Chapter 1 – A Little Boy

"Come on brudder! I wanna go to the pwaygwound!"

Sam laughed as Anna jumped along next to him, her hand in his. He loved his five year old little sister so very much, despite the fact that she could be really annoying. They were currently on the way to the playground that was just three blocks from their house. Anna had been driving their mother crazy with the amount of energy she had so Mom had asked him to take her to go play for a while. That's how he ended up on the way to the playground that Anna loved so much.

If he was being honest he would admit that he was happy to get out of the house. Things were always crazy when his parents were planning a party and this was no exception. He figured that he was better off here today. Nine year olds weren't necessary for things like planning a party. It's not like he would get to go anyway.

Sam paused at the crosswalk.

"Sammy, let me push the button!" Anna insisted as she turned to her brother with a huge smile.

"Sure sis." Sam smiled as he watched her skip to the pole to press the button that would allow them to walk across the street.

Once her job was completed she skipped back to her brother's side, slid her hand in his, and rocked back and forth on her feet as she waited for the sign to change. She could see the playground in the park just across the street and she couldn't wait to get there!

A couple of minutes later Sam and Anna walked into the playground and Sam let go of Anna's hand. She immediately ran to the large structure in the middle of the playground and made her way to the top of the biggest slide, her favorite. Sam laughed as Anna squealed the whole way down.

Sam went to the monkey bars that were located just across from the main structure of the playground. He climbed the ladder, swung across the bars, then climbed to the top and sat down on top of the bars. From here he could see the whole playground and easily keep track of Anna. His dad had showed him this spot once and now he would sit here and guard his sister as she played.

Anna squealed with delight every time she slid down the large red slide. It was long, and twisty, and just so much fun! When she got to the bottom she spun in a circle looking for her big brother. She knew he was watching her and she smiled when he waved from the top of the scary monkey bars. He was like her guardian angel, always looking out for her.

She decided that she had to keep playing. She wanted to go down the slide as many times as she could before Sammy said it was time to go home. Anna turned and ran up the stairs to the top of the slide, ready to squeal all the way to the bottom again.

About an hour and a half later Sam looked at his watch and sighed. He always hated this part, telling Anna it was time to go home. She was having so much fun on the slide. But, at the same time, he didn't want to be late. He knew his Dad wouldn't be happy if he didn't bring Anna home on time. It was his job to look out for her after all.

Sam stretched out his legs and lifted his arms over his head. Then he grabbed the sides of the monkey bars and lowered his legs between the bars. Moments later he dropped to the ground underneath of them. He landed in what he called his super hero pose, on one knee with a fist on the ground. He smiled before he stood and dusted the dirt off of his pants.

"Anna! It's time to go home." Sam called as he walked towards the bottom of the slide.

"NO!" Anna cried as she appeared at the top of the long red slide. "I don't wanna go!"

"If we don't go now Dad will get mad. And Mom too, we'll miss dinner." Sam explained as he put his hands on his hips. He already knew that she was going to wine all the way home.

This time Anna didn't squeal as she descended the slide. She hated, hated, hated this part of the day. If she had it her way she would live at the playground with the long red slide. When she got to the bottom she crossed her arms, lowered her head, and put on her pouty face. Poochy lip and all.

"Anna, we don't have time for you to pout. We have to go home." Sam explained as he reached for her hand. "You know, I think I heard Mom say that she was making macaroni and cheese with dinner." Sam commented as he leaned down to her level and smiled.

"Mac and cheese!" Anna cried with glee as she lifted her head to look at her brother.

"With extra cheese!" Sam whispered in her ear, as if it was the biggest secret in the world.

"I wuv mac and cheese!" Anna squealed with excitement as she jumped up and down.

Sam's grin widened as he took Anna's hand and they started to make their way home. He was so glad he had heard Mom talking about dinner. He hadn't been looking forward to dragging a pouty Anna all the way home. At least now she was happy to go. And by the way she was bouncing along the sidewalk Sam thought that she wouldn't complain too much at bedtime tonight either.

Anna once again insisted on pushing the button for the crosswalk when they approached the street. Sam allowed her to do so because it always made her so happy and she felt like a big kid. They both stood and waited patiently, her hand in his, for the light to change.

Once the light for the crosswalk changed Sam looked both ways out of habit before they stepped into the street. Dad always said that you never, never, never cross the street without looking both ways, even if the light said you could walk. Dad had told him that cars didn't always follow the rules so they had to be extra careful.

Once they reached the opposite sidewalk they turned to head towards their house. It wouldn't take long to get there since it was only a few blocks away. Sam always like to walk because it gave him time to look at the trees, and that was something that he loved to do!

Today was no exception. It was fall so the trees were just starting to change from green to really pretty reds, yellows, and oranges. Even Anna liked the trees this time of year. She had colored a lot of pictures with the trees different colors to prove it. Many hung on his wall in his room, she had colored them just for him and he kept every one of them.

The two kids were about a block and a half from their house when Sam heard a car approaching. He turned and looked because it sounded like it was going really fast. When he turned it was like in the movies when everything went very slow and you can see everything.

Sam saw the dark blue pickup truck coming down the street very quickly. He saw the man in the front of the truck and it looked like he was taking a drink. He saw the second the truck changed direction and the front wheel popped up onto the sidewalk. Sam didn't have time to move. The truck was so close to them and before Sam could blink he felt Anna's hand being yanked from his. He could only stand and stare as the truck hit his little sister so hard that she went flying down the sidewalk. The truck slammed to a stop not far away as it hit a light pole and steam rose from the front of the truck.

Looking down slowly to where Anna had just been standing next to him Sam's brows furrowed. What had just happened? He heard the truck coming towards them but then all of a sudden his sister wasn't standing there anymore. When he looked down he saw her pink glittery shoes on the sidewalk next to him.

His breathing became more rapid as he looked up and realized that something had happened to his sister. She must have run when she saw the truck coming. Dad wouldn't be happy that he had lost his sister. He spun in a full circle before he finally found her.

"ANNA!" Sam screamed as he tore off down the sidewalk to where his sister lay on the ground, a pool of blood forming under her still body. "Anna, Anna get up! ANNA!" Sam cried as he reached for her.

Suddenly there were adults around her and he could hear police sirens nearby. As the adults wrapped their arms around him he fought. He couldn't leave her here.

"No, let go! My sister's hurt. She needs me. Can't you see she's hurt! She's bleeding. Please mister, help my little sister! Anna!" Sam fought with everything he had to stay close to Anna. She was hurt real bad and he couldn't leave her alone! She was only six, she needed her brother to take care of her.

"Son, you need to step back. We need to help your sister but you need to move back." Gentle hands came to rest on his shoulder.

Sam looked up and saw the kind face of a police officer. He recognized the uniform. He knew he had better listen to the man. Dad had always told him to respect a man or woman in a uniform and listen to what they tell you to do.

"Anna…" Sam cried, defeated, as the officer led him to a bench not far away.

The officer looked down at the little blonde haired, blue eyed boy and his heart broke into a million pieces. Officer Hanson had been the first officer on scene and within seconds he could see what had happened. A drunk driver had veered off the road and hit a little girl that was walking down the sidewalk with her brother. The boy next to him was in a daze and yet extremely concerned for his sister. He knew he would have to tell the little boy but he just didn't know how. How do you explain to a little boy that couldn't even be ten years old yet that his little sister had been killed right next to him. He was sure the little girl had died, there was no way her little body had survived the hit, or the blood loss that ensued immediately after.

"Son, can you tell me your name?" Officer Hanson asked as kindly as he could manage.

"Um…Sam." Sam answered as he tried to look around the police officer to where his sister was laying on the ground not far away.

"What's your last name Sam?"

"Um…Braddock. Sam Braddock." Sam answered distractedly. "Is someone helping my sister?" Sam asked as his blue eyes met those of the police officer.

"There are paramedics with her now." The officer answered. He didn't lie, but he still couldn't muster up the courage to tell the young man his sister couldn't be helped. Hopefully he could get the young man's parents here first.

"Where are your parents Sam?" Hanson asked.

"At home."

"Do you know your address?"

"Um…." Sam hesitated. He was staring at the truck, at the man the other police officers were pulling out, handcuffing, and pushing towards a police car.

"Officer." A bystander approached the bench where the officer and the little boy were sitting.

"Can I help you ma'am?" Officer Hanson asked, looking at the woman but also ensuring he blocked Sam's view of the accident.

"Actually, I think I can help you. My husband works with Sam's father. I can call his mother and have them come down here." The woman replied.

"I appreciate the offer but I think I should sent an officer to the house. Do you know the address?" Hanson asked as he waved to another officer to come over.

After a minute of discussion the second officer went to the Braddock's residence to get Mr and Mrs Braddock. The woman went with them so she could offer to stay with the baby while the parents came to the scene of the accident.

When officer Hanson fully focused his attention on the child in front of him he could see that the young man was in a world of his own. Unfortunately he still needed to get the boy's statement. He hated this part of his job, making the victims relive the horror. Especially when they were so little.

"Son, can you tell me what happened?" Hanson asked with as much kindness in his voice as possible.

"He killed my sister didn't he?" Sam asked as his eyes switched from the blue truck to the officer's eyes.

"I'm sorry Sam, I can't tell you anything just yet. The paramedics are with her now and I promise to tell you something as soon as they tell me." Hanson told the young man. He was pretty sure the girl had dies, but at the same time he still needed absolute confirmation from the paramedics before he could officially tell someone that.

"Hanson." Another officer approached him and whispered in his ear. "We have CCTV footage of the whole thing. His father will also be here momentarily."

"Thank you." Hanson was relieved; he wouldn't have to pull details out of Sam.

"He was drunk." Sam stated after a long minute.

"How do you know that Sam?" Hanson asked curiously.

"I saw him. He was drinking something when his truck came up on the sidewalk." Sam answered, voice void of emotion.

Before Hanson could say anything else a squad car stopped just in front of where he sat with Sam and a man that was clearly the young man's father stepped out of the vehicle. The man glanced around, at the truck, and the tiny little body that was now covered and simply awaiting transport to the morgue, and finally at his son who was sitting so silent and still on the bench.

Jason Braddock took a deep breath as he took in his surroundings. His heart was torn in two. His precious daughter, little Anna Marie, was laying lifeless on the sidewalk not far away and his only son sat staring at nothing in front of him. As much as he wanted to go to his baby girl, to see her one last time, he knew that his first mission was to comfort his son. Samuel was clearly in shock.

"Samuel?" Jason knelt on one knee in front of his son. "Sammy, it's me, Dad."

After a long minute Sam slowly blinked and fixed his eyes on his Dad. Dad had given him one job, a mission, to protect and watch over his sister. He had failed. He had failed so completely. Dad will be so disappointed in him.

"Sir." Sam answered simply, his eyes meeting the same blue eyes of his father.

"Son, are you okay? Are you hurt?" Jason asked as he gently placed his hands on his son's shoulders.

"I failed Sir. You gave me a mission and I failed. I understand if you are disappointed in me Sir."

"Son, how could you think I would be disappointed in you?" Jason asked, concerned.

Hanson decided that now would be a good time to give father and son a few moments alone. The young boy clearly felt that he failed at keeping his sister safe. The officer hoped that the man before him would be able to convince his son that it had been simply an accident and not at all his fault. He stood and moved a few paces away. He would ensure that they would have the privacy that they need.

Jason Braddock's brows furrowed at the blank look on Sam's face. Clearly his nine year old little boy was feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders right now and he didn't know if he would be able to convince Sam that it wasn't his fault. When officers knocked on his door and told him two of his children had been involved in an accident he had feared the worst, that both were now dead. As hard as it was for his heart to hear the news that little Anna Marie was now gone he couldn't help the relief that he felt when he heard that Sam was unharmed. However, he now knew that to not be the case. He son may not be physically in pain, be he clearly was emotionally.

"Son, none of this was your fault. It was just an accident." Jason stated softly.

"I should have heard the truck sooner. I should have pulled her out of the way. I should have been more careful. But now Anna is dead. It's all my fault." Sam stated matter of factly.

"No son, it's not your fault. If it's anyone's fault it is the fault of the man driving. He should have been more careful. But Samuel, you are not to blame for this. You did everything you could to protect Anna." Jason said carefully.

He leaned forward and gently pulled his son into his embrace. Jason didn't know what else to do. Sam was sitting quietly, unmoving, almost unresponsive. There were no tears, no emotion in his son's voice. Jason had seen this before in soldiers and it terrified him to death that his son was going through this. It scared him knowing that there was a distinct possibility that this one event would scar Sam for the rest of his life.

Jason knew he needed to go. He needed to get his boy home. His family needed to be together during this time of grief. Only then would wounded souls begin to heal.

As Sam's dad wrapped his arms around him and drew him into a hug Sam took a deep breath. His dad was wrong. This was his fault. He was supposed to protect Anna and he had failed. He decided, right then and there, and the young age of nine years old. He would never forgive himself for what he had done here today. It was his fault his bubbly little sister was dead and he would spend forever torturing himself for letting it happen.

He would never give up, never let go. He would carry the guilt from this day on his shoulders until the day that he died!