Foyle had a quiet word with the nurse while Andrew was asleep and she confirmed that Sam would be allowed a short visit the next day as long as nothing changed. Foyle thanked her and with some hesitation left Andrew's room to go and call Sam.
"Samantha Stewart speaking."
"Hello Sam."
"Mr. Foyle! How is Andrew? Mr. Reid's last message said he was recovering. How are you? It's really not the same not having you at the station Sir although of course you should be with Andrew."
She paused to draw breath and Foyle hurried to get a word in, "Andrew's better than he was, in fact they say you can come up for a visit tomorrow, if you like."
"Truly Sir? I've been desperate to come but Milner said I had to wait until you said it was all right. That means he's getting better doesn't it? What time should I come? Do you suppose it would be all right for me to use a station car? I could take the train of course if it isn't."
"Err Superintendent Reid said he could give you a lift up tomorrow after church. If you wanted to come of course."
"Of course I want to come! Why wouldn't I?"
Foyle ran a hand across his forehead, "Well for one you won't be allowed to visit for long, half an hour at most, because of the concussion."
"That's all right Sir I just want to see him, I don't care how short it is."
"Right. He is still quite badly injured Sam and well it's a hospital, not really the nicest place to visit. No one will think less of you if you'd rather wait a few days or until he's back in Hastings."
There was a slight pause and then Sam asked, "Does he not want to see me Sir? Is that why you are telling me all this?" She sounded terribly young and Foyle cursed the awkwardness of trying to discuss such things over the telephone.
"Nnoo Sam not at all. Andrew very much wants to see you. He just doesn't want you to feel err obligated and neither do I. Like I said no one will think less of you if you'd rather not come just now."
Sam laughed lightly, "You forget that my father is a vicar Sir, he used to take me with him on calls sometimes. I'm not the least afraid of hospitals and I very much want to see Andrew."
Foyle smiled slightly at the earnestness in her voice, "right then. What time should I tell Mr. Reid to stop by?"
Five minutes later Foyle had written down the address of Sam's boarding house and arranged that she should be ready to leave at 1pm unless she heard differently. Next he rang Reid to confirm the plan.
This done he headed back to Andrew's room, relieved to find him still asleep. The cuts and bruises on Andrew's face were already starting to heal but as Foyle bent to tuck him in more soundly he couldn't help longing for the days when his arms had been enough to keep his son safe.
Andrew slept peacefully for several hours, waking up hungry just before teatime. It was the first time he had expressed an interest in food since the accident and Foyle felt some of the tension bleeding out of his shoulders.
If Andrew had been trying to assure his father that he was on the mend he could not have chosen a better way and Foyle had to resist the urge to ruffle his son's hair as he left to fetch a nurse.
Once they had finished their tea Andrew had shyly asked if his father wouldn't mind continuing the book they had started the day before. "It's just so nice to hear something that isn't a briefing or a casualty report. Some days I think I could happily read all that Shakespeare that Professor Woodgrove used to assign just for a change!"
Foyle had nodded understandingly and happily complied, smiling fondly when Andrew fell asleep two chapters later. He marked their place in the book and carefully placed it to one side before relaxing back in his chair and letting his own eyes slide closed.
Foyle spent the night in the chair, waking twice to Andrew's nightmares but otherwise sleeping fairly well. When morning dawned he slipped out quietly to shave and change and was back at Andrew's side when his son awoke.
Following his examination the doctor agreed to allow Sam to visit as long as Andrew promised to be honest about how he was feeling. "It's one thing to want to see your best girl but you aren't going to impress her very much by being sick all over the sheets are you?"
Andrew nodded, "no Sir. I promise I'll tell a nurse if I start to feel unwell."
"Good man. You are doing very well, if you keep up like this I should think we'll be able to move you to the general ward quite soon."
"And how soon until I can fly?"
The doctor sighed, studying Andrew for a long minute before answering. "That depends on many things, concussions are tricky and no RAF medic will clear you to fly until you've been symptom free for at least ten days, possibly longer."
Andrew frowned and the doctor gave him a reassuring smile, "try not to fret, you've done very well so far. If you continue to do as you're told you could be out of here a week from now and back in the air soon after that. The most important thing is to try and be patient, the more you rush concussions the longer they take to heal in the end."
Andrew nodded, "right. I can see Sam today though can't I?"
The doctor nodded, "yes you may, although for no longer than half an hour, less if you start to feel ill."
Andrew nodded, a broad smile on his face, which Foyle found himself returning despite his lingering worry.
The doctor smiled back at him, "well I should be on my way unless you have any questions?" He looked inquiringly at Foyle who shook his head. "Right well, best of luck Flight Lieutenant, if you ask nicely the nurses might even help you clean up a bit before your girl arrives."
Andrew looked hopefully at the nurse. She smiled back, "you eat your breakfast and then well see about getting you cleaned up."
"Right-o" Andrew responded returning to his porridge with enthusiasm.
Foyle shook his head, lips curving into a fond smile before excusing himself to go and call Reid and Sam to let them know that the visit could go ahead.
Reid had done his best to prepare Sam on the drive up but it was hard to get a word in edgewise. Any cautions that he did manage she just brushed aside, cheerfully reminding him that it was hardly her first time visiting someone in hospital.
Reid couldn't help but wonder if it was the first time she had visited a beau and if she had considered how that might change things but it was hardly something he could ask.
As a result he could only give the slightest shake of his head to Foyle's questioning eyebrow when he met them at the end of the corridor that led to Andrew's room. Foyle nodded his understanding before turning to Sam.
"Sam, how are you?"
"Oh tickity-boo Sir. Anxious to see Andrew. I thought the sermon would never end this morning, although you must promise not to tell my father; he would give me a lecture that is sure to be twice as long all about the importance of listening to God's word. I've often wondered if God would take as long to tell me what he thought if he could do it for himself. "
Foyle nodded gravely, although his eyes twinkled, "not to worry your secret's safe with me."
"Thank you Sir. May I see Andrew now?"
Foyle hesitated and drew her a little ways down the corridor, "I know you're eager to see him Sam but you must understand he has been in a crash."
Sam frowned slightly, "I know Sir, that's why he's here."
"Err quite." Foyle ran a hand across his forehead, "what I'm trying to say Sam is he's rather the worse for wear at the moment. Concussion and ribs aside he's covered in cuts and bruises and it can be rather a shock at first."
Sam nodded her brow furrowed in concern. "He is going to be all right though isn't he Sir?"
Foyle nodded, "yes in time."
Sam smiled, "well then there's nothing to worry about is there? May I see him now Sir?"
Foyle blinked at her for a moment before nodding slowly and leading the way to Andrew's room. He stuck his head in first to make sure Andrew was awake, smiling slightly at the sight of his son trying not to fidget. "Andrew?"
Andrew looked up as quickly as he dared and Foyle smiled reassuringly at him, "feel up to a visitor?"
Andrew nodded eagerly and Foyle bit back a smile as he turned slightly to look questioningly at Sam. She beamed up at him so he stepped aside to let her pass.
"Sam!"
"Andrew!" Sam had paled slightly at the sight of Andrew's obvious injuries but she recovered quickly and crossed immediately to the bed, sitting down and taking his hand. "It is good to see you. Do you have any idea how worried we've been? What on earth happened?"
Andrew looked down, remorse and guilt plainly written on his face. "I'm sorry Sam, truly I am. I never meant to make you worry."
Sam nodded, squeezing his hand comfortingly, "I know you didn't Andrew. I would like to know what happened though if you don't mind. Are you allowed to tell me?"
"Yes I'm allowed, not much to tell though and I'm afraid you might be cross with me when you hear." He looked up a little shyly and Sam squeezed his hand reassuringly.
"I promise I shall only be cross if you did something foolish and then you'll deserve it."
Andrew chuckled, "I suppose I would. Well like I said there isn't much to tell, I'd taken two of the newest lads up for a practice flight…"
Foyle stood in the doorway chewing his lip, he didn't really want to hear the story again but he was also loath to leave Andrew and Sam on their own in case something happened.
"Christopher?" He turned at Reid's voice, moving to join him in the hallway. "Why don't we go and get some tea? Sam and Andrew seem fine and I'm sure they wouldn't object to 10 minutes alone."
Foyle nodded distractedly, peering into the room where Sam sat listening quietly to Andrew's tale. He tapped lightly on the door frame causing them both to look at him, "sorry to interrupt. Hugh and I are just going to get us all some tea, we'll be back in ten minutes. That all right?"
They both nodded, "err good, Sam there's a nurse at the end of the hall if anything happens."
"Dad!"
"We'll be fine Sir."
Foyle nodded and reluctantly followed Reid down the hall.
Ten minutes later they paused in the doorway, tea in hand, taking in the scene in front of them. Sam still sat holding Andrew's hand but the conversation had changed, stories of airplanes and war no longer filled the air, instead Sam appeared to be telling Andrew about when she was a girl in Lynminster.
Despite the familiar cheeriness in Sam's voice Foyle couldn't help feeling that this was not the young woman that they saw everyday at the station, this was a different Sam. This was the vicar's daughter who had clearly spent her formative years visiting the sick, elderly and bereaved. He cocked his head to one side oddly touched to see Sam in a quiet moment. Beside him Reid cleared his throat causing Sam and Andrew to look up.
"Tea Sam?" Reid offered, stepping forward to hand her the cup and giving Foyle a minute to collect himself.
"Thank you Sir, very kind of you."
Reid smiled kindly at her, "not at all." He glanced at Andrew and then at Foyle, "well it looks like you have everything under control so I'll go back to the hall. The nurses get cross if there are too many people in here at once."
Rousing himself from his thoughts as Reid passed him Foyle crossed to the bed and placed a cup of tea within Andrew's reach. "Milk and sugar, would appear being the one in hospital does have some advantages."
Andrew smiled slightly and Foyle was relieved to see that, while tired, he did not appear to be in pain. He glanced at Sam and then cleared his throat, "might go and join Hugh in the hall unless you need anything?"
"I'm fine Dad."
Foyle gave his son one more searching look and then nodded, "good. Just call if you want me."
The rest of Sam's visit passed quickly and Andrew was surprised when the nurse came to tell them time was up. "Already? Surely she can stay a little longer I feel perfectly fine."
He looked pleadingly at the nurse but she just shook her head, "rules are there for a reason and you've had plenty of excitement for one day." Her voice was kind but firm and she looked significantly at Sam as she spoke.
"But…" Andrew began but Sam stopped him, giving his hand a comforting squeeze
"She's right Andrew you need to rest and I need to get back to Hastings."
"I feel fine."
"I'm glad to hear it but if you argue with the nurses they might keep you longer and then where would we be?"
"I suppose."
Sam smiled and bent to kiss him, "do take care Andrew, I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Take care Sam. Thank you for coming, it was wonderful to see you."
They smiled at each other for another minute before the nurse, deciding this had gone on long enough, began to lower the head of Andrew's bed. With a final smile and a wave Sam stepped out into the hallway.
"Times up then?" Reid asked as Sam appeared in the doorway.
Sam nodded, "'fraid so." Her voice lacked its usual cheerfulness and Reid smiled kindly at her.
"May I run you back to Hastings?"
Sam hesitated, "Very kind of you to offer Sir but I'll be fine to take the train."
"Nonsense, I'm heading back anyway. Need to drop by the station tomorrow morning and see how things are. I can't remember the last time both Christopher and I were away for this long."
"Things seem to be pretty tickity-boo at the station Sir although everyone's been worried about Andrew and Milner seems to be busier than ever."
Reid and Foyle both nodded although Foyle's brow had creased into a frown. He knew his place was by Andrew's side but that didn't change the fact that he still had a job to do, one that Milner was currently doing for him.
"It certainly sounds like everyone has been doing a very good job." Reid agreed "but if I don't go in soon I won't be able to see my desk under all the reports I need to sign."
Sam nodded, "Milner certainly does seem to have been writing a lot of those Sir."
"All the more reason to go in tomorrow. Anything I can get you while I'm back Christopher?"
Foyle thought for a minute, "Any reports Milner wants me to have a look at and my mail would be much appreciated, I can look them over while Andrew's resting."
Reid nodded, "anything from your house?"
Foyle shook his head, "not that I can think of, thank you Hugh."
"Not at all. Ready to go Sam?"
Sam nodded and turned to Foyle, "thank you for letting me come Sir, it was so good to see Andrew."
"Thank you for coming Sam. Your visit cheered him up immensely."
Sam smiled, "may I come again then Sir?"
Foyle hesitated, "depending on what the doctors say, they might be moving him to the ward soon and I'm not sure what the rules for visiting are there."
Sam nodded, "you will let me know though?"
Foyle nodded, "of course."
Sam smiled and Foyle found himself smiling back, "you're welcome to go home for a bit if Milner doesn't need you Sam, I'm not sure when I'll be back at work after all."
"Thank you Sir but I'd rather stay in Hastings at the moment, maybe next weekend."
Foyle nodded and Reid cleared his throat, "shall we?"
Sam nodded, "take care Sir, I hope I'll see you soon."
"Take care Sam." Foyle watched Hugh and Sam walk away before heading back into Andrew's room.
