Finding Lilibeth

It had been a week since Dj arrived home. He had fought with his dad constantly about not going back overseas to study. Darren didn't want Dj giving up the opportunity for his sister. Dj didn't want to leave his sister with his family who were incompetent of actually taking care of Lilibeth. In that week nothing much changed. Darren was working and if it weren't for Dj Lilibeth would of been in her room alone. Zac would come and see her when he had finished school but the others couldn't be bothered with her. They weren't cruel to her but they just didn't care. This frustrated Dj as he could see how broken then little girl was. Lex and Leo did get nasty when they were drinking and doing drugs but Darren ignored it putting it down to normal teenage behaviour.

Dj had taken Lilibeth shopping for things that she would need and even brought her a swimming costume. Lilibeth fought with Dj as she didn't know how to swim so didn't need a costume but Dj insisted she get one. He laughed at how stubborn Lili was and the fact that she was comfortable enough to stand up to Dj. Lilibeth finally relented when Dj said he was buying it so he could help her to wash her hair in the shower. Lilibeth blushed as she hadn't thought of that which caused Dj to laugh at his sister. They both had fun that day and Lilibeth even got to buy a few toys like a skateboard and a push bike which Dj promised to teach her how to ride when her arm had healed and some board games.

Currently Lili and Dj were watching the live action beauty and the beast movie. Lili had never seen it before. Lili was cuddled in the side of Dj and hadn't taken her eyes off the tv. Dj had his arm around his sister and was watching her. Her reactions to the movie were better then any thing he had watched before. It was about the time for Zac, Leo and Lex to get home from school which usually meant Lilibeth would go straight to her room. She still wasn't comfortable being around everyone. The only person she spoke to was Dj, sometimes Zac would hear her talking to Dj when he was with them but she didn't speak directly to Zac.

The door slammed shut alerting Dj to the fact the others were home from school but Lilibeth was to invested in the movie to notice. Leo and Lex stormed onto the lounge room where Lilibeth and Dj were. Zac headed up to Lilibeth's room to spend time with his sister as he genuinely wanted to have a relationship with the girl. When Lex and Leo reached the lounge room they were pissed off that Lilibeth and Dj were here, they wanted to watch Tv. "What the fuck is she doing here?" Lex bit out causing Lilibeth to jump. Lex and Leo had been smoking joints at school and there eyes were blood shot.

Lilibeth went to stand up and leave. She didn't want to be around Lex and Leo and didn't realise the time. Dj held Lilibeth in place "let's finish the movie" Dj said to his sister before turning his glare to his brothers. "She has every right to be here and watch your mouth Lex" Dj bit out. He didn't want to yell so he didn't scare Lilibeth. "Run along to your room brat" Lex yelled stalking closer to Lilibeth while glaring at her.

Zac came back into the lounge room hearing Lex yelling at Lilibeth. Dj stood in front of Lex glaring at him "back off Lex" Dj said in warning. He was sick of the way that his brothers were treating Lilibeth. Darren also heard the dispute and walked in to see what was going on. "Stay out of it Dj, the little bitch can scram we went the Tv" Lex yelled. Dj saw his father and expected him to stick up for Lilibeth but he didn't. He just stood watching.

Lilibeth dropped her head and looked at the ground, she hated yelling. Zac watched his sister and saw the tears begin. He walked closer to her to comfort her but that scared Lilibeth and she quickly jumped up running up to her room. She hid under her bed not wanting anyone to hurt her. She felt like an idiot for believing that she was safe in this house. She silently let her tears fall curled up in a ball under her bed right in the corner hoping no one would find her.

"You have got to be kidding me" Dj yelled. "You stood there and allowed your son to abused your daughter because she was watching a movie. You are pathetic. Your sons here are clearly off there face and still you don't do shit" Dj screamed at his father. "And you Lex, you may of got away with beating your little sister before but I won't hesitate to put you on your arse the next time you even look at Lilibeth wrong do you hear me?" Dj continued. "You won't be here in two weeks so she needs to learn her place" Lex bit back. Dj grabbed Lex by the collar of his shirt, "I will be here as long as Lilibeth is here. You threaten her or speak bad to her again and I'll drop you on your arse. Do you understand?" Dj yelled into Lex's face.

"Dj that's enough" Darren stated stepping towards his sons. "Are you kidding? You will stand up for this punk but not your daughter who has known nothing but abuse?" Dj yelled at his father. "This is my house you will do well to remember that Dj" Darren fumed out. "Dad, Lex started it. Dj is right, why should Lilibeth have to be in her room because Lex doesn't like her?" Zac asked. "Stay out of it Zac" Leo called out. "You know what? Lilibeth deserves so much better then you lot. You are all pathetic and when her social worker is here on Monday, I will be telling him all about what has been going on" Dj stated before storming out of the room to go find his sister.

Dj headed up to Lilibeth's room to check on his sister. Zac followed Dj ashamed of his family and the fact they hadn't learnt a thing from the first time they all hurt Lilibeth. Dj entered the room and couldn't see Lili anywhere. He headed into the closet but didn't see his sister at all. Zac walked into Lilibeth's room to. "Where is she?" Dj asked Zac who shrugged his shoulders not knowing. Dj panicked calling out to Lili but didn't hear anything at all.

Zac went to the door turning around to let Dj know he would start looking elsewhere and saw something under the bed. "Dj" Zac called pointing to under the bed. Dj lifted the blankets and looked under the bed seeing his sister curled up in a ball with her hand over her mouth and tears running down her face. He scooped his sister into his arms and sat himself on the bed holding his baby sister who was silently sobbing. Zac sat next to Dj to show his support but he kept quiet.

Eventually Lilibeth fell asleep crying. "Dj this isn't good for her. She can't stay here with them" Zac told his eldest brother. Seeing the damage the others were doing Lilibeth hurt Dj and Zac, they knew she didn't deserve it. "I know, I'm ringing Gramps" Dj told Zac who nodded. "She isn't his blood though" Zac stated causing Dj to shake his head. "Doesn't matter, he will help. There is a lot you don't know but it isn't my place to say" Dj stated before picking up the phone to call Gramps, his mother’s father.