milliways_bar | (no subject)

This is probably not the man Venkman wants to see right now. In fact, the prospect doesn't exactly fill Abs with anything other than dread, but he's a man on a mission.

He watches Peter from the trees, looking for a reasonably appropriate moment.

Not really. In fact, Abs should be scared considering right now?

Peter's a borderline maniac wielding a wooden sword.

Um, yeah. He's welcome to try to talk.

He is scared, even if he doesn't know that. Eventually, feeling he doesn't have all day and it's kinda cold out here, he approaches.

"Dr Venkman? Do you have a moment?"

"What?" Peter snapped as he turned toward him.

"Kind of busy, Abs, is it really, super-duper important?"

Abs stands his ground, even though he really doesn't want to be on this piece of ground at this moment.

"Do you think I'd be here otherwise?" he says calmly, ignoring the big stick.

Peter sighed, and lowered the practice weapon.

"Alright, so spill already."

Abs gets to the point.

"Something happened to Guppy on Saturday. I've just been talking to Amanda and she says he won't tell her what it was either, and normally he tells her more or less everything. Since then I've noticed sudden changes in his behaviour. Has he told you what's happened, or have you noticed anything yourself? I know he trusts you far more than I would expect him to trust me."

Peter briefly dropped the sword, and swore, "Fuck!"

"No, I haven't really. Been out here since... just a long story I don't want to get into."

He then said sadly, "I don't think I would be much good for helping anybody right now."

Abs picks up the sword and hands it back to him.

"If he knows any of that, that's probably why he hasn't been to see you." he says quietly. "Our Guppy has a thing about not overburdening people if he can help it. I'm sorry to bother you at this point in time, I really am. I wouldn't if I wasn't so worried about him. He's been removing his pillows, blunting all the kitchen knives, putting his swiss army knife in the back of the drawer when normally it never leaves his pocket. Locking up his medication in a padlocked box. I don't need to spell out what's concerning me here. From what I've seen, and the fact that Guppy recommends you to just about anyone who needs this sort of help, you're damn good at what you do. I just need some advice, a second and more qualified opinion, and then I'll go away, stop bothering you and I promise I'll do everything I can to help him."

"He wouldn't. Only Ray and Dana know about it."

Peter grimly listened, and yeah, he was following all right. And he wished his pep talks had helped but...

"Motherpusbucket. How many times do I have to tell him, he's better than this shit that keeps getting dumped on him?" He rubbed a hand in front of his face.

He then thought for a moment, "What time of the year is it back in your world? It tends to run close to the bar's calendar doesn't it?"

"At the moment they're in line. It's the twentieth of december. It varies according to how much time we spend here."

He sighs. "It's strange. He's clearly depressed but when you talk to him he doesn't seem suicidal. Just a few weeks ago he was clearly emphysising that he wasn't. His father hasn't died yet, and I really don't see how things could have got any worse from how they were last week, when as far as I could see he was improving."

Peter then realized. It was close to Christmas there. And didn't Guppy say the extra-special shit always hit about the holidays? Fucking holidays, Peter never could really stand them. They tended to be big fat disappointments to him. No funtime with the family growing up. His father was usually away on some con/scheme, or in jail. And some of his relatives were no prize either.

"I know what it is. What's wrong. Damn holidays."

"He in his room now?"

"Holidays?"

Abs thinks about it for a moment. "Well I suppose he's hardly going to be spending it with his family this year, but Guppy's a Sikh, so I don't think Christmas is a major deal to him anyway. He celebrates it as a commercial holiday as opposed to a religious one."

He shakes his head. "No, he's gone back to Holby. He's at work at the moment."

~~Mun attackes LJ with large surgical implement for not sending notifications.~~

"That's not what I meant... never mind. I'll catch up with him when he drops by again."

"Thanks, I appreciate it. Is there anything I can do in the meantime?"

"Not really. Bound Stress Disorder mostly."

"I meant for Guppy, although yeah, I would help you if I could." he replies sincerely. "Even if my job is more assessment than treatment."

"Oh, sorry. I don't know yet, other than what you've been doing for him. I'll have to check with him to find out more."

Peter shook his head, "I'm fine, I'll deal."

Abs nods. "Okay, you can always leave me a note or something if you need anything doing. For either of you, even though I'm probably the last person you'd want help from, the offer stands. I'll leave you to your practice now. Thanks for your help."

He turns and goes.

Amanda is on her way out to for her own workout when she catches sight of Dr. Venkman.

He doesn't look like he is in a particularly good mood today so she isn't sure if this is the best time to approach him which is why for the moment she is just standing and watching him.

Yeah, this was a BAD DAY for it. Peter wasn't up for idle chat with just anybody.

He's looking pissed off enough to take heads, as noted by the sharp movements, and litany of curses under his breath.

Ah, the poor guy. Now while he may be pissed enough to take heads he would certainaly have to fight for Amanda's. Fortunately this theory isn't tested as Amanda is good enough at reading people (not that he was trying to be subtle about it) that she decides to find him another time so she continues towards the forest.