Eventually Sam returned to his feet.  Chad wanted to drive him to his home so he and Ella could take care of him.  He was soaked through, looking past things and into the distance, lost in his thoughts of the last twenty-four hours.  A light rain had begun to fall and only the swish and light scrape of the windscreen wipers broke the silence.

"Take me home," said Sam quietly.  "I want to be with Louis." he said, his voice empty of feeling.

Chad turned the car around and drove slowly back to Brooklyn and Sam's house.  A pained expression past Chad's face as he thought, [I]'just Sam's house now'[/I].  He felt how much he wanted to be home with Ella too, his dear wife was heartbroken also and then he felt guilt, like he was abandoning Sam.

At Sam's home Chad said, "call us if you need us, for anything," before adding, "I'm so sorry Sam, I truly am."

Sam could do nothing but nod.  He understood but he was wrapped in his own disbelief.  He couldn't process the fact that beautiful, funny, amazing Brooklyn was gone.  The mother of their baby was gone.  He looked up to the sky and thought about cursing God Himself and flashes of disdain crossed his mind as he thought that no god would take away Brooklyn.  He put his key in the door and breathed in.

He entered the living room and saw Louis playing happily with his toys on his play mat.  Sam's mom smiled.  She looked exhausted and drained.  Sam sat by his mother and put his arms around her, "Thank you Mom, thank you."  

And Sam genuinely meant it.  For a few moments he felt the love of his Mom, the love of Louis, the warmth and friendship of Chad and even the cop who whilst doing his job helped him through the morning.  He felt love, as though a ray of sunshine was trying to pierce the gloom of a darkened sky.  It was the first chink in the day that perhaps, one day there would be hope.

Sam picked up Louis and set him on his knee, "Hiya Champ," he said quietly as the boy returned a smile.  Sam looked around the room and was pained by the things he saw, Brooklyn's things.  Her presence was everywhere.  The pieces she had drawn and put up, the magazine she had been reading, the notepad she jotted 'inspirations' down on to.  Sam wished that she was the most untidy person in the world because all of her things would be scattered around.  She'd be with him all the time.

Patty broke the silence.  "Son, you're not going to want to eat but I know you haven't and you need to.  You also need to sleep.  I'll be here for as long as you need me.  I won't let you go Sam.  Now hear this, Brooklyn was a wonderful woman who loved you two like crazy.  You may never truly get over her but this pain will change.  You're in shock, it'll get worse before it gets better but you'll survive.  You'll be a great father and my grandson will know his parents always loved him.  Now, I'm going to make you a drink and a sandwich, try and eat it but don't worry if you can't.  The sun will rise tomorrow."

Both Sam and Patty had lost all concept of time.  It was actually only late afternoon but their night and day of hell had disorientated them both.  As Patty went to the kitchen Sam walked with Louis to his room.

Inside the boy's bedroom Sam looked around.  They'd both decorated this room, the nursery but what made it special were the paintings on the walls.  They were all illustrations from Brooklyn's hand.  It was like a gentle fantasy land with happy children and animals.  The thought crossed Sam's mind that this room was Heaven.  Sam did something he hadn't done for a long time....

"God," he said quietly and self-consciously (after all he wasn't a regular church attender and wasn't sure what he believed on a [I]good[/I] day).

"If you exist and you're listening, look after Brooklyn for me.  She'll make upstairs better for you, I promise.  She was born an angel and she died an angel.  Keep her safe and tell her I love her and always will."  A small tear rolled down Sam's cheek.  Sam then picked Louis up as the boy looked on curiously and held him aloft, "Brooklyn, if you can hear me babe.  I wanted to be your husband so much, I've adored you since we were kids.  You were my first love and only love.  The first girl I kissed, you're my everything.  This house we have, the family we started, it's all you.  You gave us our beautiful boy.  I can't be believe in God because why would God take you and yet I can believe in Heaven because it's where you have to be.  I am so, so sorry I couldn't get to you.  I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you and save you.  I hope you can forgive me, sweetheart.  So, if you can hear me Brooklyn I ask just one thing from you."

"Look after Louis.  Watch over him and protect him always.  Shine your love on him every day.  You'll always be here, you'll always be with him.  Look after him."

Sam hugged Louis tight and kissed him.  Louis tugged on Sam's ear which brought a sad smile to Sam's face.  Sam carried Louis back to the living room where a sandwich and cup of cocoa was sat there.  The sandwich looked like the blandest thing on earth.  He couldn't comprehend even picking it up and having a bite.  His Mom smiled at him as Sam sat on the couch with Louis on his chest and Sam closed his eyes.

A few moments later Louis was picked from Sam's chest and into the arms of Grandma.  Sam thankfully descended into restful oblivion - for a few hours at least.