Here is the next installment. Sorry it is later than normal. I got my first dose of the COVID vaccine yesterday and felt a little fatigue. I'm a healthcare worker at one of our local hospitals. t4swp, ErinJordan, and Margaret66 thank your for your faithful reviews. Amber

Chapter 11

Fenton was still at the house. He was making coffee at six AM. He heard Callie scream at two AM followed by periods of crying. His son came downstairs. "Hey dad thank god for coffee."

"Another rough night?"

Frank poured his coffee and didn't add cream or sugar. He took a gulp then answered. "Yes, but the good news is I got her to say she was raped. Until now she'd say incident or attack."

Fenton smiled sadly, he wished she didn't have to go through all this. "That's good. The first step of healing is to acknowledge it. She has to accept it. Her therapy will help that along, they will give her coping techniques to help her deal with her anxiety. She'll eventually broach living more normally. It's a process."

"Dad, how long was it for mom to start being more normal." Frank was so embarrassed to ask this next question but he was curious. "How long before you guys were intimate again?"

Fenton was relieved that Frank was confiding in him. They sat at the table. "Your mom for over a month could not bear any physical contact at all. That's one difference between you and Callie. Callie seems more secure when she is in contact with you. Eventually your mom let me hold her hand, and hug her. But I'd say about four months after the rape she seemed to level out quite a bit. The flashbacks and nightmares were less frequent. And for a lack of a better term we started testing the waters about six months after. It was almost a year before we were able to completely give ourselves to each other again. It may be sooner for you and Callie or later. It's going to be on her timeline son. Be patient and reassuring. I know it's not helping you any. But if you wait until she's ready your relationship will grow and the experience when it does happen will be more fulfilling for you both."

"I'm sorry to have asked such a personal question."

Fenton interrupted. "Frank, you can ask me anything at any time. Your mother and I have first hand experience about what you and Callie are going through. It's normal and healthy for you to confide in us."

Callie came downstairs dressed in black slacks and a white cashmere sweater. She leaned down and kissed Frank's cheek. "Morning."

Frank took the hand that she held out for him. "Morning darling."

Callie addressed Fenton. "Good morning Mr. Hardy."

"Call me Fenton dear. You're family."

Callie said. "I'm going to make breakfast. Frank, Brooke is awake."

Frank went upstairs and heard his daughter half way up them. "Da De! Ma ma! Icky!"

Frank opened her door. The stench about knocked him out. It had been a poop explosion. "Wow kiddo feel better?"

"Icky Da De!"

Frank went into her bathroom and started the tub. He made sure the temperature was nice and warm. Then he took his poor daughter who was going into quite a stir to the changing table and took off her soiled nightgown, and very icky diaper. He put that in the diaper genie. He picked her up holding her at arm's length. "Time for a bath baby."

The poop was everywhere. All up her back, up her chest, down her legs, and even in her hair! Frank cleaned her up as she played with her toys in the tub. When that was done he wrapped her in a towel and went back to the changing table. Frank used a disinfectant wipe to clean the padded mat, and put her down on top of her towel. He put lotion on her and powder. Then a clean diaper. He scooped her up. They went to her closet. He asked. "What color do you want to wear today, pink or blue?"

Brooke said. "Bwue."

Frank took the sweater with a matching plaid skirt, he found thick blue leggings, white socks, and her white shoes. The sweater was a light blue with white terrier dogs on it. He put her hair in pigtails and put blue bows in her hair. When she was dressed Frank put her on the floor and stripped her bed. He put the items in her hamper.

She was trying to climb up his leg. "Da De HUNGEE!"

Frank picked her up. "Here we go baby." Frank took her downstairs.

Callie had her plate ready. "There's my baby girl! Don't you look pretty. Did you get a bath?"

"Yes icky!"

Frank added. "Very icky." I'll be right back. I have to clean the crib."

Fenton put his granddaughter's bib on. "Good morning precious!"

"Papa!" She leaned over and gave him a kiss.

Callie put Brooke's plate in front of her.

"Tank oo!

Callie kissed her cheek. "You're welcome baby."

Callie put a plate in front of Fenton, put a plate down for Frank, then went to the counter and grabbed hers. There was enough for Joe who was sleeping in the basement. She sat down to eat. She had so much she wanted to say, but how to say them. "Fenton do...do you think I could talk to Laura sometime...I just want to. Nevermind, it's okay."

Fenton swallowed his bite of egg. "Sweetie, she's coming down tonight. She finishes her three days of work at seven. She'd be happy to talk to you about anything. If you want to talk to me you can. Though I understand that you'd be more comfortable with Laura."

Callie's eyes filled with tears. "I really wish I could talk to my mom. I wish she was here. So she could see her beautiful granddaughter. I love you and Laura so much, but mom and I were so close. We did so much together."

Fenton took a small risk and took her hand. "I wish she was here too honey. But your mom is a happy woman up in heaven. She sees that you are happily married to a man you love with a beautiful little girl and another on the way. She'll always be in your heart. There's nothing wrong with you talking to her from time to time. My father's father passed away five years ago. I talk to him sometimes. Especially when I have a hard case. He was FBI too. I was the rebel and chose to go to the NYPD for 15 years first. That's when the FBI approached me to become a police liaison along with my partner Sam. I joined the bureau and started our agency as a front. But getting back to you, you can talk to any of us any time. Even if it's in the middle of the night. We're all here for you."

"Thank you. I feel better. Frank has classes this morning, then this afternoon Molly has an appointment with her OB/GYN. She's seeing Dr. Smith."

Fenton smiled. "I remember him. He seemed very nice."

"He was very nice, and very sensitive to what happened to me. He was careful not to say his feelings out loud. But I could tell that he was angry at what happened to me."

Fenton smiled at that. "That had to make it a little easier."

"It gave me peace of mind. I couldn't look at him while he was stitching me up. I was so embarrassed. Frank was holding my hand the whole time. He's been so wonderful, patient and considerate. Sometimes I get the sense that he's walking on eggshells though. I wish he wouldn't. But he's so sensitive I guess he wants to make sure touching is what I need. I feel safe when he's around and when I have a flashback or nightmare being in his arms comforts me faster then when I'm not."

They heard Frank come down the stairs. He was holding a hamper. Callie said. "Baby take that downstairs. I will stain treat them after breakfast." Millie, their housekeeper/nanny would be here later and would wash them.

Frank took the hamper to the basement and seconds later he was at the table. He took a bite of eggs. "Dad, any problems with the internal investigation? What about the dog at the house?"

Fenton finished off his toast. "We were lucky the dog was in his crate. He was a german shepherd K-9. Granted, Sam had been a K-9 officer before he joined me at the detective bureau but that dog most likely would have attacked one of us for sure."

Frank shivered. Callie asked. "How's your arm? Have you changed the bandage?"

"Not yet."

Callie gave Fenton a look. Fenton looked chastised. "Okay, I'll go change it. It's just hard to put the dressing on myself."

Callie put her dishes in the sink. "I'll help you." Her voice commanded no argument.

Fenton put his plate in the sink and followed Callie upstairs to the hallway bathroom where he had put his items. Ginny and Rick finally returned to campus three days ago. He had to take off his button up shirt, but he had on a t-shirt underneath. Callie expertly cleaned the area and applied his dressing. She wagged her finger at him. "You should have changed this yesterday Fenton. Don't do that again."

Joe came up the stairs. "Does dad need help?"

Callie shook her head. "I got it."

Joe crossed his arms. "You know I was here right."

Fenton sighed. "I forgot about it."

Joe lectured him. "Well don't. You don't want to get an infection. You had to have the bullet removed for heaven's sake."

Callie paled. "How did they do that?"

Joe said excitedly. "It was so cool. They used an ultrasound to guide them, they opened the area a little more, and removed it. It was super cool to watch. Then they stitched him up. He didn't feel much because they had given him morphine for pain and used a numbing medication around the site."

Callie smiled. "Well I'm glad he didn't have to go under general anesthesia."

Fenton said. "It was just a flesh wound."

Joe and Callie both said simultaneously. "Right."