Overall, his first physical exam in over 20 years went better than expected. Dr. Waters had taken care to move slowly, explain what he was doing and why, and checked in with how Jamie was feeling frequently. Jamie was relieved that the doctor was so understanding and patient.
"Well, I have to say that physically you are doing very well, Jamie," the physician concluded. "Considering everything that your body went through, this is the best possible outcome. And you didn't have any powers as Red, right?"
Jamie dipped his head in agreement.
"Just me. No powers, no Ranger healing."
The doctor shook his head in amazement.
"That's something. You know, if you need anything for your knee when it flares up, I can write you a script."
Extending the affected leg thoughtfully, the grey-haired man sighed and shook his head.
"It's not bad enough I want to go down that path yet."
"Fair enough," Dr. Waters commented. "What about the PTSD? How are you feeling about this diagnosis?"
Jamie glanced over at the closed door where he knew David was seated in the kitchen, probably internally gloating at some potential fuckery he was planning. He hated admitting that the asshole tyrant was right about a psych diagnosis, but after what he'd been through, there was no way his mind would have made it unscathed.
He checked all the boxes for a good rip-roaring case of post-traumatic stress disorder. Jamie chewed his lip while he considered what to say.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of, Jamie," the doctor cut in. "Your brain is caught trying to process your trauma. Now that David is here with you and interacting daily, that's going to be a lot to deal with."
Reaching up to fidget with his glasses anxiously, Jamie sighed.
"I know. I think a part of me is afraid that I'll end up as crazy as him," he nodded towards the doorway. "People will fear me and think I'm dangerous. Or what if I actually become a danger?"
The doctor was quiet a moment.
"Jamie, whatever mental illness David, or Drakkon, has going on, is not the same as what's going on with you. There are treatments to help with PTSD. And if he," the doctor also nodded towards the kitchen, "would ever be honest and transparent enough to get an actual diagnosis, maybe we could remove some of his venom."
The unique eyes narrowed remembering Drakkon's most abusive and painful theatrics. Whatever went on in Tommy's head to create that monstrosity had to be complex. But that asshole would never admit to anything being wrong.
"Doubtful. Its all games to him," he muttered.
The doctor nodded sadly.
"Its unfortunate that he is so stubborn. I'm not surprised either considering how he behaved in the facility. After you filled in some blanks, all of it started to make sense," he stated.
Taking a deep breath, Jamie advised the doctor how the following evening had proceeded, emphasizing that no wild outburst had occurred. Instead, David had attempted his version of a caring, sane individual.
"I kept waiting for him to start going off the rails and needing to be jabbed. But he actually was trying to behave like a normal person. It's like he wanted to pretend we were some loving couple or something," he explained with a shrug.
Another thought occurred to Jamie.
"Ever since he came back and started in with his fuckery, I've started getting migraines. Not a lot but I can't remember ever having issues with them before."
Dr. Waters jotted a few notes and frowned.
"Interesting. I'd like to take some blood samples next time I come out, Jamie. I'll take them to the lab and have them run under an alias. Can you keep a record of when they occur?"
Jamie nodded and stood from the bed.
"I've got to see what he's doing out there. Not being able to see him is making me nervous."
The doctor stood as well and Jamie allowed him to pat his shoulder gently.
"You did great with everything this morning. I know it might be hard, but give yourself credit for how far you've come, Jamie."
The man gave a small smile and turned the knob on the door.
Out in the kitchen, David continued to sit in his wheelchair in a patch of sun streaming from the window over the sink. He whistled a jaunty tone to himself as he reached into the basin full of soapy water to scrub one of the breakfast plates.
Jamie gave the physician a look and gestured at the tyrant playing Susie Homemaker.
"That's what I mean," he whispered softly, hoping David's keen hearing wouldn't pick the statement.
Turning from the sink, the man cracked a large grin.
"I thought you were going to be discussing your issues, Jamie darling, not mine," he scolded.
"You are a big part of my issues, remember?" Jamie retorted, crossing his arms defensively.
David shrugged and rinsed the soapy plate before placing it to dry.
"If you're done, I'd like a word with the good doctor, please," he reminded his companion.
"Oh Lord," Jamie groaned putting a hand to his head. "I thought you were kidding."
Dr. Waters looked confused as David turned his chair to face him.
"You have something to discuss, David? You weren't that keen to talk to me before," he stated, lifting a brow.
The tyrant nodded at Jamie who was pinching the bridge of his nose in irritation.
"Darling, why don't you go check on your animals or something outside? I just need a few minutes of the doctor's time. He might like to know what I have to say," he laughed knowingly.
Glancing at the doctor, who gave a small nod, Jamie huffed and began moving towards the door.
"You've got five minutes before I'm back in here. Hands to yourself, got it?" he warned as he pointed his finger.
David waved him away absently still grinning at Dr. Waters.
Once the door clicked shut behind Jamie, David looked around conspiratorially. He motioned for the doctor to join him at the butcher block table. Keeping a safe distance, the physician lowered himself into a chair opposite the former warlord and tried to put on a calm expression.
"Alright, David. What would you like to discuss? Every time I've sat down to go over your diagnoses, it didn't go well," he said firmly.
Leaning forward slightly, the tyrant laughed.
"This isn't about me, doc. It's about Jamie. Since he sees fit to run tattle on me, I have something you should know about him," he taunted.
Dr. Waters frowned, unsure if David was just bullshitting or actually in possession of important information.
"Alright, what is it about Jamie that I should be aware of," he prodded, keeping an open mind.
"Have you ever heard of dissociative identity disorder, Dr. Waters? I'm sure you must have at least some familiarity with the term," he whispered.
Dr. Waters jotted a note in the chart, casually.
"Yes, I've heard about that diagnosis but its extremely rare and not well understood."
Now, David leaned back and stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"As has been discussed, I spent a good portion of my childhood and teenage years in a shrink's office. I learned quite a bit about the brain and mental health and trauma and psychiatric medications. And no, that's a diagnosis that was ever thrown my way, just to be clear," he explained. "But I did have occasion to read about it briefly while I did some 'research'."
Dr. Waters merely waited, curious to know what the other man's point was.
"I think my precious Jamie has more than one personality lurking in that tangled up brain of his, doctor."
"Jamie has alternate personalities, is that what you mean?" the doctor said in disbelief.
David laughed.
"I've become well acquainted with at least one. He hates my guts to be perfectly honest. Watching him shift from one to the other was quite interesting. I've seen it at least twice that I'm sure of. Probably there have been other occasions," he grinned.
"Did Jamie tell you about his 'Red Rages', doc? Probably not. It seems he's aware of those episodes where he loses control of himself and acts like a rabid dog. But he doesn't about the real Red still taking up residence in his mind."
The doctor wrote more notes now, just in case the tyrant was being an asshole.
"Jamie told me who Red was," he informed David. "Red was your self-created pet after you broke Jason."
There was some anger in the doctor's voice now.
David bristled.
"I don't need your judgement. I know what I did. That's not the point I'm trying to make. Red didn't just dissolve when Jamie came into existence. He's still in there only now he pops out to threaten me when I 'act up' as Jamie puts it. I wouldn't be surprised if poor little Jason is in there somewhere."
Now, Dr. Waters plopped his pen down smartly.
"It seems like you're bragging about driving a frightened, traumatized teenager into a severe mental fragmentation, David. How do I know you're even telling me the truth?" he snapped.
David shrugged and rolled his eyes.
"Believe it or not, I'm telling you this to help Jamie."
"How will telling me this help? What will help is when he can be free of you and allowed to heal," Dr. Waters couldn't help but retort. "Besides you aren't known for your honesty, David."
A smug grin lifted the mad man's lips and he clapped coquettishly.
"I know! Would you like me to trigger him for you, doc? So that you can meet Red? I bet I can make him do it. As soon as he opens that door, in fact," he offered.
The doctor felt dread knot his stomach.
"That won't be.." he started, when the door knob clicked.
Too late, the wooden door swung open and Jamie entered the kitchen, looking back over his shoulder as he spoke to someone just out of sight. David pulled his chair back from the table, a feline grin crossing his face. The doctor had just enough time to step forward when the asshole locked his chair and launched himself straight at the unsuspecting man, knocking him back onto the wooden floor.
"Boo!" he bellowed directly in Jamie's face, enjoying the wide-eyed look of terror on his face before the other man's eyes began to flutter wildly.
David felt someone kick him in the ribs, causing him to lose his balance and roll off Jamie.
"Get off him!" Mark yelled angrily. "I told Jamie I can't believe he brought you here!"
He grabbed one of the skillets on the counter and took a brisk swing at the tyrant.
"Hey, watch it! I have to be ready to grab him!" David hissed, dodging the weapon.
Before Mark or the doctor could make sense of what he had just said, an inhuman roar of fury ripped through the small room. A blur of black and grey kipped up from the floor and tackled the bald man, rolling them both across the floor into the living area. Each combatant snarled and growled at the other; fists were thrown, and insults exchanged.
Panting with exertion, David giggled, licking the blood from his busted lip, and pointed a finger over Red's heaving shoulder.
"Naughty puppy, Red. Did you forget we have guests?"
Eyes widening, the grey hair swished across his brow as Red frantically whirled around from where he had been grappling with the tyrant. His temper had gotten the better of him and he'd lost sight of the other two men as he had zeroed in on David.
Fuck!
Taking advantage of Red's distraction, David lunged forward and seized the feral alter. He locked his thighs around the other man's waist, his arms locking around Red's neck in a firm choke hold. Trying to buck David off was useless, as the asshole merely tightened the hold, causing Red's eyes to roll back in his head as blood flow and oxygen became restricted.
David was unable to help gloating his overpowering the fucking beast. His lips pressed hotly to Red's ear and he hissed joyfully into it so quietly that the other two missed it.
"I warned you, you Goddamn psychotic Snoopy from hell. You should have ridden my cock like a good boy. Now, I've yanked your demonic ass out into the light."
Red continued to twist and thrash until the pressure over his throat was physically too much.
"Motherfucker," he croaked venomously, still trying to bite into David's arm.
Mark moved forward, skillet raised in preparation to brain the former evil Ranger.
"Don't. If he gets lose, he could kill us all. Couldn't you, pet?" he cooed. "Now then, gentleman. Why don't you say hello to dear Red?"
The restrained man jerked weakly as Dr. Waters and Mark stared at him in curiosity and fear. Carefully, the physician approached as close as he dared, hands raised passively. Red ceased to struggle, and a broad toothy grin crossed his face as he continued to pant in his rage.
"Jamie?" he tried, brows knit in confusion.
"No," the man rasped out, still grinning. "Not Jamie."
David rolled his eyes dramatically.
"Red?" the doctor tried next.
"When this fucker finally lets go of me, he's going to need a Goddamn doctor," he wheezed in response.
Mark approached to crouch in front of his friend.
"Red, do you know who I am?" he asked gently.
The marked change in Jamie's facial expressions, voice, and even his aura was stunning. He wouldn't have guessed this was the same person.
Red's dark eye locked on him, the glasses long since clattered to the floor in the frenzied brawl with David.
"I know who you are, shopkeeper," he answered in an icy voice.
"Where's Jamie?" he asked, anxious for his dear friend.
"Sleeping."
Dr. Waters had grabbed the chart he'd dropped in his haste and scribbled more notes. Then he too crouched in front of the pissed off alter.
"You know we just want to help Jamie, right?" he tried to calm Red. "We don't want to hurt him."
Red's toothy grin reminded the physician of a twisted painting he once observed depicting the Big Bad Wolf in human form.
"I'm not concerned with you. Just this slimy motherfucker!"
David tisk tisked and imperceptibly squeezed Red's throat tighter.
"Red used to be such a good boy. My little shadow always striving to please me. Now he just wants to rip my guts out," he said with a laugh, kissing the man's temple. "Such a nasty temper, mutt."
Now, Red tried to spit at David in his fury. Mark felt tears track down his cheeks seeing his friend in such a shape. Jamie had deeper cracks than he realized.
"David, stop it," Dr. Waters broke in. Then he tried addressing Red again.
"Red, will you talk with me? I want to help you, too. If you'll let me."
The man appeared to settle down somewhat and his eyes locked on the doctor.
"What do you need to know, doctor? Why is talking to me so important? I know I can't kill this fucking bitch until Jamie is done with him. I only want to play a little. Right, master? Just like the old days," he chuckled deeply.
The doctor gingerly put a hand on Red's tensed leg to get his attention. Red lifted his lip in a snarl at the physical contact.
"Red? Is it just you and Jamie? Or are there more?"
David quipped over the top of Red's head.
"Is Jason still hiding in there, Red? Have him come out and say hello!"