TITLE: Therapy

PART 1/Chapter 1 AUTHOR: Verinthalia DISCLAIMED: Town and Character owned by Joss and ME, except Jule She is mine RATING: at this point nothing stronger than ice tea but eventually R STORY PREMISE: Finally there is a good therapist in Sunnydale

This was published earlier, but I was unhappy with a lot of the character interaction, and some of the actions, so please read. Love reviews. Will continue, some chapters will be long others short, I write in 'scenes' like the show. If you wish to offer advice or critique please do not do so anonymously, I'd like to talk it over with you. I do not flame or rant. This is my first fanfic, but not my first authoring of fiction. I'm trying to follow the show's story line and include all the characters in sessions.

Buffy and Tara sat at the research table at 'The Magic Box', discussing Dawn's actions and reasons at the birthday party.

"Dawn really needs to talk to a therapist but what good would it do? They would only haul her off to the funny farm if she told the truth, and the talking in metaphors stuff would just get in the way of any real help" Buffy sighed.

"N-no I think I know Sssomeone who could be of help" Tara offered.

"Who some sort of demon therapist?" Buff moaned.

"No NO really, she's very human and just opened a practice about 2 doors from here, Her name is J. M. Thalia. I met her at the coffee shop and she said how much she admired pure wiccans, straight off, "

Buffy giggled "well I'd say that too if someone told me they were."

"I-I-I didn't tell her, she just knew it as soon as she shook my hand. I ask her how, and she said that she knew. We talked about how nice Sunnydale was, and she surprised me by saying that the reason she moved here was b- b- because it was on a hellmouth."

"Oh, and Fabulous,"Buffy gapped at Tara, "She's probably here to try and reopen it."

"I don't think so," Tara sighed, "She told me she walked away from an organization that tracks the supernatural, because they didn't agree that demons needed and deserved therapy as much as humans."

"OH oh oh," blurted Buffy, "Maybe I should get Dawn an appointment with her, She just down the street you said?"

"Uh huh".

Buffy walked out of the 'Magic Box' and down the street, there she saw a small store front with a sign in the window that read

J. M. Thalia

Licensed Psychologist & Therapist
Specializing in
Individual Couples and Families
Of all species

Buffy shook her head, took a deep breath and entered the door to the jangle of bells. She looked around and liked the homey atmosphere; there were plants, comfy looking chairs and a neat little desk with new computer sitting on it, standing in front of a partially closed door. Just then a very pleasant alto voice called from the back "Just a moment" and then she heard crisp footstep approach from the back, the door swung open an a middle-aged woman who stood about 5'6 with auburn hair entered the reception area.

"Good morning! May I help you?" the woman asked.

"Um uhu, I hope so", stammered Buffy, damn something about her remind me of both mom and Giles she extended her hand to be firmly shaken and said, "I need to set an appointment for my sister."

"I am Dr. Thalia, and Of course, Slayer, and when would be the best time?" she responded.

"What did you call me, "?

"Slayer or would you rather I called you Ms. Summers? You are Buffy Summers aren't you?"

"How did you know that?" Buffy's eyes flashed.

"I have precognitive ESP, and well as tactile empathy"

"HUH!"

"That means all I have to do is shake you hand to read who you are"

Buffy gave her head a quick shake and stammered, "So you can read my mind?"

"No No not at all, I only catch your surface thoughts, you public identity as it were."

"Oh, I though I mean I, um wouldn't that mean that you patient didn't need to see for as long, how do you support your self like that?"

"Well no it doesn't really cut therapy time, but it does help to get off to a faster start. And I prefer to call them clients. Patients are sick. Clients just need guidance and vision."

"Oh well, um I need to.."

Buffy, may I call you Buffy?

Yeah, Yes Please"

"I was just going to have lunch would you care to join me?"

"I'm afraid I'm a little short on funds right now..."

"Oh no my dear I meant I was going up to my apartment upstairs to fix lunch won't you please join me?"

"Ok. Sure I guess" weird thought Buffy.

Dr. Thalia led Buffy through the office, no couch in here thought Buffy, just a bunch of really comfy looking chairs and boy she has as more bookcases than Giles I'll bet, they turned to the first door on the right and climbed the stairs. As they entered Dr. Thalia's apartment, Buffy felt even more at relaxed and comforted, almost as if she had come home. The space was light, airy, and not all ruffles and lacey. But it felt safe and nurturing.

"Doctor, I really like the way you have decorated, it looks neat, and feels so comfortable"

"Please call me Jule" she replied." and Thank you it's just home to me."

She set out sandwich ingredients, and poured iced tea. Then lead Buffy to the rooftop sun porch off her kitchen.

About 3 hours later Buffy left the office, with a little more spring in her step, and her shoulders a little straighter.

That evening at home as she and Dawn sat down to dinner, she broached the subject.

"Em, Dawn I made an appointment today for us to see someone... A therapist, to um help us figure out..."

"NO NO" shrieked Dawn; "I am not going to see some head shrinker there is nothing wrong with me". As she slammed down her fork.

"Dawn, I didn't say there was something wrong with you; if there is anyone that's WRONG it's me. And I need you to help me figure it out and fix it."

"Whaaaaa?? Buffy. There's nothing wrong with you it all my fault, you died because of me, I don't I can't I..." Dawn cried out and started weeping,

"Dawnie Listen to me, I haven't been dealing with things or handling things well at all since Mom died, much less since I came back. So today I went and talked to Jule, I like her, she just what Sunnydale needs, She is a 'Precognitive –Empathy' something or other and she knows all about the hellmouth so I can really talk to her, and what I tell won't hurt you or my friends, and I can get some really good advice, I think what sold me on her is she was employed by the Watcher's Council for several years, and she told 'em about the same thing I did, when they refused to accept that other species could use some help to. And ...."

"B-b-but Buffy we don't have any money for this... "Stammered Dawn.

"Dawnie that the great part, she has agreed to see us both you and me separately once a week and once a week jointly, if I let her post a little sign inside that says,

Warding provided by The Fates,
Enforcement by Slayer."

"What, she expects you to be like some sort of rent a cop???" Exclaimed the teen-ager.

"Nuh, the Fates' Wards will be enough but just to keep anyone from thinking about trying anything my title will give that little extra umpff"

"I think it's a great idea, you wanna know why,....' Cause you just said your title, not your calling", smirked Dawn.