AN: Our two boys aren't doing so well...

Jack was going insane, which seemed ironic to him. He seemed to be going more crazy the longer he was in here, and he'd only been here for a little less than two weeks (he didn't both with trying to keep track). He was only going to be treated once a week, for healthy reasons, whatever that meant, whereas Louis was going every day. This left Jack by himself for an hour, sometimes longer, with absolutely nothing to do.

He wasn't about to talk to the other patients, it seemed like there actually was something wrong with them, muttering to themselves, wandering around looking at every day objects like they'd never seen them before. One older man screamed periodically for no discernible reason. Jack knew he wouldn't be able to carry on an intelligent conversation with any of them.

It had been five days since Jack's first session, Louis was in treatment, and he was growing restless to the point of irritability. He was pacing swiftly back and forth in the middle of the room, just so that he could get some of his energy out and give his mind something to focus on. He knew he was drawing attention to himself, the other patients were watching him, but he didn't care. He didn't care if he looked strange, he didn't care if he looked absolutely insane. That's why he was here, wasn't it? He was allowed to look as crazy as he wanted.

He didn't care, but apparently the staff did. He felt a hand grab his shoulder and his instincts caused him to react in the only natural way for him, and he spun around and punched the owner of the hand in the face. Once he realized what he'd done, he thanked heaven that it was a male guard - he'd seen a few of them around, but never interacted with them. He disliked the female nurses, but he'd still never have forgiven himself if he hit one.

Before he could apologize, the other man punched him hard in the stomach, and Jack staggered backwards, the breath knocked out of him. He opened his mouth to say something, but the words wouldn't come. So, when the guard started talking, he had to endure it.

"Nurse Elliott asked me to come deal with you, said you were disturbing some of the other patients with your behavior. She failed to mention that you have a habit of violence."

Jack found his voice. "I'm disturbing them?! Look at them, they ain't exactly quiet themselves - "

The man slapped him, and he grimaced. He guessed he didn't realize exactly how much this place was going to be like The Refuge. He'd hoped they'd be a little more nurturing.

"I was told to escort you back to your room for the time being, and to use force if necessary."

"No, no force necessary here." Jack glared as he looked around the room. "Rather be there than here anyway."

He turned and headed down the hallway towards his 'room' - Jack and Louis just referred to it as a cell - leaving the guard to follow behind him. Once he'd been left inside and the other man's footsteps had disappeared back down the hallway, Jack punched the wall angrily, ignoring the pain that spread across his knuckles as he did so.

He could feel tears running down his face, but he didn't know why. Nothing was wrong. He was fine. That's what kept telling himself, and anyone who asked. He was fine.

oOo

Louis returned a little over an hour later, opting to go back to the cell once he heard that Jack was also there, and when he got there, he found the young man sitting on his bed with his head in his hands.

"Jack?" He asked quietly, trying not to startle him, but Jack's head jerked up quickly anyway.

"What -" He cut himself off. He sucked in his breath sharply once he saw Louis. "What the hell'd they do to you?"

The younger boy subconsciously reached up and lightly touched the swollen lip he'd received about a half hour ago. He shook his head.

"It's nothing. What'd they do to you?"

Jack didn't really have any visible injuries, but Louis noticed fading tear stains on his face, and that fact that one of his hands had been resting protectively on the left side of his torso ever since they started talking.

Unfortunately, these were both very stubborn boys who were both very insistent upon pretending that there was nothing wrong with them.

Jack shook his head as well. "Nothing, they just got annoyed is all." He paused, his gaze drifting back up to Louis's lip.

"They give you ice or anything?"

"No. I'll be fine, we're supposed to get another bath tomorrow, I'll see if I can get some water on it then. It's cold enough."

"You sure?"

Louis nodded. "I'm fine Jack, really."

"Yeah? Me too."

They both ended the conversation there, with statements that they both knew were lies.