Five hours later nobody is happy.

“Dude, is it alcohol poisoning?”

“Sarah, shut the fuck up!” Olivia yells as she stands over Jane hugging the toilet. She lets out a whimper that tells them she heard that.

“Shh, baby, you’re fine. Here, lie down.”

“Guys, I really don’t feel good. This feels worse than the other times.” Jane is barely speaking, her face pale against her dark hair. There’s a slight tremor in her weak body.

“I know, Janey. Austin is on his way.”

“Shit, Ollie, she really looks bad.”

Olivia shoves her sister into the hall. “Sarah, stop freaking out!”

Before they can yell at each other they hear Austin.

“How long has she been vomiting?” Only a doctor would say ‘vomiting’.

“She’s been puking for two hours.” Sarah practically yells at him. Her face is paler than Jane’s.

“How much did she have all night? Did she drink everything at once, or throughout the night?”

Ashamed, they look at each other.

“When was the last time she ate?” When he's answered by more silence he gives them dirty looks before going to Jane. They are only left with each other, and with themselves to blame.

Austin finds Jane on the floor, and when she doesn’t move at his touch, or as he carefully picks her up, the doctor in him disappears. His stomach drops as he looks down at her, the baby sister of the woman that changed his life, the baby sister he thought of as his own.

“Austin. Put me down.” Jane whispers, her voice hoarse. “I don’t feel good.”

“I know. But I’m going to put you someplace more comfortable than the bathroom floor. Even if it's Amy’s bathroom floor.”

He feels better when Jane gives a slight smile. She still hasn’t opened her eyes. He settles her on the couch, a bucket on the floor beside her.

“Janey, when did you eat last?”

“Dunno.”

“Try – “ Austin is cut off when Jane leans over, completely missing the bucket.

“Janey.” Olivia comes over to comfort her as Austin reaches to move the bucket.

“What the - Austin, is that blood?”

“Yes. It’s common when someone’s been sick for this long, though. She’s dehydrated.”

“She won’t drink anything. We’ve tried.”

The look Austin shoots her makes her face heat up. “We need to get her to the hospital.” He stands, calling for Amy.

“Is it that serious?”

“You tell me, Olivia! Because what it looks like is that your 16-year-old sister drank like a college kid at a frat party!”

“Hey!” Amy comes to stand beside Olivia, Sarah right behind her. “What's the matter?”

“We’re taking Jane to the hospital.”

“Is it alcohol poisoning?” Sarah asks for the tenth time.

“It could be. But she’s severely dehydrated, and she’s not going to get what she needs here.”

There’s no need to make Sarah feel worse, but Amy can’t help it. “That’s just great, Sarah! What the hell are we going to tell Meredith?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well figure it out, because you’re the one that’s going to.” There is tense silence as Amy glares at Sarah, standing there weighed down with guilt.

“Amy,” Austin says, and Sarah looks at him because he says it gently. Like he was telling Amy to back off a little. “I need you to get me a thermometer and meet me at the car.” He gathers Jane in his arms. “Can you two follow us?”

“Yes.” Olivia pulls Sarah to her as Amy angrily turns away. The rides are silent in both cars. Sarah can only reach Meredith’s voicemail.

It’s two hours before anyone says a word.

“You know we’re all to blame.” Sarah makes no move, but Amy spins towards Olivia’s chair. She’s been standing at the door to the waiting room.

“That may be, Olivia, but how many times is it going to take for the two of you to get it? She's not one of your friends, who knows when to stop, when enough is enough. She’s your little sister! Who looks up to you, who trusts you to protect her!”

“We do get it, Amy, and don’t you dare try to preach to us, you hypocrite, we were ALL there with her ALL night-“

“Guys.”

They look to Sarah, who is walking to the doctor. In an instant, they are standing together, hands locked. Austin comes in behind the doctor.

“Is she ok?” Sarah is the first to speak.

“Can we see her?” Olivia asks just as quickly.

“We’re still working on getting her back to feeling better. She was severely dehydrated, and there were traces of alcohol poisoning. She's lucky. It could've been a lot worse.” He looks them each in the eye, letting everything he isn’t saying sink in.

“When can we see her?”

After four hours Jane still hasn’t come to. Amy sits beside her bed. For some reason, it’s hard to think about their memories. All that flashes in her mind is last night. She is stuck in the scene where she could've easily prevented this one. She's pulled from her looping thoughts by a commotion in the hall. Her mother’s voice is among it.

“Mom?” Amy sees them at the end of the hall, and in one beat, they are all crying, trying to take the blame.

“Alright,” Meredith holds her daughters fiercely. “We’ll figure this out later. Let me see my baby.”

When Jane came to live with them, they were still learning to be a family. Meredith went to great lengths to prepare everyone. Especially Sarah. She can remember all those afternoons, sitting in that bright office, listening to Dr. Fitzpatrick ask her questions that she could actually answer honestly and not get in trouble. There was no need for anyone to worry about her. She was ready for a little sister.

She can see the day they picked Jane up, as clear as if it was happening right now. They let Meredith go in first since they’d already met, and then one by one, they went in to meet Jane. Sarah waited impatiently for her turn, last because she was the youngest.

Not anymore. If anyone had the easiest transition to their new family, it was Jane. She played the part of little sister perfectly, so much that Meredith often had to intervene.

“Girls, she is not your personal slave! Just because you know she’ll do something doesn’t mean you can keep making her do it.” Jane never complained. She just loved to be adored, and adored she was.

Sarah watches over her now, seeing all the years of abusing her privilege of older sister paying her back. Except, really, it was Jane paying for it. Sarah strokes her hand.

“I’m sorry, Shadow. I’m sorry I didn’t take better care of you. All those times I led you to do something you shouldn’t, just because I knew you would.” Sarah stills at the sudden movement underneath her hand, unsure if it actually happened.

“Janey?” There’s no mistaking the squeeze of her hand, and it sends Sarah running. She collides with everyone at the end of the hall.

“There goes your coffee.” Olivia hands her the empty cup.

“I think she’s waking up!”

It takes another twenty minutes before Jane is awake enough to recognize all of them. They know she’s feeling better when she sees Meredith and groans an “Uh-oh”. Finally, they can all laugh.

“You just worry about getting better. There will be plenty of time for punishment.” Meredith smooths her daughter’s hair back, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“Really, mom, it was my fault. Sarah gave me the first two, but I kept sneaking the rest.” Jane mumbles. Despite the look on her face, Meredith calmly tells her, “Jane. It’s been a long night. How about we save the confessions and lectures for when you’re home.”

“And when is that?”

“Tomorrow.” Everyone turns at Austin’s voice.

“Austin!” Jane comes to life, livelier than she’s been in the last ten hours.

“Someone’s feeling better.” He observes, smiling at her before giving Amy kiss. Then he sits beside her on the bed.

“Are you listening?” Suddenly Jane’s not smiling anymore. If there was anyone who could lecture Jane and make it stick, it was Austin. And whenever he did, these were the words he started with.

“I don’t care who gave you the drinks, how many times you’ve had a drink before, or what’s going on at the time. You will never do what you did last night. Do you think you feel shitty now? Because it could have been so much worse. I’ve seen it, Jane. And the last thing I want is to see it happen to you.” Jane’s wide eyes are glued to Austin’s face as she nods, and then bursts into tears, burying her face into Austin’s chest. He holds her for a moment, letting everything sink in.

“Alright,” he says, pulling her way so he can look at her. “I’m not mad at you, but you scared the hell out of all of us.” Austin starts to pull her back to him, but Sarah pushes him off the bed.

She gives Jane a moment before asking, “Did you hear what I said before? Like, just before you woke up?”

“No.” Jane answers, but even through the tears there’s a hint of a smirk.

“Are you really going to make me repeat it?”

Jane giggles. “No, just as long as you were willing to.”

Sarah doesn’t laugh. “I meant it.”

Jane shrugs. “I know, and it’s ok. I forgive you for everything you’ve done and everything you’re gonna do.” This gets a laugh out of Sarah, and Olivia takes the opportunity to shove her off the bed.

“Now, I know I’m no example on how you’re supposed to act as an adult. But I think you’ve always known who not to be. But after last night you’ve made me see that I should be someone you want to be like.”

“Ollie, no one’s perfect. And last night had nothing to do with you,” Jane admits with shame. “I just got a little carried away.”

“But I should've kept a better eye on you, especially knowing you were upset. We all should have. Sometimes I do forget to look out for you, instead of letting you get away with things. But I promise I’m not going to do that anymore. I’d rather keep you around than be your favorite, cool sister. Cuz you’ll always be my favorite, cool little sister.”

“This is true.” Jane agrees, nodding. Olivia laughs, pulling Jane’s face to hers. “I love you.” She whispers.

“I love you.” Jane whispers back.

“Can you guys do me a favor?”

“What’s that, baby?” Meredith asks.

“I’m starving.”