Author: roseofthegate
A/N: Some interesting reviews for the last chapter (don't forget to check my bio for replies)…though it was an interesting last chapter, too. All I have to say to the general reading 'population' is that your patience will be rewarded in this chapter. I promise.
Allison Point of View
…Three rings. I hung up. I can't tell her. Hell, I don't even know if I'll be able to counsel Pete. God, what have I gotten myself into?
Knock, knock. Someone was rapping on my office door.
"Come in," I called. Sam entered.
"Hey, Aly! Can we talk now?"
"Yeah. Uh, Sam…there's something you need to know." I gulped. It was now or never. She looked at me, prodding me on. "Yesterday, when I went to get your things…um…Pete and I had a 'discussion'. He said that he needed counseling to help him 'control his anger'. And…in my moment of weakness, I agreed."
"So?" Sam asked. "He's not going to come around here is he?"
"No but, Sam I don't know if I can counsel both of you. And if there's a problem, he's the first to go, I promise."
She nodded. "So, obviously he told you about…our last fight."
"Yeah. Can you tell me how you were feeling?"
She looked up at the ceiling and began. "After he accused me of…sleeping around…Aly, I was so mad. I knew I had to get out of there before I did something I might have later regretted. And the ironic thing is, I did anyway. I would like to be able to say that I beat him to a pulp, but I didn't. I just…just did enough to get by. Then I came here. Work, the thing I always hide in." She shook her head. "I…have made the biggest mistake of my life…"
"And the thing to do is to get back on your feet, okay?" I said gently. We talked some more about her before she left.
Afterwards, I checked my schedule. Tomorrow night I had about thirty minutes after work and before my date with Daniel. I could fit Pete in there. I called him and asked if that was okay. He agreed and so…here I am again getting ready to meet my best friend's ex-husband for counseling yet again.
"Major, you have no idea how much it means to me that you're doing this," Pete said as he arrived in the park. I was dressed up for my date in a white halter top and a chiffon-like, knee length black skirt. I had a dark green corduroy jacket. I smiled good-naturedlyat him and he sat down next to me on the bench.
"So, have you felt the urge to take your anger out on anyone else since we last talked?" I asked.
He began answering, but I couldn't for the life of me pay attention. I'm emotionally attached to this case. I have personal feelings about the way that he treated Sam and I just can't stand being NEAR him! Why, oh why am I doing this?
After five minutes, I stopped him. "Pete," I said. "I can't do this. And honestly, I don't know why I agreed to this. Now, I know many very good psychologists who specialize in what you need. If you want, I'll set you up with one of them."
He stared at me. "You're dropping me?"
"I can't do—"
"You bitch!" he screamed. "You were using me! You wanted to know what happened that night and since I could tell you, you decided to counsel me for one damn session. One!" He raised his hand to slap me and I grabbed it and twisted into the most painful wristlock I could think of.
"Okay, Shanahan. I'm finding you someone else who can help you a hell of a lot better than I can. I don't give a damn what you think of me or Sam or General O'Neill or anyone for that matter. You just need to stay out of Sam's life and we will have no problems. Got it?"
He looked at me with venom and spat, "Yes."
"Then you can walk yourself back to your car, right? I'm late for my date with my boyfriend." He cast me one last look of hatred before stalking off to his car.
"And after five minutes you dropped him off your patient list?" Daniel asked.
"Yeah. I couldn't stand him for a minute longer," I said. Daniel squeezed my hand supportively from across the table.
"I had a feeling it would be like that," he said.
"So how was your day, honey?" I asked, ready for a new topic.
"Oh, you know. The same old stuff."
"Nothing of interest?"
"Nah. You?"
I bit my lip and then spoke. "Nothing special. Sergeant Siler did manage to fall of the ladder while changing the light bulb above my desk."
"Did he really?" Our food arrived and then Daniel continued. "That man is accident prone."
I agreed and our conversation turned to casual topics. We finished our meal and we drove to a park near my home. This wasn't unusual because Daniel and I usually took a walk after we went out just to talk. We hadn't been to this park since our first or second 'official' date.
He led me to this huge wild lilac bush. "Remember the last time we were here?" he asked.
I nodded. "The branches were bare because it was the dead of winter."
"Yeah. A lot has changed since then, Aly." I nodded. "Including us," he continued. I looked at him. Was he leading up to what I thought he was?
He dropped down to one knee. "Allison, we've been to hell and back together. I've…died; you know the full nine yards. And each time I missed you so much and I want to know from know on that whenever I go anywhere that you're waiting for me. Will you…Will you marry me, Allison Corrnett?"
He pulled out an engagement ring and offered it to me. On a perfectly sized gold band there was three stones. In the middle was an emerald-cut diamond, about one and a half carats. On its left and right were two smaller emeralds, similarly cut. He looked up at me, waiting for my answer.
A/N: Please review!