AN: Just a quick note for those of you who don't know, Blackwell was a real insane asylum that existed in the late 1800s, and it's the same asylum that female journalist Nellie Bly went undercover and exposed how badly they mistreated their patients. It was ultimately shut down, but in this story, that never happened, and therefore it's still up and running. And I'm sending Jack there. So this'll be fun. But for now, enjoy the fluff.

The next day, Jack and Katherine had decided to go to the Lodging House and tell the boys what was happening, and they were less than pleased when they heard about Blackwell. There was a lot of confused shouting, and their reactions only worsened when they realized what this meant.

"My aunt got sent there, we ain't heard from her since." Buttons remarked, causing expressions of horror to form on the other boys faces.

"Then he ain't going." Race said with an air of finality, as if he was the one making this decision. "Why the hell does he need to anyway, just cause of a few nightmares?"

"We've all got those." Finch piped up, causing the other boys the murmur in agreement.

Jack exchanged glances with Katherine and sighed. "It's more than just nightmares fellas, it's worse than that. I need help and this is the only way I can get it."

Davey spoke up. "I don't know about this, Jack. What do we really know about places like that?"

Jack shrugged. "They don't want anyone finding out about the patients personal problems, doesn't mean they're doing bad stuff to them."

"It doesn't mean they're doing good stuff to them either."

"I wasn't sure about this either, Davey, but there's nothing else to do. And we have to do something."

Davey hesitated before looking at Jack. "Is it really that bad?"

"It's..." Jack still didn't like admitting weakness, but he figured he'd passed that point. "It's real bad, Davey."

"Okay." He said quietly, before pulling him into a hug. "Get better, Jackie."

Jack nodded and gave the boys a tight smile. He knew he should try to be reassuring, but he didn't have much reassurance in him at the moment.

oOo

"So, I figured while you're gone, I can still try do something about this." Katherine said a few nights later as she helped Jack pack his things. He looked over at her.

"What do you mean?"

"My plan is to visit that Veteran's Home they've just opened, and talk to some of the men there. Surely some of them have shell shock, too. I can talk to them and write about it. Even if The Sun won't publish it, I'll go to my father, if I talk long enough I'll manage to convince him."

Jack grinned and walked over, putting his arm around her. "Sounds great, so long as you still got time to visit me."

She gave him a quick kiss. "Always." He sat down on the bed, and she lowered herself down next to him. "How are you feeling? About all of this?"

He sighed. "I dunno. Nervous, I guess, but it's gotten worse, and it's gonna keep getting worse until we do something."

Katherine nodded, taking his hand in hers. "We should probably get to bed, Dr. Schaeffer's coming early tomorrow."

Jack nodded absently and the two of them prepared for bed. But, as usual, he didn't sleep.

oOo

The next morning, Katherine woke up to Jack gently shaking her shoulder. "Time to get up, Ace."

She opened her eyes, and her heart sank when she saw the still ever-present dark circles under his eyes.

"Any luck last night?"

Jack shook his head. "Didn't even try."

"Jack..."

"I can't, Kath, I see too much at night anyway, without trying to sleep."

Something in his tone told her not to push or asked any questions, so she just nodded.

Dr. Schaeffer arrived an hour later, and Jack and Katherine met him at the door.

"Are you ready to go, Jack?"

"Guess so."

The doctor glanced down at his bag. "I guess I forgot to mention this earlier... you can't bring anything with you."

Jack looked at him, surprised. "Nothing?"

Dr. Schaeffer shook his head. "They'll provide anything you may need, they don't want you bringing anything that could be a distraction to you or the other patients."

"Distraction from what?" Katherine asked, but the doctor didn't respond, so Jack just set his bag down inside the door.

The older man looked at the two of them. "I'll give you a minute to say goodbye, and meet you out in the car. Don't be too long."

He turned and left, and as soon as he did, Jack pulled his wife to him, and she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

"I love you." Katherine whispered, and he buried his face into her neck.

"Love you too." He muttered, his voice muffled slightly. He pulled back. "You'll visit?"

"Every chance I get." She said. They simply looked at each other, not wanting to let go, before sharing one last kiss.