The next morning, Haley woke up early, still jet lagged from her journey and she thought making breakfast for everyone would lighten the mood. Last night was hard, especially on Brooke. The poor thing freaked out, what she had learned lead her to more questions. Do Sam's grandparents know she's alive and in Tree Hill ? What about her mother ? Does she know too ? What if they do, what's going to happen then ? What about Sam ? Oh my gosh, Sam… Should we tell her all about it ? No, we can't, she's too fragile right now, Dr. Reeze specifically said no stress and this – oh boy this will not bring her peace at all. But we can't hide something like that from her either. Oh god, what do we do ? What do we do ? She remembered her friend frantically thinking out loud in her kitchen, pacing the floor last evening. Haley's train of thoughts was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching.
« Good morning Julian. » Haley greeted.
« Good morning. Gosh Haley thank you, you didn't have to do all that ! » He replied referring to the amount of pancakes and french toasts on the counter.
« I wanted to. » She said.
« It smells good ! » A little voice said coming from Sam's bedroom and now sitting on one of the stool.
« Hello son. » Haley said and planted a kiss on top of his head and Julian offered his hello messing with the boy's hair.
« Morning aunt Brooke ! oh – you look awful. » the boy innocently said.
« Jamie ! » Haley scolded.
« Well, morning to you too favorite nephew of mine. You sure know how to talk to ladies. » She retorked amused.
« Sorry aunt Brooke. » He apologized.
« It's okay, I do look bad this morning. » she replied and gave him a smooch on the cheek.
« Not at all. » Julian said, giving his wife a nice hug.
« Oh wow, what's all this ? Somebody's been doing some cooking, thanks tutor-mom. » Brooke said and Haley smiled.
« Come sit with us, we were about to start. » Haley said and Brooke did as she was told. It was nice, sitting here with people she loved and cared about. Haley knew how to make her feel better. Well, that was before the phone started ringing.
« I'll get that. » Julian said and got up. « Allo ? … Yes, what is it ? … Her husband. IS everything okay ? … What ?! No, absolutely not. Wait please, we'll be there in a minute. » He said and hung up the phone hurriedly.
« What is it ? » Brooke asked with worry.
« Come on honey, let's brush these teeth ! » Haley told her son so that Julian and Brooke could enjoy their privacy.
« It was the hospital. The Denises' are there and want to see Sam. Since they're not on the emergency contact list, the hospital wanted to know if they're allowed to visit her. I said no but they're very persuasive, we should go now. » He said rapidly. Brooke however didn't move a muscle. She stood there motionless. « Honey, did you hear me ? We've got to go now. » Julian said louder but Brooke wouldn't budge. He gently grabbed his wife by the shoulders and looked straight in her eyes. « Whatever's going on in your head, you've got to snap out of it. I'm pretty sure you don't want Sam to wake up next to two strangers telling her they're her grandparents. I know I don't, so let's go now ! » Julian's voice was stern and it was enough for Brooke to finally snap out of her pseudo transe.
« I'll tell Haley, we're going. » she replied.
At the hospital
« I'm sorry Mrs Dennis but we cannot let it happen. » one of the nurses said for the third time.
« But that is ridiculous ! We're family, we're her grandparents for Pete's sake. Do you know how long we've been waiting for this moment ? Do you ? » Mrs Dennis shouted. She was upset and angry.
« I'm sorry Mrs Dennis but I simply cannot do that. » The nurse politely replied.
The Dennises and a few other nurses were still debating the issue when Julian and Brooke stormed in the hospital hall.
« What's going on ? » Dr. Reeze raised her voice to quiet the others and it worked.
« Hello Doctor, my name is Martine Dennis, I am here to see my granddaughter Samantha but -» she was cut short by Dr. Reeze.
« Listen to me ma'am. I'm Dr. Reeze and I take care of Samantha in these walls. Consider it like my home. I will therefore kindly ask you to respect my rules in my house and as far as I know, you do not appear on Samantha's emergency contact list so unless you have a valid authorization you cannot demand to see her. And even if you were to obtain it, I suggest you take a minute to reconsider as you need to understand Samantha has no idea who you are and i twill most certainly coma as a shock for the girl whom, I like to remind you all, is in no condition for that. So now, would you all please calm down and think of the child's safety first, as it is my primary concern. » Dr. Reeze severely said yet remaining extremely calm and respectful despite the bad morning she was having. It was enough to cool everyone down.
« Now, Mrs and Mr. Baker, you shall see Samantha but before you do, I'd like a few words with you. » Dr. Reeze said, inviting the young couple to go somewhere more private.
« What is it ? » Brooke asked worried.
« Well, it seems they may be some complications with Samantha's injury. Nothing alarming for the moment but she is not regaining strength as fast as we expect and it might be due to a damaged tissue causing a small internal bleeding. We'll run some tests to determine the exact source and then we'll operate. However, it's a delicate surgery and the chances are better when the body is well rested so, prior to it, we'll strongly recommend no visit. You'll be able to talk to her afterwards of course. Again, it's just a head's up, no reason to worry about it right now. » Dr. Reeze said but you could tell the parents were worried.
« But she's going to be okay, right ? » Brooke asked.
« As long as she's not stimulated too much, she should be fine. But remember, of all stimulations, stress is the one you want to avoid the most as it makes the heart pumped blood faster and she can't keep up the pace. » Dr. Reeze explained.
« Thank you doctor. Can we see her ? » Julain asked and Dr. Reeze nodded.
Once in the room, Sam looked less energetic than the previous day but they knew not to worry about it since they were told Sam's recovery was not going to be linear but rather bumpy with us and downs.
« Hey Sammy, how are you doing this morning ? » she said approaching the teen. Sam turned her head to face her foster mother and gave her a small smile. « Hi, I'm feeling a bit nauseous but it's okay. » she answered and Brooke squeezed her hand and they stayed silent for a minute.
« Okay… who's dead ? » the teen asked and Brooke's eyes widened.
« What ? Nobody died ! » she reassured.
« So…What's up with the long faces ? » Sam asked.
« I didn't sleep well last night. You know, with Brooke snoring and kicking and everything. » Julian joked and the teen laughed.
« I did not ! » Brooke pretended to be hurt.
« So, what's your excuse ? » Sam addressed her foster mother.
« I had a stomachache but it's all better now. » Brooke answered and it wasn't completely a lie. She was having cramps lately, probably just this time of the month coming.
« Well, I would invite you to lie down next to me and rest but I'm afraid I might throw up on you. » Sam said playfully.
« Well, you know what missy, I'll take the risk. Now scoot, I want to sleep. » Brooke said and smiled at the teen. Brooke carefully lay down next to her foster daughter who ha dhad difficulties making the space needed and gently pulled the teenager into her arms. She placed her head on top of hers and with one hand smoothly stroked the girl's hair and with the other tenderly rubbed the teen's back up and down.
« No snoring or kicking alright ? » Sam joked and Brooke chuckled.
« No promises. » She whispered back. And just like that, Sam fell back to sleep. Actually Brooke's eyelids were feeling heavy too and it wasn't long after closing them that she too was off to sleep. Julian smiled at the view. He felt lucky to be around these two beautiful women. He sat on the only armchair in the room and allowed himself to relax.
« Ahem. Excuse me Mr. Baker. » Dr. Reeze said and Julian opened his eyes. He didn't realized he had fallen asleep.
« Sorry to wake you Mr. Baker but we've got a bit of a situation with the Dennises. Let's talk outside shall we ? » Dr. Reeze explained and Julian nodded. He carefully woke Brooke uo and quietly asked her to follow them outside. Brooke nodded and slowly detached herself from a sleeping Sam.
« What's going on ? » she asked once outside the room.
« Apparently the Dennises found out via a police friend of them Samantha was the teenager shot and they know she's their granddaughter. They also know the director of this hospital very well and they obtained the right to visit Samantha-»
« They can't do that, not now ! » Brooke exclaimed.
« Unfortunately, I cannot deny them access to your foster daughter though I insiste dit wasn't wise. We came to a sort of compromise. They'll see Samantha when she sleeps which is why I think now might be a good time. » Dr. Reeze explained.
Neither parents nor Dr. Reeze were pleased about that arrangement but itw as probably their best option. And yet again, not the best…. Julian and Brooke agreed and they officialy met the Dennises. The short exchange was… civilized. Polite but rather… cold especially with Martine Dennis. Dr. Reeze, Brooke and Julian stood outside the room but looked through the window as Mr and Mrs Dennis stepped into the room and got closer to the sleeping teenager.
« Oh my gosh Jim, it's her. Can you believe it ? It's our little Samantha. » Martine Dennis emotionnally said to her teary husband. Brooke gritted her teeth at the sound of 'our little Samantha' as Julian's hands clenched. « She's grown up Martie. » Jim replied with a smile that wasboth happy and sad. Happy she was alive and had been able to grow up but sad they hadn't been part of it. Even though Brooke and Julian were mad at them, they couldn't exactly blame them either. Afterall, they had loved and taken care of her as an infant. However, that thought was quickly replaced when Martine Dennis disobeyed and gently traced the girl's face with her finger resulting in waking her up. When she opened her eyes, Sam saw an elderly couple looking down at her and she jerked away quickly hurting herself inn the process.
« What's the hell ? Who are you ? » she exclaimed. She was so confused and panicked.
« It's okay Samantha, you're okay, we don't want to hurt you love. » Martine said but Sam was still freaking out judging by the sound of the heartbeats monitor connected to her heart. Just then, Dr. Reeze, Julian and Brooke rushed in the room.
« It's okay Sam, just breathe okay honey ? Just breathe. » Brooke said as she grabbed the girl by the shoulders. She could feel Sam's body tensed. Sam flinched at the touch, her mind was going a million miles an hour and she had trouble keeping up with her heartbeats, she didn't feel too good.
« Sampson, just lie down please. » Julian said approaching heer but the teen didn't.
« What's going on ? Who are these people ? What do they want ? Why was she touching me ? » Sam rapidly asked, almost out of breath.
« Samantha please listen to me. You need to calm down, your body was startled but you need to gain control back. I know it's not easy because it works a bit differently right now but you've got to figure out how to relax. It's important. » Dr. Reeze calmy told the teen.
« I'm trying but I can't. I don't understand why I can't stop it. » Sam replied honestly and everyone looked at her.
« Don't worry, it's normal, your body suffered a great shock so now everytime something startles you even as small as it seems, your body won't tell the difference and will react to the extreme. It's just your nerves messing with your brain. Just breathe, long deep breaths Samantha. » Dr. Reeze advised. Sam tried to do as she was told but it was hard especially with that old woman crying.
« Oh Jim, why would Rebecca do something like that ? What's wrong with our daughter ? » she cried in her husband's arms. Brooke and Julian's eyes widened after Martine had talked Oh no… they both thought, as Sam's eyes rolled to the back of her head once her brain had done the math. The old couple were Rebeacca's parents, therefore her biological grandparents and Rebecca was the one who had shot her. Now Sam's heartbeat was just the sound of a straight line on the machine and Dr. Reeze pressed the adults to move away from the door as she and a few nurses rushed Sam out of the room and to the ER.
« Okay Sam, I know it's been a great shock and all but you can't stay here with me. » I said.
« Why not ? » she asked me.
« You don't belong here silly. » I replied.
« But I've missed you. » she said sincerely.
« I've missed you too but I don't want you here Sam so please leave now. » Instead she stood there staring at me with a smirk. Oh boy, I forgot how stubborn she is … or was ?
The yelling finally stopped when Dr. Reeze entered the room again. Indeed, a few minutes earlier Julian had been the first to go mad and yelled at Martine Dennis for waking up Sam. Of course, Jim didn't particularly enjoy his wife being yelled at and defended her. Brooke sided with Julian and really lost it when Martine Dennis had told her she was basically nobody and had therefore no rights to be concerned about her granddaughter.
« Oh for the love of god, you're just a foster parent. Have you read the papers ? You must provide a stable and secure environment temporarily with no involment in the child put in your care. Why are you even here ? Afraid to miss your check ? » Martine Dennis spitted and that made Brooke see red.
« I beg you pardon ? Where have you been all these years ? I was there for her when nobody, nobody gave a damn about that girl. I've been patient enough with you and your compulsary liar/psycho killer daughter but you know what ? » And it went on and on and on but I stopped listenning, I don't like when grown-ups fight. Anyway, let's just say Brooke could have sworn that if Dr. Reeze hadn't entered the room, she would have tackled the woman, pinned her on the floor and strangled her with her bare hands.
« When you'll all behave appropriately again, perhaps you'd like to hear what I have to say. » Dr. Reeze said annoyed and slightly angry. « First of all, Samantha's stable again but she's in a coma. We don't know for how long yet. » she paused and Martine loudly gasped and Brooke felt her knees weakened and nearly fell. Both Julian and Jim's mouths dropped. « Secondly, I will not tolerate this kind of behavior in this hospital and I will not hesitate to make decisions to make sure Samantha rest. » Dr. Reeze continued dryly. « I suggest while she's in a coma, you work things out. » she looked at everyone one by one in the eyes and left. Brooke felt guilty, she's never been scolded before and Dr. Reeze made her feel that way but she was right. What was she doing ? It shouldn't matter what the Dennises think of her. All that should matter is Sam and her getting better.
The four adults sat on seperate chairs across from one another. Not a word was uttered.
« I have your frog. » Sam announced.
« What ? » I said.
« Kermit the frog, your soft toy, I have it. » she explained.
« I forgot about it. » I replied hidding the best I could my joy. She laughed.
« Really ? after the scene you caused to have it. It took me a week to buy it. » she said with a smile, she wasn't angry. She never was.
« I don't need it anymore Sammy. » I told her and her face fell.
« I know. I'm sorry. Are you mad at me ? » she said looking at me and away.
« No. » I simply responded.
« Then why are you pushing me away ? » she sounded hurt. Oh gosh – I hate doing this but I have to. Of course I want her to stay with me but it's not right. Right ? « You must go Sammy. People are waiting for you. » she was thinking.
« I want to stay with you. » Oh boy….what should I do ?
An hour and a half passed and the Bakers and Denises hadn't moved a bit. Julian had his elbows on his knees and his hands joined under his chin. He was glancing at the clock above the reception desk from time to time for no particular reasons.
« Mom ? Dad ? » a woman spoke.
« Oh honey, you're here at last ! » Martine Dennis exclaimed sitting up and gave her daughter a quick but firm hug. Brooke and Julian loooked up and they could read the confusion on the woman's face. Brooke surprised herself thinking she pictured her taller than her sister, perhaps because she was the eldest but she was about 15 inches smaller. However, she was thinner than Rebecca, probably 20 pounds fewer and looked more athletic. Brooke wondered if sha was an occasionnal jogger.
« What's going on ? Are you okay ? » she asked her parents.
« Yes, yes honey we're fine. We called you because… » Jim paused and eyed his wife.
« Suzy » she began taking her daughter's hands in hers. « We found her. We found Samantha. » she shared with tears in her eyes. Suzanne Dennis remained silence, shock was written all over her face.
« What ? » she exclaimed her vioce and body trembling.
« Your baby's here. » Martine Dennis finished crying and Suzanne took a minute to process the news. Julian's heart ached at the view of his wife looking with sorrow at Suzanne. He didn't know what to say so he gently placed his hand in hers and they locked eyes for a minute, simply being here for each other without words needed.
« You mean Samantha's alive ? » Suzanne finally spoke up. Her parents nodded and she led out a happy cry and then brought one hand to her forehead and the other to her chest. The three of them hugged and cried a little.
« What do we do Julian ? » Brooke asked helplessly. Julian took a few seconds before answering.
« We stay here for our kid and fight for her. »
« I don't want to play anymore. » I lied.
« but you used to love this game. » Sam retorked.
« I know but I can't play with you anymore. » I replied.
« Why not ? I've always liked playing with you. » she said with a genuine smile.
« I remember. » I smiled back. « But we're done playing. You've got to leave now. » I told her and Sam caught my sadness. She got closer to me. « Perhaps I don't ? »
Jim and Martine left for the cafeteria to grab something to eat. Julian did the same a few minutes later leaving Brooke with Suzanne. When the women's eyes met Brooke took the opportunity to introduce herself. « Hi, I'm Brooke. »
« Suzanne. » she answered.
« I know. You're my daughter's biological mother. » she said and surprised herself that she didn't sound angry or threatened.
« Oh I didn't know. My parents, they didn't … » she didn't know what to say. « What's she like ? » was all she could think of asking. Brooke exhaled. « She's amazing. A great kid. » both women grinned.
« Suzanne ? What are you doing ? » Martine asked her.
« Oh, just talking with Samantha's adoptive mother, I wanted to know more about Sam. » she explained.
« Don't talk to her. You'll have plenty of time to get to know your daughter I promise. » Martine said determined.
« And what's it supposed to mean ? » Brooke sounded colder when she addressed her.
« She's just herfoster guardian person or whatever Suzy. You can reclaim full costudy of your child. There's not a judge in town who will refuse reuniting a family. » The older woman said looking at her daughter and then glanced at Brooke for the last part of her sentence and mimicked her tone from earlier.
« Wait, hold on. We're in the middle of adopting her. This is what Sam wants too. You can't do that ! » Brooke responded.
« Well, we'll see about that. Better find yourself a good lawyer Mrs. Baker. » Martine retorked and reminded Brooke of her own mother. Brooke was about to reply when she spotted Dr. Reeze in a distance and and was by her side in a heartbeat. « Any change ? » she questionned. Dr. Reeze turned around and saw who was talking to her.
« Ah, Mrs. Baker. No, nothing new. I suggest you head back home, I'll call you if anything happens. » She reassured and left. She was a bit in a hurry.
When Julian got back, he could tell his wife was preoccupied. « I didn't know what you wanted so I have either a tuna salad or an egg sandwhich. » Brooke didn't even look at the food. Instead, she looked in her husband's eyes and declared. « I want a lawyer. »