Title: Into-Me-See

Author: Mindy

Rating: K+

Disclaimer: Tina's et al.

Pairing: Jack/Liz.

Spoilers: minor, "The Collection", "The Bubble", "Apollo, Apollo".

Summary: Liz has Donaghy issues. Jack has Lemon problems.

-x-

SESSION 2:

"Would you like to sit down?"

"I prefer to pace."

"As you wish."

"You seem quite agitated, Mr Nightingale, is there something in particular you wish to get off your chest?"

"That's not my name."

"I'm sorry. Vic Nightingale is the name I have here."

"I know. But Donaghy is my name, Jack Donaghy. Does that sound familiar?"

"Vaguely."

"I'm a friend of Liz Lemon's."

"Aaah. You're Liz's Jack."

"Yes. Well, no. But, yes."

"It's very nice to meet you."

"I wish I could say the same."

"Did you come on Liz's recommendation?"

"No. She doesn't know I'm here."

"I see."

"No, you don't. I know what 'I see' in therapist lingo means. And it's not what you think."

"I didn't mean anything, Jack, other than 'I see'."

"Mr Donaghy."

"If you prefer."

"I prefer."

"It sounds like you've had some experience in therapy."

"None. Which is enough to know it's a load of hogwash. What kind of crap have you been feeding Lemon?"

"You must know I can't discuss another patient with you, Mr Donaghy."

"Patient. You make it sound like there is something wrong with her."

"I never said that."

"There isn't. There's nothing wrong with her. She's a perfectly wonderful woman!"

"Off the record, Jack--"

"Mr Donaghy."

"Off the record, Mr Donaghy, I happen to agree with you."

"Good. I won't have you brainwashing her. She's very susceptible."

"She's seems quite discerning to me. Do you often act as her protector?"

"This isn't about me."

"It's about Liz?"

"Exactly."

"Could you answer me one question, since you booked a full session?"

"I didn't come here to have my head shrunk."

"Why did you come here?"

"Is that the one question?"

"No. But, it's an interesting one. Was it merely to retain the control you have over Liz's life and opinions? Or are you actually concerned about her pulling away from you? And if so, are you concerned because you care for her more deeply than she is -- and perhaps you are -- aware of? Or is it simply because you don't like to see her functioning healthily without you?"

"I think I'd like a different question."

"None of us like hearing difficult questions, Mr Donaghy. In my opinion though, it is a sign of character how we choose to meet them."

"She has pulled away from me. And at your instigation."

"How does that make you feel?"

"How does that make me feel? Are you allowed to utter such a crass cliche masquerading as a question before noon?"

"This is my office. So, yes. I am."

"How do you think it makes me feel?"

"I don't know. I don't know you. I know only what Liz has told me."

"What has she told you?"

"Nothing that's relevant here. This is about how you feel."

"I feel…worried. Okay?"

"About Liz?"

"Yes."

"Does she seem unhappy?"

"No, she seems fine."

"Mm-hm…Anything else?"

"That I feel?"

"That's right. Anything at all."

"Anything at all…Well, I feel…let's see now, what's the word?"

"Angry?"

"Exactly."

"At her?"

"Not exactly."

"How about lonely?"

"Perhaps."

"Anything else, Mr Donaghy?"

"Honestly?"

"Or we could dodge the issue some more, if you'd like."

"Well. I suppose, I might feel…a little lost. Without her. I --"

"Go on."

"Well, I miss her."

"You still see her. Everyday. Am I right?"

"Yes. But…it's different."

"You miss the intimacy you used to share."

"That's…stating it rather strongly."

"I prefer to speak plainly, Mr Donaghy. Otherwise things get misinterpreted or ignored. In fact, I'm starting to suspect a lot of things between you and Liz have been misinterpreted or ignored."

"For example?"

"Won't you sit down?"

"Fine, I'm sitting. For example?"

"You wish me to speak plainly?"

"I came here for answers."

"To what, exactly?"

"Now, you're avoiding the question."

"What do you think I might mean if I suggest that there are certain things between you and Liz that have been ignored or misinterpreted?"

"I know what it sounds like."

"What does it sound like?"

"It sounds like you think that there's something between us that there isn't."

"What kind of something?"

"Something romantic. Something sexual."

"And is there?"

"Is there what?"

"Is there something romantic and/or sexual between you and Liz?"

"Have you asked her that?"

"I'm asking you."

"Then, no. There is not. We are simply friends."

"If you'll allow me to say so, I think there is little about you two that is simple."

"I will allow that."

"Let me ask you this then -- do you hope for something romantic and/or sexual to develop between you and Liz?"

"That's a very personal question."

"Yes, it is. Care to answer it?"

"Liz is a friend."

"We've established that. Many romantic relationships evolve from friendships. It's not unheard of -- in fact, it's very common and can be very successful."

"I just mean, I don't view Lemon in that light."

"Are you allowed to utter such a blatant cliché masquerading as truth before noon, Mr Donaghy?"

"I just did. What do you plan to do about it?"

"A-alright….Let's say I buy that--"

"Yes. Let's."

"Let's say I buy that you have never looked at this bright, beautiful woman in your midst -- who you obviously care a great deal for, otherwise you wouldn't be here fighting for your place in her life -- say I believe that you've never wondered about this woman in even a slightly romantic light, never acknowledged her as a sexual being with needs--"

"You obviously don't know Lemon too well."

"How well do you know her?"

"Well."

"So why do you call her that? Why do you call her by her last name?"

"Habit. What does it matter what I call her?"

"It's a control mechanism. It creates distance."

"You're the one creating distance between us. You're the one telling her not to talk to me, that I'm bad for her."

"I never said that. And I'm sorry if there's been any confusion or pain caused."

"Is this some kind of game for you? Do you get off on manipulating people, ruining their relationships?"

"Please let me assure you, my only concern was for Liz's long-term wellbeing."

"Well, that's my job."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Listen. I know it may look strange from the outside, but I'm the one that's been in her corner for the last three years. There is no one in this world that believes in Liz Lemon more than I do. She is a wonderful, wonderful woman. And she deserves to have it all."

"Even if it means sacrificing her closest friendship?"

"Does it have to be a choice?"

"Do you really want my opinion?"

"I'm sure you're going to give it to me, whether I want it or not."

"Not at all. I wouldn't want to confer anything you are obviously unwilling to hear."

"Oh really?"

"Really."

"…Oh, for God's sake, say it."

"If you insist."

"I do. I don't know why I do, but I do."

"In my opinion then, if you really want to be the man in Liz Lemon's life, then be the man in Liz Lemon's life. If you think she's such a wonderful woman, perhaps you should tell her, not me. And if you truly believe, your friend deserves it all, my advice is, either get out of her way, Mr Donaghy."

"Or?"

"Or give it to her."

"Wait a minute, first, you tell her to put some distance between us. Now, you're telling me to-- Exactly what are you suggesting I do?"

"Why don't you tell me what you hoped to achieve in coming here?"

"I wanted to see what I was up against."

"There is no competition here. In fact, if we both want what's best for Liz, then we're on the same side."

"What do you mean, if? Why would you question that?"

"I don't. I fully believe you love your friend and came here with the best intentions."

"Good."

"But what I am asking is -- what do you want to happen from here? Would you like Liz to go back to sharing everything with you? Would you like her to stop seeing me, stop improving her life? Would you be happy to return to your old, comfortable rapport?"

"What's so wrong with that?"

"Nothing. Perhaps I am the one who has misinterpreted."

"Meaning?"

"Well, if nothing changes, then…nothing changes. Does it?"

"So? What if I don't want it to change?"

"What if she does? What if she doesn't want to be alone for the rest of her life?"

"Well, who does?"

"Some people…Do you?"

"I'm not alone. I have her. Or I did, until you interfered."

"You have her. And how many others?"

"I have…interests on the side, yes."

"And you think that's the sort of relationship she deserves?"

"I'm not her lover. Or husband. I am a free agent and she knows it. She's fine with it."

"But for better or worse, Jack, you are the most important man in her life. You don't need me to tell you that."

"That doesn't make me responsible for her happiness."

"I didn't say it did. But if this were some other man, another friend in Liz's life, taking up all her time and attention, hearing her woes, reinforcing her insecurities, using her shoulder to cry on, keeping her just close enough, but not truly letting her in, distracting her from the fact that she doesn't have anyone to go home to -- and that is what she wants, Jack -- all the while, this other person is sharing his bed with other women. What would you advise her to do?"

"That's immaterial. My advice doesn't carry any weight with her anymore."

"Is that all this is about?"

"Lemon…isn't interested in sharing my bed."

"Are you interested in sharing hers?"

"We're friends."

"Same question. Ever thought about it? Ever fantasised about it?"

"Oh, we're going to get Freudian now?"

"It's a simple question. And it's not a crime, what might occur between a person's ears. Liz is an attractive woman, you agree?"

"I don't see any point in denying it."

"You can if you wish to."

"Would you believe me if I did?"

"Depends on how convincing you were."

"What if I told you that Liz Lemon is not my type?"

"I'd say that that doesn't preclude attraction, especially where there is an emotional connection."

"Typical, inane new age logic."

"So then, you don't, and have never felt an attraction to Liz?"

"There's that plain talk again."

"I insist on it. We only get fifty minutes together."

"I guess I better hurry up and answer that question then."

"In your own time."

"Plain truth is, doctor, Liz Lemon is not my type. And I never thought…I could be attracted to her. But, I was…wrong. As we are speaking plainly and I assume, confidentially--"

"Of course."

"I will admit that I have never in my life -- and I have met some amazing women in that time -- felt as attracted to a woman as I do to her."

"To Liz?"

"Precisely….To Liz."

"Now, why did you wait so long to divulge that? Isn't speaking the truth liberating, Mr Donaghy?"

"I suppose I delayed because I know what comes next."

"What do you suppose comes next?"

"You're going to ask me what you've been hinting at this whole time."

"Which is?"

"Am I secretly in love with my best friend, no matter how unlikely she is?"

"Hm."

"What's funny about that?"

"A…curious choice of words, that's all."

"Well, anyway, if I was going to admit such a thing – and I'm not – I certainly wouldn't do it to a shrink. If I was going to say out loud that I was in love with a woman, I would say it to her, not to her therapist."

"Mr Donaghy, that is, without doubt, the most sensible thing you've said all morning."

"I've yet to hear any sense, or explanation, fall from your lips this morning."

"Of course not. The more I do this work, the more convinced I am that there's little about the human heart that makes rational sense. As for explanations, I suggest if you wish to understand Liz's motives, you talk to her about them."

"You don't think I've tried?"

"No. I don't think you have. Not honestly, at least."

"Are we done here? I think we're done here."

"There is still quite some time left on the clock. Unless, of course, you feel you have gotten what you came for."

"Actually, I think I'm more confused than when I entered."

"That's not necessarily a bad thing. Would you like to book another appointment?"

"I'll have my secretary get in touch with you…Maybe. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Mr Donaghy."

TBC...