Recovery
Part 38
A/N:
-Anything in bold italic is being spoken in Italian.
- Anything written between ** is in Erik's flashbacks.
Jing-Mei jumped back away from Erik. She looked at Dr. Legaspi then back at a panicky Erik.
Jing-Mei: Calm down, Erik. No one is going to hurt you. I told you that before.
Erik continued to thrash around in bed, screaming.
Erik: Sssorry pppapa. Nnnicholas hhhurt. Iii ddidn't mmmean hhhurt Nnnnicholas.
Dr. Legaspi: Let me give it a try.
Dr. Legaspi walks over to Erik, takes his right arm down from his head and shushes his screams.
Dr. Legaspi: Sshhh! Please be quiet, Erik. Everything will be alright if you just settle down. Erik, you've got to be quiet or Dr. Romano will come back in and put that muzzle back on you. Is that what you want?
Erik: Ggget mmme oofff, ppapa! Nnnnicholas! NNNNICHOLAS, IIII SSSORRY!!
Dr. Legaspi places her hand on his mouth to silence him. Unable to scream, Erik starts fighting again by thrashing his arms around leaving Dr. Legaspi no choice.
Dr. Legaspi: Alright Dr. Chen, I gave him every chance to control his behavior, but he just insists on getting himself upset. Help me put the restraints back on him.
Jing-Mei: Do we really have to? Maybe, if we just give him a couple of minutes, he'll calm down.
Dr. Legaspi turned Erik loose and he instantly grabbed his bedrails and started shaking them, then yelled to the top of his voice.
Dr. Legaspi: Sorry, Dr. Chen.
Seeing Dr. Legaspi's point, Jing-Mei sorrowfully grabs one of his arms while Dr. Legaspi grabs the other and they place him--hand and foot--- back in the bindings.
Erik realizes he can't thrash his arms anymore, he starts slamming his head into his pillow. Eventually, he tires himself out and falls asleep. His face is soaked between sweat and tears, so Jing-Mei gets a towel and basin and mops his face off. She kisses his head, takes Rascal's leash and she and Dr. Legaspi leave Erik's room.
Dr. Legaspi: I think we definitely need to get him back into therapy as soon as possible, but it will only happen if Erik agrees to let us in again.
Jing-Mei: You've seen him. There is no way he's going to let us put him under hypnosis. Erik may have his mental problems, but he is not stupid. He's going to be on his guard.
Dr. Legaspi: You know, I've been thinking. As long as Erik is restrained, we can put him under. He's got to get his anger out. This way, with Erik tied down, if he gets really upset or aggressive than he can't attack anyone.
Jing-Mei: But what about his heart? I'm afraid he's going to have a coronary if he gets too upset.
Dr. Legaspi: We'll increase his heart meds to counteract any stress he may have.
Jing-Mei: I want this to be over with as much as anyone, I just so scared.
Dr. Legaspi: So am I. But, the longer he goes without psychiatric treatment--the longer he's going to be in this condition. Besides, we opened the door to that part of his life and now we can't forget it and more importantly--he can't forget it. This is going to eat at him for the rest of his life unless we do something about it.
Jing-Mei: And what happens if he becomes catatonic again.
Dr. Legaspi: I don't think he will. I believe that as much as Erik fights this subject, he really wants to talk about it. The only reason he went catatonic the last time we approached the matter during his sessions is because he was FINALLY getting his anger and pain out of him and we stopped him because he became violent. All we did by sedating him was to scare him back into a silence. We were so close to getting to the core of Erik's problems and we lost that ground when we tried to calm him down. (pause) If Erik's heart and blood pressure are closely monitored during his session and he's restrained then I don't think there will be a problem about letting him act out the details of what happened to his brother. Let's face it--it's the only way we will find out what happened.
Jing-Mei: That's true.
Jing-Mei starts contemplating what Dr. Legaspi said when Rascal starts whining.
Jing-Mei: I have to get him home or at least outside before he makes a mess on the floor. We don't need Romano anymore angry at us, then he already is. If I agree to this, then when do you want to do this?
Dr. Legaspi: I'm not in until tomorrow at 2pm. How about then?
Jing-Mei: I have the morning shift. I would like to examine Erik beforehand. If I can arrange it with Dr. Weaver or Dr. Green I will take my lunch break then. Alright, let's do it then.
Dr. Legaspi: See you tomorrow.
Dr. Legaspi bends down and gives Rascal a scratching behind his ears. Rascal licks her face.
Jing-Mei: Come Rascal, time to go home to Rusty and Antonio.
The next morning when Jing-Mei came into work she went up to Erik's room. He was sleeping. Jing-Mei held his wrist and took his pulse. She then took her stethoscope and listened to his heart and lungs.
Jing-Mei: Everything seems normal. Alright, Erik I hope you are strong enough to handle a session today.
She watched his machines for a few minutes, and then wrote down his vitals before kissing his head and going to work.
Later in the afternoon, Jing-Mei came up to Erik's session and Dr. Legaspi was already in with him and had him under. The lights were dimmed, Erik was laying still in bed with his wrists in restraints. Jing-Mei quietly pulled up a chair beside Dr. Legaspi.
Dr. Legaspi: Okay Erik, how do you feel today?
Erik: Ffffine.
Dr. Legaspi: Just relax, Erik. I only want to talk to you. We are going to stay calm, right. It may get a little tense in here and if you don't think you can manage to go on, please let know. I'm not here to hurt you. That's the last thing we want to do. Do you understand me?
Erik: Yyyes.
Dr. Legaspi: Do you want to continue?
Erik: Yyyes.
Dr. Legaspi: Alright, lets go then. Erik, I need to ask you about your brother. Is that alright with you?
Erik starts to shake. He tries to pull his legs up into a ball and his thumb into his mouth to suck on but was unable to because of the bindings. He started whining.
Erik: Oooh, uuuh oooh.
Dr. Legaspi: Are you okay, Erik?
Erik: Yyyes.
Dr. Legaspi: Is there something else you would like to discuss?
Erik: Nnno.
Dr. Legaspi: So, it's alright to discuss your brother then?
Erik panics and struggles with the bindings, but slowly relaxes and eventually nods.
Dr. Legaspi: Good. Erik, can you tell me what your brother's name is?
Erik: Nnnicholas.
Dr. Legaspi: How old is Nicholas?
Erik holds up two fingers on his hand.
Erik: Hhhe ttwo.
Dr. Legaspi: Where is Nicholas at now?
Erik(crying): Hhhe's iiin hhheaven.
Dr. Legaspi: Oh, he died. I'm so sorry, Erik. Can you tell me what happened to Nicholas?
Erik nods but stays silent.
Dr. Legaspi: Whenever you're ready. Take your time.
Finally, Erik starts to talk again.
Erik: Dddark rrroom. Cccage.
Dr. Legaspi: What do you mean darkroom and cage?
Erik: Pppapa gggive mme mmedicine. Ssshots. Yyyyuck.
Dr. Legaspi: He injected you with medicine?
Erik nods.
Dr. Legaspi: And you don't like shots, huh?
Erik shakes his head, no.
Dr. Legaspi: Go on, Erik.
Erik: Mmmedicine mmmade mme ffeel ffunny. Iiii dddizzy, sssick. Aafter ppapa gggive mme sshot, hhhe sssays ddrugs gggood.
Dr. Legaspi: Did he give himself the shots after you?
Erik: Yyyes.
Dr. Legaspi: Did he give Nicholas shots too?
Erik(shaking his head): Oooh nno. Nnnicholas ggood bbboy. Dddavey bbad bboy. Ddddavey bbbad sseed. Iii nnnot llet hhhim hhhurt Nnnicholas.
Dr. Legaspi: You tried to protect your brother. Did your father call you a bad seed?
Erik: Yyyes.
Dr. Legaspi: Okay Erik, now can you tell me how Nicholas died?
Erik: Wwwe tttwo. Nnnicholas bbbig. Dddavey smmall.
Dr. Legaspi: Nicholas was your older brother?
Erik: Yyyounger.
Dr. Legaspi: Can you tell me more about the darkroom and cage?
Erik: Pppapa pput mme iin ddark rroom aaand ccage aafter mmy sshots tto gget mme oout oof wway.
Dr. Legaspi: He put you in a cage? Did he lock the door afterward?
Erik(gasping for air): Yyyes.
Dr. Legaspi: Erik are you having trouble breathing? Erik was there a window in the dark room?
Erik: Nnno. Nnno wwindow. Hhhard bbbreathe?
Dr. Legaspi: Was there any air in the darkroom?
Erik: Yyyes.
Dr. Legaspi: Then how come it's hard for you to breathe? Was it because of the drugs?
Erik: Dddon't kknow aabout ttthaat bbut ttthroat tttight.
Dr. Legaspi: Why was your throat tight?
Erik shakes head and refuses to answer.
Dr. Legaspi: Come on Erik. You're doing great. Please continue. We are so close, now. What was the matter with your throat?
Erik: Lllleash aand ccollar---lllike Rrrazzal's.
Dr. Legaspi looked at Jing-Mei who just shook her head in disbelief.
Dr. Legaspi: He put a leather strap around your throat?
Erik: Nnno ssstrap. Cccchain.
Dr. Legaspi: Erik, I need you to think back to the day that Nicholas died. Can you do that for me?
Erik nods and explains:
** Vincenzio enters the twins' bedroom. Nicholas is sleeping on a cot, while tiny Davey is sleeping in a crib. He got hold of Davey's arm and started tapping it to find a vein. When that didn't help, his taps got hard causing Davey to cry and waking Nicholas up. After several minutes, he is unable to get a vein on Davey, so he walks out only to return a few minutes and shoves pills into Davey's open, screaming mouth and holds his mouth shut. Fortunately, Davey spits the pills up along with about a gallon of vomit all over Vincenzio's hand. Vincenzio gets furious. He roughly grabs a screaming Davey out of his crib. He takes him to a bolted door. He opens the closet door. It's dark inside but from the light shining in from the other room, we can see a metal cage inside the closet**
Dr. Legaspi: Erik, can you tell me how big the cage was he put you in?
Erik tried to show her with his hands but wasn't able to, so he tried to think about the dimensions.
Erik: Iiii ttthink uuh, dddon't kknow.
Dr. Legaspi thinks for a moment.
Dr. Legaspi: Erik, I'll untie one of your hands. Will you show me how big the cage was?
Erik nods. Dr. Legaspi unties Erik's right restraint and Erik pulls his hand up and gives them the approximate height and then with the help of his other hand shows them the width.
Dr. Legaspi: That looks about 3' by 5 or 6".
Erik nods as Dr. Legaspi reties his restraint.
Jing-Mei: My god!! Rascal's doghouse is bigger than that.
Dr. Legaspi(to Jing-Mei): Shhh!!! (to Erik)Continue, please.
Erik sweats profusely but goes on.
**Vincenzio puts the chain around Davey's neck and ties the foot long chain to the end of the cage then puts Davey in the cage. The whole time Davey is screaming, crying and kicking and still covered in vomit. The door is locked and everything goes dark. A few minutes later the door opens and Vincenzio opens the cage's door. Davey thinks he's letting him out but instead puts Nicholas in. Davey's twin is crying louder than Davey can ever remember. Vincenzio locks the door but this time some light shines from underneath the door, lighting the closet up enough for Davey to see Nicholas shaking. Davey tries to get over to his brother but can't lift the chain up off the floor to get close enough.
Davey: I help little brother.
Time passes, maybe 30 or 40 minutes when the closet door opens and Vincenzio walks in to see Davey stretched to the limit of his chain and Nicholas seizing in the cage.
Vincenzio: Nicholas. Oh god. What the fuck did that little fucker do to you?
Nicholas was shaking uncontrollably and covered in vomit and had been foaming at the mouth. He locked the cage again, with Davey still in there. He and his wife rushed Nicholas to the hospital.**
Dr. Legaspi: What happened next, Erik?
Erik started shaking his head and his body trembled. He's crying hysterically.
Erik: Nnno, cccan't tttell yyyou?
Dr. Legaspi glances at Erik's heart monitor. Noticing that his pulse is getting rapid, she considers whether she should go on.
Dr. Legaspi: Erik, do you want to go on?
Erik: Hhhave ttto. Nnnneed tto.
Dr. Legaspi: Alright, but try to stay calm or I will stop this now. Go ahead.
Erik: Nnnnever sssee Nnnnicholas aaagain.
Dr. Legaspi: That's because he died.
Erik nods and tries to wipe the tears from his face by rubbing his face against his shoulder.
Dr. Legaspi: What did your father do?
Erik: Mmmad mme.
** Later that night, the closet door opens up again and Vincenzio stands at the front of the cage. He opens the door and grabs Davey with one hand and held something behind him in his other hand. He grabbed Davey by his chain collar and pulled him up into almost a standing position.
Vincenzio: You, you little fucker. My good son is dead. If you did what you were suppose to do and take the drugs, he'd be alive now. No, you have weak stomach and veins. YOU LET THOSE FUCKERS COLLAPSE. YOU LEFT ME NO CHOICE BUT TO USE NICHOLAS. HE WASN'T SUPPOSE TO DIE---YOU WERE. HE WAS SUPPOSE TO TAKE OVER THE FAMILY BUSINESS---AND NOW ALL I HAVE IS YOU---YOU WORTHLESS LITTLE BASTARD. I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU IF YOU EVER SCREW UP LIKE THAT AGAIN!!!
Vincenzio pulls out what he's been holding behind his back---a wrench. As soon as the wrench came into Davey's line of vision, he felt it impact his skull numerous times, blood dripping down his face and screaming to the top of his lungs before his body goes limp and he loses consciousness.**
Neither Dr. Legaspi or Jing-Mei can control their own emotions as they see the obvious pain appear across a distraught, thrashing, screaming and crying Erik. Dr. Legaspi takes a deep breath and continues.
Dr. Legaspi: What happened after that?
Erik: Iii wwoke uup hhhospital. Bbbandaged hhhead. Hhhead hhhurt.
Dr. Legaspi: I imagine they had to operate.
Erik: Pppput mmetal dddish iiin hhead. Hhhhaard.
Dr. Legaspi: Metal dish? (pause) The metal plate. The doctors put a metal plate in your head to repair the damage and fix your injured skull.
Erik nods.
Erik(crying): Dddavey gggot dddeserve. Dddavey eevil. Ddddavey gggot dddevil iin hhim. Ddddavey bbbad bbboy. Iiii hhhurt Nnnnicholas. Hhhe aaalive iiif nnot mmme fffor. Ddddavey dddisobey pppapa. Iiii kkkill Nnnnicholas. Iiii kkkkilled mmmy lllittle bbbrother.
Erik is starting to show his anger, stress and tension from the session and is unable to go on. Neither Dr. Legaspi or Jing-Mei can continue either. Dr. Legaspi wipes her tears and brings Erik out of his trance. He's exhausted and quickly falls asleep. Dr. Legaspi confronts a stunned traumatized Jing-Mei. Jing-Mei ignores her and gets up from her seat and walks over to a sweat covered, sleeping Erik and kisses his head before bursting into a flood of hysterical tears.
Dr. Legaspi: Dr. Chen, are you alright?
Jing-Mei(stuttering through her tears): Hhhow ccccould anyone do that to a little boy--to their own little boy. I'm not saying that my boys are angels but I can't possibly imagine ever laying an angry hand on them. If I did to them an eighth of what was done to Erik---I would never be able to go on. Erik told me when we first started going out that his father was a sick son of a bitch. I thought Erik was overreacting but I never realized how right Erik was. His father was a sick, twisted, demented FUCKER.
Back home, Jing-Mei is preparing dinner when Rusty walks in.
Rusty: When dinner? I'm so hungry I could eat a dog.
Rascal turns and looks at the famished look on his master's face and starts to back away.
Rusty: Easy Rascal. Just a saying. I never hurt you. We love you.
Jing-Mei: That is so true. All of us do. Me, Rusty, Antonio, Grandma Peterson and especially your papa.
Rusty: Papa likes all animals, huh.
Jing-Mei: Yeah, I think so. He never was allowed to keep pets when he was younger.
Rusty: But we are cause we like animals, too.
Jing-Mei: Just like your papa.
Rusty: How else am I like papa?
Jing-Mei: You look just like him at that age and you have his beautiful eyes and same dimples and the same love of life that he has...or use to have.
Rusty: Was Uncle Niclas like papa too?
To be continued. Please read and review.