She screams in her sleep. Not every night, but on the odd night Rachel and Eddie find themselves being woken up by the screams from down the hall. And it took Rachel to calm her down. When she heard her scream on this night, she damned to herself that this kept happening. She wished and hoped that over time it would have stopped, but then again she wasn't abused like Faith was. Rachel patted Eddie's side and got out of bed.
Rachel opened the door to find her daughter clutching to her pillow and straining a scream into it. Sweating at the forehead. Rachel quickly made her way over and sat on the bed, shaking her to wake her up.
"Faith, Faith love come on wake up"
Faith's eyes shot open and she flung up from her bed and straight into Rachel's arms. Taking sharp breaths, Rachel sighed and stroked Faith's hair "It's alright"
"No it's not" Faith cried into Rachel's shoulder. Rachel wrapped her arms around Faith even tighter and rubbed her back. Then hearing Faith add on "It keeps happening. I want it to stop. Mum for christ sakes I want it to stop"
Rachel kissed the top of Faith's forehead "I know, love I know...maybe you should reconsider-"
"I can't" Faith quickly shot back "I can't talk to some therapist" she pulled back and tucked her hair behind her ear and then looked to Rachel with eyes still filled up, she took in more deep breaths before then saying to her "I just want to talk to you"
"And you can. But Faith..." she softly smiled and then whispered "My baby I am not a therapist. I don't have all the answers. These people they, they are trained and they have ways in helping dreams and thoughts like this get out of your head"
She had the feeling that Rachel was right. She protested speaking to a therapist because she felt like she couldn't open up to strangers. In fact she knew that couldn't open up to strangers it took Rachel a long time to break through and she turned out to be her mother which was the only reason really. It was highly doubtful that that would happen again. Faith brought her knees up to her chest, covering her face with her palms and groaned "I'm so screwed up"
"You are not screwed up! Hey" Rachel took hold of her hands and took them away from her face "Look at me. You have been through something terrible but you are not screwed up. You're amazing, Faith I wish you could see that. I wish you wouldn't put the blame on herself"
Faith wiped her tears and looked away from her for a moment, taking in another deep breath. She didn't want these thoughts in her head. And therapy might be the way out, but it was just the opening up part she wasn't good at. If they ask her the wrong question it could lead to her snapping and telling them to back off, which wouldn't get her anywhere. She just didn't want to waste anyone's time...but then again she had to put herself first every once in a while.
"Do you want me to stay with you?" Rachel asked. Faith looked to her, feeling like an absolute baby. But she needed her mummy and she didn't care how pathetic that made her look or sound. Faith nodded. Rachel softly smiled and whispered "Okay"
Faith lay back down in her bed and Rachel scooted up to the top beside her, stroking her hair till she fell back to sleep and she then soon followed.
Faith agreed to therapy. Two weeks after that night and she had been to two sessions. Her opening up about it was very little, she only told the shrink things that happened in bites. Rachel would be there, outside the room but still she would be there but it made her feel better knowing that her mother was out there support. With Eddie out of town for a week on a course, it was just the two of them again.
On the second week, she was late for her lesson after her free which is when she went to the lessons. It was english with Tom. Rachel said that she'd come in and just tell him, she found it quite embarrassing. She walked in and gave a brief look to Tom, then just walked straight over to her desk as Rachel walked over to him and muttered "She's late because of her therapy lesson"
Tom nodded and whispered back "Okay not a problem"
"Therapy?" Faith heard Amy Porter snicker from behind her. She had ears like a hawk that one did, she leaned back in her chair and said to the girl next to her "So messed up she needs a shrink"
"Alright" Tom called. Faith spun in her chair to hit her, but Rachel leaned forward just in time and grabbed her swinging arm "Faith!"
Faith sighed and turned her head to Rachel, who raised her eyebrows to her and mumbled "We've discussed this"
Rachel crouched down in front of her, glancing to Donte's concerned face and then whispered to her "Please. Try to control it. Not just for me but for yourself, okay?" Faith rubbed her lips together and eventually nodded. Rachel softly smiled and rubbed her arm before standing up. Rachel then looked over her to Amy and said "And you. Keep comments that upset your fellow classmates to yourself. Understood?"
Amy, with a smirk said in a patronizing way "Yes, Miss Mason"
Rachel wasn't stupid, she knew Amy was being a cocky little cow but she just let it slide and walked out. Donte turned to Faith and said with concern "Therapy? You alright"
"Getting nightmares again" Faith sighed as she looked to the board. Shaking her head "Can't seem to brush them off"
Donte sighed and put his hand on her arm for a moment "I'm sorry"
"You don't have to be sorry, Donte. It's on me"
He wished she didn't do that. As did the whole of her friend group. They wished she wasn't so guarded. Maybe therapy could help her take walls down but for now she was just the same old Faith. Guarded. Always tackling her inner demons by herself, hopefully one day she could accept the help. She was hitting a milestone by agreeing to seeing a damn shrink. She looked over her should to Amy and her smug face but taught herself to let her pathetic bitchy comments go once in a while.
Faith turned herself back around and paid attention to the lesson.
Faith went to see Nikki in the canteen. When she did. She saw Adam walking towards her. Faith scoffed, rolled her eyes and continued to sit down with Nikki. He came over with a sheet of paper in his hand "Faith. I was hoping to run into you. Have you seen your mum?"
"Everyday" Faith muttered as she looked down to the table, getting a nudge under the table from Nikki. Although she was pretty amused.
Adam let out a nervous chuckle to try and keep on her good side. Faith looked back up to him and shrugged "Yeah I have but she's dealing with a crisis. What do you want with her?"
"Just to run this new meal idea with her"
Adam had a new 'meal idea' nearly every week. He just wanted to speak to Rachel so he was making excuses. And she won't have it, she wants Adam to stay away. It wasn't that she thought Rachel would do anything, she loved Eddie so much. It's Adam she didn't trust.
"Don't bother her. She's stressed"
Adam looked down at his paper, feeling defeated. He just cleared his throat and nodded before walking away. Nikki shook her head with a smirk on her face "Will you ever give him a break?"
Faith shrugged and shook his head "I don't like him, Nikki. It's simple as that"
"You don't have to worry about him you know"
"I know. Doesn't make me like him any more" she lightly laughed. Nikki sat back in her chair and sighed, still amused. You had to give it to Faith. She always sticks to her gut instincts.
Suddenly, she heard Rachel practically marching through the school. Faith sat up in her chair and looked to Nikki "Do you have any idea what that's about?"
"Not a clue"
Faith got out of her chair and ran out of the canteen. She followed Rachel and saw her run down the playground in attempts to stop a white van. She had no idea what was going but she knew that she didn't like the feel of it. Faith watched Rachel for a moment and then saw her bolt for her own car "Mum?" she muttered.
She watched as Rachel got in her car and then called louder "Mum!"
But she wasn't heard, Rachel drove off. Faith walked back into the school and ran into the office. She was supposed to be in lesson in the next five minutes but she didn't care.
Faith walked into the office to hear Chris say "I'm phoning the police"
"What's going on?" she asked wasting no time. They looked to her, not knowing what to say. Faith stepped in the office and said "Has this got something to do with my mum driving after some white van?"
Kim closed the office door and said "Did you happen to catch the plate registration of the van, Faith?"
"No. I was worried about my mum- why what's happening?"
Chris sighed "We don't want you to panic. But your mum seems to have gone after a man who has abducted his daughter from school"
"What? And you expect me not to panic?"
Kim put her hand on her arms "It could be nothing, it'll be fine I promise you"
"Then why are you calling the police?"
Kim and Chris looked to each other. Faith scoffed and rubbed her forehead "I don't believe this"
"Faith. Just go to-"
"I am not going to lesson! No way! I am staying here with you lot till I know that my mum is safe. Better yet till she comes back here and I can see for myself"
They didn't know how they could really argue against it. Because they were worried about Rachel too and couldn't lie to the girl. Plus they knew that she would just act out just so she could get out of lesson. Kim nodded "Fine. But Faith, don't call your dad. At least not yet. We don't want to worry him"
Faith agreed to that deal. She just wanted to stay close by and get word, she wouldn't jeopardize that.
Before she even managed to blink the police were on their way and the girl who was taken. Bianca's mother was here ranting and raving but all Faith could think about was Rachel and where she was.
Having to hear the brother say how his dad scared him the last time that they were together didn't exactly add any comfort to Faith. She just sat there on the couch in silence. Hoping to get a text or a call from her. Kim's phone then rang.
"Rachel?"
Faith took her hands from her head and looked to her.
"Kim. We're at the helmsley forest and it's like a white caravan. Get the police down here now Kim. I've gotta go back"
"Wha...are you mad?"
"Kim I've got to go back...terrified that girl's in danger"
"No Rachel just wait until the police get there" Kim glanced to Faith and saw the terrified look on her face, she turned away and muttered "Faith is here. She hasn't left our side all morning. Please I don't want to scare her"
There was a pause, a sigh and then her voice again "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I have to do this to her and you but I cannot just sit back and risk this little girl's life. I'll be safe. Just hurry"
She hung up. Kim looked down to her phone and then looked to Faith again before looking to the police and saying "Erm. She's at the caravan. Helmsley forest. By the lake. She seems to think that he might turn violent"
Faith shook her head, her heart began to beat like a race horse "No..." she whispered to herself and held her head in her hands, shaking her head over and over again "No. No"
"She's gonna go back in there to make sure Bianca's alright"
Faith's head shot up "What?"
Kim looked to her and as Bianca's mum and brother left, she knelt down in front of her "She promises to be safe"
"She can't guarantee that!" Faith shook her head "Has she totally lost it" she looked up and saw how Chris's face was thinking the same way that she was. Faith ran her fingers through her hair with tears running down her cheeks "Why does she do this? Why does she play the hero all the time. Rescuing everyone" she looked back to Kim and stuttered out "K-Kim I can't lose my mum I've only really just got her"
"Hey" Kim sat up on the couch beside her and pulled her close "You are not going to lose her. This is Rachel Mason we're talking about. The woman is made of steel"
Faith shook her head. Suddenly, a boiling hot bubble of anger ran through her body "Budgen let this happen didn't he? He let him take her. My mum left because he..." Faith quickly stood up from the couch and headed for the door.
"Faith!" Both Chris and Kim called in a plea for her to stop but she didn't. She bolted straight for the staff room. Faith burst open the door and turned the corner. Before any member of staff had the chance to say anything she went straight for him "Did you know that my mum is out there right now risking her life because you let this maniac take his daughter?"
Grantly saw the tears in the young girl's eyes and his heart actually broke. He had never felt so instantly guilty in his life. Chris and Kim were soon behind her but they stood there for a moment and let her be heard "Because of you. Your overwhelming laziness. That dad who took his daughter is threatening to hurt her and my mum in the process...I swear if anything happens to her I'll-"
"Okay, Faith" Kim said in a gentle voice, putting her hand on her arms "You've said what you needed to say. Let's just go back in the office, yeah?"
Faith listened and took steps back before turning around with Kim's arm over her shoulder to guide her out.
Then hearing him weakly say "I'm sorry"
It was then Kim who turned around and snapped "You're sorry? No. No Grantly sorry is not good enough! Because it's just gonna happen again because you don't care and you so have to care in this job!"
She turned around and put her hand on Faith's back and walked out with her for Chris to follow. As soon as they did, Faith let out deep panicking breaths and put her hands to the wall along with er forehead and took deep breaths. Kim and Chris stood on either side of her with deep concern. They cared for Faith as if she was their family. They knew how much emotional dependency she had.
"Do you want us to get Bolton?"
Faith shook her head "He's ill"
Chris looked away for a moment and said "Maybe you should call your dad now"
Faith once again shook her head and then stood up straight "No...no wait till we get word from the police. Please"
They both agreed. Faith was sensitive but she wasn't stupid. Calling Eddie right now she thought could be rash. Plus, he was going to find out anyway it's best to talk to him when it's over rather than send him into a panic. Hopefully Rachel will come back to tell him all about it herself.
When they got back into the office, Chris could see that Kim was still piping mad "Look. Kim. If wanna be angry at someone, try Rachel"
Both girls looked to him. Kim looked to Faith who sat herself down on the couch and said "You what?"
"Sometime you call the police and let them get on with it"
Kim squinted her eyes to him "You honestly expect her to just walk away from a child?"
"She's got responsibilities to the entire school. To her own child. Not just one kid"
He kind of had a point there. The phone rang and Chris went on and answered it, listening to the other end he looked to them both and said "They've located the van"
"It's over" Kim announced as she hung up the phone. Faith stared at her from the couch with her fist to her hands. Her feet tapping on the floor due to sheer fear. Kim looked to Faith and softly smiled "Your mum is fine"
Faith let out the biggest sigh of relief and thanked god.
"What about Bianca?" Chris asked.
"Fine..."
"I'll go let everyone know"
"Her dad's dead...he tried to kill them all"
Faith closed her eyes and ran the palm of her hands over her face and let out another deep breath. That single though alone scared her right down to her very core. Chris put his hand on Kim's shoulder and then gave Faith a tap on the knee for comfort before leaving. Faith brought her head up and rested her lips against her fist. Sat there in silence for a moment she said "She was too close this time, Kim"
"I know"
Faith shook her head and sat back "No wonder I need therapy"
Trying to get off the subject of today, Kim asked with genuine interest "How is that going?"
Faith shrugged "It's going. I don't really like opening up about deep things to strangers but...I do my best"
"Rachel said you were showing progress" Kim smiled.
Faith gave her a faint smile in return and then let out another sigh of relief at the thought of the different outcome this could have been today.
Half and hour later, there were a gathering of students outside of the office. Faith waited by the door of Rachel's office and waited. Then finally, students parted as Rachel made her way through and Faith wasted no time "Mum!" she cried as she ran over to her and wrapped her arms around her straight away as Rachel did the same. Closing their eyes and holding each other tightly.
"Oh love" Rachel whispered "I'm so sorry"
"I was so scared I thought-"
"I know. I know. I'm sorry" Rachel held onto her tighter "I'm never going to leave you, I swear it" Rachel kissed the top of her hand and looked into her daughter's eyes "Okay?"
Faith nodded "Okay. I just" she began to cry. Rachel looked to Kim who just nodded to give them a minute and then helped Chris to dismiss everyone. Rachel took Faith into her office and as soon as she did, Faith hugged her again and let out her cries "Mum I felt like I couldn't breathe"
Rachel let out a stray tear run down her cheek as she continued to stroke her daughters hair. Wanting to apologize over and over again. She was doing was she felt was right but she also knew the fear she would have been putting into her daughter back here. Rachel kissed the top of Faith's head and muttered "I didn't have a choice, I couldn't leave her"
"I understand but it just..." Faith pulled back but still remained in Rachel's hold, she wiped her tears "You play the hero too much, mum" she walked over to the couch and sat down at it, with Rachel following she asked "Have you called your dad?"
"No. Didn't want to worry him till I knew what was really going on..."
Rachel put her hand on top of Faith's head as she sat down beside her let out a deep breath. Faith looked to her "You okay?"
"Bit...shaken" Rachel muttered, Faith looked down to her hand and saw how they proved that statement to be true, she took hold of her hand and leaned her head on her shoulder to result in Rachel kissing the top of her head again.
A little while later, Chris and Kim came in the office with a bottle of wine "Right. No matter what you say you need a drink. Red wine is required"
Faith held her arm out "I'll take some"
Chris looked to Rachel who shrugged and said with exhaustion "Just a bit. She's allowed a smidge"
Chris nodded and poured a little less into a glass and handed it to her. He then looked to Rachel again and said "You also need a lecture about how important you are to this school"
"Chris please don't-"
"Never take risks like that again...yeah? You've got a daughter, fiance and friends to think about. We'd all be pretty distraught if anything happens to you, Rachel you're too important"
Faith nodded and looked to her mother as she stared down at her glass and just asked "How did he get in here?"
Faith then took her eyes to Kim, Chris then saying "If you're determined enough you'll get in. We can't wrap the school in barbed wire"
"No we can't but there has been so many times when people have come onto these grounds and almost hurt students. I mean...take Faith's former foster father he came on here and tried-" she stopped herself as she saw Faith look away due to feeling unsettled. This is not what she needed to here. Rachel sighed and looked back to them "We just need to up our game, yeah?"
Chris and Kim both nodded. To lighten the mood slightly, Kim motioned her hand to Faith and said with a soft smile "Faith was great today. She was really brave about it all" Rachel looked to Faith with a proud small smile. Faith took a sip of the wine and gave a tight smile to Rachel before clearing her throat and shrugging "Wasn't much I could do"
But Kim disagreed "No. Faith, there were a million of other ways you could have handled it, if this happened a few months ago then you'd probably be kicking off left right and center, it shows that you are making progress with everything. Apart from losing with with Grantly that is but I did the same so"
Rachel raised her eyebrows to them both back and forth. She couldn't say she wasn't impressed though, Grantly needed telling every now and then. Plus she could hardly blame her, if it was the other way and around and he was the cause of her being in danger, she would have lost it too. Rachel let out a sigh of relief and put her arm over Faith "At least it's over now"
"Ralph Mellor has been on the phone. Looking for a way to put the blame on us for this"
"By us you mean me" Rachel muttered, then shaking her head and looked back to Faith "I just want to go home"
Faith smiled and let out her own sigh. She never wanted to come that close to losing her mother again, and she'd prefer for it to never come that close again. She was a few panic attacks away from fainting.