Disclaimer: Any resemblance to two of our favorite ladies is just that a resemblance…but to cover the basics. I do not own Xena or anyone else.

A/N: So this is Uber…Femslash…and rated mature for language and sexual situations. Don't expect updates to come quickly or regularly . Right now I'm into this story but we will see how long that last. I have several other stories I'm working on too.

Reviews welcome…Flames aren't. If you don't like it click on that nice red 'X' in the top right corner.

UnBetaed

Life's Choices

Chapter 1

"Hello" Sam's distracted voice came over the phone line. She had her cell phone tucked between her ear and her shoulder as she tried to find the problem with the motor she was working on.

Sam, you have a visitor at the office. One of the company's secretary's voice sounded in her ear. She claims that it's important that she speaks with you immediately.

"I'm a little busy Dana." Sam's was only half listening. "Take their name and number and tell them that I will call them back when I get a chance."

No Sam. Dana sounded frustrated. She's here in the office.

"Who is it?" Sam asked finally pulling herself way from the motor and giving the woman on the other end her full attention.

She says her name's Brooke Adams. Dana told her. She claims you know her.

Sam was silent for a beat before she answered, "Yeah I know her." She had been Sam's best friend growing up but the taller woman hadn't heard from her in years. She had disappeared from all of their lives. "Did she say what she wanted?" She finally asked.

She won't say. Dana told her. But she doesn't look good. The secretary's voice dropped to a near whisper.

"What do you mean?" Sam asked in alarm. No matter what had happened between them she still cared for the redhead. Hell she knew it was more than that. She forced away the thoughts of lost opportunities and focused on what she was hearing.

She's look likes she's been in a fight or something. Dana told her. She's been beaten Sam.

Sam felt her blood run cold. "Alright this is what I want you to do. Put her in my office and make sure she stays there. Have one of the boys take her car to my house and put it in the garage. If anyone shows up asking after her you tell them she's not there, do you understand?"

Yeah I understand. Dana paused for a moment and then asked, Is this the same Brooke that you knew growing up? The question was timid because she knew how painful the whole situation had been for Sam.

"Yes it is." Sam told her. "I've got to get the rig up and running but I'll be there as soon as possible."

"Alright, Sam I'll take care of it." Dana told her before hanging up.

Sam sighed and ran her hand through her short cropped dark hair. Closing her eyes for a moment she blew out a breath. Putting on a pair of glasses to cover her bright blue eyes she turned and hollered out to the guys standing nearby, "Alright let's get this done. I need to rig running by tonight or we are going to lose the field."

Sam sighed as she pulled the old beat up truck into the parking lot outside of Taylor Farms. At twenty eight years old she never thought she would end up back in this small town running the family business. She had so many plans for her life, places she wanted to go, and things she wanted to do, but it seemed it wasn't in the cards for her. It wasn't that she hated what she was doing; oddly enough she really did enjoy it, but it just wasn't where she saw her life.

Her family owned two different companies. One was a farming company and the other was a cotton gin. It had been in her family for generations. Four to be exact and when her grandfather grew ill and her dad needed the help she had volunteered. None of her cousins were up to the challenge so that left Sam and her younger brother Mark. Mark had such potential for his life. He had graduated from the top of his class in culinary school and at only twenty six he was the executive chef at a high class restaurant in a city about an hour away. He was starting to make plans to open his own restaurant soon and Sam refused to let him give that up. So instead she had packed up what life she had in Georgia and returned home two years ago.

She looked at herself as she climbed out of the truck and shook her head. She was covered almost from head to toe in mud. It had taken them six hours but they had finally managed to get the irrigation rig up and running again. Hopefully it would stay that way and they would be able to save the field. It had been such a hot and dry summer and the autumn was not any better.

"Damn, girl what happened to you?" Was the first thing that Dana said when she entered.

"Heh…" Sam shrugged, "Such is the life of a farmer. Is Brooke still here?"

"She's been sleeping since I called you." Dana told her. "She really doesn't look good. Butch and Chester are keeping her company."

Sam snorted a little. Chester was the office's cat and Butch was her boxer. Usually the dog would be with her in the fields but it was just too hot. "I need to shower before I go in there. Would you mind make us some coffee. Something tells me it will be a long afternoon."

"of course." Dana promised.

Sam nodded, "and do me a favor. Call Mark and let him know what's going on. Tell him I need him to come in tonight if he can and pack for a few days." When Dana nodded she headed to the back of the office where she had insisted a shower be put in for instances like this. She came out only a few minutes later dressed in a clean pair of dark jeans, a black tank top and a pair of boots. She could only hope she didn't have to go back out again this afternoon.

When she entered her office her eyes were automatically drawn to the sleeping figure on the couch. Brooke Adams lay curled up in the fetal position with her head propped up on a pillow. Butch was curled up at her feet and Chester was lying in her arms. She still was the most beautiful woman Sam had ever seen. She was the opposite of Sam in almost every way. Where Sam stood nearly 6 feet tall Brooke only stood 5'5. Where Sam had short cut dark hair Brooke's hair was red, wavy and flowing down her back. Sam's eyes were a light blue where Brooke's were a deep green. Sam could remember when they were growing up, back when she was still confused and trying to figure herself out. She and Brooke would be talking about something and Sam would find herself lost in her friends enchanting eyes.

Brooke whimpered in her sleep and rolled over slightly; as she did Sam saw a fading bruise on the other side of her face. The anger she had experienced earlier returned and she clenched her fist. She didn't know what had happened but she knew that if she ever got her hands on whoever had put that bruise there she would kill them.

"No…please…" She heard Brooke mumble in her sleep. "Please…Sammy…help me…" Sam's heart clenched at the pleading tone in the red head's voice and it soared at the same time at hearing Brooke mumble her old nickname for her. Only Brooke had ever been able to get away with calling her 'Sammy' and she just now realized how much she had missed it over the last few years.

When Brooke began to squirm in her sleep and her mumbling increased Sam decided it was time to wake her up. She moved silently to the couch and dropped down to her knees. Reaching out she made to move the hair out of the other's woman's eyes but stopped herself. She knew she had no right to touch the younger woman in such an intimate way, but god how she wished she did. She knew that she shouldn't still feel this way. She hadn't seen the woman in years but she just couldn't help herself. Reaching out she gently shaking the young woman's arm she spoke softly, "Brooke…come on wake up now."

The redhead began to stir and slowly she opened her eyes and Sam found herself momentarily trapped in the deep pools again and the time seemed to melt away. Eventually the trance was broken when Brooke reached out and cupped the soft cheek before her. "Sammy…" She whispered, "Oh God…Sammy I've missed you." And with that the young red head broke into sobs. Sam did the only thing that she could she pulled the younger woman close and rocked her gently. After a few moments she shifted so she was sitting on the couch and could hold Brooke a little more easily.

Brooke just hung on to her and she cried. She never heard the door open or someone else enter. Sam looked up and saw Dana enter with two cups of coffee. She smiled as the other woman sat them on the coffee table and backed out. Sam's attention returned to the woman in her arms. "Shhh…Brooke…it's alright…Shhh…"

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry…" Brooke began to chant over and over again. "I'm sorry Sammy…"

"For what Brooke?" Sam couldn't help but asked. "What could you possibly have to be sorry for?"

"For leaving you…" Brooke said as she regained her composure. "For walking out of your life."

"Ok Brooke…we'll come back to that later." Sam said not ready to discuss that yet. "Why don't you tell me what's going on. Why are you back? What do you need me to do?"

Brooke just looked at her for a long moment not sure how to answer. Eventually Sam tried again. This time she reached up and cupped the redhead's bruised cheek. "Who did this to you?"

"My ex-husband." Brooke answered in a broken whisper.