Midnight Snack & Wilhemina's Blessing
Mac'IlleMhìcheil Estate – Kitchen
Sam entered the kitchen and found he was not the only one coming in for a midnight snack. He saw Jim and Mason sitting there eating a sandwich.
Mason grinned and teased "Work up an appetite?"
Sam shot back with a grin "No more than you two."
"There's left-over roast beef and some cheese in the fridge and bread in the cupboard if you want to make a sandwich" Mason stated.
Going to the fridge Sam got out the makings for sandwiches then bread for making two.
Jim lightly laughed "Oh I see we are not going to be blessed with your company for your snack."
Chuckling Sam retorted "Nope, got me a much prettier snack partner upstairs."
After making the sandwiches Sam returned the meat and cheese and other sandwich makings to the fridge. He grabbed two sodas from the fridge. As he was closing the fridge and turning back to the counter one of the sodas began to slip. In his effort to recapture it Sam bumped the left side of his head just above his temple on the door of the fridge.
"Damn" erupted from his mouth as he dropped the soda can and reached up to the tender spot that he had hit on the window five days ago.
Mason and Jim were on their feet quickly as they saw him wobble a bit. Mason picked up the soda can and looked on concerned as Jim went to Blondie.
Jim asked as he removed Sam's hand from his temple and inspected it "How bad does it hurt?"
"Just stung. I'm okay" Sam answered and reached out for the counter and sucked in a breath.
"Dizzy?" Jim asked with concern seeing Sam hold onto the counter.
Blowing out the breath Sam answered "No. Just stung. I'm okay." He turned to get another soda from the fridge because there was no way he was opening the other one unless he wanted to be sprayed with soda.
He wobbled just slightly as he turned. The wobble was not missed by either Jim or Mason.
Jim's worries about multiple concussions leapt to mind. Sam had had so many. He hoped he would get checked out by a neurologist when he got back home.
Mason put the can on the counter and then headed back to the table. "You know, if I didn't know better, I'd call you a klutz Blondie."
Sam laughed "Yeah, well I've seen you in some rather ungraceful moves too Mason."
Taking a bite of his sandwich Mason only nodded then spoke with a mouthful "Nothing like you though." He swallowed and added "Remember that perch we found you hanging upside down in."
"Hey, that was not my fault. You try getting out of a tree quickly with bullets flying at you" Sam retorted his tone artificially indignant.
Jim sat back down and chuckled "I remember that one. You didn't quite make it out of the tree." Then his voice sobered as he turned to Mason "Sam did save our asses that day. Sam can shoot upside down almost as well as he can right side up. That's some feat."
Mason nodded "Yeah but Blondie was so tangled up in that tree it took Matt, Winds and Ripsaw to get him out of it and down. Ripsaw was none too happy about climbing if I remember correctly."
Sam chuckled recalling the complaints of Ripsaw at having to climb a tree. Ripsaw was not one for heights. But he climbed up anyway to help him get out of the tree.
As he tucked both sodas in the crook of his arm and picked up the plates Sam said "Nice chatting with you guys but I'm headed back upstairs to enjoy a snack with my wife."
Jim and Mason both grinned. It was good to see him so happy and relaxed. Both had similar thoughts of it is about time he got a break and Jules was perfect for him.
Mason called out as Blondie left the kitchen his voice thick with innuendo "Enjoy your snack Blondie."
Sam heard the innuendo in Mason's voice and laughingly called out over his shoulder "Oh, I intend to, very much."
Mac'IlleMhìcheil Estate – Entrance Staircase
His mind was conjuring up several ways to enjoy his 'snack' as Mason suggested Jules was. Sam was lost in his pleasant thoughts as he made his way up the stairs in the dimly lit entrance. As his foot was about to land on the top stair Sam looked up.
Sam's eyes nearly bugged out of his head. His foot missed the top stair. He staggered trying to right himself as he valiantly tried to regain his balance. It was a losing battle, gravity won.
The plates and sandwiches went flying in the air as the soda cans dropped and crashed noisily down the stairs as Sam's hands wildly flung out trying to grab for the banister. He missed. The china plates smashed on the stairs echoing off the wood paneled walls.
Sam was falling but his eyes never left the beautiful ethereal figure floating at the top of the stairs. He did not believe in ghosts. But before his very eyes was most definitely a ghost. As Sam fell the ghost floated down with him.
"Arrrgggh" Sam yelled out loudly as his wrist whacked the edge of one stair. But beyond that he felt no bumps or hits as he tumbled ungracefully down the stairs. It was as if his body was being cushioned from all the blows it should be receiving as his body rolled and flipped from one step to the next down the long wide staircase.
When his body finally hit the floor at the bottom of the stairs with a resounding thud Sam thought it should have hurt more. He had not the presence of mind to tuck and roll like he had been trained. Sam should be in a mess of pain but the only thing that hurt was his wrist.
The beautiful ethereal ghost with long flowing white hair, or what he assumed was white in the vaporish illusion, settled in front of him. There was a look of concern on her face. Sam could not believe what he was seeing. But then she spoke.
Lady Wilhemina was so concerned. She had not chosen to show herself. She was extremely surprised that Sam saw her at the top of the stairs. She softly spoke "Tha mi cho duilich a 'cur eagal ort òga laoch" (I am so sorry to frighten you young warrior).
Sam could only stare at the beautiful image as she spoke to him. Her voice was distinctive with a soft lilting quality to it that bespoke true concern. Her voice was as beautiful as her wispy vapor.
He knew he was flat on his back at the bottom of the stairs. That was real. But the woman? The ghost? No that was not real. There was no such thing as ghosts. She had to be a hallucination.
Sam closed his eyes against the beautiful hallucination. It was not real. Why was he hallucinating? Was the little bump from the fridge enough to cause it? Maybe.
But he continued to lay there with his eyes closed trying to sort it out. Sam decided that he conjured it based on the White Witch of the Loch story and Jules telling him to watch out for ghosts. Yeah that had to be why he was seeing this beautiful woman with the white hair.
However, a little internal voice said 'Your hallucinations never talk to you except for Matt and Sara'. Then Sam heard running feet and knew Jim and Mason probably heard him fall. Damn he would be causing them worry again.
Mason and Jim raced from the kitchen at the sound of glass shattering and someone falling down the stairs. The sight of Sam at the bottom with his eyes closed sent both into a panic. Simultaneously they yelled as they rushed forward and dropped to their knees around him.
Jim shouted "Sam."
Mason bellowed "Blondie."
Jim landed on Sam's right side and Mason on his left. Their breath was hitched as they looked at his face. Then they looked across at each other. He was so still. Both were afraid he had snapped his neck in the fall. This could not be happening. Shit!
Jules and the rest of those wake or even asleep on the second floor heard the loud crashing and Jim's and Mason's shouting. She grabbed a robe and threw it on as she raced out the door and to the stairs. Jules stood dumbstruck staring down at Sam's prostrate body at the bottom.
Her mind noted that the china was shattered at the top of the stairs. That meant Sam had fallen down the entire staircase. Jules found her legs turned to rubber and she sank to the floor at the top of the stairs unable to keep herself upright. She felt two sets of arms around her shoulders offering support and comfort.
Jules turned to see Lady Ailis on her right and found that one of Lady Ailis' arms was around her. Her other hand was covering her mouth and there were tears flooding the older women's eyes. Slowly Jules turned to the left to find Marsaili holding her up. Marsaili's face was devoid of color as she stared downstairs with wide concerned eyes.
She turned back to look down the stairs as several people rushed past them and down the stairs. Sam lay so still with his eyes closed.
This couldn't be happening. Not now. Not today. She was too shocked to speak; too shocked for tears to flow. Jules was too shocked to do anything but stare down at the love of her life lying at the bottom of the stairs so lifeless.
In his dazed state, Sam heard a familiar voice to his right angrily bellow "What do you think you were doing?"
That was and stupid question to ask him Sam thought. Given the voice he heard, his response was an silent, internal but sarcastic 'Going up the stairs. What do you think I was doing?'. Sam rarely responded verbally anymore to the internal Matt that his memories conjured up.
Jim checked Sam's pulse. Strong and steady but a tad bit fast. He looked him over carefully before touching him. His mind was racing in medic mode on what to do next. First thing do not move him. Jim looked up to see Heather "Get my Sam pack."
Sam heard the beautiful ghost's voice reply "I did nothing. I don't know how he saw me. I did not show myself."
Heather turned to go but Blaze said "Stay, help Jim I'll get it." Heather knelt down and looked to Jim concern etched in her eyes.
Matt was only in his head and only he ever heard him. So Sam wondered why the beautiful ethereal hallucination answered Matt's question? Crap he must have hit his head even though he felt no pain other than his wrist. His hallucination was not only talking to him she was answering his internal Matt too.
Sam opened his eyes to see if his hallucination was still visible. Yep. He saw that the beautiful ethereal woman still floated off to his left. He flicked his eyes to the right when he heard Jim speak to him.
Jim saw Sam's eyes open wide. Relieved that Sam was conscious Jim quickly instructed him "Hold still Sam. Don't move."
Sam sucked in a breath and his eyes widened more than almost possible. What the hell? No. Not possible. He was screwed. Sam thought that his head must have whacked every stair on the way down for him to be seeing this. His brains must be scrambled.
But he looked so real, so different but oh so real. Unsure of what he was seeing, Sam breathed out in a barest whisper "You're here?"
Jim said "I'm here. Now just lie still and let me check you over."
Matt smiled "You can see me?"
"Yeah, I can see you" Sam answered as he looked at vaporish image of Matt.
Well it was Matt's face but he looked all wispy like the beautiful long haired lady. But Matt had huge wings and she did not. Horribly bent and twisted wings that were dropping crushed and broken feathers as he stared. Matt looked like he just tumbled down a flight of stairs too.
Jim answered "That's good Sam. I can check off vision issues. Where do you hurt Sam?"
Matt answered "You shouldn't be able to see me brother. But I am glad you can."
"Am I dead?" Sam asked with disbelief.
He didn't feel dead, his wrist still hurt. But it was possible, especially since he was was seeing Matt. Matt with wings no less.
Jim looked at Mason and Winds shocked by Sam's question. Both returned his shocked look with a worried one. Blondie was confused which did not bode well. Another head injury?
Mason answered gently "No you are not dead Blondie."
Floating right next to Jim, Matt grinned "No. You would have been. But I was able to wrap you in my wings and shield you most of the way down. Sorry I couldn't stop your wrist from hitting the stairs."
"You saved me?" Sam said with incredulity lacing his words as he stared at Matt's broken and battered wings.
Jim blinked at the non sequitur response. Christ Sam must have hit his head really hard "Sam, injury report."
They all waited for Blondie to respond. He always answered Jim when he requested an injury report. It was too ingrained in him not to respond if he was conscious.
"Yeah, well that is what I do, it's my job" Matt answered with a small smile and a shrug. Several more broken feathers dropped and floated to the ground. Then Matt said "You better give Jim your injury report before he has a conniption fit."
Sam was focused solely on Matt. The others did not register. He was so confused "What you do? Your job?"
Matt ruffled his bent wings and his smile broadened "Yeah, what I do. I'm your guardian angel Sammy."
"No. There is no such thing. No I've hit my head and I'm hallucinating" Sam tried to logically explain what he was seeing and hearing.
Blaze returned with the Sam pack "Blondie hit his head?"
He heard Blondie's conversation as he raced down the stairs. It was so odd. It looked like he was looking at Jim but he was not seeing him nor responding to Jim's questions. Not responding to an injury report request scared the crap out of Blaze. Something was seriously wrong.
Jim shook his head "I'm not sure but he is not quite with us. Sam is not making sense."
His worry about Sam's multiple head traumas rose to a whole new level. Jim knew that Sam had never hallucinated like this. His hallucinations were always visual not auditory and Sam never spoke to them. It was like Sam was looking at him but not seeing him too.
It was like whoever Sam was talking too was right next to him. Involuntarily Jim turned half expecting to see whatever Sam was looking at. But there was nothing. He did see Jules slowly coming down the stairs with the help of Lady Ailis and Marsaili. Jules' face was pale and he could see the concern coming off her in waves.
Winds knelt down to get closer to Blondie. His heart was beating rapidly. His internal thoughts were spoken aloud "It's like Blondie is having a conversation with someone else."
Mason and Jim had told him and Blaze about the window and sleeping incident. Winds wondered just what the hell was going on with Blondie. How hard had he hit his head this time? He sat quietly letting Jim take point.
Jules finally managed to get to her feet and make it down the stairs with help. Sam was alive but very confused and talking to someone that was not there. It was clear he was hallucinating. Just like the rabid raccoons.
That worried her a lot. Sam had hit his head on the window only a few days ago and she was unable to wake him. Now he was talking to a hallucination.
Jules wondered what damage had the fall down the stairs caused. This is not good ran over and over in her head as she knelt down next to Sam. Jules held her breath.
"It's true and I am. Have been for a long time now" Matt stated earnestly.
"I killed you. I blew a hole a mile wide in your chest. I obliterated your heart. No you cannot be here. You are not real" Sam stated with finality.
Matt answered simply "But I am."
Afraid to hurt him after his fall, Jules gently laid her hand on Sam's thigh and asked "Sam, what are you seeing? Who are you talking with?"
Jules' voice and touch penetrated the fog that was closing in around him as he tried to logically work things out. He turned to Jules "Matt. Matt's here. He says he is my guardian angel. That he held me in his wings and protected me in the fall."
Jules, Blaze, Mason, Winds, Jim and Heather all sucked in a breath. Aw crap. This was not good. He was hallucinating Matt. This could not be good. It scared every last one of them to the core.
Steeling herself and keeping the quaking fear from her voice Jules gently said "Sam you are hallucinating. Matt is not here."
Sam turned back to Matt "See you are not here. Jules say you are not here."
"Jules' is wrong my brother. I am here, right where I am always, watching your six. Right where I'm supposed to be" Matt said with sincerity.
Sam's voice with shook with emotion "But I killed you. I blew you away. Why would you be my guardian angel? I killed you. Oh god I'm so sorry Matt. I should have known it was you. I saw your eyes. I went to ID you. I found you. There was nothing left of your chest. You heart was gone, there was nothing left. I killed my brother."
Tears were running unchecked from Sam's eyes.
Everyone around him was rooted in place at the depth of pain that exploded in his words. Tears welled in Blaze's, Winds', Mason's, Jim's and Jules' eyes. It physically hurt to hear him talk like that. None of them could find their voice.
Ethereal tears filled Matt's eyes as he spoke "Sam you did not kill me. Major Plouffe killed me. You were only the weapon he used. But the weapon is never responsible. Just like guns do not just jump up and kill people. They are only tools. Tools wielded by someone with intent to protect or to harm. Plouffe wielded you to harm you and your father."
Matt stated firmly and with conviction "I do not blame you. I never have."
Then his voice softened with deep emotion as Matt declared "Brother, I have always loved you. I will always love you. Our brotherly bond cannot be broken by death. I am with you, forever in your heart and there is no place I'd rather be."
Sam shook his head "No, it is still my fault. How can you not blame me? What I did is unforgivable. My heart will never be quite whole. Pieces of it were left on that field with you. It can never be whole because I killed my brother."
His ethereal green eyes pleading Matt begged "There is nothing to forgive. Nothing. Please Sam, I'm begging you to please forgive yourself. Forgive yourself for my death. IT. WAS. NOT. YOUR. FAULT."
Lady Wilhemina watched and her heart was saddened. Such pain, sorrow and heavy burdens this young warrior carried in his heart, mind and soul. Wilhemina floated over to Sam and laid her hand over his heart.
Sam was having difficulty accepting what Matt was saying. Matt did not blame him. Matt was begging him to forgive himself. Could he?
He was at fault. He pulled the trigger. He now knew Plouffe ordered Matt there. But that didn't change the fact that he had been the one to fire the bullet that killed Matt. He was at fault. Wasn't he?
Sam shifted his gaze to the beautiful vapor as she placed her hand on his heart. He watched as a breeze he did not feel began to blow and gently moved her long white hair. Sam felt himself surrounded in a comforting warmth as her hand landed on his heart.
Her voice a soft lilt, Wilhemina spoke "Untie the knots that are in your mind, your heart and your soul. Remove the have nots, the can nots and the do nots that are in your mind. Erase the will nots, may nots and might nots that have found a home in your heart. Be released from the could nots, would nots and should nots that torture your soul."
Lady Wilhemina raised both hands and tilted her head skyward as she turned in four directions "I call on the East, the South, the West and the North to bestow this blessing on a worthy warrior in need of peace."
Then she looked into Sam's eyes as her hand returned to his heart and she recited an ancient blessing "Deep peace of the running waves to you. Deep peace of the flowing air to you. Deep peace of the quiet earth to you. Deep peace of the shining stars to you. Deep peace of the gentle night to you. Deep peace of the light of the world to you. Sun, moon and stars pour their healing light on you and allow your mind, heart and soul to be at peace.
"From now until evermore, may rainbows gladden your eyes. May soft cool winds freshen your spirit. May sunshine brighten your heart. May pure be the joys that surround you. May true be the hearts that love you. May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you and may you be enfolded securely in the mantle of love."
Lady Wilhemina's face was angelic and glowed a soft golden when she whispered "Valiant warrior may you look back with joy. May you look forward with hope. And may you be present with peace."
Sam felt something strange that he had no words to describe. He saw tiny flecks of gold traveling from Matt's heart towards him. His eyes followed the minuscule flecks as they landed on his chest and felt a warm trail as they burrowed into his chest.
The golden flecks settled into and filled the holes left by the missing pieces of his heart, the pieces that lay with Matt's on that field in Afghanistan. As they welded into place he felt warmth spread from his heart throughout his body that comforted and soothed him.
Sam sucked in a breath as the heavy burden of guilt for Matt's death shifted and fell from his shoulders.
He looked at Matt and Matt was smiling. Matt's wings were now pristine, unbroken, full of fluffy, white feathers. Matt was an absolutely radiant thing of beauty. Sam heard music, soft and indistinguishable, but music nonetheless.
Then Matt and the beautiful lady began to fade from his view. Sam didn't want Matt to go. But he could not find his voice. He watched as the wispy vapors slowly dissipated, as if they had never been there.
But Sam heard Matt's voice clearly even though he could see him no longer. Sam closed his eyes trying to recapture the resplendent image of Matt as he listened.
Matt whispered "Remember Sam, I am always with you in your heart. I have your six. I love you brother. Be happy. Enjoy the beauty of life."
And then all was silent for Sam. He lingered on the image of Matt and the feeling of warmth in his heart. Sam silently answered Matt 'I love you too brother. You were right about the beauty of life. Thank you for watching over me'.
Lady Wilhemina's gentle smile turned to Matt as she said "He cannot see us or hear us clearly anymore. I have never seen the veil open like that before. Sam must be a very special warrior."
Matt did not turn from gazing at Sam "Yes he is. Very special. Sam is one of a kind." Then he turned to look at her and said "Thank you for you blessing. I have been trying to release him from the guilt for years."
Wilhemina replied "He could not do that until his heart was whole. He needed the pieces of your heart to replace the ones he lost. He will be at peace now." She faded from view.
Rahmiel floated near Matt and smiled "I've never seen you look so radiant Matt."
Matt turned to Rahmiel "Sam is not wounded inside anymore. I know occasionally he will still feel the pangs of loss but he will no longer feel the guilt that was never his burden to bear. Sam has been released. His release is my release too. We are and always will be brothers. What hurts one hurts the other. His healed heart is reflected in me."
Sam slowly opened his eyes and looked around him. He saw shocked and concerned faces. No one would ever believe what just happened. Heck he wasn't sure he believed it.
His rational mind wanted to believe it was a hallucination. But his heart and soul knew that something very special had just occurred. But he could never quite explain it.
Sam turned his head to Jim and stated "No idea how but only my wrist hurts. Don't think it is broken. Level five."
Jim was jarred out of his daze by Sam's injury report. He wasn't sure what made him dazed but he said "You did not hit your head?"
Baffled by Sam's coherence now, Jim knew he was going to insist on a full battery of neurological tests when they got home to Toronto. Something definitely was not right. His eyes met with Heather's and she was just as confused as he was by the turn of events. Between them, Jim knew they would ensure Sam was tested.
Sam answered Jim "No, except for on the fridge. I misstepped on the top step and lost my balance."
Turning his gaze to Mason, Sam quipped "Yeah you can call me a klutz now."
Blaze, Winds, and Mason were now thoroughly confused. What the hell just happened? One minute Blondie was talking to Matt and the next he was responding to Jim and joking with Mason like nothing weird had just happened. Each made note to talk to Jim. They needed to understand what just occurred.
Jules blew out a breath. Her worry was not gone even though Sam seemed to be coherent again. She found herself stating "Sam you were hallucinating. You were talking to Matt. Are you sure you did not hit your head?"
Sam wasn't sure how to answer. Would Jules believe him if he told her what he saw, heard and felt? Or would she think he had gone off the deep end?
Lady Ailis saved him from answering when she said "As most of you will attest to, this place has mysterious effects on people. Ghosts of our pasts often reach out to us in the mists of the night. This home site was selected because it was considered a sacred place of healing by our ancestors. Perhaps Matt's spirit was really here."
Then she smiled at Sam her eyes alight with a knowing look "Or perhaps Sam was just a bit disoriented from his tumble down the stairs."
Ailis looked round at all the pajama and robe clad family and added "Either way, the show is over. Time for us all to head back to our beds and let Sam's fiancée and friends tend to him."
As all the family started to make their way back to their rooms Lady Ailis turned to look at Sam once more. She knew in her heart that Sam had just been visited by the White Witch of the Loch. The look of peace in Sam's eyes told her that.
Lady Ailis had observed Sam very carefully. She had felt a warmth envelope the area around him. His eyes had changed from pain filled to peacefulness. She had witnessed that once before in her dear husband after Tamhas died.
He had saved Tamhas from the loch but pneumonia had set in. Tamhas' asthmatic lungs were too weakened and he had succumbed to the pneumonia. Gillebrìde struggled mightily with guilt that was not his to bear. Until one night many years ago.
She had felt that same warmth one night as Gillebrìde cried on Tamhas' birthday. He had stopped crying and stared off into space for a long moment. When he came out of his daze Gillebrìde told her that the White Witch of the Loch had just blessed him and taken the pain and guilt away. He was able to remember all the good of Tamhas without the pain. There was a peacefulness in his eyes so similar to what she just saw in Sam's eyes.
Ailis heard enough of Sam's words to know that something terrible happened and Sam had killed a man named Matt who he considered a brother and that he had been in a great deal of pain. She softly smiled as she headed up the stairs. She liked Sam Braddock very much. She was glad the White Witch of the Loch had blessed him and removed his pain.
Jim gently probed Sam's wrist "Let's see what damage was done to this wrist Sam."
Sam winced "Doubt it is broken. Just wrap it."
Ignoring Sam, Blaze asked "Jim what do you think? Should we drive Blondie to Inverness tonight to get him checked out?"
Sam quickly responded "I don't need to get checked out. Just a sprained wrist is all."
Jules cleared her throat "Sam if Jim thinks you should go then you will go."
Turning to Jim, Sam stated "No signs of concussion. No nausea. No light sensitivity. No headache. No bruising or bumps. Jim I'm okay except for my wrist."
Jim looked at the worried faces around him. Then he looked at Sam. He looked in his eyes and saw a measure of peace that he had never seen before. He felt something flutter by his ear and he stilled. He heard a soft buzz.
Ripsaw whispered in Jim's ear "Sam is okay tonight. Leave him be. Let him go to Jules. Let him go in peace tonight."
Inhaling through his nose deeply Jim held it a moment before releasing it in a rush "Okay Sam. No trip to a hospital tonight. But you have to promise me that if you begin to feel ill we go to Inverness. And that you will get a full check up with a neurologist when you get home."
Sam was about to agree but was interrupted by Blaze.
Blaze said "No arguments. None kiddo. You scared the hell out of all of us tonight. Put our minds at ease and agree."
Winds added "I'll drag your ass to the hospital if you don't agree. I know I'll have Jules, Mason, Blaze, Jim, Heather, Marsaili, Scott, Jeff, Adam, Zach, Kyle, Spike, Ed, Greg ... Ah hell I'll have everyone that loves and cares about you right there with me dragging you in."
Mason laid his hand on Blondie's shoulder "Please. You are important to so many people."
"Sam" Jules said softly.
Sam looked to Jules. The concern etched in her face tore at him. The peace she had earlier was marred with worry for him. He needed to ease her worry. He had planned on it before everyone assumed he would resist.
He nodded and looked directly into Jules' eyes "I promise." Then turning to Jim, Sam added "Jim you make the appointment and I'll go to whoever you want me to see and let them do any test you want them to do."
Sam heard the collective sigh. He smiled at them and said "Now can I get up off the floor. I need to clean up the mess I made being a klutz."
A small sense of relief filled each of them and the tension was broken.
Mason said "I'll clean it up. You go with Jim and Jules and head off to bed."
Mac'IlleMhìcheil Estate – Heather Room
Sam stood with the assistance of Jim and Blaze. They insisted on shepherding him up the stairs and into his room. Jules and Heather followed behind. Once in the room Jim wrapped Sam's wrist and put on a brace.
Jules was impressed that Jim had a wrist brace in his Sam pack. But then she looked in it and laughed. Not only did Jim have a wrist brace he had a knee and ankle brace and a sling. There were lots of other things in there. Jim surely did know Sam and was well prepared.
Sam was then tucked into bed with his wrist resting on a pillow and an instant cold pack over it to ice his wrist. Jim insisted Sam take over the counter pain relievers. Winds and Mason appeared a short time later with two new sandwiches.
Winds had cut Sam's sandwich up into four smaller pieces so that Sam could manage eating with one hand. They all sat with him as he ate. Each of them watching Sam like a hawk.
Sam knew their worry was only slightly abated. Their eyes rarely left him as he ate. So Sam did his best to distract them and reduce their worry by joking as he ate. He was feeling rather tired once his stomach was full so he told them he was ready to get some sleep.
Once they all had said goodnight and reluctantly left to head off to their rooms Sam lay with Jules tucked on his left side with her head lying over his heart. He smiled at the ceiling feeling the peace in his soul and the wholeness of his heart.
Sam wanted to share his feeling of peace with Jules. Would she believe him? Sam didn't know but he trusted Jules implicitly so he decided to tell her everything.
Softly he said "Jules."
"Yeah?" was her soft reply.
Sam started "You might not believe me but ..." then he shared with Jules all of what he had seen, heard and felt tonight.
