AN: Time for the next chapter, I will be away a couple day from tomorrow morning so this will be the last update till I'm back on Sunday, hope you enjoy and please do drop me any comments and reviews to let me know what you think!

Trigger Warning: Please note the warnings for this story, as referenced previously, which include physical and emotional child abuse, neglect, drug abuse and alcohol abuse.

Preview: Max has the weekend from hell things only getting worse at home, has a frightening awakening when feeling rough meanwhile concerns on her welfare begin to be voiced.

Chapter Four - Concerns Voiced.

"Max…"

"Oh, Max…"

"You got five seconds or this is gunna hurt…"

"Five,"

"Four,"

"Three,"

"Two,"

"Can't say I didn't warn you shitbird,"

SMACK!

Scream.

SMACK!

Her head was throbbing, her throat was raw, and her butt felt like it was on fire.

SMACK!

Tears started steaming down her face, clouding her vision as another scream tore from her raw throat.

SMACK!

She scurried as quickly as possible, moving backwards into something hard. Slowly lifting her head and turning slightly Max could see Billy smirking down at her, wooden bath brush in his hand. Billy was speaking to her, though Max could barely make out the words, her ears were ringing and her head felt hot.

Her body was burning in a way that she hadn't felt before.

It wasn't a nice feeling. Everything hurt.

Max whimpered as Billy roughly grabbed her arm, dragging her across the floor to get her attention, "I need to piss. Out." He commanded, throwing her across the threshold and slamming the door in her face.

It was then she remembered she had been in the bathroom before, throwing up. She must have passed out at some point as it was daylight when she went in but nighttime now. They must have left her there not bothering to wake her to say goodbye or even check she was okay before leaving, Max realised.

Hurt started seeping into her heart knowing that her mother hadn't bothered to check she was okay. Why would she though? When she hadn't bothered to stop Neil from belting her backside raw and bleeding for taking a piece of bread to eat as she hadn't eaten anything since Friday night at the Wheeler's.

Two days ago now, as it was late Sunday night now.

Neil had decided she had to earn food in 'his' house from now on, her mother agreeing responsibility of chores would be good for her. Max had tried to stay out of Neil's way this weekend and do any chores he asked of her but he had been angry all weekend and every effort she made only got her more pain and no food in her stomach. Her mother had decided she was not to go out again this weekend, needing to spend some time together as a family apparently. However the only family time they spent together this weekend consisted of watching Neil and Billy pull apart her bed and declare she was to sleep on the floor till she learnt as her mother lectured her on how to be a woman, which to Max sounded like 'do as the man wants and he will look after you'.

Not something she was interested in. Especially not the type of looking after her mother was referring too.

This house was becoming worse than a prison, it was a living hell. It seemed like Neil used any excuse to punish her, hurt her and frighten her. What was worse was that her Mother seemed to be okay with this. She didn't try to help her, or even want to comfort her afterwards.

Friday evening had been a real eye opener to what a family unit could be, and should be like. All families had issues, Max wasn't naive, she knew this, but most families didn't bond over booze, drugs and belting the kid.

Dinner at the Wheeler's had been a nice reprieve on Friday - a needed one too.

One Max wished had not ended.

The Wheeler's in a nutshell had made her feel welcome, as though she actually mattered as a person and didn't hurt her for being hungry Karen Wheeler to Nancy's word had questioned her time and time again about the bruise on her cheek. Max could tell the woman still did not believe her even after her answer was the same the fifteenth time she had been asked, after she responded by saying that Max was welcome anytime, and this was safe environment. Eleven had been watching Max closely the whole night in a way that unnerved Max, however even with the looks Eleven had still warmed to Max speaking kinder to her than when they first met. They all spoke to her kindly, even Mike and his father had, which earnt surprised looks from Nancy who admitted later on when taking Max home in the car that apparently Ted Wheeler was generally a bit of a 'grump'.

'Grump' or not he still cared though, unlike Neil.

Ted had actually offered a second helping of dinner noticing her hunger on Friday. Whereas Neil had just beaten her nearly unconscious and forced her to eat chilli peppers to the point of throwing up for trying to eat in her own home. He hit her with his belt until she had swallowed a plate full of chilli peppers, saying if she was hungry she would eat it and feel fire in her ass till they were all gone as punishment for stealing from him.

It was one slice of bread- A mouldy slice.

No other food was currently in the house that she could reach, Neil having now decided to lock the cupboard doors, telling Max that food would be a reward for good behaviour.

Now Max was hungrier than before, she could still feel her throat and stomach burning from the chilli peppers and was in more pain than she thought was possible - Billy having not helped matters on that last part.

Max hadn't lied to Nancy when she said Billy didn't hit her, he didn't till this weekend.

Neil had decided and got Susan to agree that Billy should be allowed to discipline Max. Her mother had agreed to Max's horror, the only stipulation being that he doesn't leave bruises in noticeable places. Max had known as soon as it had been agreed upon that it wasn't going to end well for her, even more so when it was declared that Neil and her mother were leaving for a week to go away.

Apparently her mother needed a break from her, is what Max had been told.

A break from Neil was a good thing, but with only Billy in the house who had full rein to 'discipline her as he saw fit' as Neil had proposed - that did not sound as though it was a good thing at all.

Hearing the toilet flush and the tap turn on Max decided staying by the door wouldn't end well. Not wanting another smack with whatever object Billy decided to use on her next Max crawled as quickly as she could back to her room, not having the energy to pick herself back up to her feet. As she entered the room she nudged the door shut with shoulder before crawling over to the space her bed used to be in, curling up on the floor and pulling the thin blanket over her body to try and stay warm on a night that already felt cold. She felt even colder when the door creaked open and Billy walked in with a smile on his face.

"Time for your daily lesson Maxine," Billy sang, his hand already unbuckling his belt.

Home just became an even worse form of hell.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

She woke up to screaming, fear and confusion. Her back pressed against the wall and her whole body in a dull achy pain. It wasn't until she registered the raw feeling in her throat that she realised that the screaming was coming from herself.

It was then she realised she was screaming at someone who was yelling at her to wake up, but doing so in a scary mask.

Her mind was too tired and too groggy to put together what was going on. She felt her breathing quicken in fear as the mask disappeared and was instead replaced with a pressure on her shoulders, her eyes not focused enough to make out the face in front of her.

She could vaguely hear someone speaking to her, telling her she was safe but her head couldn't catch up, her breathing too quick and her mind too panicked causing her to only hear the words that were being spoken fully when a more urgent angry tone was used.

"-Your not helping asshole, she's having a panic attack, either stay quiet and take that damn mask off or get out!"

She recognised the voice but couldn't place it clearly currently, the angry tone making her fear spike more as her eyes darted around the room.

She noticed a blanket strewn up in the middle of the floor.

She noticed that damn belt over the back of a chair.

She noticed the mask and something else right in front of her, curly hair, blue eyes- concerned eyes.

"-Max, hey, hey look at me, look at me, it's okay, come on sweetheart, you need to stop or you're going to pass out."

As the words registered she realised she was still screaming.

She realised it was Billy taunting her in a mask and Nancy kneeling on the floor in front of her, one hand holding her left cheek, her thumb gently moving back and forth while her other hand was on Max's one arm a gentle grounding pressure.

"-You're okay sweetheart, I need you to try and copy my breathing, nice and slow okay? In and out," Nancy coaxed, speaking softly.

"Little shit nearly woke up half the street," Billy yelled loudly.

"Whose fault is that for scaring her half to death," Nancy bit back, her focus solely on Max whose breathing was becoming more erratic again after hearing Billy's voice.

"We're going to be having a conversation on respect later shitbird," Billy threatened with a smirk over Nancy's shoulder, watching with satisfaction as Max's eyes widened, her breathing becoming increasingly unsteady.

"Whoa, hey, hey, you're okay," Nancy soothed, nearly falling backwards with the force of Max colliding into her chest.

Frowning, Nancy automatically wrapped her arms around the shaking girl's frame, using one hand to rub up and down Max's back in a steady rhythm. "Try and match your breathing with me if you can, in and out," Nancy instructed, hand rubbing from top to bottom as she spoke.

"Yeah it's going to be one long ass conversation you little piece of shit," Billy threatened as he walked out the room, slamming the door shut behind him.

Hearing Max whimper, Nancy tugged the red-head closer still, "I've got you sweetheart, focus on your breathing, you're okay," Nancy soothed. Dropping her chin on top of Max's head, Nancy's concern only grew further after feeling how hot the younger girl's forehead was against her neck. "You're not feeling so great today are you little sis?"

Max shook her head in response, feeling tears welling in her eyes as she pushed her face further into the fabric of Nancy's top, wanting nothing more than to hide away.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The car ride to the Wheeler's had been peaceful.

It had been the most relaxed Max had felt since Friday evening.

Max had found comfort leaning her hot forehead against the cold glass of the car door, dozing in and out of sleep while holding on tightly to one of Nancy's hands when possible as Nancy spoke about anything and everything that came to mind. Max was aware in the back of her mind that her behaviour was suspicious at best, but found herself unable to calm down without contact currently, her mind still too fear clogged to settle.

She felt terrible and was relieved that Nancy had brought her away from her home, away from Billy, and Neil when he and her mother returned from their trip away.

Any time away would give her body and mind a break.

It had taken an embarrassing amount of reassurance from Nancy for Max to let the older girl's hand go when they had parked up, Max knew her concern was only growing more as she glued herself back against Nancy's side the moment they were both out of the car. Mrs Wheeler had been frantic at the doorway, feeling Max's forehead, ushering them into the kitchen to take Max's temperature and questioning both Max and Nancy endlessly till Nancy declared they should go into the living room, noticing Max was struggling to stay on her feet.

Max now found herself sitting on the couch, half asleep against Nancy's side as Nancy spoke with her mother about what had happened this morning, her one hand rubbing soft patterns up and down Max's back lulling her to sleep and keeping her relaxed.

Max could hear Nancy more so telling Mrs Wheeler rather than asking her for permission for her unofficial little sister to temporarily stay with them explaining how she had found out this morning that Max's mother and stepfather had gone away for the week and left Max in Billy's care, or lack of in Nancy's view point which she was more than happy to broadcast.

Staying with the Wheeler's was a proposition Max had very little energy to argue with, wanting nothing more than this herself.

If Mrs Wheeler said no she would happily sleep in a bus shelter if it meant not having to go home feeling the way that she did currently. Especially if it meant not having to face Billy after this morning and how they had left things before climbing into Nancy's car.

Max was barely listening to the conversation but could tell that Mrs Wheeler was not impressed with her mother or stepfather, finding that this time she didn't want to nor try to defend them. She was instead content letting the conversation pass over her head while being pressed against Nancy's side for comfort and warmth.

Her earlier panic and need for comfort still present, causing her to practically glue herself to Nancy's side.

She knew this wasn't helping with their concern currently, a small part of her hoping they would just assume it was because she was sick, while a bigger part was hoping they wouldn't.

She couldn't get in trouble if someone guessed what was going on could she?

It wasn't her fault if Neil or Billy hit her so much that others became concerned surely?

"Max?" Nancy's voice pulled her from her thoughts and back to the conversation she had not been fully paying attention to, "You didn't hear a word of that did you?" Nancy continued, voice soft and a smile playing at her lips.

Max shook her head, wincing slightly at the pain it caused, "I'm sorry," she murmured, "sorry Mrs Wheeler," Max added in Mr's Wheeler's direction.

"You're okay," Nancy assured, pulling Max towards herself noticing the shiver Max tried to conceal, "My mom asked if you were hungry," Nancy prompted.

"And would like to remind you that Karen is fine darling, no need to call me Mrs Wheeler," Karen added with a smile, "You should try and eat something, are you hungry?" she reiterated the question.

"A little," Max responded looking down.

That was a lie, she was starving, but was nervous to ask for food.

Realistically she knew that what Neil did to her would not happen here, but knowing it didn't stop the small ripple of fear in her stomach.

"Is your throat sore at all Max?" Karen questioned.

Max paused for a moment- it was, but not from sickness. She didn't have a cough or anything like that but it was still raw from vomiting and screaming. "Just dry," Max explained after she thought about it.

"Okay, why don't you go upstairs with Nancy and get settled, I'll bring you some food up after I call the school and let them know what's going on," Karen instructed and assured at the same time. "Max, do you know where your parents are staying? I'll need to contact them and let them know what's going on here," she continued, questioning with concern.

"Neil's not my dad," Max corrected tiredly, shifting herself further into Nancy's side.

He's a monster, she thought.

"He's her stepdad, Billy's father," Nancy explained at her mothers confused look, giving the younger girl a gentle squeeze.

"Right, yes. Do you know where they are Max?" Karen asked again, not liking the idea of having no contact with the girl's mother.

Max shook her head, more gently this time.

If they did mention to her where they were going it was when Billy was smacking her butt as hard as he could with the bath brush Saturday evening and her ears were ringing as her whole body shook in pain. He had wanted to show Neil how effective it could be having hit her with it once before in California as a joke. The memory causing another shiver to run down Max's body, her one hand gripping Nancy's top in response as her eyes shut in both exhaustion and a small spike of fear.

"How about we get Max to bed, I'll see if we have something to help reduce that fever, and then school for you," Karen instructed after a moment of silence knowing she wasn't going to get much more out of Max.

"Mom, I was thinking I'd stay home and look after Max," Nancy offered, glancing at Max who had tensed against her.

At her mothers raised eyebrow Nancy only smiled sheepishly, with pleading eyes glancing to Max then back to her mother again. Luckily Karen knew her well enough to know that she would explain in more detail later on as to why.

Karen nodded her consent, "Just this one time, understood?"

"Thanks Mom," Nancy agreed with a smile, "It might be an idea to bring a comforter down here though, I don't see Max making it upstairs," Nancy continued noticing how the red-head had gone that little bit heavier against her and how her breathing was slowly starting to even out.

Karen stood slowly, taking a step towards the couch and gently resting a hand against Max's forehead with a frown, "We need to get some medicine in her to get that fever down, food too." Karen sighed, watching as Max murmured in her sleep, curling into her daughter further and burying her head against Nancy's chest in the process.

"I know," Nancy started, her hand still rubbing soft patterns against Max's back to keep her settled, "but she completely exh-"

"Exhausted," Karen finished for her. "We'll let her rest for a while first then wake her, in the meantime you can tell me what you didn't want to say in front of Max," Karen continued, her hands moving to her hips as she looked at Nancy pointedly.

"I had to calm her down from a panic attack before we came here," Nancy began after a moment, "Billy decided to wake her up wearing some Halloween scary mask and she really freaked out, she's not let go of me since then, and I guess I'm feeling a little protective." Nancy explained, running one hand over Max's hair as she spoke.

"Try a lot, reminds me of when you were younger with Mike," Karen replied with a small chuckle at the memory of an eight year old Nancy telling her father off for shouting at her little brother. "While that explains you wanting to be off school to stay with Max you're still not telling me something," Karen continued, prodding for answers.

Nancy bit her lip, choosing her words carefully, "I'm worried about her home situation, and want her to trust me enough to talk to me," she confided.

Karen nodded, softening her face while taking a seat next to her daughter on the couch, "Can you tell me what is worrying you, what you think is going on?" she asked plainly, already having her own suspicions.

"I don't know, I don't really have any proof that anything is going on, but something is off and I'm worried about her," Nancy explained, "This-" she began, gesturing to Max slumped against her cuddled into her side, "-isn't really normal behaviour for her from what I had known of her previously and from what Mike and his friends say, its recent. It's recent and started not long before that bruise showed up on her face, which I know you don't believe her excuse for either," Nancy continued, pausing only for confirmation from her mother which came as a nod. "She's more withdrawn yet seems to really want comfort but won't ask for it herself, she's jumpy and tired all the time. Always seems hungry and pale, seems to be in pain a lot of the time but won't tell anyone why, and today, when I was in the house it wasn't exactly child friendly-and her bedroom was, well it was - odd."

"Odd how?" Karen asked, after a moment to take the information in.

"Her bedroom consists of a chair with a belt over the back of it, a blanket, and two small wicca baskets of clothes. She doesn't have a wardrobe, desk or even a bed. When we got some things together for her she lifted a floorboard up from the floor to pull out a worn teddy bear her dad had given her and her skateboard because, and I quote, Billy breaks things when she does something he doesn't like." Nancy explained with worry, her arm unconsciously pulling Max closer as she spoke.

Both mother and daughter were silent thinking over Nancy's observations, the only sound in the room coming from the ticking of the clock and Max's raspy breathing as she continued to sleep pressed up against Nancy.

"I should probably let you know just in case we get an angry visitor later that I also may have kicked Billy in the balls before leaving with Max today," Nancy admitted into the silence of the room earning a small laugh from Karen.

AN: Please do not forget to drop me a review/comment, love to hear from you.