Chapter 21

Dana stoodoutside gazing after Jake's taillights, her fingers still pressed to her lips where he'd dropped a kiss before racing off to play hero.

His lack of fear was something she both admired and despised. She knew he was right. They needed answers and since he knew the deceased Congressman, he was the best one to get them. But that didn't stop Dana from wishing he could've stayed to help her deal with Claire.

The reality was, Claire needed help.

For the first time, it was clear to Dana that her intern wasn't getting better. In fact, by the light of day, Dana could see how much worse she looked.

The girl had always been thin and pale, but there was a gauntness to her now that Dana hadn't seen even when Claire was battling her addiction.

That coupled with the disturbing hypnosis session she'd just witnessed left Dana reeling. Through her field of expertise, she'd come across numerous accounts of demonic possession, identity disorders and dissociative delusions. Moments ago, she'd witnessed Claire exhibit traits of each.

Dana had a feeling what she saw was merely scratching the surface when it came to the inner turmoil her friend was battling, and that terrified her.

Being out of her depth wasn't a common occurrence for Dana. But she'd never let that stop her from pursuing the truth.

In her field, something that often appeared dark and sinister was simply misunderstood. It was Dana's job to peel back layers until she could shine light into the darkness and discover the truth.

Dana told herself to apply that same theory to Claire's situation. She didn't know exactly how to help Claire, but that wasn't going to stop her from trying.

Taking a deep breath, Dana turned back toward her house ready to start peeling back the layers.

"Where's Claire?"Dana asked, looking around her empty living room. Only Dr. Dvita remained where she'd left him.

"She said she was feeling tired and wanted to lie down," he replied.

Dana eyed him suspiciously and started down the hall to check for herself.

"You don't trust me?" he called after her.

"I don't trust anyone," Dana replied.

She knocked gently on her guest room door before entering. "Claire? Are you okay?"

The girl lay on her side, facing away from Dana. "Yeah. Just tired. Do you mind if I just take a few minutes?"

"Take all the time you need," Dana said, quietly shutting the door.

She returned to the living room and took a seat in the leather wingback chair opposite Dr. Dvita. "You're very good with her," he commented. "It's easy to see why she respects and admires you so deeply as a mentor and friend."

Dana smiled. "She said that?"

"Yes. It's very clear that you and Agent Shepard play a central role in her desire for rehabilitation." Dr. Dvita steepled his fingers as if weighing his next words. "Tell me, how long have you and Agent Shepard been in an intimate relationship?"

"What?" The question caught Dana completely off guard. "We're not."

"Ah, so it's new, then?"

"What it is, is none of your business."

"I disagree. Anything that adversely affects my patient is most certainly my business."

"I'm sorry, but my personal life is just that, Dr. Dvita."

"Maybe so, but Claire is a very perceptive individual. And since it appears she's staying here with both you and Agent Shepard, your personal life is an influence on her whether you'd like it to be or not." He adjusted his glasses and blinked in that unsettling way of his. "A word of advice, whatever's going on between you and Agent Shepard should be put on hold if you care about Claire's recovery."

"Of course I care, but what does our relationship have to do with it?"

"I'm aware of your credentials, Dr. Gray. You're an educated woman. You know what Claire exhibited while under hypnosis is far beyond the norm."

"What are you saying?"

"In my time with Claire it's become evident that she struggles with multiple identities, existing in various planes. The strongest one, and the one we want to help her cling to, is that of your trusted colleague and friend. She knows where she stands in that existence, with you as her mentor and Agent Shepard as her protector. If those roles change and she no longer recognizes where she fits, she may feel she doesn't belong and lose grip on this reality altogether."

"Dr. Dvita, with all due respect, I know what Claire exhibited today was unusual, but I've worked with her for years. She's never displayed signs of multiple personalities before."

"Often that's how mental health conditions occur. They're not there until they are."

"Right, but last year I wasn't there for Claire. She got mixed up with drugs and the wrong people. Isn't it likely that trauma is causing her confusion? There are a plethora of cases where subjects revert to past or imaginary identities as a protective coping mechanism."

"Absolutely. DID is usually caused by past trauma. But the issue isn't identifying the trauma. It's treating the symptoms."

"DID?" Dana sat back, letting her shock set in.

"DID is shorthand for dissociative identity disorder," Dr. Dvita explained.

"I know what it stands for," Dana snapped. "I don't agree with the diagnosis."

"You don't have to agree with me, Dr. Gray. But it's my professional opinion that Claire needs to continue seeking psychiatric guidance to keep her episodes from worsening. At the moment, she is under my care, and I'd like that to continue." He paused, his dark eyes evaluating Dana. "But if you'd rather a second opinion, I can make the necessary referrals."

Dana stared at the man, trying to decipher if he was driven by an ulterior motive. It was times like these when she missed Jake. He was much better at reading people than she was.

"You've shared your diagnosis with Claire?" Dana asked.

"I haven't," he answered. "I'm only sharing it with you because Claire authorized you and Agent Shepard on her medical release forms. You're both listed as her emergency contacts."

Dana ignored the pang of emotions crowding her chest. "Why haven't you shared your opinion with Claire?"

"In my experience labeling a disorder such as this can exacerbate the symptoms."

Dana nodded. She was familiar with the phenomenon: interpersonal expectancy effect, more commonly known as a self-fulfilling prophecy; whereby initially unfounded expectations led to the fulfillment of those expectations.

Believing you will do poorly on an exam and then failing the test, was a typical example. Letting one's beliefs influence their behavior and performances, contributing to the expected outcome could be harmful. Especially if the person"s expected behavior serves to bring about destructive mental health issues.

"Do you believe Claire can still advocate for herself?" Dana asked.

"Yes. Her triggers can be managed, and she only exhibits dissociative identities while under hypnosis."

"Then why don't we let Claire decide if she wants to continue seeing you."

"I'm comfortable with that, so long as you agree to help her continue treatment elsewhere in the event she chooses not to stay with me."

Dana agreed. "So where do we go from here?"

"I'd like to see Claire again tomorrow. Due to the fire, we'll be unable to return to Passages for quite some time. While the police continue their investigation, I've arranged a space at St. Ann's. I'll be holding group meetings there twice a week for all my patients who've been displaced by these unfortunate events."

Dr. Dvita took a business card out of his wallet and scribbled an address and time on the back before handing it to Dana. "I think Claire would benefit from being able to discuss the events that took place at Passages with peers who understand what she's truly going through."

"I'll make sure to pass the invitation to Claire."

"Thank you." Dr. Dvita stood and shook Dana's hand. He was halfway to the door when Dana thought of something.

"What about Meredith?"

He turned to face her. "What about Miss Kincaid?"

"You said you thought Claire could benefit from seeing how far Meredith had come in her recovery, but you said something changed your mind."

"Not something, someone." Dr. Dvita released a long exhale. "I don't want to speak ill of the dead, but I'm glad Congressman Hayes is no longer spreading his poison in the world."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you know what the term primary refers to in my profession, Dr. Gray?"

"Yes, the influencer."

"Correct. Congressman Hayes was one of the most gifted influencers I've ever come across. The trouble was, he didn't use his persuasion for good."

"Why was he at Passages?"

"I wish I could say more, but deceased or not, he's still my patient and protected under privileged confidentiality."

"Do you think he was trying to influence Claire?"

"I'm not sure, but I'd like to find out. It's why I'd like to continue seeing her."

"And Meredith? Did he try to influence her?"

"You'd have to ask her."

"I will," Dana challenged.

"I'm sure you will." He turned to leave but Dana wasn't finished with her questions.

"One more thing. Do you think it's odd Claire is so concerned with Max?"

He gave a tired smile. "I wouldn't use the term odd. It's quite common for patients like Claire to get attached to the people who treat them kindly. In Claire's case I would find it odd if she didn't seek out someone to connect with."

"I'm glad she made a friend there."

But Dr. Dvita was quick to dash Dana's relief. "I don't know that Max is the kind of friend Claire should have. It's my understanding they bonded over the similarities of their troubled pasts."

"Troubled? Is he someone we should be worried about?"

"Isn't there always something to worry about, Dr. Gray?"

Dana watched Dr. Dvita walk out her front door, leaving her with the chill from the brisk morning and his parting words.