A/N 1: This chapter contains mentions of bullying.

Chapter 5: Hiding your Troubles

Author: zeusfluff.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Blue Blood's characters. They belong to CBS. I do own all originals though. Date Started: 10/9/24. Date Finished: 10/10/24. Enjoy!

Cora did her best to hide her tears as she got off the school bus. Her backpack was ruined. Someone had written ACAB in permanent marker all over her backpack. She sniffled and pulled her house key out, inserting it into the lock and turning it to unlock the door. She sniffled some more as she entered the house and closed the front door, relocking it. Looking up, she hadn't expected to see her dad sitting on the couch reading on his laptop.

"Hey ladybug. How was your day?"

Cora tried her best to hide her tears, but she couldn't, and Jamie's eyes fell on her backpack. He motioned for her to sit on the couch next to him.

"Someone broke into my locker and stole my backpack. Another student turned my backpack into the front office."

Sitting down, Cora couldn't hold her tears back anymore. At first, Jamie had no words, he just pulled Cora into a hug and rocked her. He wished he could keep her home and protect her from all the bad stuff in the world. But he also knew had to let her grow up too. It was a tug of war between keeping her a little girl in his mind forever and letting her be an individual. Cora looked up at Jamie with red and puffy eyes from crying. He sighed and looked her straight in the eye.

"Did you tell a teacher what happened? Have you talked to the principal?"

Cora got a horrified look on her face.

"Tell the principal? Become a narc? No way!"

Jamie let go of Cora and looked at her carefully.

"Are you sure nothing else happened?"

Cora sat stiff as a board. She clammed up real quick.

She didn't want to tell her dad about the girl in the bathroom at school that tried to choke her. She nervously tugged at the turtleneck she was wearing. She let out a breath and pulled down her turtleneck slightly so Jamie could see.

"Ok. I was in the girl's bathroom at school. I went to wash my face because I was crying. A girl named Leslie Marcson jumped me from behind and tried to choke me."

Jamie winced and shook his head.

"Does this hurt?"

Cora nodded and tried to hide her tears once more.

"A little. Daddy, please don't say anything."

Jamie shook his head and looked Cora in the eye.

"I have to say something to your mom. That girl hurt you. Bullying is not acceptable. What that girl did to you was assault. You shouldn't have to be afraid to go to school."

Cora nodded but she felt so lost.

"I don't know what to do daddy."

Jamie was about to open his mouth and say something when Patrick burst through the door.

"Hi dad!"

Clearing his throat, Jamie smiled at Patrick.

"Hey bud. Could you and your sisters go upstairs and get started on your homework please?"

Patrick groaned and rolled his eyes.

"Dad! Can't I play some Minecraft instead?"

Jamie shook his head and pointed at the staircase.

"Not until you finish your homework, and we've had dinner. Go bud."

Patrick let out another long groan and stomped off up the stairs. Maisie, Keena and Kaitlyn all ran into the living room. All three spoke in unison.

"Daddy!"

Jamie kissed each of them on the forehead.

"Ok girls, time to go upstairs and start on your spelling. Daddy is going to start dinner."

All three girls nodded but asked a question.

"Ok daddy, but can we play tea party later?"

Jamie smiled and nodded.

"We'll see. Go on. Get started on your homework.

Three sets of feet went scurrying up the stairs and the doors closed. Jamie then turned his attention back to Cora who was drying her eyes.

"Come on ladybug, how about we go into the bathroom and get a better look at those bruises."

Jamie led Cora into the downstairs bathroom and turned the light on. He reached for the first aid kit under the sink and set it on the counter. Cora sat down on the closed lid of the toilet and shook her head.

"It's my fault this happened."

Jamie shook his head no at Cora and took a cotton ball, pouring a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol onto it, cleaning up the tiny scratch. Cora winced. He started his conversation.

"None of this is your fault honey. Look, I don't know what's going on in those kids' heads. Why one would write ACAB on your locker or the one who wrote that all over your backpack. Or the girl who jumped you in the bathroom. They all are going through something. I don't pretend to know what. I'm going to have a talk with your mom tonight. If you would rather stay home from school tomorrow, you can."

Cora nodded but then got a confused look on her face.

"But you and mama always taught us to stand up for ourselves."

Jamie nodded and placed a Band-Aid over the small cut on her neck.

"We did. But there are times when things become dangerous, and you need to tell an adult and get them involved. I don't want to see you get hurt even more."

Cora still felt lost, but talking with her dad made her feel somewhat better.

"I saw the bruises on her neck Jamie. What happened?"

Jamie knew when Eddie was in panic mode, she would eventually fly off the handle.

"A girl jumped her in the bathroom at school. Started choking her. Cora managed to get away before she could lose consciousness. I think it's time we pulled her out of that school and send her to Sacred Heart."

Eddie got up from the bed and began to pace the length of the bedroom.

"Jamie, we taught our kids to stand up for themselves."

Jamie nodded and took her hand to stop her from pacing.

"Yes we did babe. But as I told Cora, sometimes when a problem cannot be solved without the help of others, tell an adult. Bullying is unacceptable. At any age."

Eddie nodded and folded into Jamie's embrace. She loved being in his arms. Sometimes she never wanted to leave them. She felt one of his hands land on the slight bump that was beginning to appear under her shirt.

"Mmm. I've missed this."

Jamie placed a kiss to the back of Eddie's neck.

"You and I sharing a moment holding one another?"

Eddie nodded and leaned into Jamie.

"With us being so busy with the kids, we don't get much us time anymore. Do you want a boy or a girl?"

Jamie smiled and kept his hand over the slight baby bump.

"Doesn't matter to me. As long as their healthy."

Eddie kept leaning into Jamie's embrace.

"I'll have a talk with Cora's principal on Monday see what steps will be taken next for the girl that assaulted her. It's unacceptable. If nothing is done, we'll send her to Sacred Heart."

Jamie nodded and pulled Eddie towards their bed.

"Let's talk more about this tomorrow. You and I have a rare day off together, the kids will be in school…"

Eddie giggled and buried her face in Jamie's neck.

"I like where you're going with this conversation bub…"

Jamie turned the lights out and the couple pulled the covers over them and snuggled.

To Be Continued…

A/N 2: So, what'd you guys think?