Disclaimer – Please see chapter 1
A/N – Thank you very much for your reviews for the last chapter, I really do appreciate them they encourage me to keep writing. Please keep them coming. My usual apologies again for not having the time to reply to them. Sorry also for the long delay in posting a vacation and major personal problems got in the way. Story is beta'd by myself so any remaining mistakes are all mine, so I apologize in advance. R & R Enjoy!
Fall Out Boy – Chapter 31 Boy this wont be easy
After yet another rough night of Kye's night terrors, and an eventual very early morning rising of them all for a quiet breakfast, Gil had made a few phone calls while Sara spoke with the boy and got him ready.
Gil called Conrad Ecklie first, informing him, he would be taking some personal time off until further notice, with the vaguest of explanation as he could muster.
His call to Catherine was brief, direct and to the point as he stated the conditions in which he expected to be put in place for them to be able to carry out Kye's interview. He'd been very specific about her instructions, as he followed it with a warning that if they were not carried out to the letter he would be extremely annoyed.
The last call was placed to the child physiologists practice, where he was quickly put through via the receptionist to Dr Elizabeth Shields. Gil moved to his home office closing the door behind him as Kye and Sara returned to the living room.
Luckily Doc Robbin's had pre-called the woman to give her the heads up about a possible new client for her, giving details about the boys situation, and the couple involved. So Gil just had to relay to her Kye's recent behaviour and details for how they were dealing with the nightmares.
Dr Shields recommended that he and Sara follow the same routine for comforting the boy at the interview if Kye were to become upset or distressed, before telling Gil that she would clear a two hour space in her schedule for them all later in the day, so they could get started with some sessions to help.
An hour later Gil drove them to LVPD in his Mercedes, Sara sat in the back with Kye strapped into the booster seat they had purchased on route, he clutched a threadbare looking teddy bear close to his chest as he watched the other cars passing them.
Gil spotted an SUV with blacked out windows several times on the journey through his rear view mirror, but couldn't be certain the vehicle was following them, or if it was just a hint of paranoia from the uneasy feeling he'd had the day before.
Pulling the car to a stop in the parking lot had Kye's eyes darting around to see where they were now, and the boys nerves could be clearly seen as a worried expression took residence in his face, his hand trembling a little as he shifted the teddy up towards his chin.
Taking a quick glance in the mirror, Gil noted the boys increased tension in his posture, then his eyes met with Sara's as unbridled emotions played out In them.
Getting out of the car, then rounding it to Kye's side quickly, he opened the door, unclipped the harness, then pulled the boy out and up to his chest, resting him on his forearm.
Kye immediately flung his arms around Gil's neck, gripping his shirt collar, hiding his face in the man's neck, the bear squashed in between them.
Rounding the other side Gil bent and pulled open Sara's door, holding his hand out to help her out "Ready?" he asked, trying to relay reassurance over to her with his eyes.
Taking a deep breath, then nodding she took his hand and got out of the car, feeling the supportive squeeze of pressure on her hand before he released it.
Gil had purposely picked a time when he hoped most of his night shift team should be home sleeping, thus awkwardly avoiding running into them, but knew there was still the likelihood of bumping into one or more of them, and quite possibly Ecklie too.
Catherine stood at the entrance to the police department waiting for them, she observed Gil exit the car first, then almost disbelievingly go to the child's aid first, hauling the boy up to carry him into the building rubbing his back soothingly, as if it were the most natural occurrence for him to be seen interacting so tenderly with children.
A small smile crept on her lips as she watched him open the door for Sara offering his hand, Nice little family you got there Gil, even if you don't realize it yet. Just don't screw this up with Sara this time, the tensions getting too much for us all, Catherine thought as the couple walked towards her, a supportive hand on the woman's lower back.
"Catherine. Everything set up?" Gil greeted, then asked as he stepped through the held open door for him.
Kye kept his face hidden in Gil's neck, but tightened his grip when he heard Catherine speak.
"Yeah we set up the video recording stuff, closed the blinds, have comfy chairs, refreshments. Its just Jim and I and we wont get any interruptions Gil" Catherine relayed to him as they all followed her down the hall.
"Good, because this is only going to happen once Catherine" Gil said pointedly, making sure she was clear he had the boys best interests at heart and not the case itself.
Well I'll be.....A kid takes precedent over work for once.......And the worlds not ending! Glad to see that head outta the microscope bugman....Way to go! Catherine thought.
Gil's body was very tense, although he was trying to desperately relax so Kye or Sara wouldn't pick up on his tension, his eyes darted around looking for anyone from the night shift who may spot them, even though Catherine had promised to try and divert them from doing so.
Sara walked closely by his side her arms wrapped around her middle, a clear sign she was worried and very uncomfortable, her eyes cast down looking at the ground as tried to calm her nerves.
Shifting in Gils grasp, Kye lifted his head briefly to take a quick look around before spotting Catherine looking at him and burying his face again, the teddy bear became dislodged and fell to the ground.
Seeing this, Catherine stopped, quickly picked it up then strode to catch up with them again "Here sweetheart" she said softly as she stuffed it back between the two males chests.
"You okay Sara?" Catherine asked looking her co-worker over with friendly concern.
The very brief nod and "Fine" tightly spoked without eye contact by Sara, told Catherine she was anything but.
Jim stood just outside the overflow waiting room that had been temporarily adapted for the boys interview today, and stepping aside as the other approached.
Walking inside Gil spotted comfy looking chairs that had been brought in then arranged loosely in a semi circle, a tray with soft drinks sat on a table in front, next to a box of tissues. The audio visual equipment was semi hidden at the back of the room behind the chairs except for two small camera's aiming at the chairs.
As Sara started to enter Catherine spoke up "I'm sorry, but only one of you can be present as a guardian or child advocate for Kye during the interview" she said wishing to god she could bend the rules just this once for her friends.
Taken aback by the stark realization that Catherine was only following the Nevada state law for these kinds of circumstances, but had made certain exceptions for them already, her eyes sought out Gil's almost in panic.
Hearing Catherine's words had made Gil halt and turn around quickly ready to protest, but then the rational side of his mind told him they needed to do this right, in order to make sure the case was water tight if they ever got to court.
Reading each others eyes in silent question as they had so often done over the years, they came to the decision that Gil was best equipped to deal with a distraught Kye, so he would be the one to go in with him.
They'd neglected to remember this small issue the day before when they had discussed how they would deal with the interview, but now they just wanted to get it over with as soon as possible, so they could then work on the nightmares making all their lives miserable, and terrifying Kye.
Reaching out and giving Sara's hand a brief reassuring squeeze before releasing it again with a weak smile, he turned and stepped over towards the seating.
Taking the centre seat, Gil sat down and tried to turn Kye in his lap so he would be facing forward, but the boy resisted squirming as he held on, Catherine sat beside him and waited.
Jim gave a silent nod to the young officer who'd now come to stand outside the door, then closed the door taking hold of Sara's arm to guide her into the next room, where there was a small gap in the blinds and listening equipment set up.
Conrad Ecklie stopped in his tracks down the hall seeing Brass and Sara enter the adjoining room in the temporary interview area, he was aware that a small child was being interviewed in there today, but frowned in confusion as to why Sidle was here appearing to be part of the set up.
"He'll be okay Sara.....Don't worry....He has Gil with him and you close by" Jim soothed as he flicked the switch on the mini speaker so they could listen, then stood by her side at the window.
A little light tapping sounded, then the door opened, but only Jim averted his eyes in that direction as Sara's stayed fixed on Gil and Kye.
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A/N - Sorry but I am going to leave it there for today because otherwise the chapter will be way to long. The next one will be very angsty as we hear from Kye about the night of the murders. Will he be able to answer the questions? Name the killer/s? Will Gil be able to cope with an audience if he has to comfort a distressed child, or Sara for that fact? Not sure about the advocate, Nevada law thing I added but I felt it was needed in the chapter. Next post should be in the next few days, and I am really sorry for the delay with this one.
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