He stood, kissed Chris thoroughly, and settled back in his chair. He went to sleep quickly, but was awakened later by the sound of Chris screaming.
Mickey bent over Chris, who was yelling over and over again, “No, no. Don’t let him do it.”
He shook Chris awake. “What’s the matter, babe?”
“I was having a nightmare.”
“Can you tell me about it?”
“I was on the operating table and Dr. Shively had my dick in one hand and a scalpel in the other saying that he was going to cut it off…. It was horrible.”
The intercom beeped and a voice said, “Is everything all right?”
“Yes, Ma’am. He was having a nightmare, but it’s okay now.”
“Would you like a sleeping pill, Mr. Bottoms?”
“Yes, please,” Chris said.
A nurse brought Chris a pill, which he swallowed and chased with a glass of water, then he and Mickey went back to sleep. The rest of the night passed by without interruption.