Another Day, Another Door

Chapter 6

*A/N: Okay, so this chapter's really short because I have finals and ish but I'll update as soon as I can! Thanks for reading, you lovely bunch of people, you*

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Patrick woke up the next morning knowing something was wrong. Dan's house was eerily quiet as Patrick walked out of the guest room he'd slept in. He didn't see any of Dan's siblings walking around the house as usual.

"Hello?" Patrick asked quietly. 

He walked up the stairs to Dan's room. As he reached the top stair he saw both of Dan's parents standing outside of his closed door. 

"Daniel, honey, do you want me to bring you breakfast?" his mom asked worriedly. There was no answer.

"Dan?" his father lightly tapped on the door. "Go away," Patrick heard his friend mumble behind the door. 

Suddenly one of Dan's little sisters walked past Patrick's leg. "What's wrong, Mommy?" she asked innocently. Suddenly one of Dan's older brothers rushed past Patrick. "Come on Amber, Mom and Dad are busy," he said as he led his sister back to her room. 

"Is Dan sad again?" Amber looked back as her brother led her down the hall.

Dan's mother finally noticed Patrick was up. "Oh, good morning Patrick. Could you give us a minute and wait downstairs in the kitchen?" she asked. Patrick nodded and did as he was told.

After about 10 minutes of awkwardly waiting at the kitchen table, Dan's mother walked in. 

"I'm sorry Patrick but I'm afraid Dan's not feeling like himself today. Can someone come and get you? Perhaps your father," she hinted. 

"Oh, uh, yeah. Yeah, I'll call him," Patrick said as he quickly walked back to the guest room.

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"Best not to let him know I'm here," Patrick's father said as he entered the house. 

"Doctor, can you talk to him?" Dan's mom pleaded. 

Patrick saw the hesitant look on his dad's face. "Mrs. Reynolds, I think he'd feel like we were ganging up on him. If he has refused to talk to you, he won't talk with me."

Patrick felt horrible when he saw the sad look on her face. Dan's father was there to comfort her.

 They'd been through Dan's periods of depression before but it still hurt each time. "He's been taking his medicine?" Patrick's father inquired. Both parents nodded.

"Well," the doctor said after a minute, "I do know one person he might talk to." All three adults turned to Patrick.