Eddie and Jamie were just finishing their shift at around 1:00 am.
"I am so ready to go home, put my feet up with a pizza and bowl of ice cream," Eddie told Jamie.
"Of course you are," Jamie retorted.
As their bantering continued they were dispatched over the radio to respond to a child in distress.
"12 David responding," Jamie reported and sped off to the scene.
"I hate these calls," Eddie stated
"Me too," Jamie agreed.
As they arrived on scene many other patrol cars were there.
"Hey Sarge what do we have," Jamie asked.
"Poor kid is in there, her father killed the mother, who was just left in the apartment and what I could see of the girl she looks pretty beat up. She's hiding in the corner and freaks when anyone comes near. Who knows where the father is and I don't want her around this. If you can try to get her out that would be a step in the right direction."
"You got it" Eddie sadly replied as Jamie shook his head in disgust.
They climbed the stairs up the brownstone apartment and into the putrid smelling house.
"My gosh Eddie, this poor girl!"
They continued down the hallway seeing the mothers dead body and trash everywhere. When they got to the end of the hallway an officer pointed to the room that he stood next to. Jamie and Eddie nodded and entered preparing themselves for what they were about to encounter. They looked around the room for a second trying to locate where they girl was. They heard a whimper and glanced at each other and headed to the corner next to the bed and saw the little girl about 4 years old, malnourished, bruised, and terrified. Jamie and Eddie crouched down next to the girl. She panicked and her breathing quickened and she tried to push herself back against the wall.
"Hey, hey it's okay you're safe now," Jamie soothed.
She tried hiding her face as silent tears feel from her face. Jamie looked back at Eddie. "Who the hell would do this," He questioned.
Eddie shook her head and looked toward the terrified girl.
"Don't we have a blanket in the car?" questioned Eddie.
"Yeah. I'll go get it" Jamie replied.
Jamie got up carefully trying not to startle the girl and walked out to get the blanket to hopefully comfort the girl. Eddie turned her attention back to the young girl.
"Hey my name is Eddie. Can you tell me your name?"
The girl just lifted her hidden face barely enough to take a glance at Eddie. Well I guess that's progress Eddie thought. Jamie entered back in and the girl hid her face again. Jamie squatted down giving Eddie the blanket.
"Can I give you this blanket sweetheart" Eddie questioned.
The girl once again looked up a bit. Eddie slowly reached out putting the blanket on the poorly clothed girl. The girl flinched but then settled into the soft cozy blanket.
"Would it be okay if I sat down next to you" asked Eddie.
The little girl nodded. Jamie smiled lightly knowing the girl was feeling a bit more comfortable. The officer who was standing outside the door walked in and the girl drew back into herself.
"It's okay, it's okay" Jamie tried to tell her.
The officer had a stuffed bunny that he kept in his patrol car to give to children who were experiencing something traumatic. He handed it to Jamie and quickly left seeing that he was stressing the girl out more. Jamie slowly gave the bunny to the girl. The girl looked up
"why" she asked innocently.
Jamie and Eddie hated that she even had that question.
"The officer gives bunnies to kids who need someone to hold, I think you could use one".
The little girl slowly took the bunny from Jamie.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"Would it be okay if Eddie or I carried you out to our car it's much warmer than in here?"
The little girl nodded hesitantly. Eddie went to lift the girl up with her blanket and bunny and the three of them headed for outside. Eddie felt that the little girl was very tense and shaking. She felt the girl flinch as they passed all the officers, detectives, and crime scene investigators. When they got to the car Eddie asked Jamie to find another blanket for the shaking girl. Eddie opened the car and got into to her usual spot. The girl relaxed a bit knowing that she was in the car away from everyone.
"I didn't get to learn your name. Do you think you could tell me now" Eddie questioned. "Emmie" she whispered.
"That's a pretty name" Eddie encouraged.
Jamie opened the other side of the patrol car with another blanket in hand. He draped it over the girl.
"I talked to sarge and he found that her father, Paul Wickman, and mother, Kate Wickman, had been arrested multiple times for murder, rape, and domestic violence. They somehow got off the hook each time." Eddie sighed and looked down at the sweet girl she was holding.
"Paul is the head of a mafia, he thinks that he will be coming back to find Emmie."
"Not if I have anything to say about it" Eddie exclaimed.
"Well she needs to get checked out and sarge doesn't want to take her to the hospital incase her father goes there, so I am going to take her to our apartment and Linda can come over and check her out".
Eddie nodded noticing that protocol was going out the window with this case. Jamie started the car and headed to their apartment.
When they arrived at their apartment Emmie was asleep, exhausted from the trauma she was and had experienced. Jamie got out of the car and went over to Eddie's door and opened it to grab Emmie while Eddie got out. When he lifted her up he noticed how light she was and it angered him. He took the blankets and tried to cover her with them again. Eddie and him went up to their apartment unlocking the door successfully keeping Emmie asleep. They went into the apartment and sat on the couch as Eddie called Linda to ask her to come over
"Eddie is everything okay" Linda asked in a panic knowing it was two in the morning.
"Jamie and I got a call on a 4 year old girl tonight, an extreme case of abuse and neglect. Long story short we can't take her to the hospital and were hoping you could come by and check her out".
"Yeah, of course where are you" she asked getting out of bed.
"The apartment"
"On my way"
Eddie set her phone down and went over to sit on the chair next to where Jamie was sitting holding Emmie.
"Did Sarge say what the plan was for her" She questioned.
"No, child protective services will come and get her in the morning I bet"
"Jamie this little girl has been through so much and we don't even know the start of it!"
"I know Ed."
"What do you think about if we tried to adopted her?"
"If you want to adopt her I am fine with it. We have a bedroom, I'm sure pops would love to babysit for us, and financially I think we can do it".
"How do we start this process?"
"I'll call Erin, and talk to sarge to see if we can keep her here instead of her going with DCS while we are going through the process."
They continued to discuss what they needed to do to prepare for this new chapter in their life as they heard a knock on the door. Eddie got up to go get it assuming it was Linda.
"Hey Linda, thanks for coming over"
"No problem"
Linda walked over to see the sleeping girl. All she could see was her face and it was all bruised. Jamie shifted Emmie to gently wake her. Emmie was startled and her eyes shot open and her breathing increased.
"Hey it's okay you're safe, Eddie and I are here."
Her breathing slowed but was still very nervous with being in an unfamiliar place and seeing a new lady in front of her.
"This is Linda she won't hurt you, she wants to make sure you are okay and that you can feel better." Eddie softly spoke. "Would it be okay if she asked you a few questions and looked to see if you are okay?"
Emmie shrugged not wanting to say no thinking that she would get hit.
Linda stepped up " How about I start with a few questions?"
"okay" Emmi replied softly
"How old are you?"
"four" she said meekly.
"Whats your favorite color?"
"pink"
"Thats mine too!"
Jamie and Eddie looked at each other hopeful that this would go alright.
"Does anything hurt?" Linda continued.
"Umm Im not sure" She whispered going closer to Jamie.
"Its okay if something does Linda can help you" Jamie said.
"All over hurts" she said with fear.
"Okay. Is it okay if I take a look" Linda asked trying to give Emmie all the control.
"She won't hurt you and if you say stop she will" Eddie added.
"C-can I stay here?" Emmie asked referring to Jamies lap.
"Of course sweet heart" Linda said.
Jamie adjusted her so she was facing Linda. Emmie tensed up.
"No one will hurt you" reminded Jamie.
Linda talked to her about what she was going to do. She wanted to start out just checking her face, arms and lower legs for bruising. The poor girl was covered in bruises, scars, and burn marks. They were all furious but stayed calm for Emmie.
"Nice job sweetie" Linda praised.
Linda continued to check for broken bones and checked to see if she had a concussion.
"From what I can tell without being at the hospital and using their equipment I would say she has a concussion, many past broken bones that were not taken care of, and a second degree burn".
"Emmie I need to ask you a personally question. Do you know what that means" Linda asked
Emmie shook her head.
"It means that this question may be something you don't want to talk about but it is important for me to know so I can help you the best I can"
Emmie nodded
"Has anyone touched you were they shouldn't"
Emmie automatically got teary eyed and clung to Jamie. Jamie, Linda, and Eddie looked at each other with anger and sadness for this little girl.
Jamie got up with Emmie who was becoming hysterical and walked around with her telling her she was safe and okay.
"I'm going to need to exam her" Linda sadly told Eddie.
Eddie nodded in understanding but furious that this all happened to Emmie.
"Do you want me to call Danny to have him go to the store to get some things for her"
"Thats a good idea, maybe he could find something to help sooth her"
Jamie had calmed her down to just a whimper. She still clung to Jamie tightly and held her bunny tight. He sat back down where he was before.
"I really need to look at where you were touched to make sure everything is okay would that be okay" Linda asked
Emmie's breathing became rapid again she started to rock back and forth to try to sooth herself clinging to her bunny.
"Do you want me to hold you" asked Eddie trying to find a way to help make this easier for the girl.
Emmie shook her head no and clung to Jamie.
"Baby girl, it will be okay. She won't hurt you, she just wants to help you" Jamie reminded
"I-I'm scared" Emmie said
"Can I look but if you say stop I will stop?" Linda asked
"Okay" Emmie said in terror.
"Do you want me to leave" asked Jamie.
Emmie clung to him giving the answer he needed.
Linda looked as Emmie was bawling in fear.
"Okay great job sweetie" Linda praised.
They were all in tears seeing how much this child had been through and how hard this was for her. Jamie got up again knowing that helped calm her last time.
"It's bad Eddie" Linda told her.
"That son of a bitch" Eddie fumed.