*Picks up from The Dilemma*
Jordan- 8
After being released from the hospital, Jordan had to wear a brace on her wrist for a few weeks and her lip still had a scar on it.
When she went to school it had the teachers and principal him concerned. It was no secret to them that Hank was a detective in the gang unit. They didn't wanna think the worst of him but they had to look out for Jordan.
One afternoon school was now letting out for the day, the teacher had dismissed class for the day. Jordan had put her backpack on her shoulder with her good hand, the teacher seen her about to leave.
"Jo you mind staying back for a couple of minutes". He says.
The kids all 'oh'd' and snickered. The eight year old ignored them, she was use to that being the kid of a cop. Jordan headed over to her teacher.
"What's up, Mr. Johnson". Jordan says.
He noticed the brace and scar on her lip and looked down. He coughed and looked back at her.
" Jo is everything ok at home?" He asked.
"Yeah everything's fine at home. Why".
" I want you to know you're in a safe place".
Jordan eyed her teacher suspiciously, what was he hinting at?
"Mr. Johnson what's this about?"
"Are you ok?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"You hurt your wrist and there's a scar on your lip".
Now the eight year old was furious and when she got like this she acted just like her father.
"Are you trying to say that my dad or brother did this?!"
"Did they?"
"No, my dad and brother wouldn't hurt me. Ever".
Before he could say another word Jordan had stormed out. The eight year old was seething. How could they think her father or brother would hurt her? Hank and Justin would die before they ever laid a finger on her.
Justin was waiting on his sister normally she'd be outside waiting for him, what was taking her so long? He was about to go in when he saw his sister coming out, Jordan was scowling the whole time which got the elder Voight confused and a bit worried.
"You ok Jo Jo?" Justin asked, highly concerned.
"My teacher is an idiot". Jordan says angrily.
" What happened?"
"Nothing".
"Something. If you don't tell me I'll tell dad".
"You wouldn't".
"Try me".
"Fine. My teacher thinks that you or dad have sprained my wrist and gave me the scar on my lip".
"What?!"
"I knew you'd react like that".
Justin then went around his little sister as he stormed into the school, Jordan then got in front of her brother trying to stop him. She knew that her father and brother tend to lose their tempers real fast when someone says anything about or does anything to their family.
"Justin. Justin stop please. I don't want you to get into trouble".
The elder man looked down to his young sister, she was giving him a pleading look to stop. Normally it would take the elder Voight a while to calm down but looking at the look on his sister's face was enough to calm him for the moment.
Justin looked back at school then shook his head and took his sister's hand, as the siblings walked home Jordan swung her brother's hand and she felt his hand was tense which meant he was still angry and he had every right to be angry.
What gave them the right to pin an accident on Hank and Justin? Just because a kid has an accident doesn't mean you can go around pointing fingers. The eight year old looked up at her brother then down to the ground.
"You're mad at me aren't you?" Jordan's voice was small.
"I'm not mad at you because you didn't do anything, I'm mad at the situation because those people don't know what they're talking about. You had an accident and they want someone to blame".
"Are you gonna tell dad?"
"If I don't he'll find out eventually".
"You mean they'll tell him".
"Yeah".
"Do you think they'd take me away?"
That caused Justin to stop dead in his tracks, his blood ran cold at his sister's question. He knew that if child services was called there was a good chance she could be taken pending the investigation and being their father's a cop he didn't know exactly how that would go down. Taking a deep breath he bent down to her level, the elder man saw his sister's eyes start to swell with tears as he saw the fear in her brown glassy eyes.
"Dad and I won't let anyone take you away, not without a fight".
"You wouldn't do something like that would you Justie? You wouldn't hurt me?"
"Kiddo, I'd never do anything to you and if I did anything dad would get me for it".
"Why'd they think you or dad could have done it?"
"I don't know like I said maybe they wanted someone to blame".
"I want daddy".
Justin knew their father was at work he was about to say something when he heard sniffing, that had done it for him. One thing the elder Voight has always hated was to see his sister crying. Normally he was always able to calm her but this time was different. Someone had caused her to cry. Someone asked her if she was being abused. It was now in her head that should could be taken away. Now Justin was pissed.
"I-I...d-don't wanna...get taken..away". Jordan now sobbed.
"Hey hey it's alright, I told you. Dad and I won't let anyone take you away". Justin soothed her.
"Y-you..don't...know that".
"I know one thing, dad won't let anyone take you".
"C-can we see him?"
"Let's go".
He then effortlessly picked up his little sister and carried her, as they walked her breathing became even and he heard soft snoring. Jordan had fallen asleep on her brother's shoulder. He stopped for a moment to text their father then continued the walk to the District.
Meanwhile
Hank had just gotten back to the office his phone buzzed with a text from his son.
-Jo and I are outside. Come out it's important. Justin.
The older father was highly concerned, he knew his children only went to the District if Jordan couldn't sleep or something was wrong. What was important? Were they ok? Many things ran through his head as he made his way out of the District.
Justin stood outside the District still holding his sister, he switched her from his right arm to his left. He never brought his sister in the District, if word got out about her it wouldn't be pretty. The eight year old stirred in her brother's hold and he hushed her back to sleep. Hank rushed out the District to see his children, he was calm for the moment but he wanted to know what was important. The elder Voight saw his father coming he had to be cautious and quiet due to his sleeping sister.
"Justin what's wrong? Are you two ok?" Hank asked concerned.
"What I'm about to tell you please don't overreact, Jo just went to sleep". Justin started.
"Is she ok?"
Hank then went to check his daughter and she was fine minus her wrist and lip, he then looked back to his oldest with a concerned look. "What's going on?"
"Jordan's teacher asked if either of us had anything to do with her wrist and lip. Basically he thought we did something to her".
"What?!"
Jordan once again stirred at the loudness, the two men hushed her back to sleep. Hank was furious. How the hell could they think he abused his little girl? He'd never in his life lay so much as a finger on either of his kids to hurt them in any way.
"Jo thinks that she could get taken away". Justin's voice got quieter so his sister wouldn't hear.
"That's not gonna happen. It won't happen". Hank's voice was quiet and sharp.
After a few minutes Jordan eventually woke up, she lifted her head off her brother's shoulder and looked around sleep still in her eyes.
"Hey sweetheart". Hank softly greeted his youngest.
"Hi Jo Jo". Justin said with a smile.
Not saying a word Jordan reached out for her father and he took a hold of her, Hank held onto his baby girl afraid she might disappear. Justin had smoothed some of her hair down that was frizzled.
"Daddy, you won't let anyone take me? Will you?" Jordan asked her father. Her voice was small and delicate.
Tucking some hair behind her ear he gave her a gentle smile. "Baby, I'd never let anyone take you or you're brother from me".
"Promise?"
He kissed her head and held her tighter. "I promise".
A couple of days had passed since Jordan had the conversation with her teacher by that point the teacher and principal had called Hank for a conference about the eight year old's injuries.
Hank walked into the office and he was seething but he managed to keep his cool for the time being. When he walked into the office he seen Jordan's teacher, the principal, and a social worker from DCFS. He felt like he was gonna lose his cool right then and there.
"Mr. Voight please come in". The principal said.
"Detective Voight, I'm gonna be the first to say we aren't accusing you or anyone else about Jordan's injuries". The social worker says.
"I'm gonna say this one time and one time only, me or my son didn't do anything to Jordan. She fell, kids fall all the time. I swear if a kids fall the first person y'all wanna pin the blame on is the parents". Hank said, anger in his voice.
"Were just looking out for Jordan's well being that's all, she came to school fine one day then a couple of days later she has a brace on her wrist and a scar on her lip". The teacher chimes in.
Hank then glared at him. "And that gives you the right to say either me or my son did it?"
"We wanted to rule out any foul play".
"Detective, I will be conducting a home study just to be sure there isn't anything going on". The social worker said.
"There's nothing going on! I don't abuse or neglect either of my children!"
Hank then went outside to cool off before he did or said something he may or may not regret. The social worker had followed him out.
"Detective you have to see this from our side of things".
"I didn't do a damn thing to my daughter. My kids mean everything to me".
"Could it be a possibility your son may have caused these injuries to Jordan?"
The older man clenched his fist together tightly by his sides, a glare was now painted on his face as he looked over to the social worker. "My son didn't do this either. Jordan fell. She fell. I swear let a kid fall and parents are the first to blame. Know this I would never in my life raise a hand let alone a finger on either of my kids. I'd die before I ever raise a hand to them. My son would die before he ever raised a hand to Jordan".
"I understand your frustration-" He was cut off by Hank.
"Do you have kids?"
"No I don't have kids".
"When my kids were born and they were placed in my arms, all I could think about is protecting them and shielding them from the world. My son is at a age where he can defend himself that doesn't mean I'm done my job as a parent with him it's still my job to guide him through life to make sure he doesn't make mistakes. Jordan, she's my little girl. She's my baby, always has been always will be. I'm doing everything I can to protect her and shield her from the world. It seems like just yesterday she was this little baby in my arms now she's eight. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for my kids no matter how old they are".
"I'm only conducting a home study, nobody is taking Jordan. It's for Jordan's best interest".
The older man walked closer to the social worker. "I'm going to get my daughter, when I come back out with her I suggest you be gone".
Turning back to the school Hank went to go get his little girl, he managed to calm down when his daughter approached him. Jordan ran straight to her father and he swept her up, the eight year old held on tightly to her father. Hank glared at the other adults then left, his facial expression changed as he held his baby girl. He felt if he put her down she'd get taken right then and there.
Putting her in the back seat Hank buckled in his little girl, he then headed to the driver seat he was again stopped by the social worker.
"Are you deaf? What part of I suggest you be gone don't you understand". Hank spat.
"Detective, I understand how frustrating this is for you and your family-" He was cut off by Hank.
"Do you? Do you really? All of you have my daughter terrified thinking she's gonna get taken. For the past couple of nights Jordan woke up scared and crying thinking you all would take her, she doesn't wanna leave my side or my son's. I swear on everything, I'd never hurt my kids. I'd never lay so much as a finger on them. What happened to Jordan was an accident, I didn't do it, my son didn't do it. She fell that's it".
"As I said it's a home study, nobody is taking her from your care. I'm just looking out for her well being that's all".
"I suggest you leave before, you and I have a different conversation".
"I'll be over in a while to conduct my home study".
Hank then got in the car, he took a deep breath breath before he lost his cool. Jordan saw the look on her father's face then looked down.
"Daddy". Jordan says, her voice was small.
Turning back the older father looked at his baby girl. "What is it sweetheart".
"Am I gonna be taken away or do I get to stay with you and Justie?"
"Remember what I told you sweetie, nobody's gonna take you. You're not going anywhere. You're staying with me and Justin".
All the eight year old did was nod as Hank drove home. Justin was watching tv with a soda in his hand, he heard the front door open he looked to see his father and sister. Looking at the look on his baby sister's face Justin cut the tv off and looked over at the two.
"What's wrong?" Justin asked.
"Sweetheart go start your homework, I'll be up in a few minutes to check on you". Hank told his youngest.
Not saying anything Jordan nodded and went up to her room to start her homework. Justin looked at his father with a concerned look.
"Pop, what is it?" Justin asked.
"DCFS, they're conducting a home study to make sure there's no foul play going on". Hank answered bitterly.
"They can't be serious. Jo Jo, fell that's it. She fell accidents happen all the time".
Hank was at a loss for word he didn't know what to say at the moment. Jordan then came down from her room and curled up beside her brother watching a movie. About a half hour later there was a knock on the door, Hank knew who it was.
"Son, take your sister upstairs". Hank said.
Justin then took a hold of his little sister and carried her up the stairs, Hank then opened the door for the social worker.
"Detective Voight, I'm here to conduct my home study". He said.
"Come in". Hank replies.
The social worker began looking around the house inspecting every part of the home while Hank stood by.
"Where is the minor, Jordan?"
"She's upstairs doing her home work, my son's helping her".
"Mind if I have a look upstairs?"
Nodding the older man took him upstairs, Jordan was in her room with her brother. The eight year old sat on her bed still working on her homework. Justin was helping his sister, her door opened and it was Hank with the social worker, the older father saw his oldest child get up standing protectively in front of Jordan.
Hank gave his son a look and Justin dropped some of his guard but he remained in front of his sister protectively. The social worker then finished his home study, he then looked to Hank.
"My home study is complete. There is absolutely no foul play going on whatsoever. Jordan is in a loving and caring home".
"Like I told you. I'd never do anything to hurt either of my kids".
"As I said before Detective, we had to look out for Jordan and her well being".
The social worker then left, Hank closed the door and was finally able to breath. His princess wasn't going anywhere. The siblings had came down to see their father lost in their thoughts.
Jordan ran over and hugged her father around his waist, the older father felt a small pair of arms wrapped around his waist. Looking down he saw his princess he then hoisted her up hugging her he then kissed her head. Justin went over and also hugged his father, Hank had held onto both his children knowing they are going anywhere. The siblings held onto their father knowing that nothing would ever happen to them. No matter what they would always be safe. The small family was gonna be ok.