Chapter 3

The service had been three days ago. Sam was trying to get back to her normal life, but even the most mundane tasks seemed impossible without him. Addi and Ava were down the hall in their room, still asleep. She lay in bed wearing one of Jason's infamous t-shirts as she prepared herself to face the world. Today was the day that she and the girls were getting back to the world outside. She had gotten past the devastating, debilitating, heart-being-ripped-out-and-churned-in-the-blender grief, but she still felt disconnected and lost. She knew that Jason wouldn't want her wallowing in pity, so she owed it to him to do her best.

She reluctantly rose and took a hot shower. She stood under the stream of water and felt invigorated. She could do this. It would get easier.

Once she got the girls ready, they were out the door. Addi and Ava were going back to preschool today and Sam was going to the office. They stopped for a quick breakfast at Kelly's, then Sam dropped the girls off with a promise to spend the afternoon together.

Sam headed to the MetroCourt where she took the elevator up to the 11th floor. It felt good to put her key in the lock of M&S Investigations. Carly had pulled strings for her and Spinelli to get this office space for their PI firm. They were right across the hall from Crimson and Carly's office was directly upstairs, so it was perfect. Sam pushed open the door and welcomed the feeling of normalcy. She went to sit at her desk and sorted through the mail that had accumulated in her absence. The door opened and Spinelli entered. Not noticing her, he quickly placed his laptop on his desk and began his morning ritual of starting the coffee, opening the blinds, and getting everything ready for the day. Sam felt a pang of joy mixed with anguish as she realized how much Jason had rubbed off on him. The boy that had come to live with them many years ago had been replaced by an eccentric yet wonderful man. Spinelli's eyes came to rest on her and it took a moment to click in his mind.

"Fair Samantha! You have returned!" he said with a grin. He walked over and wrapped Sam in a hug. "How are you? You look like you're doing well," he said gently.

"I am. It's hard, I won't lie, but I can do this. I have to – for me, for my girls, and for Jason," she said with a hopeful smile as she squeezed his hands

"Now, I have a new case that requires our urgent attention," Sam said as she motioned for Spinelli to sit across from her.

"Of course, the Jackal is ready to assist in any way," he said as he opened his laptop to take notes and begin research.

"We are going to find out who took Jason from us and make them pay," Sam said seriously.

Spinelli stopped typing and looked up skeptically. "Are you sure about this?"

"She's sure," Carly said from the doorway. "And I want in."

"Me too," Maxie said, joining the group.

"No," Sam said. "I'm not dragging you two into this. I'm only letting Spinelli help because he is the best at cyber-surveillance and research."

"Too bad, Sam," Maxie said determinedly. "Carly and I are in. You mess with us and there's going to be hell to pay."

"Exactly," Carly said as she dragged a chair close to Sam's desk. Maxie followed suit. "So where do we start?"

----

The four had worked through the morning, but not much progress was made. It was almost time to pick the girls up from school. Sam decided to stop by the hospital on her way and check on Sonny.

She tapped lightly on Sonny's door and poked her head in. She wasn't prepared for Sonny's appearance and tears pricked at her eyes. He was badly bruised and his complexion was pale. He was on a ventilator and had various IVs and other tubes running in and out of him. Claudia was napping in the recliner beside the bed, hands resting on her big belly. Sam went to duck back out, not wanting to disturb them. Just as she started to close the door, Claudia stirred and blinked her eyes.

"Hey, Sam, please come in," she said sleepily. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up and tried to look awake.

"No, it's okay…I'll come back later, you need to rest," Sam said apologetically.

"Please?" Claudia asked. "I'm kinda going stir-crazy here."

Both women laughed softly. Sam went to the other chair in the room and took a seat.

"How are you?" Claudia asked.

"I've been better…but I've also been worse. It's hard, but I'm going to be okay. I keep re peating that sentence in my head, and, so far, it seems to be working," she answered. "How about you? How are you and my nephew?" Sam asked as she smiled at Claudia's belly.

"Honestly, I'm about to go crazy. I've never been one to sit around all day. I want to be here for Sonny, but I feel like I might climb the walls at any moment. The baby's great. He's been kicking up a storm. I've been holding Sonny's hand up to my stomach, thinking maybe feeling his son would bring him back to us," Claudia said tearfully.

Sam took her hand comfortingly. "I know Sonny is doing his best to come back to you both. He just needs time to heal. Has there been any change?"

"Not really. Patrick says that his vitals are improving, but so far he's not coming out of the coma. I can't lose him, Sam. I'm sorry, it's not fair that I'm complaining about Sonny being alive when Jason…you know, but I love him so much and this baby needs his father."

"Hey, you don't need to feel bad about it. I believe that Sonny is strong and he's fighting for you," she said reassuringly. She and Claudia had become casual friends when they had married Sonny and Jason, but this tragedy had bonded them forever.

"I hate to rush off, but I have to go pick up the girls from school. Why don't you join us for lunch and some fresh air at the park? I'm sure it will make you feel better."

"That sounds great. I need to get out of here before I lose it!" Claudia said with a smile. She kissed Sonny softly and told him she'd be back soon. They left word at the nurses' station to call if they needed anything and then walked out into the beautiful spring weather.

---

Sam and Claudia sat on a bench and watched Addi and Ava play. It had been a tough day, but Sam had made it. 'One down, a lifetime to go,' she thought. She was glad Claudia had joined them. She could tell it had helped her relax, and Sam realized she needed the company.

"Aunt Claudia! Look!" Addi said as she ran up to the women. "I found a callapitter!"

"Wow, Addi! That's great!" Claudia said looking at the squirming creature.

"Addison Jaye Morgan! Put that down! You don't know if that's poisonous," Sam admonished.

"No, Mommy, Ava said it's not," Addi pouted. She didn't want to give up her new pet.

"Ava Caroline! Did you say that?" Sam asked her other daughter.

"Yes, I did. It was in a book that Daddy and I read. It showed pictures of callapillars and Daddy showed me which ones were good and which were bad. I 'membered that kind was a good one," she said proudly.

Sam didn't really know what to say to that. "Okay," she sighed. "But you're both getting hand sanitizer before we leave."

The girls ran off to play. Sam laughed lightly. "You just never know what to expect, do you?"

Claudia didn't answer. "Claudia?"

Claudia looked up with a cold look in her eyes. "Sorry, I was just thinking."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I'm not sure if you want to hear it, but…"

"Go on," Sam said, recognizing the look of revenge.

"Whoever took their Daddy away needs to pay dearly. Whoever put Sonny in a coma needs to feel the pain I feel right now. They came after our families and took the men that we love. Those bastards need to have their asses handed to them. We need to make sure that happens."

"Funny you should mention that," Sam said, surprised by Claudia's comment. "Spinelli, Carly, Maxie, and I are working on finding who is responsible at this very moment. I didn't include you because of the baby, but I can see that you're going to insist. I completely understand – I'd do the same thing. But I have one requirement."

"Okay," Claudia replied.

"That baby comes first. No dangerous situations, no fighting or even getting too stressed out. You have to promise me that you'll let us handle the hard stuff."

"Deal," said Claudia. "So where do we start?"

Sam laughed heartily, her first good laugh in a long time. "You sound just like Carly!" Claudia laughed, too.

Sam was going to have her hands full with those two, not to mention Maxie and Spinelli.