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Chapter 13
"Now Mademoiselle, what's this I hear about you refusing to allow me to use sheep's blood for the transfusion?" Dr. Vincent demanded. "I'll have you know Mademoiselle more patients survive with a sheep's blood transfusion than any other kind. I'll have you know I have success rate of nearly one in seventy-five patients."
"Dr Vincent, I'm sure you mean well, but you won't change my mind," Samantha informed him as the footmen entered with the sterilized transfusion equipment.
"And what if I simply refuse my services and return to Paris?" he challenged as the footman left.
Samantha picked up the knife she'd used on the bread and turned it over thoughtfully in her hands. "Then by all means leave, but you will leave your transfusion equipment behind."
Under his breath the physician muttered about the insanity of the English, turning to the valet he demanded, "Isn't there a male responsible for her? Surely this is too important a decision for a woman to make."
"I believe the Mademoiselle means business. The Master dotes on her a great deal so if he should survive and discover you refused to honor his fiancé's wishes, he will be furious," Phillippe explained, deciding to support Samantha's insane endeavor. The Master could go into terrible rages on occasion and if he did survive, Phillippe wished to stay on his good side. He'd seen the footman that had been used for sword practice. "I do believe Monsieur Doctor that you would not wish to incur the enmity of man as powerful as the Viscomte."
"Very well, but you do understand this won't be pleasant Mademoiselle. This would be easiest if you were to lie down beside the Viscomte."
Samantha walked to the far side of the bed and got in beside Jack. Dr. Vincent's eyes shot up in disapproval as he surveyed the nude form of his patient. What a tale he would have to tell back in Paris about the Viscomte and his insane Anglais! Watching the play of expression on the man's face, Samantha bit back a scathing tirade that threatened to spill out. Let the man say what he wanted to, all that mattered was keeping Jack alive and her blood was the means of doing so.
The physician moved the equipment about and Sam eyed the archaic equipment nervously. Primitive tubing was attached to a glass bottle and placed carefully between them. Taking Jack's arm, Dr. Vincent began to flick the pale flesh trying to select which blue vein would receive the wicked looking needle that was attached to the tube. At last he selected and pressed the needle in. Sam thought the doctor took vicious pleasure as he stabbed the needle in her arm hard before unclamping the tubing to create a vacuum to siphon blood from Samantha into Jack.
Jack became agitated and fretful, Samantha had to reach over with her other hand to try to soothe him and get him to lie still before the needle flew out of him arm. Whether he was doing better and had the energy or was doing worse, Jack began to cry mournfully a litany over and over, of her name. The call of her name seemed to amuse the doctor which made Sam angry. How dare he take amusement in Jack's weakened state! Jack was delirious with fever and blood loss, hell right now she felt like crying too.
"Maman!" Jack cried out and began sobbing pitifully.
Dr. Vincent snickered loudly turning Samantha's anger to full fledged fury. She had to fight to restrain herself from vaulting over Jack and tearing the man's eye's out. Longingly she eyed the knife, but settled for requesting a rose from Phillippe and discreetly pulling a sheet over Jack in case he reacted the way he had previously.
"Phillippe, I know when and how to remove the tubes myself. Please be so good as to show the doctor to a room, I'm certain he would like to accept our hospitality for tonight before returning to Paris."
As soon as they were alone, Samantha gently held the blossom near Jack's face, grateful when it seemed to calm him slightly, he continued whimpering but the crying subsided. Looking down at the sheet, she was relieved he didn't react as he had previously. Watching his face, Sam was glad to see some color returning to his cheeks. She knew in a few more minutes she would have to stop the transfer of blood, but she wanted to give Jack every drop possible. At the moment, Samantha would give every drop she had if only Jack would wake up and smile at her.
Gingerly, Samantha took the edge of the sheet and wrapped it around her finger. As gently as possible she pushed a little of the mold from the wound on his shoulder and was pleased to see the redness and swelling had diminished dramatically. Moving her hand downwards, she inspected Jack's thigh and was gratified to see some improvement, though Jack was still a long way from fine. Samantha was becoming light-headed and knew it was time to stop the transfusion. Pressing a kiss to Jack's lips, she waited one more moment before finally stopping the transfer of blood.
Samantha efficiently removed the needles from their arms and moved the equipment away from the bed. Feeling slightly dizzy from blood loss, she climbed back into bed with Jack and watched the steady rise and fall of his chest. His whimpering had ceased and he appeared to be sleeping. She touched her hand to his forehead and thought his felt was slightly less hot to the touch. Provided that Jack's leg continued to heal, the greatest remaining danger was that brain damage could have occurred during the very high fever that had resulted from the infection.
After all the years of their game and admiring his brilliance, Sam couldn't bear the thought of his brilliant mind being destroyed. Anxiously she watched Jack, longing for him to wake up and to see his eyes brimming with intelligence and shining with love. Samantha ached to hear sibilant tone of his voice and to see his mischievous smile. She would give anything to be able to have him hold her and feel his kiss again, not one of fever induced desperation; but one of his sweet kisses that set her very soul on fire.
"Oh Jack," Samantha sighed. "Please wake up."
As he lay sleeping, she continued to speak to him, "Just please be all right. Please Jack, I'm so lost without you."
Samantha pressed a kiss to his mouth and gently pushed his honey locks from his face, searching for any sign of him waking. Tears fell from Samantha's eyes from the strain and worry. She pleaded with him, "We can do anything you want. Get married. Make love. Kill the entire VCTF. Anything, only please, Jack, just wake up."
Upset by the lack of response, she teasingly threatened, "Jack if you don't wake up I swear I'll find a way back to Atlanta and sleep with Bailey and John at the same time! Hell throw in George; I'll make it a gang bang! You see, you have to wake up and threaten me and remind me that I belong to you."
Samantha watched him for any sort of reaction and was disappointed when Jack continued to remain still. Apprehension started turning to fear as minutes ticked by, she'd been so certain that the transfusion would help. Forlornly, she picked up the rose that rested on the pillow beside Jack and smelled it. The scent was nice, but not as nice as Jack's roses. Despondently looking at the flower, she wondered if she would ever receive another rose from Jack.
"Will I ever see another of your roses?" Samantha asked him. Taking his hand to her mouth, she kissed his palm. "Please come back to me. I love your roses. I love our game. But most of all, I love you Jack. I need you."
Jack's hand suddenly cupped her chin and his eyes shot open, "Do you my Samantha?"
"Jack!" she exclaimed joyfully. Without hesitation she answered, "I've always needed you, I just didn't know it before."
"And am I all you need?" he inquired. When she nodded, he teased, "Does that mean you're canceling the gang bang?"
Her mouth opened wide in outrage that he'd apparently listened to her for some time. Before Samantha could respond, Jack pulled her down on top of him and kissed her. The scathing retort that had been forming on her lips was lost in their kiss. When their lips parted, she reassured him of her feelings, "I want to be with you. I've fought myself and your love for a long time. I'm done fighting and denying myself the only person who matters to me. I love you, Jack."
"My Samantha," Jack breathed contentedly and pulled her mouth to his...