Chapter 23-Emotional Time Out

"Beca, Beca, baby wake up..." Chloe shook the smaller girl slightly.

Breathless, Beca roused quickly with a gasp. "Oh My god, Oh My god"

"Beca, you're ok. You're with me, and you're safe." Chloe raised her arms to embrace her girlfriend. "Were you having a nightmare?"

"I guess, I can't remember a lot, but my heart is freaking out right now...I think there might have been a bear...I'm not made for the wilderness" Beca tried to relax.

"Yeah, you're small like a mouse, I guess it would be scary in the woods" Chloe teased, while pulling her girlfriend so she could rest against her.

Beca turned to face her ginger.."You are not helping, you know" She kissed her before turning back to rest, again, into Chloe's side.

"I'm sorry babe, you wanna talk about it?"

"I really can't remember much...everything was fine then, wham..." Beca huffed. "I think I need to put off meeting with my Dad, it's freaking me out."

"Beca, you have to reach out to him." Chloe tried to reason.

"Look, I didn't say I wouldn't talk to him, I just said I didn't want to MEET with him...it's too much for me right now" Beca raised her voice slightly, showing her emotion. "You don't know what its like when he pulls his power trip, it's not going to go well." Beca pulled away from the red-head and turned to get out of the bed.

Chloe reached out to stop her movement. "Wait, don't pull away from me Beca, I'm not trying to challenge you on this." Chloe leaned forward to wrap her arms around the smaller girl again. "Look...at the present moment, you're stuck with me. So how you're feeling is a VERY big deal for me too. I just want you to be ok." Chloe looked into her girlfriend's eyes. "If you need to take more time before seeing your Dad, I understand. Just tell me what do you want to do?"

"I'm going to call him, that's all I can do." Beca stood from the bed "It's 11:00am now, so he should be home. I'll simply explain I'm not at camp, so meeting is not an option." She searched the floor for something less revealing that her t-shirt and underwear.

"You think he'll be satisfied with that?" Chloe rose from the bed as well, and pulled on her robe.

"No, but I'm tired of him trying to parent me into doing things his way. He's lost that privilege." Beca spat.

"Ok, Ok...I'll go make us some coffee, are you hungry" Chloe gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

"No." Beca seemed lost in her thoughts.

"Ok, I'll be downstairs if you need anything."

"Thanks Chloe." Beca looked up to see the bright smile she so desperately needed to reassure her, and she relaxed slightly. Chloe winked at her and headed out the door.

Beca grabbed her iPhone and stepped out on the deck. She noticed she only had one bar, but wanted to try to get through to her father. She dialed his number.

The phone rang a few times before she heard his voice..

"Dad?"

"Beca, what's wrong?"

"Dad, I got your voicemail, and I can't meet with you tonight."

"Beca, I want to see you."

"I know Dad, and I'm sorry about what happened the last time we met. I'm not trying to avoid you. I told you I would make myself available to speak with you, but I did not plan on meeting. I am not at camp this weekend, so meeting up will not work."

"Oh, I just assumed" Dr. Mitchell quickly raising his voice, questioned his daughter. "Where are you Beca?"

"Dad, I'm with friends, its our free weekend. I'm in North Carolina."

"Are you with Chloe?"

Beca chose to ignore his question.."Dad, look. I'm sorry I haven't responded when you've reached out lately. I just needed some time."

"Beca, I have been worried sick about you. I have medical bills here from your hospital visit. What happened? It looks like you were admitted on that day we met in Atlanta?"

"Yeah, I was a little dehydrated, and I fainted..no big deal"

"I didn't realize you were still having trouble with that kind of thing Beca." Dr. Mitchell continued his reprimand. "If you are sick, you need to tell me, I don't appreciate just getting medical bills, without any explanation."

"I get what you're saying Dad"..Beca focused on holding her rising temper.. "but I'm fine. I was just a little iron deficient, and hadn't eaten much that day, so it just happened."

"Well, someone at the hospital should have called, you're a minor for god's sake." Dr. Mitchell was obviously losing his battle with his own emotions at this point.

"Dad, Chloe was with me, and I asked her not to call." Beca knew saying this would calm him.

"Chloe?...Why wouldn't you want her to call and tell me Beca? I mean I know you were upset, but that is pretty unfair don't you think?"

"I wasn't trying to be unfair Dad, I just wanted a little space. I need you to respect that." Beca held her ground.

"Fine. This is obviously your way of punishing me, but I expect more of you Beca." Her father, after trying everything, turned to guilt. But Beca found her resolve and was not about to indulge in any of it.

"Look Dad, this phone call is my way of trying. Give me at least that. We've got some work to do, you and I. But right now, I just need a little more time and space. Give me my summer, and I'll come see you when I finish up at camp. We'll go from there...ok."

A long silence descended the call...It was a staring contest by phone, and she refused to blink first. Finally her father spoke..."Here's the deal Becs, you respond to my phone calls and letters, and I'll try to back off a bit. But you have to promise that you will keep in touch with me moving forward, no more of this emotional time out treatment." Dr. Mitchell held his frustration, acquiescing to her wishes in the end.

"Deal...I gotta go Dad, and thanks for understanding." Beca, feeling a little victorious..tried to extend an olive branch at last.

"Yeah, well I don't think you gave me much of a choice, we'll talk soon." Dr. Mitchell sighed.

With that the phone call ended, and Beca let out the breath she had been holding. She felt the pressure in her chest subside, and a sudden calm replace it. She felt good, really good.

Beca sat for a long while and looked out over the view, the sun was getting high in the sky. It was so peaceful, she never wanted to leave. But then she thought about her favorite ginger who was just downstairs, and she quickly rose, anxious to be in her presence. As she jumped down the stairs, Chloe held up a cup of coffee, not raising her eyes from her computer. Beca quickly went to her side and took the cup from her hand, only to replace it, interlocking their fingers, and pulling Chloe's attention to her.

"Hi there." The ginger smiled, recognizing the change in Beca's mood

"Hi there...yourself." The brunette dipped her head to capture the red-heads lips.

"So things went well I guess?"

"Let's stay another night...can we?" Beca pleaded.

"I don't see why not, the new campers don't arrive until tomorrow afternoon. We still have another free day." Chloe tucked a stray strand of hair behind her girlfriends ear as she smiled.

"Great...I'm starved, what's for lunch?"

"You just said..." Chloe looked at her in shock.

"I know, but I'm a mystery Beale..." Beca smiled devilishly.