Broken (Rhett and Link Fanfic)

Part 2

Link shows up at Rhett's house late, but not too late. Rhett does notice, however. Rhett ducks into the company car, a Ford Focus – Link's choice.

"Morning!" Rhett says, overly cheerful. "Ready to shoot a new GMM? What's this one's topic? I forgot."

Link looks straight ahead, focusing on the road. It's obvious he's overly nervous. Link stops at the traffic light and turns to Rhett. Swallowing the nervous-for-no-reason lump in his throat, he fills Rhett in on the day's GMM shoot plans.

"Today's episode was supposed to be Will It Hat, but I talked to Stevie, and it's not going to be. We are just going to talk. Just normal talking, like back in the Good Morning Chia Lincoln days." The light has turned green now, and Link is picking up speed. He's obviously distracted, Rhett notices.

"Link, you just missed the turn for the parking lot" Link checks the rear view mirror, and realizes that he had driven right past it.

"Oops." Link huffs under his breath, "I can go the back way."

"What's up with you? You've been a little absent-minded and wired lately. I mean, you're always tense, but this is a whole new level, and I'm worried about you," Rhett looks over at Link as he takes a sharp turn onto the back road. Link adjusts his glasses that one-handed way he always does. Link turns into the parking lot and turns off the car, turning to Rhett.

"Dude, if I knew what was wrong, I'd tell you, but I don't. I would never hide anything from you, I just didn't say anything when we were shooting yesterday because I really don't want the mythical beasts to be worried about me," Link reaches for his glasses, and it becomes painfully obvious to Rhett that Link is shaking. Not just normal twitch shaking, but shaking, nervous-as-heck shaking.

"Why are you shaking like that, Link?"

"I already told you, I don't know!" Link fiddles with the key, trying to pull it out of the ignition, but he can't. Rhett reaches over and pulls them out.

"You sure you're okay to record today?" Rhett puts his hand on Link's shoulder. Link takes a deep breath and starts to get out of the car.

"Yeah, I guess so."

GMM that day went better. Link changed the topic back to "Will it Hat" at the last moment, and it made for a hilarious episode. Link was himself, as close to himself as he could be, and Rhett said nothing regarding Link's current state.

"Great episode guys!" Stevie says as she passes by their office on her way to Becca's office.

"Thanks, I liked the topic a lot. It was fun." Rhett says. Link mutters a small thanks. Checking that Stevie was gone, he looks at Rhett across from him, closing his laptop.

"I've got a doctors appointment in a few. Will you drive me? I don't feel like I should be driving like... this," Link holds up his hand, showing Rhett just how bad 'this' was.

"Yeah I got you covered." Rhett stands up, taking the Ford's keys off of Link's desk, "Let's go ahead and leave, it never hurts to be early. Link stands up, shoving his hat on his head.

It was unlike Link to go to the doctor over something like this, Rhett knew. "I know you aren't doing this by your own will." Link sits in the passenger seat of the car. They turn out of their parking lot.

"Nah man, Christy is making me do this. This whole doctor thing is her idea. She says she's worried about me." Link turns, looking out the window. "Take a right at the next light."

"That's not how you get to Dr. James's office." Rhett takes the right anyway.

"We aren't going to him. Christy got me an appointment with some psychologist or something." Link glances down at the directions on his phone. "Take the next left."

Rhett follows his directions, and pretty soon they turn in to the Los Angeles Psychiatrist Center. Link held his head in his hands, realizing that this is happening -- The thing he'd managed to avoid for years. He gets out of the car, and looks back through the door at Rhett. "I'll text you when I need picked up."

Link begins to shut the car door, but Rhett is already out of the Ford.

"No, I'm staying. Stevie can handle the office." 

Link turns to his friend.

"You don't have to do that for me, man," Link sees Rhett's big eyes, full of concern, and he knows there's no reason to argue. "Let's go."

This is a whole new experience for Link, and on top of the state of depression he was already falling into, Link's normal nervous anxiety is there, nagging at him. His mind is running circles around him, and he soon gives up trying to keep up. Link sits limply in the waiting room chair, staring into space, trying to make sense of the chaos that is his brain. Rhett sits beside him, messing around on his phone.

"I just texted Stevie. She said she's got it covered, and that they're all rooting for you." Rhett clicks off his phone and turns to Link, noticing that he's paying no attention to anything. Rhett grabs Link by the shoulder and gently shakes him, bringing him back into reality. "Hey... You okay?"

"Me? Yeah, fine. What time is it?"

"3:29. Your appointment is at 3:30, right?" Right as Link begins to say "Yeah, thanks," He is interrupted by a woman's voice saying "Charles Neal" from across the room. Link gets up and pulls down his hoodie.

"I'll be back before long... I think."

An hour later, Link appears from around the corner, obviously on the edge of tears. Rhett gets up, meeting his friend halfway across the waiting room.

"Everything okay?"

"Let's just go, dude." Link passes Rhett and walks straight out the door.

Rhett chases Link out to the car, where Link is already seated in the passenger seat. Rhett ducks into the driver's side and starts the car.

"Dude what's wrong? Talk to me." Link adjusts his glasses, and pulls out his phone. "Link Neal, tell me what is wrong with you. Why did you storm out like that?"

"Would you take me by the pharmacy?" Link puts his phone back in his pocket.

"Um, yeah. No problem." Rhett turns up the Merle Haggard CD that is playing, trying not to make his anger and concern obvious. Thankfully, the CVS that fills Link's prescriptions is just down the road.

"You just wait in the car, I'll be right back," Link told Rhett as he got out of the car. Rhett began undoing his seatbelt.

"Nah, I'm going to come in too, I want a Coke."

"Fine," Link grunted, "I'll meet you at the car in 5." He makes his way into the store, and straight to the pharmacy desk. Rhett heads for the Coke cooler, grabbing himself a Diet Coke, and his comrade a Mountain Dew. After paying the clerk, he went back out to the car, soon followed by Link, obviously flustered, with a prescription bag in his hands.

They get in the car, and do up their seatbelts. Just as Rhett is going to back out of the parking space, there is a soft sob, then a louder one. Rhett looks to his right to see his best friend crying again.

"Will you drop me off at home? You can take the Ford home tonight," Link speaks between tears. Rhett's heart sinks to the bottom of his belly. He hates to see his friend like this.

"Yeah, whatever you need, man."