Elliot helped me move in after the case meeting that day. I followed him home. I didn't know what to expect. I guess I had this big idea in my head that he'd live in some posh apartment downtown. All the furniture would be white with crazy pop art lining the walls. I was surprised to pull up to a normal house. The wood was cherry and warm and a porch swing hung resolute on the deck overlooking a small garden.

It seemed too warm and homelike for someone as urban and slick as Elliot. I wondered how he ever went to bed okay with this. It didn't seem like him at all.

Elliot helped me with some bags. All day he had been pretty quiet like he didn't know what to say. I wasn't quite sure how he felt about this whole situation. Maybe he never expected for me to really move in. He thought my parents were bluffing the whole time. But they weren't and here I was.

Elliot lead me towards a bedroom in the back of the first floor. The cherry wood had continued throughout the floors of the house and all the walls were painted a deep burgundy shade. The home had a overly rich, almost folk-like feel to it. A little bit 1900's, a little bit Little House on the Prarie, and a lot different than what I had expected.

The bedroom was different than the rest of the house though. The walls were all painted a faint blue color that was almost babyish. The furniture was all plantation style white. There was a queen bed and a chair in the corner.

"There is no tv or anything in here. I hope that's okay," Elliot put my bags on the bed.

"That's fine. I haven't been a big fan since I've been home," I took of my jacket and laid it on the bed. I started to scope the room out. Opening the walk in closet and peaking inside. Just behind the door was a large cabinet that went from the ceiling to the floor. It had a padlock on the handles making it seem more intimidating than it probably should.

"Hey what's this?" I asked Elliot who was rolling up his work sleeves.

"Uh," he stuttered out. "Just some paperwork from the office and stuff. No big deal."

I closed the closet door and sat down on my bed facing him.

"Well I am really sorry Elliot. I really don't want to be such a burden to you. I feel horrible."

His face puckered and he leaned against the edge of the dresser. "I wouldn't be doing this unless I really wanted to. Don't ever think you are a burden to anyone, Gerard. I am pleased to have you as my guest."

"Hey, El. I have a question. I got this-" a mid-twenties blonde girl pushed through the door and stopped seeing me sitting on the bed.

"Oh Gerard, I forgot. This is my sister, Caroline. She lives here with me," Elliot sidestepped away from the door.

"Hi, Gerard. It's very nice to meet you. I'm glad you'll be staying with us for a little while," she smiled sweetly. She didn't talk to me slowly and deliberately like Duke did which made me like her immediately.

"Thanks for doing all this. You really didn't have to set up a room for me," I looked down, embarrassed.

I saw Elliot exchange a glance with Caroline, "It's no problem at all. We love guests." Caroline looked towards Elliot though, "When you have a minute though, I need to talk to you."

Elliot nodded and looked over, "If you'll excuse me for a bit."

"Sure," I nodded and watched them leave my new room.

I looked around at my new place. I laid down on the bed, putting my arms beneath my head. So this was it. This was me on my own. It didn't feel right though. It didn't feel like this is how it should be. I missed my house and my bedroom and you.

I wondered when the next time I would see you would be. "One month max." I heard your voice repeat in my head. It was what I need to hear right now. Reassurance that this would pass.

"Gerard," Elliot's voice rang through the house.

I thought about yelling back, which is what I would usually have done in my own house, but I decided that maybe I should be a little more polite. I got up and moved towards the sound of his voice.

"Yeah?" I called back. I followed it to what seemed to be the dining room.

Caroline was putting plates on the table. A plastic bag with little asian take out boxes were leaving condensation on the shiny wood table.

"We got take out for tonight. Is that okay?" Caroline asked with a smile.

"Yeah, that's perfect," I said, even though I had never had take out before. I don't think my father would have like the idea of take out.

Regardless, I took a seat next to Caroline at the table.

"Something to drink, Gerard?" Elliot peeked his head out from the kitchen.

"Water, please. No ice," I looked over the plethora of goodies.

Elliot took a seat across from me and set my water down in front of me. I reached out for it and took a sip.

"So what do you like, Gerard?" Caroline asked.

I set my water down and looked around at the table. "I don't really know. I mean I'll eat anything, really."

Caroline pursed her lips in thought before taking my plate and beginning to fill it with different things from different boxes. When she set it back down in front of me I couldn't name half the things on the plate. I didn't want to be rude or overly curious though so I took my fork and began to dig in.

"So what are your plans for the next school year?" Caroline asked politely, trying to make conversation.

I struggled to swallow my food quickly. "I am not sure," I said with a half full mouth. "I think I am taking a year off to regroup before I make any decisions. A lot of things are up in the air right now."

"Well, that's good. Just take sometime to cool off. I don't see any harm in that. If anything, the biggest mistake kids make these days are rushing into their futures. I mean how are you supposed to know what you wanna do when your 18 years old? I sure didn't," she tucked a blond strand behind her ear before taking another bite.

"What do you do know?" I asked.

She swallowed her food before speaking, "I am an artist."

I didn't know what to make of that. I had never met a self proclaimed artist. I nodded and continued to eat as if she had said nurse or bank teller.

"How was work today?" Caroline directed towards Elliot.

Elliot sighed, "Smelly."

He took a second before explaining.

"I had a session with Freddy the germophobe and we took turns standing in garbage dumpsters behind the grocery store," Elliot shrugged sarcastically.

"Ew," Caroline wrinkled her nose in a disgusted way.

"If he was a germophobe, why did you make him stand in garbage?" I asked, confused.

Elliot pursed his lips. "Some psychologists make people confront their phobias in order to overcome them. Show them that the reality of what will happen isn't as bad as they think. Like Freddy thinks he will get sick if he gets in dumpsters, but in reality he will, and did, just get a little smelly."'

"Well, what about me? What about my phobia?" I asked.

Elliot shrugged, "Depends. What's your phobia?"

I thought about it. "Mikey getting sent to Reynards," I said very boldly. I was shocked that I was so honest about it. I looked sideways and saw Caroline continuing her meal like nothing had happened.

Elliot nodded, "Well, why would he be sent to Reynards? Why would he ever be sent there?"

I thought again, "Cause he got caught. With a guy or something." Or something was right. "And my dad wanted to put him there."

"Well," Elliot wiped his mouth with his napkin and put his elbows on the table. "You would have to know that Mikey was doing something and that he wasn't in danger of getting sent anywhere."

"But I can't guarantee that he won't be sent anywhere," I said quickly before I understood what I was saying.

Elliot looked up, "Caroline, thank you for picking up dinner. It was great."

I blinked back at him, "Yeah, thank you very much, Caroline."

As if that was her queue to leave, she stood up, "No problem, boys. I'm glad you enjoyed it." I watched her pick up our empty plates and make her way to the kitchen.

I looked back at Elliot who was playing with the edge of the table runner.

"So," he started. "Mikey is doing something with someone."

I felt a fever-like nervousness spread like wildfire across my skin. I swallowed hard, "I don't really. It's not. I wouldn't-"

"Gerard," Elliot's voice was suddenly urgent and grave as he stared me down, "If something is going on, for the sake of the case, I need to know. This is serious."

I looked back, frozen. I didn't know what to say.

"I-I really should be heading off to bed. We got a big week ahead of us and I just..."

Elliot sighed, "How have you been sleeping?"

I was thankful for the change of subject, "Fine since you gave me those pills. Better than ever."

"Good, Good," Elliot nodded. "Keep me updated if anything changes."

I got up slowly. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Night, Gerard." Elliot said as is something was bothering him.

I knew what it was though and I wasn't about to say anything. "Good night."