Chapter 48
Vaughn walked into the APO offices at 9:43am and headed straight towards Jack's office. As he walked, his head pounded. He hadn't been able to sleep well in weeks and had taken to medicating himself with alcohol. Each morning was a new hangover, but it was the same struggle - coping with Sydney's illness. Vaughn headed into Jack's office now with Sydney on his mind.
"Jack," Vaughn started.
"You're late again," Jack pointed out as he looked up from the file he was reading. His stone cold face showed traces of his annoyance.
"Sorry. Look, I just wanted an update on Sydney. I'm sure you've talked to her doctor recently," Vaughn explained.
"I have," Jack stated plainly.
"And?"
"She thinks Sydney is making progress."
"You don't seem very enthused, Jack."
"Because I've seen Sydney for myself and made my own assessment," Jack explained darkly.
"You saw Sydney? I thought she wasn't seeing visitors," Vaughn replied.
"She agreed to see me."
Vaughn paused for a moment as he wondered about himself. Why didn't she ask to see him?
"Well, was she okay?" Vaughn asked eagerly.
"She was..." Jack stopped as he tried to figure out what to say. He didn't really know how she was exactly. All he knew was that she was angry and bitter. "She is making improvements."
"Is she still seeing things? Is she still violent? I need to know, Jack."
"As far as I know, she isn't."
"Well, I want to see her."
"She doesn't want to see you."
"Did she say that?"
"No, but I know my daughter. I know they almost called security on you when you last visited her." Jack's eyes looked at Vaughn with contempt.
"Jack, that was all a misunderstanding."
"It doesn't matter. I'm not putting her at risk for any more problems by letting you see her," Jack replied.
"Its not up to you! Ask Sydney. She has a right to make that choice for herself," Vaughn said.
"You can try and see her, but you won't get any help from me. And I'm sure the hospital staff isn't going to help you either," Jack stated.
"You don't have the right to keep me from her!"
"I don't care. I will protect Sydney. If you ever hurt her, you know what I will do to you."
"She doesn't need protection from me. She loves me. She needs me in her life."
"That's opinion. Now I have work to do, so if you'll leave now." Jack said in a hard tone, his eyes threatening.
Vaughn shook his head and stormed out of the office. He felt lost for what to do. He needed to see her. She needed him. His head pounded harder as he walked towards his desk in despair.
Nadia walked into APO with Eric. Both their faces were solemn and exhausted.
"Are you sure you want to be here? You could have called in sick," Eric said to Nadia.
"There was no reason to," she replied.
"You're exhausted. You hardly slept last night and when you did, you had nightmares."
Nadia sighed at the reminder of her very long night. But as tired as she was, she couldn't stand staying at home. It only gave her more chances to think about everything, to think about that phone call from Sydney yesterday.
"I'll be fine, Eric," Nadia said as she gave him a light smile. Eric put his arm around her and led her towards their desks.
"Nadia," Vaughn called out from across the room.
Nadia immediately felt grim as Vaughn approached her. She knew exactly what he wanted.
"What do you need, Vaughn?" Nadia asked politely despite her annoyance.
"I need to talk to you about Syd."
"Stop! I'm not having this conversation," Nadia replied stubbornly.
"Just listen to what I have to say, please," Vaughn asked. Nadia just stared at him.
"Vaughn, this isn't a good time," Eric warned, giving him a dismissive look. It was something he had rarely done before all of this mess had happened.
"Weiss, Sydney is your friend too, or have you forgotten that now that she is mentally ill?"
"You know I haven't forgotten her as a friend, but what she did to Nadia wasn't okay. Nadia is my priority."
"And Sydney is mind! Right now, Nadia is the only chance she has at getting better."
"She has doctors and medication and Jack. She doesn't need Nadia," Eric replied.
Vaughn looked straight into Nadia's eyes. "She needs you," Vaughn said. Nadia didn't say anything. Instead, she looked away from him. "Look, she wants to apologize to you. If you see her, it will make her happy and that will make her more open to treatment and to people trying to help her."
"I'm sorry, Vaughn. I do care about Sydney, but Nadia isn't ready to see her yet," Eric said stubbornly.
"Nadia?" Vaughn prodded.
Nadia looked into Vaughn's eyes for a moment and then looked to the ground. She didn't know what to do. After a moment, Nadia suddenly felt angry. Sydney had done so much to her. None of this was fair. She wanted to love her sister again, but there was just too much anger. She looked up at Vaughn.
"No," Nadia said and turned around, walking away.
Sydney sat in the TV room staring at the screen. Some of the other patients were watching a soap opera. Sydney has no interest in it. Her eyes glazed over as she stared forward. Her thoughts had drifted to Nadia. She was trying to think of a plan to get a message to her. There were things she needed Nadia to know.
Getting tired of hearing the TV, Sydney got up and wandered down the hall. She realized as she passed Meaghan's room that she hadn't seen her all day, not even at breakfast. Looking in, she noticed Meaghan wasn't there.
After sweeping the ward, Sydney felt a concern over her friend. She headed towards the nurses' station.
"Where's Meaghan?" Sydney asked the nurses.
"Seclusion," they answered.
"What? Why?" Sydney asked confused.
"We really can't discuss that with you." Sydney sighed. She knew they'd never tell her because of patient confidentiality.
Sydney walked down the hall towards the lounge and sat down, looking out the window.
"Bored?" an older female patient named Annie asked her.
"I'm thinking about Meaghan. She's in seclusion."
"Its because she was cutting herself. I don't know what she used, mind you," Annie explained.
"Oh," Sydney replied as her heart ached for Meaghan.
"When the nurse tried to stop her, she threatened to slit her wrists so they put her in seclusion. Not the first time that girl has tried that. She's a very messed up little girl," the woman said.
"She's also my friend," Sydney pointed out.
"Yes, but don't think you can fix her. I've seen her type before. Those depressed ones, they are always on the verge of taking their lives. Its sad really."
"Meaghan's not like that."
"You think that all you want, but she's got a darkness inside. I wouldn't be surprised if she oft herself tomorrow."
"Shut up! You don't know anything," Sydney yelled.
"Is there a problem here?" a nurse asked, appearing out of no where.
"No," Sydney said as she glared at Annie.
"Then why don't you two go somewhere else... separately," the nurse warned.
"Fine." Sydney sighed and went back to her room.
She was worried about Meaghan. She was worried about Nadia. And she didn't know what to do. She was lost.
