Amy watched Karma walk down the hallway until she made a turn and was out of sight. She seemed to be walking taller, Amy had always teased Karma about being the shorter one, but just then, when she confidently led her mother through the hospital, she looked taller. Then, her attention turned to Lauren, giving nurse Ratchett Karma's contact information. Everything that had happened since Karma and she started faking it had made Amy less confident; she kept feeling more and more like little kid, where as Lauren and Karma were maturing right in front of Amy's eyes.
Lauren's phone beeped, "Who's that?" Amy asked her. "Liam, I was just letting him know we should be back at your place soon. They were looking for more blankets and stuff too," Lauren answered looking at her phone skeptically. "What for?" Amy asked. "I'm not sure what they're up to, it's a surprise he says. Which is worrying." Lauren grimaced and put her phone away. "You're okay with that?" Amy was confused, this is the kind of thing that would set Lauren off. "Not really, but we're all just trying to help Karma. So if the blanket fort or whatever it they're building makes Karma feel better, I'm okay with it." Amy was still thrown off by this version of Lauren. But this was definitely the Lauren they all needed at the moment.
Karma was back. She looked calmer than when she left. She flopped down across from Amy and took a cold fry out of the remaining take out bag. "Well, she's settled in. Still freaked out, but I think she's better in there where she can know he's okay, than out here. I told the nurse to call me if Mom needs anything. I think she's probably going to be asleep soon, though, she was beat."
"They're really lucky to have you, Karma," Lauren said. "Yeah, now that you've taken care of them, it's time for us to take care of you, okay," Amy said, surprised at the lack of crack or stutter in her voice. She stood up and grabbed their stuff. Amy swiped the last fry off the table, and winked at Karma who stuck her tongue out and fake glared at her. Lauren led them out the sliding doors. Amy had her hand on Karma's back a little higher than natural, because, boundaries.
As they drove home, Lauren prepped Karma for what and who was at the house. "So, Liam and Shane and Felix have been at our place with Farrah for like three hours; I'm not sure what they've been up to. We can kick the boys out whenever you want." Amy nodded along in agreement. "They've been waiting on us for three hours?" Karma asked. "Yup, you're pretty important to all of us," Amy said, "we've got serious backup now Karma." Amy leaned forward from the backseat and squeezed Karma's shoulder.
Amy text Felix to let the guys know they'd be back soon. The rest of the short ride home, Lauren and Karma discussed the pros and cons of various treatments. Amy leaned back and got lost in her own thoughts again. Is this going to be okay? I've got to make sure I keep an eye on Karma, make sure she's actually okay with what's going on. What does this mean for our friendship? Are we okay now? Amy wanted to talk to Karma, all they had done since she got back was fight and argue. But then with this, like, how can Amy have deep meaningful conversations about their relationship when Karma's dad nearly died.
"We're here," Lauren announced as they pulled up the driveway. Thank goodness the house is still in one piece, she thought to herself. I hope they haven't done anything crazy. Farrah came out to the front porch to greet them, "Oh Karma, come here," Farrah brought her in for a hug, "you can stay as long as you want, honey, whatever you need."
"The boys have been hard at work! They've baked cookies, and made pizzas," Farrah said as the four of them walked into the living room slash kitchen slash dining room, open concept, Lauren would call it. Amy smelled the fresh baked cookies, but was distracted by the huge pile of blankets and pillows laid out on the floor.