Chapter 5 - Guardians

Just as the elevator doors were about to close a hand stopped them and they receded. An older man wearing a white doctor's coat stepped in, glanced at the lone occupant within and said, "I'm glad I caught you. I need to speak with you about young Mr. Anderson."

Receiving a slight nod and handshake with an introduction of "Richard McNulty," the doctor pushed the 2nd floor button responded saying, "Keith Erickson. My office would probably be the best place for this conversation."

Neither men spoke when the doors opened on the 2nd floor and they headed toward the doctor's office. Stepping in, the doctor gestured to the chairs before his desk and then settled in his leather office chair. He took a moment before he began, regarding the attorney with a pensive expression, "It's good of you to visit Blaine. I'm sure you know, given the circumstances, he doesn't have any visitors. I take it you've been receiving the staff's reports?" the doctor began.

"Yes."

"It was surprising that after your initial visit Blaine remembered his name, family....his amnesia just seemed to disappear," Erickson observed.

"I'm given to understand that sometimes that happens in these sorts of cases," McNulty offered cautiously.

"Yes, it does happen from time to time," the doctor agreed in a neutral tone. Adding, with more force, "I have to ask, since your last visit sent him into to such a tailspin, did you discuss anything during this visit that you believe will further upset him?"

"I don't believe so. I simply stopped by to give him a laptop and some music. I thought it might improve his spirits."

"I see."

"You know," Erickson began conversationally, "Blaine's files were fairly thin when it came to background information. That concerned me, as there isn't anyone available to provide insight into his circumstances. It's difficult to treat a patient when you have so little to work from, particularly in traumatic injury and amnesia cases."

"You were provided everything that was available."

"Yes, I'm sure," the doctor replied, with a thoughtful nod.

"He hasn't been very forthcoming during his sessions," the doctor explained. "Which led me to review his files again. I was hoping to find something – I not sure what, just something I could use in our sessions. Near the bottom of his first intake file I found some paperwork, from the transport that brought him in. It originated at O'Hare. Which was unusual."

"It showed they picked him up at hanger 43. Which I've learned is dedicated to medical flights. Usually, organ transplants."

There was the slightest shift in the attorney's expression for just a brief moment. Accepting that this was all the reaction he was going to receive Erickson pressed on. "Considering Blaine's file says he's from Chicago I thought this was odd, but I haven't said anything to him yet. I didn't want to press him for details about something he might find confusing."

The man before the doctor cleared his throat and offered, "Blaine, was out of state when his injuries occurred. I felt it best that his treatment take place closer to home."

"I see. Where exactly? It would be helpful to have the medical reports from his initial intake. Usually we receive the initial police reports as well when we treat this sort of trauma patient. Everything leading up to his arrival at our facility. They are something we usually receive when a patient is transferred to us, not just treatment summaries like those we received."

The two men stared at one another until finally the doctor broke, sinking back into his chair, "I'm trying to treat Blaine but without his cooperation, I need someone to provide me with more details regarding his life, the events that led to his injuries, if I'm to provide appropriate treatment and help him."

"I'm not sure what more you think I can offer. I'm the family's attorney."

"The family's attorney. But someone who in just one visit was able to turn the boy into a shell of what he was just the day before. At the same time he was able to remember his name and mysteriously his amnesia disappeared. I don't know what you said to him, but whatever it was, it's destroyed whatever life he had in him before you showed up," the doctor vehemently stated.

Clearly uncomfortable, McNulty said, "I'm sorry to hear my visit took such a toll. I'm not sure what you think there is that I can tell you that might help."

Fed up, Erickson glared at him asking, "Care to explain why a fourteen year old would need a new identity?"

There was barely a shift in the attorney's expression at the question. In an annoyed huff the doctor said, "No. I didn't think so. You're not going to tell me anything I might need to know to treat him, are you?"

"I'm sure you're aware that I'm held to a similar standard as you are when discussing a client," the attorney replied coolly.

"Yes, Yes, of course. But, there are exceptions. Protecting your client only goes so far, if it's detrimental to his health. Consulting during mental health treatment, particularly when it's in regards to a minor is fairly common practice. Especially since the boy doesn't have anyone else who could be bothered to look after him. You just saw him, he's not doing well."

The doctor scrutinized the man before him, finally saying, "I rarely treat children long term. Once I do an initial assessment they are assigned to someone on staff. When I choose to take on a case, they are the most exceptional. Perks of being in charge you could say."

"Do you know why I'm still handling Blaine's case, four weeks after his initial assessment? Because, I've treated a few head trauma patients over the years that had unexplained new identities. This is Chicago after all," he added casually with a shrug, starring knowingly at the attorney.

"I've learned no matter how good a hospital is - the fewer people who realize that a patient is struggling with a new identity, the more likely it is that the patient will survive their stay as well as their transition back into society once they've left treatment."

When the attorney still didn't respond the doctor sat forward and leaned over his desk, and said intensely, "And you need to be aware that even though he no longer needs the level of support the ICU offers, I've kept Blaine there to maintain a stable environment, which he desperately needs right now. But it also limits his exposure to a very few familiar caretakers, to protect him."

"I believe my actions speak clearly. Now, I'm asking you, is there anything you can tell me that could make Blaine's treatment go smoother? And could possibly affect his safety over the long term?"

Under the doctor's demanding stare the attorney looked away and then back, finally offering, "I'd be willing to provide you with additional information, if you're willing to agree to some terms."

"Such as?"

"Nothing I tell you gets written down, nor does anything you discuss with Blaine. You take extra precautions when you speak with him about anything I tell you so that confidences can be maintained. It is vital that the details I provide are never shared with anyone."

"That is a request I can easily agree too," the doctor confirmed.

With a nod the attorney leaned back further into his chair. "No one is looking for him. There's no reason anyone would. As the reports say, he really is just a boy that was nearly beaten to death because he went to a dance with another boy. And, he has just lost the only home and family he has ever known."

"As for what you should know, to make his treatment more successful... He used to be Dominick DiNapoli. Who is now legally dead. I'm sure you've heard the story about a gang attacking some gay kids and killing Vincent DiNapoli's son in New York a few months ago?"

The doctor raised an eyebrow but nodded gravely, waiting for the attorney to continue.

"I never met the boy before last month. So everything I know about him is second hand. From what I understand he was very close to his mother, but had a distant relationship with his father. Within his extended family he was either deeply loved, or horribly bullied. It's fairly obvious now that while his parents, grandparents and others sheltered him, Blaine's brothers and many male relatives tormented him incessantly. In part, probably because his mother's Asian descent made him ineligible to be part of the greater 'family'."

"He has 3 older brothers. Nick and Anthony are from their father's first marriage and are more than twenty years Blaine's senior. They weren't close to the boy and tormented or ignored him in turns. The third son, Tommy is eight years older than Blaine and was essentially raised by Blaine's mother, when he was brought into the home shortly after his mother died of a drug overdose. Apparently, he and Blaine did have a sibling type relationship. They also share a talent for music and performance and constantly rivaled one another for familial attention."

"As for other details....Blaine's attackers were cousins of his of a similar age. Intolerance for certain life styles is deeply ingrained within the family. His father decided that in order to protect Blaine from further threats it would be best if he were permanently removed from the family. A very generous, private trust has been setup on his behalf. He will lack for nothing."

The doctor huffed at that last comment but kept his peace, as he needed to hear all the information the attorney could provide.

"Today when I spoke with Blaine I encouraged him to think of his mother and try to build a life that would make her proud. I believe that his mother is probably the key to his recovery."

"I will share with you, as I did with him, that I am worried that any recommendation of the need for a psychiatric care facility for his full recovery in future medical reports could put his future, if not the rest of his life, in jeopardy."

"Blaine's brothers would perceive this as a weakness. He's already a threat that they have difficulty tolerating. As they previously proposed using a psychiatric facility, it would not be a stretch for them to permanently institutionalize him if they felt it necessary. As long as Blaine's existence remains unknown, and he does not demonstrate instability, he well be safe," McNulty explained.

"From my perspective, acting as his guardian, he needs to accept that life as he knew it, is gone. He needs to accept that and build anew."

"I really do want the best for Blaine. If there is something he needs that I can provide, you only need ask," McNulty finished.

The attorney had paused in his explanation and added, "I do appreciate the personal concern you're taking in his case."

The doctor stared at the man, evaluating what he had heard, weighing the words against what he had observed in the young man, during the past few weeks therapy sessions. Eventually nodding his head, accepting that the information provided was the truth.

Leaning forward Erickson said anxiously, "You need to understand that I won't be able to change my recommendations for additional psychological treatment if it's warranted. With the head trauma Blaine sustained, I would be very surprised if he didn't have at least some long term effects."

McNulty frowned in concern, "You said that in your initial assessment that brain damage was a possibility but you hadn't brought it up since so I hadn't been concerned with the possibility. What exactly are we looking at here?"

"It's really too early to say. Blaine could be perfectly fine. He's young. Which means his brain is still developing. His injuries weren't as severe as some I've seen so his youth plays in his favor. The brain can heal like any other part of the body. We just don't fully understand it yet, so we can't truly predict specific outcomes."

"But you have some idea, otherwise you wouldn't have brought it up."

"Yes. Blaine's injuries were to his frontal and temporal lobes. Everything from his personality and emotions to his concentration and problem solving abilities could be affected. We obviously need to do testing once he's further along in his recovery and chances are he will need some treatment. Whether it be medication to stabilize his moods or special education classes. My main concern is his emotional and reasoning functions. Obviously his speech seems fine and his motor functions are coming on line as he heals. What concerns me is that patients often exhibit frustration and anger later, once they're further along in the healing process, when problems in areas they hadn't had difficulties in before, suddenly appear.

"Right now Blaine is in a severely depressed state. Whether it is solely from the traumatic experience he is recovering from or if it is a chemical imbalance due to injuries has yet to be determined. PTSD presents with the similar symptoms as head trauma or he could be suffering from both. That's another reason why a stable, calm environment is so important for him right now."

"But he'll heal in time?" the attorney asked worriedly.

"He will. With treatment. Like I said, he's young and it doesn't appear that his injuries were as severe as they could have been. It's possible he'll have a larger emotional swing or that he could be more reserved and less in touch with his emotions then previously. His speech doesn't seem to be affected and he appears to be able to read. Problem solving might be an issue down the road but he seems to be able to reason well enough. If we're really lucky he won't have any long term effects at all. The next best hope is he might need to take some mood stabilizing medication. Not great, but still successful treatment in many instances. It will just be an unknown until Blaine heals further and we can do a full assessment."

"This doesn't sound like the kind of thing that would warrant special psychiatric care," McNulty observed.

"No. If it is as mild as I hope it will be, it won't. He might simply need to check in with a doctor every few months, once we've confirmed his normal baseline. Although I would recommend he receive continued counseling. He'll need the emotional support when he transitions out of the hospital and later out of rehab. No matter how well he recovers we can't underplay the emotional upheaval he will be dealing with. You're asking a lot of a fourteen year old boy," Erickson finished with a grimace.

McNulty shifted in his seat uncomfortably before asking, "And when he leaves here? What do you recommend? I had been considering sending him to Andover at the beginning of the school year."

"Andover? Well!" the doctor exclaimed in mild surprise.

"Can't get better than that. But I have to wonder if it's a good fit for Blaine now," he cautioned.

"There are other schools that are feeders for the Ivy Leagues if that's what you are looking for but aren't quite the pressure cooker that Andover might be for him. I think you need to take into account that Blaine has lost everything when you start looking at schools to send him to. He's going to need a supportive environment that he can rebuild himself in. You're also going to need to consider his sexuality when you look at schools. A no bullying policy – that is actually enforced, would be at the top of my list. I don't know enough about Andover or any of the other boarding schools you are considering but there are some fine schools here in the Midwest with excellent reputations that might fit Blaine's needs better."

"If you have a recommendation I'd be happy for it," McNulty offered agreeably, adding, "I simply want him to have the best education possible and since they come so highly recommended I hadn't looked further."

"Understandable. At least Blaine has that going for him. The choices you make for him these next four years are going to be crucial. But if you want to help him recover fully emotional support is going to be paramount in all the decisions you make going forward."


It was from that point that the two men became Blaine's silent guardians. They consulted with one another regularly to ensure that the young man was in the best possible place he could be, receiving the best care and in some instances maneuvering behind the scenes to make his life just a little bit easier.