Chapter twelve:

Mello turns as a doctor approaches.

Matt said that he needs at least a day to ensure they'll be set, so they agreed to escape on the next day after this one.

"Mello. I have some good news for you." The doctor informs him though Mello isn't sure he believes this man. "After that... Incident the day before, we have decided to offer you and Near a chance to be roommates."

Mello pauses since he didn't expect that from the doctor.

"Of course we understand that you probably want to talk to him about it. We can do it before the session begins."

"What if we don't want to do those sessions again?" Mello presses his eyes narrowing as his rage starts to build.

The doctor stands his ground however is watching out for signs of needing to try to escape. "We understand you had a bad experience. Treatment isn't going to be easy. We need to figure out things and have data before we can make a proper call on how to move forward. Things should be better from now on."

Mello still has no trust in this doctor.

"A doctor is already taking Near to the area. We can meet them there."

Mello clenches his teeth at knowing Near is there again. He shoves past the doctor pushing particularly hard and rushes towards that area. He gets there just before Near can enter with another doctor. He can tell that Near is scared yet due to how he doesn't respond or react he's not fighting this. He marches forward forcing the doctors hand off of Near making the doctor back off.

Near stops walking too scared to even look at the blonde right now.

"We're not doing more of your stupid tests!"

The doctor is about to speak when Sam places a hand on his shoulder.

"Lets not push things. We're not trying to force things like this on them. Everyone does things in their own way." Sam smiles to Mello and Near who are still wary. "Why don't you two decide if you want to be roommates? We have a room big enough for both of you if you want." She offers and I Mello does find himself relaxing a little. She clearly can tell how much things are stressing them out so she is standing up for them.

"I would like that." Mello turns to Near who blinks at Mello before nodding softly. He turns back to Sam. "Well do it."

"Great!" Sam claps her hands together. "How about we do a normal session? Nothing extra. Just something you two can attend together where it's just talking? Something small to ease yourselves from what happened. We can work on the idea we were doing later. I just want to say we have enough data that treatment can begin."

Mello doesn't trust her on that though he supposes that they'll have to play along. "Fine. Talking and that's it."

"Deal." Sam leads them to a room where the two sit down on a couch. She sits in a chair across from where they are. "Would either of you like to start?" She grabs a clipboard with paper and clicks a pen to open.

Mello decides to speak first. "Having Near around really does help calm me down. It even worked when I was in a rage. As I'm sure you've heard. He's really special to me." He doesn't miss how Near seems to feel warmth at being called special to him.

"Well I am glad you found a way to help yourself so quickly." Sam turns to Near. "Near? Does Mello help you out with your trauma?"

Near doesn't show any reaction so after waiting a few moments Sam glances to Mello.

Mello leans closer to Near slightly covering the other with his body. "Do I help you too?"

"You do." Near whispers so quietly Mello almost missed it. "I don't think it's to the extent I do to you. However you're helping my fear about opening up again start to go away. Believing that there is good in the world again. His word makes Mello smile. He shifts a little just barely moving. "I know that if we became roommates you wouldn't hurt me. Just..." He looks down. "Last time I was in a room with another we were being broken and manipulated to be slaves for buyers."

Mello feels his heart break for that. "Well you won't have to worry about that. I'll protect you and nothing bad will happen to you. Also." He lowers his voice to ensure only Near hears him. "We're escaping tomorrow. So you won't have to worry for too much longer."

Near nods softly and Mello finally pulls away.

Mello turns back to Sam speaking again at a volume that she can hear. "He says I do help him. Not to the same extent as I do. However at least he's feeling better about opening up."

"Any progress is good progress. Even small steps." Sam assures them writing this down. "We're having a visitor tomorrow. I think you two should meet him."

Mello and Near look to each other confused before turning back to her.

"It's L himself."

Mello isn't sure if he should be worried or relieved to hear this.

"I-I've had a visit or two from him." Near mentions so quietly and nervously it makes Mello and Sam jump.

The two turn to him however he won't look to either of them.

Sam clears her throat. "Yes. He has visited before hoping for any extra information to ensure the entire kidnapping thing Near here was involved in has been taken down." Her talking gets Mello to turn to her. "However he is visiting for a different reason with Watari. He wishes to look into what we have done to try to help you two in the new way."

Mello tenses at this.

"At least the idea of it. He wants to see if maybe there is a secret that might be able to help others. Watari is especially interested in this. We all know that it is almost impossible for you two to stay together forever. Once you're healed you'll be in the world apart. So there has to be a way to help yourselves when not around each other."

"What do you mean apart?" Mello demands with a growl. "Yes we can't always be by each others sides however that doesn't mean that we can't leave this place together." He also notices Near's breathing increases at this.

"Well you have to go to homes and not many want to take in two at once. Especially two with such heavy afflictions as you two have." Sam points out making Mello leap to his feet.

"That is stupid! I won't let you tear us apart! We deserve to stay together if we help each other so much! I would rather wait for a place that can take us both in so I can protect him rather than be forced to separate from him! It isn't fair to either of us!" Mello turns to Near helping him to his feet. "This is pointless. Lets go." He storms off with Near heading Sam letting out a sigh as they leave.

Another doctor has shown the two to their new room so Mello helps to move Near's stuff into that room.

Mello can't help a smile as he saw that Near posted the drawings that they had made on his wall. He tries his best to replicate what Near had set up while the other checks out the bed which is attached by the frame yet can be pulled apart as needed. "Which side do you prefer?" He inquires glancing to the other. He looks up almost growling as he spots Sam in the doorway. "What do you want?!"

"I want to say that I am sorry for what I said. I put in a note that you two would like to stay together. So it might be harder to find someone out there to take you both in however we want to make sure that we do the best for our patients." Sam informs the two of them. "Also. I wanted to let you know about the next step of the treatment. No more hiding." She offers a stabled together book of many papers. "This is the plan for the next step. You can read it and know how we plan to go forward. No more surprises."

Mello takes it thinking it might be good evidence as well once they get out of here. "We will read it ourselves. So no point in telling us about it." He just wants her out of here.

"I will see you both tomorrow. Let us really try to do the next part of this treatment idea. It'll help you both so much. For now get settled in your new room." Sam heads off after that.

Mello looks to Near a little concerned. "Don't worry." He puts an arm around Near and glances at what is next for them. He sees that they want to try some drugs to see if they have the same effect on Mello especially. He also spots an idea to get Mello to try the therapy for Near under observers then slowly introduce others to get him to be able to function normally. He does notice a note saying that they are thinking about also replicate situations they might face to ensure that everything is working good. He feels angry that they still want to do things even similar to what they had done to the two of them before. "Me and Matt will get you out of here." He whispers. "I promise."

…

Night has settled and everyone, well almost everyone is asleep, when two people enters the asylum.

"Greetings L, Watari." A doctor dips her head as the two come closer. "Everyone is asleep. We're ready for the next step. These two we spoke of might be the key to saving those with mental health issues."

"Well I suppose we will see about that." Watari mentions and L looks away with a slightly upset look on his face. "As long as it helps them as well. They need a second chance. Even if this may not be the way most others will do this."

"Of course. You two can settle in your rooms in the meantime."

After L is sure that Watari is asleep, he had a long drive here so he asked to be allowed to rest for tonight instead of joining, he sneaks out heading to the area he knows that they are likely using to do these tests. "Let us see what they're really up to."

AN:

This was written on my phone so hopefully I caught the autocorrects.

Hopefully you all are enjoying so far!

Mello.