Chapter Eight



Sami always had a lot of pride. But today, her pride wasn't anywhere near as important as Lucas' happiness. That was why she had turned to Lexie Carver for help. Under normal circumstances, she would have stayed as far away from the woman as possible. But Lexie was one of the only doctor's she knew at the hospital and Sami was desperate.

She found Lexie in her office at the hospital. Lexie looked up and saw Sami standing in front of her desk and her expression hardened visibly. The feelings of animosity Sami had for Lexie were definitely mutual.

"Get out of my office." Lexie said immediately but Sami wasn't going to give up that easily.

"Look, I know that we don't get along very well but this isn't about me. So, can you please listen?" Sami asked in the sweetest, most polite voice she could manage.

Lexie crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in her chair, waiting for Sami to explain. Sami cleared her throat nervously.

"I want to know if there is any way that Lucas can get the use of his legs back." Sami told her, "Is there anything else that can get him out of the wheelchair besides physical therapy?"

"I'm not sure. I don't usually deal with paralysis but I can take a look at his medical records." Lexie replied.

"That would be great." Sami opened her mouth to thank her, even if she knew deep down she didn't mean it.

Lexie's glare stopped her from speaking again, "Let's get one thing straight, Sami. I am doing this because I feel sorry for Lucas. No one should have to spend their life in a wheelchair, the only possible exception might be you."

"I'm touched Lexie, really touched." Sami said sarcastically, then remembered she was supposed to be being nice to Lexie, "What I mean is, thank you for going through all this for Lucas. I'll be sure to mention it to him."

"Right." Lexie shot Sami another dirty look, before going back to typing away on the keyboard in front of her. Sami stood there in silence for a few minutes, before speaking again.

"Are you planning on going and getting his records anytime soon?" Sami asked. Lexie looked up at her with disdain.

"I don't need to go anywhere, I'm getting them right now. Brandon helped me set up my computer so that I can get into any medical records I need from my computer." Sami resisted cringing when she heard Lexie say Brandon's name. She reminded herself that it didn't matter anymore and that she had Lucas. That was the important thing.

After a few more minutes of Sami standing uncomfortably in front of Lexie's desk, Lexie looked up at her in irritation "I can't concentrate with you standing right there. Go outside and come back in here in....... ten minutes." she finished. Sami sighed loudly, before turning and leaving the office.

Ten minutes later, she hurried back inside, "Well, what did you find out?" Sami asked eagerly.

Lexie's face didn't give her very much hope, "It doesn't look good. There's only an incredibly small chance that physical therapy will get him back on his feet. I don't think he should continue going to physical therapy. There's only one thing that could help him walk again."

"What is it?" Sami demanded.

"I've looked over his medical information and I found out that there is a very special kind of surgery that can help him. But it isn't covered in medical insurance and you will have to get the money yourself."

"That's fine. How much is it?" Sami hoped it wouldn't be too much. But Lexie told her the amount, which instantly brought on a pounding headache.

"It can't be that much. That's insane. You're supposed to be helping people at the hospital, not sucking their bank accounts dry!" Sami was on the verge of yelling.

"I'm sorry if you don't like it." Lexie's expression was one very close to compassion, "There's nothing I can do."

Sami flung her purse over her shoulder and left the hospital, muttering to herself. There was no way she would be able to get that much money. You'd have to be a millionaire to afford the operation. She stopped dead in her tracks when she thought about this. She knew where she could get the money.

Twenty minutes later, she was ringing the doorbell of the Kiriakas Mansion. Henderson answered the door and let her come inside. She noticed Brady walk by, followed by a very drunk looking Nicole. Nicole practically tripped over Sami as she tried to catch up with Brady. Sami shook her head in disgust as she watched Nicole go over to her step-brother and hit on him. Some people were too desperate for their own good.

She found Victor in one of the large, elegant sitting rooms. Victor noticed her and looked surprised.

"Sami." Victor coldly acknowledged her, "What do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

Impulsively, Sami went in and sat down on a chair facing Victor, "I have a little favour to ask of you."

"Really?" Victor's eyes bore into hers darkly, "I don't have any reason to do you any favours. You have a lot of nerve to come into my home and ask me for one."

"It's not for me, actually." Sami retorted, "It's for Lucas."

"Lucas?" Victor looked interested now, "Go on."

"Well, you've heard about the accident and how Lucas became paralysed?" Victor nodded, "I just found out that there is a type of surgery that can help Lucas walk again. But it's very expensive."

"And that's where I come in, right?" Victor finished for her, "How much is it?"

Sami repeated the number Lexie had told her and it was enough to cause Victor to raise an eyebrow, "No, sorry but I can't help you there."

Sami felt her head pounding with frustration, "Why not?"

"Because, my dear, I don't do favours for just anyone. I thought you knew me better than that. However, I do believe in trade-offs." Victor responded.

"Victor, I have no money. I can't do a trade-off with you because I have nothing that you want from me." Sami said with false patience. She thought the fact that Lucas had been his step-son at one point would be enough to convince him to pay for the surgery but she had clearly given the old man too much credit.

"That's where you're wrong." Sami resisted shuddering as Victor's cold blue eyes raked over her, "I think it's clear to everyone that I am very much attracted to young, blonde women. Therefore, there is one thing you could give me."

Sami hoped that she was misunderstanding his words. Maybe it was just her dirty mind, "What?"

"Come on, Sami, don't play innocent. You know what I'm talking about. I mean, did you really think that a woman like Nicole would voluntarily sleep with an old man like me? Of course not, it was just a trade-off. Almost identical to the trade-off I am offering you."

Sami bounced off the couch, "Ew! I am never going to sleep with you. You can keep your money and I'll keep myself from being scarred for life!"

Before she made it out his front door, he called to her, "I guess this means that Lucas is never going to get out of that wheelchair."

Sami stiffened and almost turned back around. Then, she began heading for the door again, "That's what you think but you aren't the only rich man in Salem I can go to for help."

She hurried over to her car. She couldn't believe she had turned to Victor instead of him first. She didn't know why he hadn't been the first person that came to her mind when she found out she needed money. Sami got into her car, feeling sure for the first time that day, that Lucas was going to get the use of his legs back.