Marriage Counselling for Cocoa Puffs

Back to rummaging through the Doctor's office at lunch break. (The one time the woman leaves the damn place.)

Because that session was so handy at finding anything out. Shaw internally groaned, as Root was busy hacking into the Doctor’s computer, as Dr. Sheetz had proved to be more paranoid than Harold when it came to her computer security.

“That was fun.” Root grinned, the glow from the computer hitting her face. Shaw was busy trying to sniff out clues, it was better than standing jobless and defeated.

“Fun for you.” Shaw grunted, recollecting the session. Shaw had to admit there were interrogation sessions she had enjoyed better.

“Why don’t we leave present anguishes for now, and start at the beginning.” Dr. Sheetz had suggested seeing that Root was about to probably stab Shaw affectionately, and hearing that was the rough equivalent of a hand grenade going off for Shaw.

“The-what?” Shaw interrupted, almost fending Root off her.

“This should be interesting.” Harold remarked, clearly enjoying all this.

“Tell me, how did the two of you meet?” Root immediately sat up at that, looking demure as a cat.

“Uh – huh“ Shaw dragged, trying to think back to the first time she met Root.

“This is our favourite story” Root chimed in, immediately happy again.

“Well – it was –“

“This story is a little embarrassing for Sameen because, the first time she met me, she thought I was someone else.” Root offered, smiling sweetly all the while.

“In my defense” Shaw clarified, “she was playing along.”

“Only because who wouldn’t want do that to talk to this awesome one here.” Root explained, tilting her head and looking fondly at Shaw, who looked more like sour milk.

Shaw threw her hands up at that, remembering that that episode had ended up with a hot iron box to her neck.

“With those rugged good looks and that intense gaze ” Root gushed, coming off as a lovesick teenager with such perfection. “It was like she was staring into your soul.”

Shaw did vividly remember staring into Root’s soul, with an injection sticking out of her neck though. Shaw couldn’t do much but go along with the conversation here, nodding along helplessly.

“It was through a mutual friend, though it was coincidence.” Shaw tried, remembering the Machine’s meddling with her affairs with all things concerning Root.

“More like destiny.” Root strongly corrected her, still smiling hard.

“My face was beginning to ache just from smiling so much.” Root muttered, slightly frustrated with how good the doctor’s computer firewalls were. She had tried breaking through all the security systems whilst she was painfully roasting Shaw during the session, but everything just bounced back. It felt rather odd, seeing that the doctor was only a marriage counsellor and not a paranoid hacker.

Shaw had given up  trying to find anything of use, and was trying to find a good place to fit a bug on, when she suddenly saw that the doctor was on her way back.

“Uh Root, we’re going to have to speed that up.”

“What?No!” Root exclaimed, speeding up her already fast typing.

“Go stall her!”

“What?”
“GO!”

Shaw had to admit, she was getting real sick of taking orders from Root like this.

“So, that was how we met!” Root grinned cheerily. Trust Root to turn a session with a taser and an iron box romantic.

“It was love at first sight for me.”  She finished, turning her puppy eyes to Shaw who was growing quite nauseous with the amount of cheesiness in this situation.

“Well, it took some time for her to grow on me.” Shaw offered, trying to make some sort of a stand here. Root immediately turned to look at her expectantly, almost tasting the words that were about to come out.

“But she did.” Shaw finished, finding it rather hard to mutter those words. Root, of course was immediately beaming with glee. Root had won that round, sadly.

“Wow, that was quite cute.” Dr. Sheetz remarked, making some notes in her notebook. Shaw was able to make out a few words from the strokes. “A. seems to be rather passive aggressive with S. who plays along.”  and grinned internally at that.

“What’s a love story without a meet-cute.” Root remarked, still busy getting her wireless program to hack the doctor’s computer already.

The doctor smiled at that, still writing away.

“Before we move on to other things, just another question. How are things in the bedroom?

Before Shaw could even react, Harold was already choking on his tea in her earpiece.

“I’d better sign off for now. I’m sure Ms. Groves can handle this for now.” Harold coughed, going offline. So that’s what it takes to get Mr. Finch to go off. Shaw noted, mentally. Root, on the other hand, had flushed a deep red, but was still smiling – which made her look bashful. Shaw wasn’t going to let this one slide.

“What do you think of our sex-life honey?” Shaw inquired, looking as curious as ever.

Root paused for a second to look at Shaw, before turning back to the doctor.

“It’s just amazing Doctor.”  and at hearing that, it was Shaw’s turn.

“Is that so?” Shaw prodded, not ready to let this go so easily.

“Well, it does get a little rough sometimes, but she does enjoy it.” Root replied, looking shy and bashful as ever. Damn the woman for playing the petite wife so perfectly.

Dr. Sheetz immediately noted a few more things in her notebook, things which Shaw wasn’t noticing. She was busy glaring the hell out of Root, and the woman’s abilities at making the most insane things sound absolutely normal.

“Hey there Doc.” Shaw muttered below her breath, not sure as to how to stall the doctor much longer.

“Uh Sameen – is anything the problem?”

Yeah, my wife’s insane and hacking your computer.

“I left my phone back here so was just waiting till I could get into your office and get it back.” Shaw rambled, hoping she made sense.

“Actually I wanted to talk to you privately and I hope you don’t mind.” Dr. Sheetz began, and Shaw was praying Root would be done soon.

“You don’t seem very happy in this marriage – but your wife does seem intent on making this marriage work – so I was uh – wondering if you could do a few private sessions at your convenience.” Dr. Sheetz offered, her voice rather husky.

Is she flirting with me?

IS SHE FLIRTING WITH YOU?” came Root’s loud voice on her earpiece, and with that Shaw knew her torture had barely begun.