Saved By A Mikaelson (Loving a Mikaelson AU)

Chapter 7: Shrink

Chapter 7: Shrink

Song: Down- Jason Walker

"All the voices in my head will be quiet when I'm... Dead."

- Rumpel

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"Okay, look I'm sorry. I freaked out. But are the restraints really necessary?! I didn't kill any nurses, did I?"

The man smiles at me. "I'm sorry, Lacey. But I'm not authorized to do that."

I sigh loudly in frustration. "What are you authorized to do exactly?" I am extremely sick of this place with their ugly walls, absurd amounts of sedatives, and disgusting cafeteria food so if being nice to strange men is what it takes to get me out, I'm down.

"I am your newly appointed therapist. We need to see where you'll go from here. I need to know how stable you are to be able to know what kind of new home you'll be transferred to. All you have to do is answer a few questions for me. Can you do that?"

So basically, he's going to test if I'll be headed into the foster system or an insane asylum. Lucky me.

I nod, pressing a button to incline my bed so my new therapist doesn't have to look down at me. "I can do that."

He grins. "Great! Let's get started!"

I'm practically kicking myself at this point to not bark a rude comment. I hate people and Mr. Joy is no exception. I just want out. And if I have to pretend to get there, maybe that's what has to happen. Besides, after a supposed three years under, it can't hurt to brush up on my acting skills.

So I answer his questions with a smile. I lie. I pretend. I say I'm okay now. That I've had a well deserved vacation and I feel like I've been healed. I say I feel like I've been reborn. I tell him I feel like I've learned how to be happy.

And he believes it. I think.

So when he's done with his evaluation, he grins, ready to give back a full report on where I'll be placed.

"Well Lacey, you seem great. I've already spoken to a social worker, and it looks like there's a nice family in Evington that will be willing to foster you - "

"NO!" I inturrupt. "Excuse me?"

"I mean, does it have to be in my hometown? Triggers and stuff, you know? Anywhere but there. Please." I correct myself, in a calmer tone.

"We can work through this together, Lacey. I've worked with the Lawsons before, they've always been great. I believe you'll be happy there. Just try it. Here's my card," He says, handing me a slip of paper.

"My office address is on there, you need to meet me there every Monday at 5. Does that sound okay? It's mandatory."

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat and the thoughts seeping with terror.

I can't go back, no no no!

But I have to collect myself, and keep my pain on the inside. Let's say I've had a fair amount of practice. I'm used to it by name. So I smile, I pretend.

"I'll be there. And, if the home doesn't work out. You'll move me to a different city?"

"If that happens I'll move you, yes. But I have high hopes for you. Don't disappoint. Your social worker, Chris Hanson will be here in half an hour to pick you up and take you there. A nurse will be in to give you some clothes and remove the restraints. I'll see you soon, yes?"

"Yeah." I mumble. "I guess you will."

And that's that. I'll have to go back to Evington with a crappy family in a crappy home. I'll have to go back to that crappy little town that I absolutely despise because "my therapist thinks it's for the best."

I can't think of anything worse. And honestly, part of me would like to go back to that nice little coma-state. At least there it was quiet and people left me the hell alone.

Honestly, what's wrong with society these days? It's a pile of crap.

I'm done with it, and everything else. Maybe I have been for a while. But it doesn't matter. Because I'll have to get into that car and prepare for the drive drive to the last place I want to be.

I have to pretend and I have to lie. I have to paint a smile on my face like I have every other day of my life because that's the only way I'll ever get through this alive.

I have to. I must.

So when the car pulls up, I get in, I smile. I make cheerful conversation. I'm okay, I'm happy, I'm excited. I laugh, I tell jokes. My sarcasm and comebacks are going to have to wait a little longer if I want to get out of this hell.