In Treatment

Prologue

It was finally over. The ten tortuous sessions that all of the Fated Children had been forced to participate in after Time Compression. Cid had thought it was important to have them evaluated by a psychiatrist after the adrenaline subsided from the second Sorceress War. Each of them had to sit down for ten one-on-one sessions. No arguments were heard. No exceptions made. Not even for the Garden Commander.

The initial adrenaline let down after the Time Compression was at first rewarding. If Squall was honest with himself at least, there was something nice about being able to breath and not constantly fight. After the celebration, and the calm, then came the anxiety. The paranoia. There was always going to be an enemy lurking around somewhere.

Squall supposed there was mild benefit from the mandatory sessions or at least that was what he had told Cid. He was just glad it was finally over. Being forced to talk about his feelings for an hour straight for almost three months, while Kadowaki asked him about his personal life and dreams, was quite possibly the most painful experience of his life.

Far more painful than sharing a tent with Zell after he had eaten a can of gas-producing beans.

Far more painful than the week when Selphie planned the Garden Festival and broke up with Irvine at the same time.

Far more painful than one of Quistis' banal and tragically long lectures on 'proper leadership'.

Even far more painful than the visit to Laguna that Rinoa had dragged him on.

There was another thing that really bugged him, Garden's Dr. Kadowaki had referred them all to a psychologist, Dr. Jane Kadowaki, her sister. Wasn't there some sort of ethical boundary of patient privacy that had been breached? Was this a giant scheme to get healthcare reimbursement?

His brief reverie was interrupted by the conversation that had been ensuing around him as he had been deep in thought.

"Hyne, thank goodness that's done. Can you believe that Kadowaki thought I might have an eating disorder?" Zell's flailing expressive hands flipped his cafeteria tray next to him, one of the hot dogs teetering close to the edge. "I mean, I clearly eat enough."

Squall rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. (That's the understatement of the year.)

"Over eating is an eating disorder too, Zell..." Quistis facepalmed as Zell panicked at the stray hot dog, carefully placing it back on his tray.

"Over eating? gfdllkgj gGFslmi lsid, Quistmflg," Zell mumbled, bun sticking out of his mouth thankfully impeding the rest of whatever he was planning on saying.

Squall chose not to comment, knowing that if he expressed all his thoughts, he may effectively end his friendship with Zell permanently. And Zell was a very forgiving person, no less. No, Squall wasn't that heartless. Rinoa had been mercifully patient with him, and one of the things he had learned was while she loved the fact that he was finally saying what was in his head, it was also sometimes important to not say everything.

"Zell, that is craziness. But, like, I'm not surprised, she didn't get me at all either. She thought I was like… ugh, let's not talk about it. She's making me go to more sessions. Can you believe that?" Selphie pointed her fork forcefully in Zell's direction to emphasize her frustration.

(They can do that?) Squall looked over at Selphie curiously. He felt a gentle hand on his leg giving a squeeze.

"We don't know what you're thinking, Squall," Rinoa murmured in his ear.

The Commander sighed. "She can make you go to more therapy?"

Selphie jabbed her fork roughly in the hot dog on her plate, causing Zell to flinch. "I guess. So lame, right?"

Rinoa reached over Squall, pilfering a fry off of his plate."Why did she want you to come back, Self?"

"She said I was, like, co-dependent or something. Like, I focus all my happiness on other people, or whatever. I mean, I don't have to go to more sessions, right? It's super lame and you'll fix it, right, Squally?"

Squall shrugged. Selphie's emotions being dependent on other things and people? The woman cried hysterically for days in her room when he said the Garden Festival might be delayed by an hour this year. That prompted Irvine to threaten ruining his favorite leather jacket in order to have him recant the statement. Maybe Kadowaki #2 wasn't as big of a quack as he thought.

"Zell, you're on your fifth hot dog, that can't be good for you. Those things are full of terrible chemicals and ingredients," Quistis took of her glasses and carefully put them away in their case. "And Selphie, you're not the only one. She said I have control issues. Though, she did recommend that I be reinstated as an instructor."

Everyone shifted uncomfortably at the table, forcefully looking away from Quistis.

Quistis glanced around the table, her head quickly jerking back and forth. "I'm not controlling, am I?"

No one spoke.

"Am I?" Quistis stood up quickly, pushing her chair back causing it to loudly scrape against the cafeteria floor. "I... I have to go," she mumbled apologetically quickly exiting the room.

Irvine coughed and attempted to casually drop his arm around Selphie's shoulder. "Come on, darlin, it's not that bad. You might learn something, right?" He winked over at the petite brunette next to him. "Me, on the other hand, she thought I was just 'bout perfect."

(Yeah right, you probably just heard what you wanted to.) Squall tried not to roll his eyes.

Selphie raised an eyebrow. "Didn't she call you a narcissist?"

"Nothing wrong with a healthy dose of narcissism, darlin," Irvine tipped his hat with a grin.

"How did it go for you, Squall?" Rinoa squeezed his leg again gently, shifting her chair closer to his.

(I am not going to talk about this in front of everyone.) Squall sighed. "It's over. That's all there is to say."

Rinoa wrinkled her nose and leaned her body onto the table so she could tilt her head to look up at him. "Hmm... while my Squall-dar isn't as good as Quisty's, it's telling me that the good Doc got under your skin."

"Booyaka! Rinny you are so right, look at his face!" Selphie squealed.

Squall rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

"It's okay, Squall. I mean, we all have things to adjust to after what we've been through, it's nothing to be embarrassed about," The young Sorceress cast her eyes to the table, her hand reaching up to her hair to twirl it between her fingers. A nervous habit she had picked up in adolescence.

"What happened with you, Rinny?" Selphie's voice had finally dropped to a normal decibel.

Rinoa frowned, and pulled the piece of hair in front of her, glancing for split ends. It conveniently made her look disinterested as well as forcing her to not have to look at her companions. "I... my sessions have to continue one-on-one and they have also been making me see Odine." She laughed nervously. "Lame, right?"

(I had no idea) Squall looked over at her and placed his hand on her knee under the table reassuringly, as she had done for him earlier.

Selphie was opening her mouth to speak but the loudspeaker interrupted her.

"Leonhart, Squall, please report to the bridge."

Squall sighed and stood up, placing his hand on Rinoa's shoulder gently as he walked away. "Meet me later?"

Short but sweet. They had adjusted to each other enough over the past few months to the point where Rinoa no longer had to ask where or when he was referring to. She let him be quiet, she let him be himself, and she loved him for it. He was a lucky man.

Squall made his way to the bridge, each step increasing his sense of dread. His nervous anticipation was justified as the elevator doors opened and he found Cid, Dr. Kadwaki and Kadowaki #2 standing together.

(Why can't they just leave me alone?) Squall pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Sit down, Squall," Cid gestured to one of the plush seats in the office.

(If I sit, you will make me listen to you babble on for hours.) "I'm fine," Squall stood at full attention, hands clasped behind his back.

"Sit down, Squall," Cid commanded this time.

The Commander realized it was not a merely polite offer. He sighed audibly and sat on the aforementioned chair. "I completed the required ten weeks, sir."

"I know, Squall," Cid dipped his hands into his pockets and leaned back on his desk. For a man who wore sweater vests he had a way of being very subtly threatening. He was lazy and absent about ninety percent of the time, but the ten percent he was active were miserable for everyone.

Dr. Jane Kadowaki (AKA Kadowaki #2) cleared her throat. "Squall, it is in my professional opinion that ten weeks were not adequate."

(Yeah, well I don't think very much of your professional opinion.)

"Given that, I am recommending that you attend a support group on trauma."

Squall's eyes widened. (Are you freaking kidding me?) He was opening his mouth to speak, but one glare from Cid shut him up. It was clear there was no arguing this.

(This is a joke.)

(This is a sick and cruel joke orchestrated by Laguna and Selphie.)

"There is a group held weekly in Balamb, Tuesdays at four in the afternoon."

(And let me guess, you are the preceptor.)

"It is led by Dr. Georgina Kadowaki."

At the last comment, Squall couldn't help it and his facade cracked. "You have a third sister?" The question was directed at Garden's Dr. Kadowaki.

"Good heavens, no." Garden Kadowaki said, flashing a quick grin to Squall. "She's my sister-in-law. My brother's wife."

"Sir, I-" Squall wasn't completely sure how to phrase his protest.

(There is no way in hell you can make me do this.)

(What trauma have I even been through, anyway?)

(Assholes Anonymous, sure I could see maybe going there, but…)

(I should have just stayed quiet and none of this would have happened.)

"Squall, this is final. Period. You will complete a minimum of ten sessions, and it must be signed off by the precepting physician. If you fail to complete this, I will have to relieve you of your duties."

"Fine," Squall grunted as he stood up quickly. "Are we done?"

Squall didn't wait for the answer as he strode out of the room.

Garden Kadowaki clicked her tongue. "Well, that went well. Nonetheless, I agree with my sister. I think this will be good for the Commander. He has seen way too much at such a young age, the poor thing must always be looking over his shoulder."

Dr. Jane Kadowaki nodded at her sister. "Yes, sister. We will see how Mr. Leonhart does...

In Treatment..."

A/N: This is getting a much needed re-write and re-vamp. Enjoy!