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.
The invisible thread part fourteen
No one kissed like EJ. Sami felt guilty in her thoughts but his kisses made every single cell in her body tingle. When he slowly stopped and rested his forehead against hers she realized that he had been dreaming, he wasn't; awake. She bit back the giggle that threatened to erupt. At least she wouldn't have to explain why she had just kissed him back. She could almost picture the smug look on his face if he had been awake. Annoyed with herself she pulled back from him. Immediately she missed the warmth of his body. She curled up miserably against her pillow and after a long while finally fell asleep.
"NO! Mummy!"
She hazily heard the words but in her sleepy state couldn't figure out what they were. Had Will left the TV on? She opened her eyes and in the darkness of the room, illuminated only by the glowing embers of the fire, she realized she was still trapped in the cottage with EJ. It was EJ crying out in his sleep. She frowned, had he just called out for his mother?
She moved closer to hear what else he was saying. "There's so much blood," he whispered ominously. Horrified by his words she put her hand on his shoulder and gently shook him awake. "EJ, wake up, come on, it's just a dream."
He gasped and came to with a start. Panting heavily he looked frantically around the room. "EJ, clam down. Take some deep breaths."
He looked at her but his breaths were coming faster and she realized he was dangerously close to hyperventilating. She got out of the bed as fast as she could and grabbed the paper bag the medication had come in. She took it to his side and put the bag over his nose and mouth. "Breathe slowly, come on, EJ, in and out." He closed his eyes and did as she told him. After a minute he dropped the bag clearly embarrassed.
"Are you all right?" She had her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly. His dark hair was plastered to his skin, sweat soaked.
"I'm fine now. Don't worry about me, just go back to sleep." He didn't look at her, then just lay down on his side away from her.
She wanted to ask him what the nightmare was about but he clearly didn't want to discuss it. She lay down near him but didn't touch him.
EJ was shaken. He hadn't had the dream in months. He couldn't ever quite make it out. All he remembered about it was that it was always the same and it was dark and that there was blood everywhere. He was cold and scared to death. He had no concept of anyone else being there.
He reached out to the pills on the nightstand, the bullet entry and exit wounds ached fiercely. He had wanted to resist taking the pain pills but now he sought the oblivion they would bring, they almost always knocked him out for a deep, uninterrupted, sleep.
Sami heard him pop open the pills and drink some water. She realized that he must be in pain again. She couldn't stop herself from reaching out and putting a hand on his shoulder. He stiffened at first, the relaxed as she curled up against his back.
She couldn't stop thinking about his nightmare and how he had called out 'mummy'. How had his mother died and had he been there to see it? What a horrible thing for a child to see. She realized by his even breathing that he had fallen asleep.
Sami lay awake for a long time thinking about what she had heard. When morning came around she found herself in a foul mood. Little sleep and the babies were kicking. The storm hadn't eased up and the power was still off. She got out of the warm bed to get the fire started up again.
"Samantha, get back into bed and let me do that."
She turned and glared at him. "Stay put! Those wounds need to heal!"
He looked a bit taken back by her snarly reply. "I just wanted you to relax, sweetheart."
"Do not call me that! Only Lucas has that right and right now I'm missing him!"
EJ shook his head. "I don't understand what you see in that oaf, I truly don't."
She looked outraged and sputtered, "YOU! How, how dare you call him names. He's the most wonderful man I've ever met!"
EJ raised an eyebrow. " I thought Austin had been your lifelong soulmate? And before that wasn't it some bloke by the name of Brandon? Lucas is your default. Certainly far from perfect for you since it's his goal in life to turn you into a clone of your sister but then again you are his default too. Nicole, I believe? Then Carrie?"
"Shut up! We were meant to be!"
EJ laughed sarcastically, "all right darling, you just keep telling yourself that."
Sami seethed. EJ made her so furious with his arrogant cocky manner. She stormed into the kitchen and opened the cupboards to find some crackers to munch on. She would wipe that smug smirk off of EJ's face. She headed back into the living room. "So why were you crying out for your mommy last night?"
He looked up startled, his eyes wide. "What…what do you mean?"
"Last night when you had the nightmare you cried "Mummy" and then you said something about 'all the blood', what was that about?"
He looked away from her frowning. "I don't remember".
She realized how shaken he looked. After wanting so much to wipe the smirk of his face she now found herself feeling guilty for having brought it up, yet curious all the same.
"What happened to your mother?"
His eyes met her briefly before he once again looked away. "She was killed in a car accident."
"And your step father?'
"Him too."
"Where you in the car with them?"
He shook his head then quietly replied, 'No."
She sat on the edge of the bed. "Do you remember anything about your dream?"
He sighed, "No, all that I know is that I've had it before."
"Did you ever ask Stefano about it?"
The mention of his father's name made him glare at her. "No and I guess I may never get the opportunity to."
She got off the bed. "Perhaps not." She replied more coldly than she had meant too. She felt a stab of pain at the hurt look in his eyes as she made her way over to the fireplace. She absentmindedly poked at the fire. She felt torn. Lucas was likely worried sick over her and the twins by now and here she was trapped in this cottage with EJ. She flashed back to the kiss that night and sighed. What was she doing? She didn't want to have feelings for EJ but she couldn't seem to stop herself. Tears welled up in her eyes and she bit her lip and stared into the flames. She was so absorbed in thoughts of her family that she hadn't realized that EJ had gotten out of bed until his hand gently rested against her back.
"Are you all right?" he asked softly.
"You shouldn't be out of bed," she chastised him with a choked voice.
"I'm sorry you ended up here. I shouldn't have headed for the boat, I thought it was a brilliant idea at the time."
She wiped her eyes. "You couldn't have known the storm would blow in and we'd be trapped although I'm starting to suspect the Dimera's rule the weather." She laughed nervously.
"When the storm lets up you should go back."
She looked at him suspiciously. "Come on, EJ, you can't tell me you aren't enjoying every minute of this. It worked out better than your wildest dreams."
EJ laughed. "Right, getting shot in the chest, getting an infection, making you miserable. Possibly having my father die, Andre wanting to kill me. What could possibly be better?"
"Well maybe not some of it but being here with me, trapped and forced to spend time with you."
He raised an eyebrow. "My aren't you the conceited one? You may find this hard to believe but being trapped with a woman who constantly lies to herself and proclaims to love her husband is hardly the stuff my wildest dreams are made of."
She shook her head and smirked. "It's the closest you'll ever get."
She got up and headed to the kitchen again. "I'm getting a kettle so hang by the fire so we can have some warm tea. I suggest you get back in bed."
He watched her leave the room. His heart at sunk to his toes at her words. He had so hoped this time alone with her would have made her let her guard down enough to reveal how she really felt about him. He knew by her actions she cared but did she maybe feel a bit more. He suspected she did but her constant proclamations of love for that idiot she married stated otherwise.
He got to his feet feeling rather woozy. He suspected his nightmare and lack of sleep had something to do with it. He was grateful to crawl back under the covers. She was wrong when she said this is what he wanted in his wildest dreams. His father could be dead, he felt chilled and nauseous, the wounds hurt and she loved Lucas. He gingerly lay down again to wait for the cup of tea.