TW for this chapter: Death, past suicide, past suicide attempt, drinking, smoking cigarettes, grieving, past psych ward stay mention
"No, no I had seen Sam on Saturday. He was just fine." Tommy tried to dismiss.
"It happened after you left. His partner Ponk found him." Phil explained gently.
"No that's not right. Puffy said she talked to him that night, so there's no way." Tommy denied. Phil took a deep breath.
"You're in denial, and that's okay." Phil said in the same gentle tone.
"He's not dead Phil, I can't be in denial if it's something that didn't happen. There's nothing to deny." Tommy said and Phil reached out his hand slowly, taking Tommy's hand.
"Denying something that happened is denial. And denying that you're in denial is still denial." Phil said carefully.
"But he's not dead." Tommy repeated. Phil didn't know what to say in this moment. How was he supposed to convince Tommy of something he was refusing to even acknowledge.
Before when Tommy heard others passed it was immediate shock and sadness, that was at least something that Phil could help with. But now, what was he supposed to do? He could tell Tommy what was happening, but not much after that.
"I know it's a lot to try and process, and what you're feeling is valid okay Tommy? How about for now we can go downstairs, I'll cook some breakfast and we can watch a movie. Does that sound good?" Phil asked.
"I'm not feeling anything and you don't need to treat me like I'm gonna breakdown and be sad at any moment. Nothing is wrong, I am fine." Tommy said, and it made Phil frown softly.
"Well alright. I'll be downstairs if you need me." Phil said as he stood up. He made his way out of Tommy's room, not worried about him bolting or anything.
They had a discussion a few days before and thought the best course of action for trying to help Tommy before he runs was to add an alarm to his window. Now when his window is opened wide enough for him to get out, it sends a message to Phil, Wilbur and Techno's phones. That way at least someone could check on him.
Phil made his way downstairs to where Wilbur and Techno were sitting in the dining room.
"How'd he take it?" Wilbur asked once he saw Phil.
"In all reality, he's in denial. He kept saying he's not dead, told me I don't need to treat him like he's gonna breakdown at any moment because he's fine and nothings wrong." Phil explained and the other two shared a look of concern.
"Do you think the denial could be rooted in dissociation? Because he's never acted this way before when someone passed." Techno suggested, but Phil just shrugged.
"I'm not sure honestly. I mean I obviously hope not, because who knows how long it'll last, but if it is that then at least we have an idea on how to handle it." Phil said as he began to grab out things for breakfast.
"I mean do we? I can't think of a single time we knew how to stop his dissociation. He spent a month dissociating and we couldn't stop it." Wilbur reminded them.
"I'm not saying try to stop it, there's nothing we can do there. I'm saying after the episode when he needs support and comfort, that's when we know how to handle it and help." Phil explained.
"But we can't just let him dissociate and deny someone's death!" Wilbur said a bit louder, frustrated by what was happening.
"Wil, there's nothing we can do about it. However Tommy's brain decides to deal with it is how he's gonna deal with it. We can be here and support him, that's it." Techno said lightly. Wilbur put his head in his hands.
YOU ARE READING
Then Where Is Home?
Fanfiction"Liam!" Tommy yelled, running forward out into the rain. He felt sick to his stomach and he felt like maybe he was dreaming, but Wilbur had just woken him up so he knew he wasn't dreaming. Techno stepped aside as Tommy ran up and hugged Liam tightly...
