Amaranthe was silent for the next few days. Whereas she normally called Barnaby midway through the week to check on his progress, there was no courtesy call before their next session. Even then, Amaranthe was quiet, hiding her emotions under a veil of false politeness. She brought up nothing about Barnaby's leave of absence, which he had indeed applied for the day prior, and she never again mentioned therapy with her NEXT friend in fear that she would send Barnaby into another fit.

But just because she didn't speak aloud of those things didn't mean that she wasn't thinking of them.

She had to admit to herself that Barnaby had become her obsession, not just because he was the most interesting patient she had ever treated or because he was also the most difficult patient she had ever treated, but because she found herself genuinely caring for him. When he had yelled at her earlier that week, she had hated herself. When he had left in a huff, a tear had slipped down her cheek. She hated what she was making him go through, but she knew that she had no choice. She knew that in the end, he would have no choice.

What Barnaby didn't know was that her heart was tearing in two for him just as his own heart was being ripped to shreds.

Her sleeping medication had worked perfectly, just as she had promised. She was proud to hear it, if only because Barnaby felt a little bit better as a result of her work. She could see that his eyes were brighter and livelier than their last blunder of a meeting, and for that she was glad. If only he understood how difficult it had been for her to provide him with that medicine. Amaranthe wanted him to understand, but she knew that he probably never would. She feared their relationship was beyond complete repair.

The meeting was without incident though Barnaby was undoubtedly more cold and cautious towards her than he had been. That much had been expected, and though it hurt Amaranthe more than she had expected, she carried on with a flawless professionalism until Barnaby was out the door, not to return for another week.

It didn't matter that Amaranthe knew they were watching. As soon as he was gone, nearly as cold and aloof as he had been when leaving a few days prior, she fell to her knees in tears.

Days continued to pass peacefully but more uneventfully than Barnaby would have liked. Kotetsu stayed with him as much as he could, but without his partner to shoulder much of the work for him, Wild Tiger rarely found time for a break. It was obviously a burden on the older man, but one he was willing to shoulder for Barnaby. They made adjustments and adapted, working together as a team the best they could to keep their lives going as smoothly as possible.

They managed for awhile, but it wasn't long before their efforts were in vain. Barnaby's anxiety shot through the roof, reaching levels previously untouched. He went from nervously pacing the house and wringing his hands to not being able to get himself out of bed, all within the short timespan of a few days. His medicines had remained unchanged, so he ruled out the possibility of adverse side effects, nor had he been able to recall any additional memories. Kotetsu blamed Barnaby's mood changes on being out of the hero business.

"I wasn't unlike you for the year I took off, you know. It was awful," Kotetsu said one night as he sat on the edge of the bed and brushed Barnaby's unkept bangs from his face. "Kaede got sick of me lying around on the couch all the time drinking and watching Hero TV re-runs." Kotetsu chuckled at himself, remembering how much of a wreck he had been and how far he had come since rejoining Hero TV as Wild Tiger One Minute. "It was pretty pathetic. But as soon as you get back to work, you'll be well-rested and at the top of your game, Bunny. It's gonna feel great. You'll be like a new man."

Seemingly out of nowhere Kotetsu felt a hand on the back of his neck forcing him down, and Barnaby's lips were suddenly pressed against his own. Grinning at Barnaby's need, Kotetsu shifted into a more comfortable position straddling Barnaby's hips on the bed and resting his elbows on either side of the blond's shoulders.

So Barnaby had finally reached his breaking point. After days of suffering from worry and depression and so much emotional pain, he had given in. He had finally realized he needed help, needed to reach out. And, as always, Kotetsu was the one he ran to for comfort. Kotetsu's arms were where Barnaby felt safest. Barnaby felt the most at home trapped beneath his sweetheart's muscled body, at his lover's mercy. That sweet, perfect kind of control that Kotetsu exerted over Barnaby during their trysts held just the right amount of roughness and raw desire to make Barnaby's nerves tingle with pleasure and contentment, and he knew that having Kotetsu as intimately as possible would do him more good than any medicine a doctor could ever create.

Holding his young partner's face gently in his hands, Kotetsu took control of the kiss Barnaby had started but kept his touches gentle and soft.

Kotetsu knew better than to take things fast with Barnaby in his current state, but that didn't mean he didn't want to.

He slid his tongue across Barnaby's lower lip, testing the waters, and Barnaby parted his lips immediately as an invitation for Kotetsu to take things further. As far as he liked. A little moan escaped from the full, parted mouth and Kotetsu drank it up hungrily, breathing it in and slipping his tongue between Barnaby's lips to taste and tease and explore.

"Bunny." The nickname slid from Kotetsu's mouth in an erotic whisper, and despite his condition, Barnaby responded by hooking one leg around Kotetsu's waist and wrapping both arms fully around his lover's neck.

The kiss was broken, but the heroes were far from finished. Barnaby's trembling hands were already unbuttoning Kotetsu's shirt, slowly but effectively, and Kotetsu returned the gesture by lifting Barnaby's shirt up over his chest to expose the soft skin and hard muscle to the air.

It had been a long time since they had done this. Too long, Kotetsu thought. And in his and Barnaby's current state, Kotetsu couldn't think of a better pick-me-up than this.

He leaned down further to draw his tongue flat across one of Barnaby's nipples, the saliva cooling from the chill of the air and making Barnaby shiver with delight. Kotetsu relished the little trembles of the pliant body beneath him, grinning around Barnaby's other nipple. He suckled it gently, flicking his tongue across the sensitive nub, and was rewarded by Barnaby grinding eager hips up into his.

They were both so sensitive, mewling and gasping at only the slightest touch.

Never waiting this long again.

Kotetsu's lips crashed into Barnaby's once again, and the bearded man was quick to free his hardening cock from the confines of his trousers.

"Where do you want it, Bunny?" he breathed against his blond's lips.

They had done this enough that Barnaby knew he had two options. It was always so difficult to choose, but no one said he was limited to just one or the other. With that in mind, Barnaby uttered his decision in a single, breathless word.

"Mouth."

Kotetsu couldn't hide his excited grin.

"I want you to fuck my mouth."

Licking his lips in anticipation of the overwhelming perfection he was about to feel, Kotetsu guided his cock to Barnaby's lips, red and swollen from the heat of their kisses.

"I can do that, Bunny. You sure that's what you want?"

Barnaby nodded, his eyes glassy with tears that Kotetsu could tell were not of sadness or despair, but of a joyous passion and relief.

"Of course that's what I want. It's you, isn't it? I just want you."

Kotetsu shoved his cock past Barnaby's lips in a motion both gentle and lewd, caring and hungry, and Barnaby knew that if anything could cure him, it was this.