Avery is in her room getting changed into her pyjamas. Once she's changed, she sits on her bed and takes her hair down and puts it back up into a messy bun to sleep in. She looks at her phone and sees a message from Jason.

From: Jase

I hope you've eaten xx

Avery bites her lip and thinks before sending her reply.

To: Jase

I tried but I just can't

As soon as she sees that he's seen the message, he facetimes her. She sighs and answers the call. Jason pops up on the screen with his eyebrow raised.

'Eat.' He simply states.

'I cant.' Avery sits more up on her bed and brings her knees to her chest. She holds the phone in front of her face. 'Every bite makes me feel sick.'

'Ave-' He starts.

'I'll try again tomorrow.' Avery cuts him off. 'Can we talk tomorrow? I'm tired.'

'Sure.' Jason nods. 'Make sure you do get some sleep.'

'Yeah.' Avery smiles slightly. 'Night.'

'Night.' Jason replies. Avery ends the call and puts her phone on her nightstand. She gets up off the bed, turns off her light and closes her door before returning to her bed, snuggling under the duvet and falling asleep.

.

The next day, Avery wakes up feeling a little bit better. She looks at the time and sees that it's nearly midday. She gets out of bed, puts her sliders on and walks downstairs. When she walks into the kitchen she sees Owen and T.K. stood and the Island preparing lunch.

'Good morning sleepy head.' Owen smiles.

'Meh.' Avery replies, still groggy. T.K. laughs slightly, pours her a cup of coffee and places it in front of her. 'Thanks.' Owen then takes her pills out of her dossette box, fills a cup with water and hands them to her. She takes the pills and washes them down with the water.

'Don't you need to take those at a certain time?' T.K. asks.

'Morning and night.' Owen responds for Avery. 'So when she wakes up and before she goes to bed.'

'I should really be taking them earlier.' Avery adds. 'Why didn't you wake me up?'

'I went to wake you up but you looked so peaceful and last night you were really tired so I wanted you to get as much rest as possible.' Owen tells her. 'However, I'll be waking you up from tomorrow onwards.' Avery nods, understanding.

'What are you going to have for breakfast?' T.K. asks his sister. 'Or should I say brunch?'

'I'm not that hungry so I'll just have a cereal bar and a banana.' Avery replies.

'Sandwich, fruit and potato chips it is.' T.K. states as he starts preparing the food for her.

'T.K. I'm not that hungry.' Avery protests. 'It will just go to waste.'

'Avery, you need to eat.' Owen tells her. 'You didn't each much yesterday.' He continues. 'I know your doctor said you might not have much of an appetite whilst you get used to being on meds again but you need to at least try and eat full meals.'

'Fine.' Avery sighs, giving in. T.K. finishes making her food and places it in front of her. She laughs when she sees he has cut some apple into stars. 'I didn't see you cut these.'

'I did them last night whilst you were in bed.' T.K. says. 'I remembered how when you were little, you used to only eat fruit if it was cut into stars.'

'Thanks.' Avery smiles as she starts eating. T.K. looks at Owen who mouths thank you. T.K. nods and walks out of the room whilst Owen stays in the kitchen and starts doing some meal prep for the next week. When Avery is half-way through her food, her phone rings. Seeing it's a facetime call from Jason she answers the phone and props it against a vase on the Island so she can still eat.

'Hey!' Jason grins. He notes that she's still in her pyjamas and hasn't brushed her hair. 'Have you only just woken up?!'

'Yep.' Avery responds, popping the 'p'.

'Have you taken your meds and eaten?' Jason asks her.

'Yes,' she nods, 'and eating right now.' She holds up her half empty plate.

'Good.' Jason grins. 'How are you feeling today?'

'Better.' Avery nods. 'It was nice sleeping my bed.'

'Was my bed not comfortable enough?' Jason asks offended.

'Excuse me?' Owen cuts in. Avery looks up at him.

'Dad, I'm gay. We used to sleep in the same bed all the time when I lived in L.A. It's no biggie.'

'I know, it just caught me off guard.' Owen responds. 'I'll be in the front room.'

'Kay.' Avery smiles slightly. Once he's out of the room, she turns her attention back to Jason whose eyes are wide.

'I didn't realise your dad was in the room.' He says.

'It's fine.' Avery laughs. 'You don't need to hold back.'

'Anyways, what are your plans for the rest of the day?' Jason asks her.

'I dunno.' Avery shrugs. 'Probably read. Online shop for more books.'

'Of course.' Jason laughs. 'I have to go but I will call you later.'

'Coolio.' Avery nods.

'Day and night.' Jason says.

'Day and night.' Avery responds before Jason hangs up. Avery places her phone back down flat. Unknown to her, T.K. had been standing in the doorway.

'What do you two say that?' He asks, walking into the kitchen, making Avery jump.

'Jesus fucking christ.' Avery puts her hand on her chest. 'Don't do that.'

'Why not?' T.K. smirks. 'It's funny.' He leans against the counter beside her.

'You're an asshole.' Avery smiles mockingly. 'What did you mean?'

'You and Jason always say "day and night". Why do you two say that?'

'Oh.' Avery realises. 'It's just our way of saying goodbye and that we can call each other day or night if we ever need to.'

'That's cute.' T.K. smiles. He sees the way Avery is looking at him. 'I mean it.' He adds, knowing that she thinks he's mocking her. 'It's a good friendship you two have going.'

'Yeah.' Avery smiles.

.

It has been a week. Owen and T.K. are at work but since Carlos had to work a shift that couldn't be covered, Avery was at the station with them. Owen is up in his office completing some paperwork whilst T.K. is cleaning the trucks with Marjan, Judd, Paul and Mateo. Avery is sat near where they're cleaning reading her book when the alarm goes off.

Units from the 126, building fire at 238 Pershing Drive.

Multiple residencies involved. Other units responding.

'Isn't that-?' Avery starts to ask as she jumps up from her seat.

'Megan's address.' TK finishes with an alarmed look on his face. 'Dad! That's where Megan lives!' TK shouts as Owen runs over to them. They all get geared up.

'Dad, let me come.' Avery says as everyone starts climbing into the trucks. Owen gives her a look as if to say "you know that's not allowed. 'Please, it's Megan.' She begs.

'You stay in the truck. You don't get out of the truck until we say so for anything other than an emergency.' Owen tells her sternly.

'Of course.' Avery nods her head. She jumps into the back on the truck that T.K. and Owen are in. Once everyone's in their assigned trucks, they pull out of the station with lights and sirens blaring. TK pulls out his phone and tries to call Megan whilst Avery messages her.

'She's not answering.' T.K. shakes his head.

'I'm sure she's fine.' Owen reassures them. Avery keeps texting Megan the whole way there but there was no response. When they arrive on the scene, they see that they're the first unit there. Avery hops out of the truck with the others and quickly jumps in the front so she could still see what's going on. She also turns the radio channel on in the truck so she can hear what's going on. She watches as the team put their breathing apparatuses on and head into the building. She listens as the firefighters announce themselves. Eventually, she hears T.K. shouting "Megan!" sighs with relief when she hears Megan's faint voice. Her relief is short lived when she hears that the stairs are gone and the fire escape is jammed. She sits, worried, until five minutes later, she spots Owen and T.K. helping Megan over to the ambulance. Once Megan is with Michelle, Owen walks over to the truck Avery is in and opens the door.

'She's fine.' Owen assures her. 'A bit of smoke inhalation but no burns or anything.'

'That's good.' Avery sighs with relief.

'She said you could go and sit with her.' Owen tells her. 'But you stay with her until we're done here, okay?'

'Thanks.' Avery smiles slightly. She hops out of the truck and walks over to Megan. When she reaches the ambulance she sits next to her. 'Are you okay?'

'I will be.' Megan gives and unconvincing nod. 'What are you doing here? I thought Carlos is supposed to be watching you?'

'He had to work a shift he couldn't cover.' Avery responds.

A little while later, the fire is out. Owen and T.K. walk over to the two girls.

'You okay?' T.K. checks in with Megan, noticing she's looking at the building.

'Yeah.' Megan flashes a small smile. T.K. raises an eyebrow, not believing her. 'I don't know where I'm going to go.' Megan looks away from the building. T.K. looked at Owen before glancing at Avery. Avery, understanding why he's looking at her, simply nods.

'We've spoken, my dad and I, and until the scheme can re-house you, you can come and stay with us.' T.K. tells her.

'Really?' Megan asks. 'Are you sure, I don't want to be too much hassle.'

'Of course.' Owen nods. 'There will be some ground rules though.'

'Thank you.' Megan smiles appreciatively.

'I've cleared her. Observations are stable. Since she'll be going with you guys I'm happy to release her.' Michelle informs them. She looks at Avery. 'Keep an eye on her, any signs of carbon monoxide poisoning call 9-1-1 immediately.' Avery nods.

'Thank you.' Megan says to Michelle, standing up.

'You two can go and wait in the truck until we're done here.' Owen tells Avery and Megan. They both nod and walk over to the truck. When they arrive at the truck, they both sit in the back, with Avery sitting in T.K's seat. Once the 126 have finished at the scene, they return to the truck. When T.K. opens the door and sees Avery in his seat her glares at her.

'My seat now.' She smirks.

'You're lucky you're my sister.' T.K. mutters climbing in and sitting in a spare seat.

'Love you too.' Avery smiles.

.

On the way back to the station, the team drop Avery and Megan off at the house. Since Avery will be with Megan and it's only a couple of hours until Carlos finishes work, Owen and T.K. decide it's safe to leave Avery with Megan. Avery and Megan walk up the stairs and to Avery's bedroom. Avery opens the door to her en-suite.

'Have a look through my closet, you can wear whatever you want, likewise for any of my stuff in the bathroom - use whatever you want.' Avery tells her, handing her some towels. 'If you need anything just shout. I'll just be setting up a spare bed in here.' She adds. 'Before you say anything, my dad and T.K. would kill me if I didn't, plus it's fine. The air mattress we have is super comfortable.' Megan picks out some clothes from Avery's closet, walks into the en-suite and closes the door. As Megan showers, Avery tidies up a little. She gets the air mattress from the hallway closet, set its up and attaches the electronic pump. Once it's fully blown up, she puts a sheet over it, a duvet and blanket alongside some pillows. Megan walks out just as she's putting a stuffed monkey down.

'A monkey?' Megan laughs, sitting on Avery's bed. 'Really?'

'Everyone needs an emotional support stuffed animal.' Avery simply states, causing Megan to smile.

'Thanks.'

'Of course.' Avery also sits on the bed. 'Carlos text me not long after you went in for your shower. He'll be here in about an hour since he's still on "Avery watch" and my dad and T.K. are in work until the morning.' Megan stifles a laugh. 'What?'

'"Avery watch".' Megan repeats.

'Carlos came up with it, not me.' Avery puts her hands up in defence. 'Anyways,' she drops her hands, 'he's going to pick some food up on the way back and make us dinner, my dad gave me money to get something but Carlos wants us to have something proper to eat so we'll probably have what Carlos makes us then order something for desert?'

'Sounds like a plan.'

.

Later that night, Megan and Avery are chilling in Avery's room, talking. They're interrupted by the doorbell going.

'Avery!!' Carlos shouts a minute later. Avery and Megan stand up and walk downstairs. At the bottom of the stairs Carlos is stood with a huge Amazon package at his feet. They reach the bottom of the stairs and Avery looks at the name on the box.

'I didn't order anything.' Avery says quickly, noticing it's her name. Her phone pings. She gets it out of her pocket and looks at it.

From: Jase

Surprise bitch

'That dick.' Avery laughs slightly. 'It's from Jason.' She looks back up at Carlos and Megan. 'He likes to send me stuff to cheer me up.' Carlos walks off and returns with some scissors. He cuts open the box and Avery lifts the flap. In the box are some books, paint by colour sets and loads of snacks.

'He must've spent a lot of money on this.' Megan laughs in disbelief.

'His mom has like a really good job and he works himself so he can afford it.' Avery explains. 'He knows I hate it but he does it anyways.'

'Do you want me to carry it upstairs for you?' Carlos offers.

'It's fine,' Avery shakes his head, 'I can manage.' Avery picks the box up and starts walking up the stairs.

'I'll walk behind her.' Megan whispers to Carlos. Carlos nods appreciatively and Megan does so. When they get back to Avery's room, she unpacks the boxes by putting the snacks in a drawer in her desk, putting the paint by number sets in another drawer and stacking the books on top of the desk.  'You not going to put the books away?'

'I have to catalogue them so I'll do that tomorrow.' Avery replies. There are a few minutes of silence.

'Thank you, for letting me stay here.' Megan says. Avery, who is still unpacking the box turns to face her. 'I really do appreciate it.'

'Of course,' Avery smiles, 'we weren't about to let you to some crappy temp housing place.' She adds. 'Plus T.K. really cares for you which means your part of the family now.' Megan smiles at that. The two teens talk a little while longer before settling for bed and going to sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Remember that Megan belongs to DharmaWinter so remember to go check out her story "Addicted" to read more about Megan's story and to read Megan's experience of the fire!

Let me know what you think!

Much love