A/N: There is a warning for this chapter in that it contains extremely sensitive material. I do not find bullying entertaining and am only trying to tell a story and maybe call attention to an issue that often goes unnoticed by adults. So in other words: SAD, SAD, and SAD…but it only goes UP from here so YAY, enough making everyone cry LOL. Also, there's a smidge of domestic violence directed Julia in the end. Again, hard stuff guys, so if you'd like to read it in intervals, that's fine…or if it's too much, just skip right to the end as it leads right into the next chapter. Like I said, it took me a while because I tried to type two longer chapters to post at the same time…typing the next one now and it'll be up ASAP. There's a surprise at the end of the next chapter (If you make it there). Thanks for the support guys!
Disclaimer: I don't own [H]OUSE.
Rachel and Emmy had been living with their aunt Julia for about 7 weeks and Julia's marriage was going through a rough turbulence ever since. Her husband Dave was indeed saddened to hear of his sister-in-law's demise and obliged to Julia's commitments in all the arrangements: giving his wife up for nearly weeks. It's been a while now and he is demanding she get back into the swing of things and tend to her own family the way she had before.
Julia is of course being spread extremely thin- caring for her nieces in addition to her own family. Lisa's girls weren't poorly behaved per-se, but it was evident that they were in mourning and Rachel had yet to say more than two words.
Her own children already battled one another for their mother's attention before this entire fiasco, and were definitely acting out with as much focus and time Julia was spending on the girls.
Dave: What are you doing? (To Julia)
Julia: (Her nose buried in her laptop) Looking for a good child psychologist for Rachel.
Dave: You think that's necessary?
Julia: Yes, she doesn't talk anymore and she's going to get kicked out of school if something doesn't change.
Dave: It's just…won't that be just another thing for you to do during the week?
Julia: Yes, but it's kinda important, so I have to make time.
Dave: WE…we'll have to make time, not just you. Julia, when are you going to start taking care of your own family?
Emmy had thrown her pacifier on the floor and stopped hopping in her jumper. Julia leaned down, picked it up and washed it in the sink- popping it back in the baby's mouth.
Julia: Dave, they are my family…
Dave: I mean YOUR kids- ME, for Christ's sake…you're like a fucking roommate.
Julia: I AM taking care of my kids… of everyone, all at ONCE, Dave. It'll get better when the girls get better.
Dave: It's not going to get better Jules…can't- can't they stay with your mother?
Julia: What? No, mom is too…she can't chase them around; she's had hip surgery TWICE…I-WE need to help them…they're ours now, David.
Dave: Yeah, and I think it's pretty fucking shitty of your sister to not have asked me how I felt about taking her kids BEFORE any of this happened.
Julia was too upset to continue the conversation; she refused to argue about this. He swiftly grabbed her wrist when she tried to walk away and she maneuvered it out of his hand "Leave me ALONE." She stressed. He backed away from her and stormed out of the house, slamming the door on his exit- startling both her and Emmy, who had begun to cry.
Rachel hadn't settled in school any more than she did at home. She didn't really have very many friends, as the only children that acknowledged her was the other three girls at her table. They accepted Rachel's absence in partaking in their conversations: always asking her questions and granting her opening to their first-grade girl-talk. They over-interpreted the smallest gestures as participation.
Laila: (To the other three girls) Jacob is such a trouble maker…he went into the cubbies and ate Carly's pudding yesterday…I saw him and was like "What are you doing?" Then I told Ms. Greene.
Cassie: (Coloring) Yeah, I hate him.
Abby: Jacob is a jerk, right Rachel? (All the girls looked over to Rachel)
Rachel didn't speak, just nodded and continued dragging the waxy crayon across the yellow construction paper in front of her.
Abby: Right, see? Even Rachel thinks so…
Rachel's teacher had grown frustrated with the child's unresponsive state and had given the task of dealing with her to the teacher's assistant: Ms. Lori. Ms. Lori was a younger woman with wavy blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She wasn't considered skinny nor over-weight; she looked healthy and had pretty round cheeks when she smiled.
Ms. Lori was much more patient with her and always stood back with Rachel when it seemed like she was having a hard time keeping with the rest of the class. She asked Rachel plenty of questions daily, trying to get the girl to speak but ended up mostly sharing things about herself. She was Jewish as well and often spoke about her annoying mother, who kept trying to fix her up with a nice Jewish man. Rachel enjoyed her stories and related them to her own family, though never revealing that she too was Jewish.
Ms. Lori had befriended a mute 6 year old and was okay with it.
Seven weeks had gone by and she hadn't learned many personal details about Rachel; only that her mother had died recently and that her birthday was in December. She deduced that Rachel didn't like milk (or pretended she didn't) and that she liked to color.
On a Tuesday after lunch, the children were allowed a 15 minute recess. Although there was snow on the ground, the school mandated it; the exposure ironically was thought to build the children's immune defenses and they got sick less when regularly taken outside in the cold for short stints.
Rachel's "friends" excitedly always ran to the playground while Rachel sat on a bench, next to the building.
"Hey FREAK!" Rachel looked up to an open window above her where her 9 year old cousin Jackson's class was, when a hot splash of goo collided with her cheek, below her right eye.
It was in fact Jackson; he acted out his resentment more at school than at home because of his just-as-rotten classmates. They also partook in tormenting her, as Jackson practically gave them permission to- inviting them in on his antics and egging them on as well.
Rachel quickly wiped her face and stood as she noticed the other kids cocking the saliva in their own mouths to do the same.
This place had become a nightmare to her now that her uncle hadn't let Julia drive them anymore. She had to take the school bus with her cousins and the chock-full of miscreants. She was constantly being called names and had objects thrown at her, yet she still said nothing- telling no one. Her Cousin Shelby didn't associate with her; she felt bad, but didn't put a stop any of it. Her older cousin Daniel was indifferent and always settled himself at the back of the bus, getting as much PSP time in as he could before school.
The next morning the kids took their lunches that Julia made for them and walked to their bus stop. Rachel always remained about five paces behind. The bus had arrived and the kids pushed each other to mount the bus first, except Rachel. Jackson then saw the opportunity to purposefully shove her. Rachel tripped and the sharp ridges of the school bus step connected with her shin; it hurt and she ripped a vertical hole in her tights. Rachel suppressed her cry and quickly made her way past the laughing kids and to her empty seat.
Rachel looked down at her leg that was now bleeding a bit- staining her now ruined white tights. She covered her face with her forearm and looked out the window, not letting anyone witness her tears.
When the bus pulled up to the school, all the kids lined up down the middle lane to exit; one of them purposefully knocking Rachel's lunchbox off the seat and onto the floor. The box opened, spilling its contents and as Rachel leapt forward for the food, another boy in Jackson's class stepped on Rachel's bagged sandwich…her face mere inches from his foot.
Rachel waited until everyone exited and walked to her classroom with her lunch box dangling open: empty.
Ms. Lori: Where's your lunch Rachel? (Knowing she wouldn't receive an answer, she never gave up)
Did you lose it?
Rachel of course didn't respond and turned her head into the cubby- resting her forehead on the back of it.
Ms. Lori noticed Rachel's shoulders tremble and spoke gently…
Ms. Lori: Rachel? Are you okay? Why are you crying?
Rachel still hid her face and waited until she heard the last student walk out of the area to turn around. She then kneeled on the floor with her back-pack on her lap and unzipped the front pocket. Ms. Lori watched her as she pulled out two pictures: one of House holding her on Halloween when she was 4, wearing matching super hero costumes, and the other a picture of only her mother, smiling. She squeezed the slightly creased photos and wiped her face.
Ms. Lori: Can I see? (Rachel handing them to her)
Are these your parents?
Rachel nodded "yes", and pulled out a picture book she had in her cubby and flipped through it until she reached the H's…she found what she was searching for and pointed to the picture and word "House".
Ms. Lori: House? Home?
Rachel nodded "yes".
Ms. Lori: You miss your home?
Rachel again nodded and hugged Ms. Lori's midsection.
Ms. Lori held her while she cried and rubbed her back. "Shhhhh sweetie, shhhh"
A week later, the teasing hadn't relented, yet no adult knew anything of it. Jackson hid it well, and her aunt Julia was often too distracted to take notice anyway.
After school the bus was late arriving, so the students stood at the stop unsupervised. The group frolicked and stomped in the snow. Jackson and his classmates snuck up behind Rachel and ripped her backpack off of her shoulders and they ran away laughing, pitching it to one another. Rachel followed them only to see what they were going to do with it, with no intention of trying to pry it away from them; her young mind understanding that it would only encourage their behavior. The boys ran down the hill next to the school and ran over to the small man-made lake that hadn't yet completely frozen over. The boy with her pack wound his arm and flung the backpack to nearly the middle of the lake. The bag slid across and rested, half on slush, half on ice. Rachel helplessly watched on and remembered the photos…
She carefully stepped onto the ice…it felt safe enough so she took a second step…and a third until she was more than half way to the bag…she lightly stepped again and heard a crack that echoed through the sky.
Rachel quickly looked up at the sound then nervously looked down. Bracing herself, she proceeded the rest of the way on all fours, when she finally reached the bag.
She reached for the strap that was nearest to her and slid it across the ice carefully…slowly she reversed…
The ice suddenly cracked under her palms and knees...finally it gave way…
*CRACK*
Caving in under her, she fell in the frigid lake.
Rachel knew how to swim, but the shock from the ice water stung every millimeter of her body as she fought to keep herself above water and slush…
Silently, she swallowed water though she still fought to pull her body up to the light above her…
Her tiny 6 year old mind starting to lose hope, knowing no one saw her fall and that no one could hear her as she couldn't reach her lips above the water long enough to scream…
She couldn't anymore anyway; you needed an opportunity to inhale in order to call out…
Then she felt something rough jabbing at her palms…A STICK… a branch, she clutched it and pulled herself up…
An older boy she recognized from the bus was lying on the ice and extending the branch to her.
Rachel coughed, expelling the now warm water from her lungs and she crawled to safety. The boy crawled back after her with the strap of her pack in his fingers, he handed it to her as she tried to catch her breath.
Aden: My dad said this lake was dangerous…said it pretends to be frozen and that stupid kids would try to get on it…you stupid?
He asked and she shook her head "No".
Aden: Okay then, I gotta go… (He walked off)
Rachel quickly opened the pack, pulling out the pictures…having nothing to dry them with, she shook the droplets off.
Completely soaked and freezing, she treaded up the hill to the bus stop.
When she reached it, everyone was gone.
She was alone.
Two hours later…
Julia was a frantic mess when she saw that Rachel hadn't arrived with her children and neither one of them had given her straight answers as to where she was- simply stating that she just didn't get on the bus.
Julia left Emmy with her husband and jumped into her car, driving to the school and looking around the streets and sidewalks for her all the way there.
Julia arrived and the sun had set on an empty bus stop. She sobbed aloud and jumped out of her car yelling "RACHEL!"… "RACHEL!"
"Please…oh God…" After an hour ½ of searching, she drove back home and called the police.
Julia stood, staring out into the evening out of her front door window, waiting for the police to arrive. In pure hysterics, she trembled. Dave had called Arlene and she was already on her way…
Then she saw something slowly emerging from around the bushes…
"RACHEL!" She yelled out, sprinting toward the girl and embracing her tightly.
Julia: (Crying) RACHEL, what happened baby? You're FREEZING!
Rachel- trembling, was indeed nearly frozen…her lips were blue and her hand was still clasped around the photos. Julia immediately noticed that Rachel's core temperature was dangerously low and the girl's lungs crackled loudly when she breathed.
Having lost coherent conscious thought about an hour prior, she finally spoke, "I missed the bus…" Rachel wheezed, and collapsed in her aunt's arms.
Julia started screaming and swiftly lifted the girl into the house- yelling for someone to call 911.
Rachel landed into the pediatric ICU- admitted with hypothermia. For the duration of her hospital stay, she was warmed and was able to keep all of her toes, as her frost bite was minimal. The biggest concern was the remaining water in her lungs; she had pneumonia and spiked a fever the next day.
Julia slept in the chair next to her bed…it was the second morning and although her fever was controlled, she was still on oxygen and gave in to her overwhelming urge to cough. The sounds of it rivaled pertussis.
Her chest hurt…Rachel thought she would wake her aunt with her rasping and hacking, but didn't…she must be really tired.
Rachel closed her eyes and listened to the machines and nurses' footsteps outside her room…
*THUMP*
*STEP*
*THUMP*
*STEP*
*THUMP*
*STEP*
The sounds getting nearer and nearer until she heard them enter her room and arrive at a stop…
Rachel opened her eyes and slowly turned her head…
HOUSE! It was HOUSE! She yelled in her mind, too nervous to make a sound and start up her incessant cough…her eyes beamed though and although she looked weary, he could tell she was excited to see him. Her heart rate increased as indicated by the monitors.
House: (Holding his finger to his lips) SHHHH, calm down.
Rachel quickly frowned through the oxygen mask, arriving at the conclusion that this could be a product of her mind…a delusion…that he probably isn't really there…she was pretty sick.
Then he walked over, picking up her chart and giving it a once-over and placing it back down. Rachel followed him around the room with her eyes, still unsure if he was real or not.
House: You're giving your aunt hell, good job. (Placing his hand on her forehead) Fever is…do-able.
He looked around, pulling a stethoscope from his blazer pocket.
House: Look what I found in the nurse's station. (Holding it up)
He put it on and listened to her breathing, first warming the face of the tool with his breath then applying it to her chest.
House: Lungs sound like SHHH- awful. What the hell were you doing outside that long? (Raising an eyebrow) You must have fallen into water right?
Rachel nodded.
House: What were you doing by water? She weakly lifted her small arm pointing to the cabinet, to a plastic bag containing her clothes and things she had on that day.
House opened the bag and shifted the articles of clothing around, "What?" Rachel continued adamantly pointing. He kept rifling through the bag and at the bottom of it, were two crinkled- crispy photos. He pulled them out… "These? You fell in water for these?" She nodded. He continued looking at them… "That's stupid…" he declared. "As cool as it sounds to show up at your aunt's like a Popsicle, promise me you won't do anything that stupid anymore…"
She just stared at him.
House: Promise me or I'm leaving. (He took a step toward the door)
She nodded.
House: I'll take that as a "Yes House, I won't do anything stupid ever again."
Rachel smirked under her oxygen mask and House sat at the end of her bed that her small body couldn't entirely fill.
Rachel: (Voice crackling) You cam ba-
Rachel fell into a fit of hacking. When she calmed, House spoke.
House: SHHHHHHHutup, you'll make it worse- and yeah, I told you I would…now go to sleep so I can draw mustaches on you and your aunt's face.
Rachel smiled more in the last five minutes than she did in the last two months.
House stood and crept over to the table next to Julia, all the while making cautionary silly faces back at Rachel, "Does your aunt have candy?" He whispered, taking a peek into Julia's purse. Rachel attempted to giggle but coughed instead and Julia shifted in the seat. House quickly stepped away- whistling and pretending he wasn't up to anything.
House: Go to sleep and maybe I'll paint your toenails with the highlighters I borrowed from your nurses…that isn't too frou frou, is it? How about white-out? (He held the bottle up- showing her)
He now sat on the edge of the hospital bed- closer to Rachel this time and faced her. He looked at the circles under her eyes and sighed.
Rachel felt an ease of comfort and while still trying to gaze up at him- slowly she blinked and fell sleep.
"I love you smurf" he said in his mind and kissed her bangs.
Rachel had stayed in the hospital three more days and was discharged when she was deemed healthy enough to go home, though she still didn't speak to anyone.
The day House had paid her a visit; she woke to an empty room. She was saddened as now she wasn't sure if she had dreamed it all up…then she pulled off her blanket, looked to her toes and knew that she hadn't. Each toe had a face drawn on- each bearing a different expression from the next. Her favorite was her left toe because of its scowl…it looked like him. She smiled and had him to thank for it; not everyone woke to funny bi-polar piggies.
She was back at home and Julia had waited on her every whim. Rachel didn't think it was necessary but appreciated it none-the-less…she still felt pretty crumby.
It was the weekend and Shelby and Jackson had asked Julia to play out in the snow with them. Julia agreed and prepared Emmy in a snowsuit, while they looked on- rolling their eyes.
They played in the snow- Shelby, assembling a snow man while Jackson pelted both of them with snow balls.
Arlene watched from the glass sliding doors in the kitchen, sipping on coffee.
Julia: Jackson, watch it, you'll hit the baby.
Emmy was sitting in the snow next to her aunt and curiously examined the snow on her mittens.
Jackson: Pffft, the BABY (Chucking another snowball at his sister.)
Shelby: STOP IT, jerk.
Rachel looked on from the window in Shelby's room, inhaling her breathing treatment through a silly children's breathing mask that Arlene had strapped to her head five minutes earlier.
Rachel could hear Julia's phone ringing in the kitchen. Daniel, her eldest son answered the call and shouted out the glass sliding doors.
Daniel: MOM! PHONE! It's dad…
Arlene turned her back and started toward the laundry room.
Julia stood from the ground and shook the remaining snow from her body, quickly removing her boots at the door and ran to catch the call.
Jackson surveyed his opportunity and started pelting Emmy in the face with snowballs. Shelby was too far away to see what he was doing and kept rolling her own snowball.
Emmy immediately screamed and Rachel angrily stood from her position on the window.
Jackson continued, increasing frequency, as if trying to get as many hits in before his mother's return.
Frustrated with the baby's echoing screeches, he stepped to the seated baby and shoved her down, "SHUTUP ALREADY!"
Rachel seeing this, tore the mask from her face and sprinted through the kitchen barefoot and quickly unlatched the doors.
Arlene: (Noticing Rachel zooming past the door way) WAIT Rachel, NO, you'll get worse!
Rachel sprinted through the snow in her pajamas with fury in her eyes, and lunged at Jackson…knocking him back, she sat on him and repeatedly pounded his face with her balled up fists. He tried to fight back but gave up and started crying instead.
Rachel: STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT!
She yelled rhythmically with every hit.
Arlene yelled through the house "Julia! Julia!"… "RACHEL! Oh God!"
Rachel suddenly stopped and shakily rose to her feet- stepping to her sister and picking her up.
Jackson stood up as well- his face red and with tears in his eyes…
Jackson: That didn't hurt you BITCH!
Rachel: (Breaking her code of silence) You're CRYING…
She spat back at him and turned, carrying Emmy back toward the house.
Jackson, in an angry rage, waited until they were a far enough distance away and charged at Rachel from behind- knocking her into the snow and Emmy slipping from her grasp.
Jackson grabbed a fistful of her hair but Rachel rolled around and socked him again, making him release his grip on her scalp.
Jackson fell and rolled over holding his face.
Rachel, literally feeling like she had no other choice, plopped herself on the boy's back and forced his right arm upward behind him "NO MORE!" She yelled when she heard a *SNAP*.
Jackson was screaming in pain for his mother and Rachel nervously released him.
Julia ran outside, "RACHEL! WHAT DID YOU DO?" helping her son up.
Jackson: Ow, ow, ow, IT'S BROKEN MOMMY! (He screeched, holding his arm up)
Rachel shook her head, and bolted into the house with Arlene in pursuit.
Arlene: Rachel, wait!
Rachel quickly ran into the bathroom and hurriedly locked the door. She sat on the edge of the tub and covered her ears- blocking out all the knocks and yells from the other side of the door.
Arlene: Rachel baby, it's okay…open the door… (Turning to Julia who had joined her after bringing Emmy in and Dave had arrived and left – rushing Jackson to the E.R.)
Arlene: (Placing her ear to the door) She's wheezing badly Julia, we need to get this door open now. (Examining the hinges)
Julia: Wait, I have a key somewhere. (She bolted for the kitchen)
After half an hour, Julia came back holding a small key…
Arlene: Great organizational skills Julia…
Julia: Spare me, mom. (Turning the knob and hearing the lock *click* open)
Rachel was asleep on the bathroom rug- her prominent wheeze returning with a vengeance.
Julia lifted the girl and carried her back to the bedroom, attaching the albuterol treatment back on Rachel's face.
Later that evening after Dave returned after a six hour E.R. visit…
Julia: How's Jackson?
Dave- saying nothing and lifting a ceramic plate off the counter and chucking it at the wall.
Julia jumped and protectively held her hands on the sides of her head.
Dave: HOW IS HE? LIKE YOU EVEN CARE! THAT LITTLE ASSHOLE BROKE YOUR SON'S ARM AND YOU'RE CODDLING HER INSTEAD OF TAKING CARE OF HIM!
Julia: DON'T SAY THAT!
Dave forcefully back-handed the right side of her face.
Julia cried out with the impact of the hit and held her face, locking her eyes with him and breathing hard.
Dave stuck his index finger in her face… "THIS IS BULLSHIT JULIA AND IT ENDS NOW." He declared and walked out of the front door- slamming it.
Julia released a sob and kneeled down, picking up the pieces if the plate, when she saw Rachel standing in the kitchen- hiding behind the fridge.
Julia: (Sniffling) How long have you been there?
Rachel walked over to her aunt and placed her small hands on the sides of Julia's head and gently kissed her aunt's nose.
Rachel said nothing and hugged Julia as she cried.
When Julia calmed, she held Rachel's shoulders- looking into her eyes…
Julia: This isn't what you want, is it?
Rachel shook her head.
Julia: Okay…
okay…
Rachel grabbed the dust pan and kneeled down on the floor with her aunt- helping her pick up the pieces…
It was midnight and House was still awake browsing medical journals- keeping his mind busy, when he heard a knock at the door…
He limped over to it, glancing at his watch, wondering who the hell it was.
House opened the door to find Julia standing there holding two large baby bags and Emmy with Rachel looking up at him and a large suitcase towering over the girl.
Julia: Need you…
A/N: Uhhhhhh, this chapter actually had me all choked up. If you think I did a drama over-kill, trust me, this stuff really happens…and some 9 year olds really swear lol. Needless to say, I love the next chapter so much I actually sketched a little something for it : ) I'll link you to it when I post chapter 15. Thanks guys!