Lo walked through Talan's back gate and waved at his mom, who was sitting with her partner in the garden, drinking iced tea.
"Hi Lo, honey," Charlene greeted.
"Hi Charlene," Lo replied, smiling warmly. She walked over to them. "I hope you don't mind me popping in."
"Of course not, you know you're always welcome here," she reassured her. "And right now, Talan could use all the support in the world. How's Avery?"
Lo shrugged, the smile fading from her face a little. "I don't know, honestly. She left the station a week ago, and I haven't heard from her. I think she's been staying with her family while she recovers."
Charlene nodded. "Just terrible, this whole thing."
"Definitely," Lo agreed.
"Well, I hope you can get a smile out of him," Charlene told her. "He's in his room."
"Thanks. I'll try."
~*~*~*~
Lo knocked softly on the door and after hearing no answer, she opened it slowly, to find Talan laying on his bed, flicking through the channels on his tv.
"Hey buddy," she said, entering and closing the door behind her. She climbed up on the bed next to him and pulled him in for a hug.
"Hey Lo," Talan replied softly. He rested his head on her shoulder. "You didn't have to come."
"Of course I did, you're one of my best friends," she scolded gently.
Talan was silent for a long time before he spoke again. "I'm just not... I'm not emotionally equipped to know how to handle this, LoBo. I'm... I've lived such a boxed in life and I don't know how to get through this. I don't know what to say to Ave. I don't know anything about this. I just feel sad. And confused. And like crying all the time. This sucks."
"I agree. It totally sucks."