Let me take care of you

Taking things slowly

Charlie looked around the office nervously, why did he have to come here again, and see her.

Ms Hadley wrote his name down on her clipboard along with the date as usual, before asking Charlie about his morning,
"Nothing eventful... I just watched TV with Tori..." Charlie said, not looking at her. Ms Hadley nodded,
"Any plans for today?" She asked, Charlie nodded,
"I'm going to go to Nick's house." He simply replied, keeping his answers short.

Ms Hadley chuckled,
"Of course, your always at that boys house, have you two had any adventures recently?" She always tried to get him to talk about more things, but whenever she did she would just be rejected by Charlie, so she just resulted into keeping things simple, so that she could learn more about her patient and to make Charlie comfortable with talking. It didn't seem to be working, she hoped this lesson would be different as she had heard that something had gone on after his parents mentioned the unfinished court case that ended suddenly. She didn't know why.

"Er.. you could say something like that." Charlie said quietly, thinking back to the conversation with Tori and the look on Nick's face when he was at the door. He thought about that moment alot, about his red tearstained face, all over him, but why?

Ms Hadley leaned in further towards him,
"What did you to get up to?" She asked, eager that he was speaking to her, properly.

Charlie put a hand on the back of his neck, thinking back to everything that had happened only just a couple of days ago,
"I did something really stupid, but my sister helped me out a bit and we talked about everything that had happened, she got me to speak finally. I realised that.... I need to... Like... Talk about my well being more because... I never realised how much..." Charlie trailed off, Ms Hadley's eyes went wide, he was speaking, what had he done? She didn't want to push anything but she did want to know more, this could be a breakthrough for him to get better help and get better in general.

"Realised how much?" She said, her pen leaving her paper and hovering over her speedily written words,
"How much people cared about me." Charlie said softly. Ms Hadley have him a soft smile when she heard that,
"I'm so glad you see that, that's a very large step for you. Your ignoring what people could be thinking about you and are instead focusing on what you can see, and from what I've seen, it's very true, you are loved be so many people Charles. And I'm glad you are starting to see that." Ms Hadley said, placing a hand on his leg.

Charlie didn't take his eyes off her hand, he needed something to focus on,
"Yeah... Thank Tori for that, I don't think anyone else could've gotten much out of me, but she's always been smarter than anyone I've ever known." Charlie said, thinking about his older sister. She was really intelligent, but she also knew a lot about the types of things he had and still was going through, and she knew how to talk about it with him. He was grateful for her.

Ms Hadley smiled,
"I've heard a lot about this famous Tori Spring, seems to be the one keeping the house together at times." She said, Charlie nodded,
"She certainly helps a lot." Charlie said, smiling to himself. Ms Hadley nodded once more,
"Well this conversation was brilliant, you really are getting better Charlie, I can see it, the best part is that your actually trying. That's a great breakthrough, I almost wish it wasn't Wednesday and we would have our normal one hour session, but I can't postpone other patients." Ms Hadley said, standing up and helping Charlie up onto his crutches. Charlie nodded,
"No, it's fine, I'll see you Friday though, same time as always." Charlie replied, smiling kindly. Ms Hadley returned the smile and watched him leave the room,
"Tell your parents I said hello." She said cheerfully, Charlie nodded and closed the door.

He got into his parents car, which was ready Infront of the building as he got out. He got into the car, no questions asked about his session as they knew he didn't like them, and they would get an email about if any progress was made anyway if they needed to.

"To Nick's then." Charlie's father said, looking back at Charlie who sat in the backseat.
"To Nick's." Charlie replied, nodding.

                               -

"So I guess, I'm getting better?" Charlie said, cringing at himself after he had just given a brief overview to Nick about everything that had happened at the therapist, or a brief overview of the important parts that he wanted Nick to know.
"You are getting better, and you are doing amazing." Nick said, turning to face Charlie as they were both lying down on Nick's bed staring up at the wall, the faint sound of Nick's mum cooking dinner downstairs,
"You sound like my bloody parents." Charlie said, rolling his eyes. Nick laughed,
"I'm serious though, you are incredible for doing this. People at your age wouldn't dream of getting through this the way you are, no one would even think to be in a situation like this. It's incredible how you've gotten so far from this, and are doing better and better now!"

Charlie turned to face Nick aswell and smiled, it was a small smiled, but it lit up Nick's world.
"Okay Mr lovey dovey." Charlie said, laughing, Nick rolled his eyes at Charlie,
"Fine. I'll stop being nice to you and return to mean old Nick Nelson." Nick said, sighing dramatically,
"Thank you." Charlie replied, and both of them started laughing.

After they had stopped laughing and being idiots and were laying down cuddling, Charlie's head in the crook of Nick's neck, he said,
"Is everything going to be okay?" Nick looked down at Charlie, he was so precious and fragile, and deserved all of the love in the world, so he replied with the only logical answer,
"As long as I exist, everything will work out, I promise."