**Laura’s p.o.v***
I didn’t know that I had fallen asleep by Ross’s bedside until I felt a hand on my shoulder, it was Rydel.
“Maybe you should go on home and get some sleep, mom and dad are going to stay here…would you like to come with me and the others back to our house?” she asks.
I think about it for a second.
“Yea, that sounds good.” I reply.
“Ok, let’s go then.” She says as she squeezes my shoulder comfortingly.
When we walk back into the waiting room the sadness is so thick you could cut it with a knife…I don’t think I’d ever seen Ratliff so…quiet.
“Laura’s gonna come stay with us for tonight. Is that ok?” Rydel asks as she grabs her coat and purse off one of the chairs.
“Of course it’s ok, Laura’s welcome anytime.” Stormie replies.
“Let’s go then guys.” Riker says quietly as he takes the keys from Mark.
“PLEASE, be careful!” Stormie begs quietly as silent tears fall from her cheeks, giving each of her kids a hug and kiss. Hugging Ratliff as he secretly tries to wipe away a few tears himself.
“Ross will be ok, he’s strong, go on home and get some rest, we’ll see you in the morning.” Mark adds as he hugs us each as we pass.
A single tear slides down my cheek. As Mark hugs me.
“You gonna be ok Laura?” he asks.
I nod my head slightly.
And with that we follow Riker to the car.
The whole way home riker drives five miles under the speed limit never taking his eyes off the road, I wonder if he’s even blinked since we got in the car.
We get to the Lynch home and get out of the car, all of us still quiet.
We walk inside, Rydel taking my coat.
“You can sleep in the guest room if you’d like, the bed should already be made if not let me know.” She says, trying to lighten the mood with a slight smile.
“ok.” I reply, trying but failing to smile back.
On the way down the hall to the guest room I pass by Ross’s bedroom, I pause and turn around, quietly opening his door.
I look around his room, passing pictures, and posters taped to his walls, his bed neatly made, as it has been since he left for tour, and the picture of me and him that Stormie had taken on our first date, sitting on the nightstand by his bed.
As I continued to look around his room without warning or without understanding why I fall to my knees sobbing hysterically into my hands.
Suddenly someone pulls me up by my hands out of my crouched position and into a tight, comforting hug.
“He’s going to be ok, I know my little brother, he’s strong.”
It’s Riker, who was like the older brother I never had.
“You’re sure?” I ask through my tears.
“I know he will, and besides, the doctor said himself that Ross would be ok, now go get some rest, ok?” he asks as he pulls out of the hug and looks at me the way I’ve seen him look at Rydel.
I nod my head.
“Ok.” I reply.
“Rydel left one of her nightgowns on the bed for you if you want it.” He adds.
