| Cody |

"So, Cody. Tell me why you're here."

I look at the 'qualified therapist' in front of me, a look of indignation crosses my face. Surely she should know why I'm here. I take my time observing her, as she studies me. Any other time I'd feel defensive but right now I'm pissed. I notice her two-piece pants suit, her jacket still buttoned up although she's seated. Her white blouse buttoned to the third button from the top, not in contrast to her black suit. She looks overly formal, overly expensive. She peers at me over the brim of her glasses, an eyebrow raised as she awaits my answer.

"My mom made me." Is my answer, and I watch as she scribbles down in her leatherbacked notepad. I know my mom sent me here to get help, to be open and talk about everything, but I still can't help but be defensive with my answers. I don't trust a lot of people, this woman included. Just because my mom is paying her to listen to my problems, doesn't mean she cares. As far as I'm concerned - I'm just a paycheck to her.

"Why are you really here, Cody?"

Great, she's one of those types. You know, when you answer her and she asks what that means to you, even though you don't have a fucking clue.

I inhale sharply as I close my eyes momentarily, before I exhale. I open my eyes, looking to the ceiling, then to the bookcase which is filled with psychology books, and books on mental health. I see her diplomas hanging proudly on her wall behind her desk, void of any personal items, not even a single framed photograph to be seen.

"I guess," I start before I pause, not really sure how much I feel comfortable divulging to this stranger. "It's because of my past. My nightmares, flashbacks, drinking, stuff like that." I stop myself when I realize I've basically told her everything, even if it is vague.

"What do you mean by 'stuff like that'? Is there anything else you're doing that you shouldn't be?"

"Depends who you ask, and their definition of 'shouldn't be'." I answer, not taking my eyes off of the therapist, silently challenging her and I'm surprised when I see her smirk.

"Let's start from the beginning, shall we?"

We do. Once I begin to open up to her, I cant stop the dam. My brain screaming at me to stop talking, to stop sharing facts about myself, about my family and about my past, to this woman that I don't even know. I don't even realize I'm crying until she pushes a box of tissues towards me from her end of the small coffee table. I didn't want to cry, knowing my mom is waiting outside and knowing the first thing she'll ask me is if I'm okay.

"Okay, I can see that this has obvious taken it's toll on you. I can also see you're extremely anxious-"

"What? How?" I cut her off, feeling defensive once again.

"Your leg hasn't stopped bouncing since you started telling me why you're here. You're refusing to hold eye contact, you continue to look at the door and the clock on the wall. You're scratching your hand, I can see you've broken the skin." She lists, ending by motioning to my hand and I look down to see that she's right, and I hadn't even noticed.

"Oh."

"About the drinking. How often is it? And please remember, I'm not here to judge you."

"It was everyday"

"Was?" She asks, sounding skeptical. So much for no judgement.

"Yes, was. My friend caught me, and as part of a deal I promised not to drink if she didn't tell my mom...but she found out anyway after I got hurt in my State game." I answer honestly, and she nods along.

"When was the last time you had a drink?" She asks me and I take a moment to think about it.

"Probably about 8 days."

"Why 'probably'?"

"I uh...haven't really been sleeping so everything is starting to kinda melt together into one long ass day." I answer, biting my lip because I know what her next question will be.

"Why have you not been sleeping?" I knew it. I decide to answer her fully, not wanting her to ask me any questions.

"I've been having nightmares, about my past, and my present. I guess I feel like I don't deserve the people in my life?" I start, and she nods, motioning for me to continue so I do. "When I'm with my mom, they stop and I don't feel the need to drink or anything else to dull the pain and the reminders I get from my childhood. I can't be with her all the time though, so when I'm not with her, the nightmares come back tenfold and I wake up sweating, even vomiting. But if it's okay I don't want to talk about what happens in my dreams right now." I finish, biting my lip, hoping I've not upset her.

"That's okay, but we will have to talk about it in a later session. There's just one thing I want to know before this session ends." She begins and I watch in anticipation as I can't wait to get out of here. "You continually mention 'drinking and other stuff', Cody what is other stuff?"

I look away from the woman that I'm slowly beginning to trust with my issues, I look down at my feet as I begin to feel ashamed of my actions, and my loud mouth for letting something so simple slip. I decide to be mature, knowing I'll never get better if I'm not completely honest.

"I uh...cut myself, just one night, but I've been using painkillers." I finish, still not looking at the therapist as I hear her write in her notepad once again.

| Alex |

It's been about an hour since Cody went into the office to talk with Dr. Morris. She is one of the most respected doctors to treat teens and young adults, therefore I know that my daughter is in good hands, so long as she takes this seriously and lets the doctor help her. I'm not sure she is being mature about this but I hope for her sake that she is.

As her mother, it kills me to know that I can't help her through this alone, knowing that she's been put through hell by those monsters that 'raised' her. I wish this had been different, I wish she was never taken so that I could have raised her, so that I could have given her the life I wanted to give her - the life that she deserved. If I had that chance I know we definitely wouldn't be here right now.

However, life isn't that straightforward. Life isn't easy, and as much as we wish it did, it doesn't come with an instruction manual. We, as humans, and as parents, have to figure this out as we go, and I'm extremely late to the game having missed out on so much of my daughter's life already but I'll be damned if I miss out on anymore. I'll be here when she needs me, and I'll make sure that she knows that.

I'm so lost in my thoughts that I don't hear Dr. Morris' door open, and I don't notice Cody standing in front of me until she snaps her fingers in my face, making me jump. I look up at my daughters face and immediately notice her bloodshot eyes and I stand, pulling her in for a tight hug, refusing to let her go and I feel her melt into my embrace as she wraps her arms around my waist.

"Are you okay, baby girl?" I ask her, still not letting her go, and I hear a muffled 'no' in reply, as she buries her face in my chest. I look up to see her doctor standing by her door, observing us, and I return the nod and small smile she sends my way before I release my daughter, and I take her hand as I lead her outside.

"Let's get some lunch before we go home, okay?" I ask her, she doesn't speak but she nods in answer.

After we grab some food, Cody decided she wanted pizza - I was just happy she was finally speaking, I took her to the beach. I figured she needed some quiet time away from the chaotic house that we share with Jack, Hope and some of my teammates.

"Thanks mom." I hear the small voice of my daughter, and I look at her as she sits beside me, knees up to her chest as she hugs her legs. She doesn't take her eyes off of the sea, and I admire her profile, only now noticing how much she looks like me, from her jawline, to her eyes, her hair color and even her nose, and I bask in the warmth of knowing she is my daughter and I love her so much.

"Thanks for what, baby?" I ask and she finally looks at me.

"For forcing me to speak to a doctor." She begins. "I didn't want to but I'm glad I did. It brought up a lot of shit for me-"

"Language." I interrupt her, to which she just scoffs and rolls her eyes, making me chuckle before she continues.

"-but it was also...um...a relief? I didn't even notice that I had so much on my chest that I needed to get off, so thank you mom." She hugs me tightly as she finishes, and I can't help but smile into the hug.

____________

| Jack |

It's been a few hours since Cody and Alex got back from the therapist's office. I have no idea what they spoke about, and I'm not about to ask. I'm just happy that I can see glimpses of my old Cody coming back through, and after only one session. I just hope that she continues to seek help, because it's already starting to work.

Right now, Cody, Tobin, Ashlyn, Kling, Ellie and I are in the sitting room. Tobin hooked up her Switch to the flat screen and we're taking turns racing each other, apparently I suck at this game - much to my best friends amusement, the asshole. Anyway, it's the final and it's Tobin vs Cody. The fact that Tobin is in the final isn't a huge surprise, she's freakishly good at Mario Kart, I'm partial to believing Allie when she says that Tobin cheats, but I wouldn't say that to the #17 player.

It's getting intense as Cody and Tobin are about halfway into the final lap of the race when Ellie whispers in my ear from her spot next to me on the floor.

"Can I talk to you, Jack?"

I look away from the screen to look into her eyes, I see that she's obviously nervous which just confuses me, but I nod and we both stand to leave the room.

"Oh fuck you! You cheated!" I laugh as I hear my friend voice my own thoughts on Tobin and her inhuman skills.

"I didn't cheat, I'm just better than you, Mini Morgan."

I look back when I hear a scuffle start, and I don't even try to stop the laughter leaving my lips as I see Cody and Tobin wrestling on the floor, watching as Alex steps into the room, interrupting them.

"I have two children..." Is all she says before she pivots and leaves the room, shouting over her shoulder that dinner is almost ready.

I turn around, and walk up the stairs with Ellie as we enter the bedroom she's using while she's here. It didn't make any sense for her to rent a hotel room when there's plenty of rooms here. I close the door behind me before looking at the Aussie, noticing that she has become even more nervous since we stepping into the room.

"Are you okay, Ellie?"

"I have something I want to say..."