The doctor has finished speaking with Avery, T.K., Owen. They have started her on a new regime of medication and Avery is sat in her hospital room when a nurse walks in with Jason.

'Hey.' Avery smiles slightly.

'Hey.' Jason smiles back. 'Where are your dad and brother?' He sits on the edge of the bed.

'I convinced them to go down to the cafeteria.' Avery tells him. 'I told them there's no way I'm sneaking out of here. Not with all the security.'

'Did you tell him about the last time you were here?' Jason asks, laughing.

'What? When I starting jumping over the nurses station, leap-frogging the security guards?' Avery laughs. 'Yep.' Their laughter dies down. 'T.K. told me what happened.' Avery tells him. 'At the Quarry. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to put you through that.'

'You don't need to apologise.' Jason shakes his head. 'I've told you before, you never need to apologise to me. Not when you're feeling like this.' Avery smiles a little. 'I know what I was getting myself into when you were first diagnosed with the psychosis. I could have easily walked away.' He continues. 'I'm not going to walk away now. You're my best friend, Ave. You will always be my best friend.'

.

A week has past. Avery is being discharged from the psychiatric unit in L.A.. T.K. and Owen are talking with the doctor by the nurse's station about Avery's discharge. Avery is in her room sat on the bed with Jason.

'So, what's the verdict?' Jason asks. 'What's going on when you get home?'

'House arrest.' Avery sighs. 'Carlos, T.K.'s boyfriend has apparently agreed to watch over me when they're at work.'

'That's good.' Jason nods. Avery glares at him. 'What? You need someone to keep an eye on you for a while. You know that.'

'I know but I don't think feeling like I'm being smothered is going to help.' Avery tells him. 'You know me, I need my freedom.'

'I think they're just worried.' Jason states. 'They've never seen you like this. They don't know how to act. They just want to keep you safe. If they think keeping you under lockdown will help with that, then that's what they'll do.' He adds. 'I'll call you everyday, like usual and you'll be seeing Megan, is it, I assume?'

'Probably.' Avery nods.

'So you won't ever be alone.' Jason reassures her. 'And remember,' he adds taking her hand, 'day or night.' He squeezes her hand.

'Day or night.' She smiles. T.K. and Owen then walk back into the room. The two teens look at them.

'They've referred you to a psychiatrist back home and started you on some new meds. It's really important you start taking them, especially your anti-epileptics.' Owen tells her.

'Yeah.' Avery agrees.

'And you tells us if they're making you feel terrible or you feel like they're not working.' T.K. adds.

'Okay.' Avery nods.

'The doctor has said we can leave whenever we're ready.' Owen says.

'Then let's get out of here.' Avery says quickly, pushing past her brother and dad.

'She hates hospitals.' Jason laughs slightly, standing up.

'You coming?' They hear. They turn and look at Avery who is stood in the middle of the corridor.

'Erm.. Ave..' Jason says, pointing down to his feet. Avery looks down at her feet and sees that she's forgotten to put her shoes on and still in the neon yellow hospital socks.

'Crap.' She mutters. She quickly walks back into the room, sits on the bed and puts her shoes on. She looks at her best friend. 'You could have told me I didn't have any shoes on before I left.' She stands back up.

'You didn't give me a chance.' Jason laughs. He looks at Owen and T.K. 'Are you sure they said she could go home?' He jokes.

'Are you sure you're not a dickhead?' Avery bites back.

'Yeah, she's fine.' Jason grins.

'C'mon, let's get you home.' Owen says to his daughter.

'Do you mind if I come with you to the airport?' Jason asks.

'Sure.' Owen nods.

'Can we make one stop before we go?' Avery asks.

'Where?' Owen queries.

'118. I want to say goodbye to Chimney.' Avery says.

'He's downstairs.' T.K. tells her. 'I called him and let him know you were being discharged and he asked if he could come and say goodbye.'

'Thanks.' Avery smiles. 'Now let's get out of here.' T.K. takes her bag from where it's sat on the bed and they walk out of the room and leave the ward. The four of them walk down to the main waiting area of the hospital where Chimney is sat. As soon as he sees them, he stands up.

'Hey.' He smiles slightly.

'Hi.' Avery smiles back.

'You're looking better.' Chimney points out.

'Yeah, it's amazing what a week of rest can do.' Avery laughs.

'How are you feeling?' Chimney asks.

'A lot better.' Avery replies. 'But that might change whilst my body gets used to being on the new meds.'

'I hope they help.' Chimney tells her. 'I have to get to work, but remember, don't be a stranger.'

'Thank you.' Avery smiles and they hug. 'Bye.'

'See ya.' Chimney says before leaving.

'You ready to go home?' Owen asks his daughter.

'Yeah.' Avery nods.

.

An hour later, Avery, Owen, T.K. and Jason are at the airport. They had stopped by the hotel Owen and T.K. were staying in to pick up their bags.

'We'll give you guys a few minutes to say bye.' Owen tells them. 'We're just gonna grab a coffee.' Owen points to the Starbucks. 'Come and find us after.'

'Thanks.' Avery smiles at him before T.K. and Owen walk off. She turns to face Jason. 'Thank you. For everything.'

'What have I told you about saying thank you?' Jason raises his eyebrow. 'I'd do anything for you.' He adds.

'What did your mom say when she found out I was staying with you and you didn't call my dad or brother?' Avery questions.

'She was chill.' Jason shrugs. 'She understood why we didn't call anyone. She's just glad that you're safe and that I went to the police when you didn't come back to mine.'

'You've been focused on me,' Avery starts, 'but are you okay? I know what happened bought up some memories.'

'Hey,' he cups his hand on her cheek, 'you don't need to worry about me.'

'But I do.' Avery takes his hand and holds it. 'You were the one who found her. She was your sister. You barely speak about her anymore.'

'Because it's hard.' Jason's eyes fill with tears.

'I know.' Avery grips his hand tighter. 'But you need to talk about it, Jase. Trust me, I know.' She lets go of his hand.

'I will.' Jason nods. 'I'm just-'

'Don't you dare pull that "I'm scared people will make fun of me" bs with me.' Avery cuts him off. 'It's okay for you to cry. It's okay for you to ask for help.'

'When are you going to start taking your own advice?' Jason laughs.

'Probably never.' Avery laughs slightly.

'I'll speak to someone. I promise.'

'Good.' Avery nods. 'Don't make me have to run away to kick your ass to make you speak to someone.' Jason just stares at her. 'Too soon with the running away joke?'

'Kinda.' Jason nods laughing. 'I don't know what time your flight is so I'll let you go now. Remember to eat and get enough sleep.' Jason reminds her. 'And drink enough water.'

'I don't think I'll have a problem with that.' Avery laughs. 'Dad and T.K. will be watching me like hawks.'

'I don't doubt that.' Jason laughs. 'Take care of yourself, yeah?'

'I'll try my best.' Avery smirks. Jason just shakes his head. 'Come here.' She waves him forward.

'Stay safe, yeah.' Jason tells her seriously as they hug.

'Of course.' Avery responds as they pull apart.

'Remember, day or night.' Jason says, closing his fist and holding it up.

'Day or night.' Avery smiles fist bumping him. 'Bye.'

'Bye.' Jason smiles slightly. Avery turns and walks off to find Owen and T.K. in the Starbucks they went to. When she finds them sat at a table, she joins them.

'We got you a coffee.' Owen tells her.

'Thanks.' Avery smiles. She picks it up and takes a sip. 'Mmm, that's good.' She places it back down. 'The coffee at the hospital was rank.'

'I bet it was.' Owen laughs. 'Are you hungry?'

'Not really.' Avery shrugs. She sees the looks on their faces. 'You're going to make me eat anyway aren't you?'

'Yep.' T.K. grins, pushing over the toastie that was in front of her.

'Fine.' Avery gives in. She picks up the toastie and starts eating it. Within a few minutes the toastie is gone.

'So you were hungry.' T.K. teases.

'Shut up.' Avery mutters.

'What was that?' T.K. asks.

'When's the flight?' Avery says louder.

'Two hours.' Owen replies, looking at his watch whilst T.K. laughs. 'So we gotta think about checking in so we can make it through security.'

'Let's go then.' Avery states, standing up.

'You just want to get some books don't you?' T.K. questions.

'Maybe.' Avery responds.

'Don't you have enough books at home?' T.K. points out.

'I only have like 500.' Avery says innocently. Owen nearly chokes on his coffee.

'500?!' He exclaims.

'It's not that many.' Avery shrugs. 'Besides, you probably spend the same amount on hair and skin care and coffee stuff as I do on books, if not more.'

'Fair point.' Owen laughs. 'Come on, let's go and get checked in.' The three of them stand up, take their bags and make their way to check in.

.

Seven hours later, Owen, Avery and T.K. are back in Austin and are just arriving home. When they walk through the door and into the living room, Carlos and Megan are waiting for them.

'Hey.' Avery smiles slightly.

'Hey.' Both Carlos and Megan smile back at her. Avery, T.K. and Owen sit with them.

'How are you feeling?' Megan asks the teen.

'Better.' Avery nods. 'Way better.' She adds. 'Although, when we were leaving, I nearly left without my shoes.'

'You what?' Carlos asks making sure he heard right.

'I was that eager to leave that I pushed past dad and T.K. but I'd forgotten to put my shoes on so I was just stood in the middle of the ward going "you coming?" in neon yellow hospital socks.'

'I'm surprised they didn't keep you in longer after that.' Megan laughs without thinking, she realises what she's just said. 'I did not mean to say that, I wasn't thinking.' Everyone looks at Avery.

'It's cool.' Avery laughs. 'It was funny and I thought the exact same thing.' She sees Megan go to say something. 'Don't even think about apologising for saying that, I put you all through hell the last couple of weeks. It should be me apologising.'

'Now it's my turn to tell you to no even think about apologising.' Carlos tells Avery. 'You weren't very well. You can't blame myself.'

'I can if-' Avery starts to say.

'Ah!' Carlos cuts her off. 'I don't want to hear it.'

'God, you're worse than Jason.' Avery laughs.

'Have you two eaten?' Owen asks Megan and Carlos.

'Not yet.' Carlos shakes his head. 'I was just about to order Chinese when you walked in.'

'Let's order then and I can go pick it up.' Owen says.

An hour later, everyone is sat around the kitchen table eating. Avery has barely touched her food.

'Ave, you okay?' Owen asks her.

'Yeah, I'm just not that hungry.' Avery replies. 'I'm tired.' She says as she stands up. 'I'm going to go to bed.'

'Okay.' Owen nods, slightly concerned. 'You sure you're okay?'

'Yeah.' Avery nods. 'I think I just need to sleep in my own bed. Goodnight.' Everyone says goodnight to her and she walks up to her bedroom.

'She didn't really want to eat at the airport either.' T.K. says to Megan and Carlos, noting they look concerned. 'The doctor said she might not have an appetite for a while whilst her body gets used to talking the meds again.'

'We're going to keep an eye on it.' Owen adds.

Upstairs, Avery is 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.

~~~~~~~~~~~

This chapter ended up being longer than I thought!

Let me know what you think!

Much love