Chapter 5

I'm back mortals!

Did you miss me? Because I most certainly missed all of you lovely mortals. Thank you oh so wonderful people who reviewed. You let me know that this is a worthwhile endeavor.

To the guests that leave a review, THANK YOU! I can't tell you this personally, though it pains me so. Your support means the world to me.

Thank you Becky Astin-Camp for being my beta. People, you should thank her. She spends the time to go over my shitty work and then makes it something you people would actually read. As usual, this is a ridiculously long Author's Note ... I gotta work on that!

As per the usual disclaimer, I own nothing, not even the title of my own story.

"Daddy! Daddy!" A younger Aubrey, no older then 5 ran up to her father. "Look at what I found!"

In her hands was a butterfly that had a broken wing.

"Why do you have that?" Mr. Posen said "It's broken, and therefore has no use. Do it a favor and put it out of its misery."

"Put it out of its misery sir?" Younger Aubrey asked.

"Are you a parrot, child? I do not believe that I stuttered." Mr. Posen admonished. "Yes. Kill it. It has no use, it is broken, and cannot be fixed."

"But maybe it could be sir-"

"-Do as I say Aubrey" Mr. Posen said, effectively cutting the child off. "There is no place in this world for things that are broken."

"Yes sir" Aubrey replied dutifully, though a twinge of sadness could be heard in her voice. With that said, she dropped the butterfly and crushed it beneath her foot.

"Let's go Aubrey. There are things to do, and we cannot waste the day moping around over something that had no real value any way. Things that are broken should be disposed of."

From that day on, Aubrey kept those words to heart. When she was 10, she accidentally dropped a porcelain doll that she'd had since she was a baby. It was the only tangible thing she had left from her grandmother, who died only a few months ago. However, the only thing that she did was sigh and clean up the mess. After all, once something was broken, there was no point in moping over it.

What's done is done, and the only thing left to do is pick up the pieces and move on.

Chloe Beale didn't hate anyone.

She was in general too sweet, too kind and too compassionate to hate someone. She had a knack for being able to make friends with just about anyone. She made it a point to do her best and befriend everyone and understand any quirks (or what most people would call bitchiness) that people had and not judge them. However, as everyone knows, to every rule, there is an exception.

The exception to Chloe's policy of no hate would be Inspector Esther Knapp.

Ms. Knapp was perhaps the most stuck up, condescending, insufferable, patronizing, unbearable bitch on the planet earth. She always looked down on everyone and never admitted that she was wrong. She never smiled, only sneered and occasionally smirked. To make a long story short, she was the exact polar opposite of Chloe Beale.

Unfortunately, the fate of Barden Psychiatric Treatment Center rested in her evil hands once a year, and no matter what the staff thought of this woman, none would dare voice a complaint against her. If anyone, or anything failed her white gloved inspection, the entire place would be shut down.

Needless to say, inspections were a time of great stress for most of the staff. Weeks before the actual inspection, staff members would begin restudying their notes, should they have to be on the end of one of Esther's vicious pop quizzes. Patients were reassigned as per necessary, and the cleaning crews pulled overtime to make sure that Barden wouldn't be shut down for hygiene issues.

Thankfully for Barden, they had Director Kendrick to keep things in order.

Without her, it's very likely that Barden would never have lasted this long. Her efficiency and competence ensured that everything that need to get done was done, and that the staff knew what their job would be when Esther Knapp walked into Barden. However, Director Kendrick was only one woman, and sometimes, shit happened.

"Good Morning Ms. Knapp. Welcome to Barden!" Chloe said in her most chipper voice possible.

Yesterday, the staff had to draw lots to see who would have the 'honor' (more like horror) of guiding Esther Knapp around, and Chloe unfortunately drew the short stick, so instead of working with her patients as she wanted, she'd get to deal with Esther's bitching all day.

"We can skip the pleasantries Dr. Beale." Esther said with her trademark sneer. "I have other, more important, things to attend to today other than making sure that this place is running. So lets make this quick if we could, alright?"

"Of course Ms. Knapp." Chloe said, doing her best to hide her disgust for the woman. "Right this way then."

Ten minutes into the tour, and Chloe already wanted to gouge her own eyes out.

Esther was insufferable and nit picky about everything, finding fault with a broken pen and a set of flowers that weren't as fresh as the others. The damn woman had something negative to say about everything. Apparently, the color of the hall ways was all wrong, the cushions in the day room were too ugly and the lobby area was too bright.

"Honestly Dr. Beale, I don't know how this place passes each year. I must be out of my mind. And have you ever though about doing something with your hair. It's too bright. It's so obnoxious. It's very distracting. You should consider doing something about that."

"Thanks for the suggestions Ms. Knapp," Chloe said, doing her best to try and hide her anger. "I'll consider it."

Esther just scoffed. Thank God they had finally gotten to the patient center.

"And here's the lounge!" Chloe said, her relief obvious in her voice. "Feel free to talk to any of the patients-"

"-I know the procedures child." Esther snapped, cutting Chloe off. "You know I've been doing this for a number for years. I just want to get in and out, remember?"

"Right, yes of course" Chloe said.

Esther had already tuned out the red head and was instead scanning the room.

"The decor in here is awful," Esther commented. "Also, these sofas look like they're thirty years old. For being such a top notch place, you could really put some more effort into furnishing patient quarters."

"Right." Chloe said, pretending to write down the inspector's comments. "We'll fix it."

"Whatever. I'd like to speak with some of the patients now. Three or four will do ..." Esther said, her attention already focused on something else.

"Well who would-"

"-I'd like to speak with the fat blonde, the black one, the tall brunette ... and her." She said, pointing a large, fat finger at in the direction of one Aubrey Posen.

"Wait, you want to speak with Aubrey?" Chloe said, worry evident in her voice. "I don't think that that's a good idea, see she's new and a bit unstable and-"

"-I'm the inspector, and you are the staff member. You do as I say, got it?" Esther snapped.

Seeing no way out, Chloe just nodded and prayed for the best.

"So you call yourself 'Fat Amy'?" The inspector said incredulously "Why on earth would you advertise such a thing?"

"Yeah, so twig bitches like you don't do it behind my back" Fat Amy said happily.

Patient interviews were already under way, and Chloe was actually kind of happy with the inspector's choice of patients to speak with. The first interview with Stacie consisted mostly of Stacie flirting with a painfully uncomfortable inspector. That interview was actually rather short.

The next one with CR was a bit better. CR was a great people person, albeit lacking a bit in manners. All of her answers were great, and the only thing Esther could complain about was CR's quote 'hoodlum vocabulary and appalling manners'.

However, Amy was certainly giving the inspector a run for her money. Amy was just a funny person, but humor was something Esther A. Knapp was unfamiliar with. Every question asked was answered with either some humorous anecdote about Tasmania that had nothing to do with the question, or was answered with some outrageous answer that usually made no sense.

"So how would you describe your time here?" Esther said, obviously desperate to get this interview over with.

"Eh it's not bad twiggy. I remember one time when a bunch of aborigines and I-" Fat Amy's head suddenly slumped forward. "Oh hello Ma'am my name is Patricia. Why are you here exactly? Why am I here actually ..."

The inspector's face was priceless. Absolute bewilderment was plaster all over her face.

"She has Multi-personality Disorder" Chloe whispered to the inspector. "She's got-"

"-Yes I know what it is!" Esther yelled, forgetting that she was in the presence of a patient.

"You know what?" Patricia asked worriedly "I swear I didn't do anything. Please don't hurt me!"

"Shit." Esther cursed under her breath. "No, I didn't mean to say that to you. You may leave now."

Patricia exited the room, still muttering under her breath. Something about a pie? Honestly, Chloe didn't know, and she was pretty sure she didn't want to know either.

"You know what?" Esther said clapping her hands together. "I really don't feel like talking to any other patients. I'm just going to observe your group therapy session, and then I'll go. Okay?"

Without waiting for an answer, the inspector got up and left, leaving Chloe scrambling to clean up and get things ready. However, Chloe wasn't going to complain. She REALLY didn't want to see how Aubrey would react with the inspector ...

"Alright ladies, I know some of you've already met her, but this is Inspector Esther Knapp. She's going to sit in our little pow-wow today and just take notes. Don't mind her." Through out Chloe's entire introduction, Esther didn't even bother to look up from her phone. "Okay then. Who wants to start today?"

"Oi, I do!" Fat Amy shouted.

"Alright Amy, whatcha got today" Chloe said happily.

"First, its FAT Amy, you twig bitch and second, I've just had the greatest idea in the history of great ideas." Fat Amy said happily. "I think that we should do some sort of Christmas concert thing this year! I mean I'm the best singer in Tasmania with teeth, everyone knows CR's got mad flow, Stacie's got the moves, and shortie over there knows how to mix music like nobody's business."

Immediately, her idea was met with great excitement.

"OMG YES!"

"Really? Could we?"

"Sure why not? Dude, I got a few mixes we could use."

"Damn fine idea."

"That's a really good idea Fat Amy! Let me run-" Chloe said once the initial excitement died down.

"-No." Esther said, cutting her off.

"Excuse me?" Chloe asked.

"You heard me, no. This is a ridiculous idea. The patients should be focusing on their issues, not some stupid musical nonsense." She said simply.

"I think that this could be good for the girls though." Chloe tried "This'll give them something-"

"-I said no, and that will be the end of this conversation. I really don't think I need to put down that you are both incompetent and insubordinate!" The inspector said shrilly, the threat clear in her voice.

"Okay." Chloe said meekly. She was disappointed, the girls would be saddened but there really wasn't much she could do about it.

"Oi, I don't like the way you're talking to Red, lady! I'm gonna-" Fat Amy began, anger clear in her voice.

"-Amy, its fine." Chloe said quickly. "Let's just go back to group, alright? We've got a bunch of stuff to cover, and it's not worth it."

The rest of the meeting was like any other after that, though a bit quieter. It was clear everyone was disappointed, but with personalities like Fat Amy, Cynthia Rose and Stacie in one place, you couldn't help but to smile sometimes.

"Alright everyone, this was awesome! I'll see you all tomorrow, same time same place!" Chloe said happily. Despite the rough start to the meeting, everything went well.

"No. Everyone stay." Esther said before anyone could leave.

Everyone looked around to the Inspector.

"You." she said pointing to Aubrey. "You haven't said anything. Hell, I don't even know anything about you. No one can leave until you say something darling."

Aubrey visibly paled, but didn't say anything. She just looked down into her lap and folded her hands, doing her best to try and resist the urge to run and hide away from the inspector's harsh gaze.

"Come along girl, what's your name? I haven't got all day." Esther sneered.

"Aubrey Posen." She barely whispered, but the inspector heard.

"Oh my God? Are you THE Aubrey Posen, the one that let her daddy sell her off?" The inspector cackled, almost excitedly. "Oh God, this is rich! Who would have thought that the bitch of the commercial world would be reduced to a mute little whore? Your father took out my father's business from under his feet. Got anything to say, bitch?"

Aubrey couldn't take it. Everything she was saying was true. Memories flashed before her, of her father, of the lectures and beatings he'd given her to be perfect. Of long nights with strange men.

"HA! Stupid little slut doesn't do anything but cry! THIS IS CORPORATE AMERICA PEOPLE! THIS LITTLE WHORE RIGHT-"

*SMACK!*

Everyone looked up in shock. Beca Mitchell had just slapped the inspector. In the face. For a moment, no one moved, but then Beca, spoke up, her voice dangerously low.

"If you ever speak to another person here like that again, I'm going to rip every single tooth from your ugly little head and shove them up your stuck up ass, do you understand me?"

The inspector just gave her a blank, though slightly dumbfounded look.

*SMACK!*

"I SAID DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME, YOU BITCH!" Beca roared.

This time, the inspector nodded, fear evident in her eyes.

"Now." Beca said, her voice frighteningly low once again. "Apologize to Aubrey over there, and then get your narcissistic, bitchy, no good, ugly ass out of this place and never ever come back. If I EVER see you here again bitch ..." Here Beca let out a humorless chuckle "... well, I promise that it won't end well for you."

When the inspector didn't move, Beca raised her hand again, though this time, it was in a fist.

However, she never had time to strike. Before she could do anything, she was restrained and given a powerful sedative. When Beca first began her assault, Chloe had called security on the emergency button on her phone and had requested such. Now Beca was groggily trying to fight back against the male nurses, though to no avail.

"Dr. Beale! This is unacceptable! How could you allow this to happen at your group sessions?" Esther said, her usual self returned now that the threat was subdued. "This is absolutely unacceptable. There is nothing left but for-"

"-You need to get your stuck up horrible ass out of my facilities." Director Kendrick said, walking in. "I have that entire thing on tape I'll have you know Ms. Knapp. I saw and heard you deliberately harass a highly unstable patient. I saw and heard you provoke Aubrey, and I am inclined to believe that Beca's actions, while a bit overboard, were entirely warranted. Now unless you want me to report this incident to the board, I suggest you vacate the premises immediately and never return before I have you escorted out."

"Excuse me? I-I-I! This is preposterous! How dare you?" The inspector stuttered, desperately trying to maintain control over the facility.

"No, what is preposterous was the fact that this even happened." Director Kendrick growled. "Now vacate yourself from the premises. I will not repeat myself."

Obviously defeated, Esther Knapp left without any further fanfare, with the thought of never returning.

Now that the inspector finally left, Chloe was able to focus on Aubrey. Speaking of Aubrey, where the devil was she?

"Shit." Chloe cursed.

Aubrey could be anywhere, and considering the circumstances, she was most likely not in the best state.

An hour later, they found her.

Curled up in a ball in an unused storage closet, tears silently sliding down her face, hiding from everyone, the once mighty Aubrey Posen now sat, rocking gently.

"Aubrey honey, could you come out?" Chloe asked gently. Crouching in front of Aubrey, careful to be sure that there was some space between her and the crying woman in front of her.

Aubrey didn't move. She didn't make a sound. She just sat there still, tears silently gliding down her face.

"Aubrey please, you can't stay in here. How about we go back to your room. We don't need to talk or anything ... but you can't stay in here."

"Please leave." Aubrey barely whispered.

"I'm not going anywhere Aubrey." Chloe said.

"Just go." Aubrey hissed, now anger laced into her words.

"No." Chloe said, this time, no trace of gentleness in her words.

"LEAVE!" Aubrey roared this time, pain evident in her words. "JUST GO AND LET ME BE!"

Now, Aubrey's body was racked with sobs, tears pouring out of her eyes.

"Just let me be ... just let me be ..." She choked out.

"Aubrey, I'm not going anywhere" Chloe said. "I will not just let you be, because I'm not going to let you push me away."

"Leave me." Aubrey began to cry again.

"I. Want. To. Help. You." Chloe said, earnestly and honestly.

"Why?" Aubrey whispered, her voice hoarse now.

"Because I see something in you. I get that bad shit happened to you. Guess what? Bad shit has happened to everyone here." Chloe said. "But the thing is, they aren't letting the bad things that happened to them define them. They're letting the good that they do, the choices they make now, and the hopes and dreams they have now define them. I know what happened to you. I know about your dad, the so called appointments, the deals, the beatings, the bullshit and the lies." Chloe said passionately.

Aubrey cringed, but Chloe kept going. Aubrey had to hear this, had to know.

"I know that you built up walls so that while this was all happening so you wouldn't get hurt. I know that you wish that everything could just end, and that you won't have to fight anymore, but guess what? I'M NOT GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN! You're only fighting you now, and until that fight is over, I'm going to be in your corner fighting to make you see that the woman that was on top of the world is still in you. I know that you still have some fight left in you, and God dammit, I'm going to make your stubborn ass see that!"

By now, Aubrey had stopped crying, and was giving Chloe a curious look.

"Cursing is very unprofessional." Aubrey simply said.

"Seriously?" Chloe asked, absolutely shocked that Aubrey just said that. "I give you a heartfelt, emotional, motivational speech, and 'cursing is very unprofessional' is all you have to say? Are you fucking kidding me?"

For a moment, neither woman moved, just stared at each other. Then, as though a switch had been flipped, both women began to laugh uncontrollably. When the laughter finally died down, Aubrey finally spoke.

"Chloe, I'm sorry I've made you job so difficult." Aubrey began. "You are right, by the way. Part of me just wants to give up and end it all, and not have to fight. However, once again, you were right. Part of me wants so badly to move past everything, and be able to show my father that I am not just a pawn that he can control ..."

"Aubrey, you need to get better for you, not to prove a point." Chloe said. "Fuck your father! He deserves to rot in hell forever. You can't let anger heal you. You need to let happiness and hope heal you."

"You sound like a shitty fortune cookie." Aubrey said, just about managing to squeak it out.

"Fine. I'll be a shitty fortune cookie." Chloe said exasperatedly. "Can we just get out of this closet now? My foot's falling asleep and I think dinners going to be served soon."

"Yeah. Let's go," Aubrey said, a trace of a smile on her face as she stood up.

So how was that? Bad good? I need you people to review and tell me... BTW, if you have any prompt ideas or anything like that, tell me. I sprained my ankle yesterday and now I'm confined to bed. So I'm really freaking bored.