A/N: I hope that you're enjoying this take on Cho life.
We all have problems, and how we handle them does
partially define us.

Moment in the Sun
Revelations

The next morning, Cho arrived at the office, freshly showered and shaved, looking like, well, like Cho always looked. The trials of the previous day were nowhere to be found in his expression or on his body. Lisbon was already ensconced in her office and well into her second cup of coffee.

"Good morning, Cho," she called. "Why don't you fill your coffee cup and join me?"

He altered his course and headed straight for the coffee pot. "Not a problem," he replied.

At Lisbon's direction, Cho took a seat. "I think he'd have stood there, all day, at attention if I didn't tell him to sit," she mused. "I wonder if it's because he's nervous." The thought of a nervous Cho was incongruous enough to make her smile.

"I just want you to know that I'm submitting your name for a Medal of Valor. What you did yesterday was beyond the call of duty."

"No," he said.

Lisbon waited, but he didn't seemed to be prone to more explanation. "You're not just going to say no and let it go at that, are you?"

He shrugged.

Lisbon felt a flash of irritation. "Agent, that is not good enough. Now, drop the oriental inscrutability and talk to me." She glared at him, every bit a commanding officer.

"Yes, boss," he said uncharacteristically low. "I don't want to be to be put up for any award for doing what any reasonable human being would have done. I did my job and I did my duty." He stopped and watched her, motionless.

I don't think I've ever heard him put so many words together, before. There's more there. I know there's more there, but how to get him talking... "I understand your feelings, here, Cho, but what you did was not what any reasonable human being could have done. What you did was exceptional and recognizing it is not just for you. It's for the example it makes of what a good agent can and should do, whenever possible."

Cho made a sound. I may have been a grunt, or it may have been a muttered yeah or some noise of assent. Typical, though, was his lack of expression.

"Good. I'm glad you understand. Understand, that me telling you about this is a courtesy and is generally against protocol, so keep this between us, OK?"

"Not a problem," Cho said.

"Now," Lisbon hesitated. Cho sat facing her, giving her his full attention. Him staring at me is not helping. Lisbon took a sip of coffee, and surprisingly, Cho did the same. "Now," she continued, "I'm not really sure how to say this, but you were really acting strangely, yesterday." She paused, hoping he'd say something. When he didn't she continued, "Do you know what I mean?"

Cho carefully set his cup down and took a deep breath. "Yes, I do know what you mean. I was having some problems, but I did my job."

"Yes, you did your job, but that's not what's worrying me. I know Jane isn't a doctor, but he does know the mind and he thinks you're suffering from PTSD, and he believes that you've been fighting this for at least three months."

Briefly, Cho's eyes lit with amusement. "Maybe he is psychic." A hesitation. "He's right, and for the most part, I can keep it under control, but yesterday was really bad. Since I've been here, that was the worst."

Lisbon chewed her lower lip, thoughtfully. She finally broke the lengthening silence. "I see two problems," she said. "I see that you have some unresolved issues that are making your life less enjoyable and I see that your issues have the potential to affect your job, maybe getting you or someone near you killed."

Cho slightly nodded indicating that he understood. They both took a sip of their cooling coffee. "In my position, what would tell your trooper?"

Cho looked uncomfortable but said nothing.

"Come on, Cho, this is not a trick question. I have a responsibility, here, and I'm asking for your input."

Cho took a deep breath. "I'd tell him to get some psychological counseling."

Lisbon nodded. "That's the direction I'm leaning towards." Cho's expression was distinctly sour. "I'll arrange an appointment for you, during work hours, of course, with Doctor Schmidt." Lisbon paused and examined Cho's expression. "Agent Cho, that really is not a suggestion, understood?"

"Yes, Ma'am," he responded, his expression and voice clearly indicating his dissatisfaction. "I do understand."

oOo

The hallway corridor was long and narrow. It, and the doors lining both sides of the wall, were all a bland, anonymous, light beige. Each door had a brass plate, indicating the room number, beneath which was a smaller plate with a name on it, to help orient a visitor even better. Cho stared at the number, 313, and the name, Dr. Schmitt, PhD. He was unsure whether he should knock or just walk in. There was no clear indication, so he settled for knocking.

The door was quickly opened and Cho was facing a diminutive blond lady with piercing green eyes. His first thought was, "She can't weigh more than 90 pounds." While Cho was not an extremely tall man, he towered over her, his mass and muscularity making her seem even smaller.

"You must be Agent Cho," she said smiling. "You're right on time. As you can probably guess, I'm Dr. Schmitt. Please, do come in."

He found himself in a small waiting room, where a sign read, "Please be seated. I'll be with you shortly." He blinked, rapidly, three times. "Just walk in," he thought.

"Please, come on back to my office. You're my first visitor for the day and we can jump right in." She smiled, indicating the door to her office. She opened the surprisingly thick door and indicated he should enter.

There was the expected couch and a chair facing her desk. "Please, sit and be comfortable," she said pointing to the chair. She smiled having noticed that his eyes had focused on the "shrink's" proverbial couch. "The couch is actually more for me. I like to nap in the afternoon, if I don't have any clients."

He sat as instructed and she took her place behind her desk. "Senior Agent Lisbon made this appointment for you, which I'm sure you're not very happy about, but I'm really on your side and if we work together, I'm sure we can make progress." She paused and glanced at the file in front of her. "It seems that I know more about you than you do about me, so let me introduce myself." She took a breath and continued. "I'm a clinical psychologist, not a psychiatrist. I don't prescribe medication. My job is to help you help yourself, not push a pill down your throat that hides a problem. I've been practicing for 15 years and I doubt if you can tell me anything that I haven't heard before. PTSD and trauma are my specific areas of interest and expertise." She smiled. "I do hold a sufficiently high security clearance to have access to most of your files." She paused. "Do you have any questions?"

Cho nodded. "I smell coffee. Would it be possible..."

Lisa Schmitt laughed. "A man who speaks his mind. I think we'll get along fine!"

oOOOo

A/N: Another chapter in the can. How's it going, so far?