Wilson was never really known for staying still for long periods of time. He could sit to rest for an hour or two but then he would be back up on his feet again, working on whatever he needed to tend to. He found he got twitchy if he didn't.

Which was what was making his current situation unbearable.

He wanted to get up and work but that would be unwise and the injuries on his chest were a perfect reminder of why he shouldn't.

His hands were grabbing at his sheets, trembling. He need to do something. He just had to.

M-Maybe a small walk wouldn't hurt. Fresh air is always nice. Yeah. Always nice. I just… I just need fresh air. That's all. It'll be quick. Real quick.

Wilson sat up slowly, keeping a hand over his chest. It took a few minutes but soon he was out of bed and making his way out of the medical building as quiet as possible so as to not draw attention to himself.

Just a quick walk. Real quick. Nothing major. Just need to clear my head.

Wilson brought his other hand to his head, rubbing one of his temples.

"Like this is going to solve it." said a voice. "You know what's really driving you mad. We need to find out who that man was. Till we do, we're not going to be able to make any progress."

"Perhaps." Wilson frowned. "I… I don't want to rush into anything though." He looked behind him, eyes widening as he saw no one was behind him.

What the heck was that about? He winced as one of his injuries flared up. He shook his head as he continued on.

"You know, if you walk behind Wigfrid and Wes' house you'll find where she keeps her spare weapons. You could grab one and make it to the portal. No one would see it."

Wilson looked around, trying to find where the voice was coming from.

"Have you forgotten me already? Look at the wall, genius."

Wilson did as told, seeing his shadow, eyes widening as he saw the shape was slightly different. It had wilder hair and wore a different outfit that had pointy shoulders and had a sword in hand.

"We made a deal, remember?"

Wilson backed up shaking his head.

"N-No we did not. No, no, NO!"

The shadow shook as if it was laughing.

"You really did forget! That we need to work together to keep your sad little head in one piece."

Wilson brought a hand to his eyes, shaking his head, taking another look.

It was still there.

What's wrong with me..?

"Tch. I guess I was right, you are scared of being like Maxwell. You're scared of becoming me since that's what THEY would want." The shadow laughed. "Come on. It wouldn't be so bad to be something different. You could do so much more if you let me take the reigns. It would be fun."

Wilson shook his head.

"No… No!"

"I could easily take out that stranger. Come on, just this once."

"NO!"

Wilson fell to his knees, holding his head, the veins around his forehead turning black.

"No no no no! I… I can't! I'm not… SHUT UP!"

"Awww… Poor scared little Wilson." The shadow's voice went cold. "You really are pathetic."

"STOP IT!"

Keep it together. Keep it together. KEEP IT TOGETHER!

"You're just a coward. Why don't you walk off just like your old man?"

"SILENCE! JUST SHUT UP!" He screamed, tears running down his face. "Just please… Please…"

Wilson wasn't aware of someone watching him as they ran up to him. He had his eyes closed, tightly trying not to cry out again.

"Papa!"

Something was slipped over Wilson's head as some of the pain started to ebb away.

W-What's going on..?

He could hear the voice try to utter something as it started to fade. His eyes slowly opened, seeing his shadow was back to normal, crouched on the ground just like he was… and a smaller shadow kneeling beside him.

"Papa..?" Wendy tilted his head a little bit, worry in her blue eyes. "Are you okay?"

"I… I don't know…" Wilson glanced around, his breathing rigid, his body trembling. "I… I don't know what just happened I… I think…" Wilson brought his hands to his face. "I think I just had a panic attack."

Wendy frowned, stroking his back.

"Oh, goodness, Papa. I'm sorry." She looked around, realizing how long he must have been walking to get where they were. They were just behind their house in the garden. "Did you even remember walking all the way out here?"

"N-No, not really." He sighed shakily. "Something's wrong. I don't know what but it's wrong."

"Do you want to talk about it, Papa?"

"I… I don't even know where to start I just…" Wilson closed his eyes. "I just don't know if I'm losing my mind or I'm just… just… I don't know…"

Wendy kept stroking his back.

"What was happening? Do you wanna tell me? You don't have to if you don't wanna." She gave him a worried look. "Daddy says it's always good to let it out though only if you feel comfortable doing it."

Wilson looked up at her, staring for a moment before speaking.

"... My own shadow was taunting me. I couldn't think clearly or… anything. I just… I felt weak. It was mocking me. I… I… I don't want to lose my mind… I don't want to be like… I don't want to be what They wanted me to be."

"You're not gonna wind up like that." Wendy hugged him tightly. "You already proved you won't be like that. Remember that big fight against Maxwell? When you double crossed him?"

"How could I forget?" Wilson looked away from her. "I could hear all their voices at once… But… But somehow I didn't lose it. Y-Yet it still feels like… feels like…"

"Feels like…?"

Wilson lowered his head.

"Feels like I'm going to lose it at some point. You saw what just happened."

"I did and Papa… it happens to everyone. I just didn't think it was possible in this world too."

Wilson looked to her, confusion in his eyes.

"Huh? W-What do you mean?"

Wendy rubbed the back of her neck.

"W-When me and Abi first got sent to The Constant… We knew a lot about insanity. We didn't before - Daddy's a doctor but he doesn't deal with that stuff. He fixed the body, not the mind." She explained. "After a few days there, I started to get really bad headaches and Abi kept trying to get me to stop thinking about it. So, we picked flowers and I noticed it was helping me feel better."

"You never told me this."

"That was before winter." She reached up, touching the thing on Wilson's head. "I figured out making flower wreaths could help make the headache go away a little. See?"

Wilson gazed up, seeing the flower wreath on his head.

"My head does feel better… How did you know so much?"

"I guess it just came with our deal with Maxwell. Our own dark knowledge." Wendy smiled a little. "But that's not important right now. Right now, I want you feeling better."

Wilson smiled a little, kissing her head.

"How on Earth did I get so lucky?"

"I dunno."

He brought an arm around her, keeping her close, cringing as his injuries flared once more.

"Augh…"

"You overdid it."

"I did."

Wendy pouted before kissing his chin.

"I'll help."

"By all means."

Wendy took his hand, leading him out into the garden before laying him down in a flower bed full of blue flowers that had a faint green glow to them. She lied down beside him, cuddling close.

"I found these flowers help soothe pain and even help heal cuts. Discovered that when I cut my hand on a branch and was near a path of them."

Wilson stroked her hair.

"I am so proud of you. You really have been busy yourself, haven't you?"

"A little. I wanted to make our garden pretty and… well, I like finding uses for flowers. Some are good for healing like these, some are good for eating."

"You really are a good girl." He closed his eyes, sighing in relief as the pain in his body and his head started to fade.

"You're a good papa."

"Nah… just me."

Wendy smiled, kissing his cheek.

"And that's what makes you great."