"But how long will it take, doc?" Mike managed.
"I have no idea, absolutely no idea," Horton explained sadly.
It was then when Dr. Cooper walked in. Mike pushed himself off the exam table and ran to him. He embraced Cooper tightly, put his head on his shoulder, and began to cry, his shoulders heaving with the deep, heartbreaking sobs. Dr. Cooper looked at Horton in wonderment, but held the boy as long as necessary, rubbing his back.
"It's all right, son," he comforted softly, "it'll be all right."
When Mike's tears finally stopped, and they stood apart, facing one another, Mike said, "Thanks, dad, I'm sorry I startled you like that. I've had a rough day."
"It's all right, son," Cooper assured him, patting his right shoulder. "Anytime you need a shoulder to cry on, you can use mine."
"Well, guess I'll be seein' you tomorrow, then. The doc says I should go home and relax tonight. I think I'll be o.k.."
As Mike headed for the door, Dr. Horton remembered something he'd read and called out, "Oh, Mike! My advice is to go straight home and as soon as possible, make love to Jeanie!"
"What the hell?" Cooper gasped, shocked at his colleague's words.
"I'm sure she won't mind, and don't worry. Afterwards she'll understand, I'm sure of it. That is, if she's the kind of person I believe she is."
Mike began to blush, but agreed. "All right, doc. It might not help, but it certainly won't hurt! I'll do as you say!"
And then he was gone, managing to whistle as he went down the corridor. Cooper turned to Horton.
"I don't know what you're trying to do to my people, giving them orders like that! But I guess prescriptions sure have changed over the years!"
"You'll see. Tomorrow Mike will be as good as new."
Dr. Horton was right, as usual. Later that night Mike noticed the bad memories had all but vanished from his mind, and what remained quickly faded away. Jeanie HAD understood, and after that night her relationship with Mike improved greatly, though they could never understand why.