The process of recovering Barnaby's memories was slow but steady. While Dr. Spring didn't rush Barnaby's progress, her eagerness to unlock the secrets of Maverick's NEXT power helped to speed things along. Kotetsu and Barnaby's relationship remained the same, as did the nightmares, but daytime hallucinations were few and far between. A few medications were involved, the basics such as sleep aids and anxiety pills included. At Spring's insistence, Barnaby hesitantly began taking a few other prescriptions in addition to his medications of the more common variety.
The therapies were simple at first. Barnaby recounted as many memories as he could, kept a journal of them accompanied by notes of his dreams and when he had them. He revisited places associated with events he could remember from childhood and adolescence. It was a constant struggle for Spring to befriend him and gain his trust, but over time and at Kotetsu's urging, Dr. Spring slowly became Amaranthe. Barnaby's conversations with her lost their professionalism and the pots of tea they shared were no longer a formality but a treat. Kotetsu accompanied Barnaby to his sessions on occasion and helped with whatever he could.
The treatment was not without its difficulties, however. There were side effects from the medication. Barnaby's moods were up and down more than they had ever been. His appetite increased, something his carefully controlled diet could not afford, and he always found himself tired in the middle of the day even after a good night's sleep. He complained of nausea often enough to be worrisome and it wasn't long before the other heroes realized something was amiss.
Kotetsu tried his best to cover for his partner, knowing full well that Barnaby hated discussing his own problems and had enough trouble doing so with Amaranthe without also having to explain himself to his friends. While everyone agreed to not mention Barnaby's troubles in front of him, it was no mystery to the blond that they were worried.
The media catching wind of Barnaby's abnormal behaviors was unavoidable, and it was only a matter of time before the tabloids exploded into speculation. Headlines about him being too stressed or the possibility of him losing his charm were all over Sternbild, and it made him sick. His problems were not the media's problems. The more he thought about it, the more outraged he became. His life was no longer personal. It had been bad enough when the reporters had tortured him and Kotetsu for tidbits about their relationship, when they had found a camera outside of Kotetsu's house attempting to catch some scandalous moment between the two of them. But now that his past and his emotional trauma were being exploited, Barnaby was ready to give up on everything.
"It's not worth it," he said firmly during his next session. Despite his efforts to remain calm, he knew his voice was louder than he had meant it to be. "I can't catch a break. I feel awful. I'm still having nightmares. And I still can't distinguish between what's true or forged. There's nothing different about my memories than there was a month and a half ago."
Amaranthe sat back in her seat and sighed, licking her lips to bide time as she figured out what to say.
"Barnaby, you've opened up to me more than I thought you would, and you've been very cooperative. But do you remember when you promised me that you would be patient?"
A cold stare served as his answer. Of course he did. But that didn't matter. This was too much.
"There is something I can try," the psychiatrist intoned carefully. "Something new. But I don't know how you'll feel about it."
"Nothing new until I see more progress," Barnaby countered immediately. The last thing he wanted was yet another pill to swallow every night before bed.
"Let me ask you this, Barnaby." It was clear that Amaranthe didn't plan on giving up. "Have your nightmares or hallucinations worsened at all since we began your treatments?"
Barnaby shook his head slightly, blinking and feeling slightly defeated. He knew where she was going with this.
"In fact," she continued. "They've lessened slightly in their intensity, am I right?"
Yes, she was.
"Then please allow me to try one new treatment." Amaranthe didn't wait for objections. "There's another expert that I'd like you to see. He's not a doctor, but I've worked closely with him during my research and I believe he can help us. I'm not referring you; I'll remain with you as well. But I believe it would be very beneficial if the three of us could begin meeting as a group."
Barnaby was silent, waiting for more.
"There is one issue."
Of course there was. He continued to wait.
Amaranthe discarded her clipboard in favor of leaning forward towards Barnaby and looking him intently in the eye, something she only did when she really wanted his attention.
"I implore you not to object to the treatment solely because of this, but my friend is also a NEXT, you see. I have confidence that by utilizing his power, we can solve many, if not all of your problems. I had this therapy in mind from the start, but I only planned to use it in the event that you became desperate."
"What's the problem, Amaranthe?" Barnaby asked flatly. The phrase sounded more like a statement than a question.
The doctor pursed her lips. "The power that I would like to utilize is, well, it's Albert Maverick's power. At least, it's very similar to that power. During my years of research about NEXT psychology, I met several people with powers involving dream-navigating, astral projection, memory manipulation and removal. The list goes on."
It was clear that Barnaby was barely listening. There was someone else in the world with that extraordinary of a power? There was someone else in the world who possessed such a dangerous tool? Someone else who could misuse their gift and create hell for anyone they chose, just as Maverick had done to Barnaby? A sudden rage coursed through Barnaby's veins and a thought he couldn't control made its way to the forefront of his mind.
Eliminated.
Whoever had that power should be eliminated, terminated, killed, destroyed. No one with the potential to cause such harm to another human being should be allowed to exist. No one like Maverick.
"…He's helped me with a great deal of my research and he's a very sweet man. A big fan of you, too. Please at least consider it. Talk it over with Kotetsu, if you need to."
Barnaby barely heard her. How, after all he had gone through, could she possibly expect him to be accepting of such a treatment, to allow his mind to be exposed and once again be at the mercy of another?
Part of him knew he was overreacting, but that quiet, rational side of Barnaby wasn't the side he was listening to at the moment.
"No," he spat, furious. "Absolutely not."
Just the thought of allowing someone with that kind of power anywhere near him was sickening. A bright blue ball of light near his head was the last thing in this world he wanted to see, and yet his mind projected all sorts of images before him. Barnaby saw that light, though he knew it wasn't there. He saw the light and he saw Maverick, too, and tears were streaming down his face because all he wanted to do was remember. All at once he was caught up in that blinding light, his brain being torn apart into chaos and his heartbeat soaring out of control. Up and down was switched, and all at once Barnaby forgot everything, even how to breathe. He couldn't bring himself to move, and there was only darkness as he found himself a helpless puppet to be manipulated.
It was Kotetsu's voice that called him instead of Amaranthe's, when he awoke.
"Bunny? Can you hear me, Bunny?"
A calloused hand brushed the bangs from his eyes and then rested on his cheek. Barnaby nodded thickly, his head heavy and throbbing with the movement.
"You passed out, Bunny, but you're at home now. Dr. Spring said you were hallucinating when you collapsed. You had two seizures."
Kotetsu stopped talking and awaited Barnaby's response. His chest rose and fell slowly, his breathing difficult yet steady.
"Call her," the young man croaked out, his voice hoarse from disuse.
"Tell her I'll accept her offer."