Previously…
– Samantha underwent a procedure to donate bone marrow to TJ in order to treat his aplastic anemia.
– After the police conducted a search and found the poisonous substance that killed Loretta in his gym bag, Travis was arrested for her murder.
– As Travis was questioned, it came out that he had not only gone to the Ragan home that night, but that Elly had encountered him there.
The steady but somehow unsettling beep of the monitors fills the hospital room. Morning light peeks through the vertical blinds that mostly cover the window. Tempest Banks sits slouched in a chair beside the bed, scrolling absently on her phone with one hand. When she hears a murmur from the bed, she looks up and lets out an audible sigh of relief to see that Samantha Fisher has opened her eyes.
“Hey,” Tempest says softly.
Samantha’s lips move uncertainly a few times before she asks, in a raspy voice, “What time is it?”
“Time for you to get a watch.”
Sam responds with a woozy grin.
“Sorry, white people joke,” Tempest says. She grasps Samantha’s hand. “Thought that would be the easiest way to welcome you back.”
“Ha. Is it morning?”
“It’s about 9 a.m., yeah,” Tempest tells her. “You’ve been out for a while.”
Samantha’s eyelids flutter. She seems about to respond, but then her eyes close again.
“Are you hungry?” Tempest asks.
Sam lets out a heavy exhale. Then her head jerks abruptly to one side.
“Sam. Can you hear me?”
Panic begins to spike in Tempest’s chest.
“Sam,” Tempest says, a little quieter, not wanting to wake her girlfriend if she needs the rest.
But then Samantha lets out a loud retch, and dark yellow bile spills out of her mouth, trickling down the side of her face and onto the pillow.
“Shit,” Tempest mutters, as her brain seems to shift into slow motion. But she recognizes the call button on the nightstand and slams her hand down upon it.
“Samantha!” she shouts, hoping to rouse her girlfriend from her unconscious state. But Sam simply lies there, unmoving, except for another heave that causes even more bile to flow out of her mouth.
“Help!” Tempest yells, but a nurse is already rushing into the room. She moves with brisk efficiency, landing at Samantha’s bedside in an instant as she assesses the situation.
“She vomited in her sleep?” the nurse asks.
Tempest shakes her head, and she feels her own fingers going numb with worry. “She was awake– she started talking to me. Then she–” The emotions overcome her, stunning her into wordlessness.
“Ma’am, I’m going to need you to step out of the room,” the nurse says.
“I’m her girlfriend,” Tempest says. “Her partner.”
“I still need you to step out.” The nurse is already tending to Samantha, checking her vitals.
“I need to know if she’s okay.”
“We need to treat her.”
Another nurse appears in the room, and she ushers Tempest out into the hallway. Her fists clench, a lump of helpless rage in her throat.
—–
The Fishers’ kitchen smells of coffee and toasted bread. Paula Fisher moves deliberately, pouring cereal for Billy and sliding plates across the table for Sarah, Matt, and herself.
Billy’s phone buzzes on the edge of the table as the preteen pokes at his cereal.
“God,” he says, partly under his breath, as he grabs the device. “Like a hundred people have sent me this crap.”
“Language,” Sarah warns him, though it comes off as perfunctory. “What are people sending you?”
Billy holds out the phone to show his mother, stepfather, and grandmother. It displays a social media post with a screenshot of the news headline: Local Man Arrested in Murder of Loretta Ragan.
“Travis got arrested?” he asks when none of them respond immediately.
“Why would they put that on the internet?” Paula cries in despair.
“We don’t know about the evidence yet, or why they felt like they should make an arrest,” Sarah says in an even tone. “We need to wait for more information.”
Billy rolls his eyes. “But the cops think he killed her?”
“There’s not enough info to know anything for sure,” Matt jumps in.
Paula rounds the table and pulls out her own chair. Concern is etched into her face as she regards her food with a frown.
Billy stares down at his phone and says, “People keep sending it to me and being like, ‘Your cousin killed that lady?'”
“You don’t need to be on that phone all the time,” Matt says, almost regretfully.
“I didn’t do anything bad,” Billy says defensively.
“No one said you did,” Sarah replies. “But we wish you didn’t have to find out something like this from social media.”
Billy slides the phone into the pocket of his cargo pants, as if afraid that one of them might confiscate it.
Matt, seated beside his stepson, places a hand on Billy’s shoulder. “We’re not mad at you. You didn’t do anything wrong. We just wish you didn’t have to hear stuff like that.”
“But it’s true,” Billy says.
“It’s true that Travis was arrested,” Sarah says, “but that’s all we know. Your cousin is a good man.”
Billy’s gaze shifts among his parents and his grandma. “So that means you don’t think he did it?”
“I don’t,” Paula says firmly. “Travis wouldn’t do that.” She folds her hands on the edge of the table. “You were too young to know at the time, but your Aunt Molly was arrested for shooting someone who did terrible things to our family. She even went on trial for it.”
Under the table, Matt grips Sarah’s thigh, knowing how much her mother’s propensity for blindly protecting Molly can irk Sarah.
“But I had done it — I pulled the trigger because that man was threatening your mother and your aunt,” Paula continues.
“Sophie told me about all of that,” Billy says.
Matt groans. “She did?”
The preteen shrugs. “Yeah. Why wouldn’t she?”
“Did she tell you about how Diane and me locked your grandma in the shed to keep her from going to the courthouse and confessing?” Sarah asks.
“That was not funny,” Paula says.
Sarah shrugs. “It was a little funny.”
A broad smile stretches across Billy’s face, a note of relief settling in after the disturbances of minutes ago. “It sounds kinda funny.”
With a sigh, Paula gives in to the joke. “I did outsmart Diane and get her to let me go.”
“Okay, I’ll give you that,” Sarah says, and the four devolve into laughter as each of the adults continue to share bits of the story with the young Fisher.
—–
The car is silent as Rosie Jimenez shifts it into park. The modest green house sits just ahead, its slightly overgrown yard glistening under the autumn sun. Travis Fisher unclasps his seatbelt but does not move; he can sense the tension about to boil over. They just left the courthouse, where he was arraigned on charges of first-degree murder and released on bail.
“I didn’t want to say anything while people were watching,” she finally says.
“Rosie–“
“No. I get to talk now.” She shifts in the seat to face him. “For me to find out at the same time as your lawyer that not only were you at that house the night Loretta got murdered, but you were there with Elly–“
“I wasn’t with her. We ran into one another.”
“Which you failed to mention for months.”
“Excuse me for not wanting to make myself a suspect in a crime I didn’t commit,” he says testily.
Her eyes blaze. “For me to find out with the rest of the world that you were even at a crime scene is bad enough. But the fact that you and Elly have been conspiring behind my back — I’m guessing all that bullshit about the two of you patching things up while I was visiting Sebastian is just that? Bullshit? A cover story for whatever actually happened that night?”
“Nothing happened!” he insists. “I went there, yes. I was at the end of my rope.”
“In case Conrad didn’t tell you this, that phrasing isn’t going to help your defense.”
He groans. “I’m trying to explain myself.”
“And all your explanations just sound like spin.”
“I didn’t do this, Rosie. I didn’t kill Loretta Ragan.”
“I want to believe you.” She pulls the handle to open the door but remains in her seat. Cool air drifts into the car. “I’m just not sure I can.”
“Rosie,” he says, but she is already stepping out of the vehicle. He sits in the passenger seat as the slam of her door sends a shiver through his body. Then he watches her stomp toward the front door, into a house in which he feels distinctly unwelcome.
—–
The clatter of plates in the sink rattles through the kitchen as Paula cleans up after breakfast. The warm laughter from earlier lingers in the air, but Paula’s face is drawn, her movements a little slower than normal.
Sarah comes in, pulling her blonde hair into a ponytail. “Here, let me help.”
“You don’t have to,” Paula says as she sets a plate into the drying rack.
“I want to.” Sarah takes up a dish towel and begins drying a pan. They work in silence for a long moment.
Finally, Paula says, “I thought the story about Molly’s trial might reassure Billy. Maybe it did. But…” Her words trail off as her eyes fix on the water swirling down the drain.
Sarah glances at her mother. “But you’re obviously not reassured.”
Lips drawn into a tight line, Paula shakes her head. “I know Travis didn’t do what they’re saying he did. But there must be something significant if Brent okayed the arrest. And then there’s TJ, and Samantha. I just hate seeing my family suffer like this. I just wish your father were here…”
Sarah rests a damp plate on the counter. “Dad’s watching out for everybody. I know he is. And we can go to the hospital later to see TJ and Sam. I need to check in with Diane anyway.”
Paula nods, but the lines of worry don’t fully recede. She turns back to the sink, lost in thought.
—–
Tempest paces in the hallway outside Samantha’s room, arm crossed tightly over her chest. Nurses and orderlies stream by, brushing past her like she isn’t even there. She uses her index finger to stab the Call button on her phone, but after two rings, she ends the call. Logically, she knows that Claire must be asleep at the moment, since she worked a long shift yesterday and into the night, but she still desperately craves her help at this moment.
Finally, one of the nurses steps out of the room.
“How is she? She okay?” Tempest asks with urgency.
The nurse gives her a polite but guarded smile. “Are you family?”
“Basically. I’m her– her partner. We live together.”
A moment passes, and then the nurse frowns. “We can only share medical information with immediate family.”
“We live together,” Tempest says. “And– do you know Claire Fisher? She was my foster mom. And Samantha’s stepmom. We’re family.”
The nurse glances down at the chart she is holding, then back to Tempest. “I’m sorry, but I can only share information with immediate family.”
“I am her family.”
“We have to comply with the law,” the nurse says, a note of sympathy softening her voice even as she delivers this useless message. Then she strides briskly down the hall. Tempest moves back to the door, pressing her forehead against the glass, but the shade blocks any view of what is going on inside.
“Be okay. You’ve gotta be okay,” she says, desperate to see Samantha and know what is going on.
END OF EPISODE 1273
What is happening to Samantha right now?
What should Tempest do while she waits?
Will Rosie be able to see Travis’s side of things?
Talk about it all in the comments below!
What an episode.
The fishers have come such a long way, and yet, there’s so much of the past that can come bubbling up at a moments notice. It was nice to see how much Matt has stepped up for Sarah these last few years. They had such a fire connection at first and to see how well they’ve adjusted after all these years is really nice. I also forgot how Paula was able to trick Diane in the storage shed!
Having Billy hear about Travis in this way is very true to how this generation communicates. Of course he’s going to feel the way he is feeling. There’s a lot of conflicting feelings there. I sort of forgot that Matt isn’t his real father. It feels like Graham was decades ago.
Rosie and Travis feel like they’ve had so many hurdles to overcome these last few years that even with the phrasing of his last thought makes me feel that maybe they won’t be each other’s forever people. I remember when they were fumbling around in the goofy, sex driven early years of their relationship and now it feels that the weight of everything else has really started to become unbearable for the two of them.
I originally thought Tempest was dreaming when Sam woke up and then the nurses coming in and pushing Tempest out. It’s a reality that so many people face, especially in the LGBTQIA+ community when they’re not formally married. Right now my partner and I are engaged and we’ve been together for about seven years and the reality is if one of us does end up in the hospital we don’t have the same rights as someone who is married. It’s a harsh reality, but it does seem like this will bubble up a new story for the two of them once Sam does make it out on the other side of this.
Thank you so much for your commentary! It’s so thoughtful and brings a smile to my face.
The Fishers have come a long way, but they’ve also dealt with some truly insane things. I love these “walk down memory lane” scenes that don’t entirely push story but still add texture and let the readers reflect along with the characters. And there’s a lot of humor in all this stuff once they’re out of the eye of the storm. Billy was a fun character to use here because a) he doesn’t get much focus, since he’s in that pre-SORAS era of his life, and b) he’s hearing it all for the first time, so it’s a great way to clue in newer readers and remind longer-term ones. I kind of forget that Billy isn’t Matt’s biological son, too, especially since Graham literally died on the day he was born. There’s going to be so much to play when he gets a little older!
You make a good point about Rosie and Travis. They started out as a sort of fun young couple, each coming from very different places, but they’ve been through SO MUCH in the last decade that it makes you wonder if they can really get through this or if they’d be better off having fresh starts with others. This murder accusation is going to put them even more through the wringer, and there are yet twists to come!
I knew that I didn’t want Samantha’s donation story to be without weight or consequence, but rather than “just” another medical crisis, I thought this would be a great opportunity to spotlight an issue that affects many couples — and many don’t realize that until they’re in the thick of the situation. We had similar concerns before we got married. This is also an opportunity to play up some of the dynamics in this extended family unit that are so complicated and intriguing. This will open up a new lane for Sam and Tempest going forward, too.
Thanks again!
Just a quick one but I really love that you made a plot point about the nurse not being able to tell Tempest about Samantha’s condition. VERY true to life. One of the reasons my ex and I thought about getting married (obviously we didn’t but still!) was because of this exact situation – what if something happened to one of us, and the other one wasn’t entitled to know.
And here’s me going ‘Oh Samantha will be *fine*’ in previous comments! Forgetting I’m reading a soap opera. Jesus, Joe. No one is ever fine in a soap opera. Ever! 😀
Also liked the reminiscing with the Fishers. I MUST go back and re-read Diane keeping Paula in a shed, I can’t believe I’ve never re-read that scene. And I guess we’re gonna see more of Billy since he’s been promoted from ‘kid’ to ‘character’. OF COURSE Sophie wasted no time getting him up to speed. I love Sophie!
And I’m glad Rosie finally got to blow up at Travis. He kinda deserves it. Hope their marriage stays intact though!
Thanks for checking in, Joseph! I’ve wanted to spotlight the plight of LGBTQ+ couples in the medical realm for a while — having Samantha be the donor was a way of incorporating that while also giving a little heft to TJ’s transplant. This should lead to some interesting conversations going forward.
Diane and Sarah locking Paula in the shed came toward the end of 2016, as the verdict in Molly’s murder trial was about to be read. It was a funny way of incorporating a little humor and action into a pretty heavy storyline. Billy is — wildly! — being played as his actual biological age right now (12-13), but I’m going to start using him more as a ‘real character.’ By the time he’s 15-16, I should have actual story ready for him, but there’s so much stuff to cover that I’m not in a rush!
Rosie has every right to be upset with Travis, after all the secrets and lies. We’ll delve into this more going forward, obviously, but I think a part of her ego is also bruised that she, as an investigator, didn’t somehow figure this out.
Thanks again!