Открыть фик целиком в отдельном окне
Anton laughed at the trite response and despite his concern Matt found that he too was laughing. “Yeah I know, it sounds incredible, but I do have friends Anton and one I’m really worried about.”
“Go on.”
“Young man, intelligent, normally outgoing, has had a lot of bad things happen to him, friends leave and cause him distress, guilt.”
“Is this someone I know?”
“Perhaps. Nevertheless he’s emersed himself so deeply in his work that the only time I know for sure he sleeps is in his office.”
“Are we talking about Peter?”
“Caught.” Matt nodded guiltily.
“I had noticed. He’s had a lot to come to terms with in the last eighteen months.”
“Doyle’s death in particular?”
“Yes, I guess we all at some point blamed him for not dragging Connor out of the plant, but we understood his reasons and the circumstances. We’re lucky to have only lost Connor, Cooper was critical as well.”
“ I actually took the liberty of reading what was available of the case file, there are some questions but Frank isn’t likely to tell me any time soon.”
“Things still difficult?”
“Always will be while the sonofabitch plays sick games with our lives. He’s worse then the NID boys.”
“You’ve had some experience with the military machine?” Anton waved the waitress over to refill his cup.
“And the Pentagon, and the diplomatic corp. and the Feds, you name it.”
“Criminology is a hard job.”
“No that’s the easy part of the job, it’s the bloody stupidity of those in the know that makes it hard. Send in a team to legitimize one of their experiments that’s gone wrong and bang we end up knee-deep in shit. But that’s not the point Anton, I really am worried about him.”
“Peter is not exhibiting any signs that I can nominate as being peculiar to ninety per cent of the population of this office, so medically there’s nothing I can do. Personally I let him down and I know I should have counseled him when he needed it, but until recently he has been having weekly meetings with Sonja.”
“So he has had some counseling. Don’t suppose you’d know how they went?” Matt grinned.
“Yes, but patient privilege.”
Matt held up a restraining hand, “Yeah I know. Privacy and all that. Is he still going?”
“No. He stopped about 8 weeks ago.”
“Because?”
“Said he was too busy.”
“And Sonja bought that?” Matt looked incredulously across the table.
“No, but without Peter going to see her specifically then she can’t chase him. He needs to seek out help on his own.”
“That’s a crock Anton and you know it. He needs to know we care.” Matt scrubbed his hand through his short receding hair and scanned the room.
“Then maybe you should tell him.” Anton offered.
“It’s not me who needs to let up on him, I’ve always treated him the same way so he has no basis to work with. If I change now he’s likely to slip away even further.”
“Interesting.” Anton smiled. “You’d make an excellent psychiatrist. But you’re right, since Peter and I have made our peace I suspect the major issues lay with Lindsey and Elsinger.”
“Probably, but it doesn’t help right now, Lindsey isn’t about to change her mind and I doubt if Elsinger will be sympathetic.”
“Unfortunately I have to concur. However, you asked for an assessment.”
Matt nodded. “ I have a few theories but I’d rather hear a professional opinion.”
“Go on.”
Matt shook his head. “No I only have theories- I have no empirical data to back it up, it’s not my field.”
“Even without empirical data your theories might hold water. Try me.” Anton prompted gently.
“Okay. My assessment is that Peter will withdraw even further from us till he removes himself from the OSIR completely.”
“You think he has no reason to stay on?”
“Actually I don’t. I read the team files before I took on this job and one thing stood out. Peter was a passionate man, strong willed almost hot headed, a team player most of the time with streak of curiosity about a mile wide.” Matt spread his hands wide. “He doesn’t exactly fit that same profile now, so I can see the change, without my judgement being coloured by Doyle’s death.”
“So what’s different?”
“Anton you’ve noticed the difference probably more than anyone else. If you’re trying to validate your own findings then I understand. He is withdrawn, no longer socialises with his colleagues. Peter is thorough and methodical and his work is flawless. But he is no longer prepared to go that final step. Hell, the passion’s gone Anton. It was there when I first met him, but now.” Matt shrugged.
“Well I concur with your assessment… he is still technically brilliant but frankly the reason he doesn't socialize is because his co-workers have ostracized him.”
“Which is why he is seriously considering the offers he’s been made in the academic community.”
Anton frowned. “I wasn’t aware he’d been looking.”
“People of Peter’s caliber don’t go looking. He’s being hunted, he’s been offered the chair at an Ivy League university.”
“Realistically I think it could be the best thing for him, it would give him the opportunity of a fresh start where he will be revered as opposed to the sentiment surrounding him now.”
Matt narrowed his eyes. “Maybe I should be talking to someone else. You make it sound as if you want him to go as though he is some kind of pariah.”
“Personally I don’t. You asked for an assessment not a critique of my motives. I think Peter needs to reestablish his equilibrium. He is so far off kilter here emotionally that maybe the best thing is for him to take the offer. Ivy League University chairs are incredible job offers, one most of us work for years to obtain.”
“What if he doesn’t have the self esteem to go for it?”
“Are you suggesting that Peter would leave and not take it? Or that he is suicidal?” Anton hadn’t considered that option and guiltily he could see a disturbing pattern emerging.
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