Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

SEATTLE WASHINGTON,

August 20th 2013
FIVE YEARS AGO,

In the quiet predawn hours, Victoria Hughes is roused from slumber by the intrusive ring of her phone. Disoriented, she checks the time – a stark 3:00 AM. She wearily reaches for her phone, its screen bearing an unfamiliar Chicago area code. Instantly alert, she answers, her voice still thick with sleep.

"Hello?" She mumbles, her voice a drowsy echo in the dark room.

"Is this Victoria Hughes?" Inquires a voice on the other end.

"Yes, this is she... Who is this?" Vic responds, her eyes adjusting to the dim light as she fumbles for the bedside lamp.

"I'm Dr. Will Halstead, calling from Gaffney Medical Center in Chicago. Your sister and mother were in a serious car accident," states the doctor, his tone filled with urgency.

Concern grips Vic as she listens intently. "What happened?"

"Your sister sustained a concussion, a Fractured arm, and a Fractured leg. What's even more concerning is that the injuries show signs of not having healed properly before. Additionally, she's exhibiting signs of severe neglect..." Dr. Halstead's voice trails off.

"N-neglect?" Vic stammers, disbelief evident in her tone.

"Indeed," the doctor confirms, his voice compassionate. "We need to discuss the next steps and your sister's care."

Overwhelmed by the news, Vic struggles to process the information. The gravity of responsibility settles upon her shoulders as she realizes the situation's severity. The room seems to constrict around her, stifling her emotions – concern, shock, and an overwhelming desire to take action.

As dawn approaches, Vic’s world oscillates between darkness and the impending light of a new day, mirroring the challenges she must confront ahead.

In the wake of the phone call, Vic abruptly ends it, her phone slipping from her trembling hand. She unleashes a furious yell, the sound resonating in her room, a release of pent-up frustration and fear. In her rage, she knocks a cup off her nightstand, its clattering noise punctuating the tense moment.

Within the span of a heartbeat, she pivots from her outburst, determination replacing anger. Without hesitation, she lunges towards her computer, her fingers darting swiftly across the keyboard. Her mission is clear: she must be with her sister and verify the troubling claims of neglect and abuse.

With a few rapid clicks, Vic secures plane tickets to Chicago, her fingers moving with a sense of urgency. The screen displays a confirmation, sealing her commitment to this unexpected journey.

As she sits there, staring at the confirmation, her mind races. She knows this won't be easy, and the road ahead is uncertain. But she is resolute in her determination to not only care for her little sister, Theodora, affectionately known as Theo but also to ensure her safety and well-being.

The hours pass, but there's no time to waste. Vic prepares for her journey, packing her bags with a mixture of determination and trepidation. She knows the unknown awaits her in Chicago, but she's ready to face it head-on, armed with love for her sister and the fierce resolve to protect her.

Chicago, Illinois

August 20th 2013

Vic arrives in Chicago with a heavy heart, her mind racing with worry for her sister Theo, and seething anger towards her parents who've consistently prioritized their restaurant over their family. The airport terminal blurs as she rushes to collect her luggage and notifies her stage manager, urgently explaining the family emergency that has forced her to abandon her upcoming shows. She insists they use her understudy and promises to make it up once she has her sister safe and sound.

Her heart pounding, Vic heads straight for Gaffney Medical Center, her mind swirling with dread. As she arrives, her footsteps echo through the sterile hospital corridor. She approaches the front desk with an anxious look.

"I'm Victoria Hughes," she informs the receptionist. "I'm here for my sister, Theodora Hughes. She was in a car accident."

The receptionist quickly checks her in and directs her to the room where her sister is receiving care. She finds Dr. Will Halstead, the man who had delivered the alarming news over the phone. He offers a somber smile as she enters the room, his words measured.

"Victoria, please, call me Will."

"Then please call me vic," she nods, then shifts uncomfortably before whispering, "victoria reminds me of my parents..."

Unable to contain her anxiety any longer, she blurts out, "How's Theo? Is she going to be okay?"

Will takes a deep breath, his face etched with concern. "Theo has been through a lot. She's stable for now, but her injuries are quite serious. We've called in the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) due to the nature of her injuries and the signs of neglect we've observed."

Vic clenches her fists, her anger boiling over. "Neglect? I knew my parents were careless, but this..."

Will places a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Vic, I strongly advise you to consider gaining full custody of Theo. The injuries she's sustained, along with the previous untreated injuries, demand proper care and love. You're the best person to provide that for her."

Tears well up in Vic’s eyes as she gazes at her sister, hooked up to monitors and bandages. She thinks of all the times she's had to protect Theo, all the times they've comforted each other when their parents were absent. It's a painful decision, but she knows what she has to do.

With a determined nod, she turns to Will. "Tell me what I need to do. I'll do whatever it takes to keep Theo safe and give her the love she deserves."

Chapter Text

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

GAFFNEY CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER

August 22nd, 2013

Theo blinked her eyes open slowly, groggy and disoriented. She struggled to focus on the person beside her. "Vic?" she whispered, wincing not just from her parched throat but also from the harsh, blinding hospital lights. She knew she was in the hospital, but the reasons remained shrouded in mystery. A barrage of questions tumbled from her lips, "What happened? Where's our mother? Where am I?"

Without hesitation, Vic jumped up to give her sister a sip of water, dimmed the lights, and pressed the call button to summon a doctor. Theo noticed the relief in her sister's eyes, but the reason for it eluded her. "It's okay, Theo, you're safe now... I'm here," Vic reassured her, holding her hand. Just then, the door swung open, revealing a red-haired doctor with a friendly smile.

"Hi, Theo, I'm Dr. Will Halstead. You're at Gaffney Medical Center. You were in a car accident with your mother. We had to call your next of kin since your mother was unconscious, and your father was unreachable. You've been through a lot in the past seven years, haven't you, Theo?" Will asked, his concern evident.

Still in shock from all that had happened since waking up, Theo blinked blearily at him. "You've experienced a grade two concussion, a hairline fracture of the fibula, and a buckle fracture of your arm. I know this might sound scary, Theo, but I promise you, me and my colleagues here in Chicago are some of the best, and we can patch you up just fine."

"I'm not scared... I just... I want to go home, Vic," Theo whispered, her voice trembling with anxiety.

Vic looked up from her spot sitting beside Theo's bed, shooting an uneasy look at Will. "Theo, I know you want to go home, but I promise you need to heal all your injuries first before you can leave. Doesn't that sound nice?"

Theo lifted her head, her eyes filled with shock. "I've never had to wait for my injuries to heal before leaving somewhere. Why can't I leave now? Why is this time different? Why can't I see Mom or Dad, Vic?"

"Why don't we focus on you first, Theo, and then we can follow up on your mom and dad, okay kiddo?" Dr. Halstead stated, his gaze shifting between Theo and Vic.

"Dr. Halstead, can I speak to you privately for a minute?" Vic asked, her worry for Theo evident.

"Yes, of course, Victoria. Follow me," Dr. Halstead replied as they stepped outside Theo's room. Vic clenched her fists, a mix of frustration and worry bubbling within her. She was deeply troubled by Theo's reaction to the news of their mother being in the hospital.

"Why is she asking for our mother? The same woman who's hurt and neglected her... Why?" Vic's voice trembled with anger and confusion.

"The same woman who told me that if she had found out about Theo sooner, she would've gotten an abortion... Why... why..." Vic whispered angrily, her emotions overwhelming her as Will touched her shoulder, offering comfort. She broke down, tears streaming down her face.

“In a world where victims of abuse, especially children, grow up in a cycle of pain and cruelty, their understanding of love becomes deeply skewed. For them, love is often intertwined with abuse because that's all they've ever experienced. They don't recognize the wrongness of their abuser's actions, nor do they comprehend the harm inflicted upon them.”

”Theo, despite being a bright and intelligent child, is no exception. She is still just a child, compelled by her innate survival instincts to seek approval and appease her abusers, who happen to be your parents, Vic," Will explained gently, his eyes filled with empathy as he looked around at the weight of the situation. He held Vic close as she wept, knowing that her journey towards healing was a long and difficult one.

"But when you gain custody, you'll show her it's okay to be herself, it's okay to ask for help, and, most of all, you'll show her love and kindness—something she's rarely experienced based on what she explained earlier. You love Theo, full stop. That's the job of being an older sibling. I know it feels like the world is against you right now, but right now, that little girl needs you. She needs her big sister, Vic, to be there for her, to show her love, and to protect her."

As Will's words sank in, Vic knew she had to be strong, not just for Theo but for herself as well. The thought of her little sister being so used to the abuse that she still asked for their mother haunted her and filled her with shame for leaving when her sister needed her more than her dreams of becoming a broadway star. With determination, and with the help of Will and the lawyers at Gaffney, Vic began the process of gaining custody of Theo.