Stefano had followed them to the hospital. He was right behind Samantha when she collapsed. He caught her before her head hit the floor. He yelled for a doctor. They rushed to her side and laid her on a gurney. She began moaning and calling for EJ. She began thrashing around as if her body were trapped in a nightmare.

Inside her head she kept replaying the wedding in slow motion. She couldn’t stop it from happening no matter how she tried. Each time it was the same. He, this man that she loved and hated, was still shot. She kept calling out to him.

Stefano sat by her bedside and tried to hold her down to keep her from hurting herself. He tried, to no avail, to rouse her from her nightmare. Becoming frightened he yelled for the nurse to sedate her. Once the nurse gave her the injection the thrashing began to slowly subside. Stefano held her hand, “It’s okay Samantha. Elvis will make it. I’ll make sure of it”, he whispered to her.

He sat and watched her as the tenseness on her face softened. The sedative was in full effect. She was still calling for EJ but at a whisper now. Stefano saw the blood coming through her dress at her shoulder. He pulled back the fabric and saw the wound. He screamed for a doctor, “

She’s been injured!!! You have to help her!”

A flurry of doctors and nurses tended to Samantha. After several minutes one of the doctors approached Stefano. “Mr Dimera?”

“Yes”

“Your daughter in law is going to be fine. The wound is clean and the bullet passed through. She’s very lucky.”

“What about my son?”

“I’m going to go get an update now. I’ll be right back.”

He looked over to Samantha. She looked so peaceful as she lie there sedated. He put his head in his hands. “You have to be alright my son. You just have to be.”

The doctor came up to Stefano and touched him on the shoulder. He looked up. “My son?”

“EJ has been taken into surgery. That’s all I have for now. He’s lost a lot of blood and we do know that there is a spinal cord injury.”

“Oh my god”

The doctor put his hand on his shoulder. “I’ll be back as soon as we know anything.”

“Doctor, You make sure that they keep my son alive. I don’t care what it takes. I don’t care what it costs. Because I did not live this long to watch my son slip away.”

More than two hours passed. It seemed an eternity to him. Dr Berman finally came out to talk to him. “Doctor. Has he regained consciousness at all?”

“Briefly. Mr Dimera, the bullet did a lot of damage. I did some cursory tests on his reflexes after the procedure, and it only confirmed what I found during the surgery. The bullet is lodged in his spine. I’m sorry, but your son is paralyzed from the waist down.”

“Oh, I want another opinion immediately”

“Of course. I understand. In the meantime, you might suggest that he find someone to talk to about coping with his physical limitations.”

“Please, Can I see my son?”

“Absolutely. If you need me, just page me”

Stefano walked over to his son’s room and let out a heavy sigh, “God give me strength” He slowly opened the door. It killed him to see his son like that, hooked up to so many machines. He sat down next to his bed and took his hand. “Elvis. Please. Wake up son”

EJ’s eyes fluttered open, “Samantha?”

“No, my son, it’s me. I’m here and I won’t…I won’t leave you”

“What happened? Where is Samantha? She was hurt.” EJ tried to get up and a look of shock danced upon his face. “Father? I..I can’t feel my legs.” He began to panic.

“What happened? Why can’t I feel my legs?” He shouted.

“Easy, my son, Look. The bullet…is lodged…in your spine, and”, he cleared his throat, “It hit your spinal cord.”

“So…I’m…I’m paralyzed? Is that what you are telling me father?” His face fell.

Stefano put his hand to EJ’s face and forced him to look at him, “No. Look, don’t worry about anything…okay? Because we are not going to give up”

“Am I going to be able to walk again Father?”

“Well, the doctors aren’t sure right now Elvis”

“Does….Does Samantha know?”

“No. She’s resting. They had to sedate her.”

He looked at his father with concern. “Sedate her? Why?!”

“She was hysterical, Elvis, and she fainted.”

“Oh my god! Where is she? Take me to her”

He held him back, “No my son. When she wakes up I’ll have the nurse bring her okay.”

“I need to see her father. Now! Bring me my wife damn it!” he demanded.

Stefano tried to calm him. “Elvis. Just settle down. I will go and check with the nurse and see if Samantha is awake.”

“Now father!” He turned his face away.

Stefano let out a sigh and walked out of the room. “God he’s so stubborn”, he muttered to himself.

________________________________________________

Stefano found Samantha sitting up on the bed. Her shoulder was bandaged and her arm was in a sling. “Stefano?”

“Stefano. How is EJ? Is he okay? Please tell me he’s okay?”

“Careful, Samantha. You almost sound as if you care.”

She squirmed uncomfortably. “Of course I care. I need him to make sure that this vendetta is over.”

“Right. Well he’s asking for you.”

Her eyes brightened, “So he’s okay”

“No, Samantha, he’s not. The bullet is lodged in his spine and the doctors say that he’s paralyzed.”

She gasped and brought her hand to her mouth, “Oh my god. Take me to him”

____________________________________________

Stefano wheeled her into EJ’s room. Sami’s heart nearly broke at the sight of him lying there hooked up to all those machines. She looked up at Stefano and whispered, “Leave us please.”

He nodded and left the room. She slowly stood up from the wheelchair and steadied herself. She walked to his bedside and took his hand in hers, “EJ. I’m here”, she whispered.

He turned his head towards her and opened his eyes, “Samantha?”