Chapter 11: Waking Up

"Samantha!" EJ shouted sitting up in bed.

Groaning Sami turned over to her side and covered her head with a pillow. She mumbled "Go back to sleep!"

EJ threw off the pillow covering her face and began patting her body making sure she was all right.

"Hands EJ, hands!" Sami said grumpily swatting his hands away.

"It was just a nightmare!" EJ said to himself elated.

"What is with you?" Sami asked as EJ grabbed her face and gave her a kiss on her forehead laughing like a crazy man.

"I had this horrific nightmare that you'd been shot!" EJ explained.

"EJ!" Sami complained. "You woke me up from the best dream ever!" She stretched languorously and sighed as she reminisced. "I was getting married to Austin and I had on this beautiful wedding dress and veil. I looked way more beautiful then Carrie did when she married Lucas. You were in the dream too; you walked me down the isle and gave me away…" Sami sighed heavily. "Then you woke me up before the priest announced us man and wife. I guess I can't even get married in my dreams..." Sami said despondently.

"Hey, what is this? Have you no faith in me? I promised you that I'll make sure nothing gets in your way when you marry the man of your dreams and I meant it." EJ told Sami sternly. "Now as much as I would love to laze in bed all day with you, I'm hungry."

"I'm starving too; I would kill for some waffles with strawberries." Sami said.

"Your wish is my command. You stay there and I'll whip some up for you in a jiffy." EJ said getting out of bed.

"You cook?" Sami asked delighted.

"I'm fairly competent, if I say so myself, but with this clever little contraption," EJ said waiving the phone, "I can have the 5 star chief that is employed downstairs do the deed."

The door slammed open before EJ could dial.

"You sneaky son of a bitch!" Lucas cursed at EJ while rushing into the room. EJ was barely able to get out of the way of Lucas's flying fist.

"Lucas stop it! This isn't what it looks like!" Sami insisted jumping out of bed.

"Damn it Sami, if you needed a man in your bed you should have waited for me." Lucas said giving Sami a hurt look.

Sami shot Lucas an incredulous look. "Lucas, are you delusional? I wouldn't sleep with you if you were the last man on earth not to mention that I'm in love with Austin. He's the man I love and am going to marry." Sami said.

"Look who's delusional now!" Lucas shot back. "Austin isn't going to marry you, he's back with Carrie."

"I don't believe you! You'd say just about anything to hurt me." Sami retorted.

"Why don't you ask your new 'friend' EJ? He knows about Austin and Carrie sleeping around behind our backs." Lucas said slyly.

Sami looked to EJ for confirmation and grew pale when she saw the guilty look on his face. "How could you keep something like that from me EJ? How could you let me go on and on about how wonderful Austin was and what I would do if I lost him?" She said bitterly.

EJ went to her side and tried to comfort her. "I'm sorry Samantha; I care about you and I didn't want you to be hurt."

Lucas clapped his hands slowly mocking EJ's plea for forgiveness. "Get in line EJ, Sami belongs to me."

"I don't belong to anyone Lucas!" Sami said proudly.

"Now, now Sami, you and I have history." Lucas taunted.

Then everything shifted. Sami was in a wedding dress and EJ was walking her down the isle toward Lucas.

"I don't want this EJ, I want to marry Austin!" Sami pleaded with EJ. "Help me!"

"If that's what you want then on a count of three we're going to turn and run." EJ said.

"One, two, three…" They turned and ran but every way they turned Lucas was there getting closer and closer.

"You can't get away from me!" Lucas snarled as he grabbed Sami's arm.

"EJ, help me!" Sami pleaded.

EJ pulled her away.

Then a gun materialized in Lucas' hand. "If I can't have you no one will!" Lucas shouted as he fired the gun.

Sami slumped in EJ's arms as blood gushed from her body. "You promised to protect me EJ! You promised!"

"Samantha!" EJ shouted.

EJ woke up sweat pouring down his face and body. He looked around and saw Sami in the bed next to him. He rolled to his side and reached out to link her fingers with his. "I'm so sorry Samantha, I'm so sorry."

"Don't be sad." The beautiful voice said as she gave his fingers a squeeze.

"You're awake!" EJ said as he jumped out of bed and leaned over her. He pressed the button for the nurse. "Darling you had us worried sick. How are you feeling? Are you in any pain?"

Sami's blue eyes were filling with tears and she looked so lost and scared.

"What is it sweetheart? What's the matter?" EJ asked worried. Where were the damn nurses and doctors?

"Do you know who I am?" Sami asked tearfully.