Phineas Barnum - Tumblr Posts

Uh, why did no one tell me about the glorious whump in The Greatest Showman??????

Because I knew about the songs, and I knew about the choreography, and I knew about the cute plot- but no one told me about the fire.  Phillip rushing in after Anne, Phineas running after Phillip, carrying his limp body out of the fire, the pretty little burns all over Phillip’s face, seeing him in the hospital???  No one told me???? How dare

Because I ADORED the last Greatest Showman fic you wrote (actually ADORED IT), what about one where Phillip’s still training under Phineas (before Phineas beebops out lol) and he’s been complaining that it’s too cold all day even though it’s not and passes out mid-rehearsal and Phineas kind of calmly freaks out?

Omg you are too kind, I adore you so much!  This kinda became it’s own monster, I really clicked with it when I was writing so here you go!

If Phineas was honest, he thought he would never understand high fashion.  He hadn’t understood it when he was poor, and now that the circus had taken off, he still didn’t understand it.

“How can you wear that?”  Phineas huffed, staring at his new young protégé.

Phillip frowned at him, unconsciously adjusting the long sleeves of his shirt.  “What do you mean?”

“That outfit.”  Phineas said. “I’ve seen Christmas presents with less wrappings than you.”

“I’m just cold, P.T.”  Phillip rolled his eyes good-naturedly.  “Unlike one of us, I won’t be doing my office work ten minutes before we send it out.  I think the heater in the office is out, it’s rather chilly.”

Phineas frowned, he hadn’t thought it had been that cold when he had gone in there that morning, but he supposed Phillip was in the office more often than he was.  While the stage was where they both truly belonged, Phillip had a bit more to learn about the behind the scenes so he often stuck Phillip with more of the office work so the man could get a feel for them if Phineas suddenly couldn’t handle it.

“Put another heater on the list of expenses then.”  Phineas replied.  “Wouldn’t want our resident overdramatic to freeze.  Nor you.”

Phillip nodded with a small smile, as if barely allowing himself to laugh at the joke.

When he’d first recruited the young man, he’d promised to give Phillip opportunities to laugh a little, and he hadn’t realized at the time exactly how much the young man hadn’t laughed in all his life.  If Phineas hadn’t married Charity, and understood a bit of the life she’d left to come live with him, he’d have been worried that Phillip couldn’t laugh, no matter the joke.

“Hey, P.T.!”  Charles’s voice caught Phineas’ attention.  “You got a minute?”

“Be right there!”  Phineas called back.  “You got it from here?  Rehearsal’s in an hour.  You’re gonna practice in my place today, remember?”

“I’ve just got some paperwork to finish up.”  Phillip nodded, holding the very manifest he’d come down to ask Phineas for.  “Once I get through with this, we’ll be done for the next couple days so long as everything comes in on schedule.”

Phineas nodded and headed over to where Charles was.  The problem had been a simple one, the leather aspect of the stirrup Charles used to get on his horse had torn, and needed to be repaired before Charles fell off the horse.  Phineas got the leather repair kit, and set to work.  He’d worked with leather nearly all his life, whether it was with his father for someone else’s riding clothes or repairing what little he had on the railroad, so the work was familiar, calming to him.  To be honest, most of what was on his mind went quiet as he worked, setting the glue, painting the stain, and everything else needed to make sure Charles was in no danger.

“All right, that should do it.”  Phineas said, and then realized Charles hadn’t been waiting for him as he expected.

He sought out the dwarf and found him sitting with W.D., Anne, and Lettie.

“The stirrup is fixed but don’t put any weight on it for a little while.”   Phineas said, joining them easily.  “I put the other one on, the one that’s not as well-painted.  We can use that for rehearsal until the glue fully dries.”

“You know you could’ve just bought me a new one.”  Charles said, a snarky smile on his face.

“Perhaps, but with my taste, I might not have had enough money to pay you when I was done.”  Phineas shot right back, with an easy smile.

Charles and the others laughed.

“Aw, hell, come on, we’re gonna be late for rehearsal.”

They headed into the main ring, where just about everyone was gathered.

“Anyone seen Phillip?”  Phineas asked.

Lettie easily pointed to the stairs Phillip was descending.  This time, though, he came down with a scarf Phineas hadn’t seen earlier.

“You don’t look so hot.”  Phineas said, taking in the pink cheeks and slight shivers across Phillip’s skin.

“Not hot.”  Phillip replied.  “Cold.”

“Still that cold, huh?”  Phineas sighed.

Phillip nodded, and Phineas could’ve sworn he could see the poor boy’s teeth chattering.

“Come on!”  Phineas clapped his hands together.  “You just need to dance for a bit, you’ll work up a sweat in no time.”

Phillip reluctantly parted with the scarf and everyone fell in line for rehearsal.

“And a-five, six, seven, eight!”

Phineas easily led rehearsal warm-ups, so everyone could get adjusted.

“All right!  Phillip, come take center stage up here with me!”  Phineas called, feeling his blood thrum with the thrill of choreography. He’d never known how good he was until the circus, only dancing with Charity and his girls.  And now he was going to teach Phillip.

Phillip’s pink cheeks joined him.

“You all right, Phillip?”  Phineas asked, lowering his voice.

“I’m fine, P.T.”  Phillip replied.  “Still just working off that frost.”

Phineas nodded.

Phineas then started to explain the steps to Phillip, using more movement to show the young man.  He had Phillip copy his routine, with the others dancing around them in time, and Phineas watched his footwork like a hawk.  There was something off, something Phineas couldn’t place.  He was sure after all this time, that Phillip would’ve gotten warmer, this couldn’t have been from a cold office.  But Phillip hadn’t asked for a break, hadn’t asked anything, except for Phineas to repeat a couple of tricky moves.

“And when you turn, I want you to turn and I want you to face me, so don’t turn left, turn right, all right?”

He hoped Phillip was nodding because their backs were turned. As Phineas turned left, Phillip turned right, and stumbled.

“Phillip?”

Phineas had barely gotten the word out before Phillip’s eyes rolled back in his head and his knees buckled, sending Phillip crashing to the ground.

“Phillip!”

Immediately, Phineas knelt down beside the boy, and his hands found Phillip’s throat.  While he found a pulse, he found a heat that sent a cold chill down his spine.  He forced down the panic threatening to overpower his mind, and swallowed hard.

“I’m taking him to our office, someone get some water, cold water.” Phineas ordered, his voice steadier than his heart beating itself out of his chest.  “I’ll also need a thin blanket, thin, and some cloth the size of a handkerchief.  Rehearsal is cancelled for the day, I’ll let you all know when we’ll start again, and can someone please send a telegram to my wife?”

Organized chaos ensued, as his circus followed his instructions, but he tried not to notice, focusing only on the rise and fall of Phillip’s chest. He grabbed Phillip around the back and knees, lifting him into his arms, with Phillip’s head resting on his shoulder. The heat that poured off of Phillip’s skin unnerved him.  He wanted to scream, to run, to come apart and become hysterical just as the others were doing below him but he couldn’t.  Phillip needed him calm and cool-headed, no matter how much panic was flooding his system.

When he got to the office, he stopped.  He couldn’t get the door open without his hands, and his hands were currently full of Phillip.  Thankfully, Charles had been right behind him and opened the door.

“Thank you, Charles.  Can you fetch the pillow Lord of Leeds uses for his stomach?”

Charles nodded and headed back down the stairs.

He set Phillip down on the couch, and started undoing the buttons on his jacket.  With how bundled Phillip was, he’d expected the office to be chillier than it was. Seems a new heater wasn’t truly needed on the expense list after all.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid, you should’ve seen it.”  He muttered to himself.  “You should’ve seen the signs.  Of course he wouldn’t stop, of course he wouldn’t ask for a break, you idiot.”

“Water coming up!”  Lettie’s voice was strong, and several footsteps entered his ears.

He turned and saw Anne, Lettie and W.D. coming up with water basins.

“One is cool, one is warmer, and one is for drinking.”  Lettie explained, pointing to each.  “Make sure to start with the warmer, to adjust him, then the cool.  We’ve got two more cold buckets coming.”

Knowing Lettie’s skills, he simply nodded and took the old cloth from Anne’s hands.

“We’re going to the telegraph office.”  W.D. said.  “Anything in particular you want to say?”

“Tell Charity what happened, that I’ve got a handle on it, but I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.”  Phineas said, dipping the cloth into the basin.  “And tell her I’m not sure if she should come, because the girls will want to come and I’m not sure that would be a good idea.”

W.D. nodded, and placed his hand on his sister’s shoulder.  The siblings exchanged looks, before Anne nodded, heading out with a promise to be back soon.

He wrung it out and placed it on Phillip’s forehead.  Phillip moaned, his eyes opening slightly.

“Phillip?”

Phillip’s eyes were glassy and unfocused, but they managed to hold contact with Phineas.

Phillip’s mouth moved but nothing came out but a small, wordless sound.

Phineas pulled the drinking basin to him, taking the cup from Lettie, and scooped some water into the cup.  He put the cup to Phillip’s lips, unable to trust him to see the water in front of him, but Phillip’s lips parted and he was able to drink a bit of water.

“Phillip, can you hear me?”  Phineas tried again, setting the cup aside.

“I hear.”  Phillip breathed.

Phineas smiled slightly in relief.  “That’s it.  Phillip, how long have you been feeling sick?”

“Not sick.”  Phillip slurred.  “Just cold. So cold.”

“I’ve got the pillow and blanket.”  Charles came in, shoving the pillow at Phineas in his haste.

Phineas easily slipped the pillow underneath Phillip’s lax body, and then dipped another cloth in the warmer water.

“No, too cold.”  Phillip’s uncoordinated hand swatted at the cloth, though he got nowhere near taking it from Phineas’ hands.  In that moment, Phineas was eternally grateful that Lettie knew what she was doing, anything colder and Phillip might’ve been caused actual pain.

“No, Phillip, you’re too hot.”  Phineas tried, mopping some of the sweat off his neck and face.  “You have a fever.”

“No, no, can’t get sick.”  Phillip murmured, lost in the throes of the fever.  “Steps, new steps, have to learn, have to impress him, can’t disappoint.”

Phineas bit his lip, and took a glance toward Lettie and Charles.

“We’ll check on the water, see how it’s coming along.” Lettie offered, taking the thin blanket from Charles and setting it beside the couch.  “Maybe we should wait for anything colder, wait until his system adjusts to the cooler water.”

Phineas nodded, grateful for their discretion.  Phillip knew them well, and while they were friends, they all knew he wouldn’t want them seeing him like that.

“Perhaps one of you could fetch a doctor?”  Phineas called as they left.  “His fever is so high, we’ll need medicine, I don’t think this will be enough.”

Lettie nodded, and closed the door.

“Phillip, my boy, you didn’t disappoint me.”  Phineas muttered.  With the skill of a father taking care of a sick child, forcing down memories of a scared child taking care of a sick father, he got Phillip fully undressed, save for his undershorts, and placed the blanket over Phillip’s shivering, searing skin.  “You’ve never disappointed me.”

“No, no.”  Phillip shook his head back and forth jerkily, as if unable to control his own body. “Can’t let him down, can’t disappoint, can’t get sent away.”

“Hush, Phillip, shh.”  Phineas whispered, gently stroking the sweaty hair of the young boy.  “It’s alright, I won’t send you away.   You’re not going anywhere.  You belong here at the circus.  With us.”

“Phin?”  Phillip’s voice was so soft, so small it nearly broke Phineas’ heart in half.

“Yeah, it’s me, Phillip.”  Phineas gently cupped Phillip’s cheek.  “I’m here, I’m not leaving you.”

“’M sorry.”  Phillip slurred, his eyes watering.  “Didn’t mean to ruin rehearsal.”

“You didn’t ruin rehearsal.”  Phineas ran his thumb up and down Phillip’s cheek, catching a couple errant tears.  “You’re sick, it happens to us all.  It’s not a big deal.”

“Big deal.”  Phillip murmured.  “Wanted to impress you.  Work needed to get done.”

“Hush, Phillip.”  Phineas said, letting a bit of his Dad voice slip through.  “Nothing is more important than your health.  Getting sick isn’t disappointing me, you simply need a few days to rest.  Nothing more. It’s nothing worth getting upset over.”

He hoped he was saying the right things, that Phillip would remember this when his fever broke, because he’ll admit, he was a little out of his depth with Phillip.  While he considered Phillip to be close to him and his family, close to where his girls treated him like a new brother their father had brought home, to where Charity always seemed to make a bit extra food on the nights they had dinner so Phillip could take home some leftovers to make sure Phillip had good food in his pantry, there were still many pieces of Phillip that Phineas didn’t know.  Pieces that might make or break any conversation he might have here with the boy.

Phillip stared in shock at Phineas.  Phineas wasn’t quite sure if the boy was about to shove him away or burst into tears.

“Didn’t disappoint?”  Phillip’s voice was soft, small, like that of a child afraid of the dark.

“No, no, you could never disappoint me.”  Phineas said, taking a risk and collecting Phillip into his arms, tucking Phillip’s head into the crook of his shoulder.  “Not a day goes by where you don’t impress me, where I’m not incredibly grateful that I ended up finding you, that you agreed to come to the circus with me.  I have never regretted recruiting you, and every day I thank whatever higher power allowed you into my life.”

Soft gasps soon gave way to a flood of tears.  Phineas started stroking Phillip’s hair again, lightly dragging his nails every so often, trying to whisper words of comfort.

“It’s alright, Phillip, you’re alright, shh, you’ll feel better soon, I’m not leaving you, I’ll never send you away, shh, you’ll be alright, I promise.”

He wasn’t sure how long Phillip cried, but he didn’t mind. Phillip needed his shoulder and he’d have it as long as he needed it.

“Phin?”

Phineas paused.  “Yes, Phillip?”

“I feel terrible.”  Phillip’s voice held an undertone, one Phineas barely picked up on, where he was ashamed of admitting this weakness, but Phineas wasn’t sure if this was Phillip’s upbringing or because of the fever.  While he hoped it was the latter, there was little doubt in the rational part of his mind that it was the former.  “I don’t think I can finish rehearsal.”

“It’s alright, Phillip.”  Phineas said, resisting the urge to drop a kiss to Phillip’s sweaty curls as he would do one of his own daughters.  “The only rehearsal you need to practice at now is asking for help when you’re unwell.  And I intend to make sure that in the future you feel you can come to me if anything else happens again.  I’ll not abandon you to shoulder this alone.”

Phineas adjusted their position, to where Phillip was still tucked into Phineas’ shoulder but Phineas was more on the seat of the chair to ease the pressure on his knees and back.

“You’ll stay?”

“Always.”  Phineas admitted.  “Get some sleep, Phillip.  I’m not going anywhere.”

Will you please write more Phillip phump for the greatest showman? He's so pretty and I've just fallen head over heels in love with this movie, old as it is. Sorry to hear about work, I hope you stay safe and healthy! Your writing is beautiful and I'm so lucky to have found it! Have a good day ❤

Aw, thank you so much for the compliments, I love you!  I’m so sorry this is a bit late, nonny, but ask and ye shall receive! Here’s a short piece of Phillip getting some whump. Hope this everything you want.

------------------------------

He wished he could’ve said he noticed it.  He wished he could say that he knew immediately when Phillip started to slip up, that he caught it before it became too bad.  But he couldn’t.  He was too focused on his own problems to notice Phillip’s.  At least, until it was impossible not to.

Rebuilding the circus had been difficult.  Adapting all the routines into the three rings, relearning steps he knew blindfolded to fit with the new terrain, rebuilding all the burnt sets and bleachers, retraining the animals, the list went on.  It was so difficult, that Phineas had simply started sleeping in the office, as it was one of the easiest to rebuild, instead of always going to his in-laws because he would get home so late and have to leave so early in the morning.  Thankfully, Charity understood the need for the long hours to rebuild their life, and only requested him home on weekends, and Phillip could handle two days alone so it was a good compromise.  So every Monday he found himself on a very early train, rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, and got to work at the circus.

He was surprised to see Phillip already working in the office when he came in.

“Good morning, P.T.”  Phillip said as he opened the door, not once looking up from his paperwork.

“Uh, morning.  Phillip.” Phineas said, surprised that his young appren-partner was already here.  “Did you go home at all last night?”

“Yes, I did.”  Phillip sighed.  “This is from the city.  Apparently, some clerk misplaced our last permit for the animals so I’ve got to do it all over again or we’re going to have problems.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”  Phineas said.  “I could’ve helped.”

“It came after you left for the weekend.”  Phillip said.  “Besides, it’s not anything worth worrying about.  I can handle it.”

“Phillip, it’s just past dawn, it’s far too early for paperwork.” Phineas said, as he sat down in the office, his own pile of paperwork a daunting task he wished he could magic away. “If it’s not worth worrying about, then why are you here so early?”

“I had an idea for a new addition to the opening routine at like three in the morning.”  Phillip chuckled.  “So I decided to just get up, get my paperwork done so I could spend the rest of the day on my new idea.”

“What’s the idea then?”  Phineas asked, knowing the pain of having an idea at way to early in the morning.  Though, those were some of his greatest ones.

“A pulley system.”  Phillip said. “So we can get some of the dancers clear in the air.  If we place them right, the audience won’t see them and it’ll look like they can fly.”

Phineas smiled, loving the idea already.

Thursday, Phillip woke him after slipping into the office very quietly by lighting a candle by his desk.

“Phillip?”  He murmured.

“Oh, I’m sorry, P.T.  I didn’t mean to wake you.”  Phillip whispered, moving the candle so the light wouldn’t bother Phineas.

Phineas had meant to respond, to ask why Phillip was there while everyone else was asleep, but he fell asleep before he could.

Right before he left for home on Friday, he found Phillip asleep at his desk.

“Phillip?  Phillip!” He gently shook the young boy’s shoulders.

Phillip snapped awake.  “Anne!  Where’s Anne? Oh, P.T.”

“I think you need to go home, Phillip.”  Phineas chuckled.  “And take Anne with you, apparently.”

Phillip glared at him.  “It’s not like that.”

“Of course it’s not.”  Phineas winked.  Phillip groaned.  “Go home. Get some sleep.  Can’t have you falling asleep in the middle of rehearsal!”

He’d meant the words as a gentle tease, and quite forgot about them as he headed home.  His mind filled with thoughts of his girls, a nice home-cooked dinner, and a soft, warm bed that had a wonderful, loving wife in it.

So the next Monday, like clockwork, he kissed his sleepy wife goodbye, got on the early train, and headed to the circus.  He missed his girls dearly while he was away, but he needed to start making money so he could buy back their house.  So far, they were on track, but there was always a threat of someone else buying it to spite him, so he had to do what had to be done to give his girls back everything they deserved.

The walk to the circus had always been calming to him.  The sunlight stretched across the city, as if the city itself were slowly waking with him, few people roamed the streets so he could just feel the peace of the early morning.

The light was on in the office.  He frowned.  It wasn’t like Phillip to leave the light on.  He opened the door and found Phillip slumped over his desk with his head in his heads.

“Phillip?”

The boy’s head snapped up, and Phineas then saw the bags underneath his eyes, the tremors in the boy’s hands, the flush in his cheeks, the exhaustion Phillip obviously felt so deep in his bones.

“Oh, Phillip.”  Phineas pulled his chair over to Phillip’s desk.

“I’m fine, P.T.”  Phillip murmured slowly.

The fact that it took Phillip a moment to respond to him reinforced the worry in his mind.

“No, you’re not.”  Phineas whispered.  “Phillip, what’s happened?”

“Nothing.”  Phillip mumbled, rubbing at his red-rimmed eyes.  “Just had a lot of work to do.”

“You were almost done when I left this past weekend.”  Phineas frowned.  “I saw your desk, you didn’t have that much paperwork left.  Too much more paperwork couldn’t have come in over the weekend.”

“Look, P.T. I just didn’t get everything done, okay?”  Phillip snarled at him.

Phineas stared at him.  Phillip rarely got contrary, his proper upbringing prohibiting any outburst of emotion.

“Please, Phillip, talk to me.”  Phineas said, trying his best to sound soothing to the boy.  “You can tell me anything.”

Phillip sighed.  “I know, P.T. I know.  I’m sorry, I guess I’m just a little… irritable today.  It’ll pass.  I’m going to get some more water, all right?  I can make us some coffee, hopefully that’ll help.”

Phineas nodded, and watched with concern as Phillip stood on shaky legs as he put the kettle on to boil.

“Here, I can do that-”

“I don’t need your help, P.T.”  Phillip snapped.  “I’m fine, I can manage on my own.”

Phineas closed his mouth so sharply his teeth clacked together.

“Phillip.”  Phineas said, unable to keep the hurt out of his tone.

Phillip turned to him, remorse already filling his red-rimmed eyes.

“P.T. I’m sorry, I just… I-”

Phillip’s eyelids fluttered dangerously and his body began to sway.

“Phillip?”

Fear gripped his heart as Phillip’s eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed to the floor.

“Phillip!”

Phineas was out of his seat in an instant, gently rolling Phillip into his arms.  He shook his shoulders, tapped the boy’s cheek, frowned, then placed his hand across Phillip’s forehead.  He grimaced at the heat radiating off the boy’s skin.  He then gathered up the young man into his arms, with Phillip’s head tucked into his shoulder.

Phillip moaned quietly as Phineas set him on the couch.

“Come on, Phillip, open those eyes for me.”  Phineas muttered.

But Phillip’s eyes remained closed.

Phineas bit his lip, and sighed forcibly.  So he cupped a hand under Phillip’s neck, and pulled him forward so he could get his suit jacket off.  He got him out of his vest and tie, and then unbuckled his suspenders and undid the buttons on his shirt.

“Phin?”  Phillip murmured, staring blearily up at him.  “What’s going on?”

“Here, lay back down.”  Phineas guided the boy back down.  “I was hoping you could tell me why you collapsed with a fever.”

Phillip frowned.  “I didn’t think it had gotten that bad.”

“So there is something wrong?”  Phineas sighed, pulling a chair up to the couch.

Phillip looked away from him.

“Phillip, please.”  Phineas said, unable to push down the urge to thread his fingers in Phillip’s sweaty curls. “Something’s off, has been off for a while. What’s going on?”

“I haven’t been sleeping.”  Phillip unconsciously leaned into Phineas’ fingers.

“For how long?”  Phineas asked.

“Since…”  Phillip trailed off, sheepishly pressing his lips together with a slight tremor, a bit of color tinting his cheeks.

“Since?”  He prompted.

“The fire.”  Phillip admitted, eyes brimming with unshed tears.

“The fire!  Oh, Phillip.” Phineas pulled Phillip into a hug, clutching the boy with all he had.

Phillip tried to pull away weakly, but Phineas held him fast and heard a couple choked sobs, as if trying to hold himself back, before the poor boy broke down fully into tears.

“I’m sorry, Phin, I’m so sorry, I try not to let them bother me, I really try, but they keep coming and no matter how hard I try, I can’t get away from them.  I keep dreaming that Anne is trapped and I can’t get to her, or that I can still hear Lettie screaming inside, that W.D. is dead, that Anne is dead, that you’re dead, and I can’t get to you.  I keep dreaming I’m still trapped under that beam, that I’m burning, and I can’t get out.  It feels like every night I’m trapped in that fire, every night I wake up screaming, and I can’t take it!  I just want to be strong, Phin.  Everyone needs me, you need me, and I want to be strong for you but I can’t anymore! Oh God, Phin, I, I, I just want it to stop!”

His heart broke for the child in his arms.  A few tears of his own slipped out as he clutched Phillip to his chest, gently rocking back and forth.  He found himself whispering small comforts, trying his best to reach the crying boy in his arms.  He wasn’t sure how long Phillip cried, but eventually, Phillip’s sobs subsided to shuddering breaths.

“Does Anne know?”  Phineas asked after he was sure Phillip had calmed somewhat.

Phillip shook his head.  “I couldn’t do that to her.  She already blames herself for me getting hurt for going in after her, I can’t hurt her like that.  She’s already been through so much, just for me.  I can’t hurt her again, I just can’t.”

Phineas sighed.  While he could understand Phillip’s situation, it meant Phillip was facing these night terrors alone.  And he wasn’t going to have that.

“Phillip, I need you to know something.”  Phineas said solidly.

“What?”  Phillip looked up at him with a young, heartbroken, tear-stained face and it nearly broke Phineas’ heart again.

“No matter what time it is, no matter when this happens, I need you to know you can come to me.”  Phineas said, and when Phillip opened his mouth to protest, he quickly continued, “No, Phillip, I mean it.  I don’t care what time it is, if you’re going to come here anyway, you’re going to wake me up so I can help you.”

“P.T. I- I can’t-”

“Yes, you can.”  Phineas said. “We’re partners now, remember?  We split everything fifty-fifty.  If you’re not sleeping, I won’t sleep right alongside you.”

Phillip’s eyes welled up with tears again and he ducked his head into Phineas’ shoulder.

“I’m sorry.”  Phillip mumbled.

“It’s alright, son.”  Phineas murmured, dropping a kiss into Phillip’s hair.  “Now I certainly think it’s time for you to get some sleep. Don’t worry about rehearsal today, I’m sure Lettie can handle it for today.”

“Lettie?”  Phillip muttered.  “P.T. you can-”

“I’m not leaving you like this, Phillip.”  Phineas said, allowing his voice to slip into his Dad tone. “You need rest, and you’re ill. The circus can survive without us for a day or two.”

“I… suppose I am tired.”  Phillip whispered, as Phineas gently pushed Phillip back down on the couch.

Phineas couldn’t stop the soft smile across his face at Phillip’s acquiesce.

“Sleep, Phillip.  I’ll be right here.”

Phillip’s eyes fluttered closed, and Phineas began to stroke the young man’s hair once more, watching Phillip’s breath become even.