Title: Willow Rosenberg, Child Psychologist

Author: mistymidnight

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: I own the plot, as well as Taylor, Maxwell, Carly, Erin, Noah, and Aimee. Gidgetgirl owns Zane, Thayer, Sophie, Lola, as well as the plot to the companion fic to this one, "Fully Qualified". Joss Whedon owns the canon and all the characters not mentioned in this disclaimer. (Excluding Lola's mother, who I also own and haven't bothered to name.)

Spoilers/Timeline: Post-Chosen, after my other fic "Fully Qualified".

Summary: Sequel to "Fully Qualified". Willow's life has quieted down. But do things ever stay quiet when you're a Scooby?

Author's Notes: Here I am, finally back to update.I'm writing to console myself over the slump I'm in. It's the classic Post-Performance Slump. You know, you get all excited and you really love the people you're working with and then it's all over. Okay. Enough complaining.

When we last left our heroine, she has discovered that her patient, Lola, was not making such good progress after all. What will happen next? Dun-dun-dun!

Ooh! Ooh! IMPORTANT!!! Please vote for me for Readers' Choice at The Bedtime Story Awards! Interrogation is up for votes, and any suport would be greatly appreciated. Or, if you absolutely hate me, go vote for someone else. There's some really great writers nominated...gidgetgirl, for one.

The URL is (minus the spaces, obviously) http : members . shaw . ca / btsawards

(Sorry about the spaces in between. It's just that ff . net refuses to let me put URLs in the context of my story. Darn html editor.)

On with the chapter!

Telephone

"Well, I sure don't envy you," Buffy Summers remarked. "I don't have the kind of patience to deal with...well...patients."

"To each his own," Willow replied, the cordless phone cradled between her shoulder and her ear. She glanced outside at the rain pouring down the glass slider doors. She could barely make out the SkyDome a block or so away. It was a wonder she was able to see it at all. She figured it was only visible because of the lights the surrounding buildings were giving off. Baseball season was over, and Willow, who had never thought herself a baseball fan, or a fan of any sport for that matter, found herself missing the summer games.

"So, Will," Buffy began, cutting into her wistful memories of summer nights, sitting on the balcony and eating ice cream, "how goes it in Toronto? Apart from work."

"It's pretty quiet," Willow told her. "Ever since that thing with Taylor."

"I can't help getting the sense that there's more to we realize," Buffy said. "I mean, the girl was, like, channeling the different sides of your personality or something. She'd never met you, Will. She had no connection to you. So how did she get to you?"

"You're babbling."

"I know."

Willow smiled, even though she knew Buffy couldn't see her. "That's my job."

"Awfully possessive of our babblings, aren't we?"

Willow smiled again. The telephone beeped. Willow glanced at the caller ID on the end table the phone charger sat on. "Hey, Buffy, can I call you back? Carly's on the other line."

"Taylor's mom?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. But you'd better remember to call me."

"I will."

"Don't forget."

"I won't. Goodbye, Buffy."

"Bye, Will."

Willow switched to the other line. "Hello?"

There was a crackling on the line, then she heard Carly's voice say, "Willow?"

"The one and only."

"Oh, hi." Carly's voice sounded garbled. She must be on her cell phone. Willow glanced out the window again at the sheets of rain. The poor woman. "I'm glad I got ahold of you," Carly continued. "I need to ask you a huge favor."

"Go ahead."

"Would you mind watching Taylor Wednesday night? I've got a date with Noah and the babysitter cancelled. Normally, I'd just cancel the date, but we're going to see a show and Noah tried for weeks to get tickets and this guy at his work finally sold them to him for twice their value and it's non-refundable and--"

"Carly, relax. Deep breaths," Willow teased. "I'll take care of Taylor. Don't worry."

Carly held the cell phone closer to her ear. "So, I'll see you Wednesday, right after I pick Taylor up. And thanks so much."

"No problem. Always a pleasure to babysit."

Carly frowned at the road as she switched into a lane with less traffic. "I feel like such a bad mother," she confessed. "I've been working late all the time. I barely see my little girl any more."

"You're not a bad mom," Willow assured her. "You're just busy, that's all. I'm sure Taylor understands."

"I don't know," Carly said. "She's usually so bubbly and eager to tell me about everything. Lately, she's just been withdrawn and kind of touchy."

"Is it because of—"

"Noah?"

"Kids don't always like having to share their parents with someone else."

"It's only been a few dates. I don't even know if it's serious yet."

"Neither does she. But I'll bet it's what she's afraid of."

"Probably." Carly turned on her blinker and drove onto the exit ramp. "Well, maybe some time with you will cheer her up."

Willow smiled. "Here's hoping."

(Pretend there's a page divider here...)

She could see them again. They were here. And they were mad. And the hands, the hands were coming, coming, coming, and they were grabbing her neck and squeezing hard. Tears streamed down her face and lights flashed in front of her eyes. The hands hit her. She fell and it hurt it hurt it hurt…

The bruises would never fade…

…if they were real.

(Pretend there's a page divider here...)

Okey dokey, chapter posty!

mistymidnight