STEP BACK part three of the Step Series

by ELISE

rated G/PG

NOTES: sequel to the Barrier Series

iii. Step back

Dusk was rapidly approaching and Larry, Amita, and Charlie were discussing Amita's thesis in a CalSci lecture hall. Amita crossed her arms, "Come on, Charlie, you can't deny how well the two doctorates will work together."

Charlie shrugged, "I know... I was just hoping you'd stay in Math."

Amita looked at Larry who jokingly grabbed Amita's arm, "She's mine, Charles!You'll never see her again!"

Amita swatted the bizarre physicist away, "Charlie, you sure you're ok with this?"

Charlie looked up from his calculations, apparently having fallen back into the mesmerizing equation. "I'm sorry, Amita... Yes, I am fine with it. I'm just glad that you're staying."

Amita's face lit up, but Charlie missed it, because he was looking at his shoes. Larry watched the dynamic between the two. Charlie had turned back to the chalkboard. They've all been a bit worried about him recently. He had been either lost in his math, or lost in space. He was dressing a bit shabbier, these days. His eyes were more tired, vexed, exhausted. He moved across the chalk board and then turned to his folders spilling with data. Amita watched at his spree, mesmerized slightly, barely holding up the conversation with Larry. She nodded a few times for the physicist. Charlie spun around again, knocking over some of the papers. She turned to Larry, and said in reference to Charlie, "He's always like this."

Due to Charlie completely ignoring the papers, Amita began to pick them up. She paused at what she saw. These weren't the data sheets for Larry's theory. There were articles on prodigies and depression. Clippings of recent prodigy suicides were clipped to the scattered sheets. Amita looked up, shocked. There were also a few stray sheets of medical journals, discussing the upper lobes and cognition. "Charlie... what is all of this? Are you suffering from depression?"

Charlie stopped and turned to look at what she was doing. He seemed at a loss for words but quickly covered his shock with a laugh. "Oh god, no. I'm fine. I'm just doing research for the psychology department. They figured they'd ask the prodigy about prodigies."

Charlie rolled his eyes, as if he'd been asked a great deal about being a prodigy and it annoyed him. Amita nodded, "oh? Psychology department has a research project?"

Charlie looked at her again, saying, "Yeah."

Larry walked to Amita's side and started to look through the information. "This data

doesn't seem to have any clear thesis, Charles. Why would you need obituaries?"

Charlie placed his chalk down and walked to the two, scooping up the papers, "Listen, it's a boring topic, and I'm sure you don't want to hear about it. I'll just take these and

we can get back to work."

Larry scratched his head, "Does it bother you that I looked at those? I'm sorry. I should have known that prodigy suicide would affect you. I mean, they very easily could have been you."

"Larry!" Amita exclaimed, "Don't say things like that. Charlie would never."

"Not saying he would, Amita, but he can relate to them. Always being prodded, and picked at growing up. I can't even imagine the frustrations, the lonliness, the negative side to being so brilliant." Larry leaned on the counter, his torso at an unnatural angle, but seemingly comfortable for the physicist.

Charlie took a deep breath, "Thanks Larry. You know, I don't really need to be reminded right now of how people treated me as a kid."

Amita looked at Charlie in concern. Softly, she asked, "You felt that way?"

Charlie looked at her, his eyes revealing slight panic, "Listen, I don't really want to talk about it, ok? I'm sorry. Can we get back to work?"

Without waiting for an answer, Charlie began to write furiously on the board again. Amita and Larry exchanged glances and walked back to their original places, picking their work up again. Charlie felt the silence in the room, and he sighed. He didn't mean to sound angry. He didn't mean to push away their concern either, especially Amita's. Would she ever want to be with someone as unstable as he was? Charlie looked at the data and lost his energy. He didn't really want to be in the room with these two, doing this work. He set the chalk down and turned to the others, hands resting on the desk. "Hey guys, I need to clear my head. I'm going for a walk."

Larry and Amita watched as Charlie didn't bother for a response and walked out. Larry turned to Amita and pointed at where Charlie had left. "Is Charles acting strange to you?"

Amita nodded, "Yeah. He seems upset. I think we should take a break as well. Maybe the work is getting to him."

Larry shrugged, "I can't see why. This has never been work to Charles. It's his joy."

Half way to the door, Amita shrugged, "I'm going to get some food and coffee, want anything?"

Larry shook his head, "I'm going to go to the psychology department. Whoever was in charge of this should know to lay off Charles."

Peeking his head through the department door, Larry scrunched his nose. He preferred to be in the physics department, where real science happened, in his opinion. He stepped in to the receptionist. "Can I help you? Looking for Cheryl?"

Larry raised an eyebrow, "The head of the department Cheryl, or a different Cheryl?"

"Well I was referring to the head of the department Cheryl Ligris. Who were you referring to?" The receptionist laughed.

Larry smiled and looked at his feet, "Cheryl Ligris would be great, is she in?"

"Unfortunately, She's in a meeting right now. I can answer questions or leave a message?"

"I was just inquiring about the Prodigy studies you folk did here. Dr. Charles Eppes has been helping, and I just wanted to talk to the advisor." Larry leaned on the counter, one hand in his hair.

The receptionist shook her head, "We haven't done prodigy studies. UCLA has a few people who worked on a project on that in 95, but nothing since then here or there."

Larry raised an eyebrow, "That's quite specific."

She laughed again, "We like to keep our eye on our own resident prodigy, Dr. Eppes. Once I began working here, it kindof piqued my interest. Unfortunately, though, we have no projects on the issue."

Larry nodded, "Interesting, my mistake. It must have been a different project. Thank you."

Larry turned and left, his chest feeling heavy. Charles had lied about those obituaries and the prodigy depression. That had to have been personal research. Larry bit his thumb nail and thought about his next course of action. Should he approach Charles? Should he go to the counseling center? Why was Charles looking at medical procedures on the cognitive parts of the brain? He wouldn't be that stupid. Larry sighed. What do you do when your best friend drifts away and there isn't a thing you can do about it?