Save Me

A Game Of Doctor

Peter sat on the couch glaring at Fitz.

“You just don’t know when to stop, do you?”

“Peter,” his father sent him a disapproving look.

“She’s my daughter…”

“And yet that fact doesn’t seem to matter right now. You fucked up. Own up to it and then maybe she’ll have a rational conversation with you. You’re pushing her and the only place she’s going to end up is over the edge. Then you’ll lose her, forever.”

“There’s another problem we should address,” Bren said. “What’s going to happen if they follow her back to Sanford? The ghosts obviously aren’t a problem anymore but the Paramores are.”

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Peter muttered.

“It’s a free country,” Gwen said adding on, “unfortunately” when he shot her a look.

He looked at his father being completely serious. “Can’t we have them deported or something?”

“Unfortunately, no. They’re in the country legally. I checked.”

Damn. He was really hoping this would be simple. Instead it would be worse than Normandy. The fight was going to get ugly and more than likely it would not end well. Technically it wasn’t going good to begin with.

“So…what are we going to do? Because you know Darken isn’t going to leave her alone. In fact, I don’t think the damn ghost is going to leave her alone either.”

“Why can’t we banish him again?” Gwen asked.

“There’s a reason,” Bren said snagging her coffee. “Believe me there is a big reason.”

He knew more than he was letting on. It was happening more and more with him over the past couple of days, Peter noticed. It was like he was building up to a big vision or something and he wasn’t sharing. It had something to do with Cass, it had to. He wouldn’t be this nervous other wise.

“What are her odds?” Peter asked. “Let’s go with that.”

Carter looked hesitantly at Fitz for a second.

“They’re good. She has the financial support, she’s naturally independent…”

“How are you going to prove that?” Gwen asked.

“I’ve gathered character witnesses. Andy, for one, is lining up as is the music teacher from the school, Ms. Peyote…” Carter was looking at Fitz again. “You know the judge is going to want to hear from you. Your opinion will carry weight.”

“Why?” Peter asked rather bluntly. “Why would his opinion matter?”

“Because he’s her father. He is more than able to take care of her. Normally judges won’t grant emancipation to a minor if there is a parent who is willing and able to take the child in. There has to be a clear cut reason.”

“There is a solid reason. What happened to her the past two months…”

“Wasn’t his fault,” Carter said carefully. “It was Drake’s signature on the paperwork. And he did try everything to get her out.”

“But he didn’t.” Peter stood up and faced her father. “You didn’t get her out. You didn’t do everything. You were having problems with the restraining order…” Peter gestured at Carter. “Your best friend is a lawyer. When it comes to your children you should spare no expense but you took the easy way out just like she knew you would.”

“You have no right…”

Fitz was pissed but Peter didn’t care. Cass was right, he wanted to be a parent but he was treating her like an inconvenience. Peter couldn’t have that, not after everything she’d been through. And even before everything happened, Cass didn’t deserve Fitz’s hesitation or his inability to parent correctly.