Chapter 8

The way patients entered the office was always somewhat telling.

Which is why whenever she wanted to get a small glimpse into how her patients acted when they thought she wasn't watching, Dr. Goodwitch would casually observe from behind the reception desk, up until they reached the front door of the office.

And that was exactly what she was doing, as Weiss Schnee and her session guest, Blake Belladonna got out of the car they had arrived in, and Blake rushed to the door a few paces ahead of Weiss so that she could hold the door open for her. How chivalrous.

Apparently Miss Belladonna was a patient of a colleague of hers, Ozpin. He had reached out when Blake had inquired about whether this session were okay to do. And they had discussed this cross treatment plan to insure any progress made individually wouldn't be negatively impacted by this, or any potential future combined sessions.

"Okay. Obviously today's session is a little outside of the norm for you today Weiss, and Blake, thank you for being here."

They both give small nods of acknowledgment.

"I would like to start off by speaking with you both individually and then bring you back in together. Sound good?"

After she receives mumbles of agreement from them both, she looks over the top rim of her glasses. "Okay, who wants to go first?"

"Do you want to go first?" Weiss asks.

"It's up to you. I don't mind. But if you would prefer to go first, you can."

"I can go first if that's what you want."

"No, it's okay I'll go first."

"Are you sure?"

"Weiss, do you want to go first or no?"

"Alright, maybe Blake should go first, Weiss? Since we may have more ground to cover than you and I." Goodwitch's voice ceases their lukewarm banter, and Weiss slowly gets up and makes her way towards the door.

"So Blake, you don't have to be here today."

"I-I know."

"What made you agree to come in for this session?"

"When Weiss asked, I knew it took a lot of courage. And I know that she's been working hard here. And I want to be here however I can to support her."

"The goal here is to help Weiss discover a way to organically adapt her thinking, so that she can positively improve the emotional connection she has with others, and by extension, be more open with herself and others."

"And you think I can help?" Blake seems unsure, but hopeful.

"I think you are more substantial than you would like to believe."

"My therapist, Dr. Ozpin, he said he would reach out."

"He did." Goodwitch nods in confirmation, and a sigh a relief visibly lessens the tension in Blake's shoulders.

"So you know about the.."

"I do. Weiss has also mentioned it. I understand it is a subject of great sensitivity for you, so I will not press you for any information, unless you feel it needs to be so."

"Okay." Blake takes a second to think before continuing. "I'm here to help Weiss, so I'm ready to do whatever needs to be done."

"I don't want you to feel like you have to compromise your own mental well-being for Weiss, is that understood? Your mental health is just as important as hers."

"I understand."

"Good. I also don't want you to feel like what happens in this room is off limits for discussion with Dr. Ozpin."

"Okay."

"Would you go get Weiss and come back for me?"

Blake stands and returns with Weiss shortly after, and Goodwitch motions for them both to sit.

"You don't need me to leave?" Blake asks, motioning towards the door.

"Oh no." Blake sits back down beside Weiss. "I only needed to speak with Blake alone. I just wanted to see how the two of you would try and determine who would stay behind first."

"Great." Weiss mumbles under her breath.

"I know the two of you have gone through some extraordinary circumstances together, as well as with your friend Yang, they have potentially led to some post traumatic reactions."

Blake shifts uncomfortably, and Weiss rests her hand gently on Blake's thigh, just above the knee.

"Is it really something that we should just be jumping right into? I mean, I'm sure that there's a way to ease into it right?" Weiss was deflecting.

But was she deflecting for herself or for Blake?

Once she realizes her hand is on Blake's leg, she pulls it away and sets it back in her own lap.

"Don't worry, Weiss. We are going to start with something a little easier than that. But being able to acknowledge an event, and how it can influence other aspects of life is still important."

"It's okay Weiss." Blake says, her voice is quiet, and the look on her face lets Weiss know she's being truthful.

"So, Weiss, how did you meet Blake?" She lets out a heavy breath. That was definitely a much easier question to answer. She could handle that.

"In high school. We were probably like what?" She looks over to Blake for confirmation. "Fourteen or so?" Blake nods.

"Around then, yeah."

"We were in the same English class. And Blake was always getting better grades than me, though not by much." Goodwitch notices the smirk on Blake's face and slight rolling of her eyes. "And it was really bothersome because I was used to always being the best student. Always getting top marks, and she was besting me at my own game. At first I was really opposed to the idea of us being anything other than fierce academic competition."

"I really think she just didn't like me."

"That is… not completely true. But after a few months-"

"Over a year."

"After some time, I eventually saw the error of my ways, and we became friends, and eventually best friends and now, here we are."

"In therapy." Blake says off handedly, Weiss nodding in agreement, seeing the irony of the situation.

"So your relationship didn't always start out on good footing?"

"Not at all. Weiss did everything she could to physically avoid me."

"You act as though I treated you like you had a plague. I was merely ashamed of my own academic incompetence."

"Really?" Blake turns to the side to look at Weiss directly.

"Have the two of you not discussed this previously?"

"It is not something that I would've openly mentioned, no. I don't like to discuss my own shortcomings."

Goodwitch notices the change, though very minute, in Blake's posture. Her shoulders slouch forward ever so slightly, and she averts her gaze to her lap, and begins fidgeting with her fingernails.

"Blake, can you tell Weiss how what she just said makes you feel?"

"I wish you had felt like you could've told me. Or at the very least, known that I wouldn't have thought differently of you because of it." Blake takes a moment, making sure to build her thoughts out properly before she continues. "But, I do understand. Knowing what I have learned about you over the course of time, I do understand."

She doesn't know why, but she was almost hoping Blake would be upset. Upset that she hadn't been able to be open, and trusting. But here she was, understanding.

"It's okay to feel like not every question is being answered, or like there are only more questions coming out of the woodwork as we go through these discussions. We want thought provoking discussion. I want you to share that with each other, both inside and outside of this room. Blake, I know Weiss was a little more resistant to the idea of friendship than you may have been. Was there anything in particular, that you can remember that sort of, sparked your desire to befriend Weiss?"

"I- um, well, it wasn't just one thing, I guess. She was just someone that I just couldn't avoid, if that makes sense? But not in a bad way. I always found myself involved or trying to be involved in something she was involved with. Whether it was study sessions, or the after school tutoring program it just seemed like I always found myself in the same places. After a while, it just felt serendipitous."

"What was it that eventually pushed things to the point where this friendship became imminent?" This time Goodwitch doesn't look up from the notes in front of her.

"Which one of us is supposed to answer?" She looks back up to find both of them looking at her expectantly.

"Either one of you is fine."

"I needed help proofreading my English midterm. And I knew Blake was my best option."

"And do you still agree with that sentiment?"

"Which is?"

"That Blake is still your best option."

"Of course, I trust Blake with my life." There is a slightly defensive tone in Weiss' voice now, that Goodwitch finds at least a little interest in. "Blake isn't an option, she is much more than that."

Dr. Goodwitch slowly takes off her glasses and crosses her arms over her lap, leaning forward.

"And that is where we will end things today, ladies. Thank you for your time. I will see you next week."

Blake seems slow to react to their dismissal, so Weiss tugs on the sleeve of her shirt to pull her along with her out the door and out of the office so they can go home.

After their second session, which followed a similar prompt based discussion framing style, Weiss was beginning to learn why people considered therapy to be a lot of hard work.

Each question just made her feel more and more. And hearing Blake's responses, not having to wonder what she would say or think, while it was a relief in some instances, it was nerve racking for others.

She also didn't know how she would've been able to do this with anyone else. There were times where she could tell Blake was struggling with her own internal conflict just as hard, if not harder than she was, but she still answered honestly each time. Even if it was an answer that wasn't what someone wanted to hear.

Weiss was grateful beyond words. Something about Blake just made it seem like no matter how difficult these sessions got, she could see them through if she had Blake.

So when Goodwitch lets them know at the end of the third session that she would like them to go back to individual sessions for the next few weeks, Weiss feels at odds with herself.

"You seem uncomfortable this week."

"I'm not sure what it is." Weiss admits, unable to settle into her place on the couch in Goodwitch's office.

"The other side of the couch is empty."

"So I've noticed." Weiss tries to laugh but it comes out half winded.

"This session is going to be more of a check in than anything else. I want to see where you feel you've made progress, do you feel like you have recessed any, do we need to reassess any goals?"

"Wow. Well, I feel like compared to who I thought I was the first time I walked through that door I think I prefer this version of myself. I know that I'm not 'healed' but I think I have a better understanding of how my reactions to situations, can and should impact me emotionally. And that its okay for me to feel overwhelmed, or anxious, and now I have methods that help me manage these emotions in a more healthy way."

"Any recession?"

"I feel like this isn't necessarily a recession, but more of a want or need to be more open with my emotions with Blake."

"How so?"

"I mean, each week I see Blake putting forth as much effort as she can in these sessions and she stays mindful of what we learn here. And I want to reciprocate that. I want to be more open and I want her to know that I am doing my best too. Sometimes I feel like I don't put enough into our relationship."

"Would I be correct in assuming that is the direction we would like to move in, in terms of goals, and focusing on importance of self in relation to your relationship with Blake?"

"Yes."

"I am going to ask you a question and it is going to be difficult, but I want you to be as honest with me as you can when you answer."

Weiss nods solidly in agreement.

"Can you tell me how long you've been in love with Blake?"

It feels like the blood stops running in her veins. Like the clock on the wall stops ticking. Time feels frozen. The only thing that reminds her that she is still alive is the ache in her chest that radiates throughout the rest of her body. She can feel the tears hang on the edge of her cheek bone before falling down to her chin.

"I've spent more days of my life in love with her, than not."