Family Bonds

Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N:

Chapter 25 (Opinionated Social Worker)

"Let me first begin by introducing you to our intern. Rebecca." Deborah smiled at the girl, but Rebecca barely turned her head to look at the woman. For as polite as the girl normally appeared, this didn't come as a shock to Trina. "You may have heard her refer to me as 'Aunt', that is because she is my niece."

"Oh how kind of you to give your niece a job," Deborah replied as though she didn't realize what Trina was saying. The woman worked for the prosecutor's office for many years, it was to Trina's dismay that Tori said it was this woman she dealt with. "You must be thrilled Rebecca."

"Yeah," Rebecca answered under her breath. The girl shook her head and looked up to Trina. "I think Miss Bonnie had some folders for me to file." Trina scratched at her chin and shook her head.

"Stay here sweetie, I want you to observe this." Rebecca nodded and Deborah raised an eyebrow. "I assume you've spoken to your mom already?" She watched the girl glare at Deborah, a relieving sign that she already knew the story.

"Not everything, but I know more than I did." Deborah frowned at the girl and gave Trina a confused look. Trina wasted no time getting to the point. She did her best to keep calm and spoke only with a soft and quiet voice.

"Now Ms. Bates. I've spoken to your supervisor and she has heard some severe allegations-as have I. We've agreed as of this time you've been placed on a suspension without pay, and you will no longer be working with the children of our clients."

Deborah's mouth opened and her eyes started to grow. "What? I-I don't understand. I'm being fired?"

"Essentially. You're suspended until further notice, but the allegations made against you are being researched." Trina turned in her chair and leaned sideways over the right armrest, then pressed her body against her right arm with her elbow digging into the letter. "As a matter of fact, Ms. Bates…"

She reached her left hand to an envelope on her desk and lifted it up. Her expression remained stoic and her gaze locked onto the woman, who now appeared to be sweating. "You've also got a court summons."

The woman swiped the envelope away and ripped it open, then yanked the folded sheet of paper out. Trina's gaze slid towards her niece and she smiled reassuringly as Rebecca leaned over Deborah's shoulder.

Rebecca's mouth opened and her eyes looked to be larger than the glasses on her nose. "I'm being sued?" Deborah's hand rose to her chest and she gasped.

"You have some questionable methods, Ms. Bates. It's alleged that you played judge and jury with parents, that you have torn children from parents who actually could care for their children, that you have done this with blatant disregard for any evidence proving their capability."

Deborah started to stutter, looking between the letter and Trina with disbelief. "But I-In all my years!"

"In our line of work, we rely on factual information." It wasn't often that Trina raised her voice or shouted at someone, but sitting here in front of Deborah, she was tempted to yell. She wanted to impress upon her niece the importance of remaining calm and cool under pressure, no matter how tough.

At the same time she wanted Rebecca to see justice done, she wanted Deborah to know whose life she nearly destroyed with her ill judgment.

"Perfectly capable parents deserve to raise their children, and children deserve to be with families that care about them. We have our own opinions, our own judgments, but if we rely solely on those without hearing the facts…" She paused and glanced at Rebecca, then took a slow and deep breath. "We hold the lives of many people in our hands, Ms. Bates. We cannot afford to let our own biases destroy innocent lives. You precisely, you work with children. If you let your own philosophy take children from good parents and place them in homes where they are worse off, then you have destroyed a life."

"I don't understand. I've done my best to ensure-"

"Do you recognize my niece?" Deborah furrowed her brow and turned her head to the girl. Rebecca bowed her head and clasped her hands in her lap. "Look up at the lady, if you will, Rebecca dear." She heard the girl swallow and watched as she glanced up to the woman. Tears brimmed at her eyelids and the corners of her mouth twitched as Deborah started to squint. "Rebecca Wilson is her name. Her father was murdered when she was not only five years old. She was placed in foster homes that neglected her, and she is now an emancipated teen."

"I…" Deborah looked at the note and her hand moved over her mouth. "Victoria Vega-Wilson? The ex-pop star? She's suing me? Wait…but you said-" Trina leaned forward and spoke with a deeper tone.

"My maiden name, Ms. Bates, is Vega. That is my sister, and I was informed that you blatantly denied her the right to her daughter because of what the media was saying about her."

Deborah stammered some more, saying nothing coherent. Rebecca wiped her eyelids with a finger and cleared her throat. "Mom was going to marry daddy, she wanted to give me a normal childhood. She was leaving fame behind for me, but you didn't let her."

"Sweetie." Deborah tried to speak with a sweet tone, flashing a smile at Rebecca and sliding her hand down to her chest. "That woman was going to abort you."

"She wanted me." Rebecca's voice rose and her hand smacked down on her leg. "She wasn't going to abort me, those were lies said by the paparazzi. She did everything she could!"

"She wasn't a responsible parent. She was too busy partying and having sex."

"It was one time." Rebecca's tears streaked down her face, blending in with the freckles on her cheekbones. Trina's heart broke for her, but she knew this was what Rebecca needed. "She loved my dad. She didn't give up her parental rights either, you just listened to the lies being spread about her!"

"As far as I know I saved you from a terrible life."

"Saved me?" Rebecca stood up and started wheezing. Trina looked around her desk, searching for Rebecca's inhaler as she knew the girl was asthmatic. She also needed to calm Rebecca down quickly. "You didn't save me, my father was just murdered!"

Rebecca flung her arm out to the door. Her face was starting to turn a shade of red. "My first foster home neglected me, they said I shouldn't even cry about what happened to my dad anymore. They had no heart! My second family gave me up when they had a baby of their own and my last ones were borderline abusive."

"But-"

"Rebecca." Trina pulled the inhaler from her desk and cleared her throat. Rebecca stopped and turned with a slight whimper as Trina extended the inhaler. "Please. I know you're upset, but let me deal with this. I only wanted you to be here to see this done, I don't want anything to happen to you."

"I'll be okay Aunt Trina. I just…I…" Rebecca put her arms to her hips and sniffled. "Ms. Bates, my mom is a choir teacher. She has a simple home and a good income, she's done nothing wrong and is still single."

"Still single? Dear you need two parents-"

"I will testify to my sister's character," Trina replied calmly. Deborah looked over and started to frown. Trina set her left hand on her desk and folded her right hand over it, patting it gently. "That's something you're supposed to look at when considering a parent's ability to take care of their child, correct? You need to speak with family and friends."

"Y-Yes, that is correct." Deborah turned back towards her and began fluffing her hair.

"Then you'll hear it now. My sister is the one that has always had the big heart. She has always been optimistic, she has been responsible. Yes she's made poor judgments from time to time, but she has always done her best to do right."

Trina raised her right fingers, stretching them out. Rebecca sat slowly and gently took the inhaler in her hands. "Now my sister has gone to parties in her life, like many people do, but in all the years that I've known her, she's never had sex without reason-without trusting someone-she does not sleep around."

"She called my mom a 'whore'." Deborah winced and Trina clicked her tongue. The problem here was no social worker was allowed to say such things, even if it might be true, they simply could not say it.

"Did you allow for my little sister to explain herself, to prove her situation?"

"I-I…" Deborah bowed her head and closed her fists up, crumpling the paper in her left hand. "I did not, ma'am."

"You realize that by being sued, that means the plaintiff has to prove that she was capable at the time of raising her child. There must also be proof that Rebecca would have been better off with her as opposed to the foster parents."

"Yes."

"There must be proof that you've erred in her judgement as well." Trina curled her hand in the air and used it as a perch for her head. Her left fingernails tapped the desk rhythmically. "As I am a criminal attorney, you won't have to worry about me prosecuting you since this is more of a civil matter, but I will still give my statement to investigators."

"Don't take this the wrong way, but did you know your sister at the time?"

"I was not present in her life, but I can certainly testify to her character and to the character of the man that she slept with. Robert Shapiro has always been obsessive, he was once a friend of hers and he stalked her as well, I believe the media reported back then that she was drunk-and she tells me that Mr. Shapiro convinced her to continue drinking until they were both drunk and they slept together."

"I-I see." Deborah began to shake as though she'd recently acquired Parkinson's. "To my own admission I didn't give her time to explain her situation. It seemed so obvious to me, and she was a celebrity, you know celebrities can't take care of children! They only care about themselves."

Rebecca scoffed and started to say something, but stopped when Trina raised her hand up. "That is your own opinion, Ms. Bates. It isn't a professional opinion and it is not backed up by factual evidence."

She crossed her arms and shook her head once more. "It's come to my attention that you are doing the same thing to another child. A mother, whom is claimed to be perfectly capable is being ignored because of the claims her father-a man with a record of manipulation and criminal behavior says of her."

"A man who attained custody of his children."

"So you know who I am talking about?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Have you heard the mother's side yet?"

Deborah clamped her lips together and Trina watched the lines form around them. She hummed and slowly rolled her head to the other side. "Your silence tells me no. Have you done any background checks on this woman? Have you spoken with family and friends?"

There came again no response, but the silence was damning.

Trina sighed and pointed to the letter in Deborah's hand. "In light of this suit against you, and the suspension, you are hereby relieved of all duty. That means you will not be responsible for Kimberly Harris."

"But-"

"Where is Miss Harris right now?"

Rebecca narrowed her eyes and Deborah pulled her hand up to her forehead. "She's…in a childcare facility." Trina swallowed the urge to growl and looked towards her niece in time to study the frustrated look on her face.

"Ms. Bates, has there been any evidence to suggest that Mrs. Harris is incapable of taking care of her daughter for the time being? Does Mrs. Harris retain any custodial rights?"

"No there hasn't, ma'am, and yes she does have joint custody of her daughter."

Trina folded her elbows on the desk and tapped her fingertips together before her face. "Then why, may I ask…" Her eyes closed and her lips pulled apart to release a sudden breath. "Is she not with her mother?"

"I-" Deborah began to huff and push her fingers into her hair like a comb. "She's been trying, but I've been protecting that girl from the woman. There are claims from the father that the woman is a drug addict."

"Have any medical records surfaced to verify that claim?"

Another long pause came, leaving heavy tension to build in the silent room. The next response came from Rebecca, hidden behind a low growl. "That girl's father is a cold hearted, callous, lying, manipulative bastard! You're going to destroy another girl's entire life because you believe him?!"

"I'm only doing what I think is best."

"Well you're wrong," Trina remarked. Deborah frowned as she dropped her hands to the de0sk. "Until we see evidence of the contrary-and I will get a judge's order-Kimberly Harris will be returned to her mother. Now is a time mother and daughter need each other more than ever, and I would not see them torn apart because you choose to disregard anything but your own biased opinion."

Trina's eyes slanted more and the tension grew thick like a dense smog around them. "I wouldn't have even known my niece existed if I didn't volunteer to prosecute that reporter's case. I didn't know I had a niece until recently, but had you done your job at the time, maybe I would have known long ago. Surely, if you didn't find my sister fit to be a parent, you would have found me to be."

"I-"

"The only reason you're on suspension without pay instead of being entirely without a job is because your supervisor was kind enough to insist on waiting until these allegations are proven accurate." She was livid now, and her anger burned like a flame in her eyes. "Consider that a good thing, because if I had my way, I'd be a hypocrite, firing you for my own judgment."

"Well." Deborah pulled her purse strap over her shoulder and looked off to the side. "With what you're going through now with that man, your judgement is probably too impaired." The statement was said in such an offhand manner that it may as well have been the woman thinking out loud.

It struck Trina like a slap to the face. Rebecca's eyes widened and Trina flared her nostrils. Bile shot up into her throat and her mouth twisted into a snarl just as Deborah's wide eyes shot back to her-the woman had just realized what came out of her mouth.

"Excuse me?"

"I uh I didn't mean that how it came out. I just-I mean you're certainly emotional and-"

"That has never stopped me from being sensible, from seeing reason." Trina stood from her chair and leaned over her desk. Her arms were extended to the surface and her fingers were wrapped around the edge of her desk. She started to raise her voice, still seething with anger. "My judgment is perfectly fine, Ms. Bates. What Mr. Harris did to me is none of your concern, and how I am handling that case is also not of your concern."

"I apologize, I spoke out of turn."

"Believe me your supervisor will hear of this. It appears you have a record of 'speaking out of turn'." She raised her hand and pointed to the door, already sick to her stomach with having to deal with Deborah in her presence. "We're finished here. Get out of my office, know that you will never work for this county again."

"Mrs. Tyler-"

"I believe I've made myself clear."

"She did," Rebecca added with a smirk. Deborah stood up and swallowed heavily. "As they said in her time, don't let the door hit you where the dog should have bit you!"

Trina closed her eyes, stifling a laugh, she was so proud of Rebecca in this moment. Deborah left, likely with her whatever was left of her dignity, and Trina sank back into her chair with a slump.

"Aunt Trina? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, honey." She ran her hand across her forehead, sighing heavily as Rebecca started to smile. "Are you?"

"I'm okay. I'm…glad this happened, and glad mom's able to file a suit against that woman." Rebecca walked over to her and slid her arms around Trina's neck, soothing her and bringing a smile to her face. "Thank you…thank you for saving that girl too. I don't know if she'll know what you did, but I think she'll be grateful."

"We still don't know what that girl's mom is like, but I'm not going to let that woman take another child away from a potentially good mother."

Rebecca hugged her tighter. "Good. I don't want someone else to go through what I did because some social worker cared more about herself than the child. Thank you again, Aunt Trina…I love you."

Her heart thumped loudly in her chest and her mouth twisted into a wide grin. "You too, sweetie. You too." She reached up and pat the back of Rebecca's head. "Things are going to get a lot better for you, I promise you that. In fact, you tell Tori, Jason and I have a surprise for her."

"Oh? What kind of surprise?"

"Well…" Rebecca pulled away and raised her eyebrows as Trina reached for a small business card on her desk. "Between me and you, your mom's been alone all these years. Jason and I were talking and he mentioned working with someone that was a really old friend of your mother, I thought perhaps we could reintroduce them. Just to give her someone else to spend time with."

"Yes!" Rebecca gushed and looked at the business card. "Who is Ian Dennison? Does he work for Uncle Jason?"

"No, he's a pediatrician, and a good friend of Jason's. They've worked together many times, he helped deliver my son and sometimes looks after Michelle if we can't book an appointment quickly with her primary care physician."

"She was born premature, right? So when she needs an appointment, she needs one fast…"

"Right." She frowned and dropped her shoulders. "She's still got a lot to deal with, but she's making great progress." She raised her shoulders back up. "Jason spoke with Ian the other day and he said he'd be happy to meet with Tori again sometime. They knew each other before she ever went to Hollywood Arts."

"So, when she went to Sherwood? She told me a little about Sherwood-she seems fond of that place."

"Well, she did have some of her best memories there too. Just because she went to Hollywood Arts doesn't mean Sherwood wasn't important to her as well." Trina spun her chair towards Rebecca and folded her hands over her abdomen. "Not to plant any ideas in your head, but not only were they close friends back there, but your mom had a massive crush on him, if I recall."

Rebecca's eyes widened and her mouth opened into a wide grin. "You're serious? I mean, I know she was in love with my dad and all but it's been almost two decades, I mean I don't want her to be lonely."

"Well she has you and her family now sweetie, I don't think she's going to be lonely."

"Well, I hope mom starts to date again. I mean, if she found the right person, do you think she would?"

"Maybe. For now, we all have a lot on our plates-so that is probably something far from any of our minds." She really just wanted to reintroduce Ian and Tori so that she could have somebody else to talk to, someone that was familiar to her and from a place that was good to her.

That wasn't to suggest Hollywood Arts wasn't good to her, and while it was easy for people to disregard Sherwood and consider it unimportant; it still bore significant impact to Tori.

Compared to current events, all Tori could think of regarding Hollywood Arts was either Andre and Robbie-two men that probably caused her a great deal of anguish. With all that was going on, Trina was sure her sister wasn't about to recall the good times she'd spent at Hollywood Arts while she was second guessing everything she ever knew about Andre and even Robbie.

So right now, that girl needed someone from a place of good memories to remind her of that old optimism and kindness that she once had. Ian could be that person. If he couldn't help Tori be rid of the bitter cynicism that she developed over time, then nobody could.

So what do you think? She told Deborah what was what it seems. There's quite a bit that happened here, so do tell your thoughts