AN: Thanks for the reviews! It was brought to my attention that I didn't specify when this story is set. It is set three years after 5x25. I did that so that Lucy was a little older and also so Flack had time to move on after Angell's death. So here is Chapter 10. I hope you enjoy :)
"Okay Annie. Before we go in there I want to talk to you about what happened to your mom," Flack said. He had gone to get Annaleigh from Abigail's apartment. This would be the first time she had seen Allison in almost a week. "She has a lot of cuts and bruises on her face. And her leg is broken and so are a couple of ribs. They took the tube out of her throat this morning so she has to whisper to talk. Okay?"
"Okay," Annaleigh replied. She was a little nervous, but she couldn't wait to see her mom again. A week was way too long.
"Alright let's go in there," Flack said as he took Annaleigh's hand. When they walked into the room a smile instantly lit Allison's face.
"Hey baby!" she whispered. Annaleigh was a little insecure about what to do. She really wanted to hug her mom, but didn't want to hurt her. Allison could see the fear in Annaleigh's eyes. "It's okay honey. You can come hug me. I won't break."
Annaleigh smiled and rushed over to her mother. "I missed you so much. When do you get to come home?"
"I missed you too sweetie. I get to leave in a couple of days. They want to make sure that I'm all better before they send me home."
"Oh okay," Annaleigh said, sadness taking over her face.
"Hey, you know what Annie? That's actually perfect because it gives us time to make the apartment look nice for Mom," Flack interjected. Annaleigh immediately perked up. The three sat talking for about an hour, until the nurse came in to give Allison her medicine. Flack took this as his cue to take Annaleigh back to Abigail's.
"Can I come back tomorrow and see you again?" Annaleigh asked her mom.
"Of course you can honey. Aunt Abby is going to bring you here right after school. Okay?"
"Okay. I love you mommy."
"I love you too baby."
Flack leaned down to give Allison a kiss. "I'll be right back. I love you Allison."
"I love you too Don." Allison watched her boyfriend and daughter leave the room. She smiled to herself and then closed her eyes. The medicine began to take effect and soon she was asleep.
Two Days Later
"Okay Allison, it looks like you're well enough to go home," Doctor Riese told his very happy patient. "I want you to come back in for a check up in two weeks. And I would like for you to wait at least a month before going back to work."
Allison's happy expression was replaced by a disappointed one. She liked going to work and had been looking forward to getting back as soon as possible. "What if I just stay in the lab and don't go out in to field?"
Dr. Riese laughed. "We'll discuss it when you come back in two weeks. Until then, please stay home. Your leg still needs time to heal. And if you're up running around, that's not going to happen. Understood?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. I'll go tell Don and Annaleigh. They seem really excited."
It was Allison's turn to laugh. "I'm sure they are. Apparently they've moved all of our furniture to make it easier for me to get around the apartment."
"Well that was very thoughtful of them," Dr. Riese said with a smile. He turned to walk out of the room. "I'll send them in now."
"Thank you doctor," Allison called. A huge smile spread across her face when she saw Annaleigh walk in carrying a bunch of balloons, followed by Flack carrying a huge bouquet of daisies. "You two are so sweet. I love both of you very much."
Annaleigh just stood there and grinned while Flack set the flowers down on the bed. He walked over to Allison and gave her a kiss. "We love you too. So, are you ready to get out of here?"
"Yes! I'm already packed and everything."
"Good. Danny is downstairs watching the car. Lindsay's getting a cart for all of your gifts," Flack said looking around the room. It was full of flowers and balloons. Allison had certainly made a lot of friends in the few months she had been working at the lab.
At that moment Lindsay, walked through the door smiling.
"Hey! I found a cart. Annaleigh, do you want to help me put all of the flowers on it?"
"Sure!" Annaleigh replied jumping up from her chair.
While Lindsay and Annaleigh were moving the flowers, a nurse brought a wheelchair and crutches for Allison. She took one look at the wheelchair and shook her head.
"Uh uh. I am not riding in that thing."
Flack laughed. "Come on Allison. It's hospital policy. You have to. The sooner you start cooperating, the sooner we can get out of here. I know you hate hospitals just as much as I do." His words caused Allison to groan.
"Fine," she agreed reluctantly. The nurse pulled the wheelchair right up next to the bed and Allison slid down into it, folding her arms in the process.
"Can he at least push me out?" Allison asked the nurse.
"Of course," the nurse answered and then she left the room.
Flack took a look at everything they had to take with them and realized that they probably needed the nurse's help.
"Uh… Lindsay can you push that thing by yourself?"
"I think so," she answered, but when she tried it wouldn't budge.
"Flack thought for a moment. "Okay. I'll push the cart. Linds you push Allison and she can hold her bag in her lap. Annie, can you carry the crutches?"
"Yes I can."
"Okay good. Are we ready to go then?"
"I think so," Allison said with a smile.
With that they left the room and met Danny downstairs. Flack helped Allison into the car while Danny, Lindsay and Annaleigh put the flowers in the back. When they were finished and everyone was buckled in, they made their way to Flack and Allison's apartment.
The moment Allison walked through her door, a huge smile spread across her face. There were boxes everywhere and she knew they belonged to Flack.
"Don when did you do this? I thought you were at the hospital all week?"
"Let's just say we work with some extremely generous people. And we have two amazing best friends," he replied glancing at Danny and Lindsay.
"Aww, you guys are so sweet! Thank you so much for doing that for him," Allison said to them, tears forming in her eyes.
"It wasn't a problem at all. We knew Don wanted to be wit you at the hospital, but he also wanted to get out of his apartment as soon as possible, so we decided to help him out," Danny said.
"And of course he owes us big time," Lindsay added causing everyone too laugh. "Well I think we better go and let you guys get settled in.
Lindsay walked over to Allison and gave her a hug. "I'm so glad you're back home."
"Thanks Linds. I'm glad you're okay too. I'm sorry you had to go through that," Allison told her.
"It's okay Allison. Really, it is. Nothing happened to me, I'm perfectly okay." The two women hugged while Danny and Flack shook hands.
"Thanks for everything man. It really means a lot to me," Flack said to his best friend.
"It really was nothing. And if you ever need me to do it again I will," Danny responded, flashing a smile. Flack smiled as well, and then walked Danny and Lindsay out. He said goodbye and closed the door.
When Flack turned around Annaleigh, who had been silent since they got home, was helping Allison over to the couch. The sight warmed his heart. He watched them for a moment until he heard his stomach growl. Glancing at his watch, Flack saw that it was well after lunchtime.
"Is anybody else hungry?" he asked even though he already knew the answer.
"I'm starving!" Annaleigh replied as Allison just shook her head yes.
"Alright, how about I make some homemade pizza?" he asked then, laughing at the smile he got from Annaleigh.
"That actually sounds really good," Allison said.
"Good. I'll go get started on it," Flack said.
After he left the room, Allison and Annaleigh sat in silence for a few minutes. Annaleigh was stroking her mom's hand and thinking about what she wanted to say next.
"Mommy?" she asked.
"What is it baby?" Allison responded.
"Promise me you'll never leave again okay?"
Allison's heart broke. The desperation in her daughter's voice made her want to cry. "Oh honey, I promise. I'll be here always. Come here and give me a hug."
Annaleigh moved closer and wrapped her arms around her mother. She kissed Allison's cheek and then laid her head down on her shoulder.
Flack moved away from the kitchen door and sat down at the table. He put his head in his hands and just sat there thinking. He thought about the exchange he had just heard. He thought about what had happened to Allison a week ago. He thought about the fear of losing her. He had been through that fear before. With Jessica. And he had no intention of going through it again. In that moment, Flack vowed to never let anything happen to Allison or Annaleigh ever again.