Disclaimer-I don't own this awesome show!
This is my first Hawaii Five-0 fic. I have plans for this to be around 10-15 chapters. I hope you enjoy it!
The sea of toys and books and the brightly colored walls of Dr. Harrison's waiting room made Steve uncomfortable. He wasn't used to being around kids, especially a whole waiting room full of them. But thankfully, there were only three other kids besides Willow and Serenity. There was a girl who appeared to be a few years older than Serenity dressed in black from head to toe. There was another girl who was probably aged somewhere in between Serenity and Willow with glasses and braces that seemed to lack self-esteem. Lastly, a boy around Willow's age sat between his parents, saying, "I don't wanna go" over and over again.
"I don't need to see a shrink," Serenity complained. "And besides, there's no un-seeing what I've seen my parents do."
"This will be good for you and your sister," Steve said.
Serenity shook her head. "No it won't be! You're forcing me to do something I don't want to do!"
Before Steve had the chance to reply, the receptionist called out, "Serenity?"
"I'm not going," Serenity told Steve, looking straight ahead and clinging to the arms of the chair she was sitting in.
"Yes, you are," Steve said sternly.
She shook her head. "I refuse to."
"Now."
The command was so short yet so powerful. Serenity looked up at Steve in shock. Not once in the two weeks she'd lived with him had he been that stern. In fact, Serenity couldn't even recall a time that he'd been stern at all!
With a sigh, Serenity stood up. "I don't want to talk to anyone."
"I know, Serenity, but you need to. You've been traumatized so much that you need to overcome it."
"But you'll be right here?"
Steve nodded. "I won't leave."
He watched as Serenity followed the receptionist down a hallway until she was out of sight.
"You can have a seat here," the receptionist said, gesturing to a chair across from a desk. "Dr. Harrison should be in here shortly."
The receptionist left, leaving Serenity alone.
She sat down, glancing around. The walls were painted a happy shade of blue that would rival the light color of the sky. There was a filing cabinet pushed up against one of the walls. A computer sat on the mahogany desk. A painting decorated one of the walls.
"Hello, Serenity," a male voice greeted.
A young doctor entered the room, closing the door behind him. He sat behind the desk.
"I'm Dr. Harrison. We're going to be discussing several things today. First, I'd like you to tell me a little bit about school."
"It's fine. There's nothing really interesting."
Dr. Harrison nodded. "I know what you mean. Are you a good student?"
"I try to be."
"Do you have a lot of friends?"
Serenity shook her head. "I don't really talk to anyone."
Dr. Harrison made note of that in a notebook. "What do you like to do?"
"I like to play basketball and read."
Another note in the notebook. "Basketball's fun. Why don't you tell me about living with Steve?"
"It's much better than living with my parents. Steve actually makes sure that we eat, feel okay, do our homework, and have fun."
"So you'd like this situation to be permanent?"
Serenity nodded. "Yes."
"Now, I've spoken with the social worker who came to your house. Caroline told me you didn't like Steve's girlfriend. Why don't you like Catherine?"
Serenity shrugged. "She acts too much like a mother. I mean, she barely sees me for an hour each day. Sure, she comes to help Steve with dinner and she talks to us, but it's not enought to make her my mom. I don't get why she even bothers."
"Maybe she wants to be your mother. Maybe she really does care about you."
"I don't know. It's gotten on my nerves a lot."
Dr. Harrison wrote that in his notebook. "Okay, we need to talk about living with your parents. I know this may be hard for you, but you need to get past it. I'm going to ask you a few questions. Can you do your best to answer them for me?"
With reluctance, Serenity gave a nod.
"There we go. If there's anything you feel uncomfortable answering, don't hesitate to tell me, alright?"
Serenity nodded. "Alright."
"Okay, onto the first question. Do things you've seen your parents do keep you up at night?"
"Yes," Serenity whispered.
"When you feel that way, try to concentrate on something positive. For example, you could think of things you like to do, like playing basketball and reading. You could think of the people that you love. You could think of how much better your life is now. Try to focus on the fact that you're not with your parents, but you're with Steve, who will do anything to keep you safe and comfortable. Can you do that?"
"I'll try."
"And that's all that needs to happen. You just have to try," Dr. Harrison explained. "That's the only way things will get better. Now, are there times when you feel like you are back with your parents?"
Serenity nodded. "When kids are mean to me at school," she whispered, looking down.
"Serenity, you're contradicting yourself. Earlier you told me you don't talk to other kids. Now you're saying kids are bullying you. You don't have to be afraid to tell me anything. How are kids mean to you?"
"They call me names and they make fun of me all the time."
"Have you ever told anyone about this?"
"How could I?"
Dr. Harrison sighed. "You're right. You haven't been in a situation where you're able to tell someone. Have you thought about telling Steve?"
"Do you think I should?"
"How about I talk to him about it?"
Immediately after Serenity stepped back into the waiting room, Steve asked, "How'd it go?"
"Fine. Dr. Harrison wants to talk to you."
Steve nodded. "Alright. Stay with your sister."
Sitting in that square room across from Dr. Harrison, Steve felt like he was in the principal's office. He had no control over the situation. It didn't involve strength or power.
"Serenity explained to me that she is having problems in school. Not academically, but socially. Has she mentioned anything about other students bullying her?" Dr. Harrison questioned.
Steve shook his head. "I haven't heard anything."
"It's definitely something you should ask her about. If you ask her how school was, her answer will most likely be 'fine,' but she isn't telling you how her day really was. In this situation, you would sit down and talk to her. If she refuses to give any further details, it means that she most likely had problems that day. After you talk to her about it, the best thing to do would be to talk to her school guidance counselor."
Steve nodded.
"Now, we addressed the problem Serenity has with your girlfriend," Dr. Harrison stated.
"I don't understand why she doens't like her. Catherine's great to her. And I don't ignore Serenity when Catherine's around. I make sure she's okay," Steve said.
"None of it is your fault, and none of it is Catherine's fault. There is nothing to worry about there. Actually, Serenity is having trouble accepting that Catherine is only there to help her. She thinks Catherine is trying too hard to be her mother when she only sees her an hour each day. This is something you and Catherine would sit and talk with Serenity about."
Steve was silent for a moment before asking, "How do you think Serenity will react to me proposing to Catherine?"
"She might react better than you believe. It would mean she'd be living with Catherine, and it would be easier to accept the mothering concept. On the other hand, she could see it as you betraying her. But however she reacts, you cannot allow her to control your relationship with Catherine. It would make Serenity feel like she can always get her way as long as she complains."
Steve sighed. "How soon should Catherine and I talk to her?"
"I'd say very soon."
Wanting to change the subject, Steve asked what Serenity had to say about her parents.
"Serenity is constantly haunted by memories of horrible things she has seen her parents do. These memories are keeping her awake at night. Has she told you about this?"
"There was only one time when she had to sleep with me, and that was the first night. I had assumed it was just because she wasn't used to the new environment."
"Tonight before she goes to sleep, tell her that if anything is keeping her up, she can come see you. It is important that she knows she can go to you for help with anything," Dr. Harrison explained. "And that covers everything. Willow is next. Considering her age, I think it would be best if you were in the room while I talk to her."
With a nod, Steve rose to his feet to go get his other charge.
Willow's session was going very well until the questions about her parents came up.
"I don't wanna talk about it!" she cried, burying her head in Steve's shoulder.
"I know, honey, but it'll get better if you talk about it," Steve comforted, still with that awkwardness he had with talking to kids.
"Can you tell me why you don't want to talk about it?" Dr. Harrison asked.
"'Cause I don't wanna think about it! They're mean to me!"
"How are they mean to you, Willow?" Dr. Harrison questioned.
Willow shrugged. "All kinds of ways! They hurt me and Serenity, but mostly Serenity. She steps in front of me."
Steve looked at Dr. Harrison. "I want full costody. I want to be their legal guardian. I want to adopt them. They will never be hurt by anyone again." Anger rushed through his veins. The girls had been abused.
Dr. Harrison nodded. "I will contact social services and give approval. But we need to get their physical health examined immediately. I can call a pediatrician and schedule emergency appointments."
"Thank you," Steve said, hugging a still crying Willow close to him.
Thank you for reading and please review!