Some time has passed. It has been four weeks since the shooting and Avery and Megan are finally able to be discharged. Avery has been doing really well during her physio, however, she is still unstable on her feet. Therefore, she has to use crutches to help her walk and has been referred to physiotherapy in Austin. Owen has already packed all of Avery's belongings in the car whilst Mike has taken Megan's things back to his place. Whilst Avery is going home to Austin, Megan has decided to stay in L.A. so that she can spend some time with her father. Both girls are eager to get out of the hospital. Whilst Mike wheels Megan out, T.K. wheels Avery with Jason and Owen following behind. They stop in the hospital lobby and when Avery looks over at Megan, she senses that she's anxious. Avery reaches over, grabs onto Megan's hand and squeezes it.

'Hey, we went in together, we're going out together.' Avery smiles, reassuringly.

'Together.' Megan smiles and nods, squeezing Avery's hand back. They all head out of the hospital and back to the hotel Jason, Owen and T.K. have been staying at so they could check out and get their suitcases.

An hour later, they were all outside the hotel. They had left the wheelchairs at the hospital so Avery was on her crutches whilst holding onto Jason for extra support.

'Don't cry because if you cry, I'll cry.' Megan laughs, noticing Avery is close to crying. 'I'll be home in two weeks.'

'Yeah.' Avery nods, keeping it together.

'In the meantime, you get to annoy Jason - and Carlos - he's not had to deal with us for five weeks. So please, annoy him for both of us.'

'Oh, I will, don't worry.' Avery laughs.

'We better get going before we hit all the bad traffic.' Owen tells Avery.

'Right, yeah.' Avery nods.

'I'll see you in two weeks.' Megan repeats, carefully hugging Avery.

'Drive safe and let me know when you get back to Austin.' Megan tells the four of them as she hugs T.K. and Owen. She turns to Jason and they hug.

'Take it easy, yeah?' Jason whispers into Megan's ear.

'I will.' Megan whispers back as they part.

'Come on then, trouble.' T.K. says, opening the door ready to help Avery into the back. Avery carefully climbs into the back and puts her crutches on the floor whilst Jason walks around to the other side. Megan says one final goodbye to T.K. as he gets into the car and waves them off.

The drive back to Austin takes a little longer than usual since they stopped a lot as Avery was getting uncomfortable with being in a car for too long. As soon as they had reached the Austin border, Avey had messaged Megan saying they were back in Austin. Owen pulls up in up in front of Jason's house to drop him off.

'Can I spend some time with Jase? It'll only be a couple of hours.' Avery asks her dad. Owen looks at Jason.

'I can bring her home.' Jason nods. 'Plus, I think if she doesn't pop in my mom will think the worse.'

'Okay.' Owen nods. 'Two hours but only because Carlos and the rest of the 126 will be coming over later.'

'Thank you.' Avery smiles. Avery carefully gets out of the car and takes her crutches whilst Jason gets out and grabs his suitcase from the trunk.

'Be careful and take your pain meds if you need them.' Owen tells Avery through the window.

'I will.' Avery nods. 'I'll see you later.' Owen drives off and she turns to Jason. 'Did you tell your mom I had been discharged?'

'Not yet.' Jason shakes his head. Avery hits him in the leg with one of her crutches. 'Jesus fucking christ.' He hisses, rubbing his leg.

'You're lucky that's all I can do right now.' Avery narrows her eyes at him.

'I just wanted to surprise her.' Jason holds his hands up in defence.

'Hmm.' Avery continues narrowing her eyes at him before relaxing. 'I'll let you off then.'

'Let's go in.' Jason drops his hands. He gets his keys out and they both walk up to the door. He unlocks and opens the door and they walk in, closing the door behind him. 'Mom?' He shouts as they walk through the house. Seconds later, his mom, Sharon, walks down the stairs. As soon as she sees them, she stops, her mouth open.

'Don't worry, I already hit him with my crutch for not telling you I was discharged.' Avery smiles at her. Sharon closes her mouth and walks up to them.

'I wanted to surprise you.' Jason tells his mom.

'Well, it's a lovely surprise.' Sharon smiles. She brings Avery in for a hug. Avery groans in pain.

'Mom,' Jason rubs his eyebrow, 'too tight.'

'Right, sorry.' Sharon steps back. 'How are you?' She asks Avery.

'I'm all healed but it's still a bit sore and tender.' Avery replies.

'And the crutches?'

'I'm still a bit unsteady on my feet.' Avery replies. 'I have to go to physiotherapy still to gain more strength back in my legs.' She sees that Sharon has tears in her eyes. 'Sharon, I'm fine. I'm stubborn.'

'I know.' Sharon nods, putting a hand on Avery's shoulder. 'I was so worried about you. I thought we were gonna lose you.'

'I know.' Avery nods quietly.

After an hour and a half of catching up with Sharon, Avery decides it's time to leave, as promised, Jason is driving her back. Sharon walks them to the door.

'If you get tired of your dad and brother coddling you, just come here, okay?' Sharon tells Avery.

'I will.' Avery laughs.

'I'll be back in a bit. I might stay at Ave's for a bit.' Jason tells Sharon.

'Okay.' Sharon nods. They say goodbye and Jason and Avery leave.

Twenty minutes later, Jason is pulling up in front of the Strand residence.

'It's so good to be back home.' Avery exhales. She looks out of the car window and can see people moving around through the windows of the house. 'How much do you wanna bet they've thrown me a welcome home party?' She looks back at Jason.

'You've been gone for 5 weeks.' Jason laughs. 'The odds are pretty high.' Avery groans. 'If you don't want this, I can just go in there and tells them you don't want a big fuss.'

'No, it's fine.' Avery shakes her head. 'Let's go.' They unbuckle their seatbelts and Avery goes to open the door.

'Wait there.' He tells her. 'I'll help you out.'

'Jase, I'm capable of getting in and out of a car.' Avery laughs.

'You could barely get in the car twenty minutes ago.' Jason raises an eyebrow. 'Wait there.' He repeats before getting out of the car, walking around to the passenger door and opening it. He helps Avery out, reaches into the back seat for her crutches and hands them to her. 'You ready?'

'Yeah.' Avery nods. They both walk up to the door and Jason opens it. As soon as they both step inside, they see Carlos, Owen, T.K. and the rest of the 126 standing in the hallway. They all clap and cheer.

'There's our trooper.' Judd grins. Avery makes her way over to them.

'Hey, guys.' Avery smiles.

'You good for hugs?' Judd asks.

'Yeah.' Avery nods. 'Just not too tight.' She goes around and hugs everyone, leaving Carlos until last.

'You're going to be annoying the hell outta me, aren't you?' Carlos asks her as they hug.

'You bet I am.' Avery smirks as they part.

'Good, because I wouldn't have it any other way.' Carlos smiles.

'Carlos Reyes, is that a free pass for me to annoy you whenever and wherever I want?' Avery smiles.

'I bet you regret saying that.' T.K. laughs, kissing him on the cheek. He turns to Avery.

'No shenanigans like pranking him.' He tells his sister.

'I can barely stand on my own without crutches. I doubt I'd be able to handle doing a prank.' Avery laughs slightly. T.K. just raises his eyebrow. 'Fine.' She sighs. Owen joins them. 'Can we go sit down, my legs are hurting.'

'Yeah, let's all go into the front room.' Owen nods. They all make their way into the front room and sit down.

'How are you feeling?' Marjan asks Avery. Avery goes to say something but then snaps her mouth shut, forming a tight line before biting on her knuckles. Jason laughs and everyone looks at him.

'She trying to stop herself from saying a dark joke.' He explains.

'Mmh-hm.' Avery nods, not taking her knuckles from her mouth.

'But-' Jason starts, 'three, two one.' He motions at Avery who removes her knuckles from her mouth.

'Like I got shot multiple times then died multiple times.' Avery says quickly before clamping her hands over her mouth. 'Dammit.' She drops her hands.

'I think after what you've been through, you're entitled to make as many dark jokes as you want.' Mateo laughs.

'To be fair, I didn't make that many dark jokes when I was in the hospital.' Avery points out.

'So be ready for her to spew out a shit ton of dark jokes now she's home.' Jason adds.

'I will hit you with my crutch again.' Avery narrows her eyes at him.

'I'm only speaking the truth.' Jason replies. They all spend the next few hours talking and catching up before everyone leaves, including T.K. and Carlos. Once Owen has seen everyone out, he locks the door and turns around to Avery looking up to the stair.

'Ave, you okay?' Owen asks, putting a hand on her shoulder.

'We erm- we didn't get to the stairs part of physio.' Avery gulps. 'I'm scared I'm going to fall down.'

'I'll be right behind you. Hold onto the handrails and just take one step at a time.' Owen tells her. 'I wont let you fall.'

'Thank you.' Avery says quietly.

'Pass me your crutches.' He tells her. She hands him her crutches and sways a little. Owen holds onto her to steady her. 'You ready?'

'Yeah.' She nods. She reaches out and holds onto the handrails before talking the first step. She winces in pain.

'Take your time.' Owen says. She takes another step and Owen steps up to the step behind her. She sways back and Owen catches her. 'I've got you.' Ten minutes later, and Avery is finally in her room. She sits down on her bed whilst Owen leans against the door frame, and catches sight of a button on her nightstand.

'What's this for?' Avery asks him, picking it up.

'It's a doorbell. I have the speaker in my room. If you need anything in the night like water or painkillers or whatever, just press the button and I'll come.' Owen explains.

'Thanks.' Avery laughs slightly. Owen walks into the room and kisses the top of her head.

'Goodnight.' He says.

'Night.' Avery replies. 'Love you.'

'Love you too.' Owen smiles before walking out the room, closing the door behind him. Avery slowly walks around her room, holding onto furniture for support instead of using her crutches, get a towel and some pyjamas and walks into her en-suite. Luckily the shower has a bench in it so she sits on it whilst she showers. She slowly gets dressed and makes her way back into her room. She turns the light off, gets into bed and falls asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow.

.

It's been a week. Due to still recovering from major surgery, Avery hasn't felt up to doing anything so she has been spending most of her time with Jason or reading in either her bedroom or her reading room. It's mid-afternoon, Avery is in her room reading when Jason walks in. She's so engrossed in her book that she doesn't notice him.

'Hello, hello, hello.' Jason grins.

'Yeah, hey, hi.' Avery says without looking up.

'Not the welcome I expecting.' He laughs as he sits down in her desk chair. 'I broke my leg.'

'Cool.' She says as she turns a page. He leans forward and clears his throat.

'I think I'm in love with Megan.' He admits. This gets Avery's attention and she snaps her head up and puts her book down.

'Dude!' She exclaims. 'What?!'

'Thought that'd get your attention.' He smiles leaning back into the chair. 'How are you?'

'Nuh-uh.' She shakes her head, carefully crawling to the end of the bed. 'You don't get to say something like that and ask me how I am.' She sits cross-legged. 'So, you're in love with Megan.'

'Do we have to talk about this?' Jason groans.

'Yes,' Avery nods, 'Jase, you haven't let anyone get close to you since you lost Abby. You lost your sister, your best friend. It made sense to push people away. You even tried to push me away.'

'But you were too stubborn to let that happen.' Jason laughs.

'It's okay to let yourself get close to people.' Avery states. Jason gets his phone out and Avery quickly snatched it.

'What are you doing?' He asks, worried.

'Texting Megan.' Avery smiles smugly.

'What?!' Jason's eyes widen. He tries to get his phone back my Avery moves quickly, but carefully away as she types in his phone passcode and brings up Megan's number. 'Ave.' He makes an attempt to get the phone back but it's no use. She's already typing the message and sends it. 'What did you send?'

'You invited her to coffee.' Avery shows him the message. His phone pings and Jason reads the message Megan has sent.

'She agreed.' Jason says quietly.

'Of course she did!' Avery laughs, handing him his phone back.

'I hate you.' Jason laughs.

'Nope.' Avery shakes her head, popping the 'p'. 'You love me. If I hadn't have done it, you wouldn't have the date.'

'You're so annoying.' Jason sighs.

'But you love that about me.' Avery grins.

'Unfortunately.' Jason mutters.

'Hey, I may still be incapable of kicking your ass but I still know many ways I can cause you pain.' Avery points at him.

'Oh, I know.' Jason smirks, standing up. 'Which is why I'm going to go home.' He ruffles her hair and quickly dodges out of the room.

'You can run but you can't hide. Jason Anderson!' She shouts after him. She gives it a few minutes before moving back to where she was sitting, picking up her book and continuing to read it.

~~~~~~~~~~~

It's been a while since my last update, a lot has been happening, but here we go!

Don't forget you can go and read DharmaWinter 's story "Addicted" for Megan's POV!

Let me know what you think!

Much love