Chapter Eight! Long awaited and long overdue. There are many reasons that I have been unable to post an update but the biggest one is there have been multiple health crises in my immediate family and that took priority. That being said, I still apologize that you all were left hanging for a while. I have not abandoned this story and will continue to post as often as I can. This story is so close to my heart and I can't wait for you to see the stages of Madeline's journey. Now cue the Peter Pan intro *HERE WE GOOOOO*

-lovelylavenderlady


Dr. Anne Randal had begun her morning rounds as she did every day. Push through from patient to patient, praying you make a difference. Pray you could save a life, and when you couldn't, you hoped that you would know the right words to say. You hoped you could bring comfort when there was none to be found. It was a job few would envy if they knew what it truthfully took from you. As a pediatric doctor, her world revolved around children. Some she could help and release with a smile as she knew they would be alright, and some...well that was the part that took from her. How do you tell a parent their child did not make it? How did you relay to a parent their child had made it, but their life would never be the same again? How did you tell a parent their child had cancer and would face months, maybe years of grueling chemo and radiation and still might not make it? How could she do these things and find the will to continue?

She found it through the lives she saved. Some parents could take their child home, all because she kept hold of the will to continue. She might not be able to save every life, but she could save some and it's why she did what she did. Any life was still a life.

Her rounds led her to the door where one of her most recent patients was. Madeline McCord. A girl who had been through hell but was still alive, and she was going to do everything in her power to keep it that way. It was a case that pulled at the strings of your heart and called you to search and search and search for a way to make a difference. To change the outcome even when it felt impossible. After everything this little girl had been through, she would be damned if she could not give her a chance of gaining her life back. She had not known what the girl had been like before, but she could imagine. Now she was determined to change that imagination to reality.

Gently knocking on the door to alert the room of her entrance, she opened the door and pulled the brightest smile she could for a room that sorely needed it. "Good morning you guys," she greeted as she walked in and positioned herself at the end of the bed.

"Dr. Randal," Henry spoke in acknowledgment as he stood and extended his hand.

Elizabeth was focused on Madeline's reaction to the new presence in the room and chose to keep silent. Madeline had been drawing when Randal had entered the room, and Elizabeth had seen how her little girl had frozen in fear as the door opened abruptly. Her eyes had flashed with panic and dared to scan towards the feet that had entered. Once Madeline had heard the voice, she had gulped and returned to her picture with a shaking hand. As a mother, it was gut-wrenching to see your child living on the precipice of fear twenty-four-seven. It didn't matter how consistent their routine had become because, for Madeline, everything seemed like it was still happening for the first time. It was still as shocking as when thunder struck and the boom rattled in your ears.

"How's our girl this morning?" Dr. Randal asked, looking at all three in hopes she would get a response from Madeline herself, but the girl did not acknowledge her and kept drawing.

"Coloring away," Henry tried to smile as he sat back down.

"Last night was on the rougher side," Elizabeth finally spoke up as she made eye contact with her. "She had trouble sleeping..."

"You know, it doesn't surprise me with how much change has occurred, but if it persists and she is not getting any sleep at all, be sure to tell Nurse Joe or Rachel. We can give her something mild to help her," Randal explained as she tried to give Elizabeth an encouraging smile as she could see the dark circles under both parent's eyes.

"Thank you," Henry smiled as he reached over and grabbed Elizabeth's hand. "That's helpful to know."

Seeing that Madeline wasn't paying attention to them, Anne took her moment to bring up the subject she had been unable to forget since Madeline's arrival. "Do you both have a moment to talk?"

"Of course," Elizabeth answered as she glanced down at Madeline and saw she was still completely taken with her drawing.

"When you both first arrived, I discussed with you that one of the most important factors of Madeline being able to go home was that she was able to eat," Randal began, and they both nodded, recalling that first conversation. "Well, she has now been with us for almost a week. You have been here a good portion of that time, and though we have seen some progress, Madeline still has been unable to eat. While I am hopeful that this has mainly been due to so much change in such a short amount of time, we must see if she is even capable of ingesting food. A week is a long time to go without eating, and something tells me this is not new for her..."

Elizabeth inhaled deeply, but tried not to let it shake her as she had already had the thought herself. It still didn't make it easier to hear your child had become used to starvation. Henry nodded and looked down as he pushed his hair back. While Madeline was safe, it was clear she had not returned sound, and the reality of the situation they all faced was beginning to weigh more and more.

"I understand these things are hard to hear, but we mustn't let these things hinder us from taking action. Madeline is a tough girl, and if she sees that we are calm and not afraid of the outcome, it will help her to face it as well. She has been through a lot and while that is only the tip of what we know, I believe we can get her back on her feet. Then in time, we get her home."

"So what do you suggest we do? Where do we go from here?" Henry asked as he and Elizabeth looked at her in pursuit of answers and a way to fix what was wrong.

"We have tried before to simply present her with food and she has made no move to accept it any of those times," Randal started softly. "I think it's time for a push whether or not we want to do that. It might feel uncomfortable, but Madeline needs us to do so. I think with encouragement and a small push, we can make some headway."

"Are you sure this is the right move?" Elizabeth asked, unsure and nervous about making a misstep. It still felt as though the ground they had gained could be washed away at any given moment.

"We have to start somewhere," Anne nodded her head. "It's not going to feel easy. It will feel daunting at first, but the best thing we can do is let Madeline see the opposite of those things when she looks at us. It is crucial she starts eating on her own so we can see if it's even possible. She has to try and we have to help her try."

"Okay," Henry nodded as he gently squeezed Elizabeth's hand to try and calm her nerves. He understood her anxiety, but he also understood what Randal was saying. Yes, it would be hard, but it was something that needed to be done.

"I will have them send something around lunchtime. Foods that will be gentle on her stomach and easy on her digestive system, but won't be overwhelming on her palate. I am hopeful that with you two being the ones to encourage eating, it will help her feel less overwhelmed with trying, but I will still have Joe be present to observe. We can reevaluate afterward," Anne explained as she put her hands in her coat pockets and looked at them, waiting to see if they had any more questions.

"We appreciate you taking the time to talk to us and explain things a bit more," Henry gave her a small smile as he leaned forward in his chair.

"That's what I am here for," Anne smiled back. "Please let me know if you need anything. I will be back around noon time."

"Thank you," Elizabeth nodded as the woman was ready to take her leave. She didn't have the strength to smile, and her heart was beating too fast to even think about trying.

"Not a problem," she answered before turning to Madeline with a kind smile and bright eyes. Her hand left her pocket and gently rested on the foot of the bed. "By the way...that's a lovely picture, Madeline." Madeline stopped coloring momentarily, as she could tell the woman was speaking to her, but she made no move to look up or acknowledge the compliment. The freeze was only short before she resumed coloring. It was a picture of a horse eating grass in front of a blue barn. There was a sun at the top corner and childlike clouds in the sky. Anne was right... it was a beautiful picture. It stood as a representation of the place Madeline wanted to be. A place she had been many times but had not seen in a long time. It was home. "Alright, I will see you soon then," Anne's fingers delicately tapped the edge of the bed as she looked at Madeline. She then moved her gaze to Henry and Elizabeth giving a nod before she turned and exited the room.

As soon as the door closed behind her, Elizabeth's eyes found Henry's, and she looked at him slightly panicked. "Does push mean force feed her?!" she whispered as she used her closed fist and thumb to point to her to side where their daughter sat.

"Elizabeth, god no!" Henry tried to keep his voice low as he reached out and gently ran his hand along her arm. "She means a gentle push. Besides, she doesn't strike me as the type of person who force-feeds children. She only means we need to encourage her to eat."

"It just makes me nervous, Henry," Elizabeth looked at him, scared of the different ways it could go.

"I know," Henry acknowledged her feelings. "But I think she is right. We need to stay positive so Madeline doesn't sense hesitation from us."

"What do we even say?" Elizabeth asked in confusion of how they would nudge her into making the decision herself.

"We are gonna have to cross that bridge when we get there, babe," he sighed as he looked towards Madeline. "I think we will know what to say when the moment comes."

"I pray we do," Elizabeth gulped as she tried to steady herself for the moment ahead of them. "Henry?" she voiced as she truly got a good look at the picture herself.

"Yeah?" he answered sitting forward in his chair.

"The picture..." Elizabeth felt her heat rate slow and a small smile begin to eclipse her lips. "It looks like home."


"Knock, knock," Joe greeted the family with a smile, peering through the door before she entered.

"Hey Joe," Elizabeth smiled back, glad to see the comforting face for her sake, but mainly for Madeline's.

"I hear we get to have lunch together today," she beamed at Madeline, who was looking at her. She carried a tray of food in one hand and a bag in the other. "How special is that, eh?"

"So it's not a jailbreak huh?" Henry chuckled as he looked at Joe who set the food on the bedside tray and pulled a chair up to the other side of Madeline's bed.

"Maybe it is, maybe it isn't," she smirked at them as she opened the bag and pulled out three salads. "I hope you don't mind Caesar salad, and if do, don't say anything because that was all I could find."

"Caesar is perfect," Elizabeth chuckled at the woman's humor. "You didn't have to go through the trouble for us, but thank you, this is very thoughtful of you."

"It was no trouble at all," Joe shook her head as she passed the salads to them. "And you, young lady," she smiled at Madeline as she pulled the lid off of the tray before her. "Have a very appetizing assortment that was specially procured just for you..." On the tray was vanilla pudding, bread with some butter to accompany it, chicken noodle soup, and a Sprite. "I mean, pudding, come on, I wish we could trade." Madeline looked at the food and then back to Joe, but her face expressed nothing.

"Don't you want to try it, honey?" Elizabeth gently asked as she pointed to the food and smiled at her.

"It's alright," Joe looked at the mother encouragingly. "She might need a few minutes to take it all in, but that does not stop us from being able to dig in." Joe took the lid off of her salad, eagerly took a bite, and made a face of enjoyment. "Mmmm! The bite of the dressing with the crunch of the lettuce, it really is quite satisfying."

Henry and Elizabeth both saw what she was doing and smiled at how special the woman truly was. They both quickly began digging into their food and just like Joe, exaggerated their enjoyment. "If I'm being honest, Caesar has always been one of my favorites," Henry smiled as he took another bite.

"As a carb lover myself, I wish they put more croutons in it," Elizabeth added playfully. "I mean the croutons are always what do it for me, but they never put enough in."

"Well, I have just the thing for you then," Joe smiled as she reached back into the bag, retrieving an extra package of croutons for Elizabeth.

"Can I just say, I love you for that," Elizabeth said enthusiastically as she took the package, and broke it open.

"I have been known to eat them as a snack myself, so I completely understand," Joe laughed as she took a sip from her drink.

Out of the corner of their eyes, they saw Madeline's gaze move from watching them to looking at the tray with a hint of curiosity. Henry and Elizabeth fell silent and went to watch, but Joe quickly caught their eyes and gave them a look that deterred them from watching and encouraged them to keep doing what they had been doing. It was a smart move. The last thing Madeline needed was to feel watched or like a spectacle. She needed more than anything to see them enjoying their food and treating it like a common thing even if eating wasn't a common thing for Madeline. So they listened, and they continued eating their salads.

"Have you ever tried a balsamic reduction on your caesar?" Joe asked curiously as she crossed her legs.

"I can't say I have," Henry answered as he took another bite and leaned back into his seat.

"What is it?" Elizabeth asked, intrigued as she looked at Joe.

"Well, it's balsamic vinegar that gets reduced over heat, developing a sweet and tangy flavor. It's rather lovely," Joe explained. "But the sweet mixed with the caesar dressing is spectacular. Most definitely a favorite of mine."

"We will certainly have to give it a try," Henry spoke up, and he tried not to look over as he noticed Madeline pick up a spoon.

Madeline observed them eating their food and could feel her curiosity peaking at their reactions. They seemed to love it, more importantly, it didn't seem to make them sick. She was afraid that would not be the case for her but she picked up her spoon anyway and cautiously poked at the food.

During her time with Evelyn, she had found the woman loved to use food as a bargaining chip, and the sad reality was that Evelyn had done this more often than not. So often that she became used to doing without it. The only time she had been able to satisfy her hunger was when Evelyn would leave, then she would scavenge the cabinets and fridge for things she could down right then and there. Soon enough, this act had begun to turn against her. The food started to come back up just as soon as she had filled her belly. It was an awful feeling. She was hungry, and it tasted so good, but it wouldn't be long before the sick feeling would overwhelm her. Then, she would find the contents leaving her mouth and landing on the floor or in the toilet. She blamed the food and chose not to put herself through it in fear that it only ended badly, but seeing Joe's and her parents' reaction made her wonder if she had been wrong. She stole a hesitant glance at them before she dipped the spoon into the bowl of soup. She brought it to her nose and inhaled. It smelled good. It looked good. The question remained though, was it going to end well? With apprehension, she put the spoon in her mouth and chewed slightly before swallowing.

Once she had taken the bite, the three adults turned to her and watched with excited eyes. Elizabeth was the first to speak.

'What do you think huh?" Elizabeth softly asked as she leaned forward in Madeline's direction. Her daughter did not meet her gaze.

Joe was the first to see it. See the look on Madeline's face and the nervousness begin to swell in her orbs. "Do you feel sick, darling?" she asked, but it was only a few seconds after her question that Madeline leaned forward as her chest heaved slightly and her hand clenched on the sheet beneath her. "Ok-it's ok," Joe quickly moved into action, grabbing the dish beside Madeline and positioning it appropriately. Madeline, felt it coming up her throat involuntarily and opened her mouth. The contents she had swallowed exited and landed inside the dish. "It's alright, it's alright," Joe calmly spoke as she dared to place a hand on Madeline's arm.

Elizabeth's hand raised to her chest in surprise and concern as she watched the scene before her. Henry reached out, placing a hand on her back as worry consumed him as well. "What can I do?' Elizabeth extended her arms and looked at Joe for an answer.

"She is okay, everything is alright. She just needs to let it pass, but you could hold her hair if you'd like," Joe smiled softly at the concerned mother but never let her steadiness falter. "I'm sure that would make her feel more comfortable."

Elizabeth did not hesitate and gently gathered Madeline's hair behind her, placing her other hand on her back, and rubbed soothing circles. "It's okay, honey..." She didn't know what else to say as she felt herself holding her breath. Though Madeline didn't have anything aside from the bile in her stomach, she continued to heave, the whole thing having jarred her stomach.

"You are doing great, Madeline," Joe softly encouraged as she continued to hold the dish.

When Madeline finally stopped, she inhaled deeply and looked up. Her eyes met the food and she pushed the tray away from herself before staring into the distance quietly, her hands shaking. She was not crying, but the feeling of vomiting had forced tears to fall, and her eyes glistened.

Joe quickly removed the dish and placed it in the sink before she grabbed a couple of cloths and ran them under cool water. Coming back over, she handed them to Elizabeth, who took them without hesitation.

"Thank you," Elizabeth said gratefully before gently placing one on the back of Madeline's neck and using the other to wipe her face and then her mouth. "I'm so sorry sweet girl," she sucked air through her teeth as she looked at her daughter's face. It was red and blotching, and her eyes reflected that she was shaken. What surprised her was that Madeline wasn't freaking out. For a child who had just thrown up, she was calm and almost too collected, like this had happened to her before. She gave them a look like she had known it was going to happen and pulled away from Elizabeth before leaning back against the bed.

"We had a feeling this might happen," Joe voiced and gave Madeline a reassuring smile before turning towards the parents.

"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked, confusion written into her features.

"While we know the conditions Madeline was subjected to were extreme, we don't truly know the full extent of what her body has endured. We have remained optimistic and fostered hope that her system would be receptive to food, but this response is why Dr. Randal wanted her to try and eat. She wanted to see if her stomach was even capable of holding food. While it is concerning, and you might feel shaken, it is normal for her to have this reaction, given her level of malnourishment. We suspected this might be the case, but we needed to be sure before we could move forward in her care. Now that we know, we can try other things and hopefully rebuild her stomach's ability to digest. This is not a setback. On the contrary, this is a productive redirection to understanding her needs, now that we have the full picture of how unreceptive her body is. Despite that the experience might have been uncomfortable for Madeline and not pleasant for you to see, we have a better idea of what the next step forward looks like," Joe explained calmly but with kindness that pierced through Henry and Elizabeth.

"And what does it look like?" Elizabeth asked as she tried to ground herself in Joe's steadfastness and how confidently she had responded. They might not know how to move forward, but someone did.

"It will look like a lot of liquids for Madeline," Joe chuckled as she tried to keep things lighthearted so fear and tension did not fill the room. "We can start with things like protein shakes and things she will like, such as popsicles and ice cream, along with liquids that have a lot of electrolytes. From there, we will gradually work our way to soups and soft foods like potatoes and pudding. With time, we will hopefully be able to move her to solids like rice and noodles," she answered as she turned and glanced at Madeline with a smile.

"And you believe we will get there?" Henry asked, needing assurance.

"I do," Joe nodded as she turned back towards them. "Madeline is a tough little girl, and I believe this will only slow things down for a bit."

"It can just feel so overwhelming at times," Elizabeth's voice cracked as she looked at Joe earnestly. "She is our daughter, but it doesn't feel like we know how to help her..."

Joe's features softened at this, and she tilted her head as she stared at Elizabeth. "I can't imagine how you must be feeling right now...I am only her nurse, and yet I find my heart has been taken by her. But with the that love that has grown also comes a weight and a pain at the knowledge of how much she has suffered in her short life," Joe spoke honestly as she extended her hand to Elizabeth's arm. "Of course, you feel overwhelmed. How could you not? This is more than any one person should have to endure, but the fact that you both are still standing here shows me that you will get through this. You all will. I have never seen more devoted parents. Your love for her is unwavering and strong, and I believe that no matter how hard this is, you all will come out on the other side...Madeline will be able to go home, and I, for one, cannot wait for that day."

Elizabeth and Henry had tears pooling in their eyes as they looked at the woman. They were at a loss for words. Joe had began a stranger to them, but within such a short amount of time, was beginning to feel more and more like a friend. A true friend. "Thank you, Joe," Elizabeth breathlessly said as she tried to stop the cry that wanted to escape her mouth. To have someone get under them like that and lift them up at a moment when they had both never felt more alone was crucial, and it was something that they would never forget. "Can I give you a hug?" Elizabeth asked hopefully.

"Of course, you can," Joe smiled in understanding as she saw the look on the mother's face, and she stepped forward, opening her arms.

"You have no idea how much your words mean," Elizabeth's voice shook as her head rested on Joe's shoulder. "And you have no idea how thankful I am that out of all the people in the world, you are my daughter's nurse." Elizabeth pulled back and looked at her with glimmering eyes. "You are so much more than a nurse...you have changed our lives, and you are changing hers." Her eyes drifted towards Madeline and then back to the woman before her. Joe's eyes had now become misty, and she looked at them both with fondness.

"Elizabeth is right. You have no idea how much it means for us to know she is in good hands and someone other than us looking out for her," Henry added as he too, fought tears. "It is more than we could have ever hoped for."

"If I am being honest with you both," Joe began as she too, glanced at Madeline. "Madeline has changed my life just as much I have may have changed hers. She is a special kid, and I can only be thankful life brought her into my path...brought all of you into my path. It is a privilege to play a part in her story, and I can only hope that part makes a difference."

"It will," Elizabeth nodded, giving her a watery smile. "Believe me, it will..."

They had not known each other long, but it was clear as the trio stood together that a bond had been formed. A bond that would last a lifetime.


The morning began much like it had for the past week for the McCord trio. Henry went to the cafeteria for coffee while Elizabeth and Madeline slowly woke up. Elizabeth never truly woke until she had her coffee, and Henry was always faithful to obtain the liquid gold before she woke. He was more thoughtful than most men could even conceive. He was in touch with the divine whole and led by a fine example that every husband should follow. He thought he did nothing more than the bare minimum, but Elizabeth could see it was much more than that. In her lifetime, she knew she would never find a better man than Henry McCord and how lucky she was to have married him. He entered the room with coffee in hand and with a smile on his face.

"Good morning," Elizabeth lovingly greeted him as she stretched her arms above her. Madeline looked up, hoping it was her dad and not someone else. As soon as she had confirmed it was him, she lowered her head to Elizabeth's side, not ready to wake up.

"Good morning," he replied as he juggled the coffee and the door. As soon as he turned towards Elizabeth after closing the door, her smile fell as she saw his facial expression. It was his concerned, concentrated face. The one that stated something was clearly on his mind. She saw him push past it and smile brightly at them, but she wouldn't let it go that easily. "My lady and my little lady. You two look snug."

"How could we not be?" she took the coffee from him but tried to hold his gaze to study more as her hand subconsciously played with Madeline's hair. "Everything ok?"

He froze, realizing he had been unable to hide what he was feeling on the inside from her. After all this time, he should've known better. They were two parts that made a whole. "Agent Miller called," he explained as he took a seat and a sip from his coffee. "She uh-she wants to talk to Madeline..."

"What?" Elizabeth replied, stunned by his words. At her change in demeanor, Madeline's grasp tightened ever so slightly on Elizabeth's shirt and pulled closer. Sometimes, their words didn't affect her at all but what she felt in the atmosphere always elicited a response from her. This, was one of those times. Madeline was responding to the change in her mother's voice and the change in her heart rate. Elizabeth took a deep breath and gently rubbed Madeline's back, hoping it would reassure her.

"Miller said it had to do with the case. I think they want to see if she can help them get a little closer to an accurate picture of where they need to look and who they are looking for," he expounded as he tried to keep his voice from expressing the concern he felt.

"Henry, I don't know if she is ready for that," Elizabeth shook her head in worry as she thought about how little progress they had achieved. "Do we even want her to talk about it yet? I mean, you know I want answers, but she can barely communicate with us. I can't see her being able to answer a stranger's questions."

"I don't know, babe," Henry reached out to grab her hand in support. "I've been thinking the same thing, but I'm also thinking it could be worth the chance. Of course, I am worried about a setback, but we have been waiting for answers for so long. She deserves justice... and so do we."

"You know I want the person-" Elizabeth lowered her voice not wanting Madeline to bare the burden of her emotions. "-who did this to be held accountable, but if that happening is at her disposal? It just makes me antsy, Henry. I don't want to feel like we have lost her again when she is right in front of us."

"I hear you," Henry squeezed her hand as he looked down, truly feeling lost. Where they stood was a place they had never been before in parenthood, in truth, they knew no one close to them who had waked this road either. How did they know what the right direction was or move forward when this was a path they had never been on before? He ran his hand down his face and deeply sighed as he tried to weigh their options. "What do you think we should do? You have more experience in this territory than I do."

"I don't know, Henry," she looked at him as her eyebrows raised in speculation. "I have handled things like this before. Yeah, but it was never our kid on the other side of the table."

"So what do we do?" He leaned forward and looked at her. "Maybe we should just see how it goes, and if it seems like it's too much for her, we can just say that she's not ready."

"Is that the only option we have?" Elizabeth leaned her head back against the bed. "I want security for her, and I want it for us-I just feel worried we might lose what little we have gained."

"I don't see many more," Henry put his hands up, feeling like they were tied. "We could choose to deal with this years down the road, and I still don't think it would be any easier, for her or us. It's an investigation. One I'm not sure we can stand in the way of at this point. Besides, I'm not even sure we would want to. I don't want her to spend the rest of her life looking over her shoulder and she always will if we can't give her absolute certainty that whoever did this is behind bars. It's something we are going to have to chance, babe."

Elizabeth tilted her head to the side to look at her husband as she took in his words. She didn't have to think about if he was right. She knew that he was. Elizabeth knew better than most the lingering feelings that hung over you if you didn't have answers to whether the perpetrator was apprehended. She had seen it time after time in her line of work where a person would simply refuse to give up and turn themselves in even if they had by all accounts lost. They would come back time and time again and never stop until they had been imprisoned or killed. It was not a life she wanted for her daughter. She felt sick at the thought. A life where every corner could be hiding the person that she feared most. A life where Madeline had no peace after all she had endured was no life at all. Wasn't the security that this person would be forever locked up the least they could give her? That even if she was haunted by her abductor mentally, she would not be in the physical. Wasn't this something that could be attained? Wasn't it worth attaining, no matter the damage trying to obtain it caused? She did not want to see her daughter hunted like prey. What if this person was looking for Madeline? Waiting to kill her before had the chance to speak up. What if speaking up was exactly what needed to happen? They had found her and she was willing to take the risk of causing a setback if meant peace for all of them in the long run. "Call her back," Elizabeth nodded at him, needing to say the words out loud before she changed her mind or lost gumption. "Let's do it."

...

A double knock came on the other side of the door. It was quiet and soft almost, as if it was delivered with care. All three heads of the McCord trio turned in unison. It was seconds before it opened, and Agent Miller's head peered through.

Madeline tensed at the sounds and the new face that had appeared. Elizabeth immediately rubbed her arm gently and looked at her with a smile. "Everything is fine honey," she said reassuringly.

"Come on in," Henry spoke as he stood to meet her.

"How is everybody doing?" she gave the family a small smile as she extended her hand towards Henry.

"As well as can be expected," Henry answered honestly, and he shook her hand.

"And what about Madeline?' she asked as she poked her hand past Henry's shoulder and looked towards the girl and her mother.

"She's a tough kid," Henry answered as he turned, taking his seat next to his wife and daughter. He looked at his daughter and saw how apprehensive she was. She barely dared to look past Elizabeth.

"This is Agent Miller, Madeline," Elizabeth guided her gaze gently as she pointed her finger toward the woman and tried to ease her into the daunting feeling of meeting a new person. "She helped us find you, baby." Madeline risked looking at the woman before turning towards her mother with uneasy eyes.

Seeing the uncertainty herself, Agent Miller took a seat. She hoped that in not towering above the girl, she would seem less intimidating. "You are a pretty brave kid," Miller began, giving the girl a soft smile. "I have known your parents for quite some time now, and when I tell you that finally being able to tell them we'd found you was one of the best feelings I have ever felt."

"She right, you know?" Elizabeth said as she stroked Madeline's head tenderly. "Those were the sweetest words we had ever heard. Knowing you were safe was more than your dad and I could have ever hoped for. Then to top it off, we got to come here and be with you." Madeline did not reply, but Elizabeth knew how important it was for them to keep talking. For them to keep telling her how much they had missed her and how much life had changed by having her safe and with them once again. Life had come to a grinding halt the day Madeline was abducted. While some things had eventually begun to move forward, life had not truly resumed till they had seen her for the first time. The moment they had held her in their arms and felt her arms wrap around them.

"Madeline, I'd like to ask you a few questions if you are feeling up to it," Miller began, keeping a smile on her face. It had yet to leave her mind how young this girl was, and she wanted to do her best to make her feel safe. After everything Madeline had been through, she did not want to be one more obstacle the girl had to face to find her way back to a life that was somewhat normal. "Your mom and dad will be here the whole time, so at any point you don't want to talk anymore, you let them know, and we try again some other time, ok?"

When Miller didn't receive any feedback from Madeline, she turned towards Henry and Elizabeth, looking confirmation from the parents. "If at any point you both feel like this is too much on Madeline, please speak up. While I want answers, I'm not willing to obtain them at her cost."

There was a visible release of breath from Henry and Elizabeth at the Agent's words, and they nodded in appreciation, feeling even more comfortable with the woman. It was rare to see someone who held all aspects of their job just as important as the next. Miller cared about Madeline just as much as she cared about finding the perpetrator. It was a breath of fresh air.

"Thank you," Henry voiced as he relaxed and ran his hand through his hair.

"It's my job to put her first," Miller nodded and began to pull out her glasses.

"It doesn't have to be," Elizabeth interjected. "I know plenty of agents who don't exercise such integrity. So thank you, really."

Miller smiled at this, seeming almost unsure of how to handle the acknowledgment of her person and ethics. She had been doing this for so long she had become accustomed to no one giving a damn about her integrity. For her, it was a breath of fresh air as well. "Now, Madeline, I know you don't feel like talking too much, and that's completely understandable. I want do my best to make it so that you only have to nod or shake your head to answer. Do you think you can do that?"

Madeline looked at Miller unsure and then turned to Elizabeth, processing what had been said to her expressionlessly.

"Do you think you can do that, Peanut?" Elizabeth asked as she reached out slowly and twirled the ends of Madeline's hair around her finger. "I know it might seem scary, but I promise you are safe... Daddy and I won't let anything happen to you. Agent Miller only wants to help."

"You can call me Sarah. At least that's what my friends call me," Miller winked at Madeline, hoping the girl would be able to see her as a friend and not a foe. "So what do you say, Madeline? Want to give it a go?" Madeline looked down away from them both and sat unmoving. Eventually, and with apprehension, she nodded slowly. Though it was meager and given with hesitance, it was still something. "Great! Already off to an excellent start."

"I'd say so," Henry chuckled as he looked at Miller. "Most people don't even get a nod, but then again, most people don't get your first name either."

Miller chuckled at this as she put on her glasses, and readied her pen and notebook. "Madeline, do you remember where you were before you got brought to the hospital?"

Madeline's eyes glanced around at this, and she subconsciously moved away from her mother as the question brought many images to mind. She remembered, but she didn't want to remember. Living on eggshells around Evelyn had created a child who could feel many things and yet express nothing on the outside, so while Madeline did feel many things, her parents and Miller only saw emotionless eyes. "Madeline? Do you remember where you were?" The question came a second time, and this time, Madeline nodded slowly.

Elizabeth tried to keep control of her emotions as she saw Madeline nod in response. That had been the first time Madeline had even acknowledged where she had been, and she could not help the feelings that began to bubble. Subconsciously, she reached for Henry's hand.

"Good. That could be a big help Madeline," Miller replied calmly as she scribbled something into her book. "Do you know where that was?" After a few moments, Madeline shook her head. "That's alright, no worries. Madeline, was someone with you in this place you were at?"

At this, Madeline's grip tightened on her mother's scarf, and her breathing stopped momentarily. Nobody missed the reaction. "Just breathe sweetie," Elizabeth gently assured as she placed her hands next to Madeline so she could see she was there. When her hand entered Madeline's peripheral, she flinched, and her breathing quickened. "Everything is alright. It's just me, baby. You're safe."

Sarah Miller watched Madeline closely before she again wrote something down. While she had been unsure if Madeline would have the ability to further clarify her answer, she no longer had doubts. Someone had been with this young girl all these years, and she quaked at the thought of how cruel this person had been. "Why don't we take a break for just a few minutes," Miller suggested, hoping give Madeline some time to breathe.

"I think that's a good idea," Henry voiced as he nervously watched the pair on the bed.

Elizabeth gulped as she waited for Madeline to recognize her again. It did not matter how she repeatedly witnessed her daughter flinch at her movements, Elizabeth was unable to adjust herself to seeing it. To shrink away in fear as if she would expect her to cause her harm. She knew the reality of why, but it didn't stop it from hurting any less. "I'm here, Madeline...I'm right here," she whispered as she dared to put her hand closer. While Madeline didn't draw away this time, she didn't move closer either. Elizabeth could only imagine what her young brain was seeing. What her body must feel at even being asked to think about what she had been through. How could handle being forced to remember the person who had done this to her in the first place? "I would never hurt you, baby. Never."

It was such a small thing, but at her mother's words, Madeline extended her pinky and gently placed it over Elizabeth's. After a few seconds, her body began to relax, and her breathing slowed.

Elizabeth closed her eyes and sighed in relief at feeling the contact. Ground was given, and it was taken every day. She was thankful when it was won, even in the slightest of ways. She could remember the days of not even thinking about the possibility of losing the ability to hold her daughter and comfort her. She had taken that for granted. Here she was, rejoicing that she could at least feel her hand touching her own. It helped her gain perspective. Reactions like these made it painfully obvious just how much torment lived within each cell of Madeline's little body. No child should face what she faced, and yet there wasn't a thing they could do to change it. All they could do was be there and not falter.

Miller saw the moment begin to calm and decided to take another angle. "Madeline, honey? Can you tell me anything about this person? Was it a man?" Silence rang out. With no response given, Miller tried again. "Was it a woman?"

For Madeline, this question felt like a vortex. A vortex made up of one matter only. Evelyn. It pulled her in and spun her, dragging her further down as it did so. Glimpse after glimpse, flooded her brain without relenting. She would run from one and find herself directly thrown into another.

She didn't want to be here.

She began to shake her head, desperately trying to stop the images in her mind, but it wasn't stopping. Her ears were ringing, and her heart thumped loudly. So loudly-she wondered if anyone else could hear it.

Elizabeth and Henry watched in trepidation as they saw how quickly the calmness had shifted. It was a nightmare for them as well.

"What is it, baby?" Elizabeth asked, worry clouding her face as Madeline shook her head.

Madeline could not distinguish her mother's voice from what she was hearing in her head. All she could hear was Evelyn.

"What is it, Molly?"

Her hands shot to cover her ears.

"Madeline, honey," Elizabeth tried to get through to her. "Mommy's right here."

"NO!" Madeline yelled as she tucked her head between her knees. "Stop it!"

The second phrase came more muffled, yet they all heard it.

Silence filled the room as Elizabeth turned to look at her husband with watery eyes and tried to hold back her tears.

"I think that's enough," Henry stood as he looked at Agent Miller intensely.

Miller swallowed and looked away from the scene before her to meet Henry's eyes. "I understand...I didn't mean for this to happen. I was only trying hoping to narrow things down," she looked at him genuinely.

"It's your job. I understand," Henry answered as he shook his head. "I just don't think she is ready for this yet."

"I see that," Miller nodded. "I'm sorry...truly."

Henry nodded in acknowledgment and looked back towards his wife and daughter. He did not need her apology. What had happened wasn't her fault. It was no one's but the person who had done this to his child. "Listen, if Elizabeth and I can help, we will do whatever we can. For now though, Madeline needs us, and she needs time," he spoke blatantly and looked towards the door.

"Of course," Miller replied straight-faced, knowing it was time for her to leave. "I appreciate your time. I will contact you if we can get any pertinent information."

The parting was short as Sarah saw the parents needed to do what they could to undo the repercussions of the conversation. Handle the outcome, her questions had brought. She refused to stand in the way of that any longer than she needed to. She exited the room and left the building with one thought projecting in her mind.

She was going to find the son of a bitch who was responsible even if took the rest of her life. Madeline McCord deserved justice.


CHAPTER EIGHT at last! I hope you enjoyed it (my favorite part was the scene with Joe, god I love Joe) and found yourself ready to read the next chapter. Please review and let me know what you thought;)

-lovelylavenderlady