Remind me to update more…really…I forget…
It had been a few more days before Ezra had gotten another call concerning Cristof. As much as he hated to think about it, he'd been expecting it. Frankly, his brother's welfare had been consuming his thoughts, but that wasn't a shock to him.
To play the part of a concerned and clueless brother he had to go down town to talk with the police and fill out paperwork properly. Doing that meant he had to be convincing in telling them that he didn't know where his brother was. Something he could excel at.
He came in; looking slightly tired and disheveled. Neither of which he had to fake with the real worrying he was doing.
"Hey, I was called." He said, talking to the man at the front desk who didn't seem to be the least bit sympathetic. "Name's Ezra Grandie. Here about my brother."
The officer nodded slowly, flipping through the papers on his desk. "Someone will be right with you, Mr. Grandie. You can have a seat."
Ezra nodded slowly, turning away to find a seat. This was going to be one of those things that took longer then necessary.
"Grandie? Are you Cristof's brother?" asked a woman he'd just seen shrug on a tweed coat out of the corner of his eye. Now she'd stopped entirely to look at him directly.
He looked at her with a frown. "Who are you?"
"Well that's not exactly a yes. My name is Adia Black. If he is your brother I was going to say I know this must be horrible for you and I really hope they find him, for you at least. He just didn't seem the type..." Adia sighed, running a hand through her hair, "Such a sweetheart."
"Adia?" He couldn't suppress a short laugh. "His nurse right? He talked about you a lot. You must have been good to him."
"Course I was. I would think everyone was but I treat them more like humans where others tend to treat them like toddlers." she sighed, waving him over to the seats, "He was a sweetie though, I spoiled him a little. He talked about you a lot too. Couldn't wait for your visits."
Ezra swallowed slowly, thinking he should have done more to see his brother. "Some weeks I couldn't wait to see him either." he muttered softly, taking a seat. "He hated that place. Just wouldn't say so."
"I know." Adia smiled weakly, "I was trying to make things easier on him. He got in a tiff with the doc then this. I'm gonna miss him."
"What tiff? What doctor?" Ezra frowned harder.
"Eh, he was refusing to go to his session so the doctor had to come to his room. Not uncommon but not something they approve of. He got threatened with his grounds privileges so he wasn't too happy. Likes being outside but I'm sure you know that bit." she smiled for him
Ezra sighed heavily, more or less knowing all that already. "He didn't deserve to be there. Doesn't deserve the crap he's gone through."
"You're probably right. He seemed too sane for that place. One of those independent living facilities maybe but he doesn't need to be in an institution with constant care." Adia muttered before sitting up straighter and commenting quickly, "Don't quote me on that. I'm just a nurse. Doctors...don't need to know I think that. you know?"
"I've known that for a long time, and my opinion doesn't matter either." Ezra muttered. "And look where that's gotten us."
"Yes but you are free to share that opinion, I might get in trouble so, really, if you don't mind." she said softly.
He shook his head. "Not gonna say anything. Not like it matters now. Why are you here exactly? They're asking you about him?"
"Apparently I spent too much time with him. They thought I took him or he'd come to my house or something. Cops woke me up that morning; scared the hell out of me and it sucked since I got home at almost three. He must have left after two. I check on him you know? Sometimes he doesn't sleep well." she sighed, "He was there until I left."
"He doesn't like to sleep." he muttered softly. "He knows schedules better then the people making the rounds."
"Must be why I always catch him, I am horrible at keeping to schedules. Always running late or something." She laughed despite how she felt.
"Guess you just missed him." He muttered, leaning back in his head. Now more then before he wanted to swing by Beth's house again to check on Cristof. It had been a day or two since he'd last been there but he was trying not to be overbearing. Even still he couldn't get rid of his paranoia.
"I'm really sorry," Adia said sincerely. "I can't imagine how you must be feeling but I can tell you I'm worrying myself.
Ezra nodded, looking back at her. "Oh, I know you are. Cris liked you a lot. He talked about you all the time."
"Guess we both had a spot on his favorites list then" she chuckled.
"Definitely." he smiled. "Dunno what they think talking to us will do though."
"Donno but I wish you luck." She shrugged, "They gave me a headache."
"You trying to give me something to look forward to?" he raised an eye. "I was hoping this would be a quick visit."
"Something to look forward to is that coffee shop down the street." Adia shook her head, "Where I was just headed."
"We'll see what time it is by the time I get outta here. Have a feeling they just want me sitting here for a while." he said a little louder, looking back to the guy at the front desk who pretended not to hear him.
"Should only take ten or fifteen minutes when you actually get back there. Just might take a minute to get back there." Adia chuckled.
"Certainly something that'll give Cris a laugh later." Ezra muttered. "Just glad he doesn't gotta deal with all this. Not yet at least."
Adia turned her head to stare at him. She sat wordless for moment before repeating, "Later?"
Ezra looked back at her, cursing silently. "Someone will come across him." he muttered. "I don't believe he's dead. I can't believe that. There's gotta be a later."
"I doubt he's dead," Adia mused, looking away, "He's smart enough to survive." She couldn't shake the feeling now though that he hadn't meant it that way.
"My job is to worry about him, you know?" Ezra said. "Gotta ignore that worst case scenario until someone can actually tell me something."
"Yeah, I get that," she said softly. "I just miss him. Livened up my days though he probably didn't know it."
"I bet he did. Smart boy." Ezra chuckled. "When he likes someone, he likes to see them happy. It's just how he's always been."
"And half the time it was just talking to him. I think he definitely used to do that but lately he's been kinda down. Even then though, his opinions and stuff, probably the stuff that landed him there, were just compatible with me on some level. He's not at all like the other patients." Adia nodded.
"No, I know he's not. He doesn't need that kind of help; he just needs someone to keep him company. To help him every now and then. He makes people nervous because of his good mood and inability to stop talking at times. Talking to someone he likes makes him happy." Ezra nodded. "But you gotta know that."
"I know." Adia smiled softly, "But hey, I gotta get that coffee and go because I have a shift starting soon. Tell you what though, I'm gonna give you my number and you call me if you need something or particularly if you hear something about him. Just would be good to know for sure he was safe."
She dug through her bag for a pen then scribbled her number on an old receipt.
"Oh, sure." he said. "I could do that. Would probably make him happy to know you were thinking about him."
"I hope so." she smiled, handing it to him before standing up and shrugging her purse onto her shoulder.
She stopped into the coffee shop as she had planned before heading off to work. She didn't normally drive but she had luckily anticipated the interview taking a while and besides, she wasn't in any mood to be alone with her thoughts. Arriving with time to spare she ducked out into one of the stairwells to enjoy her coffee and the small window it had.
"There you are." Abby said after a few minutes, peaking into the stairwell. "I knew I saw you come in." the other nurse smiled a little hesitantly, knowing where Adia had been coming from.
"Hey. Just wasting my few minutes of freedom." Adia chuckled..
"Sorry I feel like I'm taking them away from you." Abby chuckled. "Dr. Erickson and Marren want to have a word with you. I guess they want to know how it went." she finished quietly.
Adia chuckled, "Course. We all know how it went." Adia stood up, holding her coffee carefully, "I'm innocent."
Abby smiled. "We all know that but these cases are so...so sensitive." she sighed a little. "For all the trouble it's worth, I hope they find him."
"Me too." Adia nodded, walking through the door Abby held open for her.
"Good luck with them." Abby muttered, making her back to her post. She had her own work to do after all.
Both doctor's were seated in Erickson's own office chatting quietly amongst themselves as they waited for Adia to arrive. The last thing either of them has wanted was Cristof's or any other patient's disappearance and they were seemingly taking it as hard as everyone else.
Adia knocked before cracking the door open. She offered them a small grin, "You summoned?"
Dr. Erickson smiled and ushered her in. "Adia." he said, using the private moment to be less formal. "Come sit."
She walked in, taking a sip from her coffee as she shut the door before sliding into her seat.
"There still hasn't been any word." Erickson informed her. "It is as amazing as it is shocking that Cristof could have gotten so far away so quickly, or at the very least, so well hidden."
"I keep telling you guys I think we put him in the wrong category. He's way more capable. In good ways and in this case bad ones I guess." Adia shrugged.
"We're glad they no longer suspect you Ms. Black. You didn't seem the type to me anyway." Marren mused.
"I appreciate that." Adia nodded.
"Is rather curious." Erickson sighed. "I'd love to know how he managed to get out."
"Who knows?" Adia shrugged, "He's pretty smart when you really listen to him."
"Not that smart." Marren frowned.
"You obviously haven't spent long enough just talking to him." Adia chuckled, "But I will say I got a weird vibe from his brother so he might not be surviving on his own at least."
Erickson gave her a long curious look before continuing. "I suppose you met the younger Mr. Grandie today. As far as I've noted he's the only family member that's maintained an interested in Cristof. You think they're together?"
"I really donno, he just said something funny. And yeah, his name's Ezra." Aria shrugged.
"You sound as if you're on friendly terms." Erickson pointed out. "How would you feel about paying him a little visit."
Adia stared at Erickson and responded, "Highly uncomfortable."
"I think it's a good idea. You don't have to harass him just stop by, see if you can get inside to look around. He hasn't let the police in yet. By the time they get a warrant Cristof could be long gone and he needs medical attention. At very least to be weaned off the medications." Marren explained.
"It's already been days and if he isn't in someone's care then he's more then likely incredible ill." Erickson sighed. "You know as well as we do that some medications can't just be stopped. The effects can be critical."
"I know that, but it's not in my job description or in my comfort zone." she shook her head, "I am truly worried for him. He is one of the best patients I have ever cared for and I will even go so far to say I miss him but I'm sorry, that's not appropriate. Especially if I'm way off then mark. Then I'll just be making his brother uncomfortable."
"Ms. Black, I understand your concerns but finding Cristof is what is the most important. I can't imagine how Mr. Grandie would find your concern for his brother strange." Erickson said. "We need to do our part to help find Cristof and bring him back where he's safe."
"If he's with his brother he's fine. Ezra doesn't seem like he'd let him die. If he goes into a bad state of withdrawal he'll probably take him to a hospital and that'll be the end. And if he does and Ezra can handle him, Cristof isn't violent to himself or others. It's not in my control and its not my concern because he's fine if he's there. And if he isn't I'll be very obviously poking around for nothing." Adia frowned.
Erickson shook his head. "You call it poking around. I would like to think of it as more...concern for the family. I understand your attachment to the boy, but this is where he needs to be. He recent behavior makes that more evident."
"I think he just doesn't like it here. And as I said if his brother can handle him its not really my concern. It might be yours but its not mine." Adia stared at him.
"Don't you want to be a part of something productive?" Marren asked.
"I don't see what's so productive, wasting time I could be caring for the patients we do have looking for one who doesn't want to be here."
Erickson shook his head. "We may be a smaller facility but we are efficient. This situation is the first tarnishing mark we will have to endure. Even if it gets out we can deal with that, but what will we have to show for it? That it was acceptable for one of our patients to wander out on his own? Is lost only God knows where? We certainly can't sit back and expect to hear from the police, no. We need to be involved in the process of searching for Cristof."
"And if you want to hire a P.I., that's cool, I don't have that degree, I'm a nurse." Adia gestured to herself.
"And the best we have on hand to deal with this situation. Ezra Grandie might know more then he's saying. He might be more inclined to talk to someone his brother would consider a friend then any police, doctor or detective." Erickson said.
"I'm sorry, I'm not going to take part in this and I'm late for my shift." Adia stood.
"Perhaps we should cut off your access to the medicine supply." Marren said casually causing Adia to freeze slightly.
"Did you think that was something we wouldn't notice, Adia?" Erickson tsked.
"Places don't usually..." Adia muttered.
"Places you worked were bigger and didn't pay as much attention." Marren pointed out. "Why don't you sit."
"We're not here to scold you, Adia. If fact, who better then us to help you." Erickson smiled but it did nothing for the sinking feeling she was experiencing. "It's really more of an incentive to help us with this."
"Yeah, I see how you worked that out." Adia sighed and looked out the window. It was horrible, what she was feeling now.
thanks for reading! ^_^
Sadistprincess- sorry I'm late again, I really just…forget. I need reminders…I'm not giving anything away really, but I will tell you, I'm pro happy endings. So don't worry a lot. Beth is up in the air at the moment. Time will tell. I love guesses! All will be revealed in time. And you know whats funny. Cris would just tell you if you asked…people don't ask. Thank you for reviewing ^_^