Aaron Warner Short Fanfics

Aaron Warner is a dentist but his daughter hides her toothache pain-Part 2

Aaron Warner's POV
I watched my daughter sit on her bed hesitantly as we enter her room. I could tell immediately that she was beyond nervous. I wanted to comfort her but i didn't want to scare her or her push me away. Carefully, I sit beside her on her bed, watching her knee bounce up and down anxiously. She got this habit from me. I place my hand on her knee soothingly," Shh, sweetheart. It's okay, Leila. Take your time..." Leila, my daughter, nods slowly and take a deep breath. When suddenly, my daughter's toothache pain begins again. (He didn't know this yet though) A grimace comes across my daughter's features but she quickly tries to conceal it. But as I've been a dentist for years, I know the signs of discomfort and nervousness or pain. I was confused and worried. Had she had a problem with her teeth and hid it from me? Is that why she's been taking Tylenol? I say, firmly, but softly," Leila. Tell me the real reason you've been taking Tylenol..." She sighs and confirms my suspicions," I- yes.. it's because of a toothache...." My jaw dropped in shock, my expression softening," Leils- why didn't you tell me, baby....." I brought back her nickname I used to call her. Leils. She responds," I'm sorry daddy...." I sigh," It's okay, sweetheart. I know you were just scared because I'm a dentist...but sweetheart, I'd never hurt you. You know that... you will never get over your fear if you don't trust me and tell me things...." She says back, the fear visible in her voice," I don't want to dad.." I sighed. I didn't want my daughter to push me away or feel scared of me. He didn't want her to hate him for it. My daughter looks at me as I think about it. She asks," Dad? What are you thinking about?" I answer, honestly," Thinking about your toothache, Leila. And how's it's been hurting you for a while. I just want to help you, sweetheart..." She shakes her head and looks at me," No. Tylenol helps, Daddy I'll be fine.." I speak with a firmer tone," No, love. It isn't a long term solution. You can't keep taking painkillers. What I need to do is examine your teeth and see what's causing you pain..." She scoots away from me on the bed," No, dad. Anything else but that..." I tried to comfort her,"Sweetheart," he says gently, his voice soft yet firm."I know you're afraid, but we need to find out what's causing the pain. Taking more Tylenol is not going to fix the problem. You have to trust me, sweetheart. I won't hurt you, I promise." She looks at me fearfully," Daddy, no...." I sigh, wanting her to listen to what I'm saying. I say, sweetly," Sweetheart-" Leila interrupts me," I want mom.." I say, "Mom isn't here right now, love. She's downstairs.. but you have me.." She responds, not truly meaning what she says," I don't want you. I want mama." Her comment stings and I try to not let it show that it hurt me. But I think it's visible to her that it did. I sigh, running a hand over my hair. My dentistry background has always caused this barrier between me and my daughter.
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Leila's POV
The part my father wasn't understanding is that I wanted my father to act like my father before a dentist. I wanted to be comforted and held like it was going to be okay. It might be childish but it was what I wanted. I think he realizes this because he asks me," Leila.. let me hold you, love.." I let him hold me and I lean my face into his chest, engulfing his cologne. The smell soothed me a bit as he ran his hands across my hair. I break down in my fathers arms and sputter out, tears staining his shirt, but he didn't care," I'm sorry, daddy... I'm so selfish... you just want to care for me... and I lie to you and push you away..."  I ask," Daddy.. I want to see underneath your bandages." He sighs but asks if I'm sure. I nod. He shows me one. I say, covering my mouth," Oh... daddy... why would you do that though.... I never want to see that again..." My father promised he will never do it again. I say," But I was the one that hurt you emotionally daddy...." He answers," You didn't mean to, love. But yes. But that doesn't mean it's your fault.." I shift on the bed and ask my father," Are you depressed, Dad?" His hand rubs across his hair,"Yes, sweetheart, I am. I guess I've been struggling with depression for a while now. It's not something I've talked about much, but it's been a difficult battle." I apologize that it's been so hard for you. I ask Aaron," Promise you'll never leave me?" He nods," I promise, baby girl... I love you more than anything in this world.." I laugh, trying to lighten the mood," Even mom?" My father smiles," Well.. don't tell your mother but yes. I might love you just a tiny bit more than your mother.." I smile. He says," Now, Leila, I know you are scared but let's go to Daddy's room now okay? So we can look at that mouth of yours..." I swallow, scared still. My father automatically senses my nervousness and gently takes my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze, as he says," "Don't worry, sweetheart, I just need to take a quick look inside your mouth, okay? It won't take long, and I'll be gentle. Can you do that for me?" Slowly, I nod. We walk towards his and mom'a bedroom. He kisses my head affectionately for comfort as he instructs me to sit on the bed. He says," I'm going to get some supplies, Leils. I'll be back.." Aaron Warner, my father, goes into the bathroom looking through his dentist cabinets. He finds what he needs and comes back. He has gauze pads in his hand but he sees my confused face and he says," That's for me.. I will call your mom in here for a second so she can change them for me... after I attend to you." I scowl," No, I want mom to do them for you now." My father says, "Your well being goes before my own, Princess.." I yell for mom since Aaron wants to be stubborn. My mother, Juliette, comes in their bedroom and says," What's going on?" I say," Dad won't let you gauze him up.." Her husband smiles at her," Love-" She interrupts him, sitting beside him and me on the bed," Give me your wrists.." He does reluctantly. She says," I'm going to remove the bandages now.."Aaron nods and lets his wife remove them. He winces slightly in pain the the removal but I'm by his side, comforting him," It's okay to be in pain, Dad. You don't have to downplay it, you know..." He nods. I know he still didn't like being vulnerable. I think we were both equally scared of being vulnerable. I winced again as my tooth flared up again. He says," Baby.. you are wincing again.. are you okay?" I say, rubbing my mouth," It just hurts again.." Mom was finishing up with his wrist wound quickly and he says," It's okay to be scared, Leila. But remember I'm just a dentist, not a monster." He smiles at me. I sigh," I know you aren't a monster, dad." "Then let me take care of you, sweetheart," he says gently. "I want to make sure you're not uncomfortable or in pain. It breaks my heart to see you hurting, and as a dentist, I can help." I say," Dad....okay.." I say," can mom stay though?" He nods," of course, darling." I say," Good. I mean not that I need emotional support or anything . I'm thirteen. I don't need it.." My father teases," Of course you don't need it.. you are allll grownup aren't you sweetheart? But I cannot say I blame you wanting your mom here anyway. I would too." I ask, too curiously,"Daddy? What happened to your mom?" He looks at Juliette remembering their conversation the other night about he didn't like bringing up his mothers death. Aaron responds to me,"She... she passed away when I was young," he says softly, his gaze dropping down for a moment. "It was a long time ago, sweetheart. It's not something I like talking about." I say," Oh. I'm sorry daddy. I didn't mean to make you sad." He says,"It's okay, sweetheart," he assures her. "You didn't know. And there's no need to apologize. You didn't make me sad. Just... sometimes mentioning things from the past can bring back some difficult memories, that's all." I say, keep on pressing the sensitive issue," So why won't you talk about your mom then, daddy?" He slowly hesitates but answers," Because it is hard, love. It hurts to think about her... talking about she brings back sad memories...." The next thing, I say, asking," What was her name?" He winces, the pain of the past hitting him before he replies, saying," Leila. Leila Warner. Just like you, sweetheart." He smiles after he says this. I say," You and mom named me after her?" He nods," yes sweetheart." I say, my heart full," That's really sweet, dad. I wish I could have met her.." My fathers expression is sad. He whispers," Me too.. she would have adored you, sweetheart...." I smile at the thought. I bet he looked just like her. I bet my father looked just like his mother. I was getting too curious because my mother gives me a stern look when I ask," What about your father, Daddy?" The look on my fathers face is unreadable. He clears his throat after looking at his wife," He wasn't a good man, sweetheart. We didn't really have the best...." His voice trails off," relationship..." My father pauses like he's lost in the thought before continuing," That's why my mother meant so much to me.. she'd protect me from his harsh nature..." He pauses once while looking up at Juliette,"until it was too late for her to." I say, wishing I didn't ask, "Oh.." I sit on the bed and wait for my father to return as him and my mother step into the bathroom to talk.
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Aaron's POV
My wife asks me," Are you okay?" Her voice fills with concern," I know talking about your parents is tough on you..." I bite my lip," I- don't know, love..." My wife nods, understanding the range of emotions I'm probably experiencing. She reaches out and takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "It's okay, love," she reassures me softly. "You don't have to be okay right now. Talking about your past is always difficult. Just take your time." I nod, closing my eyes," I just- I can't cry right now. Not right now. I don't want to go back in there and Leila sees I'm crying..." Juliette replies," It's okay to show your emotions.. she's old enough to understand sweetheart. Plus, she looks up to you.." I let out a bittersweet laugh," I don't know if I should be terrified or happy that she looks up to me.." My wife encourages me that it can be both. I ask her," Love?" She responds," Yes, Aaron?"  I say," I have a question... be honest with me.." My wife nods," Okay. Of course." I question," I- what if I turn out like him? Like my father-" Juliette looks deep into my eyes, her expression filled with empathy. She shakes her head firmly,"You won't, love," she says emphatically. "You are nothing like your father You're a good man. You're kind, loving, and protective. You've already broken the cycle of abuse. You've built a loving family with me, and you've become the father you never had." I bite my lip at the reminder of having a father who was no good," I just.. that terrifies me.. Juliette.. what if the cycle returns?" I laugh harshly," People always say the abused become abusers..." My wife touches my face, cupping my face in her hands," Baby, you are not your father. You have broken the cycle, Aaron." I say, grasping her shoulders gently," But darling.... You remember how I was in sector 45... I was practically a spitting image of him- or when Anderson, my father was alive and he tried to take you. You saw how many people I killed for you-" She nods, saying," Yes, dear. I remember clearly. But you did it for survival and for me back then. It does not define you. As a husband or a father.." I look her in the eyes, tears threatening to spill," Juliette, love... if I ever hurt you or Leila I couldn't live with myself.."  I bit my lip again, my depression was getting to me again...  My wife grabs my face," Look at me, Aaron." I shake my head. She says," You are spiraling again. I see it in your eyes. Let me help you." His body was screaming for help but his brain wasn't allowing him it. She gently grabs his wrist, showing him what had happened when he kept it to himself the other night. He shuts his eyes at the reminder. Juliette says softly," Look at me, baby." A tear fell out of the corner of my eye. She puts a hand on my face," I know it's hard, Aaron.." I started to pace the bathroom and she gently placed a hand against me," I don't want you to carry the weight of me...." She says," love. We are partners. A team. You're my husband. Your problems are mine." My breath hitches and my breathing becomes rapid. I kneel down against the bathroom wall, closing my eyes at your words. Juliette looks concerned for me," Focus on breathing, baby."  I start to gasp," Breathing.. yeah.." I struggle for a breath. I say, clutching my chest," It hurts.."  My concerned wife kneels down besides me, rubbing circles against my back," I know, love. Try to match my breathing." I say, suddenly," I'm getting really tired, love." Juliette asks, suspiciously," Did you sleep last night, baby?" I answer," Poorly..." I thought back to the incident of the wrist last night. My wife says," Lean on me, baby. I know you want to be strong for our daughter. But you have to allow yourself to let loose sometimes, honey. Or it could hurt you.." I crumble into her lap," Baby..." My wife holds onto me and allows me to cry in her lap. Her fingers run through my golden blonde hair. I say, sitting up, "We can go back to our room now...I need to see Leila's teeth..." My wife nods. We go back into the bedroom. Our daughter sat on the bed waiting for us. I smiled at her," Hey, baby. We are back." I sit beside her on the bed, "Let Daddy look inside your mouth, sweetheart.." She grumbles but reluctantly lays down and slowly opens her mouth. I look at her mouth and notice it looks like it's a tiny cavity. But it doesn't need attention right now. I didn't want to scare her. I tell my daughter," I have a small office in the bathroom sweetheart. Let's go give you a thorough cleaning, okay?" Leila protests at first but slowly nods and retreats of her protesting. She lays in the chair nervously and I gently adjust her chair," Love, you have nothing to be nervous about. I got you. I'll take good care of you, baby. If it gets to be too much let me know.." I start her cleaning and she cooperates the whole time. When I'm done, I smile at her," You did so well, Leila. I'm proud of you. How's the tooth?" Leila answers," It feels better, now, Dad." I smiled," I'm glad, Princess. Come here."  She wraps her arms around my neck and hugs me tightly," Thank you, Daddy."

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The End