Another week, another update.

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Let The Chaos Ensue...

Chapter 19: Talktime

August 1st, 2:53 pm, Arcadia CA

It had been a few weeks, and Jim had transitioned to a diurnal sleep schedule relatively well. Other than that everything had gone smoothly. Jim and Indi just became closer, and they hung out with everyone else with no problems.

Except for Claire, at the mention or sight of the girl, Claire would curdle her looks into one of disdain, though was perfectly friendly with everyone around her. Even if her presence put her in a sour mood.

After a harsh word from Darci and Marry, Claire went to the only person who was still having a hard time with Jim.

Heading into the clinic, she found Dr. Lake in the middle of a crowd of idle nurses.

"Hey Dr. Lake, Could I talk to you for a minute? It's about Jim?"

She looked up from her clipboard and nodded. "Sure I've got a minute." Barbara led her into an empty examination room and asked. "What's up?"

"Jim has a new girlfriend," she stated.

Slowly, with slightly widened eyes, Dr. Lake nodded. "Yes."

"What am I supposed to do?"

Barbara frowned. "Claire, honey, what's this about?"

"It's about Jim!"

"What did you come to talk to me about?"

"Jim."

"Are you sure?"

Claire looked at her hands set in her lap and glared at them. "Indiana ruined my life," she hissed.

Taken aback, Barbara moved a chair in front of Claire and sat down.

"Claire, I know Jim was your first boyfriend, but it's not the end of the world," she said slowly, cautiously.

Claire looked up with her eyes brimming with tears. "But it is, it is Dr. Lake. It's the end of my world!" She cried.

"Oh," she took a breath. "Claire…"

"Jim was the nicest guy in school, he stood up for everyone, and didn't hesitate to help anyone if they needed it. Then he became the trollhunter and he did everything he could to protect the people in Arcadia, and when I joined him and Toby, he went to literal hell to save Enrique. He did everything he could to make sure I was happy and then he went and took that stupid potion and now he's with that awful girl."

She was crying now, and several nurses were looking in on the room to make sure she was alright.

"I did everything right while he was gone to make sure we could be together when he got back and he brought her back. I just wanted to be with him!"

Barbara stood and pulled her into a hug.

"How come he chose her over me? We've been through everything together! I know him better than she does," she said, sobering. "When he got back, we should have gotten back together."

"Claire, Indi's a very nice girl. Jim is lucky to have her. She loves him very much."

"And my love doesn't mean anything?"

"No it does, but it just doesn't mean what it used to. Same as my love doesn't mean what it used to," Dr. Lake sighed.

"What does that mean? Jim says you've been great."

"Yes, but he now seems to see Walter as his parent more than me. He will always go to him first before he comes to me."

"And he should be going to you," Claire bit.

"No," Barbara shook her head. "I've dug my grave, and now I have to lie in it. It's gonna be this way and it's my fault. I just hope that I can change it over time."

"What about me?"

She sighed. "Unfortunately, we both have to lie in our graves. Besides, haven't you seen how happy she makes him?"

Claire glared at an unassuming doorknob, but nodded. "She looks at him with more normalcy than she does my friends."

"And it's the look he deserves to receive," Barbara said. "Somehow I didn't see it before, but she's right about him. He's just like a big cat, and all he wants is love," she laughed.

"Thank you for listening to me Dr. Lake," Claire said.

"Any time." She said, then stopped Claire before she left. "Claire."

"Yeah?"

"Just because he doesn't love you in the way you want, remember that he does care about you."

Claire nodded, gave her thanks and left.

…

August 1st, 3:00 pm, Arcadia CA

Indi was sitting on the boulders in the backyard of the Lake residence, watching a fight to the death between Jim and Strickler.

She leaned against the house sipping on her juice box and listened to them argue.

"I'm not going."

"You've been through a lot in the past year, more than anyone should ever have to deal with, and you need therapy."

"I have nothing against Dr. Shane, but he's going to be a useless lump of meat to me."

Jim threw his galives, knocking the sharp spines from Stricklers' hands, and then put the man at sword point.

Strickler narrowed his eyes and he transformed back into a human. "You've been holding back against me."

Jim mocked the man and yelled afterward. "No duh I've been holding back against you! I'm a war machine, you couldn't beat me even if you were trying to kill me!" Jim released the sword and pocketed the amulet.

The Changeling rubbed his neck and muttered to himself. "I was." He took a breath and then looked at the girl. "Looks like I have no choice but to bring in the big guns."

Indi smiled and jumped off the rocks, walking toward Jim with a demonic light in her eyes. She walked up behind Jim and jumped on his back. She wrapped her arms around his head, covering his eyes and laughed like a maniac.

"Indi! Don't let Strickler pull you to the side of evil," Jim yelled with a smile.

"It's too late, and now you're mine." She pulled a white cloth from her back pocket and before Jim could tell what was happening, he was waking up in a cozy office on the couch of Dr Shane Johnson.

The halftroll moaned and looked to his left, his girlfriend all too pleased with herself on the couch next to him. And Strickler standing next to the door talking to Shane.

"Ugh, what happened?" he said.

Indi wiggled her eyebrows and spoke. "Troll sedative, potent enough it would knock out Arg."

Jim gave a slight snarl and threw his head back. "I've been betrayed."

"Stop being dramatic, Jim." Strickler said.

"It's just to make sure you've handled your trauma the proper ways. That way you don't have any repressed issues," Dr Shane said.

"Repressed issues?" He growled. "I got turned into a troll."

"And for some reason you are more than okay it," the Dr. said. "Don't you think that's a bit strange?"

"That's what I said," Indi nodded.

Strickler rolled his eyes and waved her over, they promptly left the room, the door shutting quietly behind them.

"No," Jim sighed. "I don't think it's strange."

"Why?"

Jim querked his eyebrows then leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Imagine for a minute you were me, 5' 8" beanpole fleshbag, constantly around trolls. Big stone beings that if at any moment they chose could step on you, and kill you."

"Fleshbag?" He asked with a deadpan expression.

Jim shrugged. "What are humans if not flesh holding everything in? ie… bags of flesh, flesh-bags."

"You are aware you are still part human, correct?"

"Dr. Shane, of course I'm still aware that I'm part human. But what part of being human allows you to hunt like an animal, get shot with nothing more than a bruise to show for it later, hitchhike on top of semi's? What part of being human has a 6' tail?"

Jim's voice was steadily rising, and a snarl was finding its way into his tone.

"What part of being human makes my eyes change color? Or allows me to smell how people feel? What part of being human makes raw human flesh, taste good?" he spoke the last sentence in a low growl.

Dr. Shane's eyes went wide and he subconsciously scooted back away from Jim.

Jim took a breath and blew it out his nose. "That's what I thought."

"Those may be part of being a troll, but have you focused on what makes you still human?"

Jim frowned.

"You have a girlfriend, who I'm sure loves attention, and you love giving it to her. You have your friends, and mom, and Strickler. You are still going to attend school…"

"Those are all circumstantial," Jim muttered. "Find something about my natural behavior that is human."

Shane stuttered, then thought hard, he frowned and looked at Jim.

The troll scoffed. "You can't, I've tried."

"I thought you loved being a troll."

"I do." Jim said without a thought. "But I didn't."

Shane looked surprised. "What do you mean by that?"

"At the drop of a hat what kid, even if I was constantly surrounded by the supernatural, would be okay if they woke up and were now a troll hybrid? I thought long and hard about everything I was feeling. And none of it was what I knew. After the fight, I had time to accept myself."

"Okay."

"What do you want from me?" Jim asked after a beat of silence.

"I want to make sure you're okay."

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"What do you want from me? I said I'm fine."

"Fine is a lie."

"I'm great. I love my life," he said almost sarcastically.

"Forgive me if I don't belive you."

Jim took a breath. "Look, I've got some problems, who doesn't."

"Your problems are kinda a special case."

"...Thanks. Dr. Shane, honestly. I've got my mom, who's trying. I've got Strickler, who's like the dad I've never had. I have Indigo, and she's the greatest thing since peanut butter. Claire and Toby are still my best friends, and everyone in Arcadia is great and I'm going to be able to go through my junior year even though I'm part troll. I don't care how I look and as long as no one else makes a problem, there's no problem."

Jim stood and walked toward the door.

Dr Shane sighed. "Just know my door is always open to you, or Indi."

Jim nodded with his hand on the doorknob. "I'll remember, but really, I'm doing really well."

Shane smiled and nodded. "For some reason, I believe you, have a good day Jim."

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