channel surfing: not for the faint of heart

[Charlie]

Charlie sat back in the soft sofa chair, picking up the remote for the rec hall TV. no one else was watching it; well, at least he didn't think the semi-comatose guy across from him would mind if he flipped the station.

"Mind if i do?" Charlie asked out of courtesy. The man issued a thin line of drool onto his towel-lined shirt. He took that response as a 'sure take it, I dont mind." Flipping through the many stations brought to the institution by Direct TV, watching the selective channels fly by. Black screnes of channels that were inapropriate for a mental institution, followed by the brightly lit screne of a home shopping channel. Watching them scroll by, he stopped on the ABCfamily channel, watching the opening credits for M*A*S*H* flash across the screne. Charlie put down the remote on the table, watching Alan Alda, his favorite actor of all time. Next to Doris Day, of course.

Charlie looked around the rather empty room. The pastel purple of the walls, the random patients either in wheelchairs or playing checkers. Normally Mercedes would be sitting here either next to him or on him, watching M*A*S*H* with him, but she was nowhere in sight. He frowned, brow furrowed now, at her sudden leave of absence. She had been quiet at breakfast too this morning, and Charlie didn't know whether to talk to her or force her to take one of her stashed pills under her bed. Either one could potentially cause a fight, though.

Sitting deeper into chair, if possible, he watched the show, but not with the usual gusto. Ever since that new kid came. Denny, Benny, Jack, whatever his weird ass name was, shed been watching him. Charlie easily knew he gave off this 'dont fuck with me or ill kill you' air. And Charlie knew when to leave crazy alone. So he did.

The episode wore on, and Charlie sighed, waiting for her fair maiden Mercedes to show.

[Tom]

Tom walked up behind the sofa chair, seeing the mess of dark brown hair poking over the top. He slid into the chair next to him, watching his eyes follow him as he sat.

"You don't mind, do you?" he asked politely. Charlie shrugged, looking back to the TV. Tom noticed he was watching a show called MASH. He didn't get it over in Germany, so it was new to him. Really the only american shows they got were The Price is Right, some lady called Opera, and CNN. It was boring really, he thought, his stare blanking out on Charlie. He was looking at him, but not really at him. Tom didn't realize this until he saw him staring at him also.

"Sorry, I blanked," he said through his accent. Sitting back in the chair, he looked him over. Part of him knew Charlie wasn't into him, but the disorered part said he needed to show off and make sure he liked him. shifting in his chair, he looked back to the screen. It was funny how many sexual references were made in the show. Germany didn't have anything like this. After the sixth time he glanced around the room, he had enough of the silence.

"So you waiting for anyone?" he asked quietly. Charlie nodded, looking around some more. Tom nodded to himself. It was probably that bipolar, Mercedes he's always with. She looked nice, until the screaming started.

Sitting back in the chair, he watched the show in silence with Charlie, hoping Mercedes would show up, just so he could meet this interesting person.

[Mercedes Langstrom]

Today was the day Mercedes was finally allowed out of her dorm an into the company of the other patients without an attending standing right behind her breathing down her neck. After a violent outburst when her father had come to visit and brought that long legged whore (formerly known as her step-mother) where she had thrown a shoe...chair...and plastic cup at her before proceeding to rip out her extensions before she walked two feet into the lobby. How could he bring that ..that thing into here. This was HER sanctuary. That's like bringing a queer into a catholic church while he is wearing pink hot pants and a tube top. You just dont do it for fear of the building suddenly bursting into flames. And thats exactly what had happened.

She had quickly been restrained, a needled jabbed into her arm and darkness had followed. She had woken up in confinement her clothes had been taken off and think paper like pajamas he taken their place. The cloth so think that it would rip under the smallest amount of force so that they were virtually useless for killing ones self. This had set her to a whole new level and before the wardens had arrived she managed to crack a few knuckles. She was to stay in confinement until she calmed down.

A few days later she was out but to be watched under a strict eye 24 hours a day. She was pumped full of drugs every four hours that kept her just conscious enough to walk from room to room. but easy enough to handle if something upset her. When she was in her moods the simplest thing, like a smear on the wall, could send her into another rage.

This morning was was allowed to eat with other patients though she had her shoes taken off and replaced with slippers and was herded to a table with the bench attached. Charlie had sat across from her but she couldn't even form a thought. The drugs had turned her into a walking zombie. Later that day they finally switched her drugs from needle to pill and her brain was coming slowly back to her. She tonged her pills like usual. Stashing them in the mattress as soon as the door clicked shut. The only down side was her hand had started to ache with the loss of the heavy doping.

As she walked down the hall she let her slippered feet drag her bandaged hand pressed firm against her chest in the other a very worn bear was gripped tightly. Ben the bear, her comfort zone. She pushed her way into the lobby the doors seeming to weigh the same as a thousand pounds of lead. Her eyes roamed over the room quickly spotting Charlie, well his hair at least. She shuffled over but stopped quickly behind him seeing someone in her seat. She gripped the bear tighter and took a deep breath.

"So you waiting for anyone?"

"Yes me"

She stood behind him her one hand still pressed toher chest but the other now joined it the bear placed in the crook of her arm. The pajamas hung off her making her look even worse then she did. A few days in confinement could make anyone look like hell warmed over.

[Charlie]

Charlie sat, eyes glued to the MASH rerun, hoping Mercedes would show her face finally. He heard someone coming, and found himself nearly praying it was Mercedes. But was he that lucky?

"You don't mind, do you?" A think German accent cut the air. Nope, Charlie wasn't that lucky. He ruffled through a few rejections in his head. One possible insult;
'No, now get your dirty communist ass out of the way of the screen!' or 'fuck off German attention whore' was another one. Instead, he shrugged, not caring that he was the wrong person he was hoping for. They watched the show, or rather, Charlie did. Tom however, had this look on his face. Much like a dog wanting affection.

"So you waiting for anyone?" Finally he spoke again. Charlie nodded, not listening to him.

"Yes me"

Charlie whipped around at the sound of his darling Mercedes. He flashed her a smile, and sat up properly in his chair, offering up the rest of the space for her and Ben the Bear.

"God Mercedes, didn't anyone tell you it's rude to keep people waiting?" he joked. From the way she looked at Tom, he thought someone was going to get beat down. A someone named Tom for one; being in Mercede's spot. and two, being in Mercedes spot after a bad day. Charlie could tell by the way she looked, and because she had Ben out, that something had gone down, possibly with her step mom. Too bad he missed it.

Waiting for Mercedes to split the sofa with him, he egerly hoped no one would get hurt. Last thing they needed was a smack down in the rec room. Good thing Jack the Ripper/Crazy Denny were on a leave of absence.

[Mercedes Langstrom]

She watched Charlie's head whip around and cringed a bit thinking of the muscles in his neck. She pulled ben tighter to her and retured his bright smile with a sort of smirk grimace. She noticed him shifting and walked around the couch snuggling in next to Charlie setting Ben in her lap as she yawned.

"God Mercedes, didn't anyone tell you it's rude to keep people waiting?"

"Ya someone told me that once...then I hit them with a mug and they oddly never told me that again."

She tossed another glance at Adriana before shrugging and slumping in her seat her hands nervously playing with Ben's ears as she watched M*A*S*H. She was to tired to put this new girl in her place. Her head rolled to the side and came to rest on Charlie's shoulder. She looked up at him her eyes searching.

"Whats with the Commy?"

She muttered her eyes coming back to the tv her hands moving from Ben's ears to picking at her bandage. She had seen this girl before. She had a problem with being the center of attention, especially around Charlie. Most of the time she just ignored her but now that she had taken her seat and not even offered to move... she would have to keep a closer eye on her.

[Tom]

"So you waiting for anyone?"

"Yes me"
Tom looked over his shoulder, seeing the brunette standing behind the couch. Mercede's eyes were on him, and Tom didn't know whether he should move, or hold his ground next to Charlie. Tom looked back to the boy in question, who's face was lit up by a brilliant smile. One smile, he noted, that he had yet to get when he walked in the room.

"God Mercedes, didn't anyone tell you it's rude to keep people waiting?"

"Ya someone told me that once...then I hit them with a mug and they oddly never told me that again."

His heart skipped a beat, he thought, at what Mercedes had said. Was she serious? Tom didn't know much, just that she had a bad temper. He shifted in the sofa, now feeling extremely uncomfortable. Charlie moved in his, making room for Mercedes that she gladly took. In no time, she had her head on Charlies shoulder. Tom swallowed hard, knowing he should introduce himself. Or something. Anything to get Charlie's attention back.

"Whats with the Commy?" Tom looked sharply over at Mercedes. So that's how he was known here. The commy from East Germany, here to infiltrate through the mentally unstable. He swallowed again.

"I'm feeling thirsty. I'll go and get a drink. Would you like some?" he asked quietly. Neither responded. Clearing his throat, louder then needed, maybe, and headed to the cafeteria for a drink.


Too bad they didn't have Russian Vodka.

[Charlie]

Charlie watched as Tom left to get a drink. He was annoying, yes, but it was better than no company while waiting for Mercedes.
"Ya know, you didn't have to call him a commy to get rid of him," he said, looking at her. She only shrugged, watching the TV set. Charlie's eyes caught movement in the doorway of the rec room, and looked to see the new girl. He'd heard about her through the orderly shuffle, each of them gossiping about all the patients, new and old. He watched her shuffle around the room aimlessly, trying to find something to do. Just as he moved to stand, she left, and Charlie watched as she walked back down the hall.

"Hm, Benz, did you see the new girl?" Charlie asked Mercedes. He tried to go back to watching the tv, but couldn't. He had the burning desire to go clean his collection. That and to meet the new girl to see if the rumors were true.

[Charlie]

Charlie watched in awe as Rochell walked passed their M*A*S*H viewing center.

"Mercedes.. Mecedes did you see that? God was among us lowly minions today!" he said, just loud enough that the Head Administrator had to hear. She paused for a moment in the doorway, briefly, and continued on her path out of the rec bin. Charlie shrugged, a small smile playing in the corner of his mouth. Charlie also noticed it was taking an extremely long time for Commy Tommy to come back from his visit to the watering hole. Maybe he found new love, that had nothing to do with Charlie.

One could only hope.

[Mercedes Langstrom]

"Ya know, you didn't have to call him a commy to get rid of him,"

"I know I didn't have to, I wanted to. I mean you know thats the nicest jab I could have made at him, her,...shim. Whatever."

The TV caught her attention once again and her eyes rolled back to the set the colors blurring every now and again making her grow more and more disoriented with each camera shift. She let her head roll back onto the couch and she focused her eyes on the ceiling counting tiles.
Oh not a good idea they have cracks.
She jerked her head forward to quickly and had to force herself not to pass out and let her face fall into the tile which might actually be the most disgusting thing in the hospital.
Okay breath Mercedes.
The damn meds were taking what seemed like FOREVER to flush out of her system and this morbid living dead thing was getting old pretty quick.

""Hm, Benz, did you see the new girl?"

By the time she looked up the mystery girl was gone the only thing that showed the room had changed were the double doors closing so slowly that she could have ran thought them twice before they shut. But before she could tell him she hadn't he piped up again.

"Mercedes.. Mercedes did you see that? God was among us lowly minions today!"

"Long live the queen! Hey do you think if I kiss up to her enough I will get my shoes back Charlie?"

She was just about to let out a laugh when her eyes caught the man sitting across from her in the wheel chair. The towel tucked around his shirt line glistening under the harsh Fluorescent light. Upon closer scrutiny she noticed that the shinny substance was spit and that at this very moment a fresh trail was running down the corner of his mouth out across the towel and coming dangerously close to his shirt.

"OH MY GOD> NOOOO fucking EWWWW. NURSE NURSE what the hell are you all getting paid for. Cant you see this man needs some help. Get off your bon bon asses and wipe that FUCKING gross dribble from his face. Or so help me god I will find every one of your romance novels and Fabio posters and use them to burn this place to the GROUND!"

[Tom]

"I know I didn't have to, I wanted to. I mean you know thats the nicest jab I could have made at him, her,...shim. Whatever."

Boy did Tom have wonderful timing. He stood behind the sofa with his glass of juice in hand. That was an overstatement, more like a plastic sippy cup of overly syrupy liquid pretending to be juice. Tom overheard Charlie throw a comment towards the Administrator that would have normally gotten anyone kicked out or send to solitary for a week. Interesting, he noted, taking his spot next to Charlie, but slightly farther away this time.

"So what have I missed?" He asked, not really caring about the show but trying to turn someone's attention back to him. Preferably not the Mercedes Bitch, but anyone will do now.


"OH MY GOD!" Mercede's shout made Tom jump, nearly losing his cup in the process.
"NOOOO fucking EWWWW. NURSE NURSE what the hell are you all getting paid for. Cant you see this man needs some help. Get off your bon bon asses and wipe that FUCKING gross dribble from his face. Or so help me god I will find every one of your romance novels and Fabio posters and use them to burn this place to the GROUND!"
Tom snorted. So she can't handle someone dribbling down their chest, yet sits on this sofa with no problem, not knowing exactly who was in it before and what they did on it. A small smile crossed his face at Mercede's uncomfort as a series of nurses hurried in to take care of the man before their trashy novels were used as bonfire material. As much as he disliked her, that would be a plan he'd love to take part in.

[Charlie]

Charlie saw his reflection in the mirror just before the words hit him.
"So what have I missed?" Tom asked. Charlie cringed, feeling the sofa next to him shift under the weight of the obviously unwanted male presence.
"Hawkeye and honeycut were drunk and wanted to sacrifice a virgin with Radar at 4 in the morning," He said, ignoring the fact that the other male didn't care whether or not the show was interesting. Just wanted more attention, because Charlie was just oh so worthy of it. Charlie tried to focus on anything other than the creeping presence of the other man, hoping he would just get up and leave soon.

"OH MY GOD!"
Charlie felt the seat next to him shift as Tom jumped. Charlie chuckled lightly at his misfortune of not knowing Mercedes. Charlie had already spotted the drooling infidel and was prepared for the following outburst. He also laughed at the nurses, running over to save their books, god forbid they actually care for the inpatients here. Charlie snuck his hand into Mercedes, to comfort her and to give her something to squeeze as a substitute to the man's neck. Hopefully it will work, he thought to himself.