Disclaimer: days of our lives is not mine, the actors are not mine, although I can think of one tall dark handsome one with an accent that I would love to have be mine but that's beside the point.

Chapter 13

"EJ, calm down," she said in a concerned tone.

He looked at her, his dark eyes wide in desperation. "It can't be true. It's a trick! Your father and Bo probably cooked it up. If they think I stabbed Roman and kidnapped you they are just saying this to lure me to come out of hiding…" His voice became breathless.

"EJ." She reached out to touch his arm but he wrenched away from her.

"DON'T!" He took some rapid breaths to calm himself. "He's not dead!"

Sami stood back biting her lip. His pain was palatable. She wished she could reassure him but she had no idea if Stefano was dead or not. A part of her hoped he was dead but she knew a part of EJ would be devastated. For whatever reason he seemed to worship his father.

She took a deep breath. "You are probably right, it's a set up. Please lie back down. You just shivered again. Can I get you something to eat or drink?"

He avoided looking at her and shook his head before lying down again.

"I'm just going to head into the kitchen for a bit and heat something up because I'm hungry. Are you going to be okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine," he answered quietly, his voice sounding rough.

He swallowed heavily, fear gripped his heart. His father couldn't

be dead. Despite everything he loved him. His father had taken care of him, given him everything he ever wanted. He wasn't just his soldier. He was sure of it. He did love him. He was sick he didn't know Andre had tried to kill him. Tony had said he was concerned about him. He shook his head taking a deep breath, he couldn't be dead. He refused to believe it. He carefully lay down on his side.

The wind had picked up even more and the lights flickered ominiously as Sami fixed herself a bowl of soup. It was late and EJ hadn't eaten anything. She hoped the smell of the soup would stimulate his appetite.

She frowned as she entered the room; he seemed to be in the midst of a bad dream. His hand gripped the pillow his head was resting on, his knuckles were white. He leant closer to hear what he was saying.

"Don't die. Please father, open your eyes. You can't be dead. You are the only person in this world who loves me. Please…" He cried as he buried his face in the pillow as the tears ran.

Sami's heart clenched. She realized that despite his denial over what was reported a part of him believed Stefano was dead. Laboriously she climbed on the bed and put her hand on his shoulder. "Come on, EJ, wake up."

He awoke suddenly and looked at her startled, his dark eyes tortured. Then he looked down at his pillow as if expecting Stefano to be there. He clenched his jaw tightly.

"It's ok. You were just having a nightmare."

EJ sniffed and wiped his face. "I know you find this hard to believe but my father was wonderful when I was little. He spent time with me, he loved me. When I had nightmares he would comfort me and sit with me until I fell asleep again. He was a good father," he explained quietly.

"EJ, I'm sorry but that man ruined so many lives. I know you love him but look at what he has made you do? You shot my stepfather, you raped me, you tortured Steve and who knows what else you have done that I don't even know about. That isn't love."

EJ sneered. "So love means turning your back on a member of your family because they made a mistake? Love is marrying a man who helped send you to death row?"

Sami's eyes narrowed. "I forgave my family and Lucas. No one else got hurt by their actions. I did a lot of bad things too. I hurt people and they forgave me."

"But you also got hurt or have you been so brainwashed by the good and wholesome Brady clan that it doesn't matter anymore?"

For a moment he thought she would slap him, she looked so infuriated.

"I can use the same excuse against you – you hurt me and I forgave you. SO enough, EJ! You have no idea what love is all about." She paused to take a deep breath. "You need to take your medication now." She climbed off the bed and went to the kitchen. EJ ran a hand through his hair. Samantha was furious with him and all he felt now was numb. Was his father really dead or was it just a set up?

He knew what he felt for her was love. He had never felt that way about another woman. Here she was 8 months pregnant with another man's babies and he still loved and wanted her. It was obvious by the way she had held him in the hospital and the way she had taken care of him here that she cared about him. She had to love him. The lights flickered again. He gingerly got out of the bed and put a few more logs in the fire. The temperature in the room was dropping but despite that he had broken out in a sweat again.

"WHAT are you doing out of bed!" Sami shrieked as she reentered the room.

"Adding some wood."

She went to take his arm but he pulled away. "I'm fine, I don't need a nursemaid." He grumbled as he headed back to the bed. By the time he slowly managed to get in and under the covers he was shivering violently again. He cursed how weak he felt.

"Here take your pills." She handed him the pills and some water. "You have to take these regularly in order for them to start working again."

He nodded and wearily took them then lay back against the pillows and closed his eyes.

"You need to eat something before you go to sleep for the night."

He opened his eyes and looked at her. "You need some rest. I'll sleep on the sofa." He attempted to rise but she pushed him down. "No, you aren't going anywhere. The bed is huge; I can sleep on the other side. The medication will knock you out anyway."

He gave her a hurt look. "I would never hurt you."

She looked at him coldly. "Well forgive me if I don't believe you but you already have on a number of occasions. Hurting my family is hurting me because I love them. When you love someone you don't cause them pain!"

A guilty look crossed his face but she ignored it.

"I'm going to fix you a bowl of soup and some crackers. You need to eat them and then we'll go to sleep."

"I don't want any!"

"I really don't care what you want. I'm going to make it and I'll put it on the nightstand. You can eat it or leave it there but I suggest if you want to get better you eat it." She said quietly glaring at him.

He was determined to ignore her and the soup but when she came in she set it on the stand and sat down on the chair by the bed. "You need to get your strength back and the only way you are going to that is by eating. Do I have to feed you again?"

He couldn't help cracking a grin. "Will you make the vroom vroom sounds again?"

She rolled her eyes.

"I'm kidding. I'm just worried about keeping it down." He finally admitted.

Her eyes grew concerned again. "Are you feeling ill again?"

"No matter, I'll give it a try." He grimaced as he sat up again and took the bowl from her. He finished half of it and handed it back to her. "There now, happy?"

"It's for your own good." She responded quietly.

"Thank you for this, for taking care of me. I know I don't deserve it."

She met his eyes. "You saved my life and the twins. I owe you this much." She then got up and returned to the kitchen. By the time she returned EJ had fallen asleep.

She studied him for a moment. His dark hair was all tousled; the shadows of a beard were starting to take shape again. His eyelashes were remarkable long against his pale face. He was a handsome man, if only he weren't a Dimera. She shook her head, what was she thinking? She was happily married to Lucas and anticipating a wonderful life with him, Will and the twins.

She went over to the other side of the bed and climbed under the covers, staying as far away from EJ as possible.

At some point during the night Sami woke up and realized that the fire was almost out. She attempted to turn on the light but realized the power had gone out. Reluctantly she got up and added more logs, shivering in the cold of the room.

When she got back to bed she realized EJ was tossing restlessly. She put her hand to his head and felt how hot he was yet once again he was shivering. Concerned she moved closer and put her arms around him. He immediately quieted and put his cheek against the top of her head. "Samantha." He murmured softly planting a kiss on her forehead.

She smiled softly; she had always loved it when he did that. He suddenly kissed her nose, making her giggle. "EJ?"

Then, all of a sudden, his lips were on her lips and she found herself kissing him back.