A/N: Hola! I've been writing like crazy, just really loving this story so far. I want this to be everything we hoped for but didn't get. So if you guys have ideas or hopes, please let me know. I can't promise to add them, but if I can work them into the story or they kinda mesh with what I'm aiming for, I will. So far this has been about Sam and how she is grieving and coping. By the next chapter, we'll get to hear Jason's POV too. :p

Please review, follow, fave if you haven't already! Let me know what you think! :)

Happy reading!

Jen

buttercup0303

Chapter 4

Patrick stood in the doorway of John Doe's hospital room. Sam was not going to be happy, he thought grimly. He turned away and cursed under his breath when he saw the tiny beauty making her way to him.

"Is he out of surgery? How did it go?" Sam asked, brushing past him and peeking into the room. He heard her gasp and sighed heavily. He stepped into the room and closed the door.

"He's alive, Sam. But he suffered significant injuries and they're taking a toll. He's in a medically induced coma. We need to give his body time to heal."

Sam stepped forward and dropped onto a stool beside his bed. She scooted forward and picked up John Doe's hand, and dropped her forehead against it.

"It's Sam. I just wanted to let you know I'm here. I...I don't know why, but I just really want you to get better. So fight hard, okay?" She told him, staring at his heavily bandaged face.

Suddenly, the machines started beeping and Sam stared at Patrick in alarm.

"What is it? What's wrong?" She asked quickly.

Patrick strode forward to check the machines, his face puzzled.

"Nothing. Nothing's wrong. His vitals are rising." He said in a disbelieving voice.

Sam watched him and tilted her head in confusion

"Then why do you sound like something's wrong?"

Patrick looked between her and his patient.

"Sam, he's under heavy sedation. His vitals should be steady but it's like he's fighting to wake up."

Sam smiled softly and turned to John Doe.

"Good. He's a fighter and he's going to survive this." She said, more hopeful than sure.

Patrick dropped a hand on her shoulder and rubbed it before leaving her with the John Doe.

Sam sat with him for a couple of hours, and talked to him about random things. She told him about Danny and how adventurous and brave he was just like his daddy. It made her think about Jason and she found herself talking about losing him and how hard it had been for her. She wound up sharing the details of events leading up to her finding him on the road.

"So in a way, it's like Jason led me to you. Maybe that's why I feel so connected to you. I mean, I don't even know you. But I care what happens to you. I want you to wake up. I want you to live." She said. Uncomfortable with her own admission, she stood up. With one last glance, she walked out of the room.

…

Sam visited John Doe every day for over two weeks, becoming more and more discouraged as he remained comatose. Patrick insisted that he was improving and would wake up when he was ready to.

Sam refused to stop visiting him though, despite the protestations of her mother and father. They couldn't understand her loyalty to a complete stranger. Her sisters, however, thought it was incredibly romantic.

Molly declared it very "While You Were Sleeping".

They were standing in Alexis' living room talking when Molly clasped her hands to her heart and tossed her head back, after making her declaration. Kristina scoffed.

"Molly, you do realize that she falls in love with the comatose patient's brother, right?" Molly waved this off.

"Whatever, Kristina. You know what I mean. Sam's fallen in love with this stranger, and her love will be the thing that brings him out of his coma and then he'll fall in love with her because who wouldn't? Our sister is gorgeous and kind and she saved his life. And then she'll have the happily ever after she deserves."

Sam stared at Molly throughout that long-winded speech before bursting into laughter. She hugged her little sister, who beamed at her.

"Oh Molly, never change, please."

Molly shrugged one shoulder.

"Why would I? One doesn't mess with perfection." With a sassy wink, she spun around and flounced up the stairs. Kristina laughed, rolling her eyes, and turned to Sam.

"Thanks for coming with me to this appointment. I don't know if I could bear going to see Dr. Collins if you weren't coming with me."

Sam smiled and put her arms around Kristina's shoulders.

"Krissy, you know we would all support and love you no matter how you define your sexuality. But if you think talking to Kevin will help you sort out how you've been feeling, then I've got your back. If you'd rather go trolling some clubs to get some real life experience, then I'm happy to be your wing woman."

Krissy's eyes filled with tears and she threw her arms around Sam.

"Thank you, Sam! You are the coolest big sister anyone could ever hope for."

Sam smiled. She turned to Danny and gestured to the door.

"Come on, buddy. Let's take Auntie Krissy to her appointment."

"Okay!" Danny shouted gleefully. Yelling everything was his favorite thing to do now. It drove Sam crazy at the same time it amused her. For a kid as happy and even-tempered as Danny was, it sure brought him a lot of joy to be as loud as possible.

They dropped off Kristina and made plans to meet in an hour. Sam headed down to the cafeteria to get Danny something to eat for lunch.

…

Kristina sat in Dr. Collins' office, looking around anxiously, fidgeting with her purse strap.

Dr. Collins leaned back in his office chair, a kind, and patient expression on his face.

"Kristina, take all the time you need. I'm here to listen, not judge."

Kristina glanced up at him and smiled briefly before the smile faded and her eyes dropped back into her lap.

"I did something stupid. Something my parents are going to hate." She said hesitantly.

Kevin waited and when she didn't speak, he leaned forward.

"You know, parents are a funny thing, Kristina. We can get mad, we can be disappointed, but one thing you can always count on is that we always love our children. We forgive, we accept, and we love. It's what we do."

Kristina had tears in her eyes when she looked up.

"Not all parents."

Kevin nodded congenially.

"I suppose that's true. But most parents do. Now, tell me what you did that you think is so horrible."

"I offered sex to a professor for a passing grade!" Kristina blurted out, blushing.

When Kevin showed no outward sign of horror or judgment, Kristina sighed in relief.

"How does that make you feel?" Kevin asked. Kristina stared at him.

"I just told you I offered a college professor sex in return for a passing grade and all you want to know is how I feel about it?" She asked incredulously.

Kevin smiled gently.

"I'm not here to judge you or make you feel bad about what you did. My job is to help you understand why you did it, and how to make healthier choices going forward."

Kristina thought for a moment.

"I've been having feelings for this professor since the beginning of the semester. And I thought my professor felt the same. I was so confused by how I felt that I started to fail all of my classes. When I realized what I'd done, I panicked."

Kristina looked up, her eyes wide with urgency.

"My mom has always expected me to be perfect. Get the right grades, go to the right school, date the right boys. And now, here I was, flunking out of my second college, falling for the totally wrong person. I couldn't let them find out. And before I even knew what I was saying, I was making the offer."

"Why were you confused about how you felt?"

Kristina bit her lip, looking at her hands again.

"Because-because my professor is a woman." She admitted softly, closing her eyes in humiliation while she waited for Kevin to burst out in shock and disgust.

"Was this the first time you felt an attraction to a woman?"

Kristina's eyes shot up to his, surprised. Kevin leaned forward again and smiled.

"What? Did you think you were going to shock me?"

"Well, yeah." Kristina admitted. Kevin chuckled.

"Kristina, I have no expectations when it comes to who a person is attracted to. Man to man, woman to woman, and any combination of the two, it makes no difference to me. Although, I do draw the line at man to animal." Kevin added jokingly, hoping to lighten the mood.

Kristina let out a startled giggle.

"Um, yeah me too." She laughed.

"Kristina, if you are attracted to a woman, there's nothing wrong with that. It's totally natural and very healthy."

Kristina stared at him.

"But that's just it. I've never felt like this about a woman before. And I'm still really attracted to men. What if I don't know what I want?"

"Who does?" Kevin countered quickly, steepling his hands together.

"Bisexuality is just as normal and healthy as homosexuality or heterosexuality or any other type of sexuality. Kristina, what is important that you find a way to accept and understand who you are."

Kristina's eyes filled with tears, as a small ray of hope filled her.

"Thank you, Dr. Collins." She whispered. Kevin smiled and leaned forward, handing her a box of tissues.

"That's not necessary, but you're welcome. Now, tell me more about this professor."

…

Sam and Danny were coming back from the cafeteria to go find Kristina when they bumped into Patrick. Danny hollered his greeting, jumping into a chuckling Patrick's arms. Patrick tickled Danny and smothered him in kisses while Danny giggled. He loved his "Uncle Patrick."

"How's it going? How's Emma?" Sam asked.

Patrick's eyes lit up the way they always did at the mention of his daughter and he shot into an adorable story about Emma learning how to make pancakes.

"She's amazing. I can't wait to have her over again for another girl day." Sam smiled sincerely.

Patrick grinned.

"She loves spending time with you, Sam. Having a woman in her life helps her with not having her mom around. Between you, Anna, Maxie, and Felicia, I don't worry about her so much."

Patrick set Danny down and put his hands on his waist.

"You've done excellent, Sammy. But I know you're dying to ask me about our patient." Patrick smiled as he said it and Sam let out a breath of relief.

"Thank you! Tell me something good, please. How's he doing?"

Sam listened as Patrick filled her in on John Doe's progress when suddenly Danny pulled out of her grip and took off down the hall.

"Danny!" Sam called after him, throwing a surprised look at Patrick before running after him. Patrick followed, calling to Danny.

Sam's eyes widened as she saw Danny beeline for John Doe's room and dart inside.

She followed him in and stopped in the doorway in surprise. Danny stood by John Doe's bedside clinging to his hand. But what was even more surprising was what she saw when she looked at John Doe.

"Oh my god."

He was awake, his eyes locked on Danny.