CHAPTER FOUR
Title: "Salvation: Forever and Always: Elusive Dreams – PART III"
Author: Michelle Heath
Rating: MA for adult situations and language
Summary: Story #9 in the Salvation series. The bonds of family bring the Five-0 ohana even closer.
Disclaimer: I so do not own Hawaii Five-0; unfortunately! All original characters are the property of the author!
Date Written: October 27, 2012
(Thirty minutes later, Sam, Steve, Danny, Libby, and Mike are all seated around the McGarrett's kitchen table and little Emily is still asleep in the portable crib nearby. They all have coffee in front of them and all eyes are turned expectantly toward Sam.)
"I know it's early but I need to talk to all of you. We've done things Cmdr. Shelton's way for the past two months now, and Caroline hasn't made one bit of progress. I think we're going about this the wrong way."
"What do you mean, Sam?"
"I mean, Danny, that we've all done everything we could to talk to Caroline about all the positive things that have happened in her life. We've racked our brains to remember every, little detail of Caroline's life but we really haven't told her much of anything. I want my sister back and I'm willing to fight for her, to do whatever is necessary to get her back. The question is, are all of you?"
"Samantha, what on Earth, are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking, Mom, that Caroline needs to hear everything; every, single, unvarnished, truth about her life, the bad as well as the good."
"But, Sweetheart, Cmdr. Shelton said hearing negative things might possibly push her further away."
"How much further away can she get, Mom? She doesn't speak, she doesn't think, she doesn't move, she doesn't eat; she doesn't do anything unless someone forces her! All we've been doing is talking about an idyllic, fairy tale life that we all know has had more than a few rough spots. I think it's time we start telling Caroline everything; talk about the baby, tell her, in explicit detail, about little Gabe's funeral, tell her about Gracie wanting to see her so badly she cries almost all the time from missing her! Tell her how Danny is losing his mind because she's given up! I want to take Gracie and Emily and Eric to see her! I want something, anything, to get through to her and bring her back! I. WANT. MY. SISTER. BACK!"
(By now, Sam has worked herself into quite an agitated state and Libby is looking at her daughter with worry, but Danny, Steve, and even Mike are all looking at Sam with something akin to wonder and agreement in their eyes. Danny reaches over and gently lays his hand on top of his sister-in-law's and meets her eyes with a steady gaze.)
"I think you're right, Sam, and I agree; we've tried it Cmdr. Shelton's way long enough; now we need to try something different."
"Okay, then, how about we all have some breakfast and head over to the hospital to have a little talk with Cmdr. Shelton?"
"Aren't you on duty today, Sam?"
"Yeah, Dad, but we have no flights scheduled for the day and Lt. Cmdr. Monroe will cover for me."
"You've asked him?"
"Yes, Sir. Called him while Steve was on the phone with you."
"Are you sure about this, Danny?"
"I am, Libby. Sam wants her sister back, you want your daughter back, and I . . . I want my wife back. I can't live without her, Libby. I know you loved her first, but she's every breath I take and I need her in my life; whole and healthy. None of us can keep going the way we have been forever; it's time we tried something different."
"All right, Son, if this is what you want to do, we're with you."
(Danny places a call to Cmdr. Shelton and tells her that Caroline's family wants to meet with her first thing and she agrees to meet them at 0700 hours at the base hospital. Danny has a slightly worried expression on his face when he ends the call and Mike picks up on it immediately.)
"What's wrong, Danny?"
"Cmdr. Shelton said she was glad I called because she had planned on calling me this morning. Said she wanted to discuss something with us."
"Wonder what that's all about?"
"Don't know but I guess we'll find out when we get there."
(At precisely 0700 hours, Caroline's family is waiting in the room used for Caroline's therapy sessions. Libby and Mike are sitting on one of the comfortable, homey couches holding hands and looking a little unsettled, but Danny and Sam, who are both sitting in comfortable chairs on either side of the couch look calm. Steve, who is seated on the couch closest to Sam, is exceedingly proud of his wife who looks cool and confident, every inch the CAG and 2IC of the base in her uniform. While Sam explained what she wanted to do to everyone, Steve was silently cheering her on because he knows that, once she sets her mind to something, she gets it done. Libby may not be one hundred percent on board with Sam's plan, but she's not going to speak out against it, either. Mike apparently agrees wholeheartedly with Sam, and Danny, . . . Danny looks more hopeful than he has since this nightmare began. Wanting to give Sam a little extra encouragement and support, Steve reaches over and takes Sam's hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze and being rewarded with a sweet smile in return. A few minutes later, Caroline's psychiatrist, Cmdr. Shelton walks into the room and takes a seat on the only other vacant chair in the room; a resigned expression on her face.)
"Good morning, everyone; thank you for coming. I wanted to talk to all of you this morning because, after reviewing my notes on Caroline's therapy sessions, I have come to the conclusion that the catatonic state she is currently in is most likely permanent. It's time we start talking about moving her to the V.A. Hospital for permanent, in-patient admission."