Chapter 6: Hard Times Part 2

It was only one hour ago

It was all so different then

There's nothing yet has really sunk in

Looks like it always did

This flesh and bone

It's just the way that you would tied in

Now there's no-one home

Leaning against the fence's top rung and watching her children play with their grandmother set her mind at ease. She was drained of everything at the moment and wasn't exactly sure if she'd obey the, 'let's get back together in one hour' parameter that the elder Vaughn had set.

She had nothing against the Vaughn's for putting her through this. She knew that she'd eventually have to recount everything that Rick had done to her and the boys, it was just that she wasn't prepared for everything to hit her at once. The damage was done though, and while she felt that she'd been seeing the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel through her parents' kindness, after today she knew it was just a train barreling toward her as she hobbled down the tracks.

Feeling more than seeing a presence beside her, peeking out of the corner of her eye, she recognized the younger of the lawyers as he leaned against the railing beside her. Blessedly, he said nothing - leaving the woman to her thoughts.

"I'm afraid to go back inside, Michael." Her quiet admission permeated the silence, fear lacing each word. She didn't make eye contact, and he wasn't even sure if he was supposed to answer - let alone know what he would say to help her. 'All those years at Harvard Law and you don't know what to say?'

Sydney's eyes were fixed on the pasture across the yard, her mother leading the boys around as they fed the goats, chickens, and horses. Despite the scene of normalcy before her, she wasn't actually seeing it. Her eyes were seeing one thing while her mind was filled the image of the plush chair and the memories she'd have to loose while sitting in it - the chair only pretending to be innocent and comfy.

He wanted nothing more than to help the hurting young woman before him, finally saying the first thing that came to mind. Clearing his throat a bit and gathering his thoughts, "I'm…I'm afraid of spiders."

Breaking her focus she turned to study his face, her eyes reflecting confusion as she shook her head silently. "What?"

Michael stuttered, his gaze moving down to the railing as the woods detail claimed his attention, an embarrassed smile gracing his lips. "I...I just - I thought that...if I shared a fear of mine it - it would help. I'm sorry."

His cheeks blushed but he was surprised when she began laughing. "Look, your dad is the psychologist, not me. I don't know why I said that." Her laughter continued, giving way to giggles as she leaned against the railing wiping tears from her eyes.

"Thank you. I...I needed that. That helped more than you know." For once the tears were happy and she couldn't wipe the smile from her face - dimples out in full force.

"What were you thinking about before my disastrous attempt at distraction?"

Sydney sighed, the dimples and smiles leaving, as she finally regarded her companion. "I guess I've just been thinking about all the wrong decisions I've ever made. I know it's not the most productive use of my time, but I can't stop going over all of the details in my head, you know? What could I have done differently? And even if there was something different that I could do…would I have had the guts to do it or would I have been too afraid to even try?"

"You're stronger than you think you are. I mean, even Atlas needed help holding up the sky."

With a smile and a squeeze to her shoulder, Michael turned and headed back to the house. Sydney sighed and, as if walking the proverbial green mile, made her way over dew-dripping grass back to the front door.

…

Sydney wiped at her cheeks for the millionth time it seemed, pausing for a moment to take a sip of water. If anything was easy about the whole ordeal it was the fact that the Vaughn's were extremely compassionate. They actually listened to every word she spoke, giving her time for each little breakdown and even more for her to compose herself. They flinched as they imagined each instance of violence against the young woman sitting in the chair beside them, their kind green eyes full of understanding.

"How bad did Rick get, Sydney? Did you ever need serious medical attention?"

It took her a moment, but she focused her gaze and fingers on a hole in the knee of her jeans before nodding slowly.

"Do you remember which hospital you were at and when you were admitted?"

"Ummm, Angel's Mercy Hospital, a few months ago roughly, I…I don't remember a date. To be honest - I don't remember much of anything from those few days."

Ironically, it was one of her less painful memories. She wasn't sure about the details because of the severe head trauma, but she did distinctly remember the pain after waking from her three-day stay at the hospital.

"I…I only remember arguing after getting home late one evening. My friend had babysat the boys since I'd promised one of my students that I'd be there at a school play if he'd redo his homework for a better grade." She laughed, though to the Vaughn's it sounded a bit more like a sob, and would have thought so if it wasn't for the wistful smile on her face.

"Sydney, if you don't remember that's okay. Michael, would you call the hospital and have them fax over the information please?" Bill removed his glasses and rubbed at the pinched skin at the bridge of his nose, his son typing a bit on the computer before pulling out his cell phone and dialing, stepping from the room for a moment.

Placing a hand to her knee he squeezed gently, catching her attention. "Do you need anything? More water?"

"I'm okay, I guess."

Jack watched as Michael spoke quietly with someone at a hospital, his worried eyes following the lawyer as he paced up and down the hallway. The green-eyed man gave the fax number of the house, thanking whoever was on the other line before sliding the phone back into his pocket.

"What…how are things going?"

Michael smiled reassuringly before patting the elder Bristow on the back and reentering the room. "The fax will be here soon, they had the files available."

"Thanks, son." The compassionate-eyed businessman was back, his glasses going back over his eyes as he turned his attention once more to the blotchy, bleary-eyed woman. "Was that the worst, Sydney?"

"That he physically did to me? Yeah. I don't remember much, but I do remember that it was after his annual baseball game with him and his friends from high school."

"He...he didn't hit you with his fists that night, did he?" Michael had been silent throughout the whole day - content to listen and type and keep his opinions and comments to himself, but this one story had his teeth and nerves on edge. It wasn't until the others in the room fixed their eyes on him that he realized he'd asked the question aloud.

Her response was a shrug as she lifted her hand, fingering the make-up covered scar underneath her right eye. "All I remember is that he was so drunk he could hardly walk, and he and his friends partied in the backyard until the middle of the night, despite the fact that they'd lost the game. I finally asked them to pack it in since the boys were trying to sleep and the cops had already been there once because of a noise complaint. He…seemed fine with it until his friends left," she floated away, her eyes glazing over with tears as more and more of the night pieced itself together the harder she thought about it.

"I'd never seen such a, a terrifying look on his face. I mean, he always scared me when he drank, but this - this was a fear I'd never felt before. I remember us arguing but don't remember the subject. I usually didn't argue with him, but that night I was apparently either brave or stupid."

She paused, her fingers reaching up to her cheek subconsciously to once again finger the scar feeling the wetness that had been absent before.

"I...I remember telling him off that baseball wasn't a job and that I didn't want his friends around our house any longer. And the next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital with stitches in three places on my head, under my eye, and four broken ribs."

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she recalled the gasp of her friend Becky when she went to pick up the boys from their four-day stay with their impromptu babysitter.

"What did you tell the people around you?"

"Car accident. It...it wasn't a hard lie to fit in to since after Rick did...what he had, he left the house and crashed the car into a tree." Taking in a shuddering breath she tried to compose herself, feeling her lip and chin begin to quiver.

Bill's eyes shone with confusion as he removed his glasses, fixing her with a soft yet piercing gaze. "If Rick left after the incident...how did you get to the hospital?"

A sob escaped her lips as she snatched up another Kleenex, her fingers tracing the outline of the Spiderman action figure in her jeans pocket. "Jake told me that he - he saved me. Th-that he'd called 9-1-1 like a good boy...like I'd taught him if someone needed help. Bill…please – please don't talk to my baby about this - please."

He nodded, lying to the young woman knowing that he'd have to ask the little boy about the night where Sydney had been so severely injured.

"Did he ever hit your children?" A deft change of subject, though no one in the room complained.

"Once – and that's when we…well – I left."

"You…you wouldn't happen to have taken pictures, would you? If we need to go to family court because Rick wants to fight for custody, we'll need evidence that shows that he isn't a fit parent. Though, if I was a judge I wouldn't give him a kid even if it would save his life."

Sydney sighed, reaching into her pocket and extracting her cell phone. "I…I took a couple of pictures with my phone while he was asleep. Rick hit him with his belt and left finger marks on his arms, but that's all I've known of. I've always made sure that I was home with my boys when Rick was around, I swear."

Bill reassured her, making sure she knew that they weren't calling her parenting into question.

"I might have to ask him some questions, but I'm not going to sit down with him as we have with you, Sydney, I promise you that. If everything goes well we can finish the papers, have you sign them, get them over to Rick, have him sign them, and then be done with it. Keeping it out of family court would be best for everyone here, honestly."

"You know…I think we're good. I'm sorry that we had to make you go through all of this, I really am. I've been friends with your father for years and I've heard so much about you I feel that you're my own daughter. It just breaks my heart to see how you've been treated. I'll make sure that if this does take longer than it should, I'll shelter you from the brunt of it." Bill took her hand and squeezed it, Sydney leaning forward and catching him in a hug as a sob soaked into his jacket. A chorus of stomachs rumbled, breaking the tension in the room as the three of them laughed. "It's dinner time, c'mon. Let's get out of this dreary office and you can just relax this weekend."

Bill left, closing the door behind him to talk with Jack as Michael packed up the laptop. "Do you feel like you conquered your fears, Syd?"

Fixing tear-filled eyes on him as she stood and picked up the half a dozen or so Kleenex scattered on the floor around the plush chair. "Honestly…I do feel better. I'm not the only one that knows about this crap now. As hard as it was to talk about, I'm glad I did it. Thank you again for helping…for listening. I mean…I know it's your job and everything, but still - thank you."

Packing his things he moved over to where she stood with a smile. "Hey…I would happily shoulder all the bad junk. Unfortunately I can't – but I'm going to try my best."

A thankful tear streaked down her cheek, Michael reaching out to wipe it away with his finger. "Don't worry about a thing, okay? We've got you."

They exited the office together, Michael giving father and daughter a moment alone – their first of the day.

"Did you really sit there the whole time dad? It's been eight hours." Jack wrapped his daughter in his arms, his grip squeezing the breath from her lungs as his body shook slightly.

Confused for a moment until she heard a sob, for the first time in the last few days not coming from her, she sighed. Pulling him close, she became the comforter.

"I'm sorry, Sydney, so sorry."

He'd heard it all – every story she recalled, every bit of what the man he'd given her away to had done. Anger coursed through him at first but it was replaced quickly by sadness that he hadn't been more forceful in getting his daughter away from the whole situation.

Sydney held her father as he quietly cried into her hair. Jack's larger frame didn't fit very well in her arms, though she still attempted to rub and pat his back as if he was one of her sons. "Dad, it'll be okay." Pulling away with each hand on his shoulders, she leaned into press a kiss to his forehead. "Don't break on me now, daddy, you're the stronger of us both."

He cupped her face, his thumbs wiping away tears she hadn't realized she'd shed. "You are the strongest person I've ever met, Sydney. If anyone can get through this – you can." She wasn't prepared for the intensity in his gaze, unable to avert her eyes to focus on something else since he held her in place. "I love you, Sydney and I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks, dad."

Standing in a comfortable silence, they straightened up and made their way to the kitchen. The young mother's legs were quickly attacked as she leaned down, embracing both excited bundles against her chest.

Dinner was surprisingly boisterous and jovial. The entire group put the last eight hours behind them, Bill and Michael ditching their ties and overcoats and relaxing.

After dessert the men retreated to the living room, each bearing a glass of brandy as Laura decided to put the boys to bed.

"C'mon you two – time for bed."

"Momma…can you tuck us in please? I missed you all day." Jake hadn't left her leg, even while she cleaned the table up and stood at the sink to rinse the dishes.

"Of course, sweetie. You let grandma get you all ready and I'll be up in a minute to tuck you in, okay?"

Minutes passed by as she stood looking out the small window into the blackness, a soapy plate forgotten as she was lost in thought. It wasn't until someone turned the water on, taking the plate from her and beginning to rinse it, that she jumped back to the present. Michael had rolled his sleeves up, casting a smile as he offered to help with the dishes.

"Isn't this a woman's job?" Joking as she grabbed another dish, scrubbing it slowly as the young man laughed before transferring the dish into the washer.

"It's either this or listen to our dad's talk politics." His faked shudder made her laugh as they quietly washed, rinsed, and loaded up the dishwasher.

The last dish was done, Sydney washing off her hands as Michael closed the machine and leaned against the counter.

Laura broke the silence from her spot leaning against the door frame. "The boys are ready, honey."

"How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough for you to finish the dishes so I don't have to." Winking with a laugh she poured a cup of coffee and found a seat at the counter.

"Thanks for the help," Sydney placed a hand on Michael's arm before leaving the room, tossing the wet rag onto the counter.

"Michael…I don't need to warn you about getting too close again, do I?" Laura focused a caring yet stern gaze on him, his arms crossing defensively as kept his own eyes away from the woman across the room. "I know that it's really easy to care for Sydney, she just has this way about her that drags you in. But Michael…you can't get dragged in."

"I've already told you that I won't, Laura, c'mon. Give me credit."

"Oh I do. I give you credit – but I also know my daughter and I know that you are kind and caring, and she's naturally going to gravitate toward you. You're her age, she knows she can talk to you, and she knows that you're safe."

Michael nodded, not disagreeing with anything she'd said so far. 'How is it that women are this astute? That can't be fair.'

"You know that I wouldn't do anything to make Sydney uncomfortable. Nor would I do something that would be detrimental to her case. I just…I can't help but try to put myself in their shoes. All of my clients are special, and you're right – I do have a problem distancing myself from doing whatever I can to help them get over whatever hurdle they're facing. It's just who I am…it's how I was raised."

Moving to a free seat, finding his abandoned glass of brandy on the table, he finally met her eyes. "I can't help but want to strangle him. I mean…all the bad guys in my cases – but Rick the most."

"Oh…me either. In fact, if he does show up, I'd better not be the one to answer the door. But…Michael she…I don't think she's strong enough to resist you."

"I'm not going to – "

"I know you won't mean to, Michael, but you're…you. You're charming and nice and sweet and everything that she's been craving from her husband over the last two and a half years. Please don't spend an unnecessary amount of time with her, please. I can't fix her broken heart again."

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he scrunched his eyes closed. "I promise, Laura. I give you my word that my relationship with Sydney will be 100% professional."

'I hope…'

…