Chapter 25 part 2

Samuel

His heart was beating fast and his fingers had begun to hurt by how low he bit his fingernails. He couldn't sit still no matter how hard he tried.

He knew today was the day he'd be leaving. He knew today he was going to see his daughter.

When the door clicked open, though it was quiet, Samuel flinched. He had been in a daze since he woke up, not being to clear his thoughts of Ellie.

Through the door came a nurse who visited him often, whose name was Ethan, and Officer Hinton. Ethan looked particularly happy. Officer Hinton even seemed to have a slight smile on his face.

"You're all ready to go home" the nurse said cheerfully. "We've got some clothes for you to change into, and then you're good to go"

It took everything Samuel had to not jump out of the bed and rush himself out the door. Instead, he slowly sat up and turned so his feet hung off the edge.

"I'm taking you there. To your house" Officer Hinton interrupted sternly.

Ethan looked back and forth between the two before awkwardly exiting the room, but leaving the door open.

"I can get to my house on my own. If you just-"

"No. You said that last time, and I was almost responsible for your death" the officer argued, his voice strong and unwavering.

Samuel opened his mouth to protest, but Officer Hinton held up his hand in dismissal.

"Either you're going to let me take you to your house, or you're not leaving this hospital" he finalized, giving Samuel no room to say otherwise.

Samuel was quiet for a moment. His heart slowed down and he could find no words to say.

"Okay" he mumbled, looking down at his hands.

His hands were dry, and the tips of his nails were raw from how often he was picking at them.

Right then Ethan knocked lightly on the door, clothes in his hand.

He walked happily into the room, and Samuel couldn't help but smile. He hated that Officer Hinton was going to know where he lived, but nothing could take away his excitement.

The nurse handed him the clothes, a simple pair of gray sweatpants and a darker gray t-shirt, and looked back at the officer with a smile.

Samuel stood— he had been allowed to walk around the room over the last week, and could now walk on his own— and made his way into the bathroom to change out of the hospital gown.

The clothes not only made him feel warmer, but also less naked. The hospital gowns were thin and only went down to his knee. Not to mention they tied in the back, so he always felt like he was being exposed.

He wasted no time exiting the bathroom and approaching the officer.

"Is that all? Can I leave?" He asked eagerly.

Ethan nodded with a kind smile on his face.

With that Officer Hinton walked out of the room, and Samuel followed him. They had to walk slowly so Samuel wouldn't hurt anything, his wounds still being painful and aching.

The walk out of the hospital felt like it took an eternity, but luckily the officers car was sitting in the front of the parking lot.

Samuel nearly yanked the door opened, sitting down so fast he got lightheaded for a second.

"What's your address?" Officer Hinton asked, holding his phone in front of him with a GPS on it.

Samuel told him so fast he ended up having to repeat himself, slowing down his words and allowing the officer to type it in and assure it was correct.

The drive was excruciating. His leg was bouncing and he was forced to look down at his lap, the road ahead giving him a headache. And of course now he was thinking of how Ellie would feel.

He had just assumed she would be happy to see him, but wouldn't she be upset? Wouldn't she be angry, even? That her father just disappeared for months with no warning?

Hell, he didn't even know if she'd still be at their house. Surely Amanda took her elsewhere. Surely they wouldn't stay at Samuels abandoned home for this long.

What if Ellie was in foster care, he wondered. He knew where Amanda lived in case she had taken Ellie there, but if Amanda believed him to be dead, then Ellie must be in a child care home somewhere.

The thought of him being dead to them scared him, but he did his best to ignore the fear, biting down hard on his lip.

Officer Hinton tapped Samuel lightly on the shoulder, and he jumped like he had been punched.

When he looked up, however, he was met with the sight of his house before him, where he hadn't been for so long.

His chest squeezed tight, his fists doing the same.

"Is this the right place?" The officer asked quietly, concern coating his voice.

Samuel could only nod.

He clicked open the car door and stood, his wounds feeling numb. His eyes became glassy as a coat of tears went over them. He wouldn't let himself cry here. Not outside his house with the officer he never wanted here in the first place right beside him.

The only motivation he had to get his legs moving was the presence of Officer Hinton. The last thing he wanted was for the officer to think he needed help. For him to get closer to his home, the only thing that he didn't have to share with the hero.

His legs shook lightly under his weight, but he kept walking. When he made it to the door he glanced behind him, meeting eyes with Officer Hinton, who was still in his car.

He turned the knob slowly, the door making a loud creek sound as it opened.

He took one large step into the house, slamming the door shut behind him as fast as he could.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, staring at his feet.

"Mr. Reed?" A meek voice whispered, sounding shocked.

His head whipped up, looking into the living room where Amanda stood stiffly, staring back at him in shock.

He opened his mouth to respond, but was interrupted by a high pitched yell and stomping footsteps quickly approaching him.

"Dad!" Ellies shouted, her face showing nothing but sadness and shock.

Samuel crouched down before she got to him, opening his arms wide for her.

She ran into him so hard he almost fell back, but held himself firm. His injuries ached, but he paid them no mind.

He wrapped his arms around her firmly, one hand around her back and the other on the back of her head. He could feel her own hands reaching around him, but not being long enough to span the full length of his back.

By now she was sobbing, her tears bleeding through the shoulder of Samuel's shirt.

Samuel felt like he couldn't hold her close enough. Like he wanted to hold her with all his strength and never let go.

"Ellie" he mumbled in her ear.

Warm tears fell down his cheeks, landing in her hair.

"I'm so sorry, Ellie" he choked.

Ellie grabbed small fistfuls of his shirt, holding on as tight as she could.

"I missed you" she cried.

Samuel heart felt like it had shattered into a million pieces. He had let his daughter go so long without seeing him. He had caused all of this. All because people thought he was a hero, and he had thought it too.

"I know, I missed you too"

He pulled back from her, holding her shoulder firm and looking her in the eyes.

Her face was puffy and red, her eye bags worse than he had ever seen on someone so young. Tears were still falling aggressively from her swollen eyes and awful sounding sobs came from her lips.

"I'm so, so sorry, Ellie. I missed you so much" he uttered in an agonized voice.

He kissed her cheek before quickly pulling her back into his tight embrace.

The two stayed there together for many minutes, time passing that Samuel wasn't even concerned about. He didn't have a worry in the world that wasn't his daughter.

"Mr. Reed" a soft voice spoke up from above them.

Samuel glanced up at Amanda, who he hadn't heard approach.

He knew they had much to talk about, as she had been taking care of his kid for so long, but he couldn't bring himself to let go of Ellie.

Instead, Ellie pulled away from him. Samuel kept his hands on her arms, feeling as if loosing that contact would separate them again.

"I know" Samuel whispered dreadfully, "just give me a moment"

He stood, holding Ellie's hand, and made his way to the couch. The couch felt heavenly after sitting on the stiff hospital beds for so long.

Ellie climbed up beside him, latching onto his arm, and Amanda sat separately.

She had a solemn look on her face, a mixture of exhaustion and grief.

"I almost called a foster home" she spoke up suddenly.

Ellie shifted, grabbing onto Samuel even tighter as her tears slowed slightly.

"Amanda, I'm sorry" he spoke up, trying to explain.

Amanda shook her head in dismissal.

"I thought you were dead" she whispered with an upset tone. "I thought you were a victim of the explosion"

Samuel almost started talking again, but was dismissed once again.

"I called the hospital. I asked if they had a Samuel Reed, and they said they 'couldn't disclose that information'. I called the police station too. And the firefighters. And every morgue within two hours of here. Nothing" she continued with a raised voice.

"Amanda, I know you're angry, but I"

"No!" She shouted.

Ellie flinched, but stayed quiet.

"I'm not angry. I'm just.. upset. Ellie wouldn't leave this house so I couldn't either. I didn't know any of your family, or friends, or people you work with, and I was scared." She paused to wipe her eyes, tears pooling and just barely staying in. "And now you're here"

She took a deep breath, waiting for Samuel to explain.

He glanced down at his daughter, then back up at Amanda, not knowing what to say.

He roamed his brain for what to say, having no idea what excuse to use or how to get away with his disappearance.

"I know" she said pointedly after Samuel stayed quiet.

Samuel looked up at her questioningly. Surely she wasn't talking about him being the hero. Surely she couldn't know about that.

"What?" He whispered back, praying that she was mistaken.

"I know who you are." She continued.

It didn't sound like a threat, but Samuel almost wished that it did. Instead it was a sad statement. A simple fact that she was making him aware of. The grief behind her voice was intense, and Samuel wished he could unhear it.

"What do you mean?" Samuel questioned, thought he knew the answer.

Amanda glanced towards Ellie, and Samuel followed her gaze.

He sighed, nodding at Amanda. They glanced at one another briefly, a look of knowledge passing through them.

The room fell silent, Amanda averting her gaze down to her hands and Samuel looking at Ellie, who was still crying while holding onto his arm.

"I'm sorry you had to take care of Ellie for so long. I really didn't intend for that to happen" Samuel spoke solemnly.

Amanda nodded "I cant really blame you for that" she sighed, "but if you would've just told me, or anyone for that matter, then everything would be much better. Especially for her" she gestured to Ellie.

"Yeah. I know" Samuel admitted quietly.

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Reunion pt. 3 🥳🥳