#if i have to eat one more frozen or processed meal i'm gonna fucking kill someone. & now i cant do that because i have basic empathy

[pa-pa-plasma]

i'm going to fucking kill someone. i got screamed at & called selfish & stupid for telling my mom to wear a mask. she gave me covid

[lancetuckershairgel]

Warnings: language, mentions of abuse (physical and sexual), angst

Word Count: 996

Tag List: @southernbell91 @book-dragon-13 @buckysforeverprincess @jobean12-blog @brat-in-a-teacup @marvelgirl7 @jamesbarnesappreciationsociety @jamesbarnesappreciationclub @msruchita @buckysteveloki-me

Chris stood frozen as he looked at the gun pointed at his face. Erin's hand went for her own piece as she ushered the unarmed woman behind her  and the officer behind Lucy drew his gun and pointed it at the back of her head with an order for the teenager to drop her weapon. Chris remained calm, not expecting a gun but knew Lucy wouldn't go down without a fight. 

"Lucy.." Chris said softly 

"Get out." 

"Listen, I know you're scared."

"You don't know shit." Lucy didn't stand down "Who the hell is she?"

"My name is Linda Sutherland, I'm with the State of California Child Protection-"

"Nope. Get out, all of you." 

"Lucy, we are here to help." Erin tried, her hand still hovering above her pistol. 

"We don't need your help, thanks." Lucy glared, her eyes never leaving Chris throughout the exchange.

"Yeah, you seem to be doing great." Chris' voice dripped sarcasm as he flipped the light switch to the hallway then nudged the can of beans that had been abandoned on the floor "What's this? Dinner?" 

"Fuck off."

"Where's your father, Lucy?" The social worker asked 

"He left." Lily helpfully input 

"When?"

"I dunno. A.lot of days ago. Don't  think he's gonna come back this time."

"Come here, Sweetheart." Chris held out his hand to Lily and Lucy's grip tightened on both the gun and her sister until Lily squirmed away

"Lily don't! If you go with them you'll never see me again!" Lucy cried 

Lily hesitated, looking from her sister to her friend. Chris knelt on a knee and gestured for Lily to come to him.  Slowly Lily began to walk toward him. 

"Lily please!" Lucy begged, tears falling down her cheeks as she faced her worst fear 

"Lily" Chris said quietly, gently grasping the little girls wrist "Everything's going to be okay. This nice lady, Ms Linda, is going to take you to get some new clothes and some food okay? Do you trust me?"

Lily nodded, her eyes wide.  

Chris gently nudged Lily in the direction of the social worker before quickly standing to block a charging Lucy. 

"He's lying to you! Lily don't, please! I love you, I love you!" 

Chris held Lucy back as Erin and Linda quickly took Lily outside and put her in the back of the sedan. 

"You fucking asshole! Why couldn't you leave me alone!" Lucy shrieked as she hit Chris' chest with her fist. 

He grabbed her arms and the officer behind her grabbed the gun. 

"Lucy look at me!" Chris held her tight as she sobbed "It's okay, you don't have to fight any more." 

"You're taking her from me! She's all I have!" 

"Calm down. No one's taking her from you. There's plenty of foster parents who will take both of you." 

"I don't want foster parents! No one wants a broken problem child like me!"

"Hey, hey listen to me." Chris soothed, giving Lucy a bit of a firm shake "You're not a problem child."

Lucy jerked away from Chris and folded her arms over her chest as she leaned against the kitchen counter, still shaking from her emotions. 

"Where did you get the gun? Is it your father's." 

"It's mine." 

"Where'd you get it?" 

Lucy turned her head away. 

"I can't help you if you don't talk to me, Luce" 

"From Sam Johnson" Lucy mumbled 

"The kid whose dad owns the gun store?" 

"Yeah."

"He just...gave you a gun?" Chris asked 

"No." 

"Did you pay him?"

"Yeah."

"How much?"

Silence. Lucy shifted and shoved her hands in the pockets of her jeans. 

"Lucy how much did you give him?"

"I didn't pay with money." Lucy looked between the other officer and Chris before lowering her head "He said he'd swipe a gun from his dad's store if I gave him a blow job."

"And why did you want a gun?"

"Why does anyone want a gun, Chris? Protection."

"Protection from what?" He prodded 

Lucy shot daggers at him through icy eyes. He just widened his eyes a bit, encouraging her to answer. 

"Fine. You want the truth? That asshole beat and molested me every fucking day for as long as I could remember.  When I stopped crying and begging him to stop he told me he was gonna do it to Lily so" Lucy shrugged "I got a gun so when he touched her for the first time I could kill him." 

Chris blinked but didn't say anything. He couldn't.  He didn't blame her at all, and felt a pang of guilt stab at his heart for not having been able to help sooner. 

 "So...am I under arrest or what?" Lucy eyed the other officer who looked at Chris 

"No, Lucy.  Let's get you out of here, get you both down to the station and fed a proper meal then we'll figure out what's next."

Lucy looked at him unsure. She still wasn't sure she could trust him. He saw that and put his hand on her shoulder and bent down to eye level with her. 

"Lucy, listen to me. I can't promise you anything but all I can do is try my best to make sure you stay with Lily. It's better than this" 

Lucy looked away, tears falling again. 

"She's all I have, Chris." 

"I know, I know and I'm going to do everything I can to make sure you're both okay." Chris wiped Lucy's tears

The girl reluctantly followed him outside and got into the car with Lily, holding her hand. 

"Okay girls, what would you like to eat?" Linda asked as she pulled out of the driveway

"I want a Happy Meal!" Lily's eyes lit up hopefully "They gots toys in them."

"A happy meal sounds like a great choice." Linda chuckled 

Lucy stared out the window as they drove and tried to process her emotions. Was the nightmare finally over or was this just a new nightmare for her?