When Doc came into the room he didn’t say anything, just went to sit on his bed and stare at the wall. Caelo ran over to him, happy to see him after he had been working all day, but Doc barely even spared him a glance. Caelo started to get upset, hitting Doc to try and get his attention, but he acted as though he didn’t feel a thing. I told Caelo that he shouldn’t hit his mommy and that maybe he should go play with Norma for a little bit. He frowned, but nodded, then took off in search of the receptionist. I probably should have taken him there, but I was too concerned about Doc, as I should have been, since he didn’t criticize me, just kept staring at the wall.
I sat down next to him and laid a hand on his shoulder. I didn’t even get a glance. We stayed like that for a few minutes before he finally spoke, though he never took his eyes off of the wall. “…Why can’t you bring him back?”
I frowned, not sure of whom he meant. “Wh…” His ring. He’d been messing with his ring the entire time but I’d only just noticed. Oh. “Doc… You know I can’t… He’s not my character… I have no control over him…”
“So? You’re supposed to be all powerful, aren’t you? Have the ability to do whatever you want?” He glanced over at me, and I couldn’t quite place the look on his face, though it didn’t look good, “Or do you not want to? You don’t, do you? You want him to stay gone.”
“What!? Of course not! Why would I want that? Don’t you think I want him back too?”
“…Not as much as I do.” He looked away again, chewing his lip. Then, out of nowhere, he stood up and walked towards the door. I jumped up after him, grabbing him to stop him from going any further, but he pulled away and kept walking. I went after him, ignoring the people who were stopping to stare at us as we passed. “Doc! Where are you going?”
Without turning around he said, “To find him. He’s got to be out there somewhere.” We made it to an exit, but I grabbed him before he could leave, and this time, he stopped.
“What? Doc, you can’t do that! What about Caelo? You can’t just leave him here! Besides, you can’t find someone who just isn’t around.”
He turned to look at me and this time I could read the seriousness in his expression, the… determination. There was no stopping him now. “Caelo will be fine. You can make it so he’s 18 again. I know you at least have that power. (And here, I winced.) But I will find him. I know I will, even if it’s the last thing I do.” I was crying. He smiled lightly, wiping my tears away, then continued. “Don’t worry. Everything will be okay in the end. I know it will. I’ll be back before you know it.”
He turned and walked out the door.
The Doc …. is out.
