Part Nineteen
Xander set his pile of books down on the table and looked around. Iam had yet to arrive in the library. Both the boys had the same periods free, and Giles wanted them both in the library during any open spots in their schedules.
Giles meandered over to the table, stopping at various bookcases, trying to look as though he weren’t deliberately heading for Xander.
“Giles, just come over here and quit acting like you’re in a bad spy movie,” said Xander, trying to hide how much he enjoyed being looked after and coddled.
Sighing, the older man walked over and pulled one of the chairs out. “I just wanted to speak with you before Iam arrived.”
“About what?” asked Xander as he pulled out his math book.
“Your appointment with the psychiatrist this afternoon.”
“My what?” Xander’s head snapped up at this.
“Your psychiatrist,” repeated Giles. “You’ll be going with Iam once a week. Dr. O’Malley and I decided it would be best if you and Iam went together. He’ll be working with each of you separately as well.”
“Oh.”
“What’s going on?” Iam asked walking up to the table.
Giles stood, “I was just telling Xander that you two have an appointment with Dr. O’Malley after school.”
“Oh, that’s right. We’re starting back up, aren’t we?”
“Why haven’t you been going?” asked Xander.
“We were giving you time to settle in,” explained Giles.
“Oh.”
“Don’t worry,” reassured Iam. “He’s very nice. Helpful, and you don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to.”
Giles dropped the boys off in front of a large mansion on the outskirts of town. “Call when you’re finished.”
“Um, isn’t there a set time limit to the session?” asked Xander, confused.
“No, this is a special clinic. Sessions are as long or as short as they need to be,” explained Iam, idly brushing his hair back with his hand.
Xander was focused on Iam’s hand and he almost missed what Iam was saying. “Clinic? It looks like someone’s home.”
“Dr. O’Malley does live here. Now, let’s go inside.” The two stepped up to the front door, where a small brass plaque hung, decreeing the mansion to be a clinic, as well as a private residence. Iam pushed the door open and stepped inside, with Xnader hesitantly following.
A brunette girl was typing something into a computer at the reception desk. She looked up when the two boys entered. “Oh, Iam! It’s good to see you again. Who’s your friend?”
“Dru, this is Xander. Xander, this is Druscilla O’Malley,” said Iam, making introductions.
“Nice to meet you,” said Xander. “Does that mean you’re…”
“Yes, I’m his daughter. And intern. And secretary,” laughed Druscilla.
“Who’s there, Drusci?” came a deep voice with just a tinge of Ire..
Xander stared in awe as Dr. O’Malley entered the room. Tall, with dark brown eyes and perfectly groomed dark brown hair. He gasped, and hoped no one else heard him. The man looked like an angel.
Druscilla turned to the man, “Oh, Iam’s here, and with the new boy.”
“Iam, I hope you’re doing well,” said Dr. O’Malley, smiling. Xander just about melted when the doctor turned that smile on him. “And you must be Xander. I’m Dr. O’Malley, but you can call me Liam. Now, shall we get down to business?”
He walked back to toward the room he had just exited and motioned for the boys to follow him.
Xander fell in step beside Iam and behind Dr. O’Malley. He suddenly felt very embarrassed. ‘Don’t think about how sexy and handsome he is,’ he berated himself. ‘Think about Iam. Think about Jesse. Oh, that’s not helping. Girls, think about girls.’ Feeling calmer, Xander stepped into the office.