Chapter Seven

When it came time for Regina to go back to school she was still in her wheelchair for anything that required her to do anything strenuous. Long walks were one of those things that were hard on her. She was also excused from gym because they didn't want to chance breaking one of her limbs, even though they were fairly kid proof. Regina actually liked gym too, she loved playing field hockey like her mother did. Regina liked to play as an attacker, just like her mother did, which made Jane quite proud of her, but now she couldn't really do that anymore. It was just too hard on her.

Like her father promised he was there on her first day of school to go speak with the headmaster. "What brings you here today Mr. Shore?" the headmaster asked him. "I'm here to talk about my daughter being bullied by Bradley Chase. She has bullied my daughter ever since she first came to this school and has convinced the entire class to bully her as well. My daughter has been through enough and doesn't need this, and your staff isn't doing anything to rectify the problem during recess. Either you put Bradley in a different class, or you expel her. If you don't I'm afraid I will have no choice except to add your school to the lawsuit I am filing against her parents." Alan told him. "M-Mr. Shore, kids will be kids, have you tried to toughen up your daughter?" the headmaster asked him.

"You know I am really quite tired of everyone telling my daughter to toughen up instead of doing something about the problem. Last week Bradley locked my daughter in the closet and stole her arm and her leg so she couldn't even attempt an escape. She is extremely claustrophobic. We had to take the limbs to be repaired which took hours because she had destroyed them so they wouldn't work anymore. My daughter isn't the problem here, she's an excellent student and has made zero friends due to this bullying." Alan explained to him. "Either fix the problem or I will sue this school so fast your head will spin." he added. The headmaster had no choice, this was the third complaint. He called Denise and Brad, who had been there to drop off their daughter and told them to meet him in his office with Bradley. He had to expel the girl for bullying.

Alan left the office, satisfied with the outcome, the only one at the school who had even done something about the bullying was her teacher, but she couldn't do much except send her to the headmaster's office. He didn't blame Katherine Mayfair for what happened, she did the best that she could. Alan walked back to Regina's class to tell her he was leaving and that he would see her after school. "Regina, I've got to go, have a good day at school sweetheart. I will be here to pick you up after class." Alan told her as he hugged her. "Bye daddy." she said as she hugged him back. Regina was now in the sixth grade. They were doing swimming classes for gym, but Regina couldn't do any of them because it wasn't like she could swim with one arm and one leg, so Regina was forced to sit in class during gym class with her teacher. Regina didn't mind though, she loved Ms. Mayfair. Little did she know her teacher had gone through something similar to Regina's past.

Katherine Mayfair had been married once before, her husband beat her and raped her repeatedly, he was a dirty cop, but no one ever believed her, so she ran off. When Katherine had learned of Regina's similar situation with her kidnappers she felt a connection to her. They both got along great and enjoyed spending time with each other, especially during gym class. Regina didn't need anything to take notes with her memory, she would automatically remember things she had simply glanced at. Still Regina was emailed assignments and she did them on the computer or a tablet. It was just easier for her to do. Regina's art was sloppy, but she just needed time to work with her arm on drawing. Whether or not it was where it once was happened to be a different story.

As Regina sat in class she worked on her assignments. She had asked her teacher if she could listen to music and the teacher had agreed. As a present for getting to the sixth grade and as a way to call if something bad happened to her, Alan got Regina a brand new iPhone and a computer for school along with some wireless earbuds so she could listen to music while she worked. She had put a lot of instrumentals in there as well as some classic rock, which she had been raised on and actually liked. Stella had been fond of the opera, and Regina hated that, but one of her former aunts, which Regina adored was a huge classic rock fan so Regina became one as well. She had never even gotten to say goodbye as her aunt was on vacation with her family when she left. Not that Regina remembered her or that family anymore due to her amnesia.

Regina had forgotten about her teacher too, but Katherine was fine with working with Regina like this. She would have preferred her to remember, but knew Regina had been in a horrible accident. She had even visited Regina in the hospital, but unfortunately she could not remember her. Regina was her favorite student, extremely bright and the sweetest child she had ever met. Regina was working on her math in class when the bell rang for lunch. Regina always ate her lunch in class due to the fact that she couldn't be around her allergens without going into anaphylactic shock. Katherine tapped lightly on Regina's shoulder. "Regina, why don't you take a break? It's time for lunch." Katherine said as she sat down back at her desk to eat. Regina grabbed her lunch from her backpack and looked at it. She sighed and put the lunch back and went back to work. Her mom had accidentally given her the wrong lunch. This one belonged to her mother, which meant it contained one of her allergens.

"Regina? What's wrong? Aren't you going to eat?" Katherine asked. "I can't...mommy gave me her lunch instead. She always makes herself a fluffer nutter sandwich..." Regina said sadly. Katherine stood up and looked at Regina's lunch, sure enough Jane had switched their lunches accidentally. "Let me call your mother and let her know." Katherine said. "You don't have to...I don't want to be a bother..." Regina said sadly. "Nonsense, your mother would want you to be able to eat. I'll call her and let her know." Katherine told her as she called Jane up at work. "Hi, Detective Rizzoli? This is Katherine Mayfair, Regina's teacher. Listen, Regina has your lunch by mistake and obviously she can't have peanut butter, would you be able to swing by and bring her lunch over?" Katherine asked her. "You will? Thank you, I didn't want Regina to miss lunch. I will let her know. Bye." Katherine said before hanging up. "Your mother is on her way with your lunch." Katherine told Regina. "T-Thank you." Regina said quietly.

About ten minutes later Jane had rushed into the classroom. "I'm so sorry Regina, here swap me okay?" she said to her daughter. Regina took the lunch out of her backpack and handed it to her mother, who in turn, handed the other lunch to Regina. "Thank you mommy." she said. "Alright, I've got to get back to work, I'll see you when I get home okay?" Jane told her as she hugged her tightly. She then left Regina so she could go back to work. Regina opened her lunch and took everything out. She had some green grapes, a turkey sandwich, and some Cheez-it's. She kept a water bottle on her at all times, but Jane had packed her some Capri Sun lemonade as well. Regina poked the straw into the pouch and took a drink while she ate her lunch. The grapes had malic acid on them so they could be a healthy sour treat, rather than Regina's favorite candy.

Regina was glad that Bradley wasn't bothering her anymore, the other kids started to back off as well, as most of them were just forced to do it by Bradley. Regina didn't mind not having any friends her own age. With her new phone Regina had signed up for YouTube and TikTok and started to make videos about her robotic limbs, these videos had gone viral for her on TikTok. She had explained that she didn't have any friends at school because of bullies and so many people grew to support her. For YouTube, Regina had started to record let's plays, and these became rather popular too. People were interested in seeing a girl with a robot hand play video games, and the fact that she was pretty good at it made the videos even more interesting. Over the next few months Regina became rather popular online and in the real world, with fans recognizing her everywhere she went. She had even started to get some friends that had transferred to that school while it was in session.

Finally it was time for Regina's birthday, her mother had kept it a secret. She wanted to surprise Regina with a surprise birthday party. First she would take Regina trick-or-treating, and then they would come back for a surprise birthday party. The party would be at Maura's house. Jane invited the two twin girls from Regina's class that she made friends with, that was really all she had made so far. Besides her two friends, this was mostly a family affair. Her father was skipping out on his company's Halloween party, and instead would be spending the time with Regina, even Denny was skipping out, though they were going to dress as their usual flamingo costumed selves. Regina had decided to go as Akari from Pokemon Legends Arceus and even had Pokeballs attached to her. Her friends were going to be Anna and Elsa from Frozen.

Jane was going to be anything, but a witch. She was terrified of them, and her father refused to have a clown for the party. Regina didn't like clowns either, they creeped her out, something she and her father had in common. The rest of her family were going as various things for Halloween, her grandmother was going to go as a witch just to mess with her mother. "Okay Regina, are you ready to go trick-or-treating?" Jane asked her. She had finally decided on a costume, she was going as a vampire. Regina giggled at the fake teeth her mother was wearing. Her mother had straightened Regina's hair for her costume. Regina had worn her costume all day because of school, but it was a Friday night so she didn't have to worry about school the next morning.

Jane pushed her daughter's wheelchair to the elevator with her giant candy bag. They had made a deal, anything with nuts or peanuts automatically went to Jane and Jane would switch it out for bags of various sour candies for her, like the Mega Fizz Balls, Warheads, etc. Her father had purchased the replacement candy. She would also request things without nuts in them for Regina from houses. Maura's neighborhood often gave out full sized candy bars. Alan would be joining Regina for trick-or-treating as well. Jane took Regina to the car and helped her in, placing her wheelchair in the trunk. It would be too much for Regina to use her leg to walk the entire distance so she would stay in her wheelchair, although these days she was using it less and less.

Once they got to Maura's house Regina and her parents took Regina trick-or-treating, they hadn't gone inside. She sat Regina in her chair and her father pushed her around. Luckily most of the houses didn't have stairs. Jane had brought her gun just in case of any attacks by North or someone he paid off. It was taking them longer than she would like to admit to catch him. "Trick-or-treat!" Regina said. An older woman answered the door. TJ, Tommy, and Lydia had caught up to them and they were trick-or-treating too. "Oh don't you look adorable dear." the woman said to Regina. "And what are you two supposed to be?" she asked them. "I'm a Pokemon trainer." Regina said with a smile. TJ had decided to be Boba Fett from Star Wars. "I'm Boba Fett." he said. The woman reached for some candy and started to give Regina a Snickers. "Oh, excuse me ma'am? My daughter is allergic to all nuts and peanuts, do you have something else she can have?" Jane asked her. "Oh sure." she said as she handed TJ the Snickers and Regina a plain Hershey bar. "Thank you." Regina said sweetly. TJ ran off without saying thank you.

Some people were willing to accommodate Regina's allergies, others didn't care and gave it to her anyway, which happened to be most people. Some even said she was lying because she probably just didn't like them and it would be good for her anyway. Alan was starting to get angry at people like these. "Do you have anything without tree nuts or peanuts? My daughter is deathly allergic." Alan explained, "Yeah right, you're just coddling her by giving her things she doesn't like. It'll be good for her." some guy told Alan. "I didn't realize killing children was one of your campaign promises Mr. Mayor. Let's just make it easy and just force my daughter to eat it and then watch her die on your porch, I'm sure that will be wonderful for your numbers." Alan said with his usual hint of sarcasm. The mayor then looked for something fruity or plain to give Regina, finding a bag of sour skittles and tossing it in the bag. "Thank you." Regina said to him sweetly.

Alan wheeled her off to the next house and was glad that her dad stood up for her. After her bag was full they made their way to Maura's house where everyone had finished decorating and her two friends had arrived. Their names were April and May because technically April was born on the last day of April and May was born on the first of May. Their mother thought it was rather clever. When they went inside it was dark, everyone got into place and..."Surprise!" they shouted at once. This startled Regina. She really didn't like surprises like this. Regina got up from her chair and walked away quickly to hide in the bathroom. "Regina?" Jane asked as she ran towards her. "Regina? Are you okay?" Jane asked her. Jane heard Regina crying. She opened the door and came in to comfort Regina.

"Sweetie what's wrong? Did we scare you?" she asked Regina. Regina nodded and hugged her mother. "Oh I'm so sorry...we just wanted to give you a surprise birthday party." Jane said. "It's okay...shhhhh..." Jane said, rubbing her daughter's back with her hand. Once Regina had calmed down, they went back out to the party. She came out and saw her father avoiding eye contact with the clown, something he was furious about, he had strictly said no clowns, but Tommy knew a guy that happened to be a clown and Angela had said to bring him. Regina stopped dead in her tracks when she saw it and then took off towards the bathroom once again. "What's wrong with Regina?" Angela asked. "She's afraid of clowns." Alan admitted. "How do you know that?" Angela asked him. "Because when I asked her because I was willing to get one for her if she wanted she told me." Alan admitted.

"Well that and Alan is afraid of clowns himself." Denny admitted. "You're afraid of clowns?" Jane asked as she tried hard not to laugh. "So is our daughter." Alan told her. "Yeah, but you're an adult, she's a child." Jane said as she started to laugh. "You're afraid of witches Jane, so don't even go there." Alan told her. "I'll go speak to Regina, in the meantime please get rid of the clown." Alan said. He walked towards the bathroom which once again Regina was crying in. "Regina, may I come in?" he asked her. "Uh huh..." she said as she sniffled. Alan came into the bathroom and saw Regina sitting on the toilet lid crying her eyes out. "Your grandmother is going to get rid of the clown...don't worry, I don't like them either." he told her. Regina hugged him. "Thank you daddy." she said to him. "You're quite welcome." he told her. "Now, we should go enjoy your birthday." he added as he walked her out of the bathroom.

When they came out the clown had left and Regina walked around the house, Alan had hired a magician for Regina as she was fascinated with the world of illusion. She watched the magician do some tricks, which she was so entranced by. Her two friends watched too. Finally it was time for dinner, the magician left and they all sat down. Her grandmother had made gnocchi, which Regina loved, she also had made the cake, marble cake, which was Regina's favorite, but the time for cake was later. Regina sat down and grabbed her fork and tried to eat, but her hand wasn't working. It was stuck with the fork in it. "Regina...is something wrong?" Alan asked her. "My hand is stuck..." she said.

Alan stood up and tried to help Regina, but the hand really was stuck. "I will call the doctor to see if he can make an emergency visit. Are you able to eat with your left hand Regina?" Maura asked. "Yes Auntie Maura, I've been practicing." she said. Regina was attempting to become ambidextrous so that she could draw with her left hand instead. She was getting pretty good too. Maura came over and removed the limb, which made her friends slightly uncomfortable, they continued to eat their food and just tried to avoid looking at Regina's missing arm. Maura went to call the doctor and he agreed to make an emergency visit. They all finished dinner "Thank you grandma." Regina said. "You're welcome sweetheart.

Soon it was time for cake. They brought out a cake and Regina made a wish. Her grandmother served up cake and gave Regina hers first. She started to eat it, but noticed her friends were avoiding her. She saw May looking at her arm and then quickly looking away. Regina knew they were uncomfortable with her arm being missing. She played with the cake with her fork, not really eating it. Alan noticed this and quietly asked his daughter what was wrong. "April and May are upset cause of my arm." she whispered sadly. Alan wasn't sure what to do about this, but he told Regina to try to make jokes about it so they would be more comfortable, if they all had a laugh then it wouldn't be so bad. Regina smiled and agreed, going back to her cake and finishing it. They then opened presents, April and May got her Pokemon plushies, which Regina loved. Her mother got her some new hockey equipment as Regina had signed back up. She had finally been approved for sports and was able to sign up for a little league team.

Her family gave her various gifts, but when it came time for her father, he had got her something she had been wanting for a while now. She kept eyeing the iPad Pros with a keyboard and the Apple Pencil 2 for a while now, she wanted to draw digitally, and he thought this would help her keep up with her passion for art. Regina had thanked everyone and shown the same enthusiasm for each gift. Most of her gifts were Pokemon related, with things such as plushies, pins, and various other things all related to the franchise, including a night light. Regina wasn't afraid of the dark, but she liked a light on her nightstand in case she got up in the middle of the night to use the restroom and didn't want to struggle to find her limbs or wheelchair in the dark. This one was of her favorite Pokemon Eevee. Her grandmother gave it to her. Her father gave her apple gift cards along with the iPad so that she could buy some apps, namely Procreate for drawing, which was about $21.

Alan helped Regina set up the iPad and Regina went to play with her friends while it was charging, he also got her screen protectors and a case, her friends she got back to not caring about her arm. Once the doctor arrived her friends gathered around to watch him do repairs on her arm. He then wanted to check the leg as well, which had begun acting up. It was just a replacement part. "I've made note to phase out these parts in future builds and replace them with metal ones, it will make the limbs slightly heavier, but sturdier." he said. Regina watched him work, memorizing his repairs so that she might be able to attempt small ones in the future.

Once he was finished Regina tested the limbs once more and they were back to working perfectly. "Thank you." she said to him before she went to play. The twins were fascinated with the robotics and went to play with Regina with their Switches. They were all play Splatoon 2 together. Regina was rather good at the game and took them both on by herself as they teamed up. In the end Regina won. The twins had seen her videos and noticed how good she was, they thought that they could tag team her, but in the end she still beat them. "Hey Regina, there is still one gift you forgot to open." Denny told her. Regina got up and opened his gift to her. It was a Quest 2. She had wanted one, but her mother said she was too young to get one due to the age rating being thirteen and older. But they had recently changed their rules so that you no longer required a Facebook account. "Thank you." she said as she hugged him. Alan helped her set it up as well and then let it charge so that she could play it later. Jane was furious with Denny because she said no one was to get her a Quest 2. "I told everyone not to get her that thing. She isn't old enough to play it. She can't have a Facebook account, you have to be thirteen. She's eleven." Jane argued.

"Jane they removed the Facebook account requirement, and I will make sure every game she gets is age appropriate." Alan told her. "Alright fine...no horror games though. I don't need her having nightmares." Jane relented. Alan had purchased Regina a laptop for school and gaming, it was even VR ready. She used it to play, stream, and record. Regina had even started to make money because she became partner. After a while more the party ended and the twins mother came to pick them up. "Thank you again for coming." Regina told them as she hugged them. The twins left and Jane looked at the time.

"Oh crap! Regina we forgot your meds!" she said as she came over to Regina with a drink and some pills. Regina took them and yawned. She went to help clean up, but Angela noticed that she was tired. "Regina why don't you go lay down?" Angela told her. "It's your birthday, you don't need to help us." Angela added as she looked at her half asleep granddaughter. Regina nodded and went to lay on the couch, she took off her arm and leg and laid next to her father who was sitting and chatting with Denny. After a few minutes she drifted off to sleep. Alan grabbed her a pillow and put it underneath her head, as well as finding a blanket to put it on her.

Alan never did anything shady around Regina, or any womanizing really. Though he did flirt with her teacher. He was quite smitten with her, though Jane did not want him dating her because she might take it out on Regina if it ended badly. Once they were finished cleaning up Jane got a phone call, it was work and she and Maura had a body to investigate. Angela had to work in the morning, but Alan was off. "Jane, why don't I take Regina for the night?" Alan suggested. Jane started to laugh. "Good one Alan." she said. Jane looked at him. "You're serious?" she asked him. "Quite." Alan told her as he looked at Regina.

"Alan, you live in a hotel." Jane told him. "Actually I just bought a condo with two bedrooms, and have furnished one for Regina." he admitted. Alan lived in hotels prior because he could just pick up and leave any time he wanted, but he had a daughter now, and she needed a place to sleep, besides he no longer had a reason to run. "Alright, fine. Her medication is in her backpack, I'll run home and get her a change of clothes." Jane said to him. "No need, I took Regina shopping last week and got her clothes and toiletries. They are already washed and in the drawers. In fact, why not leave her for the weekend. I can take her to school and get her lunch prepared." Alan offered. "Are you sure?" Jane asked . "Of course." Alan told her. "Okay, let me tell her goodbye." Jane said.

Jane shook Regina lightly. "Hey Regina, I have to go to work, you're going to stay with your dad this weekend okay? He'll prepare your lunch and take you to school. I'm still going to pick you up for your doctor's appointment okay?" Jane told her. "What doctors appointment?" Alan asked her. "Regina has an appointment Monday afternoon to check in with her neurologist. I'll be picking her up after lunch for her appointment." Jane said. "If you get busy with work and can't get out let me know and I can take her." Alan replied. "Alright, I'll let you know. Thanks again." she said. "I've got to go Regina, give me a hug." she said. Regina put her arm back on and hugged her mother. Jane kissed her forehead. "Give her the seizure medication as soon as she wakes up, two pills in the morning and two pills at night. I usually give it to her around seven thirty at night." Jane explained.

"We'll be fine Jane, right Regina?" Alan asked her. Regina nodded and sat up. "Alright, we'll we're going to go. If something happens let me know." Jane said before she left with Maura. "Should we go Regina?" he asked her. Regina nodded and put on her leg before sitting in her wheelchair. Alan had gathered her things, including all the gifts she received and put them in his car before helping Regina into his car as well. He had to get an entirely new car, but he didn't mind. He took Regina back to his place and helped her get ready for bed before tucking her in. She immediately fell asleep. This was going to be a good weekend.