T.K., Owen and Jason rush to Avery's room and see doctors and nurses surrounding her. A nurse is holding pressure on Avery's abdomen which is bleeding.

'What happened?' Owen asks frantically. A doctor looks up at them.

'Her blood pressure spiked quite high and she blew some stitches.' The doctor informs her. 'We need to take her back into surgery.'

'Do what you gotta do.' Owen nods. They move aside and ket the doctors and nurses take Avery back into surgery.

.

It's been a few hours, Avery is out of surgery. Whilst she was in surgery, T.K. sat with Megan and explained what happened whilst Owen went for a walk. Jason sat in Avery's room the entire time waiting for her to return. When T.K. and Owen return to Avery's room, they see Jason standing behind the head of Avery bed, braiding her hair.

'What are you doing?' T.K. asks confused.

'Braiding her hair. I had to do this a couple of times when Ave was sedated to have a feeding tube in when she was in a psychiatric unit.' Jason explains. 'It stops her hair from matting or becoming super tangled.' He finishes the braid, secures it with a hair tie and leaves it lying on the pillow. He strokes her head before moving to a chair and sitting down. T.K. and Owen also sit down.

'That's thoughtful of you.' T.K. says softly.

'Yeah, well, I don't think she'd like it if her hair is all tangled when she wakes up.' Jason laughs slightly. 'The doctor told me the surgery went well. They'll be in later to give a proper update since you two weren't here when they brought her back.' He tells them. 'How's Megan?'

'Worried.' T.K. replies. 'I'll go and update her again once we've heard more from the docs.'

A week an a half has passed. The doctors have deemed it safe to extubate Avery and wake her up. They had also removed the feeding tube when they extubated her. Owen, T.K. and Jason are all sitting around Avery's bed waiting for her to wake up. Avery starts to stir and they all lean forwards in their seats.

'Ave?' Owen states. Avery starts to open her eyes. It takes a few tries to get them to stay open, but she eventually gets there. Owen takes her hand and squeezes it. 'Ave, talk to me.'

'Ow.' Avery says weakly, earning a chuckle from Jason, Owen and T.K.

'You're okay.' Jason holds her other hand and squeezes it. 'You gave us a scare.'

'Nothing's changed then.' Avery laughs quietly before groaning in pain.

'She's still Avery.' Jason nods, a smile on his face.

'Do you remember what happened?' T.K. asks.

'I remember being at the concert and feeling something hit me. I remember hearing gunshots so I assume I was shot?' Avery replies, her voice breaking.

'Yeah, you were.' Owen nods. He grabs a cup of water he'd poured for her, ready for when she wakes up, and puts a straw in it. 'Drink this.' He hands the cup to her. Avery stares at the cup for a moment before taking the straw out and gulping down the water. She groans in pain once more. 'Still as stubborn as ever.' Owen shakes his head, taking the cup back.

'You make it sound like I was out for a long time.' Avery starts. 'How long was I out?' She adds, looking at Jason.

'A week and a half.' Jason tells her.

'How bad?' She questions. 'Don't sugar coat it, just tell me straight.' T.K. clears his throat.

'You were shot a few times in the abdomen. Your aorta was damaged and so was your right kidney. They managed to repair your aorta but they couldn't save the kidney so they took it out.' T.K. informs her.

'Holy shit.' Avery carefully runs a hand through her hair.

'There's more.' Owen adds. 'We lost you quite a few times.'

'Lost me, as in I died?' Avery's eyes widen.

'Yes.' Owen nods.

'Fuck me.' Avery exhales, just as Willis walks in. 'Not you.' She quickly adds.

'It's not the strangest or rudest greeting I've gotten from a patient.' Willis laughs. 'It's good to see you awake, Avery. I'm Doctor Willis. I've been looking after you, I also performed your surgery. How are you feeling?'

'Like I've been shot and died.' Avery replies, attempting to be funny. She looks at Jason who is giving her "the look". 'Too soon?'

'Too soon.' Jason nods. Avery turns her attention back to the doctor.

'Have you been filled in on your injuries?' Willis questions.

'I think?' Avery looks at Owen.

'We've told her everything bar what happened the other day.' Owen tells Willis. Avery looks between her dad and the doctor, confused.

'Your blood pressure spiked and you blew some of your stitches causing a re-bleed. We took you back into surgery and repaired it with no issues.' Willis tells her. 'You're lucky to be alive.'

'What about Megan?' Avery asks.

'Megan's fine.' T.K. assures her. 'She had a little complication but other than that, she's fine. She's on the mend.'

'Can I go and see her?' Avery questions.

'Whilst your stable, I don't want to risk moving you just yet.' Willis answers.

'You can facetime each other.' T.K suggests and Avery nods.

'How soon can I get out of here?' Avery asks Willis.

'You'll be here for a few more weeks at least.' Willis says.

'Ugh.' Avery throws her head back and winces in pain.

'Are you in pain?' He asks. She looks at him and nds. 'I'll get a nurse to sort out a morphine pump that you can use over the next few days. As for why you'll be here for so long, your body needs time to recover and adjust to having one kidney. We don't want to risk you going back to Austin until we know you're at less risk of complications and in relativelt no pain.'

'Fine.' Avery sighs.

'Do you mind if I take a look at the wounds?' Willis asks Avery.

'Of course.' Avery nods. With that, Jason, Owen and T.K. nod at each othehr and stand up.

'We'll go and update Megan.' Owen tells Avery, but she can see that he's hesitating to leave.

'Dad, just go.' Avery laughs. 'You've probably barely left this room.' Owen strokes her head before placing a kiss on her forehead. 'We'll be right back.' Owen, T.K, and Jasn leave and as soon as they do, Willis closes the door and pulls over the curtain. He starts to wash his hands.

'I know my dad has probably already asked yu this, but could I speak to your psyche team?' Avery asks him. Willis looks at her as he dries his hands.

'I saw in your file you have a history of psychosis?'

'Yeah, among some other mental health problems.' Avery replies.

'We can get someone down.' Willis nods. 'It was our plan, anyways. What you went through us traumatic. And your dad did ask us to get someone to talk to you.; He stands beside the bed. 'May I?' He points to the covers.

'Of course.' Avery smiles slightly. Willis moves the covers and gown out the way, whilst maintaining her dignity. Once the dresses are off, Avery loks down at the healing scars and brusing from when they had to do CPR. 'oh, wow.' Avery exhales, looking away.

'You okay?' Willis asks.

'Mmh-hm.' Avery nods. 'It's just, I really died?'

'Technically, yes.' Willis nods, checking the wounds are healing nicely. 'The bruising is from CPR. We lost you quite a few times. As I said earlier, you're lucky to be alive.' He explains. 'We can leave the dressings off now. I'll give everything a quick clean and then we're done.' He starts to prep a sterile wound cleaning set and within five minutes, everything is clean. He covers Avery back up, takes off and dispsoes of his gloves and washes his hands. 'I will get a nurse to come and set up that morphine pump and then I will call psyche.'

'Thanks.' Avery smiles slightly and Willis leaves. As he walks up to the nurse's station, Mike joins him.

'I hear Avery's awake.' Mike starts and Willis looks up at him.

'Yeah.' Willis nods.

'How is she?' Mike asks.

'She's good, considering what she's been through. Dressings are off and no signs of infection. I'm going to get her set up with a morphine pump for a couple of days so that she can get pain relief when she needs it.'

'That's good.' Mike nods. 'I was in with Megan when Owen, T.K. and Jason told her Avery's awake. You should've seen the smile on her face. The first thing she asked was if she could see her.'

'Avery also asked the same thing.' Willis laughs.

'Those two really do have ana amazing friendship.' Mike states.

'So does Avery and Jason.' Willis points out. 'Whenever I've gone in to check on her and he's there, he's been holding her hand, braiding her hair or talking to her.' They look up in tiem to see Jason walk back into Avery's room.

In Avery's room...

As soon as Jason walks into Avery's room, he walks to her bedside, tears collecting in his eyes.

'Hey, don't cry because then I'll cry.' Avery tells him.

'I almost lost you.' He croaks. He leans forward and gently hugs her but Avery leans further into the hug, wraps her arms around him (being careful of the IV attached to her hand) and holds him tightly. She ignores the pain searing through her body so when Jason feels her tense up, he pulls away. 'You in pain?'

'Yeah, but it's worth it because I got to hug you.'

'God, you're so chessy.' Jason chuckles, drying his eyes.

'It got you smiling though.' Avery smiles. Jason sits down.

'What did the doc say?'

'Everything looks fine and the dressings are off now.' Avery replies.

'That's great.' Jason grins. 'Megan's happy that you're awake. First thing she asked was if you could see each other.' Just then a nurse walks in with an IV pole that has a Patient Controlled Analgesia pump attached to it.

'Hi, Avery,' she smiles, 'Dr Willis asked me to set up some pain relief for you. It's all ready, I just have to attach it to your IV.'

'Okay.' Avery nods. The nurse walks to her bedside, puts the IV pole with the others and puts the breaks on. She gets some gloves out of her pocket, puts them on and attaches the IV to a port in one of her cannulas. She takes a wire with a button from the machine and hands it to Avery.

'Just press this button whenever you're in pain. You can't press it more than once in a five minute period.' The nurse tells her. Avery nods and the nurse leaves.

'Now that that's sorted, how about we facetime Megan?' Jason asks and Avery's face lights up.

.

It has been a few days. Over the past few days, Avery and Megan have been facetiming each other since neither of them have been stable enough to move, more so Avery. Avery is talking to Owen, T.K. and Jason when she hears someone at the door. She sees Mario and Mike with Megan in her bed.

'Hey stranger.' Avery smiles.

'We will give you two some time alone.' Owen starts. 'Let's go get something to eat.' He adds, looking at T.K. who nods.

'I'll come with you.' Jason says as the three of them stand up. They walk out of the room and Mike and Mario push Megan further into the room and right next to Avery's bed, moving the chairs out the way as they do.

'How are you doing?' Megan asks Avery,

'I'm good. Still in quite a bit of pain though.' Avery nods. 'Oh and I'm not dying anymore so there's that.' Megan laughs slightly. 'What about you? How are you doing?'

'Sore, but good.' Megan replies simply.

'We're both okay.' Avery says, grabbing Megan's hand and giving it a squeeze when she sees a quick look of anxiety on Megan's face. Megan smiles and and nods, staying quiet so she doesn't start crying.

'We'll be back in a bit. Any problems, just press the call button or shout one of the nurses.' Mike tells the teens before leaving with Mario.

.

It's a few days later, Avery is sitting in her bed. T.K. and Owen have gone for something to eat. She's reading a book that she had packed for the trip (Owen, T.K. and Jason had gone to their hotel, packed everything up and bought their bags to the hospital) when she hears rustling. She looks up and sees Jason with a couple of 'Get Well Soon' balloons, some gift bags and a gift box.

'You fucking dickhead.' She narrows her eyes at him. He grins and places the balloon on the floor so it's standing, and the gift box on the table. 'You didn't have to get me anything.' Jason sits on the edge of the bed.

'You're forgetting I always do this.' Jason raises an eyebrow. 'You get admitted to hospital and I do you "Ave's recovery kit." Did you not figure I'd also get you something when I asked what I should get Megan?'

'I've been high on painkillers and whatever else they've got me on. I'm allowed to be forgetful.' Avery replies. 'Besides, this box is bigger than what you usually use.'

'You almost died, Ave.' Jason states seriously.

'Technically I did die.' Avery corrects him.

'Exactly.' Jason nods. 'I think I'm allowed to get you a bit more than I usually do. Open it.' Avery opens the box and starts taking out the contents. Jason got her a new bottle of her favourite perfume, some snacks, a few essentials for her stay in hospital and obviously some books. Avery frowns at the now empty box. 'Here.' Jason laughs, handing her one of the gift bags. She looks into and smiles as she takes out a teddy bear. 'I could never forget the Avery recovery bear.' Every time Avery is admitted to Hospital or not feeling well, Jason gets her a teddy. 'So, what are we going to name it?' When he gives her a teddy, they usually name it after something related to her admission or why she's not feeling well.

'Ghostie.' Avery says. 'Because I nearly became one, permanently.'

'Oh, geez.' Jason puts his head in his hand, looking up after a few moments.

'You gotta let me have that.' Avery makes puppy dog eyes.

'Those damn puppy dog eyes!' Jason curses. 'You know I can't say no to those. Especially when you're in hospital.'

'You love me.' Avery grins.

'Yeah, too damn much apparently.' Jason laughs. They're interrupted by a nurse walking in.

'I hate to interrupt but Avery needs to go for a scan.' They say.

'I'll go and see Megan.' Jason nods. He holds up a closed fist ready for a fist bump. 'Day and night.'

'Day and night.' Avery fist bumps Jason. He stands gathers the rest of the gift bags and leaves.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, Avery is going to be okay!

Let me know what you think of this chapter!

Much love