Chapter 9

Jaime pulled hard on the door - but without her bionics (she had yet to be tuned back up), it was an exercise in futility. ''You can't keep me here!'' she seethed.

''Would you prefer a 72-hour psychiatric hold?'' Mark asked calmly. ''Because that'd mean you can't work for the OSI ever again.''

''That's unfair.''

''What's happened to you is unfair,'' Mark told her. ''And we're going to talk about that.''

''No! No, we're not! Open the door, damn it!''

''I can't do that.''

''Can't...or won't?''

''You'll leave when we're done,'' Mark told her. (I hope...)

''Your threats won't work,'' Jaime insisted angrily. ''I know my rights. I'm not 'a danger to myself or others'!''

''Really? Tell me your daughter wasn't in danger this morning. I'm not saying any of this is your fault - because it isn't. But unfortunately it happened. You've been through things no human being should have to endure...and we need to deal with that. Today. Now.''

''Becca wasn't in danger,'' Jaime snapped. ''I made sure of that. When I needed help, I called for Steve. I kept her safe.''

''And if Steve hadn't been there? What would've happened to you and Becca?'' Mark's question hung in the air, unanswered, met by Jaime's now-standard silence...and a stony glare. ''So let's talk about Becca.''

''Let's not.''

''What is it about your daughter that's suddenly brought flashbacks into the picture again?''

''You aren't listening to me. I am declining treatment.''

''You don't have that option right now. What is it about Becca? Is it her eyes...or maybe her vulnerability?''

''Leave. Me. Alone. I'll go out the window.''

''You could try,'' Mark told her patiently. ''But Security is patrolling the grounds.'' (At least, he hoped they were. This had changed so quickly from getting her physically checked out for an eventuality he'd hoped he'd never use to the procedure happening right now that Mark had to take it on faith that Rudy had come through for him.) ''Your legs would still hold you. Physically, you could make the jump. But Security has been instructed to return you directly to me.''

''This is false imprisonment! Does Steve know you're doing this to me?''

''What's going on up there, Rudy?'' Steve asked (at almost the same moment his wife had brought up his name).

''I'm not sure,'' Rudy admitted truthfully. He obviously knew more than Steve...but telling him what he did know wouldn't be helpful to Steve - or to Jaime. ''But he's had private sessions with Jaime before.''

''True. This feels different though. It was almost like he was warning me away...''

''What it is about Becca that provokes such a strong reaction in you?'' Mark persisted. ''You've already admitted to me that you believe she's Michael's child. What makes you think that? Is it her eyes?''

''You might be able to keep me in this room - for now,'' Jaime seethed, ''but you can't force me to talk to you.'' She began pacing like a caged animal.

''You're right; I can't. You can just listen - for now - if you'd prefer.''

''Go to hell!''

''You're already there...aren't you?'' Mark said quietly. Please let me reach you this way...don't make me go on. I will if I have to...

''You tell me, Doctor Conrad!'' Jaime used his name like an obscenity. ''I'm in a locked room...where I don't wanna be...listening to someone I don't wanna listen to...who USED TO be someone I trusted.''

''What is it about Becca's eyes? Their color? Something else? Their shape?''

''Stop it! Just...stop it.''

''You told me it was 'something in your gut' that said she was Michael's. And I explained to you why it might seem that way. But it seems there's still a problem, so I'd like you to tell me why.''

Jaime stood and stared out the window, arms folded, with her back to the room - and especially to Mark. She refused to acknowledge that he'd even spoken. She was leaving him no other choice; he'd have to trust his colleague (a mentor, really) who'd assured him the technique could actually work. It seemed cruel...

Mark mentally ticked off the list of supplies, ascertaining once more that he had everything he needed, then dove in, strictly on faith that he'd have to hurt her to help her. ''You seem determined to focus on the worst case scenario...so let's go there. Talk to me about how you believe she was conceived.''

''No.''

''You feel responsible, don't you? Why? Because you let yourself start to have an emotional affair with Michael in the hospital? Because you felt so threatened in that cabin that you didn't resist him? Was it his eyes that were so threatening? Maybe because they reminded you of Kingsley's eyes? Talk to me about their eyes. Talk to me about Becca's eyes.''

''Why are you doing this?'' Jaime asked very quietly.

From the way her shoulders were trembling, Mark knew she was crying. This was going against everything he'd done with Jaime so far, but this time (like it or not) he needed to provoke a reaction. And once he did, they'd be barely getting started...

''It started with Kingsley's eyes, of course,'' Mark went on. ''He forced you to look into his eyes in the kiosk, then again at the top of the coaster when he chained you and left you up there to die. You were helpless and he made sure you knew it! Then he made you look him in the eyes...''

Jaime backed away from the window until she felt the bed behind her, then sank down to perch on the edge of it. Mark watched her carefully. Her entire body quivered as she fought to maintain control - the way he had taught her when nothing was at hand, through deep breathing and positive imagery, he was guessing. Unfortunately, he would have to wrest that control away from her.

''He laughed at you...didn't he? While he was looking into your eyes...while you were so helpless...he laughed at you!''

Jaime laid back on the bed and closed her eyes. ''I need...ICE...now...please...'' she gasped.

Instead, Mark had to force himself to remain in his chair across the room. He was 'in it' now; he had no choice but to keep going and hope it would work. ''Michael laughed at you too...when you were helpless...while he forced you to look into his eyes...''

''Please...stop...'' Jaime pleaded softly. Mark doubted she knew she'd said it - and she was likely not even talking to him. Not anymore.

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