The rest of the trip and plane ride home becomes about nursing Viola enough to make it home. She only manages one phone call, to ask for advice, before moving takes all her effort. The airline staff is very supportive trying to keep her comfortable. So much that Athena wonders just how sick her friend truly is.

Viola barely makes it to her seat on the plane. As she sits down the staff member sees the bandage on her chest and asks for confirmation. Viola only nods. The woman seems to favor Viola for the rest of the trip.

After the plane takes off Viola’s hand almost smacks Athena, “Hey.”

“Hey,” Athena almost jumps on the conversation because it takes so much of Viola’s energy.

“I’m sorry for getting so sick,” Viola manages. “I didn’t think the meds would mess me up that much,” Viola catches her head between her legs.

Athena strokes her back, “Sweetie, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” She watches Viola rock back and forth for a minute and asks, “Do you remember anything?”

“Just terrifying things.”

“What?” Athena asks. Viola’s head rotates to look at as though she is asking for confirmation. “Tell me,” Athena encourages. ‘Maybe if it isn’t so bad I can use it as a way to bring up the idea of making her really big,’ Athena hopefully wishes to herself.

Viola rolls her head away, “Ants crawling on my legs. As they ripped me open, eating every bite of me, they were inflating.”

Athena’s eyes almost fell out of her head as her head crashes on the headrest, “Yeah. That’s terrifying.”

Viola rolls onto her side, “You asked.”

Athena’s hand runs over her lips, she squeezes them as she tries to think of something. “But hey at least,” she begins trying to think of a joke to tell. She looks at Viola. ‘She’s asleep!’ Athena notices. She moves a blanket over Viola’s lap. ‘It is probably for the best. But man, I couldn’t fall asleep if that was my nightmare. Not sure she’s going to want to inflate after that! I’m not sure I want to,’ Athena shivers as she thinks. She glances at her friend, ‘Even her color is bad.’

Thankfully Viola sleeps through most of the flight. The staff makes sure that she is in the first group to get off the plane. Athena offers to push her friend out to the curb since they do not have to pick up any luggage. She talks and teases about getting to the curb and hopefully finding the boys. Surprise is written on Athena’s face when she sees Doctor Clarke waiting at the other side of the gate instead of Steven. “Doc Clarke?” slips out of her mouth as he hurries over to them.

He kneels down in front of Viola. His pen light flashes across her eyes as anger grows on his face. Athena feels something run down her spine causing her to step away. Doctor Clarke grabs the handlebars and takes Viola away.

“What the!” Athena wonders as she walks out to the curb. ‘Maybe it is a problem?’ She hears a honk and hurries over to the SUV she recognizes. She jumps in Raph’s SUV, “Hey.”

“Hey girl,” he starts. He glances around, “Where’s Vi?”

Athena’s head snaps up, “You don’t know?!” She explains that Viola has a different ride home. Raph drops her off at her place eager to hear about the trip from both of them tomorrow.

The entire night causes a lot of thoughts to develop in Athena’s mind as she tries to figure out what is going on. She tries so hard to piece things together. Ultimately, she writes most of it off as things she will ask Viola tomorrow at the gym. It is their regular workout day anyway. Everyone is looking forward to hearing about the trip.

Viola does not show up.

Athena glances around. All the concern from the night before grows even more. She notices that Steven and Raph are anxious too.

Steven notices that Viola is running late and tries to call her, “No answer. It didn’t even click over to voicemail.”

“I’ll try,” Raph says as he is dialing. But the same resolute happens. “Any ideas Athena?”

Athena shrugs, “She didn’t feel good yesterday. Maybe things just didn’t settle well.” Everyone agrees to give Viola a little more time before they get too concerned, after all, she misses days quite often.

It is the third day after the trip, which translates to her second workout session. The day repeats; no messages from Viola, no answer on the telephone, and no one having any news. Raph offers to drive Steven to her place while Josh offers to watch the gym. They go to the Pit just in case but they have not heard anything either. They try her house but no one answers the door. Mr. Marrigold comes out to talk to them but only tells them that he has not seen her since she left for her trip.

All the lack of information and sightings make them more nervous as they return to the gym. Raph brings everyone up to date as Steven tries calling again. Mark is just catching up as he gets there for his normal shift. “Athena. Can you think of anything that happened on the trip? You said you thought she didn’t look good. Anything else?” Raph wonders.

Athena rubs the back of her head, “Well. I thought it was just because she didn’t feel well but Doc Clarke picked her up.”

“Why didn’t you say that three days ago!?!” Steven shouts as he brings pacing while dialing. A phone call failed. “I’ll try the hospital. Hopefully, this didn’t mess up her chance for surgery,” he rambles as he paces.

“Surgery?!” almost everyone asks in a shout.

“Oh no,” concern covers Josh’s voice.

Steven, still on his phone, “Yeah. That trip was the last time she could go anywhere during treatment. The last step is surgery but they won’t do it if she is too sick.”

Athena’s jaw drops in horror. Josh and Raph notice as their looks run between everyone in the room. Raph notices Josh is getting angry as his shoulders tighten. Steven notices Raph’s attention is focused somewhere. The room starts to go quiet.

“What did you do Athena!?” Josh grits out through his teeth.

“What?” Athena says slowly realizing someone is talking to her.

Josh slams the counter, “What did you do?!”

“What makes you think I did something?” she shouts back as the argument begins. The two of them begin pointing at each other as their tones turn to screams for several minutes of failed conversation.

Raph grabs Athena as she begins to charge and Steven grabs Josh as he moves to square up. “It’s always you! You and your stupid drinking! It was even you who brought up secretly initiating her without her or Steven’s consent!” He screams almost climbing over Steven.

Steven freezes as he processes the shouting, “Athena.” His voice causes everyone to freeze. “Did you really try to initiate her without even talking to her?” he asks as he turns toward Raph and Athena. “It wasn’t a prank because she already knew? You talked to her about it, right?”

Athena feels as though something begins stabbing in her chest as she makes eye contact with him; his eyes began pleading for something, any confirmation that it is a lie. “Steven. It is not like that,” she begins.

“Yes, it is!” Josh shouts again pointing around Steven’s shoulder. “A woman going to the hospital for treatments and you try to sabotage her health!”

Everyone else gets as tense as they are confused. Steven turns around, “How did you know she was going to the hospital for treatment? She said she did not tell anyone.”

“Huh?” Josh wiggles in place after a moment. Glares turn more to him than between the argument. He sighs, “I overheard you two talking one day and began researching her missing days. It reminded me of my aunt who began going to the hospital; till she got something inserted on her chest. She didn’t come home from treatment one day,” Josh explains. He fidgets with the pen close by, “That is why I covered anytime you wanted to go out and take care of her.”

Steven pats Josh’s shoulder. Josh looks up to see a soft smile on his face. “Thanks,” he says before hugging Josh.

“Hey! How come he,” Athena starts to yell again. Raph steps in front of her. The phone begins to ring.

Josh picks up the phone. Steven turns to talk to Athena. “Cap. It’s the hospital,” Josh says holding out the phone.

Steven comes around the desk and takes the phone. Josh walks away as everyone else comes closer. Raph keeps Josh and Athena separate. Steven puts down the phone after he finishes the conversation. His fingers play with the receiver. “Well. What did they say?” Raph finally breaks the silence.

“They said they are keeping her,” Steven begins. “Not to bother coming to get her.” He drags out long enough that silence becomes ghastly. Josh lifts his hand to begin moving toward Steven when he finally turns away from the phone. “And I might want to call her next of kin.”