Save Us From Their Long Run

Recovery

In her sleep, she dreams of her mom so much that she wakes up crying.

"Sh," she hears, a hand stroking her hair, the distinct feeling of being hugged comforting her. Slowly, she eases out of her sleep, tears in her eyes as she's rocked back and forth, the mumbled mantra, "you're okay," in her ears. It's so quiet, fading from her hearing.

Avery's eyes open to a room she doesn't recognize, and she's all alone.

Alarmed, she calls out, but no one is there and she knows it. She remembers a time when her mom used to hold her so tightly, on the nights her headaches were unbearable and she couldn't get the pain to end. Sighing softly, Avery glances around and tries to assess where she is.

The walls are cream colored, a soft offwhite that reminds her of cake batter and baking with her mom. She doesn't dare try to move her body after the first try, because the stab of pain forces her to remember her last moments before she woke here.

Gasping, she clutches her stomach around the bandages she can feel through her gown and waits until the pain subdues into something she can work with. Thankfully, Rose and Tyler come tumbling in before she has to figure how to call someone to help her.

"She lives!" Tyler announces as he bursts into the doorway, Rose's smiling face popping up just over his shoulder. They elbow each other into the room, wincing every few moments, and both moving incredibly slowly. Rose walks with an awkward stride, one hand using Tyler's shoulder for support, the other trying to reach for her knee every few steps. Tyler himself is waddling, and Avery vividly remembers him landing on a tailbone during the nosedive.

"What happened? Is everyone alright?" Avery asks immediately.

"Yeah," Rose waves flippantly, "but what about you?"

Shaking her head, Avery gives Rose a stern look that never really works on her. "Really, I need to know that first."

Tyler places a hand on her shoulder that she flinches away from when she feels the sting. He apologizes quickly and pokes her nose instead. "We're all a little injured, but we're okay, promise."

She's about to ask for elaboration when clatter sounds from the hallway and they all turn toward the door.

Alex comes hustling in on a single crutch his stance indicates he won't need for much longer with overflowing things in his hands and an air of excitable energy. Avery recognizes clothing, bandages, painkillers, and a bottle of Gatorade before Alex rushes to give her a sloppy one-armed hug with all the well-meaning in the world despite the messy attempt.

For a second, Avery wonders how they knew she was awake, but then she sees the blinking light in the corner of the room, and the vitals beeping at her side now fluctuating since she's awaken.

"Okay," Alex starts, a bit out of breath, "so we made it back to your aunt's house. We're all mostly alright, excluding some minor injuries," he gestured pointedly at his bandaged ankle, then at the other two's awkward and stiff stances, then he motions to the supplies he throws onto the bed.

"Change into these, drink this, and take those. Use the crutches in the corner and meet Lydia in her office, down the hall last door on the left." he quickly states, then smiles brightly.

"Okay! Required task done," he pauses with a deep inhale, shaking his hands out and wiggling a bit, "now, are you okay you crazy motherfucker?"

It hurts to laugh, but she does it anyway, not expecting that. Avery wants to keep asking about the others, but here these three are all smiles and concern, and she trusts that everything is alright. Avery nods tiredly and breathes a softer laugh, knowing a bigger one would cause more pain than it was worth. With that response they all carefully smother her in hugs before drawing back.