CHAPTER 24 When Al returned to the visitor's room, Sammi Jo, Beth, Matt and Leone were there. Beth was consoling Bernie, "Bernie's told me that Sam's got amnesia Al." "Yeah that's right, he can't remember anything after 1992, his last accident. He remembered me though, eventually. Can you believe it, he called me old." "Well it is sixteen years Al." Beth answered, "He remembers a younger you." Bernie sniffed. "Can't he remember me at all Al?" "Give him time Bernie, he'll remember. He wants to see you though." Bernie jumped up, smiling tearfully, "He wants to see me? Oh I must look a right mess." "Don't worry about it, we're all a mess after the day we've had." Al placed an arm around Bernie's shoulders, "Come on, I'll take you in," he looked at Beth, "wont be long." Al led Bernie to Sam's room, as he opened the door he spoke to Sam, "There's a visitor for you." He walked with Bernie over to Sam's bed. "It's Bernie Sam." Al stepped back. Bernie moved sheepishly, closer to Sam, he looked at her but couldn't remember her. "Hello Bernie, I think I've got some catching up to do." He laughed, "Sixteen years worth." Bernie couldn't see the love in his eyes, not even a sparkle of recognition. She was fighting hard to hold back the tears, "Hello Sam," she leaned over and kissed his cheek, the tears stinging her eyes but she bit them back. "Beth, Sammi Jo and Matt are here, I'm going back, I'll explain everything to them. See you later pal." Al headed for the door. "Who's Sammi Jo and Matt?" Sam asked. 'Oh not again.' Al thought. "I'll tell you later Sam. Promise." Al pointed his finger at Sam, turning he left the room. As Al re-entered the visitor's room Sammi Jo stood up, "We've some bad news, we didn't want to tell you while Bernie was here." She looked to Beth and Matt, then back to Al. "Rosie escaped." "What!" Al shouted, "How did she do that?" "She prized the metal rivets from out of one of the joints. She's gone Al." "Aw Lordy, anything could happen now with her on the loose." Al looked gravely at the three sanding before him. Beth added. "She's nowhere in the complex though and she doesn't have her security card. I found it in the kitchen, she must have left it there last night." "That's one good thing. At least she can't get in there. What time did she go? Do you know?" "She wasn't there at four-thirty, when the second plane arrived. We had a heck of a job explaining to the airport security and the police when we landed, why she wasn't on the plane." Sammi Jo looked at Matt, knowing that he wanted to be off, he had an early meeting with some eminent science professor in the morning. He didn't want to offend anyone though, by seeming impatient. "Sam's okay then, apart from his amnesia?" "Sounds like it, he has to take it steady though, he's got tubes and pipes and wires everywhere." "Will you give him my love Al, Matt's got to get off and Leone ......" Matt interrupted, "I'm sorry Al, its' just that I have this important meeting." "I understand and I don't think Sam will mind, do you?" Al turned to Sammi Jo, "Ha-ha, he can't remember again Sammi." "Keep me updated though Al." Sammi Jo kissed Al and gave Beth a hug. Matt was too busy with a struggling Leone. "Sure will, See yer kiddo." Sammi Jo and Matt carrying Leone left the visitor's room waving. "Looks like we're on our own for awhile babe." He put his arms around her and kissed her tenderly. "Big relief though, knowing Sam's gonna be sorta okay. Been a long day though" "Sure has Al, I'll be glad when it's over. Speaking of which, hadn't we better sort a hotel out?" "All done my sweet, all organised." "I should have known, Al my little organiser." Beth kissed her husband and lay back into his arms. "What a day." * * * * * Sam lay holding Bernie's hand, he didn't know how to react to her. He could see genuine sadness in her eyes, he wanted to help, but he didn't know how. "Come closer." he said. Bernie moved closer to Sam, she wanted to hug him, take away his pain, as she had done the night before. Sam moved his hand close to her cheek, barely touching it. She moved her head round, kissing the palm of his hand. "I love you Sam," she whispered. Her voice was so soft and gentle, he felt a pang of something, but didn't know what. He reach round the back of her neck and drew her closer. Something told him that he deeply loved this woman, something deeply buried away in a corner of his mind which he couldn't quite reach. He could feel it, it welled up inside his chest, until it felt like he would burst. Lifting his head, he pressed her to his lips, feeling a rush of passion, he held her tightly in his arms not caring of the entanglement of the tubes. It all came flooding back, all the feelings, all of the longing. It was at if they'd never gone. He sighed as he released her. She looked into his eyes, "Sam you're back." She cupped his face in her hands and lay him onto the pillow, she returned his kiss, his kisses. Embroiled in each others embrace and caresses, they didn't notice a nurse as she entered the room. "Ahm. Eh-eh, Dr. Beckett, Sam, you'll pull your IV loose." She was a plumpish, African-Caribbean-American, with a bright, sunny character, different from the earlier nurse. She seemed to sing as she spoke, in a kind of rhythm. Bernie stifled a giggle. "Ah, sorry nurse," Sam looked at her, embarrassed. "Er, we were just er, erm getting to know e-each other again." "It's all right Sam, don't mind me, I'm only here to check on your drip." She walked over to the bed and stood with her hands on her hips. "Just look at you two, you're all tangled up in this IV tubing." "Sorry." Sam repeated. Bernie started to move. "Eh-eh, stay where you are my girl, you'll rip it out of his arm. I'll untangle you." She unwrapped the tubing from around Bernie's arm and shoulder. "Sorry." Sam repeated again. The drain from Sam's neck had somehow entangled itself under Sam's arm, at last she had sorted them out. "Sorry." Sam repeated yet again. Bernie sat back in the chair, smiling to herself. "It's a good job we didn't get too carried away Sam." Sam looked seriously at Bernie and then at the nurse. They were both smiling at Sam's embarrassment. "All right I'll leave you two to it, but none of that rough stuff. Nobel Prize or not, I don't have no time to be untangling you all night." She smiled and waved her hand as she closed the door slowly, "I'm watchin' yer." peeping through the ever decreasing crack. The two watched as the door closed shut. "What A character" Bernie said, "I see you're gonna have some problems with her Sam." "What sort of problems?" "Well, do you think she's gonna let it drop, what she saw in here just now." "Oh don't say that, I hope she doesn't, I don't think I could cope with insinuations at the moment." "You might have to. Do you think she's the type to keep it to herself?" "Aw, shut up now, or I'll have to....." Sam struggled on to one elbow and leaned toward Bernie. "...kiss you again." He laughed. "Seriously though, can't you remember anything, anything at all?" "I remember my feelings for you, that's enough for now, it'll come back, it might take some time, but it'll come back." Bernie leaned forward and they kissed again. Trying hard not to entangle themselves again, they embraced and caressed each other. Sharing moments that Sam could cherish, feeling her soft, luscious skin beneath his fingertips. How could he not love this woman, she was so right, so wonderful, so.....