Poison

 

-Poison-

Paired Couple: Jim HawkinsXDimitri Sudayev

A/N: The usual warnings and copyright claims still apply!

Both Delbert and Sarah were worried for Jim. He had become silent and reclusive, not leaving his room for hours after his appointment on Thursday. And they could see the defensiveness in his eyes when he did leave his room for food and using the bathroom. Although his mother was confused and upset that her son was degressing back into his old self-the self that was a stranger-Delbert knew why. He didn't have to ask what had happened after Jim had left the appointment early and didn't look at anyone or anything. But since the deed was done, and Jim wasn't endangering himself with the threat of jail, the astrophysicist left it alone and didn't tell anyone what exactly had happened.

By the next day, and the day after, Jim flat out refused to go to therapy. But a message had been sent to the Inn, after the second day that he skipped therapy, reminding him that it would be reported to the courts if he didn't show up the next time. On his mother's insistence, Jim went the next week, apprehensive and angry.

As it would turn out, however, Sudayev had called in sick and so Jim was passed off to another therapist, this one an old man with long, gray hair. Just like the beginning of his therapy sessions, Jim kept silent. He didn't know whether to feel betrayed or relieved of Dimitri's absence.

But the pain stung only too well. Jim knew that Dimitri wasn't sick. It was an excuse to not see him. He didn't want to see him, plain and simple. It was bittersweet. It was poison. He wished-oh, how he wished!-that Sudayev would see him again...

Sarah eventually had enough of her son's distant attitude and planned on getting the truth from either him or Delbert. The brunette hostess and owner of the Benbow Inn wasn't going to sit by while her son inwardly suffered. The progress report from Sudayev that she received from Delbert the day that Jim came back from his appointment, looking like a beaten puppy, had only notified her of immense progress and nothing more. Very discreet, much like her son's replies had been about the sessions...

One late night the following week, Sarah found Doppler sitting over by the fireplace in the public sitting room, pouring over a thick book about astrophysics. With determined steps, she made her way over to him. So engrossed was he in his book that he didn't notice her come over.

"Delbert?"

"Oh! Hi Sarah!" He said with a start, snapping the book shut. "Is it that late already? I'm terribly sorry for overstaying my welcome."

"Not at all, Delbert. You know that you are just as welcome here as any part of the family, no matter the time." She reassured him with a tired smile.

"Well, then, thank you. But I think I should be going in either case, though. I have lots of research to do tomorrow and need a fresh start early in the morning." He began to pick up his briefcase that had sat next to the armchair on the floor, ready to leave.

"Could you stay a moment longer?"

Unsure of her request, he sat back down in his chair. "Sure, Sarah. Is everything alright?" Doppler asked with concern.

"I'm worried about Jim."

"We all are. It's probably nothing serious, though. You know how young adults are, with their moods and fears about the future..."

"I understand that, Delbert," She sighed, resting her chin in her hand after she took a seat next to him on a similar armchair. "But I think something happened at that appointment last Thursday."

"W-What makes you say that?" Sarah didn't notice the quiver in Doppler's voice.

"He went from completely cheerful to bleak... He's back to his old self again. Eventually, he'll go back into getting into trouble. I just know it..."

"Hmmm... I see."

"Please, Delbert. If there's anything that you know about what happened, I have to know. I can't stand seeing him like this! He's like a ghost. It's almost as if someone broke his heart..."

That last part of her words made the astrophysicist gulp with apprehension.

...It didn't go unobserved, however...

"What happened to Jim, Delbert?" She said with complete calm and furrowed eyebrows. The sight of the slight female looking as if she were ready to gut him made him sweat buckets.

"I'll ask again... What happened to him?"

"..."

"I know you know, Delbert..."

"Okay, okay! Please don't hurt me, Sarah!" Doppler yelled in desperation. "Jim is in love with Dr. Sudayev!"

A/N: Ohohoho! The tension! The cliff hanger! Mwahahahaha! Till next time. :D