UPDATE: 3/6/19 - I reworked this chapter as well as the next two. I took out a couple descriptions, and added a few others. Nothing too important, but if I end up making references in the upcoming chapters, you might want to take a look. Anyhow, carry on.
A/N - To View (Guest); Thank you so much, that means a lot to me. Really, I can't possibly begin to describe. You are amazing. Thank you for your review. :')
To Sara (Guest); Me alegro de que te guste. Y no te preocupes, pronto habrá más escenas de Dennis y Casey. (Mis disculpas si esto suena mal, usé el traductor de Google nuevamente)
This one was a real peach to write. And I mean that in the best possible sense.
Most of the dialogue for this chapter is from the film, because I thought things couldn't be said any better than they already were. But I did add a bit of Dennis' thoughts on the situation during the session, and some gestures, and so forth.
The next chapter has more of my own dialogue, just used to further sway the story in the direction I want. But I'm hoping to write the chapter after that in Casey's point of view, since we haven't had much input from her yet. Then the upcoming chapters will get interesting once we have 'interactions' again.
Anyhow, I hope you like it. Feel free to read on.
Disclaimer: I don't own Unbreakable, Split, or Glass.
"It's got a - a red lining. You can see it in the long slit down the side,"
Dennis gestured to the old fashion sketch of Barry's that was in Dr. Fletcher's hand, that, unknowingly to her, had been swiped from the other alters' things when he wasn't in control.
"We've been talking about silk and wool blend for twenty minutes," Karen stated, causing Dennis to smile.
"Can I guess that you emailed me in the middle of the night for an 'emergency' session due to 'garden variety issues'"?" she inquired, blatantly quoting what he had said on his last visit while acting under the guise of Barry.
Dennis gave a short laugh.
His brow was starting to perspire.
Was she catching onto him?
There was only so much that he knew about clothes, and he couldn't go on forever about fashion like Barry could.
Sure, he knew his linens, his cottons, and his silks.
But that was only ever because he spent half his time cleaning them.
It wasn't like he had a particular interest in clothes, or anything like that.
He just knew his way around a washer and various cleaning agents;
When to use bleach, when to rinse on the 'gentle' cycle, when to hand-wash.
The works.
How much longer could he keep this "Barry" act up?
"I was down and, I emailed you, and I woke up and I feel better." he told her, crossing his legs like Barry did.
The discomfort of the position nearly killing him.
Men didn't sit like this, he thought to himself.
"I - uh - I feel better," he shook his head nervously.
Dr. Fletcher gave a slight smile, briefly putting her hands together before resting them on her lap.
"I had a thought," she tried instead.
Dennis tilted his head and cleared his throat, suddenly uncomfortable.
"I want to talk about the incident at work."
He stilled.
"It's okay, Barry," she told him, raising a hand in surrender.
"You're safe. I just want to bring the details back. Just...talk about the details,"
Dennis began to fidget; briefly touching his face then looking down at his lap.
He knew where this was going.
"A high school from Camden, New Jersey was on a field trip at your place of work," she started.
"Two young ladies came up to you, and one took your hand and put it under her shirt on her chest,"
Dr. Fletcher raised a brow, gauging his reaction.
Almost involuntarily, Dennis' eyes lit as an imaginary image of the incident flashed in his head.
Since he wasn't there, and only heard about the incident from a tearful Barry, the very mention of it made him uncomfortable.
He pictured the girls.
Their faces, their clothes.
All based on descriptions he'd overheard from Barry while he was telling the tale to one of the others.
Only this time, he pictured his hand going under their shirts instead.
And it made him feel terrible about himself for trying to imagine a scenario in which some sort of satisfaction could be gained from the experience, instead of the anxiety it caused Barry.
"And the second one did the same," Dr. Fletcher continued.
Dennis' brows knit and his face scrunched up.
He shook his head and tried to shrug it off like it didn't bother him.
"And then they just ran off, laughing to their friends," she gave him a knowing look.
"You surmised that it might be on a dare. You said they were seventeen or eighteen. You said it upset you for days,"
"It was just a teenage prank," he blurted. "I - I get that now."
Karen nodded calmly.
"Now see, that's my mistake," she told him, bringing a hand to her head.
"I believe that I went over this incident with you too fast. Although you said you were 'fine'," she gave him another knowing look.
"And the other identities I met with said 'it' was fine. I believe that this brought up issues from when you were a child and abused."
Dennis' mouth dropped open in feign surprise.
Was she really going to go there?
"Sometimes another incident of abuse can cause suppressed personalities to take the Light," she said matter-of-factly.
"Dennis, if this is you, I completely understand why you felt the need to take over, and protect the others."
Dennis laughed.
A short, strangled thing.
Trying his best to sound like Barry did when he 'guffawed'.
"Doctor, not this again," he shook his head, struggling to suppress his irritation.
"The others told me that you and Patricia told the group about this 'Beast'. And I told them that these are just scary stories that Dennis and Patricia tell the others to frighten them."
Dennis' brows raised, his interest in 'The Beast' evident on his face.
"How this 'Beast' can crawl on walls, like the best rock climbers,"
"Using the slightest friction and imperfections to hold his body close to seemingly sheer surfaces,"
"How his skin is thick, and tough, like the hide of a rhinocerous?"
She nearly scoffed at that last description, but with each one Dennis grew more and more restless.
"Do you really believe these stories about 'The Beast'?"
Dennis' brows knit together and he shook his head, struggling to suppress his desire to debate with her.
"If this is you, Dennis, I understand why Kevin needs you."
"You are strong, and disciplined. You are precise. And you will not be taken advantage of. You can trust me," she assured him.
He swallowed; the walls he'd put up were beginning to falter.
"For example; I do have the ability to use Kevin's full name, and bring him forward, as he has in the past."
Dennis brought a concerned hand to his face, his fingers curled and barely touching his skin.
Did Barry really give her the power to do such a thing?
"But I wouldn't do that."
He exhaled quietly.
"I know that that would be chaos for all of you. Everyone would grab the Light. I don't want to hurt any of you that way."
"You don't have to hide. I know you are someone who cares for Kevin. You are not evil to me."
"You were necessary,"
At that last part Dennis began to tear up.
How many times had he been told by the others that he was too overbearing?
"Dennis, is that you?"