Author's Note: Long time, no see. At any rate, I have nothing to say, really, so, uh, go read!
Disclaimer: I told you, I don't own it! But the cable guy's coming in on Weds, so FOP for the holidays. WOOT!
Chapter Twenty-Six: Like a Slap in the Face
She wills herself to close her eyes, just for a second. But every time she does, Vicky's imprinted, like a hot press, on her eyelids. She knows Timmy thinks he's helping her, but can't he see the pain he's putting her through?
At least now she's receptive to him again, thanks to Wanda. She really owes that little fairy; she's certainly tougher than she looks. Perhaps she must be, to combat the worst of humanity. It's sad to think that even the horrible can receive great power like theirs and abuse it.
Timmy must have abused them when he was younger, she realizes that. All those extravagant things, they could have only come through magic. Of course, he couldn't tell her about them, he was forbidden to.
A small smile curves her lips and she peers out the door; idly, she wonders if Timmy's coming back. Maybe she scared him off, but she'd thought him to be made him of sterner stuff than that. After all, he'd dealt with Trixie's sexuality surprisingly well, after about four years of pretending she was straight. Come to think of it, he sucks at dealing with things.
Chuckling ruefully, she glances again at the door but is surprised by those who enter it. For years, they've avoided any contact with her, and now they're here? Why? She thought they, like their daughter, wanted her dead.
"Tootie, dear?" Her mother calls, wringing her hands by the door. On her side, holding her tightly, is her father, who smiles lightly at their daughter. Tootie, however, does not smile back.
Why have they waited so long? What on earth could be more important than the welfare of their children? If not Vicky, at least her. Why did they show up now, right after she'd awakened from a coma?
Can they know about the charges? Are they here to try to force her to drop them? Is that their only concern, staying on the good side of the law?
Or do they really care about her? Is it better late than never? Can she trust them?
"Mom?" Tootie replies, too stunned to react straight away. A surge of emotions dash through her and it takes a little while to sort them. Love, but deep seated anger- how dare they leave her to Vicky? They could have killed her! This is all their fault!
And it's so easy to blame them, too. If she can't blame herself, as much as she'd like to, she can place the blame sorely on their shoulders. After all, it was them who abandoned her. They were the ones who didn't care enough about her existence, it's all their fault!
"Tootie!" Her mother cries, rushing to envelop her tightly in her arms. For the barest instant, Tootie permits herself to sink into the hug and the motherly support she feels. This is the woman who gave birth to her, who brought her into this world…
And yet it was one of her own that nearly took her out. As much as she owes her life to her mother, she also owes, indirectly, her near death to her. No way in hell does she want her touching her.
Gathering the bit of strength left her, she casts her aside, sending her into her father. Taken aback, they two gawk at her. Never before have they seen her behave like this- but, then again, if they'd been present for Vicky's treatment, they'd know the reasoning behind it. However, in their limited experience, they never knew Tootie to reject affection.
"You left me for dead," Tootie accuses, her arms folded across her chest. "You left me in the custody of someone who you knew would want nothing more than to rape me and then kill me!"
Chew on that for a little while, mother. God…the thought of what Vicky could have done sends chills down my spine. Especially if she hadn't waited so long and then she really could have gotten away with it…Her on the front end and Ricky on the back…God…
"What?!" Her mother cries, taken aback. "What do you mean, rape?"
That can't be right…okay, maybe Ricky started something with her. I wouldn't be that surprised, considering his type…
"Oh, didn't you know? She's added a new level to her hatred- she's going to take my virginity from me," Tootie spits, feeling tears rise to the surface. However, she will not permit herself to cry. She's stronger than this.
She? Vicky?! Vicky tried to rape you?! Oh, my Lord…I never suspected…I mean, she married a man…she couldn't have…you have to be lying, Tootie. I can't, I won't believe this about her.
My daughter may cheat, steal, and swindle as well as other unlawful and immoral things, but she'd never sink so far as to rape her own sister. I'm sorry, Tootie…but you're lying. She'd never do that, you know that, and she isn't attracted to you, damn it!
"And if you two hadn't left me alone because you were too damn scared of your elder daughter to help out your younger one, none of this would have happened! I would be happy! It's all your fault!" Tootie snaps, old anger rising to the surface like her tears. Words she'd longed to express are about to burst- the dam's breaking.
It's not our fault! If you'd learned to protect yourself, none of this would have happened! We wanted you to be strong enough to fight Vicky, that's why we left you alone. And look at you, lying in bed and lying about her again.
"Everything that's happened in my life, that you turned a blind eye to, it's all your fault! You ignored Vicky when she tried to beat me into a coma twice and then, only when I've just awakened, you decide it's time to come back and check on me? Bullshit! You're just making sure you don't have to pay for a funeral!"
Meanwhile, Tootie's parents say nothing, but her mother silent rebukes everything her daughter says. She knows nothing about their situation, she's merely jumping to conclusions. And if she doesn't see Vicky doing something, she can't believe she'll do it. No, that's not true, she just won't believe she tried to rape her sister.
You always had a very vivid imagination…
"And don't even tell me that's not true, because if you gave a shit about me, you'd never let me become Vicky's slave. You'd give me a childhood, damn it! I never knew true happiness thanks to you!"
You weren't Vicky's slave…she didn't rape you…you're making all this up because you think someone will believe you…
"So, go ahead and lie to me. Tell me you're glad to see me, 'cuz I know you're not. You're not glad to hear everything you deserve to hear, everything I've been longing to say for years but couldn't because you weren't around to hear it."
Sighing, her father settles in a chair and muses, but his thoughts are far different from his wife's.
I know we weren't around…and because we weren't, you wound up in this situation. I wish I could say I believed you about your sister trying to rape you, though…The thought Vicky might be capable of that frightens me.
This is not to say she doesn't frighten me anyway…but…
"You were hiding from your own kid and selfishly fled her the first chance you got, leaving your daughter, her target, behind. What did you care? You were finally free!"
She's right, Both thought and shivered.
"I hope you're fucking happy with yourselves, you pigs. I hate you," Tootie spits, trembling in anger. In fact, she can barely see ten feet in front of her, she's so infuriated.
Timmy, at the door, pushes his way in despite the fact they've technically exceeded their maximum amount of visitors. (Only three, because Tootie's in intensive care. Then again, he's never been a real stickler for rules. Rules were made to be broken).
He settles down next to Tootie and rubs her shoulders in an attempt to calm her down. She won't be placated, and glowers back. If it were anyone but Timmy, she'd hurt him badly.
"Tootie…" Her mother sighs, a tear slipping down her cheek. "This isn't as easy on us as you think it is."
Particularly when you complicate it by lying…
"Oh, really?" She arches an eyebrow. "I beg to differ, mother. Why don't you ask all the deadbeat dads if it was easier to leave their kids than stay and raise them? Who the hell do you think you are?!"
Your mother, and I will not be spoken to in that tone of voice! Stop lying, tell the truth! Vicky would never touch you like that and you know it!
She wouldn't…she couldn't…no…
Cautiously, her mother approaches Timmy and Tootie and places a hand on her cheek. Tears stream down her daughter's face but she neither acknowledges them nor the touch. If it were not for Timmy's presence, she might entirely lose it.
Timmy…she doesn't believe me. I can see it in her eyes…she never believed me because she wouldn't face it. Couldn't face it…
So she'll get a taste of her own medicine. If she wants to ignore something until it goes away, that's what I'll do with her.
"Get out…both of you. I don't want to see you again!" She screams, gasping from the exertion. She's overexciting herself again, but she doesn't care. Make the pain go away…
And, please, whoever's listening…make her believe me…
"No," Her father says sternly, for once putting his foot down. "As much as you don't want to hear it or don't believe it, we love you. We left to protect ourselves, yes-"
"And that's the only reason you left! You didn't care about me!" Tootie interjects, and Timmy places a hand over her mouth. He shakes her head at her and wraps his arms around her, holding her tightly.
I owe you so much, Timmy…I owe you my very life. When I get out of here, I will make love to you a thousand times over…
"I'll admit we made the wrong decision. But at least you're alive now…" Her father whispers, walking forward to stroke her hair. If she could, Timmy senses she would make him suffer every bit for Vicky's actions. Instead, she silently fumes, rejecting every word (lie) that comes out his mouth.
Hell, if they won't believe me, why should I believe them? Don't they know how much it hurts to tell them something as painful as what Vicky did and then have it rebuffed? Don't they have any idea?
No words will arise to her throat and nothing that passes through her mind makes any sense, even to her. Shaking her head, she indicates Timmy release her and points towards the door. That is to say, she wants privacy and solitude.
Getting the hint, Timmy, after kissing her on the cheek, walks out the door. He indicates sternly her parents should follow, but they linger, for a parting word. Little do they know this word harms more than it helps.
"We love you, sweetie," Her mother murmurs, kissing her lightly on the forehead. "But stop lying.
"We know Vicky would never find you in the slightest bit attractive and it's just a product of your over-active imagination. Maybe you wanted her to find you attractive, to find some reason for all that hatred…" She shrugs, rising.
"But she isn't and will never be attracted to you. She's straight and normal." Standing primly, she takes her husband's hand, but he must have one final word.
"I'm sorry, but we can't believe you. Give up the fairy tale life, it doesn't suit you." Shrugging apologetically, he strolls out with his wife.
Some fairy tale…where's my poisoned apple? Tootie thinks, but there's no humor. Instead, a void fills her and she gazes at the door again before clutching her pillow to her chest, curling into a fetal position, and sobbing.
Give up the fairy tale life…it doesn't suit you…
Oh, Mom, Dad…why won't you believe me?!