Protective Mama Bear

Three Days Later – Toronto General – Room 513

Audrey Braddock gently ran the damp cloth over her son's face. In the last few days, she had not left her boy's side, regardless of Warren's urging she go to the hotel to sleep. She couldn't bring herself to leave. She set the cloth down and resumed her seat next to his bed and lightly clasped his right hand.

"Your dad had to go back to Ottawa today. He was not a happy camper when he had to take the guards with him. Said you needed the protection more than him. He hopes to return in two days, but you recall how busy his schedule is, so he might need to adjust his timeline. But rest assured, he will return and he loves you. He would be here now if he could, but duty called.

"Natalie would also be here, but, well, you know Nat too … always flighty. Wish that girl would use the sense God gave her. I don't like her latest choice in boyfriend. She has the worst taste in men. I foresee trouble with him, something shifty in his eyes. Someday I hope she settles down with a good man after she quits rebelling against your father's strictness.

"He truly does love both of you so much … he just, well, Warren is a military man through and through. And after we lost Sara, he hurt so deeply, it ripped his heart to shreds because there was absolutely nothing he could do to save her and it made him physically sick knowing you witnessed her death. He overreacted and became overly strict because he couldn't bear the thought of losing either you or Nat. He wanted to keep you both safe from harm.

"When we raced to the accident scene and found you clinging to Sara's sandals and the sheet over our precious baby girl, both our hearts shattered. I wish we had dealt with her death better. Burying ourselves in work to avoid the pain didn't accomplish anything except leaving you and Nat to wonder where your parents went and why it appeared we forgot about Sara.

"We didn't, never would, and that is one reason I insisted on the counseling sessions for you after Ben's death. Pushing down those feelings of grief only resulted in more pain and a heap of guilt. If I could go back and do things differently, I would. I will never allow you to face something so traumatic alone again."

Audrey reached for her iced tea and took a sip. Her throat kept drying out, but that was because she talked non-stop … hoping Sam could hear her and know he was not alone. She leaned back and scanned the stark room again, glad Warren arranged a private room for Sammy and told those horrible teammates they were not welcome.

Her hackles raising as she recalled the incident, she said, "When you wake, I am taking you home. It makes me so angry they forgot you. How could anyone forget my golden boy? They are despicable. Even the men in your unit didn't treat you as cruelly after Ben died as they have.

"Yes, I'm aware there are some in your unit who believed you were responsible. That Steve guy … oh, I didn't like him one bit. So arrogant telling everyone they needed to watch their backs around you. It was not your fault. If anyone is to blame it is Sergeant Clarkson since he gave you the all clear. I'm glad he was discharged. He wasn't fit to lead."

She fell silent again, staring at the five-day growth of stubble. "I should ask the nurse for a razor and shave you, but to be honest, I like this look on you. Kinda rustic. Makes you appear older than your twenty-five years. Oh, boy, you are still so young. You look like your dad at that age. I fell head over heels for the blond, blue-eyed officer in his dress uniform. I sure hope you find a lovely lady."

Audrey realized she was rambling now; having said everything she possibly could think of … many things more than once. Reaching for the remote, she smiled. "How about I turn on the TV, perhaps a hockey game is on … wait, hockey doesn't start for a while. Perhaps a movie. Something you missed while in Kandahar."

She halted her babbling when blond lashes fluttered up, and she spied a sliver of blue orbs. She dropped the remote, pressed the call button, and stood, moving closer. "Sammy. Sammy. It's Mom. Honey, can you hear me?"

Sam's world slowly materialized but remained fuzzy as he attempted to orient himself. He recognized his mother, heard her speaking, but he couldn't comprehend why she was here or where he was at. Before he could form any words, an unfamiliar person, a nurse by her uniform, appeared at his bedside, and began talking to him. He had trouble following her questions.

His throat parched, he forced out a gravelly answer to her first query, "Sam Braddock."

"Okay, Sam. Do you know what day it is?"

His head throbbed, and he squinted his eyes against the light.

"He's in pain," Audrey said.

"Yes, we'll give him something for that in a minute or two. Sam, can you tell me the date?"

"March … um … something … not sure." The slight gasp from his mother made him turn to her. "Mom?"

Audrey's hand shook as she rested it on Sam's shoulder. "It's going to be okay, honey."

"Mrs. Braddock, I'm going to page the doctor. You can give him small sips of water. I'll be back in a few moments." The nurse hurried from the room.

Sam focused on his mom. "Not March?"

"No."

"When? What happened? Why am I in a hospital?" The pain in his leg registered as Sam shifted in bed, and his gaze moved to his lower body as a straw slipped between his lips. He drew up a mouthful of tepid water, which slaked his thirst and wetted his throat.

"Let's allow Dr. Sawyer to examine you first. Then I'll explain." Audrey was unsure whether she should inform Sam or not of the actual date. It saddened her Sam believed it to be March … when he arrived home from Kandahar, a complete and utter shell of the son she sent to the war-torn region almost ten months earlier.

The next month or so of inquiries into the shooting only further strained him, and Sam experienced such horrible night terrors, waking drenched in sweat and screaming every night. With tender care, she nursed him to health, and outwardly he stabilized, but she wasn't so naïve as to believe he fully accepted what occurred was not his fault … he still blamed himself for Ben's death.

After many long nights of discussion with Warren and a conversation with Norman, they presented Sam the option of leaving the service and joining the SRU. She hoped the change would help her son's wounded soul, but he only met with denigration and outright negligence … not the support Norm indicated he would receive from his best team.

Audrey wondered if perhaps Sam's memory lapse would erase the belittlement he endured at the hands of Team One. Perhaps the surfacing of a protection mechanism. She would need to speak with the doctor and contact the psychologist Sammy worked with when he came home from Afghanistan. Dr. Ferguson would surely agree to come to Toronto.

Sam sipped the water, allowing his eyes to close. If his mom didn't want to tell him, he figured something terrible must've happened, but he let his body to relax, knowing she would be by his side no matter. He never questioned her love and fierce protection of him.

Toronto General – Hallway

Ed waited down the hall out of view. Every day he came, and each day, he bided his time. When the guards left with the general earlier today, he continued to hold back, debating with himself if he should defy the man's wishes and pop in to find out how Sam fared. Holleran put Team One on administrative leave, and they still didn't know what the outcome would be, partly because their commander wanted to hold off for several days on the hope Sam would wake and he could speak with him to document his side.

The days dragged on, and although they debriefed and determined a serious lack of care on their part, coupled with assumptions and Sam's quietness in the last few shifts, all contributed to the failure. However, nothing assuaged Ed's sense of guilt. As team leader, he failed to ensure the safety of every member of his team. He couldn't excuse his behavior, nor would he. All he could do was to try to right the wrongs and strive never to make the same mistake again.

He hoped to find Sam alone and awake … but one thing he gleaned from skulking in the shadows is Sam remained unresponsive. That is until the nurse hurried into and out of his room. He overheard her at the nurses' station telling the other nurse she needed to page Dr. Sawyer because Mr. Braddock had awakened.

Ed couldn't stop his feet if he were conscious of them moving under their own volition. He arrived at the door in time to overhear a motherly voice say, "… examine you first. Then I'll explain."

Pushing open the door, Ed took three steps in, when two sets of blue eyes, one male, one female landed on him. Sam's expression was one of pain and inquiry, the other filled with icy fire.

"Get out! You are not allowed in my son's room. Begone!" Audrey swiftly moved towards Mr. Lane, full mama bear claws out, protecting her cub. "If you don't leave this instant, I'm calling security then my husband followed by your commander."

Ed back peddled rapidly as he said, "I only wanted—"

"I don't care what you want. I said, OUT!" Audrey tapped her finger on Lane's chest as she continued forward forcing him to step backward and out of Sam's room. "You've already done enough damage. You will NOT enter this room again, or I'll have you arrested and thrown in the brig."

Exiting the room, Ed stopped in the middle of the hall and stared at the door which shut in his face. He blew out a breath, stunned by the ferocity of Sam's mother. He didn't doubt had she been armed he would've been facing an assault rifle. Though in truth, the woman didn't need one to be an effective protector. Ed pivoted and strode away, realizing that making things right with Sam would be a lot harder than he ever imagined.

Toronto General – Room 513

"Mom, who was that, and why did you go off on him?" Sam's perplexed expression followed her back across the room after his door closed. The man seemed somewhat familiar.

"Never mind him. Just someone who isn't welcome." Audrey took several breaths to calm her inner beast … one who came out when anyone threatened her children … didn't matter if they were adults now. A mother's love and desire to protect never dwindled, even when said child was a well-trained soldier capable of defending himself against an untold number of threats. However, at the moment, Sammy was injured and confused, so although he could typically disarm a knife-wielding terrorist with little effort, he needed her now.

"Do I know him? Is he part of the inquiry into Ben's death?" Sam thought that might be the case with the man's carriage … very military and authoritative … like many COs he served under.

Audrey picked up the water cup again. "Here, take another sip."

Complying, recognizing his mom wouldn't be supplying any details, she could make it through SERE training with as tight-lipped as she could be at times. She would make a great spy … outward appearance as a sweet mother, but with a whip-smart intellect and a backbone of steel. She was the only person he had ever seen his father cow-tow to … a force to be reckoned with.

The room's door opened again, and Sam witnesses as his mom's countenance changed from gentle love, to a bearcat, back to controlled ease as the nurse and a man wearing a stethoscope around his neck entered.

"Sam, it is good to see you awake. I'm Dr. Sawyer, and you've been under my care. This," he motioned to the woman beside him, "is Reba, your day nurse. Now, the first order of business, what is your pain level on a scale of one to ten, ten being worst?"

"Three or four … sore but bearable. Head and leg are throbbing."

The doctor nodded. "Okay, let's get some pain meds on board." He turned and gave his order to Reba, who promptly exited to obtain the medication.

"Where am I, and what happened?" Sam glanced between Mom and Sawyer.

"What is the last thing you recall?" Sawyer asked.

"Um … things are a little fuzzy. Dinner at my parent's house … going upstairs afterward." He glanced at his leg and his swollen left hand which lay on a pillow. "Did I fall down the stairs?"

"You fell, but not down stairs. We are going to take this slow. It is better if your mind retrieves your memories on its own. So, I'm sure this will be frustrating for you, but I will only disclose a few things you must know. It is July, not March. You are in Toronto General Hospital and have been unconscious for three days due to heat stroke.

"As for your injuries, you suffered a deep laceration on your right thigh, which will need time to heal and physical therapy due to the sutured muscles. In a moment, I want to check for possible nerve impairment, but I want the painkillers to take effect first. Your right arm has multiple minor scratches.

"Your left hand was compressed for about an hour, and I'll be checking for nerve damage too. The headache you're experiencing is likely due to the prolonged exposure to excessive heat and dehydration. It should lessen over the next few days."

Sam half-listened, stuck on the fact it was four months later than he thought and he was in Toronto. He leaned his head back on the pillow and breathed out, "What the hell happened to four friggin months?"

Caressing her son's head, Audrey said, "Don't worry about that now, Sammy. I'm here, and your dad will be back as soon as he can. We'll help you through this, just as we did Ben's death. I'm staying by your side … there is no place I would rather be."

Turning his gaze on his mother, leaning into her hand, needing her comfort and reassurance, Sam nodded. "Okay, Mom."

.

AN: The second section in this chapter is inspired by tosh-lane who wanted Ed to enter Sam's room and be confronted by an assault rifle. I think Mama Bear Braddock is more deadly.

To the guest who wanted to know if this was part of BOL series … the answer is no, this is a completely different backstory created for Sam ... hence the different names for his parents and the best friend's name.