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Price forced Ghost to see a therapist for at least one time, see how it is and then he can decide further. The hour was fine, Simon didn’t talk much about his deep personal problems, more about small things that bothered him. The texture of the „food“ they get every day, the loud lamps no one else seemed to be bothered by, the constant small talk everyone wants to have with him. After the hour is over he gets back to his room and lies down on his bed. He feels… lighter, somehow, and he already dreaded needing to tell Price that he didn’t completely hate it. He couldn’t lie to the older man, it doesn’t matter how much he tried.
The next day he sits in Price‘s office, his pulls on his fingernails and chews on his lip. Apparently the therapist talked to Price about something she noticed and Simon is anxious it might effect his position on the team. John settles down in his chair and smiles at the younger as he pulls out some sheets of paper.
„Alright Simon, how did it go yesterday?“
Simon’s whole body twitches against his will and he rocks back and forth on his chair. „Good“, is all he says before avoiding the other man’s look again.
„I gotta say I‘m impressed, wouldn’t have thought you would even show up much less talk. I‘m proud of you“ Price smiles and Simon could feel his chest blooming with warmth.
„On another note. Miss Andrews talked to me about something she noticed. She said it’s too early to say something for certain, but she‘d like to get to know you better and if the suspicion is confirmed, perhaps get a diagnosis. But only if you want to of course“
Price seemed serious and Simon didn’t like it at all. The rocking intensifies and he starts scratching up and down his forearms.
„Will it effect my work?“ Simon asks in a small voice. The anxiety inside of him is boiling and he’s closing his eyes so hard he sees white. „I don’t think it will“ Price says with a smile in his voice. He moves his chair to sit next to Simon instead of opposite of him. He noticed some time ago that the younger felt more comfortable like that and he really needs it right now. Simon‘s body relaxes and he lets go of the breath he didn’t know he was holding. He glances over at Price and then back at his hands.
„Will you tell me what it is?“ He asks curious. „Do you want to know?“ Price asks back, making sure this is really what the other wanted. Simon nods and Price smiles.
„You might have autism, Simon"
He says in a neutral voice. Simon looked at Price with big brown eyes and then back down at his hands. „Is that bad?“ He whispers. The question seemed so innocent and Price could feel a pang to the chest. „Not at all. It’s something you’re born with. There’s not much we could do about it, there’s no medication but we can help you get better help and a support system.“Simon nods.
Autism. When he goes deep inside of him he’s heard it before. He remembers a conversation his mother had with a teacher of his. The teacher mentioned him being autistic. That he needed help, an environment that could support him, a place he could feel safe. He remembered his mother’s face. She was desperate, tears in the corner of her eyes. She looked at a young Simon with an apologetic look. She knew she couldn’t provide any of that. A diagnosis was too expensive and if his father ever find out about yet another weakness, Simon would’ve been done for.
He gets back to the present and looks over at a ever patient Price. The older raises an eyebrow, silently asking.
„I wanna get clearance“ He says with a hint of a smile. The other man beams and puts a reassuring hand on his shoulder. „I think that’s the right way. If you ever need someone to talk, I‘m here“ Price says sounding proud and happy. Simon starts to wiggle and rub his hands over his jeans. He’s entirely grateful to have Price even if he doesn’t show it often. „Can I hug you?“ He asks shyly avoiding eye contact, but Price doesn’t mind as he pulls the other into a firm hug, squeezing all the love he feels into the other. They separate and after a longer than usual goodbye they part their ways for the day.
Over the next weeks and months Simon started to go to therapy regularly. After he started opening up about his childhood and past experiences it was getting clearer and clearer for Miss Andrews that Simon is autistic. One day he had an exam outside with a different therapist. He hated the entirety of it. He was treated like a little child and he just wanted to get out of there. Back on base the first thing he did was shower all of the bad tingling the exam left on him. He cried into Soap’s shoulder that night after he came looking for his boyfriend.
Now he sits in Miss Andrews office and she has a big smile on her face. “I just got the results of the external exam you did a few weeks ago.” Simon rocks in his chair, he just wants to know already.
“You have with no doubts ASD!”
She says excitedly. Simon is beaming under his mask. He was hoping for that outcome. After he learned more and more about it and could identify with a lot of people, he really hoped he has finally found an answer to his questions. He starts wiggling and rubs his hands over his legs. He is happy. “Thank you for helping me” He says with the happiness bursting out at the seems. Miss Andrews smiles brightly. “I could only do it thanks to you trusting me” Simon might have shed some tears.
After leaving the therapy session he goes and looks for his boyfriend. As he steps into one of the common rooms he sees Soap, Gaz and Price sitting together at a table with their bodies shielding something. As he steps forward to them he sees all of their smiles. The wiggling that has never quite stopped picks up again. They move back in their seats and reveal a cake with the inscription “Congrats on the autism” which the three of them yell simultaneously as well. Simon actually starts laughing out loud and his found family looks at him in awe. They are all quickly pulled in a hug (although Soap gets the longest) and they start eating the cake all smiling and laughing and exchanging stories until deep into the night.