of Sam's personality until she'd spent extended time with her when she visited
with Jess. It had taken real work on Kim's part to get Sam to trust her as she did
her sister.
She made eye contact with Sam. "Want to tell me what's really wrong?" She
asked gently.
Sam looked down at the blanket. Kim knew her too well and could read her
expressions as easily as she did her sister's. "It's nothing... I'm just tired."
Kim sighed in frustration; she didn't believe Sam for a minute. That was Sam
and Jess's stock answer when they didn't want to talk about something. It's
nothing. Kim had been married to Jess for just over a year and had learned in
that time when to push and when not to with both women. Now was a time to
push.
Kim reached out and gently lifted Sam's chin forcing her to make eye contact. "I
don't think so. You were fine just a minute ago. Want to try again?"
Sam looked over at Jess silently asking for help. Jess took up a seat on the
other side of Sam's bed. She shrugged her shoulders as if to say. 'Don't look me;
you're on your own'.
Sam really did want to confide her developing feelings to someone. She trusted
Kim and Jess to keep her confidence. Giving a dramatic sigh, she met Kim's
eyes.
"I really like Riley." Sam explained glancing down before adding, "a LOT."
"So what's the problem Sam?" Jess asked. "She obviously likes you a lot as
well." Jess smiled raising one eyebrow at her wife's surprised expression
obviously Kim didn't think she'd noticed.
"I'm JUST another patient, I'm sure she treats all of us the same." Sam replied
disappointedly.
Sam's head pop up looking between the two women as they both started to
chuckle. "What?"
"Honey I've seen a lot of patients and believe me I don't react to any of them like
Riley reacts to you. I'd be willing to bet she doesn't touch her other patients like
she does you. You think she goes around holding all her patients hands or
having dinner with them?" Kim said trying to reassure Sam.
Sam thought back to the times she'd interacted with Riley. The woman did touch
her a lot. Maybe.... No, it was just her wishful thinking.
"It doesn't matter. She's straight." Sam stated. This time she glared at both
women when they laughed. "It's not funny!"
Kim looked at Jess gesturing for her to take this one. "No way that woman's
straight. My gaydar pinged the first time we met. She's hot and gay." She
glanced over at Kim noting her frown. "What? I'm married not dead," she
defended.
"Well I suggest you get your gaydar fixed." Sam suggested snidely. "Cause in case you've forgotten her ex-BOYFRIEND shot me!"
Kim and Jess's jaws dropped open in shock. Jess finally found her voice.
"What!" she yelled.
Now it was Sam's turn to be shocked. "I thought you knew."
"Hell NO we didn't know! All they told us was you'd been shot and that Dr.
Connolly had been in the room. Figured it was someone drug seeking. I want to
talk to Connolly right now." Jess started to get up from where she was sitting on
Sam's bed.
"You just leave her out of this!" Sam shouted then winced as she tried to grab
Jess's arm.
Kim had been shocked by the revelation as well but quickly regained her
equilibrium. She could see Jess building up to blow. She put a restraining hand
on her arm and her other hand on Sam's. "Everyone just settle down." She tried
to calm both women lightly stroking their arms. "How about you start at the
beginning Sam and tell us the whole story."
Jess settled back in place though Kim could feel the tension radiating off her.
She only hoped Riley Connolly had left for the night.
Sam proceeded to tell them the whole story starting with the dispatch to the
hospital and ending with her being shot twice. Jess calmed down as the story
unfolded. She'd thought the doctor had intentionally hidden the fact that her ex
had shot Sam. Now she realized Riley had assumed as Sam had that the other
officers had told them. Jess sighed as the tension left her body at the end of the
story.
She reached out squeezing Sam's uninjured shoulder. "I'm sorry you got hurt
Kiddo. You did a good thing protecting her." She told Sam. Sam smiled back
reassured. Remembering the comments that started all this Jess suddenly
grinned.
"That's why you think she's straight?"
Sam blinked at the sudden shift in conversation but nodded in answer to Jess's
question.
"I think you're missing the point here Sam, the operative word is Ex-boyfriend."
Sam frowned at her sister's persistence. "No the operative word here is
Boyfriend!" Sam insisted.
Kim looked over at her wife. She had that little half smirk on her face. This is
going to be interesting.
"Really? Do you by chance remember Steve Phillips?" Jess asked her sister
wiggling her eyebrows at her and grinning.
Sam merely glared at Jess. Kim looked at both women silently questioning.
It was clear Sam wasn't going to answer. "He's a guy Sam dated and SLEPT
with in high school." Jess explained to Kim. This was news to Kim for some
reason she'd assumed Sam had always known she was gay. Kim silently chided
herself, and you call yourself a psychiatrist.
Jess wasn't done. "Oh wait, what about Charlie... What was his last name? Yeah
now I remember Falk, Charlie Falk. She dated and SLEPT with him in college.
Gee, I guess that makes you straight Sis, two ex-boyfriends." Jess told her
snickering. Sam lowered her head and scowled refusing to make eye contact
with either woman.
Jess opened her mouth to say something else but Kim poked her in the ribs.
Jess pouted trying to act hurt. Kim's stern expression said it all. Jess
straightened up and reached out to lift her sister's chin and meet her eyes.
"All kidding aside Sis, just because she dated a guy doesn't make her straight
any more than it does you. Don't make assumptions. If you feel something for
her, you should give her a chance." She glanced over at her wife. "If she's the
one its worth whatever you have to do." Kim smiled lovingly at her wife leaning
over Sam to kiss Jess gently on the lips.
"None of that you two, I know you. Next thing you'll be in taking each other's
clothes off." Sam teased trying to lighten the mood. Jess arched her eyebrows at
her wife and reached over to undo one button of Kim's polo shirt. Kim slapped
her hand away. "Behave." She warned.
The door to Sam's room opened interrupting. A nurse entered. "Sorry it took so
long to get your pain med." She offered Sam the pills in a little cup. "You need to get up and walk tonight. I'll be back in about a half an hour and we'll give it a try.
She breezed out of the room.
It was clear Sam was starting to fade on them. Kim could see the lines around
her eyes tightening indicating she was in pain.
"Hey Sweetie, why don't you take a little nap and we'll see you in the morning,"
Kim encouraged. Sam yawned in answer.
Both women kissed her goodbye. Sam was already drifting off to sleep by the
time they made it to the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Riley arrived on the surgical floor the following afternoon. She's been in surgery
all morning and had just finished up with the last of her surgical and post-op