A/N: I hope there's still some interest in this story... or this fandom? I've been away so long. Anyway, thank you so much for sticking around! I actually have the next few chapters ready to go so I'll be uploading, likely on Tuesday night, for the next three chapters (including today's). No promises after that, but I'm hoping! I'm still dealing with some major life changes, now including a shiny new divorce to top off everything else! (Don't be sad for me, I needed this.) So honestly I don't think I have it in me to be a regular poster for the foreseeable future. But I will always come back when I can! Gotta finish my current three stories at least, and I'm still getting ideas here and there for new ones.

Fix Me, even though it's only a sequel, is my favorite of the three in progress right now. I'm sorry if it runs slow, it's not often going to be very action- or even drama-heavy, but this is more about exploring the minute details of the day-to-day of living with (or being!) someone with this level of illness. I, for one, am adoring all the bickering to come.

Oh, and if I didn't share yet I've finally managed to begin working on a bachelor's degree in English so maybe my writing will finally start to improve, for all of you who've been waiting on that, lol.

Thank you so much for the support. You're the best.

~ohmygodagiantrock

While Seto found his lunch hour elusive, he finally made time in the middle of the afternoon to give Atem a call.

He didn't answer until the fourth ring.

"I didn't think you were going to call," Atem greeted.

"I was beginning to think you weren't going to answer."

"Sorry," he said, his voice strained. "I'm in the middle of something."

Atem grunted, then sighed, sounds which were followed by running water.

"Are you… alright?" Seto asked.

"If you must know, I'm scrubbing my bathtub."

"Oh."

"What did you think I was doing?"

"I couldn't tell."

"I'm trying to get my security deposit back if I ever move out of this place, but with the state I've left it in for so long, it's proving to be some work. I realized I need to get started before I'm ready to move."

"Good for you. I'm pleased to hear it."

"Seto, you've helped tremendously."

"I don't recall helping you clean your bathroom. I don't even clean mine."

"That's easy for you to be able to say, Moneybags," Atem said with a chuckle, stealing Jounouchi's nickname for the man. "And speaking of your unending fountain of wealth, you helped me by hiring that cleaning crew. I've been able to do so much more for myself since you did that."

"That's funny, I remember you being angry when you first saw what I had arranged."

"Because I didn't want to admit that I needed the help."

"What a perfect segue you've just given me. Aside from hearing your lovely voice, I did have a specific reason for my call."

"Oh?"

Atem's phone beeped in his ear, and he pulled it away from his face to see the reason for the alert.

"Wait—Seto, can you hold on a moment? I have another call."

"I have a meeting across town I need to leave for in twenty minutes, so try to make it quick. I do have something important to discuss with you."

"It's Jounouchi. I'll try to be quick."

Atem clicked over.

"Jou, I'm with Seto."

"Uh, yeah. I know that."

Atem chuckled. "I mean, on the phone. What is it?"

"Oh, right. I'm just callin' to let you know that the manager just let me know you're on the team."

"He gave me the job?" Atem asked, sounding surprised.

"Nah, man, he didn't give you nothin'. You earned it."

"Hooray, I worked hard for this position as a… what did he call it again? Sandwich chef?"

"Sandwich artist. And don't you go knockin' it. This is a decent job."

"Right, artist."

"Plus, you'll be workin' all the same shifts as me for at least the first month until you're trained."

Atem remembered that this was exactly what Seto was hoping for him, and wondered then if he had pulled any strings to help him.

"Yes, there is that."

"He wants you to come in on Monday. He'll call you himself, make it all official and whatnot, but I thought I'd give you a head's up as soon as I'd heard."

"Thank you, Jou."

"I'll let you get back to your guy."

Atem heard a shuffling and called out to stop him.

"Jou, wait."

"Yeah?" he asked after a beat of silence.

"I do mean to thank you for helping me."

"No problem. I get that it's not as glamorous as making a living off of tournaments, so I know why you're not real excited about it."

"It will bring me opportunities I don't have without it. Besides, like you said, I will have the opportunity to work alongside one of my closest friends. I didn't mean to brush that off as nothing."

"No sweat, man," Jounouchi said, but Atem could hear the smile in his voice. "Hey, you sound like you're doin' a lot better today."

"I've been feeling very productive and accomplished."

"Good. Now for real, Moneybags is wasting his precious time waiting for me to hang up, so I'll let you go. See ya Monday!"

Jou closed the call before Atem could respond.

"Seto?"

"I'm here."

"I apologize for the interruption."

"You made that rather quick. I gather it wasn't important?"

"Actually, it was. But he was probably at work and needed to go. He told me I got the job."

"That's good news."

"It will help. I start on Monday."

"Congratulations."

"Thank you. But you were about to discuss something else before Jou called."

"Yes. I wanted to let you know that I've been in contact with a highly recommended psychiatrist willing to take you as a patient."

"'Highly recommended' in your circles must come with a high price tag."

"He's astronomically expensive, even for a therapist. He typically handles high-end clients. You will never be able to afford him working at a sandwich shop. But I already told you that this is too important to expect you to take care of on your own, or to deny you the right to care if you can't afford it."

"And you really want me to see this man?"

"I do. I think he'll be able to help you. Not only that, but he's accustomed to working with celebrities and other well-known individuals, so he knows how to handle discretion, even in regard to paperwork and office conduct."

"Fine. Do I have to set up an appointment?"

"I can do that for you if you want me to. I'll let you know when it is and, if you want, I'll go with you for the first session."

"You mean, like, in the office with me?"

"I'll sit beside you on the token couch if you want me to. Mind you, I'm not inviting myself, I'm merely offering. If you want your privacy instead—"

"No, I think that sounds fine. I wouldn't know where to begin meeting a stranger for the first time and having to tell him all about… well, my life."

"That's what I figured. I can sit beside you, maybe steer your thoughts a little, but I can't do the talking for you."

Atem nodded, to himself as Seto couldn't see him. "I know," he sighed. "It isn't going to be easy for me."

"I never said it would be. But it's necessary to work through the difficult parts if you want to succeed."

"I understand that." He paused, acutely aware that Seto's time on the phone was running low, while he picked at a flake of calcium on the side of his tub.

"Something on your mind?"

"Seto… Have you ever seen a therapist?"

Atem heard the sound of Seto's desk drawer close roughly, then a familiar chime of his PC.

"Occasionally, on and off. More as a child than as an adult."

"But not much, even then?"

"Correct. But I've had enough sessions to understand the flow of things."

"How is it, then, that you have it so together?"

Atem could hear the click of Seto's keyboard abruptly stop.

"Excuse me?"

"Well, I know about your past, about your childhood. I know who you used to be. How did you get to have such an understanding about… depression, about how the mind works, about all of that?"

"You think…? Oh, that's cute. You believe that knowing about those aspects of mental health is what qualifies me for 'having it together'?" He laughed. "I appreciate the compliment but it doesn't work that way. No one 'has it together', not even the professionals. Therapists attend therapy themselves."

"Then why do you seem like such an expert?"

"I read books?" he suggested. "That's where I've gleaned most of my understanding from. And these days, there are podcasts and videos, too. But knowing facts doesn't equate to experience. It's because I've been where you are, Atem. I've felt what you feel. The only difference is that I had someone depending on me to act like I've got it all together. And you know first-hand what that looked like."

Atem examined his fingernails. They were torn and chipped. He picked at one.

"I remember. But Mokuba still turned out well."

"He can still be a real asshole sometimes."

Atem let out a chuckle. He imagined that was the whole purpose of the comment.

"Maybe, but he's just a teenager. And anyway, so can you!"

"I can't argue that. The point is, I had motivation. It happened to be enough for me, most of the time. You might need some help figuring out what yours is. I don't know if therapy will help you. But ignoring the problem, like I did, only drives you in deeper."

"What pulled you out?"

"You even have to ask? You did, you dolt. But I don't expect to be that for you. People are different. I'm not offended if you need something else to fight for."

Atem found a grin, but it was quick to fade.

"I don't want to do that to you," Atem said distantly.

"Do what?"

"Keep you around, if…"

"Atem?"

"It's not fair to you."

Seto allowed time for Atem to elaborate, but he didn't.

"Look, I'm not sure exactly what you're trying to say. But I'm not planning on going anywhere. Not unless you do."

"I don't want to. I mean, some days I think it would be easier. But not much, and only for me."

"I hear you. You know, I'll talk about this with you as much as you're willing to open up with me. I think that's positive growth. But I barely scraped by getting myself out of that hole. I'm not necessarily qualified to help you with every facet. I would really like to schedule that appointment for you."

"Alright. Yeah, go ahead," Atem said, his voice just catching in his throat.

"I've got to go soon, but I can make this quick. Now that you know you'll be starting the job do you know your schedule?"

"I'll be working Jou's shifts with him, and he works second shift."

"So, mornings would be a better time to schedule your appointments for," Seto said, sounding like he was making a note as he spoke.

"Sure, I suppose. But not…"

"Not too early, I know. 10 a.m.?"

Atem agreed, and before he knew it, the call had ended. Somehow, the weight that had shed from his shoulders now felt like a mountain at his feet.