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fifteen

TW: mentions of PTSD, murder, and suicide

Fifteen

"There's my favorite niece," Calum smiled as he entered the examination room where the family was waiting. Kemper giggled as Calum came in, "How are you sweet girl?"

"Good, how are you?" Kemper politely asked back as she sat on Luke's lap, playing with his bracelets.

"I'm good," Calum said, "are you ready to get your stitches out?"

"Yeah," Kemper nodded. "My tummy feels all better,"

"Good," Calum grinned. He did the normal check up, like vitals, weight, height, and breathingGetting the stitches out wasn't a problem, but then it came to the part he was dreading.

"I need to update her vaccinations," Calum told the couple. "Especially since you'll be signing her up for school,"

"Alright," Sierra nodded, dreading what was going to happen. They didn;t know how she would react, but they also just wanted to distract her enough to get the shot and get out.

"And then you get to go see Ashton," Calum smiled at the little girl. He went over to the drawers and started to get everything out for the three shots she was going to get. "Why don't you tell your mommy and daddy what you and Ashton are gonna talk about,"

"Uh," Kemper thought for a moment, staring at the ceiling, "maybe ice cream?" that made the three laugh.

"Just ice cream?" Luke asked.

"Well there are a lot of ice cream flavors," Kemper defended the statement.

"There are, what's your favorite?" Sierra asked.

"Chocolate,"

"Ok Kemper," Calum spoke up, "I want you to look at your mommy and hold her hand," Calum said and Kemper nodded, looking at Sierra and smiling innocently at her. Sierra smiled back, but knew that smiling face would turn into sobs very quickly. "You're going to feel a small pinch, on the count of three," Calum said. He counted to three and inserted the shot, making Kemper frown.

"Ow, that hurts," Kemper said, but surprisingly didn't cry.

"Only two more," Calum said. He quickly did the next, then the next, and Kemper didn't cry at all. "Great job, Kemper," Calum grinned.

"You're so brave," Luke told her and Kemper giggled.

"What did you do?" Kemper looked at Calum as he threw away the needles.

"I gave you three shots so you'll be healthy and strong," Calum told her.

"They didn't hurt," Kemper said.

"Because you're so brave," Sierra told her and she giggled. The three said their goodbyes to Calum, then went down the hall to Ashton's office. "Do you want to knock?" Sierra asked Kemper, who nodded and knocked on the door softly. The door opened a couple of seconds later and Ashton smiled when he saw the family.

"Hi Kemper, come on in," Ashton let the little girl in. "How about your mommy and daddy staying outside while we talk?" he suggested and Kemper looked at the couple worried.

"That's alright princess, go talk to Ashton," Luke told her. She nodded and the two went in and Kemper sat across from Ashton.

"Do you want m&m's?" Ashton asked and Kemper nodded. Ashton handed her the bag and Kemper thanked him, then began to eat. "How has it been living with Luke and Sierra?"

"Good, they want to adopt me,"

"Do you want to be adopted?"

"Yes," Kemper confirmed with a nod.

"Do you have any worries about living with them?" Ashton questioned.

"No," Kemper shook her head. "Not about living with them,"

"Are you worried about something else?" Ashton asked and Kemper nodded. "What about?"

"I keep thinking about my mommy and daddy,"

"Luke and Sierra?"

"No, my old mommy and daddy," Kemper explained, "I keep dreaming about them,"

"Why don't you tell me about it?" Ashton suggested.

"My daddy killed my mommy then he killed himself," Kemper told him as tears fell down her cheeks.
"I'm so sorry Kemper," Ashton apologized.

"I don't wanna keep thinking about it, but I do," Kemper's eyes welled up with tears.

"That's why we're talking Kemper," Ashton explained, "so I can help you feel better,"

"But I've never stopped thinking about it," Kemper wiped under her eyes.
"I can't make it perfectly better, but I can help you find ways to stop always thinking about it," Ashton tried to simplify therapy for her, "how does that sound?"

"Good," Kemper agreed.

"Alright, then let's set a goal," Ashton suggested, "how about we find a way to help you sleep better at night?"

"Ok," Kemper nodded. The two talked a little bit longer, Kemper talking about her sleeping issues and a little bit more about her old parents. The forty five minute session was up, so Ashton walked Kemper back to Luke and Sierra, who smiled when they saw her coming up.

"Good session?" Sierra asked as she picked up Kemper.

"Yeah, really good," Ashton smiled. "If her sleeping doesn't get better next week I might prescribe her some medication to help," he told the couple and they nodded.

"Thanks Ash," Luke smiled.

"Not a problem," Ashton smiled and looked at Kemper, "I'll see you next week,"

"Bye Ash," Kemper said.

"Bye Kemper," he waved as the three walked off.