Song: Fame – Fame soundtrack. Colour: Beige Word: treasure


The corridor was a horrible grey washed yellow; giving it a murky and gloomy look. Willem would actually have preferred it to be white like the rest of the place but he didn't dare voice his opinion. The nurse in front of him was making polite talk, telling him how she was going to make dinner for her dear older brother when he came home. He couldn't help but note her last name.

Zwingli.

Shit, that had been the police officer who had arrested him once. Willem tried to erase that particular painful memory from his mind as he followed after the young blonde nurse. The Swiss man had been significantly shorter than him, but man; could that guy punch. Not one of his proudest moments in life.

Lilli - or was it Lilly? Willem honestly hadn't actually caught her name, but it seemed to fit her – had guided him to the end of the corridor, knocking once she peeked in the door before withdrawing.

"They're ready for you Mr van Gent! Go straight in" the woman chirped happily and took a step aside to allow him to enter the office.

It was a well lit office with several old paintings and some well taken care of plants jotted around to make it a more pleasant place. It still intimidated the hell out of him – pleasantries be damned.

10 months, two weeks and 3 days ago he'd been in the very same office.

No doubt had Erik been here too; many, many years ago.

Yet this time he wouldn't be escorted to his room and kept an eye on – not if this went according to plan.

A dark haired man, his hair slicked back and with some thin-rimmed glasses balancing on his nose rose as Willem entered,

"Good day Herr van Gent, please have a seat"

The man gestured towards a leather and Mahogany chair sitting in front of his large and intricately carved desk.

"Thank you Doctor Edelstein, and good day Nurse Héderváry." Willem nodded politely towards the brunette woman sitting to the right of the Austrian doctor. The woman smiled sweetly at him in reply and flipped though a few of the sheets on her clip board.

He was nervous, incredibly nervous. If he failed this review he would have to stay at the rehabilitation centre for god-knew how many more months.

And despite how much company Erik provided – Willem wanted his freedom.

"Well then Willem, tell us; how do you think you are faring now?"

Fuck, he had dreaded this question.

He was supposed to tell them how he no longer felt a craving for anything – that he was completely rehabilitated and could re-join a normal society once more.

However; Willem would never be fully healed.

How could he explain that there was that little empty space in his life that he had never knew how to fill, or with what? He'd temporarily found comfort in the drugs, but even those could never fill that steadily growing crevice in his heart. He might not ever use drugs to fill that emptiness again, but he wasn't sure he was fully healed.

"I believe I am fully recovered." he lied.

He was probably as healed as Erik was. What the doctor wouldn't understand was that he'd never get better staying here.

That went for both him and Erik.

"No cravings?" The doctor asked as he folded his hands and studied Willem closely. He'd managed to put on a little bit more weight and the dark circles under his eyes were hardly noticeable any more. If someone passed him on the street now they'd probably just peg him for someone who had worked hard the entire day.

He had improved. Just not a 100%.

The Doctors seemed able to stare right into the very core of his soul, seeing ever good and bad deed he'd ever done. If this was how judgement was done when he died – Willem would most certainly be sent straight to hell.

"I still take the occasional cigarette, but nothing else." he answered truthfully, trying not to squirm in his seat. He could feel his palms sweating and it didn't help one bit that every time he spoke, the nurse jotted down or crossed something off on her clipboard. He was being evaluated. He knew that. Yet it was still terrifying.

It was like being on trial.

With no defense attorney or anything. The only evidence he had was his own words. Sadly those were no guarantee for freedom.

He could – just like Erik - spend his entire life in this place, never to see the outside of those tall walls ever again. It was mind-numbingly frightful.

If he was never to be free, why live?

"Let me see your arms..."

Willem rolled his sleeves up and held his arms in front of him for inspection. The Doctor only glanced at them while nurse Héderváry rose from her seat and scrutinized them further.

The dark haired woman ran a finger over them before smiling happily.

"Well Willem, you certainly bear no new scars."

His snarky side of his personality wanted to tell her that of course he didn't have new ones. It was impossible to get any drugs inside this facility. Unless one stole from the medicine room, but that place was so heavily guarded they might as well store nuclear war heads and the cure for death in that room.

"I've stayed away ma'am..." he courteously replied, earning a big smile form the nurse as she took a seat once again.

"I hear you've spent a lot of time with Mr. Sørensen on level 3...why is that?"

Willem could feel the sweat on the back of his neck. What did his friendship with the Nordic male have to do with his review? Perhaps they thought he saw things like Erik did?

"I just like a bit of company, we have some similar interests...we're...friends"

It was the truth, just toned down a little. He didn't feel like explaining to the nurse and doctor just how much the blonde male's company meant to him – or just how much fun the two had when making the fairytale book.

"Just friends...I see..."

Willem tried his hardest not to stare, what that a look of disappointment on the nurses' face?

"Elizaveta...please do not ask Mr Van Gent such questions, it has nothing to do with this meeting." The doctor pushed his glasses further up on his nose and continued scanning the folder's contents in front of him.

Willem let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. Thank god that wasn't a vital question of some sort. It was still an odd thing to ask. Not to mention the disappointed look and tone of the nurse. Honestly, what had that woman been picturing?

Him and Erik...?

Oh God. He wanted to face palm, blush, run and hide and never show his face again. Why wasn't this nurse locked up herself?

"Mr Van Gent...I asked you a question"

Willem blinked at the doctor, before trying to smile weakly.

"Sorry, I zoned out a bit there..."

The nurse giggled silently with a sly smile, unsettling Willem much more than he'd though it would. It was as if she knew something no one else did.

"Quite all right...I'll ask again...You are aware that even if you deem you well enough to go home, you will have to come back for tests to prove you are, indeed, drug free?"

"Yeah...one of the nurses said it was every 6 months. Is that correct?"

He shifted slightly in his chair, desperately wanting to get out of here and get his stuff – phone his sister and then walk out those heavy iron gates a free man.

"That is partly correct..." Doctor Edelstein shuffled through the stack of papers before hitting the right one he wanted, holding it up he motioned for Willem to take the yellow piece of paper.

Scanning the photocopy he quickly saw what the 'rules' were.

"So I have to come back in three weeks...then wait another three weeks..."

Willem continued reading, his eyes darting back and forward as he read the document carefully – scanning for small print.

"then if I pass both those 'tests' I only need to come back after 6 months...?"

"Correct." The doctor nodded and handed Willem a pen.

"Of course, after those six months have passed and you pass that test too, you'll only need to come back once a year." Elizaveta chirped happily, adjusting the flower ornament in her hair with her delicate and well manicured fingers.

"I see, that won't be a problem."

Finding the dotted line at the bottom he signed his name with cursive letters, handing the form and pen back.

"We're glad to hear that Willem."

"You can go pack your stuff, we'll make sure the receptionist have some of your medicine ready for you when you leave" Nurse Héderváry smiled and crossed of a few things on her clip-board.

"Thank you..." Standing up from his chair he extended a hand to the doctor.

"Thanks for...helping me."

"You're welcome...we'll hopefully not see you back here, apart from your tests..."

"Yeah..hopefully." Willem smiled and shook the doctors hand.

Making his way out the door he spotted the young nurse who'd shown him the way earlier.

"How did it go Mr Van Gent?"

"I'm free..."

"Oh that's great!" The petite woman clapped her hands and smiled brightly "You can go home now! I bet your sister will be so happy!"

"Yeah, bet she will..."

Suddenly a though struck him.

"Umm...can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Am I allowed to visit others patients here...even if I'm no longer residing here?"

"Are you thinking of Erik?"

Willem cursed under his breath, how the hell did everyone seem to guess his intentions?

"Yeah.." he finally admitted, scratching the back of his head as he tried to avert his eyes from Nurse Zwingli.

"Well, there is nothing against the rules about that. I'm sure he will appreciate the company."

"Yeah...he probably will."

Willem didn't even know how to tell Erik this. It felt wrong to suddenly just show up in his door and tell him he was a free man. While he could walk out with all his belongings, Erik would stay behind. It wasn't fair.

He didn't say anything as he walked back to his room, even as he packed all his belongings into a suitcase, Willem was silent.

Margaret had been informed of his release and would be picking him up around six o'clock.

That left him about one hour left to tell Erik he was leaving.

One hour wasn't really enough.

Staring at his now empty and anonymous room, he blinked in disbelief. It was odd to think he was finally going home. When he first walked through the gates, he never thought he'd be allowed back out. Yet here he was, soon-to-be a free man once again.

It took him much longer than usual to get to Erik's room. Usually he walked with quick steps, but not today. His head was spinning with questions still unanswered.

Taking a deep breath he knocked twice on the Nordic's door before stepping inside.

"Hallo Willem" Erik smiled brightly from his usual spot on the bed, the large faery tale book firmly planted across his lap.

"Hallo Erik..."

"Something the matter?" Erik gave him a worried look.

Fuck. Damn that man and his ability to read Willem like an open book.

"No, not really..." Willem took a deep breath "I'm being released today.."

Erik stared. Yet he couldn't read the blonde male's emotions in those deep blue eyes, it was as if they had become even duller.

Then suddenly a wide smile appeared on his lips.

"That's great Willem. Congratulations." Erik quickly stood up and extended his hand to Willem "I'm so happy for you."

Willem carefully takes the outstretched hand, noticing the slight tremble in Erik's fingers as he squeezed the shorter male's hand. He wants to take him with him, he's convinced Erik has a better chance at getting better living outside of the asylum.

"I'll visit you...a lot..I promise" he mumbles, staring at his feet as he tightens his grip around Erik's smaller hand.

"Don't."

He snaps his head up and stared in shock at Erik.

"What...what did you say?" His voice shaky - his chest tightening up, why doesn't Erik want his company? Did he do something wrong? Are they not friends?

Or perhaps it was just his wishful thinking all along?

Erik sighs, but he doesn't avert his gaze. Their eyes lock and for a brief moment Willem can see the sadness in his friends eyes.

"Willem, this place is a nightmare...you don't want to come back here any more than you have to..."

"But what about you...?"

"Heh, I'll be fine...still got my faeries to keep me company" Erik smiles and gives his hand a small squeeze.

It's not the words, nor is it the tone he uses – it's the sincerity behind that comment that truly gets to him. Erik isn't joking.

The knowledge that Erik will once again shut himself away and converse with the things that brought him here in the first place is heartbreaking.

"Idiot." he mutters before pulling the shorter male into a tight hug.

Willem can feel how Erik immediately tenses at the sudden close contact but he doesn't let go. And to his surprise, Erik doesn't push away once he relaxes. Instead he returns the hug, burring his face in the nook of Willem's neck.

They don't speak a word, time seems to stand still.

After a while Willem looses count of how many minutes and seconds it's been.

And for once: it doesn't bother him.

Because if he keeps counting he'll know just how limited his time right now is. Instead he can for just a few more minutes pretend this doesn't have to end.

"Take the book" Erik mumbles as his fingers grip Willem's shirt tightly "We still haven't shown it to Margaret..."

"Idiot, we're supposed to show her that together."

"Yeah well, that's not happening."

"Fuck you and your pessimism."

Erik laughs into Willem's shirt before pulling back, hands still resting on the taller male's hips.

"The book is my dreams, my nightmares and my madness. No nightmares of yours reside in that book, so you keep it. Just think of me while you read it, okay?"

Erik smiles as he speaks, yet Willem knows him well enough to see the sadness still present. However, he nods in agreement – he can't refuse such a gift.

"Fine, I'll take the book. One one condition: I get to come and visit you. No locking yourself up, no self pity and no more talking to faeries when you get bored. If you need to talk; write me a letter."

A half-hearted chuckle and a nod is all he gets back.

Willem sighs.

"Idiot."

He leans down ever so slightly, pressing his lips' to Erik's.

Erik gasps in surprise before he slowly and with unsure actions returns the kiss.

They stand alone in silence, breaking away only when they can hear footsteps coming down the hallway. Pulling away Willem can see the rather prominent blush on Erik's face – no doubt does it match his own. Giving Erik's hand a final squeeze before he takes the large leather bound book; hugging it close to him as he gives Erik one last kiss.

"I'll see you around Erik."

"Yeah..." Erik replies breathlessly "See you around."

~~~~~~-X-~~~~~~

Willem walks out of the large iron gates with a large orange bag over his shoulder and the book under his arm.

Waiting for him outside the gates is his sister.

She barely allows him to put down his bag before she hugs him so tightly Willem swears he can feel a rib break.

"Let's go home."

Willem only nods as he gets into his sisters car, staring back at the asylum worriedly as the car pulls away from the parking place.

Three weeks to stay drug free before the next review.

In the meantime he must be able to visit Erik.

If not; those three weeks will be harder than any rehabilitation process at the asylum.


A.N:

This story now goes in two directions!
The original ending continues in ch 9 til 11, however, these chapters involve character death.
If you want a 'happy' ending - ship to ch 9.2!