It has been a week since Serena was shot and she is coming home today. Zan drove to the hospital with Michael to pick her up.
"Michael she has been having nightmares, every night, I try to get her to talk to me but she says she is not ready, I have no idea what to do", said Zan sighing.
Serena's nightmares seem to be getting worst everyday. He had a feeling that the nightmares had something to do with that asshole Paulie. Tommorrow was Paulie's funeral. Zan and the others discovered that Pauie had psychiatric problems which wasn't suprising but what shocked them was that his parents knew about his problems and did nothing to help him at all. They had come to pick up Paulie's stuff. Zan had to contain himself, he was so angry. These people knew taht thier son had a problem but didn't get him the help he needed. It made him angry. These people were indrectly responsible for Serena almost dying. Zan chocked with emotion everytime he thought of Serena leaving him.
"Hi Doctor Monroe", said Serena packing up her stuff in the suitcase that Zan brought for her.
The young doctor smiled.
"Finally leaving us huh, the nurses are going to miss you and Zan", said Dr. Monroe smirking.
Serena laughed.
" Yeah Zan is a fine one", said Serena.
"Umm yeah, here are your discharge papers, Zan is picking you up right?", asked Dr. Monroe.
Serena nodded her head and siad, "Yeah with my brother Michael. I'm happy to be going home", said Serena.
"Yeah I know you are, but you have to start your physically therpy next week, take it easy no back breaking work", siad the Doctor.
Serena nodded her head and heard a knock at her door after the docotr left.
"Come in Zan", said Serena with her back to the door.
"I'm not Zan", answererd a female voice behind her.
Serena looked at the women and her eyes widen. It was Paulie's mother.
"You must be Serena", said the woman.
Serena nodded her head but moved away from the older woman. Zan told her about how these people, Paulie's parents knew about their son's problems and did nothing to help him even though they had the money to do so.
"Yes I'm her, can I help you?", asked Serena looking at the woman.
"Yeah I wanted to talk to you, if it were possible", said the woman.
Serena nodded her head and motioned for her to take the chair across from her bed. Serena struggled to sit down. Her stomach hurt still. She told Zan not to heal it becasue it would raise too much eyebrows. Her legs were weak also. She had a difficult time walking without falling down, hence the physical therpy.
"I know you know who I am, well I just wanted to say sorry on the behalf of my son, what he did was, well you know", said the woman.
Serena peered into the older woman's face and saw that she didn't really mean what she said.
"You don't mean that, what exactly do you want, Mrs. Caravan?", asked Serena.
Mrs. Caravan's eyes widen and she looked a little taken back.
"You knew of your son's problems but instead of getting him the help he needed becasue you probably didn't want to look bad in front of your society friends you let him roam around without any help, you might think you could sit there and honestly blame me for his mistake, but you can't becasue this is not the first time Paulie was obsessed with someone, I was just the one he shot at", said Serena seethingly.
"Well if you didn't tease him", yelled Mrs. Caravan.
"Tease him, me and your son never said two words to each other, you fucked up Ms. Caravan you and your husband messed up his life, not me, you are waste of a human being and I hope you and your husband never reproduce again, now get out", yelled Serena pointing her finger to the door.
Mrs. Caravan began to say something when Zan cleared his voice, "You heard her get out, or I'll get my father to sue for harassment, you lucky there is not a law for stupidity because surely you would be in jail for life", said Zan glaring at the woman.
Michael growled. The woman glared back but walked out of the room with her head held high. Serena was shacking so badly.
"Zan", whispered Serena with tears in her eyes.
Zan walked up to her and held her close.
"Do people actually think this is my fault?", asked Serena looking at Zan and then at Michael.
"No they saw what happened, they know that Paulie had problems and this wasn't the first time he pulled out a gun at someone, in fact dad what to know if you wanted to press charges against the parents becasue it was thier gun and it wasn't registered?", asked Zan.
"I don't know I'm jsut tired of this, I want to go home", said Serena with tears in her eyes.
Zan held her tightly and Michael took her hand that she reached out to him with.
"It's okay Rena, nothing will happen to you again, I promise", siad Michael in a determined voice.
Michael had nightmares at night too, seeing his baby sister laying on the ground with blood everwhere. It was almost too much to bare. Maria had to stay with him in the house becasue it was so quiet without Serena and him blast music and her singing and cooking food, or yelling at the TV. He missed her so much and he was beyond happy she was coming home today.
"Alright let's roll", said Serena.
Zan took her suitcase, and Michael lead Serena to a wheel chair that they brought in.
"By ladies", said Zan to the nurses.
The older nurse rolled her eyes while the younger ones giggled. Serena smirked.
"I'll se you guys when I get better and can come back to work", said Serena.
The older Nurse, Nurse Collen smiled at Serena kissing her forehead.
"Get well soon and no pushing yourself, get plenty of rest okay, we will see you when you are in the best health", said Nurse Collen.
Serena worked with her here at the hospital.
"Alright Collen thanks, see you later", siad Serena.
Serena rolled her eyes again when the nurses on the floor giggled at Zan.
"Stop flirting with my man", said Serena jokingly.
They were all her friends here.
"But he is sooo cute", said Nurse Nicole.
"I know", said Serena and laughed when he blushed.
Zan rolled her to the elevator and Michael and Serena joked around.
"I missed you at the house Serena, it was so quiet", said Michael in a low voice.
"I missed you too big brother, I missed my room", said Serena looking up at her brother.
Michael leaned forward and kissed her forehead. Zan smiled at them.
"Alright, Alex put the ballons over there", said Isabel.
They planned a welcome home party for Serena at her house. They all missed her terribly. They visited afterschool and everything but having Serena away from them left a big hole in thier group. they felt unbalanced.
"Yeah I got it Izzy", said Alex kissing her forehead and getting up on the ladder.
Maria, Max, and Liz were in the kitchen making sandwiches, with Kim, and Diane Evans.
"Max pass me the mayo", said Kim.
Diane smiled at Kim. Kim was clingly towards Serena which Diane understood. She was leaving tommorrow though. She wanted to stay longer but Serena convinced her that she was well taken care off. Amy Deluca walked into the kitchen followed by Maria bring in cakes adn pies.
"Hey Amy, set them down here", said Diane.
Amy nodded her head and came and hugged both women. They had become close after Serena was shot. Amy visited Serena as often as possible. She felt pain when she saw how small Serena looked on that hospital bed. God Ava still cried at night. Amy had to comfort her every night because she was scared. All the kids were in fact.
"Hey everyone", said Nancy Parker walking into the house.
"Hey Mrs. Parker, the mothers in the kitchen", said Kyle hanging the banner with the Ava's help.
Kyle saw the sadness in Ava's face, he knew that Amy was there for her when she cried at night. Kyle knew that she felt pain becasue she almost lost Serena her first real family. When they finished hanging the banner, Kyle pulled her to him and hugged her closer. Ava looked up at him and smiled.
"I'm happy she is coming home", said Ava.
"Me too baby, me too", replied Kyle.
They got back to work.
Nancy walked into the Kitchen and hugged the mothers. Kim hugged Nancy tightly. They had also gotten closer this week. She knew she was happy leaving her baby girl with these fine people.
"Hey Nancy", said Diane finishing the platter of sandwiches.
"I brought soda's and cookies", said Nacy holding up a bag.
Kim smiled.
"Hey mom", siad Liz wiping her hands.
Max smiled at Nancy when she hugged him. they had gotten close since him and Liz annoced thier engagement.
"Where's Jeff?", asked Amy sipping her soda.
"He has to man the grill, becasue Jose is out sick, he brought Serena a present it's in here", siad Nancy.
Maria looked at the women and smiled at Liz.
"That's us in about twenty years", siad Maria.
Liz smiled and laughed.
Max smirked.
"Hey guys they just pulled up", yelled Alex from the living room.
Nancy grabbed a platter of food with the rest of them following. WHen they heard the click of the door opening everyone yelled, "Welcome Home".
Serena smiled wide.
"Thanks, it's good to be home", said Serena.
Zan helped her out of the wheel chair. Zan had built a wheel chair entry so that Serena could move her wheel chair in and out of the house. Zan pulled her up and she began to stand on her own and walk when she fell down. Zan caught her just time.
"Thanks, I'll get the hang of it again", siad Serena soflty.
Kim had tears in her eyes looking at her baby struggling. Diane squeezed her hand in support. Amy did the same while Nancy gave her an encouraging smile. The heard the door open and saw Peter and Kal walk in with a beautiful wrapped box.
"Hey dad, i was wondering where you were", said Serena struggling to walk.
Zan stood by her side. He knew she wanted to do this on her own. Michael carried her suitcase into her room and took a deep breath. He felt his heart drop at seeing her fall. Serena was such as a strong person and to see her fall hurt him. He knew it hurt the others too. He flet thier emotions. The girls were close to crying. Thy had been scared that Serena might never get full movement of her legs again. That's what the doctor's said. Zan healed her just enough after that statment. He knew she would protest but he told her that he would make sure that no one would know the difference. Zan lead Serena to the couch and saw her wince. He bite his lip from crying out. He could feel her pain sometimes when she couldn't block her from her pain.
"Alright what do you guys have planned for me", siad Serena smiling at everyone in the room.
Peter walked up to her and said, "Here Rena me and dad got you this present I hope it makes you feel better".
Serena smiled and hugged him tightly. Serena opened her gift and tears spilled from her eyes. It was a music box, the same music box that she always wanted as a little girl.
"Thanks so much dad, its amazing", siad Serena.
She tried to get up but it hurt so Kal came to her and hugged her. They enjoyed the moment.
"Alright, no more crying let's party", said Ava.
They turned on the music and they danced.
After an hour or so Serena cleared her voice and said, "I have something to tell you guys, umm Paulie's mother came to visit me today".
Kim seethed in anger. Everyone's face was tight with anger. They all knew of the woman's failure to help her own son.
"What did she want?", said Kal in a tight voice.
The bell rang then.