First Day of Work

[manipulatvebtch]

Who: Wilson and OPEN
Where: The doctor's office
What: The Doctor is IN.
When: Day 50, bright and early.

The doctor's coat fit him

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[manipulatvebtch]

Wilson was glad to see her relax as he continued to examine her. He hoped that the more relaxed she was, the more she trusted him and the more likely it was that she'd share a bit more about what was going on with her. It wasn't that he really wanted to know. Wilson was really a more 'duck and cover' kind of guy when it came to the things West was doing to people. As much as he wanted to go home, he wanted to avoid things like House and Ziva had gone through too.

This was different though. Ziva was his patient now and he had to ask uncomfortable questions and sometimes give ugly answers. It was his least favourite part of his job, but it was still better than telling someone they had cancer.

Raising an eyebrow in response to Ziva's almost challenge, Wilson leaned back a bit, not breaking contact. He didn't say anything, just waited. He knew that if she really was fine, then she wouldn't be here. Abby wouldn't have sent her to him for nothing. But he also knew that he couldn't force anything out of her. He would try to convince her, but if it came down to it, he couldn't make her say anything.

Then, all at once, she relaxed and started to talk. Wilson cocked his head to the side in thought. "I think I heard a bit about them on the news awhile back, before coming here, of course. It's kind of like the CIA for Israel, isn't it? I really don't know any details."

[ifthegluesticks]

She smiled. She had had dealings with the CIA, none of them pleasant, and she was sure that many would say the same about Mossad. She nodded. “I believe that would be a fair comparison. And Mossad operatives, like your CIA agents, are trained extensively in many forms of combat-I have been extensively trained,” she said, leaning forward, her frustration leaking into her voice.

“Basic hand to hand, karate, Sambo, Krav Maga-and now,” she had been ticking each style off on her fingers but let the hand fall as she paused, taking a calming breath. “And now, it is as though I have had no training at all. That was West’s price. My training, my skill.” She stopped short of saying that she was essentially defenseless, but she most likely did not need to.

She wanted to pace, wanted to do something, but she refrained, instead lacing her fingers together between her knees. “I cannot even hit a punching bag,” she said, her voice lower now, edged with loathing, gaze on the floor.

Then she smiled, though it was devoid of anything even resembling mirth, and when she spoke again, it was almost as though she were speaking to herself. “As if that is not enough…I suppose it was his idea of an ironic joke to add his little…bonus.”

[manipulatvebtch]

"Wow," Wilson said, honestly impressed as Ziva mentioned all the combat training she'd recieved. It sounded like it was a damn good thing he was on her good side. Wilson was most definitely a lover and not a fighter.

Then she actually mentioned what her deal had been and his features tightened slightly and momentarily. It was apparent that it was quite the deal for her, but Wilson just plain didn't understand. So she couldn't fight anymore, so what? At least she hadn't lost her damn sight. It took him a moment to school his features again and smile at her.

He'd just managed to get himself back under control and was about to reassure her as best he could when she continued. Now that made sense, there just had to be more to her deal.

"A bonus? What else did he do?" he asked, hoping none of his previous annoyance showed through in his tone. He really did honestly hope he could make her feel better, but he couldn't deny, at least to himself, that so far he didn't understand her plight.

[ifthegluesticks]

She may have dealt away her combat training, but there was absolutely nothing wrong with her observational skills. She caught the tail end of the look that passed over his face, understood that he did not get it. And though she felt a flash of annoyance of her own-she had known this was more than likely pointless, had she not?-she could not fault him for his lack of understanding. It would not be easy for anyone from such a different background to grasp that this loss was not, for her, such a simple thing.

However, he did gain several points for keeping his opinions to himself, even if he needed to work on what Tony would call his game face.

“Flashbacks,” she said, simply, leaning back in the chair once more. “A year ago, I was taken captive while on a mission and spent several months in a terrorist camp. I have experienced flashbacks to that summer before, but not until I was released from the cornfield had they been so frequent. Or so vivid.”

Her summation was free of the more unpleasant details, or any detail at all, really, but speaking of it made her realize just how similar the two experiences were, at least on a mental level. She wonder if that was exactly what had been intended. If West had wanted to double her anxiety by having her relive the vulnerability of Somalia, while simultaneously coming to terms with the reality of her current lack of defenses. Or, rather, triple it, because in Somalia there had been only her. She had not had to worry about the well-being of anyone else, but here there was Abby to look after, Abby to protect. She would not be able to forgive herself if she failed at that.

She pulled herself away from her thoughts and met Wilson's gaze with a wan smile. "You see, then, why it is I was reluctant to come, yes? I do not doubt your expertise, but I cannot see there being much to be done, if anything at all. My...ailments are not of the physical variety."

[manipulatvebtch]

Wilson leaned back slightly, looking thoughtful. It was true, there really wasn't much he could do. Even neurology and psychology specialists would have problems here, considering Peaksville didn't seem to run in the same reality he was used to. Still, for the first time since arriving he wished for the expertise of someone like Foreman.

He wasn't completely useless in this area though, he just needed some more time to figure out exactly what he had in inventory. He seriously needed to bone up on his medical history, that was for sure.

"These flashbacks," he started, not yet giving away that he might be able to help, at least a little bit. "Do they happen more at specific times? Are you having more like waking hallucinations? Or are they vivid dreams?"

[ifthegluesticks]

"Specific times?" Ziva gave a slight shrug. "I do not think enough time has passed to say for sure. They have seemed very random so far."

She thought a moment about the second and third quetstions, going back over the most recent occurences. "I would have to say both. I was awakened by one my first night back. It was very real. I could feel the sand rubbing against my skin under the ties..." she said, left hand going unconsciously to the opposite wrist and rubbing it.

"And during the day it is much the same. It is almost as though I have literally been transported back to Somalia, even though the entire time I am more or less aware that I am really no longer there."

[manipulatvebtch]

Wilson rubbed the back of his neck and looked thoughtful. He didn't want to admit it just yet, but he was pretty sure that Ziva was right, he couldn't help her, not really. If there was one thing Wilson truly hated, it was telling a patient that there really wasn't anything he could do.

"Well, I can see why you were hesitant to come here. If we were back home, I'm sure I could help you, but the bottom line is, West can do things I previously thought impossible and being stuck in this time period with no actual proper hospital means I don't have access to anything that could help me figure out what he's done to you. Honestly, the best I can do for you is give you some Valium to calm you down after an episode," he said, sounding as bad about the diagnosis as he felt.