Author Notes: Hi, people! I'm really really sorry I haven't updated sooner! I promise I won't make you wait so long again before chapter 18. See? Cross my heart ^_^ (So I stole Frodo's line. So what?) But I'm updating now! Yay! shirebound – awww, you liked that line too? It just seemed so sweet and – well, Frodo-like. *kisses her picture of Frodo* Got to love that teenager ^_^ Mish – actually, with numbing shots it would be worse! I was in a pretty bad car wreck a couple of years ago and it took a couple hundred stitches to sew me up. All I can remember of that night in ER was pleading with the doctors just to do it without the numbing medicine, which hurt too much. Anyway, our sweet Sam braved it out, and he's okay now. *kisses her picture of Sam* Well, his ankle, anyway. They're still gonna be sick together. TK – hi! I love new reviewers! Wow, you had to wait all day? That majorly s*cks, my friend. I would have died of impatience if I were you (so patience isn't my strong point. Big deal. ^_^) I'm definitely gonna make it okay, so you can stop glaring at me. *grins* And I'm making it as long as possible, believe me! Mistress-Samwise – as always, a pleasure to hear from you ^_^ Sorry you couldn't wait, and then I made you wait. *raises hands defensively* Please don't throw things at me! Tigrin – thanks so much! I'm glad the descriptions are good. Being my own worst critic, I can never tell. You, however, give me confidence. ^_^ *hands you a cookie* Thank you! Elvish – there's definitely more to come! As much as I can possibly think up, I promise you! By the way – what's 'AC' stand for? You write it at the end of your reviews. IloveSam- bungee jumping! Aiieee!!! Are you nuts?! Mail me and tell me all about it, I'd love to hear from you. ^_^ tiggivon – the sound of rain is like, my favorite in the whole world. (This love for rain stressed by the fact that I live in the Southwest, and so we don't get any.) Butterfly – ah, ma meillure amie! Alright, no French ^_^ Love you forever! So. These notes are really really long. Just read the story ^_^. This is the same night, and what goes on at #3 Bagshot Row.
« Where's Sam ? »
« Mum ? Dad ? Where is he ? »
« Is he alright ? »
« He's not hurt, is he ? »
« Is it bad ? »
The children were talking all at once, and Hamfast held up his hand. They fell quiet, watching their parents expectantly. Hamfast began to explain.
« Sam's at Bag End, with Master Frodo – »
« Why ? »
« Frodo's not hurt, is he ? »
« – an' he's going to stay there for a while, » Hamfast finished. His elder sons and daughters were questioning him and eachother rapidly, trying to assess the situation. He opened his mouth to speak again, but they talked right over him. He rolled his eyes, exasperated.
« Quiet ! » he said. Five pairs of dark and worried eyes met his own. « Alright, » he said. « Now. Sam's at Bag End. He'll be there a few days, an' maybe a few weeks, depending. »
« But – » Daisy began. He silenced her with a look.
« His ankle's broken, and his foot's wounded pretty bad, so he can't be moved, » he explained.
« How bad ? » asked Halfred anxiously.
« Not good, » said Bell. « Had a rock this big in his little foot. Almost needed a knife to get it out. »
« A knife ? » the four older children said, horrified. Marigold wasn't sure what exactly was going on, but she did know that her favorite brother was hurt somehow, and that he wasn't coming home. Her big, dark eyes filled with tears and she began to cry. Hamfast picked her up.
« S'alright, littlest. She didn't use it, » he reassured. Bell nodded.
« S'right, I didn't. Had to pull on it something fierce 'fore it came, but it did. Praise the Father. »
« Praise the Father, » the children murmured.
« So how did it happen ? » Hamson asked.
« They got caught in the storm, » Hamfast said. « They were runnin' from t'lightning, and he tripped. »
« But the rock ? » asked May.
« He must've stepped on it the wrong way, » said Bell. « It was driven right firm into the sole. » The children winced at the image that created in their minds.
« He's alright ? » asked Halfred.
« Well, he will be, » said their father. « Your mother tended to him an' bound his ankle. » He smiled at Bell, who smiled back, but half-heartedly.
« Probably still hurts somethin' awful, » she said under her breath, looking out the kitchen window to Bag End. She had known Bilbo a long time, now, and he was a good and worthy friend. Frodo, too, she trusted, and loved him as if he were her own. But this did not change the fact that her real son was hurt, and she couldn't care for him. Sam had always been her favorite child, and she felt horribly guilty for leaving him. When he needs you most, Bell ! she reprimanded herself. What kind of a mother are you to just *leave* your child when he's hurt ? She bit her lip, fighting the urge to slosh her way up the Hill and bring her son home. He can't be moved, you know that, she thought, trying to be reasonable. It was hard to be reasonable when her whole mother-instinct was screaming at her to run and grab her child. He's warm an' dry an' safe, an' that's all he needs, Bell Gamgee, she said sternly. Frodo'll take care of him, I know it. He loves my boy. Sam'll be safe. He'll be alright. She took a deep breath and turned back to her family.
« Well, then, » she said. « Best get supper started. » Her daughters began assembling the ingredients for a beef stew, and she rummaged about in the cupboards for cookware. Her sons lingered a long moment, uncertainly.
« Mum ? » said Hamson.
« Hmmm ? » she asked, turning to him. He ran his fingers through his thick dark hair, and braced himself for a 'no'.
« Can we – Halfred an' me – could we go see him ? » he asked, readying himself for disappointment. Worth a try, anyway, he thought. Just want to see 'im. Make sure he's alright. Sam's older brothers loved him dearly and were fiercely protective of him. He just seems so – breakable, they thought. Their slender, beautiful little brother looked so fragile to them, who both had strong bones and muscular builds. They were constantly afraid he'd get lost or hurt one of these days, wandering around with that far-off look in his eyes, an' never paying no attention to where he's going. Least Frodo was with him an' brought him back.
They both liked Frodo a great deal, and trusted him with their brother. Two of kind, they are, Halfred had said to Hamson the day they first met Frodo. They had been surprised. Dark and slender Frodo, with his wide blue eyes that held the same distant look Sam's had – he's more like Sam than any of us, an' we're family ! Hamson had exclaimed. They were glad of it now. He brought 'im back, they thought, and silently blessed Frodo. Now they stood, watching their mother half-expectant, half-wary.
« Yes, » said Bell, and they sprinted for the door. « Wait ! » she called after them. They stopped and turned around. Bell smiled apologetically. « Not till tomorrow, » she said. « They're sleeping now. »
« Oh, » said the brothers, their voices heavy with disappointment.
« Sorry, lads, » said their mother. « I want to see him, too. But they need their sleep. They were caught in the storm for hours, an' they're probably sick. They need to rest. » The boys sighed, and began helping her with getting the supper ready.
« Sam ? » said Marigold softly, looking at her mother questioningly. Bell smiled at her, a little sadly.
« Not tonight, wee lass, » she said. Marigold frowned at her, confused.
« Why ? » she asked in her little voice.
« He's staying with Frodo, » Bell said. « You remember Frodo. » Marigold thought a moment. « Blue eyes, dark hair – you remember him, » Bell coaxed. « He carries you. » Recognition dawned in Marigold's face, and she nodded. « Good girl, » her mother congratulated her. « Sam's just staying with Frodo for a while. »
This Marigold could understand, and her worries disappeared. So long as her favorite brother was with the nice, dark-haired boy she liked so much, then everything was alright. She smiled.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
They had eaten their supper and cleared everything away. Bell and Hamfast kissed their children goodnight and sent them off to their bedrooms before retiring to their own. Bell stood in front of the mirror in her nightgown, brushing her long, dark hair slowly and thoughtfully. Her eyes were distant and troubled, and Hamfast came up behind her and slid his arms around her waist. She turned to him, a bit startled, and he smiled at her.
« Not to worry, lass, » he said softly. « He'll be alright. » Bell nodded, blinking hard against the tears that had leapt to her eyes. Turning her to face him, Hamfast looked into her eyes. « He'll be alright, » he repeated gently. She laid her head on his shoulder and wept.
« I left him, I just left him, » she said against the fabric of his tunic. He held her tightly and rubbed her back.
« Shhh, lass it's alright, he's alright, » he soothed.
« But he needs me an' I left him there ! » she cried. « How could I ? »
« Because Master Bilbo is a good man, an' we trust him. Because young Frodo an' him solidly refused to be separated. Because he's alright, » Hamfast said firmly. « He's alright, Bell. »
« I want my baby, » she wept into the curve of his neck. « I want my baby, I want my baby, I want my baby… » Hamfast held his wife as she cried late into the night, until she was simply too tired to cry anymore. Then, still holding her close, he got them into bed. Ah, Bell ! he thought, looking down into her sleeping face. She was a beautiful woman, and she looked beautiful now, her cheeks flushed and tear-streaked and her long, dark hair spread over the pillows. He kissed her softly, and they slept.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
« Daisy ? »
« What ? »
« I've got Mari. Could we sleep in here ? » May whispered. Daisy threw back the covers on her bed and her two younger sisters climbed up beside her, May drawing the covers over them again. They moved closer together, Marigold between her older sisters. They talked over the top of her head.
« Will he be alright, do you think ? » asked May.
« I hope so, sister, » Daisy whispered back. « But we can't know till we see him. »
« D'you suppose they'll let us see him tomorrow ? »
« I'm pretty sure of it, » said Daisy. « An' I'm determined to, whether or no. »
« How do you mean ? » asked May. « If they say no, we can't just go anyway. »
« Why not ? » Daisy shot back. « I'm seventeen, I'll do what I want. An' I'm taking you with me. »
May considered this. « Alright. But if they say no, how're we goin' to visit him ? »
« We'll go to Bag End an' ask to see our brother, » Daisy said. « Master Bilbo'll let us in, that I'm sure of. » May grinned.
« He always liked us, didn't he ? » she said, very pleased. Then she remembered Sam, and was worried again. « What if it's real bad ? » she asked.
« Well… » said Daisy, biting her lip. « Oh, May ! I don't want it to be bad ! He's just so small and pretty. I can't bear to think of him hurt, » she whispered unhappily.
« Neither can I, » May agreed. « Well, it can't be that bad. I mean, if it had been, Mum an' Dad would never have left, would they ? »
« No, they wouldn't, » Daisy said with relief. « So it can't be too bad. »
« Maybe he'll come home in a few days, » May said hopefully. Daisy frowned.
« An' maybe not. His ankle's broken, they said, and it ain't safe to move someone as has broken bones. » Now May frowned.
« No harm hoping, sister. Least he's with Frodo. That'll make him happy, » she whispered.
« They're two peas in a pod, those two, » Daisy remarked. « An' it's strange – he's so much older than our Sam. »
« That don't mean a thing an' you know it, Daisy, » May said. « Friends is friends, an' age don't make no difference with love. » Daisy paused a long moment.
« He does love him, doesn't he ? » she said softly.
« Who ? Sam or Frodo ? » asked May.
« Both. They love eachother, don't they ? I mean, it's obvious, isn't it ? » Daisy asked, half-hoping for a 'no'.
« Yes, Dais. They love eachother, » said May gently. Daisy sighed heavily.
« He's a nice person, is Frodo, but – » she hesitated.
« But ? » asked May.
« I always sort of hoped we could just – well, just keep Sam for us. An' never have to share him, like. He's such a pretty child, so sweet and gentle, but smart as a whip an' the practicallest little thing I ever met. He's special, May, really special. I just want to keep him. But he loves Frodo an' Frodo loves him, an' he's not ours to keep anymore. I miss him already, » she said sadly. May reached across Marigold and took her sister's hand, holding it tightly.
« I know, » she whispered, tears in her eyes. Daisy wiped her free hand across her eyes and cleared her throat.
« Least we'll see him tomorrow, » she said bravely. May smiled through her tears.
« Yeah. Tomorrow, » she said. Holding their little sister between them, they slept.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
The older brothers shared a room, and they whispered across the space between their beds.
« He'll be alright, won't he ? » Halfred asked.
« I don't know, » Hamson said irritably. Anxiety made him sharp.
« Well what do you think ? » asked his brother, just as irritably. Hamson sighed.
« I really hope he'll be alright, brother. But I don't know an' I can't say for sure till we see him. »
« Tomorrow, Mum said. I wish we didn't have to wait I'll never get no sleep worryin' over him like this, » Halfred said.
« Me neither, » his brother agreed. « Maybe we should stop worryin' and just think about it in the morning, » he suggested. Halfred snorted.
« Good luck ! » he said sarcastically. « Just try thinkin' about something else. Go on, try it, » he said.
« You know I can't, » said Hamson angrily. He sighed again. « He's warm an' safe an' dry an' his hurts have all been tended, like. Don't know why we're worryin'. »
« Because he's Samwise, » Halfred said simply.
« He's special, » Hamson said heavily.
« You say that like it was a bad thing, » said Halfred with mild surprise, sitting up in bed to face his brother. Hamson pulled himself into a sitting position and crossed his arms over his chest thoughtfully.
« No. Not a bad thing, » he said. « But a worrying thing. »
« Why ? »
« Think about it, brother, » Hamson flashed. « Sorry. I'm just tense, is all. »
« S'alright, » Halfred said. « So'm I. So why is it a worryin' thing ? Him being special, that is. »
« You know that look on his face – all starry and distant. Like he was a million miles away from us, living in the kingdoms of them Elves he loves so much. He's different, brother. He's so very different from the rest of us. Save Frodo. »
« Two of kind, like I said, » said Halfred. « They both have that look in their eyes. An' they're both so uncommon slender. An' beautiful. Never would've thought boys could be beautiful, but those two – » he shrugged.
« It's just he's so – breakable, if you follow me. They both are. So slim and pretty and far-off. It's like they don't really see the world 'cause they're living somewhere in their heads, » said Hamson, struggling to explain.
« More like they see it, but aren't a part of it, » said Halfred. « They belong someplace else. »
« Sometime else would be nearer the mark, » muttered Hamson. « But you're right. They belong in one of Master Bilbo's stories, they do. S' the feeling I get when I see them, anyway. I'm just worried that the real world'll catch up with them one of these days, an' they'll get hurt. »
« Not our Sam, » Halfred said staunchly. « He's too practical. »
« Which explains why he's laid up at Bag End with a broken ankle and the Father knows what else, » Hamson said sarcastically.
« It was an accident, brother ! Mum said so ! Could've happened to anyone, » Halfred said, defending his absent younger brother.
« An' so it just happened to him, is that it ? It was just a coincidence ? » Hamson asked. « D'you really believe that anythin' as happens to our Sam is a coincidence ? » Halfred sighed in defeat.
« No, » he consented. « Well, if it ain't coincidence, then what ? Destiny ? Come on, brother ! »
Hamson considered this. « Well… maybe it was destiny, » he said slowly and thoughtfully.
« D'you really think so ? » asked Halfred, curious.
« Could be. I mean, now he an' Frodo have met and they're friends an' all. He's been wanting that for weeks and weeks an' now it's happened. All because he broke his ankle. It could be a coincidence. It could be just about anythin'. But I don't think so, » Hamson said.
« Well, think what you like, brother, » said Halfred. « I'm officially worn out. We'll see him in the morning, an' then we can decide. So good night. »
« Night, Hal, » said Hamson, and lay back against his pillows. Both of them lay awake awhile longer, staring into the darkness and thinking about their younger brother.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N : Next chapter, they visit and we're back to Frodo and Sam ! But I had to give a little time to the Gamgees. Sam is their favorite child/sibling after all. ^_^ Review ! I'll update soon, I promise !