Clare
I sat in Dr. Hunter's office once again. It seems like every time I turn around I have to meet with her. The week just flies by and suddenly I'm right back in this chair with her looking at me and listening to my words trying to unlock the "treasure chest" to what will fix me. I guess its working.
"It's perfectly natural to not feel any remorse for Johnny. Let's talk about what happened to you the other night."
"What do you mean?"
"Clare you're all beaten up. Something happened."
"Oh I was… my boss tried to rape me."
"That's terrible. Did you tell the police? What stopped him?"
"Eli saved me."
"Eli?"
"Yes… he beat up the guy and took me to the hospital now I'm staying at his family's vacation place."
"Are you happy there?"
"I… it's a nice place. It's very clean and any television channel I could think of I can watch. It's warm and the maid is friendly."
"Yes, but are you happy?"
"I'm not happy anywhere Dr. Hunter… I'm always having compulsive thoughts."
"Clare remember what we talked about…"
"Yes I know. They were dirty but I'm not."
"Remember that Clare… I will meet with you the same time next week of course."
"Okay."
I went out into the lobby and I sat there waiting for Eli to take me back to his family's place. Today I didn't care if I dirtied up the chair. My body is tired…so tired and I can't stand to stand for long. I'm just so damn tired.
Eli
"Eli you have gotten really close with Clare haven't you?"
"I suppose so."
"You are infatuated with her?"
"That's personal Dr. Hunter."
"Because you two are growing so close, you are not to read her files or my notes on her anymore. You'll have to study another case."
"Yes Dr. Hunter."
"Now take Clare home and hurry back. We have Kenny today."
"I thought Kenny wasn't until tomorrow."
"I'm afraid not dearest."
"I just bought this shirt."
I went out into the lobby where Clare was sitting. I've never seen her so relaxed in a chair before. She was sitting all the way back and slouching. She was staring at the light as if she was in a trance. I called her name and she moved her eyes towards me slowly.
"Eli, are we ready?"
"Yes… Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Just a little tired."
We went out to the parking garage. She was walking slowly. I think something is the matter with her. She got into the truck and again she was unusually relaxed. She leaned her head against the window. Yes, something is definitely wrong with her.
"Clare what's the matter?"
"I'm tired and my head hurts! I've been sick all morning!"
"Should you go to the doctor?"
"No, really… I will be fine."
"I think I know what's wrong."
"Tell me Dr. Eli."
"I think you are having withdrawals."
"I don't even want any Oxy."
"No, from the alcohol."
"A drink would be nice."
"Your body is going through withdrawals."
"Well that's nice for my body…"
"You'll be fine. When was the last time you had a drink?"
"That night I got put into the hospital."
"You're about halfway through…soon you will be okay."
"I hope you're right…"
"So I was thinking… dinner tonight?"
"Eli you ask me to dinner every night."
"Because I'm hungry every night… Please?"
"Sure Eli, dinner… I mean since you are my landlord and all."
"That's right so dinner is your rent."
"Well… I have been eating more."
"Great."
I dropped her off and I hated to see her leave even though I know I will see her later on tonight. Clare is really starting to grow on me. Seeing her going through withdrawals is hard but at least it's from alcohol and not heroine. I got back to the office and Kenny was in the lobby, wearing a lime green bath robe, bunny slippers and an adult sized Curious George onesie. He looked mean and unstable… He looked like he was ready to rip the pocket off of my shirt like he's been doing in his last few sessions. He doesn't like me being in the room with him and Dr. Hunter but I have to because sometimes he gets a little violent.
I went into Dr. Hunter's office. She was looking at her notes and files. I informed her that Kenny was outside and waiting. She told me to send him in, so I did. Kenny walked into the office quickly, stumbling over his own feet every now and then. Kenny should really be in the mental hospital.
"Hi there Dr. Hunter."
"Hi Kenny… How are you today?"
"I'm good real bad Doc, I lost my girl."
"Kenny I wasn't aware you were in a relationship."
"Yeah doc… She plays hard to get though. She works at the peepshows in live nude girls… Her stage name was Porcelain doll… Man she had eyes blue like the Jamaican oceans and she was a blonde…sometimes a redhead when the light was right…but she's gone!"
"What happened to her?"
"I don't know! She was just gone and some filthy brunette was taking her place! I wanted to kill her! Just like I did my mother!"
"Kenny, please calm down."
"She was a nasty brunette replacing my porcelain doll!"
"Kenny why was this other girl so important."
"Why are any girls important to any guys? It was love at first sight! It's like she could see right through me and when I pleasured myself to her dancing behind that glass it was like we were making love. I wanted to marry her and give her a million babies and now she's gone."
"Kenny, the key now is to try and move on."
I tuned the rest of his words out. I looked at Dr. Hunter and she subtly looked at me. I've been telling her that Kenny needs to be locked away. Every time he comes in his behavior is a bit more erratic. However, hearing about the girl that was obviously Clare made me a tad bit antsy.
I diverted my attention back to what was going on. Kenny's voice was starting to rise and Dr. Hunter was trying to calm him down. It wasn't working. Suddenly his rage was turned from the new peep show dancer and porcelain doll's disappearance to me…
"And this guy standing behind me acting like he's got it all together! I'm sick of him!"
"Kenny! Calm down! Eli is a friend not an enemy!"
"He's giving me that look and I'm going crazy!"
"He's not looking at you Kenny!"
"Yes he is! He's giving me that crazy looking look and I feel like I'm going to snap!"
He came at me with a knife he pulled out of his pajama pocket. I was able to dodge him the first time but the second time he got me, right in the arm. It hurt like hell but I knew I couldn't let him get hold to the knife again. So we managed to fight for it. I yelled for Dr. Hunter to leave the room so that she wouldn't end up injured like me.
Dr. Hunter called security and they were up here briskly. Kenny went surprisingly without a fight to the squad car while one of the officers tried to see about my arm. I felt myself blacking out from the blood loss.
When I woke up my mother and father were by my side. My mom was stroking back my hair and my dad was clicking around on his blackberry.
"Oh baby you are awake."
"Yeah, what's going on?"
"You got stabbed in the arm by some crazy man and you had to get a transfusion."
"Oh… normal day at the office."
"Well now that you are awake they will probably run some tests and let you go."
"Thanks for coming."
"Eli, don't mention it. How's Clare?"
"She seems to be getting better."
"That's good. My sources tell me she's looking for work."
"I haven't heard about that."
"She applied at the Dot."
"Mom you are the nosiest woman known to man."
"Dear I can't help it."
"I know, I know."
"Well… I've put in a good word for her."
"Thanks mom."
"Oh and don't be afraid to bring her around."
"Is that your way of inviting her to dinner?"
"Yes."
"Okay mom."
The doctors ran a few tests to see if I was accepting the blood and then I was sent packing. I walked out into the lobby and there sat Dr. Hunter and her husband… Dr. Hunter. She had flowers in hand and he had an envelope.
"Eli I am so sorry… Kenny will be put away."
"Well good and its okay… Just a scratch."
"Son, thank you for staying to protect my wife. Here's a check."
"Keep it…"
"I insist."
Since he was adamant about me taking the check I did and I took the flowers too. I didn't feel too groggy or bad but my arm did hurt like hell. I had a cab take me to get my car and then I picked up some takeout food. I knocked on Clare's door and she answered cautiously.
"Hi Eli."
"Hi, I'm sorry I'm late."
"It's okay."
"You look pretty."
"Thanks."
"I bought take out."
"Cool."
"I got stabbed."
"You did?"
"Yes… That's why I'm so late."
"Are you…shouldn't you be resting?"
"It was only in the arm. I am resting."
"Well, alright."
I ended up falling asleep on the couch and when I woke up it was around four. There was a blanket draped over me and a pillow under my head though I know I didn't go to sleep with a blanket. Clare must have put it over me. That was nice of her.
Review please? Let me know what you are thinking so far.
