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Once Samantha fell into a deep sleep, Dex stepped out of her hospital room to make a few phone calls, including smoothing things over with the head of FSN. But first he leaned against the wall and let out a groan filled with relief. From the moment Ian called him to say Samantha had been shot, Dex felt like he’d stopped breathing.
He and her family had taken turns going in to sit with her last night, Ian having pulled strings the billionaire seemed to have in every state. Dex had finally convinced Ian to take his mom to the hotel to get some rest and promised he wouldn’t leave Samantha. Despite the doctor telling them she would recover, until she’d woken up and begun talking to him, he hadn’t taken a full breath. Or so he thought.
Until she said those three words. Words he’d planned on saying first. Not that he cared about the order of things as long as Samantha was finally his.
He wished the situation with Jeremy was under control and the man behind bars. But his former NYPD detective brother, Remy, promised he’d pull in his favors and look into the search for the man who’d shot Samantha.
Heart pounding, he pulled out his phone and checked messages. He’d let his family know where he was but he’d been so focused on Samantha, he’d forgotten to check in. And they were not happy.
He nodded at the security guard and she stepped closer to the entrance to Samantha’s room. Feeling better, he walked to an area where he could make phone calls and not disturb other patients and their families, and set about reassuring his siblings and dad.
***
Not long after their intimate discussion, an NYPD detective arrived to interview Samantha about the shooting. Dex sat by her side, holding her hand in his, as she recounted the entire situation with Jeremy. Dex’s presence gave her strength but by the time she ended the story of Jeremy shooting her, she was exhausted. Throughout the telling, Dex had remained silent and didn’t interrupt the questioning until her voice began to slur.
So soon after surgery, the detective was overly persistent, something she understood but she was wiped out. Only after Dex threatened to call the nurses in to ask the man to leave, did he consent to go, but said he’d be back to follow up in case she remembered anything new.
True to his word, he’d returned around dinnertime but didn’t stay long. Nor did he provide them with any information about Jeremy or whether they knew his whereabouts.
The next visitor was Brandy, and Dex took a break so they could be alone.
Having shared such a traumatic event, they cried on each other’s shoulders. “You saved my life, you know,” Samantha said.
Brandy shook her head. “I screamed, my hand shook too hard to dial 911…”
“But you held my hand and talked me through the pain. I couldn’t have made it without you there by my side,” Samantha said over the lump in her throat.
“You were cracking Grey’s Anatomy jokes,” her best friend said, blinking back tears.
Samantha laughed. “Someone had to keep you calm.”
Brandy wiped her eyes and smiled. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I don’t think I’ve ever been so frightened in my life.”
“Same,” she whispered, the memories way too close for her liking. “So… how would you like a raise?” she asked, switching topics.
Brandy’s eyes opened wide. “I already know you need me to run things at the office. Don’t insult your best friend by offering me more money to help you out.”
“Sit down. Please.”
Pulling up a chair, Brandy lowered herself into it. “I’ll be there for whatever you need.”
It was Samantha’s turn for tears. “Thank you. But we will revisit this raise thing soon.”
She nodded. They spent the rest of her visit on lighter subjects and Brandy left when Dex returned.
***
Two more days passed, in which Dex only left Samantha’s side to do as she’d said, shower, eat something, and catch some sleep. The same with her family.
Finally, the surgeon walked in on day four for his morning visit. The family stepped out so he could examine the surgical site and he called them back in to give her the good news. If she maintained her progress, the doctor said he’d discharge her the following morning. Dex knew exactly where she’d be going, too, and it wasn’t back to the apartment with the memories of the man who’d hurt her both emotionally and physically.
After the surgeon walked out of the room, her mother jumped up from her chair. “I’m so relieved!” Emma said, hugging her daughter.
Samantha, happy but still pale, smiled. “You should go home to Michael, and you two to your kids,” she said to her family.
Emma shook her head. “You need me right now. Michael would have come but, like I told you, he’d just gotten over the flu and didn’t want to pass anything on.”
“I know, Mom. He’s a good man. I’m so happy for you.” She reached out and squeezed her mom’s hand.
