Gunshots and Secrets
By: Alyson Tierney
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Without a Trace or Gilmore Girls. The characters of Lorelai and Rory are property of Amy Sherman-Palladino and the WB network. The characters of Samantha, Martin, Danny, and Jack are property of Hank Steinberg and the CBS network. I do however own Sheena and Dr. Gabrielle Phelps, so please do not steal. Thank you! This story is for entertainment purposes only and is not for profit. Please no suing! Thanks!
Author's Note: While Sam's daughter has the same name in this story, it's not the same universe as the story "Sheena." The story "Sheena" was a one-shot fiction, while this story is the beginning of a series. I hope you enjoy this idea, and I hope to be able to continue it when I can, but I make no promises. Please read and review!
Chapter Two
Cotton balls. A dozen king-sized cotton balls. They were in her mouth. She groaned, licking her lips and gums to get rid of the effect. She felt a hand squeeze hers and she struggled to get her eyes open. "Sheena?" she asked.
"She's here." Lorelai's voice said, and Samantha opened her eyes part of the way. Lorelai was looking down at her, smiling, and standing next to her was her baby girl—Sheena. Sheena's blue eyes were misty with tears, as she smiled down at her mother. Rory was standing off to the side, her hand on Sheena's shoulder.
"Come here, darling." Samantha held her arms out to her daughter, who melted into her mother's embrace.
"I was so scared." Sheena cried, as Samantha held her daughter.
"I know, honey, I know." Samantha soothed. She motioned for Sheena to climb on the bed with her, which her daughter did gratefully.
Rory shuffled closer to her mother, and Lorelai put an arm around her. Rory couldn't imagine having a mother who was in constant danger from her job. Rory laid her head on her mother's shoulder; Lorelai's humming soothing her frazzled nerves. Sheena looked up at Lorelai, smiling though her tears. Lorelai was humming an old Carole King song, one that Lorelai and Samantha had often used to lull their daughters to sleep at night. Samantha smiled, too, and began humming along.
A doctor came in then, and Lorelai, noticing her first, took two dollar bills out of her pocket, "Here, you two, go get something yummy from the machine, okay?" she said, handing them to Rory and Sheena.
Rory obliged, holding her hand out to Sheena, who reluctantly got up off the bed, and took Rory's hand. The two girls walked out of the room quietly, and Lorelai took Samantha's hand, turning towards the doctor.
"How am I, doctor?" Samantha asked the friendly-faced older woman, who smiled at her.
"I'm Doctor Gabrielle Phelps, Ms. Spade." Dr. Phelps said, shaking Samantha's free hand.
"Dr. Phelps." Samantha tried to smile, "My cousin, Lorelai Gilmore."
"Yes, we met last night." The doctor smiled at Lorelai.
"So, how am I?" Samantha asked, again.
"Well, the shot was a through-and-through, and the bone, arteries, muscles sustained some damage. We were able to go in surgically and repair everything, and we're replacing your blood now," The doctor motioned to an IV drip, which was attached to an IV bag filled with blood and plasma, "You'll have to have some physical therapy to regain full use of your leg, but I'm certain you'll be absolutely fine."
Lorelai grinned at Samantha who smiled back, "Thank you, doctor." Samantha said, reaching out to shake her hand.
"Yes, thank you doctor." Lorelai said, smoothing her hand over Samantha's cheek. She loved Samantha just like a little sister, had always thought of her that way, especially since the day 13 ½ years ago that Sam had landed on her doorstep.
"Get some rest now. You should be out of here tomorrow, but for now, give that leg some rest." The doctor smiled at the two women, before heading out the door. Lorelai smiled down at Samantha, who grinned back at her.
"How'd they know to call you guys?" Samantha asked, confused.
"You do have emergency contact information in your file, sweetie. I'm listed as number one, remember?" Lorelai smiled playfully, and stroked Samantha's cheek.
"Oh, yeah." Samantha grinned sheepishly, and then yawned sleepily.
"Get some rest, sleepyhead. I'm right here." Lorelai assured her.
Samantha shook her head, "No, I need to talk to Sheena."
Lorelai nodded, "She knows a little more than I told her. She was listening to music with Rory last night, and heard on the radio that a FBI agent had been shot in a hostage situation, so she put two and two together. Sorry." She looked sheepish.
Samantha sighed, "Its okay. I just didn't want her scared."
Rory knocked on the door then, and peeked in, "Is it okay?" she asked. Sheena's anxious face appeared next to Rory's.
"Come on in, you two." Samantha said, gesturing them to come in. Sheena came and sat on the bed, and Rory did the same.
"Mom, are…is…" Sheena sniffled back tears as she looked down at her mother's leg, encased in a cast from thigh to mid-shin.
"Mom's okay, sweetie. The surgery fixed everything, and with a little physical therapy, I'll be up and about in no time." Samantha assured her.
Sheena nodded, "Promise?" she asked.
"I promise." Samantha said, holding her arms out to her daughter, who gratefully melted into Samantha's arms.
"What was it like?" Sheena asked suddenly. Samantha traded looks with Lorelai, not exactly wanting to tell Rory and Sheena what had happened.
"Honey, um…" Samantha started, as Sheena pulled back and studied her mother. Samantha smiled up at her daughter, "It was scary; probably one of the scariest moments of my life. But in the midst of all the scariness, I knew it would turn out okay, and it did."
Sheena looked at her mother, unsure, "You're okay, now, though?" she asked.
Samantha smiled, "Yes. I have you, and I have Rory, and I have Lorelai. I'm perfectly fine now." Sheena hugged her mother, and Samantha shared a secret smile with Lorelai. This was a true attempt on Sheena's part to try and be adult about a very painful and scary situation. Her daughter was truly maturing.
Lorelai reached out and pulled Sheena and Rory off the bed, "Come on, you two, let's let Sam have her rest." She said, noticing Samantha looked about ready to crash, "She's coming home tomorrow, but we need her rested."
Sheena leaned down and kissed her mother, before following Rory to a couch in the corner. Samantha now noticed that it had been transformed into Sheena-and-Rory-haven, with books, paper, and CDs lying about. She looked back up into Lorelai's blue eyes before snuggling into the pillows.
"Night, sweetie." she heard Lorelai say.
Samantha managed to get out a quiet, "Night, Lorelai." before sleep took over.