Chapter 35:

Jack had gotten back downstairs from Van Doren's office, feeling deeply deeply frustrated and desperate. Whatever had caused this incident, it hadn't been supposed to happen and it could most definitely have been prevented – just that it was too late for that now. They couldn't get it back and they couldn't change the decisions being made.

When he returned to his own office about half an hour after he had been confronted with that bad news, he found himself face to face with the next surprise the day held for him, though he had no idea if it would be a bad one. Actually it couldn't get much worse any more after what he had just been informed about by his superior.

„Agent Malone? I'm Dr. Riber – we have been talking on the phone."

She had called him yesterday afternoon and had asked him for permission to come over. She hadn't informed him what this would be about, had simply told him she needed to talk to him. But as he knew that the doctor was Danny's therapist, it didn't need much of any imagination to guess why she had come here.

He had to admit that he felt uncomfortable about her visit – he had no right to know about what she wanted to tell him and – even more important – she had no right to tell him.

„Come in."

She entered the office, sat down opposite of him and gave him a look, but didn't say a single thing. Obviously she was as much troubled about this visit than he was. She seemed to have difficulties to find a start and he was trying to help her out.

„What can I do for you, Doctor?"

„I need to talk to you – about Agent Taylor."

Jack wasn't very much able to hide his discomfort about the topic and it didn't take her much of any effort to realize that. Obviously she had expected him to react like that – at least she didn't seem surprised. He was about to ask her for her actual motivation to come here, but was interrupted before he even got a chance to start.

„Look – I know I shouldn't do this... And, yes, I'm aware of doctor-patient confidentiality. I would keep to it, if there was anything to be kept confidential..."

„Pardon me?"

„He isn't talking to me, Agent Malone. He hasn't told me a single thing about what happened to him. He claims he doesn't remember."

„But you don't believe him?"

„Every last reaction shows me that he's lying. He's traumatized, deeply, deeply traumatized and he can't deal with it. Unfortunately he will neither have anyone else help him deal with it."

She sounded frustrated to him – had sounded like this since she had started her explanations and he could understand her. She was a therapist and it was her job to help - Danny however had decided not to allow her to do that. Still – Jack didn't get why she had actually come here. Her problems were none of his concern, Danny's condition was nothing he should know about, shouldn't have known about in first place...

Maybe Dr. Riber had believed she would do him a favor by telling him. If Danny would return to work, the younger agent's mental state was very well his concern. But Jack however had the slight feeling the female therapist had simply needed someone she could talk to, someone she could openly tell about her frustration. Still, he couldn't explain why she had chosen him.

„What did you come here for, Dr. Riber?"

He tried to stay friendly and sound polite, but he didn't very well manage. He couldn't keep a slight tone of annoyance from his voice. But she didn't seem to feel offended, still wearing a slight sad smile on her face.

„I have to let him go."

„Wait a second – didn't you just say he was deeply traumatized?"

„He is, but that alone isn't reason enough to keep him in hospital. Everyone who has to experience the loss of a family member or who is witnessing a crime is traumatized by it, just that this doesn't give me the right to put them in psychiatry. And neither do I have the right to keep him there."

The therapist was right. The hospital had to make certain decisions about whether or not a patient was to be kept under care and obviously Danny no longer fit that profile. Actually Jack was supposed to feel happy about that fact – getting his agent back. But the fact that Danny was still deeply affected by the experience and would not deal with it, simply keeping it locked up inside, trying to forget it – he couldn't feel all too triumphant about it.

„He's capable to take care of himself, he's not a danger to himself, he's not delusional, he's not suicidal and he's not violent – at least not any more..."

Jack winced by her last few words. Obviously she had at least managed to keep a close eye on Danny. But he couldn't really believe the injured man had attacked someone – Danny simply didn't seem capable of that right at the moment. When Jack had last seen him, he had barely been able to breathe on his own.

„What does that mean not any more´?"

"There has been an incident with one of the orderlies some weeks ago."

"What happened?"

The expression on her face changed to a very serious one, like he had just asked her a very delicate question. She crossed her arms before her chest, her lips mimicking a thin line and looked at him, her voice barely hiding her newly aflamed frustration when she answered.

"I don't know. He wouldn't tell me."

She was definitely not willing to tell him anything else and actually he really had no ambition to push it. However – although she had started – she still hadn't answered his question. The expectant gaze on his face, which he gave her, seemed to be enough for her to understand that he was still waiting for a proper answer.

"I actually came here to prepare you. I know it sounds hard, but believe me, it will be necessary. There are certain things you shouldn't be doing, certain rules to stick to."

He was somehow confused by her reaction. She was trying to keep them from triggering a breakdown, although – even if it sounded cruel – that had to be the one thing she actually wanted. Releasing Danny back into the real world and make him see that his mental state, his trauma left him unable to cope with a normal every day life. It was the one thing she had tried to make him see for weeks now, finally having him talk to her.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because triggering a panic attack or a breakdown, which will force him back to my care won't help. He doesn't trust me already and if I intentionally cause something like this to happen to him... I would lose every last chance to ever reach him. You need to understand that the main emotion I have been experiencing from him is anger. He's so very, very angry – and focusing that anger on me will not improve the already extremely tensed doctor-patient relation we have."

"So you want us to cope with his emotional problems?"

She looked deeply offended by his words – like he had misunderstood the noble intention behind her attempt. Well then – he had. To him this was simply looking like she didn't wanna bother trying any more...

"No, I am not. All I'm trying is to finally make him realize that he's not okay, that he is in desperate need of somebody's help – mine in particular. Everything I tried so far wouldn't make him see that. So I'm doing what he wants me to – I'm sending him back to his every day life and I want him to have the less stressful surrounding possible.

The breakdown will come, Agent Malone. I'm sorry to say it, but it will happen. I'm just trying to create a situation where it's impossible for him to blame anyone else for what is going to happen. And happen it will. To answer your question: No, I don't want you to cope with his troubles.

I want him to finally do it."