Hi-quick note: I said in the first chapter (Coma) that I was going to post a prequel chapter that showed/explained the "fire accident" but I've decided to take another route. All will be explained next chapter (hopefully the story is interesting enough for readers that I can continue).

Anyway, hope you like it and sorry for the delay! :P

"Sam?" he said in a low and husky voice. His face was calm—serene—and Sam couldn't help but wish the faint smile that played on his lips was real.

Between vast expanses of darkness and nothingness, when she dreamed she mostly dreamed of him. She saw her parents and friends sometimes—tiny glimpses of them smiling and re-imaginations of times spent with them—but Tim occupied most of her time. She often wondered why this was the case; perhaps it was because he was the last person she saw, or because the peculiarity of her last moments of awakeness weighed on her.

But she was better for it. This life afforded no restraints on her happiness—she was free to kiss and sweetly caress a man whom she could never smile at in her waking life. Reality would prove to be even more crushing.

"Mmm…" She was looking down at him; her long hair shaded his face from the warm sunshine. Her bare arms rested on his chest while her right hand played with strands of his dark, chestnut hair. She wasn't really listening to him, she was too caught up in her own amusement. Part of her distraction also resulted from the warmth that emanated from his body and seeped into her skin as she lay, partially, on top of him.

Part of her always seemed lost, disconnected, in this subconscious dream world. Her understanding seemed dulled, but she experienced an unusual sensitivity to touch considering her present reality was a farce.

But what an amazing farce it was. They lay in a forest clearing on a bed of forget-me-nots—a flower that made a consistent appearance in her trysts with Tim. Fractured light poured through the spaces between trees and leaves and camouflaged the couple. A small patch of his hair gleamed in the sunlight.

The hands that rested on her waist gave a small squeeze, disturbing the cotton white fabric of Sam's dress and forcing her to pay attention.

She wanted to tease him a bit, partly because he disturbed her play but mostly because she loved the way his lips parted in slight exasperation when she didn't comply with him.

She lowered her face down to his, all the while only looking at his lips, so close she could almost kiss them, but she didn't. When she spoke she could feel her own breath on her skin and surely he could feel it too—if he felt anything. "What is it that you wanted to say?" she drawled.

His lips parted, as she knew they would. "I think," there was a moment of pause, "this goes beyond the realm of dealing with your unresolved feelings."

"I know."

"This won't help you," he said quietly.

"You're probably right," she whispered.

He smiled and looked at her as though he was searching her eyes. When he spoke, his voice held a distinctive tone of matter-of-factness. "You don't have any intention of healing, do you?"

She smiled back. "You shouldn't have kissed me to begin with."

"That was ultimately up to you," he said while tucking a few tresses of hair behind her right ear and lingering his hand on her neck.

"Then… I guess I don't want to heal," she replied as she kissed his hand.

"Sam…" His smile slowly disappeared and his eyes wrinkled in remonstration. He withdrew his hand.

Now, it was Sam's turn to be irritated.

She pulled her face away from his far enough to look him squarely in the eyes. "Oh boo hoo," she said sarcastically, "I'll deal with my damaged psyche when and if I wake up."

"You're going to wake up."

"Maybe, but it might not be such a bad thing if I don't."

He moved into a sitting position and Sam was forced up along with him. She thought about wanting to kiss him. She had to admit it was a bit odd kissing this Tim Scam, being so close and free with a subconscious manifestation. She chalked up his existence to memories of the real Tim Scam, her own thoughts and perceptions of him (real and wished for), all cohered and distorted into the man who stroked her arms and caressed her back carefully.

She still wanted to kiss him.

However, the look on his face gave her the impression that she couldn't. His features were still tense, perhaps reflecting her own sensibility. "Sam, none of this is genuine," he almost pleaded, "it's not worth holding on to in exchange for your life."

She sighed in response. His love for her may have been purely superficial but she knew that he—or her subconscious—was right. She couldn't stay like this forever and it would never be enough for her. This version of Tim Scam didn't love her—how could he—even though she wanted to believe he did. In the end she needed more than a figment, she needed something real.

She leaned into his chest, tears forming in her eyes, and felt his arms wrap her in a gentle embrace. "I know…" he reassured.

Sam wiped away her tears and looked at him one last time.

His head lightly bumped against her's. In a voice that was able to sooth her doubts and ease the tight feeling in her chest, he said, "You will find what you're looking for, Sam." He caressed her cheek and asked, "One more?"

She smiled, a little sadly, and replied, "Last one, to help me wake up."

XX

She could hear her name. "Sam…Sam…"

There were other voices. "I think she's opening her eyes" one whispered. There was a receding sound, it was pained. Something like…sobbing.

Her eyes gradually opened and struggled to adjust to a flush of white light. There was a smell…she couldn't quite—yes, it was a bit sickening, it was disinfectant.

"….stop crying… call them…"

She absently wondered if she could move her hands.

Her vision was blurry but the face above her was so familiar, so loved, she could tell who it was. "Alex…"

Alex reached for her hand and gave it a small squeeze. At least she was able to feel that, Sam thought. Alex wore an expression of weariness but still managed a broad, genuine smile. Sam tried to smile but couldn't quite manage it and gave up quickly.

She heard a phone close and then suddenly another figure rushed to her. It was Clover. Sam's vision focused and she could see her friend's face was bare and stained with tears. Her eyes flooded again and she all but lunged at Sam while repeating relief and happiness at Sam having finally gained consciousness.

It was futile to try anything too strenuous so when Clover finally released her Sam could only manage to say "…arents"

"They're on their way," Alex reassured.

Sam swallowed to indicate she understood. Her friends smiled.

The next thing she wanted to know required a bit of work but she had to find out. "Tim…w-where's he?" But when her friends looked at each other with worry, her heart fell.

Kinda gone a long time, but I'm trying to update my other story while still hashing out 2 other Sam/Scam fics. Reviews are welcome and very, very strongly encouraged. Thanks!

-DemonsArePersonal