This is darker and a bit racier than what I usually write, but it evolved from a theme I'd been wanting to explore in the Sam/Yvette universe since a couple stories back. Hope you all enjoy!

Stains of Scarlet

By WritePassion

Michael didn't like this plan, not one bit. He shook his head and interrupted her. "No, I'm not going to volunteer Sam for this mission. He's still recovering from Angela's attack, and they just moved into their house. Let him have some peace with his family for a little while." He paused. "Besides, he doesn't work for you. And don't hang over my head that crap about him getting into the good graces of the agency. It doesn't work anymore."

Pearce sighed and lay her forearms on the desk surface. "You're right, Michael. Sam has proven himself to the agency. I know it's not fair to ask, but...he's the best fit to do this."

"With all these people, you don't have another middle aged guy who can wear a suit. Are you serious?" Not that Michael thought Sam was incapable of going undercover. He'd done it plenty of times, and quite well. It just wasn't right to ask him to take the risk at this time.

"Michael, Sam has a certain...flair...for this kind of job. His previous reputation as a ladies' man will prove quite useful. Despite his being happily married as Sam Axe, Chuck Finley is just the kind of man we need for this operation, and I have no doubt he'll be able to handle himself."

Michael closed his eyes, fighting back the rising frustration. It was bad enough they used him with such nonchalance, but Sam..."You know what? I'll let you bring this up with him. I'm not going to be your errand boy. I'll act as backup on this, but as far as getting Sam to pose as a playboy, I'm washing my hands of this one." He stood, turned on the ball of his foot, and hurried out of her office. He was aggravated, and now he was late to pick up Fi for her ultrasound test. Otherwise, he would have stayed and let her have the full brunt of his wrath. He was probably better off this way. No use getting himself burned again just for chewing out the boss lady.

He was used to hiding his emotions when necessary, but Michael could never hide them from Fiona. As she got into the car, she looked at him and knew something was wrong. Her mouth opened up, but he cut her off before she spoke a syllable. "Don't wanna talk about it right now, Fi. It'll ruin our doctor visit." Instead, they made small talk while Michael drove them to Fi's obstetrician for the test.

He remembered Sam telling him how it was the first time they saw little Samuel on that screen, and how it all became real for him at that point. Michael wondered if he would feel the same way. He had a hard time believing that a baby would really change his life that much, and there was still plenty of time to get in a deep undercover assignment before Fiona gave birth. They should have given me that assignment. I don't have the kind of ties Sam has. This isn't going to be easy for him, and if Pearce talks him into it...

They were at the office, and he parked in a spot near the door. Fiona glanced at him and said, "Michael, please try to look happy about this, will you?"

"I am happy, Fi!" He turned to her and grinned.

She rolled her eyes. "You look like you're pretending. Michael, if you didn't want this to happen..." Fiona wasn't sure why this bothered her so much. He was only being himself.

"Ohhhh, Fi, it's not that." He reached for her and gathered her into his arms. "I love you, and I'll love this baby. It's just not...concrete...enough for me yet. Maybe I'll have one of those moments like Sam did when he saw his son for the first time." He caressed her face and his smile was genuine. "Come on, let's go see him."

"Or her." She smiled.

Michael chuckled. "Or her." He kissed her. "Let's see what we've got!"

Their first stop after the test was his mother's house. Michael wanted to take Fi out to celebrate, but she was more interested in showing everyone the pictures. When they walked in and saw Sam and Yvette with their family visiting Maddie and Samuel, his stomach dropped to his feet. For a little while, he managed to push back his feelings about the assignment, but one look at his friend brought them all rushing back again. So he did his best to cover them up, and no one seemed to be the wiser.

"Is it a boy or a girl," Maddie asked, grinning and holding the pictures. Samuel looked over her shoulder to see them.

"He...or she...was being shy," Fiona replied with a slight blush to her cheeks. "So we'll have to wait until next time."

"Well, did they try wiggling that sonar thing to get the baby to move," Sam asked as he took the pictures from Maddie so he and Yvette could see them.

"They tried that." Fiona blew out a breath. "Personally, I think it's going to be a boy, because he's stubborn, like Michael." She looked up at him and smiled.

"I think it's a toss-up who's more stubborn," Samuel joked.

"Hey, Sam, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure Mike, what's up?"

"Nothin' much. Just need to talk to you about...stuff. Outside."

Sam glanced at the happy faces checking out the photographs and nodded. They were too engrossed to notice the guarded expression on Michael's face. "Sure." When they stepped down to the patio, he asked, "What's wrong, Mike? Is there something you two aren't telling us about the baby?"

"No, everything's fine. Fine." Michael stood facing Sam, his hands jammed into his pockets. He glanced down at the flagstone and composed himself before looking up at him. "Did Pearce talk to you about an operation?"

"Yeah, breaking up a human trafficking ring, it sounds like a real challenge."

"I hope you told Pearce no, you weren't going to take it."

Sam looked at him strangely. "Not sure why you've got a problem with me doing a job for her, but..."

His eyes widened. "You took it! Sam, what were you thinking!"

"Mike, it's just a job. And our freelance stuff has been a little on the light side lately..." He eyed his friend warily. "Relax, I talked it over with Eve before I accepted it, just so she knows what I'm getting myself into. It's all good. Don't worry about me. Mike, it's not like I'm actually going to do anything!"

"Be careful, Sam."

"I know the risks, Mike."

"Do you really? The last time you had to play the ladies' man, you were single. This is a whole different situation now. Being deep undercover changes people, makes them do things they normally wouldn't do."

Sam shook his head. "I know that, Mike. I'll be careful, I promise! Jeez, you're worse than your mother sometimes, you know that?"

"Don't say I didn't warn you," Michael retorted. He was afraid for Sam. This operation could effectively ruin everything he fought so hard for up until now. Michael knew what that was like. It took him forever to regain a shred of what he'd lost, and it nearly killed him. He couldn't imagine what it would do to Sam.