Saving Me [MxM]

Chapter 18 (Part Four)

That following Friday, Nathan found himself in an office. Varian had counseling, so Nathan was waiting as that went on. They’d painted the room already, so it matched the rest of the house. Nathan rather liked the different color in their room, but he understood the reasoning behind repainting it.

Sunday night he’d be going back and starting his finals. He wasn’t looking forward to that at all. The first week had been nerve wracking enough−−how would everyone be once they were actually taking their exams?

Not to mention it meant more coffee. Nathan was starting to get tired of coffee. But damn was it a lifesaver in college.

Nathan looked up as Varian emerged, holding a journal and looking a little strained. His counselor−−Mary, Nathan thought her name was−−pulled him over to the secretaries, probably to set up their next appointment. Once that was done, Mary turned to Varian. “Is it alright if I speak to Nathan, please?”

Varian gave her a confused expression, but glanced at Nathan. “Is that okay with you?” he asked. Nathan glanced between Mary and Varian.

“I guess so, yeah.”

“Alright, thank you. Varian, if you’d wait out here.” Mary said, gesturing to the couch that Nathan sat on, which Varian made his way to. Then she turned to Nathan. “And Nathan, if you’d come back with me? I just have a couple things I’d like to discuss with you, that’s all.”

“Uh, okay.” Nathan frowned, standing and glancing at Varian before he walked toward her. What did she want to talk to him for? She lead him back to her room and gestured to a chair.

“Have a seat,” she said, closing the door. Nathan sat slowly, watching her.

“I don’t normally speak to a charge’s significant other, but I feel like there’s a few things you should be aware of.” Mary said, going over to her desk in the small room and picking up a small packet of information, bringing it over and handing it to Nathan before she sat diagonally across from him. “The first and foremost is that Varian’s a pretty special case. I’m not allowed to discuss our visits with you, that’s entirely up to him, however, I feel like it’s best I talk to you personally.”

Nathan frowned, looking at the packet he was handed before he returned his gaze to Mary. She folded her hands in her lap, nodding toward the packet. “In there you’ll find some detailed information on PTSD. It’s specifically designed for the partner of a charge, and I feel like it might benefit you.”

Nathan nodded slightly, looking back at the packet.

“Varian exhibits one of the worst cases of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that I’ve seen, though he is also exceptionally highly functioning.” Mary explained. “It’s a disorder common to victims of traumatic experiences in their life. War veterans referred to it as ‘shell-shock’. It’s not infrequent in people that were children when they’d experienced their event, as Varian was.”

Nathan raised his eyebrows, looking back at Mary. One of the worst cases?