Foster care

I was sitting in my room picking at the bandage wrapped around my arm multiple times when Gwen walked into the room.

"Hello Zorah, how are you feeling?" She stood at the door as if she was afraid to come in.

I looked up, "I'm doing better than I was before, thank you. You can come in."

She walked further into the room and sat down on the bed beside me, "Um, I don't know if I seemed like I didn't like you…when we first met. I was just concerned that's all. When I looked over my words I was going to apologize and then Jack came back and said you were missing, I just…"

I smiled, "I know you didn't mean to make me feel unwanted. I know I am a bit too young for this but it's my only real life. You were just saying what was on your mind and I understand."

She sighed with relief, "Alright, I am sorry if it came off that way. I would just hate to see you get hurt because Jack thought it would be a good idea."

I nodded, "I know, he's been known to do some stupid things. When he offered me a job I thought he had been drinking again."

We both laughed and Jack walked in. "That's it you're gonna pay for that missy!" He grabbed my waist and wiggled his fingers, causing me to giggle uncontrollably.

"No! Stop, Jack please don't!" He tickled faster and ran his hands up and down my sides. I screamed and tried to wiggle away. It didn't work. I started to hit him, trying as hard as I could to get away. He grabbed my wrist with one hand and kept tickling with the other. I saw my chance, "Jack stop you're hurting me!" He stopped instantly. I pushed him off and ran out the door into Cam. I stood behind him and hid my smirking face in his back.

Jack ran out, "You just made it a thousand times worse on yourself…oh hi Cam."

I mock frowned, "Save me, Cam please save me."

Cam pursed his lips, "It depends on what you did."

Jack smirked, "She said that when I offered her this job she thought I had been drinking and that I was known for doing some stupid things." I giggled.

Cam laughed, "For that I will not allow you to torture my little sister, sorry Jack." I sighed in relief, "At least not right now." I groaned and the two boys laughed. I heard the phone in Jacks office ringing. He ran to get it.

Cam pulled me out in front of him, "I'm not always going to be around to save your ass from him you know." I giggled again.

Jack ran back in with some papers in his hand, "Okay time to go."

I looked at him confused, "Go where?"

He smiled, "That was the child services person, we are going to meet her at our apartment."

"But Jack you live here, you don't have an apartment."

He grinned, "But they don't know that." He grabbed my arm and Cams and hit his vortex manipulator. We landed in my mother's house.

She looked up from her book, "What do you want?"

Jack handed her the papers that he was holding, "Sign these and we will be out of your hair."

She looked at him, "What are they?"

"Adoption papers, I wasn't kidding when I said that if Zorah wanted it I would, and I see now that she needs a proper parent. I see her as a daughter already and have no problem." She sighed and signed the papers. Jack grabbed us again and we were gone.

We landed in a nicely furnished apartment. "Now, make yourselves comfortable like you live here every day." He walked off to make sure everything was in order.

I sat on the couch and leaned on Cams shoulder, "I hope everything goes right."

He smiled and hugged me, "Don't worry, for the little time I have known Jack and what you've told me about him, he will do everything he can."

I huffed sarcastically, "That doesn't sound so reassuring."

He laughed, "You think too much."

I shrugged, "I can't help it. I can't lose you. If I do I'll go insane."

He hugged me tighter, "I know, but you listen to me okay? If something does happen and they make me go into foster care, always know that I will stay in touch and I'll always come back."

I nodded, "I know, but it won't be the same."

I heard the doorbell ring, "Show time." Jack answered the door and a woman came in.

She smiled at us, "Hello, my name is Elena Night, I'm from child services." I smiled back and nodded. She turned to Jack, "Let's start with a tour of the apartment." Jack led her through all the rooms and eventually made his way back to the living room where Cam and I were sitting. She turned to Jack again, "I would like to speak to the children alone please." He nodded and left the room.

"So," she looked at Cam, "You must be Cameron. And you," she looked at me, "Must be Zorah."

I nodded and she smiled at me, "I want to ask you some questions about Mr. Harkness, please answer as truthfully as possible." I nodded, "How long have you known him?"

"I have known him for about seven years, and Cam has known him for almost a year now."

She nodded and wrote down my answer, "Cameron, how much do you trust Jack?"

"I trust him with my life, and with the life of my little sister."

She nodded and wrote it down, "And you?" she looked at me.

"Same, I've known Jack since I was a kid and he's been the father figure of my life." She wrote it down.

"Has he ever hurt you in anyway?"

I shook my head, "Not purposely, you know the 'I wasn't paying attention sorry I bumped into you' type of hurt but other than that no."

"Has he ever done anything to you that made you feel uncomfortable?"

I shook my head again, "No, anytime I feel uncomfortable he stops what he's doing or leaves the room."

She nodded writing it down, "Could you give me an example?"

"When we were rescued from my father's house and I was being looked at, I had to raise my shirt so that Owen could see the wounds. I saw him getting angry and felt uncomfortable so I asked him to leave."

She nodded, "And did he say anything before he left the room, or did he protest in any way?"

"He only asked that I explain later why I asked him to leave."

She wrote everything down. The constant scribbling of her pencil was unnerving. "I understand that for ten months you were abused by your father, does being around Mr. Harkness make you feel threatened?"

I shook my head, "No, he is the second person I feel safest around."

She nodded, "And who is the first?"

I looked at Cam, "My big brother."

Her cell phone rang, "Please excuse me." she walked out and Jack came in. She stood outside the door for a minute before hanging up the phone and walking back in.

She looked directly at me, "Just one more question, and Mr. Harkness you can stay, for this. How would you feel if you lost your brother?"

I looked down and clung to him, "Why would you ask me that?"

She sighed, obviously not happy with what she was about to do, "I'm very sorry, but I have been ordered to take Cameron into foster care, no exceptions." I burst into tears and clung tighter to Cam. They were going to have to pry him from my cold dead hands to take him away from me. "I am very sorry, I wish there was something I could do."

Cam tried to stand but I clung tighter, I had a death grip and nothing would make me let him go. He looked down at me, "Zorah I have to go." I whimpered and held on like he was my lifeline. "It will be okay, you have Jack and Owen and Ianto, they will look after you. I promise no matter where I go I will always think of you."

I buried my face in his chest, "You're not leaving me!"

He sighed, "I'm so sorry baby," he kissed my head and looked up, "Jack…"

Jack took hold of my wrists, "No!" I fought back but between Jack and Cam I couldn't get away. Jack held me back and Cam walked out the door. I slumped onto the floor and cried.