Disclaimer: Characters are property of Kim Harrison. I own nothing.

"Please have a seat Ms. Tamwood."

"I'd rather stand."

"If you wish. However, you would be more comfortable sitting." She sat down. "Ah, thank you."

I sat across from her. "So what brings you here?"

"You know why I'm here."

"That's true, but I'd like to hear your own reasons for coming here."

"I'm here because you're suppose to help me. There I said it, satisfied?"

"You shouldn't be ashamed of asking for help. It takes great courage to recognize one's own limitations."

"Limitations? I killed the man I loved. The man my partner was in love with. And she's terrified I'm hunting her. I'd say I have more than problems with my limitations doctor."

"You didn't kill him."

"My actions led to his death. I know she blames me."

"Did she say that?"

"What? That it's my fault? No, of course not. She's too kind a person to ever condemn me."

"Why do you hate her?"

"I don't hate her!" Silence. "I hate that she's so forgiving and too damn nice for her own good!"

"Try to stay calm Ms. Tamwood."

"I'm sorry."

"No apology necessary. Now where were we? Ah, yes. We were discussing your partner, is that not so?"

"Yes."

"Is there anything else you'd like to tell me about her?"

"No."

"Really now?"

"Yes, really. Drop the subject."

"Intimidation won't help you here. I'm trying to help you here. I can't do that if you won't answer my questions."

"I've answered everything you've asked of me."

"Not everything. Just tell me why you hate her and we can move on."

"I already told you, you're wrong."

"I can't accept that answer Ms. Tamwood. If you truly want to get better, you must acknowledge your feelings."

"There's nothing to acknowledge!"

"Then this session is over."

She looks at me with tears in her eyes. "I hate her because I offered her everything and she refused."

"Why did she refuse?"

"Because I'm a monster that will eventually destroy her."

"Does she think that?"

"Yes!" She looks away. "I don't know. Sometimes I think she sees who I really am and doesn't turn away, disgusted. But how can she accept me?"

"Your projecting your own feelings of self hatred onto her."

"That's not true."

"Then why are you so certain she hates you?"

"Because I'm a foul evil creature that destroys everything she holds dear."

"Does the prospect of her thinking differently scare you?"

"It doesn't matter. I won't drag her further into my world. I told her I would protect her from other vampires, and that includes myself."

"Do you resent her for that?"

"For offering my protection without blood payment? No."

"What do you get out of it then?"

"Her friendship."

"Is that enough?"

"It has to be."

"That's not an answer."

"What would you have me say? The one time she offered me her blood, I nearly killed her. I won't put her through that risk again."

"And what does she want?"

"What she wants is irrelevant. I care about keeping her alive."

"At what cost though? Your mental stability and emotional well being?"

"I don't care what happens to me as long as she's fine."

"Is that why you hate her? Because you've sacrificed everything for her?"

"I hate her because she is everything I am not. And I love her for it."

A.N.- This is an experimental piece of dialogue driven work. Got the idea in the shower, wrote it in about 40 minutes. Not sure where I was going with this, but is it intersting to think of Ivy seeing a shrink.