Natalia Dyer as Anastasia Kreese

The hospital room was quiet, the soft hum of machines blending with the occasional footsteps in the hallway. Theo lay back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling, his mind racing. He was still processing everything when he heard a gentle knock on the door.

"Hey, is it okay if I come in?" a soft voice called from outside.

Theo turned his head toward the door, squinting as he saw a familiar figure stepping in. "Tasie?" he asked, surprise flooding his voice.

Anastasia "Tasie" Kreese, his cousin through his Uncle Pete, stepped into the room, her long brown hair cascading over her shoulders.

"Hey, Theo," she said, her smile brightening the room. "I missed you."

Theo smiled back, feeling a rush of warmth. "I missed you too, I didn't know you were coming?"

"I managed to convince my mom to let me move in with Dad, so here I am," she laughed lightly, her gaze lingering on Theo. "How are you doing? I heard about the accident."

"Yeah, it's been rough," Theo admitted, his expression sobering. "But I'm hanging in there. Just trying to process everything."

Tasie moved closer, her eyes searching his face for signs of how he was really feeling. "I'm so sorry this happened to you. I wish I could have been here sooner."

"It's okay. You've got your own life, right?" Theo replied, trying to brush it off, but he appreciated her concern. "What's new with you?"

"Oh, you know, the usual. School and trying to figure out what I want to do after graduation," she said, her tone light but with an underlying hint of seriousness. "I actually just got back from being Hackett's Quarry."

"You still go to summer camp?" Theo laughed.

"Hey, you loved summer camp when we were kids!" Tasie laughed, lightly shoving him. "Mr. Hackett, Caleb and Kayleigh say hi."

Theo chuckled at the mention of summer camp memories. "I can't believe you still go!"

Just then, the door opened again, and Tory stepped inside, holding a small bag. "Hey, babe. I brought you some..." She paused, taking in the sight of Tasie sitting close to him. The warmth in the room shifted slightly as Tory's expression changed.

"Tory, this is my cousin, Tasie. We haven't seen each other in years," Theo quickly introduced them, sensing the tension.

"Oh. Your cousin?" Tory's demeanor brightened immediately. She smiled and stepped further into the room. "It's nice to meet you. I've heard about you."

"Nice to meet you too, T," Tasie replied, her voice cheerful. "Theo talks about you a lot."

"Yeah, well, I hope it's all good things," Tory said, a playful glint in her eyes as she approached the bed. "I mean, he does have a tendency to exaggerate."

"I do not!" Theo interjected, laughing.

Tory turned her attention back to Theo, her tone softening. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm doing okay," Theo said, smiling as Tory pecked his lips, brushing his hair from his face. "Just taking it one day at a time."

Tasie nodded in agreement. "We're all here for you, right? Kreese's stick together."

—————

Johnny stood at the reception desk, the cheque clutched tightly in his hand. He cleared his throat, drawing the nurse's attention.

"Hey, uh, I'm not sure who I give this to. It's for the LaRusso kid's hospital bill," he said, his voice steady but quiet.

The nurse's eyes widened in surprise as she took the cheque. "Wow. That's very generous. Can I tell the family who it's from?"

Johnny hesitated, running a hand through his hair. "Uh, I'd prefer to leave my name out of it."

"Sure. No problem," she replied, understanding in her tone.

As the nurse processed the cheque, Johnny turned slightly, catching sight of Elise and Pete a few feet away. He felt a knot tighten in his stomach but forced himself to maintain his composure.

"Hey. I'm leaving," he said, trying to sound casual as he began to walk away.

"Ms. Kreese, Theo's surgeon just arrived from the airport. She has a few questions," the nurse called back to Elise, who was still staring at Johnny with an icy glare.

Fixing him with one last penetrating look, Elise nodded and followed the nurse down the hallway, her frustration palpable.

Pete stepped closer to Johnny, his expression softening. "Thanks, Johnny," he said sincerely, a hint of gratitude in his voice. "This means a lot to us."

Johnny shrugged, a little embarrassed but glad to help. "Just doing what I can," he replied, his gaze shifting to the floor. "I know your uncle covered most of it, but I figured every bit helps."

"Every bit does," Pete affirmed, a small smile breaking through the tension. "You don't know how much this will ease Elise's burden."

Johnny nodded, feeling a weight lift slightly off his shoulders. "Yeah, well... I just hope it gets him back on his feet soon."

—————

The hospital room buzzed with anticipation as the medical team prepared for Theo's surgery. Bright lights illuminated the space, casting a sterile glow over everything. Theo laid on the gurney, his heart racing as he looked around at the familiar faces surrounding him.

Tory stood closest, her hand gently clasping his. "You've got this, babe. Think about all the dates we can go on," she encouraged, her voice steady despite the worry in her eyes.

Theo forced a smile. The truth was, he felt scared, but he didn't want to show it.

Tasie stood beside Tory, her expression serious but supportive. "Just focus on the next step, okay? The doctors are amazing, and they know what they're doing," she added, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.

Elise hovered at the foot of the gurney, her eyes filled with both love and concern. "You're going to be okay, sweetheart," she said softly. "We're all here for you, and we'll be right outside waiting."

Pete, standing next to her, nodded in agreement. Just then, the door opened, and Kreese stepped in. He surveyed the room, taking in the scene before him. "The kid's going to be fine," he said, a hint of sternness in his voice. "He's got a good team and a strong will."

Theo glanced at his grandfather, feeling anxious. "I hope so, Grandpa," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Kreese walked closer, resting a hand on Theo's shoulder. "You've faced challenges before, Theo. This is just another battle. You will come out on the other side stronger."

Theo nodded, feeling bolstered by his grandfather's words.

The nurse entered, clipboard in hand, and smiled at Theo. "Alright, we're just about ready to get started. Do you have any last questions?"

Theo took a deep breath, looking around at everyone. "Just... make sure I wake up, okay?" he joked lightly, trying to lighten the mood.

The room erupted in soft laughter, easing the tension. "We'll make sure of it," the nurse replied, her tone warm and reassuring.

As the medical team began to wheel him out, Theo squeezed Tory's hand one last time. "I'll see you all soon, right?" he asked, his voice a mixture of hope and uncertainty.

"Always," Tory promised, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"And Forever," he smirked at her. "I love you."

—————

The waiting room was filled with an anxious energy as Tasie, Tory, Elise, Pete, and Kreese paced back and forth, each lost in their thoughts. The minutes felt like hours, and the silence was punctuated only by the occasional rustle of magazines and the distant beeping of machines.

Finally, the door swung open, and a woman in scrubs entered, her expression serious yet calm. The room fell silent as everyone turned to face her.

"I'm Dr. Ramirez," she said, her voice steady. "I'm the surgeon who performed Theo's operation."

Elise rushed forward, her heart pounding. "How did it go? Is he okay?"

Dr. Ramirez took a deep breath, her gaze scanning the group. "The surgery was successful. We were able to repair the damage and stabilise him. However..." she paused, a somber look crossing her face. "I need to talk to you about a few complications we encountered during the procedure."

Tory's heart sank, and she exchanged worried glances with Tasie. "What kind of complications?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Dr. Ramirez continued, "We nearly lost him twice on the operating table. There were unexpected complications that required quick intervention. His body reacted differently than we anticipated, and we had to be very aggressive to stabilise his condition."

Elise's face turned pale, and she instinctively reached for Pete's hand. "What does that mean for him now?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dr. Ramirez nodded, her expression compassionate. "He's in recovery now, but it's a waiting game. He'll need time to heal, and we'll be monitoring him closely for any signs of distress. The next twenty four hours will be critical."

Kreese stepped forward, his brow furrowed. "Will he be okay? Is there anything we can do?"

"Right now, the best thing you can do is be there for him when he wakes up," Dr. Ramirez replied, her tone reassuring. "Your support will make a difference. He's a fighter, and he's got a good chance of pulling through."

Tory felt tears welling in her eyes, the weight of the news crashing down on her. "Can we see him?" she asked, desperately wanting to be by Theo's side.

Dr. Ramirez nodded. "You can see him now, but he will be in and out of consciousness. Just talk to him; he'll hear you. I'll take you to his recovery room."

The recovery room was dimly lit, the soft beeping of monitors creating a rhythmic backdrop to the hushed whispers of the family gathered around Theo's bed. He lay there, pale and still, with tubes and wires snaking around him, connected to various machines. The sight tugged at their hearts.

Tory stood closest to the bed, her heart aching as she reached for Theo's hand. "Hi, baby," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm right here. We're all here."

Tasie stood beside her, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You're going to be okay, Theo. Just take your time. We're not going anywhere," she added, brushing a stray hair from his forehead.

Kreese leaned against the wall, arms crossed but a look of concern etched on his face. He had seen many battles in his life, but this one felt different. "You've faced tougher fights, kid," he said, his tone rough yet encouraging. "Time to show us what you're made of."

Suddenly, Theo's eyelids fluttered, and everyone leaned in closer, their breaths caught in their throats.

"Come on, Theo. You can do it," Tasie urged, her voice filled with hope.

Theo's eyes slowly opened, squinting against the bright light. "Tory?" he croaked, his voice barely audible.

"Yeah, it's me! I'm here," she replied, tears streaming down her cheeks as she squeezed his hand tighter.

"Where... where am I?" he asked, confusion clouding his gaze.

"You're in the hospital, buddy. You had surgery," Pete explained gently, stepping forward. "But you made it. You're going to be okay."

Theo blinked a few times, processing the information. "I... I remember..." he murmured, his brow furrowing slightly as he tried to piece together the events leading up to his surgery.

"Just focus on resting, sweetheart," Elise said softly, her heart swelling with relief to see him awake. "We're all here for you."