Disclaimer: No, I do not own the Mighty Ducks. But it is nice to think about.
No one liked the idea of telling their problems to a complete stranger. Who knew if the person actually cared or if they were just feigning concern and sympathy because it was their job? Adam's mother thought that it might help if he went to see a therapist. She gave him the name of the she had used after his father had left her then pleaded with him to make an appointment.
He knew that he wasn't the easiest person to live with right now. He couldn't go one day without snapping at her about something. He felt like he was an adult with all the problems of an angst ridden teenager. Maybe instead of going to see a therapist he should go and talk to Charlie or Fulton. It couldn't hurt.
He broke down and made the appointment after missing Charlie three times in the same day. Fulton was ignoring him, which he understood. Fulton had always been closer to Julie than him anyway.
He sat in the waiting area at the therapist's office alone. His mom had wanted to come with him which he had quickly struck down. He didn't want her feeling sorry for him if the truth miraculously came out. He didn't hold much optimism in that happening.
His name was called and he was led back to the office. A portly man at least ten years older than him with salt and pepper hair sat behind the desk looking down at a folder whom he guessed was his.
"Sit down Mr. Banks," The man said, not looking up from what he was reading.
"You can call me Adam, Mr. Banks is my father," Adam with all the politeness that he could muster.
"Why don't we start off with why you are here?"
"I'm here because my mother wouldn't leave me alone about coming to see you," he said sullenly. Could I sound any more like a Spoiled Brat? He thought bitterly.
"Well then, why do you think that she wants you to come here?"
"I'm going through a difficult time right now," he said tensely.
"Would you care to elaborate on that?" The therapist broached.
"When is my hour up?" Adam countered.
"Not for another forty minutes," he said, giving Adam a stern look.
So much for this guy being nice and sympathetic like all of the therapist's that he had seen on talk shows and in movies. Adam sighed before running a hand through his hair. This guy wasn't going to make things easy for him. He guessed he could tell him a little about what was going on.
"I left my wife recently," Adam said solemnly.
"That can be trying on anyone," The therapist said with a nod in agreement.
"We have two kids together; they're four and a half and ten months."
"They're young enough that what is going on won't be too traumatizing for them."
"That's what we're hoping."
"Why did you leave your wife and children Adam?"
Adam looked down at his hands with a guilty look on his face. He should have known that the guy would come right out and ask him that. He wasn't ready to deal with what was going on. The therapist wrote something in the file in front of him as Adam wrung his hands together.
"Adam I can't help you if you won't tell me what's wrong?"
"I didn't feel like I was good enough for her, I constantly doubted myself. So I left her."
"Did your wife ever say that you weren't good enough for her?"
"No, Julie never said that. She was a good wife and a great mother. She tried to help me and I pushed her away."
"Your mother mentioned that Depression runs in your family," The therapist broached.
"You still talk to my mother?"
"She comes in once every couple of weeks. You don't need to worry, she's never mentioned you or your brothers." he reassured him.
"You think that I might be depressed?"
"It happens to a lot of people. What kind of work do you do?"
"I'm a cop."
"I see," he said in recognition as he wrote in the folder once more.
"What's wrong with me being a cop?" he asked defensively.
"Absolutely nothing, but it does explain why you're having trouble opening up to me. You probably feel like you shouldn't be here."
"You hit the nail on the head Doc," Adam said darkly.
"I'm going to write you a prescription and I seriously encourage you to take them. I also recommend that you come back in next week. You can get back to me about when it is most convenient for you. I have worked with enough police officers to know that you work odd hours."
"Of course," Adam said with an eye roll.
Adam took the slip of paper from him then shook his other outstretched hand. He stood and saw himself out. In the car he wondered if he had made the right decision by going to see him. Did he really want to drudge up the demons that stemmed not only from his marriage but from his childhood as well? His mom would hound him to go back if he didn't make an appointment on his own. He didn't need her worrying about him constantly. She had other, more important things to worry about.
XXXX
Charlie was grading tests when Guy came home from work late one night. He was quiet as he grabbed a bottled water from the refrigerator then sat across from Charlie. Charlie looked up, knowing that he had something that he wanted to say.
"What made you decide to become a teacher?" he broached.
"It was a series of things. Even though I hated grade and middle school we had teachers EH that made learning seem like it was more than just a chore. Do you remember Mr. Niles?"
"He was an English teacher, right?" he asked in confusion.
"Modern literature, I had him three out of four years that we were in school. He challenged me," Charlie answered with a shrug.
"And he made you want to become a teacher?"
"I had a professor in college who pushed just as hard as Mr. N did. I ended up being a TA for them during my senior year," he answered with a smile.
"Didn't you play hockey in college too?"
"Yep, Coach Summers expected a lot of us. If we didn't give him what he wanted we rode the pine pony. I busted my ass in college and now I have a degree and a job that I love because of it," he said proudly.
"Don't you ever worry that the kids don't respect you?"
"I did when I first started; it took me a long time to find a way to get through to them. After six years I like to think that I am starting to make a difference," he answered honestly.
Guy nodded before opening his water and taking a long pull.
"I'll let you get back to what you were doing," he said as he stood.
He stopped at the door and looked over his shoulder.
"By the way, I know that Connie was here last weekend. Whatever happened, I'm okay with it," he said before walking out of the room.
Charlie stared at the door dumbfounded. How had he found out? He knew that Connie hadn't told him, she hadn't mentioned it when he had talked to her that afternoon. He didn't even know what was going on between them so how could he explain it to Guy?
Charlie stood from the table and down the hall to Guy's room where he was changing out of his work clothes. He was down to his boxers and pulling on a t-shirt when Charlie knocked on the door. Guy looked up once he had the shirt over his head.
"What's up?"
"How did you find out that Connie was here?"
"Mrs. Dabney from next door mentioned it to me when I went to get the paper on Monday morning," he said with a shrug.
"You've known for an entire week, and you are just now telling me?" Charlie asked slowly.
"I figured if something had happened you would have told me," he said with another shrug.
Charlie stared at him dumbfounded as he walked passed him to go into the bathroom. He waited while Guy brushed his teeth and washed his face before leaning against the bathroom door.
"She came here to see you but she decided to stay because she needed a friend."
"You don't need to tell me. I lost that right when I broke up with her in the eighth grade Dude," Guy said with a laugh.
"She broke up with you; get it right," Charlie teased, shoving his shoulder gently.
"Just to be clear; there is something going on with you two, right? All of the Ducks got that impression when we saw the two of you at the reunion."
"I don't know. It wouldn't suck if something did happen. We've both changed since we were kids so we're getting to know each other all over again," Charlie explained.
"Be careful alright? She's not as strong as she wants everybody to think she is," Guy warned.
"I already know that," Charlie confirmed.
Guy nodded before walking back to his room. Sensing that the conversation was closed Charlie walked back up the hall to the kitchen. He gathered his paper work then placed everything in his computer bag. He had balked at the idea of a brief case when Linda suggested it when he had first started teaching. The bag suited him better than some stuffy briefcase. Every time he thought of the idea it made him think of a history teacher that he had in middle school who would slam the case shut as loud as he could to get the classes attention. He still could hear the snap of a briefcase as it is unlocked without inwardly cringing.
He wondered if Guy had told Connie that he knew what was going on. He would have liked to think that she would have called to warn him so that he could get the point that nothing had happened across. Nothing may have happened while she was there but that didn't mean that he hadn't wanted something to happen. Things with Connie were still new and he knew that she had reservations because he was recently divorced. He would have to explain to her that he wasn't looking for a long term relationship, just in case she was. If she was looking for a long term relationship than there was no point in him going any farther.
AN: I am going to be doing something on my home page and I want you guys to take part in it. I am asking you all to send in questions that I will answer. I have seen questionnaires on other people's pages but I want mine to be more about you guys. So send in your questions, and I will answer them as honestly as I can. I promise that each of you will be credited.