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"Can we get on with this, Doc? I only have to do three more of these fucking sessions," I said, tapping my foot.

"Mr. Bennet, we've talked about this attitude before. I can't help you if you won't involve yourself in this process," Hampton repeated for the hundredth time. Truth was, I didn't want his help at all, though I told him I did.

Court-mandated therapy. What bullshit! Just because I'd slapped a co-worker on the ass. If she'd been a man, there'd have been no issue, but she took it entirely the wrong way. Couldn't a girl these days take a compliment? A hundred years ago, she'd have laughed it off, but now women were brainwashed into thinking that everything was about them, and that men were some secret cabal designed to keep them in chains or some shit.

"I mean, yeah, I don't want to get slapped with another sexual harassment suit," I admitted, truthfully.

"You aren't going to make progress unless we can change your beliefs about women," he said, adjusted his glasses. He looked straight out of a movie, with his fancy jacket and shiny black shoes. What a stereotype.

"But I'm right. It's this fucking P.C. bullshit culture that's pushing the idea that women are the same as men. I mean, sure, they can do some stuff okay, but basketball? Computer programming? Chess? Come on. Women just aren't better than men, but I'm supposed to lie and believe they are?" I growled. The asshole had the nerve to look indignant.

"Chuck, why does it matter? There are women who are better at all those things than you are. There are men better at sales than you. Why do you spend so much time thinking about how men and women are different, rather than the same?"

"You want me to lie - to myself, to my kids...just to get along with some uppity broads at work?" I shrugged.

"You don't have any kids."

"Not yet!" I protested. "When I find a woman who hasn't fallen hook, line, and sinker for the feminazi lie."

Dr. Hampton leaned back, sighing. "You might do better with women if you treated them as equals."

I rolled my eyes. "I do fine with the ladies, Doc. I fucked a chick last night. It's just when they want commitment that they reveal themselves as little feminists."

"There's something I want to try, Charles. We have three sessions left, as you mentioned. I think we may get further if I can get you to focus on the real issue here. I feel like you allow all these things you've learned on the internet to interfere with what you're really afraid of."

"I ain't afraid of shit, Hampton," I explained, learning forward and glaring at him.

"Good. Then you won't mind if we try a little hypnotherapy."

I paused. I'd never taken the Doc for a quack. Hypnosis was a bunch of pseudoscience garbage, about contacted lost love ones or finding out which king or queen you were in a past life. "It ain't gunna work. I know all about the placebo effect, doctor. It won't work on me because I_know_ it isn't real."

"Still," he explained, "I'd like to try it. Hypnosis is not magic, and I don't imagine I can just convince you to change. Rather, it is a way to focus your attention on a single issue - to clarify your mind. I'd like to tap into your imagination. Is that okay?"

"I'm legally required to say yes," I grinned. That wasn't technically true, but I liked to point out how unwilling I was every chance I got.

Dr. Hampton raised his eyebrow. "Good," he said, rooting around in his desk. "Where is it?" He kept searching for a few minutes. "I can't find my flashlight..."

"Aw, shucks," I said, glancing at the clock. Still another thirty minutes.

"I suppose I can use this - my niece just sent it to me," he noted, pulling out a gnarled, wooden necklace. "This is a druidic symbol, one of the original few focuses of their ancient religion. The note says she heard that the amulet, called the Krokan de Diancecht can draw on the subconscious fears of those around it. It should do as well as my flashlight."

I blinked. It did_look old, but I didn't believe him. Not for a _second. "Nice try, Doc. You and I are both men of science - you ought to realize that I know you're making that up to try to make me more suggestible."

"If you say so," the man replied. "Is there anything you need before we begin? Bathroom? A glass of water? If this works, we may be occupied for a while."

"I can last thirty minutes. Just get on with it," I said, leaning back in my chair. Still, when he offered a glass of water, I drank a few gulps to clear my throat.

"I'd like you to relax all your muscles and focus your eyes on the Krokan de Diancecht. Stare at it; think only of it, focus on the amulet."

I played along because I didn't want this to take any longer than it already would. I had to force my eyes not to roll at the inanity of this exercise. I wasn't the kind of person to get hypnotized. I kept looking at the amulet, wondering just how many chumps had fallen for that ancient druidic crap story. Sometimes I wished I could be that gullible - ignorance is bliss after all. If I just believed that women were as good as men, it would make my life a lot easier.

"I'd like you to put your feet flat on the floor, your hands at your sides."

I did it, though I was tempted to show him just how free-willed I could be. I settled for saying, "Doc...this is a waste of time" but I only got as far as "Doc" before he _shushed_me. "Your role here is to listen and think, not to speak. Imagine you are on a beach in the tropics, the ocean lapping at the sandy shore, seagulls cawing. Take a deep breath."

I inhaled loudly, strangely enjoying this mental image. I looked to my left and right and pictured myself some babes in tight strips of cloth that barely covered their bodies. They knew they were hot and didn't pretend to be shocked when I looked at them!

"What do you see?" he asked, quietly.

"Women. Beach chairs. Kids, playing," I said softly. My eyes were starting to close. This was actually very relaxing. I imagined the beach. There, to my right, was a young man, muscles bulging like I'd always wanted, covered in a bronze sheen.

"What do you see now?"

My eyes fluttered open.Why am I imagining that?"This is stupid," I said, looking away from the amulet.

"What - what did you see?" Hampton said again.

"Big, bouncing breasts. Is that what you want to hear?" I said irritably.

"Charles, quiet down. Just picture the palm trees swaying in the wind."

I took another deep breath, forgetting the people on the beach, picturing the trees. The palm leaves swirled in the wind, heaving up and down in tight circles that seemed to lock me in place - I couldn't look away if I wanted to.

"Good. What is your name?" the doctor asked.

I opened my mouth to say_Chuck_, but what came out instead was "Charles Daniel Bennet," in monotones that lacked all of my usual aplomb. What the fuck just happened?

"Why are you here?"

Speaking without fully understanding or realizing why, I said, "Court manda -"

"No, why are you _really_here? Why do you hate and fear women?"

Okay, _that_was too much. I opened my eyes and stormed out of the room. Except when I tried to stand, I was frozen in place, eyes locked on the Krokan de Diancecht. Instead of leaving, I opened my mouth and spoke against my will, "I don't - it's not my fault they act like impudent children. They need to be treated with a firm hand, like dogs."

As soon as I said that, I blinked, and that same wooden amulet was swinging in front of me, but when I glanced down at myself, I looked completely different. At first I thought I'd become black, when I realized that my skin hadn't changed color - I was sporting rich, brown fur. My arms were long and thin, pressing into the cushioned chair right next to my legs. My nose poked way out in front of my eyes, and I realized that I was every bit the dog I'd claimed women to be, the spitting image of the Greyhound stud, Warhound, my Dad had gotten us when I was seven.

"What the fuck?" I said, and this time, the words came through. Perhaps Doc Hampton's control over me was starting to weaken.

But the shrink continued on as if he didn't even realize his patient was sitting on all fours in the chair in front of him. "Maybe it's not women_you are afraid of. Perhaps I've been going from the wrong angle. What do you feel about _men?"

Of course - I was hypnotized. I only looked like dog to me, not to him. I managed to hold my tongue a few moments before I sputtered an answer. "We're the best: the strongest, smartest, most aggressive, masters of all we survey, most attractive -"

"Most attractive?" Doc cut in.

"Oh, no you don't. I just meant we're physically perfect. I mean, look at me!" It felt a little odd to lift my paws out to show off my physique, but I knew that as far as Hampton could tell, I was still my old self.

"You are young and strong, yes. There are many people who would find you attractive, Chuck. Both men and women..."

"Hey, Doc, don't get all faggy on me."

He ignored the comment, putting down the druidic talisma. Now, I was transfixed on his own face, even as he _dared_ask, "When did you first learn you had feelings for men?"

"You son-of-a-bitch!" I shouted. Or...I wanted to. Instead, all that happened was Dr. Hampton appeared in front of me, a sleek, black-furred Greyhound. He didn't seem to notice, cocking his head as I answered his question against my will. "Fifth grade, Billy Rockefeller stayed the night. I couldn't sleep, so when he drifted off, I watched him. I didn't want to, but I couldn't look away."

That...never happened, did it? Was this some sort of repressed memory? I _know_I'd read somewhere that hypnosis could implant false memories. Sure, Billy had spent the night, but I didn't remember anything like that. "Doctor Hampton," I whimpered, "please stop."

"There were others, weren't there?" he said.

I nodded. He said, "You wanted them. You wanted to submit yourself to them."

"N-no, I just..."

"You know what you're running from. You wanted to be their bitch, and so you take it out on the women in your life. Charles..."

I slowly lifted my paw and pointed it right at the other dog, forcing my mouth to form the words. "This is _bullshit_and you know it," I struggled. Each word was punctuated by a heavy breath. "Let me go right now!"

"That's not what you really want," Hampton explained.

"We're...done!" I gasped, but I still couldn't get off the chair. "You're...abusing...your power!"

The doctor just grinned, his sharp canine teeth now showing. "You're half-right. We're not done, though. We're just getting started."