Chapter 108: An Apparent Family Man

Hadrian Rawsone's Room, West Wing, Cedar Pine Mental Care Facility...

The jingling of keys had gotten Doctor Hadrian Rawsone's attention once again, but this time the morning orderly had come in to feed him and escort him to the restroom. He was shuffled from the metal bed and into the wheelchair as the sizeable bald man, who had done the bulk of his care and heavy lifting, had been more or less speaking to himself as he rolled the newly awakened man toward the nearest restroom. Hadrian was slowly recovering the ability to walk for himself and due to his limitations, he'd been still trying to recall certain things not only about himself but the world around him due to the side effects of his electroshock therapy session. He made it a mental note to either have Doctor Reed turned into the board of directors or break his face the next time he had the opportunity. The fact that Julia had gone to a man she knew he both not trusted, but who had been his rival in the medical field for assistance with his mental health was beyond Hadrian. He had specifically filed paperwork declaring that Maureen was to be his mental health care worker and what to do should something happen.

He had no idea if whatever his former coworker had somehow rewired his mind, but he was going to get to the bottom of it. So far he had the uphill battle of trying to recall what he'd forgotten and taken steps to ensure that he didn't lose it again. Hadrian had not been thrilled in the least about the news of them having another child, he had not seen the practicality of it when he'd already been having mental issues which further contributed to his lack of enthusiasm for the baby being on the way.

The more he thought about it, he seemed to have a lack of enthusiasm for a lot of things as of late and wondered internally if it had something to do with this so-called treatment. As the bald orderly wheeled him from the bathroom toward the recreational room, Hadrian sat without saying a word despite being able to communicate like before. He made little to no effort to make use of any games or equipment as he sat in silence looking around at the other patients and their eccentric behaviors. They didn't disturb him so much as they fascinated him as he continued to watch them go about their individual routines as if they'd been in their own little worlds.

Doctor Rawsone supposed he might have looked strange to them, being relatively sane by their standards, but still locked away with the lot of them due to his wife having committed him.

As the silent man sat amid the other more rowdy patients, another resembling him with the same dark hair, dark complexion, and sophisticated manner of dress as he moved passed the more deranged patients toward the good doctor and took an empty seat near his table.

"I was wondering when you'd show up," said Hadrian in an emotionless tone.

Colin Winters, formerly Doctor Colin Rawsone seemed to be surprised that Hadrian had even expected to see him at all and what had been far more strange was his lack of fury when he spoke to him.

"Despite what you may think of me son, it is good to see you," said Colin looking his eldest son over.

Hadrian had not seemed to care one way or the other about the older man being there.

"What do you want old man?" asked the good doctor unsure why he'd even bothered.

"To talk," said Colin with a sigh. "Finally to talk to you without you storming off or outright ignoring me."

"I can still ignore you," replied Hadrian in the same emotionless tone. "I'm simply curious as to why you even bother, your walking out was loud and clear to me even as a kid."

Colins sighed.

"My walking out on you was the second biggest mistake I have made in my life," he said honestly.

Hadrian had not cared much for the older man but listened anyway. It wasn't as if he had anything else to do.

"Now I'm definitely curious, what's the first," replied Hadrian his voice cold as he looked into his father's eyes.

"Killing your brother," said Colin unsure how best to explain the past to him.

"What are you talking about old man?" asked Hadrian narrowing his eyes at the older Rawsone and conveying his skepticism. "I don't have a brother."

"You did," admitted Colin. "A younger twin brother...Phalen Teon Rawsone...Lonnie."

Hadrian was caught off guard by this admission but it did little to shift his mood.

"So...it is true," he said as if knowing as much already. "You did kill my brother."

Colin had been at a loss for words for a moment or two before nodding too ashamed to actively speak about his transgression against his youngest son.

Hadrian simply looked at him as if uninterested and turned his attention back to the door where he knew the vending machines would be.

Colin sighed once more not knowing what to say to his eldest son.

"You seemed to have done well for yourself after your mother passed I mean." he attempted in making conversation.

"How would you know, you didn't stick around long enough for anything even before you walked out," said Hadrian with a lack of emotion, but there had been biting truth to his words.

"I know I should have been there," said Colin, feeling as low as he believed his elder son thought him to be.

"What is it that you want from me Colin?" asked Hadrian with a bored expression filed across his face. "Absolution? I don't care what you say or do alright...it's no business of mine."

"You have other siblings," said Colin trying to salvage the conversation as best he could. "They insisted I find you, as a matter of fact, wondered for years what you'd be like."

"Now you can tell them I am a Psychiatrist who has been institutionalized with the criminally insane," replied Hadrian in an emotionless tone.

"Hadrian..." began Colin with a sorrowful expression.

"What do you want from me old man?" asked Hadrian once more. "As you can see I have nothing left to be taken or given..."

Colin sighed once more before getting to his feet and placing a weary hand on Hadrian's shoulder.

"You may not believe you have much, but you do have family," he said as if trying his best to impart some wisdom upon his eldest son, "And that is all that matters."

Hadrian didn't say a word as Colin Winters formerly, Colin Rawsone headed out the door and back to his life, wherever that had been.

While he remained surrounded by people talking to themselves.