fandomtownies | Therapists' Office Hours, 11/11

Marty comes into Chenowith's office looking somewhat ill at ease. He's carrying two cups of coffe with him.

"Good morning. I uh... brought some coffee. Wasn't sure how you took it so..." Marty unloads from his pocket several packages of creamer and sugar.

"So um... is there swinging pocket watch involved in this?"

Brenda takes the coffee and sets it on the side of her desk. "Black is good," she says. "Thank you."

"Looook into my eyes," she jokes. "No, really it's mostly about focused meditation. Shouldn't be a big deal, just let me know if anything upsets you."

She gestures to the couch and overstuffed recliner in her office. Sit down or lie back, take off your shoes if it will make you more comfortable, and let me know when you're ready."

Marty chuckles as he sits down on the overstuffed chair and tries to relax.

"Okay... but if I start barking like a dog everytime someone rings a bell, I'm going to have to ask for my money back."

"No barking, no clucking. I think I can promise that."

She arranges herself in the chair across from him. "Close your eyes, Martin. You're outdoors, alone, in a place that makes you feel completely safe and secure. It's the most beautiful day you have ever seen. Where are you?"

Marty closes his eyes and starts to feel himself relax. A small smile crosses his face.

"I'm at the park. I'm sitting on the bench feeding the ducks. ~~No demon ducks seem to be around.~~"

Brenda's tone is warm.

"The sun is beating down on you, you can see the leaves on the trees flutter in slightly in the breeze, the ducks nibble at whatever you're feeding them. Stay there. Know that the universe loves and accepts you, in that moment, in that place. Nothing could possibly hurt you or upset you."

She waits for almost 30 seconds before speaking again. "Are you there?"

Marty looks very relaxed. "I am," he says quietly.

"Good," Brenda says. "Remember, as long as you stay there, nothing can upset you.

Now, think about the Thursday before Halloween. That's a long time ago, a very long time. It's almost like a movie you saw -- you're watching it from the park. Do you remember that night, walking with your friend Rory and her dog?"

Marty nods. "I remember. Rory was walking her dog and complaining about her father not talking to her. I'm trying to cheer her up when... when I hear something. A noise. Like someone is following us. I want to go take a look, but I don't want to leave Rory alone."

"That's good, that's good.

So you hear the noise. What do you do?"

"I... I don't do anything at first. I keep walking with Rory and talk about silly things while trying to see what is following us. It's only when Kitty shows up and starts talking with Rory that I leave them and tell them to get back to campus."

"Why do you leave them? What happens next?"

Marty appears to be tensing up. "I remember... hearing the noise again. I wanted them to get away. I remember going into an alley and seeing... him. He was following me for what I did to his friend. We argued..."

Marty starts to freeze up.

"It's okay. It's just a movie, you're watching it, it can't hurt you. You're feeding the ducks, remember?

Who is he? Is it Logan?"

Marty shakes his head, though you can't be sure to which question he's responding to.

"We're arguing about... something. He pulls out a box and we start to fight over it... I'm... I'm having trouble breathing."

Marty moves his hands to his neck as though reaching for something.

Brenda leans forward and gently puts one hand on his shoulder. "It's okay. You're arguing with this person ... and you can't breathe."

"Do you know why?"

[OOC: Wrong account twice in a row. I lose.]

Marty calms down a little. "Choking... being choked."

Marty begins to fidget. "There's the girl. Kitty. And a dragon. He stops and throws the box to the ground. I fall and I'm breathing again."

Brenda is picturing the scene in her mind, and it scares her. She's flipping a pen in her fingers so rapidly that it flies off across the room.

She hopes her client doesn't notice.

"Dear god," she mutters. Then, louder. "So Kitty came after you and this other person.

Do you think he's the one who hurt her?"

Marty doesn't appear to be listening. "Fog. Gas. It burns to breathe. Things... look different. He's holding Angela by her neck. It's him, but it isn't him."

Brenda watches him, worried. She writes the name Angela on her notepad.

"Marty, if you want to look away, come back to the park. You're safe. You're fine. Nothing can hurt you."

Marty begins to twitch a little. "He says I can't save them all. That I can't save any of them."

Marty winces and turns away and starts shuddering.

Brenda can tell the session is going out of control for Marty. She puts a hand on each shoulder and looks directly into his face.

"You aren't there. You're here. In my office. When I count backward from 10, you'll be back to the present. ten ... nine ... eight ... seven..."

As the count goes down to one Marty's eyes snap open. He's shivering a little and drenched in sweat.

"That Asshole!"

Brenda silenly fills a styrofoam cup with water and holds it out to him.

"It looked to me like you were remembering," she says. "And like you didn't hurt anyone. You were hurt."

She sighs. "I can't make you go to the police, Marty, but I would strongly recommend it."

Marty takes the cup and nods in thanks.

"I'm not so sure the police would believe an ex-hitman who happened to be at the site when it happened. Plus... I know what I saw, but is hypnosis that reliable in court?"

"Depends on the state and the judge. I don't know Virginia law," Brenda admits. "If Virginia law even applies here."

"I was thinking more about the way your story clears you. But you're right, it might not convince the police."

She flexes her hands.

"Do you ... did you recognize the asshole?"

"So far the police haven't had any entrance in me. As for the asshole? Yeah. I recognize him very well. We've already had a couple of run-ins, but handling him can be... tricky."

"I'm surprised you haven't heard from the police. I guess they must not believe you did it," Brenda says. "And now you should believe that, too."

Her tone sopftens. "You'll watch yourself, right?"

Marty nods. "I will. I've got too much riding on this to do anything otherwise."

Marty coughs.

"This isn't the end of our therapy sessions is it?"

Brenda raises one eyebrow and reads down her notebook. "Between your family and your job, and being a teenager? I think you could probably come see me for a very long time. No offense."

"Is next Wednesday okay?"

Marty chuckles at Brenda's accurate assessment.

"Wednesday is fine. Thank you Ms. Chenowith," Marty says as he gets up to leave.

"Thank you. And good luck with everything."

Brenda collapses into her desk after Marty leaves. She hates when her clients get into her head.

Therapists' Office Hours, 11/11

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