Thank you all so much for the many reviews on the previous chapter. I wasn't expecting it at all as I was worried that maybe to others this story may be boring and perhaps even a little confusing because of the timeline. But you guys are the best. I really sincerely appreciate it. I thoroughly enjoy writing this story and I have so many ideas for further chapters in this story.

Thank you again and I hope you enjoy this new chapter!

Chapter 2

"The kids?" Sam asked as Jason walked into the room.

"They're good," Jason gave her a thumbs up. He'd gone quickly to bring Danny to school upon Sam's insistence. They were simply waiting on the orderlies to bring her to her tests and Sam felt it better for Jason to spend a little time with Danny so that he wasn't left alone or scared. Jason continued, "Danny wants to see you."

"I want to see him too," Sam replied. Since the accident, there hadn't been an opportunity to bring Danny to the hospital. He'd been asleep at the Quartermaines when Sam had been brought to the hospital and it would've been simply too chaotic to wake up Danny and possibly scare him by bringing him to the hospital. Then yesterday the plan was for Jason to pick up Danny and Scout at the Quartermaines when Danny was back from school, but then Sam had had her fainting spell and continued experiencing intense headaches before finally needing to be sedated.

"I'll bring him when he's back from school," Jason said. All Danny knew was that his mom was hurt but not that she couldn't hear and that was the reason why Jason insists he picks up his son. He wanted to be the one to explain to his son, not that he knew how.

"He'll be scared," Sam whispered. There was the occasional cold and the one-time flu that Danny had seen Sam suffer through, but beyond that, Sam had done a good job keeping Danny at bay whenever she was hurt.

"Sam, it's Danny. He doesn't get scared," Jason made an attempt for a lighter mood and it worked for the most part.

"He's like a carbon copy of you," Sam laughed softly. "Mini Jason running around the living room."

"Exactly. He'll be fine."

"I want to get out of bed," Sam said giving Jason a near puppy-eyed look. The doctors had run their exams and tests; she'd been poked and prodded. They ran another CAT scan, took another blood test, and performed a whole slew of physical exams. The entire time Sam hardly knew what was happening. The staff would try to explain, albeit through hand signals or through the whiteboard, but it was still frustrating to receive a clear explanation.

"I know you do but remember what happened yesterday," Jason replied with exaggerated mouthing and grandiose hand gestures. The couple had managed to find a way to communicate without the whiteboard and it was a comfort for the both of them. They'd figured out an elementary system of signals and movements that was enough to translate the message. It wasn't foolproof by any means and there were moments when Sam asked for clarification, but it was still less frustrating than communicating with a whiteboard.

"Please Jason," Sam pleaded, putting her hands together as if to beg. After the myriad of tests, the couple was left with "wait and see". Dr. Clars had said that she needed to review the tests and that she'd be back by the end of the day with the results. This had left Sam crawling up the walls.

"Let me call the nurse and see what she says, okay?" Jason answered, pointing towards the call button, and when it earned a nod from Sam, he pressed the button. They patiently waited a few moments before an older nurse walked in.

"Hello," she greeted, waving to Sam. "What can I help you with?" she signed.

"I want to get out of bed," Sam answered.

"Okay," the nurse said hesitantly. After a few pondered seconds passed, the nurse picked up the whiteboard, wrote down a message and then turned the board around. "I'll help you, but we'll take it slowly."

A large smile quickly crept up on Sam's face and it was proven infectious as Jason caught the grin.

"Thank you," Sam said. She was in favor of the nurse from the start. The nurse, Anne, was short in stature, had a cute pixie cut, colored red, wore large black rimmed glasses and was in her mid-50's. She'd been the only nurse or doctor thus far who addressed her first instead of Jason or her mother. Anne asked for Sam's permission instead of Jason or Alexis and it made Sam feel like she wasn't a child waiting for her parents' permission.

Anne also wasn't afraid of defying doctor's orders. She was for the best interest of her patients and not the doctors' egos, and though Patrick had been understandably cautious for his patient, Sam was going to lose it if she to be in bed much longer.

"Okay, what we'll do first is have you sit up," the nurse instructed. Sam nodded, and Anne moved to the side of the bed to press the buttons on the bed. Slowly the head of the bed moved upright and Sam was sitting straight.

Anne kept her eyes focused on both Sam and her monitors. Jason stood on the other side of Sam holding her hand.

"Okay?" Anne asked.

"Yes, good," Sam answered honestly. She didn't feel any dizziness so far.

"Great, now swing your legs over to the side of the bed." Sam did as asked, letting go of Jason's hand and brought her legs to hang over the edge, facing Anne. Jason moved over to the other side to face Sam.

"Okay?" Anne asked again.

"A little dizzy," Sam answered differently this time.

"That's fine. It's normal. Take your time," Anne glanced over towards to Jason as if to say to get the board and Jason, thankfully, was quick to follow. Grabbing the whiteboard, he wrote down what Anne had said and then showed Sam.

Anne looked back towards Sam and her monitors, checking for any noticeable drop in Sam's blood pressure. Jason's eyes remained on Sam, feeling uncomfortable and useless; there was so little he could do… for everything.

"Good," Sam said, looking up at Anne.

"Are you sure? Take a deep breath for me." The nurse didn't like the pallor in her patient's face. Sam took in a slow deep breath, letting it out slowly and then immediately shut her eyes.

"Nauseous," Sam mumbled.

"Alright, let's put your legs back onto the bed," Anne commanded, responding quickly. Jason, having placed the whiteboard on the table, stepped in front, lifting Sam's legs and placing them back on the mattress. "Take care of her, I'll be right back," Anne instructed before hastily heading out of the room.

"It's going to be okay," Jason reached for Sam's hands. "Take another deep breath."

Sam followed the instructions, ensuring that her breathing was even and steady as if trying to breathe away the nausea. Jason mimicked Sam's rhythm, as added support, keeping a steady tempo.

"Okay," Sam said, looking up at Jason. She wanted another try. Jason simply nodded. Once again, she swung her legs over and allowed them to hang over the edge.

"It's better this time," she said.

"Give it a few more seconds. Take another breath," Jason didn't want to rush things. There was no need. Same closed her eyes, again, and gave herself a moment. Opening her eyes, she then gave Jason a nod.

"Slowly, okay," Jason demanded. Sam wanted to roll her eyes, but she knew he was justifiably concerned. Giving her an arm, Jason let Sam grab onto it as she pulled herself up into a standing position. He could feel her wobble and so he wrapped his arm around her back to steady her. Obtaining her attention, Jason took a large breath and Sam took his cue. Both remained at such a stance, taking slow and large breaths, holding onto one another, until Sam opened her eyes.

"Okay?" Jason asked.

"Yes," Sam replied with a genuine smile, "this feels good." Jason was glad. It almost made him feel as if he wasn't so helpless. Almost.

Just then Anne scurried to the doorway with crackers in one hand and ginger ale in the other. She stopped dead in her tracks upon seeing the scene in front of her. The couple hadn't even noticed her, for which she was grateful. She reached in to close the door slightly, giving the couple a little more privacy, before turning to head back to the nurses' station.

"Dr. Drake!" She spotted the doctor heading for Sam's room to check up on his patient. "I could use your help quickly at the nurse's desk." She'd made an excuse. The couple deserved a small moment of happiness instead of a lecture by the neurosurgeon.

"Hi Monica," he greeted when his mother opened the door.

"Jason, hi, come on in," she waved him in. "Danny is up in his room cleaning up his toys and then he'll be down."

"Great, thank you for taking care of the kids."

"They're my grandchildren! There's nothing I love more than taking care of them and watching them grow up," Monica closed the door behind Jason. "How is Sam?"

"She…um… she's ok considering what could have been but… I don't know. She's hiding," Jason answered, surprised at his forthcoming honesty.

"Hiding from what?" Monica asked.

"I'm not sure. I feel like she's hiding her fear because she's afraid if she acknowledges her fear, it'll make it more real for her some way."

"I can't even imagine what she's going through," Monica replied, shaking her head. "Did the specialist give you any answers yet?"

"Not yet. She said that she needs to review the results first but that she'd tell us the results by the end of the day. So, we've just been waiting," Jason answered.

"It must be agonizing."

"It is. I'm not sure how Sam is able to hold together."

"How have you been able to hold it together?" Monica asked her son.

"What do you mean?"

"How are you doing with everything that's happened?"

"Me? I'm not the one you should be concerned about," he scoffed.

"Well, I am concerned, and I'll ask again. How are you doing?"

Jason turned away, not willing to divulge his own feelings.

"This has to be scary for you as well."

"It is… it is… I'm scared for her. And I feel helpless, mom," Jason spoke. "I see the look in her eyes, her pain, her anxiety, and I can't do anything about it. It's like I'm not doing enough. Heck, I can hardly say anything because she can't hear me. I can't be what she needs me to be!"

Monica let her son have a short rant. It was obvious to her that her son was still withholding more emotions, but she wasn't going to be the one to push her luck. It was evident that he was struggling with all that happened, and Sam was hiding, but so was Jason.

"Jason… you're doing enough. I understand that you feel as if you're doing nothing but you're enough. You've never been a man of many words and it's certainly not what Sam needs right now. She needs someone by her side, that'll be there when she falls and will hold her hand, dry her tears, and to be her hears…"

"Mom…" Jason wanted to interrupt.

"Jason. I've been able to get to know Sam over the years and I've been able to witness your relationship. There's always the common theme for Sam. You make her feel safe. You are what she needs."