I do not own Lab Rats. But Astrid is my character.

After the poll results were in (which was only one person.. right.) I have decided to work on Astrid again!

Here is part 3. I know I ended the story off at a rather depressing subject, but here's the next part.

Also.. starting off on a depressing subject..

"Astrid... Astrid.." Someone shakes her arm. Astrid yelps softly as they press down more than necessary. "Sorry.. ...Astrid.."

Astrid doesn't say anything. She has been looking at the grass under her black shoes for an eternity. Her eyes finally ran out of something to lose, so she stares emptily, barely hearing Adam as he states her name over and over, trying to get her attention.

Another pair of black shoes fills her vision. The person has a black skirt. They squat down and look at her. "Astrid," Bree says, setting her hand on top of her friends, "I'm sorry.."

That's all someone can say to her, 'I'm sorry,' 'my condolences,' 'he was a good man,' 'he didn't deserve this,' 'it isn't your fault.'

Even after all the tears she's shed, no matter how dry she feels, Astrid still produces another tear. Bree wipes it away. An arm wraps around her shoulders. Astrid doesn't even fight the pull in the direction the arm came from. She just leans against his chest and sobs without tears.

Chase looks down at her, then around the area. The casket is already lowered, most of the attendants are gone. Adam is getting up to help those with shovels. They would have left an hour ago. But Astrid refused to.

And Chase hadn't left her side the whole time. Bree got her food from the table in the other room, Adam had waved people away when she couldn't handle another round of consoling, yet empty, words from a stranger. Everyone was a stranger to her, except the Davenports.

Leo was by his parents, and Mr. Davenport managed to temper his ego for the sake of the event. Tasha cried, there was no way around it. She sat by Astrid some, learning after a few minutes that words will not help her feel better.

Chase refused to leave Astrid with anyone else. He listened when she talked, and held her close when she started to cry harder. He asked if she wanted to go to the open casket at the other side of the room, but Astrid didn't want to.

Astrid didn't talk much, but the one thing she could had been repeated so soft, that Chase could hear her. "..He's gone.." She would probably say she didn't get to say goodbye, but that isn't true.

She just didn't know that goodbye was it.

"Astrid," Tasha takes Bree's place in front of her. She still has streaks on her face from tears, but they have dried. She gently grasps Astrid's hand and starts to help her stand up, "It's time to go.."

Astrid doesn't fight it. The whole group is against her. She leans into Chase as they walk back to the car. Leo walks next to her, Adam behind her, and Bree in front, looking back over her shoulder every few seconds.

Astrid doesn't remember getting in the car, or the drive back to the mansion. The day had worn her out, even when she did nothing but sit and cry the whole time. But she does vaguely sense someone picking her up and carrying her to a guest room- her room.

It's been a week, since the funeral. Astrid still isn't herself yet. Her room has some stuff from her house, but it isn't the same. Her dad isn't there.

'Mom didn't even bother to come..' Astrid tells herself solemnly. She didn't expect her too, but at least the surprise could have helped her a little.. Maybe.

She looks at her homework. She got a few days off from school, but now she has to catch up. And Chase is right there to help her. He was determined to stay by her as much as possible, but there were times that he couldn't, like when Bree insisted that they have 'girl time.'

Bree found multiple times for her and Astrid to hang out, watch a movie, go shopping, etc. She helped set her room up, like last time. Astrid would cheer up for a little, but she always had a look in her eye that won't go away anytime soon.

Not even Adam and Leo with their attempts to humor her had worked in taking that away. She'd laugh, but the spark she had just wouldn't appear. Sometimes she found time to slip away into her room and fall asleep crying because no matter how nice Mr. Davenport is, no matter how gentle Tasha is with her, they can never replace her father.

And her father isn't coming back. She has a time just like that after homework is over. She runs up the stairs and slams the door.

Astrid clutches a pillow to her chest and she stares at the picture of her dad, from while he was still around. 'Not fair..' she decides. She sniffles and throws away the one millionth tissue.

But like most of the others, it doesn't make it to the trash and stays on the floor. A headache forms and she closes her eyes to let it pass. The door opens, but Astrid ignores it.

An arm wraps around her shoulders, a warm body attached to it next to her. She doesn't look at who it is and leans against them, sniffling still. "I'll be here," the person says, "You aren't alone."

Astrid nods. She's handed another tissue and a finger brushes her tears away, then traces around her ear and tangles lightly in her hair. She's safe, he won't leave her.

Chase isn't going anywhere.

Astrid fell asleep after Chase came to check on her. He tucks her into bed and then leaves the door partially open. He finds some of his family in the lab, training. "I want to do something for Astrid, but I don't know what.." Chase states aloud. Bree looks at him.

"Considering how you two are glued to the hip, I'm not sure that will be a problem," she states, "you're always doing something for her. I understand your concern, but-"

"She likes animals, right?" Leo asks. Chase's face brightens up and he looks at Leo.

"That's right. She loves animals. Her dad was a veterinarian. Maybe.." He looks at Mr. Davenport.

"No no no no, absolutely not," the mogul states.

"What? He hasn't even said anything yet," Adam states.

"You are not getting her a pet," Mr. Davenport tells CHase.

"A pet!? Can it be a pig-?"

"No!" Everyone else tells him. Adam slumps on his stool.

"Please Mr. Davenport? She'll be so happy. Maybe it will cheer her up to where she needs to be," Chase states, "plus.. She's always wanted one.. And by those coupons you and Leo gave her at Christmas, you have to let her buy something.."

"Her, not you," Mr. Davenport says.

"But it is for her," Bree helps, "So it counts."

"It is a big responsibility," Mr. Davenport says. When all his kids are against him for their friend, he's having a hard time saying no, "It better be small!" Mr. Davenport then leaves the room.

"I'd better check on Astrid," Chase states.

"I will, you get to PetFind," Bree decides, "I'll keep it a secret."

Everyone splits off to where they should be and Adam is reminded every five minutes not to tell Astrid anything, anything at all. No talking, no revealing anything.

'Astrid is going to be so happy,' Chase knows.

Think Chase's idea will work?

Now I am doing this part different than the other ones. Last time, I wrote it all out and then updated it one at a time. This time, I'm updating as I write the chapters. ..If that makes any sense.

I have Chase's escapade to 'PetFind' (See what I did there?) written out, but I was thinking about skipping it. What do you think?