She didn't know about Samuel's injured leg and didn't listen to him anyway. Being careful about the tube in her hand, she crawled onto his lap, and snuggled up against him, curling up into a tiny ball. Samuel's hands froze mid-air as he was about to push her away. Looking at the little girl on his lap, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Even though the child sitting near the dart impact made hurt, he endured it.

Hope whispered softly, "I miss mommy." She felt sad and wanting ...