I had a goal to not post this until I had it entirely completed, but I'm like 7 chapters in and kinda want to see if I can get feedback on it. Side note, this had started as a oneshot that got really long and I got really invested in, so I slip it up into chapters. Enjoy!

(sorry in advance for all the inevitable spelling errors I could find!)

Meena woke slowly, becoming more and more aware of the aching in her head. She groaned and tried to blink the blurriness from her eyes. Where was she?
"Hmmm... mom?" Meena croaked out towards a familiar blur.
"Right here, baby girl." Leslie's voice was hushed and nurturing.
Meena blinked a few more times. The room came more into view and she became aware of mechanical beeping next to her. Her words still slurred a bit. "Mom... where am I?"
"St. Martin's, honey. Don't worry, just rest."
"Im in a hospital?" Meena immediately became more alert. She tries to sit up, but her head swam from pain and her mother's arms gently eased her back down. "How...how did I get here?"
"Easy, baby. You're alright." Meena could hear the soothing smile in her mother's voice and it put her more at ease. "You got knocked in the head with a sandbag back at the theater. Don't worry, the doctors said you'll be fine. You don't have an concussion or anything. You'll just be taking it easy for a bit." Sandbag to the head, now that sounded familiar. Meena has fallen victim to the same fate as Pete from the original singing competition cast. She would have thought all the faulty stage rigging would have gotten cleared out when the theater was rebuilt. The theater had just reopened and they had already had their first accident. Which was weird because she couldn't remember the events leading up to her getting clocked in the head at all. Meena sighed, at least she wasn't freaking out about being hospitalized now.

She felt her bed being adjusted so she was propped up more. More awake now, the she looked around and saw they were not alone in the hospital room. Ash and Johnny were curled up on a pair uncomfortable hospital chairs not far off, both asleep.

"What are they doing here?" Meena puzzled, she hadn't expected to see her coworkers at her bedside.

"They came with you, baby." Leslie gave Meena a look like that would be a given. "They hopped in the ambulance with you. Ash called me and told me what was happening." When did Ash get Leslie's number? And why? The two had only met in passing at theater events.

Meena was going to ask about the phone number, but Leslie's nudged the pair with her trunk to wake them. Blurry eyes landed on Meena and lite up. Meena almost taken aback by how happy they were to see her. She wore an uneasy smile and both came up to her bedside and asks how she was feeling. It was sweet of they to be so concern, but this seemed a much! She was pretty sure no one from the theater went with Pete. And sure, they had all bonded a bit over rehearsals for the open air show (as well as all almost drowning together) but Meena honestly hadn't thought they were this close.

What was even more strange was Leslie was packing up her things like she was leaving! Her and Ash exchanged words that were easily overheard.

"You two sure you'll be okay here for the night?" Leslie asked.

"No worries, we'll keep an eye on her."

Meena stares bug-eyed at Ash. Why was her mother leaving? And why were these two staying with her? This was not normal! "Mom, you're leaving?" Meena didn't like how panicked she sounded.

"Yeah, I should really get back to your grandmother. I'll be back in time to check you out tomorrow." Leslie hummed nonchalantly.

Poor Meena's head was spinning. "W-what's wrong with grandma?"

"Nothing new, but I'm not sure dad can take care of her by himself." Leslie tucked her phone in her purse before looking up and seeing how distressed her daughter was. "You gonna be alright with me gone, babygirl?"

No! That's what Meena wanted to say. Why was her mother leaving her in a hospital? Why with her coworkers instead of her grandmother or grandfather? And what was going on with her grandmother? The elderly elephant was slow, but had always been able to take care of herself! Meena wanted to argue, make it clear how uncomfortable she was with being left with only her coworkers. But her mother looks so tired and worried. Meena felt selfish for wanting her to stay. Biting back her own discomfort, she forced a small smile and reassured her mother she'd be fine. With that, Leslie gave her a quick peck on the cheek and was out the door, leaving Meena to piece together everything that just happened.

"You sure you're alroight there, love?" Johnny asks next to her with his hand on her shoulder. Hearing this, Meena suddenly remember the other two's presence in the room. Both Ash and Johnny were giving her the same concerned look her mother had given her. She return it with a deer-in-the-headlights state.

"Yeah, uhhh… sorry. How long was I out?" Meena struggles to respond as her brain was still frazzled while trying to put everything together. She was also pretty sure she was blushing from the pet name, which only made her feel more fluster and awkward.

"I dunno, a couple of hours maybe? You were kinda conscious for most of the treatment, but you were pretty loopy." Ash explained as she climbed up to sit on the foot of the bed. "The nurse said you wouldn't remember much of it. You're probably fine now, but the hospital wants you to stay overnight for observation." The porcupine shot a reassuring smile at Meena and pulled out her phone.

Meena kind of just marveled at how comfortable Ash was curled up next to her feet. Johnny wasn't any less surprising as his hand was still on her shoulder and he was sitting on the edge of the bed next to her.

Meena felt like maybe she should feel weirded out by their behavior but wasn't. If anything, it was comforting having them both right there and being so comfortably affectionent.

She felt a yawn pull at her mouth and realized she had no idea what idea it was. There wasn't a window and Meena couldn't see a clock. "Where my phone? and time is it?"

Johnny gave her a sympathetic look and answered. "Yeah, ya kinda landed on it when ya fell. It shattered, but ya mum took it to see if it could be fixed." His hand was rubbing comforting circles in her back and kept his voice soft, keen to Meena's drowsiness. "It's getting late though. Bit past 10."

Ash found a remote and flipped through what was available on the hospital T.V. while Meena tried to fight the urge to sleep. The elephant felt obliged to stay up and at least try to be good company. The night carried on with nurses cycled into the room to check on her and answer her questions. But her fight to stay awake was a losing battle. The T.V. droned some movie she no interest in and Johnny's shoulder seemed comfier by the second. Meena's eye closed as the ache in her head was numbed by sleep.