Shinji sat in his room.
Surrounding him were all his worldly possessions, 3 cardboard boxes.
He had more of course but it looks like his uncle only sent his clothes he got a letter detailing why
'Bulk shipping is too expensive, send me money for the rest of your stuff.'
That can wait for now though he had more pressing matters turning his attention to another paper detailing his burn treatment
'Carefully remove gauze and inspect for any swelling and infection'
Doing so he turned his attention to the mirror
"What do you mean swelling, it all swelling"
'Inspect for swelling and infection.' " It's all nasty looking. Is it infected? What does an infection even look like?"
He continued on with the paper
'Apply burn cream to all affected areas'
He started slowly applying the cream over his forehead the feeling was minimal the damaged nerves failed to register the sensation as he applied the cream
The surface of his forehead felt cracked and rough whare once smooth skin resided a bumpy and hard surface remains
'Cover area with sterile gauze'
Reaching for a box he struggled to open the container with one hand
This went on for several moments before he just pinned the box with his bad arm to gain the necessary leverage
With the gauze in his hand he placed it squarely on his burn the cream holding it in place
'Secure with bandage, make sure it's a snug fit but not too tight as to apply too much pressure on the burn'
What followed was a struggle that went on for minutes as he clumsily wrapped the bandage but eventually he succeeded
he heard a ringing
RING RING!!!
His duty phone was going
"H-hello" he said
"Good morning pilot ikari, you have an appointment with doctor akagi scheduled tomorrow at 7am" a voice of a young woman said over the phone
"O-ok, can i get transportat-" "im sorry sir but this is medical,we can only handle appointments here. You're going to have to call transportation to order a ride."
"O-ok"
'Click--
" What are the results from the contact experiment?" Gendo sat with his hands in their signature possession
"Unit 01 rejected her." Dr akagi flipped her notebook over
She continues " she was able to sync because of her connection to the 3rd child but the evangelion refused the link and attacked the pilot"
"So what does this mean dr.akagi?"
Gendo started looking through the report
"I have a high confidence that the evangelion will do the same to anyone who isn't the 3rd child."
"That's not very desirable, dr.akagi, we cannot trust the 3rd child. For years he was left unattended, unsupervised. We don't even know if he's been compromised."
"Im sorry commander but at this point i don't think the eva will accept anybody else" she finished
"Can we condition him?" Nerv was a "civilian" organization but anybody with 2 eyes can tell that was a sham, they were in trenchant in the deepest parts of government
"I won't recommend that sir, evangelion 01 has behaved differently than any known eva. I cannot guarantee the functionality of the unit if we interfere with the pilot's psyche" she flips over another page
"If we continue to use the pilot operationally his physical body is expected to take a lot of dama-"
"Irelivent as long as the pilot's alive and able to operate the eva his physical condition doesn't matter"
"You're recovering." Said dr.akagi
The room shinji sat in smelled of cigarettes
Which is strange for a hospital
"The arms doing well too, by this time next week the pins can come out" states the good doctor
As she says this the methodical clicks of her mechanical keyboard sound away as she categorizes in detail his medical checkup
"That's good i-i think" he's glad only having use of one arm is starting to get annoying
Shinji watches her type away her posture is straight and proper her face blank as she types away
"Sigh"
She picks up and dials the landline
She brings up her hand to her forehead as her posture loosens with her elbows on the table
"Is everything ok ?" Shinji asked with concern laced in his voice
She looks over as she contemplates what she'll say
"Oh hello commander, i have those files sent over regarding the 3rd child"
As she talks to his father shinji watches her posture become more ragged more disheveled all signs of stress
"Yes right away sir. Yes. It will be done"
She hangs up as her left hand swiftly moved over to her lab coat pocket retrieving her cigarettes but in her motions she suddenly stops
"Im sorry thats not professional of-"
"Its ok!"
She's stunned by his outburst as he pressies on
"I promise i won't tell anyone, and you look stressed."
She sits still as she debates in her mind as her hand levitates in the air as shinji watches her he can see the battle in her mind
"You won't tell anyone?" She averted her eyes as if afraid to look at him or rather his disapproval
"Yes i promise dr.akagi"
A final moment of hesedency passes before she rips out a cigarette and lights it
Pulling a deep drag turning one fourth of the cancer stick to ash
"You seem stressed" it wasn't a question but an observation
"You could say that"
She laid back against her chair fully embracing the relaxed position
"Yea a lot of adults are like that"
"Its my cats"
Shinji looks up at her as she continues on
"I haven't been back to my apartment in the last 2 days and im worried for them, I've been stuck here and i'm so overwhelmed with work"
Another drag
"I could take care of your cats"
She look at him with surprise
"I wish you could, but you're still under observation. I can't take you out."
"I believe i have found a way to better secure the 3rd child's cooperation"
Ritsuko stood at attention in front of gendo's desk the setting sun cast the light into his office the light obscuring his face
"Indeed with the 3rd child in your constant
Supervision we can closely monitor his health and condition him subliminally"
Gendo shifted through the report looking at the pictures and graphics associated
"Its expected that he'd try to form an attachment with me, making him vulnerable to nerv's influence"
"I concur, you'll have your release paper by the end of the day."
Shinji was excited
This was his first day out of nerv, having spent the last 2 weeks in confinement getting tested this was a welcome change of scenery.
Looking over at the blond scientist in the seat next to him she seemed calm and collected, her driving was slow but methodical.
everything from her lane changes to her use of the turn signal was for a purpose with no error.
"So over the time you're staying with me we'll slowly reintegrate you into the society"
She took an off ramp departing the highway for the slower paced suburb streets passing individual homes with apartments in the distance
"I'm going to be monitoring your mental, physical and emotional health.
With some work we can get you back to a normal life"
"I'd like to thank you again dr.akagi"
Shinji said
She turned down another street
"You don't have to thank me shinji, it's my job to help you."
She stopped at an intersection as a young family passed her gaze followed them as the wife and husband both pulled her young daughter into the air
"After all, we're like family at nerv, it's only right."
"Dr.akagi?"
She was brought back into the moment
And then did she notice the light change.
And she began again
"This is a nice area"
Said shinji his eyes looking at the facade of a passing house
"It is, here we are"
She slows down the car pulling into the driveway of a house.
Said house was a narrow 2 story equipped with a small front yard and waist high wall
Its color was a light baby blue with dark blue accents the picture of a middle class suburban home
"The neighbors are alright, but considering i'm never home anymore i don't think I've ever really seen them"
They walked up to the house as they got closer and some details became clearer.
The front door had a cat door installed,
the grass was unkempt in the corners a quick job to stay in code
Shinji looked to the garden finding dead bushes and weeds sprouting fourth
"Here we are!"
She slid her access card unlocking the door
She stepped in while shinji remained outside
She took off her shoes and walked into the house
"Can I come in ?"
Asked shinji
She stopped looked at him a mischievous grin spread on her face
"What do you think" and walked away