The Rabbit's Den

Bad Dad

It had been several weeks after Milly's suicide before Trixie even began to act normal, best she could. Dr. Mullens and Kaleb had convinced her these last weeks to take the oral Ativan to help her cope. She was angry and felt betrayed, by everyone and everything.

That morning Kaleb walked into her room, which was normal for everyone as Trixie didn't mind. "Trix, let's go get something to eat." She frowned at him, "I don't really have an appetite." "So come watch me eat." He smiled at her, she gave him an unimpressed look. "I want to go over some of the Doctor's books that he brought." Kaleb sighed heavily, "I'll get the books, and the Doctor. But only if you come eat." "You know I don't know what I'm more tired of. You telling me what to do, or you being friends with the Doctor." He frowned at her, "I'm only trying to help you, and I'm not friends with the Doc." "Sure seems like it to me, what about the damn pills?" Another deep sigh, "Doc wants to wean you off the pills starting today, giving you different ones. And someone had to help him with patients." It stung to hear that, Milly was gone and she was too busy losing her mind to help anyone. "Kaleb I'm sorry." He walked over to her and wrapped her in a hug, her face buried in his chest. "I don't know why I'm so awful to you." He patted her back, "I don't' know what I would do if you weren't." He laughed.

Doc was holding two pill bottles, "This one is the lower dose of Ativan, you don't want to abruptly stop it and this one is an antidepressant. I think a couple months of this will be all you need to help get through this." She eyed him. "Trixie, it's easy to slip back into depression and your world was rocked." Taking the bottles from him she took each pill, "Where are the books?" He set two on the table. "Is this it?" Shaking his head he said," No but I'll bring you more as you finish. Why do you want them? Think you're going to figure it out where we couldn't?" Opening one of the books she glared at him from the side, "No, I just want to understand it." "So you're just going to research all day?" She shrugged, "If someone asks for me I'll go, you're the doctor now Doc." It sounded snotty, but not nearly as much as she wanted it too.

"For a grown woman you are such a child." She whipped around in her chair, "And for a doctor you are such a monster." "Ouch" They looked up at Kaleb who had come in unnoticed. "I see you two are getting along just fine." Trixie scowled at him. Dr. Mullens nodded, "I was going to ask, is there a baby on the grounds?" Kaleb folded his arms, "What?" The doctor continued, "It was the strangest thing, last night I swear I heard a baby crying." Trixie interjected, "It's the cats outside, they keep rodents out. There are a lot of them, and sometimes they sound like that." The doctor looked back and forth at them, "Cats? Okay, I guess I've never really heard feral cats before."

After Dr. Mullens left to go to the infirmary, Kaleb and Trixie exchanged glances. "Let's go down to the river." Kaleb suggested. Trixie motioned at the books irritated. Looking at the books Kaleb rocked his head side to side, "After?" She stopped reading and looked up at him, she sighed, "After, now can you leave me alone?" Kaleb nodded and stepped back like he was injured. Then she was alone in silence in the office she had shared with Milly.

After reading a few chapters in the book, Trixie understood why the Doc had only brought her two. Not only where they difficult to read, but they were somewhat difficult to understand. They jumped around, almost like it was direct notes being published. Case by case. About two hours into reading she felt irritated, sweaty and restless. Maybe the Doc was right about the pills, she could already tell she wasn't as sedated as she had been. She marked the book and decided to go find Kaleb.

She found him with his men, taking stock on the ammunition. "Are you done already?" She nodded, "But I can go back and do some more if you're busy." One of the guys pushed Kaleb from behind, "Go on, we know what we're doing." Kaleb grabbed Trixie's hand and they headed down to the river.

Kaleb wasted no time, he stripped down to his shorts and jumped in. When his head broke the water he was smiling. "Come on Trix!" She was shaking her head as she stripped down to her under garments, "Not funny Kaleb." He swam back over to the bank where he could stand, "You'll learn one day." He held his hand out to her and she took it. Trixie couldn't swim, ever since they were kids Kaleb would take her to the river and she would hold on to him. Once they were in the deeper part of the river she wrapped her legs around his waist and would lean back, while he treaded water. The water was cold, soon it was going to be too cold. Probably a couple more weeks. For Kaleb this was the best part, not because he was so close to Trixie, but because she was fearless with him. Even day one as long as Kaleb was there she wasn't afraid to go into the water.