Twenty minutes later, Jason is pulling up in front of the police station. He quickly pays for a ticket to park before walking in and to the front desk. The desk sergeant looks up at him.

'Hi, my name's Jason Anderson. I have some information on the whereabouts of Avery Strand.' Jason tells the sergeant. The desk sergeant takes Jason through to where Owen, T.K. and Athena are. They are in a room with a map on the wall, trying to figure out where Avery may be. All three look at him and the desk sergeant leaves.

'Jason?' Owen asks confused, knowing Jason from when Avery has been on facetime with him.

'I know where Avery is.' Jason states. 'Well, was.'

'What do you mean "was"?' T.K. questions.

'She was staying with me. She made me promise not to tell anyone since she's here to try and get rid of some of the guilt she's been feeling.'

'Guilt?' Owen furrows his eyebrows.

'Over how she's treated you.' Jason clarifies. 'Anyway, she mentioned she needed to fight some demons but when I saw the breaking news alert about her, I told her to do that today and then we'd call to let yous know that she's safe.' He continues. 'That was at 9am this morning. She said she'd be back by 5pm but she wasn't. She didn't take a coat or anything with her. She left her phone and burner phone in my room.'

'So, if she's out there and hasn't got shelter or drink, she's going to start getting hypothermic and/or dehydrated.' T.K. rubs his forehead. 'How did she seem?'

'She seemed fine this morning,' Jason replies, 'but she's amazing at masking. She could be in any state of mind right now.'

'Do you have any idea of where she could be?' Athena asks.

'Have you tried bookstores and libraries?' Jason questions. 'She's always joking that books are her therapy.'

'First places we checked.' T.K. nods.

'We gave her photo to each security team, they'll let us know if they spot her.' Athena adds.

'What about her old house? I know it's still on the market - she could have found a way in?' Jason suggests.

'We checked there too. We have unis parked outside just in case she turns up.' Athena says. Jason puts his hand on his head for a second before dropping it.

'I can't think of anywhere else she might have gone.' He shakes his head. 'I'll text all of our friends, see if they've seen or heard from her.'

'I appreciate it.' Owen nods.

'I'm sorry,' Jason apologises, 'for not coming to you sooner. If I had, we wouldn't be here right now.'

'It's okay.' Owen reassures him.

'Avery can be very persuasive when she wants to be, and stubborn, and determined.' T.K. chips in.

'Don't I know it.' Jason sighs and laughs.

.

A few days have past. There has been no sign of Avery. A search party has been put together to search for her in the more woodland areas of L.A. Jason, Owen, T.K., Athena and Chimney are at the police station getting ready to head out. Chimney has his 118 windbreaker on.

'Before we head out there and I give the greenlight for the search party to head out, could she have made her back to Austin by herself?' Athena asks Owen and T.K.

'Her best friend and my boyfriend have been staying in our house in case she turns up.' T.K responds. 'We checked in with this them this morning and she hasn't turned up there.'

'Then we'll go back out there today.' Athena nods.

'Where do we start?' Jason asks.

'I have an idea.' Chimney states.

.

Forty minutes later, they are arriving at the quarry where the car accident Avery was in was. The car accident that killed her mom. They look down and see that she's sat in the exact same space the car was in.

'We checked her everyday.' Athena says.

'Another thing Avery is really good at is hiding.' Owen says. 'Well, she's not just good, she's amazing.'

'I'll go down.' Chimney tells them. 'I know the easiest and safest way down there. I don't want to put any of you in danger.'

'I think she'd rather have you down there anyway.' Owen replies. 'You were there when the accident happened, you know what it was like for her.'

'Take this.' Athena hands a radio over to him. 'Keep communications going.' Chimney nods and starts making his way down to where Avery is. Five minutes later, he's approaching Avery.

'Hey, Avery.' He smiles slightly. Avery looks up at him.

'Hi' She whispers. He sits on the ground next to her, takes his jacket off and drapes it around her shoulders. 'I'm fine.' She shrugs it off. 'I'm not cold.'

'What are you doing here?' Chimney asks her.

'I-' she starts. 'Where?'

'Avery, do you know where you are?' Chimney questions. Avery just shakes her head. 'What about the year, do you know what the year is' Avery shakes her head again.

'How do you know my name?' Avery queries. Chimney grabs the radio that he had clipped to his belt.

'We need medical, stat. Signs of confusion - she could be either hypothermic or dehydrated, or both.'

'Why are you here?! What do you want from me?!' Avery shouts, scrambling to her feet. Chimney also stands up.

'I just want to help you. So does your dad and T.K.' Chimney reassures her. 'We're going to get you somewhere safe.'

'What does my dad and T.K have to do with this? I live with my mom, she's coming to collect me. She'll be here any minute.' Avery steps away from Chimney but he takes a step closer to her. 'Stay away from me!'

'Ave.' They hear, they turn and see Jason.

'I told you not to come down. You could have slipped and injured yourself.' Chimney tells him. Jason puts a hand up, signalling for Chimney to give him a chance.

'Ave, it's okay.' Jason says softly. Avery runs over to him and hugs him. 'It's okay.' He repeats as they part.

'Jase, tell this man to get away from me. He knows my name, he knows about TK. and dad - how?' Avery tells him. 'I was just here admiring the view and he came out of nowhere. I told him my mom was on her way to come and collect me but he won't leave.' Jason looks at Chimney, concerned, then back at Avery. 'Did mom send you to pick me up instead?' Jason gulps.

'Yeah.' He nods. 'She wants you home safe.' He adds. 'But first, put this on.' He takes his jacker off and hands it over. 'It's cold.' Avery reluctantly takes the jacker and puts it on. 'Come on.' He wraps him arm around her and leads her away, with Chimney following them. When they reach the top of the quarry, Avery sees Owen, T.K., Athena, two paramedics and an ambulance. She pushes Jason away

'You lied to me!' She screams. She goes to run off but Jason grabs onto her and she starts to fight him off. As she keeps fighting, she puts his arms around her and holds her to him, her back to his chest. Avery keeps struggling. 'Let me go!'

'No.' Jason says firmly. 'We are doing this to protect you. You've been out here for god knows how long. You're cold, dehydrated and quite clearly confused and distressed.' He continues. 'Just, please,' he croaks, fighting backs tears, 'get in the ambulance and let them take you to the hospital to get checked over. For me. I've already lost a sister, I can't lose you too.' Avery stops struggling upon hearing him mention his sister. 'Please.' He pleads one final time.

'Okay.' Avery nods quietly. He lets go of her and she turns to face him.

'Thank you.' Jason tells her.

'I don't know what's wrong with me.' She breaks down crying.

'Nothing is wrong with you.' Jason sighs sympathetically, bringing her in for a hug. He places his chin on her head. 'You're poorly. Now go checked over, I'll see you at the hospital.' He kisses the top of her head and hands her over to the paramedics. As they're getting Avery settled, Owen, T.K., Athena and Chimney talk to Jason.

'Thank you.' Owen nods.

'Of course.' Jason smiles slightly.

'I've never seen her like this.' T.K, says.

'I have.' Jason states. 'Once. It was a really bad psychotic episode. She wouldn't eat, drink, talk or even step foot in her house for a week. She though her house was bugged and that someone was spying on her. She stayed in the backyard the whole time. He mom couldn't get through to her so I stayed with her the entire time until I could get her to go inside.' She tells him.

'Was what's happened over the last couple of weeks a result of a psychotic episode?' Athena asks.

'It's hard to tell.' Jason responds.

'I'm sure the doctors will know more when she's rested, hydrated and warm.' Chimney says.

'My best guess is that it was.' Owen adds. Jason and T.K. nod in agreement. He sees that the paramedics now have Avery settled. She has a bag of fluids connected to an IV in her hand and a warming blanket over her. 'Let's go before she runs again.'

'I'll go back to mine and get her bag. I'll meet you at the hospital in a few hours.' Jason tells T.K. and Owen. He turns around and starts walking off, as soon as he's out of sight, he collapses to the ground and breaks down crying.

~~~~~~

So Avery has been found! But is she out of the woods yet? You'll have to wait until the next chapter to find out!

Hope you enjoyed the chapter, let me know what you think!

Much love