Room 4 - Alfred F. Jones

Separation anxiety.....paternal bonds were strong with this one. But keep the conversation going, keep it moving, keep it up. He was making headway, he just had to moving forward.

"In Cuba, where I am from, baseball is very popular. I would like to play with the neighborhood kids but they never really let me join. Got some good practice in though pitching myself." he explained. True, the boys in the neighborhood would often exclude him due to his exterior. All he really wanted was to play with some friends. Oh well, too late to rehash the past.

The other questions snapped him back into the moment. "I am sorry, your father is not here. I will do my best to find out where he is and tell you as soon as I know." he said calmly. It was true, he needed a bit more clarification on the familial records. "But for the moment, lets keep talking about us. Is there anything you want to ask me?"

Alfred sat there, having now gone silent. So he didn't know where he was. Why didn't anyone know? Didn't he tell anyone where he was going when he was taken away? He would have known, his dad knew everything! Maybe he didn't WANT his son to know. Maybe...maybe he hadn't wanted HIM anymore. What if he hated Alfred? He must of done something to make him mad at him, something so bad that he never wanted to see him again.

He'd always thought that his dad had loved him, as much as he'd loved his father but...no one knew where he was. He never tried to call him or visit him and he couldn't be dead because hero's don't die. So that meant he was alive and didn't want to see him, that he hated him. He must. Because if he loved him he would be talking to him, he would of come back for him, would of saved him from this place. He suddenly grabbed Kiku and burried his face in his chest, sobbing quietly as he did so.

Kiku put a hand on the man (boy) that had suddenly grabbed onto him and started sobbing. He needed some form of comfort, and even if Kiku wasn't the most comfortable with giving it, it was part of his job. Although it helped in this case that he felt an odd sort of connection with the person, even if it made him uneasy.

"I haven't seen my father in years either," he said quietly. "He was also...taken away."

He looked down. He never told a patient something like that before. Had it been a breach in professionalism? Or would it help somehow?

He didn't know.

So the nurse had father issues as well. Interesting. Carlos was a bit ignorant in this aspect as his father was always a supportive force in his life. Something he would have to try to understand.

"Alfred. I am sure he has not forgotten you. I am sure of it. I will do my best to help you. I promised. I promised to play baseball with you and I promise to help you. Its my job. To help people."

He didn't reach out to the man, unsure of his reaction at this point. He stood off to the side a calm expression on his face. He had to try.

Alfred looked up at the asian man as he told him of his similar problem. His dad had been taken away too? That meant...he knew just how he felt then. He wiped his eyes and gave the man a brave little smile. He really liked Kiku, he really did. "Kiku is so nice for comforting me and we are so the same~!" He gave the man a tight hug before freezing when he heard the other man speak. He let ther other go and stood up, walking over to Carlos slowly.

"...how do you know that...you don't know my Dad! AND I DON'T NEED HELP! I...I WANT TO GO HOME! I NEED TO KEEP SAVING PEOPLE! I NEED TO MAKE THE BAD PEOPLE GO AWAY FOR EVER SO GOOD PEOPLE DON'T GET HURT! IF YOU WANNA HELP THEN LET ME LEAVE!"

Kiku felt Alfred freeze at the words as he was being hugged. A freeze like that didn't bode well. And it seemed in not too much time, that the bad feeling was proven correct. The patient was yelling at the doctor.

Well, that wouldn't be the first time that ever happened. But in this case, it seemed a rather hard downfall after they seemed to have gotten somewhere with the baseball idea.

...Should he interfer? It was hard to say. On the one hand, he had the potential to be able to make things better. On the other, he could mess it up for the both of them. He hadn't spoken with the doctor about how he planned to treat this patient. It wasn't his place to work against the doctor's methods.

If he became a situation where there would be intent of bodily harm, he would have to work damage control. But for now, he once again kept his words back. He was a quiet person by nature, so this wasn't hard. But he did hope he was making the right decision.

This was not the first time a patient had yelled at him and it probably wouldn't be the last time. Arms at his sides, he showed no aggression or rise in energy. He let the patient yell.

"It is true. I do not know your Dad. But I would like to hear about him. The more I know, the easier it would be to find him." he explained calmly, he took another deep breath and continued. "I know you want to go home. It is my job to help you achieve that goal. Sometimes heroes work together correct? Or with a sidekick?"

He blinked calmly and let the young man yell, glancing at Kiku subtly. He must remember the safety of the patient first.

Alfred screamed and cried and shouted at the man as much as he could. He beat the man's chest with his fists as he called him every bad word he could think of. It wasn't Carlos he was upset with though. No...it was his father who he was so mad at. He was upset for being abandoned by his only family and the man he idolised so much, who he strived with all his being to be just like, to impress.

Soon he throat was sore from the outburst and he felt all the rage leave him. He fell to the floor and hugged himself into a little ball and cried to himself. "G-go away...I-if you can't g-get me home r-right now then go...I-I wanna be alone..." He didn't want to be alone really...but heroes shouldn't cry in front of others. So he put on a brave little smile and wiped away his tears. "Go, please. I'm sleepy anyway~" He forced himself to laugh a little as he tried to shoo both the men out.

Kiku noticed the doctor look at him for a moment. But it wasn't himself Kiku was concerned for. Alfred seemed to have taken a liking to him, and as long as it seemed that way, he was perfectly comfortable around the patient. He was more afraid that Alfred would attack the doctor.

He grew more concerned as he started beating Dr. Machado's chest, but it didn't seem an act of violent rage. It seemed...a sad kind of anger.

His statement that he wanted to be alone afterwards didn't at all seem to be sincere. Kiku looked at Alfred with a sympathetic expression as he was shooed.

"Is that really true?" he asked softly. "Is it really a hero's burden to shoulder his sadness alone? Can't you have friends to talk to and bear it with you? We can be here for you - if you want us."

It was the most he had spoken in some time. But he felt it was right.

He braced himself for the pounding against his chest. Fortunately, with his bulk, he barely felt a thing. He kept his face plain and non descript. He had to be calm here. The patient was lashing out, there had to be a reason for it.

He heard the cries of desperation, wanting to hold him like an older sibling with a crying brother. He resisted. Hearing the words of his nurse he nodded slightly. This one was wise. He stood there quietly waiting for an answer.

Alfred went quiet when he heard the asian man talk. It was hard to do things alone and he himself had been doing them alone for a while. The idea of having friends to help you, that sounded...nice. But could a hero really do something so weak as to cry on another's shoulder? To do something as selfish as to make other people sad just because he was sad? It was so tempting just to give in, to cling to the others and cry and beg beg for help but should he really?

One more look at both the other men and he his was made up. All his resolve crumbled away as he started to sob again, hands fisting as they grabbed onto his clothes. "I...I...I want f-friends...I...I dun wanna be alone..."

First he beat against his chest, now he clung to him. Not exactly how he predicted this first meeting to go but how was he to know? He was sobbing now, his strong front shattered. He was truly a child. He just wanted to be accepted and loved for who he was. In a way, Carlos was looking for the same thing. He wanted to be accepted and not simply judged as a thug.

"I would be honored to be your friend Alfred. Remember we promised to play baseball. I always try to keep my promises."

"You don't have to be alone," Kiku told Alfred calmly. "We are here for you. Heroes may have to show their strong face to the public, but they can always have friends to help them through tough times. Everyone should have someone like that." He smiled at the patient. "I would also be honoured to me your friend."

The crying was an improvement from the yelling. It was a release. It seemed things could turn in a more positive direction from here.

Alfred clung to the taller man, burrying his face in his chest as he sobbed his little heart out. He...he wouldn't have to be alone anymore. He could have friends, friends who would help him and be there for him, like all the real heroes had. They were gonna help him get out of here and play baseball with him~!

He looked up at Carlos with teary eyes. He'd already accepted Kiku as a friend the moment he'd laid his eyes on them but the other man, he'd seen him as a bad person. In the small amount of time they'd spent together his opinion on the man had changed. He seemed like a really good person, a very nice man who just looked kinda scary. The American gave the his doctor a small smile as he talked to him though his sobs. "Y-you're not a b-bad man like I t-thought you were M-mr. Carlos...Y-you're really a nice m-man..."

After he said that he tugged him over to him bed, pulling him down next to where he was sitting next to Kiku, so he was sitting inbetween the two. He grabbed on to an arm from each of them held them close, smiling a little as he did so though his tears. He sat there, hugging their arms and crying untill he could no longer cry anymore.

Cautiously he put the arms around the smaller man as he continued to sob. A small faint smile appeared on his face. "Its okay Alfred.....we are here." he said softly. He looked down at the patient and swore silently to do what he could to aide him. He was going to do his damnedest to try.

Hearing his words his grin broadened. "Thank you for saying that Alfred. It means a lot to me." As he was guided to the bed he tried to make careful mental notes of the situation. His touch was warm and comforting. He was held onto like a child guarding his favorite toy. Quietly he let Alfred cry, comforting him occasionally.

The patient liked him. Or at least appeared to like him. It was a start.

When Kiku heard those words - that Alfred thought the doctor was a nice man, it was the biggest relief he felt all day. It was wonderful to hear that. It was a great stride, and now he could worry less about this becoming a physical problem and they could both now concentrate more on helping their charge.

Alfred led them both back to the bed this time, clinging to them and crying. Kiku did as before, putting a hand on him and doing his best to give the comfort he could.

This was a huge wall they had overcome. They had now both earned his trust and he was willing to open up to them, it seemed. However, it was just a start.

Alfred eventually stopped, seeming to have run out of tears to cry. Kiku wondered who would say something first.

Alfred sat there in silence after he'd finished crying. He had really surprised him self, he hadn't cried this much since his dad had left...and he'd cried A LOT that day. But it made him feel better, heaps better. He rubbed his eyes and yawned a little, feeling kinda sleepy. It had been a big day for him and all. Sleep, he hadn't slept since he came here. It would be reeeally nice to take a nap right now. "Mr. Carlos? Kiku?..." He yawned a little. "I'm sleepy...can I take a nap? Just a little one? I haven't sleeped at all since I got here..."

He'd finished crying. Carlos was relieved that he did, he felt he needed that release. All that anger and frustration, gone. At least for the moment. He began to think about his plans for treatment. He would definitely have to confer with his aide, Kiku.

Alfred's question snapped him out of his inner monologue. "Oh, of course you can. Kiku and I will let you rest and we can see about getting that baseball for us." Carefully, he stood up and let the patient lay down on the bed. "Get some sleep and we shall see you later."

Kiku nodded and gave Alfred a smile. "Of course you can. Rest up. We'll be back later."

He gave another nod to the doctor and headed for the door. They definitely had things to discuss. This was a good opportunity to do so.

"Sleep well," he said before heading out. "Bye for now." He gave a little wave.

Alfred gave them both a cute little smile, a small wave and a mumbled 'thank you' before curling up on his bed and instantly falling asleep, dreaming of running about, saving people in danger with his Father as an awesome super hero duo. It was the same dream he usually had every night, but this time there was two new heroes by his side: Kiku and Carlos. Together they were vanquishing crime, making the world a safer and better place for all and afterwards, they all played baseball together! The dream made the young American smile.

Stepping outside and securing the door, the Cuban doctor sighed heavily, rubbing his brow. What a harrowing first session. He looked at his aide and gave a tired smile. "I think despite a few bumps we made some progress. I do think talk and constructive therapy will be good for Alfred." he explained making small notes on the chart.

"Now Kiku, what is your opinion? I am curious to hear your thoughts and theories."

Carlos took care not to mention his aide's utterance of his own familial issues. He was not the patient. Best not to pry.

He was being asked his opinion. Kiku took a breath before responding. "I think for a first session, the gain of his trust was decent progress. I feel our biggest challenge will be approaching the moral ground of his actions without destroying everything. But perhaps if we can address the background issues with discussion, it can help towards it becoming a more natural conclusion."

He looked to the side, focusing on a spot on the wall. "His biggest issue is obviously rooted in what happened with his father. That appears to be the cause of both his hero complex and his mind being locked in such a state."

His gaze returned to the doctor's as he waited his assessment.

"I agree. We must tread carefully. I fear venturing too far will cause a psychotic break and I do not wish for that to happen. A softer hand seems to be the best way to go about it. Keep him talking. Get him to open up to us. Perhaps we can nurture him to adulthood if you will." he explained

He watched his aide carefully, he seemed very astute for a nurse. Perhaps he had a specialization in such areas.

When Alfred awoke the next day, feeling cold and misrible as he wiped the tears from his face. He'd had a nightmare, one in which his Dad and his new friends had left him all alone, not wanting him anymore because he wasn't good enough for them, 'cause he couldn't be a real hero...'cause he couldn't be just like his Father. And it hurt. Mostly because the dream was partly a memory and as for the rest, it showed what he feared, loosing the only people he had left.

He may have only just met them yesterday but...he was so lonely. He'd never wanted to admit it before, thinking it was fine for a hero like him to be alone, that if he worked hard enough that his Dad would come back for him and really, he'd thought that all he'd ever need was that man. But now, now he had people who said they cared for him, that wanted to help him. He didn't want them leaving him all alone.

He brang his knees to his chest and hugged them tight, sobbing a little into them. He felt so alone right now, why was no one here to help him, to make him feel better? Maybe they really HAD left him alone...

Kiku went to the staff room, hoping to find Dr. Machado before they both proceeded to their second session with Alfred Jones. He wished to ask him if he had any particular plans ahead of time, or any instructions.

Although he was still somewhat better off than with their previous session, when he felt completely blind to the doctor's methods.

He had an idea now, but he still felt better if he knew a few more things ahead of time.

He opened the staff room door and peeked in.