Trials and Tribulations (30dayfic challenge)

by holygirl84

Summary: Written as part of the 30 day fic Tumblr challenge, where you get a new prompt each day you have to incoporate. For now, it start Jessica having to testify against her father at trial. Steve and Danny support her through it. Who knows where it will go. Part of the HOME series.

1. Time

Time

"Danny! Jessica!" Steve yells from the bottom of the stairs. "Come on, it's time to go!" He glances in the mirror and straightens his tie, trying not to feel irritable. He's hot already, it's easily 100 degrees outside and he's wearing his dress blues, as he has every day this week. He swallows a tone of impatience; they're already running late. "Let's go!"

Danny comes down the stairs first, pulling Steve into the living. "Relax, would you? Jessica's changing, she'll be down soon."

"Changing? What was wrong with the first outfit she was wearing? It looked fine." Steve hisses, trying to keep his tone down for Jessica's sake.

"It was," Danny concedes. "Until she threw up all over it." Danny's running his hands up and down Steve's arm, soothing his impatience.

Steve pinches the bridge of his nose as he sighs, leaning into Danny's touch. "I'm screwing this all up, aren't I?"

"Go easy on yourself, babe. Jessica's testifying against her father today; we're all a little on edge."

"Yeah," Steve sighs. He turns as he hears footsteps; Jessica making her way downstairs. She's got a new outfit on, a sundress with a sweater that comes to her elbows. She looks pale as she reaches the bottom landing and pauses and once again Steve's filled with an overwhelming anger that her youth been cut so short by the horrible events of her father. "You ok Jessie?" he asks, keeping his voice soft. He wants to pull her into his arms and hold her, reassure her that her father will never have the chance to touch her again. He doesn't though, knows touch still causes anxiety for Jessica and god knows she has enough of that already to deal with today. Instead he stays on the other side of the room, giving her space, making sure she doesn't feel trapped. "I didn't mean to yell at you." He wants to apologize for making such a mess of everything, for not being a better father, but this is the best that he can do.

Jessica nods, but doesn't say anything and Steve hates himself even more. Danny knows though, Danny always knows and he runs his hand down Steve's back before he moves towards the door.

"Ready to go babe?" Danny asks her, as if she has a choice in this. "Let's get this over with, huh?"