Here's the next instalment.

When he opened the door to the apartment above his mother's restaurant, he was greeted to the phone ringing. He sighed as he picked up the phone rather than ignoring it and going to bed.

"Hello, Erik Piston speaking." He glanced down to his watch, wondering when he'd be able to crawl into bed.

"Hello Emery. I'm glad I could catch you today. How are you? You sound tired."

A bit of a sigh escaped as he ran a hand down his face, pausing a moment to rub his eyes.

"That's because I am, Nanna. I didn't get any sleep last night. So I've been better." He felt like his limbs were weighted down with lead with how tired he was.

"Emery, you weren't doing paperwork all night were you?"

He glanced back at his watch as he shifted, playing with the phone cord.

"No Nanna, I wasn't."

"Then why didn't you get any sleep last night?" He shifted uncomfortably, dropping his one hand near his wound.

"I was- I can't believe I'm saying this... but- I... was shot earlier this morning." He cringed and held the phone away from his ear at the volume of his grandmother.

"You were WHAT! EMERY! You were shot! What happened? Are you all right?"

"Nanna! It's okay, it's not serious. It's just my leg, my own fault, as I was warned multiple times..."

"That makes no difference, Emery. You were shot and you make it sound like it's nothing more than being bumped into at the store. Why was there a gun involved? Where were you? I hope they've been detained-"

He sighed, tugging on the phone's cord a bit.

"Yes Nanna, they've been detained. It wasn't some random thug. It was before sunrise, just outside of town. I was offering to help her change her tire. Help that she didn't want from me. She was feeling threatened by me, so she shot."

"Emery Piston, why would a young lady feel threatened enough to shoot you."

He found himself wincing at how deadly her voice went.

"Possibly because she knows Alex, or simply the fact that I'm a Piston... Nanna, it was Jessica Hudson who shot me. I don't think I had to do anything to make her feel unsafe. She already did."

His grandmother fell silent. He shifted his weight off of his injured leg more and looked at his watch. He hadn't been to bed since the night before which he was regretting. He jumped a little when his Nanna spoke again.

"I'm coming out there."

"What?"

"Emery, don't sound so surprised. You're injured. I'm coming out to see you."

"Nanna, I'm fine, really."

"I will see that for myself young man. I also want to speak with Miss Hudson."

"Do you think that will be a good idea? I don't think Miss Hudson is going to want another Piston around."

"Nonsense boy, I've made up my mind. I'm coming out there to see you."

"Okay, fine. I know I can't change your mind. I'm going to bed now Nanna."

He rubbed his face once he hung the phone back up. He was too tired to think about the trouble his grandmother could cause when visiting. He was finally going to bed.

oOo

His grandmother was studying the stitches he had gotten to close his wound.

"See Nanna, it isn't that bad. It only grazed me. I got a couple of stitches and I'm fine."

"Yes, I see that. Now tell me the whole story from the beginning Emery." He let out a noisy sigh as he explained everything that he knew from the moment Jessica Hudson walked into the lobby of The Cozy Cone Motel until he came back from the hospital. Including the fact that she was being held for a couple of days until everything could be sorted out.

He huffed after finishing his explanation.

"Nanna I didn't realize..."

"How broken she truly is?"

He nodded. She patted his good leg's knee.

"The poor thing doesn't need the guilt of shooting someone, no matter how threatened she felt. I'm going to visit her."

"I still don't see how that's a good idea."

oOo

"Miss Hudson, you have a visitor."

"Who?" Her bewilderment clear in her tone.

She couldn't think of any one who would come to visit her. She had asked Henry to remain in Thomasville. He didn't need to come all this direction for her.

The different policemen didn't count, particularly not Officer Carwood; who was the one who had brought her in.

She didn't include the young woman who brought her meals from her restaurant as a proper visitor either. Flo still had a purpose with bringing her food, though she did try to chat with her.

She hadn't see Erik Piston since she shot him, but wouldn't consider him a visitor either; if he came.

That was the end of the list of who she could think would have some reason to visit her.

The officer; who was not Carwood this time, shifted his weight before answering.

"Mrs. Piston."

Her stomach dropped.

Was it his mother or had he gotten married since her accident had happened. She didn't like the thought of either option.

As far as she had been aware though, he hadn't been married when she was racing. He never brought a plus one to the banquets and she couldn't remember seeing a wedding ring, let alone hearing about a wife.

She was lead back to the same room that she always phoned Henry in; with the same big wooden desk and the same clunky phone on it.

The only difference in the room was the older lady sitting behind it.

Her white hair perfectly coiffed, wearing pearls around her neck, with white gloved hands folded delicately on the table.

This wasn't his mother or a wife; it might be someone even worse- his grandmother.

How could she forget about his grandmother.

She sat on the edge of her chair, feeling underdressed in comparison.

She held her hands on her lap, looking at them, unable to meet the other woman's gaze. She could feel her staring what felt like daggers into her soul as she tried not to squirm under the scrutiny.

"I hear you shot my grandson? You know, the other one probably could have used it more than Emery."

She jerked up her head staring at the older woman with wide eyes, trying to not let her jaw drop open.

Did she just say that Alex could have used being shot? She must have misheard. Right?

"You- you're not upset?"

"Oh, I'm very upset. First I was extremely worried over Emery having been shot while he's brushing it off, wanting to make sure the person who did so was caught. Then as he explained, still leaving out your name, that he had been shot because you felt threatened, well, I was quite upset with him for putting a young lady into a position they felt threatened. Then finally after he explained why you could feel threatened by him, he finally told me it was you, and I became quite worried over both of you."

She slunk down in her chair, unable to meet her eyes again. She couldn't sit still.

How could she still be concerned over her? She had hurt her grandson, turned her out of her home when she dropped by after she learned she was a Piston, rather rudely too.

Yet, here she was again, checking on her, worrying over her, when she didn't even know her.

"Why? Why would you worry over me when we don't know each other?"

"My dear, you have lost your sister, been in a terrible accident, lost your career, which you can not claim as your own anymore, within a span of two years. That is not easy to handle. I just want to give you the support that you need. Besides, you've always been my favourite racer who was out there. Men need to be taken down a notch at times, whether they know it or not."

I love Nanna so much. She can be so sassy at times.