Chapter 90: It’s just a normal visit
"Andrew. Andrew! Deep, deep breaths. Come on. You can do that for me." Andrew’s vision swam as panic filled him. The way Michael was talking to him felt like he was three worlds away. He knew that Michael was speaking to him, but he couldn’t get his body to respond.
His body wasn’t responding to any of his commands. He could barely see even though he knew he had glasses on. The raspy, harsh breaths that were filling his ears had to be his own, but he couldn’t believe it. Did he normally sound like that?
"Fuck. Alright, get one of the guards. He has a plastic bag. I need it." Michael ordered, and Andrew felt his hands on his shoulders. "Keep trying to breathe. In and out. Come on Andy." Andrew wanted to tell him that he was doing his best, that his body wasn’t responding to him, but he couldn’t even do that.
"Dr. Smith. Is...this what you were talking about?" It was the woman from before. The dental assistant.
"Ah, perfect. Give that to me." In a second, Andrew heard a bag open before a familiar, comforting scent filled his nostrils. "Slow, deep breaths, Andy. That’s it. There we go." Andrew’s vision cleared up, and the first emotion he felt after the panic subsided was an overwhelming amount of embarrassment.
Michael was grinning at him as he held up the handkerchief that was covered in Maxwell’s scent. He knew he must have a strange appearance. Only a few seconds ago he must have been pale, and sweating, and now he was flushed. Andrew took the handkerchief from Michael, his hands still shaking and kept it against his nose. Michael chuckled.
"If that’s what works, let’s use it. Can you get into the chair now?" Andrew nodded, the embarrassment at the situation, and the solution, enough to overwhelm his own panic. Shuffling over, Andrew slowly got into the chair, leaning back with the handkerchief covering his nose. The dental assistant came into view, her facial expression a little tense, but a smile still on her face.
"Can we flip that up so that I can check your teeth?" She asked, and Andrew nodded. He decided to cover his eyes and glasses with the handkerchief. Not because he had any issues going to the dentist, but more because he didn’t want to see the disgusted expression on her face when she saw his mouth.
After that, everything went smoothly. The dental assistant did everything she needed to, Andrew didn’t freak out again, and when it came time to make molds of his teeth and take x-rays, he sat up and shook like a leaf. Michael was there, offering his support as they did so. Andrew felt like he was barely holding onto a thin strand connected to his sanity.