Ramona timidly knocked on the door to Phineas’ laboratory holding a bundle of garments wrapped in brown paper under her left arm and a small, oak box in her right hand. She had a breakfast tray situated before her. It was the morning after Phineas had brought home a soot covered young boy who was nearly in shock at the things he had witnessed. Her master also needed tending and she had immediately drawn him a hot bath with fresh clothing. Phineas had put the boy in a guest bedroom and he had not awakened yet. Ramona had removed his clothing for a hefty washing and sewing and the child didn’t even stir. She was awestruck to find a silver pocket watch in his possession, but decided not to disturb Phineas until the morning.

“You may enter.” She heard him say quietly.

Phineas usually answered her with a hearty, ‘Come in, lass!’ making her feel nearly fifty years younger. In his better moods he often called her ‘Roma.’ It was a name he had bestowed her as a toddler since he couldn’t pronounce ‘Ramona’ fully. She sensed the melancholy in his tone.

Ramona carefully opened the door and saw Phineas mulling by the cracked window. He stared absorbed at the harried streets below. His face was weary and he was still in his bedclothes. She glanced to her left toward the mysterious contraption, but Phineas had the velvet curtain drawn over it. Normally at this time he would be hard at work tinkering with the gauges and knobs. His world of science and adventure meant little to her, only because she felt she didn’t have the capacity to sort it out in her mind. However, Ramona faithfully tended to him and asked few questions. All she fathomed was that the mysteries of time were her master’s dominant obsession.

Ramona wheeled the tray toward his table and cleared off a space for his breakfast, being careful not to mix up his scattered papers. She set down the coffeepot and orange juice, and placed a steaming plate of scrambled eggs and ham beside it with a separate dish for toast, butter, and strawberry preserves. She always made certain that her master ate well. Phineas would get heavily involved in the engineering and forget to even do so.

“Phineas, I ha’ the boy’s clothing and I already hung yours. He is still sleeping mighty soundly.”

Phineas let out a sigh and retreated to the table. His stomach gnawed at him and he hastily dug into his meal. Ramona was an excellent cook. She gazed down at him with sloping and gentle, blue-gray eyes. Although over seventy, Ramona had the spunk of a young woman. Phineas could see beneath her care-worn wrinkles and white hair that she had once been a lovely maiden with fiery red locks. He at one time spied a gold locket she owned. It seemed to be her only possession of high material value. Inside was the portrait of a dapper gentleman and on the opposite side was her. She was in the full bloom of youth and beauty. He never dared to ask Ramona about her personal life before becoming a house servant. He had seen her sleeping quarters before then. On the wall was a humble portrait of the same woman, a little younger, adorned in a simple, pale, blue frock and standing beside an older couple. He hadn't put it together that the images of the women were one and the same until he saw the locket. Everyone had a tale to tell. Age may ravage the body, but not necessarily the youthful spirit of the heart and mind. His father had often cursed the devil and Adam and Eve for plaguing mankind with their sins.

He glanced at her with a tight smile. “That’s good, Roma, let him. He definitely needs it. You can put his clothing in the bedroom down the hall from mine, the one with the curved windows. I think he’ll like that room best. Please prepare it for him.”

“As you wish. Do you…plan on letting him stay here, Phineas?”

Phineas folded his hands and nodded slowly. “I’ve given it plenty of thought and for now, the answer is yes. After what we went through last night, it’s entirely unsafe to leave him alone on the streets. I have a feeling there’s more to him than meets the eye.”

“How do you mean, Phineas?”

Phineas finished off his juice and poured more. “I’ll have to press him for information when he awakens. We weren’t even formally introduced, but he’s already made it a habit to call me, ‘Bogg.’ ” Phineas managed a chuckle. “I don’t think I mind.”

Ramona placed the box before him. “I imagine you’ll definitely wanna speak to him after ya seen this. Now, I may not know much about your work, but I know that this is a compass or something ya studied in school, am I right?”

Phineas opened the box and peered at the silver pocket watch with a gasp of shock. He picked it up and traced the lid, then opened it. The boy had it all along, the silver omni that Drake had stolen from the Voyager Academy labs. The villain had arrogantly carved his name into it, before the engravers at the academy could rightly place the ‘V’ in the center and one of a Voyager’s many credos, ‘Time waits for no man.’

Phineas leaped from his seat with a shout of joy.

“I cannot believe it! That little bandit! He is wonderful! Roma, this…this piece had been missing from the Academy for quite some time and the boy has found it!”

“Don’t ya mean he lifted it? I’d be very careful with your personal items, Phineas. Ya donna know you can trust him.” Ramona cautioned.

“Ahh, I think he knows I mean business, especially after last night. He wouldn’t dare try.” Phineas' expression darkened at the thought of someone trifling with his time machine again, but he let the thought fly. The boy had only been curious.

Phineas placed it carefully back in the box and hid it within his bookshelf. Ramona memorized the spot in case he were to forget in the future, although Phineas was very sharp. Phineas bounded to the doorway.

“I must get dressed. I have to go to the Academy right away and return it to the labs. When the boy awakens, get his name, feed him, clothe him…and for goodness sakes, get him in a bath!”

Ramona laughed; overjoyed to see the Phineas she loved emerge. “I certainly will, I’ll fill the tub now. Ya barely will recognize him when I’m done. Now off with ya...Oh, Phineas!”

Phineas nearly crashed into the wall. He grasped the edge of the door and poked his head back into the room with a smirk.

"Yes, me lass?"

Ramona nearly blushed. "Oh, stop it with ya flirtations! Save it for the young beauties." She scolded. "I suggest ya clean yourself up well too, ya beard's coming in too thick and ya hair flops over ya eyes. You wouldn't want the old Professors to see ya in such shape, would ya?"

Phineas scratched the hairs on his neck and face. She was right of course. Professor Garth would expect him to take pride in his appearance. It was demanded of all Voyagers, regardless of their future travels.

"Most definitely not! I can just see old Garth's face and that wide eyed stare and coarse brow looking down on me now..and Professor Brendall, with her eyes all narrowed and shooting out pointed daggers...and even Kane's mustached frown, though he's much more lenient. One clean shave coming up!"

-Oo-

Phineas rushed down the spiral stairs toward his bedroom and was halted by the sound of crying coming from the guestroom. It soon advanced into a screaming fit. He flung open the door and ran into the room. The boy was sitting up in bed, curled all the way against the wall and hugging his pillow. He looked helplessly lost in an over sized and gray nightshirt. His face was red and sweaty and he seemed half awake. Phineas came to the edge of the bed and sat down. The boy glared wide-eyed in his direction without really seeing him and then waved his arms crazily.

“Stop! The fire! Help me! Help them!” He begged. His voice came out in heart-wrenching sobs.

Phineas clutched his arms and pulled him into an embrace. The boy shuddered and closed his eyes. He whimpered.

“Please save them…he’s burning…it’s burning!”

Phineas could only imagine he was referring to the warehouse fire and King-Ray’s violent death. He stroked his hair and settled the boy back onto the bed after pulling the pillow from his grasp.

“Shh…quiet now, nothing is burning anymore. You’re safe here. You’re very safe with me. You need to wake up, boy. It’s all a bad dream.”

Phineas reached onto the nightstand and cupped some cool water in his hand from the washing bowl. He sprinkled it over the boy’s forehead and cheeks and the top of his chest. The boy’s eyelids fluttered and he was coming around. He struggled to sit up, upon seeing the man Bogg before him. He glanced around the room. It was neat with basic and sturdy furnishings and an attractive curved window across from the bed with pale green drapes.

“It’s you! Where am I now? Is this an orphanage? What happened?”

Phineas smiled. The boy had fallen fast asleep on the horseback ride to the apartment and he didn’t have the heart to wake him.

“No, this is my place. Remember, I told you I was bringing you here? You just passed out and it’s no wonder. Are you all right? You were screaming so much, I thought someone was attacking you.”

Jeffrey rubbed his eyes, feeling embarrassed for his display. He had barely realized it. The nightmares he had were coming less frequently, but they were vivid as ever. So much had happened to him in the last week, the events exploded within his mind. They warped and twisted the reality into the most terrifying images. King-Ray's demise was frighteningly real and one he would never forget. He still felt himself shaking and pulled the blanket up further over him. He was grateful that Phineas Bogg had a kind heart and didn’t turn him out.

“I’m sorry for scaring you…thanks for…” Jeffrey’s eyes filled with tears and he couldn’t fight them back. Phineas was silent, but watched him sympathetically.

“Thanks for everything you’ve done…and not hurting me or turning me in. I promise I will never be any more trouble and I’ll stay far away from you and your toys!”

"Hey, those things you've seen are not toys. They are intricately, complex...aww, nevermind that...where are you going?"

Jeffrey swung his legs over the bed and stumbled around, looking for his clothes.

“If I can just have something to eat, I’ll get dressed and you’ll never see me again!” He said urgently.

Phineas held his thighs and took a deep breath with a shake of his head. He stood up to his full height; the boy seemed small for his age and Phineas’ nearly six foot two frame towered him. He put a hand on his shoulder and a fatherly impulse enveloped him. He could not imagine the rest of his life without seeing the child.

“No, boy, you’re…wait a minute! Can you at least tell me your name so I can stop sounding like an old man?” Phineas urged.

Jeffrey laughed a little. “My name is Jeffrey Jones.”

“Aha! Thank you! Well, Jeff, your current situation is settled. You are going to stay here with me, provided…” Phineas cocked an eyebrow warningly at him. Jeffrey’s face was already aglow, but he stared at him seriously.

“Anything, Bogg! You name it...well...I do have a few conditions, ya know...no more stealing and...uh..uh...stuff.” Jeffrey hung his head, almost shamefully. Phineas groaned and anger flared inside him against the ones that had Jeffrey in their keep. He raised Jeffrey's head back up and looked him plainly in the eyes.

"Hey now! This isn't Hester Street. Don't ever think to compare me to those rotten creeps out there." Phineas tone softened. "I know it can be a terrible world, but I promise you that you'll never have to deal with any of that stuff again...at least not if you stick by me."

Jeffrey bit his lip and nodded quickly. Phineas Bogg was a forthright man and he feared nothing with him. "Thanks, Bogg...so, what's the provided? Provided I don't what?"

“Provided…you don’t reveal this location to any one of your street friends and you keep your sticky fingers away from my personal belongings. If I find you removed or tampered with anything else, I will drop you in an orphanage far, far away. That's another promise. You needn't worry. I will make sure you have all that you need while you’re living here. I won’t deprive you, even if I deprive myself sometimes.”

Phineas held out his hand. “Is that a deal?”

Jeffrey shook it eagerly. “That’s a deal, Bogg! I promise, no telling and no touching.”

Phineas threw out his arms with a wide grin. “Great! Now that we got the formalities out of the way, you need to get cleaned up. You smell like a rancid wet dog and we need to have a serious discussion about something you had among your belongings.”

Jeffrey scowled at him. “Jeesh, Bogg, rancid wet dog?” Jeffrey sniffed his armpits and drew his face away with a groan. “It’s worse than that and you know it.”

Phineas liked the boy’s quick wittiness, though he knew without a doubt that they would butt heads over many matters.

“I’m glad you agree. I was trying to be kind. I have to go on a very important errand…” Phineas smacked his forehead. “Wait…before I do that, I’ll wait for you to get cleaned and settled…because I have to return what was found among your belongings.”

Jeffrey had to think what he was referring to, and then he remembered the pocket watch with the name Drake. He burned with curiosity to find out what Phineas knew about the device. Jeffrey pushed his shoulders back and tried to stand tall. He wanted Phineas to view him as responsible and intelligent, the way his parents raised him.

“Alright, Bogg. We’ll talk. I’d like to bathe now, before I eat.”

“Done deal. You can use the bathroom on the first floor; I believe Ramona already set it up for you.”

As they left the room, Jeffrey suddenly thought of his dog, Ralph and burst into tears. He scurried ahead of Phineas and stood beside the stairs. He leaned heavily onto the banister and then sat upon the first step. Phineas came up behind him and then crouched next to him. He resisted the urge to ask, ‘What now?’ The boy had dealt with many calamities and was highly sensitive.

“Jeff, tell me what’s wrong?”

“My dog…Ralph! He must have died in the fire too…he was so good to me. He tried to save me, didn’t he? I know he did. He nearly tore Mikey's face off.”

Phineas felt strong twinges of regret for his disregard of the mangy dog. He was still very sore that his book had been destroyed and that the dog had played a big part in his losing it. He didn't want to upset Jeffrey any more.

“Yes, he did, all to protect you of course. He was a loyal one…he even tried to save my Guidebook. I’m very sorry.”

Jeffrey heaved his shoulders glumly and hushed his crying. “I’m gonna miss him. After my parents died, he was all I had left of my old life.”

Phineas’ expression brightened. It was his intention to find out all he could about the boy. After he was pulled from the time machine, Jeffrey had insinuated that his parents needed to be saved. Phineas took his arm and led him down the stairs.

“Well over your breakfast, I want you to tell me about this old life and how you wound up working for such a vile scum bucket as King-Ray.”

Jeffrey looked up at him with a lopsided smile. “Alright…but you have to promise that you’ll tell me some things too.”

Phineas held his hips. “Like what? There are many things that can't be revealed just now.” He said truthfully, but sternly.

It was too soon to start delving into the details of his experiment. One thing he was learning about Jeffrey was that his emotions changed like the tides. The boy's inquisitive nature had currently overcome his grief.

“How did you know about King-Ray and the gang? What's so important about this pocket watch? Why did they only want me to pilfer that black book and…”

Phineas rolled his eyes. "Anything else, your highness?"

Jeffrey grinned and positioned his arms as if he were shooting an arrow.

“Where do you get those fantastic weapons!”