Sray Cat Chronicles (Novella)

Stray Thunder

Leslie sat in the waiting room beside Aaron uncomfortably. He had done everything to avoid this, but things had not gone the way he wanted them to go. Aaron was holding him accountable, which he knew he needed. His father had even gotten involved in the last couple weeks, which had led to a fight between him and his father. That fight had spawned another argument between him and Aaron, one that he had completely lost because he could not fight any longer.

They were right. He needed help. He just couldn't do this on his own and it was time for him to admit it.

"I'm nervous," Leslie muttered, gripping Aaron's hand tightly in his own. He hadn't let go since they came into the room despite the looks they had gotten.

"I know," he responded, squeezing his hand a little tighter. "But this is for the best, you know."

"How can I do this, though? Talk to a stranger like this? I don't know what to say or what to do when I get in there," he said, sighing as he glanced around the nearly empty waiting room. There was another person, a younger woman and what appeared to be her mom, waiting that came in after Leslie and Aaron.

"You can do it. I know you can," Aaron assured him, moving to put his arm around his shoulder and pulling him in tightly.

"Leslie Kirby?" a nurse said from the door.

"Um, yeah," he said, standing up shakily and looking at Aaron. "I'll be back soon. Don't leave."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Aaron told him as he went toward the nurse. Aaron knew what a big step this was for Leslie.

"This way, first we're going to take your vitals, and then Dr. Cossick will see you," the nurse, a redhead with a highly freckled face, told him.

They went to what looked like an office with a computer and a chair next to it. She had him get up on the scale and made a note of his weight. Then she put the oxygen reader on his finger and checked his blood pressure.

"Your blood pressure is a little high. Do you have problems with it normally?" she asked as she typed into the computer.

"Um, no, I think I'm just nervous," he said, shifting a bit uncomfortably.

"Understandable. Is this your first visit with a psychiatrist?" she asked.

He swallowed and nodded. "Yeah, I've never needed one before."

She smiled and nodded. "Dr. Cossick is a really great doctor. I'm sure you'll get along with him just fine."

After she'd finished, she took him to a smaller waiting room where he sat down. He wished Aaron was with him still. He folded his hands together and waited as patiently as he could.

"Leslie?" he heard and looked up to see a gentle looking man. He was in his thirties or forties, it was hard to tell for sure, and had neat brown hair. His eyes were a warm golden-brown color and looked sincere.

"Um, yeah," he said, standing up, keeping his hands folded together. "I'm Leslie."

Dr. Cossick smiled. "Come with me, and we'll sit and talk in my office."

Leslie followed him, looking around at the plain walls as he went. He hated doctor's offices because they were so sterile and this one wasn't much different. With his father being a doctor, he should have been used to them, but he still was put off by them. Dr. Cossick opened the door, though, and led him into an office that looked out of place compared to the other doctor's offices he'd been in. There was a large desk with a computer sitting to the side and a large, comfortable-looking couch sitting across from it. The room was warmly decorated with framed artwork of various types. Everything just went together and it felt...comfortable.