New Lives (A Nathan Gardner Story)

Chapter 2 - Amends

The following morning, Nathan kissed Sydney goodbye and set off on his forty-five minute drive. Arlen told him that David wished to see Nathan alone and Nathan agreed. Sydney hadn't spoken to David once since the night she confronted him and she found it odd that Nathan's presence was the one requested...truthfully, so did Nathan.

He rode in silence, something he usually never did. He thought about what David might say...what he might say back...and none of his imaginary scenarios ended well. Nathan was told, point blank, that he "wasn't good enough" for the woman he loved and the words still made him seethe. He was gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his hands were beginning to go numb. Just when he was having second thoughts, he turned into the parking lot, shut off his car, and opened the door.

The building was unassuming, which was the idea. Its appearance was somewhere between a hospital and an office complex. It was a far cry from where he thought David would be, but perhaps the plusher sort of facility wouldn't do this time around. He walked through the front door and the air-conditioning made its presence known, sending a chill through Nathan's body. He spotted what he took for a reception area, and a few minutes later he was being escorted down a long, beige hallway.

"I don't expect you'll have any trouble, sir," the young man escorting him began, "but if you do, there's a call button inside the room right next the door."

"That's encouraging," Nathan mumbled. He knocked on the door, wanting to get this over with and ready to defend himself to the fullest. When the door opened though, this thought pattern changed.

"Nathan...you came." David's voice was tired, as were his eyes. He moved aside. "Please, come in." Nathan walked through the doorway and into the small, efficiency-like room. "I really never thought...oh, please, sit."

"Um, thanks." Nathan sat on a small brown couch against the wall; David took a seat in the matching chair across from it. Aside from these, there was a bed under the window and a shelf full of books, nothing more.

"Not what you were expecting, I know. I did the 'fancy rehab' before...obviously, it didn't take." Nathan didn't respond to this. "I'm sure you want to get this over with."

"Bit," he said, flatly.

David sighed. "Arlen told me what happened a couple of weeks ago." He ran his hand through his hair. "She's...okay?"

Nathan nodded. "She is now. Shaken up for a little while, but..."

"But she has you to look after her." A faint smile crossed his lips. "To save her from rogue gym teachers."

Nathan cocked his head. "Are you making a joke out of this?"

"What?" David sat up straight. "No, of course not, I...quite frankly, Nathan, I don't know how I'm to act around you."

"How about not like an..." He bit his tongue.

"Yes, I was an ass. To both you and Sydney."

"Why am I here, David?"

"Selfish reasons, I'm afraid. I need to make amends to those I've wronged. I'm sure I don't need to tell you the process."

Nathan shook his head and countered, honestly, "I never went through things long enough to reach that point."

"Didn't see recovery through?"

"You're in medicine, David, you know neither of us will ever be 'cured' of anything." He looked around the room. "You may be going through something more intense here, but unless you really want to change..."

"I do...don't you?"

"What do you mean 'don't' I?" He rose from his seat and began to pace. "You...you still don't think I'm your version of good enough for her do you?"