Mother's Concern || Alfie & Emily
shandersonalfie:
Taking the clock off the living room wall, he fiddled with the back of it until he managed to take the battery out. It was driving him insane. Alfie had literally done nothing all day. He’d read articles online about how parents are meant to cope with children who have recently attempted suicide. Pray was a common topic, the notion making Alfie laugh. Divine intervention didn’t help him. He had become a bit cynical being cooped up in the house for over a week, he had left once, to go to the therapists. No one had noticed his lack of absence, no texts, but it also meant that no news was good news, no one knew yet. No one knew how far he’d gone.
Settling back onto his position on the sofa, he pulled the blanket up to his chin and closed his eyes. Day time naps were helping him convince his dad that he was okay, that he was improving slightly. Insomnia has been something he’d struggled with since his spiraling began and if his dad thought it was stopping, maybe he’d think he was getting better at being a normal 17 year old. Or maybe not. His Dad still looked at him funny, the way he looked when Alfie woke up from the coma, the way he looked when Alfie explained why and how long he’d been self harming, drinking, using drugs and everything else. It was a look of despair mixed with a little bit of hopelessness and just a dash of horror at what his offspring had become. Alfie needed that look to go away.
Closing his eyes, he tried his best to induce sleep but it just wasn’t coming. He felt sluggish, detoxing was hell, and although he hadn’t used for over two weeks, he still felt like he was going through withdrawal. He wanted nothing more to just hunt down his car keys and leave. He knew who to find and where they were but he also knew the consequences of his actions now. It wasn’t just him he was hurting it was his Dad and his little sister too.
He hadn’t even noticed he fell asleep until he was woken up by a car engine outside. Was his Dad home already? I thought it was his late night, he panicked to himself, folding up his blanket and setting it at one end of the sofa. His panicking stopped however, when there was a knock at the door. A knock? Who would be out here? Pulling on a hoodie to cover his arms, the last thing a stranger needed was to be confronted by a teenager who looked like they’d fallen into a thorn bush, and cautiously opened the door-to find Emily Prentiss on the other side. Confusion immediately crossed his face, before he realised that was rude and tried to hide it.
"Um hey Emily. Come in, Gran-I mean Dad isn’t home right now but sure, yeah, come in," his voice was rushed and he couldn’t help but convey his awkwardness as she crossed the threshold of the house. His relationship with the BAU family had been strained at best in the past few years so he couldn’t imagine why she was here. "What’s up?" he asked, guiding her to the living room.
Emily took in the sight of the young boy. He'd been through so much and his face and body showed it. The poor kid looked exhausted, like he'd been dragged through hell and back. Then again, he pretty much had been. Em tried her best not to compare him to the kids they saw on cases-the ones with too much on their shoulders and desperately needed a break; as well as for someone to care for them. "Thanks," she smiled as he let her inside and lead her to the living room. She suspected it might be awkward but she hadn't anticipated it'd be this bad. She should've known better though. "Let's not beat around the bush here," she spoke with her hands as she sat down, gesturing for him to do the same. "I know your dad's not here. I spoke with him earlier today. ...He asked me to come here and talk to you." She paused a moment, just long enough to gather her thoughts and catch a small breath. "He's worried about you Alfie. He wants to help too, he's just not sure how. Hence why I'm here," she clasped her hands together.
She paused again trying to read his reaction. However she feared if she didn't keep talking, if she didn't make it clear she was doing this out of her own genuine concern and affection, and not pity, that he'd shut her out. "I'm worried about you too and I don't get to see you much. You're not usually around when the other families get together." Her face reflected a hint of sadness. Honestly, she did wish he were there. Especially now that she knew what had happened. "I know this probably seems weird but I'm not here to be your therapist. Just as...well, as a friend, or a confidant if you will. Someone who's a little less directly involved but still cares about you."
She figured telling him that his dad wanted her to be like a mother figure would be a bad idea. That was a huge role to take on, one she wasn't yet ready or comfortable with assuming for Alfie. She'd bet he'd feel the same way. They had to work towards that. Emily would do it though if that's what Alfie wanted. "You don't have to talk to me if you don't want to but I hope you'll consider it. I also hope you'll consider stopping by more often. Just checking in, rejoining the BAU families."
