Chapter 4

Life lost its zest without Linus at his side.

So what kept him from taking the next step?

They made it back to the lot before the reality of the news hit Linus. Samson saw him stumble, reaching for him a second too late. Linus crumbled, falling to his knees in the gravel, a sob bubbling out of him. Samson reacted on impulse, all thoughts of the fight banished, as he went to Linus, kneeling before him, the cold seeping into the denim of his jeans, and drawing him into what he prayed was a comforting embrace. After what had been said Samson expected Linus to push him away. Instead he felt Linus grip fistfuls of his shirt and cling to him.

Some might have deemed it an overly dramatic response given the bare bones of the news. The injuries sustained, the potential outcome, it remained unknown until they reached the hospital, and already Linus was falling apart. Samson suspected the tears wetting his shirt contained more than anguish for hurt family members.