The Ruins of Love and Chaos (AvaLance)

CHAPTER II

Ava woke up early today. Her neck and back were loud in showing their protest that they didn't like the uncomfortable couch she slept in. She sat up and rubbed her face, annoyed by the ten different kinds of pain she is feeling right now.

She tried to make of what happened yesterday: Her ex-wife had been shot and she came crawling back to Star City like an idiot. Her eyes traveled to Sara's sleeping form. For a moment she thought she was still in haze when she saw Sara's finger move in the subtlest way possible but then she finally stirred, her eyes opening.

"You're awake" that was all she could muster as she walked towards the bed. She almost rolled her eyes when Sara propped herself up. She immediately went to her side and eased her down "easy, easy. You shouldn't be up" she coaxed as she adjusted the hospital bed for Sara's comfort

Sara looked confused though, her face scrunched up trying to register what was going on. She must be still high on pain medication because the first thing she croaked out was "Am I dead?"

Ava almost smiled. "Almost" she whispered when a lump formed in her throat. The thought of it sent shivers down her spine. She gently lifted Sara's head and placed a pillow asking Sara if it hurt. She explains where Quentin and Laurel were as she adjusted Sara's blanket. When she reached to untuck the blanket near her arm Sara poked her.

"What are you doing?" Sara then proclaimed her observation that she was real. Pain meds. She remembered. Sara was being silly and if they were still married she could have had a laugh with her, share a kiss or two but she wasn't, not anymore. She brushed the thought away.

"Of course I'm real. How are you?" It sounded too concerned than shed like. Sara however didn't share the same gentleness in her voice when she asked her what she was doing there. Suddenly they were back to being whatever attitude this is.

"Normally when someone flies a couple hundred miles to come see you in the hospital, you just say thank you" Ava replied. She noticed Sara's scrunched up face and she started to worry. "Sara?" When the other woman didn't answer, she immediately called the doctor.

Laurel was there in a heartbeat. Sara had just passed out due to exhaustion and a mild concussion. The doctor assured them that it was normal for patients to be so tired because their body experienced trauma. Ava sighed in relief. She couldn't bear the thought of something happening to Sara while she was on watch.

Laurel handed her coffee and she murmured a quiet thanks. She sat back down on the couch as her nausea rose to her throat. However the warm coffee toned it down.

Her phone buzzed quietly in her pocket. Gary had just informed her that her clothes have arrived in her house and that her car was sent to pick her up. "Laurel? Mind if I go and clean up? I won't be long" She didn't want to leave Sara, but Laurel was there and her outfit wasn't really comfortable anymore.

Laurel smiled sweetly at her. Even when things didn't go well with Sara, before and after they were divorced, the other woman was always kind to her. They developed closeness in the past couple of years she had missed. Laurel would help her with cases and she helped her in return, she helped her when she proposed to Sara and many more times she couldn't count. She has become the sister she never thought she could have.

"Of course. Take your time"

After grabbing her things she strolled to the parking lot where her driver and her car waited for her. The drive home was quiet. She checked her emails and messages and left a few chores for Gary to run.

She looked up to see the subdivision gate. The scene was welcoming and suddenly she felt home, a feeling she hasn't felt in a while.

Their house was huge, one of the biggest in the area but the emptiness of it made it bigger than it looked. She eyed the furniture the caretaker had polished to perfection, leaving the place like it used to be.