Finding Lilibeth

Beau pulled up to the hospital and Darren jumped out holding Lilibeth in his arms. Beau followed suit seeing how distressed his father looked. Darren didn't realise he had tears streaming down his face. He ran into the emergency department of the Children's hospital screaming for someone to help him.

Dr Michaels was on shift and heard the screaming racing over to the man who was holding a little girl. "I am Dr Micheals, What's happened?" Dr Michaels asked "she was beaten by three boys at the park" Darren answered. "She was here just over a week ago for her arm. Her name is Lilibeth" Darren added. The nurse on duty had been one of the nurses who looked after Lilibeth when she was first brought in by ambulance and police and came rushing over to man who was holding the girl. "Her name is Lilibeth Staples she was brought in after her mother beat her and pulled her shoulder and elbow out of its socket, she also snapped her ulna due to the amount of force used. She is 8 years of age and malnourished" the nurse informed the doctor.

Doctor Michaels took Lilibeth from Darren and rushed her into a room telling Darren to wait outside. Darren stood watching as the doctor took his daughter into a room hoping that Lilibeth would be ok. Beau stood next to his father and soon Zac, Leo and Lex joined them. "What's happened? Where is Lilibeth?" Asked Zac. "The doctor took her into the room. What have I done?" Darren asked. "Dad it wasn't your fault" Beau told him.

The nurse rushed out of the room to see Darren and his children watching the door she and the doctor had taken Lilibeth through. "You can have a seat the doctor will come and speak to you soon" she told them. Darren nodded his head and sat down burying his head in his hands. He knew he would have to inform Mark Little and that he risked losing all of his younger children but if he didn't the hospital surely would. He was ashamed of his behaviour and hoped he got the chance to correct it for Lilibeth and his sake.

Darren pulled out his phone ringing Mark Little. The call went unanswered but he left a message informing Mark that Lilibeth had been attacked in the park by three older boys and was back in hospital. He asked him to call him when he got a chance. He didn't know what else to do but wait and hope that he got a chance to make it up to Lilibeth for what he had done.

Two hours later Dr Michaels finally came out to speak to Darren. Darren stood up facing the doctor. "How is she?" Darren asked timidly. He knew he didn't have any right to be asking as it was his fault that she took off resulting in her being beaten. "She had to have her shoulder put back in and her arm reset. She has bruised ribs, a split lip and required stitches in the side of her head. She has a concussion and is currently sleeping due to the medication we administered to reset her arm. She will make a full physical recovery. I read her notes and I'm concerned about the emotional trauma this will have on Lilibeth. When she was discharged, it was noted she had stopped speaking and engaging with nurses and doctors. How has she been at home?" Dr Michaels asked.

Darren hung his head in shame, he had thought she was being rude when she hadn't spoken at all. "She hasn't really spoken, she silently cries if upset and she flinches a lot" Zac replied. He had seen all that yesterday morning when she was being yelled at by there father and Lex. Dr Michaels nodded his head in understanding. "I think she will need to speak with a child psychologist. She was already traumatised by her mothers abuse and now she was attacked on top of that, I would be surprised if there wasn't some damage done. I can get you some numbers" Dr Michaels stated. "We also informed the police who will want to speak to Lilibeth when she wakes about the attack. Did anyone else witness it?" Dr Michaels continued.

Leo and Lex raised there hands. "Myself and my two brothers saw some of it and stopped it as soon as we saw" Zac spoke up. "Ok, you will need to give statements to the police as well. You can go in and see her as soon as the nurses have her settled" Dr Michaels added before walking away to see other patients.

Darren stool outside the room in which Lilibeth was in building up the courage to go in. He knew he would have to apologise to the girl. His sons stood behind him waiting for there father to go in. They were all feeling guilty for how they treated Lilibeth. They regretted what they had done to the girl. "Dad, are we going in?" Beau asked. Darren looked at his sons before shaking his head no. "I will go in, we all treated her like shit and I don't want to overwhelm her" Darren told his sons. "Dad I need to apologise to Lilibeth" Zac stated. "We all do" Leo added.

Darren turned to look at his sons. "I know you all want to apologise, but if we all walk into that room, we will overwhelm Lilibeth. Let me go first and then you can all come in. She thinks I sold her for god sake" Darren stated causing Lex to shrink back. Darren looked at Lex "I'm not blaming you Lex, she tried to tell me and I didn't listen. Give me 10 minutes and then you can come in. Deal?" Darren asked. The boys all nodded there head and Darren opened the door stepping into the room.

Darren called his sons into the room immediately as Lilibeth was still sleeping. They spoke quietly about ways to make it up to Lilibeth. Zac also told them about what he saw the morning Lilibeth ran away causing Darren to frown. Why hadn't he seen it? Why hadn't he paid attention to his daughter? He felt like a horrible father. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

Two police officer were outside the door wanting to speak to Lilibeth, Lex, Leo and Zac. Darren would have to be present with all three boys and Lilibeth as they were all minors. Beau remained in Lilibeth's room in case she woke up, Darren didn't want her waking up alone.

All three boys had given there statements to the police and named the boys who had assaulted Lilibeth. Darren spoke with the officers about Lilibeth not actually speaking and how having to tell the officers about what happened may be to traumatic for her. The officers agreed and said they would be in contact if she had to provide a statement. They believed the boy's statements and the reports would be enough. Darren headed back into the room to wait for Lilibeth to wake up.