Disclaimers, ratings, name, etc can be found in prologue

Author's Notes: Hello one and all!! Wanted to thank you all some more for your reviews - they are fuel to my fire!

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Chapter 10

Her full name was Rebecca Sue Kotler but no one called her that.

She'd always been just Becca. Simple, sweet Becca who'd been part of the Goth crowd, who'd made perverted jokes, and happened to be best friends with none other than cheerleader material, Katie Embry.

Everyone had always given them sideways glances, wondering why two people who were so different from each other could be so close. There were, of course, the normal retarded teenage rumors about their sexuality.

But the both of them had just laughed that off. They had met in detention for god's sake, Becca there for smoking on school property and Katie there for passing notes in class. In the boredom of after school punishment they had just happened to hit it off and since then had been closer than two people could be.

But then it had all ended abruptly and Becca became more than just a simple, sweet Goth - she became the last person to see Katie alive.

Not that she ever thought about that though. It had been wiped from her memory, which was a concept Rachel Keller had had a hard time understanding. Becca could vaguely recall Rachel visit. She had come when Becca had first been institutionalized. She'd been so nosey, asking all these question about Katie, about what happened.

It had been terribly irritating, especially since Becca's now shattered mind didn't even remember anymore. Not a thing about it, whether Katie had taken her own life or been murdered by another's hand. All she knew was that she couldn't bear to be near a television set. Every time she saw one or walked near one she broke into a cold sweat and her heart sized in her chest, frozen mid beat.

She had been subjected to numerous prescription pills. To tests. To doctors poking, prodding, looking for answers in her troubled mind. She'd been locked up, kept from freedom and it grew even worse when her parents gave up on her.

They didn't know the story behind Katie and they didn't care to find out, all they knew was that their neighbors were whispering behind their backs about their 'crazy daughter'. And for all they knew, she was crazy, even before the situation with Katie she had always been in trouble, causing them some sort of grief.

It wasn't heartbreaking for them to decide to send her off to Ohio. There was a fine psychiatric institution there and they happened to deal first hand with symptoms Becca had been exhibiting since witnessing Katie's demise, one of which, included insomnia.

And her grandparents lived down that way anyway, so it wasn't even like they would come off looking heartless. Instead it seemed as if they were doing what was best for the girl when they packed her up and carted her off to Westin Hills in Springwood.

At first it seemed that all hope was lost but once she was away from the city, Becca actually began showing improvement. Her parents had inadvertently helped her after all. With help from the staff and a lot of hard work on her part she began to relax, slowly returning to herself. There were still bouts of insomnia now and then and she still had some amnesia when it came to Katie's death but she doing so well they were even talking of possible release.

Which was exactly why she was in Doctor Carver Harris's office today. The sun outside was shining brightly through his venetian blinds and straight into her eyes, she blinked a few times but otherwise did not complain. Why would she? Ever since Katie had been taken she had fallen in love with the daytime - the sunlight; it some how kept her safe.

That and being away from television sets.

She always felt that if she were exposed to one for too long she would die…someone would come for her. She couldn't quite remember who but she seemed to recall a girl. A little girl?

She shook her head, she had been told not to force it; her memories would gradually come at their own pace. Just as they had when they'd revealed to her that Katie had died in the nighttime, just as it had when she told Rachel she had four days left…four days until something that girl would do.

Becca sat back in the plush office chair as Doctor Harris adjusted the blinds to keep the sun from her face. He took his own seat across from her, his young handsome face always a welcome sight, "How are you doing today, Becca?"

"Good, thank you for asking, Doctor."

"Anything new?"

"If you mean memories, no, it's still hazy…"

"That's perfectly natural, Becca, considering the emotional trauma you suffered. We can only take this all one-day at a time. However, from what I understand you've been doing exceptionally well in your physical and mental tests and have even managed to watch a little TV, isn't that right?"

The thought of the times she'd spent before the television caused her stomach to give a sickening lurch but she ignored it, not wanting to give anything away as she forced a happy smile, "Yes, I have."

"Hmm," Doctor Harris pulled out his clipboard, jotted a few notes, then turned to her, fingers pressed together in a pyramid. He rested his lips against his hands, looking her over than sat back, letting a small grin form, "Enough with the suspense, you and I both know why I called you to my office today, now it would be temporary, of course, we'd release you into your grandparent's care and if you showed competent enough after some length's time…"

"Oh, Doctor Harris!" Becca gasped, sitting up, "I would be thrilled, honored if you'd give me this chance…"

"It is a bit premature...to be considering this but you've shown such strides in your improvement, remarkable change really, much better than most of the people we receive here. But then, you were a transfer, I'm sure the doctors in your state are much better qualified to-"

" Doctor Harris," Becca pleaded, "I really appreciate all that you've done for me, and I understand the kind of situation you face by even considering this but I can assure you that I am ready, I can do this. I was…shaken by my friend's death but I think I have shown that I am on the mend and ready to return to a real life. Honestly, that's all I want, to finish school and to - to get on with my life. Isn't that what all this has been about? All my time here should lead up to this…shouldn't it?"

"Yes, but-"

"And I know you still have concerns about my amnesia but I think it would clear up better if I was out of here, away from these walls, the doctors, the smells, the pills…if I was just allowed to be normal and relax, I think it would come…"

Doctor Harris sighed, "I agree with that theory, Ms. Kotler. It's one of many reasons I'm considering signing your temporary release but there is still the issue of your phobia towards the television…"

Becca swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry but she forced herself to continue, " Doctor Harris, it's like you said, I have watched television since it happened. Being here has helped, just recently I sat with a few other patients through an entire program of 'Jeopardy'."

"Yes, I know," Doctor Harris assured her, "I saw, you jumped slightly during a commercial break…there had been some static."

The thought of static caused her hair to stand up on end, ripples shuddering through her skin but she continued. "Well…it's as you said, I still do need some work. But what you're suggesting is temporary so I don't see the harm in-"

"Becca," Doctor Harris laughed, "You don't have to convince me, after all, I'm the one who told you I was even considering this so obviously my mind is somewhat made up. Otherwise, why would I tell you? It's not a doctor's place to raise his patient's hopes and then crush them, it would sort of defeat the purpose of healing, right?"

Becca giggled as Doctor Harris continued, "No, what I'm thinking is more of a test, a final test. If you pass, then I will have no trouble signing those papers but if not, then I'm going to have to assume you are not ready just yet."

"Go ahead, I'm ready for anything." Becca replied confidently.

"Thus far, anytime you've watched television or been near one, you've had people around you. I think this has given you a sense of security and I want to see if you can survive without it. I want to know if you can act like any other rational young adult when left alone with a TV set. I want to lock you in a quiet room, Becca. Alone. With a TV."

Becca's eyes widened and for a moment static shot in front of her eyes and she thought she saw something…water, long dark hair, an eye? The images flashed so quickly that she blinked. She realized she was gripping the arm rest of her chair tightly and released it quickly, letting out a shaky laugh, "That would be no problem at all. I can pass that easy."

"Do you really think so?" Doctor Harris pressed.

Becca took a deep breath, composing herself, "Yes, yes I do. Let's do it."