Otis again went in to see the frightened little boy.
"Hey, buddy! I brought some stuff for you yesterday, but I forgot them in Adi's office- What's wrong?"
He sat, shaking and crying, his face red and hot from tears. He sniffed, trying to calm himself down when Otis came in.
"S-sorry, m...mister..." He sobbed, bottom lip quivering.
"What's wrong, buddy? What happened?" Otis asked, sitting down in front of him.
"M...My heart r...really hurts today..."
"Oh...Well, that happens sometimes...That's okay."
"I...I hate this..." He sobbed hysterically. "I hate being different from the normal kids! I just want someone to love me! I just want...hugs and kisses and...and...To not be hit or...or..." He glanced at Otis. "L...Like our Daddy's did..."
Otis sighed. "That's...That's called rape, buddy. And listen...I know exactly how you feel. Believe me. Exactly how you feel." Otis reached out and gently stroked his back. He flinched, staring up at him with wide, frightened eyes. "Shhhhh..."
"How...How long was it until you felt love, mister...?"
Otis sighed. "Uhh...I came to my family when I was...23? I think? But...I met Adi when I was 32."
"How old are you now?"
Otis chuckled. "36."
"Maybe...Maybe since I got away when I was younger than you, maybe I won't have to wait so long..."
"Well, little guy...I...Wasn't that smart, either. I wandered on my own for years. I didn't open up to anyone until I almost died. And then I had to because I had no choice...But I...I learned that not everyone is going to hurt you. And not everyone wants something from you for helping you."
He sniffed, wiping his eyes. "I'm sorry I was crying mister..."
Otis laughed. "Don't worry about it. It's okay to do that. I did yesterday, remember?"
"Yeah, but..."
"No buts. It's okay."
"Can...Can you hold me again mister...?"
"Sure thing, bud." Otis gently picked up the boy and held him close.
"Your...these things..." He gently pulled at Otis's side burns. "Tickle a lot!"
"Sorry kiddo."
"It's okay. I think They're cool. They're different."
Otis snorted, stroking his back gently.
"My body also hurts a lot today..."
"Mm...It'll do that. You'll get better though. My girl is a great doctor."
"She's the best! She's so super nice."
"She is."
"She always comes in the morning with a smile on her face and I know I'm gonna be okay because she's here. And she helps me eat my breakfast."
"Didn't she come in this morning?"
"Yeah, but..."
"But what?"
"I had a nightmare last night and...And I was really scared...a-and...And I wet the bed and a nurse had to come change it...I...I was so embarrassed...Dr. Adi kept saying it was okay...But once she left I didn't feel so okay anymore again..."
"Ohh, buddy..."
Tears began to fall down his face again. "I was so embarrassed..."
"I bet...It's okay. Things like that happen. Kids do that stuff all the time. It's no big deal."
"It...It was a nightmare about my parents..."
Otis sighed. "Yeah, I still get those too..."
"So...they'll never stop?"
"They might. Adi has really, really helped me. I still have them, but they're not as bad and not as often."
He nodded. "Okay...Can...Can you just hold me a little while?"
"Yeah. Go ahead. get comfortable." He waited until the boy had finished fidgeting and then rested his arm on his back.
After a while, he dozed off in Otis's arms, the fist clinging to his shirt slowly releasing the fabric.
Otis smiled softly. He would be willing to bet after he had had his little accident, he was too upset to go to sleep, and had exhausted himself crying. He felt a familiar hand stroking his hair and leaned into her touch.
"Hey, mama." He whispered.
"Is he asleep?" Adi asked.
"Mm-hm. Been for a little while now. He's been a little fussy today...Didn't have a very good night last night."
"No...I know...He was so upset..." She sighed, shaking her head. "I brought us lunch."
Otis eyed her suspiciously. He had been having problems lately, and didn't want to face them. "Can't eat. My hands are occupied."
"I got you soup. I can feed you."
"No."
"Otis..."
"I'll eat later."
"Okay..." She relented. She did have to marvel, though, at the site of Otis holding a child. He could be so tender and sweet when he wanted to be. That tenderness was usually only directed at her- but he was blessing this little boy with it, too. "Uhm...Here's his...his bear you brought him..." She said, placing it on his chest gently.
"Thanks. He'll be tickled when he wakes up."
"Otis. I heard you this morning."
"Heard me what?"
"Puking."
"I'm fine..."
"I'm sure you are." She deadpanned.
"I've been through this again and again, Adi. I'll be fine..."
The little boy began to stir in Otis's arms, whimpering and fidgeting.
"Shhhh..." Otis murmured.
His eyes flew open and he jerked away form Otis to look him in the face, trembling.
"Hey...It's just me. It's just me."
He sighed in relief, glancing at Adi. "H...Hi Dr. Adi."
"Hi, sweetie." She smiled. "Have you been taking good care of my man?" She asked.
"I think so..." He murmured.
"How about we color some, huh?" Otis stirred, sitting the boy back on his bed.
"What?" He cocked his head.
"color. I brought you some coloring books and some crayons. Even some white paper if you just want to draw. Pencils, too."
"Mister...Why'd you do all this for me? That's...that's so nice!" He asked, tears running down his face.
Otis chuckled and wiped his tears away. "Because I can. And I wanted to. No one did it for me when I was a kid, and I wanted to show you what it's like to be a normal little boy. Okay? So come on. Relax and enjoy it with me, yeah?"
He nodded.
"I'm on my lunch break. Mind if I join you boys?"
"Oh, please Dr. Adi! Please please please?"
She giggled. "Of course. Give me some paper, Otis!"
Adi and Otis sketched while the little boy colored happily in his book. He had been beyond excited when Otis pulled out the supplies.
"What're you drawin', mama?" Otis asked. It wasn't often that she had time to draw, but Adi's skills rivaled Otis's.
"You." She answered simply.
"What? Really?"
"Yeah." She showed him her paper, now filled with a portrait of him smiling softly.
"That's not me. That guys too good looking for it to be me."
"That's what you look like, baby." She stated simply. "What're you drawing?"
"You." He smirked.
"What color are these, Mister?" The little boy asked Otis, pointing to a cat.
"Whatever color you want them to be." Otis shrugged.
"Can kitties look like you do?"
"Huh? Whaddya mean?"
"All white with red eyes like that."
"Yeah, why?"
"Because it'll be my mister Otis kitty! So when you're not here at least I can still have that to remind me of you!"
Otis sighed, shaking his head and smiling.