| Disclaimers: you guessed it I still don’t own them
Spoilers: Season 5 A/N: thanks for the reviews. Ones past is what make one who they are. Who has the right to say how they will fell or how they should feel and act. Chapter 4: I’m Tessa “She is only nine years old. I can never understand why or how someone could do that to a child.” The woman looked in the hospital room, then to the police officers standing next to her. The little girl who lay was so thin. She had bruises all covering her arms and face. There was a young man sitting next to her bed holding her hand. The woman shook her head and walked into the room. “Are you a social worker?” The young man asked looking up. “Yes I am. My name is Ann, and you are?” “My name is Alex. This is my sister Tessa. I did not know things were this bad or I would have taken her away before now.” “Tell me what happened, the whole story. It is the only way to help her.” Ann pulled up a chair and sat next to Alex. “Our father has always been tough on all of us. He would put my mother down all the time.” Alex stopped and thought about his father. “He would be hard on me with school and sports. But what fathers aren’t.” Alex looked up at Tessa and gave her painful smile. “With Tessa, I don’t know when it all started.” shaking his head Alex continued. “He wouldn’t let her eat sometimes. I know once she was not allowed to eat for a couple days.” Ann looked at him in disbelief. “Is that all he did to her?” “No…He would beat her with is belt. She would get locked into her room. I am sure there is more, but what I saw tonight changed everything.” “What was it that was so this time?” Ann asked. Some where in the back of her mind she knew what was coming. “You see we share a bathroom. I walked through it to go to her room. I always check on her before I go to bed. I always did from the day she was born. I could hear her crying. I thought she was having a nightmare and I peeked in. He was……he” Alex started to cry. “I had to take her away from them. If my dad could do all this and my mom just looked the other way.” Alex shook his head. He wanted the image of what he saw to go away. “I don’t want to lose my sister, but she needs to be some where safe.” “Thank you for telling me this, but you need to go repeat it to the police. They are standing outside. I’ll stay here with her.” Ann gave a reassuring smile to Alex. “Alex?” Tessa whispered as she steered in bed. “Where am I?” Tessa looked around and saw Alex and Ann. “Who is she?” Alex stood up so Tessa would not have to turn her head so far. “Hey sleepy head.” Alex smiled at Tessa. “This is Ann. You need to tell her about what dad did. I will be out in the hall. I’ll be back soon, it’ll be ok.” Tessa watched has her brother walked to the door. He turned to her and smiled then walked out of the room. “Tessa?” It never got easier for Ann. Every child had their own story. Sometimes Ann would go home and cry for the child. Ann had a feeling that this would be one of those times. “Tessa, can you tell me what happened?” “When?” Tessa did not know what to tell Ann. So many things have happened. She was so scared that her parents were going to come in and take her home. “When is Alex coming back?” Tessa started to cry. She was so scared and she wanted her big brother. He has always looked after when he was home. “He will be back soon.” Ann’s heart was breaking for this little girl. “Tessa, tell me about your father.” Tessa started to get more upset with the mention of her father. “Daddy doesn’t love me. He told me he didn’t.” Tessa whipped her eyes. “Daddy isn’t coming is he?” “No, honey he is not coming. You don’t have to be scared of him anymore.” -^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^- “She is a sweet and smart little girl.” Ann smiled at the couple. “Her brother asked that he can keep in contact with her. I normally would not agree, but he has helped her so much through all this. Her parents have both lost custody of her.” Ann looked at them and smiled. “I will go get her.” Ann walked out the Social Services’ waiting room. “I don’t know about this Beth. Are you sure we can handle this? She has had a bad life. I don’t if we can handle a child with emotional issues and our bed and breakfast.” “Jim it will be fine. I know it. Something just tells me that.” Beth hugged he husband. Before he could answer her the door opened and Ann stepped in with the little girl. She was carrying a teddy bear in one hand and book in the other. “Hi my name is Jim and this is my wife Beth.” Jim fell in love with the little girl straight away. “Would you like to come live with us?” “Jim….” Beth touched his shoulder. She could see the little girl was scared of her husband. Beth smiled at the girl. “It is ok sweetheart, we won’t hurt you. Can you tell me your name?” Beth already knew what her name was but she wanted anyway to connect with the little girl. “I’m Tessa.” “Tessa why don’t you go get your suit case while I talk to Mr. and Mrs. Sidle.” Ann looked down at Tessa. “She can call us Beth and Jim.” Beth jumped in before Tessa walked out. That was the day that Beth and Jim would never forget. A day that was a new chapter in their life. They were going from not having a child to having a nine year old girl. Soon she would be their daughter, and they would have her name changed to protect her from her birth parents. TBC…. For reviews please fell free to email me at mel.olle@gmail.com |