Twice As Lethal (Lethal Weapon)

Good session, Doc

Monday.

Police Psychologist Maureen Cahill knew from the get go that Detective Martin Riggs was going to be a complicated case. The sadness and the pain he brought into her office each week was enough to break her heart. The danger he willingly threw himself into on a daily basis was frightening. He had no sense of self-preservation, no want or need to live. Many of Riggs' problems were fuelled by alcohol, and she did her best to help him deal with his addiction, to help him see that the future was not as bleak as he thought it seemed, and although he was a big job - she did hers extremely well.

"You missed our last session, Riggs."

She sat in the comfortable chair in her office, notepad and pen in her lap. The Detective was sprawled out on the sofa opposite, legs wide apart; but he dropped his head forward when she spoke, and met her pointed, but understanding, gaze.

"Yeah. Sorry 'bout that, Doc. But you should take it up with the crooks of this city, they don't work to a schedule. Y'know how it is."

And neither did he with the one she set for him. Most of the time he either didn't show up or he showed up on days he wasn't supposed to.

"To clear you for field work I need to see you at least once a week," she gently reminded.

"Yup." He raised both arms over his head and ploughed his fingers through his curls. "But y'know what, I'm good. I've been laying off the booze, or at least not swallowing down half as much as before, anyway."

"That's good." But he looked tired today. More than usual anyway. "Still having those dreams?"

"They're getting worse. But, uh, they're not bad dreams." Because there was really nothing bad about the dreams he'd had the night before and pretty much every night since he'd kissed Wonder Woman. But he didn't want to talk about that so he quickly added, "This new case is keeping me focused."

Maureen nodded. Very much aware of his MO of glossing over the things he wasn't quite ready to open up about. Time and patience was key with a patient like Riggs. So for now she let the dream thing go. "The one you're working with Detective Shaw," she said.

"Uhuh. Wait, how d'you know that?"

"I do due diligence on all of my patients, Riggs. It's my job to know." She smiled. There was a delicate pause. "You look different."

Normally he'd be hungover or high on adrenaline, talking non-stop about the oddest of things while prancing around her office like a peacock in his overly theatrical way, but today he looked lost in thought in a way she hadn't seen him for a few weeks. Something was definitely off with him.

"I was thinking about a new hairstyle, maybe something shorter at the back, long on top, almost like a curly quiff," came his witty reply. "Oh! And this is a new shirt. I'm now the proud owner of, wait for it, five," he finished with that cat-like grin.

Using humor as a defense mechanism was one of the first things Maureen had discovered about Riggs. She didn't comment, just smiled.

"Well, you seem lighter. Happier."

"Thanks, Doc. And, y'know, working with someone other than Roger is kinda nice. Refreshing almost. Brings a new energy to it."

Maureen smiled. Interesting that he had brought Detective Shaw back into the conversation. "So you and Detective Shaw are getting along?"

"She's basically the female me, maybe not quite the same level as crazy, so, y'know, that's always fun."

"But you like working with her."