A/N: Thanks again for reading and reviewing. Means a lot...seriously. I know the pace is slow and steady, but trust...it's going to be picking up soon...suggestions are always welcome!
Disclaimer: Yeah, still don't own a damn thing related to SoN, just the ideas within this story...so don't steal 'em. That would be rude. :)
4 days had passed since Ashley's conversation with Spencer. Ashley was meeting with another counselor now, and hadn't spoken with Spencer since they talked.
Ashley kept glancing at her watch, continually bouncing her legs, as she sat in her oversized chair, just staring at the door to her room.
I gotta get out of this room. Spencer is obviously busy or doesn't want to talk with me. It's stupid for me to sit around and sulk. I mean, come on, she left once before without looking back, what's stopping her from doing so again? Besides, I need to focus on me right now.
Ashley jumped up from her chair and headed to the closet in the corner of her room.
"Where are my running shoes…come out, come out, wherever you are," Ashley sang out loud, while digging through her closet.
"A-HA! Gotcha," she snapped out, finding her shoes, "Now I just need the armband for my iPod and I'm out the door."
While rummaging through the backpack on her bed, Ashley heard a quiet knock at her door.
"It's open," she yelled out to her visitor.
The door slowly pushed open, but Ashley never brought her eyes up from her bag, continuing her search for the missing armband.
A familiar scent met Ashley's senses and she paused what she was doing to slowly look up at her visitor.
"Kyla?!" Ashley screamed, a wide smile already in place.
Jumping up from her bed and running to the door, Ashley pulled her sister in for a strong hug.
"Ash…air…" Kyla squeaked out.
Easing her squeeze, Ashley held the smaller girl at arm's length while her smile continued to beam and shine.
"What are you doing here, Ky?"
"Well, it's good to see you too, hooker."
The girls laughed at one another before taking a seat on Ashley's bed.
"You know what I mean, KY. I just wasn't expecting you at all, and then, here you are," Ashley sighed. "Don't get me wrong, I couldn't be happier to see you."
Kyla smiled at her sister, taking in her appearance, all the while nodding in silent approval.
"I wanted to see how you were doing, Ash," Kyla responded, "And you look great from where I'm sitting."
Ashley grinned and nodded.
"I'm getting there, sis. One moment at a time, you know?"
"Yeah, I know, but I am proud of you for sticking with this Ash. Really proud."
Ashley's smile started slowly fading as she fought the tears that were already starting to burn in her eyes.
Looking up at her sister, Ashley sighed and took a deep breath.
"Ky, I'm so sorry for letting things get so out of hand," Ashley began.
Kyla reached over to take Ashley's hand and was starting to shake her head in protest of Ashley's coming confessions, but was quickly cut off by Ashley's insistent nods.
"Please, Ky, I need to tell you this," she pleaded.
Kyla nodded and Ashley started to continue.
"I have been so lost for so long now, and I was ready to just give up on life, Ky. If you hadn't brought me here, insisting that I get help, God only knows where I would be right now, or if I would still even…be," Ashley's voice wavered on that last word.
"I'm just so sorry, and so grateful, and so….so happy, to be getting things figured out," Ashley confessed. "Thank you so much, for everything."
Kyla reached over, pulling Ashley into a hug, rubbing her hand up and down her sister's back.
"It's okay, Ash. You are doing the damn thing now, and that's all that matters," Kyla smiled big at her statement.
"So what are you up to today? You looked like you were digging around in that bag for lost gold when I came in," Kyla laughed.
Chuckling out loud, Ashley playfully nudged her sister's shoulder before answering her.
"I was about to go for a run, actually, but I can wait for a bit now," Ashley said, "How about we go for a walk down to the beach though?"
"That sounds perfect," Kyla agreed, getting up and heading for the door she knew led to the outside world.
Kyla was out the door and ready to go as Ashley scrambled to stomp her right foot down into her already-tied tennis shoe, eyeing Kyla as she hurried out the door.
Ashley and Kyla spent most of the afternoon sitting on the beach, just talking about Ashley's progress, and what's been going on outside of her treatment.
Looking down at her watch, Ashley sighed and started to stand from the sand.
"We should probably head back, Ky. It's already 4:30 and I'm sure you have things to get back to," Ashley said.
"How about I stay for dinner and then head back after that?"
Ashley's face lit up as she pulled her sister in for yet another hug.
"That would be awesome, Ky!"
Walking back through the quad, Kyla noticed Ashley's body stiffen when a blonde woman in a white coat passed near them.
"Who is that, Ashley?"
"What? Who?" Ashley responded.
Kyla rolled her eyes and pushed her sister, "You know exactly who. That blonde walking over there," Kyla pointed in the direction of the woman in question.
Ashley looked down at her shoes and just shook her head, "That, Kyla, is a blast from my past."
Kyla stood observing the demeanor of the blonde that had Ashley so nervous. She appeared so caring, reaching out and touching the arm of the man that she was speaking with. Kyla couldn't help but smile at the way her sister kept looking over at the doctor and then back down at her feet. It was then that she recognized the doctor as the same woman that was present when Ashley first checked-in for treatment.
"Well blast from the past, or fresh face of the future, you obviously have some kind of connection with that woman, Ash."
Ashley just watched Spencer comfort another patient, and couldn't help but smile at the way she was so focused on the gentleman with her.
"Yeah, I guess I do have a connection Ky, it's just a matter of figuring out how in-depth that tie will be."
"What's her name, Ash," Kyla asked.
Ashley sighed, grabbing her sister's hand, pulling her toward the building in front of them.
"Spencer," Ashley sighed, looking away from her sister.
Kyla paused for a moment, taking in her sister's body language, until it dawned on her who the woman really was.
"Holy shit, Ash! THE Spencer?" Kyla was practically yelling.
"Yes, Ky, THE Spencer," Ashley quieted her sister, continuing to pull her toward the doors.
"I had no idea when we came here, I swear," Kyla confessed.
Hearing the heightened voices behind her, Spencer glanced in Ashley's direction, but made eye-contact with Kyla instead.
Smiling, Spencer shyly waved at Kyla, getting a big grin in return, while noticing Ashley pulling her sister forward, causing the younger girl to whip her head around and stumble just a bit.
Just like that, the girls were gone from Spencer's sight, and into the building.
Looking down at her feet, Spencer internally scolded herself for avoiding Ashley's room these last few days.
Shaking the thoughts from her head, Spencer continued her previous conversation with the patient she was with currently.
"Jesus, Ash, you're gonna rip my arm out of socket. Lay off a bit," Kyla hissed, jerking her arm out of her sister's grasp as they entered the building.
"Sorry, Ky. I just didn't want to…look, nevermind."
"Oh no you don't little missy. What the hell is going on with you and Miss Blast-from-the-Past?"
Ashley frowned, shaking her head, "It's just hard right now. She's here. I'm here. But WE aren't here…together. I'm just trying to figure it all out, that's all Ky."
"Alright, I'm not pushing this thing right now," Kyla said, pointing a finger at Ashley, "But you…YOU don't shut her out. She might be just what you need, Ash."
Ashley nodded her head, knowing her sister was probably more right about that then she would ever care to admit.
"Can we just get something to eat now? I'm freakin' starving," Ashley pleaded.
Kyla noticed that Spencer had re-entered the building and was approaching them as Ashley stood with her back toward the doors, not noticing her re-entry.
"Actually, Ash, I think I'm going to head home instead," Kyla said, locking eyes with Spencer as she stood silently behind Ashley, "But I'm sure Spencer here would love to eat with you."
Ashley's eyes got big as she turned around to find the doctor standing right behind her.
"Hey Ash," Spencer smiled.
Ashley said nothing, just turned glaring at her sister.
Smiling big, Kyla pulled Ashley in for a hug, whispering in her ear: "Give it a chance, Ash."
Pulling back, Kyla patted Ashley's shoulders and smiled big, "I'm out, sis. I will see you in a couple days."
"Good to see you again Doctor Carlin. You two have a nice dinner," Kyla said, then turned on her heel and disappeared.
Ashley turned around, facing Spencer, but continued to look at everything but blue.
"You don't really have to eat with me, Spencer. Kyla was just…"
Spencer cut Ashley off before she could finish, "I would love to have dinner with you Ash. We need to talk anyway."
Ashley nodded, looking up into blue eyes, "Yeah, I guess we probably should, but it's been 4 days and wasn't important during that time, so we don't have to if you would rather not."
"Ashley, don't."
"No, it's really okay Spencer."
"Ashley, please…I want to talk, okay?"
Ashley chewed on the inside of her lower lip and simply nodded her head.
"Give me 20 minutes, okay? I need to stop by my office and make a couple of quick phones calls. How about I stop by your room when I'm done and we can go from there, is that okay?"
"Yeah, that's fine," Ashley agreed.
"See you in a bit, Ash."
"Yeah, see ya in a bit," Ashley responded, with little emotion.