The Myrtle/Skye conversation is dedicated to MsNorthman90 for suggesting Myrtle's potential "punishment" :P Enjoy and don't forget to review!

Chapter 74- Alan's Tough Love

After Renee left, Erica shook her head and plopped down beside Rae. "Well, she was rude."

Rae scoffed. "How was she rude?"

"Didn't you see the way she looked at me? And just look at you… she was upsetting you so much I should've thrown her out right away."

"Erica, she was not upsetting me. She's a good friend of mine."

"Well, I think you're better off without her. Especially right now. She can't be bringing all of that Buchanan drama over here while you're fighting your illness."

"So, what about your morning with Jack and David?"

Erica sighed dramatically. "I went to David for… some… medical advice."

Rae looked at her with concern. "Medical advice?"

Erica held her hands up. "He says I'm fine, don't worry. He walked me out to the parking lot, and we ran into Jackson. Before I knew it, they started fighting over me. Not physically mind you but arguing over me. I was very torn, but before I even had a chance to choose, both of them had the nerve to say they're better off without me. They said that I take too much in a relationship and don't give enough. That I make everything about me and my drama, and I expect too much from them. Well, I expect 150% because I give at least that much."

Rae squinted her eyes and rubbed her chin. "And they just don't appreciate you?"

"Exactly. So, now I'm single again, apparently."

A few minutes later, Myrtle and Kendall came downstairs. Kendall locked eyes with Erica, then hurried into the kitchen.

Erica sighed. "I don't know what else to do. She just wants nothing to do with me."

"Where's Skye?" Rae asked.

"She went to support AJ in his custody hearing," Myrtle said.

"Oh okay," Rae said. "When will she be home?"

"She's thinking of staying at Alan's tonight."

Rae frowned. "Well, that's good. Though she didn't say bye."

FargateFargateFargate

"Well, that was a disaster," Monica said after Sonny and Courtney left the court room.

"I—I need to go after Skye," Alan said.

"Like Hell you are!" Monica groaned. "She may have made things so much worse for AJ."

"Everything Skye said was absolutely right," Edward said.

Alan turned to Monica. "Didn't you hear her? She was replacing Michael with herself. She's not in a good place right now."

"And what about our son?" Monica asked. "This day was about supporting him, and all you can think about is your psychotic daughter with Rae!"

Alan clenched his jaw. "I know how you feel about Rae, but you need to stop directing that anger towards Skye. I will not allow you to call her psychotic again. She is my daughter, and you need to accept that. But all that said, you are right, I need to be here to support AJ right now because this day was about him. But I'm going to check on Skye after."

"Thanks for uh being here today," AJ said to Elizabeth as Alan and Monica walked over.

"Michael belongs with his father, just like this baby does…" Elizabeth placed her hands over her belly and looked over at Jason.

"AJ, don't let today get you down." Alan patted his back. "This battle isn't over yet and you are sure to get Michael back."

FargateFargateFargate

"Michael, I'm not so sure that coming to a bar is a good idea," Skye said as she and Michael walked into Jake's.

"That Sonny Corinthos has you all rattled," Michael said as he massaged her shoulders. "You need a fun night out. Play some pool."

"Well, I guess a game of pool won't hurt."

When they found a table near the back, and Michael pushed his chair right next to Skye's and wrapped an arm around her.

Skye swallowed hard. "Gee, you like to move fast."

He smelled her hair and smiled. "You were very sexy in that courtroom. Especially when you confronted Corinthos."

"Really? I was a mess. I am a mess."

"Anger looks good on you. Let's order some drinks."

Skye cleared her throat. "I don't drink."

"What do you mean, you don't drink?" He called the waitress over. "A couple of whiskeys. Neat."

"I'll just have a club soda with lime."

Michael looked up at the waitress. "Add a shot of rum to her club soda."

Skye was about to protest when Michael squeezed her thigh, and she closed her mouth shut.

After the waitress left, Michael pulled some papers from his jacket and set a pen in front of Skye.

"What's this?" Skye asked.

Michael grinned at her. "It's for Fusion. A new ingredient you can use for your lotions. Ceramide. It's hard to come by."

"What's Ceramide?"

"It locks the moisture to your skin." He began to massage her hand. "Prevents fine lines and wrinkles."

"You… you seem to know a lot about cosmetics."

"Indeed."

"But why don't you just sign this?" Skye asked.

"Because it's your company with Kendall," Michael said. "It needs to be in one of your names."

"I guess that makes sense…" She started to skim through the pages. "Who is Andre Karp—"

Michael turned the pages to the back. "You sign right here."

"But… now I'm not an expert in legal things, but aren't you supposed to read things over before you sign them?"

"I did. Don't you trust me?"

Skye paused for several seconds.

"You don't trust me." He leaned back and crossed his arms. "After all the money I've put into Fusion."

"Of course, I trust you." She grabbed the pen and signed it.

He smiled and leaned closer to her, so their mouths were barely inches apart. "I'd like to do this again sometime." He pressed her lips to hers and kissed her passionately. "I'll call you tomorrow."

Skye wondered why he was leaving so suddenly, but she was left stunned as he tucked the papers away and walked out of the bar.

"Wh-what was that?" Skye said to herself.

"Here you go!" The waitress set the three drinks in front of her.

Skye stared at them for what felt like a century when Adam's voice echoed through her head. He's a little baby. You're a grown woman, though at times you don't act like it. I've heard of sibling rivalry, but this is ridiculous. Then Bo's voice. Skye Chandler you're under arrest for the attempted murder of Max Buchanan. Then Todd's. Rae Cummings begat Skye. Then Adam's again. You're an adopted Chandler. Then the sound of the boathouse door shutting behind her and the icy cold lake engulfing her… Adam's voice once again… You know very well that Skye nor Scott are true Chandlers. Edward's. I took her from Rae and her family and told her the child died. Uncle Stuart's. Your mom is really sick, Skye. And Diane drilling AJ. Are you or are you not an alcoholic?

"Am I an alcoholic?" Skye pulled one of the glasses closer. "That's the question… I'm not an alcoholic. I'm nobody. I always have been." She lifted the glass to her lips and took a sip.

"Put that glass down right now."

Skye lowered the glass to find Alan standing there and she started to cry.

He walked over to the table, lifted the three glasses and returned them to the bartender. He paid for them and sat next to Skye.

"Skye…" Before he started talking, he just wrapped his arms around her and let her cry. "It's okay… it's okay."

"H—how did you know I was here?" Skye asked and let go of the hug.

"I didn't," Alan said. "AJ disappeared and I was afraid he came here. But I'm glad that I found you. Skye… we're still getting to know each other, but I do know that you worked very hard to stop drinking. Does this have to do with the things you said to Sonny? I heard you replace yourself with Michael."

Skye lowered her gaze. "It just… it hit a little close to home. Something about Sonny… he… he…"

"He reminds you of Adam? And Sonny taking Michael from AJ makes you think of Adam taking you from us?"

Skye buried her face in her hands.

"Skye…" He sighed. "If I'd known you'd make that connection I would've talked AJ out of asking you to come. I don't want you to come to anymore of his hearings."

"But he needs support…"

"You can support him other ways," Alan said. "But right now, you're coming with me. I'm taking you to talk to someone."

"Who?"

"I would take you to an AA meeting, but there isn't one at this time. So, I'm taking you to talk to Dr. Collins."

She slowly looked up at him in fright. "A shrink?"

"Yes."

"You think I'm crazy, don't you?"

"No." He shook his head. "Not at all. You're in pain. There's a difference. You need to talk to someone who can help you deal with this pain. You've been through a lot this year alone. I know you were framed for attempted murder and spent the holidays in jail and Adam didn't even visit you or call. Rae told me about that. Then your life was turned upside down when you found out you were adopted. Then immediately after you were locked in a boathouse, got hypothermia, received all those threats and got kidnapped, and now your mother is sick. That is way too much for anyone to deal with."

"You must've been talking to Grandma."

He nodded. "She did call me. She's worried about you and said you snuck out. She also mentioned she thinks you need therapy. Skye… that's nothing to be ashamed of. Kevin can help you."

"I don't want to see a shrink," Skye whined a little. "Not again. That's all I ever did when I was in Oak Haven."

"But if you continue down this road you might end up back in Oak Haven," Alan said. "That would be much worse. We would visit you, of course, but we'd all miss you very much. A couple hours with a therapist each week is so much better."

"Look, I'm working on the list Grandma made me, but I don't want to see a shrink!"

"You are going to talk to Kevin. Right now, because I don't want to lose you. I don't want to lose you to alcohol or to Oak Haven, and that is the path you're on right now. You have so much to live for and so many people that care about you. So, come on… First, you're going to call home to let your mother and grandmother know you're okay. Then, I'm taking you to see Kevin."

"But—"

"No buts." He pulled out his phone and held it out to her.

She stared at it for a few minutes and finally took it.

"Hello?" Myrtle said when she answered.

"Grandma?"

"Skye, are you all right?"

"Yeah…"

"Skye Chandler, I would've been perfectly fine with you going to court to support your brother, but if you ever sneak out like that again, then I will have you over my knees, young lady!"

"Okay… I'm—I'm sorry," Skye said in a small voice. "I—I… D—dad is taking me to see a shrink."

Alan reached for Skye's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"Oh, Skye…" Myrtle's tone softened. "You are doing the right thing. This will be good for you. I'm very proud of you."