2020-09-30 - Block E Pt 4

Gene walked out of the movie feeling actually pretty good.  Jaws was a good movie.  Old, but good.  Usually, they only showed old.  So he was smiling a bit as he headed back to E Block.  The block was pretty quiet with Shaw in cleaning duty followed by therapy and Ho off doing Gene didn’t know or want to know what.  He flopped on his bed and grabbed a book.  Jaws.  He opened it from the beginning and started to read it again.  On his desk is the October 2020 issue of Island Fisherman Magazine - Vancouver Island's Premiere Fishing Resource.

Dante had watched the movie as well but had made a phone call to Lydia and the rest of his foster family after because he noticed there was a short line at the phones. He was less devastated after those calls. He missed his family of course but the kids were silly and Lydia kept her part light. He didn’t feel the same agony of separation he did with Gen. So now he casually walked into Unit E and saw Gene’s feet as he seemed to be laying down reading a book. He poked his head in Gene’s doorway and saw he was reading Jaws and cracked up “Didn’t we just see it? You’re obsessed man...obsessed.” He noticed the fishing magazine “You fish? I had to learn during the fog...like gardening and other stuff.”

Gene looks over the book at the sound of laughter and Dante’s voice.  “Fuck you.”  he says, putting the book aside and pointing to the cylinder bolted to the floor that served as his desk chair.  Of course, everything was bolted down.  “Father O’Keeffe sent me the book and the magazine, just in time for me to read before I saw the movie again.”  he grins and nods.  “Yea man, I love fishing.  I used to pull pike out of the Ottawa for this Mohawk lady named Jamie.  She would cook it up with some corn soup and let me stay for dinner.  Bright times, man .. good food and bright times.”  he nods at the magazine.  “Father O’Keeffe says that I will be living in BC when I get out, so I should learn what I can catch here.”  he snorts.  “He talks like I’m getting out tomorrow half the time.”

Dante smiles “Be funny if you got out before me. And depressing...I guess either way one of us is going to be left here with Shaw and Ho. Jamie sounds cool. My foster family was celebrating Stone’s  birthday. He just turned 7…..little monkey boy. Gen actually bought him a present from us...some kinda lego race car thing. I probably would have just taken him to a movie but it was cool of her. Maybe he can finally sit still through one...he’s a bit hyperactive. Elle, his sister, is way more chill...like  little grown up sometimes. I think she saw something bad though….her dad killed her mom and their baby brother. Elle and Stone ran when their mom told them too. We’re all fosters for a reason. Mina’s parents died in the quake. She saw their bodies and it was bad. She’s 12 going on 16 right now I swear. I know I was like that but it’s kinda freaky to watch, especially on a girl who last year looked like a little girl.”

Gene snorts.  “Not likely, so cheer up.  I got arrested on July 8th and spent some time in the hospital.  During that time they cleaned me up and put me in front of the cameras and convicted me.  I came here July 14th, but was on C Block in my room the whole time except to drink my meals.  And then here on August 11th just like you.  I’d have to get out like a month before you just for us to serve the same time.”  he rolls his eyes.  “Shaw and Ho been here way longer than either of us.  They might get out before you, but I doubt it.  Me?  I know what the Padre and Natalie are saying, but I’m not holding my breath.  I’m probably better off here.”  he proclaims.  Then he smiles about Stone’s birthday, but it also fades.  “Well happy birthday little Stone.  But Jesus on Mina.  That had to be rough.”  he grimaces.  “Girls change a lot more than we do, man.  One day nothing and then .. hips and tits …”

Dante steps in now and sits on the end of the bed, pulling up his feet to rest on the edge. He was very comfortable with Gene, they had a brotherhood in many ways. He listened to Gene’s whole timeline and nodded along but then said “No one’s better off here but I get it...could be worse than here to...tried as adults….stuck with the A Holes or the D Bags...dead..” He laughs because dead or those two blocks could be a toss up. He smiles about Stone and nods about Mina “That’s exactly what happened and then the black eyeliner and the short short skirts and this move with her phone every time someone walks past…” He mines turning a phone over or clutching it to your body “I worry what she’s up to…..guys like Skelly finding their way to her…” Then he shrugs “I know your foster deal was a shit show but did you ever have any other kids you connected with before it all got bad?”

Gene nods when Dante gets it.  Then he winces about Mina.  “Oh, she doesn’t want anyone to see who she’s texting.”  he nods about guys like Skelly and then he thinks of past foster siblings.  “Yea .. sort of.  I know I say I figured out that fucking foster mothers made my life easier, but it wasn’t just me, you know?  It was all of us.  If I did her good .. made her cum as much as she wanted or whatever .. basically fucked her right .. she’d be in a good mood.  Maybe buy treats for the younger kids.  They were all like that.  Before the Laurent house .. the last one … the kids a little under me figured out what I was doing and if her mood got bad they’d ask me to … you know .. cheer her up.  I don’t think any of us knew it was wrong, but I damn sure told my little foster sisters never to be like our foster mothers.”

Dante frowns and rubs the back of his neck “That’s so fucked up….how do you not just hate sex now? I know that’s a weird question but when that was your intro...I can’t imagine. I mean I’m assuming you and Dani…” He breaks off realizing it might be too painful a question “Sorry….I just hate how you were used or put in that role Gene.”

Gene laughs.  “Well .. sex does feel good, so that helped a bit but yea …  I’m done with older women, I hope.  If I DO get released before I can apply for emancipation, I really hope the foster mother’s husband takes care of her .. or maybe they aren’t all freaks with husbands who can’t make them cum in BC.”  he considers.  “Dani … I don’t know … well, she was Indigenous too … that might have helped me.  But…”  he thinks about it.  “I think it was .. she made eyes at me first, you know.  And she was younger .. older than me, but not old enough to be MY mother.”  he snorts a little sadly.  “Maybe I am like that guy Gen’s friend likes.  A girl has to take me by the hand and let me know she wants me … but no strings attached.  Oh fuck if I know.  I guess I just want sex from a woman who doesn’t have the power to fuck up my whole life with one phone call or talk with her husband or a fucking social worker.”  he sighs, sitting up a bit more.  “But even with Dani … I was the only other Indigenous in our school, well one, but he was a fucking greasy drunk.  I wasn’t and she liked that .. so .. there’s another string.  How did you know Gen was ‘it’ for you?  Maybe love, or at least sex, just comes with a fuck ton of puppet strings for me.”

Dante takes in everything Gene is saying and nods “Well yeah it does feel good...that’s why we all do it…” He laughs a bit. “Nolan...that guy..I think he’s just shy and his family….well here’s where it gets messy. He’s Brett’s little brother. Gen seems ok with him and her friend Elise but I dunno...small towns. He’s not his brother. He keeps apologizing for Brett which is sad.” He sighs and looks wistful about Gen “We just knew….it was like being hit by lightning the second we touched. I mean I knew when I saw her...but more when we touched. And not like sex….that came later...not much later...but even just our hands. I’m coming off as some fucking cheeseball romantic I know...but just bam. I’ve never known anything like it, although I’m told it’s an Alexandra thing. Maybe we’re all cheeseball romantics.”

Gene arches his brows when he hears about Nolan.  “Oh, shit … the poor guy.  I get it, but … shit.”  He looks interested in how it went with him and Gen.  “Well, I’m not an Alexandrian, so their spirits could probably give a fuck less about me.  But it sounds nice … weird, but nice.  Then again …”  he motions to himself.  “You’re young and attractive.  I only used to be.”  he grins, as always careful not to show his snaggly teeth.  “I think the next foster mother I might try and get her to let me get a job … save up some money to get my mouth fixed, then go to Alexandra and see if I can get struck by lightning.”  he half teases, then realizes that the dentist in Alexandra is Gen’s father, which might get Dante thinking about Gen again.  “But by then I’ll be too old to get it up, so I should just be happy with my other talents .. and at least I know I have other talents.”

“Dude we’ll never be too old to get it up….don’t depress me.” Dante snickers “I plan to be a randy old man. Gen has no idea. Hopefully she can be my dirty old lady. ‘M sure we can find you one too…..we just need to get through this shit.” He kicks at the cinder block wall with his laceless shoe. “Besides you’re like a year older than me?” He snorts. “So what are you other talents aside from fishing and losing at cards?” He half teases.

Gene lights his hand to his mouth and laughs out loud at either one of them becoming a dirty old man.  “We’ll get through it.  So far we’ve been able to stay out of trouble, and that’s the first fucking step.”  he nods.  “Yea.  I’m 16 and not a bad fisherman, even if I do suck at cards.”  he snorts.  “I’m a great fuck, but I don’t want to do that anymore.  But also …”  he holds up a finger.  When I was 14, I had a neighbour who started teaching me to repair computers.  I even took part of an online course .. lied about my age and shit.  Fucked the money out of my foster mother to pay for it.  Almost got certified when her husband figured out she was doing me.  Dumb bitch called out the wrong name in bed when he finally took her and I was in another foster home before I could finish the course.  He told them I was stealing from them.”  he rolls his eyes.  “So I can repair computers now.  THAT might actually make me some legitimate money … if I can find someone willing to overlook that pesky attempted murder conviction.”

Dante scoffs “Pesky...well it clears at 18 at least or seals. Computer repair is huge. And again your fucked up life but even part of a course is a thing you can sell yourself with...not like that I mean like on a resume and shit. Mind you it would be funny to put prostitution, theif and shit like that down as skills. Can you imagine Ho’s resume? Actually let’s stop there or we’ll be sick.” He shudders.

Gene nods.  “Yea, so .. two years, I can be a real adult instead of whatever the fuck I’ve been the last four or five years.”  he grimaces about Ho and his record.  “Yea let’s not.”  he considers.  “See you have that sweet life, Dante.  You didn’t lose your job or your girl or your home.  When you get out of here, you can go back to school and when you hit 19 marry Gen and start that stereotypically Catholic family.  And I’m happy for you.  I envy it, but you give me something to aim for, if that makes any fucking sense.”

Dante looks self conscious “I never thought anyone would say those things about me…..I wasn’t always lucky. I’m not trying to show off, and I’ll never take anything for granted. Come with me Gene. I just feel like you might find your way on Alexandra too. I can’t explain why.”

Gene holds up his hand.  “I’m not trying to make you feel bad, man.  It’s nothing but truth.”  he considers.  “Alexandra sounds like a great place.  Of course if I can’t get out before I can be legally emancipated … and for a guy like me, that means by the time I’m 18 …  it means another foster home …  and that means … well … it just means you’d have to wait for me.  But you sold me on Alexandra.  If nothing else…”  he shrugs.  “The best friend I ever had comes from there.”  he snorts.  “Never thought I’d ever say that about a guy I met in juvie.”

Dante had been nodding along and grinning a bit but when Gene called him the best friend he’d ever had he felt a lump in his throat. He’d never had one of those before but yeah...Gene was. He gave him a cheesy grin and made a fist to bump Gene’s “Back atcha man. Let’s not get too mushy or they’ll be rumours.” He joked. But it was one of the nicest things he’d ever heard.

Gene fist bumped.  “Yea.  No need to advertise it.”  he agrees.  “Hey … Thanksgiving is in a couple weeks … you celebrate it?”  he wonders.

Dante chuckles “You want to ask me about Thanksgiving? I eat turkey and pie...although this year in here it might be some kinda turkey flavoured Clik loaf monstrosity. Maybe I can ask Lydia to mail us a pie….they’ll dig through it for shivs and we can salvage the remains.” He snorts.

Gene shrugs.  “In my heart I hate it.  Of course, I didn’t have a lot of choice in my foster homes, but also here…”  he motions around.  “I’ll celebrate just about any fucking thing.  Oh if Lydia could mail us a pie … no … that’s too much to hope for.  Maybe the Church will donate real turkey loaf?  Better than Clik but still not the real thing  Just .. some kind of real food?”

Dante smirks “For what it’s worth I'll ask about the pie. Seriously I still get excited when we get an orange in the food hall. I swear I’ve lost weight...not that I had any to lose. I still don’t get why they feed us the institutional slop. Who did we grow those veggies for? I haven’t seen a single pea or carrot unless they bowl the fuck out of them and that’s our flavourless stews. It would be so much cheaper to let us make real food. They don’t even need cooks...just rotate us on cooking. Maybe they’re scared we’ll poison one another.”

Gene nods.  You and me both .. real fruit.  And …” he holds his arms out.  “I KNOW I’ve lost weight.  I was already lean, but 6 weeks of liquid food .. shit you probably saw me when I came in here.  And I haven't gained any of it back, that’s for damn sure.”  he snorts.  “You’ve heard Shaw.  There's vegetables in the stew.  I still say the green is mold, but … hey if Shaw wants to feed us delusions about good food …  I won’t stop him.  It makes him happy.  Besides they probably have to by law …  meet our nutritional needs .. so they throw in one carrot and two dozen peas for the … how ever many of us fools are in here … and our nutritional needs are met.  Remember I drank my nutritional needs.  If they thought that was cheaper they’d give it to all of us.

Dante looks at Gene’s arm and holds out his own which is possibly skinnier because he’s a smaller guy. “You win on liquids...yuck. Yeah I know Shaw and his gourmet prison palate. But he also told me his favourite food is mac and cheese with wieners and ketchup. Talk about a waste of talent. There’s nutrition and there’s mental health...and fuck man eating real food is beter for all of that.”

Gene compares their arms.  He’s taller and a little broader but …. They're both too thin.  When Dante tells him that Shaw’s favorite dish is mac and cheese, wieners and ketchup he closes his eyes as if receiving horrible news.  “That boy …  just … Maybe being raised by the fucking French made me a food snob, but …. “  he sighs.  “Man I’d almost kill for some corn soup.  It’s like the only Mohawk food I can make, but it’s good shit.  Jamie makes it better than me but … and fried fish … man …”  he looks at Dante.  “Fuck it, if we’re gonna hurt ourselves …  what’s your favorite foods?”

Dante snorts “I support the French food snobbery after eating dinner at Gen’s house. That’s some good food.” He groans and puts a hand on his belly “Oh it is painful to think about. And that corn soup sounds fuckin awesome. I love corn, corn flour, tortillas, big buttery ears of corn….I make these things called Papusas that are like beans and cheese in a  pocket of corn flour. Sometimes meat but the black bean is my favourite. I like so many foods. Honestly just a really good pizza….and I’m not talking generic pizza place pizza but like doughy soft crust with sauce….good sauce. Lydia makes one from the garden tomatoes with just a bit of a kick….then all the mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, some peppers maybe, onion... basil….we had to sue goat cheese in the fog but we have mozza back now thank the gods. I love pizza. It’s probably my favourite food when it’s made right.” He sighs and leans back letting his head rest on the wall “Beautiful fucking agony.” He laughs.

Gene listens to the list of foods and groans.  “Us Indiginous and our corn.”  he laughs.  “I love fish …  I could live off of it and corn … and other vegetables.”  his eyes go wide at the description of the pizza sauce made from garden tomatoes.  “Oh my fucking god.  That pizza sounds amazing.”  he leans back also.  “Basically anything made with fresh ingredients and I am in heaven.  Fruits and vegetables … that goat cheese sounds really interesting.”  he looks like he is just realizing something.  “So you guys had to grow your own stuff, eh?  What about money?  I mean if Lydia had extra tomatoes did she like trade for flour or that goat cheese?”  he snorts.  “And what about sex?  You haven’t mentioned a kid yet .. or many kids.  Well, condoms can be good for a few years, but you weren't the only guy on the island, right?”  he is very curious about this island that vanished and reappeared.  “And what about unwanted pregnancies … were abortions a thing?”

Dante nods “Fish is good. I mean I’m an islander. We eat a lot of it. And yeah on the fresh thing. That’s why this place is such fucking hell for us. Seriousy I can live without the internet in my pocket...did for 3 years already….but the food thing...fuck.” He takes in all the questions “There was definitely barter but also just cooperation. People worked together pooled together. If you pitched in your family got rations of the stuff everyone had access to. Some things were a special treat. And eventually condoms did run out yeah. But humans gotta human. We were just careful. I never thought I’d ask girls so many questions about their periods...during the fog, you picked your times…..and if it wasn’t a safe time….you just didn’t fuck...I mean there’s other options. Although I don’t think I really got good at that until Gen….she told me what she wanted instead of letting me guess. I love that about her. And we still had a clinic, like a small hospital. I didn’t knock anyone up so I’m not really sure. But if someone wanted an abortion they could have gotten one there. Babies were born but it seems like a normal amount. People were careful like I said.”

Gene nods.  “Barter system. And … yea … I guess most guys fumble through sex for years.”  he shrugs.  “I had grown married women who knew what they wanted and told me exactly what to put where, when and how for how long.”  he sighs.  “Like I said I didn’t know it was wrong for the longest fucking time.  Anyway …”  he moves a bit.  “I’m really interested in this place.  It sounds … I mean.  I have years to get to a point where I can get there, but I’m fascinated by it.  Didn’t you say they cut themselves off from the ferry?  Like … all this shit on the news and not a word about the ferry being cut off any of the other islands.  Cause … well that would cut them off from the mainland.”

Dante nodded “We have this young kick ass mayor and he’s just on it...ya know. We had a little outbreak but we lost a few people and our clinic is small. They were slammed because at the time there was really just one doc and one main nurse…..I think they pulled in a few more nurse types during and now I heard they even have a second doc. He treated Brett..” Dante sneers a bit “Anyhow we coulda been hit really fucking hard but the cuttoff contained it. I’m just hoping they don’t have to do it again on my release day...Levi says he’s got other ways of getting me home if they do. I swear that guy’s like connected….to I dunno what but it’s feel bigger than a law firm you know? Just a hunch. Maybe I’m paranoid.”

Gene looks impressed.  “Well, they’ve been moving guys around here and the blocks are pretty small.  I heard P block is isolated because of the virus.  Couple of others, too.  We don’t even share their dining room, so I’m not too worried.  My guess is they figure we’re young and if we get it, we’ll just shake it off, no problem.”  he rolls his eyes.  “They got money.  That firm.  Maybe that’s it.  Natalie says she’s working on my case.  Talking to people …”  he purses his lips.  “That part sort of scares me.  I mean I can’t get in any more trouble than attempted murder, but I kept getting moved because of theft, which is what these guys told Social Services every time I got tossed out.  She just seems so confident in getting me out of here to some happily ever after …  my words, not hers.  I mean maybe she’s just optimistic?”

Dante grimaces “I figured it would get in here….but yeah easy to close us off. I mean hell if they slide that door shut and we skip showers they could isolate E block in less than a minute. Anyone can get it real bad though or die...not to be a fuckin downer.” He nods about the firm having money “Buy what they want….I guess.” He listens about Natalie and Gene’s case and smiles ruefully “Theft? Fuckin bastards. Take the hope….I dunno she’s kick ass. Maybe it’ll come true.”

Gene scoffs.  “Don’t give them any ideas.  We have toilets and sinks … so as far as they’re concerned we have all we need for basic hygiene.  Who needs showers?”  he grins.  “If she wants to buy my freedom, I have no problem with that.”  he jokes and nods.  “Theft, because ‘he’s screwing my wife because I won’t’ is too much a kick in the balls for them.  I told Natalie the truth, but I hope she doesn’t try and get them arrested for it.  I mean … I’d have to testify to all of it.  I wasn’t a rape victim .. or maybe I was ..  I don’t know but in a way it’s just as embarrassing for me as it is for them.”

Dante makes a face “Sink washing...we’d still stink pretty fast. And yeah take it man….after all the shit.” He sighs gravely “You probably don’t want to hear this but it was rape and exploittion of course. I mean you were underage and they were adults. And not only did they try it or let you but then they made it an exchange for basic stuff they should have been doing anyway….never mind when money got involved. Gene you got a shit deal, a real shit deal. Let Natalie nail them to the fuckin wall. Most people who foster do it because  they really care about kids and want to help the ones who don’t have anyone. Lydia told me she started with her best friend’s baby because her life fell apart and then she just had to keep going...i mean she had three bio kids too and a foster who became a son even though she never adopted him….guess that’s my deal too now. I mean who wants a 15 year old tattooed freak with a juvie record?” He laughs.

Gens sighs.  “I know.  I know.  Statutory rape, explotation of a minor and Natalie mentioned defrauding the government, too.  The men should have protected me, but instead they put all the blame on me and put me back in the system.  I know some people do it to help kids … I just never met any.  Closest has been you and your foster mom.”  he chuckles.  “I personally love your ink, but that’s me.  And you got a job tattooing, so that makes wearing ‘fuck life’ on your hands perfectly acceptable.  Plus … all of this goes away like it never happened the day we turn 18.”  he motions around his cell waving his hands like a magician.  “Clean slate.  Poof.”  he huffs again.  “Except we’ll always remember this and what got us here.  And so will anyone who digs deep enough into our past.  But I guess that’s OK … I can definitely get behind a new start in life.”

Dante nods “They should have protected you. I didn’t go through what you did but even with that stupid picture...everyone thinks a guy just wants it all the time right? So yeah...it’s never ok. I hope Natalie charges some of them. That firm didn’t put Gen on the stand….so think on that.” He smiles “Clean slate is what I look forward to. Even if I have a  job...I mean nothing’s forever right? What if I want to do something else 10 years in. I can’t imagine it now but people do.”

Gene shrugs.  “That’s not how adults work in my reality, Dante.  No one ever protected me.  And the women … yea … first it was touching and telling me how good that felt, then how good I could make them feel and then what I’d get if I did.  That’s all adults ever did.  When I couldn't do anything for them it was just the back of the hand ‘shut up you useless bastard’, and then I had something they wanted … the women at least … so I wasn’t so useless anymore.”  he sighs.  “The first adult to really stand up for me was Natalie.  Not even my court lawyer.  He just told me to sign the plea, so I signed the plea.”  he looks at Dante.  “You can have the tattoos removed, at least on your hands.  But maybe in 10 years no one will care if you’re inked up, as long as you can do the fucking job, you know?  I don’t have any ink, but I’ve known a few that did and the ink always means something.  Even if it saying ‘fuck life’ it has meaning.”  he shrugs.  “At least something meant enough for you to immortalize it on your body.”  he had no such thing.

Dante winces at Gene’s foster experience,as every piece he heard made it all the more horrible,  looks at his knuckles “Yeah….the meaning has changed since I did it. I had considered removal but I’ll keep them, at least for now. I did them after my mom died and I was super messed up.” He pulls up one sleeve and shows the poke tattoo with the heart around it and the name Selena. “That one’s for her...been meaning to add some roses….she loved roses. I grow them now in memory. Hope someone’s watering them while I’m here. You saw the one for Gen….and the birds I don’t know….I just wanted an escape...I can do a tattoo for you one day too Gene but properly not a prison one.”

Gene grins faintly as he learns the meaning of the other tattoos.  “That's incredible.”  he looks at the name.  “And I think it is interesting you put Gen’s on a tree.  Immovable.  The birds … well maybe its the mystic in me …  OK no just my thoughts.”  he chuckles.  “The birds might have been you looking for your freedom .. escape.”  he snorts.  “I can interpret people’s tattoos for a living.”  he looks surprised not only at the offer of a tattoo, but also at not wanting to do a prison variety.  “If I ever think of something I want on my body the rest of my life, like you did, I’ll definitely let you know.  Right now … I’m still a blank slate waiting.”  he leans back.  “I definitely don’t want it done here, even if I got flooded with brilliant ideas.  I’m one of those people who remembers where I was for what.  I’d always remember I got it in here.  That’d ruin it.”

Dante puts a hand absently to his chest where the other ones are and smiles “I like your interpretations. I tend to keep them covered up so no one asks since some are poke and technically we could in here. So far no requests from Shaw, Ho or the D Bags and they’ve all seen me in the shower. It’s a weird set up...the open showers, I always hate that….like a trough urinal….” He makes a face “Anyhow Mr. Blank Slate...you got time to think it over.”

Gene snorts and rolls his eyes.  “Well make sure you turn Ho down.  I’m just saying … They don’t exactly regularly test around here.  I only know I’m clean because of my little hospital stay.  They tested me for everything since they had me.  And as far as the open showers …”  he sighs.  “I know I don’t like being checked out by the guy passing me for the stall next to me and it’s happened.  I just give em a BIG smile and they move on.  The only upside to my teeth I can think of.”  he laughs a little, rubbing his finger under his nose and hiding his open mouth.  “Same at a trough urinal.”  he shrugs.  “I hate to sound religious but it’ll come to me .. the spirits guide me blah blah blah … Granted .. so far their guidance led me all the way across the country and right in here.”

Dante snorts “Oh don’t worry I’ll turn Ho down...for anything he asks me. I actually could care less if anyone checks me out as long as they leave me out of what they do with that. Not judging...but not interested.” He looks at Gene “So what’s the deal with your teeth….fights? Cavities? Just crooked?” Gene has been very good at keeping them hidden and now he’s bringing them up so he figures fair game to ask.

Gene nods in satisfaction.  Ho was having a lot of sex, so was super high rish, especially in a prison.  “Oh that fight that landed me in here was a knock down drag out.  He broke a bunch of my front teeth before he got in a lucky punch and broke my jaw.”  he snorts.  “I really lost it then.  Got him on the ground and just started swinging.  Broke his jaw too.  Broke his teeth AND knocked out three, plus a concussion and broken cheekbone before the cops for me off of him.”  he shrugs.  “Attempted murder…”

Dante nods in understanding “Pretty much similar to what I did to Brett..although Gen’s brother Sasha got a few hits in first so Brett was I dunno...I was very driven. Sorry about your injuries though. Do the broken teeth still hurt..like with hot or cold food and drink?”

Gene chuckles.  “Really?  How interesting.”  he muses.  “I broke his jaw on his left side and his cheek on the right.  I was just wailing on the ass hole.  And yea …  I was pretty driven, too.”  he sighs when asked about his teeth.  “Sometimes.” he admits.  “I mean here the food isn’t exactly too hot or hard, so that hasn’t been totally been tested.  But I learned to let my coffee cool and be careful about ice water, that’s for sure.  I better get used to it though, because it’s gonna be a while before it can get fixed.”

Dante can’t help but run his tongue over his own teeth. People talking about tooth stuff did that. “I’m amazed I have all mine. Just luck. And someday you’ll get it fixed and then then girls will just fall over in front of you begging for a smile.” He puts a hand on his heart and flutters his eyelids ridiculously.

Gene arches his brows.  “Even after three years without a dentist?”  he teases and then laughs at the idea of girls falling at his feet for a smile.  “Just a smile?  No kisses?  And there’s not a damn thing wrong with my tongue, ladies.”  he strikes a dramatic pose and lowers the hand he held over his mouth when he laughed.  “Maybe if she’s blind, I’d stand a better chance.”  he self deprecates.  “But I still have a decent body .. I think I’m like a very muscular starvation victim.”  he jokes, rolling his eyes.

Dante snorts “See you’re the whole package. Look out ladies..” He laughs and then kicks at Gene’s foot “Hey man let’s play some cards...can’t have you getting too overconfident now. War with two decks? Before Shaw comes in and begs for Go fish?” Cards was their go to for downtime now. They had less of it with school on but prison was all about making the time go by, serving time.

2020-09-28 - The End of The Road, nearly

On September 21st, Daisy Dale’s life with Joey changed forever. Two police officers showed up at her door and handcuffed Joey Piccolo as they arrested him for a long list of accused crimes; the rape and aggrivated assault of Alyssa Cavell, the attempted rape of Fiona Reinhardt, the attempted rape of Addison O’Brian, assaulting Noelle Peterson and the attempted abduction of Iris Page. Daisy almost fell over. These women were clearly setting up her Joey! He couldn’t have done all that! Thankfully Olivia wasn’t there to see him in handcuffs….but maybe that was all part of the plan. Social services had failed her on the inspection and they were now contacting her way too much wanting her to fill out little reports on her parenting and Olivia’s health, suggesting counselling and parenting classes? Oh please! And then Joey was gone….she could barely focus. She was at work on September 28th when she overheard her boss, Sherry Martin say “Joey’s out.” Like she was talking about the weather. Daisy asked to take her break right then and there and rushed to the police station.Who had posted his bail? She couldn’t. She saw him standing there collecting his personal belongings. “Who gave you the money?” Daisy asked in wonder. She was in her oldest jeans and a grey sweatshirt and white runners with her hair in a ponytail. Daisy had a hard time getting pretty these days since she was so sad about Joey.

Brooke Martin was sitting cross legged on one of the waiting area chairs but Daisy either hadn’t seen her or was too focussed on Joey. she was scrolling on her phone and cracking her chewing gum. Let Joey say it. It would be fun. Brooke was wearing a white dress that was really a large body bandaid with a cropped jean jacket over it and thigh high black boots. Her dyed blonde hair spilled all around her shoulders and she had bright red lipstick on.

Joey Piccolo stood, putting his personal effects back on his person.  There wasn’t much, really.  His wallet, which he only checked to make sure it had his monty still in it.  It did.  Then there were his keys.  House and van, but his van had been impounded as evidence, which was more than annoying.  He’d been sure he’d cleaned it out completely.  As he put them in his jeans pocket, Daisy suddenly barged in, demanding to know where he’d gotten the money  “Old friend.”  he replied casually.  “And they’re going to want me to pay them back.  I’m not sure how, but it wasn’t for nothin.”  he knew exactly how Brooke would want to be paid back and he would be more than happy to oblige her.

Now Brooke stands up and makes herself known to Daisy as she walks by Joey and pats his ass “You know how i like my payments Joey bunny.” She winks at Daisy “Nice of you to come say hello . He’s coming home with me. Actually ...he’s coming to the Olin….privacy...no parents and no little brats. You can keep the brat Daisy Dale…” And she sashays out the door.

Daisy looks stunned and then she stands there looking like she’s slowly beginning to boil like a whistling tea kettle. She huffs at Brooke a few times and as Brooke leaves she walks right up to Joey and winds up trying to slap him across the face if she can as she explodes on him “You lousy cheating motherfucker! How long has THIS been going on?!” One slap won’t be enough and she keeps advancing wildly swiping at Joey like she’s trying to possibly scratch his eyes out. Daisy is once again unhinged and it shows on her face. “You dumb fuck….she’s a fucking skank….you worthless piece of shit...I wish you were dead!” What am I going to tell our daughter you stupid asshole….”

As Daisy starts attacking Ryan Yamada jumps out from behind the counter and tries to restrain her “Miss Dale….Miss Dale...Daisy stop!” In the scuffle she manages to rake her claws down his face drawing blood “That’s enough already!”

Sam Wright comes out and physically restrains Daisy.  “Daisy … damn it!”  he can probably get her in a restraint and pull her away.  “Come on …” he begins to drag her further into the station.  “Yamada, your call on charges.”  he calls as Daisy is likely still screaming.

Joey can't help but grin when Brooke pats his ass.  Then that grin is smacked off of his face and he narrows his eyes.  He doesn’t give her what she deserves, not right there in the police station.  “I’ve been fucking Brooke for YEARS … since high school.  Right along with you and Noelle.  Brooke was just smart enough not to get knocked up and try to saddle me with a fuckin kid.”  Daisy keeps trying to assault him, but he opens the cop shop door.  “Tell her whatever you told her about all your other fucks, Daisy.  With mommy, they cum and then they go.”

Daisy does get restrained by Sam but she is literally kicking and screaming, not even with words after Joey’s last words to her but more like a wounded animal.

Ryan puts a hand to his face and then looks at the blood on his fingers after as Sam has Daisy and Joey is still talking to her. Then she’s just screaming and he looks sorry for her “No charges... should we call the clinic?” Her reaction is straying beyond a woman scorned. Something is off.

Chris Peterson was making himself scarce as Joey was being released and doing some photocopying so he could face the other way but as Daisy freaks out more and he sees Joey leaving he begins to move towards Sam holding onto Daisy and Ryan standing there with his phone ready to call. Both he and Noelle’s foster parent applications had just been approved.

Sam struggles a bit and then is forced to wrestle Daisy to the floor.  “Yea … call the clinic.”  he handcuffs Daisy.  He tries to get her up, but it’s no easy task.  “Darcy. Lets get her there.”

Chris makes the call and then backs out of the way unless they need another person. He watches but doesn’t intervene if he can do that.

Daisy goes limp and then flails and shrieks. Her hair is about half out of it’s ponytail and her eyes are wide and wild. She’s a small woman but full of adrenalin right now.

Darcy goes to Sam and reaches to grab Daisy by one arm and shoulder “Jesus….between us...Daisy, please let us help you. You need help.”

Daisy glares at Darcy and then tries to both kick and headbutt her.

Darcy dodges both and then pulls out her taser and tases Daisy to incapacitate her a bit “I’m sorry about this.”

Daisy screams and convulses but her agility and reflexes are affected enough to be hauled to her feet and half walked half dragged to a cruiser.

Chris looks pained at how this has to go “Shit…..”

Ryan also shakes his head sadly. No one liked it when they had to force someone into a mental health crisis so they could get them the help they needed. He stood with Chris as Daisy was taken out. “She’s a friend of Noelle’s? And you guys have Olivia right now? Her daughter?””

Chris nodded “It’s been a complicated friendship but yeah. I’m glad Noelle’s not seeing this. It would be really upsetting for her…..she’s so out of reach. And yeah. We’re hoping to foster Olivia. I don’t think she can go home to Daisy until she’s gotten some serious help, maybe medication even.”

Sam worked with Darcy to get Daisy into the cruiser and down the street.  He’d known Daisy for a log time and he’d never seen her like this.  It was a little frightening.

Mary met the cruiser at the door to the emergency room.  As she was brought in, Mary looked at Daisy.  “Daisy.  It’s Mary.  Do you remember me?”  it seemed a bit odd to ask to some, she suspected, as she lived two floors up, but Daisy appeared to be just that out of it.

Daisy has stopped lashing out but seems somewhat delirious. She looks at Mary like she doesn’t actually recognize her and shrinks away from her in fear “Get away from me you crazy bitch….” She tries to break free of the police but can’t until they’ve helped the clinic staff put her on a gurney. Then she struggles so much she rolls off the gurney and is on the floor.

Darcy sighs “I could tase her again but I hate to do it twice. I’m assuming you can sedate her Mary…”

Mary  gets that Daisy doesn’t recognise her and has stood while Daisy flopped to the floor.  She knows her limitations and at her height, weight and age, she has no business physically wrestling with the patient.  “Dr. Rogers, could you help us please.”  she knows Jasper is around, she just isn’t sure where and so she calls for him very generally.  “MIlo, I’ll need four pont restraints once she’s on the gurney.”  As she is giving the orders, Darcy offers to taser her again.  She looks up at her, sharply.  “You tased her?”  she snaps.  “That’s the worst thing you could do to her.”  she is usually a very mild mannered woman, but now she is clearly angry.  She snaps an order for a needle full of medication and looks at the officers again.  “Tazing can make a psychotic episode worse, never mind the barbarism of the act.”  she waits until they have her on the gurne, growling more to herself than to anyone.  “Portable electrocution.  Jesus Christ.”

Sam struggles with Daisy who has more energy than he ever thought possible.  He can hear the doctors dressing down but only world to get Daisy on the stretcher where he cna help get her in the 4 point restraints.

Daisy is thrashing on the floor and still delirious “Where am I? Get the fuck away from me...stop touching me!” She’s loud and other patients waiting are staring with concern. As she lifted back to the gurney and restrained she starts screaming her head off like she’s on fire “You’re hurting me…..fucking assholes!”

Milo works with Sam to get Daisy into restraints but looks like he hates doing it “I’m sorry Daisy. We’re not trying to hurt you.”

Jasper has heard the cry for help from Mary as he was down the hall and cranes to see what he’s approaching. With a sigh he comes over. He’s seen this before, many times. He waits out the patient, Daisy who he treated for another recent breakdown, until she’s restrained because flailing she’s likely to just break off the needle and that won’t help anyone. He nods at Mary and Milo. reaching casually for the needle Mary has already, and the police and tries to speak to Daisy in a low and clam voice, despite her screaming “Daisy, no one’s going to hurt you here. You’re safe. You’re in the clinic. Try to find your breath…” Jasper has a very even way of speaking. He’s talked down prisoners from suicide attempts and talked others down from violent episodes of all kinds.

Darcy looks at Mary with pursed lips and then looks down at the taser on her belt “I wasn’t trying to make her worse by tasing her. I didn’t know. She was attacking officers who were trying to help her.” She lets out a humble sigh and stays out of it unless they need her. Darcy is aware she’s done more harm than good and she’s feeling the discomfort of it.

Jasper overhears the taser conversation and gives the officer in question a sidelong look of disapproval “Well that might explain the delirium..” He looks back to Daisy who is now restrained and then puts his hand on her arm soothingly before he gives her the shot “Just a quick pinch. You’re safe. We’ll help you….”

Daisy, now restrained, is just sobbing now but she eases slightly as she spoken to calmly, until she sees the needle and her eyes go wide again “No! Get the fuck away!” But then within a few moments she’s becoming sedate, in a drugged artificial calm.

Darcy looks at Sam with guilt and remorse.

Mary lets Jasper take the needle from her and give Daisy the injection.  She double checks the injection site and sighs, moving some of the blonde hairs from Daisy’s face.  “Alright, Daisy.  I’m going to put you in Room 3 for a little bit and then we’’ll have a talk, okay.  I’m Dr Henry.  We’ve met before.  We’ll work through it again.”  she nods at Milo to take her into Room 3 and then looks at the cops once her patient is in the room.  “Tasing isn't usually effective with a psychotic episode.  It …”  she stops herself.  “I’m talking to the wrong people right now.  I’ll be stopping by to speak to that Chief of yours before this day is done.”  She is as small as Kaitlin Reinhardt, but can give a large presence and now she is.  Blowing out a breath, she looks at the officers, now a bit calmer.  “Tell me what happened, so I know in case Daisy can’t help herself right now.”

Sam blows out a breath.  “We don’t get a lot of mental health training Dr. Henry.”  he admits.  “Just the basics on restraining belligerent suspects.”  he glances at Darcy.  “Well, it seems she came in either to bail out her boyfriend, or because someone else bailed him out…”  he tells her what happened in the waiting area of the cop shop as Joey was being bailed out.

Mary sighs softly.  “I understand that.  You’re not unique.  And I understand there isn’t time enough to decide if you're dealing with someone who is mentally ill or not.  I just don’t care for portable electrocution devices.”  she takes another deep breath.  “Hopefully it isn’t too bad.”  she listens to Sam and sighs.  “Alright … I’ll also be calling Social Services.”  she informs them.  “Daisy will be here for a little bit.  Hopefully no more than a 48 or 72 hour hold before I can release her.  Involuntary, of course.”  she nods.  “If you will excuse me, I need to see to my patient.”  and she slips into Room 3, unless someone stops her.

Milo wheels the gurney into room 3 and sets up Daisy in the space. She’s very docile now from both the sedative and possibly from her own exhaustion after her episode. He putters around and starts her a chart.

Jasper followed Milo to room 3 with concern for the patient. The sedative was taking hold and she was now drifting in and out of sleep. He was already gloved up from attending to her earlier. He checks her vitals as Milo works around him. This was Daisy’s second mental health crisis. She wasn’t much older than his own children. Jasper looked sadly at her, hoping they could help her more effectively this time.

Darcy stayed quiet as Mary and Sam spoke now. She was thoughtful. She nodded a bit as Sam spoke. They hadn’t had a lot ot training but Darcy felt like she should have known better and she was processing a lot of shame. She had PTSD herself and panic attacks. As Mary walks off she starts for the door with a slump in her shoulders. As they get out the door she admits regretfully to Sam “I fucked up.”

Jasper was still in room 3 as Mary came in. He head jutted at Daisy “She may sleep for awhile. Did the cops tell you anything about what happened?”

Mary enters and takes this newest part of Daisy Dale’s history into her hand, taking a pen and beginning ot make notes.  She looks at Jasper.  “Apparently she came in upset because a man named Joey Piccolo had gotten out of jail on bond … that another woman paid.  Daisy attacked this Joey and the police tried to stop her.  She became hysterical and…”  she nods at Daisy on the gurney ties up arms and legs.  “I don’t remember anyone named Joey … The last time she as he it was upset over a man named Seamus and his new girlfriend.”  she sighs and looks at Jasper.  “Apparently this Joey is the father of her daughter.  And I called Social Services because she and the man she apparently moved in are not making a good home for the daughter.  She’s 3.  Daisy was pregnant at 15, had her at 16.  She told me the father … Joey … didn’t want the baby.  In any event … the child is possibly going to be removed from the home.”  she tried to sort this new information to fit the last visit.

Sam pats Darcy on the arm.  “You did what we are trained to do most of the time.”  he argues, knowing that Daisy is well known in town.  SHould they have known better to tase her when she was so upset?  “Come on, lets go on our patrol.  We can talk in the cruiser?”

Jasper listened with a frown to what Mary was unpacking about Daisy’s life and nodded along. His frown deepened at the information about the child and he looks at Daisy again, who’s now completely asleep “Does she know...I wonder….that she’s going to lose her daughter? I mean it sounds like there’s layers but that would make someone snap like that. I get that she’s responsible if they deemed her unfit. But if someone ever wanted to take my kids from me I’d probably lose it on someone too….”

Milo hangs the chart on the door and quietly slips out of the room. The doctors are deep in conversation and his tasks for now are completed in this room. He goes to other patients.

Darcy nods weakly at Sam and then gets in the car and leans her elbow on the passenger door letting her head rest in her hand after her seatbelt is on. “I should know better Sam…..I technically….I have a mental health condition myself.” She had never told Sam this directly though he may have guessed it at some point. “I have PTSD and panic attacks.”

Mary shakes her head.  “I don’t think so, but I’m not sure.  If she did know I can’t imagine her attacking the father of her child.  That would be the exact opposite of what she needs to do.  Then again ..”  she looks at the young lady.  “You would not, Jasper.  You’d listen to what needed to be done to KEEP your kids and make the changes to improve your home.”  she argues with him, but quietly with the sleeping patient in the room with them.

Sam shakes his head again.  “As much as we might tease about how this person is crazy or that person is crazy … we never know.”  he argues with her as he begins a slow circuit of the town.  “We only have official diagnosis on one or two and Daisy isn’t one of them.”

Jasper shrugs “Sometimes people do the opposite of what would make sense. And I know I wouldn’t defy a social worker and lose my kids but I’m also not struggling with a mental illness. Maybe she can’t….maybe she can’t parent her child or keep her home in order.” His voice is quiet too. “I know you’re the psychiatrist, not me so let me know how I can best support you in her care.”

Darcy gives Sam a small smile for getting it “She might be after today. Chris said she had something like this before right? For some reason that wasn’t on my radar. I don’t know why I just thought it was an extreme emotional reaction to Joey and whatever his deal is with Brooke Martin. Joey has been like this force of evil it seems, for everyone his life has touched….I feel sorry for Daisy if she is….for some reason in love with the guy. For some reason I thought she was all about Seamus though. Maybe she’s just a mess outside of either of them.”

Mary sighs.  “We’re working to make her a fit mother.”  she explains.  “But right now it looks like, oddly enough, if this Joey has broken up with her, that it could be a step in the right direction for her.  It’s looking like she may need some help being independent.  I’ve been getting from her that she tends to be very co-dependant with men.  She wants to be loved and cared for.”  she pauses.  “Well, let's make sure she is physically healthy.  I’ll have her here for a couple of days and then we can begin out-patient treatment.”  she sighs.  “Of course that was the plan the last time and she came to a session or two and then stopped.  Cured … you know how that can be…”  she looks at Daisy.  “It’s a hard road.  You can support me, by just being a friend.  Alexandra has been so … busy … since I came here.  It’s like playing catch-up, if that makes sense.”

Sam nods.  “I’m afraid she will be.  Daisy has always had extremes.  Did she fall for Vincent?  Hindsight being 20/20 he would have rejected her.  I don’t know how that went.  But … now we know.”  he shakes his head.  “She is a woman who needs a man … that’s sad to me, as a man.  Most men don’t want that, I don’t think.  I know I love how independent Kitty is.”  he blows out a frustrated breath and turns a corner.

Jasper nods slowly. Listening. “Everyone deserves to be loved but it sounds like maybe she was looking in the wrong places. And you can’t make someone love themselves rither. I guess that’s the codependent thing...they need to get that from elsewhere but it’s like an endless pit. We’ll do the best for her physical health for sure. And I’m happy to be a friend Mary. It totally makes sense. It’s been a whirlwind for me too….in very good ways...but a whirlwind. Managed to find time to fall madly in love….but friends are needed too. Life balance.” He laughs lightly and then looks at Daisy “I hope we can help her find hers.”

Darcy looks thoughtful “I don’t know if she fell for Vincent or it was just infatuation. He had groupies. It was almost laughable because he wasn’t the type to be seeking that attention at all. Daisy was sort of a ring leader from what I remember and then as soon as he met Fiona that was it.” She nods about Daisy needing a man “That can happen with women and women too...equally unappealing. No one wants to be someone’s world, just share theirs with them. Did you know Daisy’s mom at all...I mean I know she died but I don’t really remember much else….I seem to recall a bit of a reputation. She may not have had a good influence on how to be...with anyone.”

Mary smiles at Jasper.  “I saw you with your man walking near the beach.”  she tells him.  “You two look so sweet together.”  she looks at Daisy.  “I hope so too.  This is such a place of support …  she should have someone to help her out.”  she sighs softly.  “Of course, I want them all to have happily ever after, but some I am happy if they can just find a safe path to walk.”

Sam grins.  “I remember those days.  Only a few years ago, and now a wedding.”  He smiles brightly.  That smile fades a bit.  “It can happen in any relationship, I know.”  he turns another corner, making his way through the Bottoms.  Kinzie … was basically just like Daisy.  Got pregnant young, no father in the kids life, no real stability.  She worked at the Blue Door and had a lot of … well for lack of a better word, boyfriends.  A record of solicitation and not all of her boyfriends was gentle.  A lot of calls to her house when he hit her or she hit him.  Daisy always protected her mother and now she almost IS her mother.”  he sighs deeply.  “Olivia going to live with Chris and Noelle may be the only way she doesn’t turn into Daisy … break that cycle, you know.”

Jasper Can’t help but smile when Mary says he and Levi look sweet together and then his face turns serious again about Daisy and he nods along “Well you can lead her to the path...it’s up to her to walk it.” He sighs and then a health care aid called out loudly “Doctor Rogers, we need you in the ER!.” Jasper’s eyes lift to the vpice and he smiles “There’s my call. Take care Mary.” And he’s off to face whatever the day has in store next.

Darcy looks happy about the wedding “Yeah they’re excited. We all are.” She listens about Kinzie looking sad as Sam goes on. “It’s wrong that I want her kid taken away but if she can’t break the pattern someone does need to step in. And it seems like Chris and Noelle are basically already caring for her. It’s complicated though for Olivia…..if she’s placed with them but her bio mom is across the street. Maybe Daisy can at least get it together enough to be able to manage her own life.”

Chris jogged up to the daycare door and waited as the children started to file out, supervised by two of the workers to make sure they got to the right adults in their lives. The two he was collecting run at him like wild animals charging and almost made him lose his balance “Oooof...you two….Hi…..fun day?”

Blaze and Olivia delighted in charging at Chris and he scooped them both up, one on each hip. “Ok...Blaze said “Robbie stuck playdoh up his NOSE!”

Chris made a face “That’s not good. Did he get it out?”

Olivia smiled and nodded “He sneezed it…..all over…”

“Gross!” Chris exclaimed, feeling bad for daycare workers everywhere. “Blaze where’s your backpack dude?” Olivia had hers on.

“Uh oh!” Blaze wriggled until Chris put him down and ran back to one of the workers who took him back in until they returned with the backpack and Chris slid it on Blaze.

In the meantime Wendy Stanley was looking up her son’s nose “Robbie I swear you still have bits of blue up there.” She held a tissue to his face “Now blow….”

Iris and Katie passed Chris and the kids and Katie waved “Bye Livy...Bye Blaze!” Iris waved too and smiled as she took Katie’s hand.

There were still a few kids waiting for their grown ups as Chris began to walk with his crew. He had considered bringing the little wagon but figured they could walk. Of course he forgot how slow it was walking with two toddlers every time he skipped the wagon. They had to stop to pet at least 4 Brate cats, find the perfect stick, lose the perfect stick, console Blaze at the loss of the perfect stick while Olivia found a shiny beetle, convince Olivia to leave the beetle in the grass instead of making it a pet. She got so sad when they died in captivity after all. Finally looking still cheerful but a little harried, Chris herded the kids into the apartment and called out “Hello, we’re home!” 

The children came in like a stampede and threw their belongings in all directions like they were shedding.

Noelle was home preparing the kids a snack.  Enough for the two of them, since they usually had Olivia after day care.  “Welcome home!”  she called, perhaps a bit too cheerfully.  She moves to Chris and kisses him on the cheek, then pauses to whisper.  “Social workers are coming.  Or just one.  I don’t know.  What happened today?”  she tries to heep the anxiety out of her voice.  They’d already been approved … were they already going to get Olivia?  What had Daisy done this time?  She puts the snacks out and the kids can enjoy.

Chris hears Noelle’s tone and gives her a knowing look after leaning into her kiss and putting his arms around her. The kids are distracted by the snack and he whispers back “It’s ok…...Joey got bail….but it was Brooke who paid it. Daisy came to see him as it was happening and had another sort of break down after attacking him….and then the cops. She might be in the clinic for a bit on psyche watch.” He pulls back from whispering and kisses Noelle on the forehead knowing what he said was likely in now way a relief to anxiety. 

Blaze happily eats and hums a little song to himself as he crunches down a carrot.

Olivia tries to copy the song and the action, thinking it’s a game. Then of course it becomes a game of mirroring and gets very silly very quickly.

Noelle sighs and closes her eyes. “OH, Daisy…”  it’s a mixed thing.  She saw it coming … not the bail part but the heartbreak for Daisy part.  “Well they’ll be here any minute now.  I guess this means … Olivia is staying with us again?”  she leads Chris into the living room.  “We only have the two bedrooms Chris.  Are they young enough to share a bedroom?  I mean they do now, but that’s different, isn’t it?”  she is afraid maybe they can’t with just the two bedrooms.

Chris nods “Yes she’s staying for now...and who knows what the rules will be for Daisy or what she needs to get stable.” He gets led and his face reflects the same worry “I don’t know. You know my parents haven’t managed to sell their old house yet...maybe they’d rent it to us if the room thing is a deal breaker?” He looks thoughtful “We’ll ask Lisette….I mean with two kids as they grow...we outgrow this place pretty quick.”

Now Blaze and Olivia come to the trian bin and start taking out tracks and trains and setting themselves up to play.

Lisette heads up to the second floor of the apartment building where Chris and Noelle Peterson live.  She’s heard from her colleague that Daisy Dale failed her home visit inspection, but there were other things to worry about and she hoped this young couple was up to the challenge.  She pauses at their door and knocks.

Noelle bites her lip.  “Maybe they would.  It would definitely help.”  she looks at him.  “You'd miss Patrick, though.”  she teases a little when there is a knock on the door and she closes her eyes.  “That must be the social worker.”  she goes to open the door.  “Oh, come in Lisette.  I thought it would be the other one.  I’m sorry.  Please, come in and have a seat.”  she still got nervous of authority, even though they had never been called on her before.

Lisette smiles and comes in.  She can hear the kids in the dining area and turns towards the living room.  “Thank you and … our area is so small we usually share the cases.”  she sits.  “How are you two doing?”

Chris nods and then smirks “Not as much as Pat would miss me….” He chuckles. Of course he’d miss Patrick but he couldn’t not get in a jibe. He heard the knock and tensed a bit. He was sure they were fine but still the feeling of getting a visit from a social worker was uneasy. But he gave her a friendly greeting “Hi Lisette.” He smiled. Then he sat with Noelle ready to have the talk with Lisette. “We’re ok. Curious as to how things might go?” He just gets to it right away. “With Olivia.” He says her name a little quieter but she and Blaze are in their own little world now.

Blaze ran to his room and came back with a bucket of farm animals to add to their game. “There’s a cow on the track…..we have to save it…”

Olivia stopped her train in front of the cow “Are you ok cow?”

Noelle takes Chris’s hand.  She was also anxious to know how it would go, but could only sort of stare and squeeze Chris’s hand.

Lisette sits and blows out a breath.  “You know that Daisy is back in the clinic again for psychiatric evaluation.  Dr.  Henry called us to tell us what she knew.  And so, we have to put Olivia in foster care.  The doctor said she will probably be out within 72 hours, but ….”  she sighs.  “Given her home visit and living situation …  I think you may be keeping Olivia even after Daisy gets out of the clinic.”

Chris squeezes Noelle’s hand back and listens carefully to Lisette. He had expected some of it. “OK….we’re glad to of course. Is our living situation here acceptable? I mean we’ve both heard about the kids of different genders needing to have their own rooms…..we can work that out if we have to. Like today. I mean even if Noelle and I have to sleep in the living room a night or two…..but there’s a house we might be able to rent too….just probably not by tonight.” He sounds worried this may be a deal breaker.

Now the cow that was on the track is riding in a coal car….but there’s a bunch of pigs on the track that need to be rescued. Mostly vegan children playing with trains and farm animals…..

Noelle nods as Chris speaks.  “We’ve had Olivia over many times and she and Blaze just stayed in the same room….”  

LIsette smiles, trying to reassure them.  “For now it’s fine.  BUt if you could get her a room of her own as fast as possible, I know she’d benefit from it.”  she listens for the kids and leans forward a little.  “Right now we may consider this move a semi-permanent one.  You are foster parents AND Blaze is Olivia’s half-brother.  Now that you are married … the placement is about as ideal as it gets.” she informs them

Chris looks at Noelle and then Lisette and nods “Like I said, we can work that out. Semi permanent? OK…..” He exhales and squeezes Noelle’s hand glad for so many reasons now that they went ahead and got married sooner rather than later “It would be heartbreaking to separate them...for everyone. Sometimes I look at the two of them and see….well I’ma twin. I don’t know if you’ve met my brother, Patrick….but I know they're not twins but I see that….they way they’re so on the same page….aligned. I can’t explain it. I have that with my brother and I remember how it felt since we were kids. I love my sister too, don’t get me wrong. Just a unique connection.”

Olivia and Blaze add on to the game in all kinds of ways…..the cow is in the coal car. One of the pigs is clearly a conductor,,,,there’s a wagon full of chickens and they seem to be some sort of traveling choir. It’s a multilayered thing and they’re loving it.

Noelle smiles as Chris talks about his bond with Patrick.  “They are only a day apart.”  she explains.  “Less than 24 hours, actually.”  she sighs.  “If we can keep them together, it would be great for both of them.”

Lisette smiles.  “I don’t think I’ve met your twin, but it IS in the best interests to keep siblings together, if we can.  And in this case…”  she can hear Olivia and her brother laughing and playing together.  “I would recommend that they be kept together, since Blaze has a loving and stable home and so, when she is here, does Olivia.”

Chris looks at Noelle and then at Lisette and nods “She does, they do. And that will always be our goal. How do we handle it if Daisy wants visitation when she gets out? I mean….if she’s well enough, not well enough…” 

The chicken choir gets off the train at a station and now it’s a talent show with all the animals and the trains are the audience. The songs the kids come up with are made in the animal noises of course so it’s a little loud but they’re having so much fun. 

Noelle leans forward while the kids get a little louder.  That was just kids, she knew.  They probably didn’t even realise it.  She also wonders about things like visitation.

Lisette listens to Chris, just feeling happy that Olivia would have a good home to go to.  “There was an emergency hearing earlier this afternoon, because of the hospitalization of Daisy.  Right now the judge is giving custody of Olivia to you two.  After Daisy gets out of the hospital, she will be allowed three supervised visits a week until we can evaluate her home and her therapy to make sure that she is fit for Olivia to live with.  Those visits can be anywhere on the island and while either Tim or myself will be there, one or both of you are also allowed to be there.”  she pauses.  “Until we can ascertain Daisy’s fitness, I think Blaze should be kept from the visits, if at all possible.”

Chris leans in as well but the kids are a happy loud, which he figures should reflect well on their happy home. He and his brother and sister had been the same. He listens keenly about the hearing and nods along. “Maybe a neutral place would help Daisy be less defensive? Weather permitting….the playground maybe?” He looks between Noelle and Lisette “We can take turns with Blaze or even call in some babysitting. My parents love the kids. We’ve got Pat and Sajani right here in the building. They’re great with them. Maybe it should be both of us….I don’t want Daisy trying to ….well she has history with Noelle that might make her...I don’t know….Noelle what do you think?” He looks to her for her preference and perspective.

The kids get quieter as they decide to feed all the characters but the recipes are very interesting. Blaze feeds the chickens “They’re having carrots and apples...like stew.”

Olivia feeds the pigs “The pigs ate all the hummus...all of it…….Pig mouth smacking noises are made to illustrate this.

Noelle nods slowly, thinking.  “Yes, and right now she is probably more mad at you than me, Chris.”  she decides.  “She … just crumbled.  I don’t really understand it.”  she admits.

Lisette nods.  “Weather permitting.  The playground, the Ice Goddess and Earthcakes are probably the most kid friendly places in town.  And the latter two can be visited in all weather.”  she pauses.  “As long as Daisy keeps up with her therapy and house cleaning.  It’s also possible that getting Olivia back is contingent on her being able to live without a man in Olivia’s life.  Of course we can’t order anyone to stay out of a relationship, but it would help if the men weren’t exposed to Olivia … so to speak.”  she realized at the last second what that could sound like.  

Chris looks at Noelle with empathy. Her friend was unwell in a  way they couldn’t navigate easily. “I suspect you’re right. But I’ll take the brunt of it if it helps you two salvage anything someday.” Chris cringes at the word exposed and nods “It’s possible that’s a legitimate concern….so yeah. Maybe no overnight company when her kid is home should be a requirement. We’re here for Olivia….for as long as she needs us to be. Whatever that means….” 

2020-09-27 Katie Confined - Katie, Seamus. Iris, Colleen and John

Little Katie Reinhardt loved ducks. Her nickname from her daddy was Ducky so since then everything was coming up ducks. It was a family theme. She had been given toy ducks of all sized. The bathtub was a pond full of rubber duckies. Most of the books read to her were about ducks. Her favourite book was called Duck in the Truck about a duck who drives a truck that gets stuck in the muck. Katie loved rhyming books the most. All the animals have to work to help Duck. One day at the thrift store Katie found the perfect little red toy truck for Duck and she had the right sized little plastic duck to fit it at home already. All she had to do was hold it up and Daddy and Iris knew exactly why and bought it for her. But the key in her game was in finding some good muck. The garage was full of muck with the dusty floor but the piles kept blowing because it was a really windy day. Katie played endlessly while the grown ups were bringing in some of the outside stuff to put in a big storage cupboard they got recently for the end of summer things. Daddy and Iris and Grandma and Grandpa were back and forth working and cleaning up the yard. 

Katie played on and they would encourage her as they passed her from time to time. She was getting dirty knees but that was ok at this house. She crawled forward as she drove the truck to a dust pile closer to the cupboard but on a crack in the garage floor the little red truck bumped and Duck flew right out into the cupboard. Katie gasped. All the grown ups were outside now. Katie leaned into the storage cupboard but she couldn’t see Duck. So she took a step in so she could look further back. Just then a big gust of wind whipped the door shut behind her and it had a bit of a latch that caught as it closed. Katie was in the dark suddenly in the cupboard. Just like she’d been put in a dark closet when she was Ash. She pushed on the doors and they didn’t open. She began to hyperventilate and ponded on them and then began to cry and scream, terrified and triggered.

Iris had been raking at the far end of the front yard fighting the wind when she heard the beginning of crying. She couldn’t see Katie with her truck in the garage anymore. Had she fallen down? Then the screaming began and she called out to Seamus “Katie!” And started for the garage.

John Reinhardt was in the back yard now clearing deadfall from trees from around the firepit. The wind was louder back there and he couldn’t hear anything but the wind in his ears and the waves from the inlet behind him.

Colleen had been raking in the backyard and was currently behind the greenhouse.  She couldn’t hear much as she worked, but was closer.  It wounded a little like the wind screaming, and yet not.

Seamus was just off of the back porch, moving away some of the twigs that had littered the yard now that it was getting colder.  He’d considered raking but the wind made that impossible.  Then he heard crying.  He stopped and looked around.  He couldn’t see Katie at all, but he could hear her.  Iris called out Katie’s name and headed into the garage, and he looked around the yard.  She was nowhere to be seen.  Then he noticed the new storage cabinet rocking a little bit and headed in that direction.  The screaming grew louder … and more frantic.  He set his hand on the cabinet and it was moving, the sound coming out of it hysterical.  Katie was in there .. and they had already been told she was afraid of closets as they had been used as punishment.  Her mother and grandparents locked her in there.  Seamus knelt down and tried the door, but it was jammed .. it auto-latched on her.  He tugged harder.  “Katie.”  he called out.  “I’m going to get you out of there.  I promise.”  she sounded terrified and the sound cut into him.  He tightened his grip and lifted while yanking and the door popped open.

Katie sprang out into her Daddy’s arms like a scared animal and just wailed and wailed. He came to get her. No one ever had before. She attached to him like she’d never let go and clung.

Iris ran up as Seamus was fighting the door “Just break it!” She was a frantic as Seamus. Finally it opened and she watched Katie fly out into Seamus’s arms and she exhaled in relief. “Oh god sweetie...we’re so sorry that happened…” She hugged Katie’s back from the other side also hugging Seamus.

Seamus held onto Katie as if afraid someone would try and snatch her away.  Her crying was lond .. still ear piercing .. and her little body was shaking like crazy.  He hugged her and stroked her red hair.  “It’s OK, Katie.  Daddy’s here.”  then he felt Iris also hugging.  “Iris is here too, baby.  I’m sorry.  It’s OK now.”  he made a mental note to rip that lock out as soon as he could.  They could secure it with string through the handles or something.  Anything to make it not lock.  He held onto her.  “You’re safe now, Duckie  It’s OK.”  he had no idea how she’d wound up in thee with the door closed, but he kicked himself for not checking for a latch when they got the thing.

Katie slowly calmed with the comfort and finally while now sniffling revealed why she’d gone into the cupboard “I lost Duck.” She pointed at the cupboard and then cried a bit more at the sigh of it. “Duck from Truck.” They would know what she meant.

Iris kisses the back of Katie’s head and rubs her back as she steps away “I’ll find Duck…..why don’t you go inside with Daddy?” She didn’t want Katie to be out here looking at the cupboard.

John came sauntering in the back door looking for a garden hose extension and stopped short at the scene of Katie clearly upset “What happened Pumpkin?” He said kindly to her and then looked between Seamus and Iris worriedly.

Seamus understands immediately what happened and looks at Iris with gratitude.  “Iris will get Duck .. lets go in.”  his father approaches and he stands gracefully with Katie in his arms.  “SHe lost Duck and got locked in the cabinet.”  he tells him.  “I was thinking its cold anyway.  How about some of your magical hot chocolate, Dad?”

Colleen comes from behind the greenhouse in time to hear what happened and sees how terrified Katie is.  “Oh yes … some of that hot chocolate should make everything better.”  she agrees.  The weather is starting to feel like autumn and Katie hadn’t had the Reinhardt hot chocolate with hazelnut yet.  She loiters behind the men waiting on Iris.

Iris digs around a bit and holds up the found Duck and then shuts the cupboard and huffs at it like it chose to terrify Katie. She walks in behind Colleen “Yes chocolate. Any kind.”

Katie lays her head down on her Daddy’s shoulder and gets carried inside. All the grown ups were nice now and they helped her when she was scared. She was still shaken but curious about the chocolate.

John frowns “We can just wedge thos doors open….stupid cabinet. I will make lots of hot chocolate Katie….don’t you worry.” He sighs looking at Colleen and heads into the kitchen. He wished they could magically take away the trauma with hazelnut and chocolate but he knew his recipe wasn’t really that magic.

Seamus sort of dances around the kitchen a little bit.  He was still a little startled and shaky himself after her screaming.  “We’re getting grandpa’s hot chocolate.”  he dances around the room.  “And you get to know the recipe now.  Great family secret, Katie Duck.”

Colleen walks in with Iris and sees Seamus clowning it up.  “Oh my god, your terrible.”  she chides him.  She looks at Katie as her face appears and disappears as her father turns with her in his arms.  “Don’t let him talk you into giving you yours, Katie.  He will.”

John hams it up too for Katie and lists all kinds of ingredients that are not in the hot chocolate taking pinches from the air “Fairy dust…...frog spit……….the sneeze of a singing fish….” As he grabs the hazelnut syrup and warms the milk.

Iris laughs at them trying to cheer Katie up and hands her the Duck “Here you go Duckie.”

Katie giggles a little and then looks at Iris “Duck Truck?”

Iris grins and holds up a finger “I’ll go get it.” And she heads back to the garage.

Seamus looks at the pot … the hot chocolate was always made in a large pot .. almost a cauldron.  He continues to dance a bit with Katie, twirling until he gets to the counter before he plops her down on top of it, still holding her so she won’t fall.

Colleen huffs.  “I never cared for the frog spit, but you get used to it.”  she tells Katie.  “It’s the price you pay when you let BOYS do the cooking.”

John nods sagely at Colleen “It’s an acquired taste dear. Thank you for putting up with me.” He teases. Then in no time it’s ready and he’s ladeling it out in mugs. He adds 2 ice cubes to Katie’s mug and blows on it.

Iris comes back in and drives the truck up Seamus’s back and makes vroom sounds “Duck! We have the Truck...watch out for the muck!”

Katie swings her feet a little when she’s on the counter and smiles at her Grandma and then squeals and the truck being driven on Daddy’s back.

Seamus laughs a bit as the truck is driven up his back.  He turns and puts his arm around Iris and back on the counter, trapping her and keeping a secure hand on the ledge.  “Now I have you both.  Plus ducks … plus hot chocolate!  I am the richest man in the world!”  he proclaims.  He lets his hot chocolate cool before reaching for it, but looks at Katie and, just as his mother predicted, looks innocent and awfully pitiful.  “Can I have some?”  he blinks, knowing he will get called out by Iris and Colleen.

Colleen takes her mug and laughs at her son.  “Don’t do it, Katie.  You’ll spoil him and he’ll never go away.”  she smirks.

Iris just grins and is happy to be close to them both as Katie comes down from such a terrible moment. The chocolate game was funny and sweet.

Katie looks up at Daddy and nods. She was happy to share with him. “I want Daddy to never go away.” She says, maybe not getting the joke but feeling that.

John had been chuckling and was now a little misty eyed at Katie’s words to Seamus. He sniffed and sipped his own chocolate “Must be the steam affecting me.”

Seamus was touched by his daughters willingness to share.  He took her mug and only pretended to sip.  “Now I can never go away on you, Duckie.”  he told her and looked at his Dad with a nod and pulled Iris just a little closer in a hug.  “We’re family.”  He meant Iris as well.

Colleen sniffed a bit and sipped her own.  This little girl was magical for her son .. for the whole family, really.  She drank with them.  “Well then … now we’re out of the wind .. what would everyone like for dinner?  Katie?”  she asked her first always.

Katie beamed and gave her Daddy a sloppy little kiss on his cheek. Then she leaned over and gave one to Iris too. Her Grandma asked what she wanted for dinner and she gave an answer that was common for her “Macaroni!”

Iris snuggled in and sighed happily “Family.” She was very content in this one that had come to be because of Seamus and this little girl, their little girl really. Then Katie gives her a toddler kiss and she smiles “Thank you. Macaroni huh?” She looks at Seamus “I think she’s hooked.”

John chuckled and sipped at his hot chocolate. “Kid’s got good taste.”

Seamus smiles into the wet kiss.  Katie wants macaroni and Iris suggests she’s hooked.  “Thats my smart girl.”  he insists.  “What should we have in it?”  he asks.  “We’re drinking all of the hot chocolate, but we have to have something else a duck might like.”  he tickles her a little bit, just loving this family life.

Colleen grins, loving seeing Seamus like this.  And Katie was so happy with her father.  “We have some chicken and some pork.”  she announces.  “Plus some peas and spinach.”  she looks at Iris.  “You’re staying for dinner, right?”

John can’t resist a joke now “Katie….what’s a duck’s favourite food?” He pauses “Quackers!”

Katie forgets everything else and just chirps at Grandpa “Quack Quack Quack!”

John chirps back “Quack!”

Iris nods, laughing “Let’s do chicken and spinach…..I don’t think those two care. Yes I’ll stay. Let me text Paige so she knows she has our place for a few extra hours to herself with Sasha.” She smirks “I guarantee she won’t be sad.”

Seamus laughs at his daughter and John.  Now that Katie was more comfortable, he had a whole new generation to tell his jokes and puns to.  He nods at Iris and grins.  “Chicken and spinach it is …. “  he  looks towards the fridge and cabinet bringing out all he’ll need for his versatile macaroni dish … including crackers, which he ses on the counter with finaluty and a wink at Katie.

Colleen watches John and Katie laughing.  When Seamus sets the crackers down, presumably for a topping, she shakes her head and looks at Iris with a look of joking sympathy.

Iris takes  over holding onto Katie on the counter so she can stay there and be part of the cooking time. “You’re really going to put crackers?” She laughs “Could be a new favourite.”

“Quack Quack” Chirps Katie and smiles.

John looks pleased with himself that he’s had success amusing his granddaughter.

Seamus nods at Iris.  “Crumb topping.”  he tells her.  “It should brown up nicely, I think.  They don’t have salt, so everyone can have it.”  he looks at his Dad who right now does not look like he has the high blood pressure problem he used ot have.  Katie is good for him.  For all of them, really.

Colleen laughs.  “Probably will be.  But it’ll be worth it .. and new casserole recipe is always fun.”  she grins and looks around the kitchen.  “Do you need any help?”  he didn’t but she likes asking.

John looks like he’s thinking of sneaking off to work on his boat “I’ll do the dishes…” He offers and kisses Colleen on his way past her.

Iris smiles “I’m sure it will be delicious.” She plays with Katie and the duck and the truck on the counter.

Katie is content putting the duck in and out of the truck and alternating between “Vrooom vroom.” And “Quack quack!”

Seamus looks at his mother.  “Not if you have something you’d rather be doing.  You know .. having fun now that the kids can all themselves?  Maybe .. watch some show on television that doesn’t involve reality in any shape or form?”  he knows his mom is bombarded by health news.  It would be nice to watch something grown up that wasn’t Covid news.

Colleen laughs a little.  “I’ll try and find something …”  she smiles as John moves past and she herself heads into the living room as her son makes dinner for them.  In the living room she looks for and finds perfectly stupid, mindless television that has nothing to do with current events, but she also realizes that the people in the show aren’t social distancing and she finds herself annoyed at them.

Dinner was delicious and Katie approved. Iris stuck around to help with bedtime and read the Duck Truck book at least 5 times. As it seemed like Katie was out she snuck away and kissed Seamus goodbye at the door “Sadly I have an early morning or I’d stay…” She kissed him again tenderly but tiredly “I’m glad she’s ok now. I love you.”

John was in bed reading a novel with his reading glasses. He looked over at Colleen “See I’m wearing them again? Even reading..” He snickered “All the words.”

Seamus kisses her back.  “That’s alright.  It would be one of those nights where we just talk till late and fall asleep.”  they had had those nights together.  “And I’m glad too.  I love you .. and goodnight.”  he leans in for one last kiss goodnight.

Colleen chuckles.  “Every last one ..  I’m proud of you.”  she tells him.  “See, no one made you give up real paper books or anything.  ANd you can rad new books and not the ones you know every word of anyway.”  she giggles and lays down.  “What an afternoon.”  she sighs looking up at him from her pillow.

John gives Colleen a cheeky look at her teasing and then puts a bookmark in his book and sets it on his bedside table with his glasses on top. He rolls back to Colleen and half side lies with her and is hal on top of her “I know…..our little Katie. How could they do it? I keep trying to logic it out...how anyone could treat her that way…” He grits his teeth. He kisses Colleen and then settles in beside her. 

Seamus sees Iris off and heads back in the house, making sure everything that needs to be clean is clean, everything that needs to be off is off.  It sort of amuses him how domestic he’s become and he loves it, which is even stranger.  Finally he heads upstairs, checking in on Katie.  She’s asleep, with her favorite stuffed duck in an adorable choke hold.  He softly wishes his parents a good night and heads to bed himself.  The day had been emotionally exhausting, and he falls asleep pretty quickly once he gets a quick text from Iris saying she got safely home and is also heading to bed.

Colleen hugs John and whispers good night to Seamus when he wishes them a good night.  In John’s arms she falls asleep without them having any answer to the life Katie lived not so long ago as Ash.

Iris had ridden her bike home and was happily in her own bed. She always missed Seamus but sleep was also a godsend for her early day and she slept deeply.

In her room Katie is asleep. She’s in the safe room in the safe house with her Daddy and Iris and her Grandma and Grandpa. She’s curled up and hugging a plush duck. But in her dreams Monty is chasing her down a long hallway and at the end is the closet. No matter how fast she runs he’s right behind her yelling “Bad Ash….BAD BAD ASH!” And then she’s pushed in the closet and the door closes and locks and she starts to scream and scream and scream.

Seamus is so startled by the sudden scream that he literally flips out of bed.  Still disoriented, he  stumbles out of his bedroom in nothing but his sweatpants.  Entering Katie’s room, he plops on her bed and gathers her in his arms.  “Katie baby ..  Duckie .. it’s OK .. it’s a bad dream.”  he is awake now, but his heart is pounding like a drum.

Colleen starts awake when the screaming starts and gets up almost instinctively.  She hesitates at the door, seeing Seamus entering Katie’s room.  She looks at John with her hand near her throat as if trying to keep her heart in her chest.

John sits bolt upright at the screaming and is behind Colleen looking sticken. He puts a hand on her back and sighs at her.

Katie is unconsolable and just shakes and screams for awhile but eventually when she’s able to form worlds she wails “Iris! I want Iris!” She can’t stop crying to the point where she appears almost convulsive.

The door to Logan and Kurt’s apartment opens and Kurt pads into the main house walking quickly to the hallway by Katie’s room. He sees John and Colleen and can hear the little girl is still very frightened and looks deeply concerned “Is she going to be ok?” He whispers. He knew the whole story of how she was treated and it just made him feel sick. His own parents had been so loving and doting which was what shaped him as that persona. And the Reinhardts were full of love for their children too. He couldn’t imagine any other life for a child.

Seamus tries to console Katie, but it’s impossible.  Her crying doesn’t stop, or get better and in moments, he is afraid she might need medical attention.  “Alright …  alright Duckie.  I’ll call her and she’ll come over.”  he promises and tries to decide how to even make the call.  His phone is by his bed and he is with Katie.  It's not all that difficult a decision.  Picking his hysterical daughter up, he takes her into his bedroom, looking at Kurt and then his parents with a resigned look.  He goes in and sits on his bed, reaching for his phone which is on and charging on the bedside table.  Barely needing to look he finds her contact info and calls her.  That alone is strange.  Most of the time, he texts.

Iris’s phone rang beside her bed and it woke her because it was so unusual. She scrambled for her glasses and answered it noticing that it was 2:37 am. It was Seamus’s number and she sounded immediately concerned “Hello?!” But even before he responded she could hear Katie’s crying and it sounded awful. She was sleeping in a tank top and pajama pants and she started standing up to grab a sweatshirt. 

John heard Katie calling for Iris and saw Seamus go past with Katie. They used to own a car but it died during the fog and they had it towed and basically donated it as a parts collection to any needed farm vehicles that ran on biodiesel. “Someone needs to meet her if she’s coming back...” It was late and even though Alexandra was pretty safe John didn’t like the idea of a young lady like Iris walking alone to their house in the middle of the night.

Kurt piped up “I’ll go to her by bike.” He waited to see what happened with the phone call but he could be on a bike in no time as he slept in a t shirt and sweatpants. He just needed his helmet and flipflops.

Katie in the meantime was still a wreck. Almost fighting against Seamus as she cried so hard. She was past the point of reason kids get to when they’re both so tired and so upset.

Seamus heard Iris answer and he was relieved.  He had the presence of mind to turn on the speaker phone.  “Hey Iris.”  he tried to keep his voice calm, but Katie’s crying was getting to him.  She would not calm with him.  “Katie had a nightmare.  We didn’t mean to wake you, but could you talk to her?  It might help.”  part of him highly doubts it, but it’s worth a shot before he asks her to get dressed and come over, and that is sort of in his voice.  “Duck … Iris is on the phone.”  He holds it to make sure she can hear Iris, but she is a mess.  Shaking and crying and re and snotty.  It was scaring him more than a little.  He hasn’t heard a word his family has said for Katie’s crying in his ears.

Colleen nods absently at John.  The sound of Katie’s pain was drilling into her maternal instinct.  She steps into the hallway and can hear Seamus’s side of the conversation.  She knows what he is trying to do and already knows from experience that it isn’t likely to work.  Looking down the hall at Kurt, she nods.  “Get ready to go and get her, Kurt.”  He could bike but they might have to walk .. or more likely jog back.  She motions to John.  “Go make some more hot chocolate.  I think we’ll all need it even if she falls asleep as soon as Iris gets here.”  she orders the men to their tasks and she stands watch over Seamus and Katie.

John nods and goes right to the kitchen, glad to have something to do. He felt helpless. Poor Katie and Seamus. And Iris.

Kurt runs to grab his helmet and opens the garage door ready to hop onto his bike and ride. He’s holding the flip flops but creeps back up the stairs to listen and see if he needs to head out.

Iris is stricken but tries to speak soothingly to Katie through the phone “Hey Sweetie I’m right here. Katie it’s ok. You’re safe...”

For little Katie, hearing Iris without seeing her made it worse and she wailed “I want Iris! IRIS!” And then a whole new round of convulsive crying.

Iris exhales “Seamus! I can come back!” She sort of shouts hoping he can hear while trying to make sure it doesn’t sound angry at all.

Kurt is still listening and ready to go.

Seamus blows out a breath.  “Thank you, Iris.”  his voice shakes with gratitude.  Finally he turns and sees his mother hovering in his bedroom door.  “Mom, could someone go and get Iris, please.”  he nearly begs.  “We’ll go downstairs and wait for her, OK Duck?  Iris is on her way.”  he hopes that helps her a little.  Only hearing her voice made it much worse.

Colleen moves to the head of the stairs and calls down.  “Go, Kurt!”  and she waits in the hallway.  “I’ll get the couch all nice and comfy for you two, Seamus.”  she almost has to yell, Katie is screaming so loudly.

Kurt is out of the garage and pedalling fast the second he heard Colleen. He’s an avid cyclist so within minutes he’s made it to Iris. She’s also thought of biking and meets him with hers at her doorway. They ride back after a brief and stressed greeting and one of Kurt’s fastest hugs.

Katie is still crying and shaking but maybe from tiring herself a bit it’s not as actively loud. But it’s still non stop.

John is puttering in the kitchen with the large pot again. For the adults he also has out some stronger things to put in their hot chocolate and keeps the hazelnut on the side.

Iris drops her bike in the garage and runs inside, not even taking her shoes and helmet off as she runs to Katie and Seamus. She’s a sweaty franti mess and she hugs Katie from the other side “Hey Ducky...I’m here.”

Katie rolls to Iris and curls her body around her and keeps crying for a bit but is noticeably taking comfort.

Seamus doesn’t complain about any of it.  Not the shoes, none of it.  He literally hands Katie over and looks at Iris as if she is an angel come down to Earth.  “She had some kind of nightmare.  I don’t know what about.  I couldn’t make it better.”  he’s not so fussed about it now that someone could.

Colleen had come downstairs to sit with Seamus and smiles in relief when Iris comes in.  Katie is still crying, but it’s noticeably better than it was.

Iris rocks Katie a bit and talks to her quietly “Deep breath…..can you breathe with me Katie…..in…” She demonstrates.” And out…” She blows an exaggerated breath out. 

Eventually after two or three Katie looks up at her and copies her. Her body relaxes and the breathing helps her calm but with so much exertion after a minute or two she’s fast asleep on Iris.

Iris eases back into the couch and lets Katie lie across her, looking at Seamus and Colleen “Must have been some nightmare…” She whispers. With one hand she awkwardly tries to take off her bike helmet.

Kurt is now watching from the edge of the room and sighs in relief as Katie calms and sleeps.

John peeks over from the kitchen and whisper calls “Hot chocolate and booze if anyone wants...schnaps, peppermint or butter ripple…...is she down?” She looks it.

Seamus physically slumps into his part of the couch as Katie falls back to sleep.  He nods at Iris.  “Yea .. it must have been.  Maybe getting locked in that cabinet dredged something up for her?  No idea, but I’ll die a happy man if I never hear that again.”  he looks at his father.  “Peppermint for me, Dad please and thank you.”  he turns back to Iris.  “I cannot explain how much I love you right now.”  it’s both truth and the slightest joke.

Colleen places her hand on her chest.  “Thank you so much for coming over in the middle of the night.”  she had known Iris would, given how much she loved Seamus and Katie .. this just proved it even more.  “My god, I haven't heard anything like that before.”  she stands and moves to John.  “Butter ripple for me, please and I’ll bring Seamus and Iris theirs.”

Iris grins but understands why Seamus is saying it like that “I love you too...both of you.” she looks down at Katie “She’s like a little sack of potatoes now. She must be exhausted. Peppermint for me too please.” She looks at Colleen “ And I’ve never heard a child cry like that. Thea had all kinds of ear infections when she was little and even her worst was not this. This….I feel like this is trauma.” She smooths Katie’s hair lightly.

John makes up everyone’s hot chocolate and passes them to Colleen “Iris….this little girl needs you both.” He looks at Colleen as if he’s thinking of saying more.

Kurt fixed his own hot chocolate off to the side and then gave a bit of a sleepy wave heading back for his bed “Goodnight...I'm glad she’s ok now.”

Colleen takes the three mugs to the couch to serve Seamus and Iris, then nods at what John’s said.  “She does.”

Seamus sighs exhaustedly, closes his eyes and nods.  “What the actual fuck, Sam?”  he growls at no one in particular.  He takes his mug from his mother.  “Thanks …”  he murmurs and takes a sip.  He looks between his parents and then at Iris and finally at Katie.  He thinks he knows what his parents mean, and its a bit of a surprise,  He looks at Katie and as he speaks.  “Yea … “  he looks up at Iris and searches her face.  “She does…”

Iris takes her mug “Thanks. Night Kurt...thank you too…” She’s hearing them all and picking up a  vibe and her gaze settles on Seamus as he looks at her “What are you all saying? That I should move in?” She kind of laughs lightly but then looks down at Katie with such love that it’s clear her heart is being called to the idea.

John just chuckles “Oh you kids are slow…..Seamus...just ask her already. We’re encouraging it.”

Colleen rolls her eyes.  “Yes …  and here I thought your father could be a little slow sometimes.”  she laughs.

Seamus looks between Iris and Katie.  “Yes … I’d love for you to move in, and not JUST for Katie.”  he grins.  He leans in to kiss her softly.  “Move in with me, Iris.”  he encourages her, even while lazily giving his parents a cheeky middle finger for their comments.

John just sips his hot chocolate and silently chuckles, even with the finger given. Iris was one of them. It was time.

Iris nods and grins “OK I will...not just for Katie…” she giggles and kisses him back sweetly. They were really becoming a  family now, extending from his, into their own pocket within it.

Seamus kisses Iris back softly.  He was glad she was going to move in.  They were a family .. he, Katie and Iris.  For the first time, he realized he needed them both in his life, when he’d never thought he needed anyone.

Colleen watches them and moves over to John, putting an arm around his waist.  She sips her hot chocolate and watches them.

John slides his arm around Colleen and snuggles into her a bit “Now they got it.”

Iris cradles Katie to her with one arm and slides her other hand up the side of Seamus’s face “I can move in after work tomorrow. I’ll leave Paige my bed and dresser in case she has a guest or one of our sisters wants to sleep over. Basically it’s just my clothes and some bathroom stuff. Then I’ll be here.”

Seamus nuzzles into her hand a little.  “Okay…”  he replies, softly.  He moves then, leaning over to get her mug and hands it to her.  “I’ll have space ready for you.”  Then he gets his own and sips it, looking down at Katie sleeping so peacefully it was almost hard to imagine her as she was less than half an hour ago.  “I need to talk to her therapist tomorrow about all of this.”  he finally murmurs.

Colleen smiles at the decision and nods about the therapist.  “Yes … I thought we’d done all we could taking off the closet doors, but … obviously we didn’t move fast enough on that cabinet.”

Iris nods “I mean I would think two parents are what a therapist would approve of...I mean not that I’m saying I’m her mo…..” She broke off and smiled “I do want to be….”

John nods at Colleen and then listens to Iris “You can be a mother to a  child you didn’t give birth to Iris.” He looks around the house “This whole place is going to be open concept….we can take all the doors and cupboards off everything if it helps that never happen again.

Colleen grins at Iris.  “It’s good that you want to be, because it seems you’ve been chosen for the role.”  she looks around also.  “She seems alright with larger rooms, John.  It’s smaller spaces.  She’s claustrophobic.”  she sighs deeply.

Seamus looks at Iris.  “You are her mom, as far as I am concerned.”  he tells her.  Nodding at Katie he adds.  “Her too, I think.  We’ll run the title past her.  But I meant just telling the therapist about yesterday and the nightmares.”  he blows out a breath and sips his chocolate, repeating what he said earlier.  “What the actual fuck, Sam.”  he shakes his head.  He’s tried to just be happy that Katie wasn’t with Sam and her family anymore.

Iris nods “I wasn’t making it about me...and thank you. I just figure more support might help. But yeah maybe they have some ways to get her to talk about the nightmare so it can be something she lets go. I mean at her age it’s hard because she can’t articulate it all. I’m not excusing Sam...but if her parents were the people behind locking Katie in a closet maybe they did it to her too and she grew up thinking it was some sort of fucked up normal.”

Now John snarls “Not buying that totally…..but it can go either way. My old man tried to show me that beating your wife and kids was normal and I’ve never laid a hand on any of mine…...Sam could have made a different choice.” He realizes he’s blurted out something Iris might not know and it’s personal so then he retreats a bit into his hot chocolate.

Iris inhales “I’m sorry John...I didn’t mean…..I’m just trying to understand it…”

Colleen uses her free hand to massage John’s shoulders.  “It’s hard to understand and it seems we’ll never know.  We never really knew Sam.”  she admits.

Seamus sighs.  “Maybe Sam thought it was normal, but I find that hard to believe just because we had all kinds of kids not being abused.  I don’t know.  She could have made different choices … I think I’d better be happy those choices didn’t include abortion … or really even adoption snce if that had happened I never would have known Katie even existed.  All I can do now is give her the best life I can and I think I’m doing that.  Great grandparents, family.”  he looks at Iris with a wink.  “Mother.”

John nods and presses into the comfort of Colleen’s massaging hand. He didn’t shut her out anymore. “We didn’t. But we’ll know Katie and she can break the pattern too.”

Iris listens and nods “I’m very thankful of all her choices, Katie is here now and you got to have her come into your life …all our lives” she smiles “I’ll do my best to be her mom.” She gets teary eyed at the word. She never knew she wanted a child...not like this. She never knew she wanted Seamus either but it seemed the universe knew...or Alexandra did.