AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story contains gay and straight sex, as well as (step)incest. If that's not your thing, be warned.
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"This is ridiculous!!" Penny yelled, not caring about the people outside that might hear.
"I'm sorry Ms. Fairley, that's simply the situation as it stands."
"That's completely unreasonable! My stepson was in one fight! Sure, he was in the wrong but immediate expulsion? That's ridiculous!"
"Like I've already explained, my hands are tied. This isn't my rule, it's the university's. And the dean has personally seen to it that I act by the book."
Penny received a call from her stepson's university just yesterday, saying he had started a physical altercation with another student and was likely to get expelled. Immediately, she decided to drive over and try to stop what was happening. She would do whatever she could to save Nick from even more grief.
Her husband unfortunately passed away soon after Nick had left for college. With Nick out of the house, they never got the chance to get particularly close. But even though things were still a little awkward between them, she thought he was a good kid and wanted to step up with his father out of the picture.
And while she hadn't gotten to know him as well as she would have liked, she knew this was very much out of character for Nick. He was the quiet, reserved type who shied away from conflict whenever possible. Even after more than a year, she couldn't rule out that his outburst could have been related to his father's death.
"I won't allow this to happen! This won't be the last time you'll hear from me! I'll take this to social media if I have to. I hope your dean likes angry emails and Twitter posts."
"You're going to need to calm down, ma'am."
Calm down? The last year had already been so full of misfortune for her and Nick. Calming down was the last thing she wanted to do.
"I will NOT be spoken to like this, professor," Penny shot back. "This whole situation is unreasonable, and you know it's unreasonable! And I won't stop until you help Nick."
"Please, Ms. Fairley. I'm not your enemy. I'm simply doing my job," Professor Knight said. "I can't overrule the dean, but if it means that much to you, perhaps we can think of a way forward together. But first, I'd appreciate it if you tried to settle down, at least."
Penny took a breath, and she started to become conscious of how tightly she had been gripping the armrest of her chair.
"I'm sorry, professor," she said. "And I hope you can understand, this has been a trying few months for me, and for Nick."
"Of course. You have my deepest sympathies, I know this can't be easy for either of you."
"It has. Just give me a moment, and let me catch my breath," Penny said. She tried to calm herself, but her heart was still racing, even as she tried to take steady breaths.
"Perhaps we could try something to help settle you," the professor said.
"Try something? What do you mean?"
"Just a little relaxation exercise. It served me well when I was still a practicing therapist."
"Professor, this is hardly the time for your tricks. If you won't help me, I'll have to go straight to the dean."
"Ms. Fairley, please. This is not a trick. This is a tried and tested psychological technique. It will only take a few minutes, and it will make for a much more productive conversation."
"Alright, professor," Penny said. "If it will help Nick."
"Good." Professor Knight reached into a drawer and pulled out a shiny golden pocketwatch. "Now, I know this may seem hokey, but I'm only asking you to follow my instructions and keep an open mind."
Penny sighed deeply. "Alright, let's just get this over with."
Professor Knight started to swing the watch in front of her.
"Good, good. Now, just watch the watch swing back and forth... Back and forth... so steady. So easy to keep your eyes on it. And as you do, breathe in. Breathe out. In. And out. Still following the watch. Just focus on the watch. Don't look away. Just keep breathing in and out when I tell you. It can be hard to regulate yourself when you're feeling stressed and lost and sad. That's why it's important to listen to me. Listen to my voice as I help you relax. Follow the watch back and forth. You're getting so relaxed now, aren't you?"
"Yeah... Relaxed." Despite her initial resistance, Penny did find it relaxing. Her eyes started to droop. She had driven all night to get here. She was stressed and tired. Relaxing would do her wonders.
"Good. So relaxing to watch the watch and breathe in and out. It's so tiring to carry all that stress, all that anger. Feel it leave your body with each breath in and out."
"In... and out..."
"Good. As you let it go, you get more relaxed. Even a little sleepy."
"Yeah... A little sleepy..."
"Good, that's all normal. It's alright to feel sleepy as you watch my watch. You can even close your eyes."
"Close... my... " Her eyes were barely open already. Maybe she should just rest them. Just of a little bit. Then she could keep fighting for Nick. Hey eyes slipped closed, and her head dropped.
Professor Knight put the watch down, but continued to speak slowly and softly.
"Good, Penny. So good to sleep. It's so hard to keep fighting, isn't it? So tiring to struggle?"
"So tiring..."
Professor Knight stood up from his desk. If her eyes had been open, it would have been impossible for her to miss the obscene bulge in his slacks, and the wet spot at its tip. He walked behind her chair and started grabbing her tits through her blouse.
