Grell allowed himself to be escorted to the lobby without trouble, but as soon as he was there he turned around and walked back to the check-in desk.

"Hello again~ I'm here for a visit."

"Mister Sutcliff!" The guard intervened, "You cannot cheat and get more visitation time by checking in again right away. Come back tomorrow."

"I'm not asking to see my bunny!" Grell shook his head mockingly, "I have more than one lunatic in this place and nothing says I can't visit with another handsome man the same day! I wish to have time with Will Spears. He tried to murder me, you know~"

"All the more reason for you not to visit him," muttered the guard. "You will have to fill out the proper documentation to request a visit with Mister Spears, and of course you must be aware that he has the right to refuse."

"Why would he refuse me? I'm his best friend!" Grell waved him off. "Give me the paperwork."

He smirked, well aware of the unbelieving looks he was getting from those present in the room. Truly, according to society's outlook, Grell was the one that should have been committed rather than William. But Grell had no intention of allowing himself to be locked back up.

"Then come right this way," gritted out the guard, obviously losing patience with him. He guided Grell to the reception area so that he could fill out the proper documentation to get a visit with William.

Will came damned close to rejecting the visitation request when they informed him that Grell Sutcliff had put it in. Guilt was a heavy cloak around him though, and he was above all a proper and mannerly reaper. He thought that he at least owed the bothersome redhead an explanation. After all, he'd visited Grell a couple of times when Sutcliff was briefly committed to this place. There was no good reason to deny him, save for the risk of Grell pushing him to the brink once more.

"Fine, send him in," he sighed after a moment's thought. "Please see to it that there is an orderly present, though. Sutcliff was the determining factor to my decision to commit myself here, after all."

The doctor gave a respectful nod. "Yes, of course. I think this is an important step for you to take, Mister Spears."

William tried to relax against the couch and he looked out the window. "If you believe so, Dr. Jenkins. I myself wonder over the wisdom of allowing this, but I mustn't be uncouth."

The doctor smirked a bit. "You put so much importance on good manners, Agent Spears. Has it ever occurred to you that part of your problem lies with your unbending sense of propriety?"

William smirked a bit himself. "Yes, the thought has occurred to me. As advised by my partner, I am attempting to rectify that and...loosen up."

Dr. Jenkins chuckled. "I wonder if there's enough medication in the world to achieve that...but it's your choice. I'll have Agent Sutcliff brought in here to the activity room with an escort, as requested."

William gave an elegant nod of his head. He might have been in the office, for all his mannerisms. "Please do. I find this area comforting."

Not even five minutes later, Grell sat in a chair across from William, his ankle crossed over his knee as he leaned back, twisting his long hair into a loose braid over his shoulder.

"I didn't want to see you," the redhead admitted, breaking the awkward silence between them. "It was quite upsetting for me last time we saw each other but my little bunny told me it'd be good for you, and like it or not, you are still my friend and I do want to see you out of this place. You don't belong here, Darling."

William stared at him suspiciously. He crossed his legs and leaned back on the couch, wondering what his angle was and who in the hells this "bunny" was that Grell spoke of. "I should think that I do, given what I nearly did to you. As abrasive as I often find you, Sutcliff, my attacking another Dispatch agent is no small thing. My behavior was inexcusable."

Will lowered his gaze, his mouth compressing into a thin line as he replayed the moment in his head. It was mostly a blur, but he did recall one very important thing about it. "It wasn't you. What I mean to say is, I was not seeing you in the moment. I was seeing a Nazi officer. I was...delusional. Somehow you, Jeffries and Knox managed to get through these assignments with your sanity intact, and yet I myself did not. You say that I don't belong in here but even in your darkest moments, you never once attacked one of your own. You've no idea how much I wish I could agree with you about my mental state, Grell. I would love nothing more than to go home and enjoy a long day off with Ronald in my arms, and I apologize if that statement hurts you."

He sighed and he looked Grell in the eyes. "I love him. There, I've said it."

"You seem so sure I wouldn't have turned on one of my own had things ended differently. Might I remind you that you came to get me after I had been defeated, Darling. Had it been you rather than the Phantomhive brat and Sebby, I would have crossed scythes with you instead. I was quite enjoying myself, Will, and I didn't wish for it to end."

The redhead smiled, "And thank you for finally confirming your feelings to me. Ronnie's important to me and you have been a bit rough with my heart. I didn't wish to see him suffer the same. I have known for some time that I'm not your soul mate, my cold prince, but I wasn't about to stop our little game. Now that you are with Ronnie, I'll back off a little more."

William regarded him warily. Dare he believe that Sutcliff was being sincere with him? Past experience had colored his opinion of the crimson reaper in quite and unflattering light. "So you mean to tell me that all it takes is for me to be committed to another to end your inappropriate behavior towards me? My rejection of your advances wasn't enough for you?"

A part of him warned that he was treading on dangerous ground. Grell Sutcliff had never taken "no" for an answer before and honestly, he couldn't be certain that it was the delusion of the moment that had prompted him and not his lingering frustration and resentment. He admitted to himself that he had perhaps resorted to unkind methods to deal with Grell's advances, but what else was he to do when every attempt to pry the redhead's clingy attentions off of him only resulted in more flirtation?

"If you are sincere about being committed." Grell corrected, examining a fingernail when he spotted that his red polish had started chipping off. "I'm very open about my advances, Will, but I don't pursue involved men. And a man who would cheat on his lover with another isn't worth his weight in salt. Why would I be interested in such a distasteful man? I'll stick to those available, thank you."

He lowered his hand and regarded William once more, "I'm more understanding than you think, Will. You were a dream that would never come true. I knew that."

William sighed and he briefly shut his eyes, massaging his temples. "I fear I shall never understand how your logic works. I am however...glad...that you came to visit me. As much as you provoke me to anger, Grell Sutcliff, I must apologize for my treatment of you. It was extreme and I thought myself to be more in control than that."

He opened his eyes to look at him again. "Strange, how you mentioned you don't believe I belong in here. The Undertaker said much the same. Either I've gone crazier than I thought or the two of you lunatics make more sense than I suspected. I certainly don't feel I fit in here. I cannot relate to a single other patient."

Well, that last part wasn't entirely true. He related far too strongly to his former mentor. Of all the other patients in this place, the Undertaker was the only one that William felt any sense of empathy with...but he'd been blaming that on their past connection to each other. What if he truly could not get the help he needed in this place?

"You haven't had control of your self around me for years, Will. I just finally pushed your buttons at the wrong time this time. It was bound to happen. And you really don't belong here. I've been here before and I can tell you that I belong here more than you. But I'm willing to leave you here because you think you need it. Bunny, however, disagrees that you should waste time here at all."

"'Bunny'?" Repeated William at a loss. "I really don't know whom you are speaking of, but I am beginning to suffer doubts concerning my decision. I sit here day by day listening to the ailments of others and the advice of the staff, and none of it feels quite right. The fact that I question myself makes me wonder if perhaps I was precisely correct in my decision, however. Insane people don't generally classify themselves as such."

William looked out the window with a troubled frown. "But what is done is done. I cannot leave here of my own volition now, even if I wish to. I gave myself over to their care and my willingness no longer matters to them. I must undergo their treatment and it is up to my doctors to decide when and if I am ready to leave."

The same could be said of the Undertaker, and William silently wondered if the man would ever walk out of this place again—unless he broke out himself. He had no doubt that the mortician would leave when he got tired of being here and gods help the fools that attempted to stop him.

"Madness is in the eye of the beholder." Grell shrugged, "But being mad doesn't mean you can't function just fine on your own. Just look at Bunny and I if you want proof of that!" Grell giggled, enjoying his new nickname for the Undertaker entirely too much. "Anyway, I think Bunny cares for you, otherwise he wouldn't have done what he did."

William's eyes widened with the realization of who this 'bunny' was. "You...and the Undertaker? S-surely not."

He almost couldn't fathom it...but then he recalled the interest his old mentor had shown in Sutcliff and how often Grell extolled the man's looks despite his anger at him. "Good lords, please don't tell me..."

"You are jumping the gun, Will." Grell waved his fingers at him. "We've only shared one kiss, and that was half to fluster the guard who kept huffing at Unnie-bunny not to touch while we discussed things."

William massaged his temples again. "I'm going to try and not focus on the way you keep referring to him as your 'bunny'. When and how did this happen, Grell? A short while ago you were complaining over the damage he did to your face and swearing you would have your revenge! You are also reportedly the agent that brought him in. Help me to understand this odd development, if you please. You...you kissed him? In here? Before a guard?"

It was ridiculously surreal to him and William began to feel like he'd fallen down the rabbit hole like Alice.

"I got my revenge!" Grell insisted, "Chopped his hand right off!

Grell grinned with pride for his actions. "He was stalking me, you know, I was shopping and he was following me so I lured him into an alley and as he came upon my hiding spot, I took his hand off before he could do anything!"

He giggled and flipped his braid back over his shoulder so that it fell down his back as he leaned forward. "He then asked about you and when I told him where you were he asked me to turn him in. I shouldn't have, though, now they are putting me in a management position and won't take no for an answer! So I came back to chew him out for making me have credit for his capture.

"Oh, and I didn't kiss him. He kissed me." Grell added as an afterthought.

William only felt more confused, if anything. "So you managed to chop the Undertaker's hand off and then the two of you simply stood there in the alley and had a chat? And then he kissed you and asked you to apprehend him? And then they gave you a management position?"

Goodness, his old mentor was even more insane than he thought. Kissing them was the very last reaction Will could imagine himself having to having someone cut off his hand. The bit about Grell's promotion was the only part that made any sense at all to him.

"I believe I'm getting a headache."

"It's refreshing to find someone just as sane as I am~" Grell giggled, "But no, not quite. He kissed me today when I visited him, not in the alley when he asked me to apprehend him. I did, however tease him with nibbling his fingers when he couldn't feel it."

William stared at him with furrowed brows. "Your observation was correct, Grell Sutcliff: I am not the one who should be in here, of the two of us."

"No, you aren't," agreed a low, amused voice from the other side of the room. The Undertaker came shuffling over with a bright grin and he gave a bow to them as the two agents stared at him. "Hullo again, pretty love. They've allowed me to come out and socialize for a bit and I heard you were still hanging about visiting Willy. Good to see I didn't miss you."

William's temples and forehead were steadily throbbing. "I wish I could understand what's going on, here."

Undertaker plopped down on the chair next to Grell's and he scooched it closer. "We're in a loony bin. Pay attention, Willy."

He impulsively grabbed Grell's hand in his and he gave it a familiar squeeze.

Grell giggled. "Looks like we get more than fifteen minutes despite what that guard kept sputtering~" he cooed at the silver reaper, forgetting why he'd wanted to visit William despite his not actually wanting to.

"Indeed, the joke's on them," agreed the mortician with a chuckle.

"Wait, I don't understand," said William helplessly. "Sutcliff came to visit you first?"

The Undertaker shrugged and nodded. "Just before visiting you, chap. You did try to reap the lady, after all. Don't get sore over it."

"But...he is the one that brought you in..."

"With my blessings," agreed the mortician with another nod. "I suggested it, in fact."

Yes, William had heard that same thing from Grell just moments before, but damned if he could work out the logic behind it. "You told him to bring you in after finding out that I was here. Why?"

Undertaker sighed as if trying to reason with a particularly stupid child. "Because you need the aid of a madman if you're to retain your sanity, m'dear. Not doctors."

William stood up, completely losing control of his temper. "Neither of you make any bloody sense! I want straight answers, right now!"

"Shh, lad," hushed the Undertaker when a couple of orderlies looked William's way and tensed. "No need t' get yourself all trussed up in one of those nice jackets, now. Trust me, it's hell when you find yourself needing to scratch your nose or bollocks and your arms are wrapped up too tight to do it. Er...pardon my language, love." The last part he said to Grell, and he kissed the crimson reaper's hand.

"We aren't exactly giving you twisted answers, Will." Grell pointed out, "I think you just don't want to understand it. Or, at least, parts of it."

William forced himself to calm and he sat back down again. "I want to know exactly what happened, without any ridiculous embellishments or colorful language. Undertaker, why did you give yourself up to Grell rather than agree to surrender the night I called the authorities? I do not understand this change of heart or your alleged reasons for it."

"Well it's simple, really," insisted the mortician. "I didn't initially have any reason to turn myself in to Dispatch, but then Miss Sutcliff here lopped off my hand and held it hostage. Granted, I probably could have gotten it back through force if I had to, but then Grell told me you'd had yourself committed. Seeing as I know firsthand what you're going through and I also know from experience that the treatment they offer here won't help 'tall, I decided to bargain with Miss Sutcliff. My hand in exchange for my surrender. It was my only chance to see you and help you through this, lad. What you suffer from isn't just stress from the trauma of war. You opened yourself up to the spirit world during your journeys through Germany and once you've done that so completely, the door can never be closed again."

William lowered his gaze, heart thumping painfully with the implications of what he'd just heard. "What proof have you that all of it is not merely in my head, sir? Forgive me if I am reluctant to take the word of a madman."

Undertaker leaned forward, placing his hands on his knees. He shook his bangs aside to look Will in the eye. "You only hear 'em when you're in the mortal realm, don't you? Haven't heard a peep since stepping into ours."

William recoiled a bit and he answered carefully, watching the ancient as if he were a snake about to strike. "I suppose that's true. I did hallucinate, though."

The Undertaker nodded. "That's a symptom of it too—or else that part was actually from traumatic stress. It's hard to say. What I do know is that the restless dead won't just leave off, even if their voices can't reach you on this side."

"Then one could reason that all I need to do is remain in this realm," suggested William. "My position in the organization is a desk job, more often than not. Surely if I—"

"You aren't hearing me, love," interrupted the mortician. "It doesn't work that way, else I'd have stayed myself rather than defect. You've got to learn how to control it or it will control you, sooner or later. I never had the benefit of guidance when it got to me and...well, you've seen the result. I'd rather not see you end up like myself. It's too late for me but I can help you, if you'll let me."

"And how exactly do you propose to help me?" Demanded William. "You couldn't even help yourself, and look at where you ended up."

"True, but I've learned things since then, and if I teach them to you, there's a chance you could still live a normal life." The Undertaker shrugged. "It's up to you, Willy. Rely on their treatment and slowly deteriorate 'till you're as mad as I am, or trust in my methods and learn to control it yourself. I can't force you."

William sighed and looked out the window again. "I don't see that I have any choice in the matter. I may as well go along with it, as long as I am here. They aren't likely to release me anytime soon, so I suppose it cannot harm anything."

At lease, he hoped not. Part of him wondered if the ancient's madness was just contagious like a disease and he'd somehow caught it from him.

Grell pressed a red-painted finger to the corner of his mouth in thought, "Should I even say anything more? I already have what I originally wanted from Will, and I don't want to get him to get overly upset again."

"My rage with you is gone," sighed William. "Now all I feel is exhaustion. I cannot even muster the energy to be annoyed with you, Sutcliff."

"That's likely due to the medication they've got us on," guessed the Undertaker. "I'm feeling rather mellow myself. At least I'm not drooling anymore."

"I've sometimes known you to drool without the influence of drugs, sir." William managed a tired smirk at him. "No need to make excuses."

The mortician wiped his mouth self-consciously. "Do I? My, that doesn't sound very attractive."

Will shrugged. "When you work yourself into a frenzy of hilarity, yes. By the by, I took my medication hours ago and I became plenty agitated with you both earlier. I don't believe they have me on the same regime of pills they've prescribed to you. After all, I don't have your dangerous reputation despite my actions against Sutcliff."

"Hmm, good point. Well, shall we work out a schedule then? We could meet each day in the yard and get started right away on your lessons. Best to find someplace that's a bit private. If the staff overhears some of the things I'm going to tell you they'll write me off as a kook for certain."

"I can let Ronnie know when you'll be with Bunny." Grell offered. "That way he can come visit when you aren't getting unofficial help."

William grudgingly thanked him.

The days passed a little quicker for Will after that. Having his old mentor's frequent company was more comforting than he would have thought, and he began to learn more about something he'd already discovered: he could quiet the voices. He did not know if it would work at all times, and it was difficult to practice in this realm where he couldn't hear them anyway. Undertaker assured him that it was more of an exercise in willpower than and focus than anything else.

"I should let you know that the dead can sometimes be helpful, Will," explained the mortician softly one Friday afternoon after a little over a week had passed. "For whatever reason, they're drawn to us and they can be of assistance. The trick is to know when they're getting too overbearing and not let 'em crowd you."

"And you truly believe these exercises will prevent this from getting out of control?" William opened his eyes after practicing for several moments.

The Undertaker shrugged. "Couldn't hurt, could it? The sooner you get out of here, the sooner you can test it out. Just keep playing the cooperative patient until your next evaluation and you could be getting out of here sooner than you thought."

"Yet I doubt the same could be said of you," William pointed out grimly.

Undertaker smirked. "Right. Never said I planned to stay in here once I've finished helping you though—regardless of what those quacks say."

William sighed. "I wish you would reconsider thoughts of breaking out and just allow them to treat you. The damage has already been done and you aren't likely to get any worse staying here."

"But I might just wind up bored to death." The mortician smiled. "Just you worry about your own issues, Willy."

William started to check his watch, but then he remembered they allowed no jewelry or accessories to patients. "I believe Ronald should be here soon for a visit, going by the time when we came out here."

"Then let's go back inside. I'm due for more droopy pills anyhow."

Will glanced at him and he hoped the man wasn't becoming addicted to the meds they'd put him on.

"Can I start telling people you're my boyfriend?" Ron asked after he sat down with William in Will's favorite spot in the gardens. They had put in to be allowed private time together, but were still waiting to hear on it being approved or rejected. "The girls down in records, amongst others, won't believe me when I say I'm involved with someone and they are getting overbearingly annoying. Maybe if I give them your name they'll back off. I am even getting love letters in my inbox slipped in with my paperwork!"

William blinked at him, taken off guard by the question and the reason behind it. His mouth twitched as he imagined Ronald trying to fight of amorous girls that were as bad as Grell at taking no for an answer. "Well, that did not take long after your return," he observed, pressing his fingers against his lips to control them. "Not that I particularly hold them in blame."

Will put his hand on Ronald's knee and he rubbed it. "I had hoped to wait until I return from this 'vacation' of mine, but the reality of where I am has been kept quiet, or so I've been told. I simply did not want you to get judged for dating a mental patient. Unless Sutcliff has been spreading the word around that I'm in here and not still away on business, it should not hurt anything."

For William, that was a big step. He surprised himself by agreeing to it so readily at such a time, but that was only more evidence that he had indeed fallen for Ronald.

"Really?" Ronald blinked. He had asked but had doubts that William would be ready to go public with their relationship. His lips pulled into a grin and he took Will's hand in his, giving it a squeeze to let him know how much it meant to him that he didn't have to keep hiding it.

"The only thing Grell dramatizes these days is the amount of deskwork he has in his new position. He keeps trying to sneak out to spend time out in the field. Don't worry, no one but a small handful of people know where you really are, and Eric and Alan have their lips zipped up tight."

William trusted that was true, knowing how forceful the Scotsman could be when it suited his purpose. "I've been thinking about it often whilst in here, and I realized my reluctance to go public with it stemmed from my own inexperience with commitment."

He also entertained the rather irrational fear that he would be jinxing it by announcing it. William was a cautious reaper when it came to happiness. He was so used to it never lasting that he kept expecting it to end.

"No...I don't think that's right. You have committed yourself to your job in ways that I could only dream of. I doubt it's commitment issues." Ronald said, sliding closer, "If you don't mind my honesty, I think it was more a fear of shattering the image those walls you built around you create for everyone at the office. No one would think you would get involved with anyone, well, other than the rumored one night stands that circulate. They like to see you as a robot rather than a reaper. I think you had feared that if they found out about us, then they wouldn't respect your authority anymore and production levels would drop."

William was silent for a while. Not because Ronald was wrong about that, but because nobody had ever seen inside of him that way except for the Undertaker. Nor had anyone ever penetrated those barriers the way they did. One was a lover, the other a paternal figure. Both saw who he was better even than himself.

"I did entertain that fear," he confessed slowly. Opening up was still very difficult for him, and admitting that he was afraid at all was even worse. "I suppose my father taught me to wall myself up that way. Show any sign of weakness and people will lose respect for you. I couldn't have it."

Then again, his father had never respected him even when he succeeded in maintaining a professional, cool demeanor. Nothing was ever good enough. He began to wonder if all of his personal detachment from the world of the living was what opened him up to the world of the dead. He recalled the Undertaker's advice to him just a couple of days before.

"People need to connect, William. Even reapers. When you hold yourself back so thoroughly from all of your peers, you get lonely. Part of you starts t' reach out whether you know it or not. It's a natural social need, and if you can't socialize with the living...well..."

He hadn't really been paying attention to him, truthfully. His mind had been on his situation and what arrangements he would soon have to make to begin taking steps to get out of the asylum.

William huffed and shook his head. Once, he clung to every word the Undertaker said to him. His loss of respect for the man caused him to miss a vital piece of information that potentially answered his questions about why this was happening to him and none of his coworkers assigned to the wartime reapings.

"Ronald...I think I did this to myself."

"Mind if I sock your father in the jaw next time I see him?" Ron asked, leaning in and kissing Will's cheek in a comforting manner. "And did what to yourself?"

All he could think of was the fact that William had committed himself to this place, which did seem to be helping him in ways. Will was starting to let go of things that he'd normally hold back on, such as keeping their relationship a secret.

"Opened a door I may not be able to shut," Will tried to explain. "The voices of the dead. Undertaker said something to the effect that when we shut ourselves off from the living, we open ourselves up to the dead. In my efforts to be a master of myself and my emotions, I withdrew from those around me and...well, Mentor believes both he and I subconsciously invited those ghosts in, because not even reapers are meant to be completely isolated."

William sighed, wondering how he was ever going to lead a normal life again. "Hmph...normal. My life was never that to begin with," he muttered beneath his breath. All of his colleagues shared a comradery with one another that he held back from. Even Grell in his annoying way enjoyed a closeness with some of his coworkers. He even seemed to grow attached to Jeffries, though he'd been so disdainful of him in the beginning. Will looked at Ronald and he tilted his head slightly, admiring the way the dappled sunlight shone through the foliage and highlighted his two-toned hair.

"The Undertaker was right," he murmured. "You have been an important anchor for me, because you have taught me to interact with someone living—and not just distantly as an associate or a casual bed partner. I...wonder if that might be what saves me from the same fate he suffered, in the end."

"Then I'll be your savior." Ronald promised, slipping his arms around William, "And I can slowly help you learn what friendship is. Eric, Alan, and even Grell-senpai will help too, I'm sure."

"If it's all the same to you, don't extend that invitation to Sutcliff just yet," Will said with a dry smirk, "I believe this requires baby steps and he's rather more like a giant leap."

He returned Ronald's embrace and he nuzzled the spot where his shoulder met his neck. "By the way," William murmured, "I have put in a request for a day pass or an overnight pass at the end of the month, should my evaluation prove satisfactory enough. If they grant it to me, I shall be permitted to go home with you for twenty-four hours."

"Oh shit, I better start cleaning," Ronald joked. He had been careful not to make any huge messes in Will's apartment, and there were only a few dirty glasses in the sink and the clothes he'd brought over from his place were draped over various furnisher.

"Just Eric and Alan, then. Maybe we can have a double date with them when you are granted leave."

"I...suppose," William said hesitantly. He didn't know if he was ready for such a thing, honestly. His thoughts were to spend the entire time with Ronald, and he didn't particularly want to risk being seen out and about by anyone from their department when they'd fabricated a story that he was still away in another country.

"I won't push you to." Ronald reassured him. "Just think it over while you have time. It's worth that much if it can possibly help you get better. If you decide to try, I'll set it up for us, if not...then we'll spend the day just us two."

William thought about it for a moment. He'd entrusted Slingby and Humphries with the supervision of his department while he was gone. They were good agents and they rarely annoyed him—at least, not Humphries. Perhaps there was a compromise. "We could invite them to my apartment for lunch or dinner," he suggested. "Or perhaps a film. I would rather not be seen in public and a quiet, two hour gathering in the privacy of the apartment would be acceptable."

Ronald nodded, "Double dates don't have to be out in public. When you are granted the leave, I'll extend the invitation to the two of them. No point in doing so now when we don't know for sure that you will be able to come home at all, yet."

"Agreed," said William. He started to lean in for another kiss, but he saw one of the orderlies walking the path going by their little sanctuary, so he held off. He wasn't sure they could get in trouble for a simple kiss, but he didn't wish to temp fate.

Ronald wet his lips and checked his wrist watch for the time. He hated having such a short window for his visits, and he really hoped that they would start approving the requests that William had put in. Already half their time together had been used up.

"There you are," said the orderly when he spotted them. He had sandy blond hair and a pair of green-framed glasses. He was built like Eric in height and size—an advantage in the event that a patient got aggressive and needed to be restrained. "Sorry to interrupt you two, but visiting time's got to be cut short—"

A figure in resident jumpers with long silver hair rushed silently up behind the man and the orderly suddenly yelped.

"Tag! You're it!"

The orderly spun around with wide eyes as the Undertaker ran off down the path, giggling maniacally with his hair whipping behind him.

"What in Styx," blurted the orderly, rubbing his bum. "Undertaker? You're supposed to be...in...your...room..."

The poor man took two steps and fell to the ground in a sprawl, out cold. William stood up abruptly, just as bewildered as the orderly had been. He'd gotten to know him well enough to be on a first name basis with him, but the orderly still referred to Will by his surname out of respect.

"Carl? Are you—"

Before Will could finish the sentence, the Undertaker peeked around the corner he'd just turned, and he came hurrying back in long strides. "Is he out?" He nudged the hapless man with his bare foot. "Mm, seems so."

"What did you do?" Thundered William.

"Hush, Willy." The Undertaker dragged the unconscious, drooling orderly into the bushes. "I'll come back for him. Looks like the shock of getting a pinch on the bum from me was just too much for the poor dear."

"Undertaker—"

"Shhh. Enjoy a few more minutes, y' lovebirds," grunted the mortician. He finished hiding the orderly and he cast a wink at them. "I'd best get back before they chase me here t' you. Toodles!"

And just like that, he was off again. William could hear some of the staff calling out from further down the path near the entrance back into the ward. He put his forehead in his palm and groaned.

"He had something on him, I'm sure of it," he muttered to Ronald. "Heaven knows how he procured it, though."

"I...am so fucking confused..." Ronald blinked, not knowing what to do or think. First there were questions as to why visiting hours had been cut short, followed by questions as to why Undertaker had just 'given them more time' as he'd claimed.

William listened to the commotion with sharp ears, and he frowned. "It sounds as though there's a disturbance."

He heard Undertaker's laughter get cut off with a protest. "That's my nipple you just twisted, you blooming pillock! Patient abuse! I call...oh...that's nice..."

William's eyes bugged. Were some of the orderlies molesting the Undertaker? Surely not.

"All right, he's out," one of them said with relief. "I did not twist his nipple. Least not on purpose. He was squirming."

"Never mind that," instructed the voice of one of the female nurses, "Just get him to his room and strapped down. We've got to get the visitors out the door and the patients in their rooms before any more of them get worked up."

William relaxed, having a better idea of what was happening. "Some of the residents must have gotten intransigent," he murmured. "It's happened before since I got here. One or more begins having an episode and it triggers others."

He looked at Ronald with some regret. "They are putting the hospital on lockdown for the safety of the staff and the patients, until tomorrow. I think—as strange as it sounds—that the Undertaker really did pull that stunt to buy us a few moments. They'll come searching for me soon, so we'd best go back in. First, however..."

William cupped Ronald's face and he lowered his mouth to his for a deep kiss.

Ronald hummed into the kiss, returning it with vigor, "Well, I want the remaining six minutes I'm losing today added to my next visit. It's only fair. It's not like you started this whole thing." He planned to speak to the lady at the visitors desk about it before he left. He then pressed their lips together again to prolong the kiss as much as he could.

Will put his arms around him and held him closer, also wishing to prolong it. He heard footsteps approaching and he reluctantly broke away, stepping out of Ronald's embrace prudently before two more orderlies came jogging up the path to the secluded spot.

"Mister Spears," greeted the first, catching his breath, "I'm afraid you'll have to return to your room."

"I know," said Will calmly. "I heard some of the commotion and presumed it means another lockdown. My companion and I were just about to go inside. Please, there is no need to use restraint."

"We'll just walk with you," said the other, "for your own safety."

William frowned a bit. "It sounds serious."

The orderlies glanced at each other. "Well, it started with a small disturbance, and then the Undertaker went charging out into the yard laughing his head off. That set off a few more. Did he...trouble you?"

"No," William assured quickly. "Not at all. He ran past us, waved hello and then ran back. I've no idea what he thought he was doing."

He dearly hoped that Ronald wouldn't contradict his fib.

"Well, he's just earned himself three days in a padded room for that stunt," grumbled the first orderly.

"That sounds...excessive." Ronald frowned, "He was just running around laughing, right? Children do that all the time. Just cut down on his sugar intake."

"Yes, but when children run around laughing they don't incite other children to hoot and holler and...uh..." The orderly trailed off when William smirked at him.

"You are a family man," the Dispatch supervisor pointed out. "Surely you know better."

"Well, it isn't our call," answered the orderly. "I suppose I could suggest it to his doctor. She likes the old guy...thinks he's funny. That's why she let him out of confinement sooner than scheduled."

William gave Ronald a thankful look, and then he recalled Carl. He felt suddenly torn. He didn't want to leave the poor man lying there in the bushes, but if he revealed that they'd seen him fall he'd have to come up with a reason why and then explain why he and Ronald simply left him there and didn't get help. An idea came to him, then.

"Have either of you seen Mister Barnes? He is usually the one to come and inform us when our time is up."

The first orderly shook his head. "He must have gotten distracted. We came looking for you because you're usually the first one in your room when it's time for lights-out or a lockdown."

"Hmm, well I do hope he's all right. By the sounds of it, things got fairly rowdy."

"We'll look for him after we get everyone settled into their rooms," promised the second orderly.

Ronald pinched Will's butt in a silent way of teasing Will for the fib he'd told.

All too soon, they came to the location where they had to part ways and Ron stopped to hug Will. "I'll come back as soon as I'm able to." he promised.

Will nodded. "Until then. Keep up the good work at the office, Ronald."

-To be continued