** New chapter, Sammy's back! We're starting to ease farther into the plot and why Sammy has shown up. Enjoy, let me know if it's too short.**

Chapter 3: HE'S BACK, AGAIN

"SAMMY?"

She was looking into the face of one of her best friends; her DEAD friend. How could this be? Sammy was dead, yet here she was looking right into his very alive eyes. He smiled at her and she screamed. She threw the blankets over her body and curled up in a fetal position. She closed her eyes and began to shake. Sammy was trying to tell her something, but she couldn't hear anything. His words came out sounding muffled and slow. Without realizing it she started to rock back and forth whimpering.

Sammy threw the blankets off to reveal a pale, freaking out Tara. Tears began to stream down her face.

"Oh, Tara," Sammy said, "It's okay. It's just me. I'm here to help." He realized words would not comfort her. After all, he was dead. He sighed and knew he had to give her time, but they didn't have much time to spend. He slipped into the bed beside her and pulled the blanket on top of them. He wrapped his arms around her and she laid her head on his chest.

The rest of the morning they lay there as she cried until she could cry no more. Just his presence was enough to calm her down, but left her longing to cry once more. They did not have to speak to know what the other was feeling. They cherished their time together, just being there in heart and soul.

Without a word, they both sat up on the bed and looked into each other's eyes. Tara's lips began to form a question, but Sammy cut her off.

"Look Tara, I know your really shocked and you have a lot of questions. Yes, I am dead. No, I'm not okay, I feel great. Yes, life beyond is real. And no, you cannot go there any time soon." Tara shut her mouth quickly.

"You and I are here together because the power on high said what I show you is of utmost importance."

"What are you going to show me? Why is it important? Who is…"

"One question at a time Tara! I know you want answers, but I will only be able to explain or show you a few in the short time we have together." Sammy said interrupting her. " I'll be able to show you two alternative futures. Then you'll know why I had to die."

"But Sammy, you weren't meant to die! It was an accident!"

"Tara, there are no accidents. Everything happens for a reason, HE has made it so. Tara, it was my time, and I'm glad I went for a good cause."

"Sammy don't say that! Don't you wish you were still with us? Don't you love us?" Tara cried.

"Tara, of course I love you all. Of course I would love to be living as well. But I'm not, and if my death meant the salvation of…. Never mind. You'll see. Tara, I'm not upset anymore. I'm now almost at peace."

"Almost at peace?" Tara asked.

"Yeah, I won't be able to rest until you all know why this came about and that I'm okay. That's why I came to you. You needed to know I was okay, like I know you'll be okay. Then, everything will turn out as it should, and I'll be able to rest easy." He explained.

"Sammy, I still have so many questions." Tara said.

"Of course you do, you're Tara. But not all questions can be answered, you're one of the lucky ones. You get to find out the why and the what next. Frankly, I'm quite impressed with you." He said giving me a look.

"Why?" She asked.

"Well I don't know, you're dead best friend just showed up to show you two alternative futures on why her friend actually died. I'm not sure why I would be so impressed on how you're holding up," he said sarcastically. "You're not freaking out, you don't look pale anymore, and you're pretty calm all considering. What's wrong with you Tara? I would have had a heart attack by now! You're not normal!"

She smiled and pointed out, "Sammy, you can't have a heart attack when you're already dead."

He looked at her and said, "Ha-ha, now we're making fun of each other's conditions huh?"

"I was just joking Sammy."

"Well I wasn't joking about you not being normal." He said simply.

They shared a look and started to crack up laughing. For once after the accident, Tara felt normal. Which was ironic, because nothing going on was normal, not in the least. However, Tara felt a little better and the future looked a little brighter.

**Did you like? Do I have you hooked yet? Don't you want to know what happens? I do. What are these two alternate futures? What happens in them? What becomes of the gang? What did Sammy's death really do? Coming up in coming chapters. Please review!**