The high-pitched whine in his ears was the first thing to impinge on EJ's subconscious. Every other sound was muffled, buried as though under cotton wool, but his eyes kept up that annoying ring. Groaning, he tried to move, but became aware of excruciating pain in his back and in his head. Bollocks, there was pain everywhere. He was unconscionably hot as well, the only source of comfort came from something soft and decidedly human like cushioning him. Realizing there was a body under him, he opened his eyes, but his head spun and vision blurred as he fought the sudden urge to throw up.
Samantha.
That was who was under him, he remembered. His eyes popped open in haste and the world tilted, but he fought through it, intent on her. She was He was pretty sure there wasn't supposed to be two of her, but she was beneath him, still unmoving, her head a bloodied mess. He tried to push his weak body up. His concern that he was crushing her, stopping her from breathing, pushing him through the fog surrounding his brain. He groaned again, memory coming back in snippets when he realized his hand was still under her shirt. He covered her back up, before shifting his body off hers, his weight held on shaky arms. It was then he realized there were voices, above, around him.
Is he alive?
What about her?
Should we move them?
No, I saw it on a TV show once.
We can't just leave them, the fire's getting worse.
The pain in his back got exponentially worse, but he ignored it even as the voices got more frantic.
Don't move.
There's glass in your back, well I think it's glass.
He looked up to see a couple of people, their eyes shifting between the smoke and flames coming out of her apartment and them.
"Help her," he demanded through gritted teeth as he shifted beside her. "Help her." He repeated as darkness called to him.
When EJ woke again, it was to the smell of antiseptic, the distinct odor only a hospital carried.
"Mr. Dimera," a voice spoke. "I'm nurse Jones. You're at University Hospital."
"Samantha," he croaked out.
"Ms. Brady will be fine, Mr. Dimera. I'm just going to go get the doctor. You've been in an accident and you need to stay still."
EJ didn't know if he would call almost being blown up an accident, but he knew the nurse probably didn't exactly have many soothing words in her repertoire for an incident like this. He also knew there was no way in hell he would stay still. He needed to find Samantha and make sure she was okay. He had just started to pull off his oxygen mask when someone was yelling his name.
"EJ! Stop that and lie back down!" He looked up and saw his sister, a sister he had never come into contact with before in his life, glaring at him.
"Alexandra?"
"You know who I am?" She smiled a bit.
"Yes," Hhe nodded swaying with the movement. "Father showed me pictures."
"Good, now as your sister and a doctor I'm telling you to lie down."
"No, I have to see Samantha. I won't until I know she's okay."
"EJ, Sami is resting next door and doing better than you are. She has a mild concussion and some brusied ribs, but she'll be fine. You shielded her with your body. You on the other hand little brother, have second degree burns along your back and some glass was embedded also. We removed the glass, and treated you for burns and smoke inhalation, but the reason which we don't want you to move is because of your previous injury to your lumbar spine. It might have been exacerbated. We've done serial x-rays and so far there's nothing, but I'd feel better if had a CT done. So you need to take it easy."
EJ had all but forgotten about his small brush with paralysis. He had been in a terrible accident while racing, fracturing Lumbar spine two and three. He had lost sensation in his anterior and posterior thigh as well as some motility. After months surgery andphysiotherapy, he had gone back to normal, and back to racing, a fact his mum nearly killed him for. There were still screws in there and EJ knew how serious it would be it they had shifted.
"Alexandra…"
"My friends call me 'Lexi'."
"Will I insult you if I say I prefer Alexandra?"
"No, that's what father calls me."
Well, it seems father and I appreciate beautiful names while you samites insist on shortening them."
Just as she laughed, they heard a very irate voice.
"Listen, I am not getting back in that bed until you take me to see EJ!" He heard Samantha's voice.
Alexandra shot him a look, before rolling her eyes, " You two…" She shook her head before leaning out the door, "It's alright, bring her."
After a moment, Sami rolled her self in, an exasperated nurse following behind her. She rolled right up to him, ghosting her hand along the bandages on his back.
"I'm alright sweetheart." He assured her when her eyes finally reached his face. She gave him a watery smile and they stared at each other for a long moment before Alexandra cleared her throat.
"He is not alright. He has an old spine injury, we're a little worried about. Do not get out of that bed!"
Samantha narrowed her eyes at him, "You heard the doctor, EJ."
"And you sit in that chair until I send someone to wheel you back in your room," his sister continued, addressing Samantha this time. "You get a few minutes, then I'm going to tell father to come in. He's been like a bull in a china shop since you two came in."
"Thank you, Lexi."
Alexandra nodded at them both before exiting the room.
"So you're really alright, love?"
"Yes, and I have you to thank for that."
"Samantha…"
"Don't try to sell me any nonsense, EJ. I don't know where I would be without you and I fully intend to repay you and well, as far as I can remember I do owe you a little payback." She leaned in then, kissing him.
They broke apart when a throat cleared in the doorway, "So this is what you two have been doing, cavorting while I worried."
"Father," EJ nodded at him while Samantha grinned.
EJ was actually startled at the warmness between them as his father lifted her hands to place a kiss on them, "Mia Figlia…"
Samantha nodded and then he turned to EJ laying a kiss to his forehead. "Don't you ever scare your father like that again. Either of you. Now Samantha I just saw Roman Brady and Bo Brady come in as I entered. No doubt they will be looking for you."
"No doubt. I better go before they come after you dastardly Dimeras."
Both men chuckled at her jest as she wheeled out of the room.
EJ turned to his father then, "I think it's time you let me in on what exactly Samantha does for you and why someone tried to kill her tonight."
"Elvis…"
"Father, you brought me here to be part of the family and that means I need to know what is going on."
Stefano sighed as he sat, saying simply "Un amico nostro."
"What of him?" EJ inquired, confused.
"She is his… second."
"Father, you are not making any sense."
"Elvis," The Phoenix sighed, "Samantha is second to Marco. Her name is Ombra."
Well, Fuck!
"And there is more."
EJ steeled his voice in resolve, "Tell me everything."
