A Welcome Visitor

[fixerfortherich]

Ray's not sure how long he's been in there. The days all felt like one long eternity, spent either lying on his bed and staring at the ceiling or sitting in the lounge and thinking about everything. His thoughts weren't exactly the happiest kind. Not to mention how vulnerable he feels inside his own head.

But in the midst of all the dark, one person keeps popping up. Someone he hasn't seen in a long time and regrets not reaching out to sooner.

He sits in the lounge that afternoon and watches the nurses and patients passing by. He's not really in the mood for much else.

Comments

[fixerfortherich]

"Sorry," Ray chuckles. "Don't feel like remindin' myself either."

He nods easily. "I'd really like it if you came around whenever y'can. Seeing you would cheer this troubled bastard up a whole lot."

He leans back again, looking around the room. That's when a thought occurred to him. "How did you know I was here?"

[candokid]

Though it's surprising to hear Ray admit to wanting to see him somewhat regularly (and Charlie's heart kind of skips a beat there, but literally who the fuck cares?), the question of how he knew is a little embarrassing. "Uh..." Because how does he say he has Bridget's phone number? He'd say it wasn't his fault-- Max found her on Instagram and whatever, they came to visit sometimes-- but then it isn't like Ray isn't letting him speak to his daughter, right?

Or so Charlie presumes.

He rubs the side of his jaw. "...I heard from Bridget."

[fixerfortherich]

He'd welcome Charlie with open arms, if and when he comes to visit. It can easily get lonely in a place like this.

"Oh? Bridge does like your kid a lot, so I'm not surprised you two are talkin' too." There's still some fences to be mended there but Ray knows she'll talk to him again one day. No one's blaming her for being pissed. "How was she? When she uh.. told you."

[candokid]

Charlie's expression tightens just a bit. His brows furrow as he dips his head. "Not happy, I guess."

But it isn't his place to elaborate.

"You'll have to call her yourself." He looks back up, and the look in his eyes says something along the lines of you gotta do it. "...finding out your dad's in a mental institution's kind of a big blow."

[fixerfortherich]

"Yeah, no shit...," Ray sighs, feeling bad for hurting his daughter yet again. It's finally time for him to man up and see this through. No more excuses, no more unhealthy behaviour. "I'll call her. We'll talk about this.. I'm done fuckin' destroying everything I touch."

[candokid]

"Hey, that's..." Not inaccurate, truthfully, but Charlie isn't sure beating himself up is the answer.

He smiles slightly. Gives Ray's hand a squeeze. "...you're doin' great. It's gonna be great.

"And I'm proud, all right?"

[fixerfortherich]

"Hearing that means more than you'll ever know." Ray gives him a small smile and a nod, squeezing his hand in return. "I'll make this count, I promise you." It will be a long road to recovery but Ray's not about to turn back this time. There's too much on the line.