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middleearthpixie · 25 days ago

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Better Days ~ Chapter Twenty-Three

Summary: Frerin Durin had the perfect life, until he found out his wife was cheating on him. Now, he’s navigating uncharted territory as an about-to-be divorced single dad. Dating is a mess, he’s dealing with the fallout where his kids are concerned, and really, he would just love a vacation away from all of it.

Elena Madison is new to Sidleburg, and also navigating life as a newly single parent. The last thing she needed was for her daughter to come down sick, when she hasn’t even had time to unpack the moving boxes, never mind find a pediatrician. And the last thing she ever expected was to meet a man like Dr. Frerin Durin…

Neither Elena nor Frerin were looking for anything, but fate has a way of messing up even the best laid plans. However, both have been hurt and both aren't at all sure they trust themselves, never mind trusting someone else...

Pairings: Modern!Frerin x ofc Elena Madison

Warnings: None

Rating: T

Word Count: 2.7k

Read on AO3

Elena thought she might hear from Frerin sometime the next day, but that didn't happen. She thought about calling him, but talked herself out of it each time. His family wasn't hers. She had no right to barge in on their trauma as if she belonged there. He would call her when he was good and ready and she just had to accept that.

Which was something she tried really hard to convince herself. Even so, her mood was grayer than it should have been as she waited at Newark Airport for Alyssa to come down the jetway.

“Mommy!” Alyssa’s voice rang out through the terminal, as loud and boisterous as ever, and she bounded toward Elena to throw her arms around her neck like it had been years since Alyssa had gone.

Elena stepped back, smiling at the sight of her suntanned daughter, who looked far healthier than she had when she left for Florida. “Well, I guess you are definitely feeling better.”

“I am. It’s amazing was a little sunshine and beach will do for you.” Alyssa slung her backpack over her left shoulder. “Now, just keep your fingers crossed that my luggage made its way home as well.”

Thankfully, her large black wheelie (the handle tied with a scarlet satin ribbon for easy identification) had made it home, and so a little more than an hour after Alyssa’s plane had touched down, they were in the car, on their way home, and Alyssa was already complaining about the cold.

When she finished, she said, “Well, at least the snow is pretty. I hate that I missed a snowy Christmas break . We could’ve done something fun, like go skiing.”

“You don’t like to ski, remember? And besides, you had a good time, you got spoiled rotten by your grandparents, and you have a tan. I think that’s a fair trade.”

“Maybe.” Alyssa leaned forward to change the radio station from Classic Rewind to Octane. “So, how is Dr. Hottie? Did you behave while I gone?”

Elena chuckled. “Yes, Mom.”

“Are you used to the beard yet?”

“Alyssa!” Elena couldn't hold back her laughter.

“What? I’m curious.”

“Don’t you worry about it.” Elena shook her head, checking the side mirror before switching lanes. “But, yes, I’m used to.”

“I knew it. So, are you seeing him tonight, since it’s your last night of freedom?”

“Not tonight.”

“Let me guess, you two just were inseparable all week. Like, I’ll bet there was a montage of all the things you guys did while I was gone, like in the movies? With like a stupid Herman’s Hermits song playing throughout, like in that old Leslie Nielsen movie you showed me last summer.”

“Not quite.” Elena sighed softly. “But, I don’t know when I will be seeing him.”

“Oh, no. Mom, that sounds so ominous. What happened?”

“Just a family thing.”

“A family thing?”

“Yes, Miss Nosy,” Elena grinned at her, “a family thing.”

“Is he married? Mom, are you fooling around with a married man?”

“He’s not married, technically.”

“Technically?”

Elena could practically hear Alyssa’s raised eyebrow and she chuckled as she nodded. “Yes, technically. He’s in the process of divorcing his wife. So not married, but not unmarried, either.”

“Scandalous.”

“Hardly. Now, tell me about what all you did in Florida…”

****

If the day before a vacation was a long, rough one, that was nothing like the first day back from it. Elena sat back in her chair as her period seven class filed in, all looking the way she felt—about done in.

“Hey, Ms Madison,” Ashleigh Brenner greeted her as she slipped into her chair at table in front of Elena’s desk.

“Hi, Ashleigh. How was your break?”

“Not nearly long enough.”

“I feel that.” Elena pushed back her chair and stood as the rest of the class filed. “Welcome back, everyone. I know how you’ve missed being here.”

“Damn it,” Lindsey Keller blurted, dropping her Chromebook onto the table next to Ashleigh’s machine, “I forgot my paper, Ms Madison.”

“I expected there would be a few people who might not remember,” Elena told her, “so I’m pushing the deadline to tomorrow.”

With that, she picked up a blue Expo dry erase marker and at the top left side of the white board at the front of the classroom, she wrote the new due date, and as everyone else took their seats, said, “I hope everyone had a restful break. As you can see, I pushed the date back to tomorrow, so make sure you bring in your research papers because any that aren’t turned in tomorrow, I will still accept late, but you will be marked down half a grade for every day.”

“What?” Sadiya Hartwell asked.

“If you hand it in tomorrow, you’ll get starting grade of full credit, which may or may not come down depending how you’ve done on it. But, if you forget tomorrow, and bring it on Thursday, you will start out with a ninety-five and I’ll grade it from there. If you bring it in on Friday, you start with a ninety, and so on and so on.”

There were a few expected grumbles, but that was it, and as she moved toward the center of the whiteboard, she said, “So, we’ve wrapped up our segment on the American Revolution and move into the ratification of the United States Constitution and the election of 1800. Then we will move into the Era of Good Feelings and then Jacksonian politics and how the election of 1824 led to the Second Party System.”

“When are we going to get to the Civil War?”

“Not for a little while yet. Probably by the end of the month, maybe first week of February, Brayden. We will spend a couple of weeks talking about it, and then move through Reconstruction. So, let’s get started. Does anyone know when the United States Constitution was ratified and which state was the first to do so?”

****

“Dr. Durin?”

Frerin turned away from the Keurig, peering over his shoulder. “What is it, Katie?”

“Dr. Reese is looking for you.”

“Did you tell him where I was?”

She winced and nodded. “Yeah. Was I not supposed to?”

“No, it’s fine. Where is he?”

“He said he had to scrub in on a lap-chole at ten, but that he’d be in his office otherwise.”

Frerin glanced down at his watch. “If I milk fixing this coffee I can avoid—”

“Avoiding me, Frerin?”

“Not at all, Jay.” He forced a smile he didn't really feel to his lips as he lifted his cup from the Keurig’s tray and turned to face Reese. “What did you need me for?”

“I wanted to talk to you about the pedes ER. You have a minute?” Jay Reese smiled at Katie. “Unless I’m interrupting something?”

“I was just leaving,” Katie replied dryly, rolling her eyes as Reese brushed by her to come into the lounge. Normally, Frerin would just use the Keurig in his office, but he’d been called down to the ER for a consult and halfway up realized he’d left his coffee cup in the ER’s doctors’ lounge. That meant he had to scrounge a cup from the lounge near his office and hope that his remained untouched downstairs.

“She’s cute,” Reese remarked as the lounge door swung closed.

Although he secretly agreed, Frerin rolled his eyes just the same. “She’s too young for you and you’re too married for her.”

“Too married. Is that even a thing?”

“Did you want to talk to me or flirt with my secretary?”

“Christ, you’re touchy today.”

“I’ve been under more stress than usual these days.” Frerin lifted his cup to his lips for a sip. French vanilla. Not his favorite but it was caffeinated and that trumped flavor today.

“How’s your boy doing?”

“He’s doing well. Naismith is discharging him on Friday and he’ll do a six week outpatient program through Gen-Psych.”

“Yeah? They’re good. They really helped Tiff a few years ago.”

“They did?”

Reese nodded, moving to the cabinet to take down a mug for himself. “Yeah. I didn't broadcast it to the hospital, but she spent time there and at Wakeman. They do good work.”

“I hope so. I don't think I can do another week like this last one.” Frerin sank into one of the mismatched chairs around the table in the middle of the lounge. “This place is almost as much of a dump as the ER lounge.”

“Well, the ER is were the derelicts all end up, so no surprise there.” Reese slid a K-cup into the machine and set his cup on the tray, then pressed brew. “No offense to you, of course.”

“Well, considering you keep sending me there…” Frerin set his cup down. “But, they’re good docs down there. You wouldn’t last a week in the ER and we both know it.”

“I did my time in the trenches.”

“You were never an ER doc.”

“No, but I’ve covered.”

“I hate to break it to you, but one ER shift every ten years does not count.”

Reese chuckled. “I’m glad you feel at home enough to defend those burnouts, considering you’ll be joining them in a few weeks.”

“What?”

Reese joined him at the table, tugging out another chair to sink into. “Yeah. Where else would we put a pediatric ER?”

“Wait… you mean… you’re signing off on it? But I haven’t even sent out a single grant application. I don't even have a list of foundations to hit up.”

“I know, but Danielle somehow found out about the idea and she thinks it’s a good one and fortunately for you, her daddy has really deep pockets. So, go down there, let me know exactly what you need and put in the requisitions and work orders and we’ll get started.”

Frerin smiled. “I knew I liked your wife for a reason.”

Reese chuckled. “And that’s why I’ll never go beyond flirting with your hot secretary. If Daddy Warbucks ever caught me giving it to anyone other than Danielle, I’d be sleeping in my Beemer.”

“You’re too old for Katie anyway and she’s seeing a pro hockey player, so I’m gonna go out on a limb and suggest you’re really not her type anyway.”

Reese chuckled. “She’s also two years younger than my daughter. It would be too creepy outside of my imagination.”

“It’s too creepy within the confines of your imagination as well.” Frerin reached for his coffee. “So, when you think we can get this up and running by?”

“Spring at the latest, if all goes well. The board will approve it, and they’ll approve you being charge of it. Once we get everything signed off, I’ll expect a list of possible employees and if you go outside the hospital, we’ll need to get them vetted.”

“I’ll draw up a list in the next week or two and we what we need downstairs.”

“Good. And this coffee sucks, by the way.” Reese rose and moved to the door, where he paused. “Hey, did you ever hook up with your gorgeous brunette?”

Frerin couldn't help his grin. “Yeah, I did.”

“Good. I’ll see you.”

“See you later.”

As the door to the lounge closed, Frerin finished his coffee and sat back as a feeling of triumph washed over him. He had never thought Reese’s wife might be the savior to getting a pediatric ER set up, but now what had been more fantasy than reality was really going to happen and it was the best news he’d had in weeks.

Without thinking, he picked up his cell phone from where it lay on the table and toggled to contacts, where he scrolled down to Elena. He hesitated for a moment, since he hadn’t talked to her since the night of Jake’s suicide attempt, and while he’d hoped she’d understood, he had no way of knowing for sure. Still, he’d risk it and there was only one way to find out. It was after three now, so she should be finished with her last class.

With that, he tapped on her phone number and tried to ignore how his heart sped up as he waited for her to answer.

One ring.

Two.

“Hi, Frerin.”

He almost groaned at the heat that swept through him at the mere sound of her voice. “Hi, Elena. Are you busy?”

“No. My last class ended about ten minutes ago. What’s up? How’s Jake doing?”

“He’s doing well, actually. His doc thinks he’ll be discharged at the end of the week and then he’ll do a six-week outpatient program at Gen-Psych.”

“That’s wonderful news! Although, I confess, I don’t know what Gen-Psych is, exactly.”

“It’s a program that will involve basically helping him learn to cope with stressors so we hopefully don't find ourselves back at ground zero again. They’ll tutor him so he doesn’t fall behind on schoolwork and if he’s doing well, when it’s over, he’ll be back in school with his friends again.”

“Oh, that would be fantastic,” she replied and he could almost hear the smile in her voice. “You and his mother must be thrilled.”

“I am, but I neither know nor care if she is.”

“Uh-oh… what happened?”

“I’ll tell you when I see you.” He hesitated. “I mean, if you want to see me, since I basically went MIA on you.”

“You didn't go MIA, Frerin. You had a family emergency and your kids—especially Jake at the moment—come before me any time.”

He couldn’t help his smile. “I confess, I thought you might be pissed off at me.”

“I might, if it was anything other than one of your kids. Especially considering these circumstances. I didn't want to butt in, so I figured I’d give you your space and you’d call me when you were ready. It’s all good.”

“I’d like to see you later. Are you free?”

“What’s later?”

“I’m on until seven. I’ll leave here and head over to Wakeman until eight. Could I swing by after?”

“And what about Maura and Flynn?”

“I can drop them at home first.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure.” He chuckled softly. “But that’s not the only reason I’m calling. I just… I got some great news and wanted to share it with somebody and you were the first somebody I thought of, so…”

“I—I was?”

“Yeah. Why do you sound so surprised?”

“Because I am surprised, that’s why.”

“The Pediatric ER is a go.”

“You got the funding?”

“I got the funding. Seems my chief of staff’s wife loved the idea. And since she comes from a family with more money than they know what to do with, I’m getting my pet project. I’ll need to find a few more hours each day, and hopefully the kids won’t suffer too much as a result, but when all is said and done, Sidleburg Memorial will have a pediatric ER.”

“That is fantastic, Frerin. And I wouldn’t worry if I was you. I think they’ll understand. Especially when you tell them this has been your passion project.”

“We shall see. I can hold off telling Jake until he’s more settled, but the other two can know now.”

“I’m really happy for you, Frerin. Really. I think it’s wonderful.”

“Thanks, Lena. I’m feeling pretty good, myself.”

The lounge door opened and Katie poked her head in. “Dr. Durin? They need you in the ER again.”

He sat up and nodded, shifting the phone to whisper, “I’ll be right there.” Then, as Katie backed out of the lounge, he said, “I’ve got to go, Lena. They need me in the ER again. Fourth time in the last three hours.”

“It’s the universe telling you that’s where you’re really needed,” she replied with a hint of a laugh.

“Probably. Okay, so I’ll see you later? You sure nine’s not too late?”

“It’s fine, Frerin. Promise.”

“Okay. I’ll see you then.”

“Bye, Frerin.”

He clicked off the call and stood, pushing his chair in with his left hip. He swept up his stethoscope (hot pink, thanks to Jerry, the clerk who handled requisitions for the ER) to drape about his neck, then hurried out to the elevator banks to go down to the ER, his spirits higher than they had been in weeks.

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middleearthpixie · 29 days ago

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Better Days ~ Chapter Twenty-Two

Pairings: Modern!Frerin x ofc Elena Madison

Warnings: Attempted suicide

Rating: T

Word Count: 3.4k

Read on AO3

“Dad?”

Frerin jolted awake at the sound of Flynn’s voice. “Yeah, I’m up. What’s up, Flynn?”

“Your phone’s ringing.”

Frerin flipped onto his back, rubbing his eyes with one hand. “Who is it?”

“Someone named Leigh Addams.”

“Fuck.”

“Dad?”

“Sorry, Flynn. It’s the hospital and there is only one reason they’d be calling me.” He rose onto one elbow and held out his free hand to take the phone. “I’m not coming in.”

“I’m so sorry to call you, Frerin, but Reese threatened to fire me if I didn’t. And when Dee tried to tell him only the nursing manager can fire us, he threatened to fire her as well. He’s in such a mood, it isn’t funny.”

“Tell him you left a message and I’ll deal with him when I’m on tomorrow.”

“We’re down three docs and the moonlighter in for Craig hasn’t shown up yet, either.”

“I don't care, Leigh.” He squinted at the clock. “I worked a double until seven yesterday morning, then I spent all afternoon up in Psych or at Wakeman, and only finally got to sleep sometime around midnight. I’m going to hop in the shower and go see my son. Wakeman’s strict about visiting hours and I don't care if Sidleburg burns to the ground, I’m seeing Jake. If Reese doesn’t like it, he can fire me. I don’t give a damn at this point. I am not setting foot inside that place until seven tomorrow morning. ”

“Are you sure?”

He scowled even though she couldn’t see it. “You did not just ask me that.”

“No, I know, it was stupid. I’m sorry. I should’ve told the jerk to call you himself.”

“Don’t worry about it. Like I said, I’m on tomorrow so I’ll deal with him then.”

“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow morning?”

“Yeah. I’m on at seven.”

“Go and give Jake a hug for me.”

“I will. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He ended the call and tossed the phone on the bed alongside him, narrowly missing Flynn, who said, “They wanted you to come in?”

“Yeah. We’re down three docs and a moonlighter. But, Wakeman was real clear that they only allow visiting from seven PM to PM eight and I’m not going to be anywhere other than there.”

“Can Maur and I come?”

Frerin nodded. “Yeah, of course. I think he’d like seeing you both. Probably more than he wants to see your mother or me.”

“I think the only one he wouldn’t want to see is the Skeeze.”

“What exactly happened yesterday?”

“Nothing, really.” Flynn picked up Frerin’s phone to set it on the bedside table. “I thought everything would be okay by yesterday morning. It usually is, you know?”

Frerin’s gut twisted. “What usually is.”

“Skeeze picks fights with Maura all the time. Let me guess,” Flynn offered up a long look, “Mom’s never mentioned them before.”

“Not a word to me about it.”

“Well, he does. But then again, so does Mom. She’s always harping on Maura, saying she wears too much makeup and you should’ve heard her when Maur told her she wanted to get her nose pierced. That really sent Mom into orbit.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. All I know is she and Maura were arguing about it and Skeeze butts in and tells Maura she’s gotta listen to Mom and all that crap.”

“Flynn.”

“I’m not apologizing, Dad. It is crap. Who cares if she gets a nose ring? Like, almost all the girls in school have their noses pierced and no one even notices it anymore. But Mom said something about her looking like a slut and Maura said takes one to know one and that sent Skeeze into orbit.”

Frerin bit back a smile. “I can imagine.”

“So, they’re all yelling at each other and Jake just must’ve had enough of listening to it, ‘cause the next thing I know, he’s yelling at Mom and telling her to leave Maura alone and that’s when Skeeze stuck his stupid nose into the fight for real. He told Jake to shut up and mind his manners or else he’d take his Switch from him and that he shouldn’t be playing a crap game like Breath of the Wild anyway.”

“Your mother said they’d been fighting over the game.”

“Let me guess,” this came from Maura, who just appeared in the doorway to his bedroom, “she left out all the important parts.”

“She didn't tell me you wanted to get your nose pierced.”

Maura just shrugged. “I don’t care what she thinks about it. I’m doing it whether she likes it or not and the Skeeze is the last person I’m listening to.”

Frerin offered up a long look. “We need to discuss this nose thing, Maura.”

She stared balefully at him. “Really, Dad?”

“Yes, really.”

“Either way, it was stupid and Skeeze should’ve just kept his stupid mouth shut,” Flynn said before Maura could reply, “But, he didn't and then he really lost it when Jake told him that he wasn't his father and he didn't have to listen to him.”

The floorboards creaked softly as Maura came completely into the room. “It was kind of scary, really. Skeeze turned purple, he was so mad and he screamed at Jake that he was a better father than you were to us and that Jake’d better wise up and realize it because when it was all over, he and Mom would take us away from you and we wouldn’t get to see you any more.”

Frerin’s gut twisted. “He said what?”

Maura nodded. “Yeah, he said that. And Mom didn’t correct him or tell him to shut up. She just told Jake to go to his room and when he did, Skeeze followed him. Next thing I knew, Skeeze is back with the Switch and Jake was crying.”

Frerin rubbed his eyes with one hand. “And then what?”

Both Maura and Flynn shrugged, and Maura said, “I don't know. It got quiet and when Mom went to check, she said Jake was asleep. So, we thought it was all settled.”

“But, then yesterday morning, at breakfast, Skeeze made a big point of telling Jake he’d thrown his Switch out and that got Jake going all over again.” Flynn scowled and Frerin saw how Flynn’s one hand balled into a fist so tight, his knuckles were white. “He told Skeeze that he didn't have the right to do it, Skeeze said he did, and I kid you not, Jake looked him right in the eye and said, Fuck you. And Mom sent him to his room. Next thing we know, Mom goes up to get him for breakfast—like he’s even going to eat at that point—and she started screaming and—”

Flynn’s voice cracked and Frerin reached over to cover that white-knuckled fist with his own hand. “It’s okay, Flynn. I know the rest.”

“I hate him, Dad. I wanted to fucking kill him right there. You should’ve let me kick his ass in the hospital.”

“You really should’ve, Dad.”

He looked from Flynn to Maura and back to Flynn. “And what would have been accomplished by that? Nothing.”

“It would’ve felt awesome,” Flynn told him. “Uncle Thorin would’ve done it.”

“No, he wouldn’t have. Your uncle isn’t quite that hot-headed. Now, the two of you go and find something to do while I call your mother.”

“Can’t we just stay here?”

“No, Maura, you can’t.”

“Dad’s gonna rip Mom a new one,” Flynn told her with a hint of a grin. “Aren’t you, Dad?”

That was exactly what he planned to do, but since he couldn't very well tell either of them that, he shook his head. “Don’t you worry about what I’m going to do. Go.”

Both kids grumbled but left his room just the same and Frerin waited for the familiar creak of the stairs before dialing Toni’s cell.

“What do you want?”

He rolled his eyes at the sound of the Skeeze’s voice. “Obviously I want to talk to Toni,” he growled. “Put her on.”

“Look, I don’t want—”

“I don't give a flying fuck what you want, Tim. Don’t you get that? I couldn’t give a rat’s ass about anything having to do with you. Now, go and get Toni. Or do I have to come over there and get her myself?”

“Hang on.”

“Good boy.” Frerin rubbed his eyes once more. Somehow, he didn't think it would matter how much sleep he got, it wasn't going to be enough until Jake was back under his roof. And if Frerin had his way, Skeeze would never be left alone in a room with any of Frerin’s children.

“Frerin?”

“You didn't tell me the entire story, did you, Toni? Why not?”

“This isn’t a good time—“

“The fuck it’s not,” he cut her off, gripping his cell so tightly, he thought for a moment he might actually crush it. “You left out more than one key part and when my lawyer hears about it, you’ll be lucky if you can have unsupervised visits with any of them.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Try me, Toni. I dare you.” He shook his head. “Any judge we get is going to be real thrilled to know you’ve put a sleazeball boyfriend before the best interests of your kids. And that will be after learning you were fucking a guy barely out of high school himself and god only knows who else behind my back. But, when he or she finds out about Tim? You think they’d just ignore that?”

“Oh, you’re one to talk, Frerin. I know you stuck your dick—”

“We aren’t talking about me.”

“Of course not. We never are. Tell me, does your newest whore know about the other whores?”

“Toni, I mean it, you should just stop, right now.”

“You didn't tell her, did you?” A hint of triumph wove into Toni’s voice. “I’m sure you told her about how I slept with every man I’ve met while you were the poor, innocent husband who did nothing wrong ever. I’m sure she doesn’t know about the charge nurse, what was her name again? Or the social worker? Maybe I should tell her about them?”

“Toni, you leave Elena out of this. She has nothing to do with this at all.”

“No, you were only fucking her while I was trying to get ahold of you tell you about Jake’s accident.”

“His accident?” Frerin’s already tenuous grip on his temper slipped free. “His fucking accident, Toni? It wasn’t a goddamn accident and you know it. That goon you moved in with threatened him and you did nothing to stop it. You did nothing, you—” He clenched his jaw was he fought to contain the epithets rising to his lips. Clenched his jaw and swallowed them forcefully and then growled, “Don’t you ever threaten any of them with being taken away from me, you got that? Because I swear to Christ, I—”

“You’ll what, Frerin? Are you threatening me?”

“No. I’m promising you. If I find out that shit is anywhere near my kids, all of the lawyers in the world won’t save you. I will bury you, understand me? I. Will. Bury. You.”

“They’re my kids, too, so don’t you—”

“No, don’t you. I’m done, Toni. Jake is in a psych hospital because your sleazy ass fuckbuddy thinks he gets any say in what they can or can’t do and he’s in the find out stage of fuck around and find out. And you didn't even have the balls to tell me the whole truth. Did you think I wouldn’t find out?”

“You’re turning all three of them against me.”

“No, I’m not. You’ve also reached the find out part of that. And guess what, it’s not all about you, either. It’s about fucking time you learned that. And I mean it, Toni, I don't want him anywhere near Maura or Flynn and definitely not around Jake and I’m not letting them stay with you as long as he’s in the picture. You want to see them, you come here—alone—or else you don't see them and if you want to go crying to your lawyer, just know I’ve already been in touch with mine.”

“You are such a bastard, you know that?”

“I do, yeah. And I’m also dead serious. So—”

The line when dead and he smiled despite his fury. He’d been more than willing to work with Toni when it came to custody before. But now? That was gone. He wanted sole custody and was not about to budge on that any time soon.

Which meant he had to call his lawyer.

Sigh.

The rest of the day flew by for Frerin. After talking to his lawyer, who assured him, as always, that he had nothing to worry about, Frerin showered and then made dinner for him and the kids. It was a quiet meal, as Jake’s empty chair was a stark reminder of what had happened only the day before, but then they made the twenty minute drive to Wakeman, which was in neighboring Morris County. His gut kinked at the sight of Toni’s car in the visitors’ parking lot, but thankfully, she made no mention of their conversation earlier or of the Skeeze, who was not with her.

But, seeing Jake was far more difficult than Frerin had thought it would be. He’d brought Jake a few things, but nothing that had to be laced or belted, for string, shoelaces, ties, and belts were strictly forbidden. He’d had to buy Jake slip-on shoes for that reason as well. Anything that he might use to harm himself was not allowed and as they sat in the lounge, Frerin was acutely aware of all the eyes on them.

Jake seemed better than he had the day before, although he was still so pale, with dark smudges beneath his eyes. He sat between Maura and Flynn and fidgeted with the bandage on his wrist, and refused to look at or speak with Toni the entire time she was there, which wasn't long, actually. After twenty minutes, she made an excuse about why she had to leave and when she went to kiss Jake’s cheek, he turned away and she missed his entire head.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, baby,” she’d told him, plastering a smile on her lips. “I love you.”

Jake just fiddled with his wrist as he mumbled something that sort of sounded like, “goodbye.”

After she left, Jake shifted to sink onto the leather sofa next to Frerin. “Are you leaving, too?”

“In a bit, but not until they make me.” He reached down to brush several dark russet curls away from Jake’s face. “Did you talk to anyone today?”

He nodded. “Dr. Naismith. He seems nice.”

“Good.”

“I made a friend. A kid named Jamie. He’s in the bed next to mine.”

Frerin nodded. “That’s good, I think. Is he close to you in age?”

“He’s twelve. He’s been here before.”

“Well, I hope they’re able to help him like they’re helping you.”

Jake nodded solemnly, then said, “Dad, are you mad at me?”

“What?” Frerin shook his head. “No, of course not.” He carefully gathered Jake into his arms. “You did nothing for me to be angry over, little man. Now, I just want you to get better and they’ll help you with that here.”

“Really?”

“Really.” Frerin gave him a gentle squeeze. “And before you know it, you’ll be home and we’ll keep working on whatever you need our help with.”

“When can I come home?”

Frerin’s throat tightened. “I’m not sure just yet. That’s up to the doctors and we won’t meet with them for a few more days.”

“We?”

“Your mother and I.”

“Does Mom have to be here?” Jake lifted his head from where it rested against Frerin’s collarbone. ��Can you tell her not to come?”

“Why? She wants to see you.”

“Then why did she keep checking her watch when she was here?”

Maura muttered something under her breath, while Flynn said, “What?”

“Yeah,” Jake nodded, “she kept looking at her watch. Was Skeeze outside?”

“I didn't see him,” Maura said.

“She never goes anywhere without him. She asked me if I wanted to see him as well.”

“What?” This came from Flynn and Maura in unison.

“I told her no.”

“Good,” Flynn said.

“So that’s when she started checking her watch. I bet you he was in the car.”

Frerin swallowed the oath rising to his lips, instead clearing his throat. “She probably just didn't want to get in trouble with the staff.”

“Well, you’re still here and you’re not in trouble.”

“Jake, they will have to tell me to leave. And as soon as I can be back, I will. But, you need to concentrate on listening to the doctors, okay?”

“You can come back and so can Maura and Flynn. Tell Mom I don't want to see her.”

“Jake, I can’t do that. Talk to Dr. Naismith. Tell him what you told me and let him make the call, okay? He has the authority that I don’t.”

“But you’re a doctor, too.”

“I am, but I’m not your doctor and that’s the difference.”

“Dr. Durin?”

He looked up at the nurse striding toward them. “Yes?”

“It’s eight o’clock. Visiting hours are over now.”

He nodded. “Okay.”

Flynn and Maura both slid off the sofa, and Maura bent to kiss the top of Jake’s head. “I’ll see you tomorrow, little man.”

“Me, too,” Flynn told him, rumpling Jake’s mop of russet curls. “Don’t flirt with any of the nurses.”

Jake wrinkled his nose. “Ew. They’re all old.”

Frerin bit back his smile. “When you’re ten, buddy, everyone over the age of twelve seems old.”

Jake reluctantly slid off his lap. “Are you coming back tomorrow, Dad?”

“Of course I am.” The sofa squeaked as he rose, and his eyes stung as Jake wrapped his arms about his waist.

“Please let me come home with you, Daddy…”

“I can’t, Jake.” He slid his arms about Jake’s thin shoulders. “You have to stay here, baby. But we’ll be back tomorrow. I promise.”

“But… I won’t do it again, I promise.”

“I know, but this is where you need to be.” He carefully untangled himself from Jake, crouched to catch his face in his hands and said, “And as soon as you can come home, I’ll be here to get you. I promise.”

Jake’s hazel eyes welled with tears. “I don't want to stay here. I want to come home.”

“I know, but you can’t. Not yet.”

“Jake,” the nurse came over to them, “would you like to play MarioKart before it’s time for bed?”

Frerin held his breath as Jake just stared at him for a long moment. Then, Jake sighed and slowly nodded. “I suppose.”

“Okay. Give dad a hug and you’ll see him tomorrow.”

Jake did just that and the backs of Frerin’s eyes stung as he caught Maura and Flynn around the shoulders to guide them toward the doors that led to the foyer. There, in said foyer, stood a bank of lockers, where Frerin, Flynn, and Maura all had to stow their cell phones and other personal items upon their arrival. Those belongings were collected, keys returned to the receptionist, and then they were out in the freezing cold in the parking lot, where Frerin made the mistake of looking back to see Jake peering at them through hotel narrow window in the door. Frerin had never seen him look so young and little and helpless before and it took every last bit of will he had to not go barreling through those doors to grab Jake and run with him.

None of them said much in the car on the way home and once they were back home, Flynn disappeared into his room, Maura into hers, and Frerin sat at the kitchen table for the longest time, staring out through the French doors that led to the deck behind the house, lost in thought as snow began falling.

Time meant nothing, and he had no idea how long he sat there for, watching the peaceful darkness, but finally, his eyelids grew heavy and since he had to be at work in only a few hours, he dragged himself upstairs.

It wasn't until he was just about asleep when he realized he’d forgotten to call Elena.

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