Troubled Child

Don't Use Towels This Time

"So why are we all gathered here?" Lucas asked as he walked into Riley's place. He saw Farkle and Smackle sitting together on the couch. Then he saw Holly and Emily beside each other on the love seat. "What's going on?'

"Emily wants everyone to know about something." Riley sympathetically stated glancing over at Emily. "Sit, Lucas."

Lucas looked from Riley to his daughter. Riley's sympathetic smile plus Emily's distraught frown made him tense. "I think I'll stand." He said. He walked over to the mantel where the pictures were and stared at the picture of the six of them back when they were all together.

Riley sighed. "Farkle, before I say anything, I need your help with something." She waved him over.

Farkle pulled his arm off of his wife's shoulders and stood. "Yes? What is it?" He walked over to Riley as close as he could to have a private conversation.

Riley twiddled her thumbs together. "Do you remember when I was bullied?"

"Of course." He frowned. "Is Emily being bullied? I find that a little hard to believe considering she bullied my daughter before they became best friends." He whispered. "Emily seems tough as nails."

"No, um, do you remember when you tried to tell Lucas about it?" Riley said quietly gesturing to the stronger man.

Farkle looked over at Lucas then he looked back at Riley. "Oh.. Ohhh. Yeah, but that didn't work. I used towels." He shrugged.

"Here." Riley pulled out a pair of handcuffs. "Don't ask and don't give me that look. Just chain Lucas up."

Farkle shook off his look and took the cuffs from her. He cleared his throat. "Is this really that bad?" He asked. She didn't even have to answer. Her expression said it all. "Okay, I'll do it."

"What's all the whispering about?"

"Tell ya in a moment dear." Farkle tried to hide the handcuffs behind his back.

"Why does your dad have handcuffs?"

Holly shook her head. "I don't know."

"Lucas! Buddy!" Farkle walked over to Lucas. "You should sit. Instead of standing. Let's sit down, come on."

Lucas gave him a weird look. "I'm fine."

"But sitting would be better. After all I know you have that trick knee."

"If I sit down will someone tell me what's going on?" Lucas demanded to know.

"Yes." Farkle nodded.

Lucas sighed and followed Farkle to a chair. "Okay, fine, I'm sitting down."

"Okay. Good. Now hold your arms out in front of you and then Riley will explain everything." Farkle stated cautiously.

Lucas looked skeptical, but he did as instructed. When Farkle proceeded to cuff each arm to the wooden arms of the chair Lucas got annoyed. "Why?" He glared.

"Just extra precaution." Farkle chuckled nervously as he returned to his spot beside his wife. "Okay, all good, Riley."

"He's gonna break my chair." She whined, then she cleared her throat. "Okay, it's fine. He can fix it later."

"What's going on?" Lucas asked again. "Is Emily being bullied? This feels pretty darn familiar." He tugged on the chains.

Emily hid her face in Holly's arm. "No."

"Sweetie, what's up? Are you okay?" Lucas asked his daughter.

"Emily is allowing me to tell everyone about something that happened in her past." Riley cut in. She noticed Lucas tense again. His fists clenched against the arm rests.

"Like what?"

Riley gulped and stepped away from Lucas. She watched him carefully as she reiterated everything Emily told her. When she mentioned the McPhee house she heard the sound of wood cracking.

"Holy shit." Emily gulped.

"Your dad is like Hulk!" Holly yelped.

When Riley told them all about the house with the cot in the basement the arms of the chair snapped off.

Lucas stood up with two wooden chair arms hanging from his wrists. "Farkle. Uncuff me. Right. Now." He commanded.

"Uh, o-okay." Farkle scurried off the couch to uncuff Lucas from the pieces of broken chair. He watched the wood clatter to the floor. "Lucas, are you-" His words died in his throat as he watched his best friend lean down in front of his daughter and his best friend's daughter.

"Forgive me." Lucas choked out hanging his head in shame. "If I knew about you. I never would have let you go through that. I'm sorry I couldn't save you. I'm sorry I didn't protect you." He looked up at her with tears in his eyes. "I swear nothing bad will ever happen to you again. Not as long as I'm around and I will always be there for you. From now on. I'm so sorry I didn't know you."

Emily let her own tears fall. "Would she say that?" She choked out.

Lucas took her hand in his. "Who?"

Emily gulped. "Mom. If she knew about what happened. Would she- would she regret it? Would she even care?" Emily looked down.

"I can tell her.. if you want me to."

"I'll tell her." Riley stated. "I have to talk to her anyway. Plus, you and her aren't on good terms right now. You wouldn't want to make it worse by taking all the anger you feel out on her right now."

Lucas sighed and nodded. "That's probably for the best. I don't know what I would say if I talked to her right now."

"Farkle, is she still at the hotel?"

Farkle gulped. "No."

Everyone stared at him.

"I'm sorry! She left. I tried to stop her but-"

"It's okay." Riley sighed. "Now that I know everything I'm sure her mom will talk to me. I can find out where she is now."

"Why bother? It doesn't seem like she cares." Emily stood up and left the room. Holly quickly followed.