B E T T Y | Grey's Anatomy

12

Sorry I've been MIA. Life has exploded and I can't get my thoughts straight. I'm really feeling Betty right now. I tried to explain in my last announcement on my profile, although I dont think I actually 'announced' it. this is shit, I know. I just wanted to give you something.

Betty doesn't jump when Amelia knocks on the bathroom door, no. She first heard light footsteps, Arizona's, sneaking in the direction of Scout Derek Shepherd Lincoln's nursery, so she wasn't surprised to hear slightly heavier, and unrhythmic steps that followed. Slower in pace and disjointed in route. It seems as though Amelia isn't taking a direct walk to the bathroom door and is putting off the interaction for as long as possible.

The knock comes.

"Betty? Open the door." Amelia's tone is loving but stern- a true parental tone. One Scout hears frequently when he goes to put random household utensils in his mouth.

Betty has to spend a minute removing the barricade of dirty washing, the basket and Scout's step stool before she can even consider unlocking the door. Amelia speaks again.

"I have keys to every door in this house. Unlock it, or I will."

Unsurprisingly, Betty responds to a slight harshness, it's what she's used to after all. The locks releases with a snap, and instantly, the brunette turns the handle. Amelia frowns sadly at the sight before her - Betty slightly dumbstruck in the centre of an exceptionally messy bathroom. Amelia steps across the threshold, Betty stepping back until she cant anymore. The doctor smiles wryly, holding out a hand.

"Come on Chick. You know what's going to happen. Might as well make it easy." The sarcastic tone is lost on Betty.

"I'm sorry for freaking out back then, and I'm sorry Arizona showed up unannounced, but I'm all yours now."

"I don't want you." She cant lie, that one kicked Amelia in the stomach. The teen is scared and lashing out, but Amelia is still dejected and left with few words.

"Can we at least come out? Come to my room?"

"No."

"Your sofa then? Let's just sit on the sofa and I'll crack open a window."

Fresh air is appetising to both girls. Amelia leads the way. Betty doesn't follow.

"Come on."

"i...I'm scared." Betty admits to the floor, and Amelia only sees her childlike fear when she puts her two fingers under the teens chin, tilts her upwards and makes eye contact- all after Betty flinches of course.

The surgeons voice is deep, husky even. "What are you scared of?"

Betty shrugs, her uncertainty communicating more that she realises.

"Just come to the couch. You'll be okay."

Amelia finds it hard to remain positive, or even just neutral in her tone and expression with the sleeves like armour bunched around Betty's wrists, but she forces herself to act, even if her insides are in complicated sailor knots. She reminds herself that her son is settled with Arizona, and it is her daughter who needs her now. Of course there's still the sizzling anger with the truth of the red marks hidden by thin fabric. Amelia cant help that her primal shock manifests in red hues. She can help her reaction though, and she vows to do better than yelling and holding back vomit. That is not what Betty needs nor deserves and years of medical school, and decades of broken hearts have taught her that well enough.

Bums are perched on brown leather, finally. The air is as thick as treacle, Amelia noting a rattle to Betty's inhalations. If it doesn't disappear in a couple of days she'll get her stethoscope out. Today, she's worried getting too close to the teen will leave her with bite marks.

"Betty."

Amelia is cut off. "No."

She doesn't let it sway her in the slightest. The afternoons oppositional attitude has more than prepared her.

"Betty, we need to talk. I've seen.."

Betty interrupts again. "I have no idea what you think you've seen Doctor Shepherd, but you have no right to.."

"Stop." Amelia reacts to being addressed professionally, refusing to let Betty emotional distance herself. "There's no need to fight me. I am on your side."

Amelia's imploring does little to console the now blubbering teen. "You're not! No one is!"

"How can I convince you that you're safe here?"

"You can't! No where is safe! I have to do this, Amelia!"

"I'm safe." Amelia nods with a smile.

"You'll hurt me. You'll hit me, and then you'll make me love you again. That's just how it works." Cries Betty.

"That's all kinds of wrong. That's abuse. That will not happen in my house."

"I want to trust you..."

"I know Sweetheart." The doctors heart melts with the taller girl admitting something personal, given, Amelia already knows that Betty is in an internal battle with accepting love and staying hidden.

Betty muses shyly. "I like that."

Amelia cocks her head with a cheeky smile. "What?"

"s-s-sswee." The teen stammers, somewhat embarrassed. Amelia fills the gap

"Sweetheart?"

"Yeah."

"Are you okay with it?" Amelia thinks back to how strongly betty's body reacted that first time she called her a good girl. She glances to the left. There's a trash can should it be needed.

"Scares me a bit. But... but I think I like it."

"Good." Amelia nods, and then, "I need to look at your arms Sweetheart."

Instantly, betty's demeanour changes. She shrinks two inches with the fear contracting her muscles into a shell.

"There's nothing wrong. It's just a scratch." The lie rolls so easily off her tongue, but Amelia won't let the child get away that easily.

"Then there's no reason why I cant see it."

Betty fights back, as politely as one can. "I don't want to waste your time."

"I have all the time in the world for you."

"Amelia..."

"I refuse to compromise your physical health, I've told you that before." She says sternly.

Betty has scooched herself as far back on the couch as possible. She cant move, but Amelia can, and she leans in closer and closer until the girls' knees are touching. Slightly tanned hands grasp deathly pale ones, thumbs stroking the surface area in comforting, slow, lulling motions. Amelia leans in further, when Betty's arms retract, and she holds the teens limbs in her own lap.

"This is your last chance" Amelia raises her eyebrows softly. "To tell me in your own words what I'm about to see. Bear in mind, there's no use lying. I already know."

"You don't know!" Betty shrieks, genuinely unsure of how much Amelia saw before she turned the bathroom into a barricade.

Nevertheless, Amelia continues her gentle caressing with her thumbs, so gentle that Betty is less startled than she otherwise would've been when the doctor starts to raise her hands and push the fabric of her wrists.

"No." Betty tenses, Amelia stills, before releasing her breath and resuming.

"I have to." The brunette mumbles, and despite Betty's fight, a plethora of cuts is soon revealed.