September 2012
"You haven't improved in the group setting, so I thought something more intimate would help you along your journey."
"Intimate?"
"Personal." Doctor Shelby explained.
"I know what it means. I'm not an idiot." Like you, Kane mentally added.

"Next week is our course on how we use our language and how it affects the emotions of those around us, but for this exercise, I want you to get in touch with your emotions, not just anger. In fact, this should teach you about the opposite of anger."

Kane looked over at the clock, wanting the mandated session to be over with already.

"I have a surprise guest for you."

"Great." Kane's tone was monotone.

"Come on in, Lita."

"Lita?" Surprise was evident in his voice. Last he'd heard, she was safely tucked away at their home.

Ever cordial, Lita accepted the doctor's handshake, taking the seat next to Kane's. "Hi Kane," she said before placing a quick kiss on the side of his mask. He briefly leaned into it.

"Lita," he said back in greeting.

"Lovely couple," Shelby remarked.

One of Kane's eyes twitched, unsure if the doctor was mocking them.

Shelby looked between the two of them.

"Your wife is important to you, yes?"

"Obviously."

Shelby picked up a clipboard and a pen to take notes.

"Tell me how you feel about Lita, Kane."

Kane crossed his arms across his chest. How was he supposed to answer that?

"She's my wife."

Doctor Shelby eagerly nodded. "Uh huh, and…?"

"She…understands me."

Admitting such felt too personal, but it was true. She knew the most about him, had been allowed to know.

"But how do you feel about her? All those statements are Lita-centric."

Kane stared at the floor. "Lita is my only friend."

"Your only friend is your wife?" Shelby frowned.

"She's all I want." Kane shrugged. He doesn't get why the doctor was so flabbergasted. So much of his life was spent alone, so having a woman who served as his best friend, wife, and manager worked out fine for him.

"But I know you have other friends. And a brother I believe."

"That's different. Those are so…fleeting."

"So you feel your relationship with Lita is permanent."

The squeak of the doctor's pen filled the room.

"Yes." Kane placed emphasis on the word. There was no one else for him but her.

"And, Lita, do you share that sentiment?"

Kane didn't visibly react, but he listened closely. Well over a decade together, and he still couldn't believe she chose to be with him.

"Absolutely. We've been through so much together. Good and bad."

"So longevity is a key component then of your relationship?"

"I guess," Lita answered, "but it's not just because of how long we've been together."

Kane couldn't decide if the rising heat on his face was from embarrassment from having his relationship unpackaged or bliss from Lita's affirmations. Fortunately, he'd taken to wearing a mask for the second time since his unmasking nearly a decade ago.

"Kane, what made you want to marry Lita?"

"She asked me."

"Oh, so non-conformity. Very nice."

Kane scoffed. He hated Shelby's sycophantic approach.

"What do you feel for her?" Shelby asked again.

Kane debated internally for a few moments. He didn't want to gush about his feelings, especially not in front of the doctor, yet he didn't want Lita to think she didn't mean anything to him when that couldn't be further from the truth. Her smiling face gave him the push.

He took her hand into one of his and slowly met her eyes. "I love you, Lita. I know…I'm not the best at saying it."

"And I love you." She laid her other hand on top of his. "Always."

Shelby's note taking briefly stopped as he observed the scene.

"I feel like major progress has just been made here, Kane. I've never seen you emote something other than boredom or annoyance."

"I can't help what others incite."

"Ah, ah, remember what we talked about? We can't control others, but we can control our reactions."

Kane huffed.

"Now, Lita, let me ask you this. Does your husband's lack of control with anger ever upset you?"

"Honestly, no, because it's something wrestlers need to have. And it's not uncontrollable."

Kane realized how nice it felt to have someone back him up. Of course, it'd be his Lita.

"So you're never frightened by it?"

Neither Kane or Lita liked the implication there. Kane clenched his fist, but remained silent, looking out the window.

"No." Lita arched her brows. "Kane would never hurt me."

Kane didn't move, but added, "Never."

He shuddered at the idea of hurting her or scaring her. A searing pain stabbed his chest for a moment as he thought about the worst moment of his life — when he fell onto her, causing her to miscarry. How she didn't blame him for the loss of their child astounded him. While he'd known pain his entire life, seeing Lita hurt was unbearable, even as she tried to hide it from him as a means of protecting him. His body shook for a second as he remembered the massive bruise on Lita's midsection from where he'd collided. He'd seen the longing in her eyes as she played with Taker and Victoria's kids.

"Kane? Something troubling you?"

"No." He answered tightly.

Lita patted his arm. "Ask me something." She told the doctor to take the attention off Kane.

"Um…so Lita, being married to someone like Kane must be challenging at times."

"I think it's probably like that no matter who you're married to."

"Right. I do marriage counseling courses on Thursday nights." Shelby waited a moment to see if his advertisement gathered any potential interest from the two.

Lita waited for him to continue.

"Lita, would you say you have a happy and fulfilling relationship with your husband?"

"Yes."

"I know some couples struggle when they feel they are together too often or are apart too much."

"Well, I think we're pretty used to being on the go. I like it. I like my job. All my friends are in the business, so it's boring to be at home by myself."

"Home by yourself. Did the two of you ever want children?"

"Change the subject," Kane growled, wanting to protect Lita. She'd kept the memory of their son so close to her heart that talking about him was a no-go.

"Kane, you are very forthcoming with your aggression towards others, yet you hesitate to explain why these feelings were created. For example, you told me about being kept in a basement as a child, but refuse to let anyone say the date of the fire."

Kane tensed.

"I'm not saying it, please relax. Exposure therapy is next month."

"I don't need to explain myself to anyone."

Shelby sighed. "Accountability is pivotal to overcoming aggression."

"Doctor Shelby, if I can just say something," Lita interrupted. "I get your role is meant to figure out why people do what they do, and part of that is delving into the past, but I think people should also not be pushed into talking about things they don't want to. I have things I don't feel comfortable talking about. I imagine you do, too."

"I understand perfectly, Lita. You make excellent points; however, my aim is to build my patients up to feeling willing to explore these events, not pressure them into spilling their guts."

Kane chuckled at the mental image of the doctor's guts spilling across his new carpet.

Shelby grinned. "I'm not sure what has you amused, Kane, but humor is a fantastic resource to alleviate negative emotions." The doctor glanced at the clock. "Well, it looks like we're almost out of time."

Kane nearly jumped out of his seat to leave.

"I want to thank you, Lita, for coming here today. I think your input has taught me a lot about your husband."
"Sure," Lita nodded, accepting Shelby's parting handshake. Kane wrapped an arm around her as they left.

"How many more sessions do you have to do?" Lita asked as they exited the office.

Kane sighed. "A couple more weeks."

Lita stopped. "Kane?"

"Yeah?"

"That guy is a complete fucking clown."

He smiled. "I couldn't agree more."