3.

The next day I returned to the Children's Ward promptly at nine, this time with Bhask.

"Bhask!" Ayasha jumped up from her bed and held her arms out to him. I left them while I went to speak to Spinning Webs.

"The test results are much improved," he said, reading off the screen and printing them out. I was waiting for him to say 'It's amazing what a night in care can do', as I collected my copies. "I have been advised you have commenced legal proceedings to regain custody of Ayasha."

I nodded warily. I wished they weren't holding Yash hostage so I could speak freely.

"I have asked for the matter to be expedited with all possible efficiency," he said briskly.

I stared at him, stunned. He was helping? He was helping: we would have her back sooner this way.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"You understand she will have to stay here until the magistrate delivers his findings?"

I nodded.

"You are free to visit any time you wish, of course, throughout the process."

"And Bhask?"

"Sorry?"

"Her brother. He can visit too? And her father? And…"

He frowned, and I sensed I was pushing him too far.

"Immediate family only. No more than two at a time."

"Fine. Thank you."

He showed me to the door, and I held out my hand.

"Really, thank you," I said quietly, looking sincerely into his eyes. He managed a small smile, almost a scared smile, and I left him to his neat office and went to find Yash and Bhask.

I could hear them talking from the corridor. I slowed and listened outside the door.

"I don't like it here. I want to go home"

"And we're gonna get you home. We're working on it right now. Meanwhile, I'll give you a few tips, ok? You gotta know what these people want. No screaming. No biting. Minimum of wriggling. Lots of smiling. You draw pictures, ok? Draw pictures of what they want. Happy families. Lots of happy stuff. That way they'll be happy with you. That'll help us get you out."

"What if they won't ever let me out?"

"Then I'm going to come round to that window in the middle of the night and sneak in and steal you away."

I could hear the grin in her voice.

"Will Daddy come too?"

"Sure, I'll need him to give me a boost to the window sill, won't I?"

"I miss Daddy. When's Daddy going to come?"

"Ah. Daddy really wants to come and see you but, well, you can't tell anyone? Mum got really angry with him when she found out he let them take you."

"Really angry?"

"She hit him."

"No!" she gasped, "Mummy?"

"Yeah, we were all pretty upset."

"Poor Daddy!"

"Yeah, he's a bit sad at the moment. See, if he came now, they'd see he'd been hit, and they'd think he was a violent human. They wouldn't let him take you home."

"Is Mummy still angry at him?"

"Uh, kinda. She's really not happy with you being here."

"I'm not happy here either."

"No one's happy about it. That's why we're going to get you out real soon. Meanwhile: lots of happy pictures!"

"Got it."

***

Though the scenes replayed in my mind, I only told Jackson the pertinent details. I didn't tell him about the note. I didn't tell him how Alex read it silently then handed it to me as he walked away. What I read finally broke my anti-Alex shield.

Halo dadde

ets ayassa her I mess u.

Bask sed u karnt kum and se me

I dast wont to sai I luv u and don be sad

becos I no mumme luvs u to

efen ef se es to angre to sai it nau.

yor malsa

Aya

I followed him to Ayasha's room. He was kneeling by her bed, his fists grinding into her doona. He looked up as I paused in the doorway and wiped his face on his shoulder, hiding his desolation anew under guardedness, as if waiting for me to hurt him again.

I couldn't find the words to tell him what I wanted to say, and just kept hovering by the doorway, gazing at his heartbroken, bruised face. Finally he looked away and his movement broke the spell, letting me come over and kneel beside him, holding him tight, struggling to get air past the pain engulfing my chest. He let his head rest against mine, and slowly, his arms found me too. And finally I had my anchor in our sea of grief.