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Chapter 10

"Are there no visiting hours in this place?" asked Sam watching his mom come in his room, dressed in jeans, a navy blazer, a long strand of knotted pearls, her heels clicking on the tile floor. "It's like Grand Central station."

She had on a black leather coat with fur trim, real of course, because Sue Evans Sylvester didn't let animal rights get in the way of her fashion. She leaned over and kissed him on the forehead, fussing with his hair before straightening up. She smelled of perfume, and the outdoors, she was still fresh and frosty from the chilly February air.

"Those rules don't apply to us. We can see you anytime we choose," said Sue as she threw her coat over the back of the chair before taking a seat.

"So I'm not allowed any privacy I suppose?"

"What do you need privacy for, got a hot date?" she asked teasing him.

Sam pointed to Mercedes at the foot of the bed. In the low light of the room she was almost invisible to anyone that didn't know she was there.

"She just curled up there like a stray kitten," said Sam with a hint of smile as he looked down at her. Her lips were slightly parted, and her hands were tucked under her head as she slept.

"Aww poor thing," said Sue, sounding almost sincere. "She must have snuck out of her room."

Sam looked at his mother in surprise. "Her room? Is she a patient here?"

"She didn't want us to mention it to you, I guess she was embarrassed or something. But yes she was admitted earlier."

"What happened?" Now it made more sense why she had come to his room so late at night, wearing pajamas no less.

"She collapsed. Apparently she is suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, poor nutrition," said Sue as she looked over at Mercedes. Sam actually saw honest concern in his mother's eyes. It was unreal to see her so interested in a person that wasn't family, a female no less.

"That's not surprising. I can look at her and see she is tired."

"She's been through a lot lately. Sometimes things take a toll."

"So you know about her history? Her background? I think something is really wrong with her." There was more to his nurse than met the eye. He was starting to think his family was deliberately keeping the real deal from him.

"What do you mean?" asked Sue running her fingers through the ends of her layered shoulder grazing blonde hair.

"I heard her talking in her sleep. She was very upset, like something traumatic happened to her. And she's so sad, mom. I know there has to be something going on with her."

Sue sighed heavily. "Sam, maybe we should respect her privacy for now."

"You know something, I can tell. You've got to let me know what's going on. How else can I help her?" he asked feeling suddenly very frustrated he was stuck in the bed. If he were stronger he could just dig a little and find all the answers on his own. He hated having to rely on other people for information, or anything for that matter.

"You want to help her? You hardly know her."

"She has been taking care of me for months, pretty selflessly from what I've been told. If there is any way I could repay the favor, I want to do it." Money didn't even seem like enough at this point. As the picture of all that Mercedes had done for him came slowly into focus, Sam realized that this woman just might have been responsible for him being alive today.

"You don't owe her anything. She wouldn't want you to feel obligated."

"Mom, just tell me what you know," he urged.

"Her family situation is complicated right now."

"It's because of her husband right?"

"Why would you assume that?" she asked slowly, leaning back in the chair.

"Come on, she is obviously married to a rich man, yet she is working so hard. And she keeps telling me he doesn't care about the hours she keeps. She has this baby, that's always here at the hospital with her, never with her father. Huge red flag. The husband sounds like a real scumbag to me."

This guy had everything and it was like he didn't even appreciate it. Sam would pretty much give up all that he owned to have a loving wife and some kids. He never knew just how much he wanted those things until he married Brittany. More than anything he wanted a home, a place he could retreat to after a long day at work. A beautiful wife waiting for him, kids calling him daddy, Sam wanted a life where he knew he was the center of someone's world.

"Sam…"

He continued as if his mother hadn't spoken. "I know I shouldn't be quick to judge, but no man would leave his wife to handle all of this alone. He would be trying to make her life easier. He would be trying to carry some of the weight. At least that is what I would do if I were married."

"That's because you're a good man," said Sue rubbing Sam's arm. "I'm so proud of you honey."

"So help me do something nice for Mercedes then. Maybe we can send her on a vacation."

"She's not going to want to leave Lima," said Sue pursing her lips. "Too much here she cares about."

"She came in here tonight, saying she'd rather be with me than at home. She's a newlywed. What newlywed doesn't want to be with her husband?"

She came to see him, she climbed into his bed, and she kissed him, if Mercedes was really into her marriage Sam couldn't tell. All of his instincts were telling him that his nurse wanted him. No way could she be happily married.

"Well you are charming and very good looking, maybe she has a little crush," said Sue smiling at him.

"Mom, you're evading." His mother was bouncing her crossed leg at an increasingly rapid pace. She only did that when she was lying or hiding something.

"I know Mercedes pretty well, we all do. I promise you sweetheart, she'll be fine. We are taking care of her."

Maybe her husband was from a rival corporate family and he was threatening her and her child. She could be hiding out at Shannon Beiste's house. Sam dismissed that theory quickly. That seemed like too much of a stretch even for his family. Besides Mercedes didn't seem scared, she seemed sad. She got emotional whenever she brought up her husband. It had to be something more personal.

"Is she under our protection? Is that it? You guys treat her like family, is she the daughter of one of dad's associates or something."

"Her father is a close friend of Dwight's, well really he was close to your father's sister Elizabeth before she died, so in a way I guess she is under protection."

"I think I remember him." Sam thought back to his childhood. His Aunt Elizabeth did have a male friend she spent time with. "A doctor right?"

"Yes Julian Jones." His mother made a face when she said his name. Sam got the distinct impression she didn't like the guy much. "He works at the hospital."

"Dad must be thrilled. Is he one of my doctors?"

"No. Conflict of interest."

"I don't understand."

"Well he's practically family sweetheart. Doctors take oaths about that sort of thing."

"So who's her husband?" That's what he wanted to know most of all. He wanted to talk to him man to man or better yet put a hurting on the guy. Sam was convinced he was a selfish bastard. Mercedes deserved better.

"You're talking about Mercedes so much sweetie. Maybe you're the one with the crush."

Sam ignored the crush comment. He didn't want to play games. He wanted answers. "I just want to know why my nurse looks like she is about to burst into tears at any moment. She wasn't like that a few days ago when I first woke up."

"She's going through some personal drama, just leave it Sam." His mom was shutting down on him. He knew he'd get no more info out of her tonight.

"Fine. Why are you here so late anyway?" He squinted over at the clock on the bedside table. It was after midnight.

"Just wanted to check in on you. We haven't had a chance to talk, since well you started talking again."

"Please don't ask me how I'm feeling."

"I won't. Any memories come back yet?"

"Nope. It's still 2011 up here," he said tapping his temple. "I was just telling Mike earlier how it is really hard wrapping my mind around the fact three years have passed."

"Mike told me he stopped by. He was very happy to see you."

"It was good to see him." Although it would've been nice if he had stayed longer, or at least left after saying a real goodbye. Something was up with Mike, actually something was up with everyone in his life it seemed.

"He'll be back I'm sure, if we can just pry him away from that baby."

"Mercedes' baby?"

Sue nodded as she pulled her phone out of her pocket. "He had never met Beth before. I think he's found a new playmate. Last I checked he was still over at the mansion playing with her." She handed Sam her phone so he could view the screen. There was a picture of Mercedes' daughter on Mike's lap in what looked like the living room of his house.

"Beth's at the mansion?" asked Sam, scrolling through the pictures. His mom had an extraordinary amount of photos of the baby. She usually only put pictures of her own children or her grandchild on her phone, not the kids of her staff.

"Well yeah, because Mercedes is sick…"

"And you guys just naturally take in her kid?" he asked cutting her off. "That's it. Tell me what the hell is going on. Did I fall into another dimension as well as lose my memory? No way would my parents, Sue Evans Sylvester and Dwight Evans, take in some stray baby off the street."

"I just told you Mercedes is your father's friend's daughter."

He handed her back her phone. "That explains him, but what about you? You hate everyone."

Sue rolled her eyes. "That's is the biggest distortion of the truth I've ever heard."

The mother he knew didn't like many people. She had an opinion about everyone, usually a negative one. That was why her fairly positive attitude about Mercedes shocked him. Only a miracle or a hefty trust fund could get Sue Evans Sylvester to like someone, and even then it was a long shot.

"You don't play well with others Mom, you've got to admit."

"Mercedes took really good care of you, the whole time you were in a coma. I appreciate how much she cares about you. She has proven herself to me."

Sam looked her up and down, feeling like his mother had been body snatched and replaced by an alien. "Test time. So if I decided to start dating my nurse, you would have no objections, provided she was single that is."

"None whatsoever." Man she didn't even twitch. What the hell was up? Mercedes had really managed to win over his family. He wondered what was her secret, maybe she could teach Quinn her techniques.

"You are so full of it. I think all ya'll are playing one big joke on me."

"Let me turn it back on you. Test time. If your nurse were single, would you be interested in dating her?"

"I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you," he stalled.

"Who else are going to have it with? Answer the question."

Yeah he liked her, but the last thing Sam needed was to start up a new relationship, especially with someone that a) wasn't available and b) worked for him. It would be like dating his administrative assistant. Granted Sam had dated a few of his assistants before but it never ended well and he always had to search for a replacement. Sam hated interviewing and breaking in new staff. So no he wouldn't date his nurse, he needed her too much in his life right now. And he was pretty damn sure no other nurse would care as much as she did.

"I think she's cute and sweet and really young. I might be too much for her to handle."

"It does take a pretty strong woman to deal with an Evans man. That's your answer? You wouldn't date her, hypothetically that is." His mom was just too eager to hear his answer. It was like she was matchmaking or something.

Definitely no. Although to get the chance to feel those lips again and those legs wrapped around his waist. Okay no, he didn't want to go there. Just no, he wouldn't date his nurse. She was more like a buddy, a little sister even. Well maybe not a sister because those lips were so yummy, but definitely a buddy, just a good friend and a valued employee.

"She seems like fun, but I don't think she's my type. At any rate, she's married and I have my sights set elsewhere."

If there was even a chance this time with Quinn he was going to take it. His first impulse was to proceed with caution, but Sam had lost too much to waste any more time. He needed to start living his life, no holds barred.

"To where?" asked Sue leaning forward in her seat.

"I'm not getting into it with you Mom."

"Oh no," she said illustrating her point with her hands. "You've just woken up from a coma, don't risk a relapse by getting involved with that slut."

"Just stop it. You've always been so hard on Quinn for no reason." Sam guessed he should be glad at least some things were still the same. His mom still hated Quinn as much as ever.

"I have plenty of reasons, some you don't even know about," she said with a flash of anger. Sam could tell something bad must have happened to set his mother off like this.

"Like what? Something that happened in the past three years?"

"Now's not the time for that conversation. And you young man, need to focus on getting well and not some green eyed bimbo. Thank goodness she can't get to you from where she is."

"What do you mean by that? Where is she?" asked Sam sitting up straighter in the bed, but careful not to disturb Mercedes still sleeping by his feet.

"She's pretty much out of touch, hopefully indefinitely."

"I thought she was touring." Sam noticed his mom's leg bouncing again.

"A very long tour, an extended engagement," she snorted twirling her long pearls around her fingers.

"I appreciate your concern mom, but let me make one thing clear. Nothing you can do or say will keep me away from Quinn. I want her in my life. Through all of our ups and downs she's always been a good friend to me. We've gotten past that stuff in high school and I know now that she would never do anything to intentionally hurt me."

Not that he particularly cared about his parents' opinion of Quinn. He liked her and that was all that mattered. But he had seen Mike endure enough of their mother's meddling to know he didn't want any part of that in his life. He had to find a way to keep his mother out of his love life. Not to assume that he was going to have a love life with Quinn. He had no idea where things actually stood between them. And he was trying to keep his expectations low. Quinn didn't want him before why would things be any different now? In the off chance that these feelings he had about them lately were actually symbolic of something, of some promise to come, Sam wanted to ensure they had the smoothest ride they could get. Meddling mothers, jealous exes, and secret feelings wrecked far too many romances in his world. He wanted to avoid any of that this go round.

"We'll see."

"Mom promise me you'll stay out of it. No matter what I decide."

"I won't say a word I'll let you figure it all out on your own. It's your life." Sam didn't believe that for an instant but he planned to hold her to it nevertheless.

"Thank you."

"Should I get someone to escort Mercedes back to her room?" asked Sue pulling on her coat.

"No let her sleep." He smiled. "She looks so peaceful."

"That's because she's with you," his mother said as she hugged him.

"I don't get it. Why would sleeping at the foot of my bed give her peace?"

Sam watched his mother lean over the foot of the bed to check on Mercedes. She brushed the hair out of her face, it was almost maternal. Yep, his mother had definitely been replaced by a pod person.

"I think that's something you'll have to ask her. I'm going to go now," she said heading toward the door. "Get some rest."

"I'm gonna try. Night mom."

Like he could really sleep with a woman at the end of his bed. Her pink shorts had inched even higher up her legs. Sam was being tortured for something, he must have committed some cosmic crime to deserve this punishment. Here he was stuck with a woman in his bed and he couldn't even do anything with her. Well there were a few things he could do, but he doubted she would be game. His mind flashed back to that kiss, and the way she had teased him with her tongue. His little nurse was definitely game for something, he just wasn't sure what.