A/N:
First, I would like to thank everyone for reading this fic. I never thought it would gain as much interest, or that people would invest so much time reading. This was only ever going to be three chapters max, and so, I thank you for giving me the opportunity. A big thank you to Mrs Carmichael, fayeftvanity, RachelMasonFan39, hannah5240, Lynny and LittleH12 for the reviews! Also a BIG thank you to anyone who has commented on this fic from other chapters.

I've sat on this last chapter for a while now as I wanted to do it justice. I still feel nervous to post it, as it's not what maybe everyone would like but ...

As promised, I have a new fic that I've started and I will begin posting that in the new year.

Please enjoy.

The collateral damage of love

I am desperate to be okay.
I want to be okay.
I am finally okay.
I am Rachel Mason.
I am Eddie Lawson.

. . .

Here they were, another session and unbeknown to them, it would be their last. This whole process of self healing had been a journey, and it had finally been time to start another. They'd been given time; and that had been the greatest healer. To say that they were completely healed would have been a lie, but over time, they'd found safety from a dark place.

The last of the four white walls.
The last of the awkward silences.
The last of the madness.

One last time.

'Marriage', stated Dr Williams as he looked to the both of them. He knew Eddie would ask her as he'd told him in a previous session. He'd spent a little while pondering how he would approach this and noted that he had to be cautious. It was his job to make them okay, not to hurt them.

He watched as Eddie took Rachel's hand and gave it a light squeeze to reassure her. The doctor realised that even though she held a strong and determined personality, Eddie had dominated her in a way that protected her. Eddie had saved her everytime.

'Yes. I know you don't agree-', Eddie said, however he was shortly interrupted by the doctor.

'Let's stop, just for a second. I want you both to just stop. I want us to think back to your first sessions'.

. . .

Dr Williams: Okay, session one. Rachel Mason. Am I correct?

Rachel: Yes.

Dr Williams: Why are you here, Rachel?

Dr Williams: It's okay. Just in your own time.

Rachel: I- .. I feel broken.

Dr Williams: You feel broken?

Rachel: I'm not sure how to carry on.

Dr Williams: It's okay to cry, and it's okay not to be okay.

. . .

Focus returned to Rachel, and she felt slightly anxious at the prospect of having to dive back into the most terrifying place. Aside from her past when she left home all those years ago, this had been a time that she'd really hit rock-bottom, mentally.

'Rachel, when I met you for our first session, how do you think you felt?', he asked cautious not to overstep the mark. She was still somewhat delicate to the matter, and he didn't want to trigger that.

'I was angry', she answered quietly.

'No'.

'I'm sorry?', she asked.

'You were broken'. The doctor replied as he studied her. He could have sworn that she looked embarrassed, and he didn't want her to feel that way. It wasn't something to feel embarrassed about. On sensing this, he elaborated further. It wasn't an attempt to upset her, he just wanted Eddie to understand that she really had not been okay.

'You told me you couldn't carry on'. On hearing these words, Eddie took Rachel's other hand and carefully portrayed his concern. 'Rach, why didn't you phone me?', he questioned.

'I wasn't your problem anymore, Eddie'.

. . .

Dr Williams: Session one. Eddie Lawson.

Dr Williams: So, why are you here today?

Eddie: I need to talk about things to someone .. you know, other than my . . . girlfriend.

Dr Williams: Okay, so, how do you feel today?

Eddie: I don't know, but I know one thing.

Dr Williams: Go on?

Eddie: I'm not happy.

. . .

Doctor Williams thought back to Eddie's first session and recalled him being exhausted and not happy. He'd remembered the day so well. The first time he'd recognised the link between the pair and felt an overwhelming feeling. Even after years of experience, he couldn't be sure he'd be able to handle it. It had frightened him.

'Eddie, you weren't happy'. It had been a statement rather than a question, and Eddie felt obliged to explain.

'I couldn't talk to Melissa', he mumbled awaiting Rachel's reaction. Talking about Melissa had been sensitive to the both of them, and he half expected her to pull away from him, but she didn't.

'You were in a bad place'. Silence overcame them again as the reality of the doctor's comment washed upon them.

'I was, yes. Now I .. I feel alive again'.

. . .

Minutes had gone by, and Rachel and Eddie watched as the Dr shuffled some papers on his desk. Satisfied with a certain sheet, he walked back over before taking his seat again. Bringing his eyes to them, he watched as they looked quizzing at him.

'I want to read you my notes from when I met you. Now I'm not a note keeper, but at the time I felt compelled'. His words were sharp, and he cleared his throat before he began.

'Eddie Lawson. Open in words. Expresses how he feels. Angry instantly when questioned too much. Likes to be in control of his feelings. An estimation of a few months- that's how long I predicted your therapy'.

'Rachel Mason. Closed, reserved, will not keep eye contact. Will be hard to crack. A severity'.

. . .

The doctor knew that neither Eddie nor Rachel would have liked what he was about to say, but he wanted to be honest. He wanted them to be happy, he really did. It was his job, however, to prepare them for the reality. Rachel and Eddie could leave today and have the life they deserved. They could raise Holly as if she were their own and live an uninterrupted life for years and years. But, there was also the lurking reality that Melissa could return at anytime and cause a stir. She could rip that from them and cause a whirlwind like before sending them both into troubled waters, and they'd drown again, and he knew that this time he couldn't save them.

'It's not what I think. You can be angry Eddie as you think I'm not happy for you, but that won't help. Rachel, you can be cautious, and continue to secretly hide that you feel a little anxious, but that won't help'. He watched as Eddie and Rachel looked to each other before looking back at him.

'So what are you trying to say exactly?', Eddie quizzed as he leant forward in his seat. Observing the doctor, his patience started to wear thin.

'I was here to save you. I watched as an unknown world swallowed you and nearly took your happiness. I've been cautious to let you be free. I wanted to heal you, slowly. I know that you love each other, and by God you're right for each other but I didn't want to rush it. There's still a lot of healing. It's like removing a plaster too early'. His words confused them more, and they felt the urge to disagree.

'A plaster?', Rachel quizzed as she began to worry, much like the doctor had predicted. Over the last few years, he had began to know them better than they knew themselves.

'It either allows the wound to heal naturally or provides a chance for it to re-open', the doctor answered as he cleared his throat. He watched as they took a moment to digest his words, and he awaited on Eddie to say something. Rachel was a thinker, and he knew she'd take her time before asking anymore questions.

'What do you think?'. Just like Dr Williams had predicted, Eddie pressed further.

'It's not about the plaster anymore'.

'It's not?', Eddie questioned once more.

'No'. Dr Williams gave a short but stern reply.

'Then-', before Eddie even had the chance to ask his next question, Dr Williams took it upon himself to answer. He knew him all too well.

'This has been something deeper. Far deeper than I've ever known', the doctor explained, observing them intensely. He hadn't been lying. This case had engulfed his life for the last few years, and he knew he'd be finally closing in. Taking one last final moment, he removed his glasses, shredded the notes he'd read on them and spoke for the last time.

'This is the collateral damage of love'.

THE END.