Heimat AU: Mikey's Rescue

Chapter Three: What's Going On?

"Ma...what's going on?"

Lauren looked at her daughter, she looked confused and hurt and curious. "Maia, I'm happy to say that you don't know, because that means you've never been around this. Mikey has been abused, baby, by his parents. Meaning they hurt him constantly."

"His parents did all that to him?" She demanded; she was angry.

Lauren nodded slowly. "Yes, I don't know how anyone could hurt their child. He's been horrendously abuse, baby. That's why I took him. His mother said she didn't want him and to take him. I couldn't leave him."

Maia nodded. She knew her mom. "Was it wrong to take him?"

"I don't know, but to me, it was not wrong. He needed help." Lauren chewed her bottom lip. She knew that Mikey was safe with her, could heal with her and Maia, would have died with his parents. He was so hurt and malnourished.

"So he's my baby brother now?" Maia asked, a small smile on her lips.

Lauren nodded, brushed the hair out of her daughters' eyes. "Yes. He is."

Maia looked over at the sleeping Mikey. "Can I love him? Am I gonna scare him?"

"Everything is going to scare him for a while, babe, but yes you can love him. He needs that the most."

"I can do that, I already do." Maia shook her head. "But Ma, how could a parent do that? You would never hurt me."

Lauren shook her head and tears fell. She was emotionally and physically exhausted. "No, I would never. But some people are just evil, baby, just pure evil." She shook her head. "I don't know how anyone could do what these people had done to Mikey."

Lauren wanted to protect Maia from the world, but also wanted to tell her how it could be. It was the juxtaposition of being a parent. How could she navigate this situation? She had kidnapped a child, but for good reason. Every second she wasn't calling the police and reporting this was going to make it harder to explain if she was caught.

"Maia, it will take Mikey a long time to feel okay. He might not ever feel okay, like you. He's been through a lot of pain, and fear. But you can love him, and you can help him. I know you and I know you're a compassionate person."

Maia looked at her mother and she felt sad for Mikey and sad that her mom was sad, and sad for herself. She wanted to love Mikey, she could love him as a brother, but she was scared. "Ma...what if I scare him?"

Lauren gave her a little smile. "It would be an accident and we'll work through it. We're both going to scare him, time is the only thing that will help him heal. We'll help him heal from what was done to him."

Maia nodded, she understood as much as she could. As she gazed at her new little brother, she felt anger. How could someone hurt another person like that? His face was bruised, the hand holding the blanket was covered in cuts and bruises. Maia would never get his wounded legs out her mind. "Ma...I just don't know why a mom and dad would do that?"

Lauren pulled Maia in close. She kissed the top of her head and hugged her tightly. "I don't know why, either. I don't think we ever will."

***

Lauren was the first to wake. Mikey had slept through the night and was still sleeping soundly. Lauren smiled at his peaceful expression, glad that he had gotten some rest. She ordered room service, breakfast with fruits and veggies. She had to get his strength up, he was going to need nutritious food, activity, and time.