Chapter 3

Change

That scream had made Derek's blood run cold and he could feel his heart beating out of his chest as he stared at his wife trying to soothe his sister.

Addison had managed to wake Amelia up from her nightmare but it wasn't enough to calm her as she immediately broke down in sobs, clinging to her sister-in-law.

He just sat there frozen staring at the scene playing out in front of him. Amelia was covered in a thin layer of sweat and was shaking like a leaf. He barely registered the 3rd voice in the room at first, but the voice was talking to them. He looked up and recognized Mark, realizing Addie must've told him to stay. The weather was terrible after all. Derek himself really should've stayed at the hospital but he wanted to go home and be with his wife for at least a few hours before she went in for her own shift.

He knew she wasn't going to be going into work now; not for a few days anyways. Addison always moved heaven and earth for Amelia and sometimes he couldn't understand why. Like tonight.

When Derek had first brought Addison home he was so happy that she got along with his baby sister. He mentioned he was bringing her home to meet his mom and the only sister still living at home. He had forgotten to mention just how young his sister was. Addison was surprised but went with it. She took to it like a duck in water. By the end of that first visit it was like the two knew each other their entire lives. Addison had offered, if it was okay with their mom to take Amelia out shopping another day. She wanted to spoil the girl who she knew would become her sister.

Everything was going so well as far as Derek thought, until about three months after their wedding when Amelia had started acting out.

At first they thought it was a phase but when Derek had found his prescription pad in his sister's bedroom one day. He just knew. He had kept trying to get her help but she always refused. His mom had pretended there wasn't a problem until it became brutally clear that there was.

Four months ago, while high on pills, Amelia had stolen his car and she had crashed it into a tree. She had been lucky and had no damage outside of a broken leg, a minor concussion, and a few bruises. It had been close enough for the family and they had insisted on sending her to a rehab facility to recover. It was after she returned that all the fights started at home.

To Derek it seemed obvious that Amelia was the problem. She was an angry teenager with addiction problems and she was the common denominator in all the fights with mom and at school.

She was still getting high and even worse Derek had unfortunately discovered that his 14 year old sister was no longer a virgin. He practically chased the boy out of the house. Amelia had taken his old bedroom nearly 8 years previous, not wanting to stay in the room that for a brief period of time all 4 of his sisters shared. That was something he still didn't understand. How the four of them did not get along. Derek just didn't understand and tried to stay out of it but now he was realizing why. Amy IS a problem child. Maybe things would be different if dad was still alive but he somehow doubted it.

The cherry on top of it all? Just last week Amy had gotten caught with oxy in her pockets at school which resulted in immediate expulsion. He honestly had no clue what was going on with her or what mom did with her. He was telling himself he didn't care what was happening with her because he didn't believe for one second that she was clean. But now? Hearing his sister's terrified screams, he was regretting everything. Maybe Addie was right. Maybe she did just need someone on her side. He wasn't sure of anything anymore.

"Is… Is she okay?" He asks, finally coming to his senses barely recognizing his own voice. "What happened?" He asks again, eyes searching for another pair in the dark.

"Oh I don't know man. Probably a nightmare due to sleeping out in the cold because she's terrified of going home, or getting picked up by the cops or here's a bright idea. She's a kid and her grown ass adult siblings hate her because she's not as perfect as them." Mark snarks, rolling his eyes at his brother moving to sit down on the other side of the teen. He was completely fed up with his brother's attitude regarding their sister these days.

After they managed to calm the girl, which wasn't easy, The adults seemed to come to the conclusion that sleep wasn't going to happen. So Mark picks the small girl up as they one by one file down the stairs into the kitchen. Addie flips the kettle to make some tea for everyone. They were going to need it. Especially the small shaking girl curled up in Mark's arms refusing to make eye contact with anyone.

"Amy honey can you please tell us what the nightmare was about?" Addie pleads softly, searching the girl's eyes for an answer hoping that she'd at least say something.

She wanted to help the girl so bad. Make up for any mistakes anyone else has made. She knew it wasn't entirely their fault for letting it get this far but she still held some anger for the 5 adults that didn't do anything. Mark and her could only do so much. It was a painful situation all around.

Mark cradles the girl trying to coax her into drinking even just a little. She needed something in her system. Who knows how long it had been since she's last eaten or drank anything.

"Come on Amy. Small sips please." He asks softly, putting the mug to her lips hoping if it was there she'd drink.

Both Mark and Addie sigh relieved seeing her take the mug herself and sip the liquid slowly.

"There we go. Slow sips." He rubs her shoulders, hoping she'd relax. The tea feels heavy in her empty stomach, and she hands the mug back to Mark after drinking only half.

Slowly her eyes start drooping again, and a throbbing sensation in her skull takes over as she gives up fighting to stay awake. She curls in on herself even more and buries her face in the crook of Mark's neck; hiding from her brother's stare as well as the bright light. All she knew was that she was safe with Addie and Mark. They were safe people she thought to herself as she drifted off. Mark feels her completely relax against him and realizes she has fallen back to sleep. He cradles her tightly to his chest, wrapping a blanket around her tiny frame.

"Something needs to change, guys. She cannot continue like this." Mark whispers, careful not to wake the exhausted girl who lay limp in his arms. "If this keeps up and she keeps running away, I'm scared something worse will happen next time." he says in a low voice not wanting to voice the thought.

"Tonight she tried to leave my place and deal with things on her own, or maybe stop trying altogether. She said she wanted to just find someplace to sit and wait to -." he chokes up, not able to say the word.

He turned slightly and looked directly into Derek's eyes. "Stop being an ass and be a grown up. She screwed up but she's a kid. Look at her." He frowns, tilting his head towards Amelia pointedly. "She's practically skin and bones."

"She needs help and she needs people she can depend on to take care of her. After everything you two have been through together, I would've thought you would be the first person in line to step up for her. She used to think you hung the moon and the stars… Now she's afraid to look at you because she actually believes you hate her." Mark lectures, staring at his best friend with a look of disappointment.

"Derek." Addie says softly. "Mark's right and you know how much I hate agreeing with Mark. Your sister - " She pauses. "No, our sister." She corrects herself. "She needs us. All of us."

"She is still a kid and we caught it early. She can move past this before she even finishes high school if we just get her help. Derek, it's hard enough for adults to go through recovery on their own without a support system. How can you think your 14 year old baby sister will fare under those circumstances?" Addison pressed, forcing him to set aside his resentment and focus on the reality of the situation.

"She cannot live like this any longer, and if your mom refuses to let me step in, I have no problem being everyone's enemy and suing for custody. Even if it means you divorce me. I am taking care of this child with or without you, so think long and hard about your next move."

Derek sits there stunned taking everything in. He didn't realize that they left him alone. How did his day go from taking patients' blood all day to crawling into bed with his wife and sister. To be left with an ultimatum at 6:30am. Had she really just threatened to take his mother to court even if it would cost her everything?

He lays his spinning head on the table. He didn't know what to think. He'd never seen his sister like that before. Was it an act for attention? Or was it serious? He couldn't tell anymore. He tried before but that got nowhere. Was it worth trying again? To him it seemed impossible. No matter what he did, someone would be mad or upset. And who's to say his sister even wanted to change? She said she wanted to change before and that didn't work.

He knew Addison was serious. She always was. She was pretty vocal about wanting to do better for kids. Better than the upbringing she she right though? Was she right about his sister needing help? Would his sister accept the help this time?

Without even realizing it, his feet are carrying him toward the voices. He steps around the corner just in time to see his sister (their sister) clumsily tear herself from Mark's arms and jerk forwards, heaving the tea she'd just drank all over the hallway floor. She coughs and wipes her mouth with a shaking hand, frozen in fear looking down at the mess she had made; terrified her brother would be angry with her.

Instinctively, Derek reached out, rubbing her back soothingly as she broke down into a fresh round of heartbreaking sobs. Guilt sat heavy on his heart, and he regretted how easily he had abandoned his role as her big brother and protector.

"Oh Amy. I'm so, so, so sorry." He whispered, carefully wrapping his arms around her, rocking her as she cried weakly into his chest. He knew he needed to do better. Not just for himself as a person, but for her as her family.

"We're gonna help you. Just don't give up on us Amycakes. Please let us in." He pleaded, placing a kiss on her sweaty temple.

It was going to be his mission to fix things for her. He didn't know how they would do it, but he had a feeling if he allowed Addie to take the lead, things would get better.

Speaking of Addison, she was heading towards them holding a thermometer and small trash can from the hallway bathroom.

"Can you help her get settled in bed? I'm right behind you." Addison said softly, gently stroking the back of Amelia's head.

"Mark, go get some sleep. We've got her." Addison added, turning towards him and squeezing his shoulder.

"I'll clean this up first and then I will. It's the least I can do while you guys take care of her." Mark declared with a shrug, leaving no room for discussion. She nods, silently thanking him.

Before heading to the bedroom, Addison lingers in the hall to contact the university, informing them that she and Derek would be out for the rest of the week. The perks of being married, she could call out for her husband and vice versa. She wasn't too worried about missing time, knowing Naomi would give them any notes they missed.

She also calls the hospital where Derek worked a few nights a week for the exact same reason.

Finally she calls Carolyn, knowing that she has to inform her that Amy is safe and with them. She had no idea how her mother in law would react, and she had a bad feeling that the woman might not agree with Addison about what was best for her daughter. Relief flows through her in waves as she gets the voicemail. She leaves a message informing her that the youngest Shepherd was safe and sober, and that she was spending the night.

She knew she couldn't avoid the conversation forever and that she'd be getting a call back bright and early the next morning. She hoped everything might go smoothly in the light of day, but she knew that whatever the outcome of that discussion was, it would determine her next move.

With a sigh, she grabbed the supplies she'd gathered and entered the master bedroom.

End Chapter

Song title: Change-Taylor Swift