Recovery
Part 25
A/N: Anything in bold italic is being spoken in Italian
Jing-Mei looks at the photo again and then back at Rusty. She scratches her head completely confused by the child's statement.
Jing-Mei: Rusty, are you sure? Can't you tell which one of you that is?
Rusty picks up his pad and pencil and in his 7 year old writing answers her.
Rusty: No Mama Jing. We look the same. (pause) Did I do good, Mama Jing? Did I help you?
Jing-Mei: Si. Rusty. You did fine.
Rusty: Can I have an extra scoop of ice cream next time?
Jing-Mei laughs at Rusty's one-tracked mind. She kisses his head and puts the tv on for him to watch.
Jing-Mei: Watch tv, dear. I have to get home to your brother and Rascal.
Rusty: What about the ice cream?
Jing-Mei: I'll make sure you get it, baby. Try to get some rest and remember---no talking. I love you.
Rusty: Love you too.
Two days later and Jing-Mei arranges to take her lunch at the same time that Erik and Dr. Legaspi have their session. On her way into Erik's room, she catches Dr. Legaspi before she can enter. Jing-Mei stops her and they talk in the hallway.
Jing-Mei: Before you go in Dr. Legaspi, could we have a chat?
Legaspi: Sure. What's wrong?
Jing-Mei: Remember when I told you that I believe Erik and his son Rusty had the same dream?
Legaspi: Yes.
Jing-Mei: I took a picture of Erik when he was about 7 years old down to Rusty and showed him. I asked him if he knew the boy in the picture. He said yes.
Legaspi: Did he recognize his father?
Jing-Mei: No. He said the little boy was either him or Nicholas. He wasn't sure because they both look the same. (pause) So, I was thinking that maybe the little boy in Rusty's dream with Nicholas isn't Rusty after all, but Erik. Rusty is the spitting image of Erik when he was that age so maybe Rusty was confused and thought that the boy was him. I mean how else do you explain his statement that he and Nicholas looked exactly alike.
Legaspi: You never told Rusty that his dad was one of twins.
Jing-Mei: No. He's just a little boy. That would be difficult for him to understand---you know, all this dream stuff. I'm not sure if I understand it myself.
Legaspi: Well, I'm going to start taking Erik slowly back into his past. Hopefully, he will shed some light on all these questions in your mind.
Jing-Mei: He's the only one that can. (pause) Dr. Legaspi, please be gentle with him. He's very fragile---both physically and mentally.
Legaspi: I will. So, let's get on with this.
A buzzer sounds causing Jing-Mei and Dr. Legaspi to rush in to find Erik in his normal condition---thrashing around in his bed only this time he disconnected the vent from his trachea. Jing-Mei rushes over and reconnects it. Erik is still deeply asleep and hasn't notice the absence of the vent. He's covered in sweat and his respirations are low. Jing-Mei runs out of the room, down the hall and returns with an apu-bag to help ventilate Erik until the vent can do it. As soon as Erik is breathing easier, Jing-Mei removes the bag from over Erik's nose and mouth. Both Jing-Mei and Dr. Legaspi try in vain to wake Erik up but he is too far into his latest nightmare.
Dr. Legaspi: Is this typically how he looks during one of his nightmares?
Jing-Mei: Yeah, but he's never dislodged his vent during one before, at least as far as I know. This had to be a real bad one. We've got to wake him up before he has another coronary.
Again the doctors try to shake him awake, but fail. Dr. Legaspi gets an idea. This time she leaves the room and returns shortly with a small vial.
Jing-Mei: What's that?
Dr. Legaspi: Smelling salts. It's worth a try.
Dr. Legaspi opens the vial and places it under Erik's nose. At first, even that has no effect on him but slowly Erik stops thrashing and calms down. Several minutes go by before Erik opens his eyes. Jing-Mei looks at him and she sees even more sadness in eyes than usual. Her own eyes are sadden and her heart is broken because she wants so much to help her distressed husband and can't. She wants to take the pain away from him but until she knows the absolute source of it, she's helpless. Dr. Legaspi, who exited the room shortly after Erik settled down, returns pushing a wheelchair.
Dr. Legaspi: Alright Erik, are we ready to begin with today's session?
Erik nods and Jing-Mei and Dr. Legaspi lifted Erik into his wheelchair. Dr. Legaspi turned down the lights then sat down and took out the pin she used to put Erik under the hypnosis. He stared at it and concentrated on her voice until his head went limp and he was out.
Dr. Legaspi: Erik, I need you to concentrate very hard and try to go back as far as you can. The earlier in your life the better. Once you get there, tell me what you see.
Erik: Iiiim in jjjjail.
Legaspi: What are you doing in jail?
Erik: Fffffighting.
Legaspi: With who?
Erik: Nnnotheer pppprissioner.
Legaspi: Why? What did he do to you?
Erik: Nnnothing
Legaspi: Then why are you fighting with him?
Erik: Nnnot fffighting. Ssssparring. Uh....bbboxing.
Legaspi: Oh, you boxed when you were in jail. How old were you?
Erik: Ssssisteen.
Legaspi: Were you there for a long time?
Erik held up two fingers.
Erik: Yyyyears.
Legaspi: Tell me about your time there?
Erik: Iiii wwwas ssscared. Eeeveryone biggger ttthan mme. Ooone youngest ttthere. Onnne fffriend. Mmmmy cccellmmate- Vvvviiito--hhee wwattched oover mme.
Legaspi: Erik, when you said he watched over you, what do you mean? Did he hurt you in anyway?
Erik(shaking his head): NNNNOOO!!!! FFFFRIEND!!!
Legaspi: Alright Erik, calm down. He was nice to you, then?
Erik: Vvvvery.
Legaspi: Continue, Erik.
Erik: Hhhe ttteached mme box. Wwwhen Iii ffirst gggo there, Iiii tttargett. Iiii kkknnow hhhow to fffight. Bbbbbut nnnnott ggood nnuf. Hhhhe ttteached mmme ggggoood ssso nnnobody bother mmme afffter...
Tears start rolling down Erik's face and cheeks.
Legaspi: After what, Erik?
Erik shakes his head.
Erik: Nnno talk aaanymore.
Legaspi: It's okay Erik, you can tell us. No one will hurt you. After what?
Erik: Iiiii aasked Vvvito how long hhe bbeen ttthere. Ttttweeenty yyears he sssaid. Hhhhe's aaa mmmiracle lifer.
Legaspi: What's a lifer?
Erik: Ssssomeone wwwho's ttthere fffor llife.
Legaspi: Now, what's a miracle lifer?
Erik: Vvvvito says nnoone llives ooout tthere ffull time there. If tthe ssystem dddoesn't kkkill ttthem, tthen ttthe oothers will.
Legaspi: Other prisoners?
Erik(nodding): He wwwas llluccky ttto llive tthat llong.
Legaspi: You didn't tell us what you meant about someone bothering you after what?
Erik: Vvvvito ddie.
Legaspi: Oh, your only friend died. How sad.
Erik gets an extremely angry look on his face. He starts to shake.
Legaspi: Erik, what are you seeing now?
Erik: Vvvito, mmmurddered.
Legaspi: By another prisoner?
Erik(pointing to himself): Mmmmme.
Dr. Legaspi looks at Jing-Mei. Neither knows what to think.
Legaspi: You hurt Vito?
Erik(shaking his head and getting hysterical): Nnnno, Iiii dddidn't. Mmmme fffound hhhim. Ssssay ssssaw bbbblame mmmme.
Legaspi: Erik, you need to calm down. I can't understand you. Go ahead but talk slowly.
Erik: Tttthey bbbblame mmme fffor Vvvito iiif Iii dddonn't dddo wwhat ttthey sssay.
Legaspi: What did they want you to do?
Erik: Iiiii bbbbad bbboy.
Legaspi: No, no Erik you're not a bad boy.
Erik: Yyyyes Iiii iiis. Tttthhhey wwant mme tto doo wwhat Iii ddid to gget in ttthere.
Legaspi: Why did you go to jail in the first place?
Erik: Bbbbad bbboy.
Legaspi: Erik, I need more detail than that.
Erik: Ppppussher dddrugs.
Legaspi: Okay, you sold drugs and got caught. They wanted you to sell drugs in the prison?
Erik( crying, nodding and hysterical): They dddon't lllike mmme. Tttthey ddon't want mmme to gget out of jjail. Tttthey sscared mmme.
Legaspi: They were mean to you, definitely. They threatened you?
Erik nods.
Legaspi: Tell me more about it. Take your time.
Erik: Iiii ggo ssshowwer aand Vvvvito lllaying on ffloor wwwith ssscrrewdrriver iin bback. I sssttart tto sscream. Iiii sscared.
Legaspi: Of course you were. Go on.
Erik: Tttthey gggrab mmme. Ttthey ppput hhhand ooon mmy mouth. Ttthey sssay Iiii doo wwant ttthey wwant oor tthey tttell ppprison bboss Iii kkilled Vvito. Tttthey ppulled sscrewdriver oout of Vvvito wwith ttowel and put in my hand. They ssaid tthey havve evvidence ttthat tthey turn me in with.
Legaspi: Did you do what they wanted?
Erik: No, aand Iii ddidn't tttakke dddrrrugs ttoo.
Legaspi: I believe you. What did they do when you refused to help them?
Erik: Tttry to hhhurrt mme. Iiii fffight ttthem. Wwwin.
Legaspi: Good boy.
Erik: No, bad bboy. Iiiim bbad boy. (starts hitting himself)
Dr. Legaspi grabbed his hands to stop him and Erik pulled away from her.
Legaspi: Erik, stop hitting yourself. You weren't bad.
Erik: Yyyyeah, nnnooonnne cccome vvisit mme.
Legaspi: Erik, no one come to visit you at all? Not even your sister.
Erik: No. Onnne vvvisitor. Mr. Sssantini.
Legaspi: He was a good friend to you, huh?
Erik: Hhhhe cccome ffew tttimes. Tttthen ssstop. Cccccause Iiii bbbad bbboy. Papa ssays I ddisgrace. I bbbad bboy. Wwind upp in jail ddday one. Hhhe pppunnnisshed mme wwhen Iii wwent way.
Legaspi: How did he punish you?
Erik reluctantly pulled his hospital gown down and lifted his head up to show his shrink and his wife what his father did to him. Just underneath Erik's trachea was a thin deep line that went from one side of his throat to the other. Erik pulled a finger across the line.
Both doctors gulped with disbelief and horror.
Legaspi: Erik, when did your father slit your throat?
Erik: Aafter mmy ttrial. Ttthey ttook mme aawway. Hhhe ssit in ccourt aand ssmile wwhen Iiii handcuffed. Jjjudge lllet hhhim sssee mmme aallone.
Legaspi: Didn't you tell them that you didn't want to see him alone?
Erik: Nno mmatter. Pppapa gggets wwhat hhe wants aalwaays. Tttthey ppputt uss iin rroom allone. Ppppapa tttold ttthem hhhandcuffs off. Wwwhen wwe llone, hhe ppulled oout nnneedle aand pppllaced iiin mmmy aaarm. Wwhen Iii ddown oon gground, hhe ccut mme. Lllast tthing Iii remmeber is Pappa ttook oout bbblllackjacck, hhit hhimself iiin heead and wwent doown. When Iii wwoke hhospital, ttthey ttold mme Iii aattacked ppapa ttthen sshot sself wwith hhheroine bbefore cutting mmmy thhroat. Iii nno hhurt mme, aanyone. Iiii ccouldn't.
Erik starts to burst in tears. Both Dr. Legaspi and Jing-Mei have tears in their own eyes. Unable to continue, Dr. Legaspi brought Erik out from the hypnosis. Once awake, Erik was quiet and calm but confused at what just happened. Dr. Legaspi and Jing-Mei put Erik in bed. Jing-Mei kissed him and handed him his stuffed dog and both doctors left as Erik went back to sleep obviously exhausted from today's session.
Outside Erik's room, Jing-Mei and Dr. Legaspi talk.
Jing-Mei: How could a father do that to his son?
Legaspi: It's apparent that Erik's father is very disturbed and unfortunately we are going to have to find out just how disturbed he was before Erik's through with his sessions.
Jing-Mei: I never noticed that scar across his throat before. He has so many on him that I guess I just overlooked it...
Then Dr. Legaspi and Jing-Mei heard Erik yell and ran back in the room to find him clawing away at his pillow. He was ripping it apart with his fingers and teeth. Jing-Mei ran over to stop him but he wouldn't. She tried to pull the pillow away from him.
Jing-Mei: Stop that Erik! Stop it right now, I said!
Erik: Yyyou lllittle bbasttard. Yyyou dddisggracced ttthe Mmmalucci nnamme. You mmusst ppay tthe pprice, you lllittle wwworthless bbastard.
Erik started beating the pillow with his fist. Terrified by her husband's actions, Jing-Mei caught one of his arms in motion and in the process as Erik tried to pull a his hand away, it went back and slapped Jing-Mei in the face. Dr. Legaspi ran and got a tranquilizer and injected Erik with it. Within seconds, Erik lay in his bed unconscious. Dr. Legaspi helped Jing-Mei up to her feet.
Dr. Legaspi: Are you alright, Dr. Chen?
Jing-Mei: I'm fine. Erik didn't mean to hit me. It was an accident. He didn't know what he was doing?
Dr. Legaspi: I knew this was going to get very intense. Tell me, has Erik ever shown a violent streak before?
Jing-Mei: Before his attack, he was forever getting into fights. He has a very short fuse and a nasty temper.
Jing-Mei holds her swollen and bruised face and starts to cry in Dr. Legaspi's arms.
Jing-Mei: Please Dr. Legaspi, Help him! Help him!!!
To be continued. Please read and review.