It's been a couple of days. Avery has started some light physiotherapy in the form of leg stretches in bed to get her ready for when they start getting her walking again. She's sat in bed talking to Jason, T.K. and Owen but she keeps looking down at her kindle, which is in her lap.

'Are we keeping you from something important?' T.K. jokes when Avery looks down at her kindle for the hundredth time and swipes the screen to change the page. Avery ignores him. 'Ave?'

'Hmm?' Avery looks up.

'You keep looking down at your kindle.' T.K. says. 'What are you reading that's got you so interested?'

'You err- you don't want to know.' Avery shakes her head.

'Come on, it can't be that bad.' Owen states.

'She's probably reading some form of smutty book.' Jason laughs. Owen's eyes widen.

'Come on, dad. You know I read that sorta stuff.' Avery laughs.

'I know, but I didn't think you'd be bold enough to read it in front of us.' Owen states. 'So, out with it, what's it about?'

'You really don't want to know.' Avery shakes her head.

'I can't be that bad.' Owen laughs. 'Can it?' He looks at Jason nervously.

'Ave reads some pretty messed up shit so it could be anything.' Jason laughs. Owen looks at Avery, an eyebrow raised.

'Fine.' She sighs. ' It's a reverse harem with four brothers who are part of the Irish Mafia and a hacker.' (A/N: This does exist - it's the New York Ruthless series by Sadie Kincaid and it is amazing!) Avery says. T.K. goes to reach for the kindle by Avery quickly snatches it and hides it under the cover, wincing in pain.

'You okay?' Owen asks.

'Yeah.' Avery nods. 'You and T.K. can know what I read. But no chance in hell am I letting you see what I read.'

'Just a little peek.' T.K. says.

'Nope.' Avery shakes her head adamantly. 'You read a page once and teased me for two weeks. It ain't happening again.'

'It's fun teasing you.' T.K. grins and Avery sticks her tongue out at him.

'Knock, knock.' They hear from the door. They look over and see Chimney standing in the doorway. 'Hi.'

'Hi.' They all smile at him.

'Is now a good time to visit?' Chimney asks.

'Sure.' Owen nods. 'We'll pop down to the cafeteria for a coffee. If we stay in here too it will get crowded.' Owen stands up with T.K. and Jason. 'Stay as long as you want. Just text me when you leave.' Chimney nods and Owen, T.K. and Jason leave. Once they've left, Chimney walks to her bedside.

'You know, when I said that I hoped to see you before you left, this isn't exactly what I meant.' Chimney laughs as he sits down.

'I can never do anything simple.' Avery laughs slightly before groaning in pain. 'Ugh, don't make me laugh, it still hurts.'

'How are you feeling?' Chimney asks.

'Sore, but otherwise doing okay.' Avery replies.

'That's good.' Chimney nods. 'Have they been able to get you out of bed yet?'

'Not yet.' Avery shakes her head. 'They've had me doing some leg exercises in bed to make sure I have some strength in my legs before we start.'

'That makes sense.' Chimney nods. 'What else has the Physio said?'

'To expect to use some crutches, or at least one, when I'm discharged.' Avery tells him. 'It all depends on how well physio goes whilst I'm here, but I'll be referred to a physio in Austin anyways.' She adds. 'I've also spoken to the psychiatry team a few times. My dad is worried what happened might trigger the psychosis.'

'Do you think it will?' Chimney questions.

' Honestly? Yeah.' Avery nods. 'And my depression. I'm still processing the fact that my heart stopped multiple times and the fact I should be dead.'

'It will take some time for it to sink in.' Chimney says. 'Is there anything you usually do to keep your mind off things?'

'Making dark jokes is my coping mechanism,' Avery laughs slightly, 'but I don't think it'd be appropriate to make dark jokes about this.'

'Hey, if it works, it works.' Chimney starts. 'We all cope with trauma in different ways. It's your trauma, don't let anyone police how you cope with it, unless you or someone else is at risk or risk to others but I'm sure you already know that.'

'Yep.' Avery nods, laughing. 'I was almost sectioned because of a dark joke. more than once.'

'Wait, what?' Chimney asks, making sure he heard right. 'What's the story there?'

'One time, I made a joke about offing myself to Jason. A police officer overheard and spoke with us but I couldn't keep my trap shut so they took me to get a psyche eval at the hospital. Jase did explain to him that I use dark humour a lot and that he knows the difference between me joking and me being serious but the officer still wanted me to be seen by someone. At the hospital, the doctor that evaluated me was my usual psychiatrist and when he cleared me, he explained to the officer that I just make dark as a way of coping. The officer let me go and that's that.' Avery explains. 'That being said, I didn't learn my lesson and it has happened a few more times.'

'Damn.' Chimney chuckles. They spend the next few hours talking before Chimney has to leave.

.

It's the day that Avery is going to start some walking exercises. A care assistant has already helped her into some more comfortable clothes so she doesn't have to be in a gown any longer. The physiotherapist, Dave, walks into the room with a set of walking bars. Since she didn't want Owen, T.K. or Jason to see her struggle, she has already sent them out of her room.

'Good morning, Avery.' He smiles as he sets the bars down.

'Good morning.' Avery smiles back.

'How did you sleep?' Dave asks.

'Good.' Avery nods.

'That's good to hear.' Dave grins. 'Have you already been given some pain meds?'

'The nurse gave me some about an hour ago.' Avery replies, nodding.

'That's good.' Dave nods. 'Once I've set these bars up, we'll get started. The plan is to concentrate on getting you walking with support today. Obviously, we haven't been able to tell how much strength you have to even stand yet so we'll start with seeing how you are standing and we'll go from there.' Dave tells her. She nods and he gets to setting up the bars. Once they're set up, he turns to Avery. 'Are you ready?'

'Yeah.' Avery nods. She sits up, removes the bed cover and Dave helps her sit on the edge of the bed.

'Before we start, we'll just do some stretches first and then we will attempt to stand. When we do that, I'll move the bars closer to you so that you can hold onto them.' Dave informs her. Avery nods and he starts leading her in stretches. 10 minutes later, Avery has completed the stretches. Dave moves the bars closer to her and stands between them in front of Avery. 'Okay, grab onto the poles and slowly stand up. I'll be right here to catch you if you start falling forwards.' Avery nods, reaches out and grabs onto the poles before slowly standing up. Almost instantly, her legs start shaking. 'How does it feel?'

'Tiring.' Avery laughs slightly.

'Do you think you could try taking one step forward?' Dave suggests.

'I think.' Avery nods. She puts one foot in front of her but as soon as it touches the floor, her leg gives way. Dave catches her and helps her stand up straight. 'Fuck.' Avery sighs frustrated.

'It's okay.' Dave reassures her. 'A lot of people with injuries like yours can't even stand this soon after surgery. You're doing good.' He adds. 'Why don't we try doing some lunges since you're standing? We can try walking tomorrow.'

'Okay.' Avery nods. After half an hour, the physio session is over. Dave helps Avery back into bed before saying goodbye and leaving with the bars.

.

A few hours later, T.K. and Jason is in with Avery whilst Owen is having a meeting with her doctors. Avery has been talking about the smutty books she has read recently for the last ten minutes and it's been driving T.K. up the wall, exactly like Avery wanted it to. Eventually, he snaps.

'Would you just shut up about your porn books?!' He exclaims. Avery and Jason hide their laughter. T.K., embarrassed by his outburst, stands up. 'Excuse me.' He scurries out of the room and makes his way to Megan's room.

'Didn't think that would work.' Jason laughs.

'Look, if he wants to tease me about reading smutty books, he can listen to me talk about them all the time.' Avery replies. 'Maybe I should text him,' she smirks, picking her phone up, 'wind him up some more.'

'You're cruel.' Jason shakes his head.

'I'm a sister. It's what I do.' Avery raises an eyebrow.

'So what's your excuse for winding me up?' Jason questions.

'I'm your best friend. Best friends wind each other up.' Avery smiles.

'Don't I know it.' Jason mutters.

'You know what I'm hating most about this situation?' Avery asks.

'What?'

'Not being able to punch you properly.' Avery replies.

'I mean you could, but you'd be in pain.'

'I know what I could do.' Avery smirks.

'Oh no.' Jason's face falls. Avery picks up the cup on her table that has a little bit of water in and throws it over Jason.

'Welp, I deserved that.' Jason chuckles.

.

An hour later, T.K. returns from Megan's room, Jason is still in with Avery.

'Recovered from your temper tantrum?' Avery smirks.

'Ha-ha very funny.' T.K. smiles sarcastically. 'Have you stopped talking about your porn books now?'

'For now.' Avery states. 'Did you tell Megan why you dashed in there?'

'Yep and Mike was there.' T.K. nods. 'So he now knows the kinda shit you read.'

'I'm not ashamed.' Avery shrugs. T.K. looks at Jason and notices his top is wet.

'What did Ave do?' He asks instantly.

'She threw water over me because she couldn't punch me.' Jason replies. 'T.K. looks at Avery.

'Really?' T.K. raises an eyebrow.

'What?' Avery laughs. 'Would you have preferred it if I chucked water at you?' T.K. just stares at her. 'Besides, there wasn't that much in there.'

'You chucked water on me three times.' Jason cuts in.

'Why?' T.K. half sighs, half groans.

'It's fun.' Avery grins. T.K. and Jason both shake their heads just as Owen walks into the room.

'How did the meeting go?' Avery asks her dad.

'They've planned your discharge and referrals.' Owen starts and Avery's face lights up. 'But they don't have a discharge date yet.'

'Damn.' Avery sighs. 'What about Megan?'

'They're aiming at discharging you both at the same time.' Owen tells her.

'Have you told Megan that yet?' Avery questions.

'Mike is speaking to her about it. He was also in the meeting.' Owen responds. He looks at Jason and like T.K., sees his wet shirt.

'Avery threw water over you because she couldn't punch you, didn't she?' Owen asks him.

'Three times.' Jason nods, laughing. Owen stares at his daughter with a raised eyebrow.

'What?' Avery asks innocently. Owen shakes his head and sits down.

'Don't you think Jase deserves a break from your antics?' Owen tells his daughter.

'Nope.' Avery grins, shaking her head. 'Never.' Jason just laughs.

'It's fine, I'm used to it.' Jason tells Owen. 'I'll just get her back when she's better.'

'I'd like to see you try.' Avery narrows her eyes.

'Glad I'm not the only one she does it too.' T.K. laughs and Avery shoots him a look. They spend the next few hours talking before Jason, T.K. and Owen leave to go back to the hotel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hewo! It's been a while! I completely forgot that I had this written! Tyical me tbh.

Let me know what you think!

Much love