Saving the Heart

♥ Chapter Twenty-One ♥

♥ Chapter Twenty-One ♥

    I could feel myself coming around, but I didn’t bother to move, I didn’t bother to open my heavy eyes as the beeping continued.  Droning.  It was Sam’s beeping.  It was Sam’s life.  I was beat and tired.

    And then I felt it.

    Something reached out to me.  Tired, weak.  A hand.  Wires.  A hand ran through my hair.  My eyes fluttered open.  I was dreaming.  I was dreaming.  Wake up Kennedy.

    Sam’s eyes were nothing more than slits as he panted lightly for breath behind the clear mask on his face.

    “Sam,” I breathed.  This wasn’t real.  I sat upright, reaching out to him, touching his face as his eyes fell shut.  But this was real.  “Sam,” I laughed, resting my hand on his cheek as he reveled at the contact, drugged and weak.  “Sam, I’m right here.”  I told him.  “I’m right here.”

    His hand reached up slowly, ever so slowly, painfully slowly before resting  over mine.  A puff into his mask showed me how hard it was.  How much he hurt.  How bad he felt.  

    “You’re going to be okay,” I told him as he continued to puff into the mask.  As he continued to be read by the machines, beeping, evaluating.  His heart rate sped up ever so slightly as I talked, slowing as I ran my fingers through his tangled hair.  “You’re going to be just fine,” I told him.  “Trust me.”

    A small smile pulled at the corners of Sam’s lips.  I think I died on the inside.  Died of happiness, pure joy as he tried to comfort me.  

    I leaned over the bed, pressing my lips to his forehead.  His grip tightened on my hand ever so slightly.  A weak squeeze, but I knew it was all the strength he had in him.  I didn’t like seeing him like this.  He was always so strong, confident, even when he was scared.  But here he wasn’t scared.  Not for himself.  And I think that was what frightened me the most.  He was calm and collected, and I knew that no amount of drugs could make it so.

    “I’m not going to leave you.” I told him as he relaxed against me.  “I’m right here Sam.” I told him, pressing my forehead to his and giving him the strongest smile I could muster.  “And you’re going to be okay.”  Sam made a muffled hum, as if to speak before I hushed him.  Nuzzling him.  He was going to be okay.  Everything was going to be okay.

    “Kennedy,” my eyes flashed open as I turned to the door.  Sam’s eyes fell shut, his hand still over mine as I took in the new visitor.  “There is a man on the phone for you,” the nurse began, looking over us.  “He says he’s from Harvard University.” I froze.  That couldn’t be true.  I looked back down at Sam.  “He says he needs to speak with you...now.” He couldn’t wait.  Sam couldn’t wait.  I bit my lip before leaning down and kissing Sam atop the head.

    “I’ll be right back, I whispered into his hair.  “I promise I’ll be right back.  Rest,” I squeezed his hand lightly as he fell back against the sheets, his breathing returning to normal, his heart monitor gaining back a steady rhythm as I followed the man out of the room.

    “Here,” the nurse held out my phone and I took it from him expectantly, glancing back at Sam’s room.

    “Hello?” I asked tentatively to see if anyone was on the other end.

    “Ms. Shoemacher.” I held my tongue before I could correct them.  Smith, Mrs. Smith.  “I’m a representative of Harvard University from the Medical department, my name is Charles Marks.  I know this is extremely short notice, but I am coming through your area and I would like to have a word with you.”