Work Text:
Chase couldn’t sleep. He’d been trying for close to two hours but every time he’d start to drift something would shock him back to the land of the living. So he sat at the penthouse kitchen table, waiting for the sun to rise.
“What are you doing up?”
Chase almost fell out of his chair. “Douglas! You scared me.”
Douglas had the decency to look sheepish. “Sorry, kid. Thought you would hear me come in.”
“It’s fine.”
“Coffee? I’m pretty sure neither of us are getting back to sleep.”
“I think I’ll be okay.”
Douglas leaned against the kitchen table. “Adam, Leo, Daniel, Naomi and Tasha are flying in. It’ll be nice to have the whole family together again.”
“Yeah.”
“When was the last time you slept?”
“A few days ago. It doesn’t matter.”
“You’ll be the death of me kid. It’s a miracle none of you have given me any grays.”
Chase laughed a little bit. It wouldn’t have been funny if he wasn’t so damn tired. “Can I ask you something?”
“Within reason.”
“When did you start going full mad scientist?”
“I was always like this. Just ask Donny. But if you're talking about when it got bad, I was about in my late teens.”
Chase sighed. “So, my age. Great.”
“I guess that’s not what you wanted to hear. But look, I got better. And you have more people with you than I ever did growing up.”
“How did you know?”
“I didn’t. I thought I was fine. Sure, there were weeks where I felt terrible, and I didn’t want to get out of bed. But then I’d get better, and I’d get so much done I wouldn’t want to sleep.”
“But Mr. Davenport didn’t think you were fine.”
Douglas rolled his eyes. “He thought I was acting too much like our dad. Turns out he was right.”
“Nice to know batshit is genetic.”
“Language,” chided Douglas half-heartedly. “I’m sure you're fine.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“I’m always right. It’s about time you acknowledged it.”
Chase picked a napkin off the table and launched it in Douglas’ direction. It fell straight to the floor, missing him entirely. “Thanks for the help.”
“Anytime, kid. What’s got you worried about turning out like I did anyway?”
“You said it yourself. We’ve got a lot in common.”
Douglas crossed his arms and started to pace. “So what? That dooms you to end up like me?”
“No, I didn’t mean that I just- I feel like I’m losing my mind here. I can’t sleep, I can’t focus, and I can’t stop thinking. I just-”
Chase wasn’t sure. It had just been one thing after another, after other problems stretching on for close to forever. He couldn’t take it anymore. He could build something, maybe find a wormhole transporter and build himself a new place. Far far from here. He was smart. He could do it, he just needed to find the time. That’s all he really needed time to- to do something, anything.
“Okay, just take a breath, working yourself into a panic attack isn’t going to help anyone. You just need sleep Chase, that’s it-”
“No, I don’t need to sleep. It doesn’t matter anyway. You can’t help me!”
Douglas moved closer to him. “Why not? You are my- I created you, now just let me help!”
“No! Just go away, leave me alone! You’re not even here!”
“You’re right, Chase. I’m not here.”
Everything came rushing back. The list, the fight, Reese, and Douglas being rushed away in an ambulance. Where he had been comatose in the hospital for nearly a week. Whoever or whatever Chase had been talking to, couldn’t be Douglas. But he was still standing in front of him. Chase slumped back into the kitchen chair.
“That’s why everyone’s flying in. In case-”
“In case they have to say goodbye. Speaking of which, you still haven’t visited me. You should go soon.”
“No. I’ll see you when you get home. You’ll be fine.”
“Like how you’re fine?”
“Fuck off!” shouted Chase. “You don’t get to judge me.”
“Chase? Who are you talking to?” asked Kaz.
He was standing at the bottom of the stairway, rubbing his eyes and leaning up against the wall. A pang of guilt and embarrassment shot through Chase’s stomach. Of course, that’s what he got for arguing with a hallucination. Douglas shrugged his shoulders and walked out into the living room.
“I’m- No one,” said Chase.
“Liar. Tell him you see me. Ask him for help,” said Douglas.
“Are you sure?” said Kaz.
“I’m alright. Just tired.”
Kaz didn’t look like he believed him. “Come on. It’s not healthy for you to be up for this long.”
“See?” said Douglas.
“Shut up,” said Chase. “I’ll try to sleep.”
“Good. I thought I was going to have to get a tranquilizer,” said Kaz. He grabbed Chase’s shoulders and pulled him back onto his feet.
He let Kaz shepherd him back upstairs to where Oliver was snoring peacefully. Chase shut the door to his capsule. Kaz gave him a thumbs up, before collapsing back into his own bed. Chase closed his eyes. He was just tired. That was all. The nagging feeling that said it wasn’t got pushed to the very back of his mind. He could deal with it in the morning.