Author's Note: Hello everyone! I'm so excited you have been liking my previous stories about Sam and his family =D I had been getting some requests for how he and Rachel meet so here is the first chapter. I hope you enjoy.

While You Were Sleeping

"Hello Ms. Nowak. Is it Thursday today?" The elderly woman grinned at the young woman entering her room.

Rachel nodded, her auburn bun bouncing against her neck. "Hi Peggy, how are you doing today?" she asked sweetly.

"Oh you know, the same old same old. I can never keep track of time anymore." The woman waved pulling the tubes away from her wheelchair. "How are you doing dearie? Keeping busy?"

"I'm trying to. Do you need anything?"

"If you could please refill this." Her hand trembled pointing at the water bottle.

Rachel smiled. "Of course I can." She took the giant plastic cup and headed to the sink. Rachel Nowak was a regular volunteer at Evergreen Hospital. She always came in on Thursdays before her church's board meeting. She was an unofficial liaison between the two even though she was really just one of the Sunday school teachers. "Anything exciting happened since my last visit?" Rachel asked handing back the bottle.

"I've hearing from the nurses that there was an animal attack. Do you know about this?"

"No. I haven't heard anything. Are they alive?"

"Yeah, he's upstairs. They think it was bear. I didn't even know we had bears around here. Rather terrifying isn't it? I think I'd rather just stay in here thank you very much."

"I won't argue there," Rachel chuckled. "Do you need anything else?"

"No I think I'm good."

Rachel headed upstairs curious about this bear attack. She knew it wouldn't be a pretty picture, but her curiosity about who it was won out. She figured it couldn't be somebody from the church, she would have heard about that. She peeked into the rooms searching for someone who looked the part. A few patients saw her and waved back.

Between the church and hospital, Rachel liked to think she had complete catalog of the town's faces to memory, so it surprised her to find a stranger in 306. His bed was just large enough for him with his brown hair spread over his pillow. There were bruises and patches on his exposed skin and he was pale as can be. A feeding tube was placed in his nose, his left arm was hooked up to an IV has his right was in a sling. As she got closer she could hear his pained breathing. Rachel peeked at his chart and was dismayed to see under name he was marked John Doe.

"Hey Rachel, doing your rounds?" one of the nurses named Lucy peeked in.

"Yeah," she said sadly. "How long has he been here?"

"I think it was Monday night or Tuesday morning. Someone found him off the hiking trail. We think he got attacked by a bear or something."

"I heard. He didn't have any id on him?"

"Not even a cell phone."

"How bad is it?"

"Cracked ribs, fractured arm, concussion, not to mention all the cuts and bruises. He nearly bled to death before we could do anything."

He's lucky the bear didn't rip his face off, Rachel thought seeing the minor scratches along his cheek bone. What on earth were you doing out there? "And no one has reported him missing?"

"Not that we know of," Lucy shrugged.

That made her more depressed. "If you need donations for him, just let me know his blood type and I'll send announcements out."

"Sure thing," Lucy smiled and headed down to the next room.

Rachel stood at his side gently brushing long brown hairs off his face.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you," she said sorrowfully. "And I'm sorrier you have to go through this alone." Her brushing turned to a stroking rhythm along the top of his head. "But if it's a comfort, you're in very safe hands. Everyone here is very nice and will make sure you get the best care. Although you might have to watch out for Lucy if she examines you. She's fond of the tall, dark, and handsome type." Rachel smiled and took hold of his good hand. "I'm sure there's somebody out there worried sick, but I'll keep you company till they find you." She pulled up a chair and made herself comfortable at his bedside. "My name is Rachel. I'll try not to annoy you too much."