Ten Seconds of Bravery (Closed to Firmhanded_Daddy)

[smiley8022]

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Name: Samantha "Sam" Forbes
Age: 22
Height: 5"4
Weight:110 lbs.
Hair: Candy apple red hair, falling to mid-waist.
Eyes: Baby blue with spokes of yellow and green.

"Did you brush your teeth and wear deodorant?"

"Of course I brushed my teeth and put on deodorant, mom. What kind of question is that?"

"I'm just making sure, sweetheart. You have to look and smell nice for this interview if you want to get the job and be able to afford your new place in the city. I mean I could be giving you bad advice right now, so you would come back home to your momma..."

"Mom, don't even start on that again. You know that I love you more than anything, but it's time for me to start my own life and be independent for once. I don't want to be mooching off of you and dad for the rest of my life, so I need to get everything together now."

"I know Sam, I'm just going to miss you."

"And I'll miss you mom, but I'm not moving out of state. I'm only twenty-five minutes away, depending on traffic." Sam paused to laugh softly. "We're practically neighbors."

"I'm willing to go easier on you about the move if you come have one Sunday brunch with me and one Lifetime Movie Monday night with me a month."

With a large grin, Sam replied while checking her mirror and hitting the main road to go to her job interview. Traffic was pretty easy today, thank God. She just had to make it there in one piece and impress the guy who was seeing her today, and the job was hers.

"Sam?"

"Yeah mom?"

"Are you still going to do your photography on the side? You're really good at what you do. Your sister's engagement shoot and wedding pictures turned out fantastic, she still goes on and on about them even though it's been two years now"

Sam smiled before replying.

"Yeah mom, I think I will. But you've always known that photography was just something I like to do for fun. I actually have an engagement shoot set up in two weeks I have to worry about, but I have to land this job and get one of my pieces in the upcoming Gala if I ever want to be recognized and actually try to make it as an artist, you know."

"I wish you all the luck in the world on that, sweetheart."

"Thanks mom."

Glancing down at her phone, she realized she had about an hour until her interview would take place, and she only had another fifteen minutes until she would getting to the building. Her eyes met the road once more and her foot automatically hit the brakes as she yelped in surprise, her heartbeat picking up a few notches.

"Sam? What was that? Her mom asked worriedly.

"Nothing mom, just the douche in front of me."

"Samantha, that's not nice."

Sam laughed softly before replying. "I know mom, but we're going down this road doing fifty, and the guy just totally hits the brakes. And it absolutely does not help at all that it's pouring rain right now. I'm just going to stay a little back from him."

"Just be careful, keep your eyes on the road, and call me when after your interview, okay sweetheart? I love you."

"Okay, I will. Love you too, bye."

Hitting end on the phone call, Sam got into the lane next to the guy she had just been tailing before passing him and continuing on down the road. She reached down to turn the speed on her windshield wipers up and realized that she had finally made it into town. Ten minutes left and she'd be there.

Reaching out to grab a mixed CD her best friend had made her in high school, Sam glanced back and forth between the road and her radio as the music started to fill her car and she was instantly in a better mood.

Almost there.

Pulling up to a red light, Sam checked her hair in the mirror and wiped the excess makeup from beneath her eyes before smiling at her reflection and letting out a nervous breath.

"I can do this." She told herself. "I'm more than qualified to land this gala spot, I have talent, and I'm less than ten minutes away from the building. Nothing will get in my way, or ruin this chance for me."

The light turned green, and she hit the gas.

Sam didn't know about the sixteen year old boy who was driving a cobalt blue mustang who had just received his license the day prior. She didn't know that he was loaded and didn't have to worry about messing up, totaling his car, or any of the financial problems that it would cause other people if he screwed up.

She didn't know about how excited he was to drive to school on the first day in his new car and show off. She also didn't have a clue about how he was slightly in a hurry to get to school so he wouldn't be late. She didn't know any of that. She just knew about her life and her interview.

She never saw him coming.

It all happened so fast.

One minute she was sitting at a red light after hanging up the phone with her mom. She was prepping herself for an interview so she could afford to live in the city. She was excited, nervous, and scared all the same. She was getting her life together. She was a young woman who was ready to begin her life.

And the next minute she was the victim of a serious car crash.

She didn't see the car coming toward her until it was too late. She didn't have time to move out of the way. She didn't have time to get out of the car. She hardly had time to pray.

Sam saw her life flash before her eyes and she thought she was going to die.

The young teenaged boy had ran the red light in a hurry, trying to get to school before he was late. Sam had just began to cross the intersection as her light turned green, and then the cobalt blue mustang slammed into the driver's side of her car.

She could feel her car sliding across the intersection before her whole world began to spin. Her car flipped twice, her head hitting the windshield, her chest hitting the steering wheel, the breath being knocked out of her body. She choked at the loss of oxygen and fought to get air back into her lungs as her hands never let go of the wheel. She may not have had control of the car, but she would not let go of the wheel.

Sam could feel a sharp stinging pain on her hip, and she couldn't move her legs. She felt dizzy, and something was slowly leaking down her forehead. She didn't have time to find out what it was as she finally felt her car slam into a utility pole and come to a stop. She went to unbuckle her seat belt and realized she couldn't get to it.

Her car was completely totaled. There was glass everywhere, her roof was dented in from the two flips, she was trapped by the metal of her ruined car surrounding her on all sides. She couldn't get out. Sam's heart started to pick up in pace as she looked for her phone, but couldn't find it. Where was everybody? Was somebody going to help her?

A voice at the window made her jump out of surprise before she realized that it was a young teenaged boy who had run up to her car in fear from what he had did. He was crying and freaking out while holding a phone up to his ear, yelling frantically about the car crash before he hung up and ran up to her.

"I am so sorry! I was trying to get to school, and I thought I could make the red light. I didn't see you, I swear! Oh my God, you're bleeding! Are you hurt? Can you get out? Of course you can't get out, why in the hell would you be sitting there if you could get out? I'm so fucking stupid! Oh God, my dad's going to kill me!"

Sam swallowed the tight lump in her throat as she tried to follow everything the boy was saying, but he was talking too fast. She blinked and realized that everything was starting to grow blurry. She let one hand leave the wheel as he mentioned she was bleeding. Her fingers moved across her forehead and realized that she had blood trickling down her face. That had been what was leaking earlier. She hissed and jumped slightly as she felt the pretty deep gash on her forehead.

"They should be here any minute. I promise. I'll make sure you get help." They boy paused as he glanced down at her and realized the girl was closing her eyes, her body starting to relax as he called out to her. "Hey, don't close your eyes. Hello? Please, please don't close your eyes. They will be here any minute, I promise. Just stay awake for me. What's your name?" He pleaded.

Sam smiled softly as she licked her lips and swallowed, tasting a little blood. She realized that she had cut her lip. What the hell else was wrong with her?

"My name is Samantha, but I like to be called Sam. What's yours?" She spoke softly.

"I'm Jake."

"Sucks we had to meet this way, but it's nice meeting you, Jake." She teased softly.

"I am so sorry."

She could hear his voice cracking as he was on the verge of crying again.

"Don't cry, it's okay. I'm fine, really. I just need help getting out is all." She lied, trying to make him feel better. She couldn't help but to think how fucked up the situation was though. Here she was with injuries and smashed in her car and she was trying to make the guy who had hit her feel better about hitting her.

"It's not okay. This is all my fault. I promise, I'll pay for everything. Oh thank God, they're here. Don't go to sleep, Sam. They're here. They're going to help you."

She nodded her head softly while trying to keep her breath steady, her eyes growing heavy as she fought to keep her heavy lids open. She was a fighter. She could and would pull through this. She just felt so weak.

"Samantha Forbes?" The man's voice spoke out to her. "Is that really you, Sam?"

Sam glanced up at the voice as she saw the sun coming out from behind the clouds, the rain starting to lighten up and fade. She even thought she caught a glimpse of a rainbow. A soft smile took place on her lips as she squinted from the light filling her eyes. Once she blinked and the sun went away slightly, the blurriness became worse. It took her a few seconds to get the haze to leave her vision before she saw the man's face and she realized that she recognized the man who was now standing at her window wearing a firefighter's uniform.

"Kyle?" She spoke softly, her voice hardly above a whisper.

"I can't move Ky, I need help. I need to get to my job interview. I think I'm late." She continued in her soft tones, her eyes growing heavy as she started to close her eyes. "I'm just so tired."

 

[Firmhanded_Daddy]

Name: Kyle Johnson
Age: 22
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 180

“Hey Johnson! Move your ass! Lives depend on how quick you can get that door open.”

“Yes sir, Lieutenant!”

Thunk, thunk, thunk, Crack!

The last strike of the flat axe head against the back end of the halogen bar shattered the door jam and the door came open violently. The young man dropped to his hands and knees immediately and began to crawl along the interior wall, using the halogen bar to sweep as far into the room as he could in search for potential victims to retrieve. He felt the bar strike something. Through the mask his voice was muffled but he called out loudly.

“Fire department, is anyone there?!?”

No answer , but that did not mean he did not pursue it. Instead he crawled on his hands and knees toward where he felt the bar strike something. He recognized the first rescue dummy, she had been buried beneath an overturned couch. He and his partner worked to inspect the scene, to make sure there were no other dummies nearby, then they shifted the weight off of the dummy and Kyle hoisted the female rescue dummy over his shoulders. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he froze. The man behind him roared to be heard over the muffled noises of the breathing gear.

”What did you forget to do?”

Swearing inwardly he snatched his radio and queued the mic open.

“This is Johnson. First floor Search and Rescue recovered an unconscious victim, coming out now.”

The paramedics were waiting with a backboard and Gurnee. They strapped the dummy onto the backboard and then hoisted her onto the Gurnee, hoisting her into the ambulance.

Kyle started to go back in until he heard the bell ring behind him and swore to himself. He walked over to the staging area and turned off the nossels of his breathing gear, broke the seal of his mask, and swapped out bottles of air quick. His partner did the same, except he did not swap bottles. Instead he just stopped the air flow and put on his mask.

”You did good kid. You just have to relax and use you’re head. There is a time to let adrenaline work for you, but a lot of time it works against you. That is why you sucked down most of the air bottle. That should have lasted you another three rooms at least. Lets go, back in.”

“Yes lieutenant. I will tr-”

Chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp. Buzz Buzz

The strange sound of the firefighter pagers all rang in unison, each tone unique to the department that it served. Then the muffled voice of a female dispatcher came afterward.

“Engine 1, Rescue 3, and Ambulence 5. Please respond to a two car accident with injuries at the intersection of third, and Lincoln. “

There was a flurry of motion as the firefighters packed up their gear and piled into the various engines. Kyle found himself sitting in the back of the rescue squad. The engines roared out of the practice yard as the men and women settled in. Kyle put on the headphones and heard his lueitenant’s voice come over the headphones. (Much like a helicopter, the back of a fire truck was very loud, so sound muffling headphones with radio’s in them were required for communication. ) “Alright Kyle, when we get there we need to examine the scene, first responders will likely beat us there. I want you working the tools. You need to learn how to do it. I’ll be helping you. The engine will stand by if you need fire suppressant.”

“Yes sir”

The rescue squad truck pulled up to the scene before the engine. Everyone piled up and Kyle began pulling out the spreaders, the cutters, and the ram, hooking them up to the pneumatic lines.

”Alright Johnson, one of the drivers is out fine, he says there is a girl really messed up in the other vehicle, and she is pinned. Get down here and lets pull her out.”

“On my way sir.”

He ran down to the scene with the cutters in hand while other’s had the other tools in hand. The vehicle looked stable so he didn’t bother fastening his coat together. He came up sharply as he saw the woman trapped in the vehicle. She was beat up badly, but his heart skipped a beat. He would know her anywhere. No one had ever captured his heart so soundly as Samantha Forbes. She was beautiful, sweet, charming. Just something about her had drawn him in from the first time he saw her. They had been close friends, he had held her when she cried about all the men who broke her heart, never finding the courage to tell her that all along she had claimed his. He had been so afraid that she would reject him, and that the rejection would ruin their close friendship.

They had parted ways after high school, and running into burning buildings for a living had changed him. Now, here she was. He felt his stomach lurch with nervousness.

“Samantha Forbes?” He paused, still unable to believe it. “Is that really you Sam?”

"Kyle?" Her voice was barely a whisper. She was in really bad shape.

"I can't move Ky, I need help. I need to get to my job interview. I think I'm late."

"I'm just so tired."

In spite of everything he managed to smile. Same old Sam. She was so focused and driven. She was lucky to be alive and she was worried about the job interview. He set the cutters down on the hood of her car and began to shrug out of the well used coat.

“I’ll get you out Sam. Listen, I am going to put this around you to protect you from any broken glass, all right? I need you to stay with me Sam, tell me about this job you are going to land. We both know you are going to amaze them.”

He leaned into the broken driver’s side window and wrapped the large coat snuggly around her torso, and up around her face. It smelled heavily of Kyle’s natural scene, and the spice of sweat, and heady sooty scene of burning natural fibers. If there was ever a time for him to be focused on the job, it was now. He had to get her out.

He felt all the fear and apprehension melt away. With the cutters in hand he began to use the hydraulic device to slice through the A frame of the car. He let the weight of the tool settle against the inside of the ruined door as he queued up the radio.

“I need someone down here to cut out the windshield, I’m going to flap the roof.”

”On the way Johnson, good call.”

He went back to work, the metal twisted and groaned, the door even shifted with the amount of force that the hydraulic cutters were exerting on the frame. His thick arms strained against the force of the tool. He was working smoothly despite the effort. The drivers side was half way removed before he put his head back in.

“Alright Sam, I am going to have to break some of the windows out. Pull the coat over your face for about ten seconds ok?”

“BREAKING GLASS!”

He called it out, then he put the center punch in corner of the windows. They popped as if shot out by a BB gun. Glass flew onto the coat, but it protected her from being injured by it.

“All clear Sam. So how is your Mom dealing with you leaving? She was really taking it hard when you graduated.”

He began cutting open the passenger side, when someone finally arrived with a sawzaw to cut open the windshield.

“Alright Sam, almost done. This guy is going to cut the windshield and peel it back. Nothing should be flying, the windshield is laminated, but just in case pull that coat up again ok? It is also going to be kind of loud. After he cuts through the windshield we are gonna peel back the roof and see if we can get you out.”
The guy fired up the saw and made a horizontal cut along the top of the windshield, after that was done Kyle and a few other guys peeled back the roof of the car.

“Alright Sam, can you move your legs?”

 

[smiley8022]

Sam nodded her head slowly as she heard Kyle talking about how he had to wrap his coat around her to protect her from the glass. She flinched slightly as he put the coat around her, that sharp pain hitting her side once more as she tried to shrug away from the sudden invasion of fire upon the side of her stomach and hip. She was brought out of her thoughts as she heard his voice once more and she couldn't help but smile.

"Amaze them? Not likely. I'm trapped in my car with a gash on my head and God only knows what else wrong with me. As soon as it turns 1:15 and I'm not there, they'll probably choose somebody else." She sighed. "I was finally going to get my artwork in a gala, and now that won't happen."

She spoke softly, sadly, her head slowly resting on her chair as she let out a breath and pulled the coat tighter around her body. She was so cold all of a sudden. But wasn't it warm outside a few minutes ago? Shivering, Sam inhaled a long breath and smiled tenderly as she smelled his familiar scent upon the coat amongst numerous other smells she didn't much care for. But his smell, that unique smell that he had always carried that made her feel warm and protected was wrapped around her and she felt like she was sixteen all over again.

Sam could hear the noise of all the tools being used on the car, trying to free her from the crushed metal, but it was growing so hard to keep her eyes open. She had just closed her eyes when Kyle poked his head back inside and told her to pull his coat up around her face and head. Sam opened her eyes and nodded before pulling the coat tightly around her face and head, sheltering her as he began to bust the windows out.

Upon hearing that it was clear, Sam peeked her head back out from underneath the coat and took in a long breath of fresh air. She smiled tenderly as she heard him mention her mom.

"Oh gosh, she hates it. She cannot stand the fact that I'm getting my own place in the city." Her words came out a little slow, growing quiet as she was loosing energy. "She's going to kill me when she finds out what happened."

Sam pulled the coat up once more when instructed to do so as she closed her eyes and flinched upon hearing the loud machine so close to her. She remained under the jacket's protection until she heard Kyle's voice calling out to her. She almost gave into the seduction of the jacket's warmth. She almost just closed her eyes and let sleep claim her.

She almost gave in.

But she didn't.

She was a fighter.

And she would be okay.

After remaining still for a few moments, Sam peeled the coat back from her face and breathed the clean air in once more before she took in his words and looked down at her legs. She slowly moved her right leg and realized she was able to move. She was weak, but she was able to move.

Sam glanced at Kyle and nodded her head slowly. "Yes. I can move my legs, but I don't think I can get up by myself. Something is wrong, I feel too weak." She spoke softly, her body still trying to move, trying to get her out of this car even though she knew she was going to need some help getting out of the wreckage that was left of her car.

 

[Firmhanded_Daddy]

“No no, don’t get up on your own. I just needed to make sure you were not trapped inside. Ok. Last step is the easy one. Just make sure your legs don’t get caught up when I pull you out. Remember how I used to carry you around, when you’d put your arms around my neck? We are going to go just like that.”

Before he moved her however he firmly placed a C- collar around her neck.

He helped guide her arms, he could feel how weak she was getting. Once her arms were wrapped around his neck, then he deadlifted her out of the seat. He could feel her trying to help and he stopped moving and gave her a look. His gaze was firm, but the tone of his voice was friendly, warm, full of the loving friendship the two had shared for most of their lives. “Sam, just let me do all the work ok? Stop being so stubborn. I’ve never let you fall, I am not about to start now.”

Kyle had gained about forty pounds since they had last seen each other, and a good deal of it was muscle, so as he lifted her, she could feel the ease in which he did so, and the strength in his body. The coat was still tucked around her all the way up until she was set upon a back board. Then the medics pulled it away so that they could examine her. It was the first time Kyle looked concerned. She was pretty banged up. He made a split second decision. Reaching up he grabbed his radio and pressed the button.

“Hey lieutenant. I know the victim, she is the closest thing I have ever had to a sister. I need to go with her.”

There was silence on the radio for a moment, and then it came back with the lieutenant’s voice. ”Sure, you can make up the rest of the time later in the week.”

“Thanks, she means the world to me.”

Kyle stopped hovering as one of the medics, fussed him out of the way, but he reached down to take Sam’s hand in his. He gave her hand a soft squeeze, then spoke gently. “You are going to be fine Sam. I’ll call this place and let them know what happened. You just relax and get better ok?”

He turned to the blonde woman who had chased him off a moment ago. “I’m going with Christy. I need 10 seconds to grab something.”

The woman nodded as they loaded Sam into the back of the rig. Kyle dashed over to the ruined car and pulled out the information from the gala she was heading to see. Then he dashed into the back of the ambulance and pounded the door twice. Sirens wailing the ambulance took off toward the hospital.

*****

True to his word Kyle called the gala to let them know what happened, and he stayed at the hospital. He had the next three days off, so he didn’t even so much as leave to get changed. He did wriggle out of his bunker pants and boots and fold them down and out of the way. This left him in a pair of work out shorts, a t-shirt, and socks on his feet. One of the nurses gave him a blanket, but he had fallen asleep by her bed in one of those not remotely comfortable chairs.

 

[smiley8022]

Sam struggled for a moment to free herself before she heard Kyle's words about not moving, just to make sure that her legs were clear of the metal below when he pulled her out. She looked up at him and nodded her head as a flashback entered her weakened mind, of all the times he would grab her with one hand around her waist before grabbing her behind the knees and swooping her up into the bridal style, her arms wrapping around his neck.

Making a face at the feel of the collar around her neck, she next felt his arms moving her arms to wrap around his neck, which she did. Once he pulled her from the seat, she expected him to carry her out, but he stopped and glanced at her for a moment before speaking. She smiled, but it was a weak smile. He knew her too well, knew how much of a hard ass she could be. She let out a soft breath but then nodded.

"Okay, Ky." She spoke softly.

Once he resumed in lifting her up and out of the car, she could feel just how strong he had became in the few years they hadn't seen one another. She noticed the muscles in his arm bulging and couldn't hide the smile it created. Sam looked up into Kyle's eyes while being placed on a stretcher and being looked over by the medics. When one of them pushed him away from her, she reached out for him with a soft yelp of fear.

When she felt his larger, warmer, stronger hand wrapping around her own, she felt safe once more. She returned the squeeze he presented to her, but it was like a baby returning a squeeze to their parents, practically nothing in comparison.

She couldn't understand what he was talking about. Call what place? Where was he going? She felt his hand slide free from hers and she instantly felt like she was freezing, vulnerable, and she was scared. She looked side to side, although that was quite limited with this damn brace around her neck. She heard Kyle's voice as he stepped into the back of the ambulance, and they were on their way to the hospital, sirens wailing and all.

Sam had always wondered what it would be like to ride in the back of an ambulance, now she wished she hadn't been so curious.

**************************************

Raising a hand to head, Sam groaned quietly and moved to take the cover off of her body.

Where am I? Why do I feel so funny? What the hell am I wearing?

Sam groaned again as she moved her hand to brush her hair out of her eyes and then felt rough skin across her forehead. What the- She ran her finger gently over the feeling before hissing softly in pain. Were those stitches, in her head? Letting her hands roam her body, Sam felt another set on her side where she had been feeling sharp shots of pain.

The car crash suddenly flooded her mind and she cringed at the memories, fear striking a chord deep within her as her heartbeat picked up and her eyes scanned the room. When her eyes found Kyle fast asleep in the chair next to her bed, she couldn't help but smile.

"Kyle?" She spoke in a regular voice. "Ky?" She smiled, using that all too familiar shortened version of his name that he only let her call him.

At that moment, the door opened and a doctor stepped inside.

"Hello Samantha, how are you feeling? I'm Doctor Keller, and I'll be taking care of you during your stay."

"I hurt, everywhere." She told him softly as she noticed Kyle was stirring and his eyes were opened now.

"That's to be expected, you were pretty banged up when they brought you in. I had to give you twenty-six stitches on your hip, and fourteen on your forehead. They were both pretty deep gashes from the accident. Not to mention the bruising virtually everywhere on your body, the serious lack of blood, and the trauma that this has all put you through.

You're going to feel pretty weak for the next few days, but that's normal. We just need to keep liquids in you for the next four hours, then we'll try some solids and get your health back up. In the mean time, I need you to take it easy, get some rest, and try not to think too much about the accident. You'll only worry yourself sick. I'll be back in a few hours to check up on you but if you need someone before then, just hit the pager button to the nurse's station down the hall. It's right here on your bed."

After getting everything explained and settled out before her, Sam realized that her car crash had been pretty fucking serious, and absolutely terrifying. She was lucky to be alive. She slowly let her eyes meet Kyle's as she bit her lip and then let out a breath.

"Has anybody called my mom yet? She's probably worried sick. I told her I would call her right after my meeting. Speaking of, what time is it? How long have I been asleep?"

 

[Firmhanded_Daddy]

The chair made for a poor bed, so it was not surprising when just Sam stirring started to bring him to consciousness. Her voice snapped him awake. By the time she spoke the shortened version of his name his green eyes flashed open. If she had any idea how that pet name haunted his dreams. Just hearing it made the fine hairs on the back of his neck raise, and sent a rush of warmth through his body. He was about to speak in reply when the doctor came in and started talking things over with her. Damn, she really got banged up.

The doctor left and she turned those stunning eyes toward him. He fell silent for a moment, a complete loss for words settled over him. What were the chances? She was the one who got away, she was the only woman to ever really open his heart. He had dated since high school, but it didn’t matter who he took to bed, no one was Samantha. He had never really gotten over her and now she was back in his life, living in the same city! He moved here to get away from all the memories, but here she was. She was looking at him, expecting an answer to her question.

“Good morning beautiful…” He said as he stood up to cross the couple of steps toward her. He towered over her in her bed. Leaning down he found a place on her forehead that wasn’t bruised or stitched and placed a single sweet kiss there. Then his deep voice came out again, softer.

“Yeah, I called your mom, I told her after you woke up I would come pick her up if she wanted. You know how she is, driving in the big city has never appealed to her. So after I get you comfortable and go donate some blood for you, I am going to pick her up. She is going to stay here in town. I told her she is welcome to stay at my place. I can sleep at the fire house. I also talked to the place you were going. They said they filled the position due to time constraints, but they wanted to reschedule a meeting with you.”

Smiling down at her, he brushed hair from her face with his large hand. His touch was surprisingly gentle for the sort of strength he commanded. His hands were rough and calloused from hours of hard work. Yet when he was here, with her, he was as gentle as if he were dealing with a newborn kitten.

“I got the next three days off Sam, though I might fill in a little to make up the time I missed yesterday. I’ll bring your mom back and forth to the hospital, and spend some time here myself. For now though I just want to get you as comfortable as I can. Is there anything you want me to go get from your place?”

He scooped her hand in his, the larger one dwarfing hers. Allowing his thumb to draw along the fine bones of her hand. He let out a deep breath. Then a thought occurred to him.

“Oh! Also the cops will likely stop by. They are going to be putting it to that kid. He was drinking. Honestly I’m not sure if he will get his license back. Stupid kid just got it.” He gave his head a shake. “I can tell them to wait and talk to you once you are out of the hospital if you want? Or hell they prolly have enough to throw the book at him without your testimony.”

There was heat in his voice, and a glint in his eyes. Sam very rarely saw Kyle angry, she was good at diffusing his anger when it would be riled but there was one time she couldn’t stop his anger. When someone messed with Sam, Kyle lost it. He had always been protective of her, he had been in more than one fight when one of her ex boyfriends broke her heart for a bad reason. Obviously in his mind he had already convicted the kid. He let out a deep breath, banishing the anger.

“The main thing is I don’t want them to push you too hard. You just need to work on recovery.”

 

[smiley8022]

"You're too good for me." She spoke softly, her voice a bit raspy from sleep. She reached out and picked up the cup of water from her bedside table, drinking down a generous amount before placing it back and looking up to his towering form.

"Really. I mean no other guy who had been best friends with a girl, but hasn't heard from her in four years other than an occasional I miss you would go through all the trouble of following her to the hospital, donating blood for her, picking her mom up, and offering his place for her to stay in, while also calling the place where she was supposed to have a job interview.

She couldn't help but to lean into his touch as his fingers gently brushed her hair out of her face, his touch so soft and foreign. She didn't like to think of it as that, but it was true. She used to be around him on a constant base, an everyday occurrence, and here they were without seeing one another in a few years, and his touch and scent and voice were just addicting as they always had been. She never wanted him to stop touching to her, or stop talking to her, or leave to go get her mom.

'I must have really banged my head during that wreck.' She thought to herself silently.

He scooped her hand in his, the larger one dwarfing hers. Allowing his thumb to draw along the fine bones of her hand. He let out a deep breath. Then a thought occurred to him.

Sam looked up at him and a smile took form on her face. "Oh gosh, you're so sweet." She grinned. "I could actually use a few things." She admitted softly. She noticed the little pencil and pad on the bedside table and reached out to grab them slowly.

You're a life saver, Ky. I don't know what I'd do without you.​

-Sketchpad (In my bedroom on my bedside table)
-Open the drawer beneath the pad and grab two black sketching pencils
-Laptop (Middle drawer of my dresser, as well as my phone charger and laptop charger)
-My pillow you bought me from the mall when we were eighteen.
-And if you don't mind? I need an outfit since my outfit was ruined that I wore to my interview. I kinda need everything though, everything.

Love, Sam. <3​

Sam finished writing her note just as Kyle mentioned the boy who had hit her. She didn't believe what she was hearing, literally. She hadn't wanted them to bring down everything on the boy, and she was pretty certain that he had not been drinking. He seemed normal to her when he came crying at her window. The boy was young, excited, nervous about showing off for his little teenaged friends at school, and he had offered to pay for all of this. The boy had real tears in his eyes upon seeing her stuck in her car and banged up! The boy was a sweetheart, and she didn't really want him in trouble.

Sitting up slowly, she let out a soft breath and her hand rested against her side as she hissed softly. "God, I am not going to get used to this constant pain." She thought to herself.

"Kyle?" He kept going, his eyes flaring up, his demeanor changing to that angry guy she had witnessed in high school when somebody was mean to her, fucked with her, or one of her boyfriends would dump her for another girl, break her heart with no reason, or any other malicious intent.

"Ky." She spoke, raising her voice softly, noticing how he had visibly calmed down softly. However, she knew that he was probably still raging inside that thick head of his. She smiled softly at the thought before continuing to talk to him.

"I'm fine. Not completely right now, but I will be. I promise. I just need some blood, some fluids, sleep, and time to let my stitches heal up. And after that? I'm going to have an awful scar or two that will make me ugly." She teased with a warm smile up at him.

"But I will be fine. Don't be mad at that boy. I'm pretty sure that he wasn't drinking, and he was nothing but a sweetheart who had been crying when he found out what he did to me. He was the one who immediately called the cops, he stuck by my side and talked me out of going to sleep when I wanted nothing more than to give into the darkness that was calling my name. I know that he's the reason I'm here, but think of it as a miracle, Ky."

She smiled up at him while cupping his cheek with her hand and making his eyes meet hers. "If he hadn't hit me, you wouldn't have showed up to the job to save my life. If you hadn't ever had that call, then we wouldn't be here now, together again. And if that boy had crawled back into his car and fled from the scene, if he hadn't came running to me when he had, and hadn't kept me awake and talking until you showed up, then I may not be alive right now."

Picking up the folded piece of paper she had written her note on, Sam placed the note inside his hand and closed his fingers around it.

"Don't ever forget what I told you, Kyle. Everything happens for a reason, no matter how hard things sometimes see, you always have to remember that. You take the good with the bad, and make it the best. Now go get my mom for me, before she has a heart attack worrying about me and tries to drive herself up here. That would just be bad for us all."

A smile took form on her face as she tugged on his arm and then pulled him into a tight hug when he came close.

"Thank you so much Ky, for everything." She whispered into his ear, her eyes closing as she felt his warmth surrounding her. "Now go. I'm going to try to get some rest. Be careful." She pulled back from the hug and let him go slowly. "I would tell you to call me, but I have no idea where my phone is. You didn't happen to grab it when you went back to my car, did you?"

 

[Firmhanded_Daddy]

She was the only one who could ever make him blush. As she painted the picture his sun darkened cheeks turned a deep crimson. The sheepish grin on his face told the story. He was still focused enough to notice how much she seemed to like him touching her though. He finally spit out the words, when he did they were gruff from his embaressment.

“Not a big deal Sam. You have had a really bad day. Any good friend should be willing to help out. You would do the same thing for me.”

He waited quietly while she took the time to fill out the list. Then she shifted when he mentioned the kid who hit him and he heard the hiss of pain from her. His anger went out like a candle in the wind as he started to try to get her to settle back down into the sheets. He heard that tone in her voice. She very rarely raised her voice with him. That just never worked on Kyle, he had a stubborn streak a mile wide. His mom had never learned the lesson, when she wanted him talked out of something she passed the information along to Sam and Sam killed him with kindness, reasoning, and one of those winning smiles of hers. It had not failed to work yet, and this time was no exception. The boy was just an outlet for him, a place to channel his frustration. Sam was right, without the boy to have caused the accident he never would have seen her again, that did not reconcile with the part of him that felt angry seeing her in such obvious pain, the part of him that wanted to protect her from things like getting stitches, and having full body bruises.

He didn’t say anything for a long moment. Finally he blew out a heavy breath. Looking down at her with a fierce look in his eyes, his thumb lovingly brushing along the unblemished side of her jaw. There was passion in his voice, true heat of anger, but it was not directed at her, it was just there, close enough to let her feel the power of his emotions for her.

“Sam, I know it was an accident, you can explain it to me all you want, but that does not mean there is not a part of me who wants to track him down and pay him back ten fold for every bruise, every stitch. I have never handled it well when someone hurt you, but you know what? I am a grown man now. Just because I am frustrated I couldn’t keep you from harm does not mean I am going to do something about it. All you need to know is one thing has not changed since we last saw each other. I still love you just a fiercely now as I did when we were kids. I’ll always be there for you, doll. Now get some rest. I’ll get your phone on my way back. Not that you will get a chance to use it when your mom gets here.”

It had been the cause of more than one confrontation with her boyfriends when they were still in school. Ky had told her he loved her all the time. He never elaborated on it, never pushed the envelope, but he said it just about every time they saw each other. So many times he had wanted to say it in a different way, with different meaning, to really show her the love he had. He never did. He snuck in one final kiss to an unbruised part of her face and left with the note in hand.

**************

“Little stick… there. So it is nice that you have the same blood type as your wife. That is not something you see a lot.”

Ky looked up at the woman and laughed incredulously. Then he calmed as the needle shifted a little in his arm, causing him to wince. “no no no, she isn’t my wife. We are just old friends. Hell this is the first time I have seen her in two years.”

”Just friends huh? I saw the way you two were in there with each other. You have the look of a man in love. Only guys I see come through here who hover over a woman like that are newly weds, and new fathers.”

He made an irritated face, looking up at the woman who had a needle in his arm who decided she suddenly had grounds to council him on relationships. “She doesn’t know how I feel, never has. She’s never seen it.”

The nurse looked at him hard, like he was one of the worlds biggest fools. Then she shook her head with a chuckle.

”You are a fire fighter right? Been doing that long?”

“yeah”

”Alright. How lucky was she to walk away from that wreck alive?”

“Fucking lucky. Someone was watching over her.”

”So why are you in here complaining about her never ‘noticing’ how you feel instead of up there telling her how you feel? She could have died today and never known how you felt. You could have lost her forever.”

He opened his mouth to reply, then her words finally sank in. She pulled out the needle, he thanked her quietly, and left.

*********************

It was several hours later before he returned to the hospital, but when he did, he looked exhausted. A few hours broken sleep in a chair designed by an evil chiropractor was all he managed in 32 hours and it was starting to show. Still he looked better off than Samantha’s mother who was currently blubbering and darting between hugging Sam, and then hugging Ky thanking him for saving her baby girl. For his part Ky played it off and just hugged her back with quiet smiles.

Everything Samantha had asked for was in a large paper grocery bag. He also put in one of his old warn out, but well loved T-shirts. Amusingly enough it was from her house. She had stolen that shirt when they were sophmores. It was a little more faded then the last time he saw her in it. Apparently she still wore it. When he handed it to her he could not look her in the eyes, and he started to blush all the way to the top of his ears. Luckily instead of having to explain himself and the fact that he had not expected her underwear to be sexy, her mom charged in with hysterics. For the most part Kyle just say quietly in the corner while he let mother, and daughter talk. He faded into the background, only speaking when spoken too. The words that older nurse said kept coming to the front of his mind. Suddenly he just blurted it out.

“Hey Sam? When you get better you have to let me take you out for dinner or something. We have barely talked the last couple years, and I have really missed you.” He looked at both of the women, he had not really even been listening to the conversation. They were both looking at him funny and he just sort of wanted to sink back into the navy blue duty shirt he wore. He had taken the time to clean up, shower, and shave, change his clothes so they didn’t smell like sweat or smoke.

“Sorry Mrs. Forbes. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I guess the brain to mouth filter wasn’t turned on.”

 

[smiley8022]

She leaned into his touch as his calloused thumb brushed along the underside of her jaw, one of the few spots that was clear of any bruises. She saw the look in his eyes, heard the anger in his voice, but knew that none of it was focused toward her. She knew what was coming next and knew it was impossible for her to skip hearing his explanation on the things, knew that it was impossible to change his mind. She knew that he could see things from her point of view, but she also knew that he wouldn't agree with her, no matter what she said to try to convince him.

Sam listened to his words, and she paid close attention to what he had to say. Just because she didn't want to get the boy back, or watch as Kyle so heavily did didn't mean that she wasn't interested in what he had to say. He meant a lot to her, and she'd always be there for him and with him all the way, regardless of their different point of views.

A smile touched her face as he referred himself to being a grown man. Her eyes lit up and she nodded her head slowly at his words, her heart picking up a bit, causing her heart monitor to beep a couple times then die back down.

"I'll always love you too, Ky. You're my best friend. How could I not love you? You've been with me through every rough patch when I was growing up, and I've been there for you through yours. We may have grown apart the last couple of years, but I never stopped being there for you. We just both grew up, and tried to start our lives. Maybe this time we can stay together?" She smiled softly before she took his hand, her thumb tracing over the top of his hand. "I don't know where I'd be without you, Kyle. Especially after today. Thank you, for everything."

*********************

The car was flipping, her head was being thrown this way and that, her hip was throbbing as something sharp was stuck deep into her skin, and there was something dripping down her face. Her eyes were frantically searching side to side for somebody to help her, but nobody was coming. The cars kept going, right past her. She was dying. Nobody cared.

The car seemed to grow tighter and tighter around her trapped form, her heart beating faster and faster in fear that she was going to die. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion. Her eyesight began to grow hazy, her breaths shallow and deep as she fought to stay awake. Her hand was reaching, trying to open the door to let her out, but she couldn't move.

She could see the light.

"Don't die, Sam! I'm here. I'm going to get you out of here, you just have to hold on. I love you so much, you can't leave me."

"Ky?" She whispered hoarsely.

"Yes Sam. It's me, Ky. I'm here now, please don't give up. I know you can do this, you can pull through. Just think of your mom, and hold on."

"I can't do it, Ky. I'm fading fast. I can't hold on, it hurts too much." She whispered.

"Please Sam." He called out to her, tears wet on his cheeks.

With a shaky hand, she slowly reached out and cupped his cheek with a broken smile, tears wet on her cheeks as well.

"I love you, Kyle."

Her eyes closed before she even heard what he had to say, her body suddenly traveling, moving toward the light, that bright white light.

Heaven smelled like, take out Chinese from the little shack where she and Kyle liked to go when they were teenagers?

Rolling over, Sam inhaled deeply with a small gasp leaving her lips as she woke up from her nightmare, the Chinese scent growing stronger, her eyes meeting a few take out boxes sitting on her little cart, a smile coming to her face.

Before she could get a word out, she felt a pair of arms wrapping around her and crushing her to a woman's chest. She smelled the heavy scent of Cherry Blossom and Almond milk filling her nose as she inhaled her mother's familiar scent, a happy smile on her face as she hugged the woman back just as tightly.

"Oh I knew this was a bad idea! I shouldn't have ever let you talk me into letting you come here to this awful place. Look what it's already done to you on your first day. I hope that little boy never gets his license back! Oh baby, I'm so glad you're going to be okay!

Sam pulled back from the hug and noticed there were tears in her mom's eyes, a few rolling down her cheeks. She pulled the woman back to her and let out a soft breath. "Mom! You're going to make me cry, if you don't stop! Sam exclaimed with a soft laugh, rubbing her mom's back. I"m going to be okay, I promise. Now let me breathe, will you?"

A grin took place on her lips as she looked up and saw Kyle standing there with a paper bag full of her things. She happily took the bag from him and started to thank him when her mom started babbling on about small things. Her eyes picked up on the burning heat radiating through his face. Was he blushing? What was he embarrassed about? She unfolded the top of the bag and smiled as she saw his old shirt folded and laying on top. She moved it aside as she glanced down at the things she had asked for. There was her laptop, her sketchbook, her sketch pencils, laptop and phone charger, her phone, an outfit, and oh, of course.

Upon seeing a pair of lace neon green thongs and a pair of zebra print spandex boyshorts, a soft blush filled her cheeks. Of course, that would be the reason why he came in red as a tomato. She cleared her voice and took her phone out of the bag before sitting it on her nightstand.

At her mother's persistence, Sam started eating some General Tsou's chicken out of one of the containers with her chopsticks.

"I really don't see how you eat with those things. My food would either fall right off, or I would starve to death." She teased with a laugh, eating her own food with a fork. "Kyle honey, there's food here for you two."

Sam smiled, laughing softly along with her mom before continuing to eat, starting on her noodles. Her mom continued on, talking about all of the little things, still complaining about the wreck and how Sam should have never left home. She did her best to ignore it and put on a smile for her mom. She had been just about to reply, when Kyle spoke up.

“Hey Sam? When you get better you have to let me take you out for dinner or something. We have barely talked the last couple years, and I have really missed you.”

Sam giggled softly as he then proceeded to apologize to her mom, knowing that the woman could be a hard ass sometimes when interrupted.

"Oh that's okay sweetheart, Samantha was ignoring me anyways. It's like talking to a wall sometimes with that girl."

"Hey!"

"Oh, you were listening?" Her mother asked with a slight chuckle. "Did you hear what Kyle asked you? Are you going to reply?"

Sam glared at her mom playfully before speaking up. "Yes mother, I did hear him. I was about to reply, when you had to butt in." Sam rolled her eyes and tucked her bangs out of her face before looking up to Kyle with a soft smile. "I would love to go to dinner with you, Ky."

"So it's a date!" Her mom exclaimed with a smile.

Sam laughed a little uneasily. "Uhm yeah mom, sure. Just going to dinner with Ky, like always."

Wanting to move the conversation to something lighter, Sam unlocked her phone and checked her email. Her eyes grew wide as she read the first message from the Gala where she was supposed to have her interview this morning.

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe it!" She exclaimed with a grin. "The gala manager sent me an email! He said that he personally loves my work, and he wants to set up another interview with me in a month, because there's another opening for the fall show!"

 

[Firmhanded_Daddy]

"I really don't see how you eat with those things. My food would either fall right off, or I would starve to death." She teased with a laugh, eating her own food with a fork. "Kyle honey, there's food here for you two."

Kyle smiled toward Sam’s mom. She had always been like that with him. She never let him leave the house without eating, which worked out because a teen age male’s body burned food like a roaring bonfire consumed fuel. He simply nodded and picked himself out a few things. He was hungry, but more than hungry he was just tired and it was starting to show. His eyes were starting to feel like they were covered with sand, and he would occasionally stare off into space.

He listened to the back and fourth between mother and daughter. Offering a deep, rich chuckle of amusement. He hadn’t realized until right then how lonely life had been lately. He had stopped dating in the last six months because work and school had become too much to deal with, he had no time for a life. He finally finished his probationary period at the fire house, and his courses were over for now. He was going to wait to go through EMT training. For now he just had time on his hands, and spending it here with Samantha, and Mrs. Forbes made him feel the pang of longing for companionship, he had missed this familiarity. His musings shattered when he heard "So it's a date!"

His eyes snapped open wide as they focused on Mrs. Forbes, then they fell on the stuttering Sam. She looked about as shocked by the proclamation as he, but then she downgraded the date to “Just dinner with Ky, like always” and he outwardly relaxed, but inside it felt like sharp barbs digging into his heart. He couldn’t keep holding this back, he couldn’t be afraid anymore. He opened his mouth to say something right then, right there in front of both of them, but Sam took the silence in the room away with her excitement. What could he do? He swallowed his words and instead rose to hug her gingerly.

“That is fantastic Sam! See? Told you that you would amaze them. Perhaps you should let me drive you there, though.”

He gave her a look, then just laughed warmly. His hand surged around hers, thick fingers bringing her hand up to his lips to kiss the back of it. He didn’t have time to see if she would take his jest in good humor. His pager went off. Thankfully he had remembered to turn it down in the hospital, but he pulled it from his jeans where it was clipped along his side pocket. Pulling it to his ears he listened to it intently, despite the fact that he was off duty. His eyes lost focus as they gazed at Samantha, and then his cheeks lost their color. He looked mortified, his body language changed, he was tense, stiff, and coiled like a spring.

“God… Sam, Mrs. Forbes I have to go to work. They are calling in everyone. Let me make a phone call quick, I’ll see if I can’t get someone to take you to my place when you are ready to go Mrs. Forbes. I’m so sorry.”

He snatched his cell phone hit a button. The phone chirped in reply and he spoke into the speaker. “Call, Martin” The phone speed dialed the number and then he put it to his ear. “Hey man, yeah I heard. Listen, I need you to do me a solid. I’m at the hospital right now with the woman we pulled out of the car yesterd- Yes the redhead with the-“ He froze mid word, looking at Sam, then to her mother. He coughed lightly and spoke in a tense tone into the phone. “The redhead with the very beautiful features. Just shut up and let me talk! I need you to send Tracy up here when visiting hours are over to pick up her mother who is standing right next to me and take her to my place. These people are my family. Yeah, room 302. 2 hours ok? Thanks man.”

He looked back to the pair of women. He was still obviously disturbed by the emergency, but he had the social grace to look embarrassed for his friend’s obviously colored comments that he barely managed to not repeat. “Told you that you are gorgeous Samantha. Even all battered and bloody as you were, more than one man has told me you were beautiful. I gotta run. Love you both. He kissed each woman quickly on the cheek and gave a healthy jog out of the room, out of the hospital.

*************

The middle school had been in the middle of a school play when the fire started. It had raced through the structure like a voracious carnivore. He was performing search and rescue drills with Martin of all people. They were moving along the wall when his axe hit something metallic. He shifted enough to shine a light on what he had struck. A metal door? Sure enough there was a metal door here, he looked up and was just able to make out the words “boiler room” scrawled across it. He tested the door for heat. The door was hot, really hot. He swore under his breath and snatched his radio.

“Johnson to Chief”

”Go for Chief”

“Hey Chief, I got a hot door here. Looks like the boiler room. I need a vent before I can go in.”

”Copy that. Vent is incoming, sit tight.”

“Roger that Chief”

Martin and Kyle finished searching the room, then came back to the boiler room. He used the flat head of his axe to pound on the door a few times, then he called out as loud as he could. “Fire department! Is anyone in there?!?”

He heard a reply, but just barely. His heart sank. It was a child in there. He snatched the radio desperately. “Chief, what is my ETA on the vent? There is at least one child in that room!!”

”Thirty seconds Kyle, you can’t go in yet. Deep breath, we will get it.”

“We need to get in there, tell them to move it!”

Ten seconds later.

”Green light Johnson, you have your vent.”

He pulled on the door and it wouldn’t budge. After a quick look at the door he could see that the door had been damaged by the heat, the metal of the frame and the door were now too intermingled to open the door without help.

“Fuck, Martin get the halogen in there!”

After several tries to get purchase on the door and failing every time he snarled.

“Fucking door is fused together!”

He queued up the radio. “Mayday mayday. This is Johnson. I need a R.I.T. team in here with a saw. This door is fused together.”

”Roger that, R.I.T. Team is incoming.”

Thirty seconds is a long time to wait when you know someone could be burning to death on the other side of a door. He was pacing by the time the team got there. The Rapid Intervention Team showed up with a bunch of tools and a hose line in hand. One of them passed off the saw to Kyle and then ky slid the moving blade along the fused joint. Sparks flew and the saw made a terrible screaming sound as the metal shredded. He had to start over three times when the blade seized in the metal. Finally he was able to bust the door open. He handed the saw back as the men with the hose line started into the room. The fire had reached flash point in this room, the whole room was an inferno. Kyle reached out to grab the team by the shoulder, just as they were pulling back.

“Fucking hell! We can’t get in there now. If the boy was alive before, he isn’t now.”

His heart sank. He knew it before it had even been said. The only thing they could do by going in that room would be to die with the boy. Even just standing on the landing of the door frame he could feel the heat piercing his turn out gear. Still he stared into the room, gripping the fiberglass handle of his axe. The guys on the hoseline opened it up to full and started putting water on the fire, but it was going to take a lot more than what they could offer to put it out. Kyle stared into the flames and something snapped.

“FUCK!!!”

Axe in hand he struck the brick wall. The axe bounced off, and he struck it again and again as pure rage coursed through him. Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, CRACK! The head of the axe snapped off the fiberglass shaft and went flying. He could hear noises, but nothing made sense over the blood rushing in his ears. Then he realized that the noises were his fellow firefighters.

”… GET MOVING KYLE! Chief gave the evac. This wing is going to collapse. MOVE YOUR ASS!”

Martin shoved him forcefully and that was enough to snap him out of things. The two of them along with the R.I.T. team double timed it out of the building. Hose lines were taken to the roof, and others put through windows.

***************

It was hours later when the fire was out and the recovery had been finished. By the time Kyle was done pulling bodies out of that boiler room he was numb inside. Five kids had been in that room and he was a minute too late to save them. He took his orders mechanically until it was time to head home. He didn’t stay to stow equipment, or to wash the trucks, he just got in his truck and drove him. The incident was already on the news, the 11 o’clock news was playing even as he dialed the phone. A tired Sam was on the other end. When Kyle spoke his voice was barely above a whisper, she could hear the complete devastation in his voice. He was barely keeping it together.

“Hey Sam, did I wake you? I just wanted to let you know that I am ok.”

 

[smiley8022]

Sam looked up from the screen of her phone as Kyle began to congratulate her, walking toward her bed. Her finger found the lock button as she happily let him pull her into a quick hug, a smile on her face as she thanked him for his words, her brow arching as she heard his last comment. She started to reply with her own witty comeback before his fingers wrapped around hers, bringing her hand up to his mouth as he placed a tender kiss to her skin. She lost herself for just a brief moment in his embrace before the sound of his pager went off, making her jump slightly.

She could see what was happening, before it even happened. She noticed the color in his cheeks and lips were gone, his fingers were curled tight around the pager, his neck and back growing stiffer by the minute. She started to ask what was wrong, before he spoke up and told the two women about having to go to work.

Sam sat back on her bed, watching as Kyle pulled his phone out and started to talk to a guy he worked with. She lost focus for a moment before she heard him repeating the man's words on the other end of the phone. Kyle came to a point in his sentence where he cut off, letting out a cough to fill the open air instead of the rest of the sentence, which left her awfully curious. Kyle went on to tell the guy that her mom was standing right next to him, calling both of them his family. Sam smiled tenderly at his words, a soft yawn leaving her lips.

She tuned back into everything that was going on as the phone call ended, a light blush taking place on her cheeks as Kyle mentioned that some of his coworkers thought she was gorgeous, and that they had called her beautiful besides the fact of seeing her covered in blood and cuts. Sam brushed her hair out of her face and thanked him before she heard his departing words. He placed a kiss on her mom's cheek, then leaned down to do the same to her before turning to leave, calling out that he loved them both.

"Be careful." She called out to him.

***************

"Where's Kyle?"

"Hey! You're the hot redhead that he saved from the car last week! How you doing honey?"

"I'm fine, but where is Kyle? I need to talk to him, it's important."

"Chief just sent him in, it's important that he's in on this building, we need him."

"But it's on fire! The house is going to cave in!"

"That's just a risk he has to take, sweetheart. He knows how to handle himself."

She tried to reason with him. She tried to get the man to go in and get him. She tried to get him to radio him and see if he was okay. She tried everything, but nothing was working. She didn't see what else she could do, other than make sure he was okay for herself.

Sam wasn't too fond of running into burning buildings, but who was? She waited until the guy who she'd been talking to was distracted, and made a break for it. She didn't care about the voices yelling at her from behind, she didn't care about the collapsing house in front of her, she just had to find Kyle. She didn't even know why it was so important that she all of a sudden had to find Kyle, but she just knew that it was something she needed to do, and she needed to do it now.

Her sight was already blurred do to the surrounding smoke and flames, her body growing weak as she started coughing, the black smoke filling her lungs quickly as she started calling out his name, yelling for him.

"Kyle! Kyle, where are you? Kyle!"

She couldn't stop coughing. She could hardly see. She was growing weaker by the minute. She felt so hot. Her body slowly slumped to the floor as she started crawling, his name leaving her lips every few seconds, nothing more than a hushed whisper.

"Kyle!?"

Tears were wet on her cheeks by this point as she realized that she was going to die in this flaming house. She had been pulled out of a crushed car last week only to die in a burning house this week while searching for Kyle. Kind of defeated the purpose of a miracle, yeah? Sam looked up as she heard a noise, a banging on the door.

Sam tried to yell out to the voice that was calling out to her, but she couldn't get much out louder than a whisper. She coughed violently, her eyes starting to swell shut.

"Kyle!"

Everything went black.

***************

Sam jerked awake with a gasp, her hand automatically going to her side as she hissed in pain once more. Her head slowly fell back onto the pillow sitting upon her hospital bed as she checked her phone and realized it was already 10pm. When had she fallen asleep? It was this damn pain medication they had been giving her, she slept all damn day! Her hand reached down to press the nurse's button as she coughed slightly and then looked up as a young blonde nurse entered her room.

"Hello Samantha, I'm Nicole and I'll be your night shift nurse during your stay at our hospital. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"You can call me Sam." She smiled at the girl. "Would you mind getting me some ice water? And is there any way that I can have some more pain medicine? My stitches on my side are starting to hurt again, they woke me up a few minutes ago."

"Sure! No problem, Sam." The nurse winked and smiled at her before turning and leaving the room.

Half an hour later and with a fresh dose of medicine, Sam found herself with the TV on and her eyes growing heavy. She started to doze off, her eyes closing heavily before she felt a vibration that jerked her back awake. With the medicine in her, her stitches didn't hurt from the sudden movement.

Sam licked her dry lips slowly before her hand reached out and found her vibrating phone. She saw Kyle's contact picture and quickly answered the call.

"Hello?" She asked softly, her eyes blinking slowly to try to wash away the tired feeling she had.

“Hey Sam, did I wake you? I just wanted to let you know that I am ok.”

Sam's eyes glanced at the TV as she noticed they were filming about a fire at a local Middle School. Her eyes looked away from the tragic scene as Kyle began to speak, his voice giving everything away. She could hear his whispered words, could hear that he was barely holding on, that he was trying so hard to keep everything together, but it was slowly unraveling piece by piece. She slowly sat up in her bed and cupped her phone to her ear.

"No, you're okay. I can't sleep anyways, I keep having nightmares. I'm glad you called me, Ky. I was worried about you." She admitted softly.

"Do you need somebody to talk to? If I were home, I'd tell you to come cuddle and let it all out."

She teased with quiet words, knowing that he didn't need to laugh right now, he needed to talk, and then he needed to sleep.

"You can come here if you want to, but I don't want to make you do anything you don't want to. Just know that I am here for you, at any time of the day, whenever. If you want to just talk on the phone, that's okay too. I know that you're going through a lot after what happened earlier today."

Sam let out a soft breath and then continued.

"I am so sorry, Ky. What happened was awful, but you can't take the blame onto your shoulders alone. Please, try to keep that in mind. I wish I could comfort you right now, tell you all the perfect things to make you feel better, cuddle you until you fall asleep and wake up with a smile in the morning. I can't exactly do that from my hospital bed, but I can be here for you, whether it be over the phone as you lay down in your own bed, or whether it be with you right here in this bed with me. Just know that you're not alone, no matter how lonely you may feel.

I'm here, Ky."

 

[Firmhanded_Daddy]

Just hearing her voice helped ease the raw pain burning through his soul. He wanted to scream, to cry, to curse God. He was too wound up for his own good, he needed help to sort through it all. His emotions had always been complex and very few people could get him to open up. Sam was so good at tearing down his walls and getting him to talk. She was often the only one who could get him to let her in.

"No, you're okay. I can't sleep anyways, I keep having nightmares. I'm glad you called me, Ky. I was worried about you."

“I thought you might be, so that is why I called. You have enough on your plate right now, you don’t need to worry about me.”

"Do you need somebody to talk to? If I were home, I'd tell you to come cuddle and let it all out."

“I wish you were, I’m having a hard time with this Sam. I wish I could come see you, but it is past visitors hours.”
"You can come here if you want to, but I don't want to make you do anything you don't want to. Just know that I am here for you, at any time of the day, whenever. If you want to just talk on the phone, that's okay too. I know that you're going through a lot after what happened earlier today."

He was already half way to the hospital, he didn’t know why, but he just knew he needed to be with her right now. Listening to her voice was helping him focus, it was soothing, calming. She always had this way with him. Sam always calmed him when his emotions were spiraling out of control.
“I lost a kid today Sam. I was so close I could hear him fading away. He was just on the other side of a wall but the door was fused shut from the heat. Hell the fire might have even started in that room I don’t know. I tried everything to get in there, but by the time we did he was already gone. The room had reached flashpoint. Right you don’t know what that means. Basically the room got so hot that everything in there reached a temperature in which everything in the room starts on fire. Even if he had been alive, we couldn’t have pulled him out, and he wouldn’t have survived.”
"I am so sorry, Ky. What happened was awful, but you can't take the blame onto your shoulders alone. Please, try to keep that in mind. I wish I could comfort you right now, tell you all the perfect things to make you feel better, cuddle you until you fall asleep and wake up with a smile in the morning. I can't exactly do that from my hospital bed, but I can be here for you, whether it be over the phone as you lay down in your own bed, or whether it be with you right here in this bed with me. Just know that you're not alone, no matter how lonely you may feel.

I'm here, Ky."

“I’m gonna see if the nurse will let me come see you, ok?”

He hung up the phone and parked his truck. Walking through the hospital he talked his way past the front doors. Nicole stopped him just outside her door. The tone in his voice was intense and passionate. Sam could hear the words carrying into her room.

“Nicole, I just talked to her, she told me I could come see her. I know it is past visitors hours, I just need to talk to her for a little while.”

”Kyle, you know I can’t let you in. She needs to rest. Please just go home and come back in the morning.”

His voice dropped low, his words sharp as a razor.

“I know she needs rest Nic. She is already expecting me. Do you think I would do anything to put her health at risk? I would do anything for her, anything. Neither of us are going to sleep until I can talk to her. I know her, she is sitting on the other side of that wall worrying about me and if you don’t let me in, she will come to me.”

A female sigh of resignation and then in a softer tone.

“Ok Kyle, but you owe me one.”

“I owe you three. Thank you Nic.”

He picked her up, and gave her a fierce hug. She offered a soft squeak of protest until he set her down. Then he walked into the room. He took a moment to just look at Samantha, his green eyes dark and stormy, like a storm tossed sea. Then he crossed the room and pulled up the chair right next to her. He sat down, looking into her face. Forcing a smile he spoke quietly.

“Hi there pretty lady, you wanna ride somewhere?”

The playful flirt just didn’t have the impact it needed, his heart just wasn’t in it. Reaching out he took her hand in his, squeezing it tight. His voice was barely a whisper, his eyes misted over. “I missed you Sam.”

 

[smiley8022]

Sam didn't care that it was 10pm and that the visiting hours of the hospital were over. She didn't care that she was stuck in a hospital bed doped up on pain medication. She didn't care that she looked absolutely awful with stitches on her forehead and her hair a mess up in a bun. And she certainly didn't care that she was supposed to be sleeping and taking it easy. If her best friend needed her, then she would be there. Always. He meant everything to her, and she would get no rest until she knew that he had talked everything out and was ready for sleep himself. She would spend all of the hours in a day or night, or both talking things out with him, and she had before. His sadness was her sadness, and she his happiness was hers as well.

She fought against the medicine, knowing that he would find a way to come see her until she found herself dozing off against her own will. She wished these damn pills would wear off soon! She caught herself nodding off more than once, fighting to stay awake, but it seemed impossible. And just as she was nodding off once more, her eyes watering as they closed and she started to fall asleep, she heard his voice. Her body instantly awoke, her back straightening as she propped herself up, nimble fingers reaching out to grab her cup full of water. She raised the Styrofoam cup to her lips, taking a long drink. The cool liquid passed down her throat, seeming to wake her back up instantly, mixed with her best friend's words traveling into her room from just outside the door.

“Nicole, I just talked to her, she told me I could come see her. I know it is past visitors hours, I just need to talk to her for a little while.”

”Kyle, you know I can’t let you in. She needs to rest. Please just go home and come back in the morning.”

A soft smile embraced her lips as she heard Kyle's words. He was such a beautiful man, and he obviously needed her more than anything right now. She was just as much as the life supporter he was to her, and they both knew it. He was the first person she would ever go to with any of her problems, and she the same for him. Hell, her mom doesn't even know half of the shit she's been through, because she's always went to Kyle went something was wrong.

Sam still remembered when they were both young teenagers and acting stupid down at a creek, thinking they were badasses. They had made the day of it swimming, playing in the sand, and just having a good time. And then on their way back out of the woods, she had made a game of tag for them and had hidden in a tree from him. She had stayed hidden pretty well until she saw him coming, heard his teasing words about coming up to get her, and had quickly tried to climb down, resulting in her fall. She had fallen from a relatively high location, and had ended up braking her arm.

Kyle had made no hesitation in running to her, picking her off the ground, and holding her close as she cried against his shirt, walking her all the way out of the woods and to his truck. He had drove her to the hospital himself, and waited with her, holding her good hand the entire time as she had been getting checked out, other than her x-ray, and as she had gotten her cast put on too. He was the first one to sign her neon green cast, and her mom hadn't found out until she had walked into her house with a sheepish grin.

Sam found herself pulling out of her memories as she heard Kyle's voice, and how much it had changed from just a few moments ago. It went from being soft, gentle, full of love and passion, to being dark, dangerous, and razor sharp. She could almost feel the intensity, and she was through a door and across the room from where he was.

“I know she needs rest Nic. She is already expecting me. Do you think I would do anything to put her health at risk? I would do anything for her, anything. Neither of us are going to sleep until I can talk to her. I know her, she is sitting on the other side of that wall worrying about me and if you don’t let me in, she will come to me.”

She could feel her heart picking up as she took in his words, her hand clutching the guard rail to her bed as she felt herself ready to jump out of this bed already from the desperate need to see him. He was right. He did know her. He knew her better than any other person in his world did, and she would not hesitate to walk out that door and pull him into this room regardless of what the nurse said.

Sam was ready to do just that when she heard the soft voice of the pretty blonde nurse trickling into her room, granting him access.

“Ok Kyle, but you owe me one.”

The rest didn't matter. She didn't hear his next set of words, and she didn't hear the squeal that left the nurse's mouth as Kyle picked her off the ground and spun her around in rejoice. She was too caught up in her beating heart, her body becoming fully awake and full of happiness that she was going to see her best friend tonight. She didn't care about how shitty she looked, or even that she was all banged up and in a hospital bed, all she cared about was Kyle, and the fact that he was walking through the door right that moment.

She had never seen a more beautiful sight than the one she was looking at in that moment. He was mangled up, he was a little dirty from earlier today, and his eyes were dark and full of sadness, but she didn't care. He had never been more beautiful to her. She heard his words, and they made her smile, but she could see it in his eyes that his heart just wasn't in it right now. She didn't feel the need to reply as he sat next to her and took her small hand in his larger one, squeezing it tight. She squeezed his hand back and then heard his words, hardly audible at all. He was broken, and he needed her now more than ever.

"I missed you too, Ky."

She replied in a similar tone, her voice wavering slightly as she felt so much emotion welling up in her heart over her best friend and his grief. She let go of his hand to move the guard rail down on her bed, her body scooting over as she ignored the pain in her side from her stitches, making room for him to get onto the bed opposite of her injured side.

"Come here Ky. Lay down with me, talk to me, let it all out."

 

[Firmhanded_Daddy]

Kyle had no idea what Sam was thinking right now. The only thing that rang through his mind was how beautiful she was. The woman was a study in the dangers of a motor vehicle, she was all bruises and stitches, half drugged from pain pills, and smeared make up from a vast array of things. He had never seen her more beautiful and they had gone to senior prom together.

Just seeing her brought a sense of calm to his upturned world. It always did. Sam knew him better than anyone else did and it was no secret among those close to him. Samantha had always been the balm to heal his wounds, tonight would be no different. Very few of the women in his life had even been able to breech those steely green eyes long enough to see his softer side; certainly none of the women he had dated since leaving home. None of them were the women he wanted, none of them were Samantha Forbes. She knew what he needed even before he realized he needed it. When he saw her laying there in bed and she wriggled over to pat the bed beside her and invited him, he felt all of the strength that had been holding him together seep out of him like blood from a wound, and with it the walls of protection came crumbling down.

Without thinking about it, he pulled off his shirt, kicked off his shoes and crawled into the bed next to her. The shirt had been filthy, covered with grime from the fire, the smell was bothering him, he didn’t want to repulse this woman who was his salvation. He gently eased himself into the bed, doing his best not to tip it, and also not to jostle her. Even now she was his first though, despite the fact that he was on the brink of emotional collapse.

Once he was settled he turned toward her, unshed tears glimmered in his eyes. There had only been one time in their lives before that he had looked at her so completely crushed, so crestfallen, so destroyed. It was the day she told him she was going away to college and leaving him behind. For a moment he just stared into her eyes as the memory came back to him.

****************

“That is hours away from here Sam!”

She had been so excited, he could see it in her face. She was still hugging him when she felt his arms go limp around her. Neither of them had expected her to get in to such a good program, let alone one on the other side of the state. He felt like he was going to vomit. He felt like instead of leaping on him and tackling him in her jubilation, that she had kicked him in the gut.

”I know Ky, but this is so awesome! This is the best art school anywhere in this whole part of the country. I am so excited! You should come with me! We will get an apartment somewhere and instead of just being down the road from each other we will be together all the time!”

It was obvious she hadn’t thought this through. Ky wasn’t smart like Sam was. He was good with his hands, and the area was all bio medical and arts, and he would be lucky to find a job that would pay a kid from a small farm town enough to afford the obscene rent. They would have to live in shambles because she wouldn’t have time to work and go to school, not to do that and actually focus. If he went with her, if he opened his mouth and told her what he had wanted to tell her, what had been gnawing at his heart for this last year he would not be giving her a gift. He would be tying a stone around her ankles and pushing her into the ocean. So he lied to her.

“No. I don’t think that is a good idea Sam. You know me, I wouldn’t like it there. I’m not cut out for that kind of stuff. I wouldn’t fit in with your new friends It isn’t a good idea.”

None of that was the lie. The lie had been that he would suffer every bit of that gladly as long as he could be with her. He would have walked through fire for her. His hand had been closed, clutching something tight. He subtly stuffed it back into his pocket and tucked the small ring into the depth of his jeans. He had agonized over how to do this for months. He decided that while a little dated the idea of a promise ring would give the right message. Now he knew the truth, it would just bind her and clip her wings.

“Ill come see you when I can. I’ll miss you so much, but I can’t go with you.”

*******

He felt her small hand touching his face. He had been dazed with the memory, and the raw emotions that it brought back. He choked back a sob and buried his face in her shoulders.

“Damn it Sam! I was so close! That little boy was on the other side of the wall and I couldn’t get him in time. I should have been faster!”

 

[smiley8022]

Sam let her body relax against the bed, her bright locks of red splaying out on the pillow behind her as she turned partially on her side, the cover slipping down her body a bit as her gown rose up her leg slightly. She let her eyes follow his hands as he pulled his shirt over his head and she could hear his shoes hitting the ground as he kicked them off. Her eyes ran up his body before she closed them for a moment, the bed shifting as he moved into it with her.

Her eyes opened as she felt him settle in beside her, her heart breaking at the sight. She could see unshed tears glittering among his eyelashes, his eyes a reflection of tragedy and pain. Sam's body tensed just briefly as his eyes met hers, his body tensing up as he seemed to be thinking about something, concentrating hard on whatever was on his mind. She wished she knew what was on his mind, what was bothering him so badly. She didn't want to disturb him in his memories, but she didn't want him to get caught up in his pain.

Breaking the silence and his daze, Sam reached up to cup his cheek. Her hand seemed so small and fragile against his skin. She let her fingers brush against his face as she let out a soft breath. She heard him try to choke back the sob, but it came roaring out of his mouth and then his face was being buried in her shoulders. Sam's arms wrapped around his neck as she turned fully onto her side, her body pressing up against his as she hugged him to her closely, cradling him to her shoulders.

One of her hands moved up to run her fingers through his hair, her hand repeatedly moving to brush down the back of his head. "Shhh, Ky. It's okay honey." She hugged him tighter to her body, her breath coming out in a long sigh. "Let it out, it's okay." She continued to soothe him, her other hand starting to rub his back. "It's not your fault, sweetheart. You tried your hardest, that's what mattered Ky. You're a great person, and we both know that. You told me there was no way to save him, so you cannot take the fault for what happened. It's awful, and I understand your pain honey, but you can't let this fall on your shoulders."

 

[Firmhanded_Daddy]

It was strange being so fragile. He had endured many things in his life, but knowing failure in this was just something he couldn’t stomach. His mind was refusing to grasp at the truth. It hadn’t been his fault, not really. That room had been a death trap, that child should not have been in there, and in all likelihood there was something stored in that room that made the fire burn so hot to fuse the door shut. These were the facts, facts that Sam couldn’t know, and facts that in his grief he couldn’t grasp. All he could focus on was the silence that had settled when the child had ceased trying to get help. It made him sick to his stomach.

Sam’s comfort eventually settled him, and he just held onto her as tight as he dared. Somewhere in the back of his mind he was still registering her injuries. It settled in right then and there how much he had missed her. She was such an important part of his life for so long and then she vanished. Now by some twist of fate she was back in his life and he felt complete for the first time in years. She got under his skin in all of the right ways, and some of the wrong ones too.

He drew in a deep breath to calm himself. Pilfering one of the napkins from the errant tray that was left near her bed he took a moment to compose himself. Another trembling breath and he turned toward her with a nod of his head. His voice still raw and crackling he started to speak, cleared his throat and tried again.

“You are right Sam. The truth is if it had not been for the rest of my squad I would have gone in after that kid anyway. It would have got me killed. Fire fighting isn’t like it is in the movies. You can’t just walk into a fully involved room and walk out like superman. The gear can only resist so much heat and that room was way too hot. As soon as we took the door I felt my gear failing and I wasn’t even in the room. That’s why my forearms look like they are sun burned. My bunkers started to melt and I put my hands up to shield my face. That room was well beyond flash point…. Er that is when the heat from the flame gets so hot that everything in the room becomes hot enough to burn. Without a hose handy to create a blanket my gear would have completely failed in less than a minute.”

He was talking to her, but not looking right at her. He was calmly processing the information just as fast as he was registering it. He had nearly passed through the veil and not even realized it. He had been too focused on rescuing that boy.

“I should get something for these burns. I’ll be back in a few ok?”

Finally he met her face. He forced a smile and twisted his arms away from her so she could not see how bad they were, but the truth was he could feel blisters in a few places.

 

[smiley8022]

Sam's hands continued to soothe him, her fingers on his back gently trailing up and down before her palm pressed down and she rubbed his trembling back. Her hand on his head continued to rub back and forth, her grip on his body as tight as his hold on her body was. Her hip that contained stitches was lightly resting against his, but she was fine. And even if she were hurt, she would gladly suffer just to help her friend when he needed her most. Kyle was such a huge part of her life, and it took loosing him for a few years to really understand how much she had missed him.

She could hear a few noises as he reached behind her and took something off of her tray. She felt him moving slightly for a moment before he turned his head to face her with a nod. She saw how red his eyes had become from the crying, his green eyes troubled and clouded with sadness. Her hand slipped from his hair, down to cup his cheek and she listened brokenheartedly as he tried to speak and had to clear his throat to clear away the rough crackling before he was able to get his words out.

Sam listened and tried to take everything in, but it was so much all at once. She continued to cup his cheek, her hand slowly moving up and down his back, her breath soft and coming through parted lips as she continued to listen to his explanation. She was glad he was finally coming around about everything, but terribly worried about all these details he was talking about. His forearms looked sunburned? His bunkers began to melt? Was he hurt? She looked at him with a confused expression before he explained what flashpoint was. Afterward, she arched her brows and looked at him in awe and shock. Here this brave man was, worried about her injuries when he should be worried about his own.

She started to pull back just slightly, hoping to get a look at his arms when she noticed that he was looking at her, but just past her gaze. She started to direct his gaze toward her when he mentioned how he should get something for his burns. When he finally met her eyes, a forced smile appearing on his face, she knew something was wrong. She opened her mouth to ask him if he was okay, when he twisted his arms away from her body, blocking them from her view. She arched a brow at him and looked him dead in the eye.

"Ky, show me your arms. If you're hurt, you need to see a doctor. Why didn't you say something before? You're always so worried about me, and I love that about you, but when are you going to put yourself first?"

Her hand reached out to find his hand, pulling his arm into her view. Sam bit her lip at the sight of his bright red arm, a few blisters boiling up on the skin. She wanted to touch him, but she didn't want to hurt him. Sam felt like she was going to cry, and she felt silly for that. He was a firefighter, he was going to get burnt every once in a while and meet injuries like these. She would rather have him get these kinds of injuries than be seriously hurt. She met his eyes and forced the tears away before she cleared her throat and began to talk.

"Kyle, you need to see a doctor. Don't worry about me, take care of yourself and then you can come back. I'll wait up for you, I promise. Just please go have this looked at."

 

[Firmhanded_Daddy]

Sometimes she was transparent. He could almost see the urge to touch his injury, he could read it in her body language. She almost reached out to do just that, and then she stopped herself. He smiled secretly. That nurturing instinct she had drew him in, it always had. One thing in a long list of things he loved about her. She wanted to take care of him just as badly as he wanted to take care of her. He knew that as long as Sam was around he didn’t need to worry about anything, she would have his back, just like he would have hers.

Even as she talked about his injury it started to sting. It had been one of those injuries that had hurt for just a fraction of a second, but then the pain was gone. Now it was coming back and making up for lost time. He leaned over to kiss her forehead and then spoke softly.

“Okay Samantha. I’ll get it looked at. Honestly I mostly forgot about it. I think everything else kind of drowned out the pain for a while. It looks worse than it is though. I’ll be back.”

He gave her a one handed hug, using his good hand and draping it over her safe side. Then he lovingly dragged his fingers through her hair. Just as he started to leave he stopped and looked into her eyes. “Sam? Don’t worry about waiting up for me. You need your rest. If you are asleep when I get back I’ll just pull up a chair and doze off with you. Besides, the sooner you get better the sooner I can take you out.”

He flashed her a roguish grin, then spoke softer.

“And because I love you, and I want you to get better. I’ll be back.”

He made his way out of the room, where he saw Nicole was just going in to check on Samantha. She stopped as she looked at his arm and frowned. “Going to get that fixed up?” He nodded his head to her wordlessly, but she stopped him with a hand on the shoulder. He perked a brow curiously and then she voiced her thoughts. ”I’ve never seen you like this before Kyle. This one is special to you isn’t she?”

“That doesn’t even describe it. I’ve loved her all my life, since the first day we met. We were best friends until her life took her in a different direction. More than that though, I’ve been in love with her just about the whole time and too afraid to tell her so. I won’t make that mistake this time. I better go Nick, keep an eye on her ok?”

”Sure thing.”

Neither one of them knew that they were close enough to the room for Sam to hear every word.

 

[smiley8022]

Sam's eyes closed as he leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead, her breath escaping parted lips as she held her eyes closed, listening to him speak. She could understand how everything around him drowned out his injury, causing him to forget about it, but she knew he was lying when he said it looked worse than it was. She could see right through him, just as easily as he could see through her. They had grown up together, she knew that boy like the back of her hand.

When she felt his body pressing against hers gently, his good arm draping over her body and hugging her, she smiled against his chest. She couldn't wait until she was out of this hospital and in her own bed, where she could cuddle with her best friend freely without the feat of one of them getting hurt from their injuries. She felt his hand moving up her arm, his fingers slipping into her hair, running through her fiery locks with tenderness, causing her to sigh in pleasure, missing the way things had been in the past. Every moment spent with him now, caused her to remember how much she had missed her best friend.

Sam felt his body begin to move away from hers and then he stopped, causing her to open her eyes. Her dark lashes fluttered for a moment before she met his own emerald orbs, her brow arching as he began to talk about her. She shook her head as he said it was okay for her to go to sleep, her stubbornness winning as she refused to go to sleep until she knew he was okay.

When he mentioned taking her out once she was better, a large grin covered her face. He was so adorable sometimes. She giggled softly as she turned on her side and watched as he placed his shoes back on and stood up from the bed. Her eyes never left his body as he began to talk once more, his voice soft, a grin on his face.

"I love you too, Ky." She spoke softly, watching as he left the room and entered the hallway. She heard the door bounce against the frame, and noticed as it opened halfway, the light from the hallway filling a small triangle of her room, a sigh leaving her lips as she reached out for her cup of water, taking a long drink from it.

Sam's eyes found the TV up in the corner in her room, her fingers reaching for the remote to turn the channel when she heard a voice in the hallway. Who was that? Was that her nurse Nikki? Sam hit mute on the TV and focused on the voice coming from the hallway, her body going numb as she heard her best friend's voice joining in with Nikki's, his words causing her to freeze.

“That doesn’t even describe it. I’ve loved her all my life, since the first day we met. We were best friends until her life took her in a different direction. More than that though, I’ve been in love with her just about the whole time and too afraid to tell her so. I won’t make that mistake this time. I better go Nick, keep an eye on her ok?”

He loved her? He had loved her his entire life? Why hadn't he told her!? And he let her move hours away from him, destroying their friendship when he had loved her all along? With a frustrated sigh, Sam's fingers moved her hair out of her face before her head fell back on the pillow and she groaned. What the hell was she supposed to do now? Her best friend in the whole world was in love with her, but she didn't know if she was in love with him.

Sam knew that she loved Kyle, she had always loved Kyle. He had helped her through every single rough patch in her life, he had been there for her when her family was going through hardships, he was there through every achievement and failure of her life, he had been there for her when she was sad, mad, happy, angry, emotional, he was her rock. She remembered when they first met, and she had the biggest crush on him, but then she had pushed it away, because she didn't want to mess up their friendship with a relationship. What if it didn't work out in the end? She didn't want to lose everything they had built together.

What was she going to do? She knew that she wasn't going to tell Kyle that she knew. She was just going to have to wait it out, act like everything was normal, and wait until he was ready to admit his feelings to her. If he had kept them a secret this long, she wasn't going to ruin it by letting him know that she knew. Her eyes met the ceiling as she found herself on her back, a long sigh escaping her mouth. She was confused, frustrated, but most of all scared. She didn't want to admit that she might love him too. She was too scared to lose him.

All she could do now, was wait until he was back from getting his arm checked and fixed up.

 

[Firmhanded_Daddy]

It took a little time for him to get to see a doctor. Like always the nurse did all the work, the doctor spent all of thirty seconds with him and told him what he already knew. First and second degree burns. The nurse put an ointment on the skin and then wrapped it up and sent him on his way. By the time he returned to Sam’s room almost forty five minutes had elapsed. He poked his head in as quietly as he could to check to see if she was still awake. When he saw that she was laying on her back staring at the ceiling he paused. Should he go in? Was something wrong? She looked upset.

Well he decided to do what he did best, lead in with a joke. Looking at the TV he put on a crooked grin and strolled in. “Price is Right reruns eh? No wonder why no guy ever stood a chance with you in school, you have a thing for old guys. Bob Barker gets you going does he? Or do you just want someone that you can call Daddy?”

Closing the distance with his freshly bandaged arm he found some space on the side of the bed and sat back down. Leaning over to kiss the top of her head. “You ok? You look upset Sam.”

It was that point where cell phone he had forgotten about in his pocket started to ring. He gave Samantha an exasperated look and then picked up the phone. He looked at the screen and murmured “Its your mom.” Then answered the phone. “Mrs. Forbes? Yeah I am done with the call. Yeah it was the school. I’m at the hospital right now getting some burns looked at. No no, it is fine. Nothing serious you don’t need to come down. I’m here with Sam right now, she has already given me a firm tongue lashing for not taking care of myself.” He flashed Sam a smile, and a wink. “I’ll head home soon, I’ve already gotten dirty looks from the staff about breaking visitor policy. Do you need anything? I pass through downtown on my way home. Ok, I’ll see you in about an hour Mrs. Forbes.”

Beep

He stuffed the phone back in his pocket and gave same a chuckle. “Tell me your mom is not moving here? I love the woman but if I wanted to be mothered 24/7 I’d move back home.”

Then he gave a playful chuckle. “Now where were we..? Yes, you and your fixation with Bob Barker.”

 

[smiley8022]

She didn't hear the door opening, nor the sound of her best friend slipping into her room. Her body jolted slightly as his loud voice took up the room, her eyes finding his face, a smile covering her mouth as she saw the crooked grin on his lips, one of her favorite smiles on him. At his words, a loud laugh escaped her lips, her brows shooting up as he teased her about wanting someone to call daddy. He was insane!

His body began to close in on her, his eyes roaming her face as her eyes dropped to his bandaged arm. She couldn't stop the shiver from running down her spine as he sat on the bed and leaned over to kiss her forehead once more. He was so affectionate, so caring, so loving. She forced the shudder that craved to rack her body away, her thoughts flying everywhere, a million thoughts a minute rushing through her head. Her best friend was in love with her, and he didn't know that she knew. She needed to act normal, but it was going to be a challenge.

When he asked her if she was okay, she met his eyes with her own before nodding her head. "Yeah, I'm okay Ky. I've just had a lot on my mind." With a quiet sigh, she turned onto her side once more and patted the bed beside her, asking for him to lay down once more, and then his phone rang. When he told her it was her mom, she looked at him in shock. Why was her mom calling this late at night? She found herself on her back once more, her eyes roaming his face and body as he focused on talking to her mom. She didn't listen to most of the conversation, her interest peeking only when he mentioned seeing her mom in about an hour.

He was leaving soon.

Sam put on her best fake smile, the warmth not touching her eyes as a dry laugh left her lips and she shook her head. "God no. If my mom moved here, I would be apartment searching right now somewhere far away." A real laugh escaped her lips. "I love the woman and all, but I can't handle being pampered and babied every single day. I'll settle for every other weekend, but only because the woman would go mad without me."

A smile broke loose on her face, a sigh leaving her lips as she patted the bed once more. "I do not have a fixation with Bob Barker!" She giggled. "Will you please lay back down with me? You keep me warm, and you're a great cuddle buddy." She flashed him a warm smile, feeling like herself again, just spending time with her best friend, nothing more.

 

[Firmhanded_Daddy]

It was good to see her smiling. It made everything feel right in the world. When she scooted over to make room for him and patted the sheets asking him to cuddle up to her his eyes registered a flicker of something more than just affection for just a split second. They traveled down her body and that flicker crept in again. She had never seen Kyle turned on before, so it might have been hard to recognize it, but sure enough it was a new sight. It was only a heartbeat however. He had become quite adept at hiding his attraction to her.

He settled against her, taking special care not to aggravate her stitches, or to smack his arm on anything. Letting out a soft content sigh he pressed as close as he dared, but he took care to keep his hips away from her body. If she happened upon that area she would figure out way, he was hiding a fair amount of excitement. He had forgotten how much just the smell of her skin turned him on, and it was more than a little distracting.

Laughing softly, he gave her a squeeze and nodded his head. “Oh sure sure. I think you protest too much my dear.” Settling a little closer he let out a relaxed sigh and just took a moment to soak it all in. “I am glad you think so. I have missed cuddling with you too. I missed a lot of things when we parted ways. I am so glad you are here Sam, even if it is on poor circumstances.” He motioned to her side with his head.

“I wish I could stay tonight. I could likely talk the nurse to allow it, but I think your Mom is having a worry fit. I had best go home and make sure that she doesn’t try to come down here and get lost in the process. The good news is I only live about twenty minutes away, the bad news is, that means I have to leave in fourty.”

Reaching down he slowly took her hand in his bandaged one. The bandages only went down most of his forearm so he was not risking injury by cupping her hand in his. He dwarfed her hand as he gave it a loving, but fierce squeeze. “Do you need anything before I leave, or for me to bring anything when I come back tomorrow?”

 

[smiley8022]

Sam watched as Kyle's eyes lit up with something, something she couldn't place. His eyes left hers and traveled her body, her insides heating up just slightly as she wondered what he was feeling right now. She obviously knew that he was in love with her, that he had always been in love with her, but he was unaware that she knew, and she didn't plan on telling him. The flicker of whatever was flashing in his eyes died out quick enough, and then he was settling in on the bed next to her, where she loved him being.

She watched as he carefully maneuvered himself to be next to her, a soft sigh escaping his lips and filling the space between them as he brought himself close to her body, his chest the only thing pressing against hers. She frowned at the slight distance, but didn't say anything of it. She wasn't going to press him on the matter either. His laugh made her heart skip a beat, it always had. There was just something about seeing her best friend so happy, that made her heart melt. She would do anything and everything for this man, he was her other half.

Sam welcomed him greatly as he moved even closer to her, his eyes meeting hers as her laugh joined along with his from his words. She listened to him speak, a soft laugh leaving her lips as he mentioned how happy he was that she was here, even under the situation she found herself in. "You can't let the poor circumstances ruin the great outcome." She reminded him, smiling tenderly. "Our paths crossed many years ago, and they were meant to be brought back together. You're my other half, Ky. I don't know what I would do without you. I'm so sorry for letting school come between us, I should have tried harder to keep our friendship together. I just can't express how glad I am that we're together again, I've missed you so very much."

She nuzzled her face against his chest, a long breath of content leaving her lips as she pressed them against his chest. She listened to him talk about wishing he could stay here, her heart faltering briefly as she remembered that he would be leaving her soon. She hated that she had to stay here in a hospital bed by herself as he got to go home, leaving her here. She knew even as he spoke that he would stay here if he could, but her mom was a bit paranoid and overprotective, and it wouldn't be good for anybody if she showed up here tonight.

When he spoke about having to leave in fourty minutes, she squeezed his back tighter, her face remaining against his chest. When she felt his hand cupping hers, she pulled her face back from his chest and looked up to meet his eyes, her brow arching as she noticed that he was holding her small hand with his bandaged one. She started to protest, but noticed that it wasn't hurting him, so she would let it go. She returned his squeeze with her hand, noticing how much bigger his hands were against hers, causing her to smile at the sight.

Sam shook her head at his questions, her free hand reaching up to trail across his cheek as she began to speak. "I don't need anything, but thanks for asking. And all I need from you tomorrow, is to see you right back here with me." She spoke softly, her eyes twinkling in the dim room. A soft sigh left her lips as she let her head relax against her pillow, her eyes never leaving his. "As soon as I get out of here, and if you aren't busy, you're spending the night with me so I can get much needed best friend time in." She grinned slightly before her voice grew soft. "It feels like it's been ten years since I last saw you."

 

[Firmhanded_Daddy]

He underestimated the power she had over him. When they saw one another every day it was a small thing to keep himself from showing just how romantically attracted to her he was. However it had been so long, with emotions running high just looking into her eyes almost broke his will power. For a long moment he lingered on the edge of kissing her. His breathing accelerated, his pours opened up and his natural scent filled the air. His body was doing its best to betray the secret he had kept for so long.

Thankfully he had something to say and he could hopefully draw attention off of his physical reaction to her closeness, and if nothing else at least he could distract himself long enough to calm down. “You are right Sam. The outcome is important.” He frowned as she talked about being sorry that school tore them apart. He shook his head firmly and smiled back at her. “No. Don’t be sorry at all Samantha. You did what you had to do. How can I begrudge you for chasing your dreams? I was, and still am so proud at you for doing what you needed to do. I am sure it wasn’t easy, and I am sure it was even a little scary. You did the right thing. The important thing is that how we feel about each other survived, and that now we are back together again. After all it is the outcome that is important, right?”

As she nestled her face into his chest he let out a soft sigh. The familiarity of it all helped him calm down. He let out a deep breath and just soaked it all in. He felt warmth tingling in his chest and the warmth spread through his entire body. Being with her again like this was wonderful. He even moved closer to her himself, allowing his hips to press against her. He was mostly calmed by this point and hopefully she wouldn’t notice him pressing into her with just a semi-hard manhood.

He felt her squeeze him and he smiled. Squeezing her in return, pressing his body flush with hers as he leaned down to kiss the top of her head. This was worth every moment he waited and missed her. She was back and life was good again.

As she reached up to touch his face he closed his eyes and turned his head into her caress. Letting out a deep, satisfied rumble in his chest as he simply soaked in the way her hand felt upon his skin. He had to control his thoughts to keep them from imagining how her hand would feel all over his body, but he managed it. “I’ll be here Sam. Don’t worry about that.” He opened his eyes only to see a twinkle in her eyes. Confused, she quickly spoke about just what she was thinking. He was stunned by her words. He wasn’t sure he could pull off a whole night of her pressed against him without showing her the truth. He was just going to have to tell her before then. Meanwhile he realized he had not answered her, he had been silent too long. “Sure Sam. I’ll gladly make the time. We can go out to dinner and then spend the night together. It has been too long.”

He was trying hard not to think about that night, about the implications of his words. He would have chosen different phrasing if he had any idea she knew that he loved her. Meanwhile he was doing his best trying to not think about her body against his fore an entire night. She had become even more beautiful since the last time they had seen one another. Her curves were driving him wild. She had developed before they parted ways, but she had really become a woman in school and the short time they had seen one another had not really driven the point home like it was doing right now.

There was nothing he could do to stop himself from hardening against her. Pulling back now would just make the situation awkward and draw attention to it. So he said nothing, and just hugged her against him. “I’ve missed you so much.”

 

[smiley8022]

Sam noticed how his breathing began to slowly quicken, his eyes gazing deep into her own. He was the only man who had ever made her feel like he we looking into her soul as he looked at her in the way he did. The look upon his face changed, her gaze remaining even with his as he began his reply. "I'm always right." She teased before biting the supple flesh of her bottom lip tenderly.

He always knew just what to say to her, almost as if he knew just what she needed to hear. And why wouldn't he? They had been inseparable for so long. They both had other friends, of course, but nobody would or could compare to Kyle. She had been blind to his affection, simply because he had always been like a brother in her eyes. And one doesn't typically check out their brother. However, there had been a time or two where she had found herself spending all her time daydreaming about the man in the bed beside her, imagining her life if they were in a relationship, questioning and silently wondering if he had ever liked her. And here she was in his arms in a hospital bed, with full knowledge of his feelings for her. A small part inside her wanted to tell him she knew, but she couldn't be selfish with him. He had withheld this secret from her for far too long, and she wouldn't spoil it.

Sam smiled brightly up at him. He filled her with this warmth of which only he could give her. She had missed this feeling far too much. She nodded her head slowly upon his words, scrunching her nose up in distaste. "It was scary, very scary. I avoided pretty much everybody for the longest time, because I didn't want to make new friends." She sighed softly. "Absolutely right." She grinned. "I wonder who taught you such wise words." She taunted playfully.

She heard his sigh, and then welcomed his pressing hips happily with her own. Her body melted comfortably against his, where she had always loved to be. His squeeze made her giggle softly, his gentle kiss upon her head causing the tiny hairs upon the back of her neck to rise.

She noticed how much he enjoyed her touch, her small hand cupping his cheek with warm tenderness. Her thumb began to brush slowly and softly against his soft skin, her eyes studying his face as he seemed to be in the middle of thinking. He seemed a tad shocked for just a moment, his silence putting her on just a bit of an edge. He finally broke the silence, his reply receiving a sigh of relief from her parted lips.

Nodding her head slowly in reply, her thumb swiped across his cheek once more and her eyes searched his face before returning to his eyes. "Looking forward to it." She spoke softly.

She opened her mouth to say something, but the words escaped her thoughts as she slowly began to feel a stirring against her hips. She swallowed the tightness in her throat as she could feel his member hardening and pressing against her lower stomach. He hugged her tighter and her teeth clenched for only a moment as she pressed her face into the crook of his neck and fought off the shudder that fought to rack her body. Her skin warmed as her body heated up, her mouth opening as her breathing quickened slightly and her hot breath trickled over his neck. A soft purr resonated within her chest as he nestled against her. Her hand upon his cheek slipped up into his hair, fingers curling tenderly into his locks as she dared to move her body even closer to his. Every inch of her body pressed up against his as her feet entangled with his. Her lips pressed a short tender kiss upon his cheek before moving to his ear.

"I've missed you so much more than I can explain, Ky." She whispered.