemed to invade his senses and batted at the hand that was waving that awful stench under his nose.
�Stop it man,� he mumbled, as he moved his head back and forth in an effort to move away from the doctor�s hand. Joey�s eyes fluttered open and focused on the stranger sitting on the bed beside him. He then felt a hand on his shoulder and looked to his right to see Chris was seated on the bed beside him with the same worried look on his face that he had worn the night before.
�Chris, what�s going on?� Joey mumbled as he tried to gain a toehold on what was happening to him. �What happened?�
Then looking back at the doctor he fired more questions Chris� way.
�Who is this guy and why is he sitting on my bed?�
�Joey�it�s okay. Take a couple of deep breathes, okay?� Chris received a quick dirty look from Joey, but watched as Joey closed his eyes and took two deep breaths before reopening his eyes to continue his glaring _expression at his friend.
�This is Dr. Shannon,� Chris said quietly as he gestured toward to the doctor. �He came over to check on you and Lansten.� Upon hearing Lance�s name, Joey tried to sit up, but the hands pushing against him and the awkward position he was in with his feet being propped up prevented him from getting very far.
�How�s Lance?� Joey asked frantically as he searched Chris�s face for answers. �I hurt him so bad that he needed a doctor to come here?�
It was Dr. Shannon�s turn to speak now. �No son� he quietly answered in a reassuring tone. �Your friend, Lance was not hurt that badly last night. If he had been, there would have been an ambulance here to take him to the hospital by now.�
�Huh?� Joey looked at the doctor in obvious confusion.
�I�ve been here in your friend�s home for the past 45 minutes to an hour. I�ve been speaking with your friends and examining Lance. He�s okay. If I had found otherwise in my examination, I would have called for an ambulance long ago. All your friend needs is some uninterrupted rest for 24 hours or so, and that�s all.� The doctor saw a look of disbelief cross the young man�s face.
�Are you sure?� Joey asked, not wanting to sound like he doubted the doctor�s words, but in reality, he did doubt the doctor�s words.
The doctor�s gaze softened as he looked at the uncertainty on the face before him.
�I give you my solemn word that Lance is going to be just fine with some rest. The swelling on the back of his head is minimal and the swelling on his chin is almost non-existent. His neurological check was great. Everything checked out just fine�okay?�
Joey closed his eyes with a quick prayer of thanks that his friend was okay. After breathing a sigh of relief, he opened his eyes and saw that the doctor was busy retrieving more items from his black box.
�I want to perform a quick exam. I�ll be sure to let you know what I�m doing so that you can ask any questions if you have any. I�ll do my best to answer them.�
�Yes sir.�
�When did you eat last Joey?�
�We had supper last night at about 7:00 then we ate popcorn while we watched a movie from about 8:00-10:00.�
�Have you been eating less than normal these last 2 or 3 weeks?�
�No sir.�
�Have you had any alcohol in the last 2 or 3 weeks?�
�Maybe 3 or 4 beers.�
�Do you smoke?�
�No sir.�
�Take any kinds of medications?�
�No sir.�
�In the last 2 to 3 weeks how many times have you fainted Joey?�
Joey instantly looked at the ceiling.
�Joey, don�t tell me there�s been more than the one time at your place when Lance came over to check on you and the two times last night,� Chris asked in a very irritated manner.
�And just the episode that just occurred about 5 minutes ago,� added Dr. Shannon.
�I just didn�t want everyone to worry about me, that�s all,� Joey answered in a very small voice as he continued to stare at the ceiling.
�Exactly, how many times have you fainted Mr. Fatone?�
Joey gave a startled look at the doctor when he heard his tone of voice and the use of his last name.
�Uh�maybe�3 or 4 other times.� Joey cringed when he heard Chris moan loudly into a pillow that he had been holding in his lap.
�Well, that�s not too good Joey.� The doctor gave the young man a look that could have melted an iceberg. Dr. Shannon and Chris remained silent for a moment, trying to rein in their frustration at Joey�s admission and the silence was killing Joey. It would have been much better if someone had yelled at him or simply fussed at him. He never could deal with silent treatments very well.
Finally, Dr. Shannon asked a simple question. �Have you been honest in answering the other questions Joey?�
Joey looked the doctor in the eye and replied, �Yes sir. I have been honest with you in all my answers.� The doctor continued to return Joey�s gaze trying to measure the honesty in the young man�s eyes. �Okay, I�m going to trust you.�
�Thank you.�
�What about your sleeping habits�have they changed any?�
�Why do you ask that?� Joey instantly regretted asking the question when he saw the doctor�s _expression. �I�m not trying to be rude. You did say that I could ask questions during the exam and I�m not trying to be sarcastic or anything Dr. Shannon.�
Dr. Shannon realized by the tone of Joey�s voice and the fearful look on his face that he needed to take time to explain the reasoning behind the questions. This young man had been through so much and his explanation would do more good than harm. Dr. Shannon�s face softened and his voice took on a gentler, more patient tone.
�I�m trying to find out why you have been fainting in the last 2 to 3 weeks. Too little rest can be a factor, as can the consumption alcoholic beverages, changes in eating habits�there are countless reasons behind it. I�m just trying to narrow them down. The questions are not meant to be embarrassing, but I do apologize if they are.�
�It�s okay, Dr. Shannon. Thanks for explaining things to me,� Joey said as he shifted on the bed.
�Now, what about sleeping habits. Have they changed any?�
Joey looked at Chris for any kind of support, but found none. The look that Chris gave him told him that if he didn�t tell the doctor something, he certainly would without any hesitation. Joey then returned his gaze to the doctor and answered his question.
�I�ve been getting maybe 2 to 3 hours of sleep a night for about 3 weeks.�
�Why do you think that is happening?�
�I�ve been having some intense nightmares�do I have to tell you about them?� he added with a quiet voice.
�No you don�t. Why don�t you tell me how you feel when you�ve awakened from a nightmare?�
�You mean physically?�
The doctor nodded at Joey. Joey took a deep breathe before giving his answer.
�I wake up not really knowing where I am. I can�t seem to catch my breath and my heart feels like it�s going to tear right through my chest.�
�What about the fainting spells Joey. Do you know when they�re going to happen?
�No sir. I just kinda feel light headed and hot and�then�nothing,� Joey answered with a slight shrug.
�Well, enough questions for right now. Let�s go ahead and finish up this exam.�
�Chris, could you take care of the blinds first?�
�Sure. No problem.� Chris got up from Joey�s side and walked to the window and, after opening the blinds, he returned to his seat beside Joey.
�I want you to grip my hands as tightly as possible,� the doctor said as he held out his forefingers and middle fingers of both hands to Joey who wrapped the fingers tightly in his own hands and squeezed.
�Good grip,� Dr. Shannon said with a wince and a smile as he quickly shook out his fingers before moving on with his exam.
Taking his penlight from his pocket he told Joey to watch his forehead as he checked his pupil�s reaction to light. Joey tried to move his head away from the painfully bright light causing the doctor to chuckle.
�What�s so funny?� Joey asked once that part of the exam was completed.
�I was just thinking that your friend Lance did not care for that part of the exam either.�
The doctor made quick time n checking Joey�s blood pressure, pulse, and temperature.
�It looks like you have some fever Joey,� the doctor said as he showed Joey the thermometer.
�101? No wonder I feel crumby.�
�Chris, is there any Tylenol around here?�
�Yes sir.�
�Good. Why don�t you get Joey two Tylenol and a large glass of water to go with them?�
�Okay.� Chris left the room to get the medication while the doctor continued examining Joey.
Chris returned with the water and Tylenol just as the exam was completed. The doctor stood up and began putting items back into his black medical box as Joey took the offered tablets and washed them down with the glass of water.
�Are you up to going into Lance�s room, Joey?� he asked, closing the box and fastening the latches. �I want everyone to hear what I have to say all at once. That way I can answer questions and ask some more of my own.�
�The question should be doctor, whether or not Lance is up to having me in his room,� Joey replied with regret evident in his voice. Last night�s events were still fresh in his mind.
�He�s been worried about you Joe,� Chris said as he sat down again by Joey and put his hand on his friend�s shoulder when he saw a look of doubt cross Joey�s face.
�Yeah, right.�
�Whatever man. I�m not going to lie to you.� Chris stood up and put his hand out to help Joey up from the bed.
�I know that�I�m a little scared that�s all.� Joey took the offered hand and stood up. He gripped Chris� hand when he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.
�Little dizzy there?� The doctor moved to the other side of Joey and gripped the young man�s elbow.
�Just a little doc.�
�Once we get a little food into you, I�m sure you�ll feel much better.�
�Food�ugh,� Joey said with a frown. Not right now, okay?�
�Alright, but when we finish our little meeting you�ll need to eat something before you can take any kind of medications that I want to prescribe to you.� Joey nodded his agreement as the three made their way into the hallway and down to Lance�s room.
Once everyone was settled on beds and chairs in Lance�s room, the doctor began explaining to the boys how the exams on Lance and Chris came out.
�As far as Lance�s condition goes, he needs complete bed rest for the next 24 to 48 hours. Turning his attention to Lance.
�You have a mild concussion which is not too serious, but there can be complications that can prove to be serious.�
Lance nodded as the doctor continued.
�You may experience dizziness, nausea and vomiting, and double vision. If you have any of these symptoms you need to tell someone and go immediately to the hospital.�
Dr. Shannon gazed at the faces looking at him. The looks on the faces of the young men ranged from concern, to guilt, to down right fear.
�Let me reassure you all right now, if he was to have experienced any of those symptoms it would have been long ago and he hasn�t. He�s going to be okay.�
The doctor watched as relief seemed to wash over four of the five faces. He still saw guilt written all over Joey�s face. Somehow, he knew that at that point anything that he could possibly say in an effort to comfort the man would do no good. What Joey needed was some time alone with Lance and his friends.
�What about Joey, Dr. Shannon?� The doctor was jerked away from his thoughts by Lance�s soft voice.
�What? I�m sorry. Just gathering my thoughts before I move on to Joey.�
The young men waited patiently for the doctor to begin.
�Joey also needs complete bed rest for the next 24 � 48 hours.� Turing to face Joey, he continued.
�You have, what I believe is called a sleep deficit and I believe that the lack of sleep, along with the intensity of the dreams that you have been having has caused the fainting spells. I also have the sneaky suspicion that your diet has not been very nutritious lately either and you are also running a slight fever.�
Joey nodded in agreement with the doctor, but it did not reach his eyes.
�Let me further explain. Fainting can be caused by numerous things, such as fear of�let�s say�needles.� That remark brought snickers from the group.
�Did I say something funny?� Dr. Shannon looked at the group of young men in slight amusement as they seemed to be sharing an inside joke.
�It�s nothing Dr. Shannon. Just ignore them,� said JC with much indignation in his voice as he attempted to stare his friends down into silence, but he was failing miserably.
�I take it that you and needles are not on the best of terms?� Dr. Shannon asked as the laughter began to die down.
�You got that straight,� said Chris with a big grin on his face.
�And that�s coming from someone who shakes at the thought of standing on a ladder,� JC spat back.
�Well, that was uncalled for.�
�Oh yeah, so was��
The doctor sat there watching the display in front of him. The two young men were practically in each other�s faces, noses inches apart. They each had a gleam in their eyes as their tirade died down quickly when they realized that everyone was looking at them in delight.
�Sorry about that,� JC apologized as he sat back, embarrassment evident on his features as he struggled to regain a sense of dignity while Chris sat back, grinning at his friends
�No that was quite alright,� Dr. Shannon said with a smile. �It�s good to see that you all have not lost your sense of humor in all this,� he added with a hint of amusement showing on his face and in his voice.
�What is complete bed rest?� asked Justin, trying to get the group back on track.
�Complete bed rest if just that. Complete bed rest. The patient remains in bed or on a couch for a certain period of time. The only reason that they should be up on their feet is to go to the bathroom or to bathe.�
Lance and Joey raised their eyebrows at that information then looked at each other as small grins began to grow across their faces.
�Would you look at that�they look like a pair of dead possums on the side of the road.�
�That�s a very vivid description, Justin.�
�Thank you JC.�
The doctor let that remark pass and just shook his head.
�Let me guess�rest like that doesn�t come that often around here?�
�Well, actually, no sir�it doesn�t. With touring and recording and rehearsing we�re sometimes lucky to sleep 6 hours at a time,� JC explained.
�I mean, we live on a bus crammed in together for up to four months twice a year, sleeping on bunks. Not the best accommodations when you are thinking about sleeping in your own bed at home.�
�What about hotel stays?�
�We only stay in hotels when we are at a venue for more than one show and even then it�s hard to get enough sleep because of the appointments, interviews, photo shoots and the like when we have extended stays.� Lance sounded a little weary with the statement.
�Yeah, and don�t forget the fans and the craziness around that,� Justin added.
�I guess I never realized everything that an entertainer had to deal with on a daily basis. I have a lot of respect for you boys.� The boys nodded their thanks.
�Well, I have a question for you�� A phone ringing down the hall interrupted the doctor.
�I�ll get that. It�s probably my mom.� The others watched Justin race out of the room to answer the phone.
�What I was going to ask was if there is anyone who can come stay with you to give you boys a hand?�
�What do you mean?� asked Chris. �We can take care of Lance and Joey just fine. Can�t we JC?�
�Well, sure we can,� answered JC. �We did okay last night.�
�Have you boys looked at yourselves in the mirror lately?�
�What do you mean?� Chris asked.
The doctor�s gaze landed on Chris and then moved on the stop on JC. His intense gaze was a little unnerving for both young men.
�They did take care of us last night Dr. Shannon,� added Lance trying to defend his friends.
�Yeah. They were right there for us the whole time,� added Joey.
�How much sleep did you get Lance?�
�I slept from about 3:00 until you woke me up.� The doctor nodded in agreement with Lance�s answer.
�And what about you Joey?� The doctor waited patiently for Joey�s answer.
�About the same amount as Lance, I guess.�
�And how about you Chris?�
�Joey�s nightmare woke me up at about 2:30 and I didn�t sleep anymore after that,� Chris answered, not sure of where the doctor was going with the questioning.
�And you JC?
�I fell asleep at about 4:00 or 4:30. Justin got me up at about 8:00 I guess.�
�And speaking of Justin, how much sleep did he get last night?�
�The same as me Dr. Shannon.� Chris answered with a sigh as it dawned on him what the doctor was getting at. �I think I know where you are going with this.�
�Well, I�m not quite finished yet,� the doctor said as he watched the boys begin to shift uncomfortably.
�Man, this is worse than that interview for Teen Beat,� said JC under his breath.
The doctor heard the remark and chuckled.
�It�s not meant to be, but his is serious JC. I could pack these two up and take them to the hospital right now or you can answer a few more questions.�
JC nodded at the doctor and then glanced uneasily at the others. The doctor gave the boys a smile before continuing.
�How long have you boys been home, off of the tour?
Chris answered, �about three weeks.�
�What have you been doing these three weeks?�
�I�ve been in the studio doing some production work,� answered JC.
�I�ve been working on contract negotiations with my management company,� answered Lance.
�I been meeting with members of my clothing line trying to ready a new line,� answered Chris.
Joey was hesitant with his answer. The answers that had been given were speaking of current successes and he wasn�t even close to that yet.
�Joey?�
�I�uh�I�ve been in touch with a friend of mine in LA. We�re�we�re working on a movie deal.� Joey looked down at his hands when finished with his explanation. The reaction was not lost to the doctor�s eyes, but the others did not seem concerned by Joey�s reluctance to speak.
�And what has Justin been up to?�
�Well, speak of the devil�he can answer that for you,� replied Chris as he pointed at the figure re-entering the room.
JC noticed immediately that something did not seem right with Justin as he walked over to sit on the edge of Lance�s bed.
�Bad news?�
�Huh?�
�Was the phone call some bad news?� JC asked in concern.
�No. That was my Aunt Jan,� Justin answered with a grin
�Your aunt who lives in Houston?� Joey asked. He and the others had had several occasions to visit with Jan and each time that they were all able to get together brought a lot of fun.
�Yeah.�
�Well�we�re dying here JuJu�what was the phone call about?� Chris asked in frustration.
�She�s gonna be in here an hour or two.�
�She�s what?� asked Lance in surprise.
�You guys heard me. My Aunt Jan is gonna be here in an hour.�
�How did this happen?� asked JC in bewilderment
Justin grinned and sat down on the bed beside the doctor.
�Mom called her yesterday on the way to the airport. She told her how tired everyone looked and that she was worried about us.�
�Leave it to Lynn to take care of us when she�s having to face her own problems,� JC said with awe in his voice.
�Yeah,� Justin agreed and not much was said for a few seconds.
�Do we need to meet her at the airport or something?� Chris asked, bringing everyone back from their thoughts of Lynn Harliss.
�Get this guys. She drove from Houston!�
�What?� was the surprised response from Lance.
�She left Houston yesterday afternoon and drove to a town called Oxford, Alabama. She spent the night there and hit the road again at about five this morning.�
�Wow. Your aunt really did that for us?� asked Lance.
�Yeah.�
�That�s amazing,� added Joey. The rest of the boys nodded their agreement.
�Well that takes care of my question.� The doctor was met with confusion from five pairs of eyes.
�And what was that question again doc?� Chris asked.
�Remember, a few minutes ago Chris, I asked if anyone would be able to stay with all of you so that you can get some rest?�
�Yes sir.�
�It sounds like Aunt Jan is the answer to the problem. She can keep an eye on Lance and Joey while the rest of you try to catch up on your sleep.�
�That driving may have done her in though,� Joey said with concern in his voice.
�Well, she will only stay up with you two until this evening. With the medications that I�m going to give you both, you will be able to sleep through the night and your aunt will be able to rest. By the morning, she will get a hand from the rest of you.�
The young men seemed to be considering what the doctor had said. �That sounds like a plan Dr. Shannon,� said JC for the whole group.
�What kinds of medications do you plan to give Joey and Lance?�
�Joey, I�m going to give you a shot of a mild sedative before I leave. Then, later tonight, you�ll take a sedative orally and then again tomorrow morning and evening. By Monday, you won�t need any more medications like that unless you begin having more trouble sleeping.�
�Why a shot now?� asked Joey as he gave JC a look that said �I dare you to say anything.�
�The shot will work much quicker than the pill. I want to see you getting rest now, before I leave. Also, I want you to continue with the Tylenol and fluids until your fever has broken.�
�Okay.�
�Now Lance, I�m going to give you some pain medication for the headaches that you are experiencing. They will make you pretty dopey��
There were snickers in the background and a whispered �no dopier than usual,� from Chris.
�Ow!� yelled Chris when he felt Lance�s elbow in his side.
�Dr. Shannon, I believe I need medical attention now thanks to this bozo,� Chris said with a grin as he rubbed his side.
�So not funny Chris. So not funny,� replied Lance dryly.
The doctor shook his head and grinned at the banter between the friends and how the rest of the group seemed to ignore what was going on.
�Okay, as I was saying, the medication will make you groggy. I want you to get help when getting out of bed. You can have privacy in the bathroom, but someone needs to be close by in case you become dizzy or disoriented.�
�Okay.�
�Well, why don�t the three of you,� the doctor said nodding to Justin, Chris and JC, �Go to the kitchen and make yourself some breakfast. Could one of you bring some toast and water for these two fellows so that they can take their medications?�
�Sure thing. I�ll be back in a few,� answered Chris. Chris and the others made their way toward the door before the doctor stopped them again.
�And Chris, I take my coffee black.� This was said by the doctor with a wink.
�Sure thing doc,� Chris said with a chuckle.
�Thought I�d forget didn�t you?� said the doctor in amusement.
�No way doc. No way.�
The doctor watched the three leave before turning his attention to the two men lying on beds before him.
�I�m going to let you two stay in the same room for now, but this evening, I want you to go back to your own room Joey.�
�Yes sir.�
The doctor opened his black box once again and began gathering up the necessary medications to give to the men.
�Lance these are for you. It�s a three-day supply with you taking one pill, three times a day as needed to control the pain. Don�t let the pain become too great before taking one. It will wear your system out trying to fight pain. It is better to take one of the pills than for you to try to tough it out. Do you understand me?�
�Yes sir,� Lance answered as he reached to take the bottle from the doctor�s hand.
Dr. Shannon reached back into the box and pulled out another bottle.
�Joey, like I said earlier, you need to take one of these now and one this evening before bed and then again tomorrow morning and tomorrow evening.�
�Okay.� Joey took the offered bottle and set it on the nightstand between the two beds.
�You both need to make sure that you eat something before taking the medication.�
They nodded at the doctor and watched as he prepared a syringe of clear liquid for Joey�s shot.
�I�m going to need a hip to put this in Joey.�
Lance laughed at the face that Joey made and laughed even harder when Joey turned his look into one even dirtier than the first.
�You got one of those in there for him doc?� Joey said as he pointed a finger angrily in Lance�s direction.
�Oh, I�m sure I could find something in here.� The doctor began looking in his box.
�That�s quite alright doc. I�m sorry for laughing JoJo,� Lance apologized through his laughter.
�Apology accepted,� Joey said with a slight grumble.
Both remarks made the doctor laugh out loud.
�You boys have really made my day. I never knew house calls could be this fun.�
�We�re glad to oblige you�I think,� replied Joey with a slight smile.
�What�s so funny?� asked Chris as he carried a tray into the room. On the tray were two plates of toast, two glasses of water and two cups of coffee. Chris set the tray down on the dresser and began handing things out, looking at the faces for some sort of clue as to what was causing the laughter.
�What was so funny?� he asked again as he gave the doctor his coffee and then gave the plates of toast and cups of water to Joey and Lance.
�Joey made a funny,� answered Lance with smile before tentatively nibbling on his piece of toast.
�Oh really.� Chris grinned at Joey who was also eating his piece of toast without the usual gusto that he had for eating food.
The doctor and Chris sat on the ends of the beds, drinking their coffee as they waited for Joey and Lance to finish their breakfast. It wasn�t too long before the doctor began preparing the syringe for Joey�s shot. Joey stared nervously at the site before him completely oblivious to the snickers and grins coming from Chris and Lance.
�I see that you�re finished Joey. Let�s get this shot out of the way. But before I do, you might want to make a last visit to the restroom. This shot takes affect pretty quickly.�
�Need any help?� Chris asked, wiggling his eyebrows at his younger friend.
�No, I�m fine�thanks Chris. Let a guy keep a little dignity around here.� Joey was referring to the impending dropping of his drawers for the doctor to administer the shot. Chris and Lance knew immediately what Joey was implying and they immediately burst into loud laughter. The doctor continued his preparations while sporting an earsplitting grin while Joey left the room grumbling about friends being there to help him in his time of need and not laughing their heads off.
The mumbling and grumbling was not lost on the three remaining in the room. This time when Chris and Lance laughed out loud, a delighted doctor joined them.
�Man, I need to make house calls more often,� Dr. Shannon said out loud once he was able to control his laughter.
�Yeah doc. You�ve been great,� agreed Chris with a grin.
Joey made his visit to the bathroom brief and when he returned the doctor quickly administered the shot. Almost immediately, Joey felt the effects of the shot. It seemed as if he no longer had control over his arms or legs and he could feel his eyelids rapidly becoming heavier until he could no longer keep them open. With a small moan, Joey�s eyes closed and his head lolled slightly to the side. Dr. Shannon reached out and gently grasped Joey�s limp wrist to check his pulse while the others watched.
�Wow, that was fast�I mean, that was okay, wasn�t it?� Chris asked as he watched the doctor pull a light cover over Joey after standing up.
�He was pretty exhausted to begin with, Chris. The shot just finished him off. He�ll wake up in about 4 to 6 hours from now.�
�What about nightmares?�
�The pills will be milder than the shot, so there shouldn�t be any problems with them. The shot should have significantly knocked him out enough that there won�t be any,� the doctor answered before turning his attention to Lance.
�Lance, I want you to take your pill and just relax. Later this evening, you both can go down to the living room and lay on the couches if you feel up to it, but I don�t want you to get overly excited. Remember, you all need to rest.�
With that, the doctor closed his box and shook Lance�s hand. �
I�ll call this evening to see how you two are doing.� The doctor then waved goodbye and followed Chris out the door.
Chris led Dr. Shannon through the house to the front door. Before going through the open door, the doctor reached into his pocket and gave Chris a business card.
�This has my office number, cell number, home number, and pager number.�
�You�re as bad as we are doc,� Chris said with a smile as he looked over the card.
�I want you to call me immediately if Lance begins to develop any of the symptoms that I mentioned earlier or if Joey has another fainting episode. Also call me if you have any questions at all�night or day Chris.�
�Sure thing Dr. Shannon. We really appreciate you coming out here on such short notice.�
�You might not be saying that Chris when you get my bill.�
Both men laughed and shook hands good-bye. Chris watched the doctor get into his truck and drive away before re-entering the house and closing the door.