Healing Hannah

Hannah was weakened, couldn't move. She had lost track of the weeks. These scumbags had only permitted her the very little water and bread to keep her alive. Where the hell were the authorities when they were needed?

She passed out from her state of weakness.

She woke days later in the ICU. A nurse sat by her side reading her a book.

"Water?" She pleaded. Making the nurse jump.

"Hold on a minute I need to get the doctor. She hurried off, then in came so many people. She was poked, prodded and asked lots of questions. Then after 2 hours she was gave some ice chips and jello.

Her statements helped the authorities bury the foster family. She found out a week later that she had been 1 of 6 kids held captive. The state had tracked down her grandparents and they were on their way.

Janis Fox was astonished by her middle granddaughter's condition. As an activist who raised money for youth in the system she was pissed. Her husband hadn't been able to leave with her as at last minute Hannah's father Tom was being released from prison after serving 3 years for theft.

"She needs to remain in the hospital a few more days. She is still in a weakened state." The doctor told her.

"And the other kids? How are their bills being covered?" She asked the doctor.

"The state is fighting to put together the funds Mrs. Fox. It's not looking good. Some of these kids are in worse shape than she is." He said.

"I work in an organization that has funding for these issues where is your billing department?" A hour later the kids were all covered and promised top notch care.

She then went and sat with Hannah. The child looked so much like Tom did. She took some photos and sent them to her husband who wanted pictures. She knew that the physical damage was just a scratch compared to the emotional damage.

After a week they released her granddaughter. She was still barely 95 pounds. But some good home cooking would fix that. She made sure to drive careful and make stops. Always stocking up on snacks and a milkshake. Hannah mostly slept and ate.

When they got home early the next morning after Tom had left for his therapy.

Danny her husband was out on the deck with a cup of coffee for her and a dessert cup filled with a chocolate shake for Hannah.

"Hello Hannah." He said then helped her out of the SUV.

"Is this where I am going to stay from now in?" She asked.

"Yes sweetheart. And your dad will be home this afternoon." Danny handed her the shake.

She was such a sweet child. Much unlike her dad who at 12 had been a troubled kid. He had chose the wrong kids as friends and never looked back.

As always his sweet wife read him like a book. "Maybe this is the wake up call needed." She mouthed to him.

"Let's go inside to see your room. It used to be your grandmother's sewing room." Danny said.

Hannah liked this place a lot. Her bedroom was a soft purple with white trim. Her grandmother said in a day or 2 they would take her shopping for clothes.

"I didn't know what to buy. Jan you never sent me the sizes." He showed Hannah how to work the tv.

"Well I will just grab a wardrobe worth of clothes. Hannah what colors do you like? Any particular style? Scents you like? Oh my this is like having a daughter again." She shed a few tears.

Hannah hugged her tight as she could. "Hold here gram I will put my likes on paper for you. As for sizes I guess these things are as close to actual size whatever they are. I hope I don't mess up and you guys don't like me." She wrote a few colors, scents and themes she liked.

Her grandmother looked at her writing. "Your not leaving this home where your loved. I see you like cats? We have 10 cats here they might come in and cuddle with you. Especially Mina and Smoke our youngest 2." Now I am going to go shop.

Hannah felt peaceful, something she hadn't felt in a long time. She wondered how these sweet people hadn't known about her before now. Her grandfather told her he would be in the living room and to feel free to roam around but warned her to be careful. She watched a movie and a gray cat with fur smooth as silk leaped up. As if the cat sensed she needed to be loved the cat curled up on her chest purring a storm and licking her face. Almost like they were called another 6 all came and she had 7 cats on a full sized bed giving her all kinds of love. She knew the breeds of some. There was a beautiful Bombay, a Maine Coon, a Russian Blue, a pair of calico's, a Persian and a duo of others. She wore herself out loving each one and her grandmother woke her later that afternoon.

"I see you met most of the pride." She stroked the Blue on her chest who immediately purred.

"That is Smoke our youngest and a love bug. I was shocked to see Patch and Sassy with you. Them 2 are sisters who mainly keep to themselves. Must of sensed that a new person needs healing. Animals pick up on that." She then showed Hannah the bags of things bought. She then was showed the bathroom.

"Can I shower before we eat. No matter how much I clean I feel filthy nana."

"Of course baby then come to the kitchen you can help me make dinner."

"Um what bathroom do I use?"

Her grandmother showed her the bathroom that adjoined both bedrooms. "If that's in use there is one across the hall too. The laundry goes in this basket and the kitchen is down the hall through the living room and your there.

She took a nice long shower. Maybe a bit too long as when she got out she fell. She took a minute to get herself on the edge of the tub to dry off then on shaky legs to the counter where her clothes were. She sat at her desk after checking that the bathroom looked alright. Getting her stability back from the shock of falling. Was this normal after her ordeal? She brushed her hair into a loose pony tail as a regular would make her head hurt more.

She took her time to the kitchen. The walls had pictures of the same 2 boys from birth until they had their own lives. The one that strongly resembled her turned into a tough looking man. Must be my dad. The other she assumed must be her uncle was a happy guy who married and had 2 kids older than her and 2 younger than her.

She silently went through the living room where her grandfather was talking to her dad. And into the kitchen to help her grandmother.

"Sit down honey. You look spent already is everything okay?" She was passed a cup of cold tea that tasted like peach.

"Bit of a tumble in the bathroom but I made out alright on my own. Didn't want to but anyone."

"How bad are you hurt. Dan get in here." Both her grandparents gave her a good look over.

Meanwhile tough looking didn't care. Only asked "what project is this one?"

Her grandfather took him by the collar and out the door where he yelled at him. Meanwhile her grandmother called her aunt who explained this was to be expected after such trauma.

Tom didn't understand why his dad was pissed. But one phrase was like getting hit by ice water.

"Your daughter Hannah."

The rest took him a bit to make sense. Apparently his parents had been reached out to after her last placement had held her and 6 others in coffins barely being fed. Hannah needed lots of help. When he heard the kids age he immediately knew who her mother was. A sweet lady who had tried to get him on the right road. Sarah Jolt a fiery red head with green eyes and a attitude to match her frock of red hair. He had bolted when he saw a box for pregnancy test. Now he needed to step up to the plate.

He asked his dad for a credit card. He was going to clean himself up and be more of a man. He then left in his dad's old farm truck.

Luckily he just had a few tattoos but all were tasteful and easy to hide. His hair needed to be cut and dyed and away with the tough guy clothes. Now it was time for adult clothes.

When he got home as they were sitting down to the meal he had on a pair of jeans and a plaid work shirt. His long rainbow hair now short and blond. He had ditched all his jewelry too. How was time to step up and be a man, worker, son father. All things his parents had wanted him to be for so long.