Reunion
Chapter 9-Miller
Miller and his wife Courtney walked into the hotel, completely unaware of what was happening with the Slattery family. They were going to enjoy a long weekend that would also be something of a second honeymoon. After having five kids and building a successful psychiatry practice, a weekend away was very much needed and appreciated. Their five kids were staying with Miller's mother Barbara in Iowa and would undoubtably be spoiled rotten.
As Courtney checked them in, Miller focused on two young women sitting on a sofa, talking to another older woman. Miller immediately recognized that the older woman was a detective, given the gun on her right hip and the badge on her left. As he focused in, the dark-haired younger woman also appeared to be a cop but the other woman, appearing to be in her early thirties, appeared to be very upset.
"Hey, babe, I'm gonna go back on those women. The blonde is crying really hard." Miller said as he walked away before Courtney could answer. As he approached them, he pulled a business card out of his wallet, so they didn't think he was some sort of creep. "Excuse me, my name is Dr. Eric Miller. I'm a psychiatrist. Is everything alright?" Miller asked as he pulled his handkerchief out of his suit pocket and handed it to the young woman who was crying.
"This is my sister Katie. She's…just given a statement in regards to a continual sexual assault that has occurred over several years. She's…having a bit of a hard time." The dark-haired woman commented. It struck Miller as odd, that the sister of a cop would be sexually assaulted over several years, but that was really not his business. Something was familiar about the two young women, but he couldn't figure out what.
"I see. Well, Miss…I specialize with veteran's with PTSD, but there's my card. I am here all weekend for the Nathan James reunion, if you need anything at all, don't hesitate. I have some contacts here in St. Louis, I can see if I can make a recommendation for you to speak with someone here that specializes in these cases?" Miller suggested. He had made eye contact with the detective and she nodded in agreement.
"If not, we have peer groups that I can put you in touch with. I am not doubting in the least that this has occurred, Miss Slattery, and I will write it up and send it up. I just am not sure where it will go." The detective stated. Miller must have paled when he heard the last name. Could it be Mike Slattery's lost children? He had seen pictures of them over the years, but a lot of years had passed.
"I am working on talking her into moving to Texas where our dad lives. I think it would be a good change." The dark-haired girl commented. She had her arm around Katie and was gently rocking her back and forth.
"If that happens, make sure I have good contact information for you all. Are you planning on moving there too, Hannah?" The detective asked the dark-haired woman.
"I'd like to. We've only just found our dad. I think we need to be together there, and we have a stepmom and three younger siblings to get to know. They apparently have lots of room too." Hannah explained.
"I will keep my mouth shut and not tell your sergeant. The brass will not be thrilled if they lose you, but I completely understand. I'll call you and let you know what I find out. Katie, he's in jail and will be for awhile on the fraud and embezzlement warrants. You are safe but going to Texas with your family maybe a good idea. He's beat and raped you for years; and now that you've spoke up; I don't know how safe you'll be." The detective stated and Katie finally nodded in understanding.
"Wouldn't it be like I was running from my problems, though?" Katie asked. Miller wasn't sure who she was addressing, but jumped in.
"No. If you have family that will look out for you and take care of you, you need that. There is nothing wrong with taking a breather after a situation like this. It has apparently gone on for years and you may need a change of scene so you can sort out how you feel about what happened to you. If you went back to the same environment in which the incident occurred, you could relive it. I think you are probably a very strong person to endure that and I think you can survive this." Miller stated.
"Which might mean that instead of taking care of everyone else, you let yourself be taken care of." The dark-haired woman commented.
"I just hate to imposition Dad or Susan." Katie answered.
"Okay, dumb question; is your dad Mike Slattery?" Miller finally asked.
"Yes." The dark-haired one stated. What was her name, Hannah? Miller remembered Mike talking about her some.
"Oh wow. I bet your dad is a happy man right now. He has missed you two so much." Miller remarked.
"We haven't had much of an opportunity to catch up. Katie is a workaholic." Hannah said with a smile.
"I'm really behind now." Katie answered as she stood up. Despite having a tear-stained face, Miller could feel an aura of strength about her. Both Hannah and the detective also stood up and Miller knew that the little group was going to break up. It occurred to him that Mike might also need to speak with someone about what his girls had been through. While he and Courtney had hoped for a second honeymoon, work called.
"It was nice to meet the both of you and if you need anything at all, don't hesitate to call. Your dad has done a lot for me." Miller stated before shaking both of their hands and rejoining Courtney. Katie had walked towards the banquet hall and Hannah was talking with the detective.
"Who was that?" Courtney asked as she handed him his room key.
"Mike Slattery's daughters." Miller answered. Courtney had a shocked look on her face.
"I thought they were presumed dead. I wonder if he knows?" Courtney asked.
"They were and I would assume so. I know I promised you a nice dinner out, but would you care if I checked on Mike and Susan? I'm sure news like this can be very disconcerting even though its happy news." Miller asked.
"Of course. I would expect nothing less. You can check on them while I get ready. It always takes me longer." Courtney said as they began the journey to their room. Sasha had reserved an entire bank of rooms for them and while Mike and Susan had a suite of rooms to house themselves, their kids and their Secret Service agents; Miller's room was on the same floor.
"You're the best." Miller said as they got in the elevator. They were both fairly quiet. They had worked closely with Mike and Susan through the years and had watched Mike grieve for his lost children. Mike kept most of it under wraps, but every now and then, it would come to the forefront. They walked into their own room, and Courtney began putting clothes away.
"I will check around for reservations or we can eat here? Gives you plenty of time. You go on. Just come back when you get done." Courtney insisted. Miller couldn't imagine having a more supportive or understanding wife.
"Will do. Thanks." Miller said as he gave her a kiss. It put a damper on their plans, but they both liked Mike and understood that he might not be handling things well. Miller walked out of his room and found Mike's suite. On the second knock, Susan answered the door.
"Oh, hey. I'm glad its you. Mike could use someone to talk to." Susan said.
"I…found Katie and Hannah downstairs after Katie got done talking to the detective. How is he?" Miller asked.
"I told him about what has happened to Katie. He's…struggling with it. He's thrilled to have them back, but it's a lot to digest." Susan said as she let Miller in.
"I figured it would be." Miller answered.
"And added to that, a son to get to know." Susan said and Miller swung around and looked at her. "Christine was pregnant when Mike left, she didn't tell him when he called home. Didn't want him to worry. Died from the Red Flu and complications from the birth. I think that is overwhelming Mike. He isn't sure how to connect with Gavin." Susan explained.
"That…is shocking. Mike had no clue?" Miller asked.
"No. He and Christine were on the verge of divorce. Apparently, they got along well enough for a while. No doubt that Gavin belongs to Mike, either." Susan commented.
"Are you okay?" Miller asked. He knew that Susan had sometimes struggled with her self-image. She was smart, confident and very supportive of her husband, but she had been picked apart by the Chief-of-Staff and the media on a regular basis. Everything from her appearance to her fertility issues. Susan couldn't help that she had an auto-immune disorder that made losing weight difficult and conceiving and carrying a baby to term even more difficult. Despite that, she was very supportive of her husband and all his ship-mates.
"Its…different. Just hoping they will accept me. I am the second wife. There will always be the question of who was more compatible to Mike." Susan remarked.
"I'm sure they will accept you and as far as who is more compatible, I met Christine once, just before we left for the Arctic. She was nice enough, but she struggled with being a Navy wife. I think if it had been you in that situation, you could have adjusted to anything. Look what you already have adjusted to. Besides, you and Mike have been together for a long time. Everything that could have happened to break you up has already happened and you're still standing as a couple. Maybe the kids will compare you to their mother a bit, but that doesn't mean that they will find you lacking." Miller stated.
"I suppose you are right." Susan agreed.
"I know I am. Now, where's Mike?" Miller asked.
"He had laid down with the triplets to get them to take a nap. I don't think he was sleeping. I'll send him out." Susan said as she walked to the bedroom. Miller stayed standing because he didn't want to have to get back up to stand at attention. Mike didn't normally go for those formalities, but Miller needed to be prepared. Finally, Mike stepped out, looking slightly rumpled.
"Sir, I hope I didn't wake you?" Miller asked as he shook Mike's hand and they both sit on the couch.
"Nah. I had just laid down with the triplets in hopes that they would take a nap. They are a bit jet lagged and fussy. So, you've heard about my older kids?" Mike asked, cutting to the chase.
"I met Katie and Hannah downstairs. How are you doing with all this? Susan told me about Gavin." Miller asked.
"Its…I had made an appointment with an attorney on Monday to have the girls declared deceased. I had given up hope. Its been twenty years. How do I look at them in the face, knowing that I had given up hope that they were alive? How do I bond with my son, who is nineteen? He doesn't need me. How do I help Katie recover from what happened to her? How do I protect them from the media which will eat them alive?" Mike raged. He had stood up and was pacing around, but once Miller started to stand up, Mike sat back down to save Miller the trouble.
"One day at a time. Focus on what they need right now. I understand that they are trying to convince Katie to move to Texas with you?" Miller asked.
"Yeah. Sue says that Hannah and Gavin are on board and they want Katie to rest up. Apparently, she has went pretty hard for the past several years." Mike stated.
"Alright, so concentrate on that. Getting the three of them to Texas. I think once you do that, the pieces will start to fall into place and besides; you can protect them in Texas. As far as giving up hope, yeah, you made the appointment, but do you think you could have signed the paperwork? I'm not sure that you could. And even so, like you said, it had been twenty years. Lots of time. Don't focus on the what if's and focus on the reality. You have three kids who are now adults. Its time to get to know them and enjoy them. From what I seen; they seem like great people." Miller stated.
"True. Sue is really struggling with this. She's putting up a good front, but I think those old feelings of inadequacy is appearing." Mike answered.
"I caught that talking to her. Just remind her that while you loved Christine, you also love her. I think she is afraid that you will compare her to Christine and find her lacking. It might not hurt to take her out this weekend for dinner or something. I'm sure someone here will watch the triplets. I can talk to Courtney and see if she would be okay with it." Miller suggested.
"Thank you, speaking of Courtney, don't you think you need to get back to her? Isn't this something of a honeymoon for the two of you?" Mike teased.
"It is but she understands. I gave Katie and Hannah my number if they needed to talk and the same goes for you. Call." Miller ordered as both men stood up and Mike walked Miller to the door.
"Thanks, Miller. I do appreciate it." Mike said.
"Any time, sir. Just remember what I said." Miller reminded him before stepping into the hallway. The reunion would be interesting for sure, because the Nathan James crew would be also watching a different reunion happening and protecting the Slattery family from the media.
