Make a Wish || Rhett and Link

Chapter 21 - Conversations

"Good evening Cooper. My name is Dr. Gerald Buntler."

I looked at the strange man at the foot of my hospital bed.

"Uh...hi."

"You're probably wondering why I'm here." he said, sitting down on the chair like he owned me. "I'm a psychologist."

I sighed. "I don't need you here." I told him.

"You may say that, but yesterday you jumped off a bridge."

"You people just can't let go of that, can you?" I muttered.

"No, Cooper. We can't." Dr Buntler said.

I grumbled and folded my arms. "If I told you that I jumped because I thought I'd turn into a mermaid, will you leave?"

"No, I'd check you for more serious mental illness and you'd spend the remainders of your break in the mental health unit downstairs."

I grumbled again. My little 'episode' yesterday had led to my lungs being partially damaged, and the doctors deciding to keep me here for the first 2 weeks of my break, which wasn't fair at all. Well, at least not in my opinion.

"So, Cooper. I know you don't want me here, but I have an offer for you. You work with me, and I'll make sure this is over as fast as possible. You don't work with me, and you'll be doing a lot more of this. So, which one is it going to be?"

"I'll talk." I mumbled.

"Good." Dr Buntler said, leaning his clipboard on his legs. "Let's begin."

*****************

"Alright, I think we're done for today."

I had already curled up in a tight ball and tears were streaming down my face in a full meltdown.

"Really?" I asked sarcastically.

"Yes. Really. But I'll be back in 2 days."

I groaned. This sucked.

"I know you don't like it Cooper, but you're not going to get better without it."

"They tell me that for everything. Those words are practically meaningless." I said, leaning back.

Dr Buntler sighed. "See you soon."

I gathered my thoughts and sighed. Sure, people said that it wasn't my fault that I felt like this. But it was my fault. I mean, I was the one who decided to sneak out of the hospital. They tell me it was the depression, which is a side effect of the medication, but I didn't believe them.

"Knock Knock!"

I didn't even have to look to see who it was. "Hi Rhett."

Rhett came and sat down next to me. "I brought you some flowers."

"Aww. Thanks." I said with a small smile.

"I'll throw these old ones out..."

"NO!" I snapped. "Oh, uh, sorry. Just um, put them in as well."

Rhett looked at me funny but did as I said. The fresh flowers were nice.

"So, Dr Bentler." Rhett said. "I ran into him on my way in."

"I don't like him." I said plainly.

"Yeah, I got that impression." Rhett said.

"I don't want to see him again."

"I'm afraid I have no input on that." Rhett said, leaning back.

"His name is Gerald! I mean, who even names their kid that?!" I exclaimed.

Rhett chuckled. "I don't know."

I sighed and snuggled into the sheets. "Have you seen my beanie?" I asked Rhett.

"From what I've heard, I think it's at the bottom of the river." Rhett said.

He paused. "Are you crying?"

"No." I said, even though I was.

"We'll get you another beanie Cooper. Don't worry. It'll be okay." Rhett said, putting his arm around me.

"It's not just that."

"What is it?"

"I've just sent everybody into hysterics with all of this...and I really didn't mean to. I just...I want it to all go away."

"I wish I could tell you it would, but I can't. I'm sorry." Rhett said. "But I can do my best to try and make you feel better."

I looked at Rhett, one eyebrow raised.

"Do you want to play snakes and ladders with me?"

For some reason, I burst into hysterics. Rhett was a little confused, but laughed with me. He set the board up and we began to play. I was winning until...

"OW!"

Rhett looked up at me from his seat. "Are you alright Coop?"

"OW! OW! AH! AH! AH! OWWW!" I almost shouted, moving my hands to my temples to try and relieve the pain.

Rhett rang for a nurse, who knew what to do. Drip in the arm, crying and screaming for an hour, then sleep.

Rhett held me tightly in his arms as I wept from the pain. He didn't leave me for the entire time, even though he was supposed to go home for dinner by a certain time. Although I was in too much pain to tell Rhett how much it meant to me how he stayed, I had a feeling he understood. Rhett and Link were both so amazing. They cared.

Rhett stayed with me until I fell asleep.