A Fresh Start

Chapter Thirty Nine

Around three am, Sam rolls over. Slowly opening her eyes she finds Jeffrey laying on his side, watching her.

"What are you doing?" She asks softly

"I was watching you sleep."

"Watching me sleep, why?"

"You look so peaceful and beautiful. I liked to watch the moonlight on your face and skin. And I was wondering if our baby will look like you. I was imagining you holding him or her, rocking them and feeding them." Jeffrey replies, reaching over to brush some of her hair off her shoulder and then leaning over to lightly kiss it.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, why?"

"Because I get the feeling that something is bothering you."

"No, I just like watching you sleep."

"That's all."

"Yes." Jeffrey says, laying his other hand on her back and running his finger through her hair.

Moving to her side, Sam moves closer to him. Forcing him over onto his back, laying her head on his chest, she puts one arm across his waist and snuggles in close to him. They lay there for a few minutes before Sam says. "I don't want to leave later."

"I don't want you to either." Jeffrey says, lightly kissing her forehead.

"But I have to."

"Are you going to be okay, by yourself?"

"I'll be fine."

"Will you promise me that you'll take it easy, don't work too hard and don't do any moving until I get there?"

"I promise."

"And promise you'll eat."

"I will, I'll take care of us, don't worry."

"I am going to worry, especially with that guy still out there that broke into your apartment."

"Has Noah found out anything from the police?" Sam asks softly, with her eyes closed

"No, not that I've heard, you know I did see someone the other day that…." Jeffrey looks down and sees that she's fallen back to sleep. "Don't worry about it." He says softly, kissing her forehead again before he settles back and closes his eyes.

Three hours later, his alarm goes off waking them both up from very good dreams. Groaning, Sam moves to her side of the bed, burying her face in the pillow as Jeffrey reaches over and slaps the snooze button. "Ten more minutes." He says, rolling to his side and watching her as she turns to look at him.

"It's not enough.' Sam says sleepily.

"I know, come here." He says, reaching for her.

Moving over beside him, she lays her head on chest. Wrapping his arms around her, he holds her tightly. "It's only a week and a half and I'll call you everyday, probably more than once a day, maybe three or four, just so I can hear your voice."

"And I'll be busy."

"That's right, you'll be busy."

"I'm still going to miss you."

"I'll miss you too." Jeffrey says leaning over to kiss her as the alarm goes off again. Leaning back, he turns over and looks at her. "Do you want the shower first?"

"No, I want to stay here a little longer."

"I'll go take a quick shower."

"I love you." She says, watching him get out of bed.

"I love you too." He says, leaning down to kiss her.

A few minutes later, she hears the water start to run in the bathroom. Moving over to his side of the bed, she lays her head on his pillow. The bed is still warm and she pulls the comforter around her and snuggles down into it.

Ten minutes later, Jeffrey comes in and finds her still lying in the bed. Walking over, he looks down and realizes that she's fallen back to sleep. Turning, he walks into the closet. Getting dressed, he returns a few minutes later and walks over to the bed. Hating to do it, he reaches down and gently shakes her awake. "Sam, you have to get up."

"Umm." She mumbles, turning over.

"You have to get up. We've…."

"Okay." She mumbles, slowly sitting up and running her hands over her face before brushing her hair back and looking up "What?" She asks when she sees the expression on his face.

"You have no idea how beautiful you are."

"I'm beautiful, with a ratty t-shirt, messy hair, no make-up and bed breath." Sam says, pushing the covers back and getting up.

"Yes, with all that, you're beautiful." Jeffrey says, watching her get out of bed. Walking over to her, he puts his arms around her. "You're sexy too." He says, before leaning over and giving her a kiss.

"You're crazy, and I need a shower." She says, releasing him as he steps back, softly whistling as she turns and walks across the room.

When he hears the water start to run downstairs he walks back into the closet to get his shoes and socks. Opening the top drawer of his dresser, he pulls out a pair of socks.

The corner of a dark blue box catches his eye. Reaching for it, he pulls it out and realizes that it's the engagement ring that he bought in Russia. He is still standing at the dresser when Sam walks into the room. "Jeffrey." She calls

"Yea, coming." He says, putting the box in his pocket and grabbing his shoes and socks.

"We need to hurry." Sam says, pulling out a pair of jeans, t-shirt and underwear. Dropping the towel she has wrapped around her, she pulls on her panties and bra before she looks up and catches Jeffrey watching her. "Jeffrey."

"What, sorry." He says, shaking his head as he sits down on the bed and she smiles

Pulling on her jeans, and t-shirt, she walks over to the dresser and picks up the brush taking the clip out of her hair she shakes it loose before she starts to brush it. When she has all the tangles brushed out, she twists it up and clips it before reaching for her make-up. She puts that on quickly before she turns and leans back against the dresser and watches him.

"Are you okay?" She asks, as he stands up and walks over to her.

"I'm fine. Are you ready to go?"

"Yes." She says, pushing away from the dresser and turning to leave the room. Reaching out, he stops her. "What? Is something wrong?" She asks, as he takes her hand and leads her back to the bed. "Jeffrey, we don't…." He reaches up and lays a finger across her lips.

"Shhh, and listen to me." He says, sitting down beside her. He sits there for a few seconds gathering his thoughts, before he looks up. "I know that we weren't expecting the baby, and I know the idea of us getting married somewhat scares you…."

"I'm…."

"Shhh, listen."

"Okay."

"We weren't expecting this all to happen, but I'm not sorry that it did. I'm sorry I was an ass at first, but I'm not sorry that you're pregnant. And I want us to get married, but I understand that you're not ready to make that commitment…."

"I'm not afraid to…."

"...what I'm trying to say is this. I want you to take this." He says, pulling the box from his pocket. "And while you're in DC, I want you to think about it. I want you to know that I'll marry you any day of the week, month or year, baby or no baby, because I love you." He says, putting the box in her hand.

"What is it?" Sam asks, looking at the box.

"It's the ring I bought for you in Russia."

"You kept it." Sam says, looking up.

"Yes, I couldn't get rid of it. Every time I tried it hurt too much, so I kept it and I found it this morning in my sock drawer."

"In your sock drawer."

"Yes, I put it there after I moved in and when I pulled out my socks this morning, it was laying underneath it."

"Can I?"

"Go ahead." Jeffrey says, watching as she slowly opens the box.

Inside is a simple diamond solitaire engagement ring, set in 10kt gold, with a one carat diamond in the setting and although it has been sitting in the box since the day that Jeffrey left Russia and its collected some dust on it, it still sparkles in the light coming from the windows. Slowly closing the box, Sam looks up at him with tears in her eyes.

"Why are you crying?" Jeffrey asks, putting his arms around her as she climbs onto his lap, holding him tightly. "It's okay. I didn't mean to upset you." He says, gently rubbing her back.

After a minute or so, Sam leans back and looks him in the eye. "I'm sorry." She says, softly

"You're sorry?"

"I'm sorry, I left you. I'm sorry that I believed her, I'm sorry that we lost so much time." Sam says, sniffing as she reaches up to wipe the tears from her face.

"It's okay." Jeffrey says, wrapping his arms around her. "I want you to keep the ring." He says. "And I want you to think about what I said and we'll talk about it when I get to Washington."

"Okay." Sam says, leaning back again.

"Now, we really need to go." He says, as she moves to stand up and he follows her.

Slipping the ring in her pocket, she puts her arms around his waist, and laying her head on his shoulder as he puts his arm across her shoulders, drawing her to him as they walk out of the room.

When they pull up to the airport, Jeffrey turns the truck off and then turns to her. Neither one have said much on the drive over, taking her hand he asks. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Sam says, looking at him.

"Are you sure, because you've been quiet since we left the loft. I didn't want to upset you when I gave you the ring. I only wanted you to have it."

"I'm not upset about the ring, I'm glad you gave it to me. I wish…." Sam pauses and looks out the windshield, watching one of the planes taxiing.

"You wish what?" Jeffrey asks, drawing her attention back to him.

"That it was under different circumstances."

"The baby is not why…."

"I'm not talking about the baby. I wish I would have been there for you to give it to me, that night, in Russia. I wish we would have been together all these years. I know that it's not all my fault, but I still wish that we could go back and take that time back."

"I know, but we have now and we have to live for what we have. We need to get inside." Jeffrey says, opening the door.

"Okay." Sam replies, following him out of the truck.

Taking her purse and backpack, he noticed for the first time that, it was all she had brought with her. "What no two different suitcases?" He asks, trying to lighten the mood.

"I didn't need two suitcases." Sam replies, putting her arm around his waist.

Putting his arm across her shoulders, they walk into the airport. Checking in, Sam doesn't check any luggage and immediately walks up to security. The lines are a little longer than they were a couple days before so that gives her and Jeffrey time. Just before she gets into the line, she puts her arms around his waist. "I'll think about what you said." She says, laying her head on his chest.

"Okay." He says, holding her tightly for a few minutes before she steps back.

"I've got to go."

"I know. I'll see you next weekend."

"Okay."

"And call me when you land."

"I will, I love you." Sam says, leaning up for a quick kiss.

Taking a step back, he whispers "I love both of you." As he releases her.

"We love you too." She says before walking up to the line.

Jeffrey watches until she processes through security before he leaves the airport. When he walks up to the truck, he expects for his phone to ring, when it doesn't he's a little disappointed even though he realizes that she is probably thinking about the ring and what he had said to her. Getting in, he starts the truck and starts to back out when his cell phone starts to ring. Pulling it from his pocket, he answers on the third ring. "Sam."

"No, is this Mr. O'Neill?"

"Yes, I'm sorry I thought you were…."

"I'm Rachel, Jerry Maxwell's assistant."

"Yes, I'm sorry I didn't get to the capital last night. I had some family matters come up."

"Mr. Maxwell is anxious to see the information you've collected on Ms. Wolf as is the Governor."

"Yes I know. I was headed that way right now." Jeffrey says, pulling onto the freeway. "I can be there within the hour."

"I'll inform Mr. Maxwell."

"Thank you." Jeffrey says, as he hears a buzzing in his ear. "I'm sorry to interrupt your day." Jeffrey says, to a dead phone before slipping it back into his pocket and settling back for the drive to the capital.

When Sam reaches her gate, she takes a seat in the corner away from everyone else, reaching in her pocket, she closes her hand around the box that Jeffrey gave to her. She's tempted to pull it out and look at it again, but is afraid to; afraid someone will realize what she is looking at and take it.

Pulling her hand out of her pocket, she turns towards the windows and watches the planes as they land and take off until they announce her flight. Reaching for her backpack, and purse she pulls her ticket from her purse and spots her cell phone, reminding her that she didn't call him before he left the airport. Walking up to the attendant, she hands him her ticket as she presses speed dial for Jeffrey's number.

"Hello." He says, as he's walking into the capital.

"I'm sorry I forgot to call…."

"Ma'am, you'll need to turn your cell…."

"I know." Sam says, nodding as she walks past the gentleman. "Are you still there J?"

"Yes, I'm here. Who was that?"

"The attendant." Sam replies, walking down to the plane.

"I guess I'm not the only one dealing with grouchy people today."

"Why, what happened?"

"Oh, the state attorney's assistant called me as I was leaving the airport and she was rather short with me. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, I forgot about calling you. I was thinking…."

"I know. It's okay. Are you about to board?" He asks getting on to the elevator.

"In a few minutes, I wanted to tell you that we love you."

"I love you too, both of you. We'll talk tonight."

"Yes."

"Okay." Jeffrey says, stepping off the elevator.

"I've got to go, I'm about to board."

"Okay, I love both of you."

"We love you too."

They hang up as Sam puts her backpack in the overhead bin and then sits down. About fifteen minutes later, her plane takes off as Jeffrey is walking into the state attorney's office.

"Mr. O'Neill, thank you for coming so promptly."

"I'm sorry I didn't make it here last night. I had a family matter come up that I had to take care of."

"No, I understand. Do you have the file?"

"Yes sir, right here." Jeffrey says, opening his briefcase and pulling it out.

Taking the file from Jeffrey, Mr. Maxwell begins to flip through it. When he's finished, he looks up at Jeffrey. "You have evidence to prove all this."

"Yes, although I'd like to keep from using her daughter if possible."

"Okay, but you have evidence of jury tampering, bribery and coercion."

"Yes sir, everything we have is in the file. We have the sworn statement from the man hired to run Jonathan Randall down and thus accidentally hitting Ms. Winslow and killing her. We have the sworn statements of all the jurors from the Josh Lewis trial, only I believe that we only need to have the foreman testify. We can submit the sworn statements of each of the jurors as evidence. We also have an inventory of everything that Doris Wolf owns and we have an expert willing to testify as to the estimated cost of those items and we have several witnesses who will swear that they have seen Doris and Alan on a number of occasions and some will testify that they saw Alan hand her packages from time to time."

"You certainly did you work, Mr. O'Neill."

"Mallet did the work. I'm only delivering the information. How do you want to proceed?"

"I'll discuss this with the Governor and we'll decide from there." Mr. Maxwell replies, standing up

"Yes Sir." Jeffrey says, standing up with him.

"Thank you for coming by." Mr. Maxwell says, holding out his hand.

"You're welcome." Jeffrey replies, shaking his hand before he leaves the office, nodding to Rachel as he walks out.

Richard and Cassie are walking into the hospital when William pulls up. Since RJ is grounded because he left the house without telling Richard they left him at the house with Ms. Chitwood.

"How is RJ?" William asks, as they walk into the hospital.

"He's grounded." Cassie replies as Richard presses the button for the elevator.

"Where did he go?"

"He was at the Mortimer's." Cassie replies, as the elevator arrives and several nurse and doctors get off, bowing slightly when they see William

He nods to them as Richard and Cassie step on. Several look back again when they realize that Richard is with them. They begin to talk among them selves as the elevator door closes. Will is sitting up in bed, watching American cartoons and eating breakfast when they walk in.

"Mommy, Daddy." He says, giving Cassie and Richard a hug as well as William.

"How are you feeling sweetie?"

"I feel fine. I'm ready to go home."

"That's up to the doctor Will. We have to make sure that you're okay"

"But I feel okay. I'm tired of lying in the bed. I want play with RJ at the palace and go back to riding. I want to go home."

"Will you may get your wish." Dr. Simon's says, walking into Will's room.

"Really, he can go home?" Cassie asks

"It depends on his numbers when we get his test results back, but if they are better than they were yesterday then I'll consider letting him go home as long as he takes it easy for another week or so."

"Did you hear that Will? You can go home if your numbers are alright." William says

"I heard." Will says, sounding very down.

"What's wrong?" Richard asks. "You wanted to go home a little bit ago."'

"Yeah, but I didn't know that I'd have to stay in the bed when I got there too."

"Will, we have to make sure that you're over this infection." Cassie says, sweeping his hair back from his face.

"But I feel fine." Will says.

"I know you do sweetie, but we have to make sure that you stay that way. It's only for a week. When will you have the results?" Cassie asks the doctor

"We should have them back within the hour."

"Okay."

"Mom where's RJ."

"He's grounded." Cassie says, as the doctor leaves.

"Why?"

"Will, you…."

"It's okay William. He left the house yesterday without telling Richard where he was going." Cassie says, as the orderly comes in for Will's tray.

"Will, can I watch the news?" Richard asks

"No, I want to watch this." Will replies, grumpily

"Will, let Richard watch the news and then we'll let you watch…."

"Why? I want to watch Scooby Doo." He whines.

"I know, but we'll turn it right back over here." William says, changing the channel.

After a few minutes, Cassie asks "Will, do you need to go to the bathroom, after she watches him take a long drink of water."

"No." He says, kicking the covers off him.

"You need to keep the covers on." Cassie says, pulling them back up.

"No, I'm hot." He says, pushing them off again.

"Are you feeling alright?" Cassie asks

"I'm fine. I just want to go back to the palace. Why can't I go back to the palace?"

"Sweetie, we're waiting for your tests results."

"Cassie, Richard." William says, nodding towards the door.

"We'll be right back sweetie." Cassie says, leaving the room with Richard and William.

"Does he seem a little cranky to you?" William asks

"Maybe a little bit, but he wants to go home. I can understand that." Richard replies, glancing into Will's room and notices that he has the covers back on him. "But then again, there might be something wrong?"

"Why do you…?" Cassie looks into Will's room as Dr. Simon's comes up to them.

"Good, I'm glad that you're already out here."

"Do you have Will's results?" William asks.

"Can we take him home?" Cassie asks

"I'm afraid not. His numbers are all over the place today. His counts are up, and his liver function is way down and until we get the two stabilized I'm afraid we're going to have to keep Will here."

"Is he rejecting the liver?" Richard asks the question that William and Cassie are thinking but doesn't really want to know the answer.

"With his numbers, it's a possibility. Have you noticed any symptoms of rejection?"

"He's been cranky, but he says that he feels fine."

"And a while ago he kicked off all his covers and as you can see he's back under them." Cassie says, pointing to Will.

"Okay, let me go check him out. If you'll wait out here." Dr. Simon says, walking into Will's room "Hi, Will."

"Hi." He says, looking over at the doctor

"Can I check you over for a couple minutes?"

"Will I get to go home?"

"We'll see." Dr. Simon's says, feeling over Will's forehead as he puts a thermometer in Will's mouth

He listens to his heart while he waits for the thermometer to finish taking Will's temperature. When it beeps, he takes it out of Will's mouth and looks at it, making a note in Will's chart. Pulling up Will's gown, he lightly touches Will's scar.

"Ow." Will says, pulling away.

"Does that hurt Will?"

"A little bit."

"How long has it hurt?"

"Since this morning." Will says, reaching for his water glass and taking another drink.

"Will when is the last time you went to the bathroom?"

"I don't know, I guess last night."

"And how much water have you drank?"

"I don't know a few glasses."

"I'll be right back." Dr. Sims's says, walking towards the door.

"Okay." Will says, sleepily

Dr. Simon's steps out of the room as Cassie, William and Richard turn to him.

"Is he rejecting the liver?" William asks.

"It looks that way."

"No!" Cassie says, as Richard puts and arm around her.

"What can we do?" Richard asks

"Well, first we're going to adjust his rejection medications and then we'll go from there. Usually that works, his body was probably thrown of balance when it came down with the infection."
"What's the worst thing that can happen besides…?"

"Besides death, we have to do another LDT. That means we have to test everyone again."

"I was already a match for him."

"But he's rejecting the portion of liver that you gave him Your Highness. It's likely that if we tried another LDT using a part of your liver he would continue to reject. I suggest that as a precaution that you all have yourselves tested." Dr. Simon's says, looking at Richard and Cassie

"We're not Will's biological parents." Richard says

"I realize that, but you are closely related to him and maybe enough of match to be considered. We also need to test his biological mother."

"We can't do that?" William says.

"Why not?" Dr. Simon's asks, looking at William

"Camille was convicted of treason and executed a few days ago. She's dead." William says, as Cassie and Richard look at him.

"What happens if we don't have a donor and he needs a transplant?"

"We'll place him on the transplant list, and hope that we find a donor. But this is only a precaution Mrs. Winslow. I fully believe that he will be fine after we adjust his medication."

"Okay, when do we do these tests?" Richard asks.

"As soon as possible." Dr. Simon's replies.

"Okay."

"I'll schedule appointments with the lab, and I would also have your other son tested."

"RJ, why. There is no biological connection between Will and RJ."

"Even though they are not biological brothers, RJ can still be a donor for Will."

"Okay, thank you Doctor." William says, shaking his hand before he leaves.

"I'll have the nurse contact you when the lab is ready."

"Yes, thank you." Cassie says, looking in on Will.

"I'll go sit with him." William says, leaving Richard and Cassie in the hall.

"I can't do this again Richard." Cassie says, watching William and Will. "I can't loose another child."

"You're not going to loose him. Dr. Simon's seems confident that they will be able to get his body back in order by adjusting his medication.

"I remember Tammy." Cassie says, turning away from the window. "She was so pale. And she looked so frail laying there on that bed. And just a few days before I was watching her get married to Jon, and she was so happy. Will was happy the last time I saw him. He and RJ were playing in the pool at the palace." She says, turning back to Will's window. Reaching up, she wipes away a tear.

"Cassie, look at me." Richard says, turning her away from the window. "You are not going to loose him, like you lost Tammy. He will be here when we're old and gray, with grandkids

"You can't control everything Richard." Cassie says, turning back to Will. "Believe me if I could have I would have changed places with Tammy."

"I'm glad you didn't." He says, as she looks at him. "Listen, I know you're scared." Richard says, putting his arms around her, "But you have to focus on the fact the he fought this battle before and he won and he was much younger then he is now. He'll be okay."

"Are you sure?" Cassie asks, turning to him.

"Yes." He says, pulling her to him and holding her. "He'll be okay."

"I'm glad you're here." Cassie says, looking up "I know that William would be here, and so would Reva and Josh and the rest of the family, but if you were still gone, I would feel so alone. I need you here."

"I'm not going anywhere." Richard says, as William walks out of the room.

"Cassie, he wants you."

"Okay." Cassie says, releasing Richard and wiping the tears from her eyes. "Do I look okay?" She asks, looking at him.

"You look fine." He says, squeezing her hand.

Opening the door slowly, she walks into the room. As William turns to Richard. "Is she okay?

"No, she's not. She's remembering Tammy and she's afraid she's going to loose him like she lost her."

"I won't let her loose him." William says, looking back into Will's room. "I told him what the doctor said."

"You told him." Richard says, looking at William.

"Yes, he needs to understand what is going on."

"William, he's a boy."

"He asked if he was going to have surgery like before and I told that it could possibly happen but that we're going to try and get him better with his medicine. I couldn't lie to him Richard."

"It's not…."

When Cassie walks in, Will reaches out for her. Walking over to the bed, she sits down beside him.

"What's wrong sweetie?"

"I'm scared." He says laying his head down on her chest.

"You're scared, why are you scared?"

"I don't want to die."

"You're not going to die. Why would you think your going to die?"

"Because my liver is sick again, and I could have died before if Dad hadn't've gave me part of his liver, but he can't do that anymore. So who's going to help me get better?"

"First, we don't know that you're going to need a new liver. Your doctor is going to make your medicine stronger and we'll see what happens after that. Now I want you to close your eyes and go to sleep."

"Will you stay with me?"

"I'm not going anywhere." Cassie says, gently running her fingers through his hair.

After a few minutes, she looks down. Will is fast asleep. Slipping her arm from around him, she gently lays him down on the pillow and then slowly gets up from the bed. She walks quietly over to the door, looking back over her shoulder to make sure he hasn't woken up before she walks out. Richard and William turn to her when she walks out.

"How is…?"

"You told him." Cassie says, looking at William

"Yes, I told him."

"He's a little boy. He's terrified that he's going to die. What did you say to him?"

"I only told him that his liver is sick again, and that the doctors were going to increase his medicine to make him better."

"Did he ask you about a transplant?"

"Yes, he asked me if I was going to give him another piece of my liver and I told him no that I couldn't because it wouldn't be good for him."

"Well now he's scared he's going to die." Cassie says, looking at William

"Did you reassure him?" Richard asks.

"Yes, as much as I could." Cassie says, still looking at William

"Cassie, I did want I thought was right for my son." William says

"He's my son too, and besides that. He's a little boy. He doesn't understand what's going on."

"He understands more than you realize."

"He's still a little boy. He doesn't need to be afraid."

"Cassie, I know you're scared, but I'll…."

"William, I realize that he's the heir to the throne, but he's my little boy, and I know that he has more responsibility than most kids his age, but I want to keep him a little boy as long as possible and if that means shielding him from things, I will not apologize for that." Cassie says, before walking back into Will's room

"Richard, you understand this." William says, looking at him

"This time brother, you're not going to get my support. I happen to agree with her. I know first hand what it's like not to have a childhood because you're the heir." Richard says, walking into the room with Cassie.

For a couple minutes, William watches them and then he turns and leaves, going to the lab before he goes back to the palace.

"How is he?" Richard asks

"He's sleeping?" Cassie says, sitting by Will's bed and idly brushing his hair back from his forehead. "I'm sorry, I guess I shouldn't've talked to him that way."

"You don't have to apologize to me Cassie. I happen to agree with you. He should be protected, heir or not." Richard says, sitting down and watching them.

After a couple of minutes, she looks up. "What are you thinking about?"

"I was thinking about the last time he was sick and I was in Montreal. Of all times to be stuck in a snow storm. I was absolutely furious that I couldn't get to you and I was trying not to think about you and William being together and what would happen if something happen to him. And then I walked into Cedars and William was holding and comforting you and I had to fight the urge to go over and pull you away from him."

"You know…."

"I know. That doesn't mean that I wasn't jealous." Richard says, looking at her. "Just like I was jealous with you and Jeffrey."

"That's over with okay. Jeffrey and I are friends."

"I know." Richard says, as the nurse walks in.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but the lab is ready for one of you." She says.

"You go ahead. I want to stay with him." Cassie says, looking at Richard.

"I'll be back." Richard says, leaning over to kiss her and then Will before he gets up.

He returns a few minutes later, Cassie and Will are watching a Disney movie when he walks in. "How are you feeling Will?" he asks, sitting down on the bed.

"I'm okay." He says, laying his head on Cassie's lap.

"Have you seen William?"

"No. The lab said he came by earlier and then he left. I guess he went back to the palace."

"Okay."

"The tech said that you can come down when I get back."

"Okay." Cassie says, sitting up.

"No, mommy. Where are you going?" Will asks, reaching for her.

"I'm going to go talk to some doctors and then I'll be right back." She says, leaning over and kissing his forehead.

"And I'll sit with you." Richard says, moving to sit where Cassie was sitting as she leaves the room."

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