Steve checked his watch and then knocked softly on the door to Kayla's office. Her appointment was not for another twenty minutes, but he knew she was nervous about it and wanted to make sure she did not find a reason to cancel it.

Hearing her soft "come in," Steve opened the door, entered the office, and smiled. "Hey, Sweetness."

Kayla's eyes widened with surprise. "Steve . . . what . . . I wasn't expecting you so early."

"I know, baby. I just wanted to make sure I was here when you were ready to go."

"Oh." Steve's eye narrowed as Kayla avoided his gaze before continuing, "I . . . I just have a few things to finish up first."

"That's fine." Steve took a seat in the chair opposite Kayla's desk. "I can wait."

"That's really not necessary, you know." Kayla continued to avoid meeting Steve's eye. "I'm perfectly capable of walking to Dr. Friedman's office on my own."

Something was definitely off, Steve knew. "I know you're capable, baby. I just thought you might like the moral support. I just want to be here for you like you've been for me."

Finally Kayla met his eye. "I know," she said with a small smile. "But it's not a big deal."

"It is a big deal, Kayla." Steve leaned across the desk and took her hand. "You've been struggling with this for awhile now and I . . . I just want you to be okay."

"I am okay," Kayla insisted angrily. "Just because I'm having some issues with what happened with Cal doesn't mean I'm not okay." She pulled her hand away and stood up, moving to the other side of the room.

Steve took a deep breath, surprised at the anger in Kayla's voice. "That's not what I meant, Kayla." He stood up and walked to her. "And I think you know that." He smiled, trying to break the tension in the room. "Have you forgotten that I'm one of Dr. Friedman's biggest customers?"

Kayla shook her head. "No, I haven't forgotten." Her tone softened. "I'm very grateful for the way he's been able to help you."

"Then what's wrong, baby?" Steve put his hand on her shoulder. "You were the one who convinced me that it was okay to admit I needed help - that it didn't make me weak." He looked at her, a question in his eye. "Or was that just a line, Kayla?"

"Of course not," she said quickly. She sounded sincere. "I know how much strength it took for you to start seeing Dr. Friedman and tell him about what happened to you."

"And I know how much strength it takes for you to do the same thing."

Kayla shook her head. "Come on, Steve. It's hardly the same thing."

"Why not?" Steve asked, confused by Kayla's remark. "Why are you so supportive of me seeing Dr. Friedman and so resistant to seeing him yourself?"

"Because I wasn't held prisoner and tortured for a year," Kayla nearly shouted. She took a deep breath and lowered her voice. "It's not the same thing."

"Okay," Steve said softly. "It's not the same thing. But, baby, just because it's not the same doesn't mean it's nothing. Winters threatened to-"

"He threatened to kill me," Kayla interrupted, still sounding angry. "I know that. But it's not like it's the first time my life has been in danger, Steve." She smiled bitterly. "I'm not some damsel in distress who faints at the sight of danger. I've always been able to deal with it before. And now…" her voice trailed off.

"What, Sweetness? What now?"

Kayla turned to face him, unshed tears in her eyes. "And now I can't even deal with loud noises. I reach for you in the middle of the night just to be sure that you're really there. And no matter how I try, I can't get the sound of that gun out of my head." She shook her head. "Why is this so different? Why can't I just let it go?"

Steve reached out and stroked Kayla's cheek. "I don't know, baby." He smiled gently. "But maybe Dr. Friedman can help you figure it out."

Kayla nodded and glanced at the clock on the wall. "I guess it's time to go find out, huh?"

Steve put his arm around Kayla and guided her towards the door. "Come on, baby." As they reached the door, he stopped and turned Kayla to face him. "I know you're nervous about this, Kayla. But I want you to know that I'm very proud of you."

Kayla offered him a wan smile. "Thanks. . . . And thank you for being here with me. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"I'll be here every step of the way if you want me to," Steve said. "We're in this together - all the way. Don't ever forget that."

Kayla nodded and leaned into him slightly as they made their way out the door and down the hall. Steve kept his arm around her shoulders, vowing to show her every day that he was there for her. He had meant what he had said. Together, they would get through this just as they had gotten through everything else that had been thrown their way.