AN: I'm trying to update all the stories that I've accidentally abandoned, I apologize to all those folks that have read my stuff and reviewed it and not had any updates. My muse tends to have a notoriously short attention span but I'm trying to force myself to at least finish the fics I have on ffnet now. Hope this short chapter will catch some interest and to all the reviewers, I'm trying to continue! I welcome any advice as to where this story should go. Not much Ephram in this chapter, but the next one will be all Ephram.

"…Blurring and stirring the truth and the lies
so I don't know what's real and what's not
always confusing the thoughts in my head
so I can't trust myself anymore
I'm dying again…"

-Evanescence

"Dr. Brown? Can I speak to you for a few moments?" Ephram's doctor motions for Andy to step into the hallway. Dr. Abbott approaches as Andy steps outside.

"Andy? Any change?" Dr Abbott questions.

"I'm about to find out. This is Dr. Abbott, a colleague of mine," Andy introduces.

"We're worried about your son's mental stability. You told us about how he is being 'haunted' by his mother, but he is refusing to talk to any of our staff. The monitors say that he is not sleeping, but he is not responding to outside stimuli…" The doctor begins.

"He talked to me earlier, a little. He says that his mother is better when he is quiet. I think he's retreating inside himself in order to control the things he is hearing and seeing," Andy nods.

"You want to commit him?" Dr. Abbott infers, to the doctor.

He nods, slowly. "We can't help him if he's not ready. The fact that he slashed his wrists makes him a suicide threat and we can't objectively release him in this state. He is your son, however, so the decision is yours to make. We can recommend some intensive outpatient therapy if you choose to take him from our care…" The doctor begins.

Andy's face is blank. He doesn't respond. Dr. Abbott stops the doctor's description and puts a hand on Andy's shoulder. "Andy?"

Dr. Brown is frozen for several moments.

"Andy," Harold repeats.

"Yes. Go on, doctor. You're recommending that Ephram stay in the hospital on an inpatient basis so you can try and help him, correct? You think he's going to try and kill himself again…" Andy pauses, his eyes distant for several seconds. "What about the outpatient care? Are there any positive effects of that?"

"We have a very good success rate with outpatient care, but your son is exhibiting signs of schizophrenia, Dr. Brown, and we are urging you to hospitalize him until we can get him to show some sign of improvement," The doctor finishes.

"Schizophrenia? You don't think he's just upset over his mother's death and his depression is out of hand? You think he's schizophrenic and you haven't even talked to him?" Dr. Abbott questions, concerned by the doctor's diagnosis.

"It's a possibility. He's hearing her voice in his head. He can see her. Ephram's condition is more than simple depression and alcoholism…"

"I need some time to think about it," Dr. Brown interrupts.

"We're holding him overnight for observation and to try and rehydrate him from his fever. We're considering keeping him longer, as I told you earlier. I'll check back after you've had some time to think about it," The doctor nods, leaving.

"Let's go get some fresh air, Andy," Harold Abbott says, pulling the stunned man down the hall to a door leading outside. "Sit down. Take a deep breath."

"What do you think, Harold? What would you do?" Andy asks, startling the other man.

"Andy…"

"If it was your son, Harold?" Andy shakes his head, upset. "I'm such a bad father. I never paid Ephram any attention, I left it all up to his mother and now…now that I thought I was doing better, making up for some of the mistakes I've made…he's a good boy, Harold…he doesn't deserve this…"

"Andy. This isn't your fault. It's not Ephram's fault. It's just something that happened. You can't blame yourself. You can't help him if you're too guilt-ridden to function. Now think. What is better for Ephram? Do you think he's going to try and kill himself?" Dr. Brown asks, calming the other man with his tone.

"Honestly? Yes. Something about what he said today. He said he just wanted it to stop, he didn't care about anything else anymore. I don't think he has any fight left in him…" Andy states.

"Are you prepared for that if you take him home?" Dr. Abbott asks.

"He's my son. I've already lost my wife, I won't lose Ephram, too."

"What about Delia? Do you want her to see her brother like this?" Dr. Abbott questions, quietly.

"I…I don't know…I don't know what to do, Harold."