Sam approached Dani the next day at school "Hey Dani"
"Oh hey Sam" she closed her locker and continued talking with him "How's the new school going?"
"Good, yeah good. I'm on the football team, I've got into some smart classes and I even signed up for the glee club"
"Oh god, my moms, especially Santana, tried getting me to sign up for that but there was no way I was having any of it"
Sam just laughed "Same. Dads, especially Kurt, convinced me too"
"Don't worry. If you do get in, I won't let anyone make fun of you"
"Thanks Dani, anyway, see you around" he said at the sound of the bell. Dani nodded and watched the handsome fella go. She had to keep reminding herself, she was happy with Finn, right?
"I do like him" she told Brittany.
"As a friend or more?" Brittany questioned.
"As a friend, I would never cheat on Finn, I'm not like that" Dani defended.
"I know you wouldn't, I have respect for you Dani because some girls in this situation wouldn't bat an eyelid with just bouncing between boys. It shows how sensible you are"
Dani nodded "Anyway where's mom?" she asked.
"She's had to work late today, that's why I came up to check on you, I know lately normally she does" Brittany stated.
Dani just shrugged "There's no good cop bad cop going on here don't worry, I think I can say on behalf of all my sisters we're really grateful to both of you for giving us a home"
"And I'm grateful at you for giving me what I want...a family"
Dani smiled and then sighed "Anyway, I better get my work done, the deadline is tomorrow"
"If I ask if you need any help will you bite my head off?" Brittany asked.
"Yes" Dani nodded.
"Then I won't" Brittany assured her "I'll call you when dinner is ready" and then she headed into Rachel's room where the little girl was taking another nap. Today Brittany and Rachel's doctor had a honest conversation at trying to get Rachel on some kind of medication since she wasn't coping very well at school neither was she coping too well at home. Brittany knew Santana would be against it but she had to hear the benefits of it because picking Rachel up from school with her being in a secluded room in tears everyday was heartbreaking, they had to help her, she couldn't afford anymore people to let her down.
Brittany sat down on the bed and stared down at the sleeping girl. Now that Rachel didn't always have to wear long sleeves to cover up her scars and burns from them she was always cold so was wrapped up tightly in her blanket with 'baa baa' next to her and a pile of other soft toys on the other side of her. Brittany smiled and then realised she needed to start dinner before Santana got home so Santana could just relax after her long day.
"Marley? Can you help with dinner please"
Marley stood up and followed Brittany into the kitchen. She didn't say a word and hardly looked at Brittany as she sliced the potatoes.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?"
Marley sighed "Nothing mom, I'm fine"
"Well you're quieter than usual. I mean you are quiet but you would at least smile at me" Brittany questioned.
Marley said nothing and carried on slicing. Brittany came over and gently took the knife from her and asked her directly "What is wrong?"
Marley sighed but gave in "Look, I kind of feel like you're taking over, Rachel only let's me bathe her so when somebody else does and Rachel's fine with that it kind of feels like it meant nothing to her" it was good that Marley could articulate herself so well, Brittany was impressed.
"Of course it didn't mean nothing to her Rachel loves you!" Brittany told her firmly "She loves you to bits and she always will. You're her sister and nothing is ever going to change that"
Marley nodded "Okay, I'm sorry for acting like this"
"You don't need to apologise for how you're feeling" Brittany assured her "How about you go wake Rachel from her nap and do some colouring with her before I do her numbers with her"
"You sure?" Marley asked.
Brittany nodded "Yeah, sure"
It was the last day of school when Brittany and Santana were both called into Rachel's school. They both rushed back from work and told the kids to get the bus home; they weren't complaining at that. They loved the independence of it. Brittany got there first since she was closer and walked in when the receptionist pointed to the left. She followed the directions walking into the principals office finding three teachers surrounding the little girl and the schools security guard.
"Rachel?" Brittany called. Rachel looked up from her place on the floor "Mommy?" She got up but the teachers ushered her back down which confused Brittany. One of the teachers took her to the side to explain "She has scissors"
"Safety scissors?" Brittany wanted to confirm, surely she must only have safety scissors.
"No, she stole larger scissors from inside my desk, I do usually have them locked away but I was literally out of the room for a few seconds and she grabbed them" the teacher looked guilty, but Brittany guessed you couldn't blame them. They did on a stretch agree to have such a complex child at their school, but Brittany knew this would probably be the last straw.
"What is she doing with them?" Brittany asked.
"Well she cut herself and then she cut another teacher, so it's not safe to go near her right now" the teacher told the worried mother. A minute later Santana burst through the doors and the teacher explained to her what had happened.
"Let me speak to her" Santana assured them "Rachel?"
Rachel didn't look up.
Brittany came forward too "Sweetheart? Come on, look at us"
Rachel still looked down.
"Rachel" Santana said firmly "I need you to look at me, now"
Rachel now looked up, tears in her big doe eyes "Mama?"
"Give me the scissors, sweetheart" Santana ordered holding out her hand. Rachel shook her head "No" she got the scissors and dig into one of the bleeding cuts. It was painful for Santana to watch and she snapped "Rachel! Stop!" and as instinct she went forward to grab the harmful object but Rachel pulled on it making a cut to both their hands.
"Careful" the teachers said but Santana wasn't going to let that get in the way. She snatched the scissors off Rachel and handed them over to the teachers before pulling Rachel close to her "Rachel, you need to start using your words instead of doing these things, why won't you talk to me?" Santana asked but it was like she was talking to herself because Rachel just wasn't with it. Then suddenly the security guard came over with someone in a nurse's uniform and someone dressed smartly. Brittany asked them "Who are you?"
"I'm a psychiatric" the woman who dressed so smartly answered.
"And I'm a nurse" the nurse told them.
"Rachel has been referred to us" the psychiatrist told them, she looked at the security guard who nodded "I work closely with them" he explained "I realised Rachel needed a referral from a couple of days ago and I got them to come down as an emergency today"
"You did that without telling us?" Santana snapped.
"San" Brittany shook her head.
"Wait, Britt did you know?" Santana accused. Brittany looked guilty and Santana huffed and bit her lip, not wanting to get angry in front of Rachel.
"I've seen Rachel before you got here and I've made an assessment and my conclusion is that she should be referred to a child ward in the children's hospital where she can be managed by professionals as she'll get the right treatment she needs"
"No" Brittany and Santana said at the same time "No, she is not going anywhere" Santana made very clear.
"The ambulance is on its way, the bed is there, I'm sorry" the nurse told them "And I promise you I will look after your daughter"
Brittany hugged Rachel tight, she hated the thought of being separated.
"But we also know that separating isn't going to be easy so you can come everyday to see her and in these circumstances you can see her for as long as you want, as long as she's settled"
Santana couldn't stop the tears now as she heard the ambulance people outside. They knocked on the door and the teacher let them in. Santana bent down and hugged Rachel as well, she looked at her and told her firmly "I love you, okay? I love you so so much"
"Mama, you're not sending me away are you?" Rachel asked confused as the ambulance guy walked over to them.
"It'll only be short term Rachel until you feel better" Santana assured her trying to be strong.
"No!" Rachel cried.
"It'll be okay Rachel" Brittany tried to reassure her.
The ambulance man gently picked up Rachel to take her but she screamed "No! Mommy! Mama! Please don't let me go!" Rachel sobbed loudly. Santana and Brittany were both in tears as they watched their precious angel being taken away. Santana couldn't even look at Brittany and walked on her own back in the card. She hit the steering wheel several times before turning on the music and doing the only thing school had told her, to sing her feelings away.
The time I thought that we would have
Was taken from red to black
I said things I can't take back
And I don't know how to live with that
There's a darkness that I've known
And it's shaken me to stone
It kills me you might not know
After all
'Cause I know I don't let you see
But you mean the world to me
And I know that I can be pretty mean
But you mean the world to me
What the hell is wrong with me?
I just sat there and watched you leave
I am not this ice queen
And you think I don't feel anything
There's a fear that I've known
And it's cut you to the bone
And I'm so sorry I've never shown
Just how much you hold
I know I don't let you see
But you mean the world to me
And I know that I can be pretty mean
But you mean the world to me
World to me
World to me
'Cause I know I don't let you see
But you mean the world to me
I dont think you can have mental health wards for four year olds but Rachel needs help so she's just going into a hospital. Anyway, hope it wasn't too sad :&