Chapter 2: Meeting Liam

The coffee was passable and the cafeteria sold good food – all in all, it wasn't bad for a hospital. It smelled way too sterilized for Cris's taste but you couldn't have everything. Cris had woken up early; Smellerbee had been whimpering in her sleep and she'd had a minor freak out when she had woken up. Smellerbee was still having trouble adjusting to being blind, which the doctors assured him was totally normal – they would be worried if she wasn't reacting.

Cris was walking back from the cafeteria, Smellerbee having ordered him to go eat something – as long as it was heart-healthy, of course. Ever since Cris's heart attack, Bee had been extra careful with regards to her dad's diet. It still amazed Cris that after everything that had happened, Smellerbee was still looking out for people around her before herself. Cris nodded at the nurses as he passed, who smiled in return. The nurses had taken a liking to the Futtermen family and were taking great care of both of them.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for Alice Futtermen's room," said a male voice and Cris stopped, whirling round. There was a young boy standing at the nurse's station, dressed in jeans and a polo shirt. His dark hair was all over the place instead of in the ponytail and his posture was abnormally good for a teenage boy.

"Who's asking for Bee?" Cris asked and the boy whipped around, looking startled.

"I'm Liam Donato, sir. You must be Mr. Futtermen." Liam stuck his hand out politely and Cris shook it. His eyes travelled to the stuffed bear that Liam held in his hand. It had the words Get well soon stitched on its belly.

"Nice to meet you, Liam," Cris said gruffly, slightly taken aback by the boy, "Smellerbee's room is this way. Not even the nurses call her by Alice anymore just so you know. They don't really know her by her real name anymore."

Liam smiled in relief and fell into step beside Cris. "Is she OK? I'm not interrupting her or anything?" Liam asked anxiously as they strode down the hall together. Cris nodded to nurses as they said hello as he passed.

"She's awake," Cris told him, "but as for OK? I think that's a long way off."

Liam frowned but didn't say anything as Cris turned into the nearby room. They both stepped in and Liam's eyes widened as he took in Smellerbee's appearance. She was sitting up, propped against the pillows but what held Liam's attention the most was the white gauze wrapped around her head, covering her eyes.

"Dad?" Smellerbee asked, head turning in their direction.

"Yeah, it's me, kid," Cris said, sitting down in the chair by Smellerbee's bed. "You have a visitor."

"Liam?" Smellerbee asked, head jerking up. He was sure that if her eyes were unwrapped they would sparkle.

"Hi, Alice," Liam greeted, his voice a little hoarse. He stepped forward hesitantly and stood by the edge of the bed. He was shocked and he was doing a poor job of hiding it, though of course, Smellerbee didn't know that and Cris thought that it was probably a blessing at this present moment.

Smellerbee reached a hand out, but after a second, she hesitated and started to withdraw it. Liam quickly grabbed it and rubbed his thumb across Smellerbee's knuckles. Smellerbee blushed and Liam mustered a small smile. Smellerbee was still cute when she blushed.

"Alice, what happened?" Liam breathed, unable to stop himself from asking.

"Someone attacked her," Cris answered, knowing that Smellerbee wouldn't be able to find the words. "Now she's blind."

"Blind?" Liam gasped. "Oh, Alice, I'm so sorry."

Smellerbee was surprised that there wasn't any pity in Liam's voice, only sorrow. She shrugged her face perfectly blank but Liam could detect the small quiver in her lips.

"Here, I got you something," Liam said, gently taking Smellerbee's hand and closing it around the paw of the teddy bear. "It's a get well soon bear."

"It's so soft," Smellerbee commented, trailing her fingers over it delicately. "Thank you, Liam. You didn't need to."

Liam shrugged but then remembered that Smellerbee couldn't see it. "It's no problem. And you do know that as you're a friend that you can call me Longshot."

Smellerbee shifted over and patted the side of the bed as she blushed. "I know. Can you sit down? And you can call me Smellerbee." She smiled, it was more of a grimace, at her words.

Liam looked to Cris, who nodded his approval. Liam gently sat on the edge of the bed beside Smellerbee, tightening his grip on his friend's fingers.

"So, Liam," Cris started, "Smellerbee tells me you go to Ba Sing Sa."

"Yes sir," Liam nodded, looking round at Cris. "Ba Sing Sa is a wonderful school."

"How did you two meet?" Cris asked.

"I was told to make myself useful and spy on the Fire Nation Singers," Smellerbee answered softly, "Liam's a part of the Fire Nation Singers. They're our competition at Sectionals."

"You spied?" Cris snorted and both Cris and Liam chuckled.

"Not very well, admittedly. They caught me out and I ended up going for coffee with Liam and his friends," Smellerbee told her dad.

"She was so endearing that we had to get to know her," Liam grinned, nudging Smellerbee playfully. Smellerbee flinched slightly but she smiled.

Cris watched as Liam withdrew from Smellerbee a little upon seeing her flinch, trying to give her space.

"You sing, too?" Cris asked.

"Yes. I love singing. I play the guitar as well," Liam explained happily and Cris could see the same passion that he saw in Bee.

"And you're bullied," Cris added, not beating around the bush, true to form.

"Dad," Smellerbee hissed, her face bright red.

"It's OK, Smellerbee," Liam assured her "Yes sir, I have been. Ever since I was thirteen."

Cris nodded approvingly. "You don't have to keep calling me sir. Call me Cris."

"Thank you," Liam smiled warmly at him.

Cris saw the start of a smile on Smellerbee's face and her fingers danced over the small bear's fur. Liam watched curiously as Smellerbee tensed and her head moved in the direction of the door. A few seconds later a nurse came in and Liam's eyes widened. He quickly made the connection, realizing that Smellerbee's hearing had improved now that she had lost one of his other senses.

"I'm sorry to interrupt. There is a Ralli Jackson outside, asking to come in," the nurse informed them.

"I'll be back," Cris grunted, getting up and leaving with the nurse.

Liam turned to Smellerbee, who was biting her lip. "Dad won't let me have any visitors," Smellerbee said, softly. "You're the first."

"Wow, I'm honored," Liam told her, voice sincere. "Smellerbee, I'm so sorry. If I hadn't have given you that advice –"

Smellerbee cut Liam off by reaching out and grabbing his arm. "Stop, Longshot. It's not your fault. I don't know who did this but it was bound to happen, whether you had given me that advice or not. You know that."

"I just – I am so, so sorry," Liam croaked. "When you didn't reply to my message I thought that maybe something had happened but then I thought that I was probably over reacting. Besides, we've only known each other a few weeks."

"I'm sorry I didn't get a message to you sooner," Smellerbee apologized, biting her lip. "Everything at the moment is just a lot to take in."

"How – how does it feel? Does it hurt?" Liam asked carefully. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

"No, it's OK. Everything smells so much stronger and everything is a lot louder," Smellerbee explained.

"Everything feels different. You don't know what you're missing until it's gone." Her voice grew sadder and Liam hesitantly wrapped an arm around Smellerbee. Liam had always been one for physical contact and to him; nothing offered comfort like a hug. "It's so weird," Smellerbee admitted her voice small. Liam didn't know how to answer, but was saved by Cris entering again. "Ralli was here?" Smellerbee asked.

"Yeah. She wanted to see how you were doing," Cris told him, sitting back down.

Smellerbee nodded and shifted on the bed. "How are Kori and David?" Smellerbee asked, directing the question at Liam this time.

Liam eagerly launched into a tale of the two teens' antics at Ba Sing Sa. Smellerbee listened intently, happy that she could take Liam's mind off the attack. Liam smiled brightly when he heard a soft laugh from Smellerbee.

They fell silent when the doctor entered the room.

"Morning, everyone," he greeted cheerily and Liam saw Smellerbee scowl a little. "I have some good news for you, Smellerbee. You can go home today."

Smellerbee visibly brightened, sitting up straighter. "Really? I can go home?"

"Yep," the doctor beamed. "We just need to check your eyes again and then all you have to do is sign the discharge papers and you can go home."

"Thank you," Smellerbee smiled along with Liam and Cris.

"Thanks, Doc," Cris said, standing and shaking the doctor's hand.

"Alright, Smellerbee. Let's get these bandages off and take a look," the doctor said, moving to the edge of the bed.

Liam jumped off the bed and stood a little awkwardly to the side. "Did you want me to leave?" He asked.

"Only if you want to," Smellerbee said as the doctor started to un-wrap the bandages, "if it makes you uncomfortable."

"No," Liam replied, smiling softly at Smellerbee's compassion. "It's fine."

Smellerbee's bandages were unraveled and the doctor carefully peeled away the two patches that were taped across her eyes. Liam sucked in a breath, eyes widening. The area around Smellerbee's eyes was a dark red and looked very irritated.

"Can you up open your eyes, please, Smellerbee?" The doctor asked. Smellerbee's eyes fluttered open and she inhaled sharply. Smellerbee's eyes, that had once been a startling light brown, were now cloudy and red. The doctor waved a flash flight in front of Smellerbee's eyes but there was no response. "Can you see anything?"

"No," Smellerbee replied, mournfully, "it's just dark."

Liam bit his lip sadly and shifted. Cris sighed and Smellerbee winced, obviously having heard it.

"I'll put some more cream around your eyes to ease the irritation and then I'll re-wrap them," the doctor explained.

Smellerbee nodded and silence fell as the doctor worked. When Smellerbee was re-bandaged the doctor stepped back, admiring his handiwork. "Alright, let's go get these discharge papers," he said and Cris followed him out of the room.

"Feeling better?" Liam asked, sitting back on the edge of the bed.

"Yeah, the cream helps," Smellerbee answered softly. "Sorry. I must look awful."

"You don't," Liam replied without missing a beat, eliciting a flush from Smellerbee, "you look as beautiful as always." Liam grinned as he watched Smellerbee blush and she shifted. Smellerbee's stomach rumbled and she blushed harder, making Liam chuckle. "Hungry?"

"Yeah, I have to eat bland food at the moment until my taste buds adjust," Smellerbee winced.

"That sucks," Liam gave her a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

"Longshot?"

"Hmm?"

"If my dad says it's OK, would you – would you like to come back to my house?" Smellerbee asked shyly.

"I'd love to," Liam grinned. "Are you sure, though? You don't want to rest or anything?"

"No, all I have been doing is resting," Smellerbee mumbled grumpily.

"Well then I would love to keep you company," Liam grinned and Smellerbee smiled in response. Cris came back in and grabbed Smellerbee's bag from the floor.

"Alright, we're ready to go," Cris told them, smiling brightly.

"Dad, can Longshot come with us?" Smellerbee asked, looking hopeful. Cris took in Liam's pleading expression, alongside his daughter's and he sighed. He wanted Smellerbee to stay calm and try not to let this get on top of her, and obviously Liam, or Longshot, was helping.

"If you don't have plans then yeah, you can come," Cris said and Liam nodded eagerly.

"Thank you," Liam smiled at him. They helped Smellerbee off the bed, helping the girl to shakily get her balance under control. Cris had helped Smellerbee changed into a t-shirt, sweat pants and a jumper a few days ago because his daughter had refused to wear that tacky hospital gown for a second longer.

Liam grabbed Smellerbee's hand and placed it on his elbow. Smellerbee gripped his arm tightly and slowly they made their way out of the hospital.