Fic: When The Leaves Fall (3/?)
Title: When The Leaves Fall (3/?)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Mike Parker, Delia Roselli, William Eldredge, Leo Durkin, Frank/Adam, Mitch Pilewski
Fandom: Naked City
Genres: Angst, Drama, Historical, Holiday, Romance
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings: Major Character Death
Spoilers: For Today The Man Who Kills The Ants Is Coming (3x21)
General Summary: After the fallout from a violent confrontation with a fleeing killer, Adam is broken.
Chapter Summary: Mike finds out some astonishing news about Adam.
Date Of Completion: September 5, 2024
Date Of Posting: October 31, 2024
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, Screen Gems does, more’s the pity.
Word Count (this chapter): 2191
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
All chapters can be found here.
I
POURING KETCHUP ON MEATLOAF IS LIKE SPRINKLING PEPPER ON BEEF STEW
Love
Is food
For the soul.
B.G. McAfee
"The Beat Goes On"
1956 C.E.
October 2, 1967
Bart Finkel took a deep drag on his cigarette and blew out a plume of smoke. He could always count on Marlboro for a good smoke.
He finished the cigarette and tossed it in the trashcan. The hospital knew this area was popular with smokers and had discreetly placed the can so it was not seen. Bart had to admit that it beat seeing a bunch of butts scattered around the ground. Ocean View was not a crappy state-run institution in the city.
His break was over, so he headed for the formal gardens where he would find his assignment for the day, Adam Flint.
Bart had no illusions about himself. He was an orderly, generally not a high-paying job, though Ocean View paid pretty well. He had worked for the last fifteen years in various mental hospitals before he landed the job here.
He had been here when Adam Flint had been brought in two-and-a-half years ago. Since Adam was catatonic, he was no trouble for Bart and his fellow orderlies, nor after he snapped out of it. He lived in a state of perpetual confusion, scared of his own shadow.
Now it was all changed. He was still timid, but Bart saw moments of bold confidence. Bart guessed he was seeing some of Adam's personality before his breakdown.
He found Adam weeding his plot. He was talking to himself. That was no big deal. At least half the nutjobs around here did the same thing. Adam was wearing jeans and a Columbia University sweatshirt as he pulled out weeds while kneeling.
"I'll be planting yellow roses in the spring." Adam laughed. "Yes, I know they're your favorite. Remember when I sent you a bouquet at work, anonymously, of course." He tugged out a stubborn weed, its roots deep. Dirt showered down and Adam tossed it on the pile of uprooted weeds next to him. "I know. You had to come up with a good story." He smiled. "Okay, tap-dancing."
Bart stood only a few feet from Adam, who turned and smiled . "Hi, Bart."
"Hi, Adam."
When Adam had first spoken to him, he had called him 'Mr. Finkel'. Bart had decided the cop was all right and gradually told Adam to call him by his first name.
"It's lunchtime, Adam."
"Okay, I'll clean up." Adam frowned as if he had forgotten the simple procedure. Bart nudged the wheelbarrow set next to the pile of weeds with his foot. Adam smiled as he began dumping the weeds into the wheelbarrow. "I forgot my gardening gloves. I'll have to wash up."
"You do that."
& & &
Julie Sheffield checked her reflection in the mirror of the women's employee restroom. Her cap was on straight and she wore minimal make-up. Professionalism dictated no eyeshadow or mascara. Head Nurse 'Iron Heart' would have let her know if she had on too much 'war paint'.
Her honey-blond hair was pulled back into a demure bun. She sighed as she thought no chance to take it down for the purpose of nightclubbing tonight. She was working a double shift due to staff shortages because of flu going around. Oh, well, better a fat wallet than home sick in bed.
Julie left the restroom and headed for the cafeteria. At least the cafeteria served good food for both staff and patients.
She liked the hospital but did not plan to stay a lifetime. She was thinking of working on a cruise ship next. People were happy on cruise ships. You might get a patient with a cut or broken limb or someone hitting their head diving into the pool, not suffering depressing meltdowns or lost souls wandering around, trapped in their own minds. She wanted to live life!
But, in the meantime, this place wasn't so bad. Top pay, excellent benefits and competent colleagues.
She paused to check the posted lunch menu outside the cafeteria. There were the usual sandwiches but today's special was meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans. Good. The cafeteria made diner-quality meatloaf. She would have that for lunch.
But first, she would keep her eye on the patients before taking her own lunch break in an hour. Most of the patients who ventured out of their rooms to eat did so at the noon hour, so the staff rotated on cafeteria duty.
The cafeteria was busy. A small dining room was annexed off the main cafeteria, used by families who wanted more privacy. Julie saw one table occupied by a middle-aged man in a business suit.
She drifted to the cafeteria line and was pleased to see Adam Flint. He was the best-looking man in this place and always a pleasure to talk to, confused or not. She had noticed the change in his demeanor from constantly sad to fairly happy. She hoped that meant he was getting better.
Adam loaded his tray with two plates of meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans. Two glasses of Coke and a bottle of ketchup joined the plates.
"Double the appetite today, Adam?"
He smiled. It was a nice smile. "I have a visitor today, Julie."
"Oh, that's nice." She looked around but only saw patients and staff. Maybe Adam's visitor was the man in the dining room and was waiting for him.
Adam said no more, taking his tray to a large, round table in the main cafeteria with two seats left. Julie watched curiously as he set both plates and glasses down and took a seat.
"I have a friend visiting today. This is Detective Sergeant Frank Arcaro," Adam said proudly, and introduced his friend to the patients sitting at the table.
Except that the chair was empty. Disappointed, Julie sighed. Bart Finkel sidled up to her. "He fits right in, doesn't he?"
She crossed her arms. "Too bad "
They watched the reactions of the other patients. Some humored Adam while others nodded and accepted Adam's imaginary friend. At least no one insisted there was nobody there, like proclaiming the Emperor had no clothes on and causing a ruckus. In this place, nobody blinked an eye at an imaginary friend.
"At least he's happy," said Julie.
Adam took the ketchup bottle and poured a generous amount on his friend's meatloaf and potatoes. He poured a smaller amount on his own meatloaf and potatoes.
"Yes, Frank, I know. Pouring ketchup on meatloaf is like sprinkling pepper on beef stew."
Julie waited for further explanation but none came as Adam began eating.
Bart snorted. "Wonder if his buddy really said that or Pretty Boy thought it up? Sounds crazy enough for it being Number 2."
Julie shot him a dirty look. Bart was usually okay but today he was annoying her. She walked over to the next table.
She would have to make mention of the imaginary friend in her daily report. Dr. Eldredge probably already knew but in case he didn't, well, that was what the daily observational reports were for.
As she observed the occupants of the next table she remembered that Frank Arcaro was the name of Adam's partner, killed in the line of duty and the Frank he had always asked about. Did Frank come to see me today?
Oh, well, Adam there are worse delusions.
The evening shift was usually quiet. Television was a great pacifier. Minds worn out by running on a hamster wheel all day welcomed the chance to just watch entertainment and maybe forget their troubles for awhile.
The TV room featured a Zenith set in a walnut cabinet. It was black-and-white and usually had good reception, but sometimes the rabbit ears antenna needed adjusting. Straight-backed chairs were lined up in front of the TV while couches lined the walls on either side of the room. Staff was required to monitor this room so fights would not break out over viewing selection. If a patient continually lost the vote on what to watch, they could petition to install a small set in their room. Having wealthy families was always an asset.
Most of the patients who watched in this communal setting either did not care what was on or were satisfied with the vote. Old Mr. Carruthers watched a couple of hours during the day and another two at night. The loss of his family in 1957 to a fire had made it difficult for him to cope with the outside world. Now his medication and favorite programs helped. Whether he would become an eventual success story and leave this place, only time would tell. He took his favorite seat in the front row as Jessica Cooper, Girl Reporter started promptly at 8:00 on ABC.
Julie closed the blinds, making it seem cozy. There was a fairly good crowd, as the 8:00 hour brought out the most viewers. The evening round of pills soothed headaches and calmed anxiety.
Adam wandered into the room. Julie saw the familiar confusion in his eyes, the confidence he had projected at lunchtime gone. She went up to him.
"You here to watch TV, Adam?"
He frowned a little at the TV as Jessica Cooper, Girl Reporter ran the opening credits. "I know that girl," he said as the lead actress smiled onscreen.
"Of course, she's the star," Julie said as she took his elbow and gently guided him to a chair in the last row.
"No, I think I know her."
Yeah, right, a cop knows a TV star.
"Well, just watch her. It'll come to you."
Adam sat down and stared intently at the screen.
Poor soul.
Julie's nurse colleague, Emily Corbin, came into the room and escorted a patient to a seat in the back row. The patient was Sally Horton, a young woman in her twenties who had not been able to handle the pressures of college and had suffered a nervous breakdown. She wore her dark brown hair in pigtails and a white pleated skirt with a pale blue blouse. She took a seat close to Adam but left an empty chair between them. Since she had a tendency to burst into screams without warning, Julie kept an eye on her.
Emily sat down on a side couch and chattered to the two women patients already sitting there while the commercial ran after the show teaser. They did not respond but visibly relaxed. Petite with short brown curls under her cap, Emily had that effect on people.
Adam kept intense watch on the show, clearly trying to figure out where the actress fit into his memories. After the first act Emily was getting responses from her couchmates and Sally tentatively asked Adam, "Good show?"
"Huh?" Adam blinked. "Oh, yes."
"I like that it's set in the late '30s. I like the old-fashioned clothes and cars."
Adam nodded but stayed silent.
"Would you like a snack? I can run down to the cafeteria."
"Okay."
Julie had the feeling that if Adam hadn't been so perplexed about the lead actress he would have offered to go to the cafeteria instead. Sally jumped up and headed for the cafeteria.
One of the orderlies, Ed Becker, followed her. He had been observing from the hall. Easily the biggest orderly on staff, he was a hulking man with a face which had been on the receiving end in the boxing ring too many times.
From her seat on the other couch, Julie bit her lip. She had what the hippies called 'bad vibes' about Becker, but all orderlies were carefully vetted by Ocean View during the hiring process.
"Do you think we'll ever get color TV?" asked Ruth Orlovsky, an elderly woman who enjoyed knitting while she watched TV.
"Huh? Oh, I've heard we might."
"Would be nice."
The click-clack of her knitting needles were rapid. She had been a patient since 1929, when she had been committed for 'sexual deviance', i.e., homosexuality. Dr. Eldredge had moved to release her but she argued that Ocean View was her home. Why would she want to live in the outside world? This was all she knew.
This place is full of lost souls, Julie thought.
Just as the last commercial ended and the show resumed, Sally returned with a tray. The tray contained two dishes of lime Jello and two frosty glasses of lemonade with slices of floating lemon. She set it on the empty chair between them.
Adam rewarded Sally with a smile. "Thanks, Sally."
She blushed. "You're welcome, Adam."
They resumed their TV viewing, eating Jello and sipping lemonade. Becker took up his position in the hall. He was just doing his job, but Julie resolved to keep an eye on him.
"Nurse Sheffield, we're getting snow," said Mr. Carruthers.
"Okay " Julie rose and went over to the TV and fiddled with the antenna, clearing the picture.
If only the fuzzy brains around here could be cleared so easily.
She returned to her seat on the couch, peripherally aware of Becker's shadow lengthening on the TV room floor from the hall.
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