Chapter Thirty-Nine

Rocky

Rocky heard his name being called and looked up to see Collin approaching from one of the sets of double doors leading to treatment areas. He hadn't even considered calling in a favor from his friend, but Rocky felt like he should have. Especially when Aiden didn't show any signs of recognizing someone was approaching.

"Hey, man. Stone called and said you were bringing Pup in. I'd have been out sooner, but the ER is understaffed at the moment. A couple of the doctors are working on a gunshot victim."

Rocky glanced at Aiden and found him as still a statue. He hadn't moved even an inch and it was really starting to scare Rocky. "I'm glad Stone called. Aiden needs to be seen as soon as possible."

Collin looked at Aiden then and nodded his head, "I can see him now. Follow me back."

Rocky had just helped Aiden up when someone rushed in, calling out, "Pup!" When he looked over, Rocky saw Rich heading toward them. He came to an abrupt stop in front of Aiden. He stood there for a moment before his hands linked behind his back, and one of his feet started bouncing.

"I know I'm probably the last person you want to see right now, but I heard that you were hurt and I couldn't not come." Rich glanced up at Aiden and seeing the blank look on his face, looked at Rocky. Before Rocky could tell him that now wasn't the time, Rich plowed on, despite Aiden's lack of response. "Anyway, I know you're probably scared and hurting and unsure right now. And I know that your big, amazing, super-soft octopus is still in your office. So, I stopped at a few places on the way here, and finally found a halfway decent substitute." Rich started to reach out his hand before pausing and deliberately inspecting Aiden's hands then gently grasping his uninjured hand, pressing his own palm to it for a minute.

Right before Rocky's eyes Aiden seemed to come back to life, just a little bit. He looked down at his hand. When Rocky followed the look, he found Rich rubbing a soft stuffed octopus keychain on Aiden's palm in rhythmic circles.

The longer Rich rubbed the tiny stuffy on Aiden's palm the more attentive to the movements he became until, finally, Rich closed Aiden's hand around it and helped him rub his own thumb up and down the fur. When Rich finally stepped back Aiden was independently rubbing the mini octopus.

Rocky stared in shock at Rich for a moment, before the young man shrugged his shoulders and said, "I thought he might be tactile like me. Sometimes, when nothing else helps, something soft or textured can work wonders. Anyway, I hope it helps. Tell him I'm really sorry and I don't want to lose my friend." The plea in the boy's eyes was evident but still, he used his manners, offering a heartfelt, "Please?"

As quick as he'd come, Rich was gone, and Rocky was leading a much less listless Aiden behind Collin into the treatment area.

Aiden

Aiden felt like he was floating. It wasn't something he'd ever experienced before. It was as if he could see and hear everything that was happening, but he couldn't react, as if he was watching from a distance instead of being part of it. Some part of him found relief in it, if he wasn't attached to his body then he wasn't attached to the emotions welling in it. However, another part of him recognized what was happening and that it wasn't really a good thing.

Aiden had spent too much of his life burying so many of his feelings, until they became too much, causing a dissociative episode similar to this. Like what happened at the diner. Aiden had never experienced one quite like this though. He was here, but he wasn't. He knew it was happening to him, but it felt like it was happening to someone else.

He was conscious of Daddy talking to the person in registration, he was aware of him talking quietly to Aiden as they waited. He recognized the approach of Daddy's doctor friend, but he couldn't acknowledge any of it, as if his mind and body were paralyzed.

When Rich came in, Aiden's immediate desire was to turn and go somewhere else, but he couldn't. His body and mind wouldn't obey. However, when Rich pressed the soft little octopus into his hand, Aiden could feel it. Not in a muted way like he'd felt with every touch since he'd shut down but could really feel it. Each and every soft tentacle seemed to register, and when Rich began rubbing it over his palm, Aiden felt like that small connection was pulling him back to reality.

Aiden might have initially wanted to run, but in the end, Rich's visit had turned out to be the spark he needed. When things calmed down and he was feeling better, Aiden thought he'd find his friend and thank him for this small kindness.

Rocky

It didn't take long to reach a cubicle, where Collin wrapped Aiden's wrist in some ice and ordered x-rays. Collin tried to get any responses from Aiden but the other man was not offering up anything. He simply sat there, rubbing his little octopus and staring at the wall.

"Could we maybe have a word outside?" Collin asked Rocky with a pointed look.

"Sure." Rocky squeezed Aiden's arm that he'd been lightly rubbing and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "I'll be right back, baby. If you need me, I'll be right outside."

There was no acknowledgement of his statement and Rocky's heart hurt, the worry in him turning to honest physical pain. He followed Collin out the curtain opening into the hallway, where Collin turned to him and said, "I have a couple of questions. The answers will help me know how to approach the current diagnosis."

Rocky placed his hands in his pockets and tried to appear casual as he nodded his head. "Okay, shoot."

"First, I can't help but wonder about the fact that there is a gunshot victim being treated right now, in a small town that rarely sees them and, at the same time, I'm treating someone wearing blood-covered clothing and clearly in shock. The two wouldn't be related, would they?"

Rocky quickly explained the events of the night and how Aiden had fought off an attacker intent on killing him. Rocky still wasn't aware of the full story as Aiden hadn't been in much of a state to explain, but he shared what he knew.

"Okay," Collin said when Rocky had finished. "Next question. Is Aiden autistic?"

"He said he was diagnosed with Asperger's as a teen."

"So, yes." Collin nodded his head and turned back to the cubicle. As soon as they had reentered the room, Collin turned back to Rocky and said, "I want you to get on the bed in front of Aiden and take both of his hands. Be careful with the injured one but he needs to feel your skin and have you holding him in some way."

Rocky didn't hesitate to do what Collin instructed. He wasn't sure what the other man was up to, but if it would help his boy, Rocky would do whatever the good doctor asked of him.

He watched as Collin removed several items from drawers and began placing them around the room. When he'd finished he told Rocky, "This is what's called a dissociative state. That means that his response to the trauma and shock of the evening has been to retreat into himself. Most likely, he is still present and aware, especially given his reaction to the other young man and the stuffy. One way to be sure though, is to use eye movement processing."

Rocky found himself slightly confused. He really wished he would have had more time to read up and ask Aiden more questions. He hated not knowing what he needed to in order to help the man he cared most about in the world.

"I've placed items around the room. Note the colors and locations. Then I want you to talk calmly and softly to Aiden. Rub your thumbs on his skin as you talk and when his gaze focuses on you instead of the wall, start asking him to find the things I've placed around the room. Watch for where his eyes go. If he looks in the direction the item is, it means he is aware and you can talk to him, make him feel safe. If anyone can do it, you can."

Collin headed for the door and Rocky had a moment of panic, "Wait, where are you going?" If there was a hint of panic in his voice, well, that was to be expected. Right?

"I feel like it will also help him to know how the other man is doing so, I'm heading to get an update. You don't need me for this. You're his Daddy. You've got this."

Did he? Rocky wasn't all that certain that he did.