| �Yes, every weekend. Now Pacey � I am not the moron you assume me to be. The small talk cuts through nothing. What�s the problem? Is something bugging you?� The one problem with having shrinks for friends, Pacey thought, is that they can see through you. They recognize the signs they�ve been carefully trained to see. They analyzed each and every thing you said, did, and didn�t do. Some had gained the ability to shut this habit off � but some still hadn�t. Jen was the only person he knew practicing as a psychiatrist � licensed, anyhow. He didn�t talk to her much anymore � she�d left Capeside 19 years ago, and hadn�t returned. But upon his adopting Mera, his connection to her had become Jack. They had a reciprocal relationship going where they would call and chat for a few hours, every once in a while. Mostly to �see� how the other person was doing. Most times he called her, though, he was calling for Jack. Mr. Reliable himself, often out and about � rarely calling to check in on his niece, even more rarely coming back to visit her. It wasn�t that Jack McPhee was a bad person, either. A little preoccupied at times, maybe � but a good guy. Upon her entrance to the professional life, Jen had become rather serious, very steadfast. Perhaps it was the job, or what she dealt with on a daily basis. Somehow, though, she�d become his confidant. The times he wasn�t calling to inquire about Jack, he was calling for advice. Which is why, this evening when he�d placed the call, she knew something was amiss. �Listen, is everything okay over there, Pacey? Are you in some type of trouble?� �It�s Mera,� he said, shortly. A silence lapsed between them, before Jen broke it. �Is she in trouble?� Pacey licked his lips. �I don�t know. I mean, I think she potentially could be, but � I didn�t know where to turn. I hate having to lay this on you, Jen. But you sort of know Mera, you know her past � and Andie�s.� �Andie? Pacey, what�s this about?� �Is mental illness hereditary?� �What?� Jen squeaked into the phone. �Just tell me. Is it? Can it be?� �Well � heredity is a factor,� the professional voice clicked in. �There are other things that can play a part � other factors. Do you honestly think Mera could be�� �I don�t know. But I figured you could tell � you�d know where to go, what to do. Maybe I�m just overreacting, and maybe it�s just average teen behaviour. I just need to know.� �What�s happened?� Pacey briefly described what had bothered him lately. Her mood swings, the ability to be totally ecstatic one moment, then sullen the next. The way she overreacted to slight things, took offense in the greatest sense. He�d mentioned the recent occurrence involving Vartan, dating, and his response. To this, Jen commented, �God, Pacey. When did you turn into such a prude? I�d be pissed if you prohibited me from dating, too.� �Yeah, but you�re thirty-seven,� he said in self defense. �And she�s 16. Hell, at sixteen you and Andie were�� ��dating,� he cut in. �That�s what I was going to say,� Jen replied, a hint of humour to her tone. �She�s a sixteen year old girl, she obviously likes this guy, sees something in him. You should�ve gone along with it.� �Yes, yes, but � I�m not asking for parenting advice.� �So she�s had some mood swings, then?� Jen confirmed. �She�s seemed a bit off, sometimes distant. Have you been the only one to notice this change?� �No, she has too. Every time she �freaks out�, she acts different afterwards. She�s calmer, like she�s over controlling herself. Even when she overreacts to something � afterwards, she�ll over dramatize how okay she is with it � how she really didn�t mind at all.� �Has she violently acted out at all? Maybe after a �freak out� or in reaction to something?� Pacey leveled. He told her about that evening � the reason he had made the call. The angry outburst, breaking the lamp, cutting her arm. Her adverse reaction to it. He could hear Jen scribbling everything down on the other end. �Helps me to see the big picture,� she�d told him once. �Pacey � has this � the violence � ever happened before?� �No. Not before tonight.� �I see. Hmm�� Pacey laughed. �Is that a secret shrink stalling tactic, Jen? I�ve always wanted to ask.� �If I told you, then it wouldn�t be a secret, would it?� Jen taunted. Then the professional tone returned. �Pacey � I don�t want to diagnose over the phone. I don�t feel it would be professional of me in the least. But I can give you some sound advice. With Mera�s history � family history against her, I mean � not only did Andie have a mental illness, her mother had one too, don�t forget�� How could he? It had been what brought them together. |
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