Chapter 10: A Mother's Love
"Sweetheart you have to eat something!" Elle insisted as EJ shoved the tray away for the 5th time.
"For the last time, go away and leave us alone!" EJ said coldly turning his back on his mother and focusing once again on Sami. The doctors had taken Sami off the respirator which was a good sign because she could now breathe on her own. But there where were no signs of her waking up.
"You look like hell darling; do you really want Samantha to see you like this?" Elle persisted and then slyly changed tactics. "She's going to need you when she wakes up and you will be no good to her in this state." Elle said bluntly.
"I can't leave her alone." EJ said dully.
"She won't be alone, I'll be here…" Elle began but EJ cut her off.
"I wouldn't leave a dog in your care let alone the woman I care about." EJ said shortly.
"EJ, I know you're furious at me but you can't believe I'd let anything happen to the woman who saved my son's life." Elle said earnestly. "The minute she stepped into that bullet I knew she had what it took to be a Wells and I promise you that no matter what it takes, she will be your wife."
EJ looked at his mother and saw that she meant ever word. He wondered if she'd feel the same if she found out that the engagement between Samantha and him wasn't real. As much as he wanted his family absence at the moment, Samantha needed every specialist that the Wells influence could provide. At least his family found Samantha suitable to be a Wells, the last woman who had not been up to par had been utterly decimated and given a one way ticket to a mental hospital. Jane had been given a pass because they had been able to buy and control her with Wells stock. That's why he'd never stayed with a woman long enough for his family to take notice. At least until Samantha… Family, the people who claimed to love him were the ones who kept hurting him the most.
Elle interrupted EJs thoughts by reverting to true form. "EJ, you can leave this room on your own two feet with some dignity or I will have taken from this room by force." Elle threatened.
"I'll leave when Samantha's family gets here." EJ stated trying to buy some time. He knew his mother well enough that she would carry out her threat.
"They are not coming!" Elle said slightly exasperated.
"What do you mean they aren't coming?" EJ asked angrily. "If you lied to me about calling them, I swear…"
"Even if I wanted to it's not like I could hide it, it's been on the news 24/7." Elle said quickly.
"So I'll stay here until they get here, which should be soon since you called them over 12 hours ago." EJ said stubbornly.
"I didn't want you to have another thing to worry about, but Samantha's family is has been detained at the Salem airport due to a possible smallpox outbreak." Elle said sighing.
"What!" EJ exclaimed.
"I'm sure it's nothing more then a false alarm and they are being overly cautious." Elle stated. "Right now you need to focus on taking a shower and getting something to eat. I'll have an extra bed rolled in here so that when you get back you can take a nap."
"15 more minutes…" EJ countered.
"Now!" Elle commanded as she lifted her hand and made a signal to two large men through the window. They came and stood on either side of EJ.
"Ok, I'll go but you can't leave her for a minute. Someone has to be here, she doesn't like to be alone. If you could…" EJ stopped not sure if he should ask his mother this favor.
"What is it?" Elle said gently.
"Hold her hand so that she knows she's not alone." EJ asked as he gently caressed Samantha's face.
"I will if you eat a full meal." Elle bartered as she took EJ's seat and took Sami's hand into both of hers. "I'll call you if she wakes up." Elle said dismissing him.
EJ left the room flanked on either side by the two men. Once the door closed behind EJ, Elle concentrated on Sami.
"He didn't always hate me you know." Elle said opening up to the unconscious Sami.
"Mummy!" A breathless 8 year old EJ said running into his mothers arms.
"My goodness EJ, where are your jacket and shoes?" Elle asked.
"If I tell you, promise you won't get mad?" EJ asked his eyes wide and innocent as an angel.
"Ok darling, I promise I won't get mad, just tell mummy what happened." Elle said patiently.
"Well, I met this boy and he didn't have a father and the other boys were teasing him and Derrick fought them off. He was so fierce that Grand Papa would be proud." EJ said proudly.
"Derrick Wells! How could you drag your brother into another fight?" Elle said angrily as young Derrick came to a skid next to his brother. He had a split lip and his clothes were a disaster.
"Mum, you promised! You promised you wouldn't get mad!" EJ pointed out.
Peeved, Derrick tossed his brother an angry look.
"EJ, you still haven't told me where your jacket and shoes are." Elle said.
"I lost 'em." EJ said avoiding his mother's eyes which was a sure sign that he was lying.
"He didn't lost 'em, the stupid bint gave 'em away!" Derrick tattled on his brother as payback for telling on him about the fight.
"Don't call your brother names Derrick!" Elle admonished Derrick and turned to EJ. "Is your brother telling the truth?" Elle asked EJ.
"Yes, but I had to 'cause he was freezing to death!" EJ explained quickly.
"EJ, what have I told you about lying?" Elle said disappointed.
"That if I can't lie without getting caught then to not do it at all." EJ said by rote.
"Right! Now you have to be careful about people taking advantage of you. There are always going to be needy people and if you give away all your things, you won't have anything for yourself." Elle explained to EJ.
"But Mum, if I give away my things, Grand Papa will buy me new things and everyone is happy." EJ pointed out.
"Oh EJ, what am I going to do with you?" Elle said shaking her head.
"Toss him into the rubbish bin?" Derrick teased.
"I'll toss you into the rubbish." EJ replied as he mock wrestled his brother to the ground. They wrestled for a bit and then walked arm in arm out of the room. Before he exited he tossed over his shoulder. "Luv you mum!"
Elle came back to the present. "EJ's has always been a little too soft, always willing to believe the best in people. We try to protect him the best we can but he thinks we're trying to hurt him. I don't understand it. Well, that whole fiasco with the money grubbing tart during the summer before he went off to Oxford was not my fault. There was no way I was going to let that bitch get her hooks into my son by getting pregnant. It wasn't like he was in love with her and she didn't even know if the baby was EJ's or Derrick's. Jane was a godsend but she failed to bring in back into the fold."
Elle leaned closer to the bed. "Don't let me down Samantha, we have big plans for you."
