The door opened and Nick looked up, expecting to see his doctors, or maybe his parents had come early to pick him up! His face fell when he saw the police detective who had badgered him the first day. The detective smiled, a little awkwardly, and then said "Hello Nick. I'm Detective Jackson. Do you remember me?" Nick glared at him. Detective Jackson looked startled, but continued, "I hear you are feeling better."
Nick's upbringing kept him polite, although he certainly felt like saying "Well I was until you showed up." Instead, he continued to stare at the cop.
Detective Jackson shifted uncomfortably. The doctors had said Nick was talking. Maybe he was just frightened, he thought. He crossed to room and bringing a chair a little closer to Nick's bed, he sat down, with Nick watching his every move.
"Well Nick, I need to talk to you about what happened to you."
Nick regarded Detective Jackson carefully. Why couldn't everyone just leave him alone? He didn't want to talk to this man. Maybe if he didn't talk, Dr. Z would make the man go away.
"You don't have to be afraid of me Nick. I'm here to help you," Detective Jackson continued.
Yeah right, Nick thought. If you really wanted to help, you'd go away.
"Nick, I need to know who hurt you. It's just you and me in here, so you can tell me. Don't be afraid." Detective Jackson paused, looking for any kind of response from Nick. "Was it someone you know, Nick? Are you afraid they'll get mad if you tell me? Don't worry about that, I understand." Detective Jackson paused again, and mistook a look of anger from Nick. "Is that it? Maybe your mom came home early… came into your room… maybe your dad came home and she had to make up a story… maybe-"
Nick could no longer take it and he snapped. "Shut up!" Nick yelled. "Leave me alone, will you? Leave me alone!" He jumped off the bed and bolted to the door. Dr. Withers caught Nick around the chest as he darted out the door.
"Nick, what's wrong?" Dr. Z asked.
"Make him go away, make him leave me alone!" Nick cried, tears threatening to spill over, yet not quite falling.
"Nick, what happened?" Dr. Withers asked.
At that moment, Detective Jackson came out of the room. As soon as Nick saw him, he ducked out from Dr. Withers grasp, and ran to stand behind him, clutching his white coat and burring his face in his back.
"What did you do to him?" Dr. Withers demanded.
"I was merely trying to find out what happened to him."
"We know what happened to him," Dr. Z hissed.
"Come on Nick," Dr. Withers said, leading Nick back into his room.
"He's a victim, damn you, not a suspect!" Dr. Z yelled at Detective Jackson.
"I know that. And right now he's being very uncooperative. I need to find out who did this to him. It's my job."
"That boy is more important than your job. And as his psychiatrist I forbid you to speak with him again until further notice." Noticing he was about to object she added, "And I have to right to too, because I believe further questioning would be harmful to Nick's well-being. Good day." Dr. Z turned and marched into Nick's room.
By the time Nick's parents arrived twenty minutes later, Dr. Z and Dr. Withers had Nick calmed down. Nick refused to tell them what had gotten him upset or anything about Detective Jackson's questions. Dr. Z suspected this was because Nick was blocking out the whole abuse incident, so any questions regarding it would be irrelevant.
Nick's mother was the first to enter the room. They had been told that Nick was being released, but not that he was talking again. That accounted for her surprise at the greeting she received.
"Mom!" Nick yelled, bouncing on the bed. "Can we go home now?"
"Oh Nick," Laura cried, running across the room to embrace him.
"Aww mom," Nick said, embarrassed by her affection yet glad of it.
"Are you all right Nick?"
"I'm fine. Can we go home?"
"Of course," John said.
"Before you leave, I need to speak with you," Dr. Z said.
"Common dad, let's go home," Nick said, seizing his father's hand and trying to drag him to the door.
"Just a minute Nick," John said. "We need to speak with Dr. Zaleigus for a moment."
Nick knew that if he resisted too much, it would be suspicious. So instead, he flopped back down resignedly on his bed.
Dr. Z took Laura and John out into the hallway.