Trigger warning

"So you'll come with me tomorrow, won't you?" Andy asks the two brothers, "Remington was asking about you the other day. He misses you."

Their faces turn sour. Emerson looks at sebastian, not sure what to say. It's the guitarist who talks. "I'm sorry, Andy, we've got plans."

"What plans?"

"Well...we're going to the beach with Shy and Faye."

Andy raises an unimpressed eyebrow. "I'm sorry, did you just turn down visiting your brother to go to the beach? Because if you did, that's fucking messed up."

"Look, Andy-"

"No, you look! Remington is on his own in a mental hospital because he stabbed a man to death, and you'd rather go to the beach than see him. What the fuck?" The man looks at them both, waiting for a response.

Sebastian looks away from Andy's gaze. "It's just one time," he insists, knowing damn well it's a feeble excuse.

The older rolls his eyes. "Just one time? Oh, and I suppose next time will be just one time too, then, will it? And what about the time after that? He is your brother, Sebastian! He needs you!"

"No, Andy-"

"Here's the thing, you two. Remington spends so much time worrying about everyone else because he thinks he isn't important enough and how do you think it'll make him feel when you turn down seeing him for the beach? Are you stupid?"

"They said he's dangerous," Emerson says, not knowing how to respond.

"Oh my God! I can't believe you! You know what, I don't care. It's up to you. But if you think for one second that I won't be telling him why you're not visiting, then you're very wrong. Have fun at the beach." He spitefully stands up and sends them a disappointed glare before leaving the room.

In group therapy today, Remington and kacey sit next to each other, pitching into the conversation every so often. They're talking about families today. Kacey doesn't say much. Remingon feels bad for her. She's so young and she feels so unloved by her own mother. He wishes he could help her to feel loved again.

He has a private therapy session after and tells Kacey she can come by his room later if she likes. She wants to hug him but doesn't know how to say it, and so doesn't. It just seems like his hugs would be really nice, and it would make a nice change from the empty hugs from he mother.

"How are you feeling today?" The therapist asks Remington, watching him settle into on the couch.

The boy shrugs. "Not so bad. I feel like a disgusting fat whale, but you know, it's fine."

"How have you been finding meal times? I heard you had a shaky moment at breakfast yesterday."

Remington hums. "I was having a bad day. Mostly meals are okay. Just that they're bigger than I'm used to at home."

"You're managing to eat it all, yes?"

Remington nods.

"That's great, Remington, It's all about adjusting your body back into eating more food."

"But I don't want to eat more food." He plays with his wedding ring. "Do I-do I have to get weighed on Sunday?"

"Yeah. You don't have to be told the weight though, if it's triggering for you."

The boy rubs his eyes. "Does anorexia ever-like-go away? Or is it always gonna be in my mind?"

The therapist picks up a booklet. "It'll most likely be in the back of your mind, but it is possible to lessen how much you think about it and how much it impacts your life. There are plenty of ways to deal with it and live a good life without having it bringing you down."

"Well that fucking sucks."

On the way back to his room he finds Kacey in the hall, head down, wiping her eyes.

Remington frowns. "Hey, Kace, you okay?" He asks softly, approcahing the young girl.

"Can I come to your room?" Her question is so sad and hopeless.

"Course you can. What's wrong?"

She shakes her head and walks with him down the corridor.

Remington opens the door and lets her in first, leaving it open and sitting on the bed. "Here, Kace, colour a picture with me, yeah?"

The girl sniffles. "Okay," she agrees, and Remington gets the book and the pens from the little desk.

He flips through to a random page and puts the open book down on the bed, opening the packet of pens and lying on his front, Kacey doing the same. "What's wrong?" Remington asks again.

Kacey picks up a purple pen. "Nothing, it's fine."

"It's okay, you can tell me." He pulls the cap off a blue pen.

"Well...everyone was talking about their families and my mum doesn't even visit me. It's been three weeks since I saw her. No one visits." She wipes her eyes again. "Have you ever needed a hug so badly that you-like-can't think about anything else?"

Remington's heart melts and breaks all at the same time. "I can give you a hug," he offers, "I know what it's like."

The girl looks at him like she can't believe he's just offered to hug her. "Really?"

"Of course. If you need a hug you can always ask for one. And I'm always here for you."

Kacey sits up when he does, hesitant. "I might start crying if you hug me," she mumbles.

"That's okay. There's nothing wrong with crying. Come here."

After a moment the girl settles into his open arms, leaning against his chest and sighing.

Remington strokes her hair. "Look, Kace, there are people who love you even if it doesn't feel like it. You're such a good kid and I'm so sorry your mother is so mean. You don't deserve that."

"I don't want to go home to her. I'm scared."

"Oh, sweetie, it's okay. You're gonna be okay. Things'll get better, I promise."

Kacey doesn't think she's ever felt so safe before. "Did things get better for you?"

"Yeah," Remington says, "they did. And things will get better for you, too. You just gotta believe it and have faith in yourself." He knows she's crying and he's just glad she feels like she can around him. "Are you talking to a therapist here?"

"Yeah."

"That's good. You should make the most of them. And make the most of your time here. It's really not that bad."

The young girl pulls back and wipes her eyes. "It's better than being at home, even though I have to do school stuff every day."

"How's that going?"

"Fine apart from music. I'm so bad at it."

Remington carries on stroking her hair and she resumes her head into it's previous position. "What're you doing in music? I might be able to help you with it."

"I have to write a song for an advert. I haven't even started and it's due in two days."

"I can help if you like. I'm good at music stuff. How're you feeling now?"

Kacey shrugs against him. "A bit better. You'll really help?"

"Absolutely. Let's finish the colouring page."

She nods. "Your husband's lucky. He gets to hug you, and your hugs are good."

"I'm glad you think so." He pulls back and gives her a smile.

The two lie on their fronts on the bed and carry on with the colouring, Remington finding it soothing the way the girl is happy to be here with him. He feels needed, and she feels loved.