Chapter Text
It had been a little over a week since Hope went into Josie’s mind to help her defeat Dark Josie, and an equal amount of time since Hope was conscious. Hope still had not woken up even though Josie was able to wake up after defeating her dark side.
Josie blamed herself for Hope’s situation. She was beyond grateful for Hope’s friendship and help in her darkest times, but she would take it all back if it meant Hope would wake up.
She, Lizzie, and their dad had been working night and day looking for a cure to Hope’s predicament. The problem is that they couldn’t figure out why Hope was like this. Every piece of literature said that she should have woken up when Josie got her mind back under control.
So, now after much deliberation, Alaric finally decided it was time to call Hope’s family in for help. He still hadn’t told them that she was in a magic-induced coma, so Josie was expecting hell when the Mikaelsons found out about Hope’s condition and that Alaric kept them out of the loop for a week.
Josie and Lizzie were both in Alaric’s office doing research when Alaric called Freya to update her. Very surprisingly the conversation lasted under two minutes, most of which was her dad explaining the situation. After he finished, Josie heard the oldest Mikaelson sibling say something quick, then hung up.
“What did Freya say, dad?” Josie asked, as soon as he hung up.
“She is coming here. She will be here tomorrow morning.” Alaric said, with obvious nerves in his voice.
“Oh Freya’s coming! Yes! She can finally wake Hope up, then I can kick her short ass for making me worry because she wanted to play martyr again”. Lizzie said sarcastically.
Josie just rolled her eyes at Lizzie’s comment. Josie knows that Lizzie cares for Hope. If Josie was honest, Lizzie and Hope were sort of best friends. I mean if she or Lizzie were asked who their best friend was, they would say each other, but Josie knows that Lizzie and Hope have gotten much closer over the last year. She was happy that the two people she cared about most were finally getting along.
After a few hours of dead-end research, Lizzie and Alaric decided to call it a day and go do some self-care. Josie understands that they are exhausted. They have been doing all that they can. Lizzie has been her rock for the last few days, even though Josie didn’t think she deserved it after trying to force Lizzie to merge. Luckily Lizzie forgave Josie rather easily. Josie was grateful for that, but she also worried that Lizzie wasn’t being truthful in her acceptance and understanding. But, Josie couldn’t focus on that now, she needed to focus all of her energy on getting Hope back.
So, Josie continued to work, to read, and to try new spells to get Hope awake. She had been sleeping on her dad’s office couch right outside of the hidden room Hope was lying in. She probably fell asleep there more times than she had slept in her own bed lately.
Hope. I need Hope. Josie thought to herself as she passed out finally from exhaustion.
-------------------------------------------
The next morning, Josie woke up to Lizzie and Alaric bursting into the office.
“Daddy! Come on, who else is coming? I heard you on the phone tell mom that the Mikaelsons, plural, were coming to campus. So, who else is it besides Freya?” Lizzie asked, loudly and curiously, while Alaric walked to sit behind his desk.
“Elizabeth. Calm down, please. The Mikaelsons are dangerous people. They are powerful, but dangerous…”
Josie sat up and noticed Lizzie huff in disappointment at Alaric’s tone.
“... so, please do not treat them as if they aren’t that. They can be kind and loyal when they want to be, but if you get in their way…. Well, trust me you don’t want to be in their way.” Alaric finished.
“I get that dad, but still who else is coming?” Lizzie circled back to her original question.
“All of them.” Alaric puffed out, finally.
Josie and Lizzie’s eyes went wide at the knowledge that all of the living Mikaelsons were going to be under one roof (specifically the roof of their school) for an unknown amount of time and will likely be very pissed off because Hope got hurt.
“All of them?” Josie asked, almost wondering if she misheard her father. But, she realized she hadn’t when Ric, simply nodded.
“Damn!” Lizzie said.
Before, Josie or Alaric could comment back to Lizzie, the office doors flung open, revealing Freya, Keelin, and Rebekah Mikaelson.
Josie and Lizzie were star-struck. The power that radiated off of the women made the air feel heavy around them. It was almost intoxicating especially since Josie and Lizzie were Siphoners, and they could sense and consume magic unlike other witches.
“Where is she?” Freya asked sternly, as the three women entered the room. Rebekah and Keelin glanced at Josie and Lizzie, while Freya had her sights set on Alaric.
“In there…” Alaric pointed to the book cases that were actually a secret door leading to the hidden room in his office.
“...Josie can you open it please?”
Josie nodded, and quickly went over to open the door, revealing a still-sleeping Hope lying on the cot.
Freya and Rebekah instantly went inside the tiny room to take a closer look at their niece. Josie could hear Freya whisper something as she placed her hand on Hope’s forehead, but nothing happened. Josie could see Freya’s disappointment when she heard the older witch sigh then make a worried look at her sister.
It’s worse than we thought. It has to be, if the great Freya Mikaelson is worried. Oh god. Hope. Please be ok, wherever you are. please...