“Let’s see, shall we?” He smirked.
He reached inside the bag and pulled out a large muffin. “A chocolate chip muffin for you and a blueberry one for me.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry about last night. I didn’t mean for you to come all the way over here. I never should’ve called you,” I spoke as I looked down.
“Rory, don’t apologize. You were scared, and I hate that you’re alone in this tiny place. Something was different with you last night. Was it the same nightmare you’ve been having? Because you were completely out of it.”
I couldn’t tell him about this nightmare. The one I buried deep inside my head so many years ago so I wouldn’t go crazy. “Yeah, it just lasted a little longer than usual.”
“I called Amanda and she agreed to see you this morning.”
“Who?” I asked.
“Dr. Neil. Dr. Amanda Neil. You need to talk to someone. These nightmares can’t continue.”
Ian’s phone rang and he pulled it from his pocket and held up his finger, asking me hold on. He looked at me with a strange look like something had just happened. Then Ian said something to whomever it was on the other end that was odd.
“Let me talk to her first. Keep an eye on him and I’ll get back to you in a few minutes.”
He hung up and continued to stare at me. His eyes displayed an empathetic look as he spoke.
“Rory, I found your brother.”
“What?” I said as I shook my head in disbelief.
“He was living in a homeless shelter. I had my men take him to the hospital. He needs help, Rory.”
My mind was racing, and I started to pace back and forth. “Is he hurt?”
“No. Physically, he’s fine,” he said as he wrapped his arms around me and held me. “Get dressed so we can go.”
I lifted my head and kissed his lips. “Thank you,” I whispered.
Ian closed his eyes and took in a sharp breath. I went into the bathroom and changed out of my nightshirt and into some clothes, threw my hair up, and put on some light makeup. We walked out the door and headed to the hospital. Once we arrived, I explained who I was, and Ian and I were shown to the room where Stephen was being kept. As I walked through the door, he turned his head and looked at me. A small smile fell upon his face as he whispered my name. I gulped as I stared at him, lying there, strapped to the bed. My brother, my twin brother, was a mess, not only physically, but emotionally. He hadn’t shaven since the last time I had seen him and he looked dirty. Tears filled my eyes as I walked over to his bedside and put my arms around him.
“Stephen, thank God you’re okay.”
“Where’ve you been, Rory?” he whispered. “Why did you leave me?”
The tears that filled my eyes fell down my face as I held his hand. “You hurt me, Stephen. I had to go.”
Just as I said that, Ian walked up behind me and clasped my shoulders.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you, Rory. Just like I didn’t mean to hurt Mom.”
I froze as I felt Ian’s grip on me tighten. “I know you didn’t, Stephen. You’re sick and you need help. I’m going to get you the help you need.”
“Rory, tell them to let me go,” he pleaded.
The tears were now pools of water as I leaned in closer to him and whispered, “You’re going to be okay. The doctors are going to help you.”
A man in a white coat walked into the room and introduced himself as Dr. Michaels. He was a psychiatrist and he came in to talk to me about Stephen.
“You must be Stephen’s sister, Aurora?” he said as he held out his hand.
“Yes, I’m Rory, and this is Ian Braxton.”
We shook hands and Dr. Michaels went over his assessment of Stephen with me. I already knew what he was going to say and I was scared.
“When Stephen was brought in, we had to sedate him. He was violent, disoriented, and screaming your name. We found a medical emergency card on him and spoke to your aunt in Indiana. She filled me in on his history. Has he ever hurt you?”
I closed my eyes and Ian spoke for me. “He stabbed her a few weeks ago. That’s how they became separated.”
“Your aunt said that she didn’t know you were leaving. She woke up one day and the two of you were gone,” Dr. Michaels spoke.
“It wasn’t her business. I was the one who’d been taking care of him my entire life. I brought him to L.A. for a trial on a new drug for schizophrenic patients. He’d been off his current meds for a while and he snapped.”
“I see,” he said as he wrote it down in Stephen’s chart. “Stephen needs round the clock medical care and he needs to be in a place where he’s monitored at all times and won’t be a danger to himself or anyone else. I believe your brother’s condition is worsening or we’re dealing with more than schizophrenia. I’m suggesting Hudson Rock Psychiatric Hospital. It’s about an hour from here and it’s one of the best in the country. He’ll be tested, start new medication and therapy.
“How much will this cost?” I asked
“You don’t need to worry about that, Rory. I’m taking care of it,” Ian spoke.
“I’ll go get the paperwork for you to sign. I’ll be right back,” Dr. Michaels said.
He walked out of the room and I turned and looked at Stephen. My heart broke for my brother like it had every day since I could remember.
“They’re going to lock me up, aren’t they? I won’t ever see you again.”
I undid the straps that were holding him down. “Rory, what the hell are you doing?” Ian snapped.
I laid my head on his chest and Stephen brought his arms around me. Ian stood close. “You’re going to a wonderful place where you’ll be taken care of. You’ll meet new people and you’ll get the help you need. I’ll come visit you all the time. I promise. I won’t let you down. Do you understand, Stephen?”
“I’m sorry I hurt you, Rory. I went looking for you, but I couldn’t find you. I wanted to tell you that I was sorry.”
“I know you’re sorry, Stephen.”
“I’m tired, Rory. I want to go to sleep. Will you sing to me?”
I started to sing the song that always calmed him down and helped him sleep, “Over the Rainbow.”
“We’ll go to that land someday, won’t we, Rory?”
“Yes, Stephen, one day,” I whispered and I continued to sing.