Disclaimer: ...as you all know, this is a fanfic.
Andrew is a good actor, Daniel will give him that.
Still, his friendly facade is just another poor attempt to distract Daniel from his worries. He has to give Andrew credit for trying. At least...he has someone to talk with aside from his father.
"Hey, buddy. Let's play a game." Andrew sits at the chair beside the bed with his hand covering the soup bowl.
"Try to guess what kind of sou-"
"Andrew." Daniel cuts him off in a tired manner.
"It's...onion soup every Tuesday. Come on, I don't forget...that easily."
"Hehe...well, it's different this time."
"What. You put a frog in there?"
"...very funny."
At least when Andrew is around, the gloomy vibe seems to disappear. For a moment.
The butler hands the bowl to the boy with a smile. The same smile he thinks will not raise any suspicion from Daniel. "You know...the frog isn't such a bad idea. I heard that frogs are considered as special delicacy in some countries."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah. Can you believe that?"
"...well, I'm not going there."
Andrew laughs. He stops when he realizes that the boy isn't laughing. Great, he's being insensitive. Of course, he's not going there. ...he's not going anywhere. "Sorry." he murmurs "That's not funny."
Daniel sips his supper in silence. His eyes trails back to the window, watching the night approaching from the distance. In a few minutes, Andrew would leave the him in this room and he'll be alone in this room again. Loneliness, he never expect to have that before, now becomes his new friend. An unwanted friend.
A brief silence and Andrew decides to speak again.
"Ah, by the way...remember the doctor that came here last week to check on you?"
"Yes."
"I heard that he is coming here tomorrow morning to talk to your father."
...strange. Daniel stares back in mild confusion. Coming here just for a talk? Something doesn't feel right about this. Especially...
"Why can't he talk to my dad...over the phone?"
"I'm not so sure myself." Andrew shrugs. "I'm also surprised like you that he's coming back here so soon."
"It's probably something horrible." the boy sighs in resignation. "...maybe it's bad news..."
"No!" Andrew blurts out...and recomposes himself when he realizes that startles Daniel.
"No. Daniel...please, don't think like that."
"Why else would he...come here?" Daniel rasps. "Don't you find this strange, Andrew?"
He does. He also tries to keep a calm facade while trying to convince the boy that...
"Everything will be alright. Sure, it's an unexpected visit but...we won't know what it is about until he arrives. For now...just don't worry about it. Alright, buddy?"
No reply.
Andrew sighs quietly. This is getting nowhere...he ends up being the one who worries about this situation. Dr. Curien is an emotional wreck, Daniel's health is spiraling down and here he is, a family's butler...and probably a close friend of the two...trying to help and keep everyone from falling apart. ...well, not everyone.
"Andrew?"
That snaps Andrew out from his thoughts.
"Yeah?"
"...thanks for the soup." Daniel hands him the bowl.
"Oh. My pleasure." He gets the bowl and stands up from the chair, preparing to leave the room.
He really doesn't want to leave but he has other tasks to attend to. Daniel rarely has anyone to talk with during the day and Andrew knows that well. What a cruel fate.
"...Andrew, wait." Daniel calls out.
He stops by the door, turning to the boy.
"...can you...ask mom to pass by...my room...whenever she has time?"
A cold chill runs down Andrew's spine. His calm facade threatens to break when he hears the request. Still, with a nod, he answers. "Sure. I'll...let her know."
Slowly and quietly, Andrew leaves the room, ignoring the suspicious glare from Daniel.
The very next day, Daniel wakes up to the muffled sound of someone yelling from the living room downstairs. It takes him a while to recall that today is the day when the doctor comes to talk to his father---
...his father.
Then he realizes that it is his father who is yelling.
Slowly, with his remaining strength, he leaves the bed and walks to the door. Carefully, he opens it---and hears his father in the middle of his fuming tirade. The other doctor...is obviously shaken and probably scared to death, judging from the whimpers.
"I-I'm so sorry...truly sorry, Dr. Curien...but..."
"...came here JUST TO TELL ME THAT!? ...HOW DARE YOU---"
"...w-we did our best, doctor...but the results...he...it's..."
...then Andrew's nervous voice cuts in.
"...doctor...please calm down---"
"...my sincere apologizes, d-doctor...he's not going to---"
"...get out."
"...d-doctor--?"
"GET OUT!!"
...his father screams...follows by a noise of shattered glass...and rushed footsteps head towards the door. Andrew's frightened gasp pretty much tells Daniel how bad the situation is...and quietly, Daniel closes the door...and sinks to the floor, shaking.
"...hands off me! That sonova...and he calls himself a certified doctor! I'm going to---"
"...please calm down...Roy...please...your son...he might hear you..."
"...hh...I..I...oh God..."
...the last one is filled with anguish that Daniel can relate. He sniffles and curls up against the door. It is his first time...ever...to hear his father screams out like that and it is downright frightening. One thing is certain now and Daniel has to accept it whether he likes it or not...
...Andrew was wrong.
Everything isn't alright...
Author's Note: ...I'll admit, this is getting harder to write than I thought. XP
EH! That ain't gonna stop me.