I don't own The Professional or any of its characters...same with Scooby-Doo...just thought the kid could have one of those blankets...i do.
Shattered
Chapter 8: New Homes
She was sitting in a squishy chair in the bright coloured office. They obviously thought happy colours could affect everyone's mood. Mathilda wasn't remotely affected. She was pissed and heartbroken. After a few more minutes she was led into the next room to meet a young couple.
"Hi, Mathilda." said the man, smiling in a comforting way. He stood up and his wife followed suit.
"Uh, hi." replied Mathilda. She tried to sound nice, due to the people seeming nice, but it didn't work. She sounded how she felt.
"Uh, we are the Wichmans. I'm Lisa and this is my husband Derek." said the young woman.
"I'm going with you guys." said Mathilda, her voice sounding dead now. It wasn't even a question. She wasn't sure why she'd said it out loud. The woman for Child Services that was sending her off said a lot of things but Mathilda let it all go past her head. She didn't join conversation again until she was with her new parents outside their car. Derek turned to her.
"Mathilda, I know you're not happy. And a big part of that is probably because you have to come live with us. I'm sorry that this has had to happen to you. To an extent. The reason we adopted you is to give you a better life. We don't know you, and we've heard a summary of your story. What we know is that you need a home and people that you can actually count on. I don't think you're used to being around good people. Please don't take that the wrong way, either. We are doing this because its the right thing to do. I count myself as a religious man and if I can help others I know it's the righteous thing to do and intend to do it. We want to be your friends, and maybe some day more. I don't think you wanted a speech today either but I wanted you to know these things now." said Derek, looking right into Mathilda's eyes. He wasn't smiling, but he wasn't angry. He was sincere.
"Okay." said Mathilda, letting in some of the things he had said. She nodded and looked back at him to let him know she understood. She had intended on being stubborn as Hell but what he had said, touched her a little bit. She figured she'd give them a chance since they were giving her one. That's what she knew Leon would want her to do.
"I'll let you thank me when you're ready." he said, smiling again. He opened her door for her and she got in the backseat. He got in the driver's seat and pulled off the curb. Taking Mathilda down suburban New York streets that she didn't know existed. Driving her into a life she never knew or thought she'd have.
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The car stopped in front of a familiar house to the three of them. Although Stan hadn't been inside it for almost five years. Kim got out as Luke opened his Dad's door.
"Luke, next time you'd better keep your seat belt on until the car stops. Understand me?" asked Kim, reaching her son.
"Sorry, Mom." said Luke, not sounding such at all. He probably didn't even have a clue as to what she'd said, he was too excited. Kim got past Luke to help Norman up until he put his hand out.
"No. No. No. I can do it." said Norman, waving his hand in irritation.
"Okay, what did the doctor's say? Hmm? If you're gonna be like this the whole time then I'll take your happy ass right back up to that hospital." said Kim, smacking his hand down.
"Will you just let me try? Hmm?" he asked, mimicking her tone to piss her off.
"Okay then. Go for it Captain Invincible." said Kim, waiting for him to hurt himself. It took him a bit longer than anyone else but he got out and stood on his own. He gave her an arrogant grin.
"See?" he asked.
"Luck. Pure, luck. I still wish you would've fallen." she said grabbing his suitcase. Benny had gone to Norman's apartment and packed stuff for him, with a bit of Kim's help. Luke took the keys from his mom and nearly skipped due to excitement up to the front door. He opened it and let them in. Norman walked in front of Kim, to be an ass, and went straight to her living room. He dropped onto the couch, forgetting somehow how badly it would hurt his ribs.
"Oh, cock!" shouted Norman, grabbing his sides in pain.
"Nice. There's a six year old here too you know." said Kim dropping Norman's suitcase next to the couch.
"Fuck you, that hurt." he said, still rubbing his sides.
"You're so kind and sensitive. Gosh, I just don't know what I'd do if you weren't so sweet." said Kim sarcastically, walking out of the room. She came back with a glass of water and a few pills in her hand. She held both out to Norman who took them and swallowed the pills. Downing the water in a few seconds.
"You censor yourself sometime." said Norman.
"I censor myself all the time. You learn how to when you raise a kid." said Kim, without thinking about how it would sound.
"Really? Well, you never gave me the chance to find that out did you?" he asked coldly. She looked up to see his blue eyes glaring through her. Looking past him she caught Luke standing in the doorway, smile slightly falling away. He may not always understand what his parents were fighting about but he knew when either was mad. He could tell his father wasn't very happy.
"That's not how I meant that Norman." said Kim, in a small voice. Feeling bad about it.
"Oh, well that's a first." he said, his tone not changing much. Regret left Kim and anger moved in.
"Luke, why don't you go put your comics back in your room. Mom and Dad need to talk for a minute." said Kim, looking into her son's eyes that were identical to his father's.
"Okay." said Luke, his voice reflecting his nerves. He picked up his comics and charged up the stairs toward his room.
"Norman." said Kim.
"And it begins." he said.
"No, it doesn't. It can't. If you're living with me until you recover, which please remember is for Luke's sake, then we're gonna have to try to get along. You need to make as much of an effort as I do Norman. We're both gonna have to grow up a little bit. Understand?" asked Kim.
"Yes, I understand but-" he began.
"No, Norman. Nothing else to it. If that sounded bad I'm sorry. That's not how I meant it. Now let's start over. We have to." said Kim, determination more than anger in her voice.
"Okay. Okay, I'm sorry. Let's start over." said Norman, after a minute of thought for his kid. He sounded sincere for once.
"Thank you." said Kim. Kim walked out of the room to put Norman's medication on the table.
He sat there looking around the room. It was a lot different since she'd kicked him out. He remembered that night too, somehow. It started with an argument over something really stupid and turned really bad not long after. She had pulled his own pistol on him. She had reason too though. He wouldn't deny that. He still wondered why she didn't shoot him that night. He had hurt her. He knew it. He remembered walking all the way to the other side of the city alone as the sun was rising. Thinking he'd never be allowed to see his infant son again, and for once in his life, feeling regret for causing harm. It was a miracle of some sort that he was allowed to see his boy. Let alone be back in this house to stay, regardless of it being temporary.
The medication was kicking in and he felt his eyes becoming heavy. Kim came back in as he was moving pillows to go to sleep. She walked over to him and pulled one out of his hand.
"Hey, you don't need to sleep on the couch. Come on." she said. He was already slightly out of it and the surprise from her statement didn't help him any.
"Huh?" he asked.
She responded by grabbing his hand and he took it as a hint to get up. He got up and let her lead him into a bedroom. The master bedroom. He turned to her and raised his eyebrows, a slight smirk on his face.
"Don't get any ideas, pal. I'll be out there tonight. Don't be surprised if Luke stays in here with you though. You just need to be on a bigger surface so you don't roll off or anything. A bed is better on your back anyway." she said. He sat down on the bed while she yanked the covers back. Then he slowly lay down on in the middle of the bed. He slightly grimaced while laying down as his ribs throbbed.
"Can I get some more pain pills?" he asked.
"I already gave you your regular dose." she stated.
"So? I hurt."
"That's your excuse to take advantage of hospital prescriptions. No." she finalized. She left the room, leaving the door open. She popped her head back in as he was pulling the blankets over himself.
"Oh, and if you need anything shout for me." she said.
"Anything?" he asked. Her answer was to give him a dirty look and leave the doorway. He covered himself up not fully believing he was in this bed again. He fell asleep very quickly. He slept heavy, not even stirring when Luke crept in an hour later and lay next to him. Covering up with a Scooby-Doo blanket and using his Dad's shoulder as a pillow.