Worst Summer Ever... (Book 7 of Adopted by Jenna and Tyler Joseph)

21. Tyler

Samantha was kept sedated for two days before her fever finally broke and we could see we were on the other side of that infection.

The wound on her stump didn't look too bad, but the doctor was going to do some imaging to see if there was any further abscess underneath the skin that might need surgery, or draining.

Jenna and I sat beside Samantha as we waited for her to wake up from the sedation she'd been under.

They'd gotten her blood sugar down to a more normal level in the intervening two days as well. A representative from the company that manufactures her pump came to the hospital and looked over her pump. He replaced it with a newer model and would return in a few days to train Samantha on it when she was awake.

Jenna and I were taking turns sleeping but this afternoon, we were both awake. Jenna was holding Samantha's hand and rubbing her knuckles with her thumb while I sat and just held her hand.

I was looking at her when her eyes fluttered open. She was looking at the ceiling at first. She realized someone was holding her hands and pulled them away until she looked down at us. She looked between Jenna and I. At first, I was worried she didn't recognize us. Then she burst into tears.

I sat up on her bed and Jenna did too, and wrapped her arms around Samantha.

"M-mom? D-dad?" She said through her tears.

"Yes, baby," Jenna said, holding Samantha tight. Samantha reached out for me and I took her hand and moved closer to her.

Samantha wept for a good while. Jenna held her as she cried.

"It's okay, baby. We're here. You're okay. You let it out. It's all okay. Mom and Dad are here. We've got you, sweet girl. We've got you."

"I thought I'd never see you again," Samantha wailed. "I thought I was going to die. I thought he was going to kill me."

"Oh, sweetheart. I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

"It was Mark," she said.

"We know. But don't say anything just now, okay? Jake came with us and the police here might want to talk to you, too."

"Okay," Samantha said, quietly.

Jenna held Samantha at arm's length, smiled at her and then pulled her into a hug again.

"Oh, baby. We missed you so much. We're so happy to have you back."

I texted Jake and told him Samantha was awake and asked him what the next steps were now that she was awake.

He said he'd contact Lincoln police and they'd probably want to come talk to Sam. As would the FBI and himself. Samantha was going to have quite the audience. I felt I needed to prepare her.

"Sam, honey?" I said, taking her hand. She looked over at me while Jenna was still holding her.

"Yeah?"

"Jake said he, the FBI and the police here are going to want to talk to you about everything that happened. I wanted you to know that so you're prepared."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes, sweetheart, you do. They need to know from you what happened and what you remember so that they can make sure Mark gets the right punishment."

"Today?" She asked.

"No. Not today. I'll tell Jake not today."

"Okay," she said.

I smiled. I could tell how much Samantha had grown even since the assault in January. She was upset, obviously. And maybe still a little scared, but she was talking. She wasn't catatonic. We still didn't know her mental state, really. It may not have all hit her yet, but I hoped she wouldn't lock herself away.

"Hey," I said. "I know someone who would love to talk to you. Do you mind if I call them?"

I texted Josh to let him know I was planning to FaceTime.

"Do I have to?" She groaned.

"I think this person is someone you'll be happy to talk to. Please?"

"Okay," Samantha sighed. I pressed 'connect'.

"Hi, Daddy!" Rosie's face filled the screen.

"Hi, RosieRo. I have someone here who I think wants to say hello," I smiled. I looked at Samantha and I saw tears in her eyes, but a smile, too. I turned the phone so Rosie could see her sister.

"SAMMY!" Rosie shrieked. "Sammy! You waked up! Sammy! Come home!"

"Hi Rosie!" Samantha cried. "Hi! I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too, Sammy. Why did you went away?"

"I didn't want to, Ro," Samantha said, sniffling. "I'm so sorry."

"No be sorry. Daddy said you goed away because someone maked you."

"Yeah, Dad was right."

"You come home now?" Rosie asked. "Today?"

Samantha looked at us. She didn't know how long she might be here. She didn't know how long she had been here already.

"Not today, RosieRo," I said. "Sammy needs to be in the hospital for a little bit because she got a ouchie on her stump and it made her sick. So we're going to stay here until she's better, and then we can come home."

"Tomorrow?" Rosie asked.

Samantha actually laughed a little. As did I. And Jenna. And I can't begin to tell you how great that felt after the last six weeks.

"Tomorrow. But probably a few tomorrows."

Rosie frowned as she contemplated that.

"Sammy?" Rosie said, now past wondering when we'd be home.

"Yeah, Ro?" Samantha smiled.

"I drawed you pictures. And Junie too. We maked you lots of pictures. Wanna see?"

"Sure, Ro," Samantha said. "I'd love to see some. But keep some as a surprise, okay?"

"Okay!"

Rosie disappeared and so Josh stuck his face in the frame.

"Hey there String Bean. We missed you. How are you?"

Samantha shrugged. How was she supposed to answer that?

"Okay, I guess," she said.

"Oh. Rosie's back. We can't wait to see you. Get better fast. Get home, okay?"

"Okay," Samantha said, quietly.

Rosie reappeared.

"This is a picture of you, Sammy. You sleeping in you bed. And that's Jim, but Uncle Josh's Jim. Not you stuffy."

"That's awesome Ro!" Samantha said.

Rosie showed her about a half dozen more pictures before I could see Samantha was tiring.

"Rosie," I interrupted. "Sammy needs a nap. Okay? We'll call again later."

"Okay, Daddy! Bye Sammy!"

"By RosieRo," Samantha said. I hung up and took Samantha's head in my hands. I kissed her forehead and looked her in her eyes.

"We are so happy to have you back. You take a nap and Mom and I will be here, right beside you when you wake up. Unless one of us goes to get coffee."

Samantha smiled and nodded.

"Thanks, Dad," she said.

Jenna pulled the covers up on Samantha, tucked her in, and lay beside her, running her fingers through Sam's short hair.

"He cut it," Samantha said.

"We know," Jenna said. "We'll get it trimmed and styled when we get home, if you're up for it."

"Okay," Samantha said, as she drifted off to sleep.

I knew Samantha would have some work to do to heal and cope with this latest... thing. But I was so proud of how well she seemed to be doing. She didn't close herself off from us.

I could see light at the end of the tunnel.