Manchester Ménage 01 - Saving Samuel Read Online Free PDF Page A

up? Just give me an hour to talk to you.”
    Daniel closed his eyes. It wouldn’t be one hour, it wouldn’t be one talk. It would begin again. “I can’t, it’s too hard.”
    “Danny…” Milo took a breath. “This isn’t over.” He ended the call and Daniel held his phone against his forehead, taking deep breaths and trying to stop the pain he felt inside from coming out.

Chapter 4
     
    S amuel laid still, feeling the mattress under him and trying to think why he felt so comfy. He peeked out of one eye and looked around him. He was alone in a private hospital room. It took a few moments for everything to sink in, then he closed his eyes and groaned.
    The fire. The fireman. Daniel!
    Samuel opened his eyes and looked at the chair beside the bed. The discarded pillow and blanket reminded him his new friend slept beside him all night, keeping watch over him and always noticing when Samuel’s eyes opened, trying to find him. Samuel looked down at his hand, almost seeing it in Daniel’s again. It had been so long since he let anyone touch him, especially a man.
    He sat up slowly, trying to feel any injuries on his body, but noticed nothing new. Just the constant pain in his stomach from being hungry and the headache which never seemed to leave him. His joints ached, but they always hurt now from the cold and from sleeping on the floor. This mattress was the first one he’d laid on in over five months and he was sure it wouldn’t feel so comfy to others, but to him it felt like Heaven.
    “Good morning, Samuel.”
    Samuel jumped and spun his head around to the door. A petite, brown-haired nurse was walking in, holding a cup of tea.
    “I brought you something sweet to drink. Breakfast will be round soon, but if you’re hungry now, I have some sandwiches in the fridge, or I can pop you some toast in. What do you think?”
    Food sounded good. Even if Samuel wanted to run, he needed to eat first. “Either will be fine. Thank you.” He smiled at her as she passed him the steaming cup of milky tea. “Where am I?”
    “Manchester General Hospital. How do you feel this morning?”
    “Good. A bit achy and my chest feels tight, but I'm okay.”
    “The chest is down to the smoke you inhaled. You were lucky. The others who were pulled out are much worse and on breathing machines.” She grinned at him, brushing away a strand of his hair while he took a sip of tea. “You’re lucky you had a guardian angel looking after you. He stayed all night, you know. He said he was coming back. He has some things of yours. A couple of bags?”
    Samuel opened his eyes wider and nodded. He’d forgotten about them, he didn’t know how he could do. They were all he had of his old life. “They’re important to me. I need them back.”
    “He’ll bring them, sweetie pie. He wanted to be here when you woke up. I thought you’d be out for another few hours. You looked like you needed the rest. Lay back and I’ll get some food for you.”
    Samuel held the cup tightly in his hands, watching as she swept from the room. He needed those bags back before he left. He just hoped his friendly fireman brought them back before the police got here and started asking questions like they always did.
    Ten minutes later and his lovely nurse was sitting with him while he ate the first bit of food in three days. Gorgeous buttery toast and jam, followed by a big ham sandwich. When he’d finished, the breakfast was being brought round and she grabbed him a bowl of cereal and some more tea which he wolfed down. He hadn’t felt so full in ages.
    “Why don’t I run you a bath? A nice hot one to get the smoke out of your hair.”
    A bath sounded good. One with hot water sounded even better. He’d only had cold washes or a quick shower when he could grab one while he moved from shelter to shelter. Recently he’d been living rough and that meant no hot water.
    “I’d like that.” He reached out and took hold of her hand. “The police… have they