RP: Fix me. Please?

[libby_weaver]

Date: 23 March
Characters: Libby Weaver, Tobias Whitehall
Location: Therapy at the Whitehall residence
Status: Private
Summary: Therapy. More Therapy.
Completion: Complete

Comments

[tobiaswhitehall]

Tobias was, in fact, making ice tea to compensate for the warm weather. He didn't always prepare things for his patients, but he thought that Libby needed the extra touches sometimes.

He carried in the tray and set it down on the table.

"Hello Libby, how are you this today?" He poured himself a glass and left the pitcher and other glass for her if she wanted.

[libby_weaver]

"It's getting harder to think of things to say," she said with a shrug, reaching up to pour herself a glass as well. She didn't often, mostly didn't, but it was warm, and there was lemon floating in the tea and it looked refreshing. "Sometimes I say 'fine' with a capital 'f'. Like Fine. But I'm not, always."

She sat back and put an arm around Beatrix, feet crossed out in front of her, and sipped at the tea. "Today, I'd say maybe... fair."

She rubbed the dog's ear and avoided looking at Dr. Whitehall.

[tobiaswhitehall]

He took a sip from his tea then set it aside.

"Why do think it's hard to find things to say?" He prompted gently.

[libby_weaver]

"Because I say the same things all the time," she said slowly. "I say Fine, thanks. Great, you? Very well, thank you. But I'm not sure if any of them are true."

She looked down at the tea, at the bits of ice that floated there. "I failed my last math test. And the one before that. And I can't make myself do anything but go to work and school and here."

[libby_weaver]

Libby sat silently, staring at the wide window and imagined herself among the green for a moment, then sighed.

"I've done things. Made changes. But..."

She tugged at the sleeve of her blouse, then looked over at Dr. Whitehall.

"Would you tell me something? Honestly?" She took his curious expression as a sort of yes and stumbled on.

"If I were the sort of patient you chose, or who chose you, if I weren't involuntarily compelled by the system to get counselling..." Libby touched her mouth, then her sleeve. "Would you still tell me the same things? Or would you think there wasn't ever going to be a way to fix me?"

[tobiaswhitehall]

He gave her question the weight it deserved, sitting back and thinking about it. He didn't always like his patients very much. He still tried to help them the best he could, examining his own feelings of dislike and dissecting them until they were gone. In this case though, he felt a genuine attachment to Libby. She was a sweet girl who had suffered a terrible amount and was working to put the pieces back together.

"I would have to say that even as a casual acquaintance I would tell you very much the same thing. Perhaps I would say it a different way, but I would mean the same thing. I think you are alive now because of some inner will to survive and that will can do great things if we can free it."

[libby_weaver]

"I wonder if we can. I wonder if I'll..." Libby shook her head, pushing aside silly thoughts for a future she knew was impossible. How would she ever do the things people did all the time? She couldn't even touch someone.

"Tell me where to start, then. And change my meds before I end up with a forest in my bedroom from sprouting acorns on the sticks I've collected."

[tobiaswhitehall]

He had to smile a little at the image.

"The meds we're changing, I promised, didn't I? For you, this is the start. We talk, we acknowledge what we aren't talking about it and you agree that it will be discussed. Until then...think more about your choices for college. I think getting the degree is important, but it's possible that TCU isn't for you. I would urge you finish out the semester, drop math if you think that would be better, but finish what you have on your plate. You can transfer those credits if you want to later. Make some social plans. See if your math tutor is willing to be a friend outside of tutoring."