ZOE

Maybe if her kids were coming home high or starving themselves to death she might tiptoe around how to handle it. Like hell. If there was ever a time to dig truth out of this bunch of conspirators it was now. Zoe exchanged a knowing glance with Raphael as Alli feebly attempted to mask hinting that Anton was off to tear Spot in two. But why?

As Yuuta gave in to Alli's pleas promising a chat with her later, Alli seemed to soften a bit from her rigid posture. If Mikey still can't tear into her, and for some reason Denim won't, then Zoe was more than willing to test the boundaries. Maybe Denim would snap out of it.

Zoe moved gracefully around the chairs, her fingers pausing to rest on the back of Andrea's seat. "Well, it looks like there's more than one concern to be addressed here."

Alli swallowed, her eyes narrowing on the front door. "Y-you know, I was supposed to work this morning." She stood up with some effort, as though her body itself weighed too much for her to carry.

"Sit." She, Raph and surprisingly Denim said in unison.

Alli sank back into her chair.

Zoe was fully aware of Andrea remaining perfectly still and silent. Two sure fire tells that she hoped to go unnoticed. Given that Alli's condition was going to take more than just a talk, Zoe opted to shift her target. "So, Andrea, what do you know about Scout?"

Andrea bore an impassive expression that provoked Zoe's ire, and Raphael knew it. Before her daughter got beyond, "She's about yay high with red hair-"

Raph slapped the table so hard everyone jumped. "You think this is a joke? Huh? Do you? I can tell you know something. Now. Spill."

Andrea's eyes flickered bright like her father's scolding physically stung. Then they hardened and she lifted her chin.

Alli turned toward her mother. "What's wrong with Scout?"

"Jem found her high and injured last night, a knife wound. She was sleeping when we left this morning so we still don't know what happened." Denim motioned to Andrea. "We were hoping Drea' may have some idea."

Andrea shrugged. "She wasn't with me. I was home last night."

Alli stood up again. "I have to go see her. Talk to her." She pointed to Andrea. "Why are you guys asking Drea' when you should be asking Scout? That's not fair. You're asking her to betray her and putting her in a really bad position." She took a step closer, leaning on Andrea's chair, while the teen grew taller, more confident. Then Alli placed a hand on Drea's shoulder. "I know that if Scout were in trouble you wouldn't have to ask Drea' what happened. She'd be seeking you guys wanting to help her."

Andrea's face deepened a shade of red Zoe wasn't sure she'd ever seen on her daughter before. Well played Allison. Well played.

"Fine!" Drea' threw her hands up. "We met this guy at Luke's party. He-" Andrea hesitated, her eyes dropping to the cup of her hands. "He had this stuff." She looked at Alli then, as if her being the next youngest in the room she'd understand. "He had this stuff he was selling to hybrids. He told Scout if she took it she would be able to hear. So, she did it, and I swear as I sit here she could! It didn't last long and yeah she got sick after, but Alli, she could hear and talk like I am right now!"

Alli stared at Andrea, her battered face unusually emotionless. Then her voice came out a low tight sound. "You're just kids, Andrea. Do you know what that stuff can do to her? Do you?" Her eyes filled. "Brain hemorrhages, loss of consciousness, memory loss, seizures, brain damage and some die. It's poison. I just- I can't-"

Andrea stood up, was near eye level with Alli. "Yeah, well she gets to hear. She gets something out of it. What's your excuse for starving yourself, huh? What do you get out of that beyond tearing up everyone around you? Especially my brother."

The two girls glared at one another in such a way that it was Raph who seemed to magically appear between them. "That's enough of that. So, you-" he pointed to Andrea. "Grounded. And gettin' drug tested. And more talkin' then we'll see." Then he pointed to Alli. "And you, I thought you were over this. You gonna tell us why the relapse, or do we get to do this whole bit all over again? Can't we just skip to the deal with your issues part? Whatever it is I know we can handle it."

Alli looked toward the door, her fingertips running over her palms. Then something seemed to occur to her. "I need to go. Something I need to do."

"But, Alli, your dad is bringing you a shake. We have to talk about this relapse-" Denim stood, put a hand gingerly over Alli's arm like it might break.

Alli hesitated, put her hand over Denim's. "I'll be right back. I just need to be sure of something. I'll be right back, Mom. You and Dad can leave the shakes, go check on Scout she needs you. I'll be fine."

All eyes were on Denim, there wasn't much she could do. Short of beg Alli to eat, and Zoe was pretty sure all of them had done that at one point. She wanted to offer to stay with one of Denim and Mikey's kids, but she wasn't sure which needed her mother the most, and which an aunt would suffice.

Then Andrea folded her arms over her chest. "I want to see Scout, then I want to go home."

This Zoe could do. She glanced at Raph who seemed to agree, then she turned to Denim. "If you want to stay here and wait for Mikey, I will take Drea and go check on the twins. Maybe give Phoenix or Donnie a request for a follow up just to make sure."

Denim seemed to be analyzing Alli, her eyes appraising how far gone she may be. She couldn't weigh more than 90 pounds. Denim seemed to realize this and pointed a finger toward the hall bathroom. "Scale, now. If it's below 90 we're going straight to the hospital. If it 90 or better you can run your errand and your dad and I will be waiting here for your return." Then she looked at Zoe. "Thank you. I accept the help."

Zoe was mildly curious as to whether or not Alli would fail this test, but she'd know soon enough. Raph motioned Andrea toward the door and the three went to do as they promised.

ALLI

Oh, shit. Oh, shit. Oh, shit. I can't go to the hospital now. I have to get to Spots and make sure that Anton doesn't tell Yuuta what he thinks happened. What was I thinking?! The two of them will kill Spot!

"Alli."

Her mother's voice pierced her thoughts. Alli glanced around the tiny kitchen. Everyone was gone but her mom.

"Scale, please, Allison."

Denim motioned her toward the hall bath. If she'd known there was going to be a weigh in she'd have put weights in her slippers. Her mom followed close behind her, into the narrow bathroom, where she pulled out the floor scale.

"It's off by two pounds." Alli tried.

"No. It's not, Alli. Your uncle checks it once a month when he maintenances your apartment." Denim pointed to the damned silver device. Tapped it with her toe so it turned on. "Shoes off," she instructed.

Damn. Oh, damn. Oh, please, please be 90.

She lifted one foot, placed it on the scale, then the other. The numbers flickered and blinked, 88, 89, 88, 89, 89.5. And then it stayed. 89.5.

Alli's eyes shot to her mother's tear-streaked face and she hated herself. For all the tears her parents had shed, for all their fears and worries. She loved them, but somehow once she got started, it was near impossible to stop.

Her mother wiped her eyes and sniffed, then waved a hand at the scale. "We're going to the hospital, Alli."

No! "No! No, Mommy, please. No. I swear, I swear I'll drink an entire shake when I get back, I promise. Just, please, you have to let me go. Please, Mommy!" Tears were in free fall down Alli's cheeks. Had she fallen farther than she knew? "Not the hospital, anything but that and rehab. Just give me Anton, please. He's all I need. Please, Mommy, please, please, I have to go. I have to."

DENIM

Denim wavered at being called 'mommy,' a rare and nostalgic occurrence nowadays, but didn't break until Alli called in her trump card.

Much as it hurt to admit, it wasn't her, or even Mikey, who had gotten Alli through the first time. It was Anton. And if she said she needed him it was probably true.

But she sure as hell wasn't going to appear to cave that easily. This was serious and Alli needed to know it.

Alli squirmed under her scrutiny as she deliberated.

"You may go, but the three of you better head straight back here. And you're getting a checkup with either Grandmere or Uncle Donnie. And daily weigh ins. If you're not putting weight back on, then it's got to be the hospital and rehab, understand?"

Despite the stern expression she'd been trying for, Alli brightened the moment she started talking, nodding vigorously as she'd laid out the conditions, then hugged her enthusiastically, crying out 'thanks, Mom,' before rushing out of the apartment with more energy than she'd demonstrated since busting in.

Denim shook her head, hoping she'd made the right call. But Anton was the only one Alli would allow to help her. She had to trust that letting her daughter seek him out was correct.

Not that she planned to leave everything to chance.

Stepping out on the balcony, she pulled out her phone and dialed as she watched Alli tiredly sprinting down the street, struggling to pull on her shoes as she went.

Yuuta answered with a squeak.

"Alli's coming to you and Anton. Can you guys bring her back as soon as possible?"

Yuuta made a chirping noise, she'd long since learned to associate with affirmative. If the call had been with someone outside of the family, he'd probably be using his text to voice software, but that usually wasn't necessary among the people who knew him well.

"Thanks, Yuuta."

As she hung up, she could hear Mikey's voice emanating from within the apartment.

"Good news! I got chocolate and strawberry. We can mix 'em together and... Alli? Anyone?"

A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. Somehow Mikey could always bring that out no matter what.

Well, she'd better go fill him in.

ALLI

Panting and exhausted, Alli was sure she was too late by the time she reached Spot's door. She leaned against it, heaving for breath wondering what she was about to walk in on. But the door was closed. That in and of itself, lent hope.

A sigh from the far end of the hall caught her attention. There, side-by-side leaning against the wall were Anton and Yuuta. Anton's arms were crossed in a similar posture that his father often took up. Yuuta had his Sofu look going on, which sobered Alli of any hopes that Anton hadn't filled him in.

"He ain't home." Anton informed her, his gaze dropping to his knuckles. "Yet."

Silent Yuuta.

Alli cringed. She could handle either one of them separately- for the most part. But the two of them together- that was going to be a hard sell. First things first, she had to get them both out of Spot's apartment building. "Anybody up for a walk in the park? We can talk about-" she waved her hand in the air. "Whatever it is that brings you here."

"Whatever brings us here? Are you serious?" Anton's hands balled into fists.

Yuuta rested a hand on his shoulder, before he could say anything else, then signed. "How did you really get that bruise?"

She started in on a denial, but his flurry of gestures, so fast only years of experience communicating with him allowed her to translate.

"You didn't fall. I could have confronted you back at the apartment in front of everyone. Your parents are there waiting, I still could. It's up to you where you want to have this conversation."

Crap. She'd forgotten how perceptive Yuuta could be. When struggling for the upper-hand Alli opted to go with angry Alli first.

Putting one hand on her hip she pointed a finger at her uncle. "Are you threatening me, Yuuta? Are you telling me we're either having this conversation here, or you're turning me in to my parents? Hmm? Because I was just threatened with hospitalization and rehab by my mom and my dad's preparing to force feed me. So, between threats and temper tantrums, I tell you what, if this family can't stay out of my business then maybe I'll just move in with Spot."

She took a step towards them, standing as tall as she could. Which didn't give her much, she was still nearly a foot shorter than both of them. And what the hell was she saying? Spot told her not to come back until her face healed. Did she want that? What if they called her bluff? Where would she go if Spot wouldn't take her? Did she want to come back to Spot at all?

Unfazed, Yuuta raised a bushy eyebrow and signed, "because you'd stand aside and let that happen if someone was treating one of us this way? I suppose we should stay out of Scout's business too."

Alli sucked in a breath, her resolve wavering. No. There was no way they could stay out of Scout's business with her life on the line.

Alli's gaze dropped to her bony hands, tiny red speckles covering most of her knuckles and thumbs. Her life was on the line too. She knew that. She knew her disease was a disease, she'd had it long enough and been through the nastiest, darkest places in her struggle with it. If they let her be, she'd be dead.

A lump rose to her throat as she touched her bruised cheek. Spot certainly wasn't going to take care of her. He didn't even want to look at her until the bruises were gone. Bruises he gave her.

But he did give her something else. He filled a space. One Anton wasn't willing to. What could she say? Lying to either of them was futile. And she hadn't even had to speak for either of them to put things together. She took a step back, her fingers hovering over her eyebrow. "It's not Spot's fault. Now can we go somewhere else to talk?"

"Not his fault?" Anton spluttered. "Are you..."

Yuuta grabbed his wrist and yanked, shutting him up. For a moment the boys locked stares.

Then Anton glanced over at Alli and tore his arm free with a scowl. "Fine. But if you think I'm just gonna let it go..."

But Yuuta was already moving, gesturing for them to follow.

Good, we'll just go to the park and—As she turned to head for the stairs Alli froze. There, just reaching the landing, was Spot.

If he was surprised to see her he didn't show it. His eyes immediately skipped to Anton and Yuuta. He smiled as he pulled out his key. "What brings you guys around this morning?"

"Anton forgot his phone last night." Alli rushed to get between Spot and Anton, while Yuuta stepped in front of Anton as well.

"Nah, that ain't it." Anton growled. "I want to know what happened to Alli's face! And, get off me, Yuuta!"

Spot looked over at Alli, eyes widening in surprise. "Babe, what happened?" He eyed the bruise on her cheek in concern. "I think you might need an ice pack. I've got one in the freezer." He pulled out his keys to unlock the door.

What? Alli's tiny body stiffened, yet her heart picked up a hard-erratic beat. She blinked, taken aback by the ease in which he lied. Did she want that? To go along with him? But if she didn't Anton would pulverize Spot right now and Yuuta would help. Oh gods, what have I gotten myself into?

"Babe?" Spot leaned in close, his eye ridges lifting expectantly. He began to nod. "Come on, let's get that ice pack and you can tell me all about it."

All found herself nodding. "I- I- got dizzy, and I-" Had she dreamt the whole thing? Spot seemed so sincere. Had she blacked out and hit her face? It wouldn't be the first time. "I don't remember what happened, exactly. I remember being dizzy then waking up like this."

"You've gotta be fucking shitting me! He can't get away with this." Anton yelled, stomping up to Spot, who, in a demonstration of poor judgement was not intimidated.

Spot crossed his arms over his chest, indignant. "Are you saying I did this? What the hell man? I think you need to leave. Now."

Alli's eyes darted back and forth between Anton and Spot. This was escalating fast. Lifting her hands, Alli placed one on Spot's plastron the other on Anton's. "I'm fine. I'm okay. That's all that matters. I don't want you guys to fight. There's nothing to fight over. I'm okay." She set her eyes on Anton, was sick to her stomach because she was lying to him. And she was lying to herself. "Please. Antonello, don't do this."

Anton's jaw shifted, his nostrils flaring. "Bullshit, Alli. This is bullshit. I ain't leaving' here without you. And you-" He guided Alli's hand down from Spot's plastron then jabbed his finger in its place. "You stay the hell away from her or I will—"

Spot swiped Anton's hand away and shoving ensued.

Knowing she was in no shape to intervene Alli screamed, "Do something, Yuuta!"

Moving so fast, it was difficult to see anything but a furry blur, Yuuta's hands darted out, striking a series of pressure points on both Anton and Spot.

Anton managed to block at least two, leaving his legs mobile while his torso locked up. Spot didn't stand a chance, becoming a turtle statue.

"What the fuck, Yuuta? I had everything under control."

Yuuta gave Anton a skeptical glance before tapping the release point on his nephew. Then he stepped between Spot and Alli, pointed to Alli's bruise, pointed Spot and mimed snapping an invisible stick in half with his hands.

Unable to speak, Spot let out a muffled grunt of protest.

Yuuta repeated the gesture to make sure he'd been understood.

"Oh, I was only going to bust up his face so he understands what it feels like." Anton growled.

Yuuta motioned at Spot once more, then sighed.

"Okay! Okay! That's enough! Thank you, Yuuta." Alli waved them both back. Stretching on her toes she attempted to reach for Spot's neck to release the pressure points. But she couldn't. She was too short. She scowled at the boys. "A little help?"

"Don't look at me." Anton huffed. "Before you go tryin' ta set him loose, why don't you explain to him just who exactly he's messing with?" Anton sneered at Spot. "Apparently he don't know yet."

Alli reached up, grabbing Anton's hand, her heart skipping beats when he didn't pull away. "Can we talk for a minute?" She pointed toward the stairwell. "Over there?"

While he didn't let go, Anton didn't follow her either. "Ain't nothin' to talk about. He hurt you. We hurt him. You come home with us." His eye ridges raised. "Can we go now?"

Alli and Anton stared at each other, a battle of wills. A stupid fight that he wasn't going to give up on and she wasn't sure she wanted to win. None of this would've happened if he'd just remembered. None of it. Not the relapse, nor her initial fall. She'd been in therapy long enough to understand the cause of her troubles, but that didn't mean they could be fixed as easily as they were figured out.

Anton blinked as if his mind had gone somewhere else, his expression softening for an instant before his angry walls were back up. "Let's go home, Al. I'll take care of you, I promise."

Spot grunted and moaned, trying to draw attention to himself. But Alli could see or hear nothing beyond those deep pine eyes, angry, confused, endearing, it didn't matter. And she didn't want to be there with Spot, getting knocked around. She was smarter than that. At least she used to be. A pang rushed her chest and she squeezed Anton's hand tighter. Swallowing back the lump in her throat, she nodded, barely trusting herself to speak. "Okay, let's go home."

They started walking away with Yuuta following, when Spot let out another inarticulate grunt. No one paid him any mind. The effects would wear off in time. They were going home.