Steve gripped Kayla's hand as she listened to Dr. Friedman. They had just sat down, and he was explaining how everything she told him would remain confidential.

"So why don't you tell me why you're here?" Dr. Friedman asked.

Steve could tell Kayla was nervous. The way she swallowed slightly and the little puff of air she breathed out were dead giveaways. Her hand would probably be shaking if he was not holding it.

"Go ahead, Sweetness," Steve urged. "I promise he doesn't bite."

"No, I definitely don't bite," the doctor said.

Kayla nodded. "I guess I'm here because of the same things as Steve. PTSD and all that. From being kidnapped. So I probably need the EMDR therapy."

Dr. Friedman held up his hands. "Hold on," he said with a smile. "How about you let me be the psychiatrist here, okay? Why don't we start at the beginning. You tell me what you're experiencing, I'll make a diagnosis and then we can discuss treatment? Is that okay?"

"Do we get the family rate on that?" Steve joked, hoping it would help Kayla relax.

Dr. Friedman laughed, as Kayla let a little smile play on her lips. "Okay," she said.

"So how about we start over?" Dr. Friedman looked at Kayla, then Steve, then back at Kayla. "Why don't you tell me what's happening to you that made you want to see me?"

Steve squeezed Kayla's hand, as she said, "I've been having flashbacks - well, I think they are. . . . Loud noises make me freeze up and I get bits of images of things and then I don't even know that time's passed."

"And have you seen this?" Dr. Friedman asked Steve.

Nodding, Steve explained, "Twice. Once at home when our daughter knocked over a toy and another time when someone was firing a hunting rifle nearby. . . . And a friend told me he saw it happen too."

"When a nurse dropped a tray," Kayla said.

"Okay." Dr. Friedman wrote down some notes, then seemed to think for a moment. "Have you been angry or irritable with people?"

Kayla gave Steve a questioning look. "I . . . I don't think so."

"And what about activities? Are you having trouble completing tasks? Sleep problems?"

"No." Kayla shook her head. "None of that."

Dr. Friedman pursed his lips. "What about anxiety? Are you feeling anxious about things?"

"Well . . . . I guess so," Kayla said. "I mean a good friend of ours nearly died rescuing me and we didn't know for awhile if he'd make it. And my sister and me . . . we've had some issues."

"I mean things that you normally wouldn't be anxious about. Everyday things." Dr. Friedman's eyes narrowed as he studied Kayla. "Do you feel unsafe?"

Kayla frowned for a moment as she thought that through. "I don't think so."

"Okay. . . good. . . ." Dr. Friedman looked down at his notes again. "And the activities you've done since this kidnapping. Are there any things you've avoided doing?"

Kayla glanced at Steve once more. "I . . . I can't think of anything. Steve?"

"Not that I've noticed," Steve said honestly.

Dr. Friedman continued to nod and jot down notes. After a brief silence, he set down his pen and looked at Steve. "At this point, Steve, I'd like to speak with Kayla alone."

Not a chance, Steve thought. "I think she needs me here."

"I understand that you want to be here to give her your support, but please allow me to speak with her alone." Dr. Friedman turned his attention back to Kayla. "It will be okay."

"I'm sure it will," Kayla said calmly. "It's okay, Steve. I can handle it."

Steve studied her and saw that a lot of the nervous energy he had seen before had dissipated. Still, he was wary. "You sure?"

"I'm sure," Kayla replied.

Steve let go of Kayla's hand and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Okay, but I'll be just on the other side of that door." Turning to Dr. Friedman, Steve said, "You take care of her, okay?"

"Of course, I will, Steve."

Still feeling a bit hesitant about leaving, Steve walked slowly to the door. He hoped Kayla would call for him to return, but she said nothing. Finally, Steve reached the door and had no choice but to open it and step outside into the hospital corridor.

For the next five minutes, Steve paced back and forth, wondering what was going on in the doctor's office. He had to remind himself that he had been through treatments in there and they had worked. He had to trust Dr. Friedman.

"Steve."

Jerking his head around, Steve was surprised to see Bo walking down the hallway toward him.

"What are you doing here?" Steve asked.

"I was looking for Kay, actually." As Bo came closer, Steve could tell something was wrong. Bo had a worried look on his face. "One of the guys in the lab said you'd left together and, asking around, I was told you were over here." He looked around at the closed doors. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

Reluctant to say anything about Kayla's condition, Steve quickly concocted a cover story. "Oh, it's nothing. We were just taking a break together. . . ." Steve let that remain cryptic, figuring Bo would find his own way of filling in the blanks. "Then Kayla said she had something she needed to discuss with this doctor. I think it has something to do with the new trauma center. And you know me and shop talk."

"Yeah, I do," Bo said with a chuckle. "Unless it has to do with pool cues and beer, right?"

"You know me too well, Beauregard." Steve felt a wash of relief as he realized that Bo had fallen for his story. "Now what's up? Why are you hunting Kayla down?"

Bo frowned. "The new guy down at the lab said something happened to Carly earlier. I guess Kayla was there and I wanted to find out what she saw."

"What sort of thing?" Steve asked.

"I don't really know," Bo said. "Something about her having trouble breathing and needing an oxygen mask. Of course, Carly said it was nothing."

Steve shrugged. "Kayla didn't say anything about it to me. If it was anything serious, I'm sure she would have."

"Yeah, that's probably true." Bo scratched the back of his neck. "Maybe it isn't anything and I'm just overreacting. I've been on edge ever since Alamain got out."

"You just worry too much," Steve said. Then he got an idea. "Hey . . . remember how when I was all messed up and down in the dumps, you dragged me to the Heart for a night?"

Bo's eyes narrowed. "Do I remember? I remember you nearly wrapping your pool cue around some dude's neck."

"Yeah, well, that's in the past," Steve said. "What I mean is that you could probably use a night out. So how 'bout I grab Kayla and you get Carly, and we meet at the Heart for burgers and beer. You and me can play a few racks."

"You sure Jimmy will let you through the door?"

Steve chuckled, remembering his last encounter with Jimmy. "Yeah, me and Jimmy made up. Besides, he thinks Shane's the crazy one now." At Bo's raised eyebrow, Steve shook his head. "Trust me, you don't really want to know. But how about it? How about 6:30?"

"Make it 7:30 and you've got a deal," Bo said, grinning. "Carly has to work late, but she can probably catch us if we get together then."

"Sure thing."

Bo continued to grin. "Loser picks up the tab."

"Oh, so you're getting rich these days, Brady?" Steve laughed. "I hope you bring plenty of greenbacks then. 'Cause you know you can't beat me. No way. No how."

Bo shook his head confidently. "Just keep telling yourself that, Steve. Overconfidence is a killer." He glanced at the door of Dr. Friedman's office. "Hey, tell Kay I was looking for her and I'll see her later. I'd better let Carly know we have a double date tonight." He turned and started to walk away, but called out over his shoulder. "Remember to make sure you've got enough to cover the tab. You'd be surprised at how Carly slams them back."

Steve had to laugh at the image that formed in his head, but he could not let the jibe go unanswered. "You'd better tell her to go slow or you might have to put that boat of yours in hock."

Now nearing the elevator, Bo called back. "Very funny. You know, I should call NBC and tell them they made a mistake. You should be replacing Johnny Carson, not that Jay Leno guy."

As Bo disappeared, Steve leaned against the wall. A nice, fun evening with friends was probably just what they all needed. He was sure Kayla would welcome the distraction after her session with Dr. Friedman. It would be good for Steve too. Remembering the way he had frozen as he lined up for his shot the last time he has tried to play, Steve knew tonight would be a good test for himself. He knew he was better since he had gone through his treatments. I'll prove it tonight, he thought, a broad grin crossing his face. He was still grinning when Kayla came out about 15 minutes later.

Steve rushed forward. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Kayla said. She smiled softly. He could see the strain evident on her face, but she did seem all right. "Everything's fine."

Wrapping an arm around her, Steve began to steer her toward the elevator. "Good. Why don't you tell me all about it? And then I can tell you about our double-date tonight."