Author/pseudonym: MonaCK and Cathy Roberts
Email address: monaCK2@yahoo.com and huntersglenn@yahoo.com
Rating: NC-17
Status: Finished. Well, mostly finished. Just the ending left to write.
Pairing: John Carter/Dave Malucci
Date: May 25, 2004
Archive: Please ask first
Series: 56/?
Category: "E.R."
Disclaimer: "ER" and all its characters belong to Warner Bros. No infringement of their copyright is intended. This story was written for the enjoyment of "ER" fans everywhere, and may be downloaded for your own pleasure. The title of the story was inspired by the Jimmy Buffett song of the same name, and no infringement is intended. The story can be found on the following web sites: http://www.heresmona.com/fanfic.html
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Boutique/7087/, and
http://www.errealmofslash.com
Summary: It's a slashy A/U story about how Season 8 might have been and contains no spoilers for the current season.
"Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes, Part 56"
By MonaCK and Cathy Roberts
John was trying to get his pants on and thinking it was a shame he didn't have time for a shower when he heard Dave at the door, complaining about having margarine in his hair. "It's open," John called out, already laughing over that mental image of Dave. "Maybe we can shower together? I can take care of that margarine problem for you."
Dave opened up the door, a slightly embarrassed grin on his lips. "I can't believe I answered the door to your parents with my hair full of goop," he mused, as he shut the door behind him. "But yeah, I think we can both deal with a shower. Your 'rents are gonna be back in ten minutes, but I...uh...I think your dad, uh...knew, so I'm sure he'll distract your mom..."
Dave approached John, and noticed that he was already wearing his boxers and his shirt. "I guess we gotta get undressed again. Not that I mind that one bit..."
John frowned, not really noticing Dave's grin. "My Dad knows what we were doing? Then that means Mom probably knows, too. She's not stupid." He bowed his head and cradled it in his hands. "Oh, man. I can't face them now. I can't believe I told Mom she could be here anyway. Dad, either." He suddenly looked up at Dave, thinking it was a good time to mention something that had been on his mind that afternoon. "I don't even see why Dr. DiLeo needs to be here tonight. I took my pill as ordered and I'm feeling much better. He should be able to wait until I can come in for a regular appointment, don't you think?"
"Hey, listen," Dave said, as he crouched down next to John's wheelchair. "It's really important that you don't cancel this appointment. I know you're feelin' better, but there's still a lotta stuff you need to hash out with the good doctor. He really is a good guy. As for your parents..."
Dave shook his head, a smile creeping on his lips once more. "Your father was more amused than anything else, and don' worry about your mom, your dad's gonna deal with her..." Dave reached out his hand, and caressed his fingers lightly against his lover's cheek. "Yup...I guess your mom and dad are gonna know that their Johnny's not a virgin..."
For some reason, John didn't seem to find that quite as funny as Dave did and he angrily knocked Dave's hand away. He knew he was getting better, and, to begin with, it was mostly the stress from having to choose between Dave and Luka that had gotten to John, and seeing Jenny again. "I'm going on out to the living room. Enjoy your shower," he snapped at Dave, and then started to head for the door. Dave was supposed to believe in him, not just stand there and tell him how fucked up he was in the head.
"John?" Dave turned around, bewildered. "Wait!" Dave had no idea what he had said or did that had set John off this time. And that was precisely why it was important for John to continue with his therapy appointments. One minute, they were joking around, and now, John was angrily leaving. "Please, can we talk about this? I...I don't know what I said..."
John turned halfway around, thankful the bathroom was large enough for him to do that. "You didn't say anything, Dave," John tiredly said. No, Dave hadn't defended him or agreed with him. He had only said that John was in need of psychotherapy, and didn't even realize what he had said with those other words. "Just take your shower before my parents get back. You might think it's funny that I'm not their little virgin any longer, but I don't. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to get dressed so I can at least pretend that we weren't almost caught in the act."
"Man. I didn't think anything was *funny*. We had been jokin' around, and I was still jokin' around. You should know by now that I joke around when things get stressful. Sorry." Dave turned his back to John, and turned on the water. "Yeah. You'd better go. Whatever." Dave felt like his moods were swinging a mile a minute. One minute, he was on cloud nine. The next, he was down in the friggen hole.
John glared at Dave's back, torn between just leaving and debating the issue with Dave. The man had been laughing, damn it, and that certainly indicated to John that he had thought his joke was funny. And why was it that Dave always managed to turn things around? John had been leaving so Dave could shower, but Dave had stopped him, and now the man was practically ordering him out of the room, dismissing him as easily as he dismissed his feelings. "Seems to me that you should be the one seeing DiLeo since you're having to deal with so much stress," he finally said, hoping the words would hurt Dave just as much as Dave's had hurt him. John turned back around and rolled out of the bathroom, intending to get his pants on and then get outside for a cigarette before his parents returned. Maybe they'd believe him when he said he didn't need to see so much of the overly helpful shrink. Someone had to believe him since Dave obviously didn't.
Dave was going to retort, but John was already gone by the time Dave turned back around. Fine. It was fine that he was going to go and sulk. It was always fine when John wanted to run off and sulk. It wasn't fair to Dave that he always had to be the one to be the strong one, always having to say the right thing. And maybe John's words had a little truth to them -- Dave had felt really comfortable talking to Dr. DiLeo.
With a sigh he climbed under the hot stream of water, his eyes tightly shut as he tried to block out all of his emotions. He had fucked up again, he had been an insensitive fool, and now John was upset with him, although Dave still had no clue as to what it was he had fucked up, or been insensitive over. When was life going to get easier?
His pants on, John wheeled himself outside to the patio table, then pulled out his pack of cigarettes. Maybe he hadn't been quite fair to Dave, but why couldn't people ever give him credit for how hard he tried to be normal? He really did try, but all he got for his efforts were comments about how he needed psychiatric help. Hell, he didn't NEED DiLeo at all. John knew he had been confused before, but, that had all been from stress. If Dave could use stress as an excuse for making hateful jokes, then why wouldn't he let John use stress as his reason for not thinking clearly?
As John smoked, he found himself looking in the direction of the lake, trying his best to not remember the walk he had taken there just the other morning. No, he wasn't going to think about that because then he might have to admit that Dave had a point. Instead, John was just looking toward the woods and enjoying the evening until his personal Hell began again with DiLeo trying to pick him apart and everyone sitting around letting him and watching for any sign that John might be breaking.
As Eleanor walked back towards the small cottage by the side of her soon to be ex-husband, her thoughts were scattered as she tried to think about all that she had been exposed to that day. She guessed that as long as John was happy, that was all that really mattered. Even if it did mean...oh, her stomach turned just thinking about what might have been occurring in the cottage just moments before.
As they approached the house, she furrowed her brow, and turned towards her husband. "John doesn't look so good, Jack," she said, speaking to him for the first time since leaving the house. And without waiting for Jack's response, she increased her gait towards her son.
"Eleanor, wait," Jack increased his pace to catch up to her. "Don't press him about why it took so long to answer the door. He's obviously upset about us showing up early, and you don't want to aggravate him any further."
Eleanor turned towards her husband, the anger blazing in her eyes. "And who was the one who wanted to go early in the first place? My goodness, that *man* is sleeping with my *son*. That much was obvious by the state that that man was in when he opened the door. And John is obviously upset about it..."
Jack sighed. "First of all, *that* man has a name, and yes, I know it was my idea to go over there early. But I don't think that John's upset over the fact that Dave was making love with him. I think he's upset that we interrupted them, or nearly caught them, or something...just try to have a little tact for a change, Eleanor, that's all I'm asking. I don't think that's too much, do you?" Jack was getting tired of Eleanor's near constant anger toward him. He knew he was partially to blame for the state John was now in, and if he could turn back the hands of time, he'd change what he had done. But he couldn't, and it was beginning to look more and more as if his decision to leave Eleanor had been a right one to make. There was no way she'd want to stay his wife now, not after finding out that he had kept quiet about John's sexual abuse for all those years.
Eleanor's eyes narrowed. "I am perfectly capable of having tact where my son is involved, Jack," she said, turning back towards him. "I just want to make sure he's alright..." Her features softened slightly, as she looked at John. "Please, Jack. I want to make sure he's all right..."
Jack put his arm around Eleanor's shoulders and gave her a brief hug. "I know." Pulling away, he smiled at her. "I'm sorry to snap at you. I think we're all stressed over this. John more than any of us, I'm sure. Let's go sit with him." The two of them continued toward John.
John was staring off into space, his cigarette mostly forgotten as he wondered if it was too late to call Dr. DiLeo to cancel the session for that evening. He really didn't need it, just as he had told Dave. He had taken two of the pills prescribed, one the day the prescription was filled and another that morning. The anti-depressant was obviously working, coupled with the fact that his life was less stressful. Certainly the man could see that and agree to setting up an appointment for the following week. Just like he would for a normal patient.
A movement at the edge of his line of vision caught John's attention and he looked to see his parents walking toward him. As they neared, he found himself growing tense, unsure as to what they'd say or do. He also wasn't sure what to say to them, but he sure as Hell wasn't going to say anything about them finding out that their Johnny wasn't a 'virgin' any longer. How could Dave have said something like that, John wondered as tears filled his eyes. He KNEW about Jenny, dammitt, and what had happened. And he still joked about it. John blinked hard against the tears as his parents neared to the point where they were within talking distance.
"Did you have a nice walk?" he asked them, hoping his voice wasn't as shaky sounding to them as it was to him.
Eleanor said not a word as she sat down beside her son, putting a comforting arm around his shoulder. Jack, admittedly, was right. There was no point in trying to make John feel worse. As it was, it was obvious that her son was bad off. She was actually glad that Dr. DiLeo would be joining them later that evening.
Meanwhile, inside, Dave had just finished up his shower, and was slowly getting dressed. He felt clean, but his heart felt heavy. He had upset John, and that was something he was trying so hard not to do. As he entered the living room, he immediately noticed that John was not there. And then he heard soft voices coming through the slightly ajar door. After taking a deep breath, Dave opened the door all of the way, and forced a grin. "Hey, hope I'm not interrupting anythin'..."
Jack shook his head. "Not a thing. It's a nice evening. Why don't you come out here to sit with us while we wait for Dr. DiLeo?" he asked Dave with a smile. Having Dave there would definitely work toward cheering John, he thought.
"Don't you have his number, Dave?" John asked, glad to once more be in command of his own voice. "Why don't you call him and tell him that I'll see him next week?" He kept his gaze on the trees and the path that led to the lake, not wanting to see if his parent's eyes would show that they shared Dave's assessment of his need for a shrink.
Dave bristled, and he hesitated for a beat of a moment before shaking his head. "If you wanna cancel, you need to do it yourself. I'm...I'm done upsettin' ya tonight. You know how I feel about it. I'm not gonna be the one to blame for upsettin' ya further," Dave said, as he pulled out his cell phone. He walked over to the side of John that was not occupied by Mrs. Carter, and handed the phone to John. "The number's programmed in there, Number One, go ahead an' call..."
And, with a shrug, Dave turned away, and began to walk slowly towards the woods. He simply didn't know how to act, or what he was supposed to do when John was being like this. All that Dave knew was that it was tearing his heart out. If John didn't want help, then there was no way that Dave was going to be able to do anything for him.
Jack looked at his son, not quite believing that John was serious about canceling. He also didn't like the look on Dave's face, the look that said the man had given up. "You stay here with John, I'm going to talk with Dave," Jack said to Eleanor as he got to his feet and hurried after Dave.
"Mind if I walk with you?" he asked as he fell into step beside the younger man.
Dave shrugged. "Nah. Don't mind," he said, as he continued to keep his eyes focused straight ahead. "How...how the Hell am I supposed to react? We had a good afternoon. We were jokin' and stuff about 'gettin' caught'. I kept jokin'...and John went off the deep end. I...I'm sorry, Mr. Carter. I guess it's all too much for me to handle. He thinks that he doesn't need counselin' cause he's poppin' a couple of pills, and I can't argue with him, or he'll tell me that I don't believe him, or don' trust him..." Dave was venting out of anger and frustration, and hoping that something he said or did would make everything magically come into focus.
"I'm sorry," Jack softly said. "I know that this is partially my fault. I should have been a better father. I should have seen that something more had happened than just that one day, Dave, and I didn't. I should have had John in therapy then, and maybe he wouldn't be having this problem now. You're great for him, Dave. He lights up when he sees you, and during that first session with Dr. DiLeo, you were the one he needed as it ended. He trusts you implicitly, and while he might be giving you a hard time right now, I don't think he means to. I wish that it was easy to fix what's wrong, but it's not." They had reached the lake and Jack came to a stop. "Is this where Luka found him?" he quietly asked, referring to the other morning when John had gone to the lake, presumably to kill himself.
Dave nodded. "Yeah...this is the place," Dave said, an involuntary shudder running through his body as his eyes swept over the location. Dave never wanted to relive that morning for as long as he lived. "I love him, and I promised him that I'd stay by his side," Dave mused, as he looked out over the lake. "But it's...not exactly easy..." Dave hated that he himself wasn't stronger, but it was hard for him to stand by and watch John continue to do damage to himself. John had to help himself, Dave knew that, but that didn't mean that Dave wasn't finding John's journey to find himself more and more difficult to take.
"I pride myself on being self-sufficient, but I wonder if it wouldn't do us all some good to attend some type of 'family' therapy? All of us, John, you, me, Eleanor, mother." Jack shrugged. "I don't know how to help him, either, Dave. And I can't ignore the fact that I'm partially responsible for him being in this state. Hell, with the amount of guilt I'm feeling over screwing up John's life, maybe I should see a psychiatrist on my own as well." Jack stared out over the water, feeling extremely glad that John had changed his mind about leaving them all behind. "What about you? Have you given any thought to maybe seeing if a therapist can help you sort out things where John's concerned? More than anyone else, you've got to be on your toes around him. As you said, John takes things the wrong way, even when you think you're helping him."
"I've thought about it," Dave quickly said. "I've...talked to Dr. DiLeo somewhat, but I think I'd be best off tryin' to find someone on my own to talk to. I dunno. Maybe someone impartial will have some ideas..." Dave shook his head. "I can't believe I'm voluntarily considerin' counselin' over this. I'm the type who's always run from shit like this, but something about John..." Dave shrugged. "Maybe you're onto somethin' with the family counselin' idea..." Dave just wanted the ugliness to end, and for he and John to begin to live like a regular couple. But Dave was beginning to wonder if that was at all possible.
Jack could sense that Dave wasn't the kind of person who was comfortable talking about his feelings. It wasn't anything new for Jack -- he wasn't comfortable about talking about his feelings, either. Not his real feelings, anyway. There had been a time, though, long ago, when he easily talked about things like that. Then Bobby became ill and his world was shattered forever. He had never given much thought to how Bobby's illness and death had effected John and Barbara. Jack had more or less figured that being children, they would bounce back. He had been wrong, dreadfully wrong.
Jack nodded. "I think we should do it. Hell, if you're going to be a part of this family then you might as well find out just what we're like. We can be real bastards at times, Dave, but I've always trusted that deep down we meant well." Jack smiled at Dave. "Shall we try going back? Maybe Dr. DiLeo's arrived by now?"
Dave returned the smile, and then nodded. He supposed for better or worse, he *was* going to be part of the Carter family. "Yeah, we should get back. Hopefully John didn't make that call, but I guess we'll find out when we get back there..." Gesturing towards the path, he began to walk back towards the small cottage that he shared with John.
*********************
John looked down at the phone in his hand, then over at his mother, not liking what he saw in her eyes, and knowing that it was imperative that he convince her of just how well he was doing. "I feel much better and I don't need that man here, ripping out my guts just for his own amusement. You were with me for most of the day, Mom. You saw how I was. Yes, I was under a lot of stress before, but it's gone, and I'm much better. You saw that. You had to have seen that."
Eleanor cocked her head to the side, and furrowed her brow slightly, the only mark of any emotion or thought on her face. "Yes, John, you are doing better...but, I agree with your father and with Dave. I think you should talk to Dr. DiLeo...what you're doing right now...pushing Dave away...pushing all of us away..." She stopped talking suddenly, and focused her eyes out to where Dave and Jack had gone. "I think you will be making a mistake if you try to run from this, John, you have a chance of making your life happy..."
"I am happy, Mom. I love Dave and he loves me," John insisted. "And I'm not pushing anyone away. I don't understand how you can say that, I really don't. All I'm asking for is to have DiLeo treat me just as he would another patient, any normal person seeing him. I don't need to see him everyday." John turned the cell phone over and over in his hand, tempted to just press that speed dial button, but something seemed to be holding him back. He looked over to his mother. "I don't," he reiterated, and then he had to look away from her because he realized he was crying. Great, he thought, that should help make her believe me.
The only indication that Eleanor felt any emotion towards her son on the outside was a slight drop in her expression. However, she felt like her insides were turning upside down. "The mistake I made, John, when your brother died, was pushing all of you away...please don't do that to Dave, or to your father, or to...me....and...." Eleanor shook her head. "It's your decision, John...but I suggest you don't make that telephone call, and once he's here, talk to Dr. DiLeo about all of this..." Eleanor was at a bit of a loss. She wasn't the comforting kind by any stretch. But Jack was talking to Dave, for whatever that was worth, so that left her there to see to her son. Eleanor hoped that she wasn't misplacing her trust in the hopes that Dave was right for her son. After all, the man had promised to never hurt John...
John heard his mother and could see the truth in what she was saying, but he didn't want to do what she asked. It was too scary. "I want to be normal, Mom. I don't think I've ever been normal. But, what if I go through all of this and find out that this is it? That I *have* been normal all this time? Or what if Dr. DiLeo fixes what's wrong and I end up being someone that Dave can't love? Or you and Dad? Or Gamma? What if the real me is someone pathetic and pitiful? Or hateful?" John looked over at his mother, not caring right then if she noticed the tears or not. "I have no control over my life, Mom, and that scares me. I always have control, or at least, I've tried my best to have it. But I don't think I can control things if I end up changing."
Eleanor pondered this for a moment. It wasn't very often that John actually confided to her, and she was at a bit of a loss as to what to say, or do. So she was silent for a moment as she considered what was best to say. "I...from meeting and talking to Dave, I think that there is very little that you could turn into that would stop him from loving you. Your father and I, too. Your father and I don't agree on much these days, but we do love you. Both of us love you. And no matter what, we're going to continue to love you. And if Dave cares about you as much as he seems to, he's going to continue to love you as well..."
John hoped with all his heart and soul that his mother was right about Dave. He was pretty sure that she meant what she said about her and his father always loving him. They were his parents and it was their job, more or less. But this was something Dave was willingly putting himself through, having to put up with John's irritations and insecurities. Why would he want to put up with all of that and then decide to stick around when the end was finally reached and he ended up with a cold-hearted bastard for a lover?
John held the cell phone out to his mother. "Here. I don't need this. I'm going inside, did you want to come with me or were you going to wait here for Dad and Dave to return?"
Eleanor found herself smiling as she reached for the cell phone, glad that John had decided to go through with the session. "I think I'll wait out here for them," she said, as she looked off towards the direction where they had walked. "In fact, they're on their way back now..."
She could see the figures walking towards them, and the small smile stayed on her lips. Maybe, just maybe, they could all learn to work together on this. For John's sake, if nothing else.
John nodded. "I'll be inside." Then without saying anything else, he turned the wheelchair around and went into the cottage. He needed to do something besides sitting there and feeling sorry for himself over his life, so he headed into the kitchen and began to rinse the dishes from dinner, and then putting them in the dishwasher. It was a mindless task, but it still kept him from dwelling on his fears, and on the sadness he felt that sometimes Dave didn't think before he spoke. John knew that Dave wouldn't have said that virgin remark if he had thought about it first, but that didn't make it any less painful.
Jack wanted to rush toward the patio as he saw John go into the cottage, but he kept his pace steady. John obviously wasn't running away, and that had to be a good sign. And, as he neared her, he saw that Eleanor was smiling. "Did he call?" Jack asked as he sat down in a chair opposite his wife.
Dave did not sit down, but kept his eyes fixed on the door. He supposed he shouldn't feel as upset as he did that John didn't want to be anywhere near him, but Dave did, since he was unable to help the feelings of sorrow that were building inside of him. So he only half heard the conversation between John's parents.
"No, he didn't," she said, clutching the cell phone in her hand. "Dave, if you want, you can have this back..." She reached the phone out to the young man, who took more than a moment to turn towards her.
"Ah, sorry," Dave said, an embarrassed grin on his lips. "Guess I was lost in thought. Uh...I'm gonna go inside with John and wait for Dr. DiLeo, 'kay?" And without waiting for confirmation, Dave headed into the cottage, bracing himself for the worst.
John glanced toward the door as he heard it open and was relieved to see it was Dave. Then he went back to the dishes. "Is DiLeo here yet?" he asked, trying as hard as he could to keep his voice casual.
It was as if a cool breeze had passed by Dave as he heard John speak, and Dave dared to take another stop towards the kitchen. "No. DiLeo's not here yet. I...uh, I...I'm sorry, John. I hope you know that I'd never do anythin' to intentionally hurt you. I'm sorry that I did. I guess I gotta learn to shut my mouth sometimes, ya know?" Dave shook his head. It was as if in a matter of minutes what had been taken a lifetime to build had been shattered. And Dave hoped that it wasn't irreparable damages.
John carefully put a plate in the dishwasher, and then turned fully around to look at Dave. "Do you even know what it was you said?" Sure, it was nice that Dave was apologizing, but John wasn't so sure that Dave knew what it was he was apologizing over.
I'm guessin' it was over teasin' ya about your parent's knowin' about us foolin' around...an' me talkin' about the counseling. But...as for what I specifically said,no, I really dont' know what it was." That was part of what was bothering Dave so much. He couldn't recall what the trigger point was, so that he could work to never say whatever it was again. Dave had been teasing John about his parents, and then the next thing he knew, John was having a fit.
John looked away from Dave as he heard that his suspicions were right. Dave had no idea what he had said or implied while 'joking' around. "You told me that my parents would see that their Johnny wasn't a virgin any longer, or something like that. As if Jenny had never..." John shook his head. "Never mind. You apologized and I DO know that you'd never do or say anything to purposely hurt me. I shouldn't be so sensitive, either." John started to turn back around, so he could finish the dishes. "If you help clean up, I think we can have everything cleared away before he gets here," John said, hoping that by getting their attentions on something normal then Dave wouldn't want to talk about what he had said, or ask any questions or apologize again, or any of that. John didn't want Dave's heart-felt apologies. He just wanted Dave to think sometimes before he said something.
Dave's mouth went dry, and his hands dropped to his side. Fuck. That *was* what he had said. The words came screaming back to him like an echo in a canyon - his voice repeating those horrid words over and over again. Making his way over to John's side he placed a hand on the John's shoulder. "I...didn't think...I...oh...fuck, John, fuck. I...no wonder why..." Dave shook his head. "I fucked up..." He didn't want to think about cleaning up. He didn't want to think about anything other than trying to fix the obvious damage he had done. "Maybe...maybe I'm not so good for you after all. Not...not if I say stuff like that to ya. I wish I could take it back..."
John sighed as Dave spoke. THAT was what he had wanted to avoid, hearing Dave go on and on about it that way. He placed his hand over Dave's. "It's said and done, Dave. Just...try to think next time, okay? And I'll try to not overreact. As for the rest," John looked up at Dave. "Don't you ever say that you're not good for me. If I didn't have you here, then I..." John let his voice trail off, not wanting to admit to Dave that he was one of the reasons John had chosen to not die. Dave didn't need that kind of pressure on his shoulders, and to be left thinking that John would kill himself or something should Dave leave. No, if Dave stayed with him, then John wanted it to be because Dave loved him, and not out of fear or guilt.
"I love you and your big mouth," John said with a smirk, hoping to get Dave's mind off of all of that other stuff. "Especially your big mouth."
"Heh, well...my big mouth does have it's uses at times," Dave retorted, a grin spreading across his lips. Okay, so it wasn't solved, but at least they were okay for now. They were a couple, and they were going to have disagreements. That didn't mean that Dave couldn't be upset for being so stupid, though. That was one thing he had to work on -- thinking before he spoke. Virginity was definitely the wrong thing to be teasing John about, and Dave was going to have to keep that in mind.
He planted a soft kiss on John's lips, and then smiled once more. "Let's get the rest of the kitchen cleaned up..." He walked over towards the table, and began to put the rest of the food away, pausing every so often to look at John rinsing the dishes. Would they ever be able to get past this? Any of this? Dave didn't know, but he was willing to try.
John nodded, then returned to the task at hand. He was tempted to get to his feet since it would make doing the dishes go much quicker, but he wanted his feet to heal, and so he kept his attention on the long term needs and not the short term wants.
Finally, John closed the door of the dishwasher. The kitchen was clean, the table cleared. Smiling at Dave, John surprised himself by thinking that it was getting late and wondering where Dr. DiLeo was. "Shouldn't he be here by now?" John asked as he moved to the living room to look out of the window. His parents were still outside, he could see them, but DiLeo wasn't with them, and that added a whole new worry to the long list that John was dealing with. He'd already revealed so much to DiLeo, if something had happened to him, something bad, John wasn't sure he could open up to someone else.
Dave furrowed his brow, it wasn't like DiLeo to be late, so just *where* was he? "I'm sure he'll be here soon. Maybe he got stuck with a patient or somethin'?" Dave shrugged, and walked up to John, putting his arms around John from behind so he could give him a hug. "He'll be here..." Dave said. DiLeo HAD to be there, because the longer it took for the doctor to get there, the more they risked John changing his mind and canceling the session. If there was one thing Dave was sure of, it was that John didn't need to cancel, not that session, or any other session.
To be continued.