Amanda, Leo & Sam - Wednesday afternoon

[x-leosamson.livejournal.com]

Amanda sends a welcome call through to Dr. Samson.



Things were quiet the morning after the end of the world - Amanda guessed most people were still sleeping, or at least enjoying being in a warm soft bed. She would have been the same, except she was still keyed-up from the fight the day before. Slipping out of bed to let Angelo sleep some more, she wandered stiffly downstairs towards the kitchen, thinking to get a cup of tea and have a smoke - there hadn't been a lot of time to nicotine the day before. Once she'd had a bit of quiet time, she'd see who needed what of her teammates.

These plans were momentarily derailed, however, as the school phone started ringing as she passed by the office that was normally Dani's. Glancing around to see if there was anyone else to answer it, Amanda shrugged and went in, picking it the receiver and speaking in her "work" voice, which sounded not unlike Betsy's:

"Xavier Institute, Amanda speaking. How can I help you?"

Sam smiled a little at the accent of the woman on the phone before responding. "Hi! This is Sam Gregory--I'm Leo's sister, Leo Samson? I'm trying to get a hold of him--he's not answering his house phone or SCCS, and I can't remember his cell 'cause it's speed dial on my cell and my cell is somewhere under a pile of rubble..." Sam trailed off for a second, coughing a little--it felt like they all had pounds of grit and dust in their lungs. "Anyway, is he there?"

"Doc Samson? Sure, hang on a sec and I'll see if I can get him." The surprise knocked the formal out of Amanda's voice and she slipped back into her usual East London. "I never knew he had a sister... just a minute." She jabbed the "hold" button and after a moment or two of looking, found Samson's office number and dialed. Hopefully he was there.

Leo had just closed his office door to head to the kitchen when the phone rang. He fumbled to open the door again, juggling several empty tea mugs that had accumulated over the past several days and ran back inside, picking it up on the last ring before it went to voice mail. "Yes? Samson?" he said in a rush.

"Hey Doc, it's Amanda. I've got someone on the other line here, says she's your sister? I figured you might want to talk to her," the witch replied with a grin audible in her voice. "Should I put her through before the hold music drives her batty?"

Seven empty tea mugs hit the floor in rapid succession. "Sam!? Yes, yes, please, Amanda, put her through! Thank you, thank you!" Leo fell into his desk chair with a noticeable thud and clutched the phone tightly.

"Putting her through now, Doc," came the cheerful reply, and after a moment, Sam's voice was on the line:

"Leo? Is that you?"

"Sam?!" Leo closed his eyes in relief, muttering the Shema quickly under his breath, "Sh'ma Yis'ra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad."

He spoke up again in a normal tone of voice, "Are you ok? Where are you? Have you heard from TJ? Is Nina ok? Are the Rodriguez alright? Are--" Leo broke off and took a breath. "Sam, it's so good to hear your voice."

"Same here." There was a slight catch in her voice, but then she continued on, almost briskly. "We're fine, all of us. I was at the Angels with Nina and TJ made her way to us and we sat out the whole thing there. We're on our way to your place now - the city's a mess."

"Oh, thank God. I've heard about the city," Leo said. "Some of my kids were there when it happened, it...it's going to be a long recovery." He leaned back into the desk chair, "I am so glad you guys are alright."

He thought for a moment. "Umm...there should be plenty in the fridge--I never cooked any of the food for Sunday dinner. You're sure all of you are ok? No one hurt? You--" Leo broke off before saying 'didn't try to play hero', and rephrased his statement--"stayed, uh, safe at the clinic, didn't you?"

"Everyone's fine," she reiterated with a laugh that was punctuated by a cough. "There was a lot of dust and crap in the air, which is why we're leaving, but no-one's hurt past a few cuts and bruises. Oh, and my phone is dead - I dropped it on the way out of the subway and it's under a pile of rubble by now..." She had the grace to sound a little defensive. "But it's okay, I wasn't anywhere near the subway when it actually collapsed."

Leo exhaled sharply at Sam's last words, but managed to rally weakly, "Right. Right. So that's good, then." He shook his head and finally smiled slightly. "Ok. So call me when you all get to the house, and I'll come over--I want to make sure a few of the kids are good before I go. Oh--did you call home or do you want me to?"

"I can do it. You go check on your kids. I'll get TJ to call you in a while, okay?" Sam's voice grew soft. "It's so good to hear your voice again, Leo. You take care of yourself as well as the rest of them, okay?"

"I will," Leo replied quietly. "I'll see you soon, Samantha Lorraine. I love you."

Sam snorted slightly at his use of her full name. "Love you too, Leonard."

Many thanks to Jo for the sock!

Thanks to Maureen for the prayer assist: transliteration of the Shema is here: Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One. (from: http://www.jewfaq.org/prayer/shema.htm)