Title: Champagne Wishes and Betty Dreams
Pairing: Daniel/Betty
Rating: K+
Summary: After the incident with Renee, Daniel closes himself off to everyone - including Betty.
Timeline: AU; Takes place sometime after the Season 2 episode "Burning Questions" but before "Betty's Baby Bump".
Disclaimer: I'm sorry to say that I neither own the show nor any of its characters. (But in this fic, the doctor is my creation.)
A/N: I came up with bits and pieces of this fic sometime ago, but I'm only posting parts of it now. After watching "Burning Questions", I wanted to delve more into Daniel's psyche and how Betty's words affected him. (I needed more than what they gave us in "Betty's Baby Bump".) This is not meant to be a long fic - just long enough to get to the heart of Daniel's problem.
Unfortunately, the ideas for this fic (and one other) have prevented me from finishing the last chapter of "Snuggling Charles Dickens"! But if any of my old, faithful readers are reading this note, please know that I will finish that story. I would never abandon that fic, since I think of it as my first "baby". :) The ideas are there - they just have to make their way to paper. (The same can be said of "A Partridge and A Parasitic Weed". I will be finishing that one, as well.) And thank you again to all who are still leaving me reviews for "SCD" and my other fics! Your words never fail in giving me that extra dose of encouragement.
Chapter 1: Doctor's Orders
"Daniel. Daniel? Are you alright?"
The sound of Dr. Avery's concerned voice broke into Daniel's silent reverie, causing him to glance up for the first time in five minutes.
"I'm sorry…I guess I was lost in my thoughts again." Blinking, Daniel shook his head and recalled his present location. "What were you saying?"
The gray-haired, elderly doctor peered at Daniel over the rim of his glasses. "I asked if you were okay," he repeated once again as he tapped his pen against his hand. "I'd like to help you, but you haven't done anything for the last several minutes except stare at your lap and twiddle your thumbs."
"I know." Daniel sighed lightly with exasperation as he ran his right hand over the back of his neck. "I…I just wanted someone to talk to, but…I…I guess this isn't as easy as I thought it would be."
"It rarely is." Sitting forward in his chair, the doctor brought his fingers together in a steeple formation over his desk. It was the second time within the week that the young editor-in-chief had dropped by his office, and yet, he could hardly speak when given the chance. Instead, their conversations had turned into very short question-and-answer sessions, with mostly 'yes' and 'no' answers given on Daniel's part. Of course, there were a few times when Daniel seemed on the verge of saying much more, but those moments died out as soon as they came.
Still, Dr. Avery knew that all Daniel needed was time – and a good ear to hear him out.
"Look, you've been going through a lot lately, Daniel," he continued on, hoping to keep the conversation going. "You've been working long nights lately, and now you're trying to deal with the aftermath from last week's fire. So, it's understandable if everything seems muddled for you right now."
"Well, I guess so. But it's just that I've never had this problem before." With his jaw clenched, Daniel softly gnawed on his lower lip. "I guess it's…I don't know – maybe…frustration? Yeah. That's it. That's probably the best word for it." Leaning forward, he buried his face in his hands and took a deep breath before gazing up at the doctor apologetically. "I'm sorry to be taking up your time like this. I know that you're just my physician, and this is definitely not in your job description. "
"It's not a bother, Daniel." Dr. Avery shook his head and smiled sympathetically. "I may be your doctor, but I'm still a friend – to you and your family. Still, you do have a point." Slowly, he took off his glasses and proceeded to wipe at them with the edge of his lab coat. "Like you said, I am just a physician. I do a better job at curing physical scars, not emotional ones."
Daniel watched the doctor as he calmly pocketed his glasses and rose to his feet.
"With everything that's been going on in your life lately, I think it would do you some good to sit down with someone who could really help you sort through all of this – like a therapist, for instance."
"Uh, no…I mean, I don't think I'll be needing one right now," Daniel laughed nervously. "I just need to talk with someone that I feel comfortable with, and I'm sure that talking with a perfect stranger won't help."
Dr. Avery eyed him skeptically as he came around his desk to face him. "Well, I don't know about that, Daniel. I know some excellent therapists who are quite adept at being sensitive to these matters…but alright," he conceded quickly, before Daniel could interrupt in further protest. "Let's hold off on the therapists – for now. But let's consider some other alternatives."
Daniel watched him curiously. "Like what?"
"Well," the doctor's voice drifted thoughtfully, "in times like this, it often works wonders to have a few close loved ones to talk to – like family. Have you ever considered sharing your feelings with your mother and Alexis?"
"Are you kidding?" scoffed Daniel incredulously. "I can't talk to them about this?! I'm sorry, Dr. Avery, but you know how my family is. My mother would have me penciled in with her therapist for a 'mother-and-son' session by tomorrow morning! And Alexis? God only knows how many self-help books she has stashed away in her office – and I know she's waiting for just the right moment to push them on me. There's no way that I'm walking into that with both eyes open." He shook his head defiantly. "I mean, how exactly will reading a book about getting in touch with your 'inner woman' help me? You know, it's one thing if she had books that I can relate to, but nowadays, it's all about men being from Mars and women living on Neptune…or…I don't know, something like that."
"Yes – yes, I see." The doctor laid a finger over his mouth in a subtle attempt to mask the amused smile on his face. After years of being a Meade family friend, he knew all too well that Daniel was certainly speaking the truth. No doubt, Claire and Alexis would try to help him in their own loving way, but at present, would that be enough to get him to open up about his troubles? Probably not, mused the doctor.
Once again, Dr. Avery looked up and found his patient looking very much like a lost little boy, sulking in his seat. What other options were there? From what he knew, Daniel didn't have many close friends, but he certainly needed one right now. Considering his current state of mind, this person couldn't be just anyone. It had to be someone who would make him feel comfortable – someone who would understand just where he's coming from.
Ah.
As he crossed his arms over his chest, Dr. Avery slowly leaned back against his desk and thoughtfully considered the next name that entered his head.
"Daniel, what about that assistant of yours – Betty Suarez?"
The doctor watched as Daniel silently glanced up at him with mild surprise.
"She seems to know you quite well – at least, that's what I've gathered from talking to you during your regular check-ups," continued the doctor after a short pause. "You seem to mention her every so often, so I assume that you're also good friends?"
"Um…yes," Daniel nodded with a small shrug. "We are."
"Have you talked to her about what you're going through?"
"Well…no, not really," replied Daniel hesitantly. "Actually, I don't think this is something that I could talk to her about."
Dr. Avery frowned. "Why not? She was there when you were going through this whole incident. In fact, wasn't she in the middle of it – especially with the fire?"
"No – I mean, yes she was, but…I don't know."
To Dr. Avery's surprise, Daniel started shifting uncomfortably in his seat again – more so than when he first entered the room. It was quite apparent that he had hit a nerve in the young man by mentioning Ms. Suarez's name.
"What I'm going through is complicated…and um…yeah, I don't think that she would understand, to be honest."
"Well, I beg to differ, Daniel," the doctor replied gently. "The best way to tackle a problem is usually to get right to the heart of it and nip it in the bud. And since your assistant was directly involved in this situation with you and your ex-girlfriend, I think she is the one person who would understand what you're going through most of all. It certainly appears to me that you have a lot to get off of your chest." He paused and gave Daniel a knowing look. "You need to talk to her."
With his elbows resting on each side of the chair, Daniel clenched his hands together in deep thought over the suggestion before slowly shaking his head. "I can't do that."
For a moment, Dr. Avery said nothing as he dove into his coat pocket and retrieved his glasses. "Daniel, you need to talk to Betty – and eventually, you will talk to her about this. Consider this doctor's orders," he added, as he slowly replaced his glasses on the bridge of his nose. "It's either this, or I could recommend a good therapist to your mother."
With a slight grimace on his face, Daniel let out a deep sigh and leaned forward in his seat, hoping to appeal to the doctor's sympathies one more time. "But…I don't even know where to start! How do I even start a conversation about this? It's just…you know, this is a really touchy subject. Just look at me right now – I can't even get the words out when I'm discussing this with you! How much more when I'm talking to her?"
"Don't worry too much about that. Believe me, the words will come when you're ready," Dr. Avery assured calmly. "You'll just have to find the right moment to broach the subject – and when it's there, take it."
"But how will I know if the time is right or not?"
With a small, cryptic smile on his face, the old doctor straightened up and gave Daniel a reassuring pat on the shoulder before returning to the chair behind his desk. "When it feels right, you'll know."