Warnings for this chapter: past child abuse (briefly mentioned, sorta), PTSD, kidnapping.
Also general angst
Screams had Nefertiti and Chris jerking awake, just before dawn. It took them both a few seconds for them to realize where and who they were coming from, but once they did, Chris was the one who acted first, up and out of bed and down the hall to Christina's room like a shot.
The door banged open and against the wall, and Chris barely caught it before it bounced back into his face. He flipped on the overhead light, fear clawing up his throat, watching Christina thrash at her blankets and scream, fighting off something that only she could see-
"Move it, dammit!" Nefertiti pushed him aside, snapping Chris from his shock, and his wife barreled into the room, rushing for Christina's side.
"Christina, dear, wake up," Nefertiti soothed, batting aside Christina's flailing arms to take her by the shoulders and gently shake her. "Christina, darling, you're fine. You're safe."
"No…" Christina moaned, brokenly, "Please… please, no more… Stop, please…"
Chris felt his breath catch in his throat, at just how scared his sister sounded, even in her sleep. What had happened to her, in those years he hadn't been there for her?
"Christina," Nefertiti said, forcefully. "Wake up!"
"Stop… Lu… Luke… Lucas!" Christina cried, sobbing now.
"Christina Cadelle, wake up!" Nefertiti finally snapped, and shook the blonde's shoulders sharply. The effect was immediate, as Christina bolted up in bed, slamming the heel of her hands into Nefertiti's chest.
Nefertiti gasped for breath at the impact, and again as she landed on the floor. Chris snapped out of his shock and rushed in to help his wife sit up, "Nef! Are you-"
"I'm fine," Nefertiti coughed. "I've been hit harder."
"Oh my god! Nefertiti, I- I'm so sorry!" Christina cried, sitting forward with wide eyes and tears still streaming down her cheeks.
"It's alright, Crissie, it's alright. Just an accident," Chris soothed, shooting to his feet and to settle himself on the bed next to his sister. Instantly, Christina was in his arms, her sobs back tenfold. Nefertiti pulled herself to her feet, eyes narrowed and a scowl on her lips, not directed at Christina, but more at the reason for whatever had caused her nightmares.
With a sigh, Nefertiti turned her gaze to the window, watching as the first rays of sunlight began to light up the sky, and fixed her eyes back on the two siblings, "I doubt anyone will be getting anymore sleep. I'm going to call in and take a couple of days off, and start breakfast. Will you be alright with her?"
"Yeah, I've got her," Chris murmured, running his hand gently through Christina's hair, prying apart tangles with deft and experienced fingers.
Nefertiti nodded and left the room quietly, the door slipping shut behind her.
Chris stayed silent, simply keeping his arms around Christina as he worked through the multiple tangles that had taken residence in the woman's hair. Occasionally, he'd hit a particularly hard snag, and wince in empathy when Christina hiccupped, startled. Eventually, though, Christina's sobs quieted to sniffles.
"So," Chris said, softly. "What was it about?"
He felt Christina tense under his arms, and with years of experience, let her go when she pulled away, wiping her eyes.
"Just… just a nightmare," Christina visibly evened her breathing out, putting on an air of calm as she peeked up at Chris from under her bangs. "I'm… sorry I woke you."
"No big deal," Chris perched himself up on the side of Christina's bed, one leg pulled under him and the other brushing the wooden floor. "It was nearly time to get up for me anyways."
Down the hall, muffled, Chris heard his alarm start to go off. He and Christina stared at each other for a moment, before dissolving into quiet laughter.
"Seriously though… do you want to talk about it?" Chris asked.
"Nah, Chris… I'm fine," Christina sighed. "I've dealt with it for years myself, I can keep doing so."
"That's not what I asked,"
"Well it's what I'm telling you,"
Chris and Christina stared at each other, a silent test of wills. Eventually, Chris sighed and stood up, "Alright. I'll drop it for now." He paused, halfway towards the bedroom door, and turned, "Actually, I do have one question."
Christina actually growled at him, running a hand through her hair, "What?"
"Who's Lucas?"
Christina froze for a few seconds. Chris waited.
Christina visibly swallowed, and Chris swore he could hear her throat clicking, like it was dry.
"… Lucas McKandless," She said, eventually. Her voice was dry and raspy, barely heard, "He was one of the few people who kept me sane while I was… held captive. One of the kids who'd been there the longest."
When Christina didn't offer anything else, Chris left the room, and trudged back down the hallway to his and Nefertiti's room. He picked his phone up as it started going off again, shutting the alarm off for good, before opening his messages.
I know it's early and I know Kak's probably bugging you, but I need you to call me as soon as you can. Christina dropped a name of a kid that was trafficked along with her.
Chris set his phone to the side and started getting dressed for the day. He heard and smelled breakfast being made, courtesy of Nefertiti, and he heard the shower start as Christina evidently gave up trying to get any more rest. He was in the middle of brushing his teeth when Chris' phone started ringing. He quickly spit and rinsed before rushing to snatch his phone up before it went to voicemail.
"Lay it on me," Kyoya said. "What's the name?"
"Lucas McKandless," Chris answered, keeping his voice low on the off chance someone might hear him. "She said he'd been there the longest. Kept her safe and sane, for the most part."
"McKandless…" Kyoya mused, "Shit, where have I heard that name before?"
"Your problem, not mine," Chris replied. "I'm gonna take Crissie to that therapist friend of yours today. She woke us up this morning screaming, thanks to a damn nightmare."
Chris could practically hear Kyoya's answering grimace, "Yeah, probably best. Now that she's not looking over her shoulder and can relax, she's probably going to have the time to go through her memories. Definitely needs to go to a therapist."
"How long did Kakeru deal with his?" Chris asked.
There was a beat of silence, before Kyoya sighed and answered, "He's never got over them."
Chris swallowed, thickly. In the background of Kyoya's side of the call, the blonde heard a crash, and then Kyoya was cursing.
"Gotta go," Kyoya said. "I'll look into this Lucas character and if I can, get back to you."
"Thanks Kyoya," Chris spoke, grateful.
Kyoya muttered a goodbye, and the line went dead. Chris sighed and pocketed his phone. He turned, and froze when he saw Nefertiti standing in the doorway of their bedroom, wiping her hands on a towel.
"You going to take Christina to therapy?"
"Um, yes,"
"Without her knowledge?"
"… Yes,"
"She's stubborn, huh? Think she'll try to say no if you tell her in advance?"
"Yes,"
"… Kyoya recommend one?"
"Yes,"
"In that case, I wish you the best of luck," Nefertiti sighed. "Come on. Breakfast is almost ready."
"I'll need all the luck I can get," Chris muttered, and followed his wife downstairs to the kitchen.
Today was going to be a long day.
Kyoya hung up, dropped his phone, and rushed to where the crash had come from, the kitchen. When he entered the spacious room, he was greeted with the scene of his brother and fiancé crouched on the floor.
Platina Triton looked up upon hearing Kyoya's entrance, and her expression was concerned and worried.
"What happened?" Kyoya asked, circling the kitchen island. He frowned at the glass on the floor, and looked closer at seeing Kakeru's hand was bleeding, "Keru, are you okay?"
"Fine," Kakeru said, tightly, as he stood up. He turned the sink faucet on and ran his hand underneath the water, "Just… bad memory."
"We both heard you talking with Chris," Platina translated. "I think listening in triggered a memory."
"No shit," Kakeru spat, turning to glare at Platina. She was unfazed, raising an eyebrow at him as she picked up the pieces of glass on the floor, "… Sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry for, sweetie," Platina consoled him, standing and tossing the bigger pieces of glass into the trash.
Kyoya had grabbed the broom and dustpan by then, not wanting to chance cutting a foot open on an unseen shard. Before he could start sweeping, Platina snatched them from him and gave him a look, jerking her head to where Kakeru had his back turned to them.
Kyoya held his hands up and sidled up next to his brother, "Let me see."
"I've had worse," Kakeru muttered, fist clenched under the stream of water.
"Kakeru,"
Kakeru sighed, and uncurled his fingers. Kyoya took his wrist and pulled it from the water to survey the damage.
"Well, you won't need stitches," Kyoya finally said. "But definitely but some peroxide on it and bandage it up. I wouldn't be playing drums any time soon if I were you."
"But, the band!" Kakeru sputtered, eyes wide.
"Can deal without you for a few days,"
"Chris-"
"Has karaoke night, don't argue with me on this. I will take you to see Nefertiti if I have to," Kyoya leveled him with a glare.
"… Fine," Kakeru sighed, wincing as he shook his hand a little.
"I'm going to get ready for work. Sounds like I have a day ahead of me," Platina said, as she placed the broom and dustpan back in the corner. With a quick kiss to Kyoya's cheek, she shot him a look, "Don't get hurt today."
"I make no promises," Kyoya replied, as Platina waved at him over her shoulder.
"Ick," Kakeru muttered. "Get a room."
Kyoya opened his mouth to shoot back a retort, but then realized he had no room to speak because Kakeru wasn't involved with anyone. He settled for glaring at his brother, who smirked up at him.
"Let's get that hand bandaged up," Kyoya sighed, finally, taking his brother by the wrist and leading him to the bathroom. Kakeru let himself be manhandled down the hall, before perching himself up on the bathroom counter as Kyoya rummaged around for the first aid kit.
Kakeru was silent as Kyoya cleaned the wound with disinfectant, only speaking once the older had grabbed the gauze.
"So who's Christina running from?"
Kyoya froze, for barely a second, but Kakeru had practically been raised by him. He knew his tells.
"Don't worry yourself about it too much," Kyoya said, in lieu of response. "I wouldn't go bugging her about it though, not unless you want Chris after you."
"Why would you assume I'd do that?" Kakeru deadpanned, "Come on, tell me something, so I know what I'm dealing with here. I'd hate to accidentally trigger her, considering she's working at the bar now. I'll be around her a lot, you know."
"Your tricks won't work on me, brat," Kyoya rolled his eyes, flicking his brother between the eyes. Kakeru's face scrunched up, a scowl rolling over his lips as Kyoya finished bandaging his hand.
"Kyoya…" Kakeru whined, like a child.
Kyoya didn't respond, as he started packing the first aid kit away. Kakeru sighed, and flexed his hand gingerly, wincing a little. Grumbling under his breath, he jumped off the counter and rolled his shoulders.
"Guess I'll have to call Ryuto and tell him I'll be out of commission for a few days," Kakeru muttered.
"Speaking of Ryuto… he was there for you, wasn't he?" Kyoya asked, off handedly.
Kakeru, halfway to the door, paused. Confused, he turned to his brother, "Uh… yeah. I mean, I'm pretty sure we both remember when you were pestering me-" He faltered, and scrambled to find his words, "I mean… Uh, why did you ask?"
Kyoya shut the closet door, keeping his back turned, "Just saying. Christina might need a friend too." Before Kakeru could respond, Kyoya had slipped by and was back down the hallway and in the kitchen.
Kakeru took a moment to himself, mulling over his brother's words. Kyoya was telling him something, in own cryptic way. Sighing, he decided he could think about it later, turned on his heel, and walked back to his room.
Sleep sounded better than trying to deal with the day in front of him.
"You're late,"
"Late morning,"
"Anything interesting?"
"Define interesting,"
"I got a lead on the Cadelle case. Chris called it in this morning,"
At that, Ryuga Katashi looked up from his paperwork, as Kyoya dropped to sit at the desk across from him, "What did he get?"
"A name that Christina dropped. Lucas McKandless. Thing is, I recognize it, but I'm not sure where from," Kyoya sighed, picking up a pen and tapping it against his desk.
"Hm…" Ryuga mused, "Have you ran it yet?"
The look Kyoya gave him was scathing, "I literally just clocked in, Ryuga."
"Excuses, excuses," Ryuga smirked, ducking as Kyoya threw his pen at him.
Instead of replying to that, Kyoya booted up his computer. Once he'd logged in, he started typing away. Ryuga turned back to his own paperwork, scribbling away at signing and filling out forms.
"Son of a bitch," Kyoya's voice startled him, laced with disbelief and horror.
Ryuga looked up, "What?"
"Lucas McKandless, went missing at age three. Missing persons report filed by the mother, Alice Reynolds nee McKandless. Suspected kidnapper was the kid's own dad, who Alice had recently divorced, Caspian McKandless. She was fighting for custody of both her sons, Wales and Lucas," Kyoya read off the report.
"Why was the dad suspected, other than the custody and divorce thing?" Ryuga stood up and circled around so he could look over Kyoya's shoulder at the report.
"Day of the kidnapping, Alice had taken her sons to the park…" Kyoya read off, "Wales and Lucas got out of her sight for a few moments, and when she called for them, only Wales came back. He was crying and said their father had taken Lucas, and tried to take him too." Kyoya sat back, rubbing his chin, "Guess it was easier for the bastard to take the three year old and leave the fighting six year old behind."
"So there's a star witness for the kidnapping," Ryuga stood up straight, crossing his arms. "Any idea where Alice and Wales would be today?"
"Hm…. Last known address for Alice is Portland, Oregon… As for Wales…" Kyoya typed away, and a new page opened up, this one of a student file at the local university, "Son of a bitch."
Ryuga's own eyebrows went up, and he leaned forward again, "Is that who I think it is?"
"The mystery man of Cadelle's Bar and Grille?" Kyoya sat back in his chair, crossing his own arms, "Looks like we'll be having a talk with Wales Reynolds tonight."