“You can’t have these damned discussions with them during their regular therapy sessions?” Coin asked, then turned back to Casey. “So, between office hours and group, my guess is it’s closer to forty-eight or fifty hours a week he’s putting in at Rainier.”
Joshua shot him an annoyed glance. “It’snotthat much!”
“Damned close. And that’snotcounting all the time he spends doing psych evals at the courthouse or appearing in court as an expert witness,ordoing lectures over at UVA for the psych department…”
“Colin, don’t be so damned…” Joshua blurted, trying to interrupt him.
“…or toiling over his computer writing articles forPsychology TodayorThe Psychologists Bowling Leagueor whatever the fuck!” He turned to look at his husband. “He doesnotwork a forty-hour week. And since he went back to work full-time, it’s grown progressively worse.”
Casey arched his eyebrows and peered at his patient. “Josh? This is not a good idea.”
“Look, Adam—”
“I was reluctant to give the OK for you to return to work as soon as you did! And I only did it with the stipulation that you’d take it easy.”
“I onlyjustwent back on full-time!”
“Full-time is forty hours a week,” Colin pointed out. “Not fifty or sixty.”
“Colin!”
Colin peered at him and shrugged.
“Do youhaveto rat me out to my doctor?”
“Josh,” Adam said, interrupting their argument, “why do you want to push it this way? Youknowthe dangers. Why risk more serious side effects?”
“I haven’t hadanyside effects!”
“Yet,” Colin muttered.
“Well, actually, you have. I’m not happy with some of your baseline concussion test results. Thoseareside effects.”
“SEE?” Colin exclaimed, pointing to Adam Casey.
“I’m leaving you home next time!” Joshua snapped.
“Fat fucking chance ofthat!” Colin told him, then turned to their doctor. “How was his CT scan?”
“It was fine, just like always. That’s not the problem.” He scooted his chair closer to the gurney where Joshua sat. “Have you had any new symptoms?”
Joshua quickly looked at Colin, who had moved to stand beside him. “Josh, for the love of god, tell the damned truth!”
Joshua shot him another sidelong look, his brown eyes shooting sparks, and then he puffed out a sigh and turned to face his doctor. “I’ve been having some trouble concentrating,” he confessed. “I’ve been trying to write an article for ‘Psych,’ and it’s not going well.” He glanced at Colin, then grimaced. “I can’t focus.”
“Anything else?” Adam asked. “Come on, Josh!” he added. “I need to know.”
“Well, you know I still have occasional dizzy spells.”
“Anything else?”
Joshua frowned and stared at the floor, and Colin saw his mouth twitch. He cupped Joshua’s chin in his hand and lifted his head. “Honey, is there anythingelse?”
“Fuck!” Joshua blurted, then met his doctor’s eyes. “This will sound stupid.”
“Tell me anyway,” Casey insisted.
“I just feel…” He coughed a frustrated breath as if unable to find the right word. “Foggy!I feel foggy, like I’m just not banging on all cylinders.”
