"See Molly, everything is fine." Sam assured her sister as she sat on her mother's lap.

Lucky was resting against the bed with his eyes closed as her sister's visited. He didn't want to admit the drain he had been feeling from his own injuries.

"If you say so; you still look pale." Molly told her.

"Of course I look pale; everyone does compared to the little California girl sitting here." Sam patted Molly's head.

"She has a point." Kristina said standing in the background.

"Hey, honey." Alexis spoke to Molly. "I think your dad is ready to get going."

"He's going to take me to the MetroCourt to go swimming before dinner." Molly explained.

"Lucky-duck." Sam smiled at her. "You have fun!"

"When do I get to see you again?"

"Well, Dr. Robin Drake is working on the medication to make me better right now, so hopefully soon." Sam held her hand before bringing her in for a hug.

"When you do get home I can show you the guitar dad got me. I took some lessons while I was out there, and can play Ode to Joy without even looking at the music." She boasted.

"Wow; well that I'll have to see." Sam smirked as she watched Alexis' reaction.

"If you keep practicing you could be the next Miley Cyrus."

"Really?" Molly questioned. "Oh, speaking of that, while dad and I were having lunch one day guess who came to the bistro?"

"Um… Miley?" Sam took a stab at it.

"No, actually Emily Osment, but she was really cool and we talked for awhile and I got her autograph."

"Well, it sounds like you had a good time." Sam said hugging her sister before she left.

"You don't have to pretend with me; I can tell you're hurting." Kristina said as the door closed behind her little sister.

"I met Damon's father. I can see where he gets his good looks from." Sam replied trying to keep the conversation light, but Kristina was right her lungs were burning and each breath she took hurt.

"Has mom told you about your connection…?"

"Yeah, well, no. Um… Nikolas and Galen told me…" Sam struggled to talk. She sat up and started coughing trying to pull breaths in between.

Lucky jarred awake to the sound. "Kristina, can you go get in a doctor?" Alexis requested hoping to get her out of the room.

"Sam…" Lucky rubbed her back as she continued to hack.

"Robin." Kristina cried outside Sam's room. "Robin, you have to help her."

When she got inside Sam was sitting up wheezing. "Sam, a have a steroid injection; it's not going to cure anything but it should help open your airways. Do I have your permission to inject you with it?"

Sam nodded her head yes.

"Just do it." Alexis responded hating to see her daughter in pain. Robin pressed the needle into her shoulder and emptied the syringe into her flesh. They all watched as it appeared to do the trick and her breathing went back to normal.

"How long should that last?" Lucky questioned as she rested back into him.

"A couple of hours, and eventually it's not going to do anything." Robin replied.

"How is it coming on the antidote?" Alexis asked her.

"I'm still trying to find out exactly what was in the toxin. I don't know what kind of scientists put this together, but they're not making it easy. I have three substances figured out, but it's still not coming up with a match."

"Robin, you have to do better than that." Alexis demanded.

"I am working as hard as I can." Robin replied calmly.

"That's not good enough!" Alexis screamed.

"Mom, stop! That's not helping." Sam advised her.

"I'm sorry. Honey, I'm going to be back, I just need to…"

"Go; get some air, and some food. I'll be here when you get back."

"Sam, I recommend you get some more sleep, and I think it would be easier if you were hooked up to the oxygen." Robin insisted. "I'm not leaving here until I figure this out. We will find a cure."

"I know, and I will do whatever you think is best. Just please, have someone keep an eye on her." Sam pointed to her mom who was hyperventilating outside the door.

"I'll see what I can do." Robin replied before pulling out the tube to press under Sam's nose and adjusting the flow from the oxygen. "Lucky, I'm leaving it up to you to make sure she gets some rest."

Once she left Lucky adjusted the bed down to a resting position and allowed Sam to use his chest as a pillow. "I love you." He whispered to her.

"I love you, too." She grinned. "I know it sounds weird, but I was more terrified of what you were going through alone, than of what I'm going through now because I know I have you right here."

"That's not weird." He assured her. "But you should have known I was okay; I'm not going to let some stupid semi come between having my life with you."

"And I'm not going let some crazy toxin come between sharing a family with you." She responded.

"Well good, nothing to worry about then." He gently brushed her hair hoping to entice her eyes close.

XXXXXX

Kristina was able to get down the hall into an open stall in the woman's bathroom before breaking down in tears. She thought she could handle her sister hooked to the IV in the hospital gown, but every time she closed her eyes she had flashes of being at Carly's funeral.

"Krissy, are you in here?" Michael asked outside the restroom door.

"I'll be out in a second." She replied standing in front of the mirror trying to dry her face and fix her eyeliner. She walked out and found that her brother wasn't alone. "Damon…"

"I thought you could use a friend." Damon replied offering her an embrace.

"We went by Sam's room and spoke with Robin. She gave Sam a shot to help open up her airways. She's still working on the antidote and says she's getting closer." Michael explained to her.

"She's resting now." Damon added. He had peaked in for only a minute, but it was enough to see enough family traits in Sam to know they were related.

"How would you guys like to have some dinner with me and Lys at the pool hall?" Michael suggested. He had driven Kristina to the hospital after Jax had gotten home to watch over Morgan and Britni. As he took some time in the arcade Damon had approached him looking for Kristina; based on the little conversation they had Michael definitely approved of him more than he ever had Kiefer, but was still interested in learning more.

Kristina looked over at Damon for an answer.

"Sounds good to me." Damon replied. "I'm going to need help with the directions."

"I can ride with you." Kristina volunteered to which Michael wasn't happy about, but the change in her mood from the moment she saw him made it bearable.

XXXXXX

"Ms. Stephens." Alfred called to her.

Mischa turned around with headphones in her ears and jumped. "Oh God!" She freaked and then took the earpiece out. "You could give someone a heart attack that way."

"I apologize, Ms. Stephens, Master Nikolas has asked me to give you these." Alfred said handing her some clothing catalogues. "He asks that you pick out whatever you would like and return the order form back to me tomorrow."

"He sure doesn't skimp on quality and brand name." Mischa said as she flipped through a couple. "What about this room? Anyway to redecorate and make it less gothic? I swear, not even the she-demon herself likes the place this depressing."

"That you would need to bring up with Master Nikolas." Alfred replied.

"Great, where is he?" Mischa asked heading out into the hall.

"He went for his evening ride. I can let you know when he comes back. Master Nikolas has offered free reign of the grounds, but has requested that if you are to leave the chambers to go accompanied by myself or Ms. Lancaster." Alfred requested.

"And how do I do that? Is there a bell I ring?"

Alfred pointed to the intercom on the wall.

"Right, of course. I suppose I will go shopping then."

"There is a night gown in the closet for when you are ready for bed."

"Thank you, Alfred, and for future reference, Mischa is fine." She smiled.

"Of course, Ms. Mischa. Was there anyplace you would like to go?"

"No, I'm good here. Thank you."

Mischa laid back on the bed to examine the catalogues more closely. She still had months to buy the stuff in her size and hoped that after this was through she would be able to fit back into the designer duds she was getting. When she thought she heard someone at the door she looked up.

"How's you daughter doing?" She asked as she saw Alexis standing there.

"She's struggling to breath, and here you are all nice and comfortable. Is that Armani?"

"Your nephew has good taste."

"Is that right? What do we even know about you?" Alexis begun interrogating her.

"What are you looking to know?" Mischa asked her. "Race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status?"

"How long had you been working for Helena?"

"I've been a maiden in her residence for ten-years. I was all of seventeen when I started. My mom was sick and I needed something to pay for her treatments. She died two-years later."

"It sounds like Helena helped you through a rough time. How do I know you're not part of the plot to bring my family down?"

"Mrs. Moraitis helped me through a lot. Helena has raped my body to implant your grandchild inside of me just to threaten to kill me when she has what she wants!"

"You had months of safety. It seems like too perfect of timing that you bumped into Ethan when you did." Alexis observed.

"I panicked. I thought I saw an opening and so I took it. I had no idea that Ethan would be there, but I have to admit I was glad he was. You're family has reason to want to protect me. Out of all the people here I would think that you, being a mom yourself, would understand what this would mean to your daughter."

"It's not going to do her any good if she's dead. Is that part of the plan? Play the innocent that needs to saved long enough for her family to watch her die?" Alexis accused her.

"There is no plot between me and Helena!" Mischa demanded.

"How do I know that?!"

"Because I'm telling you there's not." Nikolas said coming into the argument. "You're upset, understandably, but this isn't Mischa's fault. She didn't ask to be put in this situation, and she's doing your daughter a favor. So I'm telling you to leave her alone or I will restrict access to this Island."

"Nikolas, you can't let Sam die…"

"She won't. We have people on it. Just think about what your daughter would want from you."

XXXXXX

"Mom, do you know when Lucky will be home?" Lulu asked Laura over dinner.

"He has been given permission to stay over at the hospital tonight with Sam."

"How is she?"

Laura shook her head. "Symptoms are getting worse, and Robin is struggling to come up with a solution."

"Sam can't die." Lulu cried. "I don't think Lucky will be able to take that. I know he was struggling with the addiction Carly's death. He was able to stay away from the pills, but… that night he had a lot to drink. The only thing keeping him going after the crash was getting Sam back."

"Lulu, you can't worry about that." Her mom said holding her hand. "Your brother is strong, he really is. Now that he's aware of his limitations he's at a better position to work around them. Besides, I have faith that this is all going to work out."

"How? After everything you have gone through in your life? After years of time lost in your own body, how do you hang on to that faith?"

"I wouldn't be here today if I would have given up. Love of a family, whether through blood ties or emotional attachments, is a powerful thing. That's the secret to defeating Helena. As long as we stick together, as long as we hang on to ourselves and our faith and love in each other she can't win." Laura advised.

"That's the plan? Don't give up?"

Laura nodded. "And if you see someone falling, offer a hand up. We out number her, and out power her. In the end, we will stand victorious. We always have."

XXXXXX

"Hey Molly, I'm sorry but I really have to take this." Ric said looking down at the vibrating cell in his hand.

"It's okay." Molly replied sipping on the Shirley temple she got with her dinner.

Ric walked away from the table to step outside on the deck for privacy. "Ms. Fuller, have you decided to take the deal?"

"I agree to present it to the judge tomorrow." She backed down reluctantly.

"Good choice." Ric gloated.

"I don't know; maybe having court security stationed at the head honcho's house will develop into charges I can use to bring down the Don Juan himself."

"I wouldn't count on that." Ric warned her. "I appreciate you getting back to me in a timely manner, and would love to chat but am currently out on a date with my eight-year-old daughter."

"I understand." She replied. "Can I ask you just one thing, Mr. Lansing?"

"What's that?"

"Would you trust her with Mrs. Corinthos? Would you allow your eight-year-old daughter to spend the day with her unsupervised?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Please, just answer the question."

"As long as there was a guard around to prevent any enemy attacks? Yes, I would."

"Okay, thank you."

"Wait, you didn't tell me…"

"In order to be able to sleep at night I had to know if the person pleading her case would be comfortable enough to leave her with the most precious thing he has."

XXXXXX

The music was turned up for the procedure. Dr. Drake studied the fluoroscopic image in front of him as he placed the catheter into the small incision feeding it through the vascular system. Amongst conversation with Dr. Brown, Patrick decided the best course of action was to go with the coil method to trap the aneurysm and prevent it from further intracranial bleeding.

"Her blood pressure is dropping." Dr. Brown noticed observing the monitors.

"We're almost there." Patrick replied steadily feeding it though.

"Dr. Drake." She cautioned watching it drop rapidly.

"She's hemorrhaging." A nurse called.

Patrick saw it happening, but he couldn't stop. He released the coil around the site. "I need suction, now." He called out, hoping to prevent further blood swelling.

"Patrick!" Dr. Brown called out when the BP dropped dangerously low.

Carly's body started seizing and the staff backed away. They didn't want to harm her while thrashing violently. When she stopped the heart monitor went off.

"She's in V-Fib. Get the paddles." Dr. Brown called out. Patrick started by applying thrusts to her chest.

"Carly, you're not dying on my watch." He spoke to her.

"They're ready." A nurse handed the paddles over to him. He placed them on her flesh to apply the shock.

"Nothing." Dr. Brown looked up on the screen that she had turned down from the continuous beep.

Between tries Patrick continued to thrust hoping to keep the blood moving. "Again." Patrick called for.

"Patrick…" Dr. Brown shook her head, but he took the paddles from her anyway. He applied the shock and after another go he continued with CPR.

"Dr. Drake, it's time to call…"

"No!" Patrick replied adamantly. "One more time, just give me one more time."