"Whumpee can I see your teddy", Caretaker reached out for it, "it needs to be cleaned, I'll give it right back when it's done."
"No, no please", Whumpee squeezed it tighter, and shook their head.
"I'm sorry Whumpee, but you were very sick last week. I'm pretty sure you have puked on it", Caretaker knelt down beside Whumpee, "I know it's your comfort item, but how about we find something else for a few hours while I take care of Teddy."
"Nuh-uh", Whumpee squirmed away.
"Whumpee, do you want to help me clean it, or we could make cookies while Teddy gets washed", Caretaker rubbed Whumpee's back comfortingly, "I promise Teddy will come right back to you."
A friend of Caretaker's was listening in.
"If I were you I'd take it from them, they're to old to be acting like that. Honestly to old to have a stuffed toy", the friend frowned.
Caretaker watched Whumpee's eyes squeeze shut as tears streamed down their face.
"I think you need to stop freaken talking", Caretaker growled at their friend, "you have no idea what is going on here. Just mind your business, and let me do my job."
Finally, after a few more tears and bartering Caretaker was given Teddy.
Caretaker had promised to make Teddy smell really good, and Whumpee now walked around the house wrapped in giant soft blanket.
Lastly, Caretaker handed Whumpee a bowl of ice cream.
"I still think it would have been easier to take it away, and let them get over it", the friend frowned as Whumpee walked past with the ice cream.
Whumpee stopped and looked at Caretaker.
"Don't worry about them, go eat your ice cream. I started a movie for you", Caretaker slapped their friend in the back of the head.
"Oww", the friend complained.
"Are you dumb?", Caretaker gritted their teeth.
"No, I just...", the friend started.
"Whumpee came here with that toy. The person who hurt them gave it to them to signify that they were done hurting Whumpee", Caretaker sighed, "if they had the teddy bear, they wouldn't be hurt. They were safe. If it was pulled out of their hands, torture was starting. It wouldn't end until the toy was given back to them."
"Do you see what kind of issues could have happened if I just pulled that away from them. What kind of trauma response I would have to deal with for the next several hours", Caretaker looked at the friend, "it does take more time, I'm aware of that. I had to have some losses to get the win of getting that from them."
"You told them it needed to be cleaned and it had puke on it", the friend pointed out, "you knew what was best, and they didn't listen to you."
"You should have seen how bad it was when it first came here", Caretaker sighed, "covered in blood, and probably several other body fluids. It was dirty and absolutely disgusting. They still clung to it. To them, it means safety. It's familiar to them."
The friend still frowned.
"You smoke right? Do you have your box and lighter?", Caretaker stood.
"Feeling like a smoke Caretaker?", the friend chuckled as they pulled out the box and lighter.
Caretaker quickly grabbed the box and lighter and walked away.
The friend followed, "where are you going? You don't smoke."
"I know, just proving a point", Caretaker went into his office and closed the door behind him.
The door was locked before the friend could grab the door knob.
The friend gulped when he heard the heavy safe door slam shut. Caretaker came out soon after.
"Where's my smokes", the friend went into the office and pulled on the safe door, "Caretaker?"
"I figured I knew what was best, so I took them away. You won't like it for a little while, but I'm sure you'll get over it", Caretaker grinned as their friend tried to guess the combination, "you're acting like a child you know, aren't you to old to have a crutch like cigarettes."
"Okay, okay, you've made your point. I'm sorry", the friend frowned, "can I have my smokes back now?"
Caretaker grinned as he pulled the cigarettes and lighter from his back pocket.
"That's cold", the friend frowned as they grabbed their things back."
"What's cold is telling a trauma survivor, one who has been through so much more than what we will ever know about, that they need to grow up", Caretaker frowned, "have some sympathy."
Caretaker heard the timer for the teddy's wash go off.
"You could have easily went out and bought another pack and lighter. You would have soon forgotten I had those", Caretaker sighed, "Whumpee doesn't get that luxury."
Whumpee rounded the corner, "is Teddy done?"
"Not quite Whumpee, I just need to dry him", Caretaker held up a few scent capsules, "which smell do you like?"
Whumpee smelt every capsule twice until they picked one.
"Good choice Whumpee", Caretaker smiled, "I promise thirty minutes you will have Teddy back."
Whumpee nodded and sat beside the dryer.
"Can I wait here?", Whumpee's lip quivered.
"Yes, you can. I'll be in the kitchen if you need me", the friend followed Caretaker.
"So what did we learn here?", Caretaker looked at his friend.
"That I shouldn't judge. And, that you have a harder job than what I realized", the friend sighed.
"I think you owe Whumpee am apology", Caretaker frowned, "that was quite mean of you to act like that when you didn't know the whole story."
"Caretaker?", the friend frowned.
"No, no", Caretaker waved in disgust, "you know I am protective of my patients that stay with me, if you can not make yourself safe to be around, you will not be welcomed in my house when I have patients here."
"Okay, okay", the friend sighed, then turned to walk back to Whumpee.
They rounded the corner in time to see Whumpee wiping away a tear.
Whumpee looked at them nervously.
"I'm sorry for being mean earlier, Caretaker explained the importance of that bear. I'm sorry if I caused you any flashbacks", the friend tried to make a comforting smile.
Whumpee nodded, "thankyou", they whispered.
The dryer dinged, causing Caretaker to quickly walk in.
"Alright let's see", Caretaker opened the dryer.
They carefully pulled Teddy out and handed it to Whumpee, "I made sure to use the gentlest wash and dry cycles."
"Careful Whumpee, we have another hole to patch", Caretaker frowned as they looked into the dryer to see clumps of cotton.
"Another hole?", Caretaker's friend eyed Whumpee.
"Yes Teddy is well loved, they need some patching every once in a while", Caretaker sighed, "Whumpee do you want to fix it now or later."
Whumpee gently cuddled their face into the toy, they took in the warmth and scent.
Whumpee's body shook, "what if... what if there is a time Teddy can't be fixed? What do I do then?"
"We will have to figure something else out then", Caretaker frowned, "I'll try my best to make sure that doesn't happen. Here come help me, you can hold Teddy's hand while I sew."
The next day Caretaker's friend called.
"Hey I have an idea, do you think Whumpee could go to the mall", the friend asked.
"They can, though they are having a hard day, so they will need their wheelchair", Caretaker smiled, "what are you thinking?"
"It's a surprise, can you meet me their with Whumpee", the friend asked.
"Yeah, I can do that. Whumpee probably wouldn't mind getting out, they've been distraught because of Teddy", Caretaker stood, "see you soon."
Caretaker pushed Whumpee through the mall until they found their friend.
"Hey Whumpee", the friend knelt down to eye level with Whumpee and smiled, "Caretaker", they then looked up.
"Hello", Whumpee whispered.
"Whumpee is being extra brave right now. They decided to let Teddy stay at home to rest", Caretaker gently rubbed Whumpee's shoulder.
"That is very brave.... I know that now", the friend smiled and patted Whumpee's leg.
"So we are both curious. What brings us to the mall?", Caretaker smiled.
"I had this thought last night while I was looking at online pictures of my niece and nephew celebrating their birthdays", the friend stood.
"There is a store here where you pick a stuffed toy and they stuff it for you", the friend smiled, "I was hoping you would allow me to buy one for you. You could pick whatever you like. There are even some cute outfits to dress the stuffie in."
"But what about Teddy?", Whumpee whispered.
"This will not replace Teddy at all, but maybe give them a little break", the friend smiled, "you're also trauma bonded to Teddy, maybe you are holding onto a lot of bad memories. Maybe a new stuffie will help you move forward in your healing, and you can make new memories."
"B-but Teddy deserves to heal with me also. They went through everything I went through, then helped me", Whumpee let out a small sob, "I don't want Teddy to be forgotten."
"We will never forget Teddy" Caretaker quickly came around, "I promise Teddy will never be forgotten. Can you take a deep breath for me."
Whumpee nodded and took a shaky breath.
"How about this", Caretaker smiled, "we can set up a place for Teddy. A place of honor. Teddy will be able to watch over you, and you will be able to get them at all times."
"We can even pick out a stuffie for Teddy to cuddle, and they can start healing as well", the friend smiled.
Whumpee thought for a second before nodding, "I-I think Teddy might like that."
"Yeah?", the friend smiled.
Whumpee nodded with a weak smile.
The friend looked up at Caretaker and smiled.
Caretaker smiled back and nodded, "you might have it in you to be a caregiver yourself."
"I don't know about that", the friend started to wall and Caretaker followed pushing the wheelchair with Whumpee, "I don't think I would be able to do what you do. I'm sorry I just now figured that out."
"That's alright", Caretaker winked.
Whumpee shook as they walked toward the different stuffie options the store had.
Caretaker helped hold them up as they looked.
"You said they were having a hard day today... I didn't realize", their friend followed with the wheelchair.
"Yes, Whumpee has good days when they can get around just fine. Days like today, their body just doesn't have enough strength", Caretaker continued supporting Whumpee, "their captors did a lot of bad things to them. Their body had to hold up to a lot of abuse, and it's broken."
Caretaker watched Whumpee, "are you doing alright? Do you want to sit down?"
"I-I think I should", Whumpee wobbled forward, but Caretaker held them up.
"Do you see any you like?", the friend held the chair still while Whumpee sat down.
Whumpee nodded, "uhm, I keep looking at that tan bear. It kind of looks like Teddy."
"It does?" the friend went back to look. They thought about the old bear.
"Well I guess what Teddy used to look like", Whumpee was pushed closer.
"This one?", the friend held it up.
"Yes, but are you sure about this?", Whumpee whispered, "you don't have to."
"No, I would absolutely love to get this for you", the friend smiled as they handed the bear to Whumpee, "I was very mean to you yesterday, and I feel bad that Teddy is falling apart on you. Are you sure this is the one you like though?"
Whumpee looked it over, then nodded, "yes... please."
Whumpee helped push the peddle to stuff the bear, and followed the instructions on the heart.
"Give it a big squeeze to see if you like it", Caretaker smiled.
Whumpee squeezed it tightly.
"How does it feel?", the friend watched.
They both watched as Whumpee began to cry.
"Good", Whumpee whispered, "really good, thankyou so much."
Whumpee didn't pick out any clothes until the friend pulled down a shirt that said °Emotional Support Bear°
Whumpee giggled lightly and then nodded.
Caretaker had just covered Whumpee with a blanket when they heard their phone vibrate.
"How are they doing?", their friend had texted, "did the bear work out?"
Caretaker grinned as they sat down across from Whumpee.
They looked up and watched Whumpee's chest rise and fall. They were deep asleep now. The new bear cuddled tightly in their arms.
They snapped a picture and sent it to their friend.
"I can't tell how much this meant to them", Caretaker wiped a tear away from their eye, "you helped them take a big step forward in their recovery. As their caregiver and your friend, thankyou so much for helping heal them."
"You're welcome, I'm glad I was able to do that for them and for you", the friend replied, "have a good night."
"You too", Caretaker stood and retrieved Teddy.
"Alright my dear friend", Caretaker gently carried Teddy to a shelf Whumpee had agreed on.
This shelf overlooked Whumpee's bed, and they would have easy access if they ever needed extra comfort from Teddy.
Caretaker sat Teddy in a weaved basket chair. They rested Teddy's head on a pillow. Lastly, they pulled out the stuffed toy Whumpee had picked for Teddy, and cuddled the arms around the toy.
"Rest well Teddy, you did a good job protecting them. It's my turn now", Caretaker poked the bears faded nose, "I promise they will heal."
Taglist. As always please let me know if you want to be added or taken off of the list. It's not a problem at all.
@villainsandheroes @the-beasts-have-arrived @sacredwrath @porschethemermaid @monarchthefirst
@generic-whumperz @bloodyandfrightened @freefallingup13 @notpeppermint @cyborg0109
@idontreallyexistyet @painfulplots @whumpbump @everythingsscary @skittles-the-whumpee
@expressionless-fr @theforeverdyingperson @legendarydelusiongoatee @candleshopmenace @whumpanthems
@lavndvrr @ivymyers @starfields08000 @a-living-canvas @lumpofsand
@watermeezer @indigoviolet311 @whumpy-mountains @3-2-whump @risk606
@electrons2006 @paperprinxe @whumprince @kaz-of-crows
