So, here's the next chapter. This will be an emotional one once again. They discuss their history, truly discuss it and we see true progress. To my reviewer xXBalorBabeXx I totally understand. I've been swamped with my certification I'm working on. Life is rough for me sometimes as well. Keep your head up. I'm so glad you're still enjoying the story. Wasn't sure how you'd feel about Carly leaving lol. I try to write multiple chapters at a time, that way, you have more to read.
"So, you need to discuss your past?" Anne questioned and Carly nodded while Nelle gripped Carly's hand tightly for support. "Where should we start?" Dr. Garcia asked kindly. Nelle took a deep shuttering breath before beginning to speak quietly. "I think she still, somewhat, hates me for everything even though she has been there for me." Nelle revealed as tears began pouring from her eyes and at that, Carly broke down as well.
"I see. Carly? Is she right?" Carly took a deep breath before nodding, the tears still coming. "I can understand that. She did horrible things to you." Anne remarked. "But even when she knew he had lied, she still couldn't stop." Carly yelled and Nelle also became angry. "You had my child taken from me." "No, no, no. You tried to have my son killed and you had me locked in a mental institution." Carly interrupted and Dr. Garcia just watched, knowing this needed to happen. "So what. Do you regret helping me?" Nelle snapped and Carly let out a sigh. "Absolutely not. I love you, but I'll always remember what you did."
"As you should." Nelle said quietly. "I don't want it to tear us apart though." She continued. "I don't either, but I don't, entirely trust you." She revealed and Nelle nodded. "I understand. I'm constantly afraid you'll leave." She said and Carly rolled her eyes. "I'm so tired of hearing that crap. How many times do I have to tell you I'm not going anywhere?" She bellowed. "Maybe it'll never be enough, especially since you just came back after staying at Sonny's for a week. and you promised you'd never leave." Nelle shot back. "Well, you said you'd stop blaming me, but look how that's working out." Carly snapped. "I didn't mean what I said. It wasn't your fault." Nelle exclaimed, throwing her hands up as she began to pace, her eyes once again filling with tears.
"I just don't know what it will take. I've been there for you through two rapes, multiple flashbacks, I wake up when you scream at 2:00 A.M. and I still manage to go to work every day and take care of you. If I'm not doing a good job and you truly think it's my fault, maybe you should leave. I'm sure detective Parker's partner would enjoy a visit from you." She bellowed and Nelle cried even harder. "I hate you." She screamed, slapping Carly across the face. "Wo, you two. That's enough." Dr. Garcia spoke loudly, seeing things were clearly getting out of hand. "Look, I know you have issues, but there was no reason for that." She snapped and they looked at each other, tears streaming down both their faces. On the other hand, this might have been a good thing. "If I may interrupt." She said once she could speak to them without yelling and they both gave her their full attention as Nelle shifted towards Carly and laid her head on her shoulder, Carly's arms immediately going around her as if they hadn't just been yelling at one another and having an extremely loud screaming match. "I don't think you two hate each other as much as you think. I believe you love each other and that scares you." She explained. "It's just normal for you to immediately lash out, but deep down, that's not what you want to do." She continued and they stared at one another, processing that information. "I love her so much and when she saved me by getting me up off the floor and to GH for treatment, I forgot all about our history in that moment." Nelle explained, shifting closer to Carly.
"I feel the same way. I don't hate her. I can't because I love her so much." She whispered, kissing the top of her head."I think you need to face your true feelings and when you do, things will begin to move in a positive direction." Dr. Garcia explained. "Next time we meet, Nelle try not to slap her." She said and Nelle smiled slightly.
"Hey, baby. Where are your clothes?" Carly questioned that night as she entered the bedroom. "I don't need them. They made me go without clothes a lot when I was a kid, so I don't like wearing them." She explained. "Sweetheart, I don't want to force you, but you need to wear pajamas because of your bandages. I'll help you but we need to get dressed." Carly softly explained as she opened the dresser and pulled out some things for her to wear. "Do you think Anne was right?" She questioned as Carly helped her to dress.
"Yeah, I do. I can't hate you." She whispered. "I'm sorry I always think you're gonna leave and for slapping you. It just hurt, what you said. I don't want to see him." "It's ok. I need to be more understanding about that and I never should've said you should leave, let alone go see detective Parker's partner." "Maybe, but I can't keep blaming you. If I do, it will ruin everything." She said, sniffling softly.
"Hey, look at me. I'm not going anywhere, and the next time you lash out, we will talk about it. I won't leave." She vowed. "I appreciate that. Do you want to get something to eat? I know we are in pajamas already, but we could go out." Nelle questioned. "Why don't we just stay here. I don't know if you're up for that." She remarked as Nelle shifted in to a sitting position before crying out in pure discomfort.
Carly immediately sat up and touched her arm. "Sweetie, I know you don't like it when I ask this, but are you hurting?" She asked tentatively. "It hurts, um, down there." She whispered. "Here, sit on this." She said handing her a pillow. "Thank you. I'm sorry." She said as a blush took over her face.
"Hey. None of that. They violated you. After all the blood I saw, I understand." She said softly. "You're gonna give 'em hell though at the trial." She said proudly. "I-I don't want to." She confessed and Carly sighed sadly. With everything going on, they hadn't discussed the trial yet.
"It's the only way to lock them up." She explained as Nelle began crying softly. "I know, but they have all the videos detective Parker found in dads old house plus the ones Dante found here." She yelled and Carly moved closer, pulling her in to a hug. "Believe me, baby. I know, but they need your testimony." She explained and Nelle cried even harder at that. "T-they don't believe me. T-they think I w-wanted it." She asked through her sobs and Carly looked at her. "I don't know, sweetheart. I don't know what they believe. I just know they need your testimony." "Ok. I'll do it. I want to get my life back." She said after a bit and Carly smiled proudly. "That's my girl."
"Ly Ly?" "What's up, baby?" "I wan food, pwease." She responded and Carly immediately sat up and held the girl close. "Ok, little one." She said as she stood up and carried Nelle out of the room.
"Good morning, you two." Bobbie said happily as they entered the kitchen. "Morning, mom." Carly responded. "Something smells good." Carly observed and Bobbie nodded. "I made bacon, eggs, sausage, pancakes and toast." She revealed and at the mention of all that Nelle became very frightened, suddenly not wanting to eat as a flashback came on.
"Janelle. You know what happens when you don't finish all your food." Frank's voice boomed and the girl whimpered in fear. "Full." She whispered and he immediately became even more angry. "I don't care. You wanted all that, so you're going to finish it." "I-I can't." She said shakily and he removed his belt. "Oh well.
"Nelle, sweetheart. Everything's ok. Can you tell me what's wrong?" Carly questioned as she took a seat in the rocking chair. "I got a wot of food cause I thought I was hungry and he said I had to finish all of it. I couldn't so he took off his belt." She cried and Carly kissed her cheek. "That will never happen. If you can't finish all of your food, that's ok. You will not be punished for that. Do you understand?" She asked lovingly as Nelle snuggled closer to her and nodded. Once breakfast was complete, Carly returned to the living room and placed Nelle on the floor, sitting down next to her before opening a coloring book and beginning to color one of the pretty pictures.
"What." Carly questioned when Nelle gave her a look. "You color outside the lines." She said softly and Carly laughed loudly, beginning to tickle her. "What are you going to do about it." She said as the girl shrieked with laughter as Bobbie watched fondly from the doorway with a smile on her face.
1 week later
Carly looked at Bobbie as she prepared breakfast. "I doubt very seriously she will eat. She had nightmares about every hour last night, and some made her sick." She explained as she took a sip of coffee. "I heard her screaming sometimes." "I'm sorry." "No, honey. Don't worry about that at all." She said and Carly nodded her thanks as Nelle entered the kitchen. "Hey, honey. I'm making breakfast." Bobbie said and Nelle nodded silently as she took a seat next to Carly. "Baby, you need to try to talk to me. You have to testify this morning." She said worriedly. "Can't." She signed and Carly exchanged a look with Bobbie. "What are you going to do?" "I'm going to tell Dianne and she can tell the judge." She responded.
"This isn't good." Dianne said and Carly nodded. "I don't know what to do." "They could hold her in contempt if she doesn't talk." Dianne whispered and Carly scowled. "She can't talk, Dianne." "I understand that, but the judge might not." She said and Carly just scowled once more, not happy at all with this.
"Miss Dawson, call your first witness." The judge said and Carly visibly tensed. "The state calls Nelle Benson to the stand." She said. As she approached the witness box, she wondered how she was supposed to answer their questions. Every time she opened her mouth, it was as if she was unable to speak. "Miss Benson, can you tell me what your childhood was like growing up with your father, Frank Benson?" Margo asked softly, just praying she could verbally respond. Nelle opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Sighing in frustration, she tried once more with the same result. "Miss Benson, answer the question." The judge said and she tried once more, but all that came out was a whimper. "Miss Dawson, I need you to explain to Miss Benson that if she doesn't answer she will be held in contempt." The judge said and Carly rose to her feet. "Your honor, if I may?" "Miss-"
"Corinthos. Carly Corinthos, your honor." She said softly and he looked at her. "Go ahead, miss Corinthos, but be brief." "I am Nelle's friend and caretaker and she's currently nonverbal." "I'm Dianne Miller, and I have a medical report to back this up. I am also her attorney." She said as she handed the judge the paperwork as Margo approached Nelle. "Nelle, honey. I need you to try to testify. You're the only one who can describe your childhood with Frank." She said softly. "Describe your childhood with Frank." She repeats. "Hell. It was the childhood from hell." She whispered. "What happened?" "What happened?" She repeats, looking at Carly before continuing, seemingly finding her own words, if all be it briefly. "He abused me, in every way." She remarked.
"Can you elaborate?" Margo questions and she begins to shake violently. "He would let his friends, do things to me." She said quietly. "They would have sex with me, against my will. He would beat and lock me in a closet if I tried to get food without his permission."
"Did he ever sexually abuse you?" Margo asked and Nelle nodded, franticly seeking out Carly with her eyes. "Bath time was so much fun." Came a voice and Nelle let out a scream, eyes moving towards the defendants table. "Objection. He's frightening her." Margo said and the judge glared at Frank. "One more outburst like that and you'll be in contempt." "I took care of my little girl, Carly." He said and Nelle once again let out a cry, tears pouring from her eyes as she resisted the urge to bolt. "Order. We are taking a 10 minute break." The judge declared.
"Janelle, come to daddy." Frank called out but she ran straight in to Carly's arms. "No. No. No." She began repeating as she gripped Carly's shirt. "Shhh, baby. We are going outside." She cooed before the judge got her attention. "You can take her home." He said softly and Carly nodded her appreciation. "I'm sorry." "It's alright. She can testify to just me and Miss Dawson if we need to. I will not let him traumatize her any more than she already is." He explained softly.
"Come on, honey. I have to drive." Carly said as she tried to remove Nelle's arms from around her. "No. Please. Don't let go." She shrieked and suddenly Margo appeared by the car. "Carly? Is there a problem?" "She doesn't want me to put her down but I need to drive to my mother's house." She explained and without wasting a second Margo climbed in to the drivers seat. "Get in the back. I'll drive." She said. "Thank you." Carly responded. "Take the long way if you don't mind." She whispered and Margo gave her a look. "I'm going to get her to sleep." She explained and the attorney nodded. "Gotcha." She said as she pulled out of the parking lot.
As Margo drove, Carly spoke soothingly to Nelle in the backseat. "You did so good, baby. I'm so proud of you." She whispered and Nelle looked at her and spoke loud enough for Margo to hear. "That's what he would say after his friends would leave, and at that,Margo abruptly pulled the car over. She flung the door open as she got a few feet away before throwing up. Carly looked at Nelle as she began moving around, as if she wanted to move away. "What baby. What is it?" "Be back." She said before retrieving a bottle of unopened water and exiting the car, slowly approaching the ADA. "For you." The girl said quietly and Margo turned around, taking the bottle. "Thank you, honey. Can I hug you?" "Yes." She whispered and Carly watched in amazement as Nelle hugged someone else besides her. As Nelle felt Margo begin to cry softly, she surprisingly didn't become upset. She herself, began crying and at that, Carly bolted from the car, ready to help them both. "Carly. How could he do this to her?" Margo questioned through tears. "I don't know. I'll never understand, but you're the best ADA I know so I need you on this case." She said and the attorney nodded. "I am sorry. What she said, it just got to me." "It's alright. I'm used to it because of her nightmares." "I should be, with my line of work but he's her father." "No. He's not. Sonny is." Nelle interrupted and Carly smiled slightly, having noticed their bond while she was staying with him.
"I stand corrected." Margo said softly and Carly laughed lightly. "Apparently." She responded. Once they were back in the car, Nelle leaned against Carly, eyes opening and closing repeatedly. "I'm scared. I'm scared he'll go free, and I won't be able to stay with you." She said quietly. "That's not happening. I'll do my very best to lock him up for good." Margo said as she turned in the driveway. "Thank you." Carly said kindly.
As they entered the house, Nelle saw Nina and to the surprise of everyone, she immediately went ouver to her, hugging her tightly. "What's that about?" Margo whispered to Carly. "They are getting better." She answered as Nina returned the hug. "How'd it go?" "How'd it go. How'd it go. How'd it go." She repeats, becoming worked up. "Bad. Nelle bad. Needs to be in the closet." She said, looking at Carly. "Honey, I'm not putting you in the closet. You did such a good job." She praised. "Why?" "Why what, sweetie?" Carly asked, already knowing the answer.
"I'm not putting you in the closet." She repeats and Carly takes a steadying breath before beginning to explain. "Because, there's no need for that. Plus, that's not where-" She started before looking at Nina. "Nelle, honey. If you were to misbehave, I wouldn't put you in the closet because that's not right. That's not how you parent a child." She explained and Nelle nodded, looking at Carly. "That's not how you parent a child." She repeats, looking at a picture of Avery on the mantle and Carly nods.
"Exactly, baby. That rule applies to you too." She explained as she willed the tears that had gathered in her eyes to not fall. "I'm not putting you in the closet. That's not how you parent a child." She echos once more before the words finally register in her brain and she visibly relaxes, going over to Carly and hugging her, desperate for physical comfort. which Carly is more than happy to provide.
"Nelle, sweetie? Are you alright in there?" Carly called out, praying the bathroom door wasn't locked and frowning when she could feel the steam from below the door and the fact she was only met by the sound of running water. "Nelle? Please talk to me, baby." She calls out once more, placing a hand on the door knob. "I'm coming in." She said before opening the door and momentarily being hit with a cloud of steem. What was most concerning though, were the sobs she could hear from behind the shower curtain. Saking her way to the tub she carefully pulled back the curtain. There, sitting in the bottom of the shower was Nelle.
Carly took notice of how hard she was scrubbing with the wash cloth and frowned. "Nelle, honey. I need you to turn off the water and let me help you." She said softly but it didn't appear Nelle had heard her. Reaching over, Carly turned off the water and knelt down by the tub. "I-I'm dirty. They made me dirty." She whispered as she continued scrubbing her skin that was now turning red. "Oh, baby. You're not dirty. Do you hear me?" Carly said softly as she removed the wash cloth as Nelle continued to sob. Retrieving a towel, she draped it over Nelle's shaking body. "Come on, sweetie. Up you go." She encouraged as she helped the girl out of the tub.
"I have to get clean." "You are clean, sweetheart. I can't let you do that to yourself though." She explained as she lead her in to the bedroom. "He's sick." Nelle whispered a little while later as they lay together, Carly softly rubbing her back, trying to get her to sleep as she watched netflix. "Yeah, sweetie. He is." Carly responded softly. "Before everything went wrong, he was a wonderful father, from what I can remember anyways. Then, when I was about 4, that's when he started hurting me. When he got back and saw how happy I was when you were there, he made it a point after you'd left to repeatedly tell me I'd never see you again and that he tried to get you to stay." She whispered, voice muffled by Carly's shirt where she had hid her face before beginning to speek.
"Don't think about that. I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere." She responded, placing her arms around her as Nelle turned on to her side, back carefully pressed against Carly's chest because of her injuries as she looked at the tv. "Oh, I didn't know you watched this." She said excitedly and Carly smiled. "ER is a good one." She responded as they watched Dr. Lewis treat a baby. "I made it to season 4. I watch when you're at work sometimes." She responded and Carly nodded in acknowledgement, relaxing in to the mattress as she felt Nelle let out a content sigh, tension leaving her body as she too, relaxed completely in to Carly's embrace.
"I want to testify." Nelle said 2 days later. "Are you sure, honey? He will be in the room." Carly questioned and Nelle thought it over before nodding. "I'm sure. Once he's put away, then I can start moving on."
The next day, it was Frank's attorney's turn to question Nelle. "I have a bad feeling about this." Carly whispered and Nina nodded. "Miss Benson, is it true you spent time in a mental hospital?" Frank's attorney asked and Carly became more worried. "Yes. I did." She answered quietly. "And why was that?"
"Objection. This has nothing to do with the case." Margo said as she rose to her feet. "Overruled. Answer the question, Miss Benson." The judge said. "Because I, couldn't handle things." She finally said. "Was it that or was it because you shot your father?" "No. It was because Can couldn't handle things." She said onceag. "Miss Benson, are you aware you're under oath? We both know you shot your father." He said and she broke down in to sobs, remembering her time in Ferncliff. "He made me think I was crazy." She got out as Carly just put her head down, realizing this was not good at all. "You did the same thing to Carly Corinthos, did you not?" He continued and finally Margo rose to her feet.
"Objection. This has nothing to do with the abuse Miss Benson has repeatedly faced." "Your honor, this prooves she's not a trust worthy witness." He said and the judge banged his gabble. "Order. Councel in my chambers, now." He said.
Once the courtroom had cleared, Carly immediately went over to Nelle. "Hey, baby. I promise everything will be ok." "No. It won't. He's going to go free now all because they know what I did to you and how I let him manipulate me." She cried, hugging Carly tightly. "Baby. That's not going to happen. Come on. Let's go home and try to calm down. You're getting worked up."
"I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." "Listen to me. You're ok, I'm ok and I promise, I truly do forgive you. I need you to take a deep breath and try to calm down. I'm getting you out of here." She said softly.
Arriving home, Carly helped Nelle from the car and in to the house. Taking a seat on the couch Carly held out her arms. "Come here." She said softly. As Nelle cuddled against her, Carly's mind began to race. She just prayed Frank didn't go free. If he did, she didn't know how Nelle would take it.