Moira woke with a headache. After enduring a night of Jack’s taunts, he had drained the battery of her iPod, once again. She resigned herself to the fact that she couldn’t drown him out with music. Chalk that up to all the other stuff Jack’s figured out how to do. Unease settled in the pit of her stomach. I hope Dr. Cassano found out where Adam is. I don’t know how much longer I can take this. She made her way to session and knocked on Dr. Cassano’s door.
“Come in, Moira.”
“Can we skip session today? I have a headache.”
“Of course,” he said. “I’m sorry. You look tired.”
“Did you find out about Adam?”
“Um…” Dr. Cassano sat on the edge of his desk, facing her. “Adam is in solitary.”
“What?” she said. “Solitary?”
“I shouldn’t even be telling you.” He ran his hand through his hair. “He’s on a noncompliance treatment order. He was causing problems.”
“Treatment order?” Realization dawned on her. “You can’t let them do that—”
“There’s nothing I can do,” Dr. Cassano said. “He’s not my patient.”
“But you work here, can’t you do something?”
“Moira—”
“Don’t pretend you have no pull with your colleagues,” Moira said. “I know you talk about us. We talk about you.”
Dr. Cassano’s cheeks colored slightly. “Even if I did, maybe Adam needs to be medicated. Have you thought about that?”
“Is that what this hospital does?” Moira asked. “Force medication on their patients? Put them in solitary so they don’t cause any problems? Forget about helping them!”
“No—”
“Is that why you’re worried about discharging me? Because I’m not on medication?”
His face fell, and for just a second, she could see the man behind the doctor. “That’s not why I’m worried about discharging you.”
She turned to leave.
Dr. Cassano reached forward and grabbed her hand. He released it, just as quickly. “Moira—”
“He can’t protect himself when he’s on medication,” she said. “Or me.”
“What do you mean?”
Moira hesitated and dropped her voice. “I think he keeps Jack away when I’m with him.” Her heart thudded in her chest. “Can you check up on him? Please? I trust you.” She could tell she had touched Dr. Cassano in some way. But it was true, she did trust him. She could also tell that in saying that, she’d just pissed Jack off.
“All right,” Dr. Cassano said, his eyes searching hers. “I’m not making any promises, though.”
Moira didn’t want to leave his office. Jack’s fury was apparent. She could feel it intensifying. But her head was pounding, and she didn’t want Dr. Cassano to witness the seemingly one-sided argument that was sure to come.
Moira stepped into the elevator behind one of the nurses. Jack stood behind her, silent. Isabella’s eyes were huge in her face as her gaze darted back and forth between them. The ride to the second floor was excruciatingly slow.
Once they got back to her room, Jack’s temper exploded. “Is that what you think? That your freaky lover keeps me away from you?”
Moira stared out the barred window. Ignore him, she thought frantically. Just focus on your circle.
“You can’t keep me away, Moira,” Jack raged. “You, or anyone else!”
“You said that you couldn’t follow her—”
“Shut it, Isabella!” he snapped. “The only reason I didn’t follow her the other day is because I was tired of seeing her face.”
“That’s not what you told me,” Isabella countered. “You said there was a barrier—”
“Shut up!”
Isabella retreated quickly to Moira’s side.
“Don’t you run from me,” Jack started.
Moira turned to block him, nudging Isabella’s presence behind her. She didn’t even know why she did it.
Jack gave her an amused look and stepped back.
“I know there’s something about Adam that keeps you away,” Moira said.
“Don’t count on that freak to save you,” Jack said, his voice a deadly whisper. “He’ll be tired of you soon enough and will move on.”
“At least he has the option to move on.”
Jack’s face darkened.
Suddenly, Moira was on her back, the wind knocked out of her. Jack’s face blurred and his form seemed to shift. She rolled over and grabbed at the bed. Moira felt Jack’s energy gather for another outburst. Panicking, she pulled herself up and scrambled across the bed to get away. Bolting for the door, she ran.
* * *
Dr. Cassano opened the office door. His face registered surprise. “Moira! Are you feeling up to session, after all?”
She caught her breath and tried to calm herself. She didn’t know why she had run back to his office. It wasn’t like he could stop Jack.
“Are you all right?”
“Um…I was just—”
“Jackie!” His eyes widened as he looked past her. “What are you doing here?”
Moira turned to see a tall, leggy brunette coming down the hall with an older woman in tow. Dressed in a black pencil-skirt dress and red heels, the brunette looked like she had just stepped from a fashion magazine.
“You must be Moira Flynn.” The brunette gave her the once-over. “I saw your picture in the newspaper.”
Dr. Cassano cleared his throat. “Moira, this is Jackie and her mother, Mrs. Mendez.” He gave Jackie an eyebrow raise.
“Mother and I are here to whisk you off for your birthday, Richard,” Jackie said. “My treat.”
“I didn’t know it was your birthday,” Moira said.
“I usually don’t make a fuss.” Dr. Cassano ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t know if I have the time, Jackie.”
“Nonsense,” she replied. “The nurse told me you have no appointments from ten to noon. Which means we have you for two hours.”
“Moira?” His eyes searched her face.
Moira felt Jack’s rage gathering like a thunderstorm and clenched her hands to still their shaking. “I…think I left my hair elastic here.”
Dr. Cassano gave her an unsure look before he went into his office to check.
Moira caught the open stares of Jackie and her mother. I wonder what he’s told them about me. She felt her cheeks warm. Probably that I’m a basket case.
Dr. Cassano returned. “I don’t see it.”
“Oh, I probably left it in my room, then.”
“And we’re not done there,” Jack grated.
Moira bit back a wave of fear. “So, um, enjoy lunch with your…”
“His best friend, right, Richard?” Jackie cut in.
Moira caught the small look of relief that crossed Dr. Cassano’s face. At the same time, Jackie’s face fell a little. Oh. Her gaze traveled to Dr. Cassano’s hand, still lingering on the door knob. She quickly pulled herself together. “Enjoy your birthday lunch.”
“Oh, he will,” Jackie assured her. “The place I’m taking him has the best chocolate cake.” Her hands were expressive. “It’s to die for.”
“I love chocolate cake,” Moira said. “I can’t remember the last time I had any…” She let the thought trail.
“I guess they don’t really have cake here, do they?” Jackie asked.
A flash of something behind Jackie’s eyes told her she knew they didn’t. Moira bit her lip.
Dr. Cassano gave Jackie a sharp glance. “I promise to check on that thing we were talking about, Moira.” His face was taut. “I’ll let you know what I find out.”
“Thanks.” Squaring her shoulders, she walked back down the hallway towards the elevator.