Thanks to everyone for reading, commenting, favoriting...

Marigold - No prequel, but it would be fun to read. We could see all the things Mercedes did to get Sam's attention and try to steal him from Rachel.

MissE- Thank you for your comments. I can't respond to you directly, but I want you to know I appreciate how fully you share your thoughts.

Chapter 4

"Answer me. Did you just say nine months?" he asked his green eyes searching her face in confusion.

"When did I say that?" asked Mercedes nervously. She wanted to slap herself, her big mouth once again causing trouble.

"Just now," said Sam pushing Mercedes off of him completely. "You said I was in a coma for nine months."

Mercedes got up from the bed and walked over to the window, away from his questioning eyes. She needed to figure out how to get him off the subject quickly. "I must've misspoken. I think you need to rest now, you're getting over excited."

"Don't try to wiggle your way out of this. Tell me the truth." She could hear Sam's temper starting to flare. The last thing she wanted was for his blood pressure to go up. She wasn't sure what to do, once Sam set his sights on something there was no getting him to back down.

"Sam, let me go get your doctor." Maybe if she left the room, he would have cooled down by the time she got back. Perhaps the doctor could give him a sedative or something. "You seem like you're getting agitated."

"I am agitated because you're withholding information from me," he said gruffly, his raspy voice making his tone sound even more menacing.

"I'm not. Calm down," she said quietly.

"Don't tell me to calm down. This is my life you're messing with here. I want answers," he demanded raising his voice as loud as he could. He twisted in the bed so he could see her, as she moved around the room trying to avoid looking at him, he followed her with his eyes, like a lion stalking his prey.

"I don't have any answers to give. I'm going to get the doctor now."

Mercedes rushed toward the door, feeling like she might be in peril if she didn't escape. It wasn't that she was afraid of Sam, that was one thing she never was, but she was afraid of what he might do to himself, if he persisted with this demeanor.

"If you walk out that door, don't bother coming back," he said just as her hand twisted the door knob.

"What?" she asked turning around shocked by his statement.

He was facing forward, deliberately not looking at her, as if she weren't worth his attention. "You heard me. Don't come back. I need people around me that I can trust, not some sneaky little liar that is trying to shut me up by using sex."

"Excuse me! I wasn't trying to shut you up. And for the record, you were the one with your hand on my leg." Mercedes felt her anger rise as he continued to talk to her in a condescending tone.

"Do you always practically straddle your patients? Is that some new form of alternative medicine?" he asked crossing his arms over his chest.

"You're a bastard. A spoiled little rude ass bastard that is sitting there pouting because he can't get his way."

"Stop treating me like a child. I need to know what happened to me."

"I told you I have nothing to say."

"Get the hell out. I don't want you as my nurse anymore."

A chill ran through Mercedes' body at his words. She knew he was just frustrated and upset because he was shocked, but something about his tone put her on edge. It was so impersonal, detached, as if she didn't mean anything to him at all.

"Are you firing me?" she asked her face twisting in anger.

"You got it. Don't let the door hit ya on the way out," he said turning away from her dismissively.

"Who do you think you're talking to?" asked Mercedes placing her hands on her hips. He was really starting to tick her off. "You can't fire me."

"I'm Sam Evans, I can do whatever I want." His green eyes went cold as he stared her down, his ruthless streak coming out. "One word from me and you're out of a job."

Mercedes never backed down from a challenge and he definitely was giving her one now. There was no way in hell she was going to let him intimidate her into doing anything.

"I'm not going anywhere. You need me."

"Nurses come a dime a dozen. I can throw some money on the ground and ten nurses would run to pick it up. Anyone off the street could do your job," he scoffed.

"You think another nurse would put up with this bullshit from you? No one can handle you the way I can."

"You act like I'm some sort of problem patient. I've been a breeze."

"Oh really? And what is this right now? So you aren't freaking out because you think you've been rip van winkling it for almost a year?"

"I'm not freaking out. I just want to know what's going on. How long have I been here?"

"I told you. I have nothing to say. So stop asking."

"Fine," he said running his hands roughly through his cropped blonde hair. "Go get the doctor."

Mercedes shook her head. "Not until you calm down."

"I said get my doctor. You can't deny me medical treatment," he demanded again, his hoarse voice actually sounding stronger the longer he talked.

"I'm here if you need anything." She plopped down in the chair, crossing her legs at the ankle in feigned nonchalance. In actuality, every cell in her body was on fire, she was so mad, she wanted to smack him. What right did he have to speak to her this way?

"Get your ass out of that chair and do what I tell you."

Mercedes saw something flash in Sam's eyes. It was almost as if he were enjoying this. But she wasn't going to let him get off on some power trip at her expense. She was too stubborn for that.

"Who do you think you're ordering around Sam?" asked Mercedes her eyes narrowing at him in anger.

She really was dealing with this all wrong, in fact she probably would get fired on the spot if a doctor saw her goading a patient in this manner. But this was Sam, and he was being an ass. No matter how wrong it was, she couldn't let him get away with it.

"I swear to God if you don't get up…" Sam was so angry he couldn't finish his sentence. Mercedes could see the tension in his whole body. She really needed to get control over the situation before he hurt himself. She tried to change her tactic.

"Relax and change your tone and maybe I'll help you," she said deliberately forcing her voice to sound calm. She examined her nails casually, glancing over at him occasionally just to make sure he was getting the message that she wasn't going to take his crap.

"You know what? I don't need some sassy little nurse running my life. I can do it myself. I'm going to get some answers, but first I'm going to put you out of my room."

"I'd like to see you try," she said daring him as they stared each other down.

Sam's face contorted into a scowl, he was receiving her message and he didn't like it, Mercedes knew that look so well. He suddenly threw back the covers, and started easing himself over to the edge of the bed.

"Sam what are you doing? Stop that! Get back in bed," said Mercedes jumping to her feet. She tried to stop him with her hands, pushing him back in the bed, but he slapped her hands away with every approach.

Sam put one foot on the floor, shaking as he tried to drag his other leg over. The alarms on his monitors started blaring as one of his catheters became disconnected. Mercedes slid her body under Sam's catching him before he hit the floor. Even in his much leaner state, Sam was still too heavy for Mercedes to maneuver. She tried to reach for the nurses' desk call button, but couldn't stretch far enough to grab it while holding on to him.

"Help! I need some help in here!" she yelled, trying to shift Sam back into his bed. He had collapsed fully in her arms, his body weight sagging against her. His eyelids fluttered as he struggled to remain conscious.