Title: The Cure (Chapter 5)
Spoilers For: Epitaph One
Characters: Topher Brink, Adelle DeWitt
Rating: K+
Summary: Adelle has an idea on how to restore Topher to his former, perfectly sane, glory.
Topher was seated at the far end of his pod, drawing on one of the sides when Adelle and Claire re-entered the room. The doctor, true to her word, stopped at the door, in hopes that she may remain neutral in the situation at hand. Adelle advanced, once again removing her heels and joining her friend in the pod. He looked up as soon as she joined him.
"Hello, Sweetheart." She wished to put him at ease. Even around her, without a proper greeting, Topher could become a tad bit touchy, to say the least.
"Hello." He mumbled back, returning to his drawing. At closer examination, Adelle realized that he was drawing the imprint room. This was troubling to her.
"Why are you drawing the imprint room?" She asked as delicately as she could.
"It's a bad place. Very, very bad. People are different there. I did bad things there." He hastened his hand, drawing ever more quickly as his anxiety grew. Adelle knew that things were not starting well.
"I have something to ask you, Topher." He placed down his crayon and listened.
"If you could go back to the way things were, would you?" A tear simmered in his eye, and after a moment, he answered.
"I would, but I can't. I can never go back. I don't know how to go back. TAKE ME BACK!!!" He was at his worst. Broken down to tears, the brilliant scientist that once was no longer resided in this broken shell that sat before Adelle. It had to be done. He needed to return.
"Come with me, and I'll take you back." She whispered, and held out her hand. Topher looked up at her, and nodded.
"But do you promise?" He asked, as he stood to get out.
"I promise."
Hand in hand they left the room.