Heya. If you were crazy or bored enough to come back for the sixth chapter, well thanks. It gives me something to do with my time.

Song for this chapter: Therapy by All Time Low

Wounded by Harsh Truths

Carlisle sat patiently in the room that Aro had provided for the therapy sessions. It was bright and spacious, with a bookshelf and a wide window. In the centre of the room was a simple table. It looked cheap, probably because Aro thought he would be providing a lot of tables if the twin's tempers got the better of them. At one side of the table was a single chair, where the doctor sat. At the other side, there were two more seats where the twins fidgeted and sighed. There was also a desk where Carlisle kept whatever he needed, which included a picture of his family and a phone from which he had regular conversations with them.

Alec had been trying to stare Carlisle down for twenty five minutes, but Carlisle refused to be dominated. Jane looked on in amusement. Neither three said a word.

Alec's patience was wearing thin. He found the whole exercise pointless and he badly wanted to break something. The table looked good. He might throw it through the window if Carlisle didn't back down soon.

Jane's thoughts were elsewhere. She wondered how odd it would be if the constantly calm doctor was writhing in agony under her burning gaze.

Carlisle knew from experience just how territorial teenagers (and especially vampires) could be. If Alec managed to stare him down, he would assume the position of 'in charge'. It would take forever to reign him in again. So he was bound to this pointless staring contest, trying to show Alec that he wouldn't be pushed around.

After a while, Carlisle sat up straighter. "Look," he said. "We can sit in silence for two hours a day for the rest of our lives, or we can work together so that you two get better and I can go home to my family. Which option would you prefer?"

Alec finally broke his glare to throw a glance at Jane. Carlisle watched as they silently communicated. It was quite fascinating; the slightest movements let them have a silent conversation. Jane turned to Carlisle after a moment.

"I agree. The second option would be more beneficial, seeing as it would help us not kill you out of boredom."

Carlisle ignored the killing jab and said "very good," in a satisfied tone. Both of them watched Alec carefully.

"Fine," he grunted after a moment.

Carlisle just nodded. He didn't know quite how to begin.

"Why do you both think you're here?"

" 'Cos Aro thinks we're insane," Jane responded in a matter-of-fact tone. Alec snorted.

"That's not true," Carlisle said softly. "He wants to help you."

"Yeah, so he can get us back in the guard, his loyal little slaves for the rest of eternity," Alec snapped. "He doesn't give a shit about us. He only saved us from the stake because we were useful to him. I'll bet if we were normal," he spat the word, "if we had been ordinary humans, we would have been ashes a long time ago."

Jane looked shocked and hurt. "Alec..." she whispered. "That's not true."

"No. It's not," Carlisle reassured her.

"Isn't it?" Alec pressed. "So are you saying that if you or I lost our powers today, or tomorrow, that we would be allowed stay here?"

"Yes," Jane whispered.

"No, we wouldn't. Everybody hates us here. Well, Caius hates everyone and Marcus doesn't care enough to hate us, but still. If we died, do you think anyone would miss us?"

"Alec that's enough," Carlisle said in the firm, tone he used with his own family. He saw that Jane was upset. She respected her masters and she liked her job. It made her sad to think that they wouldn't care if she was gone.

Alec turned to the doctor, his eyes flaming. "You don't care about us either - you're only here because they made you come. The only people who care about us are us."

"You're wrong," Carlisle protested.

"Oh really? So if Aro said 'Hey Carlisle, the twins are beyond help. Here's a plane ticket. Go home to your real family', you wouldn't go?"

Carlisle looked at the angry boy. His eyes flashed to Jane then, who's eyes were glazed over the way they do when vampires cry.

"Jane, can you leave us alone for a second please?" Jane nodded and left without sparing a glance at her brother. When she was gone, Carlisle turned to Alec.

"You're right," he said. "I'd much rather go home to my family."

"I knew it," Alec hissed.

Carlisle held up a hand. "Even though I'd rather go home, I wouldn't leave if they gave me the choice."

"Why?" Alec asked, suspicious.

"Because, Aro helped me with my children. He saved their lives and gave us time to change Bella. Now I'm going to return the favour. Because in the world we live in, if we don't help eachother out every so often, we have no hope of survival."

Alec pressed his lips together, considering. "But you still don't care about us. About me and Jane."

"You said that you cared for your sister, yet you had no problem making her cry," Carlisle pointed out.

Alec paused before answering. "She's better off knowing the truth," he muttered. "No matter how harsh it is."

"Is she really?" Carlisle asked. "Wouldn't she be better off living a lie, and being happy with it?"

"But she's not happy!" Alec exclaimed.

"Perhaps not," Carlisle agreed. "But that's the reason I'm here. I'm going to help you."

"You can't just snap your fingers and make everything right. It doesn't work that way," Alec said, frustrated.

"No. It doesn't. But I can try. And I will," Carlisle promised.

"Will you?" Alec asked skeptically.

"I will. But I can't if you keep fighting me, Alec. We need to cooperate in this. You don't want me here any more than I want to be here. So as soon as Aro is satisfied that you and Jane are better, I will leave. That is a promise."

Alec said nothing. He was mulling over everything.

"Do you really hate it here?" Carlisle asked suddenly. He was surprised at his own bluntness.

"Yes," Alec responded. "I really really do."

"What do you hate most?" Carlisle enquired.

Alec considered everything before answering. "The way nobody has any privacy. I hate how Aro can just read your mind and know everything that you want to keep to yourself. There are no secrets here. You can't have anything to yourself, even in your own head. Everything is Aro's too."

"Hmm."

"What?"

"Ok. I'll make you a deal. I will convince Aro not to read you or Jane's minds until our sessions are over and I go home if," Carlisle paused.

"If?" Alec probed impatiently.

"If you cooperate fully during our sessions."

Alec sighed. Privacy? Or harassing Carlisle? It was a very long moment before he answered.

"Deal."

Carlisle reached across the table and held out his hand. Alec didn't hesitate this time, and shook Carlisle's hand. Carlisle was pleased to see that this time, Alec didn't grip quite so tightly.

Mmkay. I did my thing (writing), so you guys do yours (reviewing). More reviews make for happy author make for next chapter.