co-written by RatedrKjErIcHo

They got to the hotel and checked into the room. Avery laid down on the bed and Mike held her. He knew Phil's dad was upset but that didn't' give him the right to blame her. It was all AJ. She had just been a mentally unstable person. He held her close and she was asleep. The doctor had given her something to help her sleep. He hoped she wouldn't have nightmares but they had all been through a traumatic experience.

John, Kate and Jerry arrived at the hotel and Jerry handed John a key. "You guys go rest." He looked at them. "My room is through an adjoining door. And the guards are on the other side of you."

John nodded and they headed into the room while Jerry headed into his. He was glad that Kate was safe. They would head back to the city tomorrow. And he would make sure she was always safe from now on.

John walked into the room and laid down on the bed next to Kate. She moved to rest her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. "I am so glad you're okay." He leaned and kissed her. "You have no idea how scared I was when I thought you were dead on the bus." He looked at her. "I wanted to stay with you. I didn't want to leave you but I didn't want to die either. Mike pushed me out of the bus because AJ was coming. I'm sorry I left you."

"You don't need to be. You believe I was dead. There was no reason for you to stay there and have her hurt you. I would have wanted you to save yourself." She sighed. "John, I love you but I would never expect you to get hurt or die for me or because of me. I would rather you live on if something happened to me. I would be at peace knowing you were safe."

"I would die for you. I love you that much." She leaned up and kissed him.

"Can you just hold me tonight? Please."

"Always." He whispered and pulled her close.

Jerry sat in his room talking with Bret. "What do we do now?" Jerry asked Bret. "Our kids have lost friends. Seen them murdered. How do we help them? I'm already getting calls from the governor."

Bret sighed. "I'll talk to him. Mr. Copeland did everything he could to make sure the kids were protected. Nobody expected any one of them to go off the rails like that. And the nerve of that pompous windbag Heyman."

"I know. It's not Avery's fault." Jerry replied.

"At least our children are safe. I can't imagine what Paul and the other parents are going through."

"I know. My aide, Bob, is dealing with his son, Randy's death. I don't know if I could deal with it if Kate had died. But they're safe. We will go back to the city tomorrow. There is a lot to deal with about this." Bret nodded and laid back on the bed.

Avery woke up and got out of bed, careful not to wake Mike. She walked over to her bag and pulled out the necklace Phil had given the doctor to give to her. He'd bought for her birthday when they'd been dating. And he'd given it to her the night they'd first made love. And she'd ripped it off and thrown it at him the night she caught him in bed with AJ. She still couldn't believe he was gone.

"Are you okay?" She heard from the bed.

"Yeah. Just a dream but I'm okay now." She said walking back over to the bed.

"You know it's okay to miss him. He was your first love right?"

She nodded and sobbed. "He was. He used to say we'd grow old together. That was before he cheated on me with AJ. I still can't believe that both of risked your lives to save mine."

He leaned in and gently kissed her. "Because we both care so much about you. Avery, we will get through this. I know it hurts about Phil but we're alive. And we're together. And we've got to keep living." She nodded and kissed him. "Now, come lay back down."

She nodded and they both laid down. She rested her head against his chest and let his heartbeat lull her to sleep. He wrapped his arms around her and fell asleep himself.

The next morning, everyone was up and downstairs for breakfast. They would be going home and trying to put the last few days behind them.

"Bret and I have everything ready. So after breakfast, we will head home." Jerry said as he sat down. Everyone nodded. He looked at Avery. "How are you holding up sweetie?"

"I'm as good as I can be." She answered. "I guess I'm ready to get home."

"I think everyone is, sweetie." He said as Bret walked up.

"The cars are ready as soon as everyone is ready." He sat down by Avery and Mike looked over at him. "Mr. Hart...would it be alright for Avery to come over to my house and watch a movie with me later?"

"I don't see why not. But later this afternoon, alright."

"Alright." Mike said to him.

"If everyone is ready let's go." Jerry said to them. They got up and headed out. "Alright, Kate and John in this car with me. Avery and Mike will go with Bret in the another car."

They nodded and got into the cars and were soon on their way home. Jerry hoped this didn't do any damage to his daughters or the others. But he was going to recommend therapy for them.

Two hours later, they arrived back in the city. Jerry agreed that John could come over later once he went home and saw his parents. After dropping him off, they headed to the mayor's mansion.

Kate walked into the house and sighed. It felt good to be back. "Happy to be home?" Jerry asked his daughter.

"I am." She smiled. "Just thinking about Dave and Paul and Bob and Randy. And everyone else who is gone. It could have been me daddy."

"Hey," He said pulling her into a hug. "It wasn't. You are fine and so is John. I hate that so many died but I'm so grateful that you are alive. I love you baby. More than anything."

"I love you too daddy."

"Now, up to your room. Rose will do the laundry from your bag. And I thought I would have your favorite meal catered in tonight."

"Great." She smiled as she walked upstairs. She walked into her room and sighed when she looked at the pictures. There was one of her with Dave and Paul when she turned sixteen. There was one of her and Randy when they were twelve. It would be weird to not have him around. He and his dad had been with hers since before he was elected mayor.

She went into her bathroom and drew a hot bath before changing into her robe and climbing in. She looked up at the bathroom window when she heard a tap and saw John at it. She opened in up and smiled at him as he climbed in and instantly pulled off his clothes. He kissed her before she could say anything. She looked at him when he pulled away.

"If my Dad finds you in here..."

"He won't if you're quiet." He said as he climbed in the tub and pulled her to him kissing her again. "Now, let enjoy this nice bath." She smiled and leaned back into him.

"You know you will have to go back down the way you came and come to the front door." She said to him. "My dad did say you could come over after you saw your parents. You saw them right?"

"I did and we hugged and they were happy I'm okay." He smiled. "But there is no where I want to be but with you. I love you Kate." She smiled.

"I love you too John." He smiled and kissed her passionately. He was so thankful that she was okay and that they were together.

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