Chapter 5 - The Beginning of a lifelong Friendship
It was foggy in Forest Lane.
That was the first thing Doc Tilch noticed when he arrived. The air was cold and damp. The burned ruins were lined out against the black sky like the skeletal remains of a long-dead beast.
He saw a light in Alecto Fisher's window. She timidly waved and pointed at the ruins. He nodded and went in.
Burned wood crunched under his feet. Anybody else would've shivered, but the Doctor was too dead inside to bother. He glanced around. Nothing. At least for now.
He reached the former bedroom where they'd found the three skeletons and suddenly stopped dead in his tracks when he saw a hooded figure standing there with it's back to him. The stranger hadn't noticed him yet. That was good. It gave him time to sort his thoughts and carefully decide what to do next.
"Good evening," he finally said, after much hesitation.
The figure spun around and gasped. "Shit!"
He instantly knew he'd been right. This was not a ghost, and certainly not the arsonist.
It was Tammy who was pressed against the burned wall, her black hair wet and her dirty face full of scratches and fear. She was frail and obviously terrified, yet she clenched her fists and put on a brave face, like a homeless cat defending it's territory from an intruder.
"Don't fucking touch me, Fuckface!", she hissed.
"You're Tammy, aren't you?" The Doctor held his hands up. "I won't hurt you. I swear."
"Actually I go by Welle and they these days, so if you're gonna kill me at least don't fucking misgender and deadname me!" They bared their teeth.
"I'm sorry, Welle, it won't happen again," he quickly assured them. "But I'm not here to kill you. I'm here to help you."
They chewed their lip. He noticed how much they were shaking and that there was a large gash on their right shoulder.
"I don't even know who you are, Creep."
He held his hand out. "Doctor Terence Tilch. I'm part of the team investigating...all this."
They waved it off. "You can just say their deaths. And don't fucking say 'My condolence' or some shit. I know you don't mean it. Why are you here in the middle of the night anyway?"
"Alecto Fisher called us about a ghost haunting the house."
"Sounds like her." Welle shrugged and immediately hissed of pain.
Doc Terry stepped forward. "You're hurt."
"No shit, Sherlock?" Welle's voice was dripping with sarcasm.
"Can I take a look at it?", Doc Tilch asked.
"Whatever." Welle sighed and unzipped their hoodie. They flinched when Doc Tilch touched their shoulder.
"I won't hurt you," he whispered.
"You saw nothing!", Welle hissed.
"If something I do makes you uncomfortable please immediately tell me."
Welle nodded. "Whatever."
The Doctor examined the wound.
"It's nothing too serious, but you need stitches," he finally explained. "I have my medical equipment in the car. Do you mind coming along?"
Welle shook their head and shuffled outside after the Doctor. They stopped dead in their tracks when they saw the Rolls Royce.
"Is that a FUCKING Rolls Royce?!"
The Doctor nodded and couldn't stop himself from being a little proud. "In perfect condition since 1965. I'm the third owner."
"It's fricking gorgeous," Welle mumbled while the Doctor unlocked the car door and got his equipment.
He smirked. "Thanks. Do you mind sitting in the backseat while I stitch you up?"
"Sure thing." They slid into the car.
"What happens now?", Welle asked while the Doctor worked on their shoulder. "Am I gonna land in the nearest orphanage? Or at the police station, maybe?"
"No way I'm leaving you to the police. They're not trustworthy," the Doctor assured them.
A tiny smile stole onto Welle's dirty face. "Cops are pigs."
"Aye, that's something we agree on." The Doctor smirked. Welle sharply inhaled when he made another stitch.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he immediately apologized.
"I'm good." Welle gave him a thumbs up and flashed him a tiny grin.
"Tell me if you're uncomfortable."
"Anyway," the Doctor continued while making another stitch. "I would like to take you to my team so they can ask you a few questions. If that's okay for you."
"Of course not. On the contrary. We were all worried for you."
"Really?" Their eyes widened.
Welle chewed their lip for a moment.
"Okay, I'll answer y'all's questions," they finally agreed. "But what then?"
"Let's look at your situation. You are a minor, you're homeless, you have nobody to turn to and you're all alone. I propose a deal to you."
They chewed their lip. "What's the cons?"
"You don't seem like the type to just adopt random orphans, Lankenstein."
"I don't usually do this," the Doctor admitted. "But I don't think anyone else is going to put up with you."
"I don't think so either," Welle agreed.
"So it's sealed?" He held out his hand.
"Sealed." Welle shook it. They grinned. It was a tiny, tired and dirty grin. But it was sincere.
