Will sat through several visitors during his short hospital stay. His grandmothers Marlena and Kate came to see him. Even a contrite-looking John expressed his concerns. Aunt Jennifer and JJ came by for a short while, surprising Will. Eric, Brady, and even Theresa visited with baby Tate. Most shocking of all was Chad and Abigail. As far as Will knew, the two were recluses now, having not seen them in some time. Who knew all it took was an old-fashioned kidnapping to get them out of their little protective bubble.

Several others came as well. Will was certain he saw Adrienne and Justin in the waiting room. But they must have been there for Sonny, not him. Will refused to see Sonny after he kicked him out. Will didn't have anything to say to Sonny, not right now.

Throughout all the visits, Amir stayed by Will's side. Will didn't care what everyone else thought. Amir was the one person, besides Ari, that had been there for Will when he needed someone most. Besides, Ari liked having Amir around too.

"The end," Amir closed The Tales of Beedle the Bard when he realized Ari was fast asleep.

"You're good at that," Will noted. "Getting Ari to fall asleep."

"I just read," Amir shrugged. "Maybe she thinks my voice is boring."

"I doubt it," Will gave a small smile. "Thanks for getting her down for a nap."

There had been no word on Amal yet. They rushed her into surgery the moment she arrived at the hospital. That was hours ago.

"I don't know if I said it earlier," Will turned to face Amir while reclined on his hospital bed. "Thank you."

"For what?" Amir asked.

"For rescuing us," Will said. "For believing there was something wrong. For, I don't know, caring."

"It's not that hard to care for you," Amir admitted. "It's sort of impossible not to, at least for me. But, you're welcome. I just wish I had come by sooner. I might have been able to…"

Will chewed on his lower lip. He ought to tell Amir about the strange scene he witnessed between Frick and Amal. He owed it to Amir.

"I saw something," Will told Amir. He said it fast so that he wouldn't have time to back out. "Something between your mom and Frick."

"My mom and Frick?" Amir tilted his head. "I thought you told me everything, told Balewa everything."

"I did," Will nodded. "It's just, there was a moment, but, I mean, I might have misinterpreted it. I was drugged after all."

"What moment?" Amir focused on Will, face swollen and bruised.

"Your mom stood up to Frick," Will said as Amir nodded. "And she kind of looked at him. I mean, it sounds dumb when I say it out loud. But she looked at him and twisted this ring she wore. Frick backed off after that. He looked terrified."

Amir stared at Will for a moment. "A ring?"

"She went like this," Will demonstrated with his wedding ring. "And Frick seemed horrified."

"Oh," Amir blinked a few times. "That's weird. My mom wears a lot of rings but I don't know of any that could do that."

"There's something else," Will realized. "Frick kept talking about getting rid of me, dealing with me. He never said anything like that about your mom. Now that I think about it, your mom always argued with him then. Telling him he couldn't get rid of me," Will glanced at Amir for a brief moment before looking away, "Because it would upset you."

"That's one way of putting it," Amir said without gumption.

Will, thinking back to their kiss, covered his mouth with his hand. "When she gets out of surgery, and we know she's okay, we can check her stuff. They put all your belongings in a bag. See if she has a ring in there."

"We?" Amir questioned.

"Huh?" Will asked.

"You said we," Amir smiled. "That we'd check."

"Oh, well," Will looked down. It was nearing dinner time and Ari was fast asleep. "Yeah, we."

Amir's lips quirked before falling. "I just hope I get some news about my ammi soon," Amir said. He tongued the split in his lip and winced.

"What does that mean? You keep saying it," Will pointed out.

"Ammi? It just means mom. I called her that when I was younger. Not as much when I got older but I must have picked it up again," Amir realized.

Will nodded before looking away. He didn't know where he stood with Amir. He didn't know what was going to happen. There was a lot about the situation he didn't understand. Questions he needed answers to.

"Why did Frick care about my mom's movie?" Will asked out loud.

"What was that?" Amir said.

"Frick, why did he care about my mom's movie? Why did he send you to California?" Will said. "It just doesn't make sense."

"You're right," Amir agreed. "We never found out. And you know what else doesn't make sense?"

"What?" Will wondered.

"That Paul guy, he saw you at the club," Amir said. "But why was he there?"

"Well," Will furrowed his brows, concentrating. "Paul's gay. Maybe he wanted to unwind?"

"In a town an hour away from Salem?" Amir pointed out. "How would he even know about that specific club? Aren't there gay clubs in Salem?"

"Not strip joints," Will said. "Or, at least, none that I know of."

"So, again, why was he there?" Amir said. "If he's some big, famous celebrity, why would he need to look at strippers?"

Will thought for a moment. Something niggled at the back of his mind, like an itch he couldn't scratch. "Paul said something to me."

"What?" Amir sat on the edge of his chair. He stared at Will with a strange type of intensity. "What did he say?"

"He said he saw me at the club," Will strained his memory. "And that he saw you with me at the park. He said something about you being dangerous."

"Me?" Amir made a face. "Dangerous? Why would he think that?"

"I don't know," Will shook his head. "It doesn't make any sense. I guess that's something else we'll have to figure out," Will sighed. There went his nice, quiet life.

A little while after dinner, Lucas knocked on Will's door. He spent the entire afternoon and evening in the waiting room. He wanted to give Will his space. Also, Adrienne was there for Sonny and Lucas didn't want her alone with Justin.

"Hey," Lucas said as he opened the door. "I hope you're up for some more visitors."

Will didn't know who could have come. He was pretty sure he'd seen everyone in town already.

"Will!" a loud barrage of voices yelled as Sydney, Johnny, and Allie burst into his room. The three all clambered over his bed, waking Ari in the process.

"Are you okay?" "Did you get hurt? "Did they give you a shot?" rang all throughout the room as Will tried to settle his siblings down.

"Woah, woah, woah, one question at a time," Will requested. His voice muffled due to the three children covering him.

"I think the biggest question," a concerned voice said from the door, "Is why the hell you didn't call me?"

"Mom," Will smiled when he managed to get himself free.

"Don't you mom, me," Sami Brady warned as she waltzed into the room. She shoved Amir out of the seat he was in without looking to see who it was. "I had to hear from your father of all people you were in something dangerous. Why didn't you tell me?" Sami punctuated the question with a painful punch to the shoulder.

"Ow," Will complained before Sami wrapped him in a bone crushing hug. "I don't know why you all keep saying I didn't call you. I've sent you hundreds of texts and calls and you never responded."

"No, you didn't," Sami insisted, pushing Will away.

"Yes, I did," Will argued.

"No," Sami narrowed her eyes, "You didn't!"

"Yes, I-," Will fired back.

"Okay, time out," Lucas interjected. "Sami, Will has tried calling you. He told me."

"Well, there must be something wrong with his phone," Sami deduced, crossing her arms. "I have been sitting, waiting for my eldest to call me. Waiting for him to confide in me, waiting for-,"

"Okay," Lucas cut her off with an exaggerated roll of his eyes. "Will, I do think there's something wrong with your phone."

"It doesn't matter now," Will said. "I don't know where it is. In your coat closet maybe."

"Still," Lucas said. "You couldn't contact anyone when you were in California. You couldn't talk to Sami or Sonny here. It's not normal."

"What about Sonny?" Sami snapped. "I saw him in the waiting room. Dragged himself home, did he?"

"It's nothing," Will said, looking away from Sami's gaze. He saw Ari playing around with his siblings.

"Don't pull that on me," Sami ordered. "I invented that crap. You tell me everything that's been happening and you tell me right now."

Amir, never sure how to act around Sami Brady, inched towards the door. "I'll just go check on my ammi."

Sami looked over her shoulder and frowned when the door closed. "Was that Amir? What's he doing here?"

"It's a long story," Will said. Seeing Sami's glare, Will sighed. "Which is why I better start at the beginning."

By the time Amir came back into the room, Will finished explaining everything to Sami.

Amir hovered near the door before walking over to Will's bed. He perched himself on the edge, looking rather awkward.

"So, let me get this straight," Sami pinched the bridge of her nose. "You moonlighted as a stripper to get information about a serial killer? In a town you've never been to before?"

"Uh…yes," Will answered.

"And a detective, a real life police detective, convinced my sweet, innocent baby that he needed to help him?" Sami narrowed her eyes and glared at Will.

"Uh…yes," Will said in a weak voice.

"Which resulted in you and my granddaughter getting kidnapped all because some stupid, idiotic," Sami turned her glare on Amir, "Boy has a crush on you? Is that what you're telling me?"

"Uh…" Amir looked at Will, "Yes?"

"Why does no one tell me anything?" Sami stood up and began to pace. "I could have told all you that this was a horrible idea from the start."

"Well, I didn't think I had a choice," Will argued. "I needed money. And don't say you would have given it to me," Will said before Sami could open her mouth. "I'm an adult. Just because Sonny left me didn't mean I was useless. I needed to prove to myself that I could provide for my daughter. I wanted to get to the bottom of things. I wanted to write the best article I could and prove to myself that I wasn't a waste. And I know that sounds stupid and I know I failed but-,"

"Oh, shut up!" Sami threw her hands up in the air. She grunted a few choice words under her breath that had Lucas yelling out, "Sami!" before Sami turned around. She put her hands on Will's shoulders, forcing him to look at her. "Yes, you were stupid. But not for the reasons you said. You're stupid for thinking that anyone that matters believes you're a waste. You should have come to me straight away."

"I tried!" Will insisted, voice taking on a whining twinge. He always got that way when he tried not to cry. "I'd call or text or send you an email and you'd never answer. No one would answer. And I just, I felt like, I was already alone and I just-," Will bowed his head, trying to focus. "I felt so isolated."

Sami put her arm around Will and rubbed his back. Will leaned against her collarbone, relaxing into her firm hold.

"I thought I could do this," Will whispered. "I just made everything worse."

"It's not your fault," Amir rushed to explain. Will turned his head to catch Amir's eyes. "Balewa convinced you to go and even if he hadn't, Frick wanted to lure you there."

"Because of you," Sami huffed.

"I-yes," Amir swallowed. "Because he found out that I liked Will."

"But," Lucas thought back to when Detective Balewa explained it to them. "You said, that Frick guy got Will fired in California because of you. Because of your feelings or whatever. Why would he bring Will back into things? Why would he bring Will to Fairfield? You hadn't seen Will in a year."

"I-um-I," Amir looked down and fiddled with a bracelet he wore. "Because I sent Will a birthday present. Aker was with me when I sent it. He must have told Frick."

Amir's face crumbled as Will sat up out of Sami's hold.

"I didn't realize any of this would happen," Amir whispered. "I'd never hurt you or Ari. You have to believe me. I wouldn't. I'm so sorry I got you involved in this, Will. I didn't mean to."

"It's okay," Will reached over and squeezed Amir's hand. "You didn't know."

"I should have," Amir sighed.

Will turned back to face Sami again and paused. Sami and Lucas were sharing a look that Will didn't understand. Before Will could question them, a knock at the door sounded.

"Hey," Marlena Evans poked her head inside. "I thought I saw you sneak by."

Marlena opened the door. Eric and Roman followed her inside. They all embraced Sami before turning their attention towards the kids.

Amir didn't seem quite sure what to do with himself with so many of Will's family surrounding them. Especially when Kate, Will's other grandma, returned.

"Sorry," Will told Amir, noticing his discomfort. "There are a lot of us."

"Yeah," Amir agreed with a sort of wonder to his gaze. "It's always just been my mom and I. Sometimes my dad was around too but never this many. You're lucky."

"I guess I am," Will realized with a small smile.

"Where's John?" Sami asked Marlena once she settled down next to Will's bed.

"Oh, he's out in the waiting room with Paul," Marlena said. She didn't seem to realize the implication of her words.

Will rolled his eyes. Sonny, the poor martyr, telling Will how he wanted to talk things out. All with Paul sitting by Sonny's side like the good little lapdog he had become.

I knew Sonny was a liar. I knew it.

Sami narrowed her eyes but said nothing. She cleared her throat before saying, "Mom, have you met Amir?"

Marlena seeming to realize Amir was there at all, startled. "Uh, no." She stuck her hand out and smiled. "I'm Marlena, Will's grandma."

Amir nodded. "I'm Amir, Will's…uh…"

"Friend," Will supplied. He gave Marlena a hard look. She knew who Amir was and Will didn't need any lectures.

"Of course," Marlena nodded.

"Amir is the one who found Will and Ari," Sami said. She linked her arm with Amir's. "He saved them."

"What's that?" Eric asked as he walked over. "Who saved Will and Ari?"

Amir shrank towards Sami as everyone gravitated toward them. Everyone was eager to learn all about Amir's actions and just how brave he had been.

Hours later, after threats from the hospital staff, everyone left but Sami and Amir. Amir refused to leave in case he heard any news about his mother. Sami wouldn't leave Will's side. She sent Johnny, Allie, and Sydney with Lucas.

Will appreciated the company. He didn't fancy being alone in a hospital even with Ari as a roommate.

Sami and Amir both nodded off in chairs next to Will's bed. Ari curled herself into Will's chest, holding tight to his hospital gown.

A knock came at the door. It was still dark out but Will could tell it was early morning.

A doctor walked into the room to see three startled sets of eyes on her. "I have news on Amal Paracha."

"What is it?" Amir jumped to his feet, rubbing his eyes. "Is she okay? Can I see her?"

"She's out of surgery," the woman said. Will had seen her around the hospital before but didn't know who she was.

"And?" Amir asked in a hopeful tone.

Amir, Will assumed, hadn't had many dealings with hospitals or their employees. Will could see from the woman's expression alone that she didn't bring good news.

"She's in a coma," the doctor said. "Once she's out of recovery, you can visit her."

Amir slumped in his chair, face stricken. Sami, reserved for once in her life, stood up and had a hushed conversation with the doctor.

"Hey," Will whispered, not wanting to wake Ari. "Are you okay?"

"I…don't know," Amir answered. He looked up at Will through watery eyes.

"Everything will be okay," Will reached out and grabbed Amir's hand. "You'll see."

"I think we should all try to get some more sleep," Sami suggested as she joined them. "The doctor doesn't think they'll move your mother for a few hours."

"Thanks," Amir whispered.

Will gave Sami a grateful look but one also laced with suspicion. His mother wasn't the type to do things out of the goodness of her heart.

Sami tilted her head and narrowed her eyes at Will. Will sighed, looking away. He long ago learned not to get in the middle of his mother's plans. It made for an easier life.

Besides, Will thought as he adjusted Ari's hold on him. I'm too tired to deal with this shit.

Will, in a fresh change of clothes, followed Amir down a hallway in silence. Sami, holding Ari's hand, trailed them as well.

It was early the next morning. All three of them had a hard time sleeping. Ari alone slept through the night. She bounced around the hallway, a bundle of energy.

"You don't have to come with me," Amir told Will. "You should take Ari home."

Will looked behind him to see Ari hopping all over the place.

"I told you I'd come with you," Will said. "But, I'll check. Ari, do you want to go home yet?"

"No!" Ari cheered, forcing Sami to swing their arms back and forth high into the air.

"See, she doesn't want to go," Will said.

"Ari doesn't or you don't?" Amir wondered. He lowered his voice and said, "Your husband wasn't in the waiting room when we walked by. You could go talk to him."

Will glanced at Amir out of the corner of his eye. He saw Amir bring his fingertips to his lips for a moment. Thinking back to the kisses they shared, Will swallowed down a sizeable amount of guilt.

"I told you I'd go with you," Will argued. He knew his mother was listening and didn't need her knowing more than she did yet.

Sami, clearing her throat, stepped closer. "To be honest, I'd like to see your mother too. You can't get rid of us that easy, Amir. Deal with it."

Before anyone could say anything else, Sami and Ari opened the door to Amal's room and walked inside.

"I almost forgot what your mother was like," Amir said as he turned to look at Will and sighed. "Almost."

"Yeah," Will gave Amir a small smile. "You've never seen her in her element."

"That must be a sight," Amir commented as they walked into the room.

"Let's hope you never have to see it," Will said although Amir was no longer listening.

As soon as Amir caught sight of his mother, he rushed to her side, grasping her hand.

Will took his time moving into the room. Despite how much time he spent in them, Will didn't like hospitals much. Nor did he care to see anyone helpless, hooked up to machines with that monotonous beeping. A beeping that haunted Will's dreams during his youth.

Sami and Ari stood a few feet away from Amal's bed. Giving Amir privacy although it wasn't needed. Amir spoke in a hushed, gentle tone in Urdu. They couldn't understand him even if they wanted to.

Amal looked quite terrible. Most of her hair had been shaved to go with the surgery to repair her skull. A large white bandage wrapped around her head, drawing the eye.

Not wanting to infringe on such a private moment, Will considered stepping outside. Instead, Ari broke free from Sami's hold on her hand. Will watched as his daughter clambered into Amir's lap, settling.

"'Mir's mommy?" Ari questioned as she stared at Amal's pale face.

"Yeah, that's my mommy," Amir answered.

"Pretty," Ari said with a firm nod. She turned to face Amir and frowned. "No cry," Ari insisted. She used her tiny hands to wipe at Amir's tears. "S'okay."

Will's heart melted watching his precious little daughter offer such comfort. Even Sami let out a little coo.

Ari sat on Amir's lap for almost an hour. Amir held his mother's hand, offering up both Muslim and Christian prayers. Ari tried her best to mimic everything Amir did and said. Will couldn't help from laughing at her horrible pronunciation of Amir's language.

Doctors and nurses came and went with little news. Amal's condition hadn't changed. The injuries to her head were extensive. If she woke up from her coma, there was a strong possibility that she might not be the same again.

"You should go," Amir said, standing up with Ari. "There isn't anything you can do here."

"I don't think you should be alone," Will responded.

"I agree," Sami insisted. She stood next to Amir and started fussing over his hair and clothes. "You need a shower and a good meal. Come on," Sami ordered, leaving no room for argument. "You're coming with us."

Amir nodded. "Oh, wait," he rubbed his lips together. "Her stuff."

It took Will a few seconds to remember. With such a tense atmosphere, Will forgot about searching Amal's possessions.

Amir looked through the modest chest of drawers beside the bed. In the top drawer was a plastic bag filled with Amal's belongings.

Amir fiddled with the bag taking a few extra-long seconds to open it. Coming up to his side, Will looked into the bag. "Anything?"

"Just this," Amir showed Will the necklace his mother had been wearing as well as an emerald ring. "I don't know why that would scare Frick off. See?"

Will grabbed the ring and examined it. The ring was pretty but basic. Just a simple green stone set in a silver band.

Sami and Ari joined them. "Oooh!" Ari admired the ring.

Sami snatched the ring from Will and held it up to the light. "Approximately 1.32 carats, emerald cut, blue-green with few inclusions."

"How do you know that?" Will asked out of curiosity.

"I make it my business to know gems," Sami sniffed as she handed the ring back. "It's valuable but that's about it. Where did she get it?"

"My dad got it for her when I was born," Amir said as he stuffed the ring and the necklace in his pocket. "Emerald's my birthstone."

"Right," Will said, brows wrinkling together. "I could have sworn that's what she touched that scared Frick off."

"Let's not think about it right now," Amir suggested in a weary voice. "Not now, please."

Will nodded.

"Come on," Sami said. "Showers and breakfast. You two are starting to smell."

Ari waved her nose in front of her hand. "Pee-yew, stinky."

Author's note:

Thanks for reading!