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Chapter 8

There should be 'do not disturb' signs for hospital patients, same as hotel guests have, but neon, to keep the doctors at bay. Pretty much as soon as his nurse had left, the team of doctors had appeared. Barging in, throwing him fake pleasantries, placing their cold hands on his body. And Sam had to lie there and take it. That was the biggest indignity of all, he had no choice. The doctors were calling the shots and if they decided on more tests, then more tests it was. Sam was trying to be a model patient. Trying to cooperate, answering all of their questions in the hopes it would garner his release sooner, although, things didn't look promising on that front. He was too weak to hold anything heavier than a book. And walking? Not a chance. Even if his damaged leg seemed to be fully healed, he didn't think he could balance himself enough to keep steady. His head was continuously spinning whenever he kept his eyes open, and since he apparently he had his eyes closed for months, shutting them for any other reason than sleep was not happening. Sam could deal with a little dizziness and blurred vision.

Dinner time must have been approaching, not that Sam was even allowed solid foods. Apparently they didn't trust him to swallow properly, even though he seemed to be able to swallow that lick of frosting pretty well. But Sam suspected that it was meal time for the rest of the citizens of Lima, because his doctors finally scurried off rumbling about reservations and drinks. Must be nice to be able to just up and leave, to go to dinner, meet a friend, or just go home. Sam really wanted to go home, to sleep in his own bed, to wear something besides ill fitting pajamas. Then again Sam wasn't exactly sure where home was these days. Did he still have the penthouse? Was he back at the mansion? Or was he living somewhere else entirely? There were so many blanks he needed to fill, but unfortunately no one was talking. His doctors had put a gag order on everyone he knew. No talking about the years he lost, and no discussion of current events. Sam wasn't allowed to watch TV, use a computer, or even talk on the phone. He was starting to feel more like a prisoner and less like a patient.

Maybe he could convince his little nurse to sneak him a peek at SportsCenter or at the Financial Times, she seemed pretty eager to please. With a little coaxing, Sam figured he could have her wrapped around his finger. Then he remembered that big ass ring on her finger, and dismissed the idea altogether. Just his luck, he gets stuck with a cute, flirty nurse, who obviously liked him, but who also was very married. Flirting and using his charms was far less effective on a non willing woman. Though Mercedes did seem almost willing at times, she had made some very suggestive comments to him over the last few days. It had to be all an act, though. She was a newlywed, and a new mom, no way would she be willing to jeopardize all of that for a patient that didn't have the strength to hold her in his arms. So he had to think of another way to sweet talk his little nurse. Maybe he could bribe her with extra paid leave. She looked like she could use a vacation. She had that frazzled mom look, but worse. Sam remembered how tired Emma used to get from taking care of the twins. She would be worn out, but so happy, because every lost minute of sleep was being spent with her babies. It was good tired. That's how Mercedes seemed, good tired, but to the extreme. The girl needed a break and Sam could make sure she had one, right after she helped him get to Quinn.

There was a tap at the door. Sam turned his head toward the sound. Then a head popped in, blurry, but Sam thought he could see a smile.

"Mike?" asked Sam squinting toward the door. "Is that you?"

Mike Chang, Sam's older half brother, walked into the room shutting the door behind him. Jeans and a tan sweater, his black hair grazing his shoulders and a huge grin, came into focus as he approached.

"Ah yeah, do I look that different?" he asked.

"No just a little fuzzy. I can't believe you're here." Mike grabbed Sam's shoulder and shook it, their manly version of a hug.

"Sorry I couldn't get here sooner," he grinned. "Couldn't get a flight out." Mike leaned against the chair by the bed, but didn't sit in it.

"From West Lima?" asked Sam.

"West Lima?" He laughed. "No from Hong Kong. I haven't lived here for years." His voice trailed off. Then he said, "Oh I forgot."

"Yep," Sam smiled sheepishly. "I got a few holes in the brain."

"You always had that problem, a few screws loose, probably some missing," said Mike as he playfully knocked Sam in the bed with his fist. Sam laughed as he tried to dodge his blows.

"Very funny. Laugh at my anguish."

"That's what brothers are for. So how are you otherwise?" he asked returning to his spot against the chair. "You look great. Webcam does not do you justice."

"Webcam?" asked Sam.

"Cede used to Skype with me and put you on webcam so I could see you and talk to you."

"While I was in a coma?"

It seemed so bizarre to think of his friends and family just sitting next to him while he was in that state. He couldn't imagine what it must have been like for them. Maybe like a big wake except he wasn't really dead.

"Mercedes thought that you might be able to hear us talking to you and respond."

Sam smiled shaking his head. "I can't believe the little nurse did all that. She went above and beyond."

"She was always getting these crazy ideas from those seminars and classes."

"Classes? So you mean the class she is taking right now was for me?"

"I think so." Mike nodded. "She was pretty dedicated to finding a way to bring you around."

"I hope my dad is at least paying for her tuition. She's like the model employee. We need to double, no make that triple her salary."

Were nurses really this dedicated? It didn't seem normal that Mercedes had taken such a profound interest in him while he was comatose. Sam was starting to feel suspicious. Maybe she had ulterior motives and was looking for a meal ticket or some leverage to use against his family. No one did this much for no reason.

Mike snickered. "How about giving her half your net worth?"

"Let's not take it that far. It's not like she's my wife," Sam chuckled. "Seems like you know her pretty well." He stopped himself short of asking Mike about his nurse's background. If she was doing something underhanded, he needed to feel her out more, so he wouldn't tip her off.

"I do. She's a cool girl. I think of her like family."

"Like family?" This was getting weirder by the minute. His whole family seemed to know her and even like her. It just wasn't how things happened in his world. His family was too jaded to just embrace random strangers, especially not employees. "Wow she must have really charmed you. Did she get all flirty with you too?" Sam glanced at Mike sideways, trying to gauge his reaction.

"I can't say she has. I don't think I'm her type." Nothing. Mike seemed to genuinely like the girl.

"She got really friendly with me, not that I'm complaining, but she is married," said Sam letting his guard down a little. Maybe he was just being paranoid.

"Yes she is. So what's the last thing you remember?" asked Mike changing the subject.

"Being in the limo crash with Quinn."

They almost had sex that night, but that wasn't what Sam remembered most. It was the way she had accepted him. How she didn't flinch when she saw his leg. She made him feel whole again, like he still had something to offer, he still could be worth something, maybe even to her.

"With Quinn?" asked Mike as he took a seat on the edge of the bed. "Now that must have been something."

"Let's just say I think it was a life altering moment. I felt like it was the start of something big. Being stuck in the dark under a blanket like that, emotions flare, things rise to the surface. You know?"

"Oh I know," he nodded with a devilish grin. "Stuck in tents, supply closets, elevators."

"Sounds like you've been there." Mike must have been getting lucky in some pretty tight places by the look in his eyes. Sam knew a sex flashback when he saw one.

"I can certainly relate." Mike smirked.

"I'm very anxious to talk to her again. I did talk to her on speaker earlier, but that was before I got my voice back. I need to talk to her again, for real this time." Sam adjusted himself more upright in the bed, to get a better view of Mike.

"How did you to talk to her without your voice?" Mike asked.

"Little nurse Mercedes hooked it up." That was pretty cool of her, maybe she wasn't all bad. She could just be a truly caring and thoughtful person.

"She called Quinn for you?" asked Mike a shocked look on his face.

"She did. Why are you acting so surprised? I just told you how helpful she's been." Now that look could mean something. Mike looked like he was going to fall over when Sam had mentioned the call to Quinn.

"So what did Quinn have to say for herself?" asked Mike making himself comfortable by leaning back against the footboard and putting his feet up on the chair.

Sam shrugged, still feeling like his prior conversation with Quinn left so much unsaid. "She told me she was out of town at a singing gig."

"That's one way of putting it," mumbled Mike.

"What do you mean?" asked Sam, his eyes slanting as he tried to figure out what Mike meant by that comment.

"Nothing, just talking." Mike tried to act casual but Sam wasn't buying it. He was hiding something. "I think I might be jet lagged. I came directly here from the airport."

"I feel honored, but don't tell Tina you came to see me first, she might slaughter you."

"Tina is not an issue. We are no longer together and she has remarried," he stated.

"What?" asked Sam raising his eyebrows. "You and Tina have been together since high school."

"We hit a rough patch and couldn't make it work."

"How's the baby?"

"Not a baby anymore. Maria is four and in pre-school."

"No way. Little Maria is in school already?" Sam asked, his mouth gaping in disbelief. "Man I feel old."

"How do you think I feel? My baby girl is not so little anymore. It seems like just yesterday when she was as small as yours." Mike's eyes widened as he finished his sentence. He started to fidget uncomfortably on the bed.

"Mine?"

"Uh…" Mike stuttered, quickly avoiding Sam's eyes.

"Please don't tell me you're referring to Brittany's cat Lord Tubbington as my child now. It was bad enough when she did that shit when we were married."

"I was just messing with you man. Sorry. I shouldn't have crossed that line. I know how much you wanted to start a family with Britt."

It was such an awkward subject. Mike clearly regretted even hinting at it. Sam couldn't blame him. He was sure his brother probably felt bad that his ex-wife had wanted to raise kittens instead of babies with him.

Sam sighed, leaning his head back into the pillows. "I wonder about it sometimes. What it would be like if Brittany and I had actually had a baby together. There was a time when I would have done anything to make that happen. But somehow I let her convince me to get her a cat instead. What kind of man does that make me?"

"I think that makes you a good husband. You tried to keep your wife happy. You can't beat yourself up over it. It just wasn't meant to be with her," said Mike patting Sam's leg. "And you never know, you might get another shot at fatherhood."

"I wouldn't put money on that. Seems to me I am very single right now. Not a woman has come through that door looking for me," he declared pointing toward the door. "I can't believe that I haven't formed a lasting relationship in all of these years."

"Don't knock bachelorhood. I'm embracing it," said Mike jumping up to examine the stack of DVDs under the wall mounted TV.

"So no one for you since Tina?"

"I wouldn't say no one," responded Mike, his back to Sam as he continued to look at the DVDs. "I had some hits and misses."

"Pull up a chair brother and fill me in," said Sam leaning over and patting the chair with his hand.

"I'm not supposed to do that. They want to monitor how much you find out."

Sam frowned. "That's such bullshit. It's my life and my brain. I should be able to determine what I can and cannot handle."

"I think they are just worried you'll pop a blood vessel or something from information overload."

"Whatever," he said dismissively. "I think people just like to control me." It was divine payback for all the ordering around he had done in his life. Now it was his turn to be forced to follow orders.

"You just came back to us. Give it time."

"Can you at least give me a hint at what I missed? A crumb? Something?" He was close to begging. At this point he had no shame, it was getting annoying being in the dark about his own life.

Mike shook his head. "Mom and Mercedes would kill me if I upset you."

"What's up with that anyway? Mom actually seemed like she was being nice to Mercedes." His mother wasn't nice to anyone, especially not females. It was like she saw any woman in his life as a threat, even ones he had no romantic involvement with.

"Don't look at me I've been in Asia," said Mike holding up his hands and backing away. "Cede has been here with you the whole time. I'm sure it counts in her favor with Mom."

Sam decided to try another tactic, the direct route. "Do you know if Quinn ever came by? To visit?"

"I'm pretty sure she has, but like I said, I've been out of the country."

"This is going to drive me nuts. I've just got to talk to Quinn," he said running his hands roughly through his hair.

"Man, you just won't let this drop. What the hell happened the night of that crash?"

"Mike you don't understand, it was…" he paused, a smile spreading over his face. "I can't even find the words. And now I find out three years have passed. I'm starting to feel like I missed out on something really good."

"With Quinn?" asked Mike as he wandered about the room examining things.

"Yes with Quinn, who else? You know how I feel about her."

No secrets in a town like Lima, not for someone like him, besides he had crashed and burned spectacularly with her in high school. At the time he had been the topic of much gossip. That was part of the reason he decided to enlist, to put some distance between not only himself and Quinn, but also from the idle minds of the town. Being humiliated and heartbroken was no way for an eighteen year old to live. So he ran. Sam was so glad he had made that choice. Joining the Army was one of the best decisions of his life.

"Back then you were all about Brittany, from what I remember," said Mike as he turned the faucet handles on the little sink on the wall with the door.

"I love Brittany, part of me always will, but that was always completely separate from this thing with Quinn. You of all people should understand."

Before he met Quinn, Brittany was Sam's first love. He'd never declared his affections of course, the ones he had been secretly harboring since the third grade. She had been a fixture in his life, her blond pigtails and big blue eyes. She followed Santana and Puck around like their shadow, annoying them endlessly, but Sam had loved her. It was a crush he thought he would never shake. Even as it became increasingly clear that Brittany would only ever have eyes for Santana, Sam held on to the hope that one day he would get a shot. She would give him a chance to prove that he was the man that could really make her happy.

Finally Sam did get that shot, well sort of. Complications and miscommunications that seemed to plague all love matches in Lima, had for once worked in his favor, giving him a chance to be with Brittany. Denial is powerful, but deep down the heart always knows the truth, and deep down Sam knew that Brittany's heart wasn't really his. She loved Santana. He just fought like hell to change that fact. He couldn't lose another love. He couldn't go through that pain again. Not after Quinn.

"Because of Tina," he said slowly, understanding on his face.

"Exactly." Sam nodded. If anyone could understand the nature of a love you just can't shake, it would be Mike. He and Tina had been on a merry go round of romance since they were kids.

Mike sighed, running his hands down his face. He looked tired. "I think you just need to relax, you'll get all your answers soon."

"I'm not going to be able to relax, until I see her. Mike, just tell me one thing." Sam turned on his side to face Mike fully.

"What do you want to know?" asked Mike moving closer to the bed, but stopping just short of sitting on it again. He leaned his knee on the mattress.

"Is Quinn single? I know she and Puck broke up, but is there anyone else, another man?"

"Not a man per se, but someone else, yes," Mike smirked.

"What do you mean not a man?" Was she a lesbian now? He couldn't see Quinn making that switch, although the thought of Quinn with another woman was hot. "Is she hooked up with a younger guy? Some teenager? I can't picture Quinn with some college guy."

"College students have their appeal. Sometimes a little youthful energy is good for the soul."

"You're telling me that you'd date a college girl, some chick barely out of high school?" asked Sam narrowing his eyes.

"I don't know about that, but I wouldn't count anything out."

"I'm not sure I could do it. You've got to at least be able to drink legally to get in my bed. I think I'd feel like a dirty old man."

Mike broke into a fit of laughter, actually doubling over as his laughs shook his whole body.

"What's so funny?" asked Sam.

"You're still a little young to be a dirty old man." Mike shook his head as his laughter subsided, his face flushed from his outburst.

"You know what I meant. A girl's got to be legal. So just tell me straight up, is she seeing anyone?"

"Quinn is very much alone these days," replied Mike. Sam's heart lifted unexpectedly at the news, a broad grin overtaking his face. Quinn was single.

It always came back to Quinn. She had changed his life for the better, for the worse, for always. Sam just couldn't imagine any other woman being able to take her place in his heart. She was a permanent resident, the one he compared every other love to, the one that set the benchmark for what real love should feel like. If any other woman came close, and Brittany definitely had, he shut a just a little piece of himself off, to protect himself from feeling anywhere near what he had felt for Quinn. He wanted to keep those memories sacred, yet also bury them at the same time. Sam never wanted to love anyone that deeply again, he didn't want to subject himself to that level of pain. The inevitable pain that comes from giving yourself completely to someone else, to letting someone inside your soul, Sam just couldn't risk it. Unless it was for her. Quinn was the only one that would ever make him face the pain again. She was worth it.

"Earth to Sam. Where'd you go just now? Don't tell me back to Quinn?"

"I can't help it. I'm thinking about her more and more. What do you think it means?"

"I think that is your last memory, so your mind is hanging on to it. Making you fixate a little."

Sam leaned his head on his hand. "I think it's more than that. I remember loads of other things from that time, but they are not popping into my head every few minutes."

"Maybe because the other things don't come in such a beautiful package." Mike grinned.

Quinn's face appeared in Sam's mind. "She is unforgettable. Those eyes, that smile…"

"Those breasts," added Mike.

"Don't go there man, please," groaned Sam, his face contorting in distaste.

"I'm not allowed to appreciate a beautiful woman's assets?"

"It's bad enough I have to think about Puck appreciating. I don't want to have to worry about you too."

"Okay, fair enough. Just try to keep a level head." He reached over and ruffled Sam's hair. A move he often did when he wanted to put Sam in his place, to remind him that he was the younger brother. "No snap decisions until you know all you've missed these past few years. What you find out might change your perspective."

"I won't be jumping into anything, trust me. I'm just getting over Brittany, she's dealing with Puck."

"That was years ago, Sam," Mike said softly.

"Right. I guess she's over Puck then?"

"I would say so."

He exhaled sharply. "I've got to get used to this."

"You'll adjust. Patience brother," said Mike patting Sam's arm.

The door opened and Shannon Beiste, dressed in a light purple button down and jeans, walked in with a baby in her arms, Mercedes' baby. Sam had a hard time making out her features, she was a bit fuzzy from that distance, but her bright green eyes were like a beacon.

"Sorry to interrupt," said Beiste.

"Coach B, am I late?" asked Mike turning his back to Sam, stepping in front of Beiste, blocking Sam's view. "I thought we were meeting up with Cede later."

"Mrs. Beiste?" Sam leaned forward in the bed to see her.

"Hello there Sam," said Beiste, leaning around Mike to wave. Sam could hear the baby making happy sounds as Beiste spoke. "So nice to see your smiling face."

"Thank you. It's nice to be smiling," Sam responded, his smile widening.

"Let me get a look at this girl." Mike took the baby from Beiste's arms. "How's my little niece?" he asked.

"Niece? You weren't kidding about thinking of Mercedes as family." Mike quickly looked back at Sam before once again stepping in front of Beiste. Sam could've sworn a look of horror had passed over Mike's face.

"She is family Sam," said Beiste walking over to the bed. "Mercedes is like a daughter to me. She's lived with me since she came to Lima."

"She lives with you still? Even though she's married?" Sam asked perplexed.

Beiste smiled. "Yes she does. It's nice to have a full house."

"I just don't get it. I saw the size of that ring. Her husband's got to be loaded. Why is she working all hours when she has a baby? And why is she still living with you? What is he, some sort of deadbeat?"

Mike let out a huge laugh from the back of the room. Sam noticed Beiste shoot Mike a sharp look that made Mike stop mid laugh. Sam had no idea what was going with those two.

Beiste took a seat in the chair. "Our home life is unconventional, but it works."

"Mike, I couldn't find Mercedes. You think you and Beth could go look for her? I want to sit with Sam for a bit," said Beiste turning toward Mike from the chair.

"No problem. Gives me a chance to bond with this little lady. I'll see you later Sam," said Mike without a backwards glance. It was like he was eager to get out of the room, away from him.

"I'm sort of surprised you want to visit me," said Sam as Beiste returned her full attention to him.

"Why's that?" she asked.

"I always got the impression you didn't like me much."

"I think I might have judged you unfairly. We didn't know each. Your father tells such wonderful stories about you all the time." She rubbed his arm affectionately, before grabbing his hand and giving it a quick squeeze.

"You talk to my father?" Sam asked in amazement.

"We're friends," Beiste explained.

"I never would've pictured the two of you associating. How did you even meet?"

"I've known your father for years, not well of course. We got to really know each other over the past year, a special event brought us together."

"Something for the town council I assume. I guess that makes sense." Sam shook his head from side to side trying to let all of the new information sink in. "I still can't imagine you hanging out with my dad though. From everything I've ever heard about you from Puck and Mike, you're too good for the likes of him."

"Thank you, Sam. Enough about me," she said shaking her head as she laughed lightly. "How are you?"

"I'm fine." He really wasn't. His head hurt, his vision was blurry, his throat was raw, and he couldn't stop thinking about Quinn, but that was nothing he could say to a practical stranger.

"Mercedes keeps me posted about you. She was very excited that you got your voice back. She told me about that toy you used. Crazy girl."

Sam could tell Beiste really cared about Mercedes. The woman smiled every time she said her name. Shannon Beiste wouldn't embrace some shyster or con artist, so maybe he was off base about Mercedes' motives. He had to learn that not everyone was as messed up as his family. Good people did exist in the world.

"I sound like a frog, but it is better than having to type out words. Now if I only could get my memory back."

"You're always in such a rush. Slow down and let yourself heal. I know it's probably pointless to say that to you."

"How well did we know each other Mrs. Beiste?" he asked looking the older curly brown haired woman over. She spoke to him with such familiarity, as if she knew him well and spent extended amounts of time with him. He couldn't think of any reason that would have him hanging out with Shannon Beiste. They just were part of really different worlds.

"Well enough that you could call me Beiste," she said squeezing his hand again.

"Well enough that I could ask you a favor?" asked Sam, a slow grin spreading on his face.

"I should think so. What do you need?"

"Can I borrow your phone?" he asked flashing his most charming smile.

"I get the feeling your doctors wouldn't like that," said Beiste wagging her finger at him disapprovingly.

"We can just keep it between us. I really need to talk to Quinn," he pleaded.

"I thought you spoke to her earlier."

"How did you know that?" He really didn't have any privacy. Every move was common knowledge it seemed.

"Mercedes told me," she explained.

"Right. I did speak to her earlier, but I didn't have my voice back then. I just want to be able to talk to her normally this time."

"It means that much to you?" Beiste asked looking at him with what seemed like sympathy.

Why did everyone get so weird whenever he brought up Quinn? He felt like everyone was in on some big secret and he was the only one out of the loop.

"Nothing means more to me right now." Sam admitted. He wasn't sure he would be able to sleep if he didn't check up on Quinn soon.

"I really shouldn't do this," said Beiste pulling her phone out of her pocket. "But I think I know how to get in touch with her."

"That would be great. I know she's performing, but maybe we can catch her before she hits the stage."

"Hi Artie. This is Shannon Beiste. How are you?" Sam briefly wondered who this Artie was, but let it go. If he could get to Quinn, it didn't matter.

"I'm very well, thank you. Artie, I have a special request that I'm hoping you could help me with. It is about Quinn. I need to speak with her. Oh you're with her now? That's perfect. Can I talk to her for a few moments?" Beiste gave Sam a thumbs up as she waited for Quinn to come to the phone.

"Hello Quinn? This is Coach B, punkin. How are you? It's good to hear your voice too. Are you taking care of yourself? Good, you have to stay strong."

Beiste smiled as she spoke to Quinn on the phone, seeming really happy to talk to her. Sam hadn't realized that Quinn and Beiste were close. In fact, he wasn't aware that they had ever been more than passing acquaintances. So much must have happened in the past three years.

"Quinn I have a little surprise for you. Someone wants to speak to you. No, no not her. But I think you'll like this person just as much. Hang on Quinn."

"Okay Sam, remember she is under a lot of stress. Be sure to keep things light," said Beiste before handing Sam the phone.

"I will Beiste," Sam assured her as he put the phone to his ear, and watched her leave the room. He suddenly was feeling shaky now that Quinn was on the line. "Hello, Quinn?"

"Sam?"

"Yeah it's me." He cringed as his voice cracked slightly. He could only imagine what she must have been thinking about how he sounded.

"You're talking," she said. Sam could hear the smile in her voice.

"Yes it seems that way." He tried to pull himself together, put on his most disarming voice. "I had to talk to you again, our last conversation just wasn't good enough."

"I did all the talking," Quinn teased, laughing lightly.

"Yeah, you wouldn't let me get a word in. So this time I thought maybe you would let me talk." He teased her back, wishing he could see her face while they had this conversation.

"I guess I could do that. You sound like Froggy though."

"From the Little Rascals? You remember that?" he asked with a shocked smile.

"How could I forget? We watched so many hours of Little Rascals when I was stuck in that psych ward the last time."

Sam hadn't thought about those days in years. He tried to forget that Quinn was ever that locked away, that he almost lost her. They had spent so much time in the hospital, cuddled on the bed together, just watching TV. Quinn always wanted to watch some old movie, some romance in black and white. Sam preferred a western if he was being forced to watch classic cinema. A gunfight could make even the lamest movie good. Or even better, cartoons. Sam had tried to convince Quinn that laughter was the best medicine and therefore they should watch Cartoon Network. Finally they compromised and agreed on the Little Rascals. It came on daily, two episodes, from 3PM to 4PM. Sam rushed from school to be there to watch. No way would he miss their standing date.

"I used to call you Darla and…"

"And you threatened to serenade me like Alfalfa," she interrupted laughter in her voice.

"But I wouldn't have been off key like him."

"Sure you wouldn't have," she teased.

"Watch it Darla! Or I'll start singing right now," he threatened laughing heartily despite the pain in his throat.

"Please don't, my head is messed up enough as it is."

"Why's your head messed up?" he asked not liking the sound of that. "Stage fright?"

"Something like that," she answered, far more subdued than she had been before. "So you're talking again, which is good. Any other improvements? Will you be going home soon?" Sam knew avoidance when he heard it, and Quinn was sidestepping big time. But he decided not to press her about it. Not yet.

"I think I have a bit longer in this place. You are just going to have to come and visit me. We can watch Little Rascals."

"I would love that. So much," she said warmly. A sadness had crept into her voice and Sam wasn't sure what had changed between them so quickly. They were just laughing.

"Great, so when are you coming?" he asked his voice lifting hopefully.

"Oh Sam, I can't," she said sounding very disappointed.

"Are you touring or something?"

"Or something. You know that I would be there in a heartbeat if I could. Nothing would stop me." She was crying. Sam could hear it and it tore him up inside. He never could stand it when Quinn cried.

"I just really want to see you." It was more than that, he needed to see her. But he kept that tidbit to himself, so he wouldn't scare her away with his intensity.

"I've been thinking about you a lot lately. Wondering how you are."

"I've been thinking about you too. Every time I close my eyes," he admitted, putting it all on the line, hoping she wouldn't crush him.

"Same here," she said.

Sam couldn't contain his smile. "Really?"

"Yes, sounds crazy doesn't it?"

"Sounds like maybe we are just too far away from each other. Our minds are trying to tell us something."

He felt like he could levitate from the bed, he was so happy. A weight had been lifted, she had been thinking of him too.

Quinn sighed. "I have so much in my head, I don't know what's real anymore."

"And I have so much missing from mine," he said quietly.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

He tried to laugh it off. "Nothing. I'll bore you with that another time."

"Sam I have to go now," she said apologetically.

"Okay. We will have to talk again. You can't be singing all the time."

"We will," she said softly.

"Quinn, can I ask you something?"

"Anything," she almost whispered.

"Were you with me while I was in a coma?" Sam pressed the phone closer to his head as his pulse pounded in his ears.

"Do you mean did I visit you? Of course I did," she replied.

"No I mean when I was waking up. Were you by my side? I keep hearing your voice, like you were calling my name." Faintly in the background, pulling him to the surface, until he was surrounded by her sound, he strained to reach her and when he finally did, she wasn't there.

"Yes," she said breathily. "I was holding your hand the whole time."

"Wow." That was all he could say. There were no other words.

"I've got to go. You be good, Alfalfa," said Quinn.

Sam smiled as the call disconnected. He knew it. He had felt it. Suddenly it all made sense. She had been with him.

As Sam let the conversation sink in, his apprehension rose, it had been great to talk to her and even better to know he had been right in his feeling that she was with him when he came out of the coma. Yet something felt very wrong. Where was she now? Why wasn't she here with him? It didn't make sense that she would watch him wake up and then just leave before getting a chance to talk to him. And mostly why was he still hearing her voice in his head, calling out for him to help her? There was something he was missing in all of this, and he had to figure out what it was. He couldn't shake the feeling that his life and Quinn's life depended on it.