[For Savannah, William, Sam] Jan. 22: cradles and rocking chairs beneath the light

[girlsolo]

After leaving Sam at breakfast, Kate takes an extra few minutes to pull her shit together before heading in to the Children's Office. William doesn't know yet, and he shouldn't find out from her. That means she can't be weird and hover and hug him too much, because he's damned smart.

She stops in the women's bathroom to wash her face and take a breath. In the mirror, she checks her everything's fine mask. Yeah, that's a lie she can still tell. Except the hints of bruising under her eye and on her jaw, there's nothing to say it's been a hell of a seven days.

Because everything's fine means quick-moving no time for doing it the right way, she lifts her shirt and dries her face on it. Selling a story is about the little details. William won't notice and she doesn't much need to sell Savannah. It'll just be easier if it's not written all over her how much it's fucking with her.

Probably doesn't help she's barely seen Declan since he brought Joan and Emily by on the way to the clinic. Days later, she's cooled down enough to accept that she asked him to do something he just couldn't and she loves him for it. But it's a fucking mess of an impasse because him being like that makes her feel weak and vulnerable when she needs to feel strong.

Whatever. She'll deal with Declan later. Tomorrow. Maybe tonight. If he can just leave like Sam's husband... She bares her teeth at herself in the mirror. Pull it together, Freelander.

A few minutes later, she's walking into the Children's Office. Each kid that looks up gets a smile and she tips her chin to Savannah when she gets near her. "Hey. Sorry I'm a little late. Something important came up. Will the kids be okay if we step into the hall for a few minutes?" She doesn't want to talk about Jack where any of them can overhear.

*
Title lyrics from Kings of Leon, "Frontier City".

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[seeyousoonthen]

Savannah looked at her with those wide blue eyes that seemed so innocent and were yet somehow piercing. It was like she looked right into Kate and she nodded.

"Yeah, for just a minute," she said. All the babies were secure in their cribs and the little ones were involved in free play. And if anyone started screaming they'd just be on the other side of the door.

Savannah stepped out and blinked once.

"Looks like it must have been something big. Are you okay, Kate, honey?"

[seeyousoonthen]

The day was uneventful. All the babies were fed and rocked and changed, all the big kids played and crafted and ate and napped. Savannah saw the inherent value in routine. It had been crucial in Alan's daily life and she had had it drilled into her in school just how important routine was. The kids here didn't have special needs but Savannah saw the need for it. Something stable and predictable in a place that could be terribly cruel and strange and hard for a little mind to process.

At the end of the day the only one left was William. That meant he got the attention of two young women, both of whom had only his best interest at heart.

"We can have some free time," she announced happily. "It's just you, William. Miss Kate an I will play with you if you choose something, or you can do more art. What is your choice?"

He was only two but she knew he understood the concepts of play, craft, and choice. He was a bright little boy.