"Shane, tell me how things were at home after your brother's death."

Marlena begins her first weekly session with Shane after his hearing conducted by the Ethics Committee.

"My mother cried all the time. She couldn't even look at me, I was just a painful reminder of what she'd lost. My father never left the office. He started working long hours, sometimes sixty-five or seventy hours a week. When he was home, he was a different person, basically a shell of a man."

"So how did you cope with the loss of your brother?"

"With my father's consent, at the age of sixteen I joined the Royal Navy as a mine warfare specialist, twelve days after my brother's funeral. I didn't want to be known at school as the kid who killed his brother. I needed to get away from everyone and everything I'd ever known. I volunteered for the most dangerous assignments I could find, once I joined. I honestly didn't care if I lived or died but in a cruel twist of fate, I became highly successful at completing the riskiest missions. I quickly rose through the ranks and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't manage to get myself killed. Suicide was never an option because it would bring shame on my father and I'd already hurt him enough by taking away his son."

"Don't you mean, one of his sons? Did you feel your father valued your brother's life more than your own?"

"No, I never felt my father played favourites but after the accident, I was clearly nothing but a disappointment to him. That's probably one of the reasons I rose so quickly through the ranks in the Service. I wanted to make him proud of me and I wanted to redeem myself."

"Let's talk about what happened with Julie at the park that night."

Shane exhales loudly, frowns, and rubs the back of his neck.

"What do you want to know?" The tension in his voice is unmistakable.

"Tell me what you thought you would accomplish by detouring with Julie to the park."

"We've been over this one hundred times, Dr. Evans."

"Humor me."

"I wanted to ensure she would never get behind the wheel while intoxicated, ever again."

"Did you feel you somehow owed it to your brother to punish Julie?"

"No, I felt I owed it to Julie."

"Explain."

"What kind of a guardian would I be if I didn't try to shield her from a lifetime of regret?"

"Don't you think you could have sat down with Julie the next day and told her about what happened with your brother, instead of trying to beat the point into her with your belt?"

"I could have sat down with Julie and talked until I was blue in the face but it wouldn't have had the same effect. I needed to teach her a lesson she would never forget and believe me she will never forget that day."

"That's what I'm afraid of. Do you mind if I bring Julie in now to join us for the remainder of this session?"

"No, of course I don't mind."

Julie takes a seat next to Shane before Marlena continues the session.

"Julie, I want you to tell Shane how you felt after what took place in the dugout at the park."

Avoiding looking at Shane, Julie responds, "I was really scared of Shane. He was so angry and he really hurt me and he didn't seem to care that he did."

"Shane, how does it make you feel hearing Julie say that?"

"It's regrettable, understandable, and expected."

"Julie, did you feel any differently after hearing why Shane did that to you?"

"Yes."

Marlena waits patiently for Julie to elaborate.

"I felt bad that what I did brought back such bad memories for Shane but I was relieved that he didn't do what he did 'cause he hated me."

"Julie, it's quite the opposite. I only did that because I love you and I want to protect you."

"How do you feel hearing Shane say that, Julie? Do you believe he had your best interests at heart?"

"I think his intentions were good, albeit misguided and a tad self-serving." This conversation is very awkward for Julie.

Am I that easy to read? Shane wonders.

"Do you agree, Shane, that maybe part of what motivated your choices and actions that night was to further your own agenda?"

"Not intentionally, no."

"How about unintentionally or subconsciously?" Marlena wants Shane to delve deeper into retrospection.

"Perhaps, yes." Shane is starting to question whether his motives that night were entirely altruistic.

"Don't you think the two of you need to talk more about what happened that night?" Marlena feels like getting her two clients to open up about their feelings is akin to pulling teeth.

"I'm good, thanks." Julie doesn't enjoy any situation focused on enhancing her vulnerability.

"Whatever you think is best, Marlena." Shane's open to trusting Dr. Evans's professional expertise.

"Alright, I'm going to leave the two of you alone to talk in my office for the next twenty minutes, after which I'll return and facilitate further discussion. Agreed?"

Shane nods, then he and Marlena look to Julie for a response.

"Fine, whatever," Julie says sullenly, as she crosses her arms and slumps down in her seat.

"Answer Dr. Evans respectfully please," Shane sternly admonishes Julie.

Recognizing Shane's authoritative tone, Julie looks at Marlena and amends her response, "Yes ma'am."

Marlena directs Shane and Julie to sit across from each other before leaving them in privacy.

Julie avoids looking at Shane, instead focusing on her chipped fingernail polish. This wasn't her idea, afterall.

Shane reaches for Julie's chin to try to force eye contact but Julie flinches as soon as his hand touches her skin. Shane swallows hard as a pained look unnoticed by Julie crosses his face.

He retracts his arm, respecting Julie's space, instead simply saying, "Julie, look at me please."

With tears in her eyes, Julie obliges his request.

Shane's heart breaks seeing her sadness.

"Julie, please talk to me. Why are you crying?"

"I'm sorry, Shane, this is all my fault."

Shane and Julie are both unaware that they want the same thing, to heal the other person.

"What do you mean, luv? What's all your fault?"

"Everything! Dr. Curtis is mad at you and Mike 'cause of me. You had to relive your brother's death 'cause of me. It's my fault there's disappointment in your and Mike's eyes every time you look at me. It's my fault I made you so angry that you had to punish me like you did and then Dr. Curtis made you stand trial and..." Julie is full on crying now. Tears are streaming down her face. "It would have been my fault if he made you leave. It would've been all my fault if you weren't our guardian anymore. All because I did something stupid."

"Is that why you're so upset? I'm not goin' anywhere, sweetheart. No one is going to take me away from you. Not now, not ever." Shane sits next to Julie on the couch and puts his arm around her shoulder. Thrilled she didn't pull away, he holds her close to his side. "You're not responsible for any of those things, luv. You're not responsible for what Mike, Neil, and I do or say. We make our own choices. Understand?"

Julie continues breathing erratically as she tries to stop crying.

"Julie, I need to hear you say you understand that you are not responsible for the way any of us reacted. Am I clear?"

Still sniffling and far from convinced, Julie sadly says, "Yes sir."

"I know I hurt you that night, Julie, but if it keeps you from ever driving while impaired again, I can't say I'm sorry. I understand it may take time for you to trust me again and I'm willing to wait."

Marlena returns to her office to continue the session.

"Julie, tell me what you discussed while I was gone."

Julie hesitates, feeling uncomfortable discussing her feelings. She'd rather keep these things private.

"It's obvious you've been crying, Julie. Can you tell me what upset you so much?" Marlena knows she needs to pull this information out of Julie because she won't offer it willingly.

Realizing Dr. Evans can wait her out, Julie reluctantly responds, "If Dr. Curtis had expelled Shane from the program, we would have lost him as our guardian and it would've been my fault he was gone and we'd never see him again."

"Why do you hold yourself responsible for Shane's actions? He's an adult, perfectly capable of making his own decisions and controlling his behavior."

Julie shrugs and looks away, hoping this session is coming to an end.

"Shane, do you hold Julie responsible for what you did that night?" Marlena is hoping between the two of them they can take some of the burden off Julie's shoulders and alleviate her misplaced guilt.

"No, I've already explained this to Julie."

"Can I go now? I really don't have anything else to say." Julie has checked out emotionally and is now hoping to physically as well.

"It's may I, and you'll stay until Dr. Evans dismisses you," Shane warns Julie.

Marlena steps in, "You may go, Julie, but I'd like to see you in session in three days."

Julie gets up to leave saying, "I don't know about that," with obvious attitude.

Shane grabs Julie's arm before she gets out of his reach.

"You watch your tone, young lady, and I highly suggest you rephrase your response to Dr. Evans immediately."

Julie rips her arm from Shane's grasp.

"We're done here."

Shane instantly gets to his feet.

"JULIE!" he shouts.

Before walking out, Julie turns to address Marlena politely while ignoring Shane, "I'll see you in three days, Dr. Evans. Thank you."

"Shane, it's alright, let her go. Trust me, this is a good sign." Marlena assures Shane that restraint is beneficial in this instance.

Shane sighs and takes his seat, shaking his head in disbelief.

"How is her insolence a good sign, Marlena?"

"Rebelling indicates she no longer holds herself responsible for your behavior. She's lashing out because her burden of guilt is lifting."

Shane leans back and crosses his arms. Marlena hasn't quite eliminated his doubts.

"She's cleansing her conscience." Marlena smiles warmly at Shane. "Now it's your turn to do the same, Admiral."