First off, I would like to thank FNUP and Imagination-On-The-Loose for their positive reviews. After reading certain reviews, I must say that I thought about giving you all a little more information as to what is going to go down in this fic but then I changed my mind because I realized that there are people who may actually like to see where this story can go and I wouldn't want to spoil it for them just because there were a few reviewers who chose to state that they are not here for such a fic. I will say though, that I wanted to write Sam and Mercedes in another light and that's why I decided to take this route so, for those who did leave reviews stating that they are 'not here for it', I do hope that you decide to give this fic another chance in the near future but if you don't, that's okay too. I completely understand and I appreciate that you even tried to give it a try in the first place. For those who have chosen to read on though, please forgive any errors.
Mercedes stepped down from the treadmill and looked over at Santana who was still running with her music blasting in her ears.
"Keep going." She looked up and at the mirror in front of her only to see a man standing behind her of whom she'd never seen before.
He didn't look much like the rest of the men who stayed in the gym on a daily basis and she actually thought he looked too well groomed and put together, with his dirty blonde hair and nice attire to be working out at all.
"Where are my manners?" He held out his hand to her. "I'm Micah." He introduced himself and Santana pulled her headphones out of her ears, finally.
Mercedes sucked in her lips and shrugged her shoulders, her breathing heavy from her workout.
When she didn't shake his hand, the man dropped it back at his side. "I saw you and your friend when I came in and I thought that maybe I would give you one of my cards." He leaned down to reach into his workout bag and Mercedes merely watched.
"I own the new dance studio at the end of the street and I'm trying to get the word out so the manager was nice enough to let me come in and leave some of my flyers as advertisement here at the gym." He held the card out to Mercedes and she shook her head.
"No thank you. I really won't be needing that, not much of a dancer."
Just then Santana stepped in between the two of them with a towel thrown over her shoulders and a water bottle in her hands, "We will most definitely check it out." She took the card from the man and eyed Mercedes.
"Thank you so much." He spoke with a smile and Santana thought he was quite charming.
"Why are you so evil?" Santana looked over at Mercedes once the man had started off.
"What Santana?" She questioned. "We don't dance."
"You're a damn lie!" Santana exclaimed. "I don't dance."
"Well why would you tell him that we would come over?"
Santana shrugged, "I only said that we would check it out, damn. But...I think it might be fun to learn though." She looked at Mercedes with pleading eyes. "Please? Besides, dancing is great exercise, Mercedes, and it's a lot more fun than running on a treadmill for 15 to 30 minutes."
Mercedes only looked at the girl.
"We should give it a try."
Mercedes didn't know why she had allowed Santana to talk her into going to the dance studio.
She was a woman of many talents and she had to admit that dancing was one of those talents which came naturally but it wasn't anything that she would do outside of the comforts of her own home. Yet, here she was two days later and clocking out of work to meet Santana at Milo's Dance Studio.
She shook her head at the name of the studio.
Pulling up, she got out of the car and started to get her changing clothes from the backseat of the car when she heard Santana's voice from the distance.
"It's really nice in here," She turned to see the girl standing in the doorway of the studio. She was dressed in black tights and a bright yellow half shirt that showed off every part of her toned physique.
"You look comfortable." Mercedes smiled at the girl.
"Don't I though," Santana chuckled then turned around to show Mercedes her backside. "Booty looking right, huh girl?"
Mercedes laughed and shook her head as she started towards the door where Santana had to move aside to let a man out. "You are a mess but you're not wrong."
Santana was right. The inside of the studio looked nothing like the outside. It was still nothing that Mercedes was used to but there was a lot of space and it had a lot of potential. It immediately made her think of the days when she would dance in front of the mirror at home when she was a young girl.
Starting towards the dressing room, she grabbed Santana by her arm.
"Micah is fine and he can dance." Santana said, looking back at the instructor while allowing Mercedes to drag her alone.
"You don't even like men."
"You do."
"I'm married." Mercedes stepped out of her work skirt to change into a pair of sweats even though there were a few other women in the room other than her and Santana.
"So when a person gets married they are no longer allowed to have an opinion anymore?" Santana asked. "Never mind, I forgot we talked about this before. It's the simple fact of being a good wife. I understand."
Mercedes narrowed her eyes at Santana.
"Nope. You're right. I don't understand." Santana spoke again. "I never will."
"That's why you'll never get married." Mercedes laughed softly.
"We'll see whenever you be calling me TeTe Tana because I'm gonna marry your aunt, just watch."
"How many times do I have yo tell you that my aunt isn't gay." Mercedes laughed again, now pulling her shirt over her head then going to put her bag into one of the empty locker areas.
"How many times do I have to tell you that she might not be now, but just wait till she see what this mouf can do."
"I seriously hate you." Mercedes tried not to laugh. "Stop looking at my aunt! She's fourth-two!"
"She shouldn't be so fine."
Mercedes was having the time of her life. Micah was teaching them choreography to Rihanna's Pon De Replay and even though Santana was barely keeping up, Mercedes was getting down.
"You were right." She spoke to Santana who was dancing all off beat beside her. "This is way better than being over at the gym."
"I'm usually right." Santana responded, dipping to the floor later than everyone else then barely making it back up. "You're welcome though." She smiled.
"You're so full of yourself."
After a few more steps and repeats, Santana and Mercedes were heading out of the door of the studio.
"Hey!" They heard a voice call and if Santana hadn't stopped to look back, Mercedes would have kept on walking.
"Hey." Santana spoke softly to the instructor and Mercedes rolled her eyes at the girls' actions.
"You two were wonderful in there." Micah said, regaining his breath.
"Thanks." They said in sync.
"No problem, and you," He pointed at Mercedes, "You can really move for someone who isn't much of a dancer.
Mercedes didn't even smile at the man, "yea, I guess I was just feeling the music is all."
"Damn lie." Santana interrupted. "She dances all the time."
"Damnit Santana!" Mercedes huffed.
"Well, be nice."
"It's okay." Micah replied, shaking his head. "I just came over to let you know that I would really love it if you two would come back tomorrow to learn the rest of the dance, so that we can go through it all together."
"I won't-"
"We'll be here." Santana cut Mercedes off and smiled at the man.
"I just don't understand why you insist on volunteering my services, that's all." Mercedes watched the rode carefully as she talked to Santana on speaker inside of her car.
"You said yourself that you enjoyed it today so why not go back?" Santana spoke through the receiver.
"It doesn't matter, Santana. I just-shit!" She looked at her phone. "Sam is calling. I forgot to tell him that I wouldn't be home until later."
"So girl. His ass works 24 hour shifts and have you sitting at home waiting for him all day. He should understand."
"He doesn't work-you know what? Get the hell off of my line."
As soon as she hung up on Santana, Sam's incoming call dropped and she called back.
"Hey, Baby." She spoke through the receiver.
"Hey." He spoke lowly. "I was just calling because I hadn't heard from you and I wanted to make sure that you were okay."
"Yea, I'm okay. Is everything fine?" She asked and Sam was quiet.
"Oh, you have to stay late again tonight?" She asked, her voice low too now.
"Oh, no." He spoke up. "I'm at home already, waiting for you."
Mercedes silently thanked God, "what's wrong then?" She asked. "Why are you so hesitant?"
"I was just thinking about one of my patients. You know the little girl I was telling you about?"
"Yea, uhhh..Stacie?"
"She died today...during surgery. I operated on her."
"Baby..." Mercedes' voice was sad. "I'm so sorry to hear that." She pulled up in the driveway of their home.
"Yea, her platelets stopped clotting and she bled out. We tried but it was too late."
"I'm coming inside now."
"Okay." He replied and she hung up before gathering her things to take inside.
Mercedes immediately dropped her things by the door when she made it inside then started over to Sam who was sitting on the couch.
"Baby, don't feel bad." She whispered hugging him tightly.
Sam shook his head, "I'm trying not to but if you would have seen the faces of her loved ones."
"I'm sorry." She searched his eyes as all was quiet now.
"I'll be fine." He spoke up all of a sudden. "What all did you do today?"
"Oh," She smiled softly. She couldn't remember the last time Sam had time to ask her about her day. "Santana and I went to a new dance studio down the street from the gym uptown."
"Did you like it?"
"I loved it actually." She spoke. "It was really fun, and I could show you what I learned if you want."
Sam shook his head, "Naw, I'm gonna get something to drink then head upstairs to look at a few cases."
Mercedes' demeanor changed almost immediately, "Okay." She spoke, her voice almost hoarse now.
Sam stood up from the couch and Mercedes sat back. "I guess this means you won't be touching me tonight either." She spoke in nearly a whisper.
"Huh?" Sam asked, raising his brows.
"Nothing," she replied, attitude clear on her voice although she was trying to hide it.
"What did you say?"
"Sex, Sam." She reiterated. "I guess we won't be having sex tonight either."
Sam shook his head, "I come home and tell you about the death of one of my patients and you're seriously asking me about sex right now."
Mercedes shrugged. "I said I was sorry to hear that, Sam, but what happens behind the doors of that Emergency room should not effect our marriage behind these doors. I can't help that she passed. The only thing I can do is continue to be here for you."
"You sound really selfish right now, Mercedes."
"I sound selfish?" Mercedes was offended. "I sound selfish yet you're the one who hasn't paid me any attention in over a month, Sam. You're the same person who came home a couple of nights ago and didn't even acknowledged what I was wearing for you when you know damn well I don't go to work looking like that. I sound selfish.." She shook her head and chuckled. "I just asked you if you wanted to see what I learned today and you brushed me off to look at files. No you're selfish, Sam! All you care about is that damn hospital."
Sam only stood there, looking down at her as she spoke to him with authority. He knew that she wasn't lying in a way, but he wouldn't admit it, ever.
"So you really feel that way?"
"Yes, I do." Mercedes replied, her voice calm. "You haven't touched me in over a month, Sam. A whole month. Don't you think that's selfish?"
"No, what's selfish is the fact that I want a child that you'll never be able to have so what's the purpose of even having sex, Mercedes?"
Mercedes eyes watered immediately and she bit the inside of her lip to stop the tears from falling and Sam only stood there. "That's low, Sam, and you know it."
"I don't care anymore."
She simply stared up at him as tears began to fall from her eyes. "I can't have children so you just stop having sex with me. "She exhaled, smiling softly-tears still streaming down her face. "I'm your wife. You're supposed to be here for me regardless and especially in times like these and you're talking down on me like this?" She shook her head, wiping tears. "Who is she?"
"What the-" Sam exhaled this time and then chuckled. "So, we're at this now, huh?"
"Yes, Sam!" She all but whispered. "Does she work with you? Is she the one you've been staying out all night with?"
He shook his head. "This is ridiculous, Mercedes. "You are ridiculous."
"If you think I'm ridiculous, Sam, do me a favor and divorce me."
Sam said nothing as he looked down at her so she spoke up again, "Divorce me because I don't want to be here and I'd hate to hold you back.
Sam simply turned his back to her and started towards the stairs. "I'm through talking about this. Your side of the bed will be waiting for you whenever you decide to come up, Mercedes. Goodnight."
Heyyy, guys! The next chapter of A Woman's Worth will definitely be a lot more lengthy than this one but since I wanted to give you guys something, here you go! What do you think so far? Do you like it or do you love it? Let me know and thanks so much for reading!