canon au } { post-s4, of apologies and new chairs

[likeababyduck]

Peter: [standing in the kitchen, staring out the window while sipping his coffee, phone to his ear]

Sweets: [... that's a ringing phone. his phone is ringing. Papers start shifting quickly until he manages to retrieve it from the pile of papers it's hiding under and places the receiver to his ear] Doctor Sweets.

Peter: [deep breath] Doctor Sweets, this is Peter Hale. I'm calling to apologize for my behavior yesterday.

Sweets: Peter. Hi. [he shakes his head a bit] It's fine. I pushed too soon, and I never really liked that chair anyway.

Peter: Well, I will be replacing it none the less. Find something you like and send it to Dawn, and I will compensate you for it. [he pauses a moment] You were just doing your job, after all.

Sweets: Thank you. I appreciate that.

Peter: [and, well he really doesn't know what else to say. But he knows he needs to talk] I am also thinking that we should figure out a time to speak again. But there are certain topics I'm not comfortable talking about at this time.

Sweets: I am all for boundaries. Our first session was supposed to be about setting them, but unfortunately I jumped the gun.

Peter: Laura is a very hot topic right now for me, and I should have explained that to you.

Sweets: Of course. We can table that topic for now, but eventually we are going to have to talk about her, Peter. It can't stay off the table permanently.

Peter: The problem with it is that she is no longer dead, and the problem is complicated, evolving, and uncertain. And the ball is in her court, so to speak.

Sweets: Maybe, but my job isn't to fix your relationships with her. I can help you deal with that estrangement and I can help prepare you for if or when she is ready to let you make amends. It's possible that sorting out your feelings on things might make it easier to get through the wait.

Peter: [thinking] Let me think about that then and get back to you on it.

Sweets: Sounds good. When would you like to meet next?

Peter: What would work best with your teaching schedule? Perhaps we could find a regular time and meet somewhere halfway between our locations.

Sweets: I'm done with most of my classes by five, usually. We could meet for dinner?

Peter: That sounds like a good idea. Then you only have to worry about my throwing food if I have another temper tantrum.

Sweets: Oddly enough? It wouldn't be the first time. [Granted, the last person who did that was three, and angry at me because I said she couldn't watch The Wizard of Oz for the third time that day, but that's another matter entirely]

Peter: [chuckles] Then at least you will be better prepared for it.

Sweets: Indeed. [there's the sound of him flipping through his calendar] How do Wednesdays sound?

Peter: That sounds fine.

Sweets: Wednesdays, say six o'clock - do you have any recommendations for a place?

Peter: There's Ryan's Place in Hanford. It's about halfway between. Typical diner cuisine but they have really good pie.

Sweets: Sold. I'll see you there at six on Wednesday.

Peter: See you then. [and end of phone call, and he's just going to stand there and sip his coffee, still unsure if this is the right thing to do, but he wasn't going to quit just because it got tough. He had to figure these things out]

Dawn: [eventually will wander in, following the smell of coffee. She doesn't say anything, not until she's got the first sip in her system and she exhales with a sigh] Blessed caffeine.

Peter: [he blinks out of his internal thinking and turns his head a bit to look at her] I know I'm not the connoisseur that Derek has become, but it should pass muster.

Dawn: It has coffee. That is all that matters.

Peter: Fair enough. [he turns to go make a refill, looking over at her] Did you sleep well?

Dawn: Very well. Still not a morning person. [she glances over at him] How're you doing?

Peter: A little better every day.

Dawn: Good. That's what we like to hear.

Peter: I called Sweets and apologized as well. He will be sending you something regarding a new chair. Just let me know how to purchase it for him.

Dawn: Will do. [she curls her fingers around her mug] So everything's copacetic on the therapy front?

Peter: We have a set appointment for dinners on Wednesday. Hopefully the next appointment will go better than the first.

Dawn: Good. I'm proud of you.

Peter: I am trying to do right by them all. I'm just not built for this.

Dawn: [there's a beat] It isn't about doing right by them, Peter. It's about doing right by you too.