Chapter 7

"Mom, I'm not seeing a shrink.  I'm not crazy."  Emily sat straight up.

"I never said you were.  But the family and I think it's in your best interests 
that you talk to Gail."

"Oh, so last night, you all got together and said, `Emily must be nuts.  That's 
why she tried to kill herself.  Time to ship her off to Ferncliff!'"

"Emily, you're overreacting. Nobody thinks you're crazy but you obviously need a 
little help.  Well-adjusted people don't want to kill themselves."

Emily turned her face away. "You don't understand."

"I don't and that's why you're going to talk with Gail.  So that maybe you'll be 
able to explain why you felt you had to do this.  Gail will meet with you every 
Friday until…"

"Until I'm normal gain."

"Until you're Emily again. Gail also has a group of teens she meets with.  Some 
of them are depressed and some, like you, tried to commit suicide.  When Gail 
feels you're ready, you'll join the group."

"I can't believe this!" Emily exploded.  "Not only do you think I'm crazy, you 
want me to sit around with a bunch of other crazy people and talk about my 
`feelings'."

"We are not trying to punish you, Emily.  We're doing this to help."

"Yeah well, I'm not going."

"You are and that's final.  So don't even bother arguing."  Monica stormed out.  
Emily let out a loud frustrated sigh.

"I can't believe this."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next Day

Lucky was sitting next to Emily's bedside trying to come up with something to 
say that didn't make him sound like an idiot.  Emily had been in a sour mood the 
whole time he was there.  She was doing her best to ignore him when Nikolas came 
in.  At the sight of Lucky, Nik started backing out.

"I'm sorry.  I didn't know she had any visitors."

"Don't worry about it, man.  I was just leaving."  Lucky couldn't wait to get 
out of there. As he passed Nik he whispered.  “She's really pissed off."

Nik looked at Emily.  She didn't look happy.  He wondered what happened to upset 
her.

"Did Lucky say something to make you mad?"

That was all she needed to set her off.  "Lucky!?!  Lucky can't make me feel 
anything.  He's nothing to me.  He comes in here acting like we're best buds or 
something, totally forgetting that for the past two years he's acted like he's 
forgotten my name or who I am!  He had the nerve to ask if I did this because of 
him and because we haven't been close lately."  Emily warmed up to her rant.  
"Him???  The boy has got the world's biggest ego, must have been Liz's work.  
And the last time we `talked' was at the Nurses Ball at least two years ago! 
When I got in a stupid fight with him defending you!"

Nikolas could tell that this was helping her in a way.  "What about me?"

"You are the worst.  You come in and pretend we're friends so I'd give you all 
my gratitude for saving my life and treat you like some big hero.  Oh, thank 
you, thank you, Nikolas!"

"I thought we were friends."

"We were never friends!  I was this pathetic little girl with a huge crush on 
you.  You were this all-important Cassadine who let me hang around and gaze 
adoringly at you and defend you to other people and make a total fool out of 
myself while you alternated between your war with Luke Spencer and mooning over 
Sarah Webber and Robin Scorpio!"

Nikolas was completely shocked.  "I had no idea you saw our friendship in that 
way."

"There was no friendship.  So why don't you just leave me the hell alone!"  
Emily yelled.  "Why doesn’t everyone just leave me alone!?!"

"How about I start being a real friend and you tell me what you're really upset 
about?"  Nik asked calmly.  "There has to be more than this."

"You're not leaving until I tell you?"

Nik shook his head no.

When he set his mind to something there was no use in trying to get him to 
change it.  Emily sighed.  "Okay, my family thinks I'm nuts."

"Excuse me?"  Where did this come from?

"They want me to see Gail Baldwin, the shrink here.  But I told Monica I'm not 
crazy!"

"Of course you're not."

Emily narrowed her eyes.  “Don't patronize me."

"I'm not.  Really, I'm not.  But I think it's a good idea."

"You do?"

"Yes.  You obviously have some things you need to work out and seeing a 
professional would help."

"Yeah, right."

"Look, I have an appointment to get to. Do you see Dr. Baldwin today?"

Emily nodded.

"I'll come back tomorrow and you can tell me all about it."

Tell him all about? Like I'm some kid going to my first day of school.  "I won't 
be here tomorrow.  I'm going home after I see Baldwin."

"Then I'll come by the mansion."

"Maybe you will and maybe you won't."  Emily shrugged.  "I know how busy you 
get."

"I'll be there."  Nik looked her straight in her eyes.

Emily fought the urge to look away.  "All right."

"Good.  I'll see you tomorrow."  Nik left.  Emily sat alone for a long time 
until Monica came in to tell her that it was time for her meeting with Gail 
Baldwin.  

Emily reluctantly followed Monica to the office.  Emily went in first but 
stopped short when Monica started to followed her in.

"You're not coming in?"

"Of course I am."

"Monica, you can't.  These sessions are one on one only."  Gail informed her.

"But I should be here.  Emily needs me."

"No.  Emily will never open up if you're here and that's what these sessions are 
for."  Emily sat down while they talked about her like she wasn't even in the 
room.

"But how will I know what's going on with my daughter?"

"When she's ready to tell you.  Now, it's time for you to go."  Monica finally 
accepted it.

"I'll be waiting outside for you, Em."  Monica closed the door after her.  

"Since that's all done, let's lay down a few ground rules."

"Ground rules?"  Emily repeated.

"Yes.  First off.  I'm not your enemy so please don't treat me as if I am.  And 
second whatever we say, stays here.  I won't say a word to anyone unless you 
want to, okay?"

"All right."  Em could deal with that.

"Good. Let's begin.”