Disclaimer: Sam is mine, Doctor Bender is mine, and Doctor Barrett is mine. Oh, and I guess Sweet Memorial Hospital is mine too. Otherwise, nothing else in this story is.
Author's Note. Okay, so it has definitely been more than a year since this has been updated. I was going through some old stories and saw that it had been so long. Since it has been so long since I've written, I'm hoping this is too different from the rest of story because I'm sure my writing style has changed somewhat in the last year. If you're reading this, most likely you'll have to go back and read the rest of the story to remember what's going on. Sorry about that! I hope this might still interest a few people. Happy reading!
A week. It had been a week since Sam had been flown to Sweet Memorial Hospital. It had also been a week since Bosco had gotten any decent sleep, food, or a very good shower for that matter. He couldn't leave Sam's side. If Sam woke up, he was going to be right there at her bedside. Doctor Bender told him that she was getting better, but he just couldn't be sure until he saw those big green eyes himself.
It was a day that seemed the same as the last seven. It was a beautiful spring day outside. The kind of day in which Sam would play at the park all day long. Bosco wished more than anything that Sam was at the playground right now. But he finally felt like he had hope. It might have been his optimistic imagination, but she seemed less pale.
"I still can't believe they charge this much for this crappy coffee," Faith said as she came through the door carrying a cup for herself and a cup for Bosco. Bosco gratefully accepted his and immediately brought the warm cup to his lips. He needed it to stay awake for Sam. "Bosco, how long has it been since you've slept?" Faith asked, taking a seat next to him.
"I slept last night."
"Where? In this chair? And for how long? Half an hour? That doesn't count. You won't help Sam if you make yourself sick." Bosco had heard this over and over since Sam had gotten sick. The truth was, it was finally starting to catch up with him. All the emotions that had been running through his body for the last two weeks and the two weeks of no proper sleep or food were really wearing him down. But he couldn't leave. He just couldn't.
"Bosco, are you okay?" Bosco heard her, but didn't respond. He was suddenly very dizzy. "Bosco?" Faith asked again. He felt her hand on his shoulder just as he fell backwards off the chair and in to oblivion. "I'm sorry, Sammi," was his last thought.
"He's going to be okay. He's just exhausted." It was a male voice that he didn't know. Bosco couldn't bring himself to open his eyes. He was just so tired.
"Damn. I knew this would happen." That one he recognized. It was Faith.
"When will he wake up?" That one was his mother.
"Very soon." That was the male voice again.
"He'll be excited to hear about Sam." The words that Faith uttered got his attention. He forced his eyes open, squinting at the light in the room.
"What about Sam? Did she wake up?"
"Maurice! How are you feeling?" Bosco's mother asked.
"I'm fine, Ma. What about Sam?"
"Officer Boscorelli," spoke up the male voice from beside him who Bosco recognized as a doctor. "I'm Dr. Barrett. You're malnourished and will most likely be weak for a while, but you'll be fine. We're getting some nutrients in to you through an IV." For the first time, Bosco noticed the needle sticking out of him. "As soon as the bag is emptied, you can be released."
"Fine. Whatever. Tell me about Sam. Is she awake?"
"Not yet," said Faith. Bosco's face fell. "But they took her off the respirator and she's breathing more or less on her own!" Bosco could tell Faith was excited and was touched at how much his partner cared about his daughter. There had always been a connection between Faith and Sam, even when Sarah was alive. It wasn't necessarily a mother-daughter connection. It was more of an aunt-niece connection.
"That's great! That's amazing! I need to see her." Bosco pulled the blankets off of him and tried to get out of bed. Dr. Barrett put his hands on Bosco's shoulders and stopped him.
"Not yet. You have to wait. But if you want to see your daughter, just turn your head." Indeed, the other bed in the room was occupied by Sam. He had been placed in his daughter's room and he was almost positive that this was upon the insistence of Faith and his mother. Bosco could see that the tube that had been down her throat all week was now absent and replaced by an oxygen mask. She seemed to be resting a little easier. She was even starting to regain a slight bit of color. Sam still wasn't awake, but this was definitely a step in the right direction. And with that, Bosco could rest just that much easier.