The House in the Woods

Sara is keep secrets

For those joining back to the story, Sara had some bad things happen.  Joshua Blackboure, Owen's father became obsessed with her and kidnapped her.  Fourteen year old's Owen and Sean found out about Sara while reviewing tapes from Owen's childhood home in Charleston.  Owen has always wanted to make his father face the legal consequences of killing his mother.  During the rescue effort, Owen and Joshua struggled and Joshua was shot.  Owen believed for several hours that he killed his father, and even though it was in self defense, the conflicting feelings have stayed with him since.  Owen felt that he lost control during the situation, so he has tried to stay in control since.   

Sara is clear on several things, Joshua would have killed her, and he is not a nice man, he is evil. 

Owen and Sean adopted Sara into the Academy.  She is not and will never be an full member of the Academy.    

SANG POV

I look at Sara, and so many emotions are running through me. She seems to be waiting for me to say something, but it is like my brain will not engage my mouth.

Finally I say, "If you ever need someone to talk with, I hope that you know that you can call me."

Sara looks at me and smiles, "I knew that I would like you. When I was in the hospital, I had to retell what happened. Almost everyone said and did the same thing, they told me that they were sorry, and then they got out of the room as fast as they could. It was if just hearing the tale of evil of would somehow rub off on them. That tells me that you have been through pain of your own, and honestly it hurts me to know that someone as young as yourself has had to go through experiences."

I look at her and say, "Can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead," she says.

I glance around at the trees before I turn back to her."Does if ever go away? I mean, the guys have been wonderful, but there are still times when the fear just builds up so much that I want to scream."

Sara looks at me and says, "So scream. Scream until you are hoarse. I am not a shrink, and I would not even try to psycho analysis you. I can tell you that time has made it softer, and Owen, Sean and the boys have been a great support system. They don't always know when to stop, but if you talk honestly with them, they will usually back off. Sometimes though, it is choosing your battles. If they want to put some type of security in place, you can challenge them, but be willing to listen to what they have to say. That is how the gazebo was built. I was ready to spend time outdoors again, and they created a way for me to do that, but still be safe. My clients have to go through Academy screening because they have to be added into my server and security system. I have to keep the satellite phone with me always, because I don't want Owen, Sean or Victor to be doing some type of a security test, and I don't answer it within the prescribed number of rings. I was a nerdy accountant that was married to her job. I thought that I had a lifetime ahead of me to find a husband, settle down, get married and have kids. Then my life changed. Now it is security protocols, and sometimes, just trying to make it through the day.

"If I can give you any advice for dealing with the boys, it is open communication. When they start closing in on you, come up with a phrase that tells them to back off. For example, with Owen, if I call him 'Mr. Bossy Pants,' he knows that he is pushing too much. If he keeps at it, I call Sean in for reinforcements."

"That might work if I can get him to let me call him anything other than Mr. Blackbourne," I joke. "I see us old and grey with grandkids running around, and they are calling him Mr. Blackbourne instead of grandpa."

Sara laughs. "I can see where that might be a problem. I have already had one conversation about how formal he is with everyone. It goes with the control issues. Unfortunately, it is a wall that you are going to have to break down with him.