Josh looked up from where he'd been staring at the gauze he'd been putting away for the past half an hour with a mix of irritation and relief. His thoughts over the past week or so had been waffling between the new clinic he was setting up with Sabbah and the looming Christmas holiday. On one hand he was feeling excited in that distant way people still numbed with grief felt. The clinic was bound to be fun and exciting and Josh was eager to start learning more from the good doctor.
On the other hand, Christmas was coming up without Lotte. They'd been together for such a short time and while the grieving was intense, it probably wouldn't be as bad as if they'd been together longer. At least that's what he was telling himself. He'd been planning on surprising Lotte with a trip to somewhere warm. Now he was glad for the cold since that was how he felt inside.
Josh eased his thoughts away from Lotte and focused on Bryan, wondering what the other mutant was doing down here. "You know you don't have to keep coming down here," he said standing and patting the examination table. "You're just as healthy today as you were the last time you came in a few days ago." What Bryan needed was a good shrink, but Josh was hesitant to say so. Bryan probably already knew that and pestering from Josh would probably only irritate and push Bryan away. Physically, Bryan was fine but mentally the kid was really messed up. That was a hurt Josh couldn't heal. Still, if it made Bryan feel better, Josh would give him a check up everyday if need.