Sami gazed at her grandmother's still form through the closed blinds of Caroline's hospital room. "She looks so peaceful, I'm almost scared to wake her." She yawned. "I'm having a little trouble staying awake myself."
Shane nodded in agreement. "Shall I search for something caffeinated?"
"I could really go for some coffee."
"You've got it."
Sami tiptoed into the room and took her grandmother's hand in her own. "Hi," she whispered, as Caroline's eyes fluttered open. "I'm home."
"No," said Caroline. "You're—you're dead. Colleen Brady is dead."
"Grandma," Sami called frantically as the monitors began to beep. "Grandma!"
"Hey, Daniel."
Daniel Jonas looked up from the chart Maxine was showing him. "Eric, you look good, man, after…"
"After what Xander put Nicole and I through. I'm all right, just thought I'd come by and take Mom out to eat."
"And there's no one with whom I would rather keep company," Marlena smiled. "Maxine, if anyone comes looking for me would you call me on my cell. We'll be over at the pub."
"Sure thing, and make sure to tell Dr. Brady to take her sweet time. I thought Hope might arrest her if she didn't agree to eat some real food."
"Good for Hope," Marlena sighed. "This has all been especially hard on Kayla."
"How's Grandma doing?" Eric wanted to know, but a rapidly beeping monitor drowned out Daniel's answer.
"Oh dear," breathed Marlena. "That's Caroline's room."
"She's seizing," Daniel snapped. Maxine, Marlena, and Eric rushed after him. As he rounded the corner, Eric froze, gazing dumbstruck at the sight in front of him. "Uncle Shane, Sami!" The blonde accepted a handkerchief from Shane and turned her tearstained face toward her mom and her brother. She waited no less than a beat before rushing into Eric's arms.
Marlena rubbed Sami's back in circular motions. "Oh, my darling girl. You don't know how glad I am to see you, both of you."
"Reunite later," ordered Maxine. "How did this happen?"
"It seems Sami startled her," Shane replied. "Excuse me, my granddaughter's calling."
"I didn't mean to!" Sami spluttered. "I was sitting with her and then the machines…they started freaking out. Mom, she-she called me Colleen."
"She is forgetting names more often lately," Marlena reported sadly. "Look, the best thing we can do for Caroline right now is to give Daniel and Maxine their space. She'll need rest more than anything."
"Why don't we all go to the pub and make this a real welcome home," Eric offered. "Uncle Shane?"
"What? Oh, yes, that's fine, but I wouldn't expect your father or Hope to join us. Two bodies just turned up in the square."
