"Aaron a week that's it. We have four other kids to worry about."
"I can't find her a stable and capable place to stay in a week. Hailey she's just a kid who has gone through so much. Why can't you give her a chance." I snap. JJ's currently in the shower after I cleared out everything she could harm herself with from the bathroom. The three oldest slowly walk in. They all go to a private school in central D.C. and Spencer goes to a specialized school by our house.
"You guys ready?" I ask turning away from Hailey.
"Yeah." They all state feeling the tension in the room.
"Derek you need to come home after practice. We need to have a talk. Emily no running from therapy today." I add sternly as they look at me wide eyed.
"Yes sir." They both state softly knowing not to test me especially after these past few days. Spencer comes in right before they leave to have breakfast. I decide to go check on JJ knowing she needs her meal replacement drink and maybe some fruit along with her asthma medication.
"JJ?" I knock on the bathroom door. I get no response making me nervous. I don't want to walk in on her but I have no choice. I open the door and find her curled up on the floor staring at the bathtub.
"JJ nothing's going to happen in that tub. It's okay." I state softly as she flinches to my voice startling her.
"Why don't we go to the kitchen so you can have your shake and some fruit before your medicine." I state softly. Her eyes are glazed as she rocks back and forth. I give her a minute as she realizes her surroundings before nodding slowly standing up. I finally realize how tiny she is and it's startling. She has trouble walking and breathing. I walk softly behind her until we reach the kitchen and guide her to a barstool. Hailey slightly gasps at JJ's size and the cuts lining her arms. I cut her a look as JJ ducks her head. I grab out her shake and hand it to her as I start to make a small plate of fruit.
"JJ you need to drink your shake." I state softly.
"I'm not hungry." She mumbles.
"I know you probably aren't but you can't skip meals. It's just the shake and a little bit of fruit." I state softly. She slowly starts to drink the shake as I smile at her. I push the fruit towards her knowing it's going to take convincing for her to eat it. It takes her a good fifteen minutes for her to drink the shake
but she bolts to the bathroom. I quickly run after her as Spencer watches us confused same with Hailey. When I reach the bathroom, JJ is emptying her stomach into the toilet. I sigh rubbing her back.
"It's okay sweetheart." I whisper as she starts to heave.
"Hey calm down and take some deep breaths. I know it's hard." I whisper. She slowly calms down and I help her up. I guide her back to the kitchen so she can take her pills. She keeps her head down as I pass her pills over with a glass of water. She slowly takes them as I watch her closely.
"Let's go get your asthma medicine and lay down. We're going to meet a friend in a couple of hours." I state softly as she plays with her necklace. She nods sadly still not looking up. We get to the bedroom and I motion to the bed for her to lay down.
"I don't want to." She mumbles.
"I know but I know you're having a hard time breathing and this will help." I state as she digs her nails into her arm.
"JJ no mam." I state firmly but she ignores me.
"I..I need...control" She panics. I slowly walk towards her and grab her wrists as she flinched due to the physical contact and scars.
"This is not the way. You can't do this." I state firmly but calmly.
"It's the only way. I need control." She freaks starting to thrash around. I switch my grip on her hands to one hand as I reach for the restraint gloves so she can have her asthma medicine and relax. I restrain her hands as she sobs and I see Hailey appear at the door. I guide JJ to the bed and put the mask over her face as she sobs staring at the ceiling.
"Just to try fall asleep." I state as I sit on the couch. Hailey walks over and sits down.
"We need to actually talk." She states quietly.
"Can we please do it later. I'm taking her to Kate's at one." I state trying to calm my nerves.
"Aaron we can't keep postpone it." She states completely ignoring JJ only being a few feet away.
"Hailey I have more important things to worry about right now so yeah I'm not talking about this right now." I state firmly. She sighs before leaving the room angrily. I look over and JJ is luckily back asleep. She needs the sleep but I know it's hard for her. I check my emails before pulling up some of the contacts I have for possible homes that can take care of JJ. I hear her stir after a few and luckily she can take the nebulizer off. I help her take off the mask as she stares up.
"Do you want to lay down for awhile longer or go watch a movie in the theater room?" I ask softly.
"Movie." She mumbles hesitantly. I nod helping her get up and notice she winces when she puts weight on her left leg.
"I'll get some of your painkillers. The doctor said it might need surgery or physical therapy depending on its state." I tell her as I wrap my arm around her to support her. We finally make it to the home theater and I get her settled before pulling out her painkillers. Hailey should be back from dropping Spencer off. JJ slowly takes them before turning towards the movie. I put on Frozen because it can't influence her in a bad way. I sit down next to her and see the information Jason and Dave sent me on homes. Hailey comes in around forty minutes later and JJ is back asleep.
"Frozen? For a fourteen year old?"
"She can't get ideas to hurt herself from it so yeah." I state still unhappy.
"Are you happy? I've been looking at homes for her." I grumble. Hailey sighs before sitting down.
"Aaron we can't handle another kid. We already have four that require all of our time and you're gone half the time. I know you want to help this girl and you already have. Let someone else be responsible for her." Hailey sighs frustrated.
"No one else can understand this girl like us though. Another home is just going to push her under the rug." I sigh knowing once JJ gets into another home she's going to start harming herself again, get into fights, or run away.
"You don't know that Aaron. We can check on her if you want but let her be someone else's responsibility." Hailey states firmly. I sigh knowing I'm not going to win this battle.
"Fine Hailey you win." I grumble.