The Ruins of Love and Chaos (AvaLance)

CHAPTER III

           

Her world was spinning and her head felt like it was being hammered. The first thing she hears is the steady beeping of the monitor followed by the hushed voices. When she opens her eyes this time she didn't feel like blinded by the light. She blinked through the fog of her sleep. She remembered her conversation with Ava, but when she looked around the room she was nowhere to be found. Her ex-wife was replaced by her coworkers and friends gathered at the corner of the room. Laurel was there too, talking to them.

The room was now filled with different flowers, cards and balloons. Her friends didn't seem to notice she was awake. They were busy with their respective conversations. She sees Zari with Laurel and Nate. Ray was with Amaya and Mick was eating a sandwich in the couch.

"I'm pretty sure you're not allowed to be here all at once." She joked to make her presence known. It was loud in her ears, but it was just enough for her friends to turn around. Their worried looks lifted as they approached her.

They asked how she was feeling and what they could do to make her comfortable. To which she replied. "I'm good."

Laurel held her hand, the one without the IV. She smiled comfortingly at her sister and squeezed back her hand. She sees tears forming in her eyes and suddenly she felt weak too. She feels herself slowly breaking down.  "You promised to be careful" Laurel whispered.

"I tried" She sadly replies. Laurel kisses her on her forehead and said goodbye. Laurel was needed in the DA's office and she couldn't bring herself to stop her. Laurel also told her that Dinah was bringing little Laurel to visit.

She hated being injured. Being a detective, she knew it was going to be inevitable but the thought of Laurel worrying, or losing a mom was difficult to bear. She loved being a cop and being out in the field, saving others and making the city safer for Laurel to grow up in but it's the moments like this that she feels like she should find a safer job. What is a safe future for Laurel when she doesn't have a mom to take care of her?

Her friends kept her company and eased the negativity. They told her stories and how the operation was successfully executed last night. She finally felt at peace knowing that there was one less criminal roaming around the streets. She forgets about Ava or where she was. Honestly, she could've returned to Ivy Town and she couldn't care less.

Later, her friends let her rest. They returned back to the couch and offered to wait for Dinah to arrive before they leave so that she would have company. She closed her eyes and allowed her drowsiness to consume her.

She hears the door open and assumed it was her mother. When the room suddenly went silent, she opened her eyes.

"Mommy?" she hears her daughter. She entered the room with Ava. Their hands were intertwined and suddenly it hurt. It wasn't her abdomen but it was her heart. Seeing their daughter with her mama brought back memories from the past she buried deep down. 

Their eyes met for a split second before she focused all her attention on Laurel. The little girl was trying to climb up the bed but she was struggling. Ray was beside them in an instant helping Laurel up, smiling at Sara with an I got her look. She mouthed a silent thank you. She hissed at the burning sensation when she felt Laurel's weight hover against her.     

Suddenly Ava was beside them, telling Laurel to be careful. She almost scoffed. The gesture was soft and nice, something they haven't been in a while. However she focused more on Laurel who was sobbing in her chest. She feels the wetness in the crook of her neck as her daughter cried.

"I'm okay Laur, mommy is okay now. I can't be home for a few days so Aunt Laurel and grandma will be taking care of you okay?" She coaxed so that the little girl will stop crying.