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Evie flopped down in the chair across from Bull.
"Please tell me this next assignment is a nice long holiday somewhere, somewhere warm, nice beach, maybe some cocktails. I need a break."
"Well, it's hot and sandy, and definitely a change of scenery. Really, though, I need a favour."
Bull's words caught her attention. Bull never asked for favours.
"OK, let's hear it."
"You heard about recent events in Sandrock?"
"Yeeeeesss… why do I think I'm not going to like this?"
"The folks involved, good friends of mine. Light, they're basically family, in fact one of them is. You remember my son, Bill? Anyway, there's a few of them with lingering nightmares after the battle. I need someone to go out there, talk through things, give them some coping mechanisms. You know, the stuff you're real good at. You'll have plenty of down time to relax."
Evie sighed. "How many of them and for how long?"
"Two main ones, the mayor, Howlett, an' his son, Logan. They were in the thick of it, took the worst of the injuries, too. Beyond them, maybe another five or six, mostly the Civil Corps. Oh, an' their Guild Commissioner."
"That's it? That's the size of the squad that defeated Duvos? And what was their commissioner doing there?"
"Well, it's about half, at least of the humans, and the commissioner, well he has some previous history in The Peripheries."
"That's not what I expected you to say."
"As for the rest, some of them came back to Atara, one died, one defected from Duvos; he's still being debriefed by the Alliance. Oh, and there was a young boy that the Duvos troops were using as a runner, he might benefit from a different type of support."
"You said humans? That suggests there were non-humans involved?"
"Mmhmm, they have one of the biggest nests of Geeglers in the Free Cities just outside of town, Howlett brokered a peace deal with them a few years ago. Logan did similar with the mole men just before it all kicked off. In fact that was instrumental in catching them unawares. But yeah, a number of geeglers and moles joined the fight, too."
"You know there's no way I can say no, don't you?"
"You can always say no, Evie, you know that."
"Not this time I can't."
Wei sat at the back of the room, tapping his foot impatiently. Since the events at the Northern Plateau, the nightmares he'd had when he first landed in The Peripheries had come back, events he hadn't thought about in a number of years. Work helped. Building, not admin. He needed to get back to the workshop or better yet, the scrapyard, lose himself in the physicality of the work, tire himself out enough that he would fall into a dreamless sleep.
Instead, he was stuck in the back room the the saloon for one of the regular get-togethers Howlett called in the hope that it would help them all come to terms with events. It might help some of them, but he didn't need to talk about it, and he absolutely didn't need to talk about The Periphs, either.
Howlett walked in, accompanied by a woman who Wei had never seen before. She looked to be about his own age, slim, with dark hair tied back out her face. Pretty, too. She caught his attention in ways he hadn't considered for a long time. A less damaged Wei would have asked her on a date, he realised, taken a chance to get to know her. Not now, not like this.
"Evening folks," Howlett said, immediately drawing everyone's attention. "Want to introduce Miz Letworth. She's a, talking doctor from Atara. Bull asked her to come visit, figures some of us might benefit from a counsellor not affiliated with the church."
There were a few snorts from around the room. The church had been in the thick of what had happened, and Sandrockers had long memories.
"She's here primarily for those of us that were in the middle of the fightin', but anyone in town is welcome to make use of her services. Even if you don't think you need it, I'd like each of you to have at least one session with her."
"Is that an order, Pa?" Logan called from the other side of the room, but Wei could hear the humour in his voice.
"That's a mayoral recommendation, boy," Howlett retorted. "All y'all are adults, I can't force you, but I would ask you as a favour to me to consider it."
Wei shook his head. He was fine, he didn't need this. There were others more in need of her services than he was.
A week later, Wei found himself sat across from Miz Letworth. Evie, as she'd introduced herself as. Quite how Howlett had managed to convince him to do this was a mystery. One hour. She couldn't force him to talk.
She picked up the notes in front of her, shuffling the papers and tapping them on the desk to straighten the bundle. Wei sat back with his arms folded and looked at her, saying nothing. Her hair was loose today, and he tried not to think about how it would feel to run his fingers through it, to wrap it round his hand while he—
"So, Mr White, may I call you Wei?"
Her voice shook him out his daydream. "Mr White is fine," he replied flatly.
"Mr White," she repeated. "I understand you are the Guild commissioner, and you've been in Sandrock a little over a year. Before that you were living in The Peripheries, near Tallsky?"
"Correct."
"Why did you choose to live in The Peripheries?"
"I didn't."
"But you just said…"
Wei sighed. "As I'm sure those notes of yours have told you, I was kidnapped and abandoned there, some mercenaries in the pay of my twin brother, who is now in Guild custody. By the time I was found, I had settled. So I didn't choose them, I simply made the best of a bad situation. It's what I do."
"Oh."
Wei felt a twang of guilt. He didn't mean to be rude, he just didn't need to be here.
"What was your part in the battle against Duvos?"
"Not much. I was up top, patrolling in case any more troops arrived. They didn't. I got called down to help when they found the mech suit, in fact I helped carry Howlett out on his stretcher." He kept his voice calm, his demeanour casual. It was no big deal.
"Hmm…" Evie said, leaning forward slightly, "how did that make you feel?"
How what made him feel? The slight blush on her cheeks as she spoke? The moisture on her lower lip where her tongue had brushed it before she spoke? The hint of cleavage that became apparent as she leaned forward. He shook his head to dispel the inappropriate line of thinking and focus on the original question.
"I'm not sure what you want me to tell you," Wei said. "I did what I needed to do, I came away unharmed. I'm afraid I'm wasting your time here, and, my own. Now if you don't mind, I have work to do." He stood up and turned to the door.
"I can't make you stay and talk, Mr. White, but I would ask you to consider it at least. Denial can be as problematic as some of the more obvious symptoms of what you went through. I'll be in Sandrock for a few months if you change your mind."
"Good afternoon, Miz Letworth," Wei replied, closing the door behind him.
"So, I can't give you details, Mayor Howlett," Evie begin.
"Drop the title, please, it's just Howlett, as I'm quite sure Bull told you."
"Howlett," she repeated. "I can't give you details, just a general overview. Most people seem receptive, and I think will benefit from what I can do here. I've had a few spouses ask for appointments as well."
Howlett nodded. He knew Flora and Owen had both asked for her support, which made sense given the caring duties they'd taken on for himself and Logan. It wouldn't surprise him if Max had asked as well, all things considered.
"Sounds like there's a but? "
"Mmm, I have concerns about your Guild commissioner."
"Wei? He's one of the most laid back people I know," Howlett replied.
"That's not how I would describe him after today. Standoffish and rude would be polite. I really think he would benefit from this more than anyone, but if he's not ready I can't force him."
"That's very unlike him. I'll have a word, see if I can't make any sense out of it. Now, if you're finished for the day, I promised Flora I'd bring you to the saloon for dinner."
"Bull told you to look after me, huh?"
"Well, yes, but I'd be doing this even if he hadn't."
The first thing Evie saw when they walked into the saloon was Wei sitting slumped at the bar. Owen was trying to convince him to drink water instead of whatever he had been drinking up to that point, but looked to be losing the argument.
He turned in his seat, gesturing wildly with his bottle, and their eyes met.
"And there she is! The lady that thinks a few conversations can fix what ails us!"
He swayed in his seat, and Owen appeared at his side.
"Think you've had enough now, Wei, let's get you home."
"I'm not as think as you drunk I am! I've only had three bottles of yakmilk."
"Light, Owen, you didn't?" Howlett groaned.
"No-one over fourteen gets that drunk on the stuff, Howlett," Owen pointed out.
"No, I needed to make it more palatable," Wei said, pulling a hip flask from his pocket, which Owen relieved him of.
"Sorry, Wei, no outside alcohol allowed. Let's get you home, so you can sleep this off." Owen slipped an arm round from one side and Howlett stepped in at the other.
"I'll come too," Evie said, "he might need someone to talk—"
"No, Miz Letworth, I do not want to talk to you about the ruins or The Periphs. I want to talk to you about the sun catching your hair and making you glow. I want to talk about the gold flecks in your green eyes. I wanna talk about the house we're gonna have. And the puppies. We're gonna have puppies. But I know how this all works. If I talk to you about therapist stuff, then you're not allowed to talk about the rest."
As if he'd finally run out of steam, Wei's head slumped forward and he let out a snore.
"Get him home and I'll sit with him," Evie said. "Would be dangerous to leave him alone like that."
While Owen and Howlett settled Wei into his bed, Evie headed to the kitchen and filled a large bottle with water. Looking through the cupboard, she was surprised at the variety of teas Wei had, but not much else. She helped herself to one of the relaxing blends, and headed upstairs.
"Out like a light," Owen told her. "Don't normally drink, either, don't know what's got into him."
"I'll sit and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid overnight," Evie said. "Brought up water and some painkillers I found in the cupboard."
"Yeah, he's gonna have a hangover, that's for sure."
"I've never seen him get himself into this sorta state," Howlett said, shaking his head. "You sure you'll be okay?"
"Oh please, I've dealt with worse than this on overnight watches before," Evie scoffed. "I can use the downtime to update my notes anyway."
"I'll bring over some dinner and coffee for you," Owen offered. Evie nodded in acceptance.
"That would be good, please. I'll see if he's any more open to talking once he sobers up."
Wei groaned as the daylight hit his eyes through the gap in the curtains. His head felt like Ged and the rest of his moles had turned it into a new mine. His mouth felt like he'd spent a month in the Eufaula.
"Good to see you made it through the night alive," an amused female voice said from across the room.
Wei bolted upright, then wished he hadn't as the room started to spin. A cool hand pressed against the back of his neck, as someone held a bottle of water to his mouth.
"Small sips, careful now."
As everything settled down, he finally opened his eyes, then promptly wished he hadn't.
"Miz Letworth," he said on a groan. "What in Darkness are you doing here?"
"Well, the state you got yourself into last night, Mr White, it didn't see right to leave you alone. Man drinks himself into that sort of state so fast, someone has to keep an eye on him."
Wei groaned again, and took another sip of water, accepting the tablets Evie handed him as well.
"How much of a fool did I make of myself?"
"Hmm, that's an interesting question. How about you get yourself freshened up and I'll meet you downstairs?"
"You're loving this, aren't you?"
"I don't know what you mean. Come on, get yourself up and moving."
Wei glanced down and realised that he was in his pyjamas. How… had she…?
Evie spotted where he was looking and patted him on the shoulder. "Howlett and Owen carried you home, got you settled. Your honour is perfectly safe."
"Light, I need to apologise to them as well."
"Wouldn't hurt. Now, get moving, we can talk over breakfast."
Evie headed downstairs, leaving Wei with a million and one questions. Not least of which was how was she planning on fixing breakfast?
Fifteen minutes later, Wei wandered downstairs, dressed but still towelling his hair. He had to admit that he did feel better after a shower and some more water, although he didn't think the headache was going away any time soon.
Evie was standing in his kitchen with the cupboard doors open, looking perplexed. A pot of coffee was brewing, but that was all.
"I hoped I'd missed something last night, but you have no food at all?" she asked, without turning round. She moved another pack of tea, clearly hoping that something would appear.
"There may be a packet of biscuits somewhere, but I tend to eat at the saloon most of the time. Flora and Krystal will occasionally force me round for home cooked meals."
"Well, I guess we're going to the saloon, then," Evie said, turning to him. "You can start with that apology for Owen while we're there."
Wei sat at the kitchen table and took the coffee she offered him. "I suppose I should start with an apology to you, Miz Letworth."
"And what would you be apologising for, hmm?"
He gave the question due consideration. In vino veritas and all that; he hadn't said anything untrue, at least not that he recalled.
"My manners, for one. Instead of explaining why I don't want any of your therapy sessions, I was brusque, rude and ill mannered."
"Brusque and rude pretty much covers it, you're right," Evie replied. Wei was relieved that he could hear a touch of humour in her tone. "Add defensive and in denial, and you're pretty much on point."
"Is there anything I can do to make up for it?"
"You could start by talking to me for the reason I came to Sandrock. The rest of what you said last night, well…" She took a drink of her coffee, looking at him carefully. Wei found himself nervous in a way he hadn't felt for a long time.
"Well?" he finally prompted.
"At the moment, Wei, I think you need a friend more than anything else. Someone that's on your side. I don't even think you're on your own side right now."
"But—"
"What you told me last night has been noted. I don't want to diagnose you without having several long discussions with you, so all I can say is I think you would benefit from discussing your experiences both in The Peripheries and during the Battle of Duvos, no matter how—"
"I told you, there's nothing to talk about. I'm fine."
"Well, if that's the case, then there's no harm in having a couple of professional meetings, we can talk it all out and I can sign you off. Once I've done that, and you're no longer under my care, then we can discuss what you said last night."
Wei sighed. "So, either I put myself through this nonsense you peddle, and I might have a chance, or I say no way to both. You're not really giving me much choice, Miz Letworth."
"I'm giving you every choice, Mr White. Now, shall we head to the saloon for breakfast to discuss this further?"
Wei looked at the woman sitting in front of him, and she smiled gently. There was no pity in that smile, only sympathy. Could he do it? Could he face his demons and move forward with his life?
"Why not, I can only give it a try. Now, you suggested breakfast at the saloon?"