“Sophia, why don’t you and Bella go out to the waiting room with the rest of Sam’s friends?” Liam said. “I’ll be out there in a minute, and we can go to the cafeteria while they take turns coming in.”
“Okay.” Bella squeezed Sam’s hand again. “I’ll be right back.”
“I know you will.”
Sophia and Bella left.
Captain Bennett waited until the door was shut before addressing them. “The preliminary investigation on the commercial building shows it was another arson.”
“Okay.” Sam wished she could remember everything that had happened.
He inhaled deeply. “It’s also looking like your injury was no accident.”
Sam gasped.
Liam gently placed his hand on her shoulder. “Explain.”
“The screws holding the vent up appear to have been tampered with. It was rigged to fall.”
“Are you certain?”
“It’s still being investigated, but the brackets holding the vent up weren’t damaged. There were no screws in the brackets or lining the floor. Plus, there’s remnants of some type of wire in the ceiling, suggesting it was barely hanging on when the fire started. We’ll know more soon. I just thought you two should know.”
Bile rose in her throat. “I’m going to be sick.”
Liam grabbed the small vomit bucket sitting on the table and handed it to her. “Can I do anything for you?”
She shook her head and held on to the bucket, willing her stomach to calm. Of all the ailments out there, throwing up was the worst. She closed her eyes and focused on breathing and keeping her stomach from revolting.
“Maybe we should talk about this outside,” Captain Bennett said.
It was about her. She should argue that it be talked about now, in front of her, but truthfully, she didn’t want to know right at this moment. She just wanted to ignore everything around her. “Please.”
Liam bent down to her eye level. “I will be right outside those doors. Nothing is going to happen to you. Okay?” His face was stone. He meant what he said.
“Okay.” She leaned her head back against the pillow as the two men exited her room. Her stomach started to settle.
Another soft knock sounded on the door before Dean and Greer walked in. The worry on both of their faces was evident.
“Oh, Sam.” Greer set a change of clothes on the foot of the bed, then leaned down and gave her a hug. “You don’t know how happy I am to see your face. I brought you some department sweats for later. I know how it works and how clothes get cut off.”
She hugged him back the best she could, considering all the machines she was tied to. “Thank you for the clothes. Right now, I don’t mind the hospital gown, but I’ll eventually want to get up and not shine my heinie to the world.”
“No full moons for Sam.” He smiled. “I’ll be back when you’re feeling better.”
Dean was next. “You gave us quite a scare.” He lingered a little longer than Greer. “Cass sends her love.”
“Thank you,” Sam whispered.
“We know you need your rest, so we’re going to let the others come lay their eyes on you and then shoo them out. It’s one thing for us to be told you’re okay; it’s another thing to confirm with our own eyes.” Dean patted her hand.
“Love you, girlie,” Greer said as he backed out of the room. “We all do.”
Tears burned Sam’s eyes. They’d never openly expressed just how much they cared for one another in the past. She appreciated it now.
All of Station 4 filed through her room for the next several minutes. Her eyelids were heavy by the time the last visitor, Lieutenant Fischer, left.
Liam and the girls returned. Bella took the seat directly next to the bed and scooted it as close as she could get. Liam and Sophia took the small couch by the window.
