Leave Out All the Rest (CLOSED)

[Blitzen]

((This was taken from RP in the game, so credit goes to Eddie Amplitude for his part. Also thanks to Eric Copper who taught me how to save chatlogs, because hell if I can remember in-game conversations ten minutes after they happen most times. ))

The auburn haired girl sat on the edge of the dock and checked her watch as the sunlight danced over the falls. She didn't mind the wait. It was a beautiful afternoon, the waters were calm, and she had nothing on her docket for the rest of the day. Leaning back, she smiled as the familiar hum of Eddie phasing in played in her ears. She looked over her shoulder as he came into sight, the teens smiled at each other.

"Hey there." His voice resounded familiarly in her head.

"Hey yourself." She replied out loud, picking herself up off the dock to greet him with a small kiss. He responded with a hug and a devilish grin, causing her to tilt her head inquisitively, arching an eyebrow.

**You're up to something.** She thought, smiling in his direction. The young man's devilish grin grew more mischievous.

"Hey Sam?" He projected playfully back.

"Yeah, Eddie?"

"Come with me?" It could have been a trip back to school or a waltz into Dark Astoria, she'd have gone the same irregardless, but from the look on his face, it wasn't anything to be dreaded.

*************************************************************
She looked in the mirror as she pulled her jet black hair into a bun sitting at the base of her neck. Discretion would be the key to this operation. She'd been studying the boy, a telepath, since her employer first contacted her near two months ago. She saw what footage they had of him in action. He was impressive, but rough around the edges. No polish, no finesse. He'd previously lived in Colorado. His father, an alcoholic and career criminal. His mother, deceased, allegedly at the hands of his father. All useful information. He had a high level security clearance for someone his young age, that spoke volumes of his abilities, and yet he lacked control. He acted out of anger or compassion, but left to his own devices, chances were he'd be easily defeated.

She smoothed the pencil line skirt at her sides, and slipped her feet into her shoes, taking one final glance in the mirror. She was as nondescript as any of the worker drones around Paragon. Chances are she could carry out her assigned task without batting an eyelash. The boy likely wouldn't even know enough to put up a fight before the "battle" was over. Then again, she thought to herself as she applied and extra coat of lipstick and pursed her lips together. She hoped he would.

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

"Okay, open them." Eddie said playfully, leading Sam by the hand to "their" table in Steel Canyon. It was midway between the tram and I-Con, but it was a peaceful little spot right on the lake, and most kids wouldn't give it a second glance.

"Eddie Trenton, what are you up to?" She asked just as playfully, placing her free hand on her hip before opening her eyes. The table top was covered with a red checked cloth, on top of which was a basket filled with sandwiches, colas, chips and bakery cookies. She looked between the basket and Eddie while a smile spread across her face. "You set all this up?"

He matched her grin, and nodded. "Yep." Sam balked for a moment while he went about setting the food on the table.

"So this would be a date-date?" She asked with a smile.

"I'd like to think so." He replied, blushing a bit. "Unless you didn't want it to be?"

"No." She replied quickly. "No, I want it to be... if you want it to be." The dark-haired boy smiled and twisted the top off one of the 20 oz. cola bottles, offering it to Sam. It'd been nearly two weeks since they decided it was fine to stop keeping the fact that they were more than friends under wraps. Making the transition from best friend to boyfriend and girlfriend sometimes left awkard moments like this one. Sure they'd been out and done things hundreds of times together since Eddie came to the school, but this was the first time the "d" word was being passed around.

"Okay, then it's a date." She smiled and accepted the pop bottle, blushing slightly herself as she checked her shoe laces. Her smile faded when she saw the condition her sneakers were in.

"I'd likely have worn better deck shoes." She lamented, her socked toe wiggling visibly behind the fraying canvas.

"Your shoes are fine." He replied, slightly rolling his eyes and grinning. "And your laces are even." She gave them one more glance before her own smile returned.

"I still can't believe you did all this, that you remembered what we talked about." It'd just been mentioned in passing, she loved picnics back home, and she likely rambled about how they seemed to make for a perfect date.

"Though I'd forget?" He asked, with a sheepish grin.

"Maybe." She replied with a nod. "Just wasn't expecting it today. I'm gonna mark the date on my calendar and everything. First official date-date with Eddie. Gonna put it in my scrapbook, my calendar, and will remember it always."

"I'm going to mark it on mine too." He smiled. The food settled on the table, he looked in the bottom of the basket before looking up at Sam and smiling. With a slight wave of his hand, he levitated a Frisbee disc from it's resting place at the bottom of the basket, letting it fly straight up like a helicopter before returning back down to spin inches above his index finger.

"Cheater." She laughed, catching the disk mid-air and repeating the action, spinning the disk herself, attempting to transfer it from one hand to the other, only to have Eddie stop the disc mid-flight. He let it hover just up out of her reach. She tried twice as he brought the Frisbee right within her grasp range, only to have him draw it back as her fingertips touched the plastic. She folded her arms across her chest as he brought it to rest just above the top of her head, smirked and levitated up to grab it, holding it in a mock threatening manner as her feet retouched the ground.

**I give, I give.** Eddie laughed, direct communicating a thought with her, causing her to laugh as well as she rested the disc back on top of the basket.

*************************************************************
Her cell phone beeped twice, indicating a text message was being sent. The boy was in Steel Canyon. The message and arieal photo was all she would need. He was not alone, but the girl would not be a problem. Samantha Douglas. No telepathic powers. No threat. Immediately she picked up her briefcase and locked the door to the apartment she was using as a cover for this assignment. There would be no trace. She paused only for a second to dispose of the cell phone, removing the battery and SIM chip before disposing of each in random city trash cans on her way to the station. **You're supposed to be good, young Mr. Trenton.** She thought with a smirk. **Let's see how good.**

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

[Blitzen]

Sam bit into half a chocolate chip cookie, offering the other half to Eddie. They'd both been having a great time, taking a break between eating, playing Frisbee and just talking, enjoying the company.

"Hey Eddie?" She asked, tilting her head after she'd finished the last of the cookie.

"Yeah, Sam?" He replied with a smile, tilting his head at the same angle.

"Did you mean what you said about this summer? Coming home to Memphis with me for a week?"

"Absolutely." He replied quickly. "I think it would be nice to get away with you for a while. If... you think it's okay that I go?" Sam's grin grew brighter.

"Course!" My Aunt Karen said you were welcome, s'long as you don't mind the pull out couch. I'll stay in my cousin Katie's room. But there's a ton of things we can do. I mean, main reason I wanna go is on account of I wanna visit my dad, but visiting hours are only like 3 hours a day. But I could take you to Graceland. Oh! And the Dairy Queen!"

"I'd like that." He replied with a smile. "I'd like that a lot."

"Me too. And I mean, it's up to you, if'n you wanted to meet my dad and all. He's a great guy, just some people might get a little freaked, going to a prison and all. It's not like in the movies with the plexi-glass and the phone, it's... it looks like a cafeteria, really. You just go and visit."

"I'd like that too." He answered. "With how you talk about him he really does sound like a great guy."

"He's the best. Raised me himself, you know. He was always there for me, no matter what." She nodded, giving herself a little time to reflect on a few childhood memories of him.

"D'you think he'll like me?" Eddie asked after a while, breaking the silence they momentarily shared.

"Heck yeah!" She smiled reassuringly back to him. "I been tellin' him all about you for months now." Eddie blushed slightly, staring at his shoes, but smiled none the less. "I told him when you first came to the school, and when you said I was your best friend, and I told him when I started havin' doubts and wanted to break up with Jase, I told him a ton more about you then. He's gonna like you just fine, I know it." Eddie turned a deeper shade of crimson.
"It'll be nice to meet him."
"I'm really glad you want to s'all. I know he will be glad too. I know it."

*************************************************************
She strode off the train purposefully, her gait at an even but determined pace. There was a small path that cut through the park, but it was neither crowded nor abandoned. She checked her watch. The timing would be perfect, businesses letting out, she would blend right in. Her heels clicked against the pavement, her steel gaze intensifying when she spotted the picnic table off in the distance, while the rest of her features remained unchanged.

*************************************************************
Eddie sat on the bench seat of the table, leaning his elbows atop the table in front of him, his fingertip diligently tracing a knot in the stained wood surface. Sam sat next to him only reversed, her feet outstretched on the grass, and her elbows propping her up against the table behind her as she studied the clouds and reflected on the date itself. A smile crept across her face as she looked over at Eddie, content in the moment, and wanting to make it just a bit better.
"Hey Eddie?" She said in a lowered tone, tilting her head to the side.
"Yes, Sam?" He replied, a wry look crossing his face as well as she leaned over to softly place a kiss on his lips. He closed his eyes behind his glasses and returned the notion.
"Thank you." She said, returning to stare at the clouds. "For the picnic, and for understanding about my dad, and for wanting to come with me on account of so this way I won't miss you."
"I'd miss you too if..." Something distracted him. He stopped mid-sentence, checking over his left shoulder.

*************************************************************
He didn't have her range, she noted, otherwise, this would have long been over. Time slowed down for her as she approached, her target acquired and locked in the corner of her eye, but more importantly she picked up his "frequency."

**Hello, Edward.** She introduced herself silently directly into his mind. The boy looked up over his shoulder at her. He could sense the danger, she could sense his determination, but more importantly his fear. He tried to block the mental probe gathering scores of knowledge by the second. invading his secrets. He paled slightly as she passed, his thoughts racing, confusion about the threat looming before him. He didn't focus fast enough. A pity. She took full advantage over the situation.

**Good-bye Edward.** Her jaw muscles briefly twitched, undetectable to most eyes, drawing him into The Realm. And with the action, the boy collapsed.

She continued her journey out of the park, not stopping to look back, the edges of her lips curled up ever so slightly.

[Blitzen]

The din of a hospital emergency room were unmistakable. Doctors being paged, televisions droning on, all kinds of strange equipment rattling or beeping calling attention to their presence. A young girl stood next to a neophyte doctor wearing green scrubs, her hands fidgeting nervously as she spoke.

"I don't know!" She explained in a agitated, anxious voice. "We were at the park, and just talking and he went unconscious. I hit his med badge, because I didn't know what was wrong, he's gonna be all right, though, right?"

"Miss, please try to calm down." The physician rationalized. "He's being examined now, is there anything else you can think of? Is he taking any sort of drugs, perhaps?"

"What? No. Eddie doesn't use drugs. The park wasn't even crowded, he didn't even run any missions today."

"And you mentioned he was a telepath?"

"Yeah, he communicates telepathically. And a telekinetic. He's been here before, it should be in his records or something." The doctor nodded and made a notation on his chart.

"We're going to have to run some tests." The doctor replied, giving her a non committed response instead of the one she hoped for. "We should know some more after that. For now? Please have a seat, I'll be back as soon as we know anything."

She couldn't take his advice. Sitting equated to doing nothing, and she wasn't good at doing nothing. It would only make her mind race. Pacing, pacing was at least doing something. Pacing and checking the clock. Minutes dragged by turning into hours. Three to be exact. And the nurses station had stopped responding to her inquiries, all they could say was they had the same information she had at that point. The pay phones caught her eye. Should she call someone? Who? It's not like she could reach Eddie's dad. Stasis maybe? She was a friend of his. Ves? Bryan? Bryan. Bryan would know what to say. He always knew what to say. Despite how she'd pick on him and vice versa, he really was the big brother she'd always wanted. Her fingers dialed the numbers, but she choked up the moment he answered and closed the phone. She'd call when she knew something. Maybe she was worrying over nothing, no need to upset him as well. She replayed the scene in the park over and over inside her mind, they were talking, something caught his attention. He looked up, then just as suddenly slumped down where he sat, no other warning.

"Eddie?" She asked, looking over her shoulder and sitting up straighter. Her hand reached out to shake his shoulder, and was met with no resistance. "Eddie?" She repeated with worry, standing up this time and taking his hand. His skin was cool to the touch and lifeless, causing her eyes to go wide as she checked for a pulse first on his wrist then on his neck. Her own pulse quickened as she faintly detected his, tapping his med-badge immediately after. "Hang on Eddie, okay? I'll get you help. I'll see you at the hospital, just hold on."

The sound of the elevator doors snapped her back to the present, finally the doctor she'd been waiting for emerged, and much to the relief of the nurses at the station, Sam was next to him in a heartbeat.

"Thanks for your patience, Miss Trenton." He began. She near turned to see if someone was standing next to her, before remembering she'd said she was Eddie's sister, knowing how the hospital was about releasing information to non immediate family members.

"How is he? Where is he, can I see him now?"

"We have him in ward 4. To be frank, we aren't quite sure what is wrong with him. The tests have been inconclusive. Both the CTscan and MRI show no trauma to the brain. Generally that indicates a state of catatonia, a psychological condition characterized by unresponsiveness. While trying to revive him from that state, he suffered a minor cardiac arrest." Sam's eyes grew wider as her knees wanted to give out from beneath her. Cardiac arrest? A heart attack? Eddie was seventeen! Seventeen year olds don't have heart attacks. "We're having trouble getting his vital signs stabilized. For the time being, he's simply unconscious with an extremely high rate of rapid-eye-movement, much higher than we typically see in comatose patients."

"Comatose?"

"For lack of a better term. Since there is no brain trauma, he currently has an unexplained abnormality causing him to lack consciousness." She fought to control the dam of tears behind her eyes that threatened to break through at any second, and she wrapped her arms around herself protectively.

"It's just... I don't understand. He was fine. How long will he be out for? Is he in danger? Rapid eye movement, that's good, right? Brain activity, like he's dreaming?"

"It's impossible to say at this point." He replied sympathetically. "Since we can't seem to isolate a cause, there's no way to tell how long he could be in this state. He could wake up in a matter of hours, days, weeks, or the possibility exists that he simply might not come out of it." She winced at his words.

"Ever?" She asked, a few tears escaping down her cheek from behind the dam.

"We're trying to stay optimistic, but right now things are pretty touch and go." He said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "His vital signs are finally stable, and we're monitoring him closely. But we can't find anything medically wrong, so at this point there is nothing to treat. All we can do is sustain him and hope for the best, that he's able to regain consciousness. In the meantime, we're contacting a few experts on the subject of telepathy and telekineses which hopefully will give us some more insight."

"Can.... Can I see him?"

"He's in Ward 4, Fourth floor, second door to the right. I'm sorry I don't have better news for you, Miss Trenton."

"Don't be." She said, shaking her head. "On account of he's... he's gonna be fine. He'll wake up soon. He'll be fine. I just gotta see him is all, but I'm tellin' you, he will be fine."

[Blitzen]

Sam gingerly pushed open the door to Eddie's room, drawing a sharp breath at the pale teen lying prone in the hospital bed. Tubes were taped to each arm, and oxygen was fed into his nostrils. Dark circles had already formed underneath his eyes which she could see darting about from behind his closed lids. She slid the padded chair closer to the bed, making a scraping sound against the tile floor.

"Hey, Eddie?" She whispered, sitting down and picking up his unresponsive hand. She closed her eyes, hoping in vain to hear his typical: "Yeah, Sam?" in response. She opened her eyes and placed his palm against her cheek, as hot tears stained his white bed sheet. "Eddie?" She repeated. "What happened, huh?" She sniffled a little before using her free hand to brush his hair back from his forehead.

**Talk to me.** She sent a direct thought to him. **You can hear me, right? Please? Squeeze my hand. Something. Just let me know you hear me** She concentrated as hard as she could, but received eerie silence from him in response.

"I can see your eyes moving. Something... something is going on? Like the 'scape? Whatever it is... let me help, okay? You let me help." She held tighter to his hand, closed her eyes, and waited for the "slipping" feeling that meant you were falling into a mindscape, but it never came. "Eddie? You're scaring me. C'mon, don't... don't do this, okay? You're not alone. Not ever. Just let me know you hear me." Not a muscle twitched on the still boy, causing her tears to come faster, frustration taking hold.

"Eddie Trenton." She said through gritted teeth, her voice shaking with emotion. "Don't you do this, don't you dare do this. I told you when we were on the roof. And I told you again on the boats, I need you here. You... you come back on account of I need you here. You promised me, you said you wouldn't never let anything hurt me, and it will. Unless you're here? It will. You hear that? Because I'm hurting right now, and it's not the kinda hurt they can fix, but you promised. You've never lied to me, don't you start now." Her voice cracked as she choked a bit, swallowing harshly. "I promised you the same thing. Don't go and make a liar out of me either." Her tone softened a bit. "Remember what you said? You said... you said that no man fights as hard as he who fights for someone he loves, right? Then that's what you do, on account of..." She paused, giving herself a moment to wipe her tears with the back of her hand.

"I love you, Eddie. I have for a long time, and I never said that to no one before, 'cept my dad. No one. Not even you, and I shoulda, on account of I do. So whatever it is you got going on, you hear that, and you know that, and you fight this, 'cause I'll fight anything I gotta to bring you back." She concentrated once again. **I love you.**

The small bag holding Eddies personal belongings on the nightstand tumbled to the floor, causing Sam to jump slightly, a smile spreading over her face, his digital tape recorder spilling onto the tile. She stared from the recorder back to Eddie for a few seconds before leaning down to retrieve it, swallowing a lump in her throat as she did so. He was telekinetic. He heard. He was trying. She pressed the play button and held her breath, recognizing the tune immediately. He'd sung it to her a few days before. The dam holding back the tears burst, streaming down her cheeks splashing down around her as the music played on.

"Don't go." It was the simple sentence that stopped him from leaving once before. She uttered it on the rooftop when he wanted to leave school, leave everything behind. "You said on the rooftop that I was the only one who could convince you to stay. You stayed for me then. Stay for me now, because I love you, and I know in my heart, Eddie. I know you love me too. So you fight this. You come back." She lightly kissed his forehead. "For me. Wake up, Eddie. Just wake up."

[Blitzen]

(( (LEAVE OUT ALL THE REST Lyrics - By Linkin' Park)

I dreamed I was missing, you were so scared
But no one would listen, 'cause no one else cared
After my dreaming, I woke with this fear
What am I leaving when I'm done here?

So if you're asking me, I want you to know

When my time comes, forget the wrong that I've done
Help me leave behind some reasons to be missed
Don't resent me, and when you're feeling empty
Keep me in your memory, leave out all the rest

Leave out all the rest, don't be afraid
I've taken my beating, I've shared what I made
I'm strong on the surface, not all the way through
I've never been perfect, but neither have you

So if you're asking me, I want you to know

When my time comes, forget the wrong that I've done
Help me leave behind some reasons to be missed
Don't resent me, and when you're feeling empty
Keep me in your memory,
Leave out all the rest
Leave out all the rest

Forgetting all the hurt inside you've learned to hide so well
Pretending someone else can come and save me from myself
I can't be who you are

When my time comes, forget the wrong that I've done
Help me leave behind some reasons to be missed
Don't resent me, and when you're feeling empty
Keep me in your memory,
Leave out all the rest
Leave out all the rest

Forgetting all the hurt inside you've learned to hide so well
Pretending someone else can come and save me from myself

I can't be who you are

I can't be who you are ))

[Blitzen]

((Huge thanks to Bryan for letting me borrow him for this post, and for checking it over for me. ))

"Miss Trenton?" The voice sounded distant to her, slowly rousing her from sleep. "Miss Trenton?" The voice repeated. Sam shifted in the chair she'd fallen asleep in, wishing Miss Trenton would just answer whoever was talking to her, so she could grab a few more winks. "Miss Trenton?" A hand shook her shoulder, bringing her back into the present. Right. Hospital. She was Miss Trenton to them. Maybe Eddie was up? Her eyes snapped open, her hopes dashed when she saw him in the same state as when she'd inadvertently fallen asleep.

"We're going to need you to wait outside. Dr. Karlsten ordered a few more tests. This should take about half an hour or so, plenty of time for you to grab something to eat in the cafeteria downstairs." Sam checked her watch, not realizing how long she'd actually been there, but food wasn't on her mind. She doubted she could get anything down past the huge lump in her throat or the knot in her stomach, but she nodded just the same. She still clutched the digital recorder as she headed downstairs. Air. Fresh air might be good. Easier to breathe.

Once outside, she found a grassy spot and sat down, taking a few deep breaths. She stared at her phone blankly for a good two minutes before auto-dialing the numbers, silently willing him to answer.

"House of hotties hot-line." He answered in a sing-song voice, causing her to smirk in spite of herself. "Bryan Baxter, head hottie speaking." She closed her eyes for a second, hoping words would come to her.

"Sam?" He laughed into the receiver. "I know it's you, caller-ID, remember? So yes, my refrigerator is running, and no, I don't have Prince Albert in a can." She wasn't sure if she laughed, cried or choked at the joke. "Sammy? You okay, sis"" He asked a little more concern in his voice.

"Eddie." She blurted out, her voice sounding thick. "Something... something happened to Eddie, B." Her mind was racing a mile a minute, words rambling around but none were finding an escape.

"What happened?" She could hear him sliding on his trademarked Varsity jacket as they spoke.

"Hospital in Steel Canyon." She said slowly. Her voice sounded funny, even to her. "He was fine, Big Guy. He was fine, and now he's not. No one knows anything, except they can't wake him up, and I could... if you could, if you aren't busy..."

"I'll be right there."

Sam waited outside of Eddie's room while the physicians finished whatever tests they were running, the half-hour estimated now looming closer to the ninety minute mark. Her arms were wrapped protectively around her, and she'd given up trying to see anything inside the small window when Bryan rounded the corner. She swallowed the lump in her throat and smiled. He must've left the dorms before he hung up for him to get there so quick. She instantly flashed back to his first day on campus. A scrawny, geeky looking kid with a superhero complex, clutching more than a few comics under one arm. Out of costume, he barely made eye contact when they'd speak. How much time had passed? Half a year, maybe, and he'd transformed from that shy kid into a confident, popular, count-on kind of guy with a knack for being where he was needed when he was needed. He wasn't a jock or a nerd, he wasn't any stereotype really, he was just Bryan. And more importantly to Sam, even with his brush with fame, he never forgot his friends. He was always there for her.

"Hey, Sis." He said, putting his hands on her shoulders before drawing her into a hug. She hugged him back, resting her forehead against the scratchy wool and cool leather of his jacket, grateful for the company. She held on for a good while, gathering her thoughts and swallowing tears before releasing him and leaning back against the wall. "They wouldn't give me much information downstairs, so what's going on?" She rubbed her temples and stared at the SJS on the front of his jacket as she recanted the story to him. One long run-on sentence described everything she remembered at the park to everything the doctor had said. An expert from G.I.F.T. would be there in the morning. They were doing the best they could. He was in good hands. Everything she'd heard, she repeated verbatim.

"So all we can do is wait." She finished, offering him a small shrug. "Hope for the best, hope he wakes up."

"I'm sure he will." Bryan started to say, just as the team of specialists opened the door to Eddie's room.

"We'll let you know as soon as we get the test results back, Ms. Trenton." A doctor in a white coat two sizes two large assured her. "But for now, there's no change. As soon as the nurses finish up, you can go on in if you'd like." Sam nodded slowly, as Bryan slid an arm around her shoulder.

"What about you, how are you holding up?" He asked while she leaned her head back down against him.

"You know, you know. I'm a tank, Bry. We're always okay."

"Except when you're not?" He finished for her, causing her to smile and nod. The nurses finished with his sheets and vital signs, giving the two the go ahead to visit, Sam letting Bryan lead the way.

"Hiya Eddie." He said after a few seconds in his optimistic, reassuring voice. "Boy what some guys won't do to get a girl's attention. Just so you know? This probably isn't your best bet. Maybe next time, you should try flowers, candy, that sort of thing. Nothing about this says romantic. Besides, if a team of nurses is waiting on you hand and foot? You definitely don't want to sleep through that. So either way, this unconscious thing isn't the way to go. "Sam laughed a bit, playfully tapping him on the arm. "And what's this about Ms. Trenton? You fly off to Vegas or something? Get hitched by an Elvis impersonator?"

"They only give out information to relatives." She explained quietly. "So I had to say I was his sister is all."

"Good. I was almost hurt I didn't get an invitation." He said, tossing her a wink.

"Don't be a goof." She smiled back, feeling a little better if just for the moment. "Of course you'd be invited. You're the only one of my friends who's got a job. You'd buy me the best toaster."

"Four slots." He said with a reassuring smile. "Each one big enough for a bagel. Nothing but the best." She laughed again, then ran both her hands across her face and through her hair. Bryan tapped his finger against the metal railing of Eddie's bed for a second before reaching into his pocket for his wallet. "I tell you what. Why don't I keep Eddie company for a little bit. Give us some guy time to talk guy stuff, strictly no females allowed. You go on back to the dorms, take a shower, catch a nap if you want, and pick us up some grub on your way back." Sam balked, looking from Bryan back to Eddie, before shaking her head, but Bryan wasn't so quick to take no for an answer. "Guy time is important, Samantha. We need to talk about football, and hockey, and guy stuff."

"I know more 'bout football and hockey then you both put together." She groused with a smirk.

"I was being polite. We're going to discuss nurses and sponge baths. Now shoo." He smiled, holding out a twenty dollar bill. "And bring me back a cheeseburger from the Up-N-Away later."

"Two." She corrected. "Eddie might wake up hungry." Bryan smiled at the response.

"Three cheeseburgers. One for me, one for you and one for Eddie." Bryan repeated as she nodded and headed towards the door. Sam paused for a moment, looking back and making eye contact with her friend for the first time since he arrived.

"Hey, Bryan?"

"I'll call you immediately if he does." He assured her, not needing to hear the rest of the question. He made another shooing motion with a wave of his hand.

"Don't leave him, okay? And thanks." She replied, her smile showing her gratitude. "For... y'know. Everything."

"I'll stay with him. I'm here for you Sammy." He winked. "Always."

[Gravwarp]

((Thank you Sam for greenlighting my addition and for checking up after my dumb fingers.))

As Sam walked out of the room, Bryan’s smile lingered long enough to be sure that she had really gone. He stood next to his friend; his hand still resting on Eddie’s shoulder, where he had set it while trying to convince Sam to take a break.

When he had first turned that corner in the hallway and saw Sam he knew she was exhausted. Despite her ability to put on a tough front, Bryan knew that Sam was a sensitive girl. She wouldn’t cry here in the hospital, not in front of the strangers here.

Bryan pulled up the uncomfortable bedside chair the hospital supplied for visitors. The wooden frame squeaked loudly as the young man put his weight onto the thin foam cushion. “She needed to go have a good cry, Eddie. It will make her feel better than sitting here with you bottling it up.” He spoke aloud while he got comfortable.

He flipped though the channels on the wall mounted television; stealing glances at his friend’s face, as he lay comatose beside him. His face looked strange; not peaceful like a person sleeping but it also didn’t appear as if he was in pain. Bryan thought his face held a look of confusion, like he was lost.

Bryan thought back on all the times he and Eddie had talked to each other. Eddie had been there for him; he could clearly remember the sound of Eddie’s voice in his mind. He smiled when he thought of Eddie’s little way of sort of knocking on your mind before he started telepathically “speaking” to you. For Bryan, he was always heard a pair of two low notes, that always reminded him of a man mimicking the sound of a doorbell, by humming. Just recalling the sound made him smile.

“Eddie? Can you hear me? Wake up, Eddie.” Bryan stared at the television set but his mind was focusing all his attention on trying get the boy next to him to respond. He refocused again, trying to put all his thoughts in one mental command pointed at his friend. “Eddie, wake up.”

To anyone that would pass by that small glass window, they would see a calm young man sitting next to a his friend silently as an old episode of “Three’s Company” played on the small screen. But if they could read minds or hear thoughts. They would have heard that calm young man in the uncomfortable wooden chair, repeating one phrase over and over.

“Eddie, I know you can hear me. Wake up.”

[Stasis Kiss]

Visiting hours were for chumps.

She wasn't a chump. Late, always late, never the first to know, always the last to catch up but she wasn't a chump. It had been Bryan who'd called from the hospital, his voice so tired on the phone. Keep it quiet, was the word. Don't freak out, don't tell anybody else but Eddie's in trouble. Can you come and sit with him? Sam's about out of her mind.

As if there was any question. She'd said something, couldn't even remember what and she'd hung up. Eddie. Oh please God, anybody but Eddie.

He was always so serious, so painfully sincere about everything. About being angry, about being confused, about being in love. As if everything touched him just that little bit deeper than anybody else. He brought out so many protective feelings that she'd about given up trying to track it all; a double echo of someone else that never occured to her to think about. He was just whoever he was and she teased him and she watched out for him and she talked his ear off sometimes.

In a hospital. Eddie was in the hospital.

She'd meant to go right away, she had. But she was always late and visiting hours were over and she'd been denied at the desk. Come back tomorrow, no they wouldn't release any information, no they weren't at all impressed with the security fifty pin she'd flashed in desperation.

Frustrated she'd turned away, walked to the directory posted in the lobby and studied it with eyes hot and blank. A quiet comm call to Bryan's private channel solved one problem at least.

So she'd waited then in the parking lot, watching the last of the sun be swallowed by the first of the night. Impossible not to compare this to another visit. She tried hard not to think about it though. Eddie would be okay, the same as Timothy. She refused to consider anything else. He would be fine.

And when it was dark enough, she went searching.

So quiet, for all the muted noise outside in the hallway. She stood by the bed and studied his face. Someone had partially closed the privacy curtain and whoever was huddled on the other side of the room hadn't stirred as she'd crept in. She was grateful for the small cover, for the silence that helped her listen for imminent discovery.

Eddie was never this quiet for all that he never said anything out loud. She wanted to shake him, wake him up, yell maybe. Something hurt her eyes and she turned away to hug herself. It wasn't fair. He didn't belong here, not like this. Her, sure. Could she make a deal, trade places? A spell circle and he'd be okay again. There had to be somebody out there who'd do it.

Stasis rubbed her face and realised she was being stupid again. Unfair things happened all the time. The world didn't owe anybody anything after all. Not to her, and not even to him.

A sudden sound outside the door brought her head up, body tensing. It passed on, just something rattling, a squeaky wheel on a gurney maybe. False alarm. She came down off the balls of her feet too slowly. Silly. So what if she was caught in the room, what could they do? Throw her out?

She sat on the chair by the side of the bed, knowing that Sam had been here, Bryan, maybe other people. She watched herself take her friend's hand as if watching somebody else move her body, knowing that she was mirroring their movements too. He'd be okay. He had to be okay. Their thoughts, their worries.

She didn't know what to do. She never knew what to do. Helplessness was a bitter taste in the back of her throat.

How long she sat there, she couldn't have said.

Finally she realised that she was doing something. Under her breath, quietly enough not to wake the sleeper in the next bed. Singing a child's lullaby.

While he slept as once before she'd sung to him over a solemn channel, with no one else to hear and laugh at her uncertain voice.

Wake up, wake up, wake up. I miss you. Come back.

Not the words that left her lips but he'd hear her. She knew he heard her, just like before.

Come back.

[Vesper Fiend]

[My thanks to Sam and Eddie for letting me join in and for the in-game RP, and to Sam for her editing.]

After Bryan’s call, Ves rushed straight to the hospital in Steel Canyon. Flying had never felt so slow before. She was cursing the direction of the wind, the buildings, the war walls, anything and everything that got in her way, slowed her down, or made her take anything other than the most direct possible path. She waited impatiently at the reception desk as they looked up the room number. Time stretched on interminably, and once the location was finally revealed, she took off down the hallway so rapidly she nearly bowled over a doctorish-looking young man and the patient he appeared to be escorting down the hall. Muttering a loud apology of some sort, she fought down the urge to fly down the halls and up stairways at top speed, opting instead for a fast run and the elevators that seemed to move at a snail's pace. Finding the room, she forced herself to slow down and took a moment to catch her breath. Pushing the door open she couldn’t help but stare for a moment at Eddie lying motionless in the bed. A lump formed in her throat as she gazed at his still form attached to so many tubes and monitors. She moved to the side of the bed, pausing to gently lay a hand on Sam's shoulder for the briefest moment before she took the seat next to the other girl. Ves thought Sam looked tired, more worn than she had ever seen. She spoke as quietly as she could manage, but in the hushed room, her voice still sounded too loud.

“Sam? Bryan called. Told me Eddie's in the hospital, only he didn't know much more. What's goin' on?”

Sam smiled a little at her friend, and shrugged, recanting the story she'd given to Bryan the day before, in a tired voice. The words were all too familiar with her by that point. There was nothing to tell. No one knew anything. She spoke the words on autopilot. It'd been over 24 hours. She'd spent the night in the park, looking for clues, something, anything to give a shred of hope as to what happened. G.I.F.T. was bringing in an expert soon. No one knew anything, and frustration was setting in.

"I've been talking to him, you know? And he's just, he's not responding. 'Cept for earlier. Sorta."

“Sorta?”

“Yeah. I was talking to him, and you know how he can do that thing where he moves stuff with his mind? His bag fell off the table, and this was the only thing that hit the floor.” As she said it, Sam lifted a digital recorder into view. “And it was cued up to the song he sang me yesterday. And... it had to be him s'all. It was him, right? You think he'd do that?”

Ves didn’t answer right away. It seemed… unlikely. Still, there was reason to hope. She tried to put that hope into her response, not entirely convinced that she was successful. “Yeah... Yeah, I think he'd do that sorta thing. It coulda been him.”

Sam was quiet for a moment as she checked her shoelaces. The nervous habit told Ves that she hadn’t projected as much confidence as she had wished. Apparently finding the right one uneven, Sam retied it.

“Hey, Ves?”

“Yeah?”

“You think he'll be okay, right?”

There was no hesitation on her part as Ves gave an enthusiastic nod. “Of course he'll be OK. He's gotta be OK. He'll pull through. It's Eddie after all!”

“On account of I promised 'em I wouldn't let anything happen to him. You know, when we run missions and stuff? We always say that. I look out for him, and he looks out for me. And I sorta feel like I didn't do that, you know? 'Cause something happened, and I couldn't do nothing to stop it, on account of... I don't even know what it is.”

“Sam... It's not your fault. Sometimes...” The right words were always hard to find at a time like this, if there were such a thing as the right words, at all. “Stuff just happens. We don't even know what it is, yet. You can't go blamin' yourself...” There was a momentary pause as Ves struggled to think of something more. “How 'bout you? You doin' OK?”

At least the question elicited a smile. “I'm a tank, Ves. We're always okay. Know why there's no tank ward in the hospital?”

Ves grinned, remembering the punchline. “Because it'd be empty.”

Sam's smile broadened. "On account of it'd be empty." Both girls settled back into their seats, making idle small talk for a few hours. Everything from Eddie's first day at school to what happened with his uncle. After a while, Sam's voice began to trail off.

"I know he's really glad you came to see 'em.” Sam finished a particularly long ramble with. There was a brief pause. “And me too.”

Ves nodded, a little uncertain how to respond. “Yeah... And he'll be alright, Sam. I know he will.”

“Normally s'where I'd ask you to promise, only I know you can't.”

“They got good doctors here. And I'm sure G.I.F.T. or the school or whoever'll send their best medical and psychic people to help out.” Ves added a reassuring smile. “It'll be fine. They'll figure it out, and it'll all be fine.” Glancing around the small private room, Ves figured if she said it often enough, they’d both believe it. “How much longer you plannin' on stayin' here?”

“I dunno. 'Til he wakes up. What if he wakes up and there's no one here? I'd freak out if I woke up and didn't know where I was and no one was there.”

Ves nodded understandingly. “You need anythin'? I could fetch you some clothes... Or food... Hospital food's the pits, or so I hear. I could grab some El Super Mex or somethin'?”

“I'm good, really. I'll go back to the dorms tonight after hours is up.”

“All right. If there's anythin' I can, you know... do. You let me know, OK? Even if you just need someone to just sit here with you... 'Cause you know I don't sleep much...” She grinned, unable to help herself. “Eerie powers and all, right?”

“Yeah." Sam smiled. "I know. You got that "I-don't-need-sleep" gene. I'll call you, when he's up. And then you can come and say hey to 'em. Okay?”

“Uh-huh. I'll keep the com on the whole time. The minute you know somethin' you call me.”

“Sure will! And ... meant what I said. I'm glad you came, on account of it means a lot. A whole lot. I'm glad you came to the school, too, Ves. In case I never said it before? I am.”

Ves blinked a couple of times, a little surprised at the turn in the conversation. “Uh, no... I don't think you did... And...” Sam was easily her best friend, but… it wasn’t something the two of them had ever discussed. She smiled warmly, though. “I'm really glad I did, too. And it's no big thing, really... I know you'd do the same, Sam. Eddie, too.”

“I didn't say a bunch a stuff to Eddie that I meant to say, you know? So... I wanted to tell you that about you and the school.”

"Thanks... That really means a lot to me Sam... And don't worry, you'll get the chance to tell him as soon as he wakes up... Remember anythin' I can do... Anythin' at all. I'll do it."

"I'll give you a call when..."

A faint sigh caught the attention of the two girls. Turning towards the door, they caught a look at a man clad in dark leather just turning to leave. Both spoke simultaneously.

“Ves?”

“Who…?”

Sam jumped from her chair. “Stay with Eddie a minute.”

“You…” Ves started, but Sam was already out the door. “… got it.”

The room was quiet and still, bathed in the muted glow of soft lighting. The steady breathing of its occupants and the activity of the monitors were a metronome, marking the passage of time in a subtle rhythm. Ves wasn't sure what to say or do in a situation like this. "Eddie IS telepathic... Maybe it's just enough to be here..." she thought. She sat in unmoving silence for several long minutes, before tentatively laying a gloved hand on Eddie's arm. "I dunno if you can hear me Eddie, but right now it's just you and me. I dunno what's goin' on or where you're at, but you need to hurry back, you hear? Sam's here waitin' on you. She figures you're gonna be back any minute now. She needs you, and I'll never forgive you if you go and leave her." She could feel her eyes welling up. She swallowed the lump forming again in her throat and put on her sternest face in an attempt to hold back the tears. "You do that, and 'tween portals and mushroom rings and everythin' else, I'll find you and drag your sorry butt back just to give you what for. You hear me, Trenton?" She closed her eyes, scrunching her face up and throwing all of her effort into concentration as she focused her thoughts on him, hoping her words came to him as the wishful plea she intended and not the desperate shout she imagined. "Just hurry back, please. Hurry back, Eddie." She sat still for a while longer before the sounds of movement drew her attention towards the door. As Sam entered the room, Ves turned away and hurriedly wiped her eyes, hoping her friend wouldn't notice.

“That was his dad. Hear that, Eddie? Even your dad came.”

“His dad? Where'd he go?” Ves cleared her throat, sounding a little confused. “He's not stayin'?”

Sam grasped Eddie's hand and answered offhandedly. “I dunno where he went... He's got... legal issues.”

“Oh…”

“But he took a chance and visited you, and you don't want him seeing you with all these tubes and crap, right? So how's about waking up for when he comes back?” There was a long period of silence before Sam smiled. “Well, was worth a shot.”

“Yeah.” Ves nodded slightly. “Always worth a shot. And one time when you do that? He will.”

“I know.” Sam’s voice was full of optimism. “He just needs a day or so, but he's a fighter. And he'll be back. We got a date to finish up, and he wouldn't leave without sayin' good-bye. That's how I know he'll be back.”

As the pause in the conversation seemed to lengthen, Ves suddenly suggested, “You told me how you met… Tell me some more stories.” She kept Sam busy telling story after story well past visiting hours, past midnight, hoping to keep her mind occupied. The two of them sat by Eddie’s bedside into the wee hours of the morning.

“And then...” Sam yawned, leaning against the arm of her chair. “He sang this Elvis song that he...” Another yawn interrupted her. “…learned, and no one's never sang me an Elvis song... before, and he learned.” Her eyes, frequently closing for long moments, finally remained hidden behind the heavy lids. “…all the words and everything... and it was...” Sam was quiet for a log moment before she mumbled “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You, and I like that song… on account...”

After a prolonged silence, Ves quietly climbed from her seat. Pulling a light blanket from the small closet, she gently draped it around her friend, and stood there silently for several minutes. With a smile, she penned a simple note before slipping through the door. Before closing it and returning to campus, she quietly repeated what she had written. “Good night, Sam. Good night, Eddie.”

[Blitzen]

"Take him? Take him where?" Sam asked in an almost panicked voice. Six days had passed with no change. She'd gotten to the hospital just after visiting hours started, bringing a few books and Eddie's PSP along in her backpack. The books were for show, mainly. Truth be told, Ves was covering for a lot of her school work. True friend that she was, she'd show up for a few hours each day, going over Sam's summer course load being met by a blank stare with the occasional nod. Sam's mind wasn't in it, after Eddie woke up she'd catch up on anything she missed, but she appreciated the respite Ves provided. None of that mattered now. What mattered was the doctor and the GIFT specialist who brought her into a small office shortly after she'd arrived.

"There is a facility in Chicago which specializes in this sort of thing." The woman with the dark hair said. She'd given her name, Dr. Someone-or-other, but Sam couldn't remember hearing it. "He will be receiving far better care there. They specialize in Telepathic sensory overload, to put it in laymans terms." The minute Sam laid eyes on her, she instantly disliked her, with her jet-black hair pulled back dramatically, her stern face and cold eyes. There was just something she couldn't put her finger on. Maybe it was because she was a telepath, like Eddie. Maybe it was because Sam felt her rummaging around in her brain and called her on it. Being best friends with a telepath for so long had it's advantages. But something. She shook her head, holding up her index finger for emphasis.

"Chicago? No. No." Sam protested. "Chicago is too far. You can't take him, you can't, on account of it you do..." She swallowed her emotions, willing herself to keep them in check. I can't see him. "You just can't."

"Ms. Trenton." Dr. Karlsten began.

**That's not your real name, is it?** The GIFT doctor projected to her, furthering Sam's wariness.

"Stay outta my head!" Sam warned aloud, agitation and frustration taking hold as she stood up threateningly. "You... Chicago... I.... no. Just... no."

"Samantha." The GIFT doctor spoke in a calm and even tone, the edges of her lips curling up as she smiled. "Chicago is the best place for him. You want what's best for him, don't you?" Her jaw muscles twitched slightly. The change was dramatic. She was no longer someone to be mistrusted. Her words were soothing to Sam, they felt like a warm blanket on a chilly morning.

"I want what's best for him." Sam agreed with a nod, her voice and demeanor softening as she slowly sank back down into her chair.

"And you know that's what we can provide him with." Sam nodded with the doctor's words, almost involuntarily. They would take care of Eddie. "He'll be transported via helicopter first thing in the morning."

"Okay." Sam obliged, still feeling secure but at the same time, feeling off. A feeling she couldn't quite place her finger on.

"Let me... be the one to tell him?" She asked in a subdued voice.

"Of course." The dark haired woman faintly smiled. "And if it helps, know he's at peace. I could see his thoughts. He's not afraid, he's not in pain. He's found somewhere perfect."

"Somewhere perfect." Sam repeated as she stood up to make her way down the hall.

The feeling of being surrounded by warmth left as she stood outside Eddie's doorway, almost as if she'd stepped out of a fog. He looked the same. For six days he hadn't moved, hadn't changed appearance, hadn't batted an eye lash. She was exhausted inside and out, happy that he was so at peace and at the same time angry about it. Maybe he changed his mind? Maybe he forgot his promise. But come hell or high water, she wasn't about to just let him go to Chicago without hearing it.

"Hey, Eddie." She said, sliding down into the seat next to him and taking his hand. "Here's the part where you say 'Yeah, Sam?' So you go ahead and say that, and I'll just sit here and wait 'til you do." Silence greeted her in response.

"Still not talking to me?" She half chuckled and half sobbed. "I'm gonna start thinking maybe you're mad at me for something. Have I told you how much I hate the silent treatment?" She brushed back a few strands of his hair that clung to his forehead. "Eddie?" She bit down on her bottom lip and closed her eyes, sending a direct thought to him. **C'mon, please?** A good minute passed. She blinked hard, trying to sound positive as she broke the next bit of news to him. "Listen... I dunno how to say this, 'cept to just say it. They sorta want to take you away, to somewhere that they got experts and stuff, and they can help you more, that's what they're saying. Only if they do that, I'm not going to be able to come see you, on account of it's far. And I don't want you to go, and I don't know what to do, Eddie. If you go, I can't see you and hold your hand and close my eyes and pretend that you're okay, and that you just fell asleep like when we were on that boat. And if you don't go, maybe you won't wake up at all. Maybe they can help you, and take care of you so you get better and will come back to me, and I dunno what to do, Eddie. I dunno what I can do. And the person from GIFT, ... there's just something, I don't trust her, and I can't explain it, I know she just wants to help you. And I been trying, and I still see your eyes moving, and I don't know what's going on inside you. I want you to come back. All I can do is hope you want the same thing. The doctor from GIFT said... she said that you were somewhere peaceful. You're not in pain, you're not scared, and I hope she's right, Eddie. I hope she's right on account of I'd sooner die than have you be scared or in pain or hurt in anyway. Maybe you're just lost is all, or maybe you're somewhere so peaceful you don't wanna come back. And maybe I got no right to try and pull you back from there, but I don't care, you hear me? I don't care. You promised me, Eddie! You said ... you said when we were on that beach that day, talking about other dimensions. I asked what would happen if you found the perfect one, where your life was perfect, and your mom was there, and your dad was a good guy and everything was perfect, I asked if you'd stay there, you remember that? And you said that it wouldn't be perfect, on account of I wouldn't be there with you. Well, I believed you! So you come back." She realized how loud her voice had become and lowered its volume. "I want you here. I need you here. Just come back. Please?" The lump in her throat was back with a vengeance, hot tears burning her lids. "I love you, Eddie."

**I love you.** She leaned her head against his chest gingerly, almost afraid of hurting him further. She wrapped a protective arm around him and allowed herself to sob, tears of anger, frustration and sorrow soaking the front of his hospital gown.

**Don't go.**

"Sam?" She almost missed it. The sound of his voice was low and raspy, but it was unmistakably his voice. Spoken, not even via telepathy, but spoken. It was without a doubt the most beautiful sound she'd ever heard, and he squeezed her hand as his eyelids fluttered open.

"Eddie?" She asked quickly in a lowered tone, jumping to her feet beside him, her own voice full of hope.

**Yeah, Sam.** He projected with a faint smile. **I'm here.** Her faucet of tears kept running, as she leaned over him to grab the 'call nurse' button, breaking it to bits in the process of pressing it.

**You came back.** She smiled, her heartbeat drumming in her ears. Eddie smiled again and nodded.

**I made you a promise.** He said earnestly, looking her in the eyes. **I promised.**

[Blitzen]

Sam did most of the talking when she visited, catching Eddie up on everything she could think of, from the rapid influx of new kids to the rumors about Seacliff school. The six days he was unconscious had seemed an eternity. She paused now and again, even if he'd added a simple one word response she smiled in spite of herself. He came back.

Two days later and he was out. They still recommended he go to Chicago for testing, but Eddie figured he'd had enough of hospitals and tests for a while. He strolled up casually as Sam talked to Erika and Ves, he didn't say a word when she saw him that morning that he could possibly be released later on. He said he was tired and sore, but that was to be expected. He'd need to take it easy for a bit with running missions or big crowds, but that was to be expected as well. When a few more students showed up, Sam became concerned that the gathering might be a bit much for him. She turned to say something about it, and was met with another mischievous grin, causing her to tilt her head inquisitively, arching an eyebrow.

**You're up to something.** She thought, smiling in his direction. The young man's grin became more sincere.

**Hey Sam?** He projected back.

**Yeah, Eddie?**

**Come with me?** She chuckled a bit out loud. It could have been a trip back to school or a waltz into Dark Astoria, she'd have gone the same.

They ended up on "their" boat. The sailboat that no one seemed to use. It had a great view and they could go there and talk for hours without worrying about being disturbed, be surrounded by calm waters, forget everything for a while. Blixen was right. Salt water was the cure for everything. Sweat, tears or the sea. To outsiders, they looked like two teens sitting in silence, but the telepathic communication between them spoke volumes.

**I missed you.** She thought to him, after they got situated, offering him a semi-cold Coke from her backpack.

**I'm sorry I took so long to get back.** He replied with a nod of his head.

**I knew you would, I knew. Where... I mean... what happened?**

**I'm...not sure. It was weird, everything was so real. My mom was there, my dad was there, even another me. It's kinda hard to explain...**

**Was it like she said, perfect? You didn't hurt or nothin', you weren't scared?** Sam took a sip from his Coke, rather than opening a new bottle. Eddie shook his head.

**Not perfect. Someone was missing.** He projected back, tapping her foot with his as she stared at her laces. **I wasn't afraid, nothing like that. Got a little confusing.** He paused for a second before looking at her with a puzzled expression. **Wait, who said?**

**The doctor from GIFT. ** Sam concentrated on what the doctor looked like, hoping Eddie could pick up the image. He stared at the deck, his eyes going wide. **Who is she?**

**I'm...not sure.** He thought back.

**I ... I dunno what her name is. She was from GIFT she said. And If she brought you back, then definitely. I gotta thank her.**

**Hopefully, we'll get to see her again.** He agreed with a nod. They sat in silence for a while, Eddie seemingly wrestling with something. Sam stared at his shoes for a bit before smiling reassuringly, fixing his right shoelace.

"I dunno how much you could hear while you were out." She began, fixating on the boys other shoe before deciding the loops were about the same size. "But there was a lot of stuff I said that I should've said a long time ago, and just in case you weren't able to hear what I was saying, I was sort of thinking I should say it again, just in case you didn't hear me, and I'm trying to say things to people now that I mean just in case anything like this happens, on account of I want them to know how..."

**Hey Sam?** He interrupted. **The doctors told me something before I left.** He started, causing her to shoot a concerned look back. **Nothing bad. It's just...** He smiled a bit and stared at the deck of the boat before making eye contact again. **My lungs and voice are going to take a little while to get back to where they were. So maybe it'd be a good time to try...y'know.**

**Talking? Out loud? Can you? I mean, if you don't wanna, that's fine, too. But if you wanted to... ** Eddie smiled and closed his eyes, leaning in close to her ear. He placed a soft kiss on her cheek for emphasis, pausing as if to gather his courage and will his vocal cords to work. He whispered slowly, his voice still raspy from under use, but the words were clear to Sam, clearer than anything she'd heard before.

"I love you too, Sam."


END


((Like Eddie, I'm going to step out of character and say thanks for reading this. Thank you to Stasi and Bryan and Ves, and thanks Kali for being so encouragingly Kali. Thanks to everyone who RP'd it with me in game, especially to Arkady for bringing Sam donuts in Steel Canyon. And big thanks to Eddie for Fading Dreams to go along side this, and for getting the internet/his account back before Sam went all emo in-game.))