Chapter 1: A Call For Help
There are somethings that people can not understand. Things that, some say, are perhaps unexplainable; Regardless of how many diplomas and recognitions hung on the walls.
A plaque laid in the middle of the desk with the title 'Dr. Samuel Holt' carved into gold, which many would see as a symbol of pride.
But, the man sitting behind said desk, Samuel, for all his qualifications and degrees, found himself literally scratching his head. Light brown eyes looked over the glasses on his face at the opened file of his latest patient.
Keith Kogane. Age, twenty one. Records of conditions he has allegedly been diagnosed with. Prescriptions of countless medications with effects that Samuel would rather not have his patients, or anyone, for that matter, go through.
Samuel flipped the page.
"Insomnia. Hallucinations. Alcohol reliance. Aggressive behavior. Anxiety attacks. Sleep Paralysis. Patient has been diagnosed with paranoia and dissociation. After several weeks on Benzodiazepine (20mg Tabs, 3 Times Daily), patient has noted the following: Dizziness, Confusion, Drowsiness, Blurred Vision, Weakness, Slurred speech (observed), Lack of Coordination (observed) Anxiety, Headaches, Nausea. Patient has shown no improvement." Softly, Sam recited the notes written by his own hand with just skim of the page, things he has long since memorized. But no matter how many times he would look at those reminders, the last note in particular did not sit well with him.
There is something more. A restless itch prompted by what he considered was his intuition, unsatisfied with the conclusions the experience of his career would dictate.
Samuel sighed rubbing his temple then sat straight on his chair. To his right was his desktop displaying the images of old tabloids. The headlines in bold letters over images that covered most of the front page.
MURDER AND SUICIDE IN FAMILY HOUSEHOLD!
CHILD ABUSED BY MENTALLY ILL PARENTS!
'GHOSTS DID IT' CLAIMS CHILD
The picture that always got to Samuel the most was that of a child with dark hair being shielded by authorities, the image captured midwalk. Fear lurking silently from what little could be seen of the small boy's bruised face.
It was heartbreaking to see and much more so when Sam was seeing the consequences first hand. That poor boy had grown into a young man with too many walls because no one has had the capacity to understand. He couldn't blame them though, Sam himself wasn't sure what to make out of this peculiar patient, but he was unwilling to just give up.
But it did not mean that it was any less frustrating. Some may call it instinct or a 'gut feeling' but Samuel was convinced that he alone could not help the young Keith Kogane. Which was why he was still in the office late in the afternoon, sitting behind his large desk eagerly anticipating an important call.
Sam's eyes darted down to his mobile phone, fingers twitching to reach out those few inches to grab it. Sam decided to give it a little while more.
It will ring . The little voice inside his head told him, He must be busy but he'll call back . It didn't hurt to double check that there is any missed calls because the phone was set on vibrate.
A knock on the door startled him out of his deep thoughts. Sam blinked a few times to focus back on reality just in time to see his wife coming in.
"Am I interrupting dear?" She asked as she peeked through the door, most surely noting the slightly startled look on his face.
"Ah, Colleen. No, no it's fine I was just-you scared me a little. 'Was a little deep in thoughts, you know." Samuel offered her a jovial smile throughout his sentence in hopes to dispel the worried look that was wrinkling her face. Samuel didn't miss it when Colleen's brown eyes took a quick glance at the computer screen.
She hummed softly whilst entering the room and walking towards Samuel. He followed her with his gaze as she stood by him and put her hand on his shoulder, rubbing it with her thumb.
"I'm sorry dear, just came here to tell you that dinner's ready. But you're still working on Keith's case I see."
Samuel looked her in the eye for a few seconds, then closed the confidential file and tapped the butt of his pen against his notepad whilst nodding. "I'm reviewing notes for tomorrow's session."
Colleen looked like if she was waiting to see if her husband would add something else as her next question came a long moment after, "Have you heard from Shiro yet?"
Samuel answered through a sigh, "No. Not yet. I've tried a few times but, the boy must be busy. You know how he is."
"Oh, don't I," Colleen smiled fondly at that, returning the gesture as she rubbed Samuel's shoulder. "I'm sure he'll get back to you as soon as he sees your calls." Sam was idly nodding along her words, Colleen raised an eyebrow at him and added, "But in the meantime, I think you should take a small break. It'll be no good, and you might say ironic, for a Doctor to become ill from overwork."
"I know, I know. It's just that, well, you know." Samuel put his hand over hers, his eyes looking up over his glasses.
"Of course. I understand," She leaned down to kiss his forehead, "I'll wait for you on the table."
"Alright. I'll be there in few, okay?"
She nodded and then left.
Samuel stared at the door for some time after Colleen closed it behind her. He wasn't going to make her wait long, but he really wanted to allow a little more time to receive the call he was waiting for. He checked his phone again, and there was still nothing.
"Perhaps I should keep reviewing to kill a little time." Samuel muttered to himself as he flipped through Keith's record again.
Once again, rather than absorbing his observations, thoughts drifted off to concerns regarding Keith.
I wonder if that boy taken his medicine tonight? Should I call to check in on him? I don't want to seem like I'm nagging the boy, for all his troubles he has a clear independent streak ... Perhaps I should text Katie, hopefully she wouldn't mind checking for me …
Catching himself distracted again, Samuel cupped his own chin and caressed his beard as he looked at his phone. Supposing that it wouldn't hurt to make the call he reached out for his device.
And it rang when his hand was hovering mere inches above it. Samuel leaned forward to make sure that he was reading the name displayed on the screen right. Then answered without a second thought once he was sure of who was calling.
"Shiro! How are you my boy? I was hoping you'd call soon!" Samuel responded with enthusiasm, leaning back on his chair and turning towards the glass window.
"Hey Uncle Sam! Sorry I didn't answer before, I was working on a case. Didn't mean to keep you waiting."
Samuel chuckled to himself at the humbly apologetic tone from the young man on the other end. "Ah, don't worry about it. I figured you were busy. It's another case in the bag, I hope?"
A sheepish chuckle preceded the response, "You could say that. It was a pretty … difficult case. Emphasis on the difficultpart."
Sam laughed, "But nothing that Takashi Shirogane couldn't solve, I'm sure."
Shiro chuckled and Sam could clearly picture Shiro scratching the side of his head. A peculiar habit from Shiro that Samuel was familiar with, and that has never left Shiro.
"Yea, well, I can't really leave a case unfinished. It would haunt me in my sleep … sometimes quite literally."
Samuel smiled and nodded, while turning his pen in his fingers. That's just like Shiro, always helping others … Which is why …
"Well, I'm glad that you've managed to once more help someone. I trust that you are well, yes?"
"Oh yea, I'm perfectly fine. Tired, but in one piece."
Samuel was relieved to hear that, however he did not express it because Shiro quickly cut him before the word could leave his mouth.
"But Uncle Sam … I hope I'm not being rude but … there's something bothering you, isn't there? And whatever it is, you're really anxious to tell me."
Samuel's mouth moved but no words came out, surprise shifting to amazement when he looked at his phone then pressed it to his ear. "Wow, you've gotten more sharp."
"I've … picked up a few new things. But we'll leave that for another time."
And Samuel agreed, for the time being he would put aside the subtle hesitation in the answer Shiro offered. "Right. Okay, so, Shiro, I know that you are a busy young man, with the books and your cases, but I was hoping that you would grant me a moment of your time?"
"Of course I would. No matter how full my schedule is, I would always make make space for you guys. You know that."
With a fond smile Samuel told himself that he should have known better than dance around what he wanted to say to Shiro. The family picture he had on his desk, between the pencil holder and the plaque of his name, served as the testament; Colleen and himself at the back of the picture with fond and proud smiles. Younger versions of his son and daughter making funny faces. Beside them, a younger version of Shiro was smiling brightly, yet Samuel knew him enough to know that Shiro had been on the verge of following his children's lead.
"Just wanted to double check, make sure that I'm not interrupting any of your projects."
"It's okay. Just tell me, what can I do for you? The suspense is killing me here!"
Shiro laughed which re-assured Sam even more. Yet he didn't answer immediately since he was considering how to explain despite having an ample record of Keith's torment laying in the middle of his desk.
"I'm not supposed to disclose any information since it's unethical, and would never dream of violating someone's privacy, so all I can tell you right now is that I really need help with a patient of mine."
The other line went into still silence long enough for Samuel to worry that the call got disconnected.
"A patient?" Shiro finally echoed as if testing that he heard Samuel right.
A knowing smile spread across Samuel's face as he knew the deeper context within Shiro's question, "Yes Shiro, a patient."
"Why would you need help with a patient? And from me no less? You're one of the best psychologists in town. You've helped hundreds of people."
"This patient Shiro, he's … He's a peculiar case. Actually reminds me of you."
Samuel could feel it, even in the short silence that followed, he knew he had Shiro's interest. Though Samuel was certain that Shiro was going to come look into the situation regardless of him picking out Shiro's curiosity so directly.
"Huh. Interesting …" Shiro hummed.
"It's beyond my field of expertise. There's only so much I can do for the poor boy." Samuel was disheartened since, as he spoke, he flipped through the record again landing on the page where he had the newspaper clippings. That picture of a much younger Keith, much too frightened for any boy that age.
"What time do you need me there?"
"I'll be in a session with him tomorrow, at," Sam drawled as he searched his agenda for the time, "three o'clock tomorrow. Think you can make it?"
"I'll be there."
"Thank you Shiro."
"No problem Uncle Sam. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes, take care."
They hung up and Sam breathed out a sigh of relief. Samuel was putting all his faith on Shiro, looking once more at the picture on his desk. And he was eager for whatever the next day could bring.
If anyone can understand Keith the most, I'm sure it's Shiro.
Barely had Samuel finished that thought when two quick, sharp knocks on the door took him out of his thoughts like dejavu. He wasn't given the time to react when Colleen peeked through the door with a less than amused look on her face.
"'I'll be there in a few', eh, Mister?" She chided putting a fisted hand on her hip while keeping the other on the door handle.
Samuel offered her a sheepish smile that was going to be accompanied by an apology, along with the news that Shiro called. However, Colleen had none of it, interrupting him just as he had opened his mouth.
"No, no, no. No, 'buts' from you. Diner is getting cold and you better get down to the dining room before I send a picture to your children of how I have to tie you to the chair and feed you like a baby."
Samuel laughed while he stood up rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, alright, I'm coming, I'm coming. Please have mercy on me. I don't think Matt or Katie will ever let me live it down."
Colleen smirked as Samuel approached her and they headed out the door, "That's the idea."
Samuel laughed placing his arm around her shoulders and lead them out.
A/N: Hello and welcome to my first Sheith fic! Thank you so much for stopping by and dedicating me some of your time. As you may have noticed in the tags I will be adding character tags and other tags as the story progresses, rating might change as well. I do it this way because I feel like the tags could be a give away and I'd like to keep some things a surprise. Please let me know your thoughts, I'd be glad to hear them. This work has been greatly inspired by the Netflix series called 'The Haunting of Hill House', which if you haven't seen I definitely recommend that you to check it out!
A huge shoutout to thequalityrunaway whom edited and beta'd this work~~~ Thank you!
And a special thanks to Neo too who helped me in the early stages of development!
You guys rock!