Author's Note: Thank you to Anon, Pen99, LAurore, Marcia Santos, Guest, wantingmore and Vikki for your awesome reviews of the first chapter! I'm glad you all enjoyed it. This is the second chapter and it's in November, so I've skipped some time between chapters. This ended up a longer chapter than I thought it was going to be, but that doesn't really matter. I hope you all enjoy it!
Disclaimer: Still wishing.
What else about this day could get any worse? Two bad news calls in one day. And for once, they weren't because of Jane. The first was from James saying that he was physically having a very bad day and asking if she could take Melody for the night as well. He didn't want Melody to get upset by seeing him so sick, which Lisbon understood. The phone call was only so bad because now she was worried for him. Then, only about two hours later, she got the second call. From Melody's school. That was why she and Jane were in the car and on their way. Starting her third month of school, and Lisbon was already being called into the office.
"Teresa Lisbon." She showed her ID to the office secretary, then led to one of the rooms that branched off of the main office hallway.
"The principal will be here shortly." The secretary informed them.
"Thanks." Lisbon and Jane nodded at the woman as they quickly entered the room and shut the door behind them. It seemed to be a spare room to keep kids that weren't feeling well. There were a few chairs, a desk and a small cot in the room.
"Hello." Melody said, tentatively to her aunt and uncle to be, from where she sat on the cot with her feet dangling over the side and hands in her lap.
"What happened?" Lisbon asked, trying to sound neutral as she and Jane sat down on either side of Melody. She wasn't sure if she should be angry with Melody or sympathetic.
Melody looked up at her aunt. She had recovered from the nose bleed, but the bruises on her left cheek and under her right eye were just starting to form and her bottom lip was a bit swollen. She also had some cuts and bruises on her hands and arms. There was dirt all over her clothes. "It wasn't my fault."
"What happened?" Lisbon repeated.
"They said we could play with the big kids at recess. Me and Ellie were at the swings and then we wanted to go on the monkey bars. We went to the monkey bars and we saw Danny and his older brother being mean to Connor. Connor tried to go away from them, but they wouldn't let him. So, I told them to stop it. I told them to leave Connor alone. They said no. They told me I'm a baby and that I should play with my dollies. I don't play with dollies. I told them they were being mean and they had to stop. They wouldn't listen to me! Danny pushed Connor on the ground and I tried to help Connor up and they pushed me too. I got up and I pushed him back. He hit me! He hit me first! He said I hit him for no reason. He's lying. I was helping Connor!"
"When you see something wrong, you go tell a teacher." Lisbon told her.
"I yelled. Ellie yelled, too. Ellie went to get a teacher when I was trying to help Connor up and got pushed."
"Why were they being mean to Connor?" Jane asked.
"I don't know." Melody shook her head. "They didn't tell me when I asked. I'm not a baby. I'm five now. I turned five in October. I'm not a baby."
"I know." Lisbon assured her. "I know you're not a baby. But, fighting with Danny was still wrong."
"But it wasn't my fault!" Melody protested.
"I expect you to have known better and gotten a teacher instead of getting in the middle of that fight." Lisbon told her.
"But-"
"No buts. I understand that you were trying to help that other boy out and that they were mean to you as well, but-"
"No buts." Melody interrupted, angrily.
"However," Lisbon rephrased. "I'm not going to support the situation of you getting into fights. You can't just get into fights all the time, Melody."
"It's not all the time!" Melody protested. "It's only been two times. And it wasn't my fault for both times!"
"Lets make sure there isn't a third time."
Melody looked down at her knees, visibly upset that she was in trouble for a fight that wasn't her fault. Danny and his brother had started it. Not her. Why was her aunt acting like it was her fault?
Moments later, they were called into the principal's office with the boy-Danny-and his parents.
"Okay." Mr. Johnson sighed heavily as he sat down behind his desk. "I hear there was some fighting on the playground."
Everyone was silent.
"I have heard two different versions of this story. The first version I hear is that Danny," Mr. Johnson glanced at the boy "was hit for no apparent reason by Melody." He glanced over at said girl.
"That's not tr-"
Lisbon shushed her niece gently, which only served to make Melody more angry.
"The second version I hear is that Melody was defending a classmate of hers that was being picked on by Danny and his older brother."
" Mr. Johnson," Danny's mother spoke up. "With all due respect, Danny and Nathan are good boys. Nathan has been here for three years without any complaint."
"Yes, Mrs. Ashford, I understand that." The principal nodded. "However, I find it hard to believe that a student would be attacked out of the blue, for no reason. And, even if he was, he still did attack Melody without trying to get a teacher to help him like he should have. From what I hear, it was Melody's friend that got the teacher."
"She lied!" Danny blurted.
"She did not!" Melody shouted back, Lisbon grabbing her hand to keep her still.
"Shouting and being aggressive like that." Mr. Ashford shook his head. "Obviously she needs help controlling her anger, you can't take that out on our boys."
"Excuse me!?" Lisbon spat. "There is nothing wrong with her!" She turned to address the principal. "Melody isn't violent. She doesn't go around attacking other kids for the fun of it. I'll admit that she shouldn't have been fighting, but neither should have the boys she fought against. And they especially shouldn't have been picking on that other boy."
"Detention. For a week, for both of them." Mr. Johnson decided. "No recess."
"It wasn't my fault!" Melody insisted.
"Ssshhhh…" Jane said, quietly, patting her shoulder.
"I think Danny at least deserves an apology." Mrs. Ashton said.
"I think Melody deserves an apology as well." Jane added.
"She almost split my son's lip open." Mrs. Ashton spat at him.
As they got up and faced them, Jane had to keep his brows from raising into his hairline. The boys lip was more swollen than Melody's.
"That was Nathan!" Melody said. "He tried to hit me and Danny was in the way!"
"Nuh-uh! Mommy, it was all Melody's fault!" Danny began to sniffle and tear up. "She hit me really hard and wouldn't leave me alone!"
"Liar!"
"Mommy!" Nathan cried and hugged his mother.
"And he called me a baby." Melody grumbled.
Lisbon crouched down to be at eye level with Melody. "Just apologise to him, please? It'll be easier if you do."
"No. It's not my fault and I'm not sorry. You can only say sorry if you are. I'm not. Not. Not. Not."
"Melody." Lisbon pleaded. "It will be better if you are sorry and you apologise. You should be the bigger person."
"He's bigger than me."
"I mean, be a better person."
"I am the better person than him."
"That's not a very good attitude to have." Lisbon sighed.
"But it's true." Melody said.
"Come on, Melody. Please?"
"No. It's not my fault. I'm not sorry. Stop acting like it's all my fault. It's not my fault."
"I'm not saying it is." Lisbon shook her head.
"Then why do I have to apologise?"
"It will just make things easier."
"No."
"I guess we shouldn't waste our time looking for an apology." Mr. Ashton said with an air of entitlement in his voice. "We'll see you later, Principal Johnson." With that, he left with his wife and son.
Lisbon, Jane and Melody quickly left as well, saying goodbye. Lisbon and Jane both reached down to take Melody's hands, but Melody refused to let them, opting instead to fold her arms tightly over her chest. When either adult tried to touch her at all, she would jerk away.
Lisbon opened the door and Melody climbed inside by herself, not wanting to be helped.
The drive to Melody and James' apartment was silent and a little uncomfortable for the adults, who were pretty sure they saw steam emanating from the newly five-year-old in the back seat. They got to the apartment, Melody grabbing a change of clothes for herself before locking Lisbon and Jane out of the bathroom so she could wash herself off.
"You were quiet." Lisbon whispered to Jane as they packed an overnight bag for Melody. "In the principal's office."
"Yeah, well, I didn't want to get Melody expelled or anything on my account." Jane shrugged casually.
"Jee. Wish you took that kind of consideration for my job at work."
"Oh, that's different." Jane dismissed. "I have leverage at work. They can't keep me without keeping you. I have no leverage at Melody's school."
Lisbon just rolled her eyes.
-Mentalist-
When they got out of the car at the CBI building, Melody had undone her car seat buckle by herself.
"I can do it myself." Melody snapped at Jane, seeing his curious expression. "You didn't think I could, did you?"
Once again, Melody refused to let Jane or Lisbon hold her hands or touch her while they walked. Melody made a beeline into the bullpen, knowing it was the opposite direction of her aunt's office where Lisbon and Jane were headed.
Van Pelt gave them a worried look, noticing Melody's bad mood and injuries.
Jane replied with a pleading expression and tilting his head in Melody's direction.
Van Pelt nodded and got up to talk to Melody.
Lisbon very visibly wanted to talk to Melody, but Jane steered her toward her office, closing the door behind them.
"Let Melody cool down." Jane rubbed Lisbon's shoulders. "It's going to be okay. Van Pelt will talk to her and she'll feel better. Melody will be mad for another hour, and then she'll just get tired of being mad and then we can talk to her."
"I wasn't wrong, was I?" Lisbon looked at Jane, worriedly. "You don't think I was too hard on her?"
"No, no. Asking her to apologise might not have been the best idea, but you weren't too hard on her. You listened to her side and you didn't yell at her." He hugged Lisbon tightly and kissed her shoulder. "Melody just needs to cool down. You were fine. You didn't do anything wrong."
There were tears in Lisbon's eyes. "I just…James is in the hospital and I don't want to make her feel like she has to fight against me-"
"It's hard." Jane agreed. "It's not how we would have wanted things to turn out. I promise she will come around and talk to us. She'll understand when we talk to her. Just let her be angry right now and get it out. That's what she needs. And when she is done with being angry, and when she needs us, we will still be here."
Lisbon nodded and sniffled.
-Mentalist-
"Melody?" Van Pelt crouched down in front of where Melody had curled herself into a corner while Jane and Lisbon headed into Lisbon's office. "Hey, come on. Talk to me? Please?"
"Go away." Melody's voice was muffled from under her arms. She was sitting in a corner with her legs pulled against her chest, hugged by her arms and her head placed on her knees. "I don't want to talk." She sobbed. "No one listens to me."
"I'll listen." Van Pelt said. "I promise, sweetie. What happened?"
Melody just continued to sob.
"Talking about it can help you feel better." Van Pelt gently placed a hand on Melody's head. "Come on. We can even get a snack."
Melody sniffled.
"There might be some leftover pizza." Van Pelt pressed.
Melody peeked out over her knee. "Pizza?"
"Uh-huh." Van Pelt smiled and nodded. "But, first, how about we talk somewhere private?"
Melody gave a small nod, holding out her arms to invite Van Pelt to pick her up, which the red haired agent did.
Van Pelt carried Melody into an empty briefing room, closing the curtains and sitting down on a chair, placing Melody on her lap. "What's wrong?"
Melody continued to sniffle as she snuggled against Van Pelt. "It wasn't my fault. I got into a fight because Danny was being mean to Connor-and my head hurts. And my arms. And my hands."
"I'll get you an aspirin, but first, what happened?"
"I was helping Connor and then Danny said I hurt him for no reason and he blamed me. It wasn't my fault. And Teresa and Patrick don't believe me. Teresa thinks that it's my fault."
"No." Van pelt shook her head in disbelief. "I'm sure she believes you."
"Then why did she try to make me apologise? Why? If it wasn't my fault, why should I apologise? She doesn't believe me!" Melody sobbed.
"Ssshhh." Van Pelt soothed, running her fingers through Melody's hair. "We'll go get you some pizza and an aspirin, okay? Come on."
-Mentalist-
"Jane."
Jane turned from the counter where his newly brewed tea sat at the sound of his name. "Yes, Grace?"
"Melody's asleep on your couch in the bullpen, if you wanted her."
"How's she feeling?"
"I got her a kids aspirin because she said she was feeling sore. I don't blame her. She looks like one giant bruise. And I got her something to eat."
"Is she still angry?"
"She's calmed down quite a bit. She thinks you and Lisbon didn't believe her about the fight not being her fault."
"Yeah. I thought so." Jane said, thoughtfully. "I think I will take her. Thank you, Grace. You've been a wonderful help."
"No problem." Van Pelt smiled. "Anything to help." She turned and left the break room.
Jane glanced down at his tea. He couldn't carry it and Melody at the same time. He sighed heavily, concluding that he would have to enjoy some newly brewed tea another time. Some things were more important. Jane made his way into the bullpen and over to his couch, carefully scooping up Melody and carrying her into Lisbon's office, closing the door with his foot behind him. "Special delivery." He said quietly.
Lisbon looked up from her paperwork at him, smiling a little at seeing Melody. "She feeling better?"
"Van Pelt said she had calmed down." Jane nodded. "Come over here."
Lisbon got up and approached him.
"Here." Jane handed Melody off to Lisbon.
A little surprised, Lisbon took Melody.
"Now, go sit down and have a cuddle." Jane gestured to the couch in Lisbon's office.
"Huh?"
"You heard me. You've been upset since visiting Melody's school and you've been worried about her. Sit down and have a little cuddle with her. It'll make you feel better. Come on. Off you go." Jane ushered her toward the couch.
Lisbon sat down on the piece of furniture, cuddling Melody close.
"See?" Jane smiled. "Isn't it nice?"
"Shut up." Lisbon smiled.
"Love you, too." Jane smirked, kissing Lisbon's head.
-Mentalist-
Melody slept for quite a while. Lisbon had to hand her snuggle session off to Jane so that she could get back to work. Jane had gladly accepted a snuggle session. The team had started heading home for the night, when Lisbon decided she should head out as well. Lisbon was holding onto Melody, waiting for Jane to go to the washroom before they headed home when Melody stirred from her sleep.
Melody's eyelids fluttered open and she looked up at her aunt, tiredly.
"Hi, sweetie." Lisbon smiled. "You feeling better?"
Melody replied with a small nod.
"That's good." Lisbon used one of her hands to gently tuck some hair behind Melody's ear. "You're going to stay with Patrick and I tonight, okay? Your Daddy had…some late appointments."
"Okay." Melody mumbled as she looked away. She didn't seem angry.
"Hey." Lisbon said gently, sitting down on her office couch. "I know you were angry at me because I wanted you to apologise. It's not because I didn't believe you."
Melody glanced at her. "Why, then?"
"I thought they'd leave you alone if you apologised. I don't want them to bother you anymore."
"I'll be okay." Melody assured her.
"I do think it was nice of you to stand up for that other kid." Lisbon told her. "But, next time, could you please go get a teacher instead. Fist fighting isn't okay. Do you understand?"
Melody nodded.
Lisbon smiled.
"Aw. I'm gone for one minute-one minute-and I miss the heart-warming moment." Jane pouted as he walked back into Lisbon's office.
Lisbon chuckled. "Oh, I think we can get Patrick in on a little group hug, can't we, Melody?" She looked at her niece.
Melody nodded and giggled.
Jane hurried over and flopped down on the couch next to Lisbon and pulled them both into a snugly group hug.
"You know we love you, right?" Lisbon asked Melody.
"No matter what." Jane added.
"Yeah." Melody looked up at them both and smiled. "I love you, too."
"And Daddy." Lisbon put in.
"Es-peshally Daddy." Melody agreed.
Author's Note: And that was chapter two! A review would be a totally awesome birthday present, if you wouldn't mind! :)