When Oscar arrived at the school he was directed to the nurses office. He walked the hallway to the nurse’s office, by the time Oscar arrived Danny had come around.

“Hey Dan, what happened?” Oscar asked.

“I don’t know dad, One minute I was sitting in class the next I was here “ He looked at Oscar then down at his watch. “I must have been out for a while for you to have time to get here.” Dan observed.

Dan sat up and looked around. “I have to get to my next class “ He started to get up from the cot.

“No you’re coming with me.” Oscar told him.

“But I have a test dad.” Danny argued.

“I agree with your father.” The nurse interrupted. You need to go home and get some rest. A trip to the doctor wouldn’t hurt either.” She turned to Oscar.

“Already arranged I have someone waiting.” Oscar explained.

“Well that’s good.” The nurse agreed. “Just sign him out in the office. They will alert his instructors that he won’t be in class the rest of the day.”

“Thank you.” Oscar said “Well Dan. Rudy is waiting.”

Oscar and Danny started down the hall. “I just don’t understand what happened Dad.” Dan stated.

“Well Rudy has a pretty good idea. He says you’re not eating enough, I for one agree with him.” Oscar said as they went out the door and started down the walk to the car,

Danny didn’t make it. It was a good thing Oscar was watching him. He caught Danny before he hit the ground. He then carried him the rest of the way to the car. He opened the door and slid Dan into the back seat then rushed to the OSI building. He called Rudy on the car phone to tell him Danny’s condition.

“I’ll meet you at the door Oscar I’ll help you get him to the lab. I’m sure it’s just a lack of energy, but I’ll run a series of tests on him just to be sure.

Danny still hadn’t come around by the time Oscar got to the OSI building. Rudy and Steve ran out to Oscar’s car when he saw it pull up to the door. Danny was lying on the back seat. Steve reached in and lifted Danny out of the car. He carried him up to Rudy’s office. Danny didn’t stir the entire time.

“Here Steve. Lay him down right here.” Rudy instructed

Steve laid him down on the gurney and joined Oscar in the hall. He waited with Oscar while Rudy examined the boy.

Rudy carefully removed Danny’s shirt he was shocked. He thought Danny was to thin, but he didn’t realize how thin he was.

Rudy had just about completed the tests and his examination of Danny when he slowly opened his eyes. He could see the shock in Rudy’s eyes.

“You want to explain what’s going on Dan?” Rudy asked when he noticed Danny was awake and aware of what was going on.

Danny tried to sit up Rudy held him down. “No you just lie still I’m not finished examining you yet.”

Danny tried to work himself free then figured it wasn’t worth it. “I’m fine Rudy. Really. I know what you’re thinking and that’s not the case at all, trust me.”

“Ok Dan.” Rudy released his grip so Dan could sit up. “We need to have a serious talk. I know I talked to you in your room last night, but the fact of the matter is, I didn’t know how far it had gone.”

“Rudy I’m not sick. I know that’s what’s going through your head. I just have a lot of schoolwork to do. I don’t have time to sit down and eat a ‘well balanced meal’ I just have too much work to do. I’ve seen you go without eating when you’re in the middle of a project.” Dan reminded

“Dan, that’s different I’m not a growing boy. Now Dan I don’t know if your sick or not. I hope that’s not the case. I have to wait for the tests I’ve run to come back. In the mean time I’m going to make a deal with you.”

“I’m listening.” Danny said.

“I’m going to give you two weeks to gain ten pounds. That means you eat what I tell you to eat, when I tell you to eat it. Once you have gained the weight you may not lose it again. Understand?” Rudy spoke softly.

“Yea I understand. Ok I’ll do that. What else?” Danny wanted to know

“If you fail to gain the weight I tell you to, or you lose the weight you again. Two things are going to happen. Number one, you’ll go into the hospital I Should put you there right now.. And number two you’ll have to drop your law classes at school. We also cut down on your work here. Until further notice you are to go straight home. I don’t want you to over do. You’ll go home and do your studies.”

“Ok.” Danny said, “I’m not going to argue with you. Like I said, I know what you’re thinking and that’s not it at all and I’ll prove it.”

“I hope you can prove it Danny. I would like noting more than to be wrong about this.” Rudy stood and handed Danny back his shirt. “I’m going to go talk to you dad. And I’m still waiting for the lab results to come back. In the mean time you can get dressed.”

“Ok Rudy.” Danny started to get dressed. “Can I go home?” He asked.

“I think so. I’ll be there it would be easier for me to watch you there then here. Don’t forget our agreement.”

“I won’t Rudy I promise.” Dan started to put his shirt back on.

“Oscar!” Rudy called

Oscar who was talking to Steve turned to the doctor. “Rudy how is he?”

“He’s going to be alright or at least I think he will be.” Rudy surmised.

“What do you mean by that. Rudy, is he sick? I read about this sort of thing I mean about kids especially kids like Danny starving them selves. Is that what’s going on with Danny?”

Rudy pointed to a chair “Have a seat Oscar.” Oscar sat and Rudy took a seat across from him. Steve stood beside his friend.

“It’s one of two possibilities.” Rudy stated, “Either he is sick and is smart enough to say exactly what he needs to say to lead me astray, or he is just under to much pressure like he says.”

“That’s it!!” Oscar bellowed, “He’s dropping those law classes as of right now. I’m not going to sit back and watch him do this to himself.”

“Don’t do that to him Oscar he’ll only resent you and maybe lash out. I made a deal with him.”

Oscar turned to Rudy “What sort of a deal and why wasn’t I consulted?” Oscar yelled.

“I didn’t have time to consult you. I know I may have over stepped my bounds. But I had to win his trust and fast. The deal is he gains ten pounds in two weeks to prove I’m wrong about him being sick.” Rudy stopped and looked directly at Oscar. “If he fails to gain the weight or if he loses it, then he has to drop the law classes.”

“I don’t know if I agree to this or not.” Oscar said.

“Oscar I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. This could all be a carry over from the problem we had with Laura Mills. Let the effects of that go away before we jump to any conclusions. Danny is a pretty levelheaded kid. I think he deserves our trust. But if he breaks it, that will be a different story.” Rudy explained.

“Well I guess I have no choice.” Oscar assumed.

“You’re wrong about that. I want this to be your decision to Oscar.” Rudy went on.

Oscar turned to Steve. “What do you think pal?”

“I think it’s a good idea, but like Rudy says, the decision has to be yours.”

Danny stepped into the hallway. “You ok son?” Oscar asked.

“I feel a little tired I just want to go home.” Danny said.

Rudy told me about your arrangement. I can’t say I agree 100 percent, but I’ll agree to it.”

“Thanks dad can we go home now?” Danny asked.

“Yea, we’ll go home. We’re having meatloaf for dinner, how does that sound?” Oscar and Rudy both waited for the answer.

“It sounds good.” Danny replied.

“You know Rudy” Oscar changed the subject: ”When the school secretary showed me to the nurse’s office where Danny was, it made me grateful that the twins are home schooled with Jaime.”

“What do you mean?” Rudy asked.

“Let say the twins were in public school or private school for that matter. And Marc got hurt out on the playground or got sick…

“I understand. I have to admit I was worried about that myself when they first started public school. This way if anything happens Jaime knows to call me.” Rudy agreed.

“I never thought about it till today.” Oscar surmised.

“I’m glad you decided that too dad. I didn’t think about it either” Danny added.

Oscar turned to Danny “Let’s go son.” He and Danny left. Rudy followed shortly after.

Rudy sat in the kitchen with Oscar while he put the meatloaf together. Jaime was still working with the twins and Joey in the dinning room.

“Do you really think Danny is going to be ok?” Oscar asked as he slid the meatloaf into the oven.

“I think he’ll be fine. Under normal circumstances I would have put Danny into the hospital tonight, but since I live here I thought it would be just as simple to watch him here.”

When dinner was ready Jaime got up to leave. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She smiled. After she left Rudy called the kids to dinner. Everyone sat at the table. Rudy dished up Dan’s plate.

“I want you to eat it all!!” He ordered.

Danny sighed and took the plate. Oscar and Rudy watched him closely…

“Danny, what’s wrong?” Oscar questioned after Danny started to slowly to eat his dinner.

“Huh? Oh nothing. I really have a lot of homework. I should be doing that instead.” Danny looked up from his plate. “Why can’t we ever have anything simple, that I can take upstairs?”

“You can put your homework on hold for 30 minutes Dan.” Oscar noted. “Now come on sit up and eat.” Oscar snapped his fingers.

Rudy looked over at Danny “Remember our arrangement?” he said then added. “You have two weeks. You can get to you homework a lot faster if you just eat.”

“Yea, I guess your right.” Danny admitted. He quickly started to eat his dinner.

“Well I think you can handle it.” Rudy explained. “You’ll see it will be easier than you think.

After dinner the twins helped clear the table. Danny went on upstairs. “Well at least he ate all of it.” Oscar noticed.

“Yea, he did. Listen Oscar I’ll be right back and help with the dishes. I just need to check on something.” Rudy left the kitchen.

He slowly went upstairs He was relieved to find Dan in his room studying. “How’s it going?” He asked.

“Ok I guess.” Danny sighed.

“What’s the problem?” Rudy asked

“Nothing. I’m just having a problem with a calculus problem. I’ll get it figured out though.” Danny continued to study his math problem.

“You’re not upset by how much you ate a dinner are you?”

Danny removed his glasses and turned to him “Of course not. Why would you ask that?”

Rudy tried to read the expression in Dan’s face but it seemed to have the same question on it. “Just wondered that’s all.” He replied. “Can I help you with the math problem?”

“Actually I think I got it.” Danny breathed a sigh of relief. He did some more figuring and then completed the problem.

Rudy watched Dan and decided that for the moment he would be all right. “Well that’s good. I want you to come back downstairs in about an hour or so. I’ll fix you a snack.”

Danny turned back around “A what? Who do I look like, Joey? I mean a ‘snack’ makes me sound like I’m in Pre School or something.”

“Sorry didn’t mean to word it that way. I guess what I should have said was if you plan on gaining ten pounds in two weeks you need to increase what you eat. So come down in an hour and I’ll fix you something.”

“That sounds better. Do me a favor call me down in an hour? I might get to studying and forget.” Dan sighed. “that seems to be the way it goes anyway.

“Deal, you’ll come when I call?”

“Yea I will. Unless I’m in bed, I’m just real tired.” Danny went back to his schoolwork.

“Well I’ll come get you.” He left Danny to finish his homework.

Before going downstairs Rudy looked in on the twins. “What’s up guys?”

We’re reading a book to Joey.” Marc answered. “I think he likes it.”

“After you finish that book you should get ready for bed. Then come on downstairs and I’ll fix a snack.” Rudy suggested. He left and went back downstairs.

“How’s Danny?” Oscar greeted him at the bottom of the stairs. “By the way the dishes are done.”

Rudy gave a laugh “I’m sorry, I was talking to Dan. He’s doing ok I think. I’ll know more as the next two weeks progress and we see if he gains any weight or if he tries to skip meals.” Rudy noted.

“I was just going to go tell the twins to get ready for bed.” Oscar started up the stairs.

“They were reading to Joey. I told them when they finished…”

“Thanks Rudy, but I think they could both use a bath tonight.” Oscar continued up the stairs.

“That’s what that horrible smell was? “ Rudy teased.

Oscar laughed till he got to the twins room. Joey was now reading to Marc and Matt.

“That’s very good Joey, Daddy didn’t know you could read like that.” Oscar stated.

“He does pretty good, doesn’t he?” Marc asked.

“I’ll say he does.” Oscar shook his head in disbelief.

“J Jaime is a g good t teacher.” Matt explained.

“She must be. I’ll have to talk to her in the morning. Now you guys all need baths tonight. I want no arguments ok?”

“Ok we won’t” Marc smiled knowing Oscar was going to have to give that answer some thought.

“You won’t what? Argue or take a bath?”

Matt and Marc giggled. “Argue with you.” Marc continued to giggle.

“Very funny guys, very funny. Now let’s get ready for your bath ok.”

After bathing the twins and Joey, Oscar tucked Joey into bed and read him his story. He then headed back down the steps. He met Rudy on the way up. “Where are you going?” Oscar wanted to know.

“To get Danny, he needs to come down to the kitchen…”

Oscar started to ask why, but thought he better just let Rudy handle the situation with Dan for a while anyway. Oscar wasn’t real thrilled about Danny taking on extra work at school to begin with. If Dan didn’t gain the weight Rudy prescribed Then he would take over and Danny would drop the law classes.

Before telling Dan to go downstairs Rudy told Matt and Marc that, there was a snack ready for them in the kitchen. He then walked into Danny’s room “You ready?” Rudy asked.

“Ready? Oh yea my ‘snack.’ Could you bring it up here for me?” Danny asked

Rudy shook his head. “No you need to come downstairs. I already told the twins I think they are on their way downstairs as we speak.”

Danny closed his book, and laid his pencil down. “Ok let’s get this over with.” Danny muttered.

“You act like I’m taking you to the Torture Chamber.” Rudy observed.

“I just have a lot of work to do. I really don’t have time to go down and eat something Besides I like to work it helps take my mind…” Danny stopped himself.

“What were you saying?” Rudy asked.

“Nothing, nothing important.” Danny said.

Rudy flashed Danny a concerned look. “I really wish you would open up to me. Since when are you like Marc and not trust me?”

“I do trust you Rudy. It’s nothing really.” Danny sat at the kitchen table; Matt and Marc were already there. Joey of course was asleep.

Rudy set three plates on the table. Each plate had cut up fruit on it. “Not such a bad snack huh Dan?” Rudy asked.

“I’d rather have a cup cake.” Marc said. “I don’t like apples.”

“Apples are good for you Marc. They’ll help you grow.” Rudy told him.

“I don’t want to grow, every time I grow it hurts and I have to go to the hospital.”

“Well hopefully with Dan’s invention you won’t have to go for a while yet.” Rudy looked at Marc. Then turned to Danny. “Eat your snack then you can go to bed ok?” Danny did as he was told.

Matt and Marc started throwing orange peels at one another.

“Ok you two. I think you’re finished you head on up to bed. I want to talk to Dan anyway.”

The twins headed upstairs.

“By the way” Rudy continued after the twins had gone to bed. “I know what you were going to say.” He looked straight at Danny. “You try to escape from everything in your studies. It takes your mind off of things that are going on around you. Am I right?”

“Yea. Your right.” Danny nodded.

“Dan that’s not the way you deal with stress. You’re going to make yourself very sick.” Rudy continued. “If you’re not already,” he noted, then added. “I don’t want you to get sick. It helps if you talk about things Dan.”

Danny looked over at him. “I’m not sick. I just get to busy to eat sometimes. I have a lot of homework and now with the law classes on top of everything else. I have even more.” Danny related.

“Then maybe I was wrong. It is to much for you.” Rudy explained. “Maybe you should drop the law classes, take them next year.”

“If I wait till next year, I’d have to go to school another year after I graduate. “ Danny told him. Besides I was getting bored with just the other classes. That’s why my instructors suggested that I take the law classes too.

“Really, you were bored with the work you were doing?”

“I guess it just wasn’t challenging enough for me.” Dan stated as Oscar walked into the kitchen.

“Are you two having a talk?” He asked.

Rudy turned to Oscar. “Everyone up there asleep?”

“Yea finally. What is with Marc, he says he doesn’t want to grow? Oscar wondered

“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later.” Rudy turned back to Danny

“I would appreciate that.” He grabbed a file he had left on the counter and headed for his office. “I’ll see you in a minute Rudy.”

“Yea as soon as we finish our conversation. Dan, if it’s too much for you, I don’t want you coming by the lab anymore. You obviously don’t have enough time. You just come home after school. That should give you plenty of time to get your homework done before dinner.”

“I like coming in, and you give me time to get some of my work done.” Danny argued.

“But Dan if the pressure is to much…”

“It’s not. Just give me a chance. I’ll gain the weight, you said I had two weeks, it hasn’t even been two days.”

“Ok two weeks, and that’s it. You better get to bed now. I still think it’s a good idea if you don’t’ come by for a while though. At least till you gain the weight.” Rudy said then added “Dan I have a question for you. What prompted you to tell your dad about your parents.”

“I guess grandma calling.” Danny answered

“Why didn’t you say anything the first time? When they tried to take you away from your dad?”

“I don’t know. I guess I thought I could handle it… Maybe your right Rudy.”

“But when they called and said your grandmother wanted to send your brothers their birthday present you figured you couldn’t handle it.”

Danny nodded.

“Let us help you work through it Dan.” Rudy pleaded

“I think I will.”

“Anytime you want to talk just come to me or your dad. Any of us are willing to listen.”

“I will” Danny promised.

“I have just one more question. Your schoolwork, it’s your only ‘outlet’ isn’t it.

“What do you mean?” Danny asked. Then gave it some thought. “No way Rudy. I know what you’re getting at. There is not way I would ever to anything like that. I’m smart remember, not stupid. I would never take anything. Legal or other wise.”

“Ok Dan I had to ask. You understand I hope.” Rudy apologized.

“Yea I guess I understand. I’m going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Yea see you Dan. Goodnight.”

After Danny went upstairs Rudy walked into Oscar’s office. “So, how’s Danny?” He asked.

“I wish I could tell you more. I can tell you this much though. He’s using his schoolwork and the work he does for me to escape the troubles he’s having. That’s my professional opinion anyway. “

“What troubles is he having?” Oscar questioned.

“Where have you been the past week or so Heck for that matter where have by been for the past five months? Oscar that kid has had a lot on him before he even came to live with you. Knowing his parents weren’t getting a long and going to get a divorce. There was no one for him to talk to. He didn’t want to deal with it, so he thought it was easier to loose himself in his work.”

“Did he tell you that?” Oscar wanted to know. “Why is it that my kids open up to everybody but me?”

“Like Steve said it’s nothing against you. He and Marc share a common bond and I had to drag it out of Danny. I just knew what questions to ask. I think he’s going to be ok now that we all are aware of the problem. I told him he could talk to you or anybody “ “I never thought that had to be rough on him. It was hard on me after I found out. Oh I have to say this, more out loud more to myself than anybody. If they would have gotten divorced I would have done everything in my power used every resource at my disposal. That man would never have gotten those kids.”

“You know, Oscar maybe you should tell Danny that.” Rudy offered.

“You just might be right. I will tell him first thing in the morning.” Oscar agreed.

The next morning everyone was getting ready for the day. Steve was with Jaime when she arrived to tutor the boys. “Oscar, if you don’t mind. I’d like to give Dan a ride to school today.”

“That’s great Steve, but why?”

“I thought we could have a little talk on the way. I talked to Rudy last night. He said the two of them had a nice talk. I thought I might be able to add something to the mix.”

“Well I guess the more people he talks to the better. I have something I want to tell him before you leave though.

“I’ll be out in the car.” Steve walked out the door.

“Dan. Steve is waiting for you. He wants to give you a ride to school today if you don’t mind.”

“No I don’t mind, but why. I mean don’t get me wrong I’m glad he wants to give me a ride, but… Oh well what does it matter. You said you had something you wanted to tell me?

“Yes. After you went to bed last night Rudy and I talked. I told him something that I wanted to share with you.”

“Go ahead.” Dan was curious.

“You know Dan. If your parents hadn’t been killed and the had divorced I would have done everything. Used all the resources at my disposal. Called in every favor owed to me. Your father would never have gotten full custody of you boys. I would not have allowed it.”

“Thanks Dad. I needed to hear that.” Dan headed out the door to join Steve.

“So how is it going Dan?” Steve asked after Dan had settled himself into the passenger seat next to him.

“It’s going pretty good.” Dan turned toward him. “Steve why are you really giving me a ride to school today. I’m not Marc you know.”

“I understand that. But in a way it is sort of the same thing. Jaime, your brother and I are all super strong. You my young friend are super smart.

“I never thought of it that way before.” Dan agreed. “Maybe you’re right.”

“How do you really feel about being as smart as you are?”

“It is hard sometimes. I mean I get bored with normal conversations. I like it at school. My friends and I sit around and discuss the events of the day. Most of the time to relieve the doldrums we discuss them in French or Latin or some other language.”

“That is very interesting. How many languages can you understand Dan?”

Just about everyone except for the one Marc and Matt use.” Dan turned to him and smiled.

“We all have trouble with that one.” Steve agreed. “Is there ever anything you don’t know?”

“Sometimes. And that gets very frustrating.” Dan admitted.

“You know Dan. Sometimes we place a lot on you because you are so smart. And sometimes I feel that we tend to set you off to the side. We all seem to worry about Marc. I know we made that mistake with Matt some time ago. Steve turned to Dan. “You would never…”

“No way!” Dan replied.

“That’s not what you are up to is it?”

“Steve I told you, I’m not sick. I just get to busy with my schoolwork sometimes.”

They had pulled up in front of Dan’s school now. “Dan I just wanted to let you know. I understand how you feel. Just like with Marc. If there is ever anything you want to talk about, my door is always open to you.”

“I appreciate that Steve. But I think I’m going to be alright.”

“You don’t mind that your dad my pay a little more attention to your younger brothers? Especially Marc?”

“Of course not they are just kids.” Danny explained. “Dan, You are just a kid too.”

“Yea I guess your right, but it doesn’t bother me. Honest.” Dan assured.

Did you eat breakfast before you left the house?”

Are you kidding? Dad and Rudy both stood over me while I ate. I know what everyone is thinking. I’m not sick. I’ve read about that. Believe me. That is not the case. But thanks for talking to me and extending you invitation.” Dan got out of the car. Steve watched as he joined up with a group of boys and headed into the building. ‘He’s right, he’s not Marc’ Steve thought as he pulled away from the curb. ‘I just hope he’s right and he’s not sick.’

Two weeks later

Russ picked Dan up in front of his school. “So today is the big day, huh? Think you’ll make it.”

“I’m pretty sure I will. I feel like I’ve gained the weight, and then some.” Danny said.

They arrived at the lab. Rudy and Oscar were both waiting for him. “So are you ready Dan?” Rudy asked pointing to the scales.

“I guess so.” Dan sighed

“Well I’ll be down I my office. I should stay but I’m expecting a call from a very prompt senator and he doesn’t like to wait. Come down when you finish.”

“Ok Oscar.” Rudy said as Oscar left the room.

“You ok with that Dan?” Rudy turned to him

“Yea. Why wouldn’t I be?” Dan stated.

“Just wondered.” Rudy said. “Are you stalling?”

“Of course not. You’re the one asking all the questions.”

“I guess your right. Any way shall we.”

Just as Dan stepped on the scales Steve walked into the lab. “So what is the verdict?”

“Well Dan. You didn’t gain ten pounds.” Rudy stated “You gained thirteen. That is great.” “That is wonderful Dan.” Steve was relieved too.

“Come on Dan. Let’s go tell you dad.” They walked down to Oscar’s office. Oscar was on his way out.

“About time. I was just coming to see what was taking so long.” He said. “Come on in. So Rudy what’s the verdict?”

“He gained 13 pounds.” Rudy told him.

“That’s great. Can he come back to work for you?’

“If that’s what he wants.”

They both turned to Danny. “Well?” Oscar wondered

“Of course that’s what I want. Can I go get started?”

“Sure go ahead Dan.” Rudy said. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

Dan headed down. “You wanted to talk to me Rudy?” Oscar asked as soon as Dan left.

“I don’t think he’s sick, but we need to watch him close for the next several weeks.”

“What do you mean you don’t ‘think’ he’s sick”

“Well if he were I don’t think he would have gained more the 10 pounds. I think he would have weighed himself all the time. And not let himself go over that.”

“Well that’s good. I was really hoping he wasn’t sick I told you I’ve read about that.”

“Yea so have I more so in the past two weeks. I even consulted some experts in the field. I don’t think that is Dan’s problem. But like I said. We need to watch him. If we notice he’s started losing again that could be a big red flag.”

“I’ll keep my eyes open.” Oscar assured.