A/N: Another one, and this is the last one, as it sorta comes full circle. I've been gone for a while, got caught up in other stuff. Had five years of schlock mercenary to catch up on. Anyway, I was rereading some of my old stuff, and this came to mind. I plan on getting back on the fiction horse and thought this was a nice place to start. Hope you have as much fun readin this as I had writing it. And it si definetely finished.

Back to Basics

Dr. Michaela was surprised and slightly afraid. Across from her sat a - by appearances - very well-off couple. He was sporting a charcoal grey Armani suit, while she was resplendent in Donna Karan. No mean feat in the post-pulse world, when things like this were especially difficult to come by. And these two were no strangers to her, a couple of years before she had counselled them, freeing them both from the delusions preying on their minds. At no small cost to herself as she had had nightmares for weeks from their imaginary tribulations and battles. It had come as no real surprise to her that these two had ended up together. Patients often developed feelings for their counsellors or other group patients. It was not unheard of, however considering the loathing these two had held for each other, seeing it swing over into lust was an eye-opener and the basis for another one of her papers that had been well-received at last years Psychologists of America convention.

In all her years she had never seen herself as a marriage counsellor, though.

"So, Ames, Max, why don't you tell me why you are back in my office. I felt that our conversations had come to a very satisfying conclusion."

Ames muttered something that sounded suspiciously like: "More like we decided to pander to your insecurities", before ending in a yelp as his wife kicked him less than discreetly under the chair and took over the reigns of the situation.

"Everything is fine. Our marriage is doing well, but it's our families. His family is a bunch of megalomaniac nutcases, with a serious hard-on for taking over the world."

"Like, yours is any better, sweetie. They're a bunch of animals. I mean, take Joshua, he's a dog."

Dr. Michaela sputtered but was cut off at the pass, by Max.

"He is NOT a dog!"

"Is too sweety, you know it, I know it. Anyway he's a dog and he slobbers on the couch."

"No he doesn't! Yes, he does, last time he was over at our place, I found him fast asleep, twitching and drooling all over our new missionary couch. And we only bought it last month."

Dr. Michaela tried to bring the conversation back to the field she felt most comfortable with, applied psychology. "When you say dog, I assume, you're referring to the fact that he is somewhat homely?"

Ames snorted. "No, I mean he IS a dog. You know, pants, wags his imaginary tail and slobbers all over you when he's happy. Not too difficult to handle, give him some finger-paints and he's entertained for hours. Or you know, a bone."

"AMES!"

"What? You know it's true."

"Well, what about your friends? Always going around looking down at me, planning my death and dismemberment."

"They like you. If they wanted you dead they would just kill you."

"That's as may be, but your boss' wife doesn't even look at me. And the other day, she came to the house and tried to smother Junior!"

"Honey, I explained this to you. The first two children are killed. It's tradition. You knew that. I told you that before the wedding. Which if I might add was ruined by that lizard friend of yours.

Dr. Michaela, feeling a little left out at this point, interjected. "And when you say lizard man, what is it you actually mean, Ames."

Her patient looked at her blankly. "I mean he's a lizard. Big, green, slit eyes. Are you deaf or something."

Max sniggered a little. "Now, sweetie, our lives can be a bit overwhelming."

"Yeah, but it's not like she has to live it, right?" He leaned back in his chair, a frown marring his handsome brow. Max soothingly stroked his arm, as Dr. Michaela heaved a deep sigh, mentally seeing months of treatment go down the drain.

"Okay, Max, Ames, why don't we talk about how you really feel and let us get to the bottom of what these delusions really mean."

Ames and Max shared a look. "See, I told you she wouldn't get it."