Sam settled just as Dmitri's jeep flew in the driveway with Nate and Jack quick on his heels. Not wanting to move her but I had too. Slowly sliding out to lay her back on the swing she opened her eyes. Murmuring I would be back I made sure she was completely covered before kissing her forehead. Sam did not have to hear what was going to be said. Watching her lay curled up with little life behind those eyes was heartbreaking. 

"What the hell?" Dmitri's voice came from the bottom of the stairs where he could no doubt see Sam.

Standing in front of her in a protective stance, not that she was in any danger. Jack's booming voice rang through the yard, "In the house, now!" Before I could say a word.

Entering the house last, Mady was in Nate's arms, while Jack, Dmitri, Quinn, and Braydon stood around the kitchen waiting for me to come in. The tension that came of Dmitri was almost overwhelming. I hated leaving Sam out there by herself so I could only imagine what was going through Dmitri's mind. I waited for Jack to speak first.

"What happened?" Jack asked.

I told them every detail from the time we left Nate's house, to Sam's reaction, to what the young dead cat was wearing; the only thing I left out was the part about the kiss. Mady's gasp at the description of the lion had her running out the room and left us all standing in silence looking at each other for a minute until she got back holding a picture frame. With shaky hands, she handed it to me first. Staring at it, mouth dropping open and looked back at Mady then back to the picture, I now understood why Sam reacted the way she did.

"That was their last family picture, it was taking the morning of the accident," Mady said, tears rolling down her face.

It was Sam standing between two beautiful young girls, arms wrapped around each other with huge smiles. A gorgeous happy family, only to be destroyed hours later. One of the girls was wearing a red tank top and white shorts and the other had a white tank top with black shorts, even the hair colour was the same as the lion. "Shit," was all that could come to mind.

Jack took the picture, studied it then passed it to Dmitri then the others. "What's this and what does it have to do with anything?" Jack asked, pointing to the picture.

Mady wiped away her tears with a hand towel then explained it to them, "That picture is of Sam and her twin daughters, Faith and Hope. As you can see what the lion was wearing is similar with what Faith had on the day she, Hope, and Sam's parents died last year."

Jack just stood there staring at Mady in silence for a long minute. "Well that explains a lot," he finally said.

"Jack?" Dmitri said, practically vibrating with need to see Sam.

"Go," Jack said with a nod.

"Wait, Dmitri," Mady called, before he made it to the door, "Do not pity her or even let it show. She will lock you out so fast your head will spin. I was surprised she let Mason hold her, so try not to push it, OK," she pleaded.

Dmitri stepped back into the room, kisses his sister-in-law on the top of the head, said, "Thanks," than bolted outside.