No One Ever Does (G)
Characters O/Cs (Doctor Johnston, Steve)
Prompt ff100 #55 - Spirit; Spook_me "Disease"
Word Count 823
Summary For the surviving Young Ones, getting back home was the simple part.
A/N Not a happy fic! Written for the Spook_me Challenge, October 2008.
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No One Ever Does
Sit down, sit down! Glad you could come over, Steve. Quite frankly, Im at a loss as to what to try next. As a delusion, the whole thing is of a breadth and complexity the like of which I have never seen before. And the Institute is running out of time. I thought, a fresh perspective might be instructive.
Youre stumped, and you brought in me? Should I be flattered?
Well yes, I suppose that is a fair assessment. As for flattery, I dont think so.
Youre sure?
Do you want to sit in and help, or not?
Of course, you dont think Id pass up this chance for a look! This case is fascinating.
Youve read up on it?
Ill need the full case files at some point, but I always keep abreast of the literature, Doctor Johnston, especially about something like this! And I dont often get offered a ringside seat!
Good. I knew you would have taken an interest.
Whats always struck me as interesting about this was the background, they always told the same story, agreeing on the details and most of the specifics. They told the events in the same way, but specific for each one of them, as if they had actually done all these things. That was quite amazing, the cohesion.
The easiest solution is that they really did experience this delusion together. Or at least they experience something that generated this delusion. And what we see in the sessions is a coping mechanism, maybe.
But that is not possible. There wasnt enough time for a scenario of that nature. The delusion has to be false.
And therein lies our problem. The money for this study isnt going to last forever, you know. We need to get something or those people are going back to the asylum and are not going to come back, and well never find out what happened.
Maybe we never will. Not all puzzles can be solved. It is such a fantastic story, who in their right mind could have come up with it?
Thats just the kicker, isnt it. I would have thought they would have changed their story by now, even slightly. But its the same today as it was three years ago, Steve. And dont forget, theyve never deviated from that story, not one little bit!
Not even with the trial? Or after the papers got hold of the story?
Never.
And there was some kid, wasnt there? A girl who claimed shed seen them. Tried to corroborate some of it?
Now, that must have been a set up.
I never understood how she could have thought anyone would believe her. Theres no way she could have known.
She did have an episode herself at one point. Her doctor indicated that she must have been influenced by something she saw or read. But there were some quite striking similarities. You know, none of them could ever satisfactorily explain that, or how she knew so many details.
I know. Thats worrying. That undermines their case. The insanity defence is tricky to pull off at the best of times.
Yes, but theres no shaking them on that. Any of them. And Counsel isnt pleased with our progress.
And youve tried the usual methods?
Ive tried all the methods I can think of, Steve! Im no closer to understanding the psychosis, or explaining why they caused all that terrible damage to the Park. And Im no closer to finding out what happened to the three others, either.
How about going back to the courts and asking for more time to
No, no, no. Thats the last thing I want to do. Theres nothing to be gained by going back to the courts, even though I cant see what else we can do in the circumstances. I told you, time is running out. The boy, hes becoming more aggressive by the day, the meds are costing a fortune! And the girls, I just dont know. There doesnt seem to be a way through to the older one. And the redhead, shes obsessed is the only word I can think of. Youll see for yourself when you sit in later. Its eerie.
But you cant keep this façade up forever, you know. They are going to have to go back at some point.
Yes. Yes, I know. Its really a matter of time. But its so sad, seeing these kids end up in there, no matter what they did.
Is that why you asked me here, to help out or to tell you what you already know? But just remember that this happens every day, somewhere. If it didnt there wouldnt be jobs for people like us.
I often wonder what really happened in that missing day.
I dont think well ever know the truth.
They think they are telling us the truth.
I know. But I dont believe them.
No. No one ever does. Wed better go.