Warning – JR alert!

…

An orderly approached JR in the rec room.

It was the same man who had saved him from his hanging attempted – although JR saw it differently. The guy had been late on his rounds, if he had turned up a couple of minutes later JR really would have died and that wouldn't have suited his plans at all.

JR's suicide attempted was for two reasons and two reasons only. It had nothing to do with the guilt he claimed to his doctor he was drowning in. What did JR have to feel guilty about?

The first part of his plan was to cement in the doctor's mind that he still needed to be committed to Oak Haven, Dr Bennett had been suspicious after his outburst during Tads visit. He'd played the crazy card badly that day, subtle was better… Now he had taken to muttering to himself as if imaginary Marissa still haunted him and sobbing crocodile tears at every opportunity. It seemed to be doing the trick.

The second part of the plan was to bring his mother back. As much as he hated to admit it, he needed her. Or at least he needed someone from the real world, because although it was better than prison, if he wasn't careful this place really would drive him mad… It's all very well pretending to be crazy but some mornings JR was waking up wondering if maybe he wasn't faking it at all.

JR looked at up the orderly

"You have a visitor Mr Chandler." said the young man.

JR fought down a smile, it seemed the second part of his plan had worked as well. Dixie had come back to him.

…

JR walked into the visitor's room in a suitable mournful demeanour, although he was grinning inside. He had won again!

He looked up to give his mother a long sad look only to blink with surprise, it wasn't Dixie sitting behind the red line, it was Adam and he was seated beside Dr Bennett and another man he recognised from his trial, the shrink Dr Stanhope!

"Son." said Adam curtly.

Somehow that word cut JR deeper than he could ever have imagined.

"D… Dad, what are you doing here?" JR stammered, unable to keep up the pretence of depression, he was in shock.

"I've come to see my boy." said Adam. "I spoke to Dixie, and I realise how unfair it was of me to leave the burden of my child solely on someone else's shoulders. I have come to do my part."

"I felt your father would be beneficial to your treatment." said Dr Bennett. "Your father issues are well documented, including his part as the catalyst for your assault on Miss Montgomery."

"And him?" JR asked, turning to Dr Stanhope.

"Dr Bennett has asked me to consult on your case. It's seems your mental condition is proving difficult to diagnose."

"So what?" asked JR, taking a seat on the hard metal bench. "You want us to talk?"

"If that is what you need?" said Adam.

JR stared at his father… the question hanging there.

What did JR need from his father?

Respect… acknowledgement… love…

Adam was still talking.

"I look at you and I wonder what I did wrong… No, I know what I did wrong," continued Adam, "I saw you as a prize and not a person, I just so wanted a son! It's no wonder you treat people the way you do, I never taught you otherwise. But God, JR! When did you decide it was alright to hurt women?"

JR sniffed and stared at his father.

"I guess I learnt from a master."

"You think I could ever beat a helpless woman to within an inch of her life!" asked Adam. "I would never say I was a saint, but even I have my limits!"

"I was crazy."

"Were or are?" asked Adam, his eyes narrowing as he took in the expression on JRs face.

JR didn't answer.

"But you are sorry now?" said Dr Bennett. "And JR, the guilt you feel is a good thing, an indication that you are beginning to recognise the consequences of your actions."

"And I'm glad JR." said Adam," I'm glad you are learning from your mistakes. If I'm honest it's a skill I only learnt late in life. Son, you don't want to wait as long as I did, to learn how to do the right thing."

JR stiffened remembering that he was supposed to be putting on a show. He slumped his shoulders and tried to embody the remorse he was meant to be feeling.

"I know now I am a monster." said JR "And I deserve to die."

"And then you go and say something like that." said Dr Stanhope, out of the blue. He looked up at JR from his clipboard. "You do know that we are aware that your suicide attempt was not genuine, JR. Your doctor has chosen to class it more as a cry for help."

JR fought back a frown. He thought he had Dr Bennett wrapped around his little finger.

"How can you say that!" cried JR in disgust.

"JR, your leading psychological trait is that you are a narcissist. And narcissists do not kill themselves. Instead they direct blame onto others as they believe themselves too perfect to be at fault. The only reason for your suicide attempt is because you saw it as a way to benefit yourself. So the question is why."

JR could only stare at Dr Stanhope as he quietly began to strip away all of JR's pretence.

"The most obvious reason is because you miss you mother and saw it as a way to bring her back. But then there are your other new symptoms. Your great guilt at your actions and your tears, all aimed at trying to convince Dr Bennett that you are danger to yourself. But that goes against your diagnosis."

"Then maybe the diagnosis was wrong." snapped JR, unable to keep the anger from his voice.

"Perhaps it was." said Dr Stanhope. "Because the only reason you would really have to convince Dr Bennett that you're emotionally unstable is to prolong your stay at this facility. Now most people try desperately to convince their doctors that they need to leave, but seeing as the alternative for you is prison… it all suddenly becomes instantly clear."

JR felt suddenly exposed… he reacted on reflex, leaping to his feet and slamming his fist on the table.

"You're wrong," he screamed in rage, "You're wrong. I am crazy!" He looked desperately for an outlet. His eyes latched onto his father, "He made me crazy! Ask him! Ask him how he treated me; how he treated my mother!"

"JR!" gasped Adam.

Dr Stanhope quietly jotted a note on his clip board as security held JR back.

"Blame and anger, exactly the reaction one expects from a narcissist." He said calmly. He turned to Dr Bennett. "This young man clearly has anger management issues, but courses are available for that within the prison system. I don't feel he will benefit from further incarceration at this facility. I don't want to step on your diagnosis, Dr Bennett, but I would deem Mr Chandler eligible for trial…"

…