Unfixed

SIX

"Pirate Orientation"

Charles and Isaiah didn't return from work until late that night after everyone was supposed to be in bed. Supposed. The lamp on the coffee table by the armchair was on and Genesis was reading Hamlet while chewing on her nail. She looks up as the two men enter the doorway to see her still awake.

The look she offers her father is meaningful and demands time to speak to him alone. Sending Isaiah up to bed, Charles steps into the room and flicks on the main light to the room. Bookmarking her page, she places the book down and raises her glass of water to her lips. Charles couldn't help but notice the slight tremble of her hand. He steps forward but she holds up a finger to stop him. Silently placing the now empty glass down, she looks up at him with sad eyes.

"You're lucky I'm sat here." He frowns, eyebrows knitting together so tightly they formed an almost straight line. Ignoring her halting finger he steps forwards and crouches in front of her chair and places a hesitant hand on her knee.

"What do you mean?" Shuffling uncomfortably she pulls her knee from his touch and sits on her heels.

Hurt by her rejection, Charles stands and steps back slightly. He watches as she picks up Hamlet once again and simply fiddles with the page corners. After a moment she releases a shaky sigh and shakes her head.

"A man wearing a mask tried to take me away from Muma. He almost succeeded if Mycroft hadn't have intervened." A small flash of anger sparks in his chest. His daughter was upset because she has almost been kidnapped- that was entirely understandable; not only was he furious at the thought of losing her, he was furious that this man had had such a toll on her she was pushing him away. He couldn't console her as a father should. Genesis once again met his gaze, blue eyes sparkling behind the sheen of tears. "What did you do? He said you had wronged him. That you wouldn't see me again until you right your wrongs. What did you do, Daddy?"

Her voice was small and fragile, it cracked and she sniffled wiping her nose with the sleeve of her knitted jumper. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, to comfort her and protect her, he wanted to promise that she would never be hurt again but he knew that he couldn't. It wasn't just because she wouldn't let him but also because his business made their name one to be feared... but also one that meant weakness. His weakness was in his four children and his wife.

As he tried to approach her again she made a protesting noise and leapt to her feet. Cradling Hamlet close to her chest she backed away.

"Don't touch me." She demanded hoarsely before turning and pulling the front door wide open and running out into the night.

"Genesis!" He yells and sprints after her. Reaching the end of their driveway he looks left and right, finding the dark road masking whichever direction she had run in. "Genesis!" He screams out into the night hoping she would recognise her idiocy and return home.

"Charles! What's happening?" Holly rushes down the stairs her dressing gown wrapped tightly around her waist and eyebrows knitted together in worry. Joining her husband beneath the night sky she looks up at him, her face painted with worry. "What is it?"

▪~○••○~▪

Genesis ran through a series of gravestones and up to the front door marked 'MUSGRAVE MANOR'. Slamming her flat palm against the wood loudly she barely notices the tears falling freely down her face. The door swings open and Violet Holmes looks down at her tiredly, a pair of purple slipper poking out from beneath her silk dressing gown. Immediately, Genesis broke down. She fell to her knees and sobbed into her hands ignoring Hamlet as the book fell to the concrete porch.