Toxicity

54

A week later
MEREDITHS POV
"Amelia," I said as I opened the door to her room. Derek and I finally convinced her to come home.
"Hi," she said as she was packing her bag.
"Are you ready?" I asked.
"Yeah," she nodded, "I'm ready." I smiled as I hugged her.
"Dereks downstairs with the car okay?" I said. She nodded.
"So what do you want to do today?" I asked.
"You both have lives you don't have to stay home with me," she said.
"But we want to," I said.
"I kinda want to lay in my bed," she chuckled.
"What about Link?" I asked.
"Yeah about that I need a favor," she said seriously.
"Okay," I said.
"I need a pregnancy test," she said.
"Okay," I said, "there's plenty in the hospital why don't we go get a few."
"Okay," She nodded. I could tell she was trying really hard not to cry. I put my arm around her as we walked down the hallway. I opened a closet and Amelia looked at me from the hallway. I knew she didn't want to come in because of why happened with Ryan. I don't blame her. I grabbed two tests and put them
in my pocket.
"Are you late?" I asked.
"A day late," she said.
"Well maybe it's stress," I said, "you've been so worried about maybe being pregnant that it could delay your period."
"I know," she said.
"Do you want me to call Link?" I asked.
"No," she said, "please don't, not until I know."
"Okay," I said as we headed to the car. Everyone was quiet on the way home. When we got home Amelia ran upstairs and locked her door.
"She okay?" Derek asked.
"She's taking a pregnancy test," I said. He frowned as he looked at me.
"It would be Ryan's wouldn't it," he said.
"I mean I don't know when her and Link last had sex but probably," I said.
"Should we go check on her?" He said.
"She'll come out when she wants to," I said.
AMELIAS POV
I had to two sticks on the counter. Please be negative please be negative. I could not be pregnant. Not at 18, and not with Ryan's baby. I was pacing back and worth waiting for the timer to go off. I heard it go off and I froze. I didn't want to look, but I needed to know. I needed to know if I was pregnant. There were decisions to be made if I was. And Link. I'm so scared Link would leave. I know he wouldn't but I don't know. Who wants to be with someone who's pregnant with another mans baby. Just look at the test Amelia. I looked down and I felt tears form. Not pregnant. Thank god. I threw the test out and wiped my eyes. I wasn't pregnant. I walked downstairs and Derek and Meredith were sitting at the kitchen counter.
"So?" Meredith said and looked at me.
"There will not be a little baby running around here," I chuckled and they smiled.
"I'm glad you're okay," Derek said and hugged me.
-
The doorbell rang and I walked downstairs. I told Link he could come over. I opened the door and saw my handsome boyfriend.
"Hi," I smiled.
"Someone's in a chipper mood," he smiled and kissed me, "What's up?"
"I'm not pregnant," I smiled.
"You took a test today?" He said. I nodded.
"That's great. That's one less thing you have to worry about," I said.
"Yeah," I said. We went upstairs and put a movie on and I snuggled into him. He played with my hair as I slowly felt myself fall asleep.
LINKS POV
It was getting late and Amelia was asleep in my arms. She was so precious. I rubbed her back as I caressed her hair.
"No," she said softly.
"Amelia?" I said.
"Please stop," she said. I think she was having a nightmare.
"Amelia," I said again.
"Ryan," she said in a small voice.
"Amelia wake up," I said and rubbed her back. After a few seconds she sat up abruptly and she looked upset. She definitely just had a nightmare.
"Amelia?" I said. She seemed startled by my voice so I moved away from her.
"I um," she said.
"What?" I said.
"Can you turn the light on?" She asked. I nodded as I turned her lamp on. She looked around the room and then at me. She looked so scared and I just wanted to hug her, but she still seemed really startled.
"The lights," she said.
"What?" I asked. She got up and turned the light on in her room and then opened the door. I followed her down the hallway as she insisted on turning on every light in the house.
"Amelia?" Derek said as he walked out into the hallway.
"What?" She said as she turned around.
"What is she doing?" He asked and looked at me.
"She's turning all the lights on in the house," I said.
"Because?" He said.
"She sounded like she was having a nightmare and I think she's scared," I said softly so Amelia wouldn't hear me.
"Okay," Derek nodded.
"Is there a light in this closet?" Amelia asked.
"No," Derek said.
"Okay," she closed the door and walked downstairs.
"Is this something she usually does?" I looked at Derek.
"She's never done this before I'm going to get Mer," He said. I nodded as Amelia finished putting all of the lights on.
"Do you feel better?" I asked. She was sitting at the kitchen counter.
"Yeah," she shrugged, "I don't know are there outdoor lights?"
"I'm not sure," I said. Meredith and Derek walked into the kitchen and Amelia got up and walked over to the back door.
"What are you looking for?" Meredith asked.
"The outside lights," Amelia said.
"The switch is over there," Derek pointed.
"Oh okay," Amelia said and walked across the kitchen. The three of us looked at each other worried for Amelia. I've never seen her this scared.
"What was that?" Amelia asked.
"What was what?" Meredith said.
"That noise," Amelia said.
"Amy it's probably the wind," Derek said, "come sit down with us."
"Was it outside?" She said.
"The wind is outside I promise," Derek said.
"Okay," Amelia said.
"Come sit," Meredith said. She sat down next to me and she seemed really distracted. Like she was worried.
"Hey," I said softly and put my hand on her shoulder.
"Hi," she said.
"You okay?" I asked, "what's wrong?"
"I heard a noise," she said.
"It's probably the wind like Derek said," I said.
"Yeah," she said, "okay."
"Just breathe okay?" Meredith said and grabbed her hand. Amelia nodded and I looked at Derek.
"Amelia," Derek said.
"Yeah?" Amelia said.
"Do you want to talk about what's bothering you?" Derek said.
"Ryan he uh after the trial he came back after me because they gave him a big sentence so he came after me with a gun like those guys did with dad and he tried to shoot me but I told him to stop but he wasn't going to so I had to turn all the lights on because he might be here," she said as her voice was trembling.
"Where did you see Ryan? In your dream?" Meredith asked.
"Yeah," Amelia said, "he's here."
"He's not I promise," Derek said.
DEREKS POV
Amelia was panicking. Meredith and I finally convinced her to go lay down back in bed to try to get some sleep. I knew she was anxious but I've never seen it get that bad before. Amelia was asleep and Meredith, Link and I were downstairs.
"Do you think she'll be okay?" Link asked.
"She needs a psychiatrist," Meredith said.
"She said she doesn't want to," I said.
"Derek she needs one whether you like it or not," Meredith frowned.
"She is 18 I cannot force her to go," I said.
"Cant you if she's like not in the state of mind to make the decision for herself?" Link asked calmly.
"Yes," Meredith said, "which is what we're doing."
"She has a lot on her mind with the trial okay?" I said.
"And you think all the trial stress isn't going to cause other episodes of this?" Meredith said, "Derek there's no weakness in getting her help. It's not your fault. She needs it."
"I know that," I said.
"Can you convince her she listens to you," Meredith said to Link.
"I can try," Link said.
"All we can do is try," Derek sighed.