From: Erinstone1@aol.com

Shrink - Chapter 1
ErinStone1@AOL.com
Rated: PG-13
Spoilers: none
Category: Scully/Slash
Archive: Yes-please make me aware of any final posts to a site.
Feedback: Any/all is welcome
Disclaimer: Scully and Mulder are not mine. I make no profit from this story.

Summary:  Scully decides she needs to take responsibility for her unhappiness.





"Ms. Scully?"

"Yes." Scully looked up expectantly from her spot on the too-hard couch. The 
receptionist had come around to the door separating the offices from the 
waiting room. She smiled tightly as she held the door open.

"The doctor's ready for you. Would you follow me please?"

'But am I ready for the doctor?' Scully thought to herself as she stood 
quickly and followed the woman into a large office. The furniture here looked 
much more accommodating. A large sofa was diagonally set in front of a 
fireplace. Two accent chairs sat directly across from it. On the other side 
of the room was a large wooden, highly buffed desk with two deep plush chairs 
facing it, each in a different primary color.  Artwork hung on every wall,  
subtle and tasteful in relationship to the room's furnishings.

The receptionist gave her another tight smile, "Dr. Aris will be right in. 
Please sit wherever you'll be most comfortable." She shut the door behind her 
and left Scully to agonize about her seating choices.

In the end she chose a chair across from the desk. Which of course she would. 
Regardless of the nature of her visit here she intended to maintain as much 
of her personal dignity as possible.

A shrink. 

Imagine.

Sure, she'd been to one before, through the bureau. And it had helped, 
marginally. But she had made this appointment without the bureau's knowledge. 
She'd been confused, depressed. Now she was merely irritated with herself for 
letting this day come without canceling her appointment. She was certain she 
still needed some help. She just wasn't so sure she wanted it now, today. 
She'd fought a panicky feeling in her gut all day. It rose and fell every 
time she looked at the clock. 'One time' she told herself. 'I'll go one time 
and if I don't like this psychologist I don't see any point in coming back.'

She rearranged herself in the chair several times. Took her coat off and put 
it back on. 

Took it off again.

A door opened behind the desk. Not that anyone would know it was a door as it 
was completely hidden in the paneling until it was opened. A woman walked 
through it. Blonde, 5'7", glasses...

"Ms. Scully." It was not a question. The shrink came around the desk and 
extended her hand. Scully smiled weakly and took it, shaking involuntarily as 
well as out of obligation. The trembling in her fingers embarrassed her as 
she pulled her hand away.

"I'm Dr. Aris. It's a pleasure to meet you." 

The smile seemed genuine enough. Her handshake wasn't one of those cold fish 
events Scully hated but usually got from other women. She knew, however, that 
this woman was cooking her every move. There is a reason she tells the 
receptionist to let clients know they can sit anywhere they're comfortable. 
Scully found herself wishing she'd sat on the couch. Sitting across the desk 
shows I'm afraid of human contact, closed off. 

Her stomach sunk again. She groaned inwardly...'Why am I here.'

"Can you tell me why you're here?"  Dr. Aris had deep rich vocal tones; 
comforting; lovely timbre.

It was irritating.

Scully took a deep breath and blew it out audibly. She looked the woman in 
the eye, "I'm not sure."

Dr. Aris regarded her seriously for a moment, then smiled. "I almost just 
said to you that I think you are. I have a lot of clients who want to be told 
why they're here."

Scully felt herself bristle.

"But looking at you now... I believe you. I believe that you're not sure what 
it is that's depressing you so much."

'Ok. Off kilter. Am I still angry?'

"Let's start with this, ok? Do you prefer Ms. Scully or Dana?"

"You can call me Dana, that will be fine."

"Ok." Again the soft deep voice....

"What should I call you?" Scully lobbed a challenge.

"How bout Gail?"

"Is that your name?" Scully wanted to eat her words as soon as they'd come 
out.

Dr. Aris laughed loudly, "Yeah." She looked startled.

Scully relaxed into the chair for the first time since the doctor had walked 
through the door. "I'm sorry." She looked at her hands clasped in her lap,  
"That was rude. I think I may be a little nervous."

"Don't worry about it Dana." She paused as she watched her for a moment. 
"Please. It's ok."

"You have a very soothing voice." 

"Do I?" 

"Yes."

"It's bugging you isn't it?" Dr. Aris smiled at her.

"How did you know?"

"Because just now as you mentioned it you nearly twisted your index finger 
off.

Scully placed her hands apart on each of the chair's armrests. She looked at 
Dr. Aris sheepishly. "Sorry."

"It's ok. The problem is I can't do much about it."

"I wouldn't expect..." Scully's voice trailed off.

"How was your day?"

Scully looked up, confused. "My day?"

"Yeah. How was work?" Dr. Aris wasn't smiling anymore.

"It was long. My day was long."

"Why?"

Scully wouldn't look at her. Her mouth tightened, "In all honestly I was 
nervous about coming here. I picked up the phone to cancel this appointment 
about 4 times."

Dr. Aris settled back into her chair and crossed her legs at the knee. "I'm 
glad you didn't. I'm glad you're here."

Scully shifted uncomfortably in the chair. 

"Can I ask you some questions Dana?"

"Yes."

"What time do you get up in the morning?"

Scully's brow furrowed but she answered the question, "Generally speaking 
around 4:30."

Dr. Aris nodded her head. "Ok. What time do you go to bed?"

"It varies. Between ten and midnight most nights unless I'm out of town."

Dr. Aris stared at her with overt seriousness. Scully stared back.

"At any time. During 4:30 am and midnight of any day, are you what you would 
consider... happy?"

Scully didn't need to think about the question. She didn't need to mull it 
over. Her head felt heavy. 

She looked Dr. Aris in the eye.

"Dana..." 

Scully's eyes filled with tears, her lids closed slowly and opened as she 
blinked with what seemed like a lot of effort. Her lips seemed to swell and 
it was difficult for her to answer, physically and emotionally. Finally she 
said, "No."

Dr. Aris opened a side drawer in her desk and pulled out a small box of 
Kleenex. She came around the desk and sat down next to her in the other 
chair, handing the box over.

"Thank you." Scully said, not looking at her as she took the box from her 
hand.

Dr. Aris sat quietly as Scully wiped her face and blew her nose. When she 
appeared to be done crying the doctor went back around to her side of the 
desk.

"I'm wondering if you would prefer to go by 'Ms. Scully'. Every time I use 
the name Dana you wince a little." 

Scully laughed slightly. "Only my family calls me Dana. I usually go by 
Scully."

"Would it be alright if I called you Scully? Or is that reserved for someone 
else?"

Scully contemplated the question for a moment. "Would Ms. Scully be alright 
for now?"

"Absolutely."

"I guess I'd prefer to call you Dr. Aris instead of Gail."

"That works for me."

Scully let out a sigh. 

"Are you alright?" 

Scully looked at her and nodded. 

"Want to go on or would you like me to stop?"

Scully took in the features of the woman across from her slowly, then looked 
down to her desk top. 

The seconds ticked by and Scully still hadn't answered.

Oddly enough Dr. Aris said nothing. 

Scully readjusted herself in the chair, crossing her legs. She looked out the 
window briefly and then back to Dr. Aris. "I think I'd like to continue."

A slow smile made its way across the doctor's face. She slid a little lower 
in her chair and seemed to be propping her feet up on something underneath 
the desk. She sighed a little and looked Scully in the eye.

"Tell me about your family Ms. Scully."


-end-