Disclaimer: I don't own the TBs or the Tracy family with the exception of Sam.
A/N: I would like to thank Lillehafrue and her input for the last chapter. To those that continue to review thank you. For those that are enjoying the story but not reviewing, thank you too. I know not everyone reviews but the feedback can only help the story get better.
A/N: Please do not copy, print, or hyperlink this fiction without my express written or verbal consent. I may be reached at my email of record. Any and all original characters are mine and may not be used without my written consent.
Chapter 28
The flight to New York wasn't that bad. John seemed to be overcoming his fear of flying and appeared to be enjoying his role as copilot for his dad.
They stopped in Birmingham, Alabama for the night and also to give Jeff and John a chance to relax their newly freed limbs. Both had their casts removed that morning and they were still a little stiff. Sam still had her leg cast on and had another few weeks before it came off.
"Sam, do you need help with your carryon?" asked John as he came back to the passenger area. Sam was staring out of the window and had made no move to stand up.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
She looked up at him and shook her head and pulled her carryon bag out from under her seat. She reached over and picked up her crutches and stood up. He backed out of her way as she began to walk towards the steps. She was waiting on the tarmac for him after he collected both of their carryon bags. Jeff had grabbed their duffel bags from the hold and put them in the cab. Sam and John got into the cab with him. Sam was quiet for the trip to the hotel. John kept glancing at her worriedly.
Jeff went to the hotel register and requested two connecting rooms and within fifteen minutes they were shown their rooms. John set Sam's duffel bag on the dresser so that she could get to it easier. Her carryon was placed right next to it. She went straight to her bed and sat down and turned the television on. She flipped through the channels trying to find something of interest. She finally found a documentary on solar and lunar eclipses. Settling back against the headboard of her bed she watched and made mental notes to compare with what she'd already learned. She wasn't aware of John and Jeff watching her. Jeff had noticed her unusual quietness.
"John, what's wrong with her?" he asked.
"I don't know. She was all quiet when I asked her if she needed help with her carryon and wouldn't answer me," he answered.
"Maybe I shouldn't have let her fly out here. I wonder if it's too much at once," he said more to himself.
"Dad, you know that if she didn't get to see Gordon in the regional meet she would be very upset. I'll try and find out what's wrong with her." Jeff went back into his room to relax before they went down for a late lunch. John sat down on his bed and began to watch the program that Sam had chosen. Every so often he would glance over at her. Finally, he couldn't stand the quiet anymore.
"Sam, what's wrong with you?" John asked quietly. Sam turned to face him and shrugged her shoulders and turned her attention back to the program. John got up and flipped the television off. He stood in front of it so that she couldn't turn it back on.
"Move it, John," she said. John just looked back at her and waited. Within moments, her shoulders sagged and she looked up at him.
"I miss being able to do stuff. I couldn't help Dad fly here and I can't participate in Scott's last season of cross-country," she said. "I'm just tired of ending up in a cast. Think about it John. I was in a cast twice when we were twelve and now four years later and guess what- I'm back in a friggin' cast. Twice cus of the infection. I'm just really bored and depressed about being so limited." John walked over to her and sat down.
"You only have a few more weeks and then you'll be good as new," he said encouragingly. She shook her head.
"Don't forget that I'm going to have to go through physical therapy and you know as well as I do that it's gonna be painful and tiring," she said in a tone that reminded him of her vast experience with the routine. "It's probably going to be worse this go around cus of the compound fracture and more painful." John wrapped his arm around her and hugged her reassuringly.
"I'll be there with you every step of the way," he said as she leaned against him.
"Thanks for talking to me," she said.
"That's what a bestest brother does," he teased. Sam started to giggle at his comment. "Come on. We need to let Dad know that you're alright. He was worried about his little girl and her unnatural silence."
"Why was he worried?" she asked as John helped her up and handed her crutches to her.
"Because, Sam, you and quietness mean one of three things, sleeping, studying, or upset." he replied. Sam looked at him and shook her head.
"You know me too well," she said as they went to the door that connected their room to their dad's. John knocked and waited for Jeff to give the ok to enter.
"Come in," he called. John opened the door and stood back for Sam to enter.
"Hi, Dad," she said as she went to sit next to him on the bed. She leaned her crutches against the wall and turned back to her dad and gave him a hug.
"I'm sorry if I worried you. I just had a bit on my mind but my bestest brother helped me sort it out," she grinned at John as he shook his head. Jeff wrapped his arm around her and kissed the top of her head.
"I'm glad that you were able to talk to someone about it," he said. "Is there anything that I can do to help you?"
"Not unless you can make physical therapy easy or get me back in condition to run a bit with Scott before he graduates," she answered. "I'm going to have to get through this on my own will power with the support of all of you."
"We'll all be here for you, Sam," her dad said as he looked her in the eye. "I know that it is hard for you at the moment but you're a Tracy and we overcome everything." Sam sighed.
"Yeah, we do but sometimes it gets difficult to deal with or really hurts and the hurt is always there," she said quietly. John knew that she was thinking of their mom. Sam grabbed her crutches and stood up.
"I'm hungry. Let's go get something to eat," she said as she headed to the door. John and their dad looked at each other and grinned. They followed her out into the hallway.
"We're we eating at, Sam?" asked Jeff.
"In the restaurant here in the hotel," she said. "Is that alright with you guys?"
"That's fine with us," they said together. They were quickly seated and enjoyed an animated lunch with a livelier Sam.
"What do you want to do now?" their dad asked after they ate.
"John, do you want to go swimming?" Sam asked. John looked at her with a surprised expression. "I can watch you or read a book while you swim. You shouldn't be bored just cus I'm in a cast. You just got yours off so enjoy the freedom."
"Nah, I really don't want to go swimming," he said. "Dad, can we go to the nearest shopping mall?"
Jeff looked at his son with a look that mirrored Sam's. Both of them knew how much the boys hated shopping.
"Sure, if Sam feels up to walking around," he replied. John looked at Sam questioningly.
"I never turn down shopping," she said. John stood up and leaned over to pick up Sam's crutches. Jeff offered his arm to help her get her balance as John handed the crutches to her. She shifted them into a comfortable position and followed their dad out of the restaurant with John right beside her.
"What are you up to?" she asked as they walked out of the hotel and to the taxi that Jeff had called for. John just grinned and held her crutches as she awkwardly got in the car. John went around to the other side and put the crutches on the floorboard and quickly got in and closed the door. Jeff was sitting in the front passenger seat.
Fifteen minutes later and they were walking in the mall. John paused in front of the map directory of the mall. He quickly located what he wanted and together they headed in the direction John guided them. He stopped his dad and sister and had them wait on a bench near his destination. He walked over to a kiosk that sold airbrushed sweatshirts and the like and placed his order. When he was done he rejoined his sister and dad again.
"I need to come back in about an hour and a half," he said as they resumed walking around the mall. "Sam, let's get something to take back for our brothers." Sam's eyes lit up in agreement. They went into a sporting goods store and bought some new goggles for Gordon as well as a couple of pairs of Speedos. They went to a bookstore and bought a couple of books for Scott. One was about housekeeping for dummies. Sam found it a fitting title for Scott since she did his laundry and wouldn't let him fix a piece of toast because he always burnt it. A music store caught John's eye and they bought a few new cds for Virgil that featured his favorite composer. Alan was a bit harder to buy for. They were just passing a store that specialized in race car merchandise when Sam saw a jacket with Alan's favorite race car driver on it. She and John bought that and a baseball cap for him. By the time they had gotten something special for each of their brothers; it was time to head back to the kiosk to pick up John's order. Sam and Jeff were again asked to sit on the bench while John checked over the work and paid for his purchase. He kept the bag closed and refused to answer any questions from Sam and Jeff.
"I hate to say this but I'm getting kind of tired and sore," said Sam as she looked up at John from the bench she was sitting on. Jeff could see that she was tired and decided that it was time to head back to the hotel. He called for a cab to pick them up and soon they were heading back to the hotel. Jeff helped John carry in the gifts that they bought for their brothers. Sam went straight to her bed and sat down. She dropped her crutches to the floor and groaned.
"You'd think that they could do something to make those a bit easier on the underarms," she complained. She shifted on the bed so that she could lift her broken leg up on the bed and relax. Jeff went to his room and John set the packages he was carrying on the floor between his bed and the wall so that Sam wouldn't trip on them.
"Do you need anything?" he asked as he glanced over at her.
"No, I'm alright. I'm just a bit cranky cus of the stupid crutches," she said. "I wonder if Brains could design something better." She shifted her leg off the bed and carefully stood up and slowly hobbled her way to the bathroom without her crutches. She used the dresser and the walls as a balancing tool. She got to the bathroom and filled a cup with cold water and turned around to go back to her bed. When John saw her he just shook his head.
"I just asked if you needed anything," he said. "I could have gotten that for you."
"John, I am quite capable of doing things for myself," she said just as she miscalculated the distance between the wall and the dresser and stumbled. Luckily for her Jeff had just come through the connecting door and grabbed her before she could fall. She grabbed on to his arm to help keep from falling.
"Sam, why aren't you using your crutches?" he asked as he helped her back to her bed. Sam looked down at the floor.
"I hate them and I'm tired of having to depend on them to get around," she said miserably. She let him help her shift back on her bed and then handed her the water glass that John had refilled for her. She shook her head and he sat it on the nightstand. Sam looked out of the window and sighed. Jeff sat down on the edge of the bed and began to talk to her.
"Samantha, what's bothering you?" he asked. Sam sighed again.
"I'm just tired of being dependant and restricted," she admitted. "I'll be fine as soon as the cast is off and physical therapy is over with." She looked at her dad and brother and gave them a small smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"I'm going to take a nap before dinner. I'm kind of tired," she said as she scooted down on her bed and closed her eyes. Jeff and John watched her and before long the tense look on her face smoothed out and she was resting quietly.
"I can't wait until she is free of the cast, Dad," said John quietly. "It's really bothering her this time around."
"I agree with you. I'm going to see if I can get her into a doctor here in Birmingham before we leave for New York. Maybe the cast can come off sooner," he said. "It's been on for about six weeks. I'd rather have her on restrictions with the cast off than have the cast on and be depressed. Maybe a walking cast would work."
He went back to his room to make some phone calls but didn't tell John what he found out. That evening, they ordered room service in the twins' room. Sam sat at the little table and propped her leg up on the side of her bed. Jeff sat on her bed and ate his dinner. John was sitting at the little table with Sam. They were all watching a documentary on space and historic moon landings. Jeff groaned when his picture was shown on the television. Sam and John ignored him and continued watching their dad walking on the moon. When his segment was over they looked at him with wide eyes.
"What was it like, Dad?" asked John.
"Was it an adrenaline rush?" asked Sam. Jeff looked from one to the other and realized that they were really interested in what it was like and how he felt.
"Aside from watching your mom give birth to each of you, it was the most amazing thing that I have ever experienced," he admitted. "I was in awe when I looked back at the Earth. It was such a spectacular sight that I will never forget for the rest of my life." Sam and John looked at each other and smiled.
"I think that it is cool that we can ask you these questions and get a real answer," said Sam. "Now, I can understand why people always want to talk to you about it. I guess we never really thought of you as an American Hero. I have always thought of you as my hero cus you're my dad and you are raising six of us alone except for Grandma. You always make time for any of us no matter what you're doing. Thanks Dad." Jeff smiled at his daughter.
"I wouldn't have my life any other way," he said. "I hate to say this but I want to get an early start so I'm going to turn in. I want you two to get some sleep also."
"Okay, Dad, I'll make sure that my little sister gets to bed by her bed time," said John in a tone resembling Scott's.
"I'm only the little sister by less than two minutes. If I wouldn't have had to push you out, I would have been the oldest," she retorted. Jeff shook his head at their banter.
"Goodnight," he said as he walked to his room and closed the door. Sam and John paused in their banter and told him goodnight.
"I can't wait to see Scott, Virg, Gordy, and Ally tomorrow," she said as she pushed her plate away from the edge of the table and drank some of her water. She carefully lowered her leg to the floor and leaned over to grab her crutches. With an irritated sigh she stood up and went to the dresser and got her pajamas and underclothing out of her suitcase. She looked at her clothes and then at her crutches. John was watching to see if she was going to ask for help. Sam tucked her underclothes in her waistband and tossed her pajamas over her shoulder and hobbled to the bathroom. John heard her crutches drop to the bathroom floor and a muttered curse word. There was a pause and then another curse word. John got up and went to the bathroom door.
"Sam, are you alright?" he called through the door.
"Stupid friggin cast," muttered Sam. "I'm fine. Just having cast and balance issues." John grinned and went back to sit on his bed. He opened the bag of stuff he'd bought at the kiosk in the mall and smiled as he envisioned his siblings' expressions when they saw what he'd gotten all of them. He had even gotten Catie and Alex one that said either 'Bestest Boyfriend' or 'Bestest Girlfriend' as a gift. He quickly put them away when he heard the shower shut off. Fifteen minutes later Sam came out of the bathroom with a very irritated look on her face.
"What's wrong?" he asked as he looked at her.
"My leg is itching again and I'm tired," she sighed as she sat down on the edge of her bed. John went over and helped her into bed. She glared at him.
"I can do it myself," she said. "Sorry, you didn't deserve that. Thank you." John shook his head and went to take his shower. By the time he was done, Sam was asleep. She had curled up on her right side and had covered her head with her blanket so that nothing but her eyes and nose were uncovered. John shut the lights off and lay down on his bed and watched another documentary and then flipped to a cartoon channel. His eyes slowly closed and he was soon asleep.
"Samantha, I told you to use your crutches!" exclaimed their dad as John woke up to find that Sam had fallen. He jumped out of bed and helped his dad get Sam up.
"I know that, Dad, but I don't remember getting up," she said quietly. "I thought that I was dreaming." They helped her sit down on John's bed and Jeff checked her over.
"Are you hurt any where?" he asked.
"Just my pride and dignity," she replied. "Can someone hand me my crutches?" John picked them up and handed them to her. She stood up and went to the bathroom. Jeff could hear her muttering all the way in and all the way back out. He gave her a look.
"Sorry, Dad, but until you deal with what I have please don't give me the look," she said. "I'm not trying to be rude but until you have to deal with this it's hard to understand the frustration."
"Well, get dressed because we have an appointment that we need to get to in about one hour," he told them. He went back to his room and packed up his stuff. John went to the bathroom to change while Sam got out her clothes. She called to John and told him to stay in the bathroom cus she was changing. She sat on the edge of the bed and changed as quickly as she could. She gave the all clear when she was ready and John came out and packed up his stuff and handed Sam her duffel bag so she could pack her stuff.
They joined their dad in the hallway with their belongings. Sam had both hers and John's duffel bags strapped over her shoulders. John had the rest of their stuff. They got into the limo that Jeff had requested for them. Jeff had everything put into the trunk of the limo and gave the driver an address. He wouldn't say where he was taking them until they pulled up in front of a medical plaza.
"What are we doing here?" asked Sam as they got out of the limo. Jeff led them to the office he'd been told to go to. He opened the door and let Sam and John in. He went to the receptionist and told her that they had an appointment for Samantha Tracy. Sam's head snapped up at the sound of her name. They were quickly escorted to an exam room. The doctor came in and introduced himself.
"Well, young lady, I hear that you're having a rough time with the cast," he said after introducing himself. Sam nodded her head and looked down at the floor.
"Yes, Sir," she replied.
"I'm going to take the cast off and then X-ray it again. If both bones are healed then the cast stays off," he said. Sam glanced up at her dad. He grinned down at her and nodded his head. The doctor had Sam lean back while he cut the cast off and take the X-rays. Jeff and John had to wait outside the room while the X-rays were done. When the film was ready the doctor came back to the exam room. Jeff was reading a magazine and Sam was talking to John.
"Looks like your free of the cast, Miss Tracy," he said as he displayed the film on a light. They could all see that the bones had healed. "You still need to use the crutches for a few more days until you build up the strength and you are going to have to go through physical therapy."
"Thank you, Dr.," said Jeff. "I have therapy lined up for Sam already." He turned to Sam and John.
"Let's go, we have to get to New York and see your brothers," he told them. John handed Sam her crutches and they walked out to the limo. Sam kept looking at her leg on the way to the airport. She ran her hand down the length of her sweats and grinned at John.
"It feels great not to have that cast on even though I'm not looking forward to the therapy but that can't be helped," she said. John and Jeff loaded their stuff in the plane as Sam climbed up the steps and sat down in her seat.
"Aren't you going to help fly?" her dad asked when he saw her in her seat.
"Can I?" she asked.
"You know how and the cast is off so come on and help your old man," he teased. Sam picked up her crutches and hobbled her way to the cockpit and sat down in the copilot's seat. Jeff made sure that everything was ready and before long they were on their way to New York. John sat in a jump seat behind Sam and smiled at their dad over Sam's elation to finally be free of the cast. Three hours later they were landing at the small airport near the school. Sam and Jeff did the post-flight work while John loaded the SUV.
Jeff drove them to the school. While Sam and John went to the dorm, Jeff went to talk to the headmaster. John opened the door to his room and glanced around sadly. He really missed being here. They left his door opened and went to Sam's room next. They sat down on her bed and before long they could hear their brothers coming down the hall. They watched Scott and Virgil glance into the room.
"Hi, Sam and John," they said as they continued to their rooms. Sam and John sniggered at each other and busted out laughing when Scott and Virgil could be heard in the hallway.
"Was that…?"
"Did you see…?" Then they could be heard running back to Sam's room. Sam and John had stood up and were waiting for them.
"Hi, guys," said Sam as she was pulled into a big hug from Scott. Virgil joined in and before they knew it three more Tracy brothers joined in the hug.
"When did you get here?" they asked at once. Sam and John grinned at them. Both were so happy to be back with their brothers even if it was only for Gordon's competition and birthday.
"About a half hour ago," answered John. Sam hobbled back to her bed to sit down. Her leg was hurting a bit. Virgil noticed that the bulky cast was gone.
"You got the cast off," he said. Sam nodded in agreement.
"This morning," she said. "Still have to use the crutches for a few more days."
"That's great, Sam," said Scott. Sam shook her head.
"Now the hard part starts. Physical therapy and rebuilding the muscle and getting used to walking unaided," she replied. "Enough of that, man have we missed you guys." Jeff walked in at that moment.
"I can vouch for that. These two have been driving me crazy. For some strange reason they have wanted to see you," he said.
"DAD!" yelled Scott, Virgil, Gordon, and Alan as they pulled him into a group hug.
"Are you guys all packed and ready to go?" he asked.
"Yes, Sir," said a chorus of voices. Sam and John nodded at each other.
"Before we leave Sam and I have something for each of you," said John shyly. He and Sam handed each of their brothers the special gifts that they had picked out for them.
"This is great!" exclaimed Alan as he tried on the jacket and put the baseball cap on. "You guys are awesome." He gave them a big hug and kissed Sam on her cheek.
"These are great!" echoed Gordon as he saw the Speedos and goggles. "I was due for some new ones. Thanks, Sammie and Johnny." He hugged Sam and patted John on the back.
"Where did you find these?" asked Virgil with a shocked expression.
"In Birmingham, is there something wrong?" asked Sam worriedly.
"No, it's just that these are hard to find," he replied. "Thank you so much, they're great." Scott started laughing and everyone turned their attention to him.
"Very funny, Brats," he said. "Let me guess this was Sam's idea." John and Sam looked at him innocently and the Terrible Two pleaded innocence.
"I have no idea what you mean, Scott," replied Sam. Scott held up the Housekeeping for Dummies book and everyone laughed at it.
"Sure, you don't know how this book got into the bag," he retorted with a grin on his face. John grinned up at his brothers and sister.
"I have something that I bought for all of us," he said as he opened the bag that he had guarded.
"SAM! JOHN!" called two voices from the hallway. They all looked up and saw Catie and Alex. Sam stood up and John helped her over to Alex. She gave him a big hug just as John hugged Catie.
"We've missed you, too," said Sam. Alex helped her back to her bed so that she could sit down.
"When did you get the cast off?" he asked.
"This morning and I just broke a rule. I'm not supposed to walk without my crutches for a few more days," she sighed. John had opened the bag and was handing out the baseball caps to his brothers and Sam. He handed one to Jeff, Alex, and Catie.
Sam got teary eyed at the words. Each of the hats was in the individual's favorite color with white letters.
"John, I can't believe that you thought to do this," she smiled at him through her tears. Catie walked to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you," she said.
"I'm the bestest dad of six children," Jeff said. Scott, Virg, John, Gordon, and Alan's hats all read "5 bestest brothers." Sam's hat read "1 bestest sister."
"I hate to say this but we really have to get going," said Jeff. Sam picked up her crutches and stood up. She and Alex walked out of the room together. Both of them had on their baseball caps on and were quietly talking to one another. Catie and John came out next. Jeff was the last one out and he waited for Gordon, Alan, Scott, and Virgil to get their duffel bags and to put away their gifts and lock their rooms. Sam, Alex, John, and Catie went down to the lobby to wait on them. The two couples moved away from each other when they got to the lobby. Alex leaned Sam's crutches against the wall and hugged her to him.
"I'm glad that I got to see you today," he said as he leaned in to gently kiss her. "I've missed being with you."
"I've missed you too," she replied as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. She broke away when she heard her brothers' voices and grabbed her crutches and walked towards the door with Alex beside her. John and Catie joined them at the door and Sam and John climbed into the middle seats because it was easier for Sam. Virgil sat with them and Gordon and Alan climbed in the back. Jeff let Scott drive and when they got to the airport Virgil and John loaded the plane while Gordon, Alan, Sam, and Jeff got on the plane. Scott put the SUV in the hangar. Virgil and John sat in their normal seats. Scott was copiloting with Jeff. An hour and a half later, they were landing at a private airport in Richmond, Virginia. Jeff had arranged for a limo to pick them up and take them to a hotel where he had made reservations. They followed the norm for room sharing; Virg and Scott, Sam and John, Gordon and Alan, and Jeff. John carried Sam's stuff along with his own. When they got to their room, Sam looked at the bathroom and decided to take a hot bath before dinner. She looked at her choices of clothing and groaned.
"What's wrong?" asked John.
"All I have to wear are sweats," she answered. "I wish I had a pair of jeans."
"Have Dad take you somewhere to get a pair," he suggested. Sam hobbled out of their room and down the hall to their dad's and knocked on the door.
"Dad, can we go somewhere to buy a pair of jeans for me?" she asked. "All I brought were sweats cus that's all I could wear with the cast." He grinned at her and opened a suitcase on his bed and pulled out a pair of her jeans and her favorite sweatshirt.
"Grandma thought that you might want them," he said. She gave him a big hug and tossed the jeans and shirt on her shoulder and walked back to her room. She knocked and waited for John to open the door for her. After a moment he opened the door. To her surprise all of her brothers were in the room. She looked from one to the other. She shrugged her shoulders and went to get her underclothes and socks. She had just turned to go back to the bathroom when she realized that Scott was blocking her way.
She looked up at him expectantly.
"Scott, I would like to take a hot bath and relax," she said impatiently. Suddenly she was in the middle of a Tracy hug.
"Sam, we're so relieved to see you back to your normal self. You had us all a bit worried after the plane crash," Scott said as he looked down at her. "You and John are very important to us and watching you both withdraw was hard." Sam's eyes started to tear up and her lip started to quiver. She buried her face in Scott's chest and cried.
"I'm sorry for the stuff I pulled, like stealing John's pain medicine and not talking," she said. Her voice muffled against Scott's chest. "I missed you guys so much and I was such a pain to everyone especially John." They leaned against one another and were thankful to be together again.
"Go take your hot bath and relax. You deserve it little sister," ordered Scott. Sam hobbled her way to the bathroom and was soon immersed in the hot water. When she was done with her bath she quickly dried off and got dressed. She sighed when she looked down and saw jeans instead of sweats. She brushed her hair and put it into a pony tail. When she was ready she joined her brothers in the room. Gordon was telling John some of the funnier things that happened while they had been on the island. Sam leaned against the wall and watched them with a small smile. Virgil noticed her and walked to where she was standing. Her smile got bigger when he approached her.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"I'm fine now. I just missed being with all of my brothers and it would hit John and I at the weirdest times," she answered. "I missed your piano music yet when I listened to the cds you made for me, I would feel all lonely inside. The house was too quiet without Gordon and Alan running around. No Scott breathing down my neck to do what I was supposed to. It was just weird." Virgil leaned against her.
"I missed you guys to the point that a couple of times I went to your room and sat at your desk wondering what you were doing," he said quietly. Sam smiled at him and nodded her head.
"It was like that every time I passed one of your rooms. Some days it was so bad that I would sit in your studio and listen to your music," she admitted. "I really screwed things up in the beginning didn't I?"
"You had me scared with the way Scott had to have you sedated. Not to mention trying to steal John's meds. Sam, what were you thinking?" he asked.
"I don't know Virgil. I was afraid of the nightmares and my leg hurt and I was stupid to not realize what I was doing to the rest of you. I really am sorry for the way I behaved." She shifted her gaze to the floor.
"We all forgave you a long time ago," said Scott. Sam looked up sharply from the floor to find all of her brothers standing in front of her. A single tear fell from her eye as she was pulled into another Tracy hug. A knock on the door caused them to break apart and Scott went to answer the door. Jeff was standing there.
"Let's go get some dinner," he said. "Sam, don't forget your crutches." They all followed him out of the room and down to the limo that was waiting on them. Jeff took them to a casual restaurant that specialized in steaks. As usual, Sam and Virgil had grilled chicken and Gordon and Alan ate cheeseburgers. After dinner, they were taken back to the hotel so that Gordon could get a good night sleep for his competition the next day.
The next morning, everyone wore their special Gordon t-shirts that they had worn at his last meet. Sam tensed a bit with all of the media around. Gordon went off to find his coach and the rest of the family sat in the bleachers to wait for him to come out. They cheered for him when he came out of the locker room.
By the end of the competition, Gordon had broken another record for the 200m breaststroke and freestyle. He also placed first in the 400m butterfly. He came in second in the backstroke. His family was ecstatic and waited for him to join them in the lobby of the natatorium. Several reporters passed by them but didn't say anything to the family until Gordon joined them.
"Mr. Tracy, how do you feel about your son's latest wins?"
"I'm proud of him. He's achieving his goals and doing what makes him happy," Jeff answered as he guided his family away from the reporters. Somehow Sam got separated from them and was instantly surrounded by reporters. They jostled around her taking her picture and bombarding her with questions. She ignored them and slowly made her way through them. One particular reporter kept trying to block her way.
"Samantha Tracy, what happened to your leg? How do you feel about Gordon's wins today? Can I get a comment from you?" Sam shook her head in disbelief and continued towards the door. She suddenly felt a hand on hers and looked over to see Gordon. He grinned at her mischievously and winked. Sam winked back.
"Gordon, what happened to Samantha's leg? How come she never seems to talk to the media?" Gordon paused and looked at the reporter.
"Samantha only talks to those with intelligence and since you so obviously have the attention span of a gnat, back off before she clobbers you with her crutch."
"I wouldn't put it past her to do just that," added Alan as he suddenly appeared next to her.
"That's enough. I believe my daughter has told you that she would not talk to the media again," Jeff said. "Please excuse us but we're leaving." He took Sam's crutches and handed them to Alan and then he and Gordon supported Sam to the limo.
Virgil, Scott, and John were waiting on them in the limo. John sighed in relief when he saw his dad and Gordon with Sam. She was joking with Gordon and Alan about something. Sam got into the car with her brothers and Jeff told the driver to take them to the hotel. They went out for dinner that night and celebrated Gordon's success and his thirteenth birthday. They were all exhausted when they got back to the hotel. The next morning they flew back to New York.
Sam and John were quiet when it came time to leave. Jeff noticed their reaction and pulled them aside.
"What's gotten into you two?" he asked.
"It's just hard to leave our brothers again," said Sam.
"I'm not taking you back to the island. You're both staying here for the rest of the semester. Scott is going to make sure that you get your physical therapy and Gordon is going to help with the hydrotherapy on his own just so that you have some down time with the therapy." Sam and John looked at each other and then back at their dad.
"Seriously, we get to stay?" they asked. Scott, Virgil, Gordon, and Alan joined them and laughed at their expressions. They had known Jeff's plans but didn't say anything.
"You all knew?" asked Sam. The boys nodded their heads in agreement. "But we didn't bring our stuff or books."
"Everything is in your room and set up," said Scott. "Catie and Alex got your stuff unpacked and ready for your return."
"I have to get back to the island. I'll see you in a couple of months for Scott's eighteenth birthday dinner," said Jeff. He climbed into the SUV and left the campus. Sam and John looked at each other and grinned. They led the way into their dorm with their brothers next to them.
The months passed by and Scott turned eighteen and soon it was prom time. The night of the prom, Sam and Alex went out on a double date with Catie and John. They picked a time when the prom would be in full-swing and they would be able to get a table. After dinner they went back to the dorm. Catie and John disappeared into his room and Sam could hear the door lock. She and Alex went into her room and shut and locked her door.
Alex led her over to her bed and began to kiss her and soon they were on her bed lost in the feelings that each was creating in the other. Alex's hands were all over her body. Sam suddenly tensed up.
"Alex, I can't have sex with you. What if I get pregnant?" she asked. Alex continued to kiss her neck.
"I have protection, Sam," he said huskily as his hands unzipped her jeans and began to slide them down. Sam groaned and twirled her fingers in his hair and before she knew it they were both undressed and no longer virgins. Afterwards, Sam was cuddled up next to Alex and running her fingers along his chest.
"I love you," she said quietly. Alex looked at her and kissed her and began making love to her again.
"I love you, too," he said as he began again.
Meanwhile in John's room:
John and Catie were kissing and making out. Things heated up pretty fast and soon John had her pinned against the wall and was touching her every where and groaned when she responded in turn. She led him to his bed and stripped off his clothes and then her own. They were laying there afterwards when it dawned on them that Catie had to get back to her dorm. They jumped out of his bed and got dressed. He escorted her back to the girls' dorm.
"I love you, John," Catie said as they crossed the commons to her dorm. She leaned her head on his shoulder. He turned his head just a bit and kissed the top of her head. When they reached the dorm, he pulled her into the shadows and kissed her long and deep.
"Goodnight, Catie," he said. "Love you, too." She went into her dorm with a radiant smile on her face. He had just reached the dorm when Virgil saw him. He noticed the grin on John's face. He shook his head and didn't comment.
"Where's Sam?" he asked instead. John looked around nervously.
"She's busy in her room, so leave her alone," he said. Virgil looked at him and noticed his blushed face.
"She's not…"he said. John ignored him and went to his room.
He could hear muffled voices in Sam's room so he turned on his stereo.
The rest of the semester flew by and soon Scott's graduation day was upon them. He had made Valedictorian and Grandma and Jeff were seated with the rest of the Tracy children. That night they celebrated and the next day they flew home for the summer break.