Yeah, I think they were all having the problem of not wanting to let go and care and get hurt again. Which, I suppose, is exactly what ended up happening...

Looking back at my original post, I didn't mean to imply that I found Sam's reactions unrealistic or OOC. On the contrary, I thought she was very well justified in her position -- and, as it turned out, since Michael can control Carson2 at least a little bit, she was right!