A/N - Thank you to all readers and reviewers. Reviews are like calorie-free candy. This is a short one but I promise they'll get longer and have more depth. Just need to lay a bit of groundwork.

10:32 AM

"Alex…Alex? Earth to Alex!"

"Hmm…I'm sorry, Beth, what?"

Beth sighed "You were in a whole other world there for a minute. Now, I agreed that you could get up and move around during session, but I did not agree that you could stare out the window trying to send Bobby a telepathic message."

How the hell did she know that? Great, even my shrink has freaky mind-reading powers. I'm a magnet for these people. "He's not there yet. Besides, I'm not trying to send him any message, and you are avoiding answering my question." Alex turned to face Beth, giving her the patented Eames glare, Version 3 – don't mess with me.

"Can you go back to work? That question?"

Alex snorted. "No, the tips on hair care. YES, that question!" Seriously, lady, if I can't get back to work soon, you are going to have to put me in a home. This sitting around thinking about shit? Not for me.

"Okay, Alex, I understand you're anxious to return to your job. You've been doing well here, discussing your fears, your worry about Bobby and your family, but you still can't seem to explain to me why it is so important for you to get back to work." Beth had a glare of her own. Version 2 – you're not fooling me.

Ah, geeze. This isn't going to be pretty. Alex took a deep breath. "Okay, here's the deal. I know that getting kidnapped and almost killed is a big, traumatic thing, and that I should be spending time reflecting and all that crap. But I'm getting worse sitting home alone, wondering what's going on at the squad, and, truth be told, worrying that the longer I'm gone, the harder it's going to be to go back. I'm afraid to go back on the job, okay, Beth? So I need to do it sooner than later." Alex sat down with a thud, feeling a headache start to pound behind her forehead. The next thing she heard was…laughter. She's LAUGHING at me? Is she crazy? I still have a gun. She looked up, about ready to unleash a very unpleasant stream of words the therapist would never forget.

Beth had stopped laughing, and was gently smiling at her. "I'm sorry, Alex, I wasn't laughing at you exactly, it's just that this is your third session, all you've really talked about is everyone else in your life, and now it all comes out in a big rush. How long have you been holding that in?"

Alex, hurt feelings still just below the surface, said dully, "A long time, I guess. Everyone is already so worried about me, walking on eggshells around me. I didn't want to tell them. I didn't really want to say it out loud."

"Well, you did, so good for you. I'd like to know what exactly it is about the job that's frightening you."

"I…I don't want to approach my job like a victim. Once you do that, you're done. If I overidentify with every victim we have, I can't be objective with evidence, and I won't be able to…" Alex stopped. She wasn't even sure she could say this part.

"To what?" Beth prodded gently.

"To..t-to have Bobby's back when he needs it. What if I freeze up, or get distracted, and I put him in danger?" Alex put her head in her hands. That headache was getting worse by the second. To her surprise, Beth was almost immediately in front of her, lifting her chin, forcing her to look in her eyes.

"You won't. I know one thing about you has become clear to me, Alex. You would never let Bobby Goren get hurt in your presence. Take that off your list of worries, you have enough of them."

Alex knew by looking in her eyes that Beth was telling her the truth. Hmm…wonder where I might have picked up that particular skill? She smiled. "Thanks."

Beth walked behind her desk and picked up a sheet of paper, handing it to Alex. "Here it is. Your clearance to return to work. It is conditional on your completing three more sessions, and you must call me if you find it too overwhelming, okay, Alex? I'm trusting you on this."

Alex took the paper, thrilled, confused, and still a little afraid of what this meant. "I'm not sure I understand. If you already had this ready to go, why did you make me ask for it?"

Beth grinned at her. "Professional interrogation technique, detective."

Why, you sneaky little…using my own…I should kick your… "Thanks. See you next week." She tucked the paper in her pocket, ready now to go convince Bobby she was ready to return. As she walked out, under her breath, she whispered, "Bitch."

She could hear Beth laughing all the way down the hall.

Fine, you've won this round, but I shall return to fight another day!

Time to get my damn keys back.