Smoldering Thoughts: Sifting through the memories 10/?
Murdock's Crazylady, Now Red and Susie also, with imput by Lacy, Flight, Nikie
(With Red, CK, MCL, Susie, Nikie, Lacy, Dixie, Jesse, Tish, Sky, and Others)
PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own the team. I do own CrazyKid and Melly
©2001 Murdock's CrazyLady (MCL)
Beta reader!!: (Yes, I have one now!!) Thanks to Red, my god-mom for being my Beta reader and for the help with this sometimes confusing AU fic! (and for putting up with me in my 4-year-old mode) LOL
PLEASE send comments.

This is the sequel to Melly and CrazyKid: The 2 youngest patients/Terrors

*anything in between these are thoughts*

Nightmares and Memories

CK slept right through the night, and when she woke up in the morning, she opened the lid of the toybox and peeked out, rubbing her eyes at the light. She looked around and heard snoring. She looked towards the noise and saw Flight and Fanny asleep. She crawled out of the toybox quietly and left the attic. CK went to the bathroom, went her morning potty and walked to W-47. SHe peeked in and saw Murdock asleep. She smiled and saw Face, his hand in a cast. He was asleep too, and not being able to look at him anymore, CK closed the door and walked to her secret room, where she still secretly had another archery set. She climbed in through a fake picture on the wall and fingered the bow, but let it lay.

She looked away from it and saw her teddy bear, Bougie. She picked him up and kissed the grey mended more than once bear. "Gotta get blankie, Bougie, den us go backed ta Wed." CK told him, giving him a squeeze. She picked up a worn out crib comforter and climbed back out of the room. She walked down the hall and up the stairs to the attic, yawning sleepily. She opened the top door to the attic to find a cross armed, worried looking Red waiting on her. CK turned from closing the door and saw her.

"Didn't I say you couldn't leave here?" Red asked as she noticed the bear and blanket CK held. CK just stood there, looking wide eyed up at Red. "Well?" Red asked. "C-Tay..me.." CK stammered, not knowing what to say, as she looked down at her bear and held him up with her blanket. Red saw CK close her eyes in fear and bent down to her. She put CK's arms down and picked her up. CK was shocked she was still alive and opened her eyes as Red sat her down at the table. CK watched quietly as Red got her a bowl of cereal , then turned and sat it in front of her, putting a spoon in her hand.

"Eat. Then explain." Red said as she woke the rest of the kids. Everyone left for the bathroom, and came back. "Hi CK." Flight said, sitting in the chair beside her. CK was quiet, as she looked at the bowl, but not touching it. Fancy noticed, and looked at MCL. MCL looked at Nikie, Nikie looked to Fanny. Red noticed the chain reaction and knelt down to the staring CK. She took ahold of CK's chin and made her look into her eyes. "You can eat it, sweetheart. No one will hurt you for eating." Red said, as she ran her hand over CK's head. CK watched her, as she slowly took a bite. Red smiled and nodded. "See? good, isn't it?" Red said and CK nodded, milk going down her chin.

The other kids went to eating too after CK finally started to eat, laughing and talking while CK was quiet the whole time. Once she'd finished, Red wiped CK's mouth and hands, and CK hid, putting her blanket over her head. The other kids were done long before CK, and had left to play soon after, leaving CK and Red alone. Watching CK hide, Red got an idea and went and got her hair brush. She came back in and took the blanket off of CK's head. CK just looked at her as Red lay 2 red beaded hair-ties down on the table. Then, she brushed out CK's barely shoulder length, brown hair and found clumps stuck together by dried blood. She brushed around them for now, thinking up a plan for later.

She pulled a little of CK's shorter hair into a short tail and wrapped the beaded-tie around it, doing the same for the other side. Then she brushed the rest of CK's hair down so it fell down the sides of her small face, covering her ears and ending just on her jawline. CK had sat perfectly still and quiet, and Red held up a mirror for her to see. CK saw and reached up, touching each of the red beads like a facinated infant. Red smiled. "Like it?" She asked, putting the mirror away. CK nodded yes, not using her voice. That worried Red, whom sat down next to CK at the table and looked at the 4-year-old. Red couldn't help but notice CK was autistic, sometimes in her own world and sometimes here.

"Okay, why did you leave?" Red asked and CK looked down, squeezing her bear. "C-Tay havin ta pee pee.." CK replied, not looking up. "And?" Red asked quietly. "An..me goed an gotted Bougie an blankie." CK said, sniffing, about to cry. "Don't cry, CK. I'm not mad at you. But don't leave without telling someone from now on. You're still to stay in here unless you ask to go potty." Red replied and CK looked up, her eyes filled wth panic tears. "C-Tay sowwy her huwted Facey." CK said and Red reached over, hugging CK. "I know you are, CK. He's going to be okay, I heard his hand is broken, but he's going to heal okay." Red replied as CK wiped her eyes. "Sleepy still?" Red asked and CK nodded.

"I didn't think you slept well, you slept in your toybox all night. Come on, you can sleep in the cocoon, it's soft and comfy." Red said, picking CK up. CK lay her head on her shoulder, clutching her blanket and bear. Red flew up to the cocoon and climbed in, laying CK down. CK looked very sleepy, and very afraid. Red covered CK with her blankie and smiled. "I won't leave you, CK. I'll be right here in the attic. If you need me, just yell, okay?" Red said kissing CK's forehead. CK nodded as she rolled over with her bear and sucked her thumb. Red climbed out and patted CK before landing back on the floor below.

Red, needing to think, flopped down on the sofa and sighed. "CK's changed alot since Mel died..She's afraid of everything and seems to be developing powers..she kills a clone and injures Face, and now jumps over simple noises? Confusing.." Red said softly to herself.

*******************

CK fell asleep, and fell head first into the nightmare from where it let off. She was running, from someone, and could hear Red's voice coming from somewhere. She looked back as she ran and saw the boy who'd hurt her chasing her. He was even taller in her dream, and no matter how fast she seemed to run, he was always on her tail, her running barely out did his walking. Laughing, his voice saying, 'I got a new game today!' He reached down and picked her up by her shirt, like an injured fly. CK stared at him, terrified. She could still hear Red, far away and sounding hurt. Chris started to squeeze CK in his hand, and CK screamed for Red in the dream, his palm was closed and she was inside, about to die the same fate as a bug. Red's hurt voice came from the darkness, and CK began to cry as his hand came closer to crushing her.

"MOMMY! MOMMY!! GET C-TAY OUT!! MOMMY!!" CK screamed, terrified as she threw off her blanket in her sleep. Red couldn't believe her ears at the words CK had screamed. She juped up and flew up to the cocoon, and saw CK kicking and screaming, waving her arms at an unseen object. "Oh man, CK.." Red said as she climbed in behind CK and held her even as she continued to fight. "CK, wake up, sweet heart, I've got you." Red said and CK opened her eyes. CK looked all around and saw Red's face, and sat up, grabbing her around the neck. "Mommy..he huwted you.." CK said, scared but calling Red mom. Red rubbed her back and was shocked but glad. CK had finally called her mom!

"I'm here, CK, and I'm just fine." Red said, as CK held into her for dear life. Red turned her head and looked at CK as she lay on her shoulder. "Honest honey, I'm okay, see?" She said as CK looked at her. "Me was a'scared.." CK said as she lifted her head and looked at Red, seeming to try to decide if she really was okay or not. "You sure were, you yelled for mommy." Red said and CK blushed. She didn't realize what she was yelling until the last second, and thought for sure Red would hate it. "Am you mad..cos c-tay say dat?" CK asked, quietly. Red laughed, and hugged CK. "No I'm not mad! You could have called me mommy a long time ago, silly." Red said and CK giggled, hugging her back. CK couldn't believe she actually had someone she could call mommy, she'd never had a mom before, and it made her feel protected and loved even more now each time she said mommy.

The door below opened and slammed, and CK jumped, as Red looked down and saw MCL coming in, holding her eye, Nikie in tow behind her. Red gave CK a re-assuring squeeze as she picked her up and flew with her down to the floor. Red sat CK down and CK stood next to her, holding onto her long robe sleeve, one thumb in her mouth as she watched MCL and Nikie. "MCL? Nikie?" Red asked.

Nikie looked scared, and MCL turned around at hearing her name. "What on earth happened to you?!" Red exclaimed, seeing the black eye, bloody nose, and ripped hood. "Some kid was in Murdock's room, trying to steal BJ..an I tried to stop him, but he was bigger'n me an he beat the crap out of me..he took BJ too..I'm sorry, CK." MCL replied, and Nikie watched CK. CK stared and then started to cry, MCL felt worse and hung her head. "Hey now, BJ'll be okay, C-Tay. Don't cry." Nikie said hugging her. CK cried as Red walked to MCL and looked at her eye and nose. "Ow.." MCL replied, closing her eyes as Red touched her nose. "I don't see anything broken." Red said, wetting a cloth under the faucet in the kitchen sink. She wiped the blood off of MCL's bruised face and MCL tried not to cry.

"CK! NO!" Nikie suddenly yelled, as CK ran out the door and Red looked up. "Mommy, CK left! She's goin to get BJ back!" Nikie yelled, pointing at the door. Red felt like she needed a clone of herself, she had to be in so many places at once. "Nikie, yell down for Susie, okay? Hurry!" Red siad and Nikie did, Susie came running. "What?!" She asked, scared a second. "Can you stay with MCL and Nikie?" Red asked. "Sure." Susie said, and Red mumbled thanks as she ran by and flew down the stairs. She ran herself ragged, flying through the halls, looking for CK.

*******

CK found the kid whom had taken her baby iguana, and wasn't afraid at all when he turned out to be a tall 16-year-old boy. He had BJ on his shoulder, and merely smirked at the growling child in his way. CK was getting angrier and angrier, and she didn't see anything but this kid's guts laying on the floor. "You better gimme him..or you bein sowwy." CK warned, feeling anger well up inside of herself. The kid laughed and was going to walk away when CK stepped in his path.

"Me SAYED..GIMME dat guana NOW!" CK yelled, her emotions getting harder to control. "Don't make me knock you down, kid." He said, pushing CK backwards.CK caught herself and suddenly began to glow, her anger churning up power she didn't even know she had. CK glared at him, as he stared at her in disbelief while her body was outlined in bright red. He backed up as the outline became an energy ball bigger than the both of them and the rest of the VA put together.

"Hey kid, how're you doing that??" He yelled, as wind picked up and blew him backwards. The med carts and linen barrels blew over and stuff was flying everywhere, while CK yelled in anger as her energy grew. A med cart slammed into a wall and broke into a million pieces, causing him to jump and cover his eyes. He was about to drop the iguana and run, when he found it gone from his shoulder. He looked at the enraged CK and saw the iguana in her safe hand. She'd transported him to her while the med cart crashed. CK was beginning to feel flames inside of her when Red flew around the corner and was stunned by CK.

"OH my Goddess! CK DOES have powers!" Red yelled, holding up her arm to shield her eyes from the flying debris and bright light of CK's energy. The wind CK was generating pushed her back a little, as she landed behind CK and fought against the wind to get to her. "CK!" Red yelled, but CK was so upset and powered up, she couldn't hear her. Red closed her eyes while fighting to stay standing and hoped that thinking to CK would calm her down. *CK, calm down, honey..you got him, he's gone..* Red said mentally and CK heard her, her emotions suddenly snapped back into check. *Mommy?* CK asked back. *Yes CK..I'm fine..power down before you blow me to Alaska..Dear* Red replied, and CK let up, the energy pulled back within herself. CK saw she really had gotten rid of the kid, he was gone, had turn tail and ran. CK also felt BJ on her shoulder and blinked. She didn't know how she'd just done all that.

"Mommy?" CK asked outloud as Red's hand touched her shoulder.CK looked up and grinned, glad it was her mom and not anyone else. "C-Tay knows..not yeave.." CK said, looking down. Red nodded as she and CK walked back to the attic. "Looks like another day added onto your grounding." Red said and CK nodded. "How did C-Tay do dat?" CK asked, and Red took a deep breath. "You have special powers, and you've just seen part of them because you were so upset about BJ. Everyone has the power CK, but not everyone can use it. You, me, Susie..we all know how. That's the reason you can hear thoughts." Red explained and CK nodded, "Oh." CK reached up and put her hand in Red's, and Red smiled as she squeezed it gently. CK didn't look up, or notice.

Red and CK walked into the attic quietly and Susie looked up. "Found her?" Susie asked, as they walked in and CK let go of Red's hand. No one said a word to her, but CK climbed up the ladder and climbed into the cocoon. CK grabbed her blankie and put it over her head, and climbed back down. Susie gave Red a confused look as CK walked across the attic and climbed up into a chair. CK put her head down on the table top, with her blanket still over her head. Red shook her head as Nikie pulled on her sleeve. She looked confused too. Red looked over and down at the tug. "Mommy, what's she doing?" Nikie asked, as she stared at CK.

"Uh, I don't know." Red replied as she walked over to the table. "What're you doing, CK?" Red asked as Nikie and Susie followed, sitting at the table too. "Hidin..bye bye.." CK replied, from under the blanket. Susie shrugged. "No you're not cos I can still see you." NIkie pointed out, as MCL came in, returning from her weekily visit to Dr. Ricter. She walked over to the table and sniffed. Red looked over at her and smiled. "Go okay?" Red asked, of her appointment. MCL nodded yes, but looked like she meant no. CK talked nonesense to herself under the blanket, now in one of her little worlds as her autisim came back. Red gave Susie a watch-ck-a-minute look and Susie nodded, while she paid her full attention to MCL. "You sure? You look upset." Susie asked, as MCL walked back in and sat down on the sofa.

"I remembered..I." MCL said, as she looked down. Red went to her, and sat beside her. MCL looked like she wanted to cry, but was refusing to let it out. Red put her arm around MCL, and MCL leaned agaianst her. "I remembered what happened to them, mom. I didn't want to..but Alex..he made me." MCL said, as she fought harder not to shed a single tear. Red squeezed her, as she sensed all the turmoil going on inside of the 10-year-old she held.

"We all have things we want to forget, but can't honey. That's why each of us is here." Red said softly, thankful that Susie had NIkie's attention and was playing with her while she talked to MCL. "I know..but if I remember, then I feel confused inside again." MCL replied, as she played with her hood strings. "I know too. But that's why you talk about it, it helps. Even if you don't like remembering, you're never alone, even when the doc's not here, you can tell me. Or Susie, if you need to." Red said, and MCL nodded sadly, not feeling at all better, although she knew her mom had tried.

"Thanks mom." She replied anyway, hugging her. Red hugged her back. "You're welcome. That's what I'm here for." Red replied as MCL got up. "I gotta go an find Noodle, she's gonna teach me martial arts so nobody can beat me up anymore. Love you mom, I'll be home before dark." MCL said, kissing Red on the cheek. Red kissed her back and said okay, as MCL left. Red got up with a sigh and went for her tea. Now that she had 7 kids, she was always busy, but she liked it that way. AT least there was rarely (never) a dull moment in the Defender's life.

*******

MCL went and found her Japanese friend, Noodle. Noddle, an 11-year-old from japan, had lost her entire family in a train accident. She also had reasons for being in the VA, but she hadn't said what they were yet. She waited for MCL in the meadow, and smiled when she saw her running over.

"HI Noodle!" MCL yelled, and Noodle waved. Mcl made it over and bowed, while Noodle did the same. "Hello MCL! Ready for me to teach you?" Noodle asked, her english much better since she and MCL had become friends. "Yeah. What do I do first?" MCL asked.

*********

CK groaned and looked up, leaving her head under her blanket. "Um Oh." CK said suddenly. Susie looked at her, not liking to hear CK say 'uh oh'. "Why uh oh?" She asked. "C-tay maked boo-boo." CK replied softly, still under her blanket. "Boo boo? but you haven't left that spot to make a boo-boo." Susie said, not catching on. Nikie pulled herself closer to Susie and whispered what CK meant. "OH! THAT kind. Sorry CK." Susie said and CK sniffed.

Red almost started to laugh at Susie, but she held it in so she wouldn't hurt CK's feelings. "It's okay, honey. Just hold still." Red said, as she put her hand on CK's blanket covered head. Closing her eyes, Red took away the wet and CK was dry again. CK felt it and gasped, as she pulled her blanket off as Red let go. Red saw her shocked expression and burst out laughing. "Why her ha ha?" CK asked, making Red laugh harder. CK didn't understand what was so funny, and climbed down, carrying BJ on her shoulder and draggin her blanket behind her. She climbed behind the sofa and sniffed. She could still hear them laughing at her long after they'd stopped. Red looked up suddenly, thinking CK had left, and CK didn't say otherwise.

"CK? Susie, did CK leave again?" Red wiped her laughing induced tears away and asked. Susie nodded. "I think so. I think we hurt her feelings." Susie replied, as she wiped hers away too. "Is CK in trouble?" Nikie asked and Red nodded. "She's going to be grounded for so long she's not going to know what the outside looks like." Red replied, and Nikie looked as though she already knew it. "Can I go play? I wanna find Sky and play." Nikie looked at Red and asked, and Red nodded. "Be careful. It'll be dark soon, and I want you back here by then,. Okay?" Red replied and Nikie climbed down from the chair and hugged Red around the legs. "I be back at dark time." Nikie said as she walked to the door and left.

"Susie? you want to come and help me find my wayward child?" Red asked and Susie laughed as she got up. "Is CK too wayward for my sister?" Susie asked as they went to the door. "No, Susie. Not by a long shot, you should know better than that! I've got YOU for a sister!" Red replied laughing and Susie laughed as they went out the door. "I am NOT wayward!" CK heard Susie say before the door closed.

Next...

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CK's Solution: Pillow Feathers and Glue