Counseling Hours Wednesday 3-6 PM

[master-of-fear.livejournal.com]

Jonathan isn't feeling nearly as out of sorts this week as he was last week. It's time to get back to his responsibilities and the clinic was one of them. He's ready and willing to help anyone. With Parent's Weekend having just past and this business with the missing student, Jonathan expects to be busy.

Comments

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Beka rolled her head on her shoulders before knocking on the door. This was bound to be awkward, but at least no one would think it odd, with all the tension and fear, that she wanted to see a therapist. "Hello?"

[master-of-fear.livejournal.com]

"Ms. Valentine!" Jonathan says, trying to remain professional, "Please come in and have a seat, how can I help you?"

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Ah, hey." Beka looked bemused, but sat. "Actually... Before we begin, I need to ask, is your office completely confidential? What needs to be addressed...I can't allow an audience. Of any kind."

[master-of-fear.livejournal.com]

"I have to keep an official record for the clinic's files," he tells her raising his eyebrows.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

She laughed softly. "Oh, I think that'll be fine." Jonny, Jonny. I trust your official records. It's the cameras and tape recorders I'm worried about.

[master-of-fear.livejournal.com]

"Good then, we should talk, what seems to be bothering you?" he asks, not reminding her that there aren't any in the clinic for confidentiality reasons.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"It's not me, actually. It's my roommate." She offered a wry smile. "I know you must hear that a lot, as an opener. In this case, it happens to be true. There's been some trouble with her. Angelus suggested you might be able to help me." That must come in handy for office trysts.

[master-of-fear.livejournal.com]

"Okay, so how can I help 'your roomate'?" he asks. You'd have to ask House and Wilson, unless you meant you and me, cause then, yes, definately comes in handy

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"My roommate or more precisely, my sub has been through a series of severe emotional traumas. First, a dear friend she watched die appeared her at FH. Then that same friend announced she was dating my roommate's dead brother." Beka paused, trying to force back the pain of the entire situation. She caught her breath again, and continued. "She fell in love. And the jackass couldn't accept her demon side. This nearly broke her. But then as an after effect of one of Drusilla's classroom exercises, she spent days staring at herself in mirrors, watching her form shift between worlds. This did break her."

She stood, pacing angrily. "She got detention for not attending classes. She can't sit through detention."

[master-of-fear.livejournal.com]

Jonathan nods, "Okay, what exactly did you come to me for?" he asks.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Aside from to get you talking to me again, you mean? "The Dean suggested that if she had a note from a therapist it would get her out of the detention and also excuse her from other absences until she got straightened out." Beka sighed and moved around to the side of the desk. "Between me and you? She's cracked. And I drew the job of fixing her. But she can't do therapy right now. If I bring her by to see you..." Her voice grew softer. "Would you write her that note?"

[master-of-fear.livejournal.com]

"Sure, have her come by and we'll talk and I'll give you the note," he tells her, "but I want her coming back when she's ready. It doesn't do anyone any good to rush therapy and if she can't handle school right now, fine she needs to be excused, but I want your assurances that when she is ready, she'll get it.

I know the kind of people you're likely to be sticking your neck out for Beka, it doesn't make her any less tough to need to talk to me, or to some other professional. She's still a badass, she just needs help. Promise me you'll make sure she gets help?" he asks, looking her in the eyes for the first time in forever. This is clearly important to him.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Clearly tired, and maybe to a practiced eye looking frayed around the edges, Beka sighed. "It's not like that. It's not that I think she'd be less badass. It's...complicated. Very. There are things she can't ever talk about. But she does need to talk about the rest of it."

She met his gaze, directly and without challenge. "I promise she'll get help. Professional help."

[master-of-fear.livejournal.com]

"Okay then, I have counseling hours again on Saturday and Sunday. Have her stop by," he tells her

"And Becka, don't think you can ask me to do this all the time. I have no problem helping out a friend once in a while, especially if they really need it, but I have no intention of being a convenient excuse for you and your friends not to do their homework."

Jonathan hopes he doesn't sound insensitive, he just takes what he does seriously.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Listen, Jonathon, it's really not like that. This is an emergency. Illyana got in a bunch of trouble elsewhere and we're still sorting it all out. This is part of it," she said, no question but that she's telling the truth.

"It takes a lot for me to ask for help. Thank you." It's clearly an apology.

[master-of-fear.livejournal.com]

"I'm just making sure we're clear Beka, it's how we avoid misunderstandings in the future.

No problem, I'll see you later," he tells her, standing up.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"We're clear. And if... I don't care for debts, Jonathon, or favors given for favors owed. But I consider you a friend. Or I'd like to. You know who I am, so you know what I mean when I say I've got your back too. Don't worry about Marty. He's otherwise occupied right now, but I've got your back until that toxin actually kills someone. We clear?" Beka's smile is, perhaps, friendlier than usual.