Chapter 8

Dr. Glassman sat at his table reading a newspaper. There was then a knock at the door. Dr. Glassman got up and opened the door to see Shaun.

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said. "You're back."

"I had an early flight," Shaun said.

"Come in," Dr. Glassman said. "I want to talk to you."

Shaun entered the house and he and Dr. Glassman sat on the couch.

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said. "You can't just pretend to be sick and go on a vacation."

"I didn't technically go on a vacation," Shaun said. "I went to see my best friend who almost died."

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said. "This residency is hard to obtain."

"I know," Shaun said. "I didn't want to lie, but Lea said I had to."

"But it was your decision," Dr. Glassman said. "Not Lea's."

"I know," Shaun said. "I decided to take Lea's advice so I could see Max. He's my best friend."

"You hardly know him," Dr. Glassman said.

"No," Shaun said. "I know him well. We both are on the spectrum and we both lost our brothers."

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said.

"Let me talk," Shaun said. "I am talking, you're not."

"Sorry," Dr. Glassman said.

"When Max was watching after me during the Harietti case, we went swimming," Shaun said. "When he told me about how he tried to take his own life, he was crying. I hugged him tightly and told him he was my best friend, and I held him tightly until he stopped crying. When I said he was my best friend, I meant it. He's more than that, he's my brother."

Dr. Glassman looked at Shaun's face.

"I understand," Dr. Glassman said.

"Thank you," Shaun said.

Shaun hugged Dr. Glassman and Dr. Glassman found himself hugging Shaun back.

"I love you," Dr. Glassman said.

"I love you more," Shaun said.

Later that day, Lea and Shaun sat at the kitchen counter eating pizza.

"So you're going back to work tomorrow," Lea said.

"Yes," Shaun said. "After I eat this pizza, I'm going to bed."

"It's on 6:30," Lea said.

"This is my last chance to get a good night's sleep," Shaun said. "I want to enjoy it."

After eating the pizza, Shaun went into his room, changed into his pajamas, and put on his favorite socks. He then turned off the light and lied down on his bed underneath the covers. His phone chimed

"Who could that be?" Shaun asked himself.

Shaun picked up his phone and looked to see a text from Clark.

"Talked to my doctor, and I'm getting my casts off tomorrow," Shaun read to himself.

Shaun smiled, and typed "Good luck". He then sent the text, sat his phone down on the nightstand, and went to sleep.

THE END