Chapter 2

Well, I still don't have a beta so the mistakes are obviously all mine. Also, I want to thanks everyone who commentedxt

One week later.

Jack had been living dead for a long time. He sometimes compared his existence with a zombie working undercover. Zombie Jack didn't know what to do with his life; he stopped enjoying doing his job even before Zoe was born but it was the only thing he was good at so he stayed. Zombie Jack had to take four types of pill and although he never remembered their names, that was Zoe's job, most of the time he know what their purpose was.

The blue ones made him want to get out of bed, take a shower and start the day.

The red ones remind him he needed to eat, drink and go to bed.

The orange ones made him smile and forget, for a little bit, how much he sucked at everything, even breathing.

And last but not least, the yellow ones made him forget everything, including eating, sleeping and smiling. This erased the job the other pills did, so that must be why Zoe kept them away from him.

But he never followed the schedule, especially when he had physicals. That was the funny thing about doctors, they don't go looking for what they had no idea is there.

"The Commander in Chief almost had a fit when I told him what happened, and lost his voice when he saw the report." Allison said to both Nathan and Henry. The two men were inside a conference room while Allison stayed by the door. The woman looked like she had the world on her shoulders. "Looks like at the beginning Jack modified the dosages of every medication and only took what he thought were necessary, but later he stopped taking them altogether."

Henry took a deep breath. "It doesn't explain how nobody detected the drugs in his system before he stopped taking them."

Nathan snorted. "I don't really care about what Jack's superiors think or feel. I only care about Jack's treatment and if he will ever be okay again."

"Well, after the meltdown he had when he couldn't see you, I'd say you will be vital in his recovery." Allison tried to tease and was rewarded with a flush. "When Jack modified the dosages he was aware he needed the medicine, which shows us he had some self-preservation awareness. But now it is obvious he lost any of that and can't be trusted."

"But the disassociation is minimal now." Henry tried to be optimistic but internally felt there wasn't much they could do for their friend. How could we ignore something like this? How did we miss the signs?

Allison nodded. "You are right, but we can't guarantee it will stay that way." She felt guilty. She felt like she should have seen something was wrong with both Jack and Zoe. There must have been something in their interactions that she could have perceived as strange. And being honest, before who seemed to need professional help was Zoe and not Jack. Yes, she sucked as a doctor.

Now that everybody knew the true, they were all surprised that it didn't happen sooner. Yeah, it sounded cruel, but it was their painful reality.

Although they shouldn't say it was their painful reality. They weren't the one with aliens in their head making them sick and wishing everything would disappear. They didn't wake up every day wanting to do something only to give up before starting because it wasn't worth it. They didn't feel like a failure and a waste of space. They didn't look at their beautiful daughter and die a little inside after realizing they would never be good enough for her, they never deserved her love and she would be free after they die.

Sometimes it feels as if Jack were having an asthma attack. His chest hurt, his mind couldn't focus and he couldn't breathe. The feeling never got away, it was always there making him feel like he was drowning and the only way out of the water was to let go.

But now, after waking up in that bright room with Allison at his side looking at him like an insect, Jack for the first time, in almost twenty years, felt letting go wasn't such a good idea. Maybe he should stay for a while and see what the big deal was about.

Three weeks later.

After talking with his therapists, Jack was starting to see what he did. He knew he hurt his family and friends, but it was still difficult for him to see he was loved, needed and accepted. Yes, it was hard for Zoe but she loved him and didn't care what she had to do to keep his father safe. And yes, he lost his job but now he could receive the right treatment.

"I got you a new book" Zoe gave her father a cheeky grin and put the gift in his lap. Jack raised one eyebrow looking at his lap as if the bag were to explode. Zoe laughed and clapped her hands. "Common, open it!"

With a deep breath he opened it and blinked at the content of the bag. Zoe laughed harder and Jack felt the corners of his mouth make an attempt at copying his daughter.

Funny comics by Jim Benton.

"What better way to spend your time, when I am not here making your day brighter, than reading funny comics!" Zoe smiled and Jack nodded slowly and opened the magazine.

Zoe visited every day and was able to see the changes the new treatment had on Jack. Sometimes he engaged in conversations, held eye contact and ate freely.

"Thank you." Jack gave a small smile at the first page and looked at his daughter for a brief moment.

Zoe beamed and gave her father a hug. "I love you, daddy." She would say it every day for the rest of her life to make it clear. "Don't let go, please."

Jack hugged her back and nodded.

It had been three weeks since it happened and both Nathan and Zoe knew they had to be patient but they wanted Jack out of the psych ward and at home, but they were all afraid Jack would have a sudden drop caused by the memories the house would bring of his suicide attempt.

Nathan wasn't allowed to visit Jack for one week but Zoe had to change her mind after Jack got confused, scared and combative when Nathan didn't show up. And that's how the staff figured out they was something going on between the two men. And Nathan was surprised by how much he didn't care his secret was common knowledge now.

Nathan guessed watching the man you love in a pool of his own blood and finding out it was caused by a long lasting mental illness makes you immune to social bullshit.

"Hello, sir." Nathan entered the hospital room and spoke in a deep voice. "I come bringing peace and love." This part he whispered and Jack smiled shyly.

Nathan didn't get a verbal response but it didn't surprise him. "I am here to take you out for a little trip." He waited for Jack to process the information.

Nathan offered his hand and Jack looked at it biting his lip. Jack reached and with hesitation took Nathan's offered hand. Nathan held the pale and fragile hand with love and with gentle movement took Jack out the room.

Now that he knew about Jack's mental illness and Zoe accepted him, Nathan will hold Jack's hand forever in this strange and bumpy road.

"I love you, Jack." Nathan said when they reached the garden.

Jack looked at the sky and squeezed Nathan's hand.

The End

And this is the site jimbenton for the comics Zoe bought.