Knock...knock Kendall pulled away from Zach at the sound of a guest at their front door.
"Whoever it is tell them to go away." Zach whispered playfully In her ear, "I wanta go for a hat trick."
Reluctantly she lifted herself away from him and ran towards the door wanting to get rid of the unwanted guest.
As the door swung open Erica barged her way in, "Hi Honey!" she pulled Kendall into a hug, "I'm not interrupting anything am I?" She continued to walk in to the Slater home without waiting for answer.
Upon seeing his mother-in-law Zach knew the time alone with his wife was over he swung his legs over the couch he had been laying on and greeted her, "Erica what a surprise."
Erica looked down at him and gave him the famous 'Erica Kane hair flip'. "Well yes I can here to see my girls. How is your sister doing?" Erica turned back to Kendall as the younger girl sat across from Zach.
"They're ok Mom. Marissa and Bianca told the girls about AJ last night."
"And?" Erica prodded almost demanding an answer.
"And they took it pretty hard. Miranda was really angry. She blamed Bianca." Kendall pointed to the torn up papers on the table, "Earlier they had drawn get well pictures for AJ and Miranda tore them up."
"Oh my. Where is she now? I need to see my Miranda. I'm sure she's having a hard time with all this confusion."
"No Mom it's ok. Bianca told me Marissa help Miranda last night."
"Well yes I'm sure Marissa was great but well she's in mourning Miranda needs her family."
"Mom. Marissa is family."
"Well yes of course. Where are they now?"
"Gabby asked if they could go fly a kite up to heaven for AJ so they're at the park. The girls tied messages to AJ's favorite kite." Kendall smiled at the thought of her nieces simple request.
"Well that's nice. Where are the boys?"
"At a play date with Trevor and Amanda. Mom?" Kendall sensed something was up with her mother.
"Yes honey?" Erica asked acting as if nothing was wrong.
"What's going on Mom? I thought you would be with Jackson."
"The hearing was yesterday honey. Didn't you hear they let JR out on bail?"
"Of course everyone heard but I thought you would be with Jack today." Kendall prodded. She had witnessed the closeness her mother and Jackson were sharing she thought today of all days Erica would be at Jack's side.
"Jack's with Greenlee honey. He doesn't need me there." Erica picked up a Fashion Magazine sitting next to her acting as if she didn't want to be with Jack.
"Sure he doesn't need you there Mom but I know Jack would love to have you there."
"Greenlee's getting out of the hospital today I'm the last one she would want to see." Erica continued to make excuses.
"Mom…level with me what's wrong?"
"Nothing. Jack's with his daughter and I'm here there's nothing odd about that. Why aren't you at the hospital I'm sure Greenlee would love to see her friend." Erica tried to change the subject.
"Kendall and I are going over to Ryan's in a little bit. Emma wanted to have a welcome home dinner for Greenlee." Zach explained.
"Well that's nice. Emma's a sweet girl. It sounds like you two have a busy day planned. I'm gonna get out of your hair I've got plenty to do at Courtland. That Caleb Courtland has been spending too much time with his son that the company could use some attention." Erica quickly stood up happy to find an excuse to end the interrogation from her daughter.
Kendall stood up blocking her mother from leaving, "You're not avoiding Greenlee are you mom?"
"No of course not. Don't be silly." Erica gave off another hair flip as if it would cover for her.
"You haven't seen her since the shooting have you?"
"Of course I have. I was with you remember."
"I remember you were with me at the hospital the night of the shooting and I remember you were with all of us after she woke up. But I don't remember you saying two words to her or even looking at her. Mom you are one of the strongest women I know I've never seen you so anxious to face someone as you have been with Greenlee."
"Don't be ridiculous Kendall. You and I both know I don't care for Greenlee."
"No Mom it's something different. You still blame yourself for her getting hurt don't you?" Kendall couldn't believe she hadn't noticed it before.
"Of Course not. JR shot Greenlee."
"Mom you know Greenlee doesn't blame you. She actually blamed hers elf for other people getting hurt that night."
"Well that ridiculous how could that be her fault? JR pulled the trigger hitting those other people not her."
"She was scared that if she hadn't gotten in his way he would have stopped if he had only hit Marissa. I think you blame yourself. If you hadn't gotten in a fight with Jackson she never would have come after you right?"
Erica looked away from Kendall her gaze landing on their family picture on Kendall's mantle. Taken just days before the shooting everything seemed perfect that day not so messed up.
"Mom you can't keep this guilt inside. You're no more responsible for this mess then Greenlee is or Marissa is or anyone else who has been beating themselves up over what JR did. If you don't let this out it's going to eat you alive."
Erica turned back to her daughter and accepted her warm embraced. She ran her hands through Kendall's long curly hair. "When did you so smart?"
"I learned from my Mother. Now why don't you go see Jack and be with him and then come over to Ryan and Greenlee's for a family dinner?"
Jackson met Ryan at the nurses desk and pulled the young man into a quick embrace. "How's my daughter doing?"
"You know your daughter. She's going stir crazy keeps asking what time they're going to let her out of here. She's ready to go home." Ryan tried to hide the worried look on his face.
"What's the matter son?" Jack asked.
"What if she's not ready to come home? What if she's pushing herself to fast too soon."
"She wouldn't be Greenlee if she didn't. I know what you're worried about son and JR's not getting anywhere near our family again."
"He'll be at the funeral tomorrow. What if he decides to try again?"
"Police will be all over. They'll get him before he can do anything. I think the only thing we need to worry about JR doing right now is either making an ass out of himself but getting drunk before the funeral or him skipping town." Jackson silently hoped he would try to leave town so he'd end up back in jail.
Angie walked up to the two men, "Jackson. Ryan." She greeted them.
"Dr. Hubbard." Ryan greeted her back, "So what's the word can I take my wife home yet?"
"I'm going to do one last exam and give her some strict instructions. Then she's all yours." Angie walked towards Greenlee's room as Ryan saw the blonde towards him.
Leo walked towards Ryan and Jackson. He couldn't help but notice the look of distaste on Ryan's face. He knew Ryan wanted to keep Leo as far from Greenlee as he could but there was no way Leo was going to stay away. If there was any hope of being at least a part of her life he wasn't going to give in to the likes of Ryan Lavery.
Greenlee impatiently drummed her fingers on the table. "Why does it always take so damn long to check someone out of this place." She thought to herself. She just wanted to get out of this place and sleep in her own bed.
"Alright kiddo it's time you gave this bed up to someone who actually needs it." Angie's voice cut through Greenlee's thoughts. "Unless of course you want to stay longer? I'm sure I could keep you here a few more days."
Greenlee laughed, "As much as I love the staff here I think I'd rather go home if you don't mind."
"OK but before I release you I want to make sure you understand a few things." Angie started. "If I let you go home you HAVE to take it easy. No running through the park, no chasing after Emma, no climbing the stairs at Fusion, no more fights with Erica Kane. You are not I repeat are not to wear any shoes with a heel until I give you permission. That does not mean you wait a few weeks and hope I don't notice you in a pair of six inch heels. It's flats and sneakers for you until further notice. If I find out your not obeying my directions and are missing your physical therapy sessions I promise you I will drag you back to the hospital and strap you to that bad until your 100%. You got it?"
"Wow you don' ask much do you Angie? I really can't wear any kind of heel? Flat's don't look good with some of my dresses. Come on just a one or two inch heel?" Greenlee joked with the doctor who gave her a stern look. "Ok ok no heels no stress. Greenlee in a bubble. IF that's what it takes to go home you got it."
"I knew you would see things my way. Your husband and father are waiting for you at the nurses' station. Why don't we go meet them?"
"Wait no wheel chair ride?" Greenlee asked excited she always hated that hospital policy it made her feel like an invalid. She was wheeled into this place she didn't want to be wheeled out.
"In your case I think its good exercise for you to walk on your own. Now I'm sending you home with a pair of crutches and I highly recommend any time you'll be doing prolonged standing or walking you use them." Angie could help but laugh at the look on the girls face, "But you're not going to are you?" The both laughed as Angie held her hand out.
Greenlee grabbed the older woman's hand using it to pull herself out of the bed that had been like a prison over the last few weeks. She was ready to go back to her life and her family.
Angie continued to hold her hand out for Greenlee as the two women walked down the hall. Greenlee had regained a lot of the strength both in her back and legs but still walked with a slight limp due to the continued pain her back.
Jackson, Ryan, and Leo all turned as smiled as they watched her walk on her own towards the nurses' station.
Greenlee smiled upon seeing Ryan and her father but when she saw Leo with them she couldn't help but feel her smile grow seeing the man she thought she lost all those years ago.
Thirty minutes later and Greenlee was finally checked out of the hospital and sitting in the back seat of Ryan's car. Ryan had told her about the family dinner Emma had planned and she had insisted on Leo joining them for dinner. Leo had laughed at how she was still the same persistent woman who got what she wanted.
They all rode together in Ryan's car. Leo sat in the front seat as the two men talked about football teams and who should go to the playoffs. Jackson had not let go of his daughter since she was release he had insisted on her holding on to his waist as they walked to the car and now he sat in the back seat with her his arm wrapped around her.
Leo looked in the rearview mirror smiling as Greenlee laid her head on her father's shoulder. He had been relieved when he learned Roger wasn't the girl's father and now he could see just how much Jack loved his daughter and showed her that love rather than making the girl work for just a second of his attention.
"Surprise!" Emma shouted as Ryan opened the door and Greenlee walked in. Greenlee was surprised to see not just Emma waiting for them but Kendall, Zach, and the boys.
"Hi guys!" she greeted them.
Emma ran over and gently put her arms around her stepmom. "I'm so glad your home. We missed you so much! Daddy said I have to be gentle. I'm not hugging you too hard am I?" Emma's blue eyes stared up at Greenlee concerned.
"Oh no honey that's not possible. Actually my doctor told me that hugs were the best medicine and they would help me the most." With that reassurance Emma buried herself in Greenlee's embrace moments later Spike and Ian ran over welcoming Aunt Greenlee home.
Leo stood watching Greenlee with her family. She had gone from a girl whose parents had abandoned her to someone with a family that loved and cared for her and vice versa. He was proud of the woman she had become and wanted desperately to be a part of this life to make up for their years of separation.
Kendall was next to welcome her friend home she to hugged Greenlee tightly. Her friend surviving the gunshot wounds didn't seem real until now being at home. "Welcome home! Now I know Angie told you to take it easy but I expect you back at work on Monday morning I've held the slack for you long enough. If we don't get the spring line started soon we might as well kiss our company goodbye." Kendall joked with her friend.
"Oh please Kendall we both know that I have to go back to fix all the mistakes you made. I swear I can't leave you alone at Fusion for more than five minutes."
The two friends stared at each other for a moment both smiling at the other. "No your right I can't do it without you." Kendall graciously admitted, "I've gotten used to you being around so don't think about trying to leave us again."
Emma grabbed Greenlee's hand after Zach had given his bomb shelter buddy a proper welcome home and began pulling her towards the kitchen. "Come on Greenlee. Kendall and Zach made dinner and Spike and I helped. We made all your favorite things."
Everyone laughed at the little girl's excitement. Through their laughter the sound of a knock on the door could be heard. Greenlee being closest to the door quickly opened surprised by the woman standing before her.
Erica looked right into Greenlee's eyes and for the first time since the shooting was face to face with her former Stepdaughter. Both women stared at each other for a moment not sure what to say to the other.
They were so much alike but would never admit that to each other. They both respected the other but also held contempt for them probably because they were always at odds and could never seem to outdo the other enough.
"Hello Greenlee. It's nice to see you home." Erica finally broke the ice not sure what else to say.
"Erica it's nice to see you." Greenlee said and actually meant it. In an effort to finally make amends with the woman before her she turned to Jackson, "Dad your fiancé is here." Greenlee opened the door wide for Erica inviting her into their home where they would share their first non-eventful family dinner.