A/N: Once again, a special thanks to Meeno Peluce for giving me permission to use his name in this story. You are so awesome!

Chapter 6

Morgan blinked at Bogg’s question and told him, her voice a mere whisper, “You are. Your name is Jon-Erik Hexum. What are you doing here?”

She reached out and gently placed her small hand on Bogg’s face; he could feel the abnormal heat in her skin as her thumb caressed his cheek. “Morgan, you’re not making sense. I’m Phineas Bogg, a Voyager. Don’t you remember?”

“No. Impossible.” Her hand slipped from his face to fall limply on the bed, and she settled back against the pillow.

“Bat’s breath,” he swore softly. “You’re burning up with fever.”

“This is impossible. How can this be? You can’t be here, Jon-Erik,” Morgan managed, barely loud enough to be heard. When Bogg got to his feet, Morgan reached out to him. “No. Stay with me. Please don’t leave me.”

Kneeling back down next to the bed, he told her, “It’s okay. I’m just going to get something cold to put on your head.” Going into the bathroom, he ran the cold water and wet a washcloth with it.

While he was gone, Morgan slowly got out of bed. “No, Jon-Erik, please don't go. Come back.” She took a few steps forward, but pitched forward as the room seemed to tilt under her feet. Fortunately, Bogg was just coming out of the bathroom at that point and caught her before she hit the floor. Lifting her easily, he put her back in bed, murmuring soothingly to her as he pulled the blanket over her.

“Bogg, what’s going on?” Jeffrey’s sleepy murmur asked, and he glanced over at him. “It’s okay, kid; go back to sleep.”

Instead, he got up when he noticed the washcloth on Morgan’s forehead, which she kept trying to push away. “What’s wrong with her?” he asked.

“I don’t know, but she’s got a pretty high fever.”

“Maybe we should wake up Randall.”

“Please, you don’t understand,” Morgan groaned.

Bogg handed the washcloth to Jeffrey. “Since you’re up, can you go wet this with cold water for me?” As the boy headed into the bathroom, Bogg asked the sick girl, “What don’t I understand?”

“You can’t be here Jon-Erik, You died in 1984.”

“My name is Phineas Bogg.”

“No. You’re an actor, and you play a TV character on a show called Voyagers. Phineas Bogg isn’t real.”

Jeffrey came back then; Bogg took the cold washcloth from him and gently placed it back on Morgan’s forehead. “How is she, Bogg?” Jeffrey wanted to know.

“Not good, kid.”

Morgan’s eyes fell on Jeffrey then. “Meeno, what are you doing here?”

Jeffrey turned puzzled eyes to Bogg. “Who’s Meeno? My name’s Jeffrey.”

Bogg shrugged. “I don’t know. She keeps calling me Jon-Erik.”

Once again, Morgan tried to push off the washcloth. “This is impossible; you two are TV characters on a show called Voyagers! that I used to watch in 1982. It ran ‘til 1983; that’s when it got cancelled.”

“What is she talking about?” Jeffrey wondered.

“It has to be the fever; it’s the only explanation,” Bogg told him. “Would you take that basin and fill it with cold water, please?” Jeffrey took it and headed into the bathroom once more. “Morgan, it’s okay; we’re going to try to bring your fever down.”

Morgan looked up at him. “Jon-Erik, you’re as handsome as I remember.”

Jeffrey came back and set the basin on the nightstand. “I got the water as cold as I could, but ice would keep it colder longer,” he said.

At that, Bogg got to his feet and handed the washcloth to him. “Keep this on her forehead, will you?”

Jeffrey sat on the edge of the bed “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to wake up Randall to see if he has some ice.” With that, he left.

“Meeno.” Morgan’s whisper drew Jeffrey’s attention.

“My name is Jeffrey Jones.”

She pushed the washcloth off her forehead. “No, it’s not. Don’t you understand?”

He replaced the washcloth on her forehead. “No, I don’t understand.”

Bogg quietly rapped on Randall’s door; a moment later, it opened, and a bleary-eyed Randall yawned, “What is it?”

“Morgan has a fever, and I need some ice; do you have any?”

The news brought Randall wide-awake, and he led Bogg into the kitchen.

Morgan grabbed Jeffrey’s shirt in both hands and pulled him toward herself until their faces were only an inch apart. “You have no idea, the crush I had on you when you were on the show,” she told him. Her eyes had turned a very pale blue. “How many times I wanted to kiss you.”

That had to be the fever talking, Jeffrey told himself. Maybe it was getting her mixed up with the kiss they’d shared the previous night. Before he had time to realize what was happening, she’d pulled him into a gentle kiss. When she let him go, he re-wet the washcloth and put it back on her forehead. Wow, that was some kiss! he thought; it had been a lot more intense than their previous one. Too bad I’m not this Meeno guy she keeps calling me.

Just then, Bogg comes back with a bucket of ice cubes. “Sorry; it took awhile.” He carefully put the cubes into the basin of water. “Randall told me to let him know if her fever doesn’t break, and he’ll call a doctor. Why don’t you go back to sleep? It’s going to be a long night.”

“It’s okay; I want to help.”

“Jeffrey, there isn’t anything else to do, and you need your rest.”

“Bogg—”

“No arguments, kid.”

The older Voyager’s tone was firm, and Jeffrey knew there would be no appeal; with a resigned sigh, he got back into bed. “Wake me up if you need me, he said and closed his eyes. Despite his protests, he was almost immediately asleep.

It was three hours later when Jeffrey woke. “Bogg, I’ll take over, you should get some sleep.”

“I’m okay.”

“I got it covered,” Jeffrey insisted, and Bogg was suddenly aware that he really was too tired to argue. After the older Voyager had retired, Jeffrey took his place and checked the washcloth. When he placed it back on her forehead after re-wetting it, Morgan gently grabbed his wrist. “What is it, Morgan?”

“Is it wrong to want to kiss you?” she asked.

Jeffrey didn’t know what to say. He had given up trying to convince her that he wasn't this “Meeno” she kept calling him. He didn’t want to take advantage of her current state, but he did have to admit that last kiss had been amazing, and he’d really liked it a lot. I want to kiss you too. Morgan, but I’m not sure if I should, because you think I’m somebody else.

Morgan let go of Jeffrey’s wrist, which made him look down at her, whereupon he noticed that her eyes had shifted to a deep blue now. She reached up and tugged on his shirt with both hands; she pulled him close and kissed him, letting go of his shirt and wrapping both arms around his neck.

Despite the fact that he could feel the heat of her fever, he got caught up in the kiss; he could feel his heart starting to beat faster, and a wave of panic washed over him. What am I doing?! “Morgan, we have to stop,” he said as he replaced the washcloth once more.

“Don’t you like kissing me?”

“That’s just it; I do like kissing you,” Jeffrey sighed.

“Please don’t leave me,” Morgan whispered as she closed her eyes.

Jeffrey cupped her chin in his hand and caressed her cheek with his thumb. “It’s okay, Morgan. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.” At that, she went back so sleep, and Jeffrey let out a sigh that was actually a little relieved. Yes, he enjoyed kissing her but this just wasn’t right. Don’t worry, Morgan; everything is going to be fine. It felt more like he was trying to convince himself.

After a while, he started to feel tired again; he got up and walked briskly toward the bathroom and back, just to stay awake. Who are you, Morgan? he wondered as he replaced the washcloth once more. How could she think he and Bogg were TV characters when they were real?

It was just starting to get light outside when Morgan’s voice called him back from the edge of sleep. “Meeno.”

Here we go again. “What is it Morgan?” he asked as he felt her forehead; it was even hotter than before. “Bat’s breath!” he hissed, starting to get really scared.

“I feel like I’m on fire. Please help me,” Morgan whispered weakly, then her eyes closed once more.

Jeffrey gently shook her. “Morgan, can you hear me?” When there was no response, he woke Bogg.

The boy’s tone brought him instantly awake. “What’s wrong?”

“I think we need the doctor; I think her fever’s gone up.”

Bogg quickly gets checked her. “You’re right; it is worse. Go wake Randall and tell him to call the doctor.”

Jeffrey was back a few minutes later. “The doctor’s on his way; Randall’s gone downstairs to wait for him. How is she?”

“It doesn’t look good.”

They continued their vigil, the silence broken only by Morgan’s moans, until there was a soft tapping at the door before it opened and Randall came in with another man. “This is Dr. Cornwell,” he introduced the physician.

“Thank you for coming so quickly,” Bogg said as he moved out of the way so the doctor could get to Morgan.

“Who thought of the cold washcloths?” he asked after examining her.

“I did,” Bogg told him.

“It was the right thing to do, but I’m afraid it won’t do much good with a fever like this.” He reached into his bag and withdrew a syringe and a vial. “It looks like she has scarlet fever; I’m giving her penicillin,” he told them. It was done quickly; Bogg pulled the blanket back over her as the doctor put his supplies back into his bag.

Dr. Cornwell rose to his feet. “She should show signs of improvement by morning; just let her rest for the next few days,” he told them.

“Isn’t scarlet fever contagious?” Randall asked.

“Very,” the doctor confirmed. “All of you need to keep a close eye on yourselves for the next week, and call me immediately if you start to show any symptoms.

“She should be all right now, but call me if she doesn’t improve. I’ll be in my office all day.” Thanks and goodbyes were said, and Randall left with the doctor.

Bogg sat down next to Morgan once more and let out a sigh.

“What is it, Bogg?” Jeffrey asked as he sat on the other bed.

“I was just remembering the time you were bit by that rabid dog, and how I came so close to losing you.”

Jeffrey looked at Morgan and then back at Bogg. “I remember,” he said quietly.

He put a hand on Jeffrey’s shoulder. “You know we’re responsible for her while she’s with us,” he reminded him.

Jeffrey nodded. “Until, we can get her back to her own time.”

Bogg nodded and smiled as he took his hand off the boy’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go get some breakfast? I’ll stay with her.”

Bogg watched as Jeffrey left, he looked down at Morgan sleeping. He felt her forehead and was relieved to find that her temperature had already dropped.

“Randall told me Morgan was sick,” Marnie said when Jeffrey met the two of them in the café. “Is she any better?”

“We’re pretty sure she’s going to be ok now.”

“Oh, thank heavens. I’m so happy to hear that.”

Jeffrey sits down across from them. If they only knew the crazy things, she was saying before.

“Order anything you want, Jeffrey,” Randall said before he could even start to look over the menu.

“Thanks,” he grinned as he set the menu back in its holder. When Gino came over, he placed his order, and ordered something for Bogg, as well, to take up to him when he was done.

They exchanged small talk as they ate, until Marnie finished eating and took her leave. Randall walked her out; Jeffrey could hear their voices as they continued talking, though he couldn’t make out what they said. He smiled when he saw Marnie give Randall a quick kiss on the cheek before she left. So far, so good. Gino came over with a second tray just as Jeffrey was finishing the last of his breakfast; he thanked the waiter and headed upstairs with it.

Bogg grinned widely when he saw the tray. “Thanks, kid.” He took the tray and set it down on the other bed, turning his chair to face it as he dug in. “This is delicious!” he mumbled between mouthfuls.

“Don’t get too used to it,” Jeffrey teased him. “Once we’re done here, we have to make sure Morgan’s grandparents get engaged, and then figure out how to get her back to 2008.”

“Don’t worry; we’ll finish the assignment, just like always.” “Do you think Morgan will remember the things she was saying?”

Bogg drained his coffee and set the cup down on the tray. “I don’t know, kid.”

Casting a glance at the sleeping girl, he decided it would be better not to tell Bogg about the kissing.

Bogg grinned when he saw the boy trying to stifle a yawn. “Why don’t you take a nap while I watch Morgan?” Bogg suggested.

Jeffrey nodded. “Okay, just a short nap,” he agreed as Bogg finished eating and picked up his tray. Gratefully, Jeffrey climbed into bed and was asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow. Bogg smiled fondly as he watched him sleeping for a moment, then walked over to the window and gazed out, grateful that the crisis was past, though he couldn’t get his mind off the things Morgan had been saying while she was feverish, no matter how he tried.

Morgan woke up then, surprised at how weak she felt. Slowly, she sat up and looked around.

Bogg turned when he heard her stirring. “Well, hello there,” he grinned at her. “How are you feeling?”

Morgan looked at him, puzzled. “What happened?” she asked.

“You had a really bad fever.”

“I did?” She put a hand to her head as a wave of dizziness came over her; Bogg helped her lie down again. She looked around again, and a frightened look came over her face. “Where’s my partner?” she demanded. “Where’s Olivia?”

A/N: Sorry, you’re going to have to wait for chapter 7 to find out what happens.

Here’s the e-mail reply I got from Meeno Peluce giving me permission to use his name:

You can go ahead and use my name. But go easy on the washcloths.

M E E N O