ayden vogel

“Because we already have.” It was such a simple response, that after everything else he’d said, Col was surprised this was the question she was asking. “The only thing that separates us at this point from any other couple is a label, and possibly living arrangements,” he noted, before holding up his hands in a sign of surrender. He knew that as level-headed as the woman could be, she could also be just as defensive when she felt attacked or her norm challenged and, even though he couldn’t quite tell which of those two he’d just done, he knew for sure it was at least one of them. “It’s clear this isn’t a conversation you wanted to have now, or at all. I’m sorry, okay. I think it might be best if I head out and give you some space.”

Col took a breath and just said, “Yeah, that just means I’ve gotten to see the other half of the town happily go on to make wonderful families. A fifty-fifty split? Those aren’t as terrible odds as you make them sound. As for your parents, they may have ended up one way, but if they had never even bothered to start, you wouldn’t be here right now. I’d say that right there is more than enough reason to risk…at least for me.” He gave a small shrug.

That was more or less simplifying it but Colston wasn’t entirely wrong. They do work well together, and apparently - according to everyone - the two of them should have been dating a long time ago because like Blake said ‘no sibling looks at each other the way they do’. Even yesterday, the topic was brought up again because everyone saw how worried Colston was, being the one who brought her in. 

Ayden sighed, drawing her eyes away as she mulled over his words. Of course, she didn’t want to argue with the other because it was clear that they were on opposite stances on this topic. Looking back at the other, she gave a small nod. “I’m sorry..” She apologized. The shifter just didn’t want to end up like her mother in every sense possible, not that there were any proof that she would end up like her anyways but the fear was there. 

“Okay,” he began with a simple nod. Pushing off he sink he’d been leaning against, he too began to make his way to the door. “Well, it’s not like we haven’t been dancing around this topic since….ever. I mean, obviously I’m no relationship expert -at least not in the romantic sense- but, we’ve got a solid foundation of years of friendship, neither one of is known to be a runner even when the going gets rough -boy has it. We’re both dependable people, and we already raised a kid together,” he explained with each step that he took.

When he finally reached her, Col still had an easy smile on his face. He reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, and simply said, “Unfortunately, I’m a werewolf, not a telepath so unless you tell me what it is like, I’ll probably only ever get some decent guesses. That being said, if you haven’t felt comfortable enough to tell me in all these years, I’m certainly not going to force you to do it now.”

He leaned down and placed a soft kiss to her forehead, before leaning back and saying, “Don’t work too hard.”

“What is it about us that makes you think we’ll work out?” She ended up asking because Colston seemed convinced since they were nine. Ayden wouldn’t be able to say that she ever seen the man go on a date - at least no one told her about it. And besides, with the list Colston provided, their relationship so far sounded like it worked because they stayed as friends for so many years. 

She looked up at her friend with apologetic eyes, heart aching because he was being so gentle with her and had been for all the years she had known him. “Col, you’ve see my parents, and how they ended up You’ve seen half of this town not work out either.” Even if their friends had feelings for each other, not all of them were in relationships with each other. “Why risk it?” 

Col made a face and said, “I mean yeah it sounds harsh, but the guy was also on his down to the maximum security prison for supernaturals hidden under an abandoned asylum, and we all know you have to do something pretty terrible to wind up there so…”

He shrugged and said, “He probably just wanted me to realize that marriage wasn’t a game or something to be taken lightly. Teaching us things like that at every turn, was just the way my parents worked. In the end, it turned out to be the best thing seeing as how he wouldn’t get to be around to tell me about it later.” That’s not where he was going with that, and she knew it. And he knew that she knew it. But he opted for the easy route of just going with it. “And I did brain surgery on a pack member, voluntarily,” he pseudo-bragged.

Her speech about sports made it clear she didn’t want to approach the obvious elephant in the room with a ten-foot pole. Getting swerved once in a conversation, was fine. But twice in less than ten minutes? “Okay, see now you’re just being deliberately obtuse,” he said, with a small chuckle. “If me brining up the prospect of an ‘us’, that could’ve been at age nine or could be at age now, makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to do all the roundabout talking. You can just say so. Unlike Brax, I do have my big boy boots on.”

To think she tried to divert the conversation twice only made Col address it directly. Ayden just stilled as she listened to the other before slowly turning on her heels to face him. It wasn’t as if she didn’t know - hell, everyone else had been bringing this up just as much over the years. 

The thing that Ayden was uncomfortable with was being in a relationship in general. Whether it was from witnessing what happened to her parents, or simply noticing that all of the relationships around them don’t sustain well over time - Ayden decided along ago that it might just be for the best to never get involved with anyone regardless of how she felt about someone. Thankfully, she had her shop to focus on. “It’s not like that, Col.” 

“The injury translated, but the cast remains in the same spot regardless of whether it’s an arm or a wing in it. I once had to treat this guy on his way down underground to the supermax. Shattered legs. Tried a double cast that included the hips to reduce movement, thing was gone as soon as a nurse tried wiping his face down with a damp cloth. Tail was just as shattered, but no cast in sight. Tried casting the tail instead. same thing happened when he dried up. Best we could do was recast his legs and suggest no water for the several months it would take to kind of heal…do not want to know what that cell smelled like.”

Colston rarely looked sheepish, but he certainly did right now. “Okay, in all fairness when your father sits you down at nine years-old and gives you laundry list of responsibilities that according to him are part of marriage, it can be quite the effective deterrent,” he defended. “But as we both came to learn, I don’t run from responsibilities anymore…that’s Braxton’s thing.”

The alpha let out a small laugh and said, “That’s actually going to be entirely dependent on whether Brax ever manages to get his big boy boots on and pulls the trigger with Izzy, and then of course, whether they decide to move into our place or the ranch. But, it is a possibility.” As he dried his hands and tossed the wadded paper towel into the trash can he exclaimed, “For Kobe!” as it sunk in. Turning back he just smiled and said, “See, much better than at nine.”

She grimaced at hearing that. “Oh... That sounds painful.” She couldn’t imagine what it’s like to have your legs/tail broken. The shift itself also sounded painful. Thankfully Ayden didn’t have to experience anything like that - and was lucky enough to have avoided breaking any bones. “That must’ve been brutal for him.. I’m glad that I heal significantly faster evven if I did break something.” 

Ayden gave him a look, “He gave you a talk about marriage when you were just nine? Why?” The shifter didn’t ask about her parents’ marriage until after they all found out what her mother had been up to. “Hmm, is that so?” She teased when Col claimed he didn’t run from responsibilities anymore. “I would hope so, you’ve got children’s lives in your hands, Dr. Rendall.” Ayden feigned ignorant, knowing that it might not be what he meant. 

When Col tossed the paper towel into the trash can, the mechanic could only shake her head at the childishness. “No one ever said you were shit at sports, Col, otherwise you wouldn’t have made it on any of the teams you tried out for.” Getting annoyed with the sling, she removed it altogether and tossed it onto her desk. “Even if I can move around free, I can’t exactly fix cars with this thing on.” She could barely hold a tool properly, “Why did they have to shoot my dominant arm?”  

“You can’t fix stupid,” was the only thing he had left. When she went on about mermaids, he raised his hands and said, “Nah, see that’s a different kind of magic altogether. Any minuscule droplet of water or something containing water, and there’s a tail. No matter what. If anything, I’d suspect it would suck for a mermaid with a broken leg to swap over to their tail, because the injury would most certainly translate, even if the cast keeping it together, doesn’t.”

At the reminder that it was he who had gotten the ring, he looked offended and said, “Okay, that was my bad. I can take an ‘L’ for that one. But, in my defense, I was nine and didn’t know about ring sizes. I was just excited to ask you to marry me so we could be friends forever. Sue me…actually, please don’t. I need my medical license.”

Nodding he said, “Yeah, and Luke can host them all in her home and still has the audacity to call that place a ‘cabin’. I’m not envious fellow, but after the renovations were pretty much done, I couldn’t help but notice that hers was bigger than mine…” He followed after her, and picked up the cup to wash it himself. Without being told, he also cleaned out the coffee maker, leaving only the still mostly full carafe on the warming plate. “Lyra. Lyra is so much more dramatic. Avery falls in next, followed by Brax, and I round out the end.”

“Well, technically my injury would have also translated over - shot in the wing, my arm is injured so we’re not too off in comparison in that. But I guess I do have the ability to stop shifting if I realize it won’t fit - I haven’t actually tried shifting back midway but I suspect that looks... incredibly strange.” As she mused, Ayden winced slightly at the mental image of it. 

Ayden remembered the day Colston gave her the ring. They were just kids then, but she still kept the ring - unbeknownst to the other. “And then you learned what it meant to actually marry someone.” She smirked, “But it was cute of you now that we’re thinking back about it. It’s the thought that counts after all.”

The cabin did get a lot bigger when Luke and Skylar came back into town, to the extent that it was almost hilarious that they would still call it a cabin. “That is not a cabin. That’s a mansion.” She laughed, “Is this a hint that you’ll be expanding your own property? Maybe with Sean’s help?” She watched as the Alpha cleaned up after her, “You didn’t have to help me with all that..” She spoke softly as she walked out with him, “Well at least out of the four of you, you’re the most organized.”

“That man just takes way too much after his father. From the few times he showed up to a pack meeting, my old man always came back home with something to say about him. Guess the apple fell right smack next to the tree,” Col said with an unimpressed look on his face.

The doctor cocked his head and said, “Well, it would depend on the animal. See, it could one with a limb far bigger than the cast, but not nearly strong enough to have it break…which would then just place you in an awkward spot similar to forcing on a ring that’s far too small for your finger…but then again, that last scenario wouldn’t be new to you would it?” The grin plastered on his face rivaled one his brother might show.

He nodded at the question. “Yeah, took over as Luke’s anesthesiologist as soon as he got the chance and helped run interference with Keagan. I’m too sure, since I haven’t really gotten to check up on the lot, but I think Mr. and Mrs. Calvetti may have also come down? I think Lyra managed to get the word out that Luke was hurt and Keagan and Sky were not happy to everyone and the International Space Station too.”

As soon as she said, he let out a genuine gasp and pointed at her. “No! You do not say that after such a thing, have you learned nothing from our movie nights?! Quick, knock your fingers and cross your wood!”

“It’s unfortunate.” She recalled hearing about the elder Benson and she too, didn’t hear many good things about him. “He had so many chances to make things right.. or simply be less of an asshole but he stayed the same.” 

She hummed at the thought of getting the cast stuck on her arm, “Well, I do think it’ll break at some point when the arm grows too thick to be contained in such a contraption. Do you think a leg cast would stay put when mermaids shift to their tails?” She gave him a look, “And who was it who underestimated the ring size? Because it definitely wasn’t me.” 

It wasn’t at all surprising to hear that the entire Calvetti family came down once they heard about what went down. “Well, if they’re in town, that’s another reason to visit. It’s been a while since I’ve seen them.” Of course, she was still going to wait a bit for them to all settle down - well as much as they could. The family was chaotic in the best way. 

Her eyes rolled as she got up to put her cup in the sink. “You’re so dramatic.” Well, everything’s going to have to wait until later before she could clean up. “Lyra’s fun to talk to most of the time.” Best even if you don’t feel like talking because the youngest Calvetti would talking for you. “I don’t which one of you is more dramatic sometimes.” 

Col made a face and said, “Unfortunately, he actually is. I mean, we’re talking about the guy that snuck into a gym -which he’s known since childhood goes into full lockdown during times like these- and tried to kidnap Keagan’s daughter…without a plan of how he was going to get out…so….”

The alpha looked at the cast in thought for a moment. “Maybe not? I can’t guarantee that it’ll work, but you could try shifting, which would make it far too big for your wing, and off it comes. If it works, just remember to slip back on the wing before shifting back and you could have a loophole.”

“Maybe, it’s not like a set thing. It’s just a rumor….as of now,” he clarified. At the mention of who, his face scrunched up as if in thought and he said, “See, I don’t know. You didn’t hear it from me but, I heard from JJ -whose in town by the way- who heard from Lyra, that Tomi, Skylar, and Erin -Sky’s girlfriend- have all been attached at the hip pretty much since Tomi moved into the cabin like almost two months ago. So who knows….well I bet Lyra knows, but proactively starting a conversation with Lyra is dangerous.”

Ayden grimaced, “Right. He’s really not the brightest...” And it’s even worse because the man believed he’s better and smarter than everyone else which wasn’t the case. “And he’s constantly blaming someone else when things go wrong.” The shifter really was thankful she never had to truly get involved with him. 

Her eyes looked down to the cast. “Theoretically that would work.” She might try later, considering that she rather not undress and dress in front of Colston. “I guess it’s a good thing that I’m not a bigger animal otherwise my cast would just break apart.”

The shifter looked up again, surprised. “JJ’s in town?” Last she heard, the eldest Calvetti siblings refused to step foot back into town - along with everyone in that family except for Keagan. “Okay.. Yeah, we should wait until Tomi wants to personally let everyone else know. Asking Lyra for answers is like opening a pandora’s box.” She joked. “Just a few days of peace is needed after all that.” 

“Between the Council and Mick? I don’t think he’ll be seeing the topside of town for a very long time, and if by some cursed slim chance he manages to make his way out, there are more than plenty of people waiting to just take him out for good.” As a leader, violence wasn’t usually what he would default to in order to deal with a problem. But he was the leader of a wolfpack, and understood that sometimes exceptions had to be made.

Col nodded in agreement to the unspoken statement. “I know, but luckily she’s clearly made it her mission to do the complete opposite for her niece and based on how the kid was the night Luke came in…she’s done well.”

Col took a step back and placed a hand over his chest dramatically. “Whoa, what happened to ‘thank you for saving my life’? I thought I was a hero!” he exclaimed shortly before dissolving into a git of laughter. “You do know you technically only have to wear the cast for the month right? The sling is just for the first few days to keep a patient from moving their arm too much.” The grin he gave her was enough to let her know he already knew she hadn’t known that. “He’ll be fine. Last time he was upset because both Izzy and Tomi were actually mad at him. This time, he’s got Izzy around and Tomi isn’t mad, just in love….I think?” He reached out for a cookie as he spoke.

“Well, for his own sake, I hope he’s not stupid enough to try and escape them.” Ayden was not a violent person, but even she didn’t feel a shred of sympathy for the man if he got himself caught up in trouble again, nor was he her problem because the list of enemies he picked up was long. Too long for it to be Ayden’s turn to go after him, anyways. 

Her eyes rolled at her friend’s dramatics. It’s clear that it’s a Rendall’s trait since all three siblings were dramatic - it simply varies in levels. “I.. well then. I figured the two would go hand in hand.” She sighed as she looked down at her arm. “I also can’t believe I’ll have to wear this for a month.” This meant that she won’t be able to fly for the month. 

“In love?” Ayden knew the kid broke up with the dj so it was news to her to learn that she was in love with someone. “Who.. Skylar?” It was great to know the two girls were hanging out again but it was also why she was the first name she thought of. “..Well then..” They were old enough to make their own choices. 

“Personally, my best guess is that he got on the old bag’s bad side, and considering Jimmy boy is his best pal, he got warned of what Grey was capable of. Fled town, and only bothered to come back when he learned the guy was on the lam,” he posited. “Regardless, you are absolutely right. Luke could use some justice, and Keagan could use the certainty that she and her girl will be safe from that waste of space.”

Col just looked at her with a look of befuddlement and held his hands up as she shrugged. His sister was a mystery to all but Maite really. At the mention of security though he pointed at her and said, “The Radcliffe makes sense though, it’s a hotel and the closest thing we have to a mall in this place.”

Colston’s face did zero to hid how he felt about the situation. “You know what really pisses me off about all of this? It’s the fact that he did so little, practically nothing, to hide his hatred for that kid since day one, and she still called him her brother even as they were dragging him off out of her hospital room. That he put her in.”

He simmered down almost immediately at the sight of her adorably attempting to adjust her strap. Without being asked, he walked over and got it sorted out for her. “Yes, well single doesn’t have to mean alone, and alone doesn’t have to mean lonely. I think what he’s experiencing is just a unique set of emotions. There’s the initial elation of learning he was now a father, only to immediately be faced with the reality that he was now a father to an adult. One who has decided that it is time to move out of her space at our place and he’s just…being Braxton.”

“I hope he’s locked away for good. Richard never regretted any of his actions growing up - perhaps now he’ll realize that he has no one to blame but himself.” It always irked her that the wolf never told responsibility over anything. He somehow would blame it on others - especially on Luke even when it wasn’t true. “As long as they’re safe from him...” She sighed, relieved on her friend’s behalf. Though she never wanted to part of the drama, but Keagan was one of her best friends. To think that she had to deal with him all these years when she wasn’t even here to protect Sky herself. 

“Luke’s too forgiving.. Somehow that kid always dealt with whatever lies Ricky tossed out and barely complained about it. How could he not-” She sighed, getting too agitated over a man who didn’t deserve any of their attention. 

“Thanks. It’s frustrating since I don’t actually need to wear this but everyone saw you bringing me into the med area... and so I have to wear this for the next month.” She said, deadpanned. “You know your brother, it might take a bit before he sorts out his feelings.” It took the younger man forever to admit to things, she had a feeling this was the same. “Make sure he doesn’t drown himself in work. He looked absolutely exhausted the last time I visited the gym.”

Col nodded along at her disbelief. “It seems like ever since he found out that Old Man Grey had basically left the town, he’s decided he wanted Keagan back…or so he claims. What one thing has to do with the other, only he and those involved will ever really know. Luckily Luke was able to give as good as she got, for the most part, and he was too slow to make another escape.”

At the mention of her calling his sister, he sighed and said, “Please do. She actually snuck my cell phone from me several times to keep in touch with Blake about how you were doing, which would normally be fine, but I’m an on-call doctor so…” The idea of cabin -would it still be considered a cabin- being even more fortified made him chuckle. “That thing was already safer than Fort Knox, can’t imagine how much safer it’s going to get with a new supernatural in the house.”

“Yeah, they do. Pretty having been one of Old Man Gey’s top enforcers, he’s now somewhere near the top of the list of suspects regarding the old fart’s death. You would think people would be smart if they’re not going to do things legally, but nope. Although, I personally have learned a valuable lesson with Richard’s actions: never underestimate a person’s drive when all they care about is themselves.”

Finishing off his own treat, he wiped his hands on a napkin and said, “Oh he’s definitely feeling lonely. I’ve caught him in a blanket burrito twice already…it was Tomi’s blanket.”

Ayden frowned, “That.. doesn’t make sense.” Nor was she going to get into it. Like Colston said, only those involved will know. “It’s a good thing that that’s dealt with now though.. Hopefully, Keagan and Luke gets some closure to this.. chaotic event. 

“Avery has my number... and Blake’s.” Surely Blake would’ve told Avery if she ask, “Did she ask from her own phone before stealing yours? I’m guess that’s a no.” She laughed, “I see a theme happening in town. I think the Radcliffe is still ranked first for being the safest. Considering that there’s an actual security detail. But at least that’s one less place to worry about if anything happens.” 

The shifter agreed with him. One would think they would be smarter with their plans considering what they do, but instead, Old Man Grey didn’t even have a backup plan since he got murdered from someone - it could be James, it could be someone else. “It’s unfortunately to have someone you’ve .. seen around your whole life.. and have them betray the town like that. To betray his own family like that.. but we all know how much he hated Luke. It’s ridiculous.”

Ayden looked down so she could readjust her strap, but having one hand, it was proving difficult. “Braxton.. He’s probably in the house alone most of the time with you at work, and Avery at her girlfriend’s - or with her girlfriend in general somewhere. “He’s not the type to enjoy being alone either - How has he been single all this time?” 

“Well, just based on what I was able to witness while still in the hospital, I don’t think anything Blake managed will equate to having your best friend’s kid decide she’s no longer a wolf, but a koala instead, and you happen to be the tree,” Col noted with a look of sympathy on his face at the idea of what they would manage outside of the hospital. “Speaking of, you should probably give Keg a call. I think she’d appreciate hearing directly from you that you’re up and about.”

It dawned on him that Ayden may not be entirely looped on things post removal from the field. “Actually, it was confirmed about an hour after you were hit that we did in fact have a mole within the ranks. One Richard benson, but his ass has been dealt with. Not sure how aware you were while in the gym, but he also tried to kidnap Skylar at the school, and is responsible for the state Luke was found in.”

Col let out a laugh. “By all means, feel free to drop in on Aves. Mi casa es…something. Anyways, you have a key so that’s that. As for Tomi though, best of luck. She’s rarely been back to the house since she opted to stay at the Benson place. Granted, you could visit there and see Keagan while you’re at it….if she hasn’t decided to double up on security and enact a ‘no visitor’s’ policy,” he laughed again. “We haven’t gotten a firm confirmation just yet, but we’re pretty certain that’s the case. May have also been behind having the girl’s powers bound for so long,” he noted. At the question he just grinned and said, “As obnoxiously as you would expect. Both that he has daughter, and that she doesn’t live with him. I’ve personally heard Izzy ask for her babies back on at least five different occasions already.”

“We all know how Sky is when it comes to Luke.. It was expected.” She sighed, For all she knew, Keagan might have also opted to be a koala. “I was planning on giving her a call, but was going to wait a bit. But yeah, I’ll let her know soon.” Ayden wanted to give Keagan a small break. With all that’s been happening, she figured the chief deputy needed it. 

Ayden didn’t know what to expect when it came to Richard Benson. While he was always lurking around even when they were kids, the shifter did not like the man. From the way he treated Luke, to the way he would follow James and Julian. Ayden always avoided him the best she could so it wasn’t surprising to learn just how despicable he really was. “I can’t believe he really went this far. To kidnap Sky? Just what was he even thinking?” He should know just how protected Sky was especially upon returning to Fallcrest. 

Maybe that call needed to be sooner. 

“I’ll make time today. She’s been blowing up my phone.” She chuckled. As chaotic as Avery was at times, she was sure the youngest of the Rendall sibling only meant well. “I’ll make sure I’ll let Keagan know ahead of time if I’m visiting them. I don’t know what protocols they added to their cabin, and I don’t think I want to find out by trial and error.” She snorted. “They really make themselves the suspects really easily.” Of course James would have something to do with it. The man never liked any of the Rendalls.. and even now, she was sure Kimi did not marry him because she loved him. 

“For someone who claimed he won’t be a good dad.. he’s really hogging all the children.” She smiled as she finished up the last bite of the treat in her hands. “One would think he’s feeling lonely without all his kids around.” 

Col rolled his eyes playfully and said, “In her defense, she didn’t know the true extent of your injuries. She didn’t get to reach you until after you’d left the med bay, and I’m sure that seeing you injured at all was more than a little shocking. You and Hartley have been that woman’s only sense of direction her entire life until now. And she did manage to keep you alive and me in the loop so technically, mission accomplished.

He gave her hand a squeeze of his own and simply said, “No need. We’re the OG Scoobs! Having each other’s backs is what we do.” And he meant it. Col gave her hand another squeeze as she stated she was still there. “You very much are,” he concurred, his tone almost wistful before returning to his usual self. “And you very much did. Don’t think there’a filter in existence that would’ve helped,” he teased.

“Amen to that!” Col exclaimed, before reeling things in a bit. “It definitely was, but the outcome far outweighs the stresses that came about because of it.” He then laughed as she essentially called out his hypocrisy. “Trust me, I’ll be fine. Besides I have to check in on the five other patients later to ensure their progress after the anti-aftermath serum continues to be positive,” he noted. Col stopped at the question. “Oh, you may have left the med bay before the news then. It turns out that our dear Tomi is actually _Braxton’s_ biological daughter, and my niece.” 

Ayden shook her head. “I know that which is why I didn’t kick her out when she was mothering me so much.” She chuckled. Most of it was to reassure Blake that she was fine. If she personally had to confirm it, then Ayden would let her - even if it really got to her nerves yesterday. 

Everyone part of the so-called ‘Scooby Gang’ had each other’s backs, no matter what generation they were talking about. Ayden knew this, but she was still grateful for Col being there. “Still, I should’ve been more careful. I’m usually in an open space.. I’m pretty sure they got tipped off that there were eyes in the sky, which is frustrating.” She also didn’t think she’d see the glean from the gun so late - she barely swerved in time hence the minor injury. “Very funny.” She said deadpanned. “I think I should visit Aves and Tomi again soon.” Ayden still felt guilty for scaring the two girls. 

The shifter was not going to comment again about Colston should have stayed home - or visited the other 5 patients instead. She was sure out of all the people he had to follow up with, hers was least worrying especially when she healed faster since there weren’t dark magic involved. “Oh.” It somehow.. surprising and not at the same time. “Let me guess.. James clearly had something to do with it?” She sighed. “But that’s good for them.. That they finally know the truth. How is he handling it?” 

His face fell a bit at the reminder that when she needed him most, he wasn’t there. Col knew, of course, that it wasn’t what she’d meant, but it still hurt. Even knowing that she was already healing when he left her side at he med bay, it was still one of the hardest things he’d had to do. Not that there wasn’t a laundry list of ‘hard things’ he’d had to get through the rest of the night. But he didn’t say anything. Instead he just pulled out his phone to show her all the updates he received from Nurse Blake. “I may as well have been,” he chuckled.

“But now you understand my concern. I mean that was my only point of reference for your complexion at the time so…” He let out a low whistle. “I’m not gonna lie, but there were quite a few points there between them brining her in to the ER and her being able to actually breathe on her own where the doctor in me just didn’t see things ending well, but Luke sure does proving people wrong.” He let out a deep sigh, relieved at finally being able to share that with someone. “I honestly had no idea what terrified me more: losing Luke on the operating table or having to face Keagan and Skylar after losing Luke on the operating table….it was not a vibe.”

Col looked semi-offended at the question. “If I hadn’t, I probably wouldn’t be here right now with treats. I’d still be passed out in my bed, with my face in a pillow.” He laughed at how well Ayden had his sister pegged. “Yeah well, she probably got the ‘new dad’ to make her a pot.”

Ayden, unaware that her choice of words made such the impact, took a look at the phone and let out a sigh. “...She worried too much. I was fine even before we got home.” She returned the phone and looked up at her friend, reaching out to squeeze his hand gently, “I haven’t gotten the chance to thank  you yet.. For saving me.” While the shot wouldn’t have killed her, the fall from the sky might have if Colston wasn’t there to catch her. “I was careless too..” She should’ve seen it coming but instead, her mistake costed her being unable to help for the rest of the day.  “I’m still here.” She pursed her lips, “I must’ve looked like a wreck.. I’ve never seen Tomi and Aves look at me so terrified before.” When she woke up at the gym, she did not expect two blurs to ambush her like they did back there. Of course, she understood why which was why she felt even worse for making such a mistake and making so many people worried over her. “Both aren’t ideal at all. Thank god, she’s stubborn.” She chuckled. “It must’ve been hard.” For Colston to work on his friend who was treading on a very fine line between life and death.  “Then you should be sleeping, Dr. Rendall.” She smiled, “I won’t be going anywhere soon, so you could have slept for a couple more hours - or day before coming to visit me.” She frowned, “New Dad?”

“What can I say, I’m used to doing personal follow-ups to my patients…even if it looks like their personal nurses have things covered,” he teased as he accepted the hug and handed over the box of pastries.

“Better now for having gotten to lay eyes on you up and about, and not looking paler than Braxton’s bare bum,” Col stated. Of course, there was far more he could say, and far more eloquently, but he didn’t feel now was the time. “Exceeding just about every expectation we had,” he chuckled in response, “She even managed to get discharged only a day and a half after brain surgery. That kid has always been the confounding variable in the pack. I’m just glad I don’t have to look over my shoulder every five minutes in case a short, angry wolf is out to chop me at the knees.”

He followed her into the break room and took a seat. “Oh no, thank you. I drank the entire carafe of coffee this morning…Aves was not pleased.”

“Oh my god.” She groaned at the reminder that she had a personal ‘nurse’ take care of her for the day. “You weren’t there, Col.” Ayden is normally patient and she loved her friend so much but preventing her from even moving an inch, and fussing over her when everyone knew Ayden was already healed was testing. 

“That is more information than I ever would want to know about your brother.” She made a face as she went to go grab herself a coffee. One of the best things installed in the break room, was the coffee machine. “That’s really good to hear. She had everyone scared.” She chuckled, knowing exactly what he meant. Keagan was known to be protective of the people she cared about, but when it came to Skylar and Lucas? That bar went up exponentially. 

“Why.. would you drink so much coffee all at once? Of course she’s not pleased, she would have had to make her own pot now.” She smiled as she took a pastry out of the box. 

After not having slept for over thirty-six hours -good chunk of that time spent running around fighting hunters, carrying his not-so-little brother, and doing a four-hour surgery- Colston had practically broken the sound barrier on his way home after discharging Luke. His bed was calling him and like a stone in the sea, he fell onto it and did not budge a single inch until the next morning. His first stop had been by the Queens to pick some goodies, and then the garage. If he were to be honest, the only thing that kept him away until now was the fact that Blake was constantly giving him updates on how Ayden was doing. Of course, those were interspersed with texts from Ayden herself citing all the things she was planning on doing to Blake if she didn’t leave so… “I mean, I suppose I could…but then these lovely pastries from the Queens might be cold by then,” he said with grin.

Rounding around the corner out her office, she smiled at the familiar face. “Col.” She greeted, “I didn’t expect to see you.. and with treats.” She approached him and gave him a welcome hug before taking a look at the box of goodies in his hands.  “How are you doing?” She asked, knowing that he had spent a lot of hours dealing with the aftermath. Ayden was definitely lucky to just get a shot to the arm.. She was worried for Luke, but her heart bled for her friend Keagan who had to see her best friend like that. “How’s Luke doing?” She followed up. 

Turning around, Ayden led Col to the break room so they could sit and eat the pastries. “Did you want something to drink?” 

@ivmwc