A/N:

After far too much lurking I've decided to finally contribute to our happy little community. This story has been banging around in my head for awhile and won't seem to let up.

First a bit of a warning; I am American. (Are y'all scared yet?!) As such, I bastardize the English language regularly - sorry about that. Secondly, I do not know anything about the mental health system in the UK, so what you are about to read may make very little sense but I am happy to answer any questions.

Naomi's POV

I'm not sure when exactly things went tits' up. I mean I suppose it was when... well, yeah. It doesn't matter so much now. Not when I'm here. God, how can I possibly be here? It all sounded so lovely... a break, a rest...

"Naomi, I'd like you to consider something," Dr. Ambrose leans forward in his chair and places his elbows on his lap, lacing his fingers together, "How would you feel about taking a bit of a break?"

"A break? Like from college?" I scoff.

"Yes, actually... but also to get away for a bit... how would you feel about that?"

"A bit busy at the moment, yeah? Revising and all? Can't exactly go on a holiday, can I?"

"Even for just a couple days? Might even help you to focus... a clearer head for your work..."

I considered that for several moments, "And where exactly would I be going?"

People don't like to say exactly what they mean. They prefer to prettify things, make them sound better. Why don't they just bloody say what they mean? Why can't we just call things what they are? I ponder this as I sit in a chair and take in my surroundings. I suppose the building is rather lovely, what with the large house sitting on a good bit of property and a sizable lake in the distance. From the outside, one would think it an old manor turned luxury hotel or spa. From the outside you imagine a home filled with nick-knacks collected over time. You wouldn't think that every single item residing in it's walls was selected with the greatest of care and intention – that every single occupant was selected with this same care. And here I sit, the newest occupant... no, patient – the newest patient – and try to process that I'm actually here. Why I'm currently sat waiting for my Mum to finish signing the documents that will cement this stay. Waiting for me to be officially admitted to Delfino House, a mental hospital.

I look down at my hands that are trembling just slightly and put them under my legs, "Relax, Naomi," I tell myself.

"You should probably avoid doing that here."

I look up and my eyes are met with a lanky brunette with piercing blue eyes, "Huh?"

She smirks before shrugging and walking away, "Talking to yourself..."

I'm still looking at the place where the girl has just left as Ramona, a strict looking nurse with a smile a little too big to be genuine, approaches with my Mum, "Alright love, let's get you settled in then."

I am taken beyond a large wooden door, leaving reception and led into a small room with an empty table and floor to ceiling locked cupboards. Ramona puts on a pair of gloves and looks over to my Mum expectantly and smiles as Gina hands over my carry-all. She unzips the bag and begins to take out a jumper before I grab the bag from her.

"Pardon!" I growl as I stuff the garment back inside.

I'm met with a condescending smile, "Dear, we need to look through your belongings and make sure everything's... appropriate." She reaches out her hand and takes the bag adding, "It's procedure."

She takes out my tops and folds them into a neat pile before starting on the jeans, "I'm sorry these will have to go with your Mum."

"Uh... why?"

"I'm afraid we don't allow residents to have metal objects of any sort," she answers while tapping on a brass button.

I look at my Mum with an incredulous look that turns into a scowl, "Fuck sakes..."

In the end I am left with a jumper, a few t-shirts, two pair of yoga pants and a pull-over hoodie which has been liberated of it's strings – inappropriate apparently. Also removed were my toiletries, lighter, iPod, two spiral notebooks and three packets of Garibaldis my Mum must have snuck into my bag before we left.

The items I am allowed are placed in a plastic tray on the table whilst my Mum is given the supposed contraband.

"You'll need to change into some of these garments whilst I look through the clothing you're currently wearing," Ramona explains.

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

"Well nothing I can see from here dear, but some of our residents "forget" to leave contraband at home."

I roll my eyes before selecting some grey yoga pants and a shirt from the pile on the table and begin to walk out of the room before Ramona stops me.

"I'll need you to change in here. Don't worry dear, I've seen it all before," she adds.

I huff as I place the clothing on the table and take my top off, handing it to her. She takes the t-shirt and runs her gloved hands along the seams before adding it to the pile on the tray. I watch this as I lean over to untie my shoes and shimmy out of my jeans. As suspected my jeans are confiscated and my shoes are relieved of their offending laces.

"I'll need to check your undergarments now."

I look at her disbelievingly and cross my arms over my chest, "I think you'll find you need to stay well and truly away from my undergarments."

She sighs, "Turn around and let me have a look at you, no use prolonging this."

My Mum looks at me apologetically before encouraging me, "Go on then, love."

I close my eyes, exhale gruffly and place my now fisted hands against my sides and spin around, "Alright?"

"Yes, now please pull your bra forwards and away from your chest."

I place my thumbs underneath the band and pull it away from my body.

"Shake it a bit, please."

I look over at my mum and mouth out "perve" as I follow Ramona's directions and Gina stifles a laugh.

Once Ramona is satisfied that there are no wires or other apparent WMD's hidden in my knickers, I am allowed to change into my mental clinic acceptable attire.

"Alright Naomi, time to say goodbye to your Mum and show you to your room."

"Oh, already? So soon?" My mother looks over at me with a frown before pulling me into a bone-crushing hug.

"Jesus, Mum... oxygen is critical to survival you know," I say as I push against her arms. She ignores my rebuff and places her hands around my face and looks at me with tear filled eyes and says, "I'm really fucking proud of you, you know."

I snort as I turn away from her, "Yeah, well that's hardly the thing to say to your daughter as you commit her."

She sighs, "Darling, we've discussed this... I thought you agreed it would be good for you and-"

"I know... it's just not exactly how I imagined it would be..."

"Delfino House comes highly recommended and Dr. Ambrose wouldn't suggest it if he didn't think it could help you."

"I don't need help Mum – I just need a break."

Gina sighs as she pushes some overgrown fringe behind my ear, "Then take this break. Please Naomi. I worry about you so much and I don't know how to help you... you won't let me in, you won't talk about it and I-"

We are so not going there. "Okay, okay," I interrupt, raising my hands in defeat. I lean my head back and look up at the ceiling and then back down at my Mum before adding, "But only for 72 hours, yeah?"

My mum nods as she wraps her arms around me again and kisses my forehead, "Yes, only a few days, love."

I'll give them credit, they are certainly attempting to make this place seem as in-clinical as possible. I am led to the bedroom that I will be staying in. It's a nicely sized room with a large plexi-glass window overlooking the pretty grounds. Two twin beds are placed on opposite sides of the room with two small wooden dressers on either side, acting as nightstands.

Ramona motions between the beds,"You may take whichever bed you like, there is no other resident sharing with you at the moment."

I nod and take the left-most bed, dropping the plastic tray with my belongings onto it.

"They go in here," she says as she opens a drawer of the dresser. As she does so, I realize with a laugh that it isn't wood at all but some faux-wood finished plastic shit. Jesus, what else is fake around here?

"Everything has it's place Naomi... I think you'll soon see that."

"Uh, right."

Ramona looks around the room and smiles before consulting a clipboard, "You will meet with your doctor at 1:10pm today. Lunch is served at noon, followed by afternoon Group at 2:00pm," she looks at her watch before continuing, "It's free time now. Most residents spend it in the Common Room, however, you can gain privileges that will offer more choices. Come along now, let's go meet your new friends."

Friends? Ha fucking ha. Not only do I dislike the prospect of making friends with the loonies here, but I find her condescending tone to be rather insulting. As if she's come up with this idea that once you place all the crazies together they should hit it off straight away as they wipe the drool dribbling from each other's faces and occupy themselves with each other. I smirk at the image as I am led to the Common Room.

I am met with an expansive and sunny room with nearly floor to ceiling windows. Tables are spread throughout with bookshelves lining the far wall and a nurse's station situated in a corner with what looks like a locked storage room. Couches and chairs are placed in several areas with once again, a homey and comfortable aesthetic in mind.

My eyes scan the room cautiously attempting to avoid eye contact with anyone. I survey the room and find less about a dozen or so people in what looks like varying degrees of boredom and/or awareness. Okay, so this is what crazy people look like. It's actually not as bad as I thought... they look normal enough. My eyes continue their surveillance and momentarily pause on a girl sitting in a window seat, maybe a year or two younger than me who is talking to her reflection animatedly. Yeah, no. This isn't going to work. I can't be here. I turn to Ramona and open my mouth to say so, but am reminded of my Mum. She thinks I should be here. I close my mouth and turn my head back towards the room, in resignation.

"So what are we meant to do during Free Time?"

"You're in luck, we were just about to start a positively enthralling game of Monopoly," says the brunette from earlier with a sickly sweet smile as she walks towards us.

"That sounds lovely, thank you Effy. Naomi would love to join in, isn't that right?" Ramona asks in a way that is very clear that whether Naomi wants to play or not is entirely irrelevant. The nurse takes the opportunity to make her leave with a gentle pat on Naomi's shoulder.

Effy watches as Romana exits before cocking her head in question as her smile turns into a smirk, "Yes, do join in Naomi. You wouldn't want to hurt Panda's feelings would you?"

What. The. Fuck. Great... Window Girl talks to herself and this chick sees pandas?! "Uhhh, right... I - " My attempt at making an excuse is interrupted by a high pitched squeal emanating from a blonde in pigtails who takes both my hands into hers while bouncing up and down, not unlike an overexcited chihuahua, "You're here! Finally! Took ages!"

Here's the thing. I don't like people invading my personal space. My bubble. Mine. And I definitely don't like people touching me... particularly strangers. Batshit crazy blonde strangers even more so.

I look to Effy for help from the ongoing attack but unless Effy can produce a smirk that will obliterate the blonde, I am well and truly fucked. I all but surrender into the bouncing and shrieking before Effy mercifully deems it fit to rescue me, "Panda, why don't you ask Ingrid if you can check out a game?"

"Whizzer idea, Eff," she answers as she removes herself from my person and skips away to the nurse's station. And I'm dead serious. She skips.

I look at Effy and point to the departing blonde in relief, "So... that's Panda!"

She frowns and purses her lips in offense, "What? Did you think I was crazy or something?"

Good God, Naomi! Do not piss off potentially violent and homicidal teenage girls. I shake my head, "No, no, no... no. I..." I stammer and try to decipher the look on her face whilst visibly checking for items I could potentially be shanked with, when I see a slight turn of her lip. Is she... is she joking? We stare at each other for a few seconds before she cracks a smile and we both burst out laughing.

Effy leads me to an unoccupied table positioned next to a window overlooking a paved courtyard with benches and a stone fountain. A man is sat on one of the benches with a lit cigarette hanging out of his mouth and a book in his hands. I watch him in pure and undiluted jealousy. God I would kill for a fag right now. As if hearing my thoughts, the man looks up at me and nods in greeting with a smile. I turn my head around without acknowledgment. Jesus, I was perving on his cigarette not him.

Effy pulls a battered deck of cards from her pocket. "So, how long are you in for?"

I scoff at what I assume is a typical question asked in prisons, and apparently mental institutions. "Not long, just a couple days – 72 hours actually."

She silently shuffles the cards for a minute before looking up at me and responding. "Right. Well Panda will sure be disappointed."

"Yeah? Why's that?"

"She just likes to meet new people is all, " she shrugs before adding, "She's been here for quite a while..."

I look over at the blonde talking to a nurse who is patting her on the shoulder and handing her a cup of green gelatin and can't help but wonder what horrible condition has kept her here so long.I look back at Effy who is staring at Panda with what I can only define as fondness, before moving her eyes to meet mine.

"I don't know." she answers my unasked question. She begins to lay out cards in front of us, "Egyptian Ratscrew?" she asks, and I know the conversation has ended.

My assumption that lunch would consist of reheated frozen shit served on plastic trays is shattered entirely when I enter a large dining room with wooden tables filled with heaping bowls and platters of fresh food.

"Hogwarts much?"

Effy laughs, "Just a bit, yeah," and motions her head to follow her. We sit at the far end of an empty table facing the doorway. "The good doctor believes in the benefits of family style dining and all that," she explains as she reaches for the bowl of potatoes and plops a spoonful on her plate and mine. "Vegetarian, right?"

I frown, "...yeah. How'd you know that?"

"Who, Effy? She knows everything, don't you Eff? A proper mind reader, she is." Pandora smiles brightly as she begins to pile her plate without discrimination. Panda says this with such simple honesty and not a hint of sarcasm I can only nod in response. I tuck into my meal and look at the large clock above a non functioning fireplace. 12:19pm. I've been here nearly three hours. Just 69 more and I'll be home...

"Where do you suppose the lads are?" Pandora asks with a mouth full of chicken.

"Cook's still on Restriction, Freddie's in the studio and I imagine JJ is en route to the Dining Hall but stuck counting steps... or paintings... or perhaps backtracking altogether. He should be along soon."

"JJ gets locked on to things, you see?" Pandora says in way of explanation.

"Hmm?"

It is at this moment that a boy around our age with curly hair and braces approaches our table. He removes a handkerchief from his pocket and begins to wipe down the table and seat before sitting down. He removes his rucksack and places it on the bench next to him and takes out a bagged lunch.

"JJ! JJ! JJ! Guess what?"

"Oh, hello Pandora," he responds politely.

"We have a new friend!" Pandora squeals while pointing in my direction, "Look!"

The boy turns his head in what I can only describe as a robotic motion and looks at me before smiling and offering his hand, "My name is Jonah Jeremiah Jones, but most people find it a mouthful and thusly call me JJ – which you may also do, if it pleases you." I take his hand and he shakes it once before returning it to his lap where he uses his handkerchief and wipes his hands rather furiously.

Pandora watches him with a frown, "Rough day, Jay?"

He opens his mouth and thinking better of it, settles for a nod. He takes a yoghurt out of his lunch bag and peels off the lid. He takes a spoon and scrapes off the yoghurt from the lid and doesn't stop until the thin piece of foil is spotless. He then folds it and places it in his pocket. Oookay, I'm pretty sure Ramona would consider that contraband and would confiscate it with a swiftness and a brutal smile. I look to Effy and she shrugs and then to Pandora who is suddenly very interested with playing with her green beans.

"I'm about finished now. I can throw that in the bin if you like?"

JJ concentrates on the task of eating his yoghurt and dismisses me with a shake of his head. I look to Effy for help, but she shakes her head subtly, telling me no. Okay, so I'm assuming this is normal then. I sigh and finish my lunch in silence.

It's not that I'm keen on following the rules, quite the contrary really. But, I just don't see anything good coming from hiding bits of metal – flimsy as it may be – in a place like this.

"So, what was that back there?"

We are back in the Common Room and sat on a couch cross-legged, facing each other with some cards between us. Pandora is still in the Dining Hall procuring doughnuts from Thomas, her crush, who is evidently one of the hospital's cooks.

She looks at the hand she's been dealt, before removing two cards and placing them face down with a double tap. I remove two cards from the top of the main deck and hand them to her.

"Well?" I ask, rather impatiently.

Her eyes don't leave her cards as she responds, "JJ's in the PHP."

"PHP?" I shake my head in question,

"Partial Hospitalization Program. He's not a full-time resident anymore. He's what they refer to as 'mainstreaming.'" She says the last word in an exaggerated posh voice.

"Mainstreaming?" God, it's like you need a special dictionary to get through a conversation in here.

"Yeah, like he's slowly being reintroduced to 'mainstream' society..."

"Oh," I say thoughtfully.

"So, he can't screw this up. He can't make any mistakes or he'll end up back here." She places her hands and cards in her lap before finally looking up at me, "And no one is gonna rat him out and fuck it up for him, yeah?"

"Right. Yeah." I finally look down at my cards then. I've got nothing. As per.

She nods, "Good."

After losing several games of poker to Effy, I stretch my legs out from beneath me and make to get up.

"Where's the loo?"

Effy looks up from picking at her chipped nail polished fingers, "Tell Josie you need to go - she's the younger, kinda dumpy-looking brunette at the nurse's station. She's alright, a bit chipper, but alright. Doesn't even perve on you as you go."

My eyes narrow, "They're meant to go in with you?"

Effy shrugs, "Depends on the program the doctor puts you on." It's when she says things like that with such a nonchalance that I wonder how long she's been in here. I'm tempted to ask, but decide it best not to potentially offend the only somewhat normal person I've met in here.

"But, that's crazy," I argue.

She laughs, looks about the room before giving me a pointed look, "You do know where you are, right?"

"Yeah, yeah.." I roll my eyes and walk away. I see several women behind a half wall separating the the nurse's station and common room. I quickly scan each of the nurses looking for Josie and am relieved to find that Ramona is noticeably missing. I spy a younger nurse who is reading a file whilst humming cheerfully to herself. Must be Josie. "Pardon, I need to use the loo?"

She looks from the file to me and smiles, "Oh hi, you must be Naomi. The loo? Yes, of course." She places the file into a cabinet and walks out of a side door that closes with a mechanical click. She reaches a hand out to me, "I'm Josie, by the way."

I shake it and nod, "Naomi."

We walk down the main corridor and it is only then that I notice all of the portraits hanging along the walls.

"Those are the Delfinos, the original owners of the estate," Josie says as she notices my gait slow down while I look at the passing portraits.

I come to a stop looking at one of the old photographs where several men are dressed in top hats and tails and a couple women are done up with massive, heavy looking dresses posed outside of the hospital.

"Oh, how lovely those dresses are! It makes you just want to dance..." Josie says dreamily.

I look at her, then back at the portrait. "They look like a bunch of tossers to me." I deadpan and continue walking down the hallway.

Josie catches up to me and motions with her hand, "Just down here," and we make a turn off from the main corridor.

"I would have thought the washrooms would have been closer?" I ask.

"Oh. Well, they are. It's just I don't much like the ones by the CR... gives me the heebie-jeebies they do," she shudders. She catches herself then and adds cheerfully, "Besides, these are cleaner!" She stops in front of a closed door and retrieves a key card from her pocket before taping it against the card pad on the wall. The door unlocks with a click and she turns the handle and motions into the room, stepping inside as the door closes behind her.

There are three stalls... all without doors. I look at them with annoyance and select the furthest one from where Josie is currently stood. I attend to my business, flush the toilet, and move promptly to the water basin to wash my hands.

"How are you liking your stay so far Naomi?"

I rub soap into my hands and scrub. "Am I meant to like it?"

She smiles at me through my reflection in the mirror. "Well, you seem to be getting along with Effy... and she certainly doesn't take to people, especially right away."

"She's alright, I guess," I move to dry my hands on the towel, "Has she been here long?"

"Oh, yes, quite a while I suppose. 'Course not nearly as long as Pandora, poor dear, but at least for as long as I've been here. She's a good girl, Effy, doesn't always act it, but she is,"she continues, "She's been really good lately, no fits or anything..." she stops suddenly.

I throw the used towel in the bin and turn around to her, "You were saying?" I urge her to continue, my curiosity finally being satisfied.

"That's just it – I shouldn't have said any of that. So stupid, Josie," she scolds herself.

"No worries Josie, I won't say anything."

She smiles then, "Good, thank you. I need this job and I rather like it too. Well, I reckon we should head back, yeah?"

I nod and follow her out the door. We only take a few steps before Ramona rounds the corner, "Naomi, there you are... you're late! You're meant to meet with the doctor now," she says sternly in a way that is chastising to both Josie and me.

Josie, smiles sheepishly, "I'll take her there now, Miss," she says as she grabs my hand and starts walking me towards the west end of the estate. "Apologies!" she adds as an afterthought.

I am led to a part of the building I haven't yet encountered. Several doors line the corridor and a huge library stands at the end of it. We stop at a door closest to the library and I am led inside. There's a small sitting room serving as a waiting room only without the cheesy pamphlets and boring magazines.

"You can wait for the Doc here," she points to a leather bench, "He should be along soon."

I sit down and look back up at her, "Was there something else Josie?"

"Huh? Oh, no." she says as she makes her way back to the door, "Just, good luck, yeah?"

"Um... thanks?" With that, the strange nurse leaves.

I am sitting in the empty room for several minutes. Out of habit I look to my wrist to check the time, but of course, it was confiscated this morning. I sigh in frustration. As a general rule, I hate waiting, but I completely detest waiting without having fags. I rub my temples, closing my eyes, thinking of the feeling of my lungs expanding with that delicious blend of nicotine and other toxins.

"Pardon? Do you mind, if I...? a petite redhead asks somewhat shyly motioning to the bench.

I shake my head, "Uh, sure," and slide over.

She smiles adding a thank you as she sits. She rifles through a canvas bag with big block letters saying "I like big books and I cannot lie." I can't help but chuckle at that. She looks up at me as she pulls a book out of the bag with a questioning look.

"I like your carryall."

"Oh, thanks!" she says brightly. Wow, her smile is... yeah.

A door is opened from the adjacent wall and a tall man appears.

"Hello, hello. Naomi, yes?" he says as he approaches me. It takes me all of two seconds to decide that I loathe this man. I loathe his arrogant posture, I loathe his deceptive smile and even his sweater. Actually, I quite like the sweater, but I digress...

"Were you expecting someone else?" I answer with annoyance.

The doctor pauses slightly before he responds, "No, in fact you're exactly who I was expecting."

He then notices the girl sat quietly next to me. "Katie? What are you doing here?" he glances at his watch and then back at the girl.

"You said you wanted to see me before I was allowed visitation today?"

"Ahh, yes, quite right," he says as if remembering a previous conversation. "I wonder if you wouldn't mind terribly, if I see to Naomi first, her being a new patient and all," he asks.

"That's fine, I have a book to entertain me," she replies good-naturedly.

He smiles at both of us, "Sorted. Will you come with me Naomi?"

I suppose there's no use prolonging the inevitable. I reluctantly stand and begin to follow him before we both stop and turn around as the redhead asks a question.

"I—I just want to know, before you go in, that is... I will be allowed visitation today, yeah? I mean, if I'm on restriction, I want to know before you go to session," she finishes somewhat lamely.

The doctor looks at her with consideration, "Naomi, why don't you head on in. Please take a seat wherever you find most comfortable."

I walk into the room, which now I can see is somewhat of an annex off the large library. I look about the room and the many seating choices it offers before settling on a cushy, leather chair adjacent to an identical chair, next to a large desk, that obviously belongs to the doctor. I listen carefully to the conversation occurring outside the still open door.

"Katie, while I appreciate you allowing Naomi to have her session ahead of you – it does show progress – I am disappointed that you've once again turned this into being about you. You are taking time from Naomi. That's unfair. We've spoken about this."

"I'm sorry, really, I am... I just want to know if I'll have visitation today?" she asks hopefully.

There's a pause before the doctor speaks again, "I will allow it, yes. You've attended every Group session this week and I intend to keep my end of our agreement."

I hear a quiet squeal "Thank you!"

"But," he continues, "what I had intended to discuss with you later wasn't regarding today's visitation. Actually, it involves next week's. You see, I've arranged to have a special session next week... one that will coincide with your visitation. We are going to include your Mum, Dad... and Emily."

Another pause followed by a quiet "oh."

"I'd like to hear your thoughts and feelings about that. But right now, I have another patient, and I imagine you'd like to see if you have any visitors waiting in the lounge?"

"Yes, thank you. Sorry again about being a selfish cow."

I hear the exterior door close and look at the interior office door which is now being occupied by the doctor. "Alright, Naomi, I believe proper introductions are in order." He makes his way to me and sits down on the chair adjacent me and smiles with an extended hand, "I'm Dr. Foster."

A/N:

So there we have it. I'm sure Dr. Foster - everyone's favorite PSYCHO-atrist - in this fic isn't at all surprising, but there is just far too much fun to be had with his character to leave him out.

This chapter will be followed by Admitted Part Two, also in Naomi's POV which will include her first session with Foster AND Group Therapy.

A monumental thanks must go to VioletW who I begged to write this fic for me and was promptly ordered to stop my bitching and start writing. She's mean like that. Speaking of being mean, you all need to read her newest fic The Strange Case Of Emily Campbell And Katie Fitch which is crazy in the best way possible and features Keffy like you've NEVER seen. Seriously.

xx, tinderbliss