-Tuesday Morning-

Remind me to never get into another argument with my fiancé the night before a workday.
He didn't necessarily tell me to walk, but he certainly didn't wait around for me to be ready to go. I know it'll blow over in a day or two. Hell, he'll be over it tonight when he needs me to do his laundry. Thankfully it's not a far walk from our house to here, especially since these shoes I'm wearing don't really agree with my feet. I walk into the meeting room to get my charts for the day when I see Pattie and several others sat around talking. "Jolene! How are you doing this morning?" She asks, a hint of a perky tone in her voice. "I'm great, a little groggy, but aren't we all?" I laugh. She nods, turning back to whatever conversation she's having. I flip through a clipboard reading on a few of my other patients, trying to get my stuff in order for the day when I overhear, "Norman Bates, he's the one that I've had the most trouble with."

I look up from what I'm doing and turn around, sitting in the nearest chair I could get to. "I'm sorry, did you say Norman Bates?" I ask the man, whose name badge tells me he's Dr. Charles Vincent. Hm. He nods. "Yes, he participates, well, attends, the group therapy session I hold every week, yet he refuses to actually talk. It's not like I can force him to speak, I just wish I could reassure myself that he's not having conversations with Mommy up there." A few of the colleagues laugh and Pattie looks at from Dr. Vincent to me, then back to Dr. Vincent. "You know Doctor, Jolene is very close with Norman. One might even consider them good friends, and I'd say she could talk him into speaking." She says. I give her a look, shaking my head. "No, I won't do that, it's-" "That's a wonderful idea!" Dr. Vincent cuts me off. I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I'm not really comfortable with that." He scoffs, holding his hand out. "What's the worst that could happen?"

Pattie nods in agreement with him. "Yeah, I mean he's practically head over heels for you anyway. He'd do it."

I feel myself beginning to blush and shake my head. "He's not in love with me, he said he feels like I'm one of the only people who treats him normally. "I try to lower my voice when I realize how defensive I'm getting.
Dr. Vincent chuckles to himself as he pours a cup of coffee. "We treat him as two humans. That's what he is, you know, mommy and baby, happily shelled in the brain of the Oedipus complex." He says smugly.
I watch the steam rise from the styrofoam cup of bitter black coffee as he raises it to his lips, finishing the sip with a satisfied "Ah."
I get the feeling of disgust in my stomach watching him, which either comes from him drinking plain black coffee or how heartless he is speaking of Normans issue. Probably both.
"Well, I guess I should get to work. The day isn't getting any shorter." I smile, coating my voice with fake cheeriness. I count the papers once more and grab them, tucking them under my arm.
An arm extends in front of me, blocking me from the door. "Nurse Peterson, think about what I said." Dr. Vincent says. I offer a half smile, nodding and pushing by his arm.

My work day starts off the same as usual, knocking gently on the grey door with the number '24' in fake gold letters.
I hear Norman softly say "Come in", so I open the door and let myself in.
"Oh, good morning Jolene. Did you have a nice night?" He asks, scooting his desk chair away from his desk so he can turn to talk to me.
I half laugh half scoff as I hand him his medicine. "You could say that, but it'd be a lie." He furrows his eyebrows at me as he throws the pills back and I laugh, sitting on the edge of his neatly made bed.
"Lovers quarrel. You know, the boring stuff."
He shrugs. "I suppose. I mean, I can't really relate, seeing as I've never had a lover." I smile at him sympathetically, "Well, you're not missing too much. It's not all sunshine and rainbows."

"Well, neither is being alone." He says. I nod, standing up and smoothing out the back of my dress. "Well, I'll see you in a few hours." I start to walk toward the door. He smiles and throws up a wave before going back to whatever he was doing at his desk.

This day has seemingly been longer than any other. I guess it has to do with Richard and our fight being on my mind, plus the bad first impression I got of that Vincent guy.
Whatever, at least now it's lunchtime, and I can relax. Norman is sat at his usual table in the corner with his head in his hands, so I make my way over there.
"I didn't bring my lunch today but I can keep you company." I announce, startling him a bit. He straightens his posture and smiles.
"Well, aren't you hungry? I can go get my meal and let you eat it.." I shake my head.
I look around the lunchroom at everyone and see Dr. Vincent leaning at the nurses counter talking to Pattie. I think about what he told me to talk to Norman about and I rehearse the conversation in my head a few times, playing out different reactions.

"Jolene, are you ok?" Norman asks, bringing me out of my trance.

"Oh! Yeah, uh, Norman? Do you go to therapy here?" I reluctantly ask.

"Yes, why do you ask?" He asks, picking at his fingernails.
"Well, I overhead Dr. Vincent saying that you don't participate, and you hardly listen. Why is that, Norman?" I ask.
His face falls. "I just don't see it as necessary, do you?" He asks.
"Well, you know it could help you with your Mo-"
"You don't know anything about Mother, or the things she tells me, so don't pretend you do." He says.
I widen my eyes, leaning back a little. "Norman, that's the problem, maybe if you would talk about it you could get some help to make it stop." I suggest, keeping my voice soft.
The chair he's sitting in creaks as he leans up, his brown eyes getting darker. "If I wanted it to stop I would've come here a long time ago. I was fine before I came here, way better off with my motel and my home. The home I've lived in my whole life! Then I'm brought here against my will and everyone tries to intrude on the only stable relationship I have. And to think I thought you understood! You're just like the others. I should've listened to Mother."
He stands up, forcefully pushing his chair up and walking off in the direction of his room.
I sit there taken aback as several people stare, as he made a scene. My cheeks are burning with embarrassment and I have a lump in my throat due to Norman assuming I'm 'just like the others', and for him to just snap at me like that.
Definitely not the reaction I hoped for.

It's almost time for me to clock out, but I still have to see Norman since he is my last patient.
I make my way to his room, praying it won't be awkward, but another nurse is already there.
She notices my confused expression and smiles. "Mr. Bates requested a different nurse." My mouth slightly falls open and I slowly nod, turning around and walking back to clock out.
Once I get done and grab my coat I go out to the lobby and sit on a couch while I wait for Richard to (hopefully) pick me up.
The disgusting brown carpet distracts me until my eyes move up to a door down the hall with the words "Dr. Charles M. Vincent" on a plaque.
I stand up and speed walk down the hall, not even bothering to knock.
"Oh! Ms. Jolene, what a pleasant surprise!" He says. I cross my arms.
"Your plan didn't work. Norman is furious with me, so any progress he's made is gone now." I say.
Laughing, he leans back in his chair. "He hadn't made any progress, that's just the fantasy world you're in. Is it because he's handsome? Or is it because he's quite in touch with his feminine side? He's got the 'Mama's Boy' quality down pretty good." He says.
His tone is so sarcastic I could scream. "You're a jerk." I spit, turning on my heel to leave. "Ms. Jolene." I stop, turning back around. "You know that patient/nurse relationships are forbidden, correct?" He asks. "Do you think I'm a moron? Norman and I aren't in any sort of relationship."

He nods, "Ah, but Mr. James doesn't know that. Think of that the next time you want to disrespect me in my own office." He says. I stand there at a loss for words before turning again, leaving his office. Would he really say I'm having an inappropriate relationship with a patient just because he doesn't like me? I grunt, pushing the front door open. Thunder cracks loudly and rain begins pouring down soon after I get out. ''Perfect.'' I say aloud, starting my walk home.

Thank you again to the person who left another nice review! It genuinely means the world to me when I read your comments, so thank you!

Also, the Richard/Marion Crane real estate thing is a coincidence, but you blew my mind when you pointed it out.