Athaontú Teaghlach

[Rocky†]

Bridget Connolly stared out the window of the taxi as it moved through the streets. It was the first time in who knew how long that she hadn't been in the company of Sarah, who she had made sure was safe with her parents before heading off herself. Her family knew that there were survivors, but she hadn't been in contact with them at all in the time since they had been safe. She just had too many things on her mind. When she wasn't constantly looking after Sarah she was lost in her own thoughts. Thoughts that years of therapy would no doubt erase, but until then she was stuck with them.

Images passed across the window as the car began to enter familiar territory. The kind middle-aged gentleman had agreed to take her home for a measly $5, the only money she had on her. Much like everyone else in the city, he knew what today was. The surviving kids from Survival of the Fittest were on their way home, and judging from the messy hair and gaunt face, this girl was one of them. In either case, the car finally pulled up to it's destination.

"Thank you again." Bridget said to the driver as she got out of the car. The man nodded, driving away as Bridget looked at her house.

It was almost too much for the red-haired girl to take in. It had been over a week since she had left for that camping trip. She never thought she would make it back alive. Never thought that she would see her home again. Her parents, her sisters, the annoying cat her parents insisted upon having that liked to use her arms as scratching posts. All things she had assumed she would never get a chance to experience again. And now here she was, walking her way up the small gravel walkway to the door.

Bridget fumbled for the keys in her pocket, one of the few things she hadn't abandoned during her stay on the island. Locating the proper key on the ring, she slid it into the lock on the door. Unlocking the door, she turned the knob, pushing the door open and entering her house.

Bridget stood in the front hallway of her home, almost feeling like a stranger barging into the unknown. The house was quiet, save for the soft purring of the cat circling her ankles. Checking the time, it was clear to her why. Her parents would be out shopping at this time, and if she knew Megan like she thought she did, then her younger sister had probably barricaded herself in her room since the abduction.

"You guys are home earl...." the voice of her eldest sister came to an abrupt stop as she left the kitchen. It took Bridget all of three seconds to make her way to Jessica and grip her in the tightest hug she could muster. The tears she had been holding back since they had landed back in St. Paul flowed freely in the embrace of her sister. Jessica, who like everyone else in her family had watched every moment of SoTF up until Bridget's "death", was barely able to keep her composure.

"Me....Megan!" Jessica called through her barely contained tears, and soon there was the sound of stomping feet from the second floor as Bridget's youngest sister made her way down. Bridget looked up through her tears as the tallest of the three girls made her way down the stairs. Upon seeing her older sister, Megan immediately vaulted her way down the rest of the stairs. Bridget broke away from Jessica, who immediately went on her cell phone to call their parents, and met Megan in a hug.

Jessica returned a moment later, and Bridget finally managed to compose herself. The three girls stood in complete silence for a few moments, before Bridget finally broke it with a small "Hi."

Jessica merely smiled and gave Bridget another quick hug. "Welcome home."