A/n: Guess who didn't die! I'm so sorry guys. I realize it's the middle of 2016. But this story goes on!

With Riley in the arms of her parents, the emotions took the previous little time they had to regroup.

Joy ran straight to Fear, hugging herself in a way that was reminiscent of the other emotion. The other three, breathing hard, were soon to follow. Fear closed his eyes for a moment against the overwhelmingly loud sound of their girls cries. Let this stop, please, let this end—

"Fear!" It was Anger. He looked like he was gearing up for a fight, as uncertain as he seemed. "What do we do?"

Disgust was crying. "What's…happening?"

Four sets of bright eyes on him. Fear had always thought he'd like the chance at being in charge, but now—

Before he could get a word of his answer out, Headquarters was struck. The ground shook violently below their feet, bringing them to their knees. a flash of deep violet pulsed through the room at the second of…impact? They didn't know. Memories rattled on the racks and their own screams joined Riley's.

Fear braced himself against the console, wracking his mind for something he could do. Another jolt hit Headquarters, and this time, with the monitor in his sight, Fear saw flashes, glimpses, of people lying in the street, of blood flowing like water—

No. No, he wasn't about to let this happen. He searched for the button he knew was on the console somewhere, but he never used it. He hated the thought of using it.

He found it after a frantic moment's search, and to his credit he only hesitated briefly before punching it.

One more flash or purple, followed by an all-encompassing whiteness, and then Riley was out.

III

When Riley slumped into her parents arms, no longer crying, Bill and Jill, looked to each other in abject panic.

"Bill—"

"Go start the car hon, we're going to the hospital."

III

Headquarters was eerily quiet after so much chaos. The emotions could hear their own heavy breaths and Sadness's ceaseless crying. The four besides Fear were still sprawled on the floor, and slowly set about picking themselves back up. Fear didn't dare turn around to face them. He knew they would be looking to him, and darn it all, he didn't know what to say.

Joy tried to reign in some control; "Is..i-is everyone alright?"

Disgust and Sadness didn't answer. Anger grunted in affirmation as he stood up. In doing so, he looked to the window. "Wh…what is that?"

Everyone turned. That was nothing, as it turned out. Nothing where there should've been something. the view outside was completely black; no memory lights, no sounds from the islands, nothing could be detected out there. Headquarters felt suddenly like a prison, an isolation chamber.

Fear turned then, and fought hard to control the urge to break down himself. Joy caught his eye, and asked without speaking the question on everyone's mind.

Fear swallowed, "I, uhm…w-we just had an, uh…p-panic attack."

The other emotions' faced dawned with something that could've passed for understanding, but he knew better. They knew what a 'panic attack' was in the sense that he knew what it felt like to walk barefoot on grass. It was theory. Him, though, he had these attacks on at least a weekly basis. And with everything brewing in Riley's mind…

"W-well…" Joy broke the silence, "Well that means that it's over, right?" She was trying to be optimistic. Fear couldn't help but to feel that it wasn't helpful right now. "Those don't last forever, do they?"

"We just passed out, Joy! It was so bad the beanpole over there had to pull the plug! You think it's over?" Anger had recovered enough to revert to his usual coping method. Fear was oddly grateful the fiery emotion was there to talk back for him. He didn't have the energy. Joy flinched back as though struck. "I'm only trying to—"

"Well don't," Anger bit back, then he turned to Fear. "So…now what?"

"Now?" Geez, was his voice that small? "Now we just wait t-to wake up. Mom and Dad just watched us, um, pass out. W-We're probably on our way to the…h-hospital by now."

"We're gonna need to talk about this."

"I know," he really did, "b-but later. When we're sleeping naturally."

They all seemed to accept this answer, and Joy and Disgust set about replacing the memories onto the racks. Anger helped Sadness over to the couch and then walked up to Fear. He said, in a low voice, "This is what you were talkin' about, isn't it? When you said somethin' was coming?"

Fear nodded. This, and so much more.