disclaimer: All characters are the property of Marvel, except Jenny who is MINE.
Therapy
by Dizi
"I don't know what to say, you know what happened."
"This isn't about the actual events, it's about you talking about them and getting your feelings about the events under your own control."
"I- I just don't think I can, talk about it, I mean. I've never said it out loud."
"If you don't feel comfortable with me, there are others who may be able to help you better..."
"No! I trust you, and you already know everything. I don't want to start over with someone else."
"That's understandable, but if you don't feel free to talk to me..."
"It's not you. I- I just... don't know what to say, or how to say it if I did. You're a telepath, can't you see it?"
"You have a strong mental shield, even if I were willing to invade your privacy in that manner, I could not do so without forcing my way through it which could create untold damage to your psyche. My abilities are not of help unless you were to deliberately let me in... Is that what you want to do?"
"I'm not sure if I can, it's kinda automatic. If I could, I don't know if I could do it just a little bit."
"If it's what you want to do, I can help you with that, but only if that's what you really want."
"It would make things easier I think. I never had to actually tell Sally my problems, so I've never really talked about them to anyone... But I know how it works, are you sure you don't mind? Like I said I don't know how to do it just a little."
"I am confident I can control the connection between us. You don't need to concern yourself. These sessions are not about me, but whatever makes you feel more at ease with everyday life."
"I think... I'd like to try... I don't think I can say it out loud right now."
"If that's what you want then close your eyes and concentrate on the memories you want to allow access to. Do you have them?"
"Yes."
"Listen to the sound of my voice and remember how you let Sally into your mind..."
"Logan, Bishop, have you seen Jenny? I'm going out and thought I'd see if she wanted to go with me or if she needed anything." Betsy asked as she walked into the parlor, amused at the sight of the two men in the formal room, a surround very unsuited to them.
Looking up, Logan said quietly, "She's talkin' ta Chuck." No other explanation was needed.
She let out an exasperated sigh at the two men. "Jenny's not a child, you know. The three of you act like she's younger than Jubilation."
"We're workin' on it, Betts, but we see her roamin' round at night and we just remember lookin' at her layin' on the floor bleedin' to death while we was watchin' out fer her. It'll take a little while ta get past that."
Bishop nodded agreement, "I tend to do the same thing, though I wasn't there for the attack at Harry's. I have no idea how she got away with lying about her age for so long, she looks so young in the monitors at night."
"Well, you're better about it. Keep up the self-defense with her, she's doing great. See you later." Betsy waved at them on her way out of the room.
Before she could reach the front door, double shrill screams started echoing from Charles' study.
All three ran, bursting in, looking for the source of the danger, and briefly froze at the sight that greeted them.
Jenny was curled up in a ball in the corner and Charles was cringing in his chair. Both were screaming, the exact same scream with the same pitch and tone. The only difference was the source locations and the deepness of the voice.
Suddenly, they stopped as the experience changed and the three heard them whimper in tandem, "Please, stop... I won't tell, I promise, just please stop... Please... NO! AAaaahhhhh!" and the screams started again as both attempted to protect their backs.
Her psychic knife glowing as it came protruding from her hand, Betsy leapt forward and plunged it into Charles head, the source of the link, cutting the tie between the two.
Immediately, the screams stopped as Charles' eyes rolled back in his head and Jenny slumped against the corner, both going utterly still.
Gently lifting Jenny into his arms while Bishop hefted Charles, Logan ordered, "Betsy, get Hank. We'll take 'em to the med-lab."
Two hours later, both started waking clutching their heads.
Shining a light into Charles eyes to check his pupils, Hank asked briskly, "Are you continuing to feel the psychic effects of the link?"
"No, I'll be fine soon." Charles gasped through the pain rolling through his head from the left over backlash. "How's Jenny?"
"She is also regaining consciousness." He was informed. "What caused this occurrence? Jenny does not have any psychic abilities and could not have done this of her own initiative."
"Not directly, no. I was overconfident." Charles confessed. "Jenny was able to lower her shields so abruptly and completely I 'fell' into her mind." His voice was filled with the horror of the remembered experience. He had never gone so completely into the mind of someone so traumatized.
"I'm sorry." Jenny said from the bed opposite him. "I didn't know it would hurt you."
Explaining quickly, he said, "Your link with Sally was very deep. You opened the channel as I requested, I should have anticipated the depth and made allowances, set internal blocks. It was not your fault." Charles reassured her, watching the relief fill her face. "How do you feel?"
"I feel great, except for the headache, but it's going away." Jenny smiled. "It wasn't so intense having you with me."
Paling, Charles weakly tried to smile back. "I'm glad it was a help to you."
"Oh, it really was." Gingerly, Jenny hopped down from the bed. "I've got to get dinner on. If you're tired I can bring some down to you?" she offered, eager to help.
"I would appreciate it." he murmured.
Both Charles and Hank watched in shock as Jenny almost bounced out the door and exchanged glances.
Popping her head back in the door, Jenny asked, "Are we going to do this again? I feel really great after sharing with you."
"Maybe we should discuss our findings first." he hedged.
"Okay." She popped back out.
Closing his eyes, Charles let out a groan.
Concerned, Hank rushed back to his side. "Has the pain increased in intensity?"
"Not yet." Charles sighed. "It's not the pain, Hank. It's the knowledge that I'm going to experience being an innocent fourteen-year-old girl being raped over and over again."
"You recieved the full experience?" Hank asked in shock.
"No, not everything," Charles' voice was harsh. "Just enough to know there's a reason I wasn't born a woman. I am not strong enough."
"Is any of us?" Hank asked quietly. "Jenny has the mistaken belief that she is not a strong individual. Yet everything I learn about her tells me otherwise."
"Do you know what scares me most?" His voice was full of horror. "She said it wasn't as intense as usual."
Her back was on fire.
Her breath coming in huge gulps.
Her body tensed, waiting for what they would do to her next.
"Please," she begged, "please, don't hurt me anymore..."
"Please!" Charles cried as he woke his heart pounding.
Twenty minutes later, after he'd stopped shaking, he privately admitted he would not have been able to handle the experience so many women went through. He wasn't able to handle the memory of it. How did Jenny deal with this nightly? Perhaps he would learn during future sessions.
At least he had been spared her complete mutilation, so far. But now for the rest of his life, he would have nightmares of what it was to be a fourteen-year-old girl who had been raped and more.
He was going to need therapy himself.
note:
B Oots- Sorry, they're just friends.
Elizabeth Robbins- Yeah, wasn't he great! Almost used someone else, but as a good friend he had to be there for her.
GothikStrawberry- Thanks, you want heavy though, wait for the next one.
S- There you go again! Thank you so much, I love that story. I like the direction Jenny has gone but the original, just really flowed and I just love it. Felt more... artistic? maybe.
Jinxeh- This is why you gotta be careful about posting so many stories at once. Oh, yeah, I just started doing that. Okay, skip first part.
(...)- Thanks, I gotta think of something really good for him.
Next chapter was requested by my beta Amanda and it deals with O:ZT. That's all I'm saying but it is dark. Sorry but what was good about O:ZT? Nothing, butthis storyhad to be done. Thanks to my new beta Lisa. She's fast folks.
Thanks for reading and the support,
Dizi