P.O.V.: Patton, First Person
Timeline: Present Day

I popped into Thomas's living room, holding my breath.  I actually closed my eyes momentarily before opening them, terrified about what I would see.

If there was anything to see at all.

I hoped not.

But the sinking feeling in my stomach told me otherwise.

I held my breath as I finally took a peek.

"Just breathe, Thomas - in and out," Logan was saying, sitting on the couch next to Thomas.  I stared horrified at the tears rolling down Thomas's cheeks.  Joan was here too, also muttering sweet, comforting words, helping the other through his panic attack.

Logan didn't try to touch Thomas, but continued trying to comfort him.

It was then when I first started shaking - but I merely forced my hands into fists, holding back the Thomas wave of feelings.  I let out a small, intentional whimper and Logan looked up, concerned, but I simply avoided his eyes, fixing my eyes on Thomas.  

Logan finally looked away, assuming he didn't hear anything.

"Am I allowed to touch you?" Joan asked Thomas quietly, holding their arms out for a hug - oblivious to Logan and myself.  Thomas let out a shaky nod, and Joan gently took the larger man into his arms, holding him tightly.  Thomas let out a broken sob and cried into the others shoulder.

Logan stood up at that, frowning as the non-binary pal comforted their friend.

We stayed for the next couple of minutes, with the only sound being Joan's occasional reassurances.

"How about we take a quick break?" they suggested.  "We can get some pizza, watch some Steven Universe... does that sound good?"

Thomas let out a small sniffle - nodding quickly, his nervous energy suddenly switched off, as if by magic. "Yeah, that... that sounds great," he admitted.

"Awesome, I'll call the pizza place," Joan said, smiling, grabbing their phone - but not before giving Thomas's shoulder a quick squeeze of reassurance.

Thomas smiled in response.

Joan picked up the phone and paused before dialing the pizza place, meeting Thomas's growing smile.

"EXTRALARGEBROOKLYNPIZZAHAWAIIANSTYLEHOLDTHEPINEAPPLEHOLDTHEHAMEXTRAPEPPERONIANDCHEESESTUFFEDCRUSTANDTWOSIDESOFMARINARADIPPINGSAUCE," they both shouted in union before bursting into laughter.

I couldn't help smiling at the scene but I also couldn't help the sudden panic that poured over me either.  Not my own panic, but... someone else's...

"Logan?" I asked hesitantly, inwardly wincing when my voice shook.

Logan looked up, first confused before realizing what was happening.  I stood there, hands shaking as I tried over stop the overwhelming waterfall of emotions that were washing over me.

I closed my eyes, focusing on shoving these feelings away from me.  No, no bad feelings.  No.

When I opened my eyes, Logan's concerned eyes were on me, eyebrows wrinkling in worry.  I quickly gave him a quick bright smile and two thumbs up, turning back to Thomas and Joan - who were still deciding on what episodes of Steven Universe to watch while they waited for pizza.

Logan nodded at my smile, turning to face Thomas.

It was only after he turned to Thomas that I let the smile falter, but no one saw it.

"Farewell, Thomas.  Perhaps it would be best to take a mental health night," Logan suggested sinking down back to the Mind Palace.

Thomas's eyes flickered to me and I gave him a big smile.  "See ya later kiddo! Maybe I'll come back and watch too," I whispered with a big smile as I sunk down into the Common Room of the Mind Palace.

I let out a tiny sigh of relief when I was back in the Mind Palace and I noticed that Logan did the same, reflexively pushing up his glasses as another, in his eyes, disaster was averted.  Another problem fixed.

I blinked, realizing that Anxiety was missing.  I spun around the room - scanning for Anxiety - only to be confused to see Roman's grim face standing in the hallway.  His sash was no longer on his uniform, a few sad red strings clinging to the top of his shoulder, as if torn off in a hurry.

And Anxiety was still no where in sight.

"... Roman? Where is Anxiety?" I asked tentatively.  Gosh, I knew they didn't get along, but what terrible thing could have happened in the short time while I was gone?  "And what happened to your sash?"

"In my room," Roman answered quietly.  Too quietly, especially for him.  If I wasn't on edge before, I definitely was now.  "There was... a situation."

"What kind of situation?" Logan asked as I tried to keep my hands from trembling.

Roman's eyes shot to the floor momentarily, his left foot hooking around the back of his right ankle.  He shifted for a moment, looking... well anxious.  

"Um, Logan?" he asked in the same quiet voice.  

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from letting out a whimper.  What had happened?!

Logan stayed perfectly calm, though his eyes softened in concern at Roman.  He simply nodded, ready for Roman to continue.

"How much do you know about... seizures?"

Logan and I shared a glance - both our eyes wide.  No, Anxiety... he didn't have a seizure... 

Did he?

"Not much," Logan admitted.  "Some knowledge that might be of use to us, however I will admit it is not a topic I am very familiar with.  I am assuming that you presume that Anxiety had a seizure?"

Roman nodded.

"And where exactly is he now?"

Roman waved a hand back in the direction of his room.  "He's in my room, for now, he seems pretty wiped out."

"Seizure on a grand scale can be very draining - both physically and mentally," Logan said.  "He should be fine, but I don't think anyone of us should leave him alone for extensive periods of time," he continued, starting the walk to Roman's room.

I rushed to keep up, clumsily, and accidentally kicking the back of Logan's heel in the process which resulted in him wincing considerably.

"Sorry," I whispered, feeling guilty.

"Apology accepted, Patton," Logan replied curtly with a small nod and continued walking again, wincing a bit at first.

Even though the walk to Roman's room was a short one, I found myself twisting my hands together, nervous about what we might find.

We all paused just outside Roman's closed door, none of us ready to open it just yet.

Roman's door was surprisingly plain for the most part, though granted he didn't focus much on the door itself.  It was a simple white with an really pretty designed gold knob- a large ruby planted in the center.

Gently Roman took a deep breath before opening the door for us, gesturing for us to go inside.

I quickly slipped in first, worried about Anxiety.  I blinked, taking a second to adjust to the light before scanning the large room for Anxiety.

Roman's room was fairly large - at least ten feet high.  Across the room he had these absolutely MASSIVE windows - completely from floor to ceiling that looked out onto the Imagination.  The village looked so tiny from up here, but I knew it was actually much larger than it appeared from here.

Roman's bed was a beautiful mix of gold and red - with gold frame, fancy headboard, and posts.  The sheets and pillows are a bright red - the same red as his sash - but... but...

... Where was Anxiety?

_____________________
HI
SORRY BOUT DROPPING OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH
ILL BE BACK SHORTLY
I JUST WANTED TO POST THIS CHAPTER, FINALLY FINISH IT HEHE
SO I DID
HEHE
I'VE HAD PART OF THIS WRITTEN FOR SO LONG...
BUT NO WORRIES! I'LL BE BACK... NEXT WEDNESDAY, PERMINANTLY.
*HOLDS OUT PINKY*

I PINKY PROMISE!! X3

- Max :D