Robbie is scared. Really scared. He hopes that if Rick has another one of these visions that he will be able to come back to him and not end up a vegetable. He would be lost on how to get him back with them. His children have been reading medical books, but he fears that what they're reading will be of little help if this happens again.
"Papa, when Rick was diagnosed at his first visit, what did they find?" Vanessa asks.
"Child, keep your voice quiet. Rick is asleep in the other room. I was not able to see what the doctors diagnosed him with way back then. All those records are in paper format and stored in a wing in Bellevue that I could not access. I can tell you that within the last ten years he had never been back to see any doctor or specialist, they just left him strapped to his bed in his room. Those records are on the computer."
"Papa, he's not a danger to us, is he?"
"Vanessa, he's not. While he does not wish to speak, he is as gentle as a lamb. He has a big heart, one that I'm sure he will share with you."
Rick is lying in the bed in the spare bedroom. He hears everything even though he should be getting some rest. He thinks to himself, "I'll never hurt you, Vanessa."
Rick was able to nod off right after his mind cleared a little. The next thing he felt was Robbie tugging on his shirt.
"Rick, get up. It's time to eat."
Rick slowly gets out of the bed, walks to the bathroom and splashes water on his face to try to clear the sleep from his eyes. He dries off and heads out to the dinner table.
"Rick, Jude and I were looking into some medical books and we were wondering what your initial diagnoses was." Vanessa asks.
Rick quickly grabs his pen and pad and writes furiously. Soon he gives the pad to her and she reads his notes.
"You were diagnosed with schizophrenia and I can't read the rest of it." Vanessa tells him.
So Rick writes it in block letter BI-POLAR.
"Oh, I'm sorry Rick." Vanessa apologizes and Rick just nods and smiles.
"Well, we found nothing from your records that would keep you there for so long. It's like they were holding you against your will." Rick just nods again, knowing that's the truth.
"Wait, you mean you knew that they were holding you against your wishes?" Robbie asks.
Rick just writes again in the pad. "I was young. What did I know? My mother visited me at least once a month, but after about three years she stopped coming. I was hoping that she would visit for my birthdays, but she never made it."
Robbie sits there and thinks about how cruel Rick was treated. And then he tells him
"Rick, you will always have a family here."
Rick smiles widely. Dinner is almost done and Rick decides to help out. He clears the dinner dishes and as he starts to run the water to wash them Robbie tells him that he is a guest in his home and his children will clean the dishes. Rick will hear none of it and waves Robbie off with his hand getting him wet with the gesture. Dishes done, Rick returns to the living room where Robbie and his children are watching a new TV show that had premiered about two years prior. He sits down on the couch and watches intently. It's a cop drama and it's the last episode of the season. It holds your attention and it's well written. The actors, though, are probably being paid an insane amount of money to star in this show. The hour goes on and he sees a pattern within this episode develop. There is a mystery writer who is following around the lead female detective. Rick thinks that he has feelings for her. Then the lead detective's boss was killed protecting her in an airplane hangar. The show breaks for a commercial and he thinks about the scene he just watched. In his mind he sees a link between the lead detective in the show and Kate Beckett. He sees the last commercial end and the next scene in front of him has his whole body trembling. Then he sees her bosses casket being delivered to the plot. He watches with an energy he has never felt before. Then the scene hits him, this is his vision. The playing drums, the riderless horse, followed by the hearse. She is at the podium and giving her eulogy. He sees the actor playing the writer notice the snipers weapon catch the sunshine and reflect brightly.
Then it starts to happen again. As he sees the writer react too late to save her from being hit by the bullet. However, this vision seems different. Robbie and his children are watching the last scene unfold with the show and they are so captivated by the writer's admission of love to the now wounded detective, they never see Rick's eyes roll to the back of his skull. As his vision fades and he enters a black area in his mind, he's in the cemetery standing right where the actor in the show was. He sees the same glint off the rifle. He jumps to stop her from being hit by the bullet and he succeeds. He is on top of her and she can tell that he is crushing her. He's apologetic towards her, but he is motionless. Just before he passes out he sees a signpost marking the row of headstones. On it the marker has a name. Shilo Drive he sees as he pulled off her passing out.
Robbie, looks at the screen as it fades and the credits roll. He looks over to Rick who has been still for the last couple of minutes. What he sees is Rick shaking uncontrollably. He is at his side in a second. He raises one of his eyelids and he knows what is happening is not good. It has been hours since his latest vision has happened. Robbie is getting worried. He's worried because the last vision Rick had was short in duration, about 6 hours before he came back to them. Now he was more than 24 hours into this one. With the help of his children they moved him to the spare room's bed. He's burning up. Not a fever, but his body feels like it's on fire. Robbie has cold compresses on Rick's head trying to keep him cool.
Xx
Rick has been in his vision for a while. He heard a voice calling him after he passed out in the cemetery. This was new to the vision, not continuing the last vision of her being targeted. Where he was now, was pitch black. There was no light anywhere. He relied on hearing to locate the voice which was somewhere to his right. He tried to listen to better orientate the voice, but was unsuccessful.
The voice once again made its presence known.
"Richard, you need to make sure she survives this."
"Who are you?" Rick asks.
"Who I am is of no concern right now. Let's just say that her continued existence will benefit the both of us greatly."
"Her welfare and comfort have always been my life's goal." Rick told the voice.
"I know this to be true." The voice responds.
"Show yourself!""
"All in due time, Richard. Patience."
"Why am I having these visions?"
Richard, the two of you were destined to save each other. While you will save her from physical harm, she will be able to set your soul free. Richard you are very troubled. She will show you the way to redemption."
"Will I hear you again?"
"Richard, we will meet only once more. Until that time, you need to understand one thing. She is all alone and will make imprudent choices. Ones, that could be deadly for the both of you."
A fog takes over his mind and it's all black again. He feels his head lightening. He hears Vanessa snoring lightly beside him. He risks opening his eyes and as they flutter open he sees Robbie asleep in the chair at the foot of the bed. He raises his hand to touch Vanessa, as he grazes her arm her eyes meet his, and she smiles contagiously. She just stares at him, then without any forewarning pulls him into a loving hug. Stepping back, she tells him;
Rick, we were so worried. You've been in your vision since Monday. What did you see?"
Robbie wakes to Vanessa talking quietly to Rick. All he can do is get up and wait until he writes his answer.
"I heard a voice. One that held compassion and wisdom. She told me that we were meant to save each other."
"Was that all?" Robbie asks.
"No, she told me that I'd see her one more time."
Robbie rubbed the five o'clock shadow on his face, deep in thought.
"Papa, what is it?" Vanessa asked.
"Vanessa, I think that Rick has found guidance from beyond this realm. I'm not too sure if this will end well." Robbie whispers the last part in his daughter's ear. She looks at her father and she sees the fear in his eyes.