(AN) Yes shock horror, there's no prologue before Chapter One as I felt it wasn't needed this time. Anyway, here's chapter two of Recovery. I hope you all enjoy, and remember to Read and Review.
In this chapter, we'll see the start of Emma's nightmares, and see her and her mom adjusting to life back at home.
Credit goes to DS2010 for the nightmare ideas.
Also I'd like to point out that I fixed up a continuity error between this story and Jackson's Revenge. Basically I changed a line of dialogue saying Audrey and Emma would be out in six months to them being out in ten weeks, which is what this story says, since I realised that six months in hospital was too long for both their injuries.
Disclaimer; I don't own NCIS. All characters and locations are owned by CBS, Belliasauras Productions and Paramount Pictures.
Chapter Two
Seeking Help and Reflections
Emma suddenly woke with a jolt, and sat up in her now pitch black bedroom. She had gone to bed not long after dinner, and her dad had allowed her to keep her bedside lamp on until she fell asleep. The young girl's gaze wandered over to where she knew her closet was. She became aware of a faint rattling noise coming from inside.
"There's nothing in there," whispered Emma to herself, but still feeling somewhat nervous, "Besides, I'm too old to believe in monsters in the closet."
But as Emma tried to assure herself that the rattling wasn't real, and that it was just her imagination, the noise only intensified in volume and quickness. Then quite suddenly, the closet door creaked open. Emma gasped in shock, now shaking slightly, her heart racing.
A large figure slowly emerged from the closet, causing the blonde to try and scream, but her voice was caught in her throat. The figure was Moose, one of Thomas Jackson's friends who had tortured her.
"But he couldn't be here," thought Emma in a voice quivering with fear, "Aunt Ellie killed him."
The young girl attempted to leap from her bed, but Moose was too quick and grabbed her by the hair. He then dragged her kicking and screaming, before suddenly being taken by surprise as Emma kicked him in the shin before running to her bedroom door and shaking on the door handle, but it was no good.
"Nowhere to run to girlie." sneered Moose as he grabbed Emma round the middle, lifted her up and threw the trembling girl on to her bed. The man then climbed on to the bed and wrapped his large hands around Emma's throat.
"No, No, please, just leave me alone." pleaded Emma, gasping for air.
Downstairs, Kevin and Tommy were sitting on the sofa, watching the football when Emma's terrified screams echoed from upstairs, causing both boys to leap up and run for the stairs.
Kevin charged up the stairs, down the hallway and threw open the door to Emma's room, where he saw her sitting up, sweat dripping down her terrified face. She was trembling from head to foot.
Kevin reached the bed first and wrapped his arms around Emma in a comforting manner while also gently rubbing her back.
"Hey, shhh, it's alright Sweet-Pea," assured Kevin in a comforting voice, "Did you have a nightmare? Do you want to talk about it?"
"Oh, D-Dad, it was horrible," whimpered the eleven year old, "I woke up, a-and I heard the closet door rattling, t-then that Moose guy came out and tried strangling me."
"Hey, it's okay now, peanut," said Kevin, "Moose died, remember, so there's nothing to worry about."
After several minutes, Emma calmed down and wiped her eyes. Kevin then gently kissed her on the forehead.
"Now try and get some sleep, sweetheart." whispered her dad, gently.
The young girl watched as Kevin switched off the light, and gently shut the door. She then rested her head on her pillow, and soon dozed off.
The blonde awoke once again with a start as the sound of Moose's wicked laughter echoed in her room.
"It's not real, it's not real." muttered Emma under her breath.
Emma got out of bed and started walking around, Moose's laughter bouncing off the walls.
"I'm not scared of you." called out Emma in an attempt to sound brave.
"Ohhh, but you are girlie," hissed Moose in a sinister manner, "I'm gonna get you, and then I'm gonna get your dad, mom and brother too."
Emma then turned to face the closet and edged slowly towards it. She then reached out for the door handle and pulled the closet door open. Suddenly a large hand reached out and dragged her into the closet.
The eleven year old kicked and punched at the large figure holding her, but it was no use. She was then pinned to the floor of the closet and rolled on to her back where she now looked up with wide, terrified eyes at Moose's cold, dark eyes staring out from the balaclava covering his face. Emma attempted to struggle and scream, but it was no use. Moose then clamped a gloved hand firmly over Emma's mouth.
"Stop trying to struggle, girlie." whispered the man into Emma's ear.
The blonde let out a terrified, muffled scream as Moose produced a large knife and held it towards her face, his mouth twisting into a wicked grin.
Emma let out a terrified squeal as she bolted up in bed, her heart racing. Emma let out a sigh of relief as she saw that there was nobody in her room.
The next morning, everyone was sat at the kitchen table eating breakfast. Emma still felt somewhat tired, but after the second nightmare, she'd slept the rest of the night.
"Kevin, I think we should start looking for a therapist to help Emma," Audrey was saying quietly to her husband, "These nightmares are only going to get worse, and she needs all the help she can get."
"I'll try and get one that works with both kids and adults." suggested Kevin.
"Why?" asked Audrey, slightly annoyed, "Look honey, I know you're concerned, but I'm fine. I don't need help."
"What about your nightmare last night?" questioned Kevin, not buying it for a second.
"It was just a nightmare," argued the brunette, "It'll pass. Emma's young, she won't cope. And hey, I've been through worse. Remember those burglars, or when Emma fell seriously ill."
"Those were different," explained Kevin, "Honey, you and Emma were abducted and tortured, you were raped repeatedly by Jackson and his men. The nightmares will only get worse."
"I appreciate your concern, honey, but don't worry about me, let's focus on Emma." retorted Audrey, giving everyone a rather creepy attempt at a fake smile, one which she'd been using all morning.
"Okay." agreed a reluctant Kevin.
After breakfast, everyone brushed their teeth, and got dressed. Tommy would soon be heading for another day of University, while Audrey and Emma would be relaxing at home. Before he was due to head off to work, Kevin pulled out his phone and dialled in Jack Sloane's number. After a few rings she picked up.
"Hey, Jack." greeted Kevin.
"Hey there, Kevin," replied Sloane over the phone, "How are Audrey and Emma doing?"
"They're now fully settled in at home, but they're already beginning to suffer the aftereffects," explained the Navy Analyst solemnly, "Listen, Jack, do you know any good therapists that might be able to help them?"
"Hmmmm," began Jack thoughtfully, "Well, first off it has to be a woman, all those involved in Audrey and Emma's abduction and torture were male, so they won't trust a male therapist, but they'll instantly trust a female one."
Kevin waited patiently as Jack paused for several minutes. "I've got it," she declared, "Jennifer Benson. She's an old friend of mine, and is great with kids and adults. She helped me after my... ordeal in Afghanistan and inspired me to become a psychologist and help others, so she'd be perfect."
"Thanks, Jack." thanked Kevin.
Jack then gave Kevin Dr. Benson's number, and he soon managed to make an appointment.
Later on after starting their physical therapy, Audrey convinced a reluctant Kevin and Tommy (who had returned from University for a lunch break) to go out for some lunch, saying that she and Emma had to try and get used to being at home with just each other.
"Are you sure this is a good idea, babe?" asked a reluctant Kevin as he stood in the doorway, "Maybe we should be taking this more slowly?"
"We'll be fine, Kev," insisted the brunette, "Besides, we've got to show Emma that it's safe at home."
"Oh, alright." replied Kevin before sharing a kiss with his wife.
The two girls waved and then shut the door as Kevin and Tommy walked towards the car. The brunette then turned towards Emma and smiled. "So, what do you want to do?"
"Watch Frozen?" suggested Emma.
"Frozen it is then." said Audrey.
Later on the two were sat on the sofa, enjoying Frozen and eating some popcorn, which helped take their minds off the nightmares they'd had.
At the back of her mind, Audrey knew Kevin was right, but she was determined to get through this without help. The brunette felt that she couldn't show weakness in front of Emma, who was just as traumatised, and Kevin had been through enough already.
Emma on the other hand desperately wanted to get help and wanted the nightmares to end. Every time she closed her eyes, the young girl could see Moose' cold, dark eyes glaring down at her, mocking her, and she knew he would visit her nightmares again.
The two suddenly jumped up in fright at a light knock at the door. Emma looked at her mother in concern. The brunette looked a little frightened, but was trying to stay strong.
"Don't worry, sweetie, we're safe," assured Audrey in a comforting tone, "I'll see who it is.
Emma looked on in fear as her mom headed towards the main hall, terrified that it would be more horrible men, her mind flooded with memories of the home invasion.
Audrey finally reached the front door and flipped open the letterbox.
"H-hello? Who's there?" called out the woman in a scared whisper.
"It's me, Special Agent Timothy McGee, NCIS," came Tim's voice, "With Delilah, Johnny and Morgan."
Audrey heaved a huge sigh of relief before opening the door, revealing McGee standing there, Delilah sitting next to him in her chair and Johnny and Morgan were holding her hands.
"Oh, hey, Tim, Delilah," greeted the brunette, "Come in, I thought you were somebody else there for a minute."
Emma looked up as the door opened and saw Tim, Delilah and the twins entering the living room.
"Hi, Uncle Tim," cried the young girl as she ran up to the agent, and shared a hug with him.
"Good to see you at home, Emma." said Tim, smiling.
"Kevin told us you got home yesterday," said Delilah, "So we decided to come over and see how you are."
"Thanks, you guys," thanked Audrey, "It was weird coming back home, everything looked as good as new."
"Yeah, me, Gibbs and the others helped repair everything," explained McGee, "And I know just how you feel, I remember being in shock when I returned from being held captive in Paraguay."
"Have you been suffering any nightmares?" asked Delilah in concern.
"Me and Emma had some last night," answered Audrey, "But honestly guys, I'll be fine. Emma will need help though."
"You sure?" questioned Tim, not sounding convinced.
"Yeah, I'm sure," assured the woman.
"Okay, well if you ever want to talk about things, you can always talk to Jack or Dr. Grace, or other good therapists." said Delilah.
"We will," promised Audrey before lowering her voice, "Maybe."
Emma then took the twins hands and the three went off to play.
Meanwhile, over at a cafe, Kevin and Tommy were enjoying some food, both hoping that Audrey and Emma were alright.
"Hey, Dad, can I ask you something?" asked Tommy.
"Sure thing, buddy." replied Kevin.
"Did you ever imagine Uncle Thomas would go as far as he did when Sophie died?" questioned the teen in a sombre tone of voice.
Kevin was taken aback by that question, he hadn't ever thought about it."
"To be completely honest, I think I was too naive and soft to notice," sighed the former Lieutenant, "When Sophie died, I thought that after a few months he'd come to terms with what had happened, but even when your Aunt Sarah had, he refused to move on. You were too young to understand back then Tommy, but during that homecoming party just a few days before your sister was born, he tried to force himself on your mom."
"That's terrible," cried Tommy in disgust, "I remember Mom being upset about something and Aunt Sarah being mad, but I never imagined."
"You were just six at the time, you wouldn't have known," assured Kevin, "But even after that I gave him another chance, even after finding all that Anti-Vax propaganda in his quarters, I just gave him chance, after chance, after chance. Should've reported him to JAG when I had the chance."
"It wasn't your fault, Dad," assured the teen, "You were just trying to help, and thought you were doing the right thing, nobody can fault you for that."
"Thanks, Tommy." thanked the Navy Analyst.
Later on, Kevin and Tommy arrived home to find Audrey and Emma talking with McGee, Delilah, Johnny and Morgan.
"Hey, guys, didn't expect to see you here." greeted Kevin in surprise.
"Hey, Kev," replied Tim, "Just decided to drop by and see how Audrey and Emma were, although I think I may have scared them at first."
"Don't worry, Tim, you didn't scare me." assured Audrey in an unconvincing manner.
"Audrey, it's alright to feel scared after what happened, or a little jumpy," assured Delilah, "You've both been through unimaginable things that you wouldn't wish on your own worst enemy. Don't bottle things up."
"I'm not bottling it up!" barked the other brunette before sighing, "I'm sorry, Delilah."
"That's okay, Audrey." replied Delilah.
Soon after, McGee and the others left, leaving just Kevin, Audrey, Tommy and Emma.
"Oh by the way, I've booked you an appointment with a therapist," explained Kevin, "Her name's Dr. Benson, nice woman, Jack recommended her."
"Will she help stop the nightmares?" asked Emma.
"She will, honey." assured Audrey, gently stroking her precious daughter's hair, "You didn't book one for me as well, did you?"
"Of course, honey," said the former Lieutenant, "You'll need suport to get through this as well."
"I keep telling you, Kevin, I'll be fine." argued the brunette, "A few nightmares is nothing I can't handle."
Kevin sighed in defeat, realising that getting Audrey to listen was going to be tougher than he thought.
(AN) And that was chapter two. I hope you all enjoyed and remember to Read and Review.
So as you can see, Audrey is determined to get through this completely on her own, which as you can imagine won't end well.
I'd like to thank DS2010 for help with the nightmare sequences and a few plot points.
The therapist is an homage to Captain Olivia Benson from Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.
In the next chapter, the nightmares will continue for Audrey and Emma, and we'll meet their therapist Dr Benson.
Until the next time, this is TimeLordMaster108 signing out.
