Mama, come here
Approach, appear
Daddy, I'm alone
'Cause this house don't feel like home
If you love me, don't let go
If you love me, don't let go
Hold, hold on, hold on to me
'Cause I'm a little unsteady
A little unsteady
Fallon groans as soon as the sunlight reaches her eyes, interrupting her sleep. She tries to turn to her other side but the pain that radiates from her abdomen stops her movement. Deciding not to use her energy again, she chooses the next alternative.
"Sam!" she yells and regrets immediately when her wound reminds her she can't go back to her previously life like nothing had happened. With her head still on her pillow, she takes deep breaths, waiting for the pain to go away.
Sam rushes in to her bedroom out of air. "What?! What happened? Did you pull your stitches again?" he asks standing next to the end of her bed.
"That only happened once" she gets defensive then pouts "Can you close those damn curtains? I can't sleep with all of that light in the room"
When he doesn't budge, she huffs, rolling her eyes. "Please? I really need my sleep for my full recovery" she tries again. And this time he moves, but only to open the rest of the curtains, lighting even more the room.
"Sam" Fallon groans but he ignores.
"Sorry, honey, but no can do. You've done enough moping for a whole decade already"
"I'm not moping. I'm recovering from a gunshot" she whines, making a grimace while she shifts to sit against the headboard. He enjoys the free space to sit next to her legs.
"It's been three weeks. Your normal self would've been out of this bed fourteen days ago. You would have never let your company unattended for so long"
She rolls her eyes, clearly bored. "Priorities change, Sam. And I've heard Blake is doing great in there"
"Again, the Fallon I know would never let Blake take her place at her company, even if it was for a few weeks" he stresses. "And he has other duties, like his political career"
"He owes me. And what did you want me to do? I can't be in two places at the same time and these pain meds make me fuzzy. And I can't really trust someone outside the family with my business. I'm not myself right now" she crosses her arms with a pout and he sighs, squeezing her knee affectionately.
"This I know. But I just can't decipher if this is has anything to do with the shooting or Liam" Fallon huffs.
"More like the absence of him"
Liam kept his promise and was there when she woke up again after her surgery. He was in the room, away from her bed, talking to her doctor and when she opened her mouth to call him, her family barged in with flowers and pink balloons, interrupting any chance of her speaking to him. He left without her noticing, and only made one visit while during her stay at the hospital, bringing her favorite flowers but they didn't talk because Sam and Kirby wouldn't leave her alone.
"Fallon, give the guy some space" he warns and she huffs again.
"It's been a week since I've been discharged. A week, Sam. And he didn't stop by. Or sent a message or left a call. I think I already gave him enough space"
"He sent you flowers" Sam points out, gesturing for the bouquet of red roses on her bedside table.
She sighs. "At the night of the shooting, he showed up and told me he wanted to give us a second chance. Does that seem like someone who wants to try again?"
He shrugs. "He's been through a lot during these past few weeks"
"He's been through a lot? I was shot by his stalker" she states and he sighs.
"A stalker you hired, by the way. And do I need to make you a list on why things might be hard on him too?" he asks skeptical and she shakes her head.
"No need" she dismisses "But I'm just saying, I almost died. If he really cared about me, he would be here, am I right?" She stops to reconsider her own words when her eyes opens wide. "Do you think he doesn't love me anymore? Did Liam finally gave up on me?" She asks hysterically and Sam pushes her shoulders against her pillows again.
"First, you need to calm down. You remember what your doctor told you about getting all worked up. It might raise your blood pressure and that can cause you another bleeding and I don't think I can see so much blood again without fainting" he starts fanning himself, so his blood pressure wouldn't betray him "Second, you need to focus on your recovery, not on him"
"I wish I could" she complains, staring at the red roses "All I can think about is him"
His phone buzzes and he takes it immediately to type something.
"Sorry, am I interrupting you?" She asks ironically but he dismisses with his hand.
"No, no, continue. We were talking about Liam" he speaks still typing and she glares at him.
"Sam"
This time he looks up. "What? I own a hotel, remember? I've been working non-stop since that fiasco night, trying to clean our image, that wasn't much better before Eva showed up"
Fallon cringes. "I'm truly sorry about that, Sam. I feel like this is my fault"
He shakes his head. "No, Fallon. Don't go there. I'm not thinking like that, so neither should you"
"I still do" she shrugs "I thought I had experiences with psychopaths and still, I hired one to be my assistant"
"To be fair, I think she is a sociopath"
"Oh my God" Fallon exclaims, rubbing her face "What have my life turned in to?"
Sam chuckles. "If there's one thing you can't complain, is that your life is boring"
His phone beeps again, but now three times in a row.
"Is La Mirage on fire? Who has been texting you?" she questions, interested in his business since she can't take care of hers.
"Just an employee" he mumbles and something doesn't sound right to her, so she leans, just enough to steal his phone from his hands while still typing, ignoring the pain while doing it. "Fallon" he yells but he knows a storm had just arrived with the look on her face.
"Employee my ass" she shouts and he cringes "You're a terrible liar, Sam. Why haven't you told me you've been speaking with Liam this whole time?" She questions going through his messages, ignoring his privacy while reading every text Liam had sent him for the past three weeks.
"Because it's none of your business. Now, can I have my phone back?" he leans trying to take it back but she slaps his hand, going back to the screen.
"No, you can't. Oh my God, Sam. This is why he's not calling, you're giving him updates about me" she glares at him and he actually gets scared "Do you have any idea what this means?"
He frowns. "No?"
"It means you're stealing my chance to have a conversation with him" she shouts throwing his phone at his lap "It's really hard to be me these days. First, I get shot, then I get stabbed in the back and the person who I considered my friend is the one holding the knife"
He rolls his eyes. "Don't you think you're being a little melodramatic?"
"I got shot"
"Yes, yes, we are all aware of that and you won't let us forget about it. But are you thinking about why Liam and I have been texting?"
"Please don't tell me you're in love with him too" she begs.
"Well, he has really nice abs and a face I wouldn't mind stare at it all day. But no, I'm not in love with him"
"Thank God for that" she mutters.
"Fallon, he has been texting me to know about you. He's been worried sick but he's not comfortable with being here with you yet. That is good news" he tries to cheer her up, but her face looks sadder.
"So he's worried about me but doesn't want to get closer to me" she states.
Sam shakes his head. "That's not what I said. And Fallon, look at this with another eye, he still cares about you. Isn't that what you've been freaking out about minutes ago?"
She sighs, any excitement for the day gone. "Caring is not loving, Sam. If he's not ready to see me, then I've got nothing"
"Hey" he sings, coming closer to her "Love has many layers, and many ways of showing it. He, asking me about you, is one of them. Trust me, he still loves you"
She looks down, fidgeting her blanket, too sad to reply.
They hear footsteps outside her door and soon, Amanda's face show up at the door.
"Knock, knock" the blonde sings at the threshold, holding a tray filled with food. "I thought of stopping by on my way to work to check on you first. I saw the staff preparing your breakfast and I figured it would be a good idea to arrive with food. And your medication"
She starts walking inside but slows her pace when she notices the sour mood in the mood. "What is happening?" she questions putting the tray next to Fallon's legs.
"Oh, nothing. I just found out my husband doesn't want to see me and Sam here, has been cozying up to him, having conversations behind my back" Fallon snaps and Sam rolls his eyes, for what could be, it's hundreth time that day.
"Things were such much calmer when she was still in the hospital" he mumbles.
Amanda cringes, crossing her arms. "So I guess that now is not a good time to say Liam and I had dinner last night?"
"What?!" both Sam and Fallon shouts and Amanda closes her eyes, regretting it.
Fallon narrows her eyes. "What were you doing with him? Are you buddies now?"
"I just figured he needed a friend during all of this" the blonde shrugs but Fallon doesn't let go.
"And since when you two know each other? I don't remember introducing you"
"I reached out the night of the shooting. He seemed lost and I just wanted to help"
"That's true" Sam intervenes, vouching for Amanda "His state was pretty bad that night"
"Bad?" Fallon scoffs "You know what's bad? It's that every member of this family, including the new ones, have had more interaction with Liam than me. What's next? He and Blake golfing at Saturday's mornings? Did Adam and Liam started a book club together?"
"Maybe you're overreacting" Amanda suggests and Sam shakes his head, knowing she had just said the wrong thing.
"I'm overreacting?!" the brunette snaps "I think I'm reacting just fine considering the amount of liars surrounding me" Sam's phone buzzes again and Fallon glares at him "Oh Sam, would you be a dear and tell Liam his probably soon ex-wife is loosing it here? I'm sure that will make him have his divorce attorney show up here by noon"
He chooses to stay quiet, trying not to make things worse but it doesn't calm her down.
"And what on earth you two talk about?" She turns to Amanda frowning "Because I know that this traitor here is telling him about my health so I'm curious about what you have in common"
"Well, first we talked about you, then about family. His and mine. It's nice to talk to someone that is not used to this family dynamics. Someone normal" she shrugs.
"Hey" Sam interrupts annoyed.
"That's because you never met his mother. Lovely woman. And what exactly did you talk about me?" Fallon inquiries, ignoring her last sentence.
"I can't remember the specifics Fallon. It was weeks ago"
"Make an effort" Fallon bosses and Amanda rolls her eyes. "Now that I have that kind of information, you can help me restore my marriage"
"I don't think I can help in that department" she mutters.
"Why? Have Liam said anything to you?" Fallon asks desperate.
"No, he hasn't" Amanda answers tired "Why don't you just give him some space? He'll reach out when he's ready"
"Why people keep saying that?" She questions annoyed, huffing "It's been weeks since I saw his face or heard his voice. Weeks. That's more than enough" the brunette glances at the breakfast tray, making a grimace "And where's my bacon? I want my bacon and my black coffee" she demands, throwing a tantrum in her bed.
"We've been through this already, Fallon. You're on a strict diet because of your wound. No grease or black coffee" Sam warns her tiredly.
"I don't care" Fallon pouts crossing her arms. Amanda exhales soundly, putting her hands inside her pockets.
"What do you want, Fallon?"
"Bacon" the brunette answers on the verge of tears but blinking fast to keep them away. "And Liam"
Sam squeezes her hand, sympathetic with her pain, forgetting all the shouting she just did and pats her left knee with his other hand, affectionately.
"I don't think I can do anything about the first, but I promise to try about the second, okay?" Amanda concedes in a conspiratorial tone, winking at her. Fallon nods, not truly buying her words. "Now I have to go. Have a nice day and eat your breakfast" the blonde says bidding her goodbyes while leaving the room.
"And I don't want to leave you alone too, but for real this time, I need to check on some things in La Mirage" Sam tells her apologetically but she dismisses him with her hand.
"Just go, Sam. I'll be fine here eating this shame excuse of a breakfast" she tries to joke putting a fake smile on her face. One Sam doesn't buy it but let it go.
"I'll be back by noon, in time for your physical therapy" he promises standing up.
"You know you don't need to be here for that"
"I do, but let me just say I have an interest in your activities"
"My activities or my physical therapist? I knew you were checking his ass yesterday" Fallon gives his a smug expression and he sighs.
"Whatever. I'll be here noon and you better keep your mouth shut about this to him" he warns but she rolls her eyes, not afraid of his threats.
He leaves her bedroom and suddenly the silence is back, reminding Fallon why she almost cried about bacon minutes ago. As much as she tried to hide, she was not feeling like herself, and unlike what she told Sam, this had nothing to do with her meds.
Yes, they make her sleepy. But they didn't make her feel empty inside like she feels now.
She misses her work but can't go to her office because of her doctor's orders. She could do some work from home but she would need an assistant and right now she just doesn't have in her to trust someone new, having been betrayed so many times to do that. And even if she did hire someone for the job, she couldn't stop thinking about Liam. For the first time in her life, work couldn't be used by a distraction or something to bring her joy.
Yes, she has a multi billion dollar company, one that she started from zero. She has finally achieved what she always wanted. A successful career, respect from Blake and even was in a good place with her mother – even though the older woman had been arrested for murder the night of her shooting.
She has everything. Everything but not the man she loves by her side. Fallon can still remember perfectly that night.
He showed up, handsome as always, and she couldn't hide the hope and the joy she felt when he walked to her and stood by her side. His cologne filled her nostrils and she immediately felt peace rushing to her heart.
He said he wanted to try again and she already had the speech ready in her head. She would say how grateful she was that he was willing to give her, give their marriage a second chance. That she was going to spend less time in her office and more time with him. And she would never even glance at another man because he was more than enough for her.
She was convinced she could do it. And if she played her cards right, he would be back at the manor by the end of the month. And she would make a promise to herself, that she would never take him or her marriage for granted. She would never repeat the same patterns she grew up watching Blake repeat, ignoring everyone around him.
She would be better. A better wife. A better friend. A better daughter. A better sister. A better Fallon.
And Liam's look on her gave her all the confidence she needed.
Then, she heard the sound. People screaming everywhere. And suddenly, she wasn't feeling right. She looked down to see her perfect dress ruined by blood. Her blood.
She didn't feel any pain, probably still in shock. But her legs didn't work anymore and her strength was gone.
Liam caught her right on time and his face, his scared eyes were the last thing she saw before everything went dark.
And the first thing when she woke up again hours later. She could tell he was tired and probably uncomfortable on that chair, but he was there, holding her hand, brushing her hair and telling her he would be there for her. So she went back to sleep, believing him.
Now, how she wished she had stayed awake. How she wished she had more time with him. Because now, attached to her bed, he was all she wanted.
She eats only half of her breakfast, leaving the rest for the staff to pick it up later. She tries to read a book on her iPad but it only makes her more cranky, since her mind was elsewhere and she couldn't focus. By the time lunch arrives, she read only ten pages and was already bored.
She looks up when she hears the knock on her door, to see Liam leaning on the threshold, holding a paperbag in one hand and a small bouquet of pink roses with the other one.
"Liam" she drops her iPad and realizes it's useless to try to fix her hair or her green silk pajamas "What are you doing here?"
"Heard someone was craving bacon so I thought I could help" he waves the paper bag while walking to her and she chuckles.
"Sam?" She guesses.
"Amanda" he corrects with a smile "But Sam too"
"What's in there?"
"A hamburger, made by me, with lots of bacon. I asked Sam if I could use the hotel's cuisine and he let me" He passes her the bag and she takes it with a smile "I called your doctor earlier and he said you were allowed to eat it, but this has to be a one time thing, at least until you get fully recovered"
"This smells really good" she opens the paper bag to smell it and puts it on her bedside table "It's been a while" she hints, and he gets the message.
"Yeah, I planned to visit earlier but some things came up" he rubs the back of his neck.
"Things more important than your wife?" She asks ironic and he sighs.
"That's not what I said" he takes a step closer, sitting next to her feet and leaving the bouquet on the bed "First, I got really busy helping the police build a case against Eva. They needed my help to fill some gaps"
"I hope she rottens in jail" she mutters.
"Me too" he nods.
"And that took you three weeks to finish?"
"No" he shakes his head looking down "I guess I just needed some time, after everything"
"You mean time away from me" she states, "Because you've been talking to Sam and even Amanda"
"Amanda is a nice surprise and she's easy to talk to. And Sam was updating me, because even though I wasn't here, I still want to know about you" he rubs her leg over the blanket and she enjoys the feeling of his hands on her again "How are you feeling?"
"Sam didn't you tell you that?" She asks sarcastic and he laughs.
"He did but I guess I just need to hear straight from the source"
She huffs. "I'm getting better each day. My stitches still hurt but I can handle it"
"I thought the medication was helping with the pain"
"They do, but they make me feel weird and I don't like it" he chuckles "I'm basically healed. I guess the only thing I'm missing here is you" she declares and notices when his posture changes.
His shoulders are tense and she almost regrets it saying out loud but it was true. She was missing him.
He gives her a half smile. "We were cut short that night but we were supposed to talk, to decide how we should do things moving forward"
"Yes, I agree. But you're here, so maybe we could talk now?" She asks hopeful, leaning to take his hand.
"Right now my main concern is to see you well again. And that should be yours too"
"It is, but I'm a multi-task woman, I can focus on multiple things at the same time" she points it out squeezing his hand.
"I'm aware of that" he laughs, squeezing back "But I really need you to get better before doing this"
"I've told you, I am better" she insists.
"Sam told me you haven't been working. That you never even mentioned Fallon Unlimited since you got home. So, I'm asking again, are you sure you are alright? Because I know you, and this, is not you"
"Sam should learn how to keep his mouth shut" Fallon groans "This is just a phase, I'm recovering"
"I get that, but I'm just wondering what is your reason behind your refusal to go back to work"
"I'm not refusing anything," she protests but a glare from him forces her to admit the truth "I guess I'm just not ready" she shrugs "I did build something amazing but it came with great costs too. I almost died, Liam. That helps put things in perspective"
He rubs her hand with his free one. "I agree but your work had nothing to do with what happened that night, Fallon"
"I'm not sure about that" she shakes her head "I got so obsessed with it that I failed to see what was happening around me"
"Fallon, the shooting had nothing to do with your work, so you have to let go of this guilt" he pleads, his thumb running circles on the back of her hand "That happened because of someone who was clearly not stable and is in jail now. There's nothing to be afraid of"
Of course he would be the only one to understand why she didn't want to leave her home. Just like the beginning of their marriage, but this time, the stalker almost got its job done.
Her ability to trust was broken. She trusted someone with her whole life, while that someone was plotting to kill her. And that happened twice in the same year so it was not without a reason she didn't feel safe anymore. She had to stay focus and her job would only get in the way of that.
"I used to have this radar inside my head, and it would ring every time I met someone I needed to be careful with. And it still rings every time Adam gets closer. But it failed me, twice now. And I'm not used to walk around without it"
He gives a warm smile. "Maybe you just need to let go of it for a while, learn how to trust people in the old and traditional way, like us, common people do"
"Will you help me?" She asks insecure.
"I can. But Fallon Carrington does not need my help for anything" he winks "I really do expect you to go back to your company soon. I know how happy it makes you"
"Not as much as you do" she intervenes, intertwining their fingers "Don't forget that"
"I won't" he promises "I stand by what I said, but this is a conversation for later. Now, how about we share those burgers?" he tilts his head to the forgotten paper bag.
"What do you mean? I thought those were for me" she frowns.
"As is if I would ever let you eat two burgers on yourself, especially when you're on a diet" he takes the bag, opening it and passing one burger to her. "To your fast recovering" he toast lifting his food and she goes along.
"To no more sociopaths in our lives"
"Cheers to that" they both take a bite and Fallon moans while chewing hers.
"Humm, this is really good"
"Of course it is, I made it" he says smug "Now finish your food fast before anyone sees it. No one can know about this"
"Trust me, no one finding out about this is my main priority. As long as you keep them coming"
"I will try my best" he smirks "But I have to leave soon. Apparently Sam has his eyes set on your physical therapist and I don't want to get in the middle of that"
"Or maybe you could stay" she suggests, "It's really funny to see Sam try to get his attention" she says trying to convince him.
"I wished I could but I have to go" he speaks putting the rest of his burger in his mouth and standing up.
"Oh, okay then"
"But I promise to try and stop by more often. And I really want to see you back at your office, soon" she nods.
He takes a step closer to brush her hair and she avoids closing her eyes in delight, trying to absorb the moment as much as she can. He plants a light kiss on her forehead.
"If you need me, give me a call. Or just ask Sam to do it for you. He loves to talk about you" She laughs.
"We can agree to disagree"
"Bye, Fallon" he walks out and the silence is back to her room.
But this time, the anxiety she was feeling tones it down and she can actually feel the endorphins running through her veins.
He was right, she had to go back to Fallon Unlimited, and this time, she would try, unafraid.
She was aware it wasn't going to be easy, but she had a goal in mind.
Her wound healed, her company back on track and her husband by her side.
And Fallon Carrington pitied the soul of anyone who would try to stand in her way.