The Good Doctor: Rabbit

by patrickmgaddis

Taking place between "Intangibles" and "Sacrifice". Shaun is determined to show Dr. Glassman he can handle things, but his behavior concerns his co-workers. At the same time, the anniversary of Steve's death hits Shaun really hard. Also, a patient with kidney stones must undergo surgery but refuses unless Shaun performs the procedure. Disclaimer: I do not own "The Good Doctor".

11. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Shaun lied down on his bed looking over at the wall. As he lied down, he suddenly felt someone patting his head.

"I am so proud of you," the voice said.

"Steve?" Shaun asked.

"Yes Shaun," Steve replied. "It's me."

"I miss you," Shaun said.

"I miss you too," Steve said.

"What's Heaven like?" Shaun asked.

"It's beautiful and peaceful," Steve replied.

"Are you taking good care of my bunny?" Shaun asked.

"Yes I am," Steve said. "I'm taking good care of him."

"I'm sorry you had to die," Shaun said.

"It's not your fault," Steve said.

"If I had been able to make friends, you wouldn't have been on the train," Shaun said. "And you wouldn't have fallen down and you'd still be alive."

"It wasn't your fault Shaun," Steve said. "It was my choice to go on top of that train. It was my fault. Not yours."

At that moment, Shaun could no longer feel Steve patting his head.

"Steve?" Shaun asked.

There was no reply.

"Goodbye Steve," Shaun said.

Shaun hugged onto his pillow tightly. He let the tears fall until he couldn't cry anymore. After that, he went back to sleep.

The next morning, Shaun walked into Dr. Glassman's office. Dr. Glassman looked at Shaun and then looked at his watch.

"You're very early today," Dr. Glassman said.

"I was visited by Steve last night," Shaun said.

"Excuse me?" Dr. Glassman asked.

"Steve," Shaun said. "He visited me last night."

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said. "When you say Steve visited you last night…"

"That means he visited me," Shaun said. "He patted my head and told me what Heaven is like. He told me that he's taking care of my rabbit. I told him that I miss him and he said he missed me too and that he is proud of me. He doesn't blame me for his death."

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said. "I've had dreams like that too where someone visits me. You do know that Steve didn't really visit you?"

"It wasn't a dream," Shaun said. "Steve really did visit me."

"You were only having a lucid dream," Dr. Glassman said.

"I was not," Shaun said. "Steve was really there."

"Look Shaun," Dr. Glassman said softly. "I know you want to believe that Steve visited you."

"He really did," Shaun said.

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said.

"He was there!" Shaun shouted. "He was there! I felt him patting my head!"

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said.

"Okay," Shaun said. "Okay."

"Now I have found you a therapist," Dr. Glassman said. "Her name is Melissa."

"What?" Shaun asked.

"She wants to meet with you tomorrow so that she can introduce herself," Dr. Glassman said.

"Oh," Shaun said.

"I'll text you when it's time to meet her," Dr. Glassman said.

"Thank you," Shaun said. "Thank you."

"Look," Dr. Glassman said. "I know you don't want a therapist, buy you'll see I'm doing the right thing."

"Okay," Shaun said. "You know best. Or at least you think you do."

Shaun walked out and Dr. Glassman continued working on paperwork.