Chad didn't want to leave till he spoke with Mia. Izzy was making coffee for her and her mom.
"He's such a good kid", her mom said.
Izzy nodded. Mia came down after her nap and a warm shower, she spotted Chad. He stood and smiled.
"Hey", he said.
She was a bit embarrassed for him to see her like this. He approached her slowly and held his hand out to her. She took it and he helped her sit down in the living room.
"I heard about what happened and I wanted to come and check in with you. My mom also sent me", he said.
"I'm fine, Chad", she said, brushing her hair behind her ear.
"No you aren't, Mia. Someone hurt you and that's not ok. I wish I would have been there, I would have joined Dean and the guys in beating his ass up.", Chad said.
She thought she had finished crying, but as fresh tears fell, she knew she wasn't. She quickly wrapped her arms around his neck and he gently rubbed her back. Izzy had told him about the bruises and her pain.
"I won't let him or anyone else hurt you again", he whispered to her.
"I love you", she whispered.
He smiled.
"I never stopped loving you, Mia", he replied.
She squeezed him tighter.
"I'm coming with you to make sure this Jason guy doesn't try anything. I got time off to stay with you for a few days. My mom would kick my ass if I didn't", he said.
Mia laughed softly.
Dean was in the bathroom when he spotted his pills. They were on the counter next to a new pill bottle. He wondered why his wife had kept them. Did she simply forget or was this a test? Either way, his hands were shaking. He swallowed, not taking his eyes off the pills.
Shaking his head, he quickly left the bathroom, bumping into his wife.
"Whoa, where's the fire?", she asked.
She glanced behind him and noticed the pills. She had forgotten to put them away again. Looking up at her husband.
"I didn't touch them", he quickly said.
"You wouldn't be offended if I checked?", she asked.
"If it means not getting in trouble, by all means, check", he said, moving to the side and letting her pass.
She nodded and walked in. Counting them. They were all there. She looked at him and smiled.
"Good", she said.
He nodded and pushed his hands into his pockets.
"Why do you still have them?", he asked.
She pushed them all into her hand and placed them inside the new bottle before storing them inside the medicine cabinet.
"After we had cleaned them up, I set them on the counter and I left them there. I kept reminding myself to throw them out or put them away. I did put them away, but with Mia in pain, I knew they could help her.", she said.
"You were also testing me", he added.
She met his eyes.
"Guilty", she replied.
She didn't need to set them all out on the counter, but she did. She wanted to see if he would be tempted to take them. Thankfully, he wasn't.
"No hard feelings?", she asked.
"No doll, none", he said.
She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck before kissing him.
"I'm scared", he admitted.
She placed her hands against his cheeks.
"Of what?", she asked.
"Going back to work. You never trusting me alone, around medicine. Chad and Spencer leaving Mia alone and Jason hurting her. Losing you", he said.
She could see the fear in his blue eyes.
"And you weren't before?", she asked.
"I was, but my anxiety wasn't this bad. I've been having panic attacks at night", he admitted.
"Have you spoken to Paul about them?", she asked.
"Yeah. He just keeps telling me to take it one day at a time. I am, but it frustrates me. I want to go back to work, I want everyone to trust me again, and most of all, I want to be the me I was before my accident", he said.
He did sound frustrated to her. He sat on their bed and his fingers found the scar on his head. She took his hand and stopped him, sitting beside him.
"You are still you, babe. You are the same strong, protective, and smart man you were before your accident.", she said.
"I wish I could believe that", he said softly.
Mia had stayed a few extra days with Dean and Izzy. She needed to be around her family. She walked into Abel's room before having to leave. She couldn't put off school anymore.
"Hey Ab, can we talk?", she asked.
He nodded and set down his comic book. She sat on his bed and smiled.
"I wanted to apologize to you for basically asking you to lie to your mom and dad about me. I'm also sorry I lied to you. He was hurting me and I was making excuses for him", she said.
Abel nodded.
"You've never lied to me before, so I figured you were telling the truth the first time. Then I saw the bruises on you and I knew you didn't fall. I should have told mom right away and I'm sorry I didn't.", Abel said.
"No need to be sorry. Forgive me, Ab?", she said.
He nodded.
"Of course", he said.
"Thank you for telling them. You saved my life, Abel", she said.
He smiled and nodded.
"I'm glad I could help", he said.
"Come on, I'm leaving and I want a proper hug goodbye", she said standing.
He stood and hugged her tight.
"I love you Abel", she whispered.
"Love you too aunt Mia", he replied.
He walked her downstairs and to the front door. She kissed Malia and then Austin before hugging her sister.
"I love you. Be good. If you need anything and I mean anything, you call me. I'll be there in a heartbeat", Isabelle said.
"I second that. Jason comes anywhere near you, you let me know right away", Dean said, hugging her next.
Mia nodded.
"Drive safe Spence.", Izzy called out to him.
Spencer sent her a thumbs up. Mia hugged her mom before getting in the car, sending them one last wave. Chad was in the passenger seat. Dean wrapped his arms around Isabelle's waist.
"She's going to be ok.", he whispered.
"I know", she replied.
Once the car was out of view, Izzy turned in Dean's arms.
"So when do you plan on coming home?", she asked.
He smiled.
"Give me a few more days, Iz. I want my mind right for you and the kids", he said.
She nodded. She had hoped he would say now, but she understood he still needed time.
"Stay for dinner?", she asked.
"What's for dinner?", he asked.
"Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans", she said.
"Yum, my favorite", he said.
Still on the road, Mia leaned forwards.
"Hey Spence, you think Izzy will be mad if I transfer schools?", she asked.
Isabelle and her mom were so proud of her for getting into San Francisco State University. Neither her mom or Isabelle had gone to a University. This was a big deal.
"They love you Mia. If you wanting to transfer to be closer to us is what you want, they will understand.", Spencer said.
She looked at Chad.
"Would you be ok with that?", she asked.
Chad looked over at her and smiled.
"I would love that", he replied.
"So how did you two meet?", Spencer asked.
"When we moved to town, on my first day of school, I got lost. He was on his way to class", Mia said.
"I got to school late and had to go through the office. I spotted her looking around and then to her paper.", Chad smiled.
"He was nice enough to help me.", she said.
"I asked her out four months later and she said yes.", Chad said.
"First boyfriend?", Spencer asked.
"Yes, but not the first guy I went out with. Dean caught me with some older guy before I started dating Chad.", Mia said.
"I bet he went off", Spencer said.
"You have no idea", Mia said.
"So what happened between you two? If you don't mind me asking", Spencer asked.
"My dad died and my mom needed help running the store. I stayed behind, besides that, I grew up here. I never imagined living anywhere else.", Chad said, looking out the window.
Spencer looked at her through the rearview mirror.
"And you didn't want to spend the rest of your life here?", Spencer asked.
"After what happened, I just didn't want to be around if it happened again. I almost lost my sister. At the time I blamed moving to this town, but it wasn't the town. After, I didn't want to admit that I was wrong. My pride didn't let me", she said.
"And now?", Spencer asked.
"I want to come home", she said.
Spencer nodded.
"I think we can make that happen", he said.