Shifting the Night Away (3 page)

Chapter Six

Lance arrived for the next appointment right on schedule. Today he and William both were a bit nervous, as it was to be a hypnosis session. They'd talked at length before he started his treatment with him about how they'd progress and came to the conclusion that once there were signs of a break through, he'd undergo hypnosis to see what else may have been suppressed that evening. He had agreed.

The doctor was nervous, too. It would be the first time that William got an unfiltered look at what Lance thought and felt that day. He didn't know if he wanted to hear it, but he kept telling himself that this was not about him, it was about Lance leading a good life, a real life after all this.

"Ok Lance, lie back and get comfortable, and we'll begin," William said, getting him ready to go under. His speech lowered in register and he began counting down.

As soon as he knew he was in his subconscious state he began his questions. Telling him to go back to that night and describe the weather. He wanted to start in a safe place where he knew he'd not be anxious or afraid.

As he probed deeper through the session, he focused in on right after the attack.

"So Lance, your attacker has stopped his assault," William began.

"Yes, the grip he had was so tight at first and then just relaxed. I heard this shuffling behind me and felt wetness at my back. I can see blood on me. At first I thought it was mine but it wasn't, it was his." His eyes are clenched and mouth taunt as he spoke.

"You see you're safe now Lance, he's not going to hurt you anymore."

"There's a grizzly bear there, and he's just looking at me. I'm terrified he's going to attack me like he did the man, but he looks....sad. How can a bear look like that?"

"Keep going, Lance, you're doing fine."

"He just looks at me for a few seconds and then runs into the woods. But..." he started gasping for air. At first William considered calling off the hypnosis, but he began to calm before adding, "It's not a bear now, it's a person. He was a bear when he entered the tree line but now, now he's a man...naked in the brush, bleeding, giving me a last look before leaving. I don't remember anything else."

"Lance when you come to you'll be rested and relax and remember everything you've told me." William began, bringing him out of the session.

When he was fully out of the relaxed state of hypnosis, he looked around the office. He grabbed a water bottle off the side table and sat up to drink.

"I didn't pass out right after the assault like I first thought," he said, "it was later, after I saw the..."

"I believe society calls them shifters."

"Yes, I'd never seen one before although I've heard of them."

"Evidently, someone saw you in trouble and came to help."

"Yes, it was a man that helped me. Just in bear form." He was nodding his head, putting the pieces together.

"I think we should end here." William said, writing down the last of his notes on the session.
 

He walked Lance out and didn't offer a hand, not wanting to press any more buttons than had already been pressed. Better him go and process all the information he now has than to set back the progress.

Chapter Seven

Days passed and William picked out one of his best suits to wear to the live telecast. He'd written down sound bites of sexual trauma and its effects, some of the signs of touch phobia, and the leading treatments that are being used. He wanted to give people that may be watching some hope and guidance.

He walked into the studio and went straight into makeup. He waited to be introduced to the staff that would be interviewing him and took his place in front of the cameras. While there was no studio audience to deal with, it would be a live feed out to the local and metro area.

It wasn't too long before the lights went on and he heard Jennifer Hughes, his blonde interviewer and anchor-wannabe start in with, "We're here with Dr. William Stevens, leading psychotherapist to the stars and celebrities. We've an interesting case that is happening locally, I believe, where you're treating a patient with touch phobia from a sexual assault correct?"

Her cheery face and Botoxed brow didn't move as she spoke to him, waiting for her answer.

"While I can't give specifics on the case, yes, touch phobia can happen to anyone and is a common occurrence from a sexual trauma. My studies have shown that..."
 

Lance sat on the couch and watched in horror. He was talking about him. On television. Live.

"Dr. Stevens, is it true this man believes that a bear saved him? Isn't that a little far fetched? Wasn't he himself under careful scrutiny for attacking the man that he was in the park with that night? Wasn't he there prime suspect for the attack?" Jennifer never took that smile off her face as she lit into the attack, blindsiding William.

His prepared cards dropped to the floor as he stammered to react, "I can't comment on that, this is not what we were supposed to be discussing, I...." he looked around for someone, anyone, to help.

Lance's scream was heard a block away from his neighbors before they broke inside the door to find him passed out on the floor.

Chapter Eight

William expected and understood the cancellation he arrived to when he opened his office door back up. His answering machine was blinking frantically with messages. It was a train wreck. He knew Lance would not be arriving and he knew he was to blame.
Damn me for trusting them to do what they said!

There wasn't anything he could think of to do to make it up to him. He thought of texting or calling, but what would he say? That he agreed to talk about part of his case but they ambushed him? No, he couldn't apologize enough for what he must have seen. What new craziness his life would be now that the buzz of the case was stirred up again.

Throughout the day his phone would not stop ringing. He largely ignored it, until it spilled over and his personal cell phone would ring. Hilda, a former staffer at the clinic, was alerting him that 'the boy from the case' was in the hospital.

"Oh god Lance, what have I done," William uttered as he grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.

While they were adamant about friends and family being the only ones back, they did relent a little when he said he was his personal psychiatrist. They gave him just enough information to keep him from worrying.
 

"Stress-induced blackout, he's on fluids. He will be fine, but we're holding him for observation."

William started breathing again. While he wasn't going to be allowed to see him, he could at least send in flowers and a letter, explaining everything and hoping for the best. He'd never forgive himself if this set his back in recovery.

Just for good measure, he threw in a stuffed teddy bear with a tee-shirt that read: Get well beary soon.

Two days after he visited, Lance left him a message.

Cute bear, good excuse, let's talk.

He called him immediately and told him once again, he'd never have done the show had he known. He just wanted to help people and thought that referencing the break throughs that they'd had together was a step in that direction, until the interviewer turned the tables on him.

They met at Tribeca and he let him ahead of him to order his coffee. The barista touched him as he gave Lance the coffee causing him to gasp and drop it, spilling the dark liquid everywhere.

"I'm so sorry, I don't like to be touched," he said quietly as he looked back at me with horror. Were all the break throughs of therapy gone?

The barista was a pro and cleaned the counter and fixed him a new beverage, sitting it down on the counter instead of handing it to him. After William got his espresso, they sat down at a table to talk.

Lance said the shock was too much for him, that he didn't even get to finish the broadcast. He then looked him straight in the eye and said, "I had a vision about you while I was out." He was almost incoherent he was whispering so lightly, but William latched on.

"Of what?"

"I was holding on to the edge of a cliff and you held out your hand to help me. I grasped onto it and you pulled me to safety."
 

He kept his eyes on his coffee, waiting on a response.

"That's understandable after a shock to the system. You view me as someone that has helped a little in the past and may manifest as someone you can rely on."

"Can I?" he asked him, still not meeting his gaze.

"Can you what, Lance?" William was genuinely confused at what he was asking.

"Rely on you."

"Of course. While I'm your therapist, I do hope I'm your friend as well."

"That wasn't the only time I've had that vision," he continued, telling him about the dreams with the vines. "I've also thought about you, or rather your bear, coming to help me with that man again. It wasn't scary."

"Then why did the barista's casual touch bother you?" This perplexed the doctor.

"I've no idea. Touch me." He held out his hand.
 

William hesitantly put his hand over it and closed his eyes to sense his body's reaction. There was an increased heart rate and his blood pressure rose slightly, but he didn't sense fear.
Am I sensing arousal?
He thought.

"You seem fine now."

"I think it's you, William. I think you're the only one that can touch me right now and I not freak out."

William didn't move his hand, but slid his other hand under his to cradle it. His thumb rubbed his hand as his bear lusted. While he's had plenty of men in his bed, none have ever affected him as Lance did. He wanted Lance as his own.

He moved close to him before asking, "Purely for scientific reasons, May I kiss you Lance?"

He turned to look at him, his eyes looking him all over. He was broken in her eyes; too damaged. His eyes filled with tears as he answered, "Yes."

His lips brushed against his softly, easily. When he didn't move or tense up, he kissed him with earnest. Licking at the upturned corners of Lance's mouth, exploring him as his lips parted. Tasting the sweetness of his latte. He wrapped an arm around him and pressed his body to his. He broke only long enough to whisper in his ear, "One day Lance, one day you're going to be mine."