Another Father's Advice
Chapter 6
It had been one of the most stressful days of Mike's careers; either of them. The hostage situation was long and there had been fatalities. Mike had lost more friends. Fortunately, Tom had gotten there with the team; the President had been saved and the fatalities had been kept at an 'acceptable number.' Mike was beaten and bruised but Gustavo's people had been taken into custody and Mike had personally put a bullet in Kelsi's brain. Typically, Mike hated killing but he was justified in this one.
Mike had been spending a lot of time at Madeline's. He'd barely been in his apartment; other then to grab clothes. She had emptied out a drawer and a section in her small closet for him; his shaving kit was on the sink and toothbrush was next to her's and Joey's. Normally; he would have made tracks to her apartment to get there for supper, but he didn't want Joey to see him all bloodied and bruised up. It meant walking by 'Hannah's room' but he refused to allow Joey to be scared.
Problem was; he couldn't put the butterfly tape over the cuts on his cheek and forehead. He needed help. Before Madeline; he would have just suffered through, but he had someone again. He pulled his phone out to explain why he would be showing up with blood everywhere, so she didn't also get scared.
"Hey; I am finally off work and I need some help. We had an incident and I have some cuts. Are you afraid of blood?" Mike asked in a text.
"I saw it on the news and was worried but knew not to call. I have kids, so blood isn't a problem. Word of warning; my mom is here." Madeline's text stated.
"I can handle her. Be there is a minute. Might forewarn Joey. I didn't want to scare him." Mike warned.
Mike grabbed his first aid kit along with another changed of clothes, locked up and walked the short distance to Madeline's place. When he got there; Joey was waiting for him on the doorstep and looked panicked at Mike's condition.
"What happened to your face?" Joey asked.
"Just got in a bit of a fight. The bad guys are in jail so no worries. Just need your mom to help me out a little. That okay?" Mike asked. Joey was protective of his mom and Mike had figured out quickly that it was Joey's approval that he needed to seek.
"Yeah, but my nana is here and the girl. Nana is mean." Joey told him quietly.
"Who is the girl?" Mike asked.
"Nana doesn't use her name. I don't know what it is. Mommy says…she's like a maid? Whatever that is." Joey explained. Mike was aware of, a slave trade for orphaned children. The people would buy them to be servants; and those were the good stories. There were worse ones. They rarely used their names, because they didn't want their families to find them. It was one of the worst things that had happened since the Red Flu.
"I see. Better come inside; it's getting dark." Mike said as he gave Joey his hand and opened the door. A dark haired, older woman was sitting at the kitchen table and gave him a weird look as Madeline and a young girl walked out of the bedroom area.
"Maddy, who is this?" The woman asked. Mike was drawn to the young girl who was looking at her feet. She was skin and bones, had a bruise on her cheek, and if she hadn't been so tiny; she might be about thirteen. She reminded him of Hannah.
"Mom; I mentioned to you that I was seeing someone. This is Mike." Madeline stated as she took the first aide kit out of his hands. He could tell how frazzled she was, and Joey was clinging to his legs.
"You look like hell." The woman stated, and Mike nodded.
"Nice to meet…" Mike started and held his hand out to shake hers, but the woman just shook her head.
"Mike, she doesn't shake hands. Her name is Anna Harris. This is…I'm sorry, what's your name?" Madeline asked the young girl.
"My name is…" The young girl started when Madeline's mother stood up and backhanded her across the face.
"She doesn't have a name." Anna stated as she sat back down.
"Here, let me get you some ice." Madeline told the girl, but Anna stopped her.
"Don't bother." Anna stated. Mike was outraged. He finally made eye contact with the young girl and realized that she had Christine's big brown eyes.
"Hannah?" Mike asked. He heard Madeline take a deep breath and felt her move Joey away from him. Mike got closer to Hannah and lifted her chin with his hand. She looked just like Christine but also so broken. It was like time had stood still and he could hear Madeline send Joey to his room and then lecturing Anna, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was Hannah.
"Daddy?" Hannah asked in a scratchy voice. Mike had no idea what to do other than to pull her into a hug and as soon as he did; she cried out in pain.
"What's wrong?" Mike asked
"She got mouthy." Anna stated.
"MOTHER, for God's sake, she's a child! Can I look?" Madeline asked Hannah and she nodded. Madeline gently raised Hannah's shirt up. Her eyes went wide, and she gestured at Mike to look. Hannah's abdomen and sides were covered in bruises.
"Does it hurt to breathe, baby?" Mike asked.
"Oh, for heaven's sakes. She's fine." Anna stated.
"Leave, Mother; get out of here. And you are leaving Hannah here." Madeline said loudly and pointed to the door.
"See if you can handle this on your own…I bet you can't. Course, your new live-in might help; I noticed the shaving kit in your bathroom which means you and he are sleeping together…" Anna continued.
"Leave or I will have you arrested. That is your choice." Mike told Anna. Hannah was shaking like a leaf and Madeline had put an arm around her.
"Who the hell do you think you are? I paid a lot of money for her…" Anna started.
"I am Admiral Mike Slattery. And yes, I was on the Nathan James. We both know if I call the cops; it won't matter who you are. You have physically abused a child. My child. I get that this child trafficking thing is common practice now, but Hannah will be staying here with me. As far as your daughter is concerned; yes, I have been sleeping with her. I am thrilled that she is not like her mother. Now, go." Mike ordered her in a low voice. Anna grabbed her purse and left without a word to her daughter. Mike felt horribly for Madeline.
"I'm sorry, Mike; I didn't know. If I did I would have told you, I promise. You must think I am this horrible person…" Madeline started, and Mike shook his head.
"I don't. Hannah; are you having any difficulty breathing?" Mike asked.
"I'm okay." Hannah said quietly. Madeline nodded at Mike. It was like she had shifted into a 'mom role.'
"Hey, sweetie; how about we go in the bedroom and I check those bruises over?" Madeline asked.
"Okay." Hannah agreed, and Mike nodded at Madeline. About the same time as Madeline and Hannah disappeared into the bedroom; Elizabeth started crying, so Mike went and got her out of her crib. The baby cuddled close and Mike could hear Madeline and Hannah talking quietly.
"It's okay, baby girl. We didn't mean to scare you. Do I look scary?" Mike asked her, and Elizabeth continued crying. She wanted her mommy. Mike heard Madeline come out of the bedroom and walk into Elizabeth's room. "I think she wants to nurse." Mike told her, and Madeline sat down in the rocker, pulled a cover-up over her and Mike handed Elizabeth over; and then grabbed a pillow and settled it under Elizabeth.
"Her entire upper torso and arms are covered in both old and new bruises. She has whip marks on her back and told me the last time she ate was three days ago. There are also bruises on her legs. She's showering now. I sat out one of my pairs of sweats and one of your shirts. I am not certain that she needs to go to the doctor tonight, but she does need a good going over. Mike, I am serious; I didn't know what my mother was doing. I would never, ever allow a child to be injured like that. You must think I'm this horrible person…" Madeline started again, and Mike knelt down next to her.
"Hey, this is not your fault. My concern is, did your mom ever hurt you like that?" Mike asked.
"No. Like I said, she left my brother and I in the nanny's care. I think she only comes around now to have control." Madeline admitted.
"Makes sense. And the financial stuff?" Mike asked.
"She sends money every month and I put it in account for the kids. I don't use it for my month to month expenses. For the kid's education." Madeline explained.
"Okay. I just wanted to make sure since I basically threw her out." Mike stated.
"If you hadn't, I would have. Still, not ideal that Hannah already knows that we're…whatever we are?" Madeline asked.
"I am going to need help with her; help I hope you'll give me. As far as what we are; I don't think there's a definition yet." Mike told her.
"I am fine with that, but Hannah might need a definition at some point. I think she is curious. Alright, all done, Elizabeth. Here?" Madeline asked as she pulled her out from under the cover and handed her to Mike to burp and change while she readjusted her clothing.
"Can you order a couple pizzas? That way you don't have to cook." Mike asked as he burped Elizabeth.
"You will be Joey's favorite person; he loves pizza but it's a treat for him." Madeline told him as he handed her his wallet. Elizabeth gave him a healthy burp and he laid her down to change her as Madeline stepped out. He could hear her talking to Hannah and smiled. He hoped they could bond, and Hannah would adjust to having Madeline and her kids around. He changed Elizabeth's diaper and stepped into the hallway with her. Hannah looked miserable until she saw the baby. Elizabeth gave her a huge smile.
"Can I hold her?" Hannah asked with a hopeful tone.
"Yes, but how about you sit down?" Mike asked, and Hannah followed him into the living room. Madeline's sweatpants were too large on her and Mike's shirt swallowed her. Her hair was wet, and she was so pale. As soon as she settled on the couch; Mike handed her Elizabeth. The thought occurred to him; Hannah might think that Elizabeth was his. "Uh, sweetie; Madeline and I have only been dating for a week or so. Elizabeth isn't my baby." Mike told her, and Hannah had a sad look on her face.
"Oh." She said quietly. Madeline came out of Joey's room and smiled at them.
"I ordered a pepperoni, a sausage and a cheese." Madeline told them as she sat down on the recliner.
"Hannah, talk to me. What's wrong? Your whole mood changed when I told you that Elizabeth wasn't mine. I just didn't want you to get any ideas or to get upset. I still care very deeply for your mom, but I also really like Madeline." Mike stated with a nod from Madeline.
"Hannah, I also…care deeply for your dad. I promise; I didn't know what was happening to you. I would have done something. I can't fix it, but I can help your dad with you." Madeline told her as she sat down on Hannah's other side.
"Is she gone?" Hannah asked. Mike looked to Madeline for an answer. It was her choice because Anna was her mother.
"She is never going to be near you again; I promise." Madeline told her as she gave her a hug. It made Mike smile; he liked having Madeline and her kids in his life. He wanted Hannah to like her. To have a good relationship.
"I have an idea. Hannah has a fully set up bedroom but no clothes. I don't figure she is going to much want me to pick out her clothes for her. Madeline, can you help me out? I can babysit." Mike asked as he ran his hand over Hannah's hair.
"I think I would love to help with that." Madeline told him with a smile. Hannah was still holding Elizabeth and Joey had come in and sat down next to Mike.
"Hannah, this is Joey. Madeline's son and you've met Elizabeth already." Mike made the introduction.
"Hi." Hannah told him quietly.
"Hi. Mommy, when's the pizza gonna be here? I'm hungry." Joey asked.
"Soon. I also ordered breadsticks and that dessert pizza you like so well. Has chocolate." Madeline told him. Hannah gave a slight smile; she loved chocolate.
"I haven't had pizza and chocolate in forever." Hannah stated with an excited tone.
"Well, Joey would live on it if he could." Madeline told her as she hugged the little boy close. Mike hated the circumstances and there were a lot of issues to work out, but he was thoroughly enjoying having the four of them close. Hannah was quiet and leaning into Madeline a lot. Mike leaned over Hannah and kissed the side of Madeline's head and she smiled over at him.
Not knowing how tomorrow's episode will turn out; it is definitely AU now. I know Mike's character would probably want Anna locked up but that will be explained later…and now Tom and Danny might end up helping Mike. I LOVE reading all the reviews; by the way.