Hesitant Alien.

“I don’t know how to make them quake in their boots, it’s okay the way it is. For now.”

“Okay, if you say so,” Nathan says with a smile, not wanting to push. “I can still make you food though.”

Arthur stops in his tracks when he hears the familiar voice and turns to find the man hustling towards him. “I probably have answers,” he beams as the man approaches. “I have questions for you, too.”

His eyes widen, thrilled by the response, but is sure to chirp in with “me first!” Nathan reaches into his back pocket, frowning intensely whilst he digs around for a paper folded into it’s tiniest possible form, then grabs a pen from his breast pocket. “Could you sign a permission form to let me be your peer support for two whole weeks? We can snack and talk at the same time. I can make you coffee too.”

“Intern-Doctor?” She looks him up and down, inspecting his suit, trying to figure out how serious he was.

“Well... Perhaps that was a bit of an exaggeration,” Nate admits. “Peer support. I get to help you like a therapist except I’m not qualified, not getting paid, and I’m also in much need of therapeutic support. Ain’t that fun?”

“Look, Doc. I already told you-“ Jack turns around to address the man, a look of confusion on his face when he realizes who it is. "Nate?" 

His grin only widens as he continues to pace towards him. It seems as if he’s about to walk right into him until Nathan holts right at the last second, practically nose-to-nose. “That’s me,” he assures. “How are you?”

He seems a bit thrown off by the other man’s actions but gives him a smile anyway and shakes the offered hand. “Nice to meet you too, Nathan.” Charlie tilts his head to the side a bit, “You said you had questions?”

“So many question.” Nathan nods enthusiastically. “Like... Charlie is okay, right? Because I know that you you might not be a fan of Charles. Oh, but don’t worry, I’ve not read your file. I’m not allowed. But I was just warned that Charles is touchy. I get that. I don’t like Nathan but sometimes I don’t like Nate. I’m very particular with... Anyway.” He shakes his head to snap out of it. “Which would you prefer? Calling you Charlie without asking feels... Yucky. Ya know?”

“Great! Thank you so much!” Billy grins. “I’m not sure if I need to talk about my demons though, they’re fine.”

“Fine? Fine?” Nate tuts as he shakes his head, unimpressed. “That won’t do, you’re demons should be quaking in their boots, not fine.”

“Oh, that’s so nice! I like cheese toast. Can we get toasts?”

“Yes, I can do that!” Nate nods. “And then when you eat it we can go into my borrowed office and talk about all of your demons.”

“That sounds nice. You should make our lunches extra good when you get to help.”

“I will, I promise. What’s your favourite kind of sandwich? Give me a wink next time you’re getting lunch and I’ll make it just for you.”

“Oh, wow! I didn’t even know you could be an intern here,” Billy exclaims excitedly. “So you get an office and everything? What job do you do here? It has to be important when you look this good.”

“Peer support, I think. I get to be a therapist except I have no qualifications and I don’t get paid. But I get to help make the lunches sometimes too. That's fun.”

As the man takes a few steps back, Billy looks him up and down. “You look great. Really great.” He pauses, raising an eyebrow. “Why do you look so great? What’s the occasion?”

“I’m an intern now!” He does a spin. “... Sort of. I’m a peer... Something. This is just my suit but, look! They got it dry-cleaned. Pretty neat, huh? And I get to office hop. If an office is empty I can pretend it’s mine.”

Stella gives the other patient a bewildered, but amused look, “Me? Do I even know you?”

“No, you most certainly do not.” Nathan beams as he straightens up his suit jacket. “I’m Nathan Rillage. Doctor Nathan Rillage. Intern-Doctor Rillage. You can call me Nathan.”

“Oh, hey there.” The tapping of his fingers increase slightly as the other man approaches before subsiding completely, confusion crossing his features, “What kind of questions?”

Even after the man’s compulsion subsides, Nate squats down at his side to point at the man’s fingers as he inspects them closely. “I saw that!” He seems proud of himself as he tilts his head up to look up at Charlie from his crouching position and holds a hand up for him to shake. “Nathan, I-- oh.” He shakes his head when he realises he’s still not stood back up, and hops back up from the ground, clearing his throat. He offers his hand again for a shake and tries again. “Nathan Rillage. Lovely to meet you, Charlie.”

Josh recognises the voice right away and looks right to see the familiar face. His mouth stretches into a grin, almost laughing as Nate paces over to him and waits until the older man is close to pull him into the tightest hug possible.

Not expecting the embrace, Nate’s hands hover in the air for a moment until he catches up to what’s happening. “Woopsie,” he chimes as he lowers his arms to return to hug, “okie dokie.”

“Me?” Billy asks shocked, pointing at himself as he looks behind him in case the man wasn’t talking to him. “What questions?”

“You!” Nate grins and stops suddenly when he’s just a few inches away. “And, well, a few other people too... But you’re one of ‘em!” The man takes a few steps back again and gestures to himself. “Firstly, do you like my suit? Too much? Not enough? Do I need a vest? Please, be honest.”