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Mercedes woke up the next morning to voices, and a lot of them. Rising up from her spot in bed, she saw that Sam was no longer beside her and that the small table clock read 8:42 a.m.
Being that there was only a sheet draped around her naked frame, she got up from the bed and hurriedly pulled on some underwear, a pair of sweats, and a fitting T-shirt before starting down the stairs.
"Oh hey, Mercedes. We were just speaking of you. All good things, of course."
Sam's cousin, Quinn was the first person to spot Mercedes and her voice was the first voice Mercedes recognized clearly from the rest as she was the loudest at the moment.
She laughed at Quinn, "Good morning everyone." She smiled softly, still standing on the staircase.
Next to come was her own mother. "So you got on up, huh?" She said, walking over to Mercedes. She grabbed her hand, "Come on in the kitchen and get yourself something to eat." She dragged her into the kitchen where a different variety of foods had been set out on the kitchen counter and on the island.
"I was just coming down to say good morning," Mercedes spoke after her mother dragged her through the crowd and into the kitchen, "Then I was gonna head back up to get dressed."
"Oh, well you might as well eat something since you're already down here." Mrs. Jones wasn't trying to hear any of it as she was already fixing Mercedes a cup of orange juice.
Mercedes took a bagel from the countertop and had just began putting butter on it when she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist.
"Good morning." She heard Sam say by her ear.
"Morning," She smiled widely, now spreading butter onto the bagel.
"They want to hear you sing." He said just as Mercedes bit into the pastry.
"Oh uhm uh," She responded, her mouth full. "I don't want to."
"Ah, come on." He turned her in his arms. "Just one song, a chorus."
"Not right now, Sam." She shook her head. "Ask Quinn and Stacie to sing."
"They've been singing all morning," He pleaded and she laughed.
"No, Sam." She pecked his lips softly then pulled out of his embrace before starting towards the family room.
"Awh, the lady of the hour." She heard Horace call out once she was in the family room and she smiled shyly, sitting on the edge of the couch next to Quinn.
Quinn was one of the prettiest women Mercedes had ever seen. A stay at home mom of two girls, and happily married to a lawyer.
"You must sing something," Quinn flipped her short blonde hair to look back and up at Mercedes and most of the family agreed.
"I'm gonna have to pass." Mercedes smiled softly and shook her head. "Maybe later though."
"Awh, okay." Quinn replied, "but you have to sing later or we'll never forgive you." She laughed softly and the family agreed.
"Deal." Mercedes smiled.
Hours passed and Mercedes was now dressed in a pair of black jeans and a white graphic tee, sitting on the couch in between Quinn and Stacie-listening to Sam tell stories about when he was away overseas.
It seemed like no matter how much he told his stories, they were never enough. There was always someone who would ask him another question or bring up something else that got him to talking again.
Mercedes didn't mind much even though most of the women had left the men and gone outside at one point just to get away from the talk, although they wouldn't admit it.
"The water was cold," was all Mercedes heard and she soon realized that she had been staring at Sam but hadn't been listening to anything he'd been saying anymore.
There was something about his actions; the way he moved his hands, pulled and squeezed at his fingers, and looked around himself as wanting to stay as alert as possible.
"It was always cold."
"Uhm!" Mercedes spoke up all of a sudden, causing almost everyone in the room to look at her.
"How about Quinn, and Stacie, and I sing that song you were wanting for us to sing earlier." She spoke to Sam with the biggest smile on her face.
"We wanted to hear YOU sing!" Quinn exclaimed on a laugh, causing Mercedes to glare at her. "but sure. Stacie and I can join in."
Stacie scooted to the edge of the couch, looking back at Quinn and Mercedes now. "So what are we singing?"
Mercedes loved how the young girl always seemed ready to entertain.
"How about No One by Alicia Keyes?" Quinn asked, looking at both Stacie and Mercedes for approval.
Stacie frowned a little, "I love that song but..." She paused to think.
"You guys could sing something by Tori Kelly." Langston spoke up from across the room.
"Why are you here again?" Stevie chuckled at the boy.
"I'm here because I'm apart of this family and my mother never calls to ask me where I am." Langston chuckled as well, "now shut up."
Some of the family chuckled as well, "and you know you're always welcome, Langston." Mrs. Evans glared at Stevie."
"OH! What about The Story by Brandi Carlile?" Stacie spoke again and loudly this time as she had been silently thinking about what song they could sing.
Mercedes smiled, "Oh, yes! I like that one, Stacie."
"Mercedes, you're starting." Quinn pointed. "No getting out of this one."
Mercedes shrugged with a chuckle, "okay."
Sam was silent as he sat on his chair, merely watching those around him as Mercedes began to sing.
Mercedes:
All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am
But these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true... I was made for you
Mercedes finished singing the first verse of the song with sounds of appraisal coming from those around her before pointing over at Quinn to take the second verse.
Quinn:
I climbed across the mountain tops
Swam all across the ocean blue
I crossed all the lines and I broke all the rules
But baby I broke them all for you
Because even when I was flat broke
You made me feel like a million bucks
You do and I was made for you
Quinn sang her part effortlessly, receiving cheers from those around her when she went up in range to reach the notes just as Brandi Carlile had in the music video that she'd watched numerous times before.
Stacie:
You see the smile that's on my mouth
It's hiding the words that don't come out
And all of my friends who think that I'm blessed
They don't know my head is a mess
No, they don't know who I really am
And they don't know what I've been through like you do
And I was made for you...
Stacie was becoming a natural and Sam couldn't help but smile at the way her voice had gotten better over the years. She no longer sounded nervous when she opened her mouth to sing and she sang out like she was aware of the talent she had. He wondered if Mercedes had taken time out to work with her while he was gone.
As soon as she got done singing, Stevie screamed a 'yes' in her direction, and Sam couldn't help but laugh at how the boy seemed to be his sister's biggest fan as he'd been screaming praises at her all morning and evening for her singing.
Mercedes:
All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am
But these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true... I was made for you
Oh yeah, well it's true...that
I was made for you...
Mercedes ended the song, smiling over at Sam and almost every other person in the room followed her gaze. She hadn't even meant for the song to be one in which she could relate her love for Sam, but it had ended up that way and all she could think about now was last night and what had went down between the two of them before she'd fallen asleep and woke up to the bright sun shining through their window and the many voices downstairs.
Now that they were finished with their song, people were talking loudly again and complimenting them on their voices with Sam picking Stacie up off of her feet to hug her tightly.
Mercedes smiled at his actions and just as Quinn started to discuss one of her favorite parts of the song with Mercedes, he walked over to them.
"You all sounded amazing." He looked over at Quinn and gave her a small smile before reaching out a hand to Mercedes.
She took his strong hand and let him help her up from her spot on the couch. "That was beautiful." He spoke softly before kissing her softly on the lips.
She wanted to lose herself in his kiss and she probably would have had she not felt a pair of hands prying him away from her.
"Lisa said she's about to straighten up in here." Mrs. Jones spoke to them, "and I need you," she pointed at Mercedes, "to help me in the kitchen." Mercedes allowed her mother to drag her away from Sam and into the kitchen for the umph-tenth time that day.
"Put the leftovers in the fridge." Mrs. Jones spoke, running water into the sink to wash the dishes.
She did as her mother said, piling dish after dish into the fairly large refrigerator.
"Lisa told me about the little incident that happened last night."
Her mother was talking low and Mercedes tried not to act interested in what she was about to bring up. "What's that?" She moved towards the sink and leaned up against the countertop.
"Why exactly did Sam put everyone out last night?"
"He didn't put everyone out."
"Well, Horace and Melvin." Mrs. Jones clarified, cleaning the dishes.
Mercedes shrugged. "He said they were talking a lot."
"What were they saying?"
"I didn't ask him." Mercedes lied.
"Something about going to therapy, right?"
"I didn't ask him about it, Ma."
"Well, that's what Lisa told me. "Said, Melvin was trying to tell him that he should start seeing a therapist but he didn't want to hear it so she thought it would be best if you would try and talk to him."
"It would be best if I talk to him?" Mercedes gawked. "How do y'all figure he will listen to me if he wouldn't even listen to uncle Melvin?"
"He listens to you."
"He listens to Miss Lisa too."
Mrs. Jones was quiet. "I guess she just doesn't want him to feel like she's taking sides."
"and what would I be doing if I went to him, Ma?" Mercedes shook her head.
"Being a good wife, looking out for him."
"Well, wouldn't she be being a good mother and looking out for him?"
Mrs. Jones couldn't even argue with her daughter on that. "Well, you know I'm gonna support you two in whatever you do so, I'm okay if you're okay."
"I know." Mercedes said, now moving to stand beside her mother so that she could rinse and dry the dishes that she'd already cleaned. "and I thank you for that."
"You're welcome, Baby."
After Mercedes and Mrs. Jones had finished with everything in the kitchen and Mrs. Jones had retrieved the plate that she'd put up for Mr. Jones earlier during the day-they found their way back to the living room.
Everyone must have left while they were in the kitchen because now there were only Mrs. Evans and the three teens in the living room where Stacie and Mrs. Evans were just finishing up.
"Where's Sam?" Mercedes asked, looking over at Stevie and Langston who had their heads buried in one of the others phone-chuckling and talking in code.
"He and J.T went out earlier." Stevie spoke up quickly. "Said they would be back before everyone left but they've been gone for nearly an hour now."
Mercedes frowned softly. Why hadn't Sam mentioned this to her? "Did they mention to either of you where they were going?" Mercedes asked, looking around with a worried expression on her face.
Stevie and Langston both shook their heads.
"I don't think so, but I'm sure they haven't gone far." Lisa replied. "They should be back in no time." She looked over at Stacie, "Have you gotten all of your things ready to go?" She asked and the girl nodded.
"I know, I just thought that maybe he would have let me know." She said, watching the woman get into her jacket.
"Can you two get into your jackets before you have to walk back to town Tonight?" Lisa warned Stevie and Langston.
"We are," Stevie broke away from the phone to retrieve his belongings.
Mrs. Jones laughed softly at the woman, "That technology." She shook her head before grabbing her own jacket, "I'm gonna head on home too," she looked at Mercedes. "You know your father will sit around and not eat all day like he doesn't know how to cook-just waiting for me to get there."
"Hell, Horace does the same thing." Lisa laughed even though she was very serious. "they feel like it's our duty to feed them."
"That's why I'm never getting married." Stacie put in.
"You don't even have a boyfriend." Stacie laughed mockingly.
"That's because you run them all off, Jerk."
"You're 17!"
"So are you but I don't ever say anything about the dense blondes you bring around."
Langston laughed at that and Stevie glared at him. "What? You are attracted to stupid girls though."
"That's enough you three." Lisa broke up the talk between the three teens. "Let's go."
"He's not staying with us tonight," Stevie said on the way out.
"Dude, that's not even your house."
Mrs. Jones, Lisa, and Mercedes shook their heads at the teens as they were all outside of the house now.
"See you ladies tomorrow," Lisa replied on a small chuckle. "They are about to worry me dead tonight."
"I can only imagine." Mrs. Jones laughed. "This one and Santana used to kill me-arguing like sisters."
Lisa laughed at that, "Goodnight now."
"Night." Mercedes and Mrs. Jones said in unison.
Shortly after Lisa had left with the crew, Mrs. Jones was leaving as well.
"Tell Daddy that I love him and I'm sorry he couldn't make it today." Mercedes said kissing and hugging her mother after walking her out to her car.
"I will." She looked up at her daughter. "I love you, Dear."
"I love you too, Mommy." Mercedes smiled softly. "Now be safe and call me as soon as you make it." She motioned for Mrs. Jones to move her leg so she could close the door then watched her pull off before going back inside.
Mercedes hadn't started to worry too much about Sam and J.T's whereabouts until nearly another hour had passed.
She hadn't gotten as much as a phone call back from J.T or Sam and she had called numerous times after getting off of the phone with her mother and out of the shower.
She sat there, on the living room couch-flipping through the channels of the 50" flat screen television and sighing restlessly.
Just as she was about to use her cell to phone Sam again, she heard J.T's pickup outside-loud as ever.
Standing in the doorway, she frowned as she saw Sam stumble out of the passengers side of the truck-nearly falling to the ground.
Gasping, she left the door open to go put on her purple flip flops before returning back to the door where J.T was now brining Sam up the steps.
"What the hell, J.T!" She yelled, stepping outside and in front of Sam to view him.
"Let me get him inside." J.T stumbled himself and she stepped out of the way.
"Why were you two not answering your phones earlier?" She asked. "It's going on 11:00! I was worried!"
"about who exactly?" J.T asked, lying Sam out across the living room couch.
Mercedes forgot about his comment when she noticed a bruise on Sam's forehead. "What happened to him?" She asked, sitting down next to Sam and reaching out to touch the bruise.
"We were hunting and he sort of ran into a tree, that's all." J.T answered, looking down at the man sprawled out on the couch.
"Go get me an ice towel." Mercedes shook her head at J.T. "and a cup of water!" She yelled over her shoulder once J.T had disappeared from her sight.
When he stumbled back to her, he placed the glass of water onto the table and handed her the towel of ice. "He doesn't need all of this, just a little rest and he'll be fine."
"He's drunk!" Mercedes yelled up at him, now running the towel over Sam's forehead-paying special attention to the bruise.
Before she knew it, Sam was up on his feet-taking her with him and pushing her roughly into the wall opposite of where they had been sitting. She missed the television stand by an inch but he still managed to make her hit her head against the wall.
J.T ran to get him off of her and he pushed J.T away.
"Sam!" She yelled out in shock, struggling as he used his strong hands to pin her arms on either side of her head. "Sam, stop! It's me!" She couldn't help the tears that streamed down her face as J.T finally managed to pull him away from her without him doing anything else to her before pinning him down on the couch.
"Stop!" J.T yelled at Sam. "be cool, man!" And as if Sam had understood what he'd said to him, his movements ceased and he laid completely still on the couch.
J.T looked up at a hysterical Mercedes who hadn't even thought to move from her spot against the wall. He couldn't stand to see her all shaken up like this. "I'm so sorry," He started towards her after standing up from the couch and she used her hands to stop him from coming any closer.
"Why the hell?" She tried to stop the tears, "Did you really think getting him drunk then taking him shooting was a good idea, J.T?!" She yelled all of a sudden.
"I didn't know he would act like this, Mercedes." J.T edged closer.
"Just..." She closed her eyes and held a hand up to him. "leave." She sniffed softly.
"Leave?" He asked as if he couldn't believe she'd just said that to him.
"Please..." She looked away.
"Are you gonna be okay?" He asked, "because I could-"
"I don't need you here...I don't want you here." She cut him off.
"Okay." He answered softly, stepping away from her. "but if you need anything, Mercedes, do not hesitate to call me."
As soon as J.T was out of the door, Mercedes locked it and then went over to look at Sam. Wiping tears from her face, she stared at him-thinking about the conversation she'd had with her mother earlier. She didn't want to believe just as much as he didn't want to believe that he was going to have to seek help soon. Shaking the thought from her head, she quietly walked up the stairs and to their room-locking the door behind her.
Mercedes woke up the next morning in a haze. Her eyes were wet and sticky and her pillow was damp. When she noticed steam coming from underneath the master bathroom door but heard no water running, her eyes widened and she sat up in bed.
Had Sam just gotten out of the shower? She could have sworn she'd locked the bedroom door before going to sleep last night. She looked over at the small table clock.
8:46 a.m
She heard no voices downstairs today, only the faint sound of feet coming towards the bathroom door now.
She thought about playing asleep but before she could even lie back down, the bathroom door opened and Sam walked out with a white dry towel wrapped securely around his bottom portion.
"Morning, Beautiful." He smiled at her and she subconsciously smoothed her hair down but she didn't reply as she watched him stalk towards her. He sat on the bed and scooted as close to her as possible, moving in to kiss her lips.
-Smack!-
Sam's eyes grew wide and he cupped his cheek in astonishment.
"You went crazy last night, Sam!" She all but whispered and Sam frowned, confusion clear on his face.
"J.T brought you in here and you ambushed me like I was one of your fucking battles!" She sat up on her knees and punched his arm.
Sam didn't respond as he looked at her eyes which were full of anger and fear all at the same time. All of a sudden, she moved to climb off of the bed and he grabbed her.
"Don't you ever! Touch me like that again!" She snatched away from him and he succeeded in pulling her to him anyhow.
"I didn't! I don't remember! I just know I woke up this morning feeling like shit with this bruise on my forehead." He touched the bruise softly.
"You scared me last night, Sam." She said, pulling away from him a second time. "You were not yourself."
"Is that why the door was locked when I came up this morning?" He asked, trying to read her.
"Yes, and how did you get in?" She questioned.
"I picked the lock, Mercedes." He responded as if it were normal, "but that doesn't matter right now. Did I? What exactly did I do to you?"
"You pushed me!" She spoke harshly. "into the wall and J.T had to get you away from me."
"Did I..."
"Hit me?" She asked and Sam nodded. "No, you didn't hit me, Sam, but I can only imagine what would've happened if J.T would have left earlier."
"I'm sorry," He replied his eyes searching hers and Mercedes could see nothing but honesty and hurt in his eyes.
Her eyes watered now. There was no way he could have possibly known. Besides, she knew that he would never hurt her on purpose.
"Baby, I promise.." Sam's eyes were watering as well now and Mercedes had to bite her lip to stop her own tears as she hugged him to her now.
"I know." She whispered against his hair. "I know you didn't mean to." She kissed his jaw and he tilted his head to kiss her lips before gently nudging her back onto the bed.
"I'm so sorry, Baby." He whispered, removing his towel then climbing onto the bed to kiss his way up her legs until he met her soft thighs. "I love you so much."
Mercedes sighed, her breathing speeding up slightly as she felt his trail of wet kisses against the inside of her thighs.
"I love you too."
Heeeey! What did you guys think of this chapter? Did you like it or did you love it? I'd really like to know your thoughts on it all so please let me know what you feel and be sure to let me know what you would like to see in the next chapter. Also, I'm still working to update A Woman's Worth and Flash Money for those who follow those two fics. I currently lost my flash drive that contained ALL of my writing files though, so I'm trying to figure out what exactly to do with my entire life. Thank you all for reading and for the reviews though. I appreciate you greatly.