Who: Alice and Harley What: Therapy session When: End of January (After Tyler turned off his humanity) Where: Harley's office Rating/Warnings: There's some talk of threats, harassing and terrifying messages, and hints of vigilante justice being considered so...be warned? Status: Complete when posted
Alice was trying to keep from freaking out with the threats from Tyler coming in, trying to convince herself that it was just his grief making him act so odd. Everyone reacted to grief in different ways after all and maybe her friend was just lashing out. She shook her head as she waited in Harley’s office for the therapist to be ready for their session, she was here to work through what had happened to while she was pregnant instead of just ignoring it and pretending that she didn’t still have nightmares about it now and then. Or get up in the middle of the night when Kurt was down the hall in the nursery to remind herself that he was okay, perfect in her opinion actually, despite the stress of her kidnapping. Of their kidnapping. She knew she could talk to Mina or Logan or her dad about what she’d been through but it was easier to talk to someone who she hadn’t known then. And despite Harley’s oddness - Alice felt comfortable with her. Safe talking to her about things and the other woman could make her laugh at times which had definitely helped Alice warm up to her.
She heard the door open behind her and turned towards it, giving the therapist a half wave. “I tried not to be quite as early this time.”
***
Harley always tried to judge how much of herself she should show when dealing with clients. With Alice she was comfortable with her multicolored hair up, but as usual wore business casual in boring colors. She should at least try to be appropriate.
But god, she didn’t want to be. Outside the walls of this place she wanted to bounce off the street and let off steam. The zombies had at least helped with that, and she felt decidedly better and less manic.
“You’re just on time, doll. Have a seat.” She gestured. “Would ya like a snack?”
***
Alice loved Harley’s multicolored hair when it came down to it. If it weren’t for the fact that she still enjoyed the purple tips as much as she did she might think about asking what shade of blue Harley used to give it a try. “That depends - are they chocolate donuts?” She said with a grin as she made herself comfortable in one of the chairs. She knew if she laid on the couch she’d fall asleep and that wasn’t a good idea today.
She kicked off her shoes and curled her feet up under her, checking to make sure that her phone was on silent before dropping it into her purse.
***
“Always,” Harley promised, though she did have a variety available. It seemed like a good policy to have, anyway. Some people liked to have things to do with their hands, or something to chew while they thought. Harley settled back herself after sliding over a box, and rested her hands in her lap as she waited for Alice to start.
**
Alice leaned forward slightly to grab a donut from the box before sitting back and taking a bite. “You always remember them.” She said, mind racing about what she wanted to talk about today. She sighed. “So...No new Dreams but that’s not why I come here each week. The kidnapping...I haven’t seen anyone I thought was following me this week. Or that I thought was trying to grab me.” She took another bite of her donut. “I did have another nightmare about it though. About having lost Kurt as a result of it.” That was still something she needed to work up the courage to share with the other people in her life but she wasn’t there just yet.
***
Harley nodded. That was a fear she understood well. Looking over one’s shoulder, expecting someone to come at any time. It might never go away. But it sounded like she was doing a bit better. Except for the nightmare. “That’s a natural fear, Alice. He’s important to you and he’s defenseless.”
***
“I still haven’t told his dad or my best friend about thinking I might have lost him because I hadn’t felt the baby moving at the end before they got there to rescue me.” Neena was still the only person she’d told. Other than Harley of course. “I went down the hall to his room but I only stayed about 15 minutes watching him sleep so that’s progress.” She swallowed again, looking down at the carpet. “I did get some text messages this week that probably triggered these fears of something happening to him. Threats from -” a friend. That was the hardest part. “Someone I’ve worked with.” Who was going through some stuff of his own and she didn’t want to add to it by reporting them to the police.
***
This was complicated. Harley nodded, listening and writing down a few notes. She didn’t even suggest that Alice go to the police, though she made a note to investigate these threads herself for potential extra-legal measures. The police were completely useless and going to them might only increase the threat to Alice.
“Tell me more about these threats.”
---
Alice looked up at Harley, obviously weighing how much to tell her about what was going on with the threats. “I’ve been getting text messages from this man for a few days, threatening me. And my dad. Threatening to kill me.” Although Tyler hadn’t actually said the word kill. He’d threatened to drain her and that didn’t make sense to her right then but she was sure it would eventually. If she allowed herself to think about it. “I’ve been trying to dismiss them because I know he’s going through some things and might just be lashing out at someone he knows.” She was trying to find a positive spin to put on it so that she wouldn’t be so scared that’s all. “But it’s not getting any better with my ignoring them. So I’m just avoiding going places I know he’ll be.”
***
Harley’s pen trembled almost imperceptibly, but she listened and kept her face straight. “Going through some things isn’t an excuse to threaten someone, Alice. If he’s making you feel unsafe, you should consider your options.”
If she had a name and one of those places, well she hadn’t given her mallet a good workout in awhile. Aliens and zombies not withstanding.
***
“I know it’s not. I just...I just want to see the best in him. I know it’s still there. I just...have to wait for him to get it back to the surface.” Alice said, determined to see the best in him no matter what. “ I’m thinking about asking my Dad to take Kurt out of the area for a little while. To keep him safe.” She added. “Both of them.”
***
“Sometimes ya keep lookin’ for the best in someone an’ you think you see it,” Harley cautioned. “But sometimes that ain’t there. I just don’t want you bearing my scars, Alice. All I can do is implore ya to be cautious.”
***
Alice gave Harley a small smile. “I will be. I’m avoiding UCI right now. Going for a lot more jogs around the neighborhood for exercise and breaking out the old workout DVDs from the attic since I can’t go to the gym to train like I have been. I’m not answering the texts either.” She wasn’t do anything with them actually. Just letting them sit on her phone.
*** Harley frowned, but nodded. She couldn’t do anything if Alice refused to give more details. Hell, without any obvious signs of abuse she couldn’t even call anyone (and even then there were specific rules and situations, it would be easier just to go out with her mallet).
“You got my number right?” She scribbled a note about the gym, something about that rang a few bells.
***
“I know I have your office number but I don’t think I have any other numbers for you. I’ve always just called the office or reached out to you on the Network.” Alice told her. “It’s saved in my cell under your name.”
***
“Let me give you my cell phone,” Harley said. “Usually I forward my office line for emergencies but just in case I forget.” She paused, then added thoughtfully. “You can save it under somethin’ else if you want. So it ain’t look suspicious to someone you don’t want knowin’”
***
Alice leaned over to grab her cell phone from her purse, holding it out to Harley. “Here. Why don’t you put it in so that I don’t get the numbers mixed up. I’ll probably save it under Harley2. Which is what I have Mina’s parents number under from before she moved in with me.”
***
“Sounds good.” Harley grinned, taking Alice’s phone and entering her cell phone under the name Gotham City Sirens. She almost giggled at it, before handing the phone back. “What, Mina2?” ***
Alice raised one eyebrow as she saw what Harley had saved her number under. “What are the Gotham City Sirens?” she asked a little confused by it. “Under Mina2. When she wouldn’t answer her cell I’d call to see if she had forgotten to charge it or something.”
***
Harley smiled. “Best set of girls you’ll ever meet an’ always lookin’ out to help a lady in trouble. My best friends in my dreams.”
Pam Selina and Harley, BFFS forever and occasionally naked. ***
Alice smiled back at her. “Thank you Harley. If I need to get in touch with you I’ll text you I promise. And if it escalates with him I’ll report it to someone so that they can deal with him.”
***
“And if you’re too scared to report, call me,” Harley said, seriously.
Because she was not above killing a man who was a threat like that. In fact, she was feeling like a little vigilante work, anyway.