Chapter Text
There were four days between when he dropped Henry off, and when he picked him up. He mostly spent them wallowing in self-pity, missing the constant companionship he used to have with Henry. He made food, he avoided texting his family back, and he prepared. He researched. Everything he could do to help Henry. He visited the facility, and the chaos level…it was much calmer. The facility was rated higher, but it was just…a bit too far. Anything to keep Henry safe though…that was his priority.
He knocked on the door, carrying his personal bag, and a gift bag. Shaan opened the door, and he let him in.
“How’s he been?” He looked at Shaan, but he didn’t say anything. He just started leading him elsewhere.
In the kitchen, Henry had his head in his hands, staring deeply into a small bowl of oatmeal. Her Majesty was rubbing circles into his back, gently trying to coax him into eating it. But he stayed still. He could see a few tears fall into the bowl, getting swallowed up by the substance. Maybe salty oatmeal could be good…?
“Alex.” She whispered. “Henry…? Alex is here.” Henry grunted. He had a feeling that if he could see his eyes, they’d be 100 miles away. He was so spaced out, he was probably in another galaxy. He pulled a chair over and sat beside him, physically pushing him back, forcing him to sit up.
“Henry?” He turned his head, almost robotically, and looked at him with a stiff look on his face. “Is it the oatmeal that’s the issue? Or food in general.” He held his hands up, shaking the left one to signify the oatmeal, and the right one to signify the food. Henry held up his left one in return, and he nodded. “Is there anything else he likes to eat? Maybe just some toast or…”
Shaan immediately got on it, and Catherine mouthed thank you. “Oh!” She broke the silence, just as a plate with toast, butter, and jam was placed in front of Henry. He quickly took the knife, letting Henry point out that he just wanted butter on both, and spreading it. “I have his worksheets?” She held up the folder to him.
“Oh, thank you.” He smiled, taking it and adding the papers to Henry’s file for him and his therapist to review, and adding new worksheets and exercises for him to do. This was work. His job. He couldn’t let his personal worries about Henry or his health get in the way of giving him proper care. “Everythings…been okay? Henry’s been…sober and…”
“Yes.” She smiled, and Henry smiled too, taking a bite of his toast. “You’ve done a lot of good for him. Thank you.”
“Y-You’re welcome.” He mumbled.
“Here. Sit. Would you like something to eat?” She pulled out his a chair. “Sit!” Catherine patted it, so…he sat. He took Henry's abandoned bowl of oatmeal and started eating it. Henry picked up the pace, eating faster. Basically at a normal speed. “Is there a time he has to leave by?” She stroked her son's hair.
“Well…an ambulance is required to take him there. I was able to bypass the rule for him when he was going to a closer hospital, but…they really need one to take him. They’re coming in through the back entrance. You’ll say goodbye to him here, and I’ll email you all the updates and information I get.”
Henry nodded. “It’s okay, Mum.”
She sniffled. “Henry…”
He gave Alex a look that said ‘I knew she would be like this’ “I’m fine mum. Alex has got me… mental health professionals. ” She pouted, like…actually. He couldn’t believe his eyes. “Have got me. It’ll be okay.”
She sighed. “...When will the ambulance be here?”
He checked his phone. “I…would think it’s already here. Where's the back entrance?” Henry shrugged, and Catherine seemed to frown at this and mumble something. He looked around, spotting Henry’s bag. He pulled up the handle and rolled it over. Catherine took them to a door, and sure enough…when they opened it, an ambulance was waiting. Henry got hugs from his mum and Shaan. Usually, this is when his patients cry. But Henry just turned around and walked towards the ambulance. The paramedics went over everything they had to do with him, and he climbed into the back, securing Henry’s suitcase. The paramedic rolled his eyes, and he was 100% sure he’d be having…a deep chat with his supervisor.
“...I’m scared.” Henry spoke again when the ambulance began to move.
“Yeah?” He looked up. “How come?”
“...The last one was scary.” He looked at his hands. “I don’t know, I've only seen places like that in movies?”
“Most…London wards tend to be like that.” He mumbled. “Chaotic…Not enough staff, too many patients. This ward is more…off the beaten path. I was going to have you transferred there ASAP…After my initial observation of the London Ward, I sent paperwork to this one. It just…took a little longer.”
Henry nodded. “...Thank you for prioritizing my care.”
“It’s my job.” He grinned, but Henry just shook his head.
“It was my therapist's job to not let me get as far as I did, it was my doctor's job to not let me get as far as I did. Your job isn’t to make sure I get into the best ward, nor is it to make sure I’m always okay emotionally, even if it isn’t part of your job's protocol. You care more than most people in your position do, Alex. It makes me feel horrible that you’re entirely focused on my care now, not…helping dozens of patients.”
He frowned. “It’s a good break, healthcare professionals have the highest burnout rate.” Henry looked surprised. “I love what I do, and I haven’t been doing it for long, but breaks like this…they keep me in check.”
Henry seemed satisfied with that and…went back to staring off. Alex pulled a book out of his bag, and began reading it aloud. “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” He saw a smile grow on his face. “However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighborhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.”
“Are you truly reading Pride and Prejudice?”
He shrugged, “I’m bored, you’re probably bored, might as well enjoy this book for the first time.”
“First time? Seriously?” He nodded. “God…what do they teach you Americans!”
“Great Gatsby…Crucible…” Henry wrinkled his nose. “I did audiobooks. They’re…not all that riveting.”
“I would agree but…I just read them like…I need their contents in the same way I need oxygen.”
He shrugged. “I read psychology journals in the same way. Case files, when I get really bored.”
Henry snorted at him. “You read the crap that goes on in our heads for entertainment?”
“I wouldn’t say entertainment . Just for knowledge.”
The banter continued on until they arrived at the hospital. Henry seemed…far less nervous then he was before. Which meant that he had done his job…somewhat well.
He helped Henry into the wheelchair, and he was welcomed by a nurse…and they went off to do intake. He went into Henry’s new room, which was thankfully only meant for one person. He folded Henry’s clothes…set up his fidget basket, books. He made it seem less…sterile. He tried to convince himself that this is the level of attentiveness he gave all his patients but that was…far from the truth. He set up their rooms, yes…but he didn’t try and make them perfect .
Henry was brought back in, walking this time.
“Alex, may I speak to you?” The nurse, who he felt bad for not knowing the name of, pulled him aside, Henry gave him a thumbs up so…”Henry’s expected stay is about…two and a half weeks.” He nodded. “He goes home on weekends…and with the entire…” She didn’t finish her statement, but…the whole Prince of England thing. “Yeah…we’re gonna try our best to integrate him. But we need you to be the one to shuttle him back and forth.”
“Fine by me.” He nodded. “I’m being put up in a hotel nearby for the weekdays, and I go home too on the weekends. Otherwise I’m here for his care.”
“We’ll all work together.” She promised, she poked her head in so he did too, and Henry seemed to be rolling a stress ball in his hands, taking in his surroundings. “Is he okay?”
He nodded. “He’s just thinking. Do you have copies of his schedules?” She nodded, and handed him a folder identical to the one that Henry had in his lap. He smiled, and she left, and…he sat down on Henry’s bed.
“Okay…so today you’ll have Lunch, then Group, then individual therapy before freetime, then dinner.”
“Okay.” Henry whispered.
“Are there any questions you have?”
He shook his head. “I already asked Nurse Holly everything.”
“Hey!” He smiled, patting Henry’s back. “That’s great, that you trust her.”
“I guess.” He mumbled, shrugging. They were silent for a while. “What’s for Lunch?”
“I can go check?” He got up, but Henry tugged him back down.
“...Can we just sit here until then?”
“Of course.”
So…that’s what they did.