Sometimes all it takes is a smile to destroy the darkness of the soul.
:-:-:-:
"Doctor Uni?"
"Ah, Goten-san! Are you here to visit your brother?"
"Yes. My parents don't know I'm here, though."
"Ah. Well, there's really nothing they can do about that, is there?"
"No…"
"And that's the end of the matter. This way."
"…Is Gohan all right?"
"He's not harmed himself, so yes, he's all right. Why do you ask?"
"You seem a little unsettled."
(Pause)
"Doctor?"
"Your brother… He showed some very interesting behavior yesterday. Very interesting behavior."
"But you said he didn't hurt himself."
"Right. It wasn't anything self-injurious, though that would be expected. Really, why didn't we see that type of behavior before…?"
"Expected?"
"Ah, it's nothing to worry about. Your brother's fine. Well, he's talking again to the floor, trying to get its aid, anyway."
(Pause)
"And that's fine behavior?"
"With him, yes."
"Sheesh… What is not fine behavior?"
"If you had come yesterday, you would have seen it."
"What did he do yesterday?"
(Pause)
"Here you are. Room 2R, Patient 89. Do you want me to come in with you? You seemed particularly rattled last visit."
"No, I'm fine. I can handle whatever comes at me."
"You're sure? I can stay outside the door…"
"You'd be outside the door even if I refused it, Doctor. I'm fine. I'll be fine."
"All right. Here you are…"
"Thanks, Doctor."
:-:-:-:
"Why did you let him in there? You know it was because of this boy that 89 overreacted last time."
"He's family, Head Doctor."
"So? It was his family that spooked him."
(Pause)
"You don't really have a reason, do you? You're just going with your gut instinct here."
"Yes."
(Pause)
"It's something else, too, isn't it? Is it what happened yesterday?"
"Partly. It's also… just something between the brothers that I can't describe. It's as if 89's overreaction was really an internal scream for help…"
"Basically, the bond between them is stronger than between us, and you want to see if that pulls him out of it."
(Pause)
"Yeah."
"Gotcha. Well, I'll leave you to your observation, then. Try to intervene before 89 hurts himself too much, okay?"
"Right."
:-:-:-:
"Gohan…?"
And who is this? A new visitor! I haven't had one in a while. This is a pleasant surprise! Not like them….
"Don't you remember me, Gohan? I'm your brother, Goten. Your brother…?"
Your brother? What's that?
"Gohan… why did you disappear? Why did you block out your memories? Was it that painful…?"
Why is this visitor so sad? Is he trying to escape his own white room, but without any friends?
"Gohan… don't you want to get out of here? If you do, I'll take care of you, help you remember everything! You just have to cooperate, and you'd never have to deal with all the doctors around here…"
Cooperate? With whom? I do want to get out of here!
…But why do you seem so sad? Is this not a glorious proposition you are offering me? You should be happy! We'd finally be able to escape our white rooms….
"Gohan?"
Why do you seem so sad, you of all people? Your bright sparkle has gone out where it shouldn't be. Why is that?
"Gohan, what do you want to do? What are you doing?"
Move your arms, please, so I can do what I want to…
"A hug? Oh, big brother…"
There! There's that smile I was looking for. The sparkle has returned….
:-:-:-:
"How are they?"
"89 is giving his brother a hug."
"Really? Let me see."
(Pause)
"Wow, look at that smile on 89's face. It's huge…"
"Goten-san's too."
"Oh, yeah…. Wow, we've really got a pair of great smilers on our hands, don't we?"
(Pause)
"Why are you so disappointed, Doctor Uni? Are you sad that you aren't the special person for whom 89 clicks?"
(Pause)
"Yeah."
"I understand, Doctor Uni. The same thing happened to me, remember?"
"I remember."
"It's tough, I know. You're here to make people's lives better, but some of the patients that you take on just don't see you that way."
"Aren't you here for that, too?"
"Of course. That was a summarization of a general psychiatrist's feelings, yours and mine included, Doctor. Don't make me smack you for being dense."
"No, no, spare me, Head Doctor!"
"Hmm, fine. I won't smack you. Just remember, for every patient that doesn't click for you, there are two people who do. So don't give up, Doctor. 89 is just your first assignment here. There'll be others, others whose lives you'll save through some method or other. Okay?"
"Hai, Head Doctor. Thank you."
"Don't ever forget it. It was one of the hardest lessons I had to learn here. I don't want it to be nearly so complicated for you."
:-:-:-:
A/n: Well, here we are, at four pages, at the end of another chapter. ;) Thank you Shadow Dreamer 27 (twice), MarshmellowDragon, Nooka, The Death Grip, DBZ Chick1, and The General of Darkness for feedback! (Bows)
Updated 09.08.05