I cannot apologize enough for making you wait so long.

I am going to do my best with the next chapter.

Oj- I know my timing doesn't add up. I hadn't met to put senior prom in the summary, but I'm too lazy to change it. My bad!

Cody Firestar- Thanks for your support. I think Hayley has realized she doesn't need to be such a bitchy asshole and now that her sister is in danger and had been in danger (danger with her own boyfriend no less), she realizes that Alex needs her. Alex has realized that Hayley is serious about helping her, and after longing for a close sisterly bond for so long, she has the chance and she isnt going to let it go. Gloria has realized, I believe, that Alex isnt going to sway much, and being the victim (Survivor) that she is, Alex needs what's going to help her the most.

Again you guys, I am so sorry. I'm already writing the next chapter and you have every reason to throw tomatoes at me again if I haven't got it up in at MOST 2 weeks.

Can you forgive me?

They went home two hours later. Alex was wearing scrubs since they didn't have the sense to pack extra clothes. She'd gone back to Claire with a blank, red face, stating simply that she was ready to leave and do so as quickly as possible. So they all linked arms and strode back to their cars, to Gloria's first, who said she'd meet them back at the house when she got the call from Claire. Alex was in pain, the doctors prescribed her medicines for that and they dropped the prescriptions off on the way home.

She went straight to her bedroom and changed her clothes first and foremost before climbing into bed and attempting to block the nightmares that had just taken place. But instead of blocking them, they came back more vividly than they had been, and she was seeing them first from a third-person point of view; watching them happen and not being able to stop it. Then from a first-person point of view where it was happening all over again. She woke during the night screaming, screaming and sweating, yet her skin cold to the touch. Hayley got to her first every time before they glued themselves together and moved quickly into their mother's room.

Claire called Phil to come home early. She told him as much truth as she was willing over the phone; told him something happened and it was best the four of them came home. They replied saying they'd get in the car the next day and be home by four.

Alex was still asleep then. So Claire sat Hayley next to her and Phil and Luke across from them.

She clasped her hands together in front of her, "Alex was raped" she stated plainly. There was no use sugar coating the statement; it was going to come out, dragging it out was only going to make it worse.

"While you were away was not the first time" she continued, "Apparently it's happened 6 times. And she didn't tell any of us. That's the change we've been seeing in her." she finished.

Phil didn't say anything. He just sat there, plain look on his face.

"Can I beat him up?" Luke asked proudly. Hayley let out a choked laugh, tears springing readily into her eyes.

"If it would make the situation better, yes, you could" Claire said, "But unfortunately it will make things worse."

"He tried to do it again yesterday, but I got home and chased him out. We went to the hospital immediately and had a kit done. The police are looking for him now." Claire continued to tell them.

"Who?" Phil finally spoke.

"Dylan" Hayley spoke up. He looked up sharply at her, his eyes filling.

"Your Dylan?" He asked, nodding his head at her once on the word 'your'.

"Not mine anymore" she told him, a few tears spilling down her cheeks.

"I want to have the family over, preferably while she's asleep, to tell them what's going on. I don't want her there to hear it because she won't handle all the pity at once, she'll need it in increments should the family all feel the need to do so."

Phil nodded, seeming to get angrier and angrier with each bob of the head. He looked up at Claire, "How do I deal with this?" he asked her.

"You deal with it how you see fit. As long as that doesn't involve getting a firearms license and then buying one." She told him.

"What do I say to her?" Luke asked as though it were his turn to ask a question.

Claire looked over at him, "You don't have to say anything. You could write a note, or email, or you could even text her. But just make sure she knows you're supporting her." she told him.

"I have to lie down" he said, and walked away up the stairs into his bedroom.

"Would you like me to help you make phone calls?" Phil asked.

"If you feel up for it. But I personally feel you should shower and then maybe rest. I'm going to wake her up and have her eat at least a little bit of soup. She needs the energy for her body to heal." Claire said, getting up.

She stopped next to Phil on her way to the kitchen, placing her left hand on his left shoulder and placing a kiss on his cheek.

In the kitchen, she warmed some soup in a small bowl and made her way up the stairs. Hayley went up just before her and Claire encountered her at the top of the stairs just watching her sister sleep.

Claire hesitated, "It's the first good sleep she's had" Hayley said, Claire looked at her expectantly, "She doesn't think I notice the way she tosses and turns and then goes to the bathroom for an hour. I'm usually asleep again by the time she's back."

Claire laid a hand on her daughter's back and rubbed it in circles for a moment before ushering her into the room. Hayley planted herself on her bed, curling herself into the corner where the bed met both walls.

Claire placed the bowl of soup on the side table and then did the same to Alex as she had Hayley, laying her hand on her back and rubbing it in circles. As she woke, Alex arched away from her mom, who was unknowingly aggravating some wounds on her back.

"Sit up and eat some soup sweetheart" Claire instructed, tucking her legs back as the blankets displaced with her movements.

"I'm not hungry" she mumbled, wishing only to lie back down.

"You need to eat something. It's the only way you're going to get sufficient enough energy to heal." Her mother scolded, placing a pillow on Alex's lap and the soup on top of it.

Reluctantly, Alex pulled her right arm from under her Violet comforter and reached for the spoon, pulling it to her mouth and blowing before gulping down the hot liquid and mushing the soft carrot between her teeth.

"I want to talk about something" Alex hesitated on the last bite; she sighed, blew on her soup and repeated her previous motions.

"I'm going to call the family and have them all come over" Alex didn't like where this was going, "And I would like to tell them what's going on. Everyone's been so worried about you. I'm going to have them all leave after that. I'll call them over for dinner, have a discussion and tell them that you won't be able to handle everyone at once and that they should leave and contact as they see fit." She explained. Alex was silent; the only noise that came from her was that of her blowing on and swallowing soup.

"You don't have to be there. You and Hayley can stay up here. You can be asleep and we'll try not to wake you. I'd like to do it tonight. I'll just order Chinese food and then talk to them. Luke and your father know, it's up to Luke whether or not he participates, or is present for, the discussion. "

Alex nodded, "They deserve to know… I'd like to be the one to tell them" she said. "I want the control of being the one to tell them. Please" she pleaded, looking up at her mother.

"You never cease to amaze me" Claire told her with teary eyes and brought her left hand behind Alex's head and brought it forward to lay her lips on her forehead.

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