FH Clinic, [2/24]

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

Susan, having got back from what was probably going to be her last trip to England in, well, ever, opened up her office and tried to get caught up on old paperwork. Hopefully one of her patients would stop by so they could catch up or re-schedule old appointments.



[here for an hour, then I can slowplay through the evening-- next week back on the regular office schedule!]

Comments

[janet_fraiser]

"Did we have an appointment yesterday?" asked Janet. She'd come in quietly, her backpack slung over one shoulder.


OOC: Slowplay is best for me.

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

Susan looked up and smiled hesitantly. "I don't believe so, although I apologize if we did. I had to return home unexpectedly, and I just returned today." She gestured to the nearest seat. "How are you, Janet?"

[janet_fraiser]

"I can't remember if we set up a second appointment either," said Janet. She dropped into the chair and shrugged. "I was just hoping I hadn't missed one. I'm okay. How was the flight?"

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"Better than the visit." Susan's smile was resigned, not happy, now. "But helpful. And I'm glad you're well." She studied Janet a moment, noting how subdued she was, and decided that that was an exaggeration; that Janet, who'd been so reluctant to enter therapy, was here again, hinted at something wrong, or at least a need to talk. "Would you like to schedule an appointment for Monday or Tuesday, next week? And would Sam be joining us, do you think?"

[janet_fraiser]

"Shouldn't you be overjoyed at going home again?" asked Janet, a touch dryly. She thought she might have recognized the signs of someone who didn't feel they belonged at what used to be home. "Tuesday, maybe," she said. "Sam will probably be here. I'll ask her."

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

After playing with the marshmallow guns (http://community.livejournal.com/fandomhighdorms/480752.html), Cameron headed down to the clinic. He still wasn't looking forward to this, but at least his mood had improved since last week. He knock on the doorframe and stuck his head inside the office.

"Yo, doctor Pevensie."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"Cameron! It's good to see you. How are you doing?" Susan cocked an eyebrow at him. "You missed your appointment last week."

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"I'm seeing life in black and white. Literally," Cameron replied. "Uh yeah, I'm sorry about cancelling so short notice."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"It's quite all right, I know that things come up. Although I hope it was just a time conflict, and not a wish to avoid talking to me." She blinked. "Black and white? Have you seen a doctor?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"I did, but he thinks it's a magic thing." He shifted a bit on his feet and shrugged. "Does it help that I was just avoiding talking in general and not just you?"

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"I hope that someone manages to fix that, then," Susan said, slightly worried still. "Ahh. One of those weeks. I don't know anyone who hasn't had one. Was there any one cause, or was life just overwhelming you?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"I hope so too," Cameron sighed and took a seat on one of the chairs. "Uh, Vala and I broke up?"

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, that would do it. "I'm sorry to hear that," Susan said gently. "How are you coping?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"I'm past the getting drunk stage," Cameron offered, because he did find that an improvement. As did his head thank you and the urge to sing tingel-a-ling was pretty much gone to. For the most part.

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"That's always the part that's easiest to handle." Shaking her head, Susan said, "Was it an ugly break-up, or will you two be attempting to stay friends?"

[must go, back in a few hours...]

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"It wasn't ugly," Cameron frowned. "I don't think so anyway, just painful. We both came to the same conclusion and... I don't know. I'd like to not lose her completely, but it might be too hard to pretend we're just friends."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"And what conclusion was that?" Susan offered him the jar of candy, then put it down, watching him with concern.

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"That in the end we don't have a future," Cameron replied slowly.

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

Susan tilted her head. "Is this because you want different things, or because your personalities no longer mesh? I ask only because I'm trying to understand how this happened, and how it might effect you."

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"It's because I want to be a fighter pilot and she'll be out there," he motioned to the window, "and neither one of us is prepared to give any of it up for the other. I guess that says enough."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

Susan took a moment to analyze that, then nodded slowly. "I could say something about how high school relationships are not meant to last forever-- but if it's effecting how you deal with one another now, and you can't find a way to compromise, then there's more at stake." She smiled slightly. "Are you dealing well with each other in classes, and around the campus?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"It's weird, we haven't really talked." He shrugged, ignoring the whole not meant to last thing as that had been driven home enough by now. "We'll have to eventually as History's holding a mock trial and the teacher signed me up as plaintif in a case against her." He grimaced a bit.

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

Susan nodded. "Let's talk about that. What's the worst-case scenario you envision for that situation? How do you want to handle it?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"I'm not sure," he shrugged. "Just try to get it over with, I suppose. Worst-case? It will be like we never had anything? I honestly don't know what to expect, I'd kinda prefer to stick my head in the sand for just a little while longer and deal with it when it comes."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"And there's nothing that says that's not a valid way of coping for a little while. What I want you to think about is anything that would make dealing with Vala in classes more difficult-- what if she dates someone else? What if you do?-- and how you'd cope with that." Susan leaned her head on her hand. "How are things with your parents at the moment?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

All he knew was that it'd get awkward, but he's happy to not consider it further for now and concentrated on her last question. "They're good. They think this is more healthy for me or something. Whatever keeps them happy."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"And why do you say that?" Susan asked, raising her eyebrows.

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

He frowned. "Because they've got enough to deal with without having to worry about my lovelife."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"It's your life, Cameron," Susan pointed out carefully. "Yes, they care, and yes, it effects them. But ultimately, the choices you make for yourself should be guided more by what you need, than what your parents need. I know that's not the case here-- you and Vala were already having problems-- but another source of stress for you could be living up to your parents' expectations. Keep it in mind."

She quirked her lips at him. "I notice you haven't mentioned the meditation CD, or any of the exercises. I take it they didn't do much for you."

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"Uh," he ducked his head and blushed a little. "I kinda tried, but it drove me up the walls. I should give it another go, I guess."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"It's all right, Cameron. I know you like being physically active, so perhaps that wasn't the method that would work for you," Susan said. "I do have an alternative suggestion, if you feel like you're organized enough to keep a journal?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

He scratched the back of his neck. "Journal as in daily writing down what I'm thinking?"

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"Not what you're thinking, so much as any dreams you remember, and what you're doing for exercise," Susan suggested. "I know you like to use work out as a means of working out stress; I'd just like to check that against any stress dreams that you're having, and see if it's working. Would that be acceptable?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"A dream journal?" Cameron shifted a bit nervously. He knew what dreams he was having, just wasn't sure how much he could say. Then again, if she thought it were just dreams that couldn't do much harm, right. "Yeah, I can do that."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"Splendid." Susan pulled a blank journal out of her bookcase, and handed it to him. "If it's too personal, feel free to just give me the general idea. Write down when and how much exercise you got on the left-hand page; and the dreams on the right. We'll compare it next week, to see if it's helped you at all."

"Anything else new this week? Any that's increased or decreased your stress levels?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"Molly declared war on me with marshmallow guns, it was fun." Cameron said and he decided that bringing up shameless flriting or movies in brothels might not be the best topic.

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

Susan smiled a bit more brightly. "That's excellent. How are your classes going? Any conflicts with anyone? You're physically healthy now?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"Beside the black and white thing? The shoulder's better." He frowned. "Uh, no conflicts so much as... scaring the crap out of someone apparently, but he kinda deserved it."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"How so?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"Some kid decided it was a good idea to rresearch dating by dating a couple of girls at the same time and by being an idiot about it and not telling them it was a date. I kinda gave him a warning about it which according to Angel scared him," he shrugged.

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"And you don't think he was actually scared?" Susan asked. "Or you think that he *should* be scared? The situation does sound like he was in the wrong. I'm just trying to ascertain what you were trying to accomplish, precisely."

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"I thought he was being an idiot so I went to talk to him. He didn't want to listen so I kinda got mad," he held up his hands. "I didn't intend to give him the scare of his life, but if he's thinking twice about doing something that stupid again, I guess it worked either way. I don't think raising your voice is exactly menacing, it's not like I hit him or anything."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

Susan sighed, wondering how much of this confrontation she was getting. "Why did Angel say you had scared him? Specifically?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"I have no clue," Cameron replied sheepishly as he had been a bit too pissed off at Angel to really ask. "Something about me being bigger?"

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

Susan cocked one eyebrow at him. "Ah. So did you actually need to yell at him to make your point? I don't doubt that there was some intervention needed. Or that perhaps he wasn't taking the situation seriously." She pursed her lips. "But you know that your own break-up might have been influencing your reactions."

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"I do," Cameron sighed and shrugged. "At least I didn't hit him."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"Cameron, any situation where you walk out of it saying 'at least I didn't hit him' is perhaps one that should be avoided in the future. All right?" She shook her head, then smiled slightly. "I think we're done for this week, unless there's anything else you want to discuss. Just remember to write in your journal, and to track your exercise. Okay?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"Will do," Cameron said getting up already before replying. "Uh, I think I'm kinda good for now. Thanks, doc."