Note* Hey guys, here is chapter three! Thanks so much for those of you who have favorited, followed, and posted reviews! Love you all and hope you enjoy!

Chapter Three:

Doctor Parent Meeting

Melina Ashdod stomped into the hospital, her husband following behind her at a slower rate as he tried without much success to rid himself of the hangover he was now experiencing. He had little memory of yesterday's events, but he could remember that he had hurt the boys. The very thought made him even more sick to his stomach. He had hurt one of his own sons. Amelia's flesh and blood.

"Keep up already", Melina snapped at him as they entered the elevator to head to the second floor where the recovery unit was. She had been at home when the phone call came for her and her husband from the hospital. Well, officially, it had been for Allen and Amelia Jones. Still, she had answered it and was angry to hear that those two brats were at the hospital, once again wasting her money! She had immediately set out to rectify that problem by dragging the brats home by the hair if need be

Behind the angry woman, Allen was doing his best impression of a dog on a leash. A very short leash. Each time she yelled or scolded him, he would step a bit faster, only to slow down again, though never leaving her side. He was worried about the boys now that he was sober, but he knew what was about to happen and steeled himself. After all, it wasn't his fault they had angered him while he was drinking. They should have known better and this was the consequences. Or so he told himself.

Arthur had just finished meeting with a patient's family in his office when he opened the door to let them out, stopping in surprise when a hand leading down to a beautiful woman stood before him. Her crimson colored eyes caught him off guard, but he quickly composed himself when he took note of the auburn haired man behind her, his intense violet eyes reminding him quickly of young Matthew Williams. It then dawned on him who these people must be.

"Hello, you must be Mr. and Mrs. Jones?" he asked reaching out his hand to shake theirs.

"Yes we are", the woman replied, "My name is Melina Ashdod Jones and this is my husband Allen. Now would you mind showing us to the boys?"

"Of course", he replied as he waved off the other family. He began leading the couple down the hall and two the double bedded room where the boys laid chatting to one another. However they both froze when they heard the footsteps. Their faces remained neutral upon seeing who was at the door, but Arthur noticed the small tremors that ran through Matthew. He was even more surprised when he saw the fists clench of young Alfred, anger swirling like an angry volcano in the depths of his eyes.

"Melina", Alfred replied.

The woman smiled grimly.

"Poor Matthew, darling", she said going over to the elder boy who trembled heavily the closer she got. She hugged him stiffly to her before she turned to Alfred. "And my dear little Al", she cooed, but Alfred remained completely still even as she wrapped her arms around him.

Arthur noticed the man, Allen, watching her with a strange expression. He noticed a darkness in the man's eyes, something almost akin to hate and yet he could see the love behind it as well…no, he thought again the closer he looked, not love. Lust. As well as desperation for someone to hold him. It worried him just how screwed up this little family seemed to be.

"Now boys, you ready to go home?"

"I am afraid they are not yet ready", Arthur said stepping forward in their defense, "Alfred here has some cracked ribs and Matthew is suffering from a stab wound, fresh out of surgery just last night."

The woman frowned, her eyes getting angrier.

"I think they are well enough now", she replied, looking straight into the doctors eyes.

"I must insist that they stay", Arthur replied, not looking away from her stare, "they need time to recover properly."

"We don't have the money to cover this", the woman started as an excuse, but Arthur stopped her.

"Child Services is on its way and they have already agreed, due to the nature of the case, to pay for their recovery. However, we ask that you at least pay for their antibiotics."

"I don't…" she began, but Allen stepped forward, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"We will do it", he replied, "Thank you doctor. Do we need to stay to talk to the social worker?"

"I think that would be a fine idea", Arthur nodded, surprised at the man's intrusion. He hadn't been expecting it as the man had seemed perfectly comfortable allowing his wife to talk for him and the children.

"Very well. Melina, you may leave if you wish, however…I want to wait around for a bit."

Melina stared at him.

"Forgive me, but I need to talk to my husband", she replied pulling the man out into the hall behind her.

The children and Arthur watched them go before he turned back to the two children. Alfred had moved from his bed to Matt's, hugging his brother to him as the older boy shook like a leaf.

"You two alright?" he asked them.

Matthew didn't respond, but Alfred nodded. "Yeah", he said, "Dr. Kirkland?"

"Yes Alfred?"

"Will the Social Worker take us away?"

"I don't know", he replied.

Arthur paused before he continued his train of thought.

"If…" started Arthur a bit hesitantly, "If they tried to take you away and the only way was to separate you both. Would you want to go?"

Alfred was silent for a moment before he spoke.

"I want them to take us away", Alfred whispered, "but I want to stay with my brother more. He needs me."

Arthur didn't doubt the two boys were very co-dependent on one another, but he worried keeping them in that house would be far worse than separating the two in the long run. Still, it wasn't like this was his problem. He had his own concerns with work and school. He was currently attending London University for his masters in bio-chemistry. He hoped it would help him expand his own medical research enough to hopefully one day become a member of a medical laboratory. Not that he hated being a surgeon, but he loved the science field and he felt it was a calling of his to become someone great in the history of the UK.

"I apologize, but we had some things to discuss. First, the boys may stay, however they can only remain until they are well enough to leave. After that, I expect them to be sent home. Secondly, if this social worker wishes to speak to us, she can hunt us down. We will be at home. The boys know our number. Thirdly, Doctor, I expect you never to argue with me again or I can and will sue! Do I make myself clear?"

The doctor and her locked gazes before Arthur smiled calmly.

"Crystal", he replied with a soft smile, but anybody could see the hard flint in his eyes.

"Good, glad we understand one another", she spat as she stomped past him to the door where Allen awaited, his eyes closed with a somewhat green complexion. She stopped when she reached the doorway.

"Matthew, Alfred", she said as she turned, staring at each boy in turn, "we will talk when you get home."

The boys could only nod as she walked out; Allen tagging close behind her.

"Good riddance", Arthur spat as he turned to the two boys who both looked equally relieved they had finally gone.

"I thought your mother's name was Amelia?" he asked after a moment of contemplation over the whole ordeal.

"It is", stated Alfred, "our mother died when we were young in a car accident."

"Car accident…" he muttered, "you were with her?"

"We both were", Alfred said with a sigh, "it was when we lived in Canada, which is why it's not in our medical records. We have gotten this question before."

Arthur nodded as he motioned for him to proceed.

"I was only three at the time and Matthew here was six. I don't really remember it, just flashes occasionally. We were driving home after stopping to grocery shop, according to our dad, and a semi ran a red light. He smashed into the driver's side, instantly killing my mother. Matthew was behind her and I was behind the passenger seat. He sustained a concussion, while I got away with only cuts and scratches, aside from one major injury which has since healed."

"Which was?"

Alfred glanced at his brother who shrugged. He turned his attention back to the curious doctor before lifting up his shirt, allowing the man to see a small scar in the middle of his chest. Arthur leaned in as he ran a finger over, making the boy flinch with a small smile.

"Ticklish", he laughed nervously.

Arthur smiled as he sat back.

"Looks like a deep scar", he muttered, "something pierced you?"

"Yeah, a…"

"Excuse me", a voice interrupted at the door.

Arthur jumped up and turned to the voice. A woman in a cream colored business suit stood there. Black hair was pulled up into a bun as she stepped forward with an outstretched hand.

"My name is Tania Carter, I am from the Department of Child Services."

"Oh yes, I thought Patty would be coming? She is our usual representative."

"She would have but Patty had a family emergency so I volunteered to come", she stated before turning to the two children watching her curiously, "Hello boys. Are you Matthew and Alfred?"

The two nodded, so she smiled wider.

"As I said, my name is Carter. Can you tell me how old you are?"

"I'm Eight", replied Alfred, "Matthew is eleven."

She nodded as she began writing down the information.

"Alright and can you tell me what happened? What led you to being in the hospital by yourselves yesterday?"

The boys were silent for a moment before Alfred spoke up.

"We were playing in the house when Matthew fell", he finally said, deciding on a story, "That's how we got hurt."

"Matthew fell, but I have been told you were also hurt. How did that happen Alfred?"

The child squirmed under her gaze.

"I fell a couple days before that."

She nodded.

"Matthew, how did you get glass embedded into your stomach?"

"I…" he paused and glanced at Alfred, "I…"

"He fell into a glass table", Alfred said speaking up quickly in his brother's defense, "I fell outside while playing with my friends on the playground."

The woman frowned but nodded.

"Alright, are your parents here?"

The boys shook their heads.

"Okay, well I need to go have a conference with your parents. I will be back tomorrow. Doctor, would you follow me please?"

"Of course", he replied sending a wink at the boys who he tried to make feel a bit more relaxed.

The two walked out into the hall before the woman stopped and turned to him, her face conforming into a rather serious gaze.

"They are lying rather obviously", she stated, "I have looked over their past record and medical files and I am not pleased to say the least. However…if I know anything about being a social worker for the department, I know this. Unless the children admit to their parents abusing them and we have factual evidence, we cannot take them away from the abusive home. I will be back tomorrow, but I can only do so much. Let me know if anything comes up and should the children ever come back into the hospital again, I want to be notified ASAP."

"Of course Ms. Carter", he said reaching out to shake her hand.

The woman flashed him a sad smile before walking down the hall towards the elevator. He watched the dark skinned woman go before sighing and heading back into the room.

"Better rest boys", he muttered, "tomorrow I am going to check your progress. If you're well enough, I am afraid you will have to leave the hospital."

The boys nodded, their faced downtrodden.

Arthur knew he shouldn't be getting so attached to the children. It was wrong professionally and emotionally, but something about the boys tugged at his heart every time he saw them. They were special and while he didn't yet know how special, he soon would find out the deep secrets buried beneath their penetrating sad eyes.

Their story together was only just beginning.