Fic: Family Business (Private Practice)
Title: Family Business
Author: jas_mien
Rating: PG
Pairing/Character: all characters, no pairing in particular, yetSummary: Addison’s brother shows up in L.A. and diggs up some past and some family backround and drama
When Archer came back from Sam's he expected everyone to be in bed already. Instead he found Addison sitting on the couch and hugging her knees. Kevin was standing in the kitchen area, brewing some hot water for tea. He was just putting the kettle on the stove when Archer came around the corner.
“Hey man.” Kevin turned around.
Archer felt his heart drop when he saw the exhaustion in Kevin's eyes and then turned his head and looked at his sister.
“What happened?”
His voice would have sounded more compassionate but he was too tipsy, so that all his words came out in a slur.
Addison looked up. Her eyes were red from crying and the tears had left lines on her cheeks. Her view sobered Archer instantly.
He walked over to the sitting area and dropped down on the couch next to her, while Kevin took a third mug out of the cupboard.
Archer pulled Addison into a hug.
“What happened? Is Amy alright?”
Addison could only shake her head, her whole body was shaken by sobs.
In the meantime, Kevin had poured the tea into the mugs and brought them now over to the couch on a tray.
“Seems like Amy is worse than we thought.”
He placed a mug on the table in front of Archer. Archer looked up, still holding Addison close.
“What do you mean?”
Kevin took a deep breath.
“She tried to kill herself.”
Archer's eye widened in shock.
“What? How?”
Kevin looked down on the floor.
“She tried to shoot herself.”
He paused.
“With my gun.”
Archer was furious.
“I always thought having a cop in the house wasn't a good idea.”
He clenched his left hand into a fist in his lap while his right hand tightened around Addison.
Addison felt her brother's anger and put her left hand around his fist to calm him down.
She had controlled herself enough to be able to speak now.
“It's not Kevin's fault.”
Archer stared at her.
“No? Who's is it then?”
“No one's. But if you really want to blame someone, then blame the guy who did this to her or our screwed up parents. Coz quite frankly I have no idea what triggered it in the end. I just know that our little sister didn't care anymore and she thought there was no person who did. She needs help Archer. This isn't something we can fix.”
Archer nodded.
“Where's she now?”
“Upstairs. Asleep. But only after I gave her something to calm her down.”
Archer took his arm off Addison and started to wring them in his lap. He nodded silently and Addison could see tears starting to pool in his eyes.
“I had no idea it was so serious. I thought she was strong enough to handle it.” Archer was still staring at his hands in his lap.
Kevin looked at both of them, his hand around the steaming mug.
“No one saw that coming.”
He looked at Addison who was lost in thoughts.
“Hey, what about Violet? I mean she's a shrink and all.”
Addison's head shot up.
“Oh my God, Violet! She was on the phone.”
Addison jumped up and took the phone.
“I have to call her.”
XxX
Violet was sitting on her couch and placed her glass of red wine back onto the table. She was still staring at the phone and couldn't get the happenings she had listened to out of her head. She was just about to take another sip from her glass, when the ringing phone made her flinch.
“Hello?” Violet asked.
“Violet?” Addison's voice sounded rushed.
“Addison are you alright?”
Violet knew that this questions was stupid but she had to asked it.
“Yeah I think so.”
Addison's voice grew lower.
“It's just...Amy... . She tried... .”
“I know.” Violet cut in.
“I heard everything.”
Addison exhaled on the other end.
“I don't know what to do, Violet. I can't loose her.”
Violet heard Addison's voice breaking on the other end and had to swallow back tears herself.
“I know.” She whispered.
“Can you help her?”
Addison's voice was filled with hope.
“I can try.” Violet answered.
“It's just, Addison. ...I don't know if I'm the right person for this. I'm not sure I can handle this.”
Violet hated to admit this, but Amy's case let all her own demons surface again. And it was hard enough to deal with them.
“Okay.” Addison was disappointed.
“I understand that.”
“I'm sorry Addison. But I will try. I'm just not sure I can help. So please don't put your hopes up.”
Addison nodded until she realized that Violet couldn't see it through the phone.
“Okay.”
“Good night, Addison and... she'll come though this. Take it from someone who's been there.”
“Thanks. Good night.”
XxX
5 days later it was Amy's 18th birthday and Addison wanted it to be special. To make her little sister forget what had happened. At least for one day.
She got up very early to prepare the breakfast. Kevin helped her and Archer made sure Amy wouldn't come out of her room to early. They all wanted it to be a surprise.
After a while Addison gave Archer a sign and he knocked on Amy's door.
“Hey Ams? You awake?”
The door opened and Amy got out fully dressed.
“For a while now. Why are you guarding my door?”
Archer shrugged, looked down to her and just smiled.
“Whatever.”
Amy rolled her eyes.
They walked downstairs where Addison and Kevin stood next to each other and Addison held a cake with a candle in her hand.
“Happy Birthday!”
They all said together.
Amy usually didn't like surprises but this one made her smile a little.
“C'mon.”
Addison held the cake closer to Amy.
“Make a wish.”
Amy looked Addison into the eyes. Addison gave her a reassuring look and nodded.
Amy took a deep breath and blew. Everyone in the room knew what she was wishing for right at that moment. She wanted to get better.
“Sit down.”
Kevin gestured towards the sitting area.
When Amy turned, she saw the biggest breakfast ever, everything carefully arranged.
Amy sat down while Addison acted like a waitress and served her with more food than she could eat.
After they had finished breakfast and Amy could barely move anymore because she was so full, it was time for the presents.
Addison handed her a big box.
“This is from Kevin and me.”
Amy took it and unwrapped it.
What she found let her inhale deeply. It was a brand new digital reflex camera.
The three of them could see how Amy's face lightened up and her eyes began to sparkle.
This was definitely the right present.