Steve sat in the chair by Mia's bed with his daughter on his lap. It had been a difficult night with Mia having bad nightmares which resulted in her wetting the bed a few times. She was now dozing on her fathers lap whilst he stroked her hair.
The doctors had been on their ward rounds and disconnected Mia from her fluid drip. She was rehydrated now and able to take her own fluids and food. The cannula remained in the back of her hand just in case she wouldn't drink. It seemed physically she had healed but the psychological impact of her abduction had affected her the most.
She still hadn't spoken and the doctors had said it was just a waiting game. Steve had shed a few tears privately for his daughter remembering her independent streak just before she had been taken. This was the complete opposite as she had clung to him constantly since he had arrived.
His parents had spent the night in a local hotel and would be visiting a bit later that day, hoping to coax their granddaughter in to speaking, or even just giving them a smile. So for the time being, Steve was sat in silence, worrying himself silly. A noisy clock on the wall counting the seconds as they passed.
He was disturbed from his musings by the door to the room opening and the police officer who had found Mia stuck her head in. "Is it alright to come in?" She asked Steve.
Glad of the company Steve agreed. "Sure," he said. "Kate, wasn't it?" he checked.
"Yeah," answered Kate as she entered the room. Steve caught sight of a big shopping bag with a bright pink bow on it.
Steve speaking awoke Mia and she looked scared at the stranger before remembering Kate and her fright reduced to cautiousness.
Kate drew a chair up and sat next to Steve. "How are we doing?" she asked as she gently rubbed one of Mia's legs. Mia buried her face in Steve's chest.
"She's rehydrated," Steve said, "but she's still not talking," he continued and Kate could see him fighting back tears. "Mia is usually such a chatterbox," he explained. He felt a comforting warmth on his hand that was resting on the arm chair and looked down. He saw that his hand was now covered by Kate's.
Kate saw him looking at their joined hands. "Sorry," she said as she backed away, a bit embarrassed. She didn't know why she had done it. It was just an unconscious comforting gesture.
"It's ok," Steve replied, instantly missing her touch.
"Maybe this will help," Kate said as she produced the bag that Steve had seen her carrying. He took the bag from Kate and looked inside, finding several neatly wrapped presents.
"Oh wow! Look Mia," said Steve trying to get Mia excited. The little girl turned to look at the bag but didn't react. "Thank you," he said to Kate, touched at her kindness.
With Mia watching, Steve unwrapped the presents and revealed a brand new princess dress, a new pink plastic mackintosh coat and pink sparkly wellington boots that Kate had purchased. They weren't the same as what Mia had had on previously but were very similar.
"I guessed you must have liked your outfit very much," Kate said to Mia, "and I wanted to replace it after we had to take your old ones away,". All of Mia's clothes including her dirty underwear had been put in evidence bags for forensic officers to examine at the lab.
"What do you say, Mia?" Steve encouraged, but his daughter stayed mute. "Thank you Kate," said Steve when he knew nothing would be forthcoming from Mia.
"You're welcome," Kate replied. The little girl had been in her thoughts ever since she had left her the previous evening and had wanted to get her something.
"And thank you for coming to visit in your lunch break,".
"I wanted to," Kate said. "My gaffer's given me an extended one,".
"I wish mine was as kind," Steve said. DCI Osbourne was a very formidable man. Extended lunch breaks weren't his thing. "How's the investigation going?" Steve asked, changing topics. He was keen to know about this new OCG. He knew from his colleagues that his unit was trying to work out how they were connected to the OCG in London.
"Slowly," Kate said as the sound of a dog barking appeared to emanate from somewhere on Kate. "Sorry," she apologised as she reached for her phone. "That will be my pet camera at home. The dog sitter must have just dropped my dog off from doggy day care," she explained to Steve as she silenced the phone.
"Doggy what?" Steve asked.
"Doggy day care,".
"What is doggy day care?" Steve asked.
"Somewhere my dog goes whilst I'm at work," Kate explained. "It keeps him from getting bored and creating havoc at home whilst I'm out and also gives him the opportunity to socialise with other dogs,".
"Sounds like your dog is a very pampered pooch," Steve said.
"Of course he is. He's my baby," Kate retorted.
"Have you got a puppy?" Mia asked, interrupting Steve and Kate's banter. The talk of dogs had got her interest. The two adults looked happily surprised at each other. These were the first words that Mia had spoken to either of them since she had been found.
"Yes I do," Kate replied. "Do you want to see him?". Mia nodded her head so Kate retrieved her phone again and logged in to her home security camera. "Here you go," Kate said as she turned her phone so that Mia and Steve could see. Mia sat up and moved closer to the phone.
Steve watched as the blond, curly haired dog that looked very like a teddy bear wolfed down his food before lapping at his water. Doggy day care was obviously very thirsty work. Something in Kate's garden caught the dog's attention and he moved to the back door and started barking and wagging his tail. Mia giggled at the dog's actions which caused Steve and Kate to smile. "Mia loves dogs, don't you?" Steve explained to Kate. Mia nodded as she continued to watch the screen. Whatever it was in the garden left and the dog went back for a bit more food before heading to his bed and curling up for a nap.
"What's his name?" Mia asked.
"Brian," Kate replied.
"Brian?" Steve asked. It was an unusual name for a dog he thought.
"After Brian Clough," Kate explained.
"Are you a Forest fan?" Steve asked. He was an avid football fan himself but followed a team closer to home.
Kate shook her head. "No. But he's one of the best managers football has ever had,".
"That's debatable," Steve retorted. His teasing came naturally although he hoped he hadn't overstepped the mark. One look at Kate and he knew he was ok. The glare she gave him was one of fake annoyance. She had taken the remark as he had intended.
"How old is he?" Mia asked, interrupting her father's teasing.
"He's just turned one," Kate replied, directing her attention back to the little girl. "I've got lots of pictures if you want to see them,". Mia nodded again and Steve was happy for Kate to show her. This was more like the Mia he knew and he was relieved that she finally seemed to be coming out of her shell.
Kate had thousands of pictures of her dog in various poses and Mia wanted to see all of them. Gradually she took the phone from Kate and started going through them herself, showing her father any particular one that caught her eye. "What type of doggy is he?" Mia asked.
"He's a Cavapoochon," Kate said.
"Cava what?" Steve asked.
"Cavapoochon. A mixture of Cavalier spaniel, Poodle and Bichon Frise," Kate explained.
"Daddy, can I get a puppy like Brian?" Mia asked. She had fallen in love with the dog.
Steve look resignedly at Kate. "I knew that question would be coming,".
Sorry, mouthed Kate to Steve. She had failed to think this would be a possible consequence of showing Mia pictures of Brian and now felt bad that Steve may have to disappoint the little girl.
"I'll think about it," Steve told his daughter. Usually when Mia asked him this question he replied negatively. This time however, after what she had just been through he was tempted to give her anything she desired.