Author's notes: Well here it is the hypnotism session. Although I've kept is vague be aware that there is mention of the abuse.
Lisbon came early, she helped Betsy with her bath and brought Jane some clothes. She'd talked to Jane on the phone while Betsy was still sleeping.
"How are you doing?"
"It's important that I'm relaxed if I'm going to hypnotize her, anxious hypnotists rarely work. I'm not looking forward to it but it's necessary and it'll help Betsy in the long run so that's what I'm concentrating on."
"Ardilles will be there watching and will let you know when he has enough, and I'll be there too."
"Do you think you could be in the room? I think Betsy needs someone by her side and she trusts you and…and… it will help me too. I know I'm asking a lot."
"Of course Jane, just tell me what you want me to do."
"Just sit next to her and take cues from her. She'll let you know and try not to say anything."
Lisbon hung up the phone. She's relieved that Jane asked her to be in the room. She hadn't liked the idea of watching the proceedings behind the glass and not able to give support to Jane or Betsy. She's more worried about Jane, she knows it will be difficult for Betsy but Jane will help her through it and he will put safe guards in place so that when it's over she won't remember the experience but will come out of it feeling peace. Jane will have no safe guards and is deeply invested in the little girl. She's worried for Jane.
Betsy's feeling the strain. She barely acknowledged Lisbon as she gave her a bath. She spent breakfast sitting on Jane's lap and he was only able to entice her to eat a little bit of food. Lisbon noticed that he didn't do much better himself. Jane, with Betsy on his lap, is sitting on the couch reading books, while Lisbon is in the observation room meeting with Ordilles and making sure everything is ready. Recording equipment was set up while Betsy was in the bathroom. She knows it's there.
Now that Lisbon's back in the room and everything is ready, it's time to start. Jane closes the book and whispers to Betsy asking if she's ready. The hold of his hand tightens but she nods. He moves her off his lap and sits her on the couch. He's had a camping chair brought in and he opens it up and sets it opposite her and sits down. Lisbon takes her place besides Betsy.
Jane takes a piece of yellow ribbon from his pocket that Lisbon brought at his request. He hands one end out to Betsy, he nods his head when she takes it.
"I want you to keep a hold of it all the time. I have a hold on the other end, I will not let go, so that even though I'm not next to you, we're still attached. If you want me to stop at any time, just pull on the ribbon hard enough for me to feel it and I will stop. Do you understand."
Betsy looks at the ribbon in her hand and then at Jane's hands. She looks at him and nods. Jane smiles at her.
"Good. Now let's have a practise. I want you to tug on your end of the ribbon."
Betsy pulls and Jane can feel it.
"That's very good Betsy. Now this is your connection to me. It'll always be there as long as you have a hold of the ribbon. Okay?"
She nods again.
"Fantastic. Now look at me Betsy."
A redundant command as her eyes rarely leave his face.
"I want you to take a deep breath and then let it out slowly, just like this."
Jane demonstrates what he wants Betsy to do. He breathes in deeply and slowly releases it. He smiles at Betsy.
"Now you have a go."
Jane takes in a deep breath once more as Betsy does it with him. He watches her closely to time his full release with hers.
"Excellent! You're doing very well. Do you feel okay?"
Betsy nods her head.
"Now I want you to take another deep breath and picture the yellow flowers we saw in the park. Do you remember they're called roses?"
She nods her head and follows his instructions. Jane does it with her.
"Now let it out slowly. They look like sunshine don't they?"
She nods her head again.
"Can you remember their smell?"
Jane sees Betsy take a deep breath through her nose to smell the roses and she lets it out slowly. Jane's voice gets lower.
Picture the roses Betsy and think of their smell, now reach out and touch one. Feel how silky it is. It's nice isn't it?"
Betsy's eyes are closed, she has a small smile on her face, she's rubbing the ribbon between her fingers. She nods her head slightly.
"Now on to the next one Betsy, every time I ask a question I want you to move to the next flower and feel it beneath your fingers and smell its scent."
Jane sees her eyes move under her lids as she mentally moves to the next rose.
"Katie's come to see the flowers, can you see her?"
Jane stills a moment at the beautiful smile that appears on her face. He doesn't need the nod of confirmation. He just stares at her and is unwilling to carry on. Lisbon interrupts the long pause.
"Jane."
Jane shushes her but then carries on.
"Katie's here to help you too because now I have to ask you questions about what happened to you and Katie in the house. Remember when you answer a question move from flower to flower, Katie wants to see each one. When there are no more flowers, there are no more questions, so tell me when you're at the end of the flowers. You remember how to tell me?"
Betsy gives the ribbon a slight tug.
"That's exactly right."
Jane shifts very slightly in his chair.
"Concentrate on the flowers Betsy. You and Katie are very close, you love her don't you?"
Betsy nods.
"She looked after you and protected you?"
Jane sees Betsy, eyes move to the next flower in her mind. She nods her head.
"What did she protect you from?"
Betsy says her first word. It comes out a whisper:
"Monsters."
Her eyes move to the next flower and her fingers are still rubbing the petals.
"What did the monsters look like?"
"I..I don't know."
"Why don't you know?"
"I would close my eyes, Katie told me to close my eyes, to keep them closed and never to open them, and I never did. Did I Katie?"
"I bet Katie's very pleased with you. Did Katie look at the monsters?"
Betsy nods her head.
"Did she tell you about them?"
"She did once...I was crying...I hated them coming...they scared me...they hurt me...I didn't want it any more.."
Betsy's breathing's become rapid.
"Is Katie still liking the flowers?"
Jane takes deep breaths. Betsy copies him and nods her head in answer to the question.
"Let Katie smell one. Does she like it?"
Betsy nods her head, her breathing's back to normal. It takes great effort for Jane's voice to remain steady as he asks the next question.
"How did the monsters hurt you Betsy?"
Jane is watching Betsy very closely and sees tremors going through her body.
"It's all right Betsy, they're not here, they can't hurt you, there's only Katie and the flowers. Does Katie want you to tell me?"
After a moment Betsy nods her head slowly.
"Will holding Katie's hand help you?"
She nods her head again and reaches out her hand. Jane looks to Lisbon and Lisbon takes hold gently, Betsy's hand is shaking. Jane asks again:
"How did the monsters hurt you?"
"I...I can't move...they won't let me move...I'm cold...where are my clothes...I want my clothes...they touch me and it hurts...it really hurts..."
Tears are streaming down her face, which is contorted by her memories, her body's shaking. Lisbon wants to take her in her arms, she looks to Jane, tears are on his cheeks too, he shakes his head.
"How are the flowers Betsy?"
"I..I..can't see them."
"They're still there Betsy. You can find one more, Katie wants to see one more. Can you find her one?"
Jane can see her eyes darting under her eyelids.
"I can't see one."
"It's all right Betsy, it's there. Take a deep breath."
Jane inhales and Betsy does her best, but it catches in her throat, she starts to panic.
"I can't see Katie, Katie's gone"
"Katie still here, she's holding your hand, can you feel her holding your hand?"
Lisbon tightens her hold just a little.
"Yes, yes."
"She's waiting to see the most beautiful flower, because you saved it until the last. You'll find it. Breathe slowly, follow me, it's there Betsy, Katie's waiting to see it."
Betsy follows Jane's breathing patterns as he takes deeper and deeper breaths. He can see her start to calm, her tears have stopped.
"You can see it, Can't you?"
Yes, yes.
"How does it feel?"
"It's soft and warm."
"Is Katie feeling the flower?"
Betsy nods her head.
"Katie likes roses too?"
"Yes, they're like the sun."
"Can it be dark when the sun is shining?"
Betsy thinks about it and shakes her head.
"Roses are like the sun?"
Betsy nods her head.
"When your darkness comes Betsy if you think about the roses they will chase it away. Just like now. You told me about the darkness and you thought about the flowers and the darkness went away."
"But what if I can't find it?"
"The flowers are always there. You couldn't find them, but they were there, just like I said. Just breathe slowly and you will find it, the darkness tried to stop you, but it couldn't it can't,Betsy, the flowers are always there. Do you believe me?"
Betsy opens her eyes and looks at him, she nods her head.
"Katie says she has to go."
"I know, she's very proud of you. You did a great job and she's very happy you showed her the flowers and when you want her you'll be able to feel her holding your hand, just like now. She has to go and so do you. Are you ready to come back?"
Betsy nods. Jane's eyes move to Lisbon.
"Katie says good-bye."
Lisbon removes her hand.
"When I say now and you feel the tug of the ribbon you will wake up and you won't remember what's happened. You well feel calm and at peace. Jane pulls on the ribbon and says gently:
"Now."
Author's notes: I hope that worked, it was an intense experience writing it, hoping that I've got it right. I considered putting more descriptions of feelings and their thoughts but decided it would interrupt the rhythm of the hypnotism/questioning, so kept it to a minimum. Hopefully you were able to feel it yourself.