The Fourth Hour

By Tarrant

Sam was on the phone and had her back to the door when she heard it open promptly at 3:30. "Okay Bail, I'll talk to you later." She turned around and hung up the phone. Without looking up she said "I would appreciate it if you would knock in the future." She stood up and stretched a bit. Picking up her coffee cup and turning away she said "There is another pile of folders in the corner that need filing and then I have some other projects for you when you are done."

Susan glanced at a large stack of folders and then back at Sam. Sam was filling her coffee cup and took her time stirring in the creamer. When she turned back Susan was still looking at her. "What?"

Susan sneered a bit, "So what, now I'm your secretary?"

Sam remained poker faced. "No, you are my patient. But to put it bluntly, you are here, you are not working with me and I don't have time to waste like this, so if you don't want to work with me, you can work for me."

Susan dropped her book bag by the door and pulled up the stool next to the pile of folders again. "This blows."

"I couldn't agree more." Sam said with no apology in her voice as she sat back down at her desk.

After several minutes of silence Susan turned toward Sam. "Hey, I put this one away yesterday."

Sam again didn't look up from the desk. "Yep, and you will put it way tomorrow too, if that's how you want it."

Susan tossed the folder on top of the stack and glared at the top of Sam's head for a few minutes. Still looking down at the desk, Sam rolled her eyes, refusing to play along in Susan's tantrum. "Susan, either put the folders away or sit on the couch and talk to me, those are your choices. I don't care which, but you will not just sit in this office for an hour a day and do nothing."

After another minute Susan picked up the folder again and began to put it away, she was quiet for a while. Finally she said "Why do you want to help me anyway."

Sam smiled a bit to herself. "That's what I do." She said simply. "Besides, I promised my friend and the judge that I would do what I could."

"No, I mean, why do you want to help ME."

Sam looked at Susan for the first real time today. "Because I believe you desperately need somebody to trust and I am here so that person is going to be me. I think I am exactly what you need right now and I don't intend to give up."

"I don't trust anybody." Susan said staring directly into Sam's eyes.

"I know." Sam said nodding her head. "But everyone needs someone that they can count on no matter what."

Susan was quiet again and turned back to the files so Sam went back to making notes on the paperwork covering her desk. When she finished she walked over to the couch and sat down. After a few minutes Sam heard her softly say "I need something."

Sam sat back in her chair and gave Susan her full attention. "What do you need?"

"They took away most of my medications when they transferred me from the hospital to this hole, the only thing they give me now is my antibiotics." Sam nodded and Susan continued. "I kinda need some Tylenol or ibuprophen."

Sam nodded again. "I noticed the limp was getting worse. I'll see what I can do."

Sam noted a glimmer of a smile before it disappeared. "MAY, I go now?"

Sam openly smiled at the sarcastic, but correct grammar. "Yes, you may, I'll see you Monday. You have my number if you need me in the mean time."

Susan nodded and made a bee line for the door. She stopped and looked at Sam again. "Have a good weekend, Sam." Then she was gone.

Sam picked up the phone and dialed the extension for the institution nurse. When she was done she placed another call. "Hey Bail….."