Lottie was discharged from the hospital five hours later, after getting the confirmation of the drugs in her system. Otherwise, she didn't have any physical injuries...but there was still utter terror in her eyes.

Erin was supporting the girl as they walked to the car, her body still weak from the drugs. Avery was on Lottie's other side, her hand gripping her best friend's.

They drove home and Erin got Lottie set up, tucked up under blankets on the sofa. Jay had made her some tea, before retreating with Avery to the bedroom, so Lottie could talk with Erin, without being worried about upsetting Avery with what had happened.

Erin squished right up next to the girl, her arm gingerly slipping round Lottie's shoulder's, who was staring numbly in to space. She hadn't said a word in the hospital, and Erin was worried that the internal dialogue was far worse than anyone anticipated. "Lottie? Sweetheart talk to me." Erin tried, making her voice as tender as she could muster. "Please babe, it's alright, you can talk to me."

Lottie set her tea down on the table, before resting her head on Erin's shoulder. "I'm sorry." Lottie said. "I...I was scared he was gonna hurt you guys if I didn't go." Erin sighed and smiled sadly.

"Oh honey..." Erin started, Lottie just shook her head.

"I just thought it wasn't worth running from him anymore...so I went, and then, I-I didn't realise what he was going to do, and then...it's all kind of fuzzy." Lottie said, a single tear slipping down her pale cheek. "I didn't want to take it...they gave it to me." Lottie said, hoping Erin wouldn't be ashamed of her.

"Hey, I know. Lottie with drugs like that you and I both know you don't choose to take them for the high - and I'm glad they didn't give you anything else addictive. Please Lotts, talk to me next time anything like this comes up...or just anytime you need to talk, I'm here, alright?" Erin said. Lottie nodded and yawned. "Cmon, let's get you to bed."

Erin helped Lottie up off the sofa and in to Avery's bedroom, before tucking her in to bed. "You want me to sit with you for a bit? Aves will be in soon." Erin offered. Lottie sheepishly nodded, so Erin went and laid down beside her. "Thank you Erin." Lottie said.

"For what?" Erin laughed a little, surprised by the sudden comment.

"For everything, for letting me in to your life. For actually caring about me. I haven't had that before." Lottie said.

Erin smiled again. "Hey no problem. Of course. I'm going to do whatever it takes to help you get on your feet, alright?"

Avery came in to the room and jumped on to the bed, wriggling herself in the middle of Lottie and Erin. She liked the feeling of being next to her two favourite people. "Hey guys...can we go to sleep now?" Avery yawned, her eyes already dropping closed.

Erin got up and kissed Avery goodnight, before hugging Lottie again and leaving the room. She headed to her room where Jay was already under the covers, he smiled with his big, goofy grin when she came through the door. "Well whats up with you Halstead?" Erin laughed, changing in to her pyjamas and slipping in next to him. He wrapped his arm around her small frame and she pressed her head against his hard chest, taking in the scent of his aftershave. The goofy grin resided on his face as he watched her settle down next to him. With all the franticness from their work, they barely ever got time to spend like this together - and if they did, Avery would usually have a nightmare or need Erin during the night, so it would be disturbed. Neither of them minded though, that was their life, and they wouldn't change it for the world.

Avery and Jay got along way better than Erin had ever anticipated. He treated her like his own daughter, and she saw him as the Dad she'd never had. Erin had to admit, Jay was REALLY hot being a Dad. Of course, Avery and Erin had a bond that was unlike any other relationship, even generic Mother-Daughter dynamics - they'd been through things that brought them close together, and Jay thought that was adorable.

"Oh...just looking at you Lindsay." Jay laughed, receiving a playful slap from Erin.

"You're so cringey. Someone's been watching too much romance in his free time." Erin teased, raising an eyebrow. Jay slid his hand under the back of her pyjama shirt, and she looked up at his blue eyes. "Seriously...tonight?! Jay! Aves and Lottie are next door!" Erin half-laughed as he pulled her on top of him.

"I mean if you don't-"

"I was joking Halstead." Erin said quietly. He pulled off her shirt, smiling as her hair flipped up messily...and for the rest of the night, love and a hella lot of laughter ensued.

Lottie and Avery were curled up together in Avery's bed, sitting together in silence. The mood was tense, Lottie was scared of upsetting Avery with what had happened, and Avery was scared of upsetting Lottie by being insensitive.

"Ok this is officially the longest silence we've ever had." Lottie half joked sitting up in bed. Avery visibly relaxed and sat up with her.

"I was so worried about you." Avery said. "Why did you go?"

Lottie sighed. "I was afraid Scott would come and hurt you guys, and even if he tried, I couldn't deal with that. I'm sorry, I should've told one of you."

"It doesn't matter now, you're back and you are HELLA staying for good this time, 'kay?" Avery said snuggling down to sleep.

"Okay Aves." Lottie smiled, she laid back down next to Avery, a smile residing on her face as she fell asleep next to her best friend, back in the safety of Erin, Jay and Avery's home...that was working out to be her home as well.