"I'm sorry if I scared you." John said as they settled onto the plush couch in Evangeline's office having returned there after their accident.
"This isn't about me, John something is seriously going on and I think it has everything to do with your brother coming to town. And something that happened in your past maybe other than the Jana incident."
"It's nothing…"
"Nothing? John you're hearing things, you heard a gunshot that I didn't hear and it distracted you enough that we nearly crashed." John quickly reached his hand out and cupped her face.
"I'm sorry, God if something had happened to you because of me…"
"But it didn't and I'm fine, but you're not, and I'm worried about you."
"It's becoming a full-time job isn't it, worrying about me." John joked and he threw her half a smile.
"I'm not complaining." Evangeline replied with a sweet smile of her own. "I'm just really worried, would you please consider talking to someone?"
"Someone like who, a shrink?" John laughed off and he swiftly stood up. "You think I'm crazy now?" John looked down at Evangeline who remained seated on the couch.
"No, but I think there something going on in your head. Maybe something that happened when you were a kid, something involving your brother, something your mind blocked out that's trying to resurface now."
"Why do I need a shrink, hell you seem to know all the answers?" John said defensively and accusingly.
"Don't do that, don't start attacking me, John." Evangeline said, visibly hurt by John's behavior towards her. "You know what, forgive me for caring and just forget what I said, you deal with it how you usually do, bottle it up until it eats you from the inside out." Evangeline said as she stood and moved to her desk. She began to leaf through the papers on top as she tried to swallow back the tears that threaten to overflow. John knew he hurt her with his words and had wish he could have taken them back the second they spilled from his mouth.
"I'm sorry," John said to Evangeline's back and when she didn't turn to face him he reached out and turned her to him. "I'm sorry," He repeated as he fused his forehead against hers closing his eyes and just reveled a moment in her nearness. "If it'll make you feel better I'll talk with someone." John said as he now looked at her with pleading eyes, hoping to aleve her anger with him.
"Good, I have a friend, he's a psychiatrist…"
"He," John repeated the only words that resounded in his head at that moment.
"Yes his name is Dr. Jamison, and Phil's helped me on several cases, testifying on my client's behave. He's a great guy and a great psychiatrist. I can call him and set up an appointment, and I'll go with you if you'd like."
"Phil," John said again tuning out all but keywords. "You're on first name basis with him?" John asked and despite the situation Evangeline had to smile at his jealous behavior.
"Like I said he's helped me, nothing more."
"You're sure about that?"
"Yes, we had a couple of dinner dates when I first came to town but those were professional not personal."
"You two dated…Oh yeah now I'm really looking forward to sitting and chatting with some guy who dated my girl, once upon a time."
"We didn't date John, and you know you don't have to try a pick a fight to get out of seeing him, if you don't want to go then just tell me to back off and I will."
"No, you can set up the appointment I'll go, but…" He pause not sure how to say what was on his mind without offending or hurting Evangeline's feelings. "If I'm gonna do this, I have to do it alone." Evangeline briefly looked disappointed but instantly covered with a bright smile.
"Ok, just know I'm here if you need me." At her words John smiled and reached his hand out to grasp the back of her neck and pulled in back to him, making their foreheads touch again.
"I know." He said and then dipped his mouth to her for a sensual kiss.
Days laters
There's no reason to be nervous John, we can talk about whatever 'you' feel comfortable discussing." Dr. Jamison said as he sat watching the very uncomfortable looking Detective who sat in the chair across from him. Their session had begun nearly an hour ago and they hadn't done anything past introducing themselves to one another with a firm handshake.
"I'm not nervous doc, I just feel I'm wasting your time and killing my wallet just being here."
"I'm sorry, Angel made it seem like this was your idea." Dr. Jamison spoke with a perplexed look etched on his face, a look John's face now mirrored.
"Angel?" John said with a smile as he leaned back into his seat more to regard the younger black man before him. A young, very successful black man, who he was sure any woman would define as attractive.
"Evangeline…after butchering her name repeated, we both decided that Angel was a necessity." Dr. Jamison said with a chuckle but quickly cleared his throat when he noticed the threatening gleam in John's eyes even though his face still guised a friendly smile. "Uhm…so, Ang…she mentioned that something occurred the other day, that nearly caused an accident."
"She told you about that?" John asked.
"Only because she's really concerned, she cares a lot about you."
"Yeah and I feel the same about her." John said for no other reason than to let the good doctor know.
"That's good," Dr. Jamison said nodding his understanding and then moved back on point. "So would you like to tell me in your own words what happened?"
"I heard a gunshot, it startled me, and I lost control for a moment." John answered honestly.
"But Angel said she didn't hear the gunshot." Dr. Jamison said choosing to ignore the glare John threw him over calling Evangeline 'Angel' again.
"I can't explain that one doc, all I know is I heard one, saw the flash…"
"You saw a flash? Where?"
"Right in front of me, almost…like right behind my eyes, I don't know it's hard to explain." John said growing a bit frustrated.
"Actually you're explained it very well John and I've heard similar experiences from other patients. I think what you experienced was a flashback of a traumatic experience, brought on by something. What has recently happened in your life, John, a new case, a new place, new people?"
"No an old one, a ghost from my past," John answered freely, more freely than both he and the doctor had expected him to.
"Who?"
"My twin brother, Jason," Again John answered freely.
"Ok so we know the what, to be more precise the 'who', now we just need to figure out the 'why', what is it about your brother that has triggered this flashback, what is the flashback, do you have any idea?" Dr. Jamison asked.
"Well if I did I wouldn't be here right now." John said and smiled a bit.
"Yeah," Dr. Jamison replied with a smile of his own. "It's ok we'll work on it more, just know that it will come, whatever it is that your mind has blocked from you, your brother's reappearance has unlocked, and it will all come out sooner or later. I would like to discuss hypnosis as an option, and if you're ok with that idea we can have our first session next week."
"Whoa, next week as in you expect me to come back?" John said as he stood to his feet, with the doctor following his lead, now standing before John.
"I would like for you to come back, I think it would be in your best interest John, but it's up to you. You don't have to make a decision about it right now, go home think on it if you decide to continue I will work with you John and together we will undercover whatever it is your subconscious is trying to keep from you. Just give me a call if you want to have another session." John simply nodded his head and then left the doctor's office.
