Carlos and TK made a be-line for the Child Services office. With Bailey at the station they knew that she would be well taken care of and in her current state they didn't want to get her hopes up if there truly wasn't anything that they could do. TK was practically bouncing in his seat as Carlos drove through the Austin streets. In fact, he'd contemplated asking Carlos to flip on the lights just to get them there faster. The moment the cruiser was in park, they were both out and walking swiftly to the front the front door of the building. Since Carlos was still in his uniform the people at the front desk seemed especially helpful.
"We're here to speak to the social worker handling Bailey Williams' case." Carlos said.
"I believe that would be Sable Collins, let me just see if she's in. She had a few home visits today so she may not be back yet." The receptionist said getting up and moving toward the hall.
"Thank you." Carlos smiled.
TK leaned on the counter while they waited. This was not how he was planning on spending his evening but he was going to fight until he fell if it meant keeping Bailey in Austin. A few minutes later a short and stout woman walked out from the hall and made her way over to them.
"Sable Collins I assume." Carlos said.
The social worker nodded.
"That's me. Sasha said that you wanted to discuss one of my cases with me, Bailey Williams, right?" She asked.
TK nodded.
"Yes, that's right. We have some concerns that we'd like to bring to your attention." He said.
Sable's eyes widened.
"Concerns?" She asked. "By all means follow me. We can talk in my office."
TK and Carlos followed Sable down the hallway. The walls were lined with artwork but none of it seemed particularly cheerful. It was a gloomy and depressing place for it being occupied by people claiming to be looking out for kids.
"Was the person who designed this place depressed?" TK mumbled to Carlos. "Seriously, would it kill them to add some color?"
Carlos chuckled but made little sound beyond that. TK was right, the building was incredibly depressing. Sable stopped in front of one of the offices and pushed the already ajar door open, motioning TK and Carlos inside. The couple sat in the two chairs in front of the desk while Sable sat behind it.
"So," She said. "What can I help you with?"
TK looked at Carlos who shrugged. Might as well get straight to the point.
"We would like to foster Bailey Williams," TK said. "Effective immediately."
The social worker's eyes widened and she shifted in her seat; they knew that the request was rather abrupt but they couldn't let Bailey be shipped off to El Paso with a family that didn't care for her.
"I don't know if I can authorize this." She said.
"Please, you have to see how this isn't the best thing for her." TK said, gripping Carlos' hand as it rested on his leg.
"I have no one who that is licensed and willing to take her," Sable said, shaking her head. "People are apprehensive about taking a child with any condition and Bailey's is so rare. Nobody is equipped for it."
TK had to bite his tongue to keep from pointing out how unprepared and unwilling the Hubbards are to help care for Bailey but he needs Sable on his side and tearing into the social worker's current family placement may not be the best way to do that.
"We are," TK pointed out. "I'm an EMT and have been helping her and doing everything that I can to learn about her condition. Carlos is trained and is able to do everything that I can do except administer medication. And as far as her anxiety goes we know her; she's been around us for months. We know her triggers, we know her habits, we know how to calm her down. She's comfortable with us."
"The only reason that she can't be placed with us right now is because our application is too far down the pile. I understand that your department is backed up. Too many applications, not enough personnel, trust me I get it, but there has got to be something that you can do."
Sable leaned back in her chair.
"I know that this is a situation that you two have become very attached to but-"
"It isn't a situation; her name is Bailey." TK said, cutting off the social worker.
Sable nodded.
"To Bailey," She corrected. "But legally, the Hubbards are her legal guardians."
"But the Hubbards aren't fit to care for her. They don't care about her restrictions, they blame Bailey every time her condition spikes. Bailey was in the hospital for three days and they didn't come to visit let alone pick her up when she was discharged. She's been labeled a runaway in her file because the Hubbards have called the police claiming that she was one when she really wasn't," TK said, before sitting up in his seat and taking a breath. "Please, you have to have seen how unhappy she is there."
Sable sighed.
"If I moved a child every time they were unhappy none of them would ever be in a home," She said. "Besides, there is nobody else."
"We are willing to care for her, we are able to care for her," Carlos said. He'd had enough of the dodging, this needed to end. "You keep saying that there is nobody else but have you ever had two foster applicants as qualified or decorated in their respective fields? Two people who have come down to your office with every emotion on a silver platter because they want what was best for a girl who has been through hell for the majority of her life. We have sent in the applications, our background checks are public record because of our jobs, we've gone through every step except the home check and you are welcome to do that at any time. But do we really need to keep up this charade? There are about fifty other cases on your desk right now and if the Hubbards move to El Paso with Bailey then her case would be transferred to a different county, lessening your case load. Now," Carlos swallowed. "I know that you care for the children in your care so how about you make the smart move and look into our application. We've shown you our cards, now let's see yours."
Carlos sat back in his seat, his part was said, all that was left now was for Sable to fold.
"I have to say, I did not think that that would go like that. You were relentless in there." TK said as he and Carlos walked out of Child Services office.
Carlos shook his head.
"I didn't want to play that card but she wasn't hearing anything. Social workers are overworked and underpaid, I won't dispute that but it's no excuse for poor placements simply because the child is about to age out." He said.
TK furrowed his brow.
"You didn't say that." He said, TK knew that Bailey was only two years shy of her eighteenth birthday but did the system really play teenagers like that?
"Nobody ever does but everybody knows it's true. Most of the time teens get placed in group homes if they aren't adopted and that's where they live until they age out. After that they aren't the state's problem anymore. They're legal adults, it's up to them to figure it out after that." Carlos explained.
"That's awful." TK said, leaning on the front of Carlos' cruiser.
"Sad but true. Nobody wants to adopt teens, they aren't cute little babies anymore," Carlos pointed out. "They're moody, awkward, and brooding. But what people don't recognize is that they can also be insightful, curious, strong, and strong-minded. Just because they choose to speak their minds, it doesn't mean that they should be brushed off because of it."
Carlos shrugged and climbed into the cruiser. TK stood for a moment, turning Carlos' words over in his head. Finally, he moved and climbed into the passenger seat of the car.
"Station right?" Carlos asked.
TK nodded and looked down at the paper in his hand, Friday's date scrawled quickly across the top followed by a set of instructions.
"Do you think Bailey will think it's weird that I'll have to cancel on her on Friday?" TK asked.
Carlos chuckled.
"I think she'll be kept plenty busy at the station. Besides, it's not like we're going to keep this from her," He said, turning to TK. "This is her life after all."
TK nodded.
"I just don't want to get her hopes up is all. Especially if this doesn't work out." He said.
Carlos nodded in understanding; he saw TK's point. Bailey had been let down so many times already, it didn't seem fair to get her hopes up for something that might not actually happen.
"Okay, so we wait until the results come through," Carlos said. "And if she asks about Friday then just say that you had a last minute appointment. She trusts you, TK, she won't press."
TK nodded and went over the papers again.
"We have to do a lot before Friday." He chuckled.
Carlos laughed.
"Well then, let's get started." He said.