Come Home

Chapter 44

"I hate to say this, Little One," Dr. Roberts said as he looked at the papers in his file a week later, "but you aren't gaining any weight despite eating more. Your iron, protein, and B12 is still way too low." He sighed and closed the file, "I know you don't want to, but you need to start eating meat again," she opened her mouth, and he held up a hand, "at least until I can get you to start gaining weight and become healthy again. I don't really see another way around it, Alice. The vitamins aren't doing what they are supposed to, and I know you struggle with swallowing some of them. If you don't try, I'm going to have to get drastic and neither one of us want that. Are you snacking throughout the day? Eating Luke's candy?"

"I'm just not hungry," she admitted as she looked out the window. She pulled on her long sleeves so she could hold them between her fingers, "I try Papa but I have no appetite. I just want to sleep or lay with Zero. I'm trying."

He patted her knee, "That's your depression, Alice. Now I need you to be honest—"

"No," she said sternly as she looked him in the eyes. "I haven't." He held her gaze and she sighed, dropping her eyes, "I have the thoughts, but I haven't, I promise." She released her sleeves and pushed them up. "I can strip if you need to check."

He shook his head, "No, I believe you and thank you for telling me the truth. I want to start you with some antidepressants, but I can't until you gain some weight. Until then I don't want you to be alone, just to be on the safe side. Will you please try and eat some meat, Alice? It will be good for you."

"I'll try," she nodded, "I don't want to be in the hospital."

"You know I have to tell them, right?" Dr. Roberts asked gently. She nodded and closed her eyes as a tear dropped onto her sleeve. "We will help you get through this, Little One, I promise."

"I can't," she whispered as she looked out the window.

"Can't what?" Dr. Roberts asked.

"Their faces," she whispered as another tear rolled down the side of her nose. "So much pain," she clutched the end of the sleeves, "just want numb, silence."

Dr. Roberts sat the file down on the counter and walked over to her. Pulling her into a hug, he held her until he felt her arms wrap around him, "I know this is hard for you, Alice, but I can promise you that they won't be angry with you. They may be shocked at first but not angry. They will understand to some degree and as stubborn as those men are, they will figure out the best way of helping you without trying to overstep." He chuckled, "Well, they may be drastic at first, but you will also have to stand your ground as well to some degree. You have to try and trust that they and I know what is really best for you right now to ensure your safety and your health. It will be hard, very hard, but once we can get you healthy again, I will help you regain your independence. Deal?"

She nodded and sat back down, picking up her black horse stuffed animal. He opened the door and took a breath as Alice followed him out to the conference room where the sixteen men were waiting, somewhat patiently. Gabe and Luke were both bouncing their knees, Victor was tapping some tune on the table, while Sean was writing down some notes that Jackson and Jasper were telling him. Raven was pacing around the room, while Corey was typing something Kota was telling him. Everyone else was lost in their thoughts.

Dr. Roberts opened the door, and everyone grew silent, "How did your visit go, Darling?" Owen asked, resting his elbows on the table as he watched them enter the room.

Alice looked up at Dr. Roberts who nodded at her encouragingly. Clutching the horse tightly to her chest she took a breath then slowly let it out. "I haven't gained any weight despite trying various vitamins and having snack times with Luke. Dr. Roberts wants me to try and start eating some meat to see if that will help with the weight and the lack of energy."

"I have some recipes that have very little meat that we can start you off with to try," Jackson said as Sean wrote down some notes while Corey typed. "We will figure out what's best for you, Il Mio Cuore."

"There's something else," she said refusing to look at them. Dr. Roberts held a look in his face that made their stomachs drop in worry. "My depression has gotten worse."

Silence filled the room as she kept looking down at her stuffed animal.

"How much worse?" Gabe asked with tears in his voice.

"While nothing has happened, she has admitted that she has had the thoughts," Dr. Roberts admitted. "Due to this truth, I am implementing that she is not left alone right now. That does not mean you will hover and breathe down her neck, you will still respect her privacy and give her space, do you understand?"

Their hearts ached as they saw tears hit the floor, "We are willing and will obey," they said in unison while Jackson and Jasper nodded in agreement.

Dr. Roberts gently squeezed Alice's arm, "I will come by in a couple of days to visit, alright? I want to hear what kind of mischief that pony of yours is causing."

The ride back to the ranch was filled with silence as everyone was lost in their thoughts. Alice fell asleep on the way and when they reached the ranch, Silas carried her into the living room. He sat in the rocking chair and gently rocked while everyone sat down to have a family meeting.

Owen cleared his throat, "Let's discuss our next step."