A/N: A flatline is an electrical time sequence measurement that shows no activity and therefore when represented, shows a flat line instead of a moving one. It almost always refers to either a flatlinedelectrocardiogram, where the heart shows no electrical activity (asystole), or to a flatelectroencephalogram, in which the brain shows no electrical activity (brain death). Both of these specific cases are involved in various definitions of death. Some consider one who has flatlined to be clinically dead, regardless of eventual resuscitation or lack thereof, whereas others insist that one is alive until the moment of brain death. This is mostly used in the medical industry when a person's pulse has stopped, indicating a flat line on the heart monitor.

When a patient displays a cardiac flatline, the treatment of choice is an injection of vasopressin (epinephrine and atropine are also possibilities) and chest compressions. Successful resuscitation is generally unlikely and is inversely related to the length of time spent attempting resuscitation. Despite defibrillation commonly appearing on medical dramas as a remedy for asystole, it is usually not done when there is a total absence of electrical activity, as it could actually make it more difficult to restart the heart.

Chapter 17

"WHAT?"

"Sammy, don't yell." Casey said.

"But, I hit a flat line... aren't I supposed to be dead?"

"Yeah, but the doctors rushed in immediately and used chest compressions on you." Danny said

"So... I almost died twice?"

"Yeah." Marissa said.

"Sammy, you are a really strong girl. No one would have survived that fire from 2nd grade... but you did. The doctor said that successful resuscitation is generally unlikely. But you lived and we're all really grateful for that." Marissa said through her tears.

"Yeah, Sammy. We are, including your mom and..." Danny looked at Casey and Marissa, they were looking down. "dad." He said looking down too.

"I know my father was in here." I said.

They looked up. "How did you know?" Danny asked.

"I heard him. He came into my room and asked how I was doing. And Danny you wanted to know why you were here and everything. It seemed like you didn't want him here. All of you were kind of interrogating him. Not you, Casey. You barely know him."

He came over to me, grabbed my hand, kissed me on my forehead, and said that they had to go now. Then they all left.

1 Week later...

I finally got out of the hospital a week later. They wanted to keep me there to do x-rays of my body and everything. But, it's not like that. They wanted to know how my system was running. To see if the smoke was still there. If I was gonna almost die again. Okay, maybe not because of the last one but I asked the doctor anyway and he just smiled and said, "You'll be fine. You are a really strong girl. You almost died twice but you still lived."

Anyway, Marissa checked me out of the hospital. She brought my bag that I left at Casey's house and I changed into jeans, a tank-top and of course my high-tops. We were walking to the Senior Highrise where everyone was having a party for me. Marissa told me on the way.

"Why didn't we just have the party at your house?" I asked her.

"Uh... because... Your grandma wanted to... let you have a party in a... familiar place." She finally said. She was hiding something. But I didn't think about that much because the man that I bumped into a few weeks ago was right behind us.

"Marissa, there's a man following us." I whispered to her.

She looked back, then her eyes got wide. "Sammy that's not just any man, that's your- nevermind."

"That's my what?" I was so excited. Was that my father? Oh my God, I didn't know that he lived in Santa Martina.

"Sammy, let's just go!" She said.

"If you don't tell me then I'll go ask him myself." I said and then ran toward the man.

"SAMMY! NO, GET BACK HERE!"

I went up to the man. "Hi!"

"Sammy?"

"Ha! I knew it. Are you my father?"

He looked down and said quietly "Yeah, Sammy. Sorry, I haven't been in your life for like 7 years."

"It's okay. But guess what."

"What?" He said and then looked at me.

"I've been going completely pyscho. I've been harassing my mom to tell me who you are and everything. I play catcher with your mitt on the softball team at school." I started crying. I missed my father. He was never there in my life and now that he is... I don't know if he'll even stay or not.

"Sammy, don't cry." He said. And then he hugged me. I hugged him back.

This was going to be a long day, I thought.

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter. The next one will be longer though. I'm not supposed to be on my aunt's computer but she went to my grandmother's store in downtown like really early when I was still sleeping so... I didn't ask her if I could use it. But I'll be updating until she comes back cause if she catches me... I won't be able to use her laptop for a week! You guys are so lucky that I love FanFiction, otherwise I wouldn't even bother. Just kidding!