Chapter 135: Picking up the Pieces

"Oh the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are -- chaff and grain together -- certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away." – Dinah Mulock

"I'm finding my way back to sanity again
Though I don't really know what
I'm gonna do when I get there
Take a breath and hold on tight
Spin around one more time
And gracefully fall back to the arms of grace
'Cause I am hanging on every word you say
And even if you don't want to speak tonight
That's alright, alright with me
'Cause I want nothing more than to
Sit outside Heaven's door and listen to you breathing
Is where I want to be, yeah...
Where I wanna be...
I am looking past the shadows
Of my mind into the truth and
I'm trying to identify
The voices in my head
God, which one is you
Let me feel one more time
What it feels like to feel alive
And break these calluses off of me
One more time
'Cause I am hanging on every word you say
And even if you don't want to speak tonight
That's alright, alright with me
'Cause I want nothing more than to sit
Outside your door and listen to you breathing
Is where I want to be, yeah...
I don't want a thing from you
Bet you're tired of me, waiting
For the scraps to fall
Off of your table to the ground
La Da Da La Da Da Da Da Da
'Cause I just want to be here now
'Cause I am hanging on every word you're sayin'
Even if you don't wanna speak tonight, that's alright, alright with me
'Cause I want nothing more
Than to sit outside Heaven's door
And listen to you breathing
It's where I wanna be, yeah...(x2)
Where I wanna be...
Where I wanna be..." – "Breathing" – Lifehouse


Sydney held onto Vaughn, gently rocking him, running her hand in his hair and adjusting the ice pack on his shoulder ever so often. His head was nested in the nape of her neck, his breath still slightly labored. She could tell he was exhausted and she needed him to talk to her, but he also needed to calm down. She settled for just sitting with him for a while.

He nested his head into her more, and she moved her head to look down at him. "Are you ok?"

He nodded but he didn't move at all.

"Do you want to talk?"

He shook his head no, and she let him have the space…she smiled suddenly when she realized the irony of that thought, she was giving him space mentally while there wasn't a whole lot of physical space between them.

She leaned back into the bed and let the silence permeate the room, hoping it would give Vaughn the time and calm he needed and soothe his afflicted mind.

Amélie was still on the couch, her tears somewhat dissipated when the front door opened and Will and Francie walked in. They were talking and smiling when then entered and didn't see her at first.

Finally Will seemed to notice the utter lack of noise in the house, and his eyes came to rest on Amélie.

"Amélie? Are you ok?" he asked worriedly, as he moved towards the couch. When he saw her tear-stained cheeks he leaned down in front of her, "Oh God…what happened? Did they take him back to the hospital?" Will asked, fearing the worst.

Amélie shook her head as Francie joined Will in front of her, "No…they're in the bedroom…"

Will waited for more of an answer, but Amélie didn't provide one.

He stood up and looked to Francie, gesturing for them to go towards the bedroom.

When they were on the way, he grabbed her elbow and whispered, "What the hell's going on?"

Francie shrugged, "I don't know…we'll have to see…"

They both stopped in front of the door and shared a worried glance before Francie knocked quietly.

Sydney's soft voice answered, "Yeah…come in…"

Francie tentatively pushed the door open and she and Will peeked their heads inside.

Sydney offered the pair a soft smile, "Hey…" she said in an equally soft tone.

"Hi," Francie said quietly, stepping in the bedroom, Will right behind her. He didn't say anything, but he smiled back at her before his brow furrowed when his eyes caught the form in Sydney's arms.

He looked sideways at Francie and she was looking at him as well.

"What…" he started, but saw the look that Sydney gave him and stopped. He switched gears, "Rough day…I was thinking maybe we should order in…"

Francie smiled at Will's not-so-subtle subject shift.

Sydney dropped her gaze down to Vaughn and asked quietly, "Are you hungry?"

He shook his head no and she looked back up at her friends, "I think we're good…you guys go ahead though…"

Francie took the hint, "Ok…we'll check up on you guys later," she said smiling and grabbing Will's arm.

Francie smiled her understanding and pulled Will out with her, shutting the door on their way out.

"What was that? We still don't know what happened!" Will said in a hushed shout.

"It's obvious that something bad happened…I don't think he needed to have it rehashed for us at the moment."

Will sighed frustratingly, "Well maybe there's something we can do…"

Francie shook her head, "I think Sydney's taking care of that…"

"So what do we do?" Will asked.

Francie glanced to the living room, "Let's give Sydney and Michael some space…and get his mother out of here for a while…she looks like she's on the verge of a nervous breakdown herself…maybe she'll tell us more later…"

"Should we take her out to eat?"

"Yeah, why don't we go to the restaurant, we can take the back table, quieter…"

Will nodded, "Let's tell Sydney we're going."

Francie nodded and they opened the door quietly again. Sydney looked over at the door, neither had moved, "We're just going out for a bite to eat…we'll be back later… Amélie says goodbye," Francie added for their benefit.

Sydney smiled, "Ok…" and mouthed 'thank you' to the couple.

They both smiled and closed the door once again.

Then they turned and walked to the living room, stopping in front of Amélie.

Will hunkered down and grabbed her hand, pulling slightly, "Come on…"

She looked at him strangely, "Where are we going?"

"Out to eat," Will said with a smile, "Francie's restaurant…you've never been there…'bout time…"

Francie smiled, "I'll make you whatever you want."

Amélie smiled, "I really don't want to leave Michael again…"

"Michael is in good hands, Amélie," Francie reminded her.

"I know that…" Amélie started, "That doesn't lessen my role as his mother…"

Will smiled, "Mom's gotta eat…come on…I think Mike and Syd need some room…"

Amélie sighed, "Alright…let me just go say goodbye…"

Will pulled her up, "We told them…" He tugged on her hand and she relented, smiling.

"You're a very charming boy," she said with a smile.

Will looked at Francie, "Did you hear that? I'm charming…"

Francie rolled her eyes, "Amélie, we need to talk about Will's ego…"

Sydney waited until she heard the door close. She knew that they would have at least a little time alone.

She adjusted the ice pack on his shoulder and ran her hand absently through his hair again.

"Are you sure you're not hungry?" she asked.

He nodded.

"Ok…can I get you anything? Water?"

He shook his head no.

"Vaughn?"

He didn't reply vocally, but he tilted his head slightly so she knew he was listening.

"I don't want to push you…if you're not ready…or you don't want to tell me, it's ok…but…can I ask what Barnett did or said to make you…snap?"

He shuddered slightly, and she tightened her grip.

For a few minutes, all was silence again, and she thought that he had decided not to tell her, or that he wasn't ready, so she just held onto him.

She felt him shift slightly and grunt as overused muscles raged in anger against him.

"Vaughn…you ok? Do you need more medication?"

"It terrified me…" he said abruptly.

"The snapping?"

"Yeah," he said quietly, "but…"

She waited for him to continue and didn't press when it took him several minutes to do so.

"It…I felt…relieved after…"

"Why?" she asked gently.

"Because…I didn't lose it with you…I didn't hurt you…I feel guilty enough that it was Barnett…but Sydney…if I would have…" he stopped, shaking slightly, "I'd…"

She soothed him, "No…sweetie, I know you'd never hurt me…it's ok…Barnett, she pushed you…"

"But I let her…I let her push me…I let her get me to that point…"

"Vaughn…" Sydney started.

"I've realized," he said, stopping her, "I…I thought…I guess I thought I was ok…but, I'm not…I'm not sure why I thought I was…I guess I hoped that I could just move past it, shove it aside, ignore what happened and get back to normal that way…but…I mean, I can't will it away…even if I have you…I can't make it go away because I want it too…it's not that simple…"

Sydney was shocked by his admission, "Vaughn, I knew it wasn't going to be easy for you…and I thought maybe you just needed time…compartmentalizing too much isn't a good thing, I should know – and that can break you just as easily…I think…even though it was a scary experience, I think it was…I think it was productive…"

"Now I know…"

"You do…but it'll be normal again honey…it's getting there now…you just have things you have to do, things you need to say, think about…"

She stopped, letting him think again in silence, playing with the hairs at the hairline on the back of his head.

"I think I thought that if I didn't talk about it, it would go away…that I wouldn't think about it anymore if I didn't say it…"

"I can see where you'd think that…what do you think now?"

"I don't want to talk about it anymore than I did before…but I…keeping it all in…it's not gonna make me any better…I'm just…gonna get stuck…"

"Stuck?"

"I'll never get out of this mind frame…I won't ever be me again…they'll be a part of me that will still be there…lost in those weeks I…I don't want to stay there Sydney…I can't stay there and be sane…"

She moved them down on the bed slightly, hugging him closer, "I won't let you do that either…I want you here…all of you…I'm not gonna let any part of you stay there…ok?"

He closed his eyes and buried his head in her neck, "Thank you…but I've got to do it…I have to get myself out…"

"You don't have to do it alone…" she reminded him, pressing her lips against his forehead.

"I don't wanna be broken anymore Sydney…" he said as a few tears escaped.

She whispered soothing words and ran her hand up and down the length of his back, "You're not broken Vaughn…you're just…whatever pieces you think you've left behind…I'll help you pick them up…ok?"

He picked up his head, "What if there are a lot of pieces?"

She smiled, "No matter how many pieces there are…I'll be there…"

He offered her a soft smile, the first since she'd left him with Barnett before the session.

That made her feel slightly better; the man she loved was hurting, in more than one kind of way…and she wanted to desperately to help him…and she saw that soft and small smile as a sign that perhaps she had helped…even just a little bit.

His soul had been weathered by his ordeal and she would help him pick up the battered pieces if that was what he required. In truth, she would have done anything, and she knew that they shared that common bond.

She wanted him to talk to her more, but she could see the toll the day had taken on him. It was a good thing he didn't have to stand, because she was sure he would have collapsed. She wrapped him in her arms closely, watching as his eyes started to flutter as the fatigue set in. He fell asleep quickly, his full body weight leaning on her. She stayed awake, protecting him, perhaps somewhat foolishly, but she felt the need to stand watch, to be his guardian angel for a change…

About halfway to the restaurant, Will couldn't handle the silence anymore and turned the radio on. He really didn't care what was playing; he just needed some kind of noise. It had been so silent in the house, so silent in the bedroom, so silent in the car; he couldn't take any more silence. He had to drown out the silence with something.

Francie looked over at him when he turned on the radio, but she didn't question him.

Amélie sat in the backseat, silent…staring out the window, lost in thought as the buildings and colors flashed past.

He pulled into the parking lot and got the two ladies' doors, and they walked in where they were greeted cordially by Francie's waitstaff.

"Francie…we thought you'd gone home for the night," Paul said as he saw her walk in the front door.

"Well, yeah…but we needed a bite to eat, and Amélie has never frequented our fine cuisine…"

"Ah, well…you're in for a great treat then," Paul said as he gestured to a table in back.

Amélie smiled politely, but any fool could tell that she was not really interested in anything Paul had to say.

The three sat and Sarah, their waitress, came over to the table to take their order.

"What can I– Francie!"

"Yes Sarah, I think you know what both Will and I are having…"

"Sure do, Lobster, roasted red potatoes, asparagus..."

"Yes, and Amélie, what would you like?"

"I'll just have a bowl of the Bouillabaisse."

"Good choice," Sarah said, "Francie's specialty."

Sarah smiled and walked off, leaving the three at the table. Will looked at Francie and she looked at him before they both looked to Amélie.

"So…what happened to Mike," Will asked.

Francie threw him a 'way to ease into it glance,' but he just looked at Amélie, waiting for a response.

Amélie looked up at them, "He…therapy…" she stopped, "Barnett…" she stopped again, shaking her head.

Will and Francie waited patiently for her to continue but she just concentrated on the pale green tablecloth.

"Amélie?" Will asked after he and Francie had exchanged worried glances for several minutes.

Her head rose and she looked at Will. It struck him how that look reminded him of Michael. "Are you ok?" he asked.

"No…I don't think so…I've seen his injuries, the bruises, the cuts, that infected wound," she said with a shudder, "but I guess I've never really thought about the mental, the psychological side of what all of this has done to Michael." She paused, "I wasn't ready for what Dr. Barnett did today…even though Sydney warned me, told me what she was going to do…it didn't sink in." Amélie looked up at the pair, "She broke my son today."

"Do you know how?" Francie asked gently.

"Not specifics…just that she pushed him to the breaking point and he did. I can only imagine rage like that would be the result of something about Sydney."

"Rage?" Will asked, "What kind of rage?"

Amélie looked at Will, "Michael attacked Dr. Barnett today."

"Attacked?!" Both Will and Francie exclaimed at the same moment. The next string of words that each uttered were muddled by both of them trying to talk at once. "Attacked how?" "Did he hurt her?" "Did Michael get hurt?" "What did she say?" "Why would he do that?" "He seems so controlled." "Must have been quite the extreme…"

Amélie waited patiently until both seemed to realize that she wasn't answering their flurry of questions.

"Sorry," Will said as he noticed.

"We just…sorry," Francie repeated.

Amélie offered them a knowing smile, "I reacted largely the same way…I wasn't very nice to Dr. Barnett."

"Amélie, why did Michael attack Barnett? I still don't understand…" Francie said.

"Like I said, I don't know specifics…but she's ok…she talked him down and yes, he hurt himself, but Tom came over and he'll be ok as well…"

"Wow," was Will's response after he sat for a few minutes in silence.

"What a day," Francie added.

Amélie nodded, "Indeed."

They all sat in a dazed sort of vacuum until the food arrived. Will and Francie started but Amélie only took a few spoonfuls before she put her spoon back next to the bowl.

Will looked over at Francie while he chewed, and she gave him a sideways glance, but they largely just gave her the time and quiet that she needed to sort things out.

In truth, they didn't eat as much at they normally did; too caught up in the torrent of emotions and events that had taken place.

Francie and Will thanked the staff and they walked tiredly towards the car with Amélie in tow a few steps behind them. The ride home was much like the rest of the evening had been; silence permeating. Will didn't turn the radio on this time…

When they got into the driveway and looked towards the house, it was dark. Francie was the first to the front door and she pushed it open gently, trying to be as quiet as possible.

They tiptoed down the hallway and then all stopped in front of the closed door. "Should we check on them?" Francie asked in a whisper.

"Um…I don't think we need to…" Will said.

They both looked to Amélie, "Leave them be…I'm sure they're sleeping…it's been an exhausting day."

With that she smiled and bid them goodnight, walking wearily back to the spare room.

Will and Francie spent another minute in front of the door before turning and doing the same.

Will wrapped his arm around Francie's waist and she reciprocated the gesture. He leaned over and kissed her cheek and she smiled, walking slowly towards their bedroom, leaning on each other. They closed the door quietly and succumbed to sleep with the rest of the household.

The house was dark and silent, save for the one light that Sydney always left on in the bedroom. The early chaos of the afternoon and evening and the unsettling silence of unresolved issues gave way to a more peaceful reconciliation in the recesses of sleep…

Chapter 135: Picking up the Pieces

"Oh the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are -- chaff and grain together -- certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away." – Dinah Mulock

"I'm finding my way back to sanity again
Though I don't really know what
I'm gonna do when I get there
Take a breath and hold on tight
Spin around one more time
And gracefully fall back to the arms of grace
'Cause I am hanging on every word you say
And even if you don't want to speak tonight
That's alright, alright with me
'Cause I want nothing more than to
Sit outside Heaven's door and listen to you breathing
Is where I want to be, yeah...
Where I wanna be...
I am looking past the shadows
Of my mind into the truth and
I'm trying to identify
The voices in my head
God, which one is you
Let me feel one more time
What it feels like to feel alive
And break these calluses off of me
One more time
'Cause I am hanging on every word you say
And even if you don't want to speak tonight
That's alright, alright with me
'Cause I want nothing more than to sit
Outside your door and listen to you breathing
Is where I want to be, yeah...
I don't want a thing from you
Bet you're tired of me, waiting
For the scraps to fall
Off of your table to the ground
La Da Da La Da Da Da Da Da
'Cause I just want to be here now
'Cause I am hanging on every word you're sayin'
Even if you don't wanna speak tonight, that's alright, alright with me
'Cause I want nothing more
Than to sit outside Heaven's door
And listen to you breathing
It's where I wanna be, yeah...(x2)
Where I wanna be...
Where I wanna be..." – "Breathing" – Lifehouse

Sydney held onto Vaughn, gently rocking him, running her hand in his hair and adjusting the ice pack on his shoulder ever so often. His head was nested in the nape of her neck, his breath still slightly labored. She could tell he was exhausted and she needed him to talk to her, but he also needed to calm down. She settled for just sitting with him for a while.

He nested his head into her more, and she moved her head to look down at him. "Are you ok?"

He nodded but he didn't move at all.

"Do you want to talk?"

He shook his head no, and she let him have the space…she smiled suddenly when she realized the irony of that thought, she was giving him space mentally while there wasn't a whole lot of physical space between them.

She leaned back into the bed and let the silence permeate the room, hoping it would give Vaughn the time and calm he needed and soothe his afflicted mind.

Amélie was still on the couch, her tears somewhat dissipated when the front door opened and Will and Francie walked in. They were talking and smiling when then entered and didn't see her at first.

Finally Will seemed to notice the utter lack of noise in the house, and his eyes came to rest on Amélie.

"Amélie? Are you ok?" he asked worriedly, as he moved towards the couch. When he saw her tear-stained cheeks he leaned down in front of her, "Oh God…what happened? Did they take him back to the hospital?" Will asked, fearing the worst.

Amélie shook her head as Francie joined Will in front of her, "No…they're in the bedroom…"

Will waited for more of an answer, but Amélie didn't provide one.

He stood up and looked to Francie, gesturing for them to go towards the bedroom.

When they were on the way, he grabbed her elbow and whispered, "What the hell's going on?"

Francie shrugged, "I don't know…we'll have to see…"

They both stopped in front of the door and shared a worried glance before Francie knocked quietly.

Sydney's soft voice answered, "Yeah…come in…"

Francie tentatively pushed the door open and she and Will peeked their heads inside.

Sydney offered the pair a soft smile, "Hey…" she said in an equally soft tone.

"Hi," Francie said quietly, stepping in the bedroom, Will right behind her. He didn't say anything, but he smiled back at her before his brow furrowed when his eyes caught the form in Sydney's arms.

He looked sideways at Francie and she was looking at him as well.

"What…" he started, but saw the look that Sydney gave him and stopped. He switched gears, "Rough day…I was thinking maybe we should order in…"

Francie smiled at Will's not-so-subtle subject shift.

Sydney dropped her gaze down to Vaughn and asked quietly, "Are you hungry?"

He shook his head no and she looked back up at her friends, "I think we're good…you guys go ahead though…"

Francie took the hint, "Ok…we'll check up on you guys later," she said smiling and grabbing Will's arm.

Francie smiled her understanding and pulled Will out with her, shutting the door on their way out.

"What was that? We still don't know what happened!" Will said in a hushed shout.

"It's obvious that something bad happened…I don't think he needed to have it rehashed for us at the moment."

Will sighed frustratingly, "Well maybe there's something we can do…"

Francie shook her head, "I think Sydney's taking care of that…"

"So what do we do?" Will asked.

Francie glanced to the living room, "Let's give Sydney and Michael some space…and get his mother out of here for a while…she looks like she's on the verge of a nervous breakdown herself…maybe she'll tell us more later…"

"Should we take her out to eat?"

"Yeah, why don't we go to the restaurant, we can take the back table, quieter…"

Will nodded, "Let's tell Sydney we're going."

Francie nodded and they opened the door quietly again. Sydney looked over at the door, neither had moved, "We're just going out for a bite to eat…we'll be back later… Amélie says goodbye," Francie added for their benefit.

Sydney smiled, "Ok…" and mouthed 'thank you' to the couple.

They both smiled and closed the door once again.

Then they turned and walked to the living room, stopping in front of Amélie.

Will hunkered down and grabbed her hand, pulling slightly, "Come on…"

She looked at him strangely, "Where are we going?"

"Out to eat," Will said with a smile, "Francie's restaurant…you've never been there…'bout time…"

Francie smiled, "I'll make you whatever you want."

Amélie smiled, "I really don't want to leave Michael again…"

"Michael is in good hands, Amélie," Francie reminded her.

"I know that…" Amélie started, "That doesn't lessen my role as his mother…"

Will smiled, "Mom's gotta eat…come on…I think Mike and Syd need some room…"

Amélie sighed, "Alright…let me just go say goodbye…"

Will pulled her up, "We told them…" He tugged on her hand and she relented, smiling.

"You're a very charming boy," she said with a smile.

Will looked at Francie, "Did you hear that? I'm charming…"

Francie rolled her eyes, "Amélie, we need to talk about Will's ego…"

Sydney waited until she heard the door close. She knew that they would have at least a little time alone.

She adjusted the ice pack on his shoulder and ran her hand absently through his hair again.

"Are you sure you're not hungry?" she asked.

He nodded.

"Ok…can I get you anything? Water?"

He shook his head no.

"Vaughn?"

He didn't reply vocally, but he tilted his head slightly so she knew he was listening.

"I don't want to push you…if you're not ready…or you don't want to tell me, it's ok…but…can I ask what Barnett did or said to make you…snap?"

He shuddered slightly, and she tightened her grip.

For a few minutes, all was silence again, and she thought that he had decided not to tell her, or that he wasn't ready, so she just held onto him.

She felt him shift slightly and grunt as overused muscles raged in anger against him.

"Vaughn…you ok? Do you need more medication?"

"It terrified me…" he said abruptly.

"The snapping?"

"Yeah," he said quietly, "but…"

She waited for him to continue and didn't press when it took him several minutes to do so.

"It…I felt…relieved after…"

"Why?" she asked gently.

"Because…I didn't lose it with you…I didn't hurt you…I feel guilty enough that it was Barnett…but Sydney…if I would have…" he stopped, shaking slightly, "I'd…"

She soothed him, "No…sweetie, I know you'd never hurt me…it's ok…Barnett, she pushed you…"

"But I let her…I let her push me…I let her get me to that point…"

"Vaughn…" Sydney started.

"I've realized," he said, stopping her, "I…I thought…I guess I thought I was ok…but, I'm not…I'm not sure why I thought I was…I guess I hoped that I could just move past it, shove it aside, ignore what happened and get back to normal that way…but…I mean, I can't will it away…even if I have you…I can't make it go away because I want it too…it's not that simple…"

Sydney was shocked by his admission, "Vaughn, I knew it wasn't going to be easy for you…and I thought maybe you just needed time…compartmentalizing too much isn't a good thing, I should know – and that can break you just as easily…I think…even though it was a scary experience, I think it was…I think it was productive…"

"Now I know…"

"You do…but it'll be normal again honey…it's getting there now…you just have things you have to do, things you need to say, think about…"

She stopped, letting him think again in silence, playing with the hairs at the hairline on the back of his head.

"I think I thought that if I didn't talk about it, it would go away…that I wouldn't think about it anymore if I didn't say it…"

"I can see where you'd think that…what do you think now?"

"I don't want to talk about it anymore than I did before…but I…keeping it all in…it's not gonna make me any better…I'm just…gonna get stuck…"

"Stuck?"

"I'll never get out of this mind frame…I won't ever be me again…they'll be a part of me that will still be there…lost in those weeks I…I don't want to stay there Sydney…I can't stay there and be sane…"

She moved them down on the bed slightly, hugging him closer, "I won't let you do that either…I want you here…all of you…I'm not gonna let any part of you stay there…ok?"

He closed his eyes and buried his head in her neck, "Thank you…but I've got to do it…I have to get myself out…"

"You don't have to do it alone…" she reminded him, pressing her lips against his forehead.

"I don't wanna be broken anymore Sydney…" he said as a few tears escaped.

She whispered soothing words and ran her hand up and down the length of his back, "You're not broken Vaughn…you're just…whatever pieces you think you've left behind…I'll help you pick them up…ok?"

He picked up his head, "What if there are a lot of pieces?"

She smiled, "No matter how many pieces there are…I'll be there…"

He offered her a soft smile, the first since she'd left him with Barnett before the session.

That made her feel slightly better; the man she loved was hurting, in more than one kind of way…and she wanted to desperately to help him…and she saw that soft and small smile as a sign that perhaps she had helped…even just a little bit.

His soul had been weathered by his ordeal and she would help him pick up the battered pieces if that was what he required. In truth, she would have done anything, and she knew that they shared that common bond.

She wanted him to talk to her more, but she could see the toll the day had taken on him. It was a good thing he didn't have to stand, because she was sure he would have collapsed. She wrapped him in her arms closely, watching as his eyes started to flutter as the fatigue set in. He fell asleep quickly, his full body weight leaning on her. She stayed awake, protecting him, perhaps somewhat foolishly, but she felt the need to stand watch, to be his guardian angel for a change…

About halfway to the restaurant, Will couldn't handle the silence anymore and turned the radio on. He really didn't care what was playing; he just needed some kind of noise. It had been so silent in the house, so silent in the bedroom, so silent in the car; he couldn't take any more silence. He had to drown out the silence with something.

Francie looked over at him when he turned on the radio, but she didn't question him.

Amélie sat in the backseat, silent…staring out the window, lost in thought as the buildings and colors flashed past.

He pulled into the parking lot and got the two ladies' doors, and they walked in where they were greeted cordially by Francie's waitstaff.

"Francie…we thought you'd gone home for the night," Paul said as he saw her walk in the front door.

"Well, yeah…but we needed a bite to eat, and Amélie has never frequented our fine cuisine…"

"Ah, well…you're in for a great treat then," Paul said as he gestured to a table in back.

Amélie smiled politely, but any fool could tell that she was not really interested in anything Paul had to say.

The three sat and Sarah, their waitress, came over to the table to take their order.

"What can I– Francie!"

"Yes Sarah, I think you know what both Will and I are having…"

"Sure do, Lobster, roasted red potatoes, asparagus..."

"Yes, and Amélie, what would you like?"

"I'll just have a bowl of the Bouillabaisse."

"Good choice," Sarah said, "Francie's specialty."

Sarah smiled and walked off, leaving the three at the table. Will looked at Francie and she looked at him before they both looked to Amélie.

"So…what happened to Mike," Will asked.

Francie threw him a 'way to ease into it glance,' but he just looked at Amélie, waiting for a response.

Amélie looked up at them, "He…therapy…" she stopped, "Barnett…" she stopped again, shaking her head.

Will and Francie waited patiently for her to continue but she just concentrated on the pale green tablecloth.

"Amélie?" Will asked after he and Francie had exchanged worried glances for several minutes.

Her head rose and she looked at Will. It struck him how that look reminded him of Michael. "Are you ok?" he asked.

"No…I don't think so…I've seen his injuries, the bruises, the cuts, that infected wound," she said with a shudder, "but I guess I've never really thought about the mental, the psychological side of what all of this has done to Michael." She paused, "I wasn't ready for what Dr. Barnett did today…even though Sydney warned me, told me what she was going to do…it didn't sink in." Amélie looked up at the pair, "She broke my son today."

"Do you know how?" Francie asked gently.

"Not specifics…just that she pushed him to the breaking point and he did. I can only imagine rage like that would be the result of something about Sydney."

"Rage?" Will asked, "What kind of rage?"

Amélie looked at Will, "Michael attacked Dr. Barnett today."

"Attacked?!" Both Will and Francie exclaimed at the same moment. The next string of words that each uttered were muddled by both of them trying to talk at once. "Attacked how?" "Did he hurt her?" "Did Michael get hurt?" "What did she say?" "Why would he do that?" "He seems so controlled." "Must have been quite the extreme…"

Amélie waited patiently until both seemed to realize that she wasn't answering their flurry of questions.

"Sorry," Will said as he noticed.

"We just…sorry," Francie repeated.

Amélie offered them a knowing smile, "I reacted largely the same way…I wasn't very nice to Dr. Barnett."

"Amélie, why did Michael attack Barnett? I still don't understand…" Francie said.

"Like I said, I don't know specifics…but she's ok…she talked him down and yes, he hurt himself, but Tom came over and he'll be ok as well…"

"Wow," was Will's response after he sat for a few minutes in silence.

"What a day," Francie added.

Amélie nodded, "Indeed."

They all sat in a dazed sort of vacuum until the food arrived. Will and Francie started but Amélie only took a few spoonfuls before she put her spoon back next to the bowl.

Will looked over at Francie while he chewed, and she gave him a sideways glance, but they largely just gave her the time and quiet that she needed to sort things out.

In truth, they didn't eat as much at they normally did; too caught up in the torrent of emotions and events that had taken place.

Francie and Will thanked the staff and they walked tiredly towards the car with Amélie in tow a few steps behind them. The ride home was much like the rest of the evening had been; silence permeating. Will didn't turn the radio on this time…

When they got into the driveway and looked towards the house, it was dark. Francie was the first to the front door and she pushed it open gently, trying to be as quiet as possible.

They tiptoed down the hallway and then all stopped in front of the closed door. "Should we check on them?" Francie asked in a whisper.

"Um…I don't think we need to…" Will said.

They both looked to Amélie, "Leave them be…I'm sure they're sleeping…it's been an exhausting day."

With that she smiled and bid them goodnight, walking wearily back to the spare room.

Will and Francie spent another minute in front of the door before turning and doing the same.

Will wrapped his arm around Francie's waist and she reciprocated the gesture. He leaned over and kissed her cheek and she smiled, walking slowly towards their bedroom, leaning on each other. They closed the door quietly and succumbed to sleep with the rest of the household.

The house was dark and silent, save for the one light that Sydney always left on in the bedroom. The early chaos of the afternoon and evening and the unsettling silence of unresolved issues gave way to a more peaceful reconciliation in the recesses of sleep…