The next morning, I was exhausted when Tig walked into the room. Ava was awake and talking as I fed her some oatmeal.
"Good morning," I said softly as Tig handed me a coffee.
"Morning," he said. I took a drink as Ava started talking away to Tig about a dream she'd had last night. I sat back on Ava's bed as she talked excitedly to Tig. I tried to keep my eyes open but I was dozing in and out of consciousness.
"Baby," Tig said, sliding his hand around my back. I wiped my eyes a little as I leaned forward so he could take the gun back. I didn't want it, but he'd been insistent on me having it to protect the two of us. Ava continued to talk about her dream. Her bright personality was starting to creep back in and I was in awe of how quickly she appeared to bounce back.
"Mama," Ava said after a while. She'd been talking to Tig for probably two hours at this point while I napped.
"Yes baby," I said.
"When can we go home?" She asked.
"In a couple of days when you're well enough."
I looked over at Tig and he looked worried. I amounted it to Ava's injuries and turned my attention back to our daughter.
"I think I'm well enough now," she said, earning soft laughs from both Tig and I.
"Not quite Ava," Tig said. "You don't want to be sick when you go home and wind up in the hospital for longer."
"But Daddy," she pouted a little. "Wanna sleep in my own bed."
"I know baby," Tig said. I smiled softly at their interactions.
The next few days continued on in a similar cycle. Jax and Piney ended up heading home after Ava's third day in the hospital but they did have one of the Oregon charters send someone to stay with us in case anything came up.
By Friday afternoon, we were preparing to take Ava home. Dr. Kahn had shown us how to change Ava's bandages and she had made all the arrangements for the case to be handed over to the pediatrics unit at St Thomas back in Charming.
Everything was in place for us to get to finally head home.
"Guess what today is," Tig said to Ava as we walked into her room together. Dr. Kahn had pulled us into the hallway to discuss some last minute things and fill out the discharge paperwork.
"We get to go home," Ava said energetically. I wasn't entirely sure how we would be able to contain her so her arm and foot could heal but I guess we'd figure it out.
"Yeah we do," Tig said.
"Everything's all set. You've just gotta get dressed," I said, holding up Ava's clothes for her. I dressed her as she tried to tell me she didn't want to wear clothes.
"Alright my little nudist," I said jokingly. "Time to go."
Tig picked her up and carried her out to the car, strapping her in to her car seat. I got into the drivers seat and started some music so Ava could jam out. She's definitely my kid in that aspect. She constantly wants to be listening to music and dancing around.
"Ava, what do you want for lunch?" Tig asked.
"Don't get her hopes up," I said. "She's still on soft foods."
"Well that stinks," he said.
"Daddy, I want a burger and fries," Ava said.
"You can't eat that baby," I said.
"Why not Mama?"
"Because the cut on your cheek. You've gotta eat soft foods so you don't have to chew so much," I explained, glancing up at her in the rear view mirror.
"That's dumb," she said, crossing her arms.
"Ava, baby, it's for your own good."
Tig turned to face Ava and she tried to pout and give him puppy eyes.
"Ava, you've gotta listen to the doctors so you get better," he said.
"But Daddy," she tried to protest.
"Ava," Tig and I chided at the same moment.
"You have to listen to the doctors baby," I said.
She closed her eyes defiantly, pretending not to listen to me. In seconds she was sound asleep.
"That could've gone better," Tig said lowly as he grabbed my right hand since I was driving with my left.
"She's been through a lot. The next couple weeks are going to be a whole new challenge."