Zelena parked the car in the hospitals parking lot and she and Robin got out of the car. Zelena didn't think she'd be able to keep Alice calm enough on her own and Robin could play a card game or something with her if needed.

Zelena opened the car door and Alice glanced around. This waan't the diner but she didn't knlw what it was.

Alice grabbed the seat belt and pulled at it enough that Zelena could see it. "Goawy."

"Yeah, you can take the seat belt off." Zelena knew that the seatbelt bothered Alice but she seemed to have gotten used to it.

Alice unbuckled and warily got out of the car, Luna followed her. Alice grabbed onto Luna's harness and followed Zelena into the unfamiliar building.

Robin talked to Alice, providing a distraction from any small kids that might be making a lot lf noise. It didn't seem like any were.

Zelena approached the check-in counter and Alice stood a few feet behind her. Alice kept looking around. There were a lot of chairs and thr floor looked like thr floor in most bathrooms. And rvery small corner she could see had a giant window near by. Alice wanted to wstch out the window.

"Lunacanidittherr?" Alice pointed to a chair next to a window. Luna nodded and Alice went and sat down.

"Fill this out." Zelena grabbed the paper work then went to where Alice was sitting. She beeded to explain how this would work. "When they call your name we're going to in there. Do you see those doors?" Alice nodded and waited. "Ok. I'll be right there if you need anything." Zelena pointed to a chair across the floor. Enough distance that Alice could still enjoy the window.

Alice nodded then went back to staring out the window. There were so many cars. And little animals moving around in the sky.

Zelena filled out the paperwork with what infomlration she had and the things she didn't know she explained.

"Alice?" someone called from one of the doorways. Alice glanced over.

Alice wasn't sure what this place was but it hadn't been scary yet. And they'd ridden in the car tonget here so it couldn't be. Could it? Alice relaxed a little and asked Luna to follow Zelena.

"Ok, Alice?" The nurse asked glancing at Luna and then Alice and easily figuring out who the patient was.

Alice nodded.

"I need you to hop up on the scale."

Alice stared at the woman. Nope. Not doing it. I know not to jump. Or hop. Just hit me for not doing it. That's better. That'll be better. Alice sat down. The act of mild defiance being only because she was too scared to break the one rule she'd only broken a few times.

"Alice, it's just an expression. Watch me." Robin encouraged then stepped onto the scale. "See, no jumping required." Robin gently stepped off the scale to prove it was safe.

Alice stared at Robin as she did this. It didn't look like anyone was going to touch her when she did it. And it didn't look like she had to jump. Ok. Alright. She and Luna walked over and Alice stepped onto the scale, clutching her toy in her hand.

"Ok, I need you to let go of the toy for just a couple of seconds," the nurse told her. Alice didn't want to and didn't trust strangers. Alice stared at her and clutched the toy tighter to her body.

"I need to weigh you," the nurse was already getting agitated. "Can you please hand someone the toy? Or set it on the counter." Alice sat down. This strange person wasn't meant to be dangerous. But she wanted her to set down something that made her feel safe. That gave her a way to explain when she was scared or frustrated. She needed the toy. Alice pulled her legs up to her chest and Luna shoved her way into her lap. Alice pet Luna.

"It's okay," Robin comforted. "When you're ready we can try again."

"I don't have time for this. I'll be back when you're ready." Alice wasn't sure she would be ready. Sje'd tried and failed. "Sorryskrrysorry.'

"It's okay," Zelena assured her.

That nurse walked away, leaving alice's paperwork on the counter. A different nurse saw and overheard this. He grabbed the paperwork and read through it quickly and had a decent idea of how his colleague had failed. It was wriitten, and apparent from the entire situation regardless, that she was easily frightened. And his colleague was likely too tired to be patient with her. He'd give it a try. He knew what he waa doing when it came to having a scared patient. He grabbed a sheet of paper and attached it to the clipboard

He sat down a bit away from Alice.

"Hi."

Alice nodded a greeting at him.

"How about we do an intake on your bear there, too?"

Alice nodded. "Since we don't know if anything is too scary for you, how about we try to let your toy show you how it's done?"

Alice nodded. She liked that idea. She'd know what was happening before it happened then. At least if something was going to hurt she'd knle first. Maybe. She talked to her toys when no one was listening but they dodn't answer her. But she was used to things not answering her. She dodn't mind it too much. When things were quiet it meant she wasn't being yelled at, mother wasn't ready to hurt her. The quiet was comforting but she hasn't been able to find anywhere as quiet as the tower when she was alone. So she was still scared.

"Awesome. I'm Ryan, what's your bear's name?" Alice flinched. She'd gotten lost in her thoughts of if and how she'd know if something was going to hurt or just scare her. She didn't want either but she was scared by things she didn't always understand. Oh eight. There was a question. She needed to answer it.

"Bear."

"That's a good name." Ryan wrote it down and showed the clipboard to Alice. "See, I write down the important stuff. What's your name?" Ryan obviously knew her name but was showing her that he wasn't just going to start with something that frightened her. That he cared to hear what she had to say. If she wanted to say it.

Alice stared at Luna's fur for a second then muttered "Alice."

"I like that name. So how about we weigh Bear first? Alice nodded.

You have to get off the scale though, okay?" Alice nodded and moved over. Still holding her toy. "Okncan you set him on the scale for me?" Alice did as she was asked. "Nlw the hardest part. Let go of him for just a second. I'll stand up the. count to five and then you can pick him rifht back up."

Alice agreed. 5 wasn't long. Ryan gently stood up and pushed the thing he neeeded to weigh the toy and "1, 2, 3, 4, 5."

Alice picked Bear back up. "Good job."

"I?" Ryan made it look fun. Alice wanted to get on the scale now.

"You want a turn?"

Alice nodded. "Alright. Go ahead. Hang on to Bear. I think he likes the scale too." Alice nodded, clutching Bear as Ryan came close enough to weigh her. "All done. You did it. I'm guessing you don't like high fives, so how about a sticker?" Ryan grabbed a small thing from a bowl and showed it to Alice. "Look it's a bear."

Alice nodded and took the sticker Ryan offered her. She flinched a little but calmed down pretty immediately.

Alice looked at the scale. That had been fun. "Again?"

Ryan glanced at her. "Ok, but only because you asked so nicely." Alice got on the scale again and Ryan weighed her. "This time you pick the kind of sticker you want." Ryan held out the bowl for her and she picked one that looked like a dog.

Zelena stared at the nurse. Did he want to come home with them? He'd turned something Alice had been scared of into something she wanted to do again!

Alice got off the scale and stared up at Ryan. What next? This was fun!

"Alright, height. Let's see how tall you and bear are?"

Alice nodded.

"Do you want me to do Bear first?"

Alice nodded.

"You can hold him for this one. Not a problem. Just set him against that wall right there. Alice nodded and did that but didn't let go of bear. "And then see this little bar. It's going to come down and touch the top of his head. You can feel it with your hand when it gets low enough. It won't hurt."

Alice nodded. Ryan pulled the bar down and stopped just above the toys head. "Wanna feel it?"

Alice nodded and touched it." See no pain at all. Just me getting information I need." Alice nodded.

"Ok, your turn. Can you stand up right against the wall for me?"

Alice nodded and did exactly that. "Ok, I have the bar in my hand it's coming down slowly. On the count of 5 it'll touch your head, okay? 1, 2,3,4,5. And I'm pulling it back up. All done." Alice nodded.

"And that's all I need right now. Great job. See tat room with the door open?"

Alice nodded. "Want to explore it?" Alice nodded. "Alright. Follow me."

"Lunafollow" Alice followed Ryan and everyome else mad their ways into the room..

"Awesome. Thank you for doing so good. Awesome. I'll be back. I forgot my clipbaord."

Ryan walked out and back into the hallway where the first nurse was standing.

"What haooened to the patient that was sitting here with her dog? I need to do her height and weight."

"Already done."

"How? She wouldn't let go of that damn teddy besr."

"No. But she was very willing to let me weigh the toy and then she could still hold the toy while I weighed her. Just a bit of math."

"Yes, but that's more work."

"Yeah, she wanted to get on the scale again. You call it more work, I call it patience."

"Fine. Dr. Whale needs you over in the other wing."

"I'm not done taking her vitals," Ryan admitted. The other nurse's eyes widened.

"What have you been doing?"

"She was scared, so I had her bear do everything first."

"Ok that's a bit much. But whatever. I'll finish."

Ryan walked away and [nurse's name goes here.] walked away and into the room.

"Ok Dr. Whale needed Ryan so I'm going to finish your intake."

Alice stared at the woman. She scared her. Zelena had promised this wouldn't be scary! Or at least Alice thought that. Getting in a car wasn't scary. It took her places she liked. Didn't it? But this woman had tried to make her set down something that made her feel safe when she was in a place she wasn't comfortable in. And she wasn't comfortable here.

The nurse looked at the clipboard. Seriously? Ryan had only gotten a height and a weight in the amount of time it should've taken to finish everything. This was putting everyone's schedules behind. Whatever. She could get this done quickly. She wasn't some scared little kid that needed coddling. She was clearly old enough to just do as she was asked.

"I need to see your arm."

Alice stared at the woman. Why? She clutched the toy closer to her chest.

"Alice, I know you don't like when people touch you, it's okay. Luna's right next to if you need her. You're okay." Zelena comforted.

The nurse rolled her eyes. "I really don't have time for this. Just let me see your arm, I'll do what I need to and you can go back to whatever it is you would rather be doing."

Alice reached her arm out shakily. She blinked as the njrse picked up something fabricy. The njrse put it around her arm and Alice jerked away from her. Something was on her arm. She wanted it off. She needed it off. If she asked for it to go away it would. Maybe. She was begging in her head that no one would hurt her.

"Goaway."

"No. I have to do this."

Alice got frustrated. This person wouldn't leave her alone. She threw the bear o to the ground. "Goaway." She just wanted the thing to get off her arm. She didn't like it. It made her feel like she was going to be hurt. She tried to get it off on her own but it didn'f work.

Zelena glared at the nurse and then turned gently towards Alice. "I know. I know you don't like that. Here. I can take it off. Can you let me take it off?" Alice nodded and let Zelena undo the velcro on the blood pressure cuff.

"Really?" The nurse questioned.

"Can we have a different nurse?" Zelena asked. Alice was scared, this was the first doctor's visit she'd ever had and it wasn't going well.

"No. We're a bit understaffed."

"You have to warn her before you do anything. You scared her."

"It's a blood pressure cuff," the nurse clarified. What exactly was scary about that?

Alice darted her yes around the room some. There was a counter that had a hole undernesth it.

"Canisitelse?" Luna nldded and Alice quietly walked over to the counter and hid underneath it.

Zelena sigjed. This had been an awful idea.

"Is she going to come out of there or?".

"Eventually." The nurse gave up. This was not as simple as she'd thought it would be. And she was too tired to bother.

"Fine. Ryan can do this. I will go find him."

She left and a while later Ryan came back. Besr still laid on the tiled floor slightly out of Alice's reach.

"Aww, you dropped this." Ryan offered as he crouched down in front of the counter reaching the toy in.

"Goaway." If ryan was a nurse and the scary lady had bern a nurse they were both scary and Alice didn't want to be around either of them. And she was allowed to ask to be alone. Wasn't she? It was the only phrase she'd ever said that no one had hurt her for. And she liked it. It made her feel like she was allowed to ask for what she wanted. A feeling that she waan't very good with.

"I know, this isn't fun. And that the other nurse scared you. But it's okay to be scared. You just need to get through it. Let's see. The blood oressure cuff scsred you. Do you want to do the scaries thing first or do want tonsave it for last."

Alice watched him. First. If she knew it couldn't get any worse she could prepare for everything else. She held up one finger.

"Alright. Okay here's what we'll do. Do you like lollipops?"

Alice stared at him. What was a lollipop?

"Yeah. She likes candy. Just nothing bubblegum flavored., " Zelena told him.

Alice nodded.

"I have green or red." Ryan held up two lollipops he'd pulled out of his coat pocket.

"Which one?" Alice pointed at the green one. She didn't like the color red that much. It looked like blood and she didn't like it. And it was the same color as the potion mother used to make her fall asleep when she was even more sick of her than usual.

"Ok. All yours." Ryan let Alice grab the lollipop then waited for a second. He picked up bear. "I'll show you everything I habe to do on beae and then you can decide what you want to do first, okay?"

Alice nodded. She didn't want to do anything here anymore. But she didn't have a choice. Could she at least stay in the little fort area she'd discovered? At the very least no one would be able to beat her. Not well, anyway.

"Look this is a blood oressure cuff. It'll fit better on you." Ryan put the cuff on bear's arm. Alice shook her head. No. No. No.

"Alice, you're okay," Zelena promised. "Look, we just have to get through this and then after we can go get food at the diner."

Alice nodded. But she was still scared and she'd hidden herself ubderneath the coubter and Luna couldn't get to her. "It'll get a little tight on your arm for a a few seconds and then it'll be done." Ryan showed Alice everything else he needed to do on Bear. He jad her point at which one she wanted to do first.

"Ok, I'm just going to put this cuff on your arm. Do you want to hold bear while i do that?" Alice nodded and took the toy back. She hated this. She wanted to go bsck into her fort now. Zelena jad let her believe sje wouldn't get hurt. Thst'd been a lie. At least mother told her she was going to hurt her. Sure, sometimes she tricked her but it wasn't the same.

"Okay, there you go," Ryan wncouraged as Alice lwt him put the blood oressure cuff on her. "You're doing great.

Ryan oushed a button and the cuff started to gdt tighter.. Alice shook her head. She wanted this off. "Goaway."

"I can't."

"She means she wants that off," Zelena told him.

"It's almost done. 1-2-3-4-5, all done." Alice reached for the cuff and tugfed at it.

"I'vs got it." Ryan took it off and pushed it as far away as he could manage.

Alice pulled her arm back to her chest.

"I know that was reallt hard for you. Here, you can oick another sticker."

Alice did that and then pulled further back into where she was.

"We're not entirely done."

Alice wanted to scream. This was so much more difficult than when mother hurt her. She exoected it from her. She couldn't rememver a time when mother waan't just a source of pain. But Zelena had comforted her and Ryan had acted so nice at first. But now she had to do things that hurt and no ome cared.

"Ok, this next."

Ryan manages to finsih taking the rest of alice's vitals. The pulse ox machine was a struggle. But it got done.

"Okay, last thing. I have to take your tempature. "It's just like a lollipop but it doesn't taste as good and it has to go under your tongue."

It took a few tries to manage that but the results weren't concerning.

"Alright. You did great. And so did Bear." Ryan lost his composure fkr a second and rasied his hand.

Alice flicnched. " .sorry."

Zelena glared at Ryan. The anger was misplaced. Evwrything had been going so close to well..and one movvment had shattered that in an instant.

"Alice, he just wanted to tell you you were doing a good job. You're not in trouble. You didn't do anything wrong," Zelena comforted as she crouched down in front of her. It took a few minutes bur Alice snapped out of her apologies.

"I'm going to go get the doctor."

There was more? Alice held in a groan. She'd tried so hard to be good. She didn't like this. She'd had to be around so many people already. And now she had to deal with another one? She really didn't want to. Would they be someone that hurt or yelled at her? That was a risk she took with every person she was around. Alice started to panic. What if they hurt her even worse than mother had?

"Hey, the doctor is just going to talk to you. And i can answer questions if you need me to," Zelena told her. She'd deal with the matter of Alice needing shots later.

It took Alice a while to calm down and by the time she the doctor had walked into the room..