Shore Leave

Where is she?

Day two

Ailis didn't sleep at all, unable to get comfortable in her room or on the couch. She'd managed to keep Mors distracted and upbeat between his friends and having him help her pack up a bag for Mia that had all of her favorite things in them. Some books, comfortable clothes, her Switch, and favorite games. He was hyper-fixating on all of the things he was going to help her remember, and Ailis just kept encouraging it because she didn't know what else to do. She really hoped that today Mia would feel up to remembering. Ailis just kept reminding herself that her Mia was still in there somewhere, she just had to be patient and draw her back out. They walked up to the now-familiar recovery room, and Ailis froze when she saw it was completely empty, bed made, and no charts. She grabbed the nearest nurse.

"Mia Saros in room four, where is she?" She asked as politely as she could. The nurse gave her a startled look.

"Ailis!" Beth got her attention from behind her as she was running up. "Hey, I just got in. Mia was moved upstairs..." she looked anxiously at Mors and Rae. "By her parents."

"What- no. They can't be here who the fuck called them?" She hissed, looking around angrily. "She had their contact information removed from her emergency contact list."

"I don't know but they're here," Beth said apologetically. Ailis took a breath, trying not to rush off. She turned to Mors.

"Hey, so it looks like Mom got moved. We need to go upstairs," she said calmly. "Your grandparents are in there with her, and they might say some really mean things. Don't engage with them, okay? Let me handle it, you just focus on helping Auntie Rae give all this to Mom."

"Okay," he nodded, looking nervous. He was fidgeting with his glasses, one of his biggest anxiety tells. She wrapped an arm around him comfortingly, looking over at Beth.

"Let's go," Beth nodded, looking at the three of them before leading them to an elevator. They went up a few floors to the private rooms, and Ailis raised her eyebrows. Mia never mentioned that her parents had money. They stepped off and walked through.

"She's over there in room seven," Beth said softly. Ailis pulled Mors to a stop.

"I'm gonna go in first to let her know we're here, you wait here with Rae," she said softly. He just nodded. She looked over at Rae. "If her parents try anything-"

"Oh I'll fucking eat them if they look at him wrong," Rae assured her, making Ailis crack a smile.

"Thanks," she said gratefully. She squared her shoulders and walked through the open door, seeing Mia smiling and chatting with an older couple. She took after her mother looks wise, but her father's eyes were the same exact ones Mia had as he turned to look at her coldly.

"Oh, Mom, Dad- this is one of my friends from here," Mia was still looking at her like a stranger. "Well, at least that's what Rae and Dr. Astely tell me."

"Hello, Ailis. Very sorry but this isn't the best time," Mia's father said dismissively. He was wearing a button-up shirt, and black ironed pants and that was definitely a Rolex on his wrist. He had light brown hair and the most solemn expression on his face. Ailis swallowed down the lump, keeping a calm smile on her face.

"Hello. We're bringing her some comfort items from home that'll help her remember," Ailis said as casually as she could. "Rae and our- my son Mors are waiting just outside. I'm surprised to see you two here."

"Her old friend Valerie heard about the accident and told us, we came rushing down as fast as we could," Mrs. Saros spoke up. She was standing there in a conservative cotton dress with her purse held close, leaning over Mia protectively. As if Ailis was the threat here. "Are you feeling up to visitors, sweetie? We can ask your friends to leave," Ailis clenched her jaw, trying not to snap at them. That was her wife, she had more of a right to be in here than they did.