Game Over ~AntiAverage

23. Chase

Anti had followed us back to Henrik's office with this look in his eyes. It honestly worried me. I don't know. When I walked into that room to see my son on his lap... I couldn't help but smile. Greyson never does that with anyone but me or Stacy. It... It made me happy. And then the fact that Greyson said Anti was making him something... I thought he was just saying that you know... How kids sometimes just say things. Maybe Anti was just doing something and Greyson assumed it was for him but when I looked over Anti WAS making a car. To think that glitchy demon who... who well... I just never thought that Anti would be so good with kids. With my sons... Even with Trey, who's apparently been badgering him about his name. He just laughed. Like he was happy Trey was asking that so much. Even still after all that...

He looked so sad.

"Hey, Sam?" We entered the room and Anti sat down on the couch not even bothering to look up at me. I could tell even Henrik was concerned. "Sam?"

"Sorry, what?" He looked up at me and I frowned seeing the black in his eyes. They didn't fill the whole sclera but still... Anti was there. Anti was always there though. He narrowed his eyes and frowned in confusion as he looked over at the doctor. "Wait, Chase..."

"He insisted that he be here for this one." Anti narrowed his eyes more glancing over at me and I tensed up. "Only if you're ok with that though, Anti..."

"Sam." I corrected and just like every other time Anti started to smile. Henrik, of course, cleared his throat and I could see the glare he was giving me under his glasses. "Sorry, Doc." Anti just narrowed his eyes in confusion.

"So... Is it ok for Chase to stay, Anti?" That smile he had disappeared just as fast as it showed up and I wanted to scream. Anti just nodded as he looked down at his hands. "Is everything alright?"

"Everything is fine, Doctor." Anti flinch a bit and sighed. "Shut up."

"Sam, it's ok." He looked up at me again and smiled sadly. "You can talk to us. I'm sure whatever it is..."

"I'm fine, Chase. Really." The black was getting stronger in his eyes and even Henrik started to worry. "It's nothing to worry about. If this is about earlier I..." I narrowed my eyes as Anti just froze. Like legitimately froze up. He was just staring blankly ahead for a good 2 minutes before he even blinked. "... I'm sorry worrying you." He frowned staring at his hands and Henrik moved to sit at the edge of his seat.

"What did he say?" What did who... Anti cringed a bit and I frowned. Oh... What did Anti say to Sam? Right... "Anti..."

"Nothing, Doc. It's fine. What are we doing here anyway?" Henrik sighed as he pulled out his notepad and pencil. I could see Anti tense up. "Doctor?"

"I have been informed of some... troubling new information." Anti immediately glanced over at me and I cringed slightly under the pained look he gave me. "Chase has also informed me of the... experiment you both did?"

"The hypnosis?" Henrik nodded and Anti frowned in confusion. "What about it?"

"We would like to do a similar session. This time however with me present." Anti's eyes went wide as he glanced over at me. "Do you remember anything about..." He started shaking his head before the doctor could even finish his question. "You don't?"

"No. I just remember him." Henrik sighed as he glanced over at me and I just shrugged.

"Well, I suppose that makes some sense. If your consciousness is being blocked from remembering it would, in theory, prevent you from retaining the memories you may have gone over while under." Henrik was trying to work this out. I could see the gears working in his head. "Now that I think about it... We may be able to get to the bottom of just what those two morons did." He narrowed his eyes as he looked up at Anti. "We may be able to reverse it."

"You mean Sam could get his memories back?" Anti jumped up in shock and I frowned at the fear in his eyes. "Sam?"

"No." He flinched a bit reaching up towards his ears and I started to tense up. "No. I-I won't... I'm not..." He covered his ears again shaking his head and Henrik glanced over at me with this worried expression. I quickly went over pulling Anti in and he tensed up. "I don't want to." I moved us both to the couch and slowly took his hands in mine. He looked up at me and I could see the tears in his eyes building. I hated this. I hated that he was hurting. I hated that he was suffering. I... It hurt me... to see that pain... in him. I slowly moved his hands away from his ears and his eyes never left mine.

"Sam, do trust me?" Henrik narrowed his eyes as Anti nodded. "So... If I said it was safe to fall..." His eyes flashed and I could feel my nerves coming back. Don't ask me why I left suggestions. I just... I wanted to be able to help him. "...that I would catch you, You would believe me?"

"Chase, what are you..."

"O-Of course," Anti whispered cutting Henrik off, who started to get worried. I never told him I left an induction. Just that I hypnotized him...

"And... And if I said that it's ok to feel relaxed, that it's natural..." His eyes flashed again and I could see them start to get glossy. He smiled a little bit just staring into my eyes. "That it's safe... you'd listen?"

"Of course." Henrik frowned as the black slowly dissipated. The brown of his eyes slowly started to turn blue and I smiled. Even though my nerves were getting bad. I was scared. I didn't want Anti to get hurt.

"And if I said it's ok to sleep, that I would protect you... you would trust me?" Anti started to sway a bit as I held him tightly. The whites of his eyes were now a soft pastel green. He smiled wider swaying some more and I tensed up.

"Whatever you say, Chase." I glanced over to see Henrik just watching as I swallowed the nerves threatening to tear me apart. I took a deep breath and smiled, placing a hand behind Anti's head as he struggled just to keep his eyes open.

"Ok then, Sam... Fall, I'll catch you." His body seemed to lose all its strength as I slowly laid him back carefully against the couch. Henrik tensed up and I frowned. Your nerves are not helping mine, doctor. "Sam... Relax, it's safe." I could see his eyes gloss over completely as his eyes went septic. I wanted to yell. This was so nerve-wracking. Damn... I took another deep breath as I held Anti's limp hand tightly. "Sam... Sleep..." He sucked in a breath and I smiled sadly. "...I'll protect you." His eyes fluttered a bit before closing completely and I could see his breathing even out. He was out nearly instantly. I let out a shaky breath I hadn't realized I was holding and Henrik laughed a bit despite the anxiety I knew he was feeling too.

"Well, shit."