!!!!!! THIS CHAPTER INCLUDES A GIF WITH FLASHES !!!!!!

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It's the next day, Avery wakes up at 6 am after only a couple of hours sleep. She sits up in bed and scrolls through her phone. After half an hour, she decides to go downstairs and get some breakfast. She takes her phone off charge, gets out bed, puts her sliders on, walks down the stairs and to the kitchen. She sees that T.K. and Owen are stood at the counter making breakfast. They both look up at her.

'Good morning.' T.K. smiles. 'What do you want for breakfast?'

'It's too early for breakfast.' Avery shakes her head. 'I normally eat around 9:30.'

'You can get something to eat at the station, then.' Owen tells her.

'What do you mean?' Avery asks.

'You're going to come to the station with your brother and myself.' Owen says.

'I'm 16, I can look after myself.' Avery moans.

'I want to keep an eye on you.' Owen says.

'You mean you want to make sure that I don't have a psychotic episode and hurt myself?' Avery raises an eyebrow.

'Ave-' T.K. starts.

'It's fine.' Avery interrupts him. 'Mom used to make me go into work with her when she was worried about me hurting myself.' She continues. 'When are we leaving?'

'About an hour.' T.K. says.

'I'll go and get ready.' Avery replies. She walks back up to her room and starts to get ready. She has a quick wash and brushes her teeth and hair. She gets changed into a grey sweater, blue jeans and some white sneakers. She ties a necklace with a heart locket and a star pendant around her neck. She holds it in her hand for a minute before tucking it under her sweater.

Once she's dressed, she does her usual everyday make-up look before packing her bag with a book, her IPad, IPad and phone charger, her medication, wallet, airpods and emergency kit. She puts her watch on her wrist and looks at the time.

'Avery, let's go!' Owen shouts up the stairs. Avery quickly walks out of her room and runs down the stairs. 'You ready?'

'Yeah.' Avery nods.

'Do you want to ride with me or dad?' T.K. queries.

'I'll ride with you.' Avery replies.

'Okay then.' Owen nods. 'I'll meet you guys there.' He then walks out of the door leaving T.K. and Avery standing in the foyer.

'You're going to have to tell him that your mom has already had her funeral.' T.K. tells Avery. 'He was asking about it last night.'

'It was hardly a funeral.' Avery sighs. 'It was me and Chimney in the hospital chapel for a quick service when she was brought back from the quarry before she was taken to be cremated.' She takes her necklace out from her top and fiddles with the star. 'This, this star holds some of her ashes. The rest are in a box in my room. I'll tell dad when I'm ready to tell him.' There are a few moments of silence. 'I know he'll ask me but I just want to tell him on my own time.'

'Just promise me that you'll tell him.' T.K. simply nods.

'I promise.' Avery nods.

'Let's go.' T.K. says.

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T.K. and Avery are pulling up in front of the 126. They get out of the car and see Owen standing by his car.

'Did you get lost or something?' Owen jokes.

'We just got caught up talking at the house.' T.K. says. 'I'm gonna go and put my stuff away.'

'Can you gather everyone together?' Owen asks him.

'Sure.' T.K. nods before walking into the station. Once he is out of sight and earshot, Owen turns to Avery.

'I want to talk to you about a couple of things before we go.' Owen informs his daughter. 'First of all, I'm going to call up L.A. county hospital, where your mom's body is being kept and organize for it to be transported over here for the funeral.'

'No need.' Avery shakes her head. 'There was already a service. She was cremated.'

'Why didn't you tell me?' Owen says sympathetically.

'I wasn't ready to.' Avery looks to the floor. 'It was the cheapest way to do it and she wouldn't have wanted a massive service anyway.'

'What about all of her stuff?' Owen asks.

'Some of it went to charity, some went to some of her relatives and some I kept.' Avery replies. 'As for the money, in her will, it stated that 3/4 of it was to go into my college fund and the rest was to go into my personal funds.'

'I thought your mom didn't have any living relatives?' Owen questions.

'She has some great aunts and cousins.' Avery says. 'They weren't close. I've only met them a couple of times and she never talked about them.'

'Okay.' Owen nods. 'Secondly, I've not long spoken to the Principal of the local high school.'

'Dad-' Avery sighs.

'Just hear me out.' Owen says and, after some hesitation, Avery nods. 'He's agreed to give you a months trial. If things don't work out then I will pull you out and get you enrolled in an online school.' Avery goes to say something. 'It's not up for negotiation.'

'Fine.' Avery agrees.

'Let's go in.' Owen motions for her to follow him. They both walk up the stairs and to the kitchen where everyone is stood with a cup of coffee. 'Listen up everyone!' Owen gets everyone's attention and they all look at him. 'This is Avery, my daughter.'

'Hi.' Avery waves awkwardly.

'Ave, this is Paul Strickland, Marjan Marwani, Judd Ryder, Michelle Blake, Tim Rosewater, Nancy Gillian and Mateo Chavez.' Owen introduces his team to Avery.

'Is there somewhere that I can sit down and read in quiet?' Avery asks her dad.

'I'm going to run some checks on the vehicles and radios and then do some drills so you can sit in my office.' Owen responds. 'I'll take you to it.'

'I know where it is.' Avery says. 'T.K. sent me pictures.' She adds. 'Unlike you.' She mutters before walking off.

'She seems nice.' Judd states.

'We don't have the best relationship.' Owen says.

'Her mom refused to let us see her.' T.K. clarifies. 'She'd tell Avery that dad didn't want to see her and that's how their relationship got so bad. She'd still text me though so we're quite close.'

'It'll take her some time but you'll get close again.' Paul assures him.

'I hope.' Owen sighs. 'I don't want her pushing me away and getting herself hurt.'

'What do you mean?' Mateo questions.

'She has psychotic episodes. We don't know why. Her mom never really explained it.' Owen explains. 'Anyway, let's get our checks done.'

It has been an hour and a half. Avery looks at the time and sees that she should get something to eat. She walks out of the office and makes her way to the kitchen. She looks in the cupboard and finds some fruit and cereal bars. She decides to walk around the station as she eats. After ten minutes of walking around, she spots T.K. outside talking to a police officer. She leans against the engine and folds her arms. After five minutes, T.K. and the police officer share a quick kiss before he walks back into the station. Avery smiles, stands up straight and starts mocking T.K. by making kissing noises.

'You're funny.' T.K. laughs sarcastically. Avery stops and laughs.

'Is that- is that serious?' Avery questions. 'You and that police officer?'

'I don't know what you mean.' T.K. says innocently.

'T.K., I'm sixteen, not six.' Avery laughs.

'I-I don't know.' T.K. admits. 'We haven't really talked about it.'

'What's his name?' Avery asks.

'Carlos.' T.K. replies. Avery thinks for a few minutes.

'Tarlos.' She starts.

'Sorry?' T.K. laughs.

'Tarlos.' Avery repeats. 'I ship it.'

'Did you just give us a ship name?' T.K. raises an eyebrow.

'Yep.' Avery pops the 'p'.

'You're such a dork.' T.K. laughs.

'And proud.' Avery grins. 'When am I going to meet him?'

'Soon, hopefully.' T.K. says. He wraps his arm around her and brings her in for a hug. 'It's good to have you back around again. The last time we spent this much time together you were only little.'

'You're not going to go all sentimental on me now, are you?' Avery groans.

'That's what big brothers do.' T.K. smirks.

'Now you're the one being a dork.' Avery laughs and she gently pushes him away and walks back to Owen's office. She sits at his desk and swivels on the chair. She notices something next to the piece of the south tower that he keeps on his desk. She stops swivelling, pulls herself closer to the desk, picks up the item and rests her elbows on the desk as she examines the item - a frayed white, blue and red macrame bracelet.

'You made that when you were nine. Your mom let you stay with me for a week whilst she was on a business trip.' She hears Owen say. She looks up and sees him leaning against the door. He walks further into the office and sits in the chair on the other side of the desk. 'It was a couple of days before the tenth anniversary of 9/11. You learnt how to make them through watching YouTube and became obsessed. You must have made hundreds of different ones in the space of a week.'

'You took me and T.K. to the opening of the memorial.' Avery remembers. 'I took all the bracelets I made and sold them for like a dollar each.' She adds with a laugh.

'And you donated it all to charity, it made the local news.' Owen says with a proud smile. He stands up, walks to his coat, takes out his wallet, returns to Avery and sits back down. He opens his wallet and takes out a newspaper clipping. 'I've kept this in my wallet every day since.' He hands over the clipping, Avery unfolds it and looks and it.

'Oh my god.' She stares at the picture in the article which shows her with a toothy smile except one of her front teeth are missing. 'I look so young there.' She smiles. 'Gone are the days where I don't complain about how I look in photos.' She laughs and she hands it back. Owen folds it back up and returns it to it's home in his wallet. 'I can't believe you kept these.'

'This piece,' he points to the piece he kept from the south tower, 'and this bracelet are not only a reminder of what happened on that day and to remember my men,' he says, 'it's a reminder to come back home. To come back home for T.K.,' he carries on, 'and to come home for you.' The alarm then sounds calling the station to an emergency. 'I have to go.' Owen quickly stands.

'Be careful.' Avery says.

'Of course.' Owen smiles before running off.

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It has been a few days. Avery has started at the local high school and has already made some friends. After her final class, one of her new friends, Ruby White, approaches her.

'Hey, Aves.' Ruby smiles.

'Hey, Rubes.' Avery smiles back. 'What's up?'

'I was wondering if you wanted to go out tonight?' Ruby asks.

'Out?' Avery raises an eyebrow.

'Yeah.' Ruby nods. 'Out, out. Like to a nightclub.'

'Sure.' Avery smiles. 'I could use the distraction. I'll tell my dad and brother that we're working on a science project or something.'

'Great.' Ruby grins. 'We'll sort you out a fake ID.' Avery just stares at her. 'You already have one.' She realises.

'I'm from L.A.' Avery laughs. 'Of course, I do.'

'You can borrow some of my clothes if you want? It saves you going home and trying to sneak clothes out.' Ruby offers.

'That'd be great.' Avery smiles. 'Thank you.' They both walk out of the school and Avery pulls her phone out of her pocket. 'I'll just call my dad.'

'You can stay the night if you want.' Ruby tells her. 'My mom won't mind.'

'Thanks.' She dials Owen's number and puts her phone to her ear. After a few rings, Owen picks up.

'Hey, Ave, what's up?'

'Hey, dad. We've been given this science project. Is it okay if I go to a friend's so that we can start working on it?' Avery asks.

'You've made friends already?!' Owen asks shocked.

'Don't sound so shocked.' Avery laughs.

'Are their parent's okay with it?' Owen queries.

'Yeah.' Avery tells a white lie.

'I'm not sure, Ave. I've never met this friend.' Owen hesitates.

'Please, dad!' Avery pleads.

'Fine.' Owen sighs, wanting to try and stay on Avery's good side. 'Text me the address and I'll pick up at 11.'

'Their mom said I could stay the night.' Avery tells yet another white lie. 'My friend said she could lend me some clothes.'

'Ave-'

'Please!' Avery pleads again.

'Okay.' Owen gives in. 'I'll call you later tonight. Bye.'

'Bye.' Avery hangs up and puts her phone in her jacket pocket. 'He said yes.' Avery smiles.

'There's not many parents that would let their daughter stay with someone they've just met.' Ruby points out.

'My dad and I have never been close.' Avery tells her. 'So I guess he's trying to get closer to me by not being a strict parent.'

'Either way,' Ruby shrugs, 'he said yes.'

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It's later that night, Avery and Ruby got into the night club with no issues and are on the dance floor sipping their drinks and dancing. Avery is wearing a black mini dress and nude sandal heels with a black over the shoulder clutch and Ruby is wearing a white bralette with black shorts and black knee-high heeled boots.

'I'm so glad you came.' Ruby smiles.

'I am too.' Avery smiles back.

It has been an hour. Ruby and Avery have had a few drinks. Avery doesn't realise that T.K. has walked into the club with Carlos Reyes and Paul.

Paul spots Avery with Ruby and stops dead in tracks causing T.K. to bump into him.

'Paul, everything okay?' Carlos asks him.

'Isn't that your sister, T.K.?' Paul questions, pointing over to Avery.

'What the fuck?' He whispers under his breath. 'Yes, it is.' He adds louder. He pushes past Paul and starts walking over to Avery. Avery turns just in time to see T.K. walking towards her. She quickly turns back to Ruby.

'Busted.' Avery tells her.

'What do you mean?' Ruby asks confused.

'My brother's here.' Avery replies. She turns back around just in time for T.K. to reach her. 'Hey, Bro.'

'Don't "hey, bro" me.' T.K. says sternly. 'What are you doing here?'

'Having fun.' Avery responds.

'You're 16.' He says quietly. 'Come with me.' He grabs onto her upper arm and gently pulls her out to the back alley of the club. 'What the hell do you think you're doing?!' He shouts. 'What if you had been caught?!'

'So?' Avery shrugs.

'You could have been arrested if you were caught.' T.K. tells her. 'Don't go down this path, Ave. I know you've just lost your mom but this isn't going to help.'

'You don't get it, T.K.!' Avery sighs frustrated. 'I don't want to be here! I don't want to be here in Austin! I want to be back in L.A! I want to be back with my friends!'

'You know that being here is best for you. Otherwise, your mom wouldn't have allowed it.' T.K. responds. 'I'm taking you home.'

'My friend is in there. I'm not leaving.' Avery says stubbornly.

'She can't be a good friend if she's leading you to nightclubs at this age.' T.K. raises an eyebrow. 'I am taking you home. You can text your friend goodbye.' Carlos and Paul walk out into the back alley.

'Fine.' Avery sighs, knowing this is a fight she isn't going to win. 'But I'm not a baby, I can walk home myself.'

'You've had god knows how much to drink.' T.K. states. 'I don't feel comfortable letting you walk home alone. Start walking.' Avery huffs and starts walking out of the alley. 'Sorry, guys.' T.K. apologises to his friends. 'I'll make it up to you, I promise.'

'No worries.' Carlos tells him. 'Keeping your sister safe is more important.'

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Half an hour later, T.K. and Avery are walking into the house. They walk into the kitchen and see that Owen is waiting for them.

'Why did you lie to me?' Owen asks his daughter.

'You told him?!' Avery shouts at T.K. pissed off.

'Of course, I told him.' T.K. nods. 'You were at a night club for god sake!'

'You're 16, Ave.' Owen walks up to her. 'You are my responsibility.'

'That's rich.' Avery scoffs. 'You've barely been in my life. You've barely seen me, called me or text me. This is the longest we've been together in years!'

'Ave-' Owen starts to say.

'I need my independence. I used to go out all the time in L.A!'

'You're not in L.A. anymore.' Owen says. 'You are in Austin and you are under my roof. You will follow my rules. Understood.'

'No,' Avery shakes her head, 'because I'm not staying here any longer.' She walks out into the foyer and Owen and T.K. follow her.

'Avery Kate Strand.' Owen says sternly. 'Don't you dare walk out of that door!'

'I HATE YOU!' Avery screams before storming out of the house.

~~~~~~

I'm so happy that Lone Star was renewed for a second season!

Let me know what you think!

Much love