Flashbacks

“I'm really sorry for interrupting”, Anna's voice interjected on the doctor saying something as she walked up to us and wrapped her arm around me in a side hug to whisper, “I came as soon as I could”

I assumed either my mother or Tristan called her to let her know what happened and knowing her, she did her best to show up and support me through this difficult time. I felt her entwine our fingers together, giving me a comforting gentle squeeze as we turned to the doctor again to be the bearer of Nathan's condition.

“At the time of arrival Nathan was already undergoing hemorrhagic shock due to severe blood loss, but he was fortunate enough that the knife blade didn't pierce through any main arteries or vital organs in his system. He's also fortunate he was bought in the exact time he was because if he hadn't, I would be telling you guys a different story. However, you'll all be pleased to know that we were able to stop the internal bleeding therefore the surgery was a major success”

“So you're saying he's going to be okay, right?”, I asked, seeking direct confirmation so that I can be assured that the nightmare was finally over

“Yes”, the doctor nodded with a reassuring smile on his face. “He's a strong fighter, he should be fine as time goes on”

There were sighs of relief from each and one of us and I felt Anna's hands tighten around me before she pulled me in for a hug

“Can we see him?”, Jamie questioned and the doctor hesitated for a second

“Maybe in the morning. After an operation like that, we still need to observe him overnight before any of you can see him”

“That's still okay with us”, Joe said while pulling Violet towards him and embraced her in a hug as she wiped the tears of relief on her face

“Thank you Doc”, we all said in union, and he gave a brief smile before dismissing himself and walked in the opposite direction

“I think we can all agree that hearing that Nathan's okay is quite the relief”, Kevin spoke up, and we all agreed simultaneously as we all sat back down again

“I think we should take you home Liv”, Tristan sat next to me and I shook my head

“I don't think I have to. I want to be here when he wakes up”, I said in my defense to see everyone looking at me in concern.

“You really need to get some sleep and freshen up though Liv”, my mother took my hand in hers. “It's been a long night".

“Your mother is right Liv, I think it's best you go home and get some rest. We all do”, Violet added softly, but I was still reluctant.

“I feel like I should stay”

“How's about I take you home for a quick shower then I'll bring you back?”, Tristan was still insistent, and it didn't help that everyone was backing him up, but I was still a little hesitant on the matter. I didn't want to leave.

“Listen Liv, I'll stay behind and if there're any changes I'll call and let you know”, Jamie added, and I turned to look at him

“You promise?”

“I promise”, he sketched an invisible cross on his chest. “Go get some rest”

There was no point in resisting anymore, so I lightly shrugged my shoulders

“Okay”, I stood up to exchange hugs with each and one of them before Anna took me by the hand to walk us out, with Tristan, Kevin and my parents following right after us

“Call us if there's anything you need okay?”, my mother kissed both my cheeks as Anna and I walked them to their car

“I will”, I opened the door for her, and she got in. I turned to embrace my father in a hug, and he kissed the top of my head before he broke our contact and shortly got in the car, driving off. Walking towards Kevin's car where the two men were waiting for us, I turned to look at Anna.

“I'm really grateful and appreciate you being here for me, but you just had a baby Ann. Mia needs you more than I do”

“Rick has everything under control back home, and I've pumped Mia enough milk to last her at least morning. If anything's wrong or there's an emergency, Rick will call and let me know”, she gave me a gentle shoulder squeeze. “I want to be here for you, please don't push me away”

“I'm not pushing you away, I just-”

“No, don't do that. It's me you're talking to. You're my friend Liv, I know you, and I'm sure you also know me well enough that I care about you, so please let's just get home so that you can freshen up and get some sleep okay?”

There was nothing left to be said, and so I shrugged, smiling a little. “Okay”

“You ladies ready to go?”, Tristan asked as we approached them, already holding the door for us to get in as Kevin slipped into the driver's seat

“Sure”

“I don't think I can go in there”, I stopped in my tracks when Tristan was halfway inside my apartment. The first thing I saw was a glimpse of Nathan's pool of blood still on the floor and the flashbacks of everything that happened last night flashed before my eyes. Before we left for the hospital, the police force showed up to take pictures and evidence from the scene, and I was hoping that somehow them doing all that would clean up a few things, but I was mistaken...everything was still as I left it.

Tristan and Anna exchanged brief looks before looking at me again

“That woman was in there and Nathan nearly died in my arms in this very space, I don't think I'm ready to see all that, I just-”, my voice started breaking while trying to explain to them why I couldn't enter, it would be like reliving the nightmare all over again

“Well that's okay honey”, Anna reassured softly as she kept her arms safely around me. “We completely understand”

“I think I'll just go at Nathan's if that's okay with you guys”

“It's completely fine”, Tristan pulled the door closed again and pocketed his hands. “Do you have the keys to Nathan's place?”

“They are in there, in my bedside drawer”

“Okay, why don't you and Tristan go wait in the car, and I'll get your stuff for you”, Anna said as she and Tristan switched places and her hand was already on the door knob

“I'd really appreciate that Ann, thank you”, I said, and she gave me a thumbs up before I saw her disappear behind the door

“Everything is going to be okay”, Tristan wrapped his arm around me and I smiled faintly at him as we walked back to the car, finding Kevin leaning on it with his arms crossed as he decided to stay behind

A few minutes later, Anna appeared in sight with my small travel back slung over her shoulder and said we could leave as soon as she got to us

“Here, take these”, Kevin placed the car keys into her hand, and it seemed him and Tristan were staying behind

“Aren't you guys coming with us?”

“No, we'll stick around for a while and clean up Liv's apartment a little. We'll catch a cab though as soon as we're done”, Tristan said and my eyebrows ceased up in confusion for a second.

“Oh no you guys”, I was sitting in the backseats before I stood to my feet. “I can't expect you to do that, I can come clean the apartment myself, maybe tomorrow or something”

“It's the least we could do Liv”, Kevin added while shrugging his shoulders a little. “Don't worry about us”

“You guys-”

“We insist, you two go”, Tristan was already pushing me inside the car again and closed the door after I was in, and I rolled the window down

“Thank you”, I said to the both of them and they placed out before turning on their feet and walked back into the building as Anna turned the ignition on, and we soon drove off

Reaching the Nathan's complex, Missy's cries were loud behind the door as we approached the apartment, both heartbreaking and loud while scratching on the door

“She's probably hungry”, I turned the key in the lock and opened the door, finding her moving restless in circles when I walked in and her cries softened at the sight of me

“My poor baby”, I picked her up, and she clung onto the jacket as I pat her head gently while walking to the kitchen to fill her bowls. Anna closed the door behind her and turned on the lights.

“I'll make you something to eat while you take a shower”, she gave me a gentle shoulder squeeze when she passed me to walk to the fridge

“Thanks Ann”, I said as I took the bag she packed for me with all of my comfortable clothes and walked to the bathroom. After the long, warm shower and a meal Anna prepared for me, I don't exactly recall the exact time I fell asleep. The last thing I remember seeing before drifting off to sleep was Anna covering me with a light blanket before she slipped besides me.

Fluttering my eyes open that morning, I turned to my side to see that Anna was no longer sleeping besides me and I reached for the phone to see whether Jamie had called, but he just texted that everything was still okay. I slowly climbed off the bed and walked to the lounge where I found Kevin and Tristan sleeping on opposite sides on the couch, wrapped individually in light fleece blankets and I carefully tip toed to the kitchen so that I don't wake them up while I made breakfast.

“Tristan”, I gently poked him on the shoulder to wake him up, and he slowly peeled his eyes open before I moved to Kevin to do the same

“Breakfast is almost ready”, I said to them as they both stretched out their arms and rubbed the sleep off their eyes. “I made you guys some coffee in the meantime”

I handed them the coffee mugs, and they thanked me as they both took a sip

“Does any one of you know where Anna is?”, I asked as I sat in between them. “I woke up, and she wasn't there”

“Rick called her about an hour ago that Mia was getting really restless, and so she had to leave, but she promised she'll be back as soon as she could”, Kevin said as he blew air into his coffee to cool it off a bit

“Oh okay”, I leaned back on to the couch and took a sip of my coffee

“Are you okay though?”, Tristan's gaze fixed onto me and I gave a little shrug

“Um yeah, I guess”, I smiled a little, and he didn't look convinced but seemed he didn't believe me one bit. “I'd like to thank you guys for what you did for me, I know it came from a good place”

“No worries Liv”, Kevin reassured with a polite smile on his face

“There's absolutely nothing we wouldn't do for you”, Tristan gave me a little shoulder bump before sipping his coffee again

“I really appreciate that”, I stood to my feet to check on the breakfast and dishes up for us as soon as it was ready. We chatted a bit over breakfast, but it was their way of keeping my mind off things for a while, and it was working before I saw my phone going off with a call from Jamie.

“Hello?”

“Hi Liv”, he cleared his throat a little. “Nathan's awake”

~~~