Dr. Rollins gives Roman the option to leave the asylum with no penalties and an insanely early retirement, to transfer, or to remain there as an orderly for the night owls. Roman chooses to remain there, investing himself fully into the task of helping those patients see progress and success.

Over the following several months so many things change. His ex-wife moves close enough so that his daughter is only one a quick plane or train ride away. He visits them both more often and finds everyone is better off for it.

He decides to move closer to work, buying an old cottage that has a lot of things that need fixing, but he finds he's got a knack for fixing things across the board. There's a small farmhouse that's there on the property, too, and he starts to raise chickens to sell eggs at a local farmer's market. It's more for the hobby of it than income, plus the baby chicks are pretty damn cute.

Jack and Bo actually see enough progress in the next six months that the former returns home to his family and the latter gets transferred to a mental health housing apartment building to work on people skills and to get a job at a local library to integrate back into society. Roman actually gets invited to a 4th of July cookout at the Swagger household and obliges, bringing his little girl along who seems to get along well with Jack's own sons. And no fireworks, of course, but small sparklers seem to do just fine.

Tyler seems to get along famously with a new admitted patient named John, but who has an unhealthy obsession with dance to the point where he insists on being called Fandango. What isn't unhealthy is their friendship, which seems to help both men in growing. Kevin sees progress, too, and even seems to rekindle with an old friend named Sami who comes to visit him every so often.

Seth and Roman's relationship blurs past the point of boss and employee, a friendship blossoming there as they bond over good beer, sports, and a love for fitness. Although Roman doesn't think he can do CrossFit on a normal basis, he entertains the doctor at least once a week for a training session. He knows they've become true bros when he asks Roman to be his best man at his wedding to one Randy Orton, a southern guy that turns the normally well composed professional into absolute putty.

About a year into living at his little cottage in the middle of nowhere, Roman is greeted by a man and a woman claiming to be members of the state government's health branch. They give him a rundown of the fact they're planning on opening a group home several miles away from here, but must get approval from all homeowner within a certain mile radius. Roman signs the approval paperwork without a second thought because hell, anyone living in one of those is just someone trying to recover from some struggle, from some setback, and it's just in Roman's line of work to want to support them in any way possible.

After he signs the petition he finds himself flipping back at the Polynesian coloring book Seth had handed to him after Dean was transferred out. He usually keeps it sealed up in a Ziploc bag in box full of other memories of his true love, but he can't help but feel a sense of serenity and sorrowful passion as he flicks through the colored images. The end cover of the book has the beginnings sketch that resembles the top of Roman's tattoo and a small note from Dean: "To the love I needed so much that helped me when I had so little. If only we had met sooner or in another life, I would be yours forever."

Two years after Roman's moved into his cottage, he makes the small drive to the farmer's market like he does every Saturday morning in the warmer months, several cartoons of eggs in hand as he sets up his little table and chair for passersby to get some of the biggest goddamn eggs in the entire state. He's quite proud of this accomplishment, his doting of his hens having paid off in the oval-shaped spoils.

Bayley, a sweet young woman who sells baked goods and home-grown flowers has just arrived in her small van to set up her own table opposite of Roman. She has a partnership with the group home they opened about four months ago, letting some of the adults there work on her land as a way to get back into society and the working world.

Roman waves to her in kind, before trying to put his sign up for his eggs as he always does. His back is turned to Bayley, struggling to keep the sign up as he hears her give directions to whichever group home member she's brought with her today. "C'mon lazybones, hurry up and get those tables over here!"

"'m going as fast as I-" The loud clattering of plastic against the asphalt echoes as the resident of the group home drops the tables, voice stopping abruptly.

That voice. There's just no fucking way.

The orderly drops the sign, swiveling around on his feet and nearly knocking over his table and gently placed eggs as he takes in the sight of man before him. Dean. Oh, God, it's Dean. His hair is longer, coming down slightly to frame his face and cover more of his forehead, soft and an even lighter shade of auburn to where it's almost blonde-orange. That, and the slight tan against his soft flesh indicates he's been working outside and been exposed to more sunlight than ever. He looks younger, healthier and vibrant with barely any bags under his eyes and soft smile lines beginning to form to accompany those glorious dimples. More muscle definition, his waist still slight and sexy, but his arms are thick and his shoulders wider and more defined, muscle stretching out the simple black tank top he has on. There's an apron around his neck, too, and Roman can see the top of Mitch's fuzzy little head peeking out.

He's absolutely breathtaking in every sense of the word and Roman fights the urge to pinch himself, to see if this is some goddamn dream his lonely heart has conjured up, the perfect image of his love happy and healthy and everything he deserves to be. "D-Dean?" He can hardly speak and finds his breath really is gone as the younger male is in his arms in a matter of seconds, strong legs wrapped around his midsection as he latches tight.

"Ro, oh fuck, baby…" Dean sobs out, powerful thighs squeezing around him as he grasps at Roman's face and hair, running his fingers through it as Roman effortlessly holds him up, finally getting his footing. He smells strongly of coconuts, the scent rich and heady and bringing back so many passionate and painful memories that both men begin to cry, laugh, and finally resolve to kiss one another. It's sultry and wet, indecent even, and Roman hungrily claims Dean's mouth for his own, both pairs of lips becoming spit slick and swollen, tongues dancing in a dangerous tango. "…missed ya so much, fuck…never stopped lovin' you…never stopped dreamin' about you…" Dean is practically grinding against him and Roman doesn't hesitate to push back, the several years of abstinence and craving but one another rapidly toppling down.

"Me too, baby. Love you so goddamn much. Oh…" Roman is breathless, sliding his eyes shut slowly as Dean does the same, gently bumping their heads together. It's an intimate moment, accompanied by Dean's ever so faint humming of 'Hush, Little Baby' as Roman tries his hardest to get his heavy breathing and heart rate under control.

The moment is only shattered when they hear a feminine voice clearing her throat, grabbing both men's attention as their heads swivel to stare over at Bayley who is grinning ear to ear. "Wow. So, I take it you two know each other pretty well, huh?"


Author's note: And thus concludes our story of an orderly and his patient. Well...at least for now. ;)

As always, feedback is greatly appreciated. If you have any ideas, prompts, or requests feel free to private message me. I cannot say for certain I will fill it, but I will keep suggestions in mind for future projects.

I hope you all enjoyed this tale!