A/n: I've had a struggle getting this to post today! Hope you enjoy!

Comment and vote.

Love lots, -AV

Scott wasn't surprised when he was returned to an empty cell after his visit with Mitch. Since he had missed lunch a guard delivered a peanut butter sandwich and a carton of milk to him while he waited for his cellmate to return. Scott didn't feel like eating though. He was sick to his stomach at the thought of Mitch being in the hospital. He saw how scared his boyfriend was and that worried him almost as much as the cutting did. He hated to see the boy that way, especially when he couldn't protect him.

Avi returned soon to find Scott picking at his sandwich, the crusts on the plastic tray, the middle was half eaten. Avi himself had been worried all day about his friend. Scott was called out of classroom time unexpectedly that morning and hadn't returned. The brunette knew about Mitch's recent issues and it concerned him that something bad might have happened. The sight of Scott huddled on his cot didn't alleviate any of this worry.

Avi thought for half a second what to do before making his way to Scott's bunk and jumping up. The blonde looked over at him with watery eyes. Avi didn't speak, he didn't ask questions. He just knew his friend was hurting so he took Scott's head and laid it on his own shoulder as he wrapped his arms around the taller boy. Scott managed to not completely break down. He wanted to but he was trying to be strong. He had a feeling that even miles apart Mitch would be able to tell if he was breaking. He had to be strong for his boy because Mitch had been strong for him. But it was hard.

After a few moments, Scott broke the silence.

"His parents and the doctors are putting him in the hospital... He came to see me this morning before he goes to check in."

"I'm sorry Scotty. How long?"

"At least two weeks... I won't see him for two weeks Av. We've never went that long without seeing each other since we met." 

"It'll work out. You know this is for the best Scott."

"Rationally, yes, I know he needs this. But then again, he was so scared. I did that. I'm the one that told them he was cutting again. It's my fault his terrified."

"Scott, no. That's not what's happening. He's scared because he's about to experience something he's never went through before. And you know you had to tell someone about the cutting. It couldn't go on. Would you rather him be scared and getting help or him be dead because you didn't speak up?"

Scott didn't speak, he just glared at his friend incredulously, shocked that he would even ask that question.

"Well... which is it? Mitch in treatment or Mitch in a grave?

"Avi what the fuck are you asking me stupid shit for? You know I can't live without Mitch."

"Exactly why I'm asking. You need to realize that what you did was the right thing and stop feeling so damn guilty."

"I can't help it Av!," Scott was nearly screaming, "how the hell would you feel if it were Kevin? Huh?"

Avi stayed quiet and let the blonde has his moment.

"Huh? Don't you think you'd feel bad too? You could barely handle three days away from Kev! I have to go two weeks! Don't you think that's going to be fucking hard?!?"

Avi tried to calm his friend who was now yelling and drawing the attention of the guards. Scott wouldn't listen to his pleas for him to quieten down.

Soon two guards burst through the door, each one pinning a boy to the wall. It was then that Scott finally stopped hollering, his screams cut off by his own sobs.

Avi watched as another guard entered and helped the one pinning Scott restrain the boy before leading him out. As soon as Scott was out the door, Avi was released and told to sit on his bunk until someone came to ask him about the incident.

It was his turn to feel guilty. He shouldn't have pushed Scott that far. He knew it was a touchy subject for the blonde but he was honestly just trying to get him to recognize that treatment was Mitch's best option. Though he had to admit that if it had been Kevin in that situation, he probably would have been doing a lot more than screaming. For now he just hoped that Scott was okay and that his punishment wasn't too severe.  

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Finally Dr. Fletcher returned to see Mitch still on his phone, cuddled up on the small couch, under his blanket, and clutching his plushie. His eyes were rimmed in red and the doctor knew the boy had been crying. It would almost be strange for a patient not to cry on their first day of residency.

The man came in and took a sat at the small desk, turning the chair to face Mitch. The boy just glared up at him. Right now he had nothing to say to this man.

"So Mitch, I see you've brought a cell phone."
"Uhhh... yes sir. It was on the list of items I'm allowed to have."
"That's true. But I must let you know that we will search your phone and you're not allowed on any social media while you are here. We're going to need you to deactivate all your accounts until you're released."
"And what if I refuse?"
"Well then we'll just take the phone completely."
"You can't do that," Mitch felt like being a brat and challenging the man even though he was positive he was fighting a losing battle.

"Actually, we can Mitchell..."

"Mitch, just Mitch."
"Well, Mitch, we can take your phone. It's in the contract your parents signed when they checked you in. They are very aware of these stipulations."

"So what now...."
"Now I'm going to watch as you deactivate all your accounts and the delete the applications from your phone."

Mitch just stared at the man. How did this old fart expect him to delete all his accounts? Did he not realize that Mitch was a 16 year old and his entire life was online?

"I know what you're thinking Mitch. And this is honestly for the best. Social media can poison your treatment. You're here to get better, we don't need setbacks. Just be glad we even allow you to have your phone, lots of inpatient treatment facilities won't allow any communication. You at least still get to text your friends and family."

Mitch knew the man was right but he just wasn't over being bitter about the whole ordeal. It was going to take him a few days to get past all the raw emotions he was feeling and until then he was just going to try his best to shut down. Even if that wasn't the best thing for him to do.

Dr. Fletcher watched as the boy painstakingly deleted every social media app on his phone. When he was done the man took the phone and scrolled through his email and text messages, making mental notes of who he talked to the most. Finally the man stood, and Mitch was thrilled that he seemed to be leaving. However, he returned a few moments later with a nurse and cart of medical supplies. Mitch became instantly queasy.

"Okay Mitch, Nurse Long and I are going to perform some tests in order to complete the check in procedures. Nothing too invasive, just basic medical history and a psych eval. That sound good?"
"Do I have an option to say no?"

"You could but it wouldn't matter." The older man chuckled, he was used to brash and abrasive patients, he took it all in stride.

Mitch went through the process of being poked and prodded, blood taken, measurements taken, then finally the nurse exited, leaving Mitch and the good doctor alone for the final portion of the examination.

Mitch hated these tests. He was given a paper and pencil and told to complete the 100 question assessment. He felt more pressure taking this than he had the ACT last spring. Each question asking about how he felt, what was his current mental status, why had he tried to commit suicide.

What these people didn't seem to get was just because he cut didn't mean he wanted to die. He just wanted to have some power over his own life, over the pain that he was feeling. Yes, there was that one time he accidentally went too deep, too preoccupied that his crush had discovered his secret. But it was just that, an accident.

He finished the questionnaire in under 45 minutes and then Dr. Fletcher took out a stack of cards with random patterns and splotches on them. Mitch never understood how these things gave doctors any insight into his mind.

"Cloud... butterfly... flower..."

"Specifically, what kind of flower?"

"Uhhh, I don't know, an orchid."

"Why an orchid?"

"uhh... it's my favorite I guess..."

"Next one..."

"Uhh sad face... handcuffs... penis..."

At that one the doctor burst out laughing. He had heard some answers before but this may be the first time he'd gotten that. Especially from a patient so young.

"Continuing, what do you see here Mitch?"
"A heart... "

"What does that heart remind you of?"
"Scottie..."

"Who's Scottie?"
"My boyfriend."
"Ohhh... very well then. We're done for now. You're welcome to roam around just don't other patients' rooms without being invited. Dinner is served at 5. We'll be monitoring your calorie input for your weight so be prepared for a weigh in after wards."

"Yes sir."
"Tomorrow you'll start counseling and we'll get you set up with a tutor. We'll also look at your current medications and make adjustments as needed. Alright?"
"Alright."

The man smiled before walking out and closing the door behind him. Mitch returned to the couch and pulled out his phone, looking through his gallery and reminding himself of better times.