AN: I'm sorry that the updates aren't coming as regularly. My ADD tendencies are showing through as my muse runs off to other things. Trying to keep her under control until I get this thing wrapped up.
There was a sense of heaviness. A general feeling of discomfort. She could define neither more clearly. Nor did she have any desire to. For with these, there was fatigue. All-encompassing. Soul deep. Nothing mattered in comparison. She wanted nothing more than to sink back into the emptiness of unconsciousness, but these sensations wouldn't allow it. They pulled her further and further from its safety, making the heaviness grow, her entire body battered by a deep ache.
She couldn't even be bothered to vocalize the pain.
Sam laid there, merely existing. She had no idea how long she stayed there. Really, she didn't care. Maybe everything could stay insignificant forever. While she was certain of very little at that moment, she knew that that would be desirable.
A soft breathing nearby steadily shattered her bubble of insignificance. Her mind grasped desperately at the pieces, but it was gone. In its place came flashes, bits and pieces of events that she couldn't string together into a coherent timeline. Sam vaguely remembered a motel, but everything after was a complete blur.
Like the rest of her, Sam's eyelids felt heavy. Now that she knew there was someone nearby, she had to see who it was, as well as where she was. It took considerable effort to open her eyes. The light overhead was blinding, and had to wait for them to adjust. Sam just blinked up at the ceiling while she waited.
When the light no longer stung her eyes she tilted her head to gaze at the form beside her. Olivia's hair obscured her face as it rested against the edge of the mattress. One of her arms draped around her head while the other laid on top of Sam's own arm. Sam had no idea what she thought or felt. Everything was too fresh, and her mind too foggy, to even begin to ponder those questions. She was relieved to see that Olivia was still fast asleep.
The faintest movement at the corner of her eye made Sam look over. She saw Jack standing next to the doorway, leaning against the corner. Even though he was studying her intently, Sam could see the same bone-weariness in his eyes that she felt in her body. A fresh shirt hid the bandage, but she saw the sling. She couldn't remember him being injured.
But at that moment she did remember him screaming her name at the top of his lungs.
While she still couldn't place it into context, just recalling the sound in her head made her chest tighten uncomfortably. Sam knew that it was the herald of something terrible. Not knowing exactly what didn't make it any easier. It was getting harder to look at him. Sam felt her heavy eyes filling with tears. She shut them tightly, but could still feel the wetness sliding across her cheek.
Eyes still closed, Sam turned her head the other way. Emotions sapped what little energy she had. She felt herself drifting off as a muffled gasp escaped her mouth.