Chapter Text
So I’m no good at writing and I completely suck at it but I’m bored at work so thought might as well
- this fic we will see Raelle have ADHD and anxiety
Two weeks before conscription day
Raelle woke to her dog and partner in crime milo licking her face “I’m awake Milo I’m awake I swear” raelle chuckled as she opened up her closet doors and threw on some sweat pants and a T-shirt.
“Let’s go see dad shall we” Raelle said softly while kissing Milo on top of his head.
“Hey dad something smells nice is that pancakes”
“Anything for you two” Edwin placed two pancakes on each Raelle’s plate and in Milo’s bowl
Edwin had been so grateful when Milo came into there lives. It meant the world to him that Rae had something making her happy after all the shit her life has had. Raelle had found milo a little stray spaniel in the months leading up to Willas death it had been so hard on Edwin and Raelle but at least she had Milo to keep her company. The day Willa died was the day that Raelle found out she can telepathically communicate with animals and Milo in particular it was definitely a surprise but nothing about Raelle can surprise him much anymore.
There are 5 things about Raelle that only her Dad ,her Moms best friend Quinn and her two best friends Cory and Oliver knew,Ofcourse her Mom also knew most of theses aswell
1. She has ADHD - She had been diagnosed at the age of 4 and has always kept it quiet because it’s very rarely a witch is born with civilian “problems” as the witch community would say.
2. She can talk to Milo and any animal she develops a close relationship with in her mind. Rae always thought this was so fucking cool.
3. Rae has mastered every Martial Arts style of fighting there is on the planet. She was a real dangerous weapon and can kill someone with one jab to the throat. She is a very skilled fighter and was also trained by a man named Ra’s Al Ghul who claimed to be the leader of a secret group called the League of Assassins. Rae always had her doubts about that part but she knew Ra’s could fight so she excepted his help training her.
4. She occasionally did drugs specifically weed with her two best friends Cory and Oliver from the cession who Edwin and Willa considered there sons.
5. She had anxiety which she carried around with her all the time
After finishing breakfast Raelle’s phone pinged it was Cory asking Rae if she wanted to meet up for a bit.
“Hey Dad is it okay if I meet Cory and Oliver for a couple hours” Rae always knew the answer 9 times out of 10 but she always thought it was best to ask her dad before just going off.
“Actually Rae I need to talk to you” Edwin swallowed the lump in his throat. He knew how Rae would react to this information he had to give her.
“Okay go on then” Rae took a seat breaking the eye contact she held with her dad.
“There was a phone call this morning Rae and it was Fort Salem , they want us 3 to go down today for a meeting” he gestured towards the two of them and Milo “said something about knowing your circumstances with civilian problems and needed to speak with us”
Rae left without a word. Milo followed suit he never left her side unless she told him too. She went straight to her room and hit her punch bag a couple times carefully not hitting with all her strength so she didn’t break it.
Edwin knew exactly why Rae had left she can’t cope well with things she didn’t want to hear that made her angry. He was so grateful for Cory and Oliver because they had made sure Raelle didn’t turn to harder drugs than weed when Willa passed. Cory and Oliver later told Edwin who they call pa that Willa who they called Ma had made them promises to her that they would never let Rae and themselves touch anything else apart from weed . It hit Rae really hard she didn’t speak to anyone but Milo for weeks and even when she did that it was never with her mouth but there ability to communicate in the mind. She just Drowned herself in training and practicing her fighting skills. Cory and Oliver also fell into this spiral with Rae but the 3 of them with Milo helped each other. To Raelle, Cory and Oliver where her brothers and she will always refer to them as her brothers since Edwin and Willa practically adopted them they where one big family and had been broken apart
He made his way to Raelle’s room and watched her hit the bag a few more times. Each hit became harder until eventually she stopped. She made her way to the bedside table pulled out a lighter and a Spliff. She raised the tip of the Spliff to her lips hands shaking she lit it and took a drag. It frustrated Rae that the army knew of her ADHD and called it ‘civilian problems’. It angered her that they wanted a meeting with them before they would ship her off to die in some bullshit war just like her mama. Rae was also upset because she knew Milo couldn’t go to basic with her and she would lose yet another family member and would be all alone.
“We have to go Rae I know you don’t want to but this is one of them things we have to do. I hate the fact you have to be shipped off to fight these wars but I know you will be safe with the knowledge and skills you have developed over the years” Edwin was truly holding his tears back and looking strong to help Raelle feel a slight bit better
“I know dad i won’t be showing the army my skills only if necessary, I won’t be turned into a war machine. Let’s start heading to Salem before I have a complete meltdown” Rae chucked at her last statement and Edwin gave a smile.
General Alder POV
General Sarah Alder sat in her office at her desk going over some paperwork and giving out dispensations to those who wouldn’t have to serve if they didn’t want too. She had finished when one of her biddies Janet placed a folder on her desk with the name Collar.
She opened up the folder to the first page which read:
RAELLE COLLAR , 18
:Mother Willa Collar (KIA)
:Father Edwin Collar (civilian, Alive)
Ofcourse how could Sarah forget Willa’s daughter would be conscripting this year. She will be a fixer no doubt just like her mother Sarah thought.
“And a good one at that” Janet said watching Sarah look through the pages carefully
Sarah suddenly stopped at a page. It listed something that Sarah didn’t understand how the Army knew. Also listed that Collar had ADHD
Collar:
- Diagnosed With Civilian problem ADHD
- Uses Off Canon Fixing
- Diagnosed with Civilian problem Anxiety
- Is able to communicate with her dog Milo
It hadn’t been seen in a Collar in 100 years the ability to talk to animals. She needed to see Raelle before Conscription day because of her ADHD this was the perfect opportunity to see if the girl could speak to animals. She sat for a minute and poured herself a glass of fine whiskey. If Collar really could speak to her dog, Sarah needed that dog to go into basic with Raelle. It was essential that the dog must be with her at all times.
“Janet please could you ring the Collar residents and request a meeting with Raelle, her Father and Milo today please”
“Ofcourse Sarah I shall do it now” Janet went into another room and began to dial.
End General Alder POV
Edwin pulled up to the gates of Fort Salem and noticed Milo comforting Rae. It’s going to be okay it’s just a meeting and Milo is there to calm Rae if she needs it he told himself.
“What brings you here” a woman spoke as she stepped out the gates
“We have a meeting today with General Alder the names Collar”
“Very well” she said whilst eyeing Raelle and Milo in the passenger seat
Edwin parked the truck up and jumped out being greeted by another witch.
“My names Graves I’m the one who will show you to the Generals Office” she extended her hand out Edwin shook it. She did the same to Raelle and to Edwin’s surprise she shook the Graves woman’s hand. Graves just looked at Milo and nodded.
“Follow me”
“Raelle it’s going to be okay I’m with you the whole time if you need me just tell me and I will jump right on your lap so you can concentrate on me”- Milo
“I love you so much Milo you have no idea how much you mean to me” Raelle said back through the link they shared
Finally the woman called graves stopped outside a door knocked then opened it announcing “The Collars are here for you Ma’am” then leaving
“Please come in and take a seat must of been a long journey from the cession can I get you anything to eat or drink” General Alder said while gesturing at the seats for Raelle and her Father to sit down at
“I’ll take a Black Coffee please General. Rae you want anything” Her father said Turning towards her
“I’ll have the same please and some water for Milo if that’s okay General” Raelle started to get fidgety not knowing what was coming next so Milo moved in between her legs and sat down so Rae could fuss his ears to keep herself calm
“Ofcourse that’s okay Raelle my biddies will bring your drinks out shortly but for now I bet your both wondering why I have requested a meeting before conscription day” General Alder paused for a moment she noticed how calm Raelle had gotten once she touched Milo and also noticed how he seemed to have snuggled into her leg.
“Yes General I was very surprised when my Dad said that Fort Salem had called and requested a meeting I assumed it would be about a certain thing but then my dad told me that Milo was invited to come along too” Raelle had calmed herself down enough to speak and Milo put his paw on her knee to reassure her it’s okay and she’s safe.
“Ah yes well there’s a couple reasons your here now and I’m not speaking to you once you have arrived for basic and that because I just needed to know somethings so we can get it all sorted before you arrive if it’s okay I would like to ask you some questions” Raelle nodded at this so Sarah carried on
“First Raelle I need to know about your ADHD , are you taking any medication that we should be aware about”
“No General I stopped taking them when I was 12 they made me so tired and drained i couldn’t physically take them anymore” Raelle looked at her dad to see if he had anything else to add but he stayed quite.
Just as Sarah was about to ask another question a biddie called Alice came in with the two coffees and a bowl of water for Milo “Thank you Alice” the General nodded and Alice exited the room.
“Is there anything that the army can do to help you with your ADHD Raelle we want you to feel as comfortable as possible while your here at Fort Salem” Sarah noticed the confused look on Raelle’s face “you seem confused Raelle”
“I’m sorry General I’m just not used to witches outside my family calling my ADHD by it’s name and not a civilian problem but to answer your question yes there is something the army can do. You see when I get angry I like to hit things so if it’s not any trouble I would like access to a training room maybe so I can take my frustration out on a punch bag instead of a person. Also I occasionally smoke weed it helps me relax also helps my anxiety calm down”. Raelle felt the Generals gaze on her as she tilted her head towards the floor to focus on Milo.
“ I may be the General of the United States Army and be over 300 years old but I’m still human Raelle and would never even think about calling your ADHD or Anxiety a civilian problem because it’s not a problem and you are just as human as myself and you deserve to be respected” Edwin smiled at the General when she said this and mouthed thank you. Sarah nodded
Raelle lifted her head and met the Generals eyes for the first time since the meeting started and smiled at her.
“And Raelle about the weed thing I can see what I can do on that part but I mean if one where to smoke weed and not get caught I suppose there’s nothing I can do about it” Sarah chuckled at her own statement knowing full well that Raelle would of tried to smoke weed even if she said no.
“Now there’s one last thing Raelle and it’s the main reason I’ve asked you here because I’m actually stunned on how the army knows about this to put it in your folder but here it says that you can speak to animals. Specifically Milo here, which is why I asked for him to be at this meeting.”
“How does the army even know about that there should be only 4 people who know and 3 of us are civilians” Edwin was puzzled he didn’t know what else to say at the Generals confession that the army knows about Raelle and Milo
“Honestly Mr Collar I have no idea but I do intend to find out because if what you said is true that only 4 people know then it’s rather concerning” Sarah reassured Edwin
Raelle finally spoke up on the matter “yes General it is true I can speak to animals that I form a deep connection with and I’m able to communicate with Milo through my mind. He speaks with me and can tell me things and I can speak with him. It happened just after my mom died” Raelle’s focus didn’t leave Milo as she spoke.
“Raelle I don’t know how much you know of the Collar family history but I’ve served among all the Collars and I can tell you that they weren’t just known for their off canon fixing they where also able to communicate with animals. Though it hasn’t been seen in a Collar for 100 years it seems you have been gifted by the Goddess and she has allowed the Collar line to reconnect with there destiny in healing and communicating with animals”
“Wait really so the Collars before could also speak to animals that’s amazing I had no idea of my family history apart from my mom and what she told me. I’d love to read into the history of the collars” Raelle’s eyes lit up in excitement she couldn’t believe that it was a Collar thing communicating with animals
“You definitely should read up about the Collars. Raelle history is very important and with that said I would like to offer a place for Milo at basic with you. Should you be deployed or go to War Collage Milo would follow you wherever you go. It is important that any Collar that has a special connection with an Animal shouldn’t be Separated. So if you accept this offer I give to you now when you say the words a second medal will drop with Milos name and he will be apart of your assigned Unit” Sarah knew that Raelle would be happy with this offer from the connection she’s seen just by the Collars in her office. Raelle’s mother was taken away from her, she would be away from her father but atleast she would have Milo with her.
Raelle sat silent for a moment. To the rest of the room she didn’t say a word however she was actually speaking with Milo.
“What do you think Milo? You want to come to basic and join the army with me buddy?” - Raelle
“Yes ofcourse Rae Rae I will follow you anywhere plus we can show off with your skills and my eyes you can be unstoppable in hand to hand combat training” - Milo
“Hahah so it’s decided then we shall take the oath together and join” - Raelle
“General we accept the offer and look forward to start basic together. I hope it’s okay with you dad” Rae looked at her dad waiting for him to say something
“Ofcourse it is Rae the army will be lucky to have you both considering what you two can do together” Edwin said with a wink
Sarahs eyes opened wide at Edwin’s comment what else can Raelle and Milo Callar do she thought. It’s going to be really interesting to see what other skills they have . Sarah had her suspicions that Raelle would be good with hand to hand combat since she mentioned she liked to hit things. However she had no idea just how dangerously skilled Raelle was.
“So it’s decided then Milo will join you in basic and officially be known as Cadet Milo Collar along side yourself Cadet Collar. When you arrive after taking your Oath I will have someone waiting for you both to go over some details like where his dog food shall be kept and so forth. I look forward to seeing you both in two weeks. But for now go home and enjoy yourselves. I appreciate you all coming down on such short notice” General Alder smiled and shook both Mr collars and Raelle’s hand and showed them out of her office.