'Wait, so tell me again. He thinks he is immortal?' Hanson shook his head. 'I know he's eccentric but this? This is just plain weird, even for Henry.'
'I think he has convinced himself this to help cope with Abigail leaving for some reason.' Jo said softly. 'But I can't think why.' They sat in silence for a while, listening to footsteps in the corridor. The door to the break room opened suddenly, and Jo looked up to see Abe's worried face.
'Hey Jo, I came as soon as I got Lucas's call, but all he said was there was something wrong with Henry. What's wrong?' Jo glanced at Hanson, before looking up at Abe.
'After you called I went to find him, and he was… was cutting himself. Lots. I told him to stop, and he asked if I thought he would kill himself. Abe, he was suicidal! I didn't know what to do. And he told me he wouldn't… couldn't die, that he was immortal! I don't know why he would say tha- Abe?' Abe had gone white. 'Abe what is it? Abe?'
'Huh? Ohh it's nothing.' Jo narrowed her eyes at him.
'She's a detective, Abe. She's gonna get it out of you.' Hanson stated, looking bored. Abe cleared his throat.
'Well…umm it was after the thing with stalker, you know? The one who thought he was immortal? I guess it, I dunno, affected him. For a couple of days after he kept going on about immortality, but I didn't think he seriously thought he was immortal, so I didn't tell you guys. After a while he just stopped talking about it, went back to normal.' He gave a dry chuckle, 'Well, normal for Henry, anyway. But I guess he didn't. Go back to normal, anyway.' He sighed, 'Can I see him?' Jo and Hanson look at each other awkwardly.
'He's still knocked out from the sedation they gave him. When they tried to restrain him he went crazy, trying to bite them and stuff. But he should be coming around soon.'
-30 minutes later-
They were sitting in silence when Lt Reece stuck her head round the door.
'He's awake. He wants to see you, Abraham. Says he won't talk to anyone else until he has seen you.' Abe stood and followed the lieutenant from the room.
'Henry?' He had heard the door open, but hadn't looked up, figuring it was just another member of the NYPD mental health department, but at the voice he jumped up, opening his arms.
'Abraham!' While they hugged, Abe felt Henry's shoulders shaking, and felt the tears running down his face, soaking the top of his shirt.
'Oh, Henry, what have you gotten yourself into this time, eh?'
'What did you tell them? Abe?' They were whispering now, hoping those outside could not hear them.
'I said that I thought it was from when you had the stalker who thought he was immortal, that his actions affected you more than you let on to others.' Henry nodded,
'That's good, believable. Now we just have to get out of this mess somehow. Do you thing I should try to escape or something?'
'They checked me before I came in, so I won't be able to bring you something to kill yourself with, and I hate to tell you this but I think the entire NYPD is going to be watching you like a hawk, so escaping normally probably wouldn't work either.' Henry shuddered.
'Looks like I'm stuck in here for a bit then.'
'We'll think of something, Dad.' Abe gave him one last hug before leaving.
He had gone back to staring at the floor again when the door opened. Henry figured it would be Lt Reece as he had told her he would talk after he saw Abe.
'Henry?' His jaw clenched but he remained silent, staring at the floor. Jo. Of course they would let Jo in. He ignored her, letting the silence grow. Eventually she broke it.
'Henry, look at me. Please?' She put a hand on his shoulder, and he tensed. 'This is for the best.' She sighed. 'They can help you here.' At those words, the exact same that were uttered 200 years ago by Nora when she visited him in the asylum, he flipped. Throwing her hand off his shoulder he leapt to his feet.
'Shut up, Jo! You know nothing, there is nothing wrong with me, no one understands! Even I don't understand!' He collapsed in the corner of the small room, body wracked with sobs.
'Henry, please, they can—' She was cut off
'Just leave, Jo. You ruined my life so just go, please.' The words were so empty of emotion; they chilled Jo right to her bone. Sighing, she turned to leave, passing Lt Reece outside the door. Standing with Hanson they watched through the one way mirrors as Reece entered the room and approached Henry.
-Inside the room-
'Ok Henry. You've seen Abe, so now you need to talk to us. You obviously don't want to talk to Jo, but is there anyone else you would feel more comfortable talking to?' He shrugged.
'Well looks like you've got me then. So, why do you think you're immortal? Is it like Abe says?'
'Lieutenant, if this is all the same to you, would you mind awfully if we did this tomorrow? I'm rather tired at the moment… it's been an eventful day.'
'Yes I guess it has. I'll be back tomorrow morning. And you will talk whether you want to or not.' As the door clicked shut behind her Henry gave a sigh of relief. He had the night to work out what to do.
A short while later the precinct was silent, with the majority of the people who worked in it gone home for the night. He could see a faint glow under then door and through the one way mirror.
So Abe was right, they're going to watch me carefully. He lay down on the small bed in the corner of the room, pulling the thin blanket over himself.
What am I going to do to get out of this? By morning he had his answer.
'Ah, good morning Lieutenant. Detectives.' He smiled at Lt Reece, Jo and Hanson as they entered the room. Jo and Hanson exchanged glances, eyes wide.
'I was not… in my right frame of mind yesterday, so to speak. I assume Abraham told you my story?'
'Hmm, yes, the stalker.' Lt Reece said, 'Please, continue.'
'Well, like Abraham said, I thought myself immortal for a time, I mean, why else would the stalker be so infatuated with me? Abraham wouldn't listen to me whenever I brought it up, just point blank told me that it was nonsense, and after a while I realised he was right. I came back to myself. Last night I was just… a bit depressed, what with it being my wedding anniversary, and it all just came back, I don't know what came over me. I can barely remember parts of it, just shouting at you, Jo. I'm sorry.' He smiled at her, and shakily she returned it.
'After taking to Abraham yesterday made me realise what I was saying, how absurd it was, and I was so confused. That's why I didn't want to speak to you last night, Lt, and why I was so rude to you, Jo. Waking up this morning, I realised how mad you must think I am. But I'm not mad, honestly. Just a little depressed, I promise you.' He sat back on the bed, leaning against the wall.
'So what happens now? I go to a therapist or something?' 'We'll have you assessed by a psychiatrist, if he thinks you're ok, yeah, you go home with Abe and attend some sessions with a shrink a few times a week.'
'Oh good.' He sighed. 'You can't imagine how stupid I feel being here. The sooner things can return to normal the better.'
'The psychiatrist will be here soon, he starts work at 10. I'll end him in when he arrives. Oh, and Hanson,' Lt Reece turned to go 'I need you to go talk to a Mrs…' Her voice trailed off as she and Hanson left the room. Jo turned to follow them, but was stopped by a hand on her arm. She turned eyes travelling up, over the white bandages on his wrists, and up to his eyes.
'Jo, I'm really sorry about yesterday, you having to see me like that. I just… I wasn't…'
'It's ok, Henry. It's gonna be fine.' She turned when she heard the door open to see a man sticking his head around the door.
'I'm Dr Smith, I'm here to assess Dr Morgan.'
'Oh, umm, ok. I'll just be outside then.' Jo shut the door behind her and went to grab a coffee from the break room. 30 minutes later Dr Smith walked past the room and into Lt Recce's office. Jo sidled up to the door, trying to hear what he was saying.
'Come in, Detective.' Lt Recce's voice startled her; she didn't think they could see her. She sheepishly walked into the room.
'Sorry Lieu.'
'It's fine, Jo. I know you're worried about Henry and want to know how he is.' Dr Smith cleared his throat,
'Well, he seems totally fine to me. A little eccentric but I hear that's normal?' Jo and Lt Reece both laughed. 'So I can recommend you send him home. Make sure he attends regular sessions with a therapist and have someone he is close to at work check up on him a few times. He might find it easier to talk to someone he knows than a stranger.'
'Thank you, Dr Smith. Jo, do you want to be the one who checks up on Dr Morgan from time to time? You're probably the one he's closest to here, apart from Lucas.'
'Oh um sure, ok.' 'Go tell him what Dr Smith said, and maybe keep a close eye on him for the rest of the day.'
'Jo! What did he say? He wouldn't tell me a thing, just made a lot of notes and left.'
'You're fine, Henry. You can go home now. Lieu has made a few appointments for you for the next few weeks with a therapist, so you just need to make sure you go to all of those, but otherwise you are a free man, Dr Morgan. Do not go far.' At the words she had said to him the last time he was in an interview room as a suspect he smiled. As he followed her out of the door he was ambushed by Lucas.
'Hey Doc, how does it feel being a free man again!' Henry laughed at Lucas's obvious happiness at him being back to normal, but it soon faded as he remembered what he was about to do to him and Jo.