New chapter today. The next chapter will be posted on the 29th of this month. I uhh... don't know what else to say lol. Anyways, please feel free to comment on what you think so far. I am also open to any suggestions you all may have for the story. Enjoy.
Chapter 35
A week passes by with no problems. The team kept their promise in visiting whenever they could in order to make sure the teen was okay. The ladies would enjoy their company, especially with Penelope's vivid energy and Rossi's exquisite food.
Emily noticed how Dani became quite reserved during the course of the days. She was quiet for the most part, only talking when Emily would start up a conversation. Part of her wants to think that the reason why Dani was acting this way is because of the medication that she takes. Some of them do make her drowsy, lowering her energy in talking but the agent knows that it is more than that. She knows it's something emotional that is bothering her. The teen has always told her that she feels good physically but never says anything of how she feels mentally. Emily decided not to push the teen into talking, not wanting her to feel agitated or uncomfortable. She is just patiently waiting in hopes of the teen eventually opening up.
It's a Wednesday morning and Penelope stopped by for a visit, bringing along breakfast to share. Emily and the tech analyst are sitting at the kitchen bar, talking while having a drink.
"I brought you tea with fine herbs my non-caffeine drinker," Penelope said while handling her mug. "I admire you for quitting on such a sugar rush but I do wonder how you manage without it. I don't think I can go by a day without coffee," Penelope said while pointing at her cup. "This is life."
"Caffeine gets me all agitated. I let it go in order to help me relax," Emily told the blonde. "The only time I drink coffee is when i'm hungover."
"Yeah, last time that happened her head was pounding and she was acting like a zombie," Dani said while entering the kitchen with a smile. She was in some red basketball shorts with an oversized long sleeve shirt. The teen had her hair tied up as a messy bun as she just woke up. "Coffee was the cure."
"You're up!" Penelope exclaimed as she stood up and walked towards the teen. She welcomed her with a light hug, knowing that the teen was still recovering from her broken rib.
"Hey, P," Dani said with a smile. She was glad that the tech analyst was there for a visit. Penelope lets go of the teen and looks at her with a smile.
"I brought you something that I know you will love," she said with a smile. Dani tilts her head to the side wondering what the bubbly woman was talking about. Penelope grabs the teen's hand and guides her to the bar where Emily was sitting. The blonde is taking out something from the breakfast bags she brought while Dani sits next to Emily. The brunette smiles at the teen and leans over to press a kiss head.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," she said with a smile.
"Morning, Em," replied the teen with a sheepish smile.
"You had a good sleep?" Emily asked her. She noticed that the teen had tired eyes and looked slightly paler than usual. The girl also appears to look slightly more thinner. She begins to worry about her health.
"Yeah. Well, kind of," Dani answered. "I slept a little late. Tried sleeping earlier but I couldn't. I guess the meds screwed up my sleeping schedule," she said with a shrug. "I'm just a little tired, that's all."
Emily looks at Dani with worried eyes. Before she can say something, Garcia walks up to them and with a coffee cup in hand.
"Here you go, sugar bear. Vanilla flavored ice coffee. Just how you like it," Penelope said while handing the cup to the teen. Dani accepts the cup with a smile.
"You're the best. Thank you," she said while taking a sip.
"Anytime, hun," Garcia said with a wink. "You and I are both alike when it comes to mornings. Can't go anywhere without a delicious dose of caffeine."
"That is very true," Dani said while leaning back on the chair. "You have the day off?" she asked Penelope.
"Unfortunately, no. We don't have a case yet so we just have paperwork to fill out. I have to be at the office by eleven," she said with a small pout. "But I wanted to stop by for a visit to see how you two are doing. As the very wonderful person I am, I brought delicious breakfast for you wonderful ladies," she said while unpacking the food that was inside the bags.
"And that's why we love you," Emily said while standing up in order to help the blonde. Dani nodded in agreement.
"Oh, I know you do," replies Penelope with a grin.
The three ladies eat breakfast together. Penelope brought in a variety of morning dishes which included pancakes, sausages, bacon, and scrambled eggs. They all enjoyed the food, Penelope briefing on what Emily has missed from work. Emily is worry-free when it comes to her team not being under her command. As the Unit Chief of the team, she has the responsibility of carrying out and observing what happens in the facility. She left Rossi in charge, knowing that he is the most experienced and skilled person to handle the position of being in charge. She knows that the BAU is in the right hands.
Dani is the first one to finish, not really eating much. She stands up and politely excuses herself from the table. "Thanks for the breakfast, Pen," Dani said with a smile.
"No problem, dear," Penelope said with a smile. "I hope this recharged your battery."
"I hope so too," Emily said while taking a bite of her pancake. "Remember that you have a doctor's appointment at twelve today."
"That's today?" Asked the teen with a brow raised.
"Yes," confirms the brunette with a nod. She sees the teen getting a little tensed up. "It's just a check-up. They just want to see if you are getting better. That's all."
"Alright. I will go shower and change then," Dani said and left the kitchen. The two ladies watch as she leaves before talking. Emily still feels worried as she watches the girl leave. She just knows that Dani is far more impacted about what happened than she shows herself to be. It's starting to affect her health.
"She seems to be doing well," Penelope told the brunette.
"Too well," Emily said with a frown.
"That is a good thing... right?" Garcia questioned.
"I don't know. I guess," Emily said with a sigh. "The kid, she is good at masking what she really feels. She is like a prickly cactus, hard to reach if she doesn't want you to get to her."
"Are we talking about Dani or about you?" Penelope said while cocking her head to the side. "Em, you both do the same thing. Strong-willed, never breaking in front of others."
Emily looks at her and notices that her friend has a point. "I guess you're right but that's the part that scares me. If she is like me that means it would be almost impossible to reach out for her."
"I have to admit, you are pretty hard to reach out. Especially when you shut everyone out," the blonde pointed out. "Em, you are the closest thing she has to a mom. You have to hang in there, be there for her in order to let her know that she isn't alone," Penelope stated while reaching for Emily's hand. "She will see how much you love and care for her. Once she sees that, she will start opening up."
Emily smiles at her friend, grateful for the advice. "Thank you, Penelope. For everything."
"Anytime mama bear."
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Emily and Dani were sitting in the waiting area of the doctor's office. It was a nice looking family physician building with bright lights that beamed vividly. The walls were bright blue and the floor was squeaky clean. The place was rather empty, only having four other patients waiting in the room. Dani was sitting on the edge of her seat, bouncing her foot up and down. A habit she grew up with whenever she is anxious or nervous. She wasn't sure exactly why she was feeling this way. It was just something she couldn't control.
Emily was patiently waiting while reading a book. She noticed how jittery the teen was and placed her book down. "You okay?" she asked her.
Dani looks up at the brunette and shoots her a smile. "Yeah. A little nervous, that's all," Emily looks at her with a face of concern. "I just haven't been outside since… well, you know."
Emily nods in understanding. "Once the check-up is over we will go back home, okay?" She said while placing her hand on top of Dani's.
"Alright."
Just then Dani is called inside. Both ladies walk inside, greeted by a young nurse. The nurse guides them towards a small room that was right at the entrance. Dani enters the room and sits down on a chair while Emily is standing by the entrance. The nurse does a quick check-up, checking out the teen's heart rate, temperature, height, and weight. Emily was right, the girl did lose weight. Dani was always an active person, being involved in a lot of sports and outdoor activities but Emily knows that isn't the reason why she had lost weight. It's because of her kidnapping. After that incident, she noticed how Dani lost her appetite. After that was over, the nurse guided them to a larger room, telling them that the doctor would be there soon to check on them.
Dani is sitting on the practice table while Emily is sitting on a chair placed on the side. Dani rests her chin on her hand, feeling sleepy. Damn. The caffeine wore down already, she thought to herself.
They hear a knock on the door and watch as the door opens slowly, with the doctor entering the room. She is a young, caramel skin toned woman with nice frizzy hair. Dani's primary physician ever since Emily took her in.
"Why hello there, ladies," she greeted with a warm smile.
"Dr. Bailey. Nice to see you again," Emily said while standing up and stretching her hand. Both ladies greet each other with a firm handshake and a smile. Dr. Bailey looks at Dani who is sitting on the edge of the table.
"So, I heard you entered inside an MMA ring," she said with a sweet smile. She knew what really happened to Dani. Emily told her the day she made the appointment. She was caught up with everything, including the child's injuries.
"That's not exactly what happened," Dani said shyly. "I was actually wrestling alligators," she said with a smirk.
Both adults in the room chuckled at the teens' remark. "Knowing you, I wouldn't doubt you for one second," said the doctor.
"You know it, Doc," the teen said with a grin.
"Alright. I just need to check on your recovery," she said while putting on some latex gloves. "I will check on the cuts on your arms in order to make sure they are healing properly," she told the teen while walking towards her. Dani nods and slowly rolls up her sleeves, revealing the scars. She looks at them and frowns lightly, watching the lashes in her arms. She stretches her hands in order for the doctor to get a good look while diverting her eyes to the wall. This is why she wore long sleeves. She didn't want to see all the cuts that she had. Dr. Bailey looked at both arms and made sure they were healing properly.
Emily watched as the doctor examined the teen's arms. She saw how the lashes ran across her arm, some longer than others. She shudders as she remembers the live feed where she saw Dani receiving those cuts. Those cuts are a reminder that she failed to protect the girl on time.
"They seem to be healing very well. These scars should be gone in a few more weeks," she said with hope.
"How about the cut on the brow?" Dani asked quietly while looking at her.
"Let me take a look," Dr. Bailey told her. She reaches for the teen and slowly touches the stitches that are going through Dani's eyebrow, looking for anything unusual. Dani slightly winces with the doctor's touch, feeling a slight sting. The doctor gives her an apologetic look and places her hand down.
"Well, the stitches seem to be doing fine, which means they should dissolve just fine. The good thing that it is not infected," she pauses and looks at Emily who was listening attentively. "Unfortunately, the cut was deep in a rather sensitive area of the skin. There would most likely be a permanent scar left behind after the wound fully heals."
Dani looks down and sighs. "That's okay. As long as it doesn't hurt I will be fine."
"Once the stitches are gone, you won't feel any discomfort," the doctor assured her. "I promise."
Dani nods and glances at Emily. The agent is sitting on the chair and lightly smiles at her. "Scar or no scar, you look perfect," she told Dani. She smiles and turns her attention back to the doctor.
Doctor Bailey checked on the teen's rib as the final part of the check-up. Dani was lifting up her shirt while Dr. Bailey was lightly pressing on the side of her ribcage, asking her if she felt any discomfort when doing so. Dani replied honestly with a no. She had purple bruises in the abdomen area of her body but only felt slightly sore. Dr. Bailey took out her stethoscope and told the teen to take deep breaths in order to hear any crackling there could be. She was glad to hear the teen breathe normally without anything sounding unusual.
"Well, it looks like everything is pretty good. Your wounds are healing and soon enough you will be able to do activities without restrictions," Dr. Bailey told Dani while sitting down on a mobile stool. "For now I want you to continue resting and limit any physical stress. Take any pain medication only when you feel discomfort."
"That I can do," Dani said while hopping off the table. "So is the check-up over? Do I get a lollipop or something for my excellent behavior," she said jokingly.
The doctor chuckles as Emily shakes her head with a smile. "Not so fast, Daniela. We are almost done," Dr. Bailey said. "But you can get candy that is inside the top cabinet," she said while pointing out the cabinet. Dani smiles as she opens the cabinet door, revealing a jar of small sweets. She takes out a red tootsie pop and leans against the wall.
"What is there left?" She questioned while wrapping her arms on her chest.
"Well, as I said, you have been healing well physically. How about mentally?" asked the young doctor. Emily looks at the teen for a response.
"What do you mean?" asked Dani with a brow raised.
"What I'm saying is, have you recovered emotionally?" said the doctor. "What you have been through was a really hard and stressful experience. Experiences like the one you went through can negatively impact your mental health."
"I'm fine. There is nothing wrong with me," Dani said rather defensively.
Emily noticed the change of tone in the teen's voice. She stands up and walks in front of her. "We are not saying that something is wrong with you, Dan. We are just worried that what happened affected you emotionally," she said softly. "It's okay to feel sad or scared. Nothing to be ashamed about."
"But I don't feel that way. I'm good. I feel completely normal," Dani said while looking at Emily. She glances at the door, wanting to get out. "What happened out there… it's over. It's in the past now."
Dr. Bailey sits up and looks at the teen. "Daniela, these types of situations are not easy to overcome, especially for a teenager like yourself. This was a very traumatic experience you went through-"
"But it's not the first one," Dani said while interrupting the adult. She looks down at the floor with a frown on her face. "I've been through a lot of… hard times. I've managed to go on and push through without any problems. I don't need any help now," she pauses and glances up at the adults. She doesn't know why but she started to feel overwhelmed with the doctor's question. Can't they just understand that I'm okay? What happened is now over. I can get through this by myself. Why can't they see that and let it rest? The insistence that both Emily and Dr. Bailey has too much to handle at the moment. She now has the urge to get out. "I need to go to the bathroom," she told them. Dani opens the door and quickly walks out of the room, leaving both of them behind.
Emily sighs and turns around, facing the doctor. "She doesn't want to talk," she said in a defeated tone. "She has been quiet all week and when she talks she makes sure to avoid the topic of her abduction. When I try to ask her how she feels about it she shuts down."
Dr. Bailey stands up and looks at the worried brunette. "It isn't abnormal for her to display this behavior," she told Emily. "Daniela is right about her going through a lot of tough situations. Starting with witnessing her mother's battle against addiction and watching both family members die in front of her. This isn't counting her time in being in the foster care system," she pauses, feeling bad for the teen. "She was never offered the right support in order to properly heal from these traumas. The only way she knows how to deal with them is to hide her feelings of pain, locking them in order to suppress her negative emotions."
Emily is attentively listening to everything Dr. Bailey is saying. She is right, Dani was never given the opportunity of properly addressing her traumas with therapy or a support group. It makes sense that the teen would want to continue to suppress her pain. It's the only way she knows.
"What do you suggest I should do?" Emily asked.
"Make an appointment for a therapist. I can give you a list of very good therapists around the area," the doctor answered. "What is important right now is for Dani to talk. If she won't talk to you or to anyone, you have to take her to see a therapist."
Emily bites her bottom lip. She knows it would be an impossible task for her to take Dani to see a therapist. Emily has tried to take her before but Dani never liked the idea of seeing one.
"I know it won't be easy," Dr. Bailey told her. "But it's for the best. Try to get her to talk to you. If she won't open up, counseling will be our plan B."
"I just hope we don't end up using plan Z."