The annoying beeps of the monitors wake Astrid from her slumber making her wince from the brightness of the lights and the accompanying headache. She slowly sits up as her eyes adjust to the brightness of the room. She groans as she gets an intense wave of nausea then she feels a hand on her shoulder making her jump. When she sees that it's just Ralph she lets out a sigh as she wraps her hands around him, nuzzling her face into his chest.
"How are you feeling?" He asks her and in response, she mumbles something he can't quite understand.
"What?" He asks as he pulls away from her slightly.
"I'm hungry, I feel disgusting and I have a bitch of headache. How do you think I'm feeling?" She asks making him laugh as she pulls him close again.
"Well, you can have a shower and freshen up while I get you something to eat and the doctor to make sure everything's alright." He says and she hesitates for a moment before she nods in agreement. He leaves her in the in-house clinic room where he said is a bathroom for her to freshen up along with a change of clothes. She quickly freshens up after removing the iv from her hand and changes into one of Ralph's jerseys and jeans shorts and doesn't bother to style her hair so that it air dry.
When she reentered the room, Ralph and Victor are there holding takeout bags along with the acting head doctor. She takes a seat on the bed, folding her legs under her then looks at the three men with a smile.
"How are you feeling, Astrid?" The doctor asks her as he looks over her patient file.
"Slight nausea." She responds and he nods then check her vitals and with a satisfied nod clears her poison-free.
"Take it easy for the next few days." The doctor says to her then leaves without giving her time to respond. Once the doctor is gone all three settle on the bed and open the takeout boxes and begin to enjoy their feast.
"Chinese. My favorite. Thanks." Astrid says placing a kiss on Ralph's and Victor's cheek stunning them into silence for a few moments before they proceed to eat their meals. Once she's finished eating she flops back onto her pillow curling into a fetal position and letting out a content sigh.
"Are you better now?" Ralph asks her eyelids start to drop.
"Yup." She mutters.
"Did my brother call?" She asks suddenly sitting up which causes her to get an intense wave of nausea and dizziness.
"More like stormed the building with Ollie when I called about your condition." Ralph says making her laugh then her gaze lands on her left wrist where she was bitten. The puncture wounds have already healed leaving behind a barely noticeable scar.
"What are you thinking about?" Victor asks.
"Thinking about how to get rid of a pest." She responds honestly with a shrug of her shoulders.
"We'll get him." Ralph says placing a hand on her bare thigh and she pats it gently with her own with a gentle smile on her face.
"Of course." Victor says smiling at the interaction between Ralph and Astrid.
Eventually, Victor and Ralph pack up the empty containers and get ready to take Astrid home where her worried brother awaits her. Due to the drugs still, in her system, she sleeps through the entire ride to her apartment complex and doesn't budge when Ralph shakes her shoulder gently. He lifts her gently into his arms and with Victor carrying her belongings they make their way up to her apartment.
Before Victor can knock on the door it opens to reveal an energized Ollie and a tired-looking Aiden whose face lights up upon seeing his sister sleeping face. Careful not to wake her up Ralph hands her to Aiden while Ollie decides to say 'hello' to Ralph then cautiously approaches Victor tilting his head to the side as he sits at Victor's feet, sniffing him briefly before he turns tail and heads back into the apartment.
"Thank you." He says before he steps back into the apartment allowing them to enter as he goes to place Astrid in her room. He returns to the living room shortly where Ralph and Victor have made themselves at home on the couch. Aiden plops down onto the single-seater and Ollie makes himself comfortable in his lap.
"What happened?" He asks looking Ralph in the eyes who lets out a sigh.
After giving him a brief rundown of what happened, Ralph pales at the obvious anger on Aiden's face as he stares at the two guests.
"Remind me why she's helping you and putting herself at risk." He asks speaking through clenched teeth.
"She can relate to what's happening. She wants these missing people to return to their families." Ralph says, his response causing Aiden to subconsciously suck the air out of his lungs. Ralph falls to his knees clawing at his throat in an attempt to breathe. All of a sudden a pillow hits Aiden in the head making him lose his focus as he turns to see the culprit. There's an annoyed and irritated Astrid leaning against the door frame leading to the living room.
"Can you be any more immature with your power?" She asks as she crosses her arms over her chest.
"I didn't mean to wake you." Aiden says but Astrid rolls her eyes in response.
"And you didn't mean to suck the air out of Ralph's lungs?" She asks arching her eyebrow.
"I'm worried about you." He says while Ralph slowly regains his ability to breathe while Astrid massages her temples.
"Aiden I told you I can take care of myself and I appreciate you worrying but you're crossing a line when you harm my co-workers and friends." She says as she looks up at him.
"But you're endangering yourself!" He yells making Ollie leap off of his lap just in time as he stands.
"What part did you not understand? I'm not a baby or that I don't need you to baby me?" Astrid asks.
"Astrid I can't just sit back and watch my sister expose herself to unnecessary danger!" He yells at her making her eyes become slits as her eyes become as white as a lily just as storm clouds appear in the skies.
"Need I remind you that the only difference between this and when Katie was taken is that I don't know the victims or their families so let me make something extremely clear. You're not my director anymore and I'm not your employee also I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure these people return to their families whether you like it or not." Astrid says shutting down any further arguments from Aiden.
"I'm sorry. I should know better than to try and take away your freedom as well as doubt you." Aiden says after a moment of tense silence.
"It's not me you should apologize to." Astrid says in response as her gaze lands on Ralph.
"I'm sorry." Aiden says as he turns to look at Ralph who gives him an understanding nod.
"How are you feeling?" Victor asks suddenly standing in front of Astrid making her crane her head back slightly so that she can meet his gaze.
"I'm good." She says to him with a sigh as she lets go of the tension in her body allowing her eyes to return to their natural color.
After Victor and Ralph expressed their relief that she was back on her feet they left the apartment so that the siblings can have a moment alone. Once alone in the apartment, they avoid talking to each other as they work together to prepare dinner then in a cautious silence eat together but Astrid doesn't stay up long and retires to bed early after her meal leaving Aiden to clean up with Ollie keeping him company.