The weeks passed quickly and finally the doctors were please enough with Erin's progress that they allowed her to go home on the condition that she was to rest and not push herself too hard. The news couldn't have come sooner for Erin who was relieved to get out of the hospital where she had been for nearly two weeks. Now she was fully dressed and just waiting for Leo to come and pick her up, her bag was packed and her arm was carefully nestled in a sling which was being pulled down by the weight of the cast
Leo poked his head round the door "I've signed your discharge forms and booked you an outpatient's appointment, so we can go now"
Erin smiled and slipped off the bed, her legs wobbling slightly underneath her, weak from the lack of use over the last three weeks
"Careful" Leo said lending her a supporting arm as she stood back up "You've got to take things slowly" Erin nodded as Leo passed her a jacket "Its cold out there" he told her "You'll be needing it"
He helped her slip one arm into her jacket and draped the other side over her injured side, being careful not to knock her arm. Slowly they made their way out of the hospital, they took each step leisurely as Erin's ribs were still very painful and the stitches from surgery were pulling slightly. Finally they made it to Leo's car where he helped her in; Erin slipped in with a grunt of pain but looked relieved to be out of the hospital.
As they pulled away from the hospital, Erin was very quiet and Leo had tried to keep up her spirits by telling her all that she had missed but Erin could only muster up the occasion murmur. There was a moments silence between the pair and Leo was starting to get worried but this was broken when Erin finally spoke
"When can I go back to school?" she asked
"The doctor said you've got to stay home and rest this week" Leo told her firmly
"I'll be behind on school work!" she protested
"You caught up on some when you were in hospital" Leo told her "I spoke to your teachers and they said that you're not that far behind"
"I miss Nate" she said quietly and Leo gave a perceptive smile
"Maybe we can ask him to come round…" he suggested
Erin mumbled something inaudible but finally nodded her head and Leo gave her an encouraging smile
"Nikki and Harry are coming round later if you feel up to it" Leo told her and she nodded "We thought we'd have a little get together to celebrate…"
"…my release from that prison"
Leo chuckled "Erin it was a hospital and you were only there for a couple of weeks"
"It felt like a lifetime" she grumbled
"I know" Leo smiled "Janet's coming round as well" he told her cautiously
He waited for her reaction but she seemed content with the idea and soon they fell back into a comfortable silence.
Erin was lying on her bed; finally back in her own bedroom when she heard a knock at her door. Carefully standing up she opened it to see Leo standing there
"Are you unpacked?" he asked her as she let him into the room
Erin nodded and motioned to the empty overnight bag on the floor
"It must feel good to be home"
Erin nodded again, unable to voice her feelings adequately
"Harry, Nikki and Janet will be round about seven" Leo told her and Erin glanced at her clock which read half past two "In the meantime I thought you'd enjoy some company"
Erin frowned as Leo stepped back but it soon disappeared when she saw Nate standing in her doorway just behind Leo
"Nate!" she squealed launching herself at the young boy who looked equally pleased to see her
"I'll leave you two to it" Leo said as he left the two companions to share a moment of privacy
"I missed you" Nate said as they both sat down on her bed together
"I missed you too" Erin said shyly
"Are you better now?" he asked taking a good look at her. The cuts were starting to heal and the bruising had started to fade but it was the look in her eyes that told Nate he should be concerned
"I'm fine" she assured him as she slipped her hand into his
"Why didn't you tell me about your godmother?" Nate asked her "I knew something was wrong with you in art that day" he stood up suddenly and started to pace around her room
"I'm sorry" Erin said quietly picking at her sling
"I could have done something, why didn't you let me help?" he asked, the tone in his voice becoming more and more urgent
"I'm sorry" she repeated
"Stop apologising!" he said loudly and Erin flinched "Sorry…" he said and Erin let out a watery laugh as a few stray tears fell down her cheeks "It's just that, we're best friends Erin and I don't want anything to happen to you. I care about you so much and I just want to help"
"I know…" Erin said softly and Nate sat down next to her once more and gave her a smile
"When are you coming back to school?" he asked
"Next week" Erin rolled her eyes "I have to rest this week. Doctor's orders apparently" she groaned
"Leo won't let you back any sooner?"
Erin shook her head "He's going to barely let me leave me bed!" she grimaced "I am going to be so bored"
"It's a good thing I brought you school work then" Nate said pointing to a pile of books that had been left on her desk
"Oh you are kind" Erin said sarcastically giving him a small shove off her bed
The two of them sat in quiet company, both content with their silence. Nate looked at Erin who gave him a warm smile but there was something inside of him, telling him that Erin was far from okay. He looked at her once more and almost as fast as the smile had appeared, it had disappeared once more, leaving her with a rather downcast look that unsettled Nate more than he cared to admit.
At seven, just like Leo had promised, Nikki and Harry arrived at the front door looking pleased to get out of the cold evening
"Janet's been held up in traffic" Leo told them "So she's going to be a bit late"
Harry and Nikki nodded as the made their way into the living room; Erin was spread out on the floor with reams of paper all around her and she was intently practising her drawing
"She's been like that for a couple of hours now" Leo told them quietly "Erin!" he called to her "Look who's here…"
"Hello" Erin said not taking her eyes off the paper
"You're improving" Harry said craning his neck to see what Erin was drawing
"It's rubbish!" Erin snapped and hastily screwed up the paper
Harry shot a worried look back at Nikki and Leo who were looking equally concerned
"I'll go and make up something to drink" Leo said moving out of the living room
"I'll come and help" Nikki said leaving Erin and Harry alone for a moment
Harry carefully put the baby carrier Alice was in, on a nearby chair and sat down on the floor next to Erin
"What's wrong?" he asked
"Nothing's wrong" Erin said coldly, refusing to look at him
"Did you think of any other good things?" Harry said cocking his head on one side
She shook her head "No, but I thought of plenty more bad things"
"I don't want to hear those" Harry said picking up the pad of paper Erin had discarded on the floor
Erin shakily climbed to her feet and winced as her ribs screamed in protest, she let out a whimper of pain and in a flash Harry was on his feet and gently helping her sit down on a chair
"You've got to take things steadily" he chided
"So everyone keeps telling me" Erin sighed as she clutched her side in pain
"The wounds will heal" Harry told her "Even the ones that you can't see"
Erin looked at him sadly and gave a one arm shrug to at least acknowledge what he was saying even if deep down, she wasn't sure if she could ever believe what he was saying.
