Fic: Mr. & Mrs. John Moore (aka Miss Sara Howard Moore) VIII: Beaded Pearls (2/10)

[bradygirl_12]

Title: Mr. & Mrs. John Moore (aka Sara Howard Moore) VIII: Beaded Pearls (2/10)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): John/Sara (Sara doesn't appear in this chapter), Julia Ogden, Laszlo Kreizler, Hiram Osling
Fandoms: The Alienist/Murdoch Mysteries
Genres: Angst, Drama, Historical, Holiday, Horror, Mystery, Suspense
Rating (this chapter): PG-13
Warnings (this chapter): Talk about suicide.
Spoilers: None
Summary: Halloween still clings to Pine Grove like cobwebs.
Chapter Summary: Laszlo evaluates Andy in the insane asylum.< /br> Date Of Completion: March 12, 2021
Date Of Posting: October 7, 2022
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, Universal does, more’s the pity.
Word Count (this chapter): 1530
Feedback welcome and appreciated.

The entire series can be found here.


II

"An Apple A Day..."

An apple a day

Keeps the doctor away.

So, what keeps the patient

Away?

Dr. Andrew Canby

"Poems For A Rainy Day"

1892 C.E.

Even though peak foliage season had passed, there were still spectacular views. Laszlo had engaged a carriage for the trip, and he and Julia spoke about past cases of Laszlo's. John listened while while watching the scenery pass by. The closer they got to Cloverdale, the edgier he felt.

Nonsense, really. There's nothing to be wary of. It was all a dream.

Wasn't it?

John was glad that his companions were absorbed in their conversation. He needed no perceptive observations right now, and he guessed that Julia was highly perceptive. He knew that Laszlo was.

Fragments of the dream had been wafting through other dreams. The dream that night they had spent in the Biggsby Mansion had been so vivid!

"Isn't that right, John?"

"Huh?"

Laszlo snapped his fingers imperiously. "Hello, John?"

John waved him off. "Don't be annoying, Laszlo."

"You see, Julia, he's in deep, dark thought."

John rolled his eyes. "Don't listen to him. Laszlo thinks he knows everything."

Julia smiled. "Don't worry; I'm well aware of Laszlo's teasing."

"He's a star vaudeville comedian. Or thinks he is."

Laszlo listened with amusement plainly on his face. Even the jolt of the carriage from a rut in the road did not shake him.

They arrived at the Breckinridge Insane Asylum late in the morning. When the carriage drove up to the entrance, the brass doors opened and a well-dressed, middle-aged man walked out, muttonchop whiskers bristling.

"Dr. Osling! How nice to see you again," Laszlo said as he alighted from the carriage. He helped Julia to step down.

"How nice to see you, Dr. Kreizler. And this must be Dr. Ogden?"

"Yes."

"How delightful."

John wryly noted that the lowly scribe was not even acknowledged. He came forward and held out his hand. "John Moore of The New York Times, sir."

Laszlo seemed amused and said, "Oh, yes, I forgot. My apologies, Mr. Moore."

John refrained from rolling his eyes. Julia stifled her laughter as they went inside the stone building.

The Breckinridge Insane Asylum was solidly built, but gloomy. There were few windows and less lighting in this building, and John shuddered. He was glad not to be a resident in this place.

Osling chatted with Laszlo as he led his visitors to his office. It was filled with stuffed owls, the taxidermy not so odd but the focus on owls only a bit peculiar.

"Sit down, gentlemen and Dr. Ogden." Osling sat down behind his desk while Laszlo and Julia took seats in front of the desk while John sat on the horsehair sofa. "You are here to evaluate John Doe."

"His name is Andy," John said.

Osling made a note. "I would judge him simply feebleminded, but he has been muttering some strange things."

"Such as?" Laszlo asked.

"Oh, about ghosts and shadows, even bodies hanging from trees."

John felt a jolt. "Are you sure?"

"Quite sure." Hiram Osling frowned. "Does his rambling mean something to you?"

"It might."

"We would like to see the patient," said Laszlo.

"Of course " Osling held up a finger. "But first you must know that he is a very frightened man. "

"We know that." John restrained his impatience. "We'll be careful."

Osling raised a bushy eyebrow. "Mr. Moore, I can only allow medical personnel to see John...Andy Doe."

"John will accompany us," Laszlo said. "He has a connection with the patient."

"Connection?"

"He established a rapport with the patient."

"Very well." Osling looked at John curiously. "Shall we see the patient?"

The group left the office and followed Dr. Osling through a maze of corridors. John's opinion of the place did not improve. Iron doors led to wards that he could only imagine.

Dr. Osling opened one of the iron doors with a key from a ring filled with keys. The door creaked open with a musty smell.

The corridor was even darker than the others. John shuddered again.

Poor Andy. If he wasn't crazy when he was first brought here, he might be by now.

Osling took another key and unlocked a door that was more narrow than the others. He pushed the door open and he and John went in first.

There was a tiny window up high in the wall, a cot suspended by chains, and a bucket in the far corner. In the opposite corner, Andy was huddled. He was shaking.

"Hello, Andy," John said softly.

Andy went very still, slowly opening his eyes. "J...John?"

"That's right, Andy." John smiled brilliantly. "Would you like an apple?"

The big man looked fearfully at Osling, who said, "Go ahead, Andy."

Surprised by the use of his name, Andy tentatively reached out for the shiny red apple in John's hand. He immediately began to devour it.

"This man is hungry," Julia said.

"Don't you feed your patients?" John asked with anger in his voice.

"Of course we do. Mr. Doe has refused our meals."

"What do you serve?" Julia asked.

"Nutritional meals."

"Gruel?" John snapped.

"Certainly not."

John knew institutions like this often skimped on food. Laszlo's Institute was the exception.

"Doctor, would you leave us, please?" Laszlo said.

Osling hesitated, then he said, "Of course," and left the cell. 

"Andy, this is Dr. Kreizler. Remember I said that he would be coming to visit you? Well, here he is "

John indicated Laszlo, who smiled. He had long practice setting jittery patients at ease. Andy allowed him to get close 

"Now, Andy, can you tell me what town you come from?" 

Andy blinked. He chomped on his apple, eyes flickering toward Julia. "I... can't remember."

"All right, what about your family? Do you remember them?"

Andy shook his head. His wild brown hair and beard were matted and he was dressed in the cotton pajamas issued to patients here. He wore scuffed slippers as he curled up his legs.

John stayed close as Julia sat on the cot. Laszlo continued his evaluation, finally steering it to the topic that John was most interested in.

"You said you saw ghosts," Laszlo said. "They were in the old mansion, correct?"

"Yes." Andy shuddered.

John squeezed Andy's arm. He felt the bigger man relax a little. 

"Did you stay in the mansion more than once?" asked Laszlo.

"I'm...not sure."

"Would you stay in a house filled with ghosts?"

"No!" Andy whimpered. "I dunno."

"What about the bodies you saw hanging from the trees?"

Andy shook his head. He curled up into a ball, and Laszlo stopped his questions. He gestured for John to follow him into the hall while Julia stayed with Andy.

"He is having delusions," Laszlo said quietly.

"Could be just nightmares."

"Perhaps, but it would not be wise to release him. He is too vulnerable, and I am not sure he is mentally stable."

"I'll bet he was abused in childhood. You know: big, simple, a prime target for bullies."

"Most likely."

"He's on his own, finds Pine Grove, and camps out there."

"You found evidence of that."

"Yes." John paced with his arms crossed. "He's talking about ghosts, Laszlo. Sara and I dreamed about ghosts. Andy spoke about bodies hanging from the trees. Sara and I dreamed that."

"You and Sara heard about the stories connected to Pine Grove. So did Andy. The three of you took the information from the subconscious and your dreams reflected that."

"What about his attack on Sara and me?"

"Dreams."

"I dreamed of Andy before I met him."

"What?"

"That's right, Laszlo. I dreamed about Andy before I ever met him. How do you explain that?"

Laszlo waved his hand dismissively. "You dreamed of someone similar to Andy."

"How can you say that?"

"I can assure you, John, there are no ghosts."

"How do you know?" John was feeling stubborn.

Laszlo shook his head. "You and Sara dreamed all of your adventures in Pine Grove, and so did Andy."

John blew out a frustrated sigh. "Laszlo, you just met the man "

"True."

"So?*

"So what?"

John rolled his eyes. "Laszlo..."

The doctor smiled. "I just don't want you getting caught up in fancy, John."

"What's so fancy about ghosts?"

"You know what I mean." Laszlo tapped his cane on the stone floor. "I will suggest that Julia work with Andy regularly before she starts her new job in Buffalo. If she can determine his sanity, he will be released."

"Where will he go?"

"That is a question. Perhaps you can arrange something."

John nodded slowly. "I just hate to have him here."

"I know, but he is safe here."

"I suppose."

Laszlo put a hand on John's shoulder. "He is "

John felt better, but he would be happier when Andy could leave this place.

Because I don't think he's crazy at all.

When they went back inside the cell, the two men were pleasantly surprised to see Julia talking to Andy, and he was listening.

Andy is in good hands.

He smiled at Julia.

Crossposts: https://bradygirl-12.livejournal.com/1537339.html

This chapter can also be read on AO3.