Father First| An Alan Rickman Story

Anything to Get a Laugh

     For a man who didn't enjoy using a mobile phone, Alan had spent an insane amount of time on his in the past few days. He hung it up for what seemed like the millionth time. He'd made an appointment to see Officer Bailey later in the evening. He wasn't sure if there was anything he could do to help, but he'd try.

     He had stepped out of Ashleigh's room to make the call because she was sleeping. He slowly, quietly opened the door and went back inside, returning to his chair. It had taken her a long time to truly fall asleep. She had been trapped in a cycle of dozing off and then jerking awake from a nightmare. Every time she closed her eyes, she relived the abuse. She was in physical and mental anguish.

     After maybe two hours of true sleep, she jolted awake again.

     "No, please no!" She cried. She was sweating and shivering.

      "Shhh... You're safe, Ash. It was just a dream." He squeezed her hand.  "Try to go back to sleep ok?"

     She was afraid to go back to sleep. "Can we turn on the television?"

     He agreed, turning on the television and slowly flipping the channels. Several channels in, he saw the familiar face of Daniel Radcliffe. He quickly skipped to the next channel. He could see the smile forming on her face.

     "Harry Potter! Go back to that!" She had the same mischievous grin that often crossed her father's face. "You know, you look a lot like the guy who places Professor Snape..."

     "You're very funny." He rolled his eyes.

     "Oh my gosh! You're really him! You're Alan Rickman! Will you sign my cast?" She started to laugh for the first time.  For a moment, she was relaxed and happy. He'd do anything to keep her laughing.

     He reached into his bag and dug around for a permanent marker. He pulled one out and scribbled on the cast on her arm Get well soon -Professor Snape. She was cackling at this point.

     "Don't you put that on eBay!" He winked.

     "No promises!" Her laughter was dying down. He could see the hurt in her eyes hiding behind the facade she was putting on.

     "I'm meeting with Officer Bailey this evening. He's very good! I think he will see the truth and help your mother."

     "I hope so..." she wasn't ready to talk more about anything that had happened. They sat in silence for a while just watching the commercials playing on the tv before she changed the subject again. Although she wanted to be distracted, she was truly interested in knowing about the woman in her father's life.

     "I have a question..."

     "Ask away." He could read her like a book, she was up to something.

     "When were you going to tell me about your girlfriend?"

     "Straight to the point huh?" He thought back to their last date and the way Ashleigh wished him luck. "You already knew, didn't you?"

     "For three months!! I've just been waiting and waiting for you to finally tell me."

     "Three months?! How'd you find out?"

     "I answered the phone when someone called to confirm your dinner reservations and flowers you had asked to be brought to the table." She smirked. "You must tell me about her!"

     "You are so sneaky. What do you want to know?"

     "Everything! What's her name? What's she like? Do you love her?"

     He chuckled, shaking his head. "So nosy! Her name is Emily. She is the other director for the play I've been working on. She's quite wonderful, very kind and selfless. As for love, we've only been together for a few months, but I think I could love her."

     Ashleigh was grinning from ear to ear, "Good! You deserve the best love, Dad! I would really like to meet her. I know she's been staying here to keep you company and she sent me balloons. I'd like to thank her."

     "She's told me she will bring us some dinner after I return from meeting with Officer Bailey. She's ordered your favorite pasta and was just going to have me come get it. I'm sure she'd be happy to bring it to your room and have dinner with us." He thought he would be nervous to have them meet, but instead, he was truly excited. He'd dated over the years, but he'd always put up a wall of protection for his daughter and wouldn't allow them in her life. He didn't want her to get attached to someone and then the relationship end.  If there was ever a woman to break that wall down, it was Emily.

     "Perfect! I'm so excited to meet her!"

     "I think you two will get along very well!" He glanced up at the clock on the wall. 4:00. He'd need to be at the police station across the street in fifteen minutes.

     "My meeting with Officer Bailey is in just a few minutes. I need to head that way. One of your nurses will come stay with you while I'm away. I'll try to be quick." He knew he needed to do this, but he also knew how much his traumatized daughter needed him. He hugged her and kissed her forehead, "try to get some rest while I'm gone."

     "Good luck, Daddy!" She called as he left the room.

     He made it to the parking lot before he was stopped in his tracks. There was a reporter and a camera crew in the middle of the parking lot. They were calling his name beckoning him over.

     He beelined to them, absolutely furious. "It's completely unacceptable for you to be here. I'm here on private matters that I have no obligation to discuss with anyone. Leave. If you post the name of this hospital anywhere, you will hear from my lawyer immediately." He stomped to his car and sped across the street, cursing that television crew the entire way.

     When he arrived at the police station, he was taken to Officer Bailey's office to wait. He sat down at the desk and immediately noticed the ripped up stack of paper sitting in front of him. He recognized the handwriting immediately. He didn't even have to see the name penned across the top, Ashleigh Rickman. He had just pulled the papers towards himself to read them when the door opened behind him.

     "Good evening Mr. Rickman." Officer Bailey sat down opposite of Alan. "What is it that you wanted to see me about?"