Max's P.O.V.
"Yeah?", I answered the phone sleepily.
"Kila's in the hospital.", Zach choked out, "I-I really need you down here."
"We'll be right there."
°°°°
Kila looked down at her lap as Luke held her hand tightly,
"Hey, it's gonna be okay. You just need to be more careful, right?" Her blue eyes met his green ones,
"Y-Yeah. You're right."
"What happened?", I asked. She looked up at me
"I just fell. I'm fine."
"Fell where?"
"She jumped out the window.", Zach said.
"I fell Zach."
"No you didn't. You jumped. Just like you sliced up your fucking arms and took a handful of pills last year."
"No I didn't." He walked towards her, going to pull up her sleeve as Luke stopped her,
"Leave her be. It was an accident Zach. Just let her get better."
"She won't get better without help."
"I don't need your help.", she snapped.
"Yes you do." Luke shrugged,
"You know your sister. She's independent." Zach got up and left as Alex followed him and Harson followed both of them. I stood across the room from Kila,
"Luke, let me talk to her."
"No. She's my kid. I'm handling it." I sighed, stepping out but not going far.
"I'm-I'm sorry. Did I say something wrong?", Kila whispered.
"Just don't talk about it." He sighed, "You know you can't make me mad baby. I just can't control myself when you make me mad. It wasn't my fault."
"I know. I'm sorry daddy. It won't happen again."
"Yes it will. It'll work out. You'll learn one day."
"O-Okay.", she squeaked.
"I'm gonna go get a drink. Don't say anything."
"I won't. I promise." He got up to leave but she stopped him, "Daddy?"
"What?"
"You-You still love me, right?"
"Of course princess." I moved around the corner as he left before quickly going back into the room. Kila laid in the bed, tears in her eyes as she smiled softly.
"Ki?" Her eyes got wide,
"W-What?"
"What's going on?"
"Nothing Max. I'm fine."
"That's bullshit."
"I know.", she laughed a little. I sat next to her, gently slipping her sleeve up. She closed her eyes, "I'm sorry."
"Who hurt you? Besides yourself." She shook her head,
"No one. It's fine."
"Did your dad do that to you?" She didn't answer. "Kid, you can tell me. I'm on your side."
"Y-You are?"
"Of course. I know he can be a dick. I want you safe over anything."
"I made him mad. It was my fault.", she whispered, "He only hits me so I'll learn. He loves me." Wow.
"Kila, that's not how you love kids. You don't beat them to teach them."
"You hit Alex to teach him."
"I spank Alex. Rarely. That's different than just hitting him for no reason. I've never permanently hurt or scarred him. Ever." I paused, "I'm reporting this. You can stay with us. I'm not gonna let you go back to a house where you're treated like this. You're my niece, I'm not letting you get hurt anymore."
"He's your brother."
"Kila, you have to understand that I only associate with Luke because of you and Zach. I clung to him because he was the only one who stayed with me when I came out, but he's treated me like shit my whole life. And then, after he hurt me, he told me about how it was for my own good and to teach me and that he loved me and I forgave him. I chose fake love with abuse over happiness and I hate myself for that. I'm not letting you make the same mistake. He does not love you. I know that's hard to hear and believe but it's true. If he loved you, he wouldn't treat you like this." She stayed quiet,
"I-I don't want you to report it. I'm fine. I- It's not as bad as you think. He loves me more than he hurts me."
"That's not how it works sweetie. I don't care what you want, I'm doing what's good for you."
"But I wanna stay. I-I don't wanna get put in a home."
"I won't let that happen. You're gonna stay with us or Zach, end of story."
"You can stay with them for a few weeks.", Zach said coming in, "I was gonna surprise you anyways, but I close on a house tomorrow." She smiled softly,
"Are-Are you guys sure?" We nodded.
"I was gonna ask you to move in with me anyways. I don't want you in a place where you're getting hurt."
"Thanks Zach."
"No problem."
°°°°
Cops escorted Luke out of the hospital, screaming and denying everything, then followed all of us back to our house to ensure Kila was safe. Alex immediately pulled her upstairs to the spare room, claiming they needed to "talk".
"I'm sorry.", Zach whispered, following us to the kitchen, "I didn't know the extent of it and I-I really didn't think she'd try to kill herself again."
"It's not on you Zach.", I said softly, "You're dad's always been fucked up. Did-Did he hurt you too?"
"Not as much. He just got really angry at Kila. A lot." I nodded,
"We're gonna take her to a doctor again tomorrow."
"Good luck."
°°°°
Kila whined from the backseat,
"Please don't make me."
"Kila you don't have a choice. You don't need shots or tests or anything scary.", I said softly.
"It is scary." Harson reached back and laid his hand on her leg,
"We'll stay with you the whole time kid. I promise it'll be okay."
"I don't wanna."
"I don't care what you want.", I said firmly.
°°°°
Kila pouted on the table, not answering the doctor's third question. I sighed,
"Could you give us a minute please?" He nodded, leaving the room as I went to Kila, towering over her, "Makila this is ridiculous."
"I don't want to be here."
"I understand that. But you still have to answer the doctor's questions about this. We have to get you help."
"I don't want help and it won't help! You don't understand and you're just making this worse."
"Sometimes things have to get worse in order to get better."
"It won't get better. I'm not talking to a therapist. I'm not taking pills. End of story."
"You'll do what the doctor says Kila. Don't make me beat your ass here. I will." She knew I would.
"I hate this. And you."
"That's fine. You still have to be here and answer questions or you will be a very sorry little girl. Understood?"
"Yes sir."
