Jim sat very still and quiet in a room he had many, many times, on a soft white sofa, staring at the white walls, waiting for his new therapist to arrive. It was going to be a very awkward situation; he'd been at this a few years now, he knew how it worked. She'd come in, say hello and ask him how his day had gone. Of course he couldn't answer that question, as he spent the entire day imagining Spock during sex, or flirting with the handsome man, or looking at his amazing bottom and creating a plan to get into Spock's bed. He shuffled on the couch slightly, as the door clicked open.
Doctor Grayson was a very beautiful woman, with long, brunette hair and soft, brown eyes, just like Spock's. She was slender, short and wore a gentle smile on her pretty face; Jim guessed she was in her 40's, judging by the few wrinkles around her eyes and the face she has an 18 year old son, as she sat down at her desk, picking up an iPad.
"Hello James, I'm Doctor Amanda Grayson, but you can just call me Amanda and I'll be your therapist for as long as you need me, no more swapping around after this. I read your file just before we moved here, and I really want to help you. Spock has already said kind things about you, but I'd like to learn more about you personally, before we do the boring stuff." She said, her voice smooth and comforting. "Tea?"
"Yes please. Milk and one sugar please" Jim replied, rather sheepishly, as she clicked on the kettle. They spoke briefly about Riverside as the kettle was boiling, before starting the real discussion over their cups of tea. "Umm… I'm named after my grandfathers, James and Tiberus, and I've lived in Riverside all my life. I live with my brother; have no contact with my mother, my dad's dead, my godparents Chris and Lisa Pike help us out whenever we need it. I'd love to have pets but we can't cos of where we live. I like the colours yellow and blue, my favourite food is apple pie and I go to Riverside Academy on a scholarship I won, and I have a great group of friends who help me a lot. That's it."
"Good, my go. I was raised in Canada, and I met my husband in Africa, and we had Spock, who is my only child. We raised him in New York, but sadly the city got to him, and Sarek, my husband, was furious when he came home to a trashed house full of drunken teenagers. When I was offered the job here, we decided to move." Jim smiled, with a nod. "Now, how have the nightmares been?"
"It was okay… it's gotten worse though."
"Have you been taking the tablet prescribed to you?"
"No. Only because I've been so busy with work, that when I get in I go straight to bed and don't normally get out until my next shift. Sometimes I want to try and be happy without them." Amanda nodded, noting it down before smiling up at him. "They are normally of the same thing, memories of the killings. Sometimes my friends are there too… and my brother, and Uncle Chris."
"That would be very common. Where do you work?"
"In a bar down town."
"Aren't you a little young for that kind of job?"
"I only serve, and it's the only place that hires so I have money for school equipment."
"Alright, but maybe you should tone down the hours so you have more time for school and leisure."
"I started the school work for this year at the beginning of the summer; I'll be fine for now. I'll just sleep and not go in for a few days, sure I love seeing my friends, but it doesn't help at all… but do you ever feel lonely in a crowd room?"
"I haven't personally experienced that, but hundreds of people live with depression, and they all get better. And I'm here to make sure things do get better for you Jim, trust me when I say that, everything is going to be normal again, one day, and you'll get through this." Jim smiled, nodding at her as he sipped his tea. "You are free to call me any time, but if you don't want to talk to anyone, I've bought you this." She rummaged in her bag for a few moments, before pulling out a yellow notebook. "Write down what ever makes you sad, or just tell it how the day has gone, and when you are ready you can give it to me to read. I've tried it with a few patients and it seems to work."
"Thank you. I'll try." Jim flicked through it, finding all of Amanda's contact details in the front.
"You're a senior in high school, correct? Do you have any plans for college?" Jim looked rather sheepish, shrugging slightly. He hadn't planned that far ahead; his main focus was to stay alive. "You're an incredibly intelligent young man Jim, and you could have a bright career in whatever field you choose to work in. Closer to the time we'll find the right college for you." Amanda looked down at her notes, before smiling. "I think that's it for now, we'll begin you new therapy next week." Jim stood up, handing the mug back. "You've left a lasting impression on my son."
"Me? Really?" Jim hated how excited he sounded, blushing slightly. Amanda laughed.
"Oh yes, he's been talking about you to my husband, and he want's to know who you are. I have a feeling they'll be doing background checks when I get back." Jim laughed, before wondering if she was joking or not, as he placed the notebook in his bag. "Have a good week and I will see you next Thursday."
"Bye."
