Whisper Chapter 2, a days of our lives fanfic

Whisper

Disclaimer: I do not own Days of our Lives or the characters.

Whisper
Chapter 6

"Samantha," EJ called out to her ready to take the stairs two steps at a time if need be to reach her, but John blocked his way before he could attempt it.

"Not now EJ," John's voice was steely quiet as he preventing him from following after Sami.

"But I need to explain to her," EJ began his mind only focused on Samantha, the hurt etched upon her face something he needed to help her get past, something he wished he could forget, but he knew deep down in his soul that would be a long time coming.

"Later, right now you need to deal with her," John pointed a finger in Nicole's direction seeing her victorious moment over Sami crumble to dust as soon as EJ had wanted to take off after Samantha instead of him wanting to stay by her side.

EJ felt his shoulders slump in defeat, John was right, but oh how he wanted to go to Samantha, the urge to talk to her and make things right between them was so strong that it had once again blinded him to anything else. While his mind knew he needed to be reassuring Nicole that everything would be all right instead of wanting to rush to be by Samantha's side, his heart wanted the latter of his two choices. He straightened up and gave his uncle a quick nod of his head, "You're right, I need to talk with Nicole first, maybe Samantha will let me talk with her later."

"I don't know sport, I think Samantha just needs some time to adjust to this rather unexpected news, just like you need to do," John gave him a wry smile, he knew that EJ didn't care about Nicole beyond a physical sort of relationship kind of like what he had encountered with Ava, but who was he to try to meddle in their affairs? Maybe he just needed to butt out of it entirely, and then the mental image of Samantha flashing before his eyes as she realized Nicole was telling him the truth made him realize that she might be willing to talk to him about what she was feeling.

Lucas pushed past them both determined to go after Sami, mentally kicking himself for even trying to encourage her to tell EJ the truth. Why that bastard didn't deserve to know the truth. If he would have had any inkling that Nicole was pregnant he wouldn't have even suggested anything of the kind to Sami.

"Oh no, you aren't going up there," EJ warned when he realized Lucas' intentions of following after Samantha, the jealously burning through him when he thought that she had turned to Lucas this afternoon in her time of need instead of him and he still had no clue as to what was wrong with her.

"EJ, who in the hell are you to be telling me anything in regards to Sami," Lucas gave him a glare that was even worse than the look he had given him earlier tonight while they had spoken to one another in the hallway of the hospital.

"Why didn't you tell me where she was?" EJ was ready to tear him apart limb by limb thinking if he'd only found Samantha earlier tonight this entire debacle could have been avoided.

"I honestly didn't know, she told me wanted some time alone," Lucas said not wanting to waste time sparring with EJ over Sami, right now he needed to make sure that she was going to be okay. She sure hadn't looked it when she had taken flight from the room after hearing Nicole's announcement that she and EJ were going to have a baby.

"Somehow I find that hard to believe especially considering you brought her back to the mansion tonight," EJ said not believing a word that came out of Lucas' mouth.

"EJ, I don't care what you believe, all I want to do is talk to Sami, and you need to reign in your baby mama or whatever the hell she is to you," Lucas stated and moved past EJ heading up the stairs just daring him to try and stop him.

EJ watched Lucas go up the stairs after her wishing he was the one who was going to Samantha instead and knowing he had no right to feel that way when he needed to deal with Nicole. He sighed and turned in her direction only to find her gone no sight of her anywhere in the room and when he turned to John to see if he knew where she had went, he just shrugged his shoulders in response.

"Bloody hell," he whispered under his breath, longing for a very strong drink to calm his nerves, but that would have to wait, he needed to go find Nicole before she did something stupid.

Whisper
Chapter 7

The first place Lucas went to was Sami's room, hoping she hadn't locked the door closed behind her, but he'd kick down the door if need be to get to her. Luckily the door opened easily when he touched it, but when he entered her bedroom she was nowhere in sight.

"Where are you Sami?" Lucas asked aloud to the room, gaining no answer to his question until he looked to the French doors seeing them standing ajar as if they had been flung open a short while before.

He stepped outside past the doors, his eyes scanning the lush well kept DiMera grounds in hopes of finding her quickly, god only knew what was going through her mind after the catty way Nicole had treated her earlier in the foyer.

He could hear her crying softly in the distance a sound he hated hearing, but he had known after seeing the shock register on her face upon hearing Nicole's cruel words he couldn't have expected any less kind of reaction from Sami. She really was in a predicament now.

He found her in one of the many gardens that were on the DiMera estate, her sobs becoming more audible the closer he became near her. "Hey Sami, don't cry," he said settling down beside her on the marble bench she was occupying and immediately drawing her into his arms.

She didn't say a word to Lucas for quite some time, the only sounds emitting from her were snuffles as she tried to stop crying.

"You're going to be okay," Lucas rubbed her back soothingly, trying to get her to look up at him.

Finally she raised her tear filled eyes in his direction, "Lucas, I'm pregnant with EJ's baby and beyond my trying to summon up the courage to do the right thing and tell him about it, now I have to deal with Nicole being pregnant too. I can't do it; I won't do it to him. He won't be able to deal with it."

"You're worried about EJ's feelings? Oh my god Sami, here I am worried about you and the stress you're going through and you are wasting your time crying over the fact that EJ has too much to deal with at the moment?"

"Lucas, what exactly is EJ going to be able to do if he finds out that I'm pregnant? I'm not going to be a part of his DiMera harem," Sami straightened up and pulled away from Lucas' embrace.

"DiMera harem, now that is a new one," Lucas tried to make Sami smile, but she wasn't particularly in the mood for any kind of jokes tonight. "Now that might not be a bad idea, having multiple wives to choose from."

"It's not funny Lucas," Sami said punching Lucas on the shoulder, her temper starting to flare the more she thought about it.

"Look I'm trying to get you to lighten up and laugh about something; god knows this isn't an ideal situation for any of you, but…"

"I doubt I'll be laughing anytime soon," Sami stated trying to keep the tears from starting to flow once more. "Besides as for the wife part there is no way in hell that I would ever marry EJ again especially not with Nicole being in his life!"

"Well you could always marry me again," Lucas offered up to her before he even thought about it.

"Lucas, I'm having EJ's baby," Sami began; this idea of Lucas' was ridiculous, she wasn't going to ruin his life just because hers was in shambles.

"The only ones who know EJ is the father of this baby are you and me," Lucas said now that the ideal was out there, he could see it happening.

"Lucas, it is just wrong, we don't belong together," Sami said thinking Lucas had lost his mind or maybe she had and just not realized it yet. No way was Lucas going to help her out when only a few short weeks ago they were fighting over custody issues concerning Allie.

"We did before he ever came into our lives," Lucas declared hotly, wishing for the millionth time that EJ DiMera had never stepped a foot into Salem.

"But he did Lucas," Sami said quietly, pondering over the exact same mantra she had heard many times from Lucas before, "and as much as I sometimes wish the same thing, I won't say that I regret Johnny and now I have this little one to consider too. There has to be some strange cosmic reason why EJ came into our lives."

"The DiMera's ruin everything they touch," Lucas shook his head, rallying against fate over the way things had turned out for them.

Sami touched his face getting him to look her in the eyes before asking, "Does that mean he ruined me too?"

"No god no Sami, it's just that the life we planned went straight to hell when you divorced me to marry him," Lucas cried out to her. "Can't you see EJ is no good? He is a poison Sami, he wrecks lives with no account to the destruction that lays in the wake of his actions."

She gave Lucas a slightly bitter laugh, "Now Lucas don't you know most people say that about me instead of EJ?"

"Sami there is good in you, most people just don't take time to see it," Lucas said fighting to keep from crying himself, he still loved her regardless of whether she was carrying EJ's baby or not.

"I think this has to be part of my payback from some of the mass destruction I've caused in my days," Sami said quietly, almost too soft for Lucas to hear.

"Sami we can do this, run away with me like we planned, we'll take Allie and Johnny some place where they will never find us," Lucas pleaded with her, maybe he could make her see reason.

Sami shook her head, "Stefano would find us and if not him EJ would not rest until he found Johnny. He swore to me I wouldn't be able to take his son away from him and now it looks like he'll have another son or a daughter to hold over my head."

"Sami listen to me, I promise you I'd do anything to keep you all safe," Lucas proclaimed getting lost in the moment, the hope growing that Sami might actually take him up on his offer, no matter how preposterous it might seem.

"Lucas, you are so sweet to offer. This has to be one of the sweetest things you have ever offered to do for me and I will never forget it as long as I live, but I can't run away with you. We both know too well what happens when you cross Stefano DiMera and I can't risk my children being taken from me. I'd die before I let that happen to me the way Stefano took my mother and father away from Carrie, Eric and me all those years ago."

"Please think about it Sami, like I said before we are the only ones who know the truth, if we leave Salem EJ will never find out any differently that he is the father to this baby. I know I could make you happy if you only gave me the chance."

"Lucas I don't think happiness is in the cards for me, but for you it could be possible that is if you go and see what might happen with you and Chloe." Sami took Lucas by the hands and smiled sadly.

"Sami I would do anything if I could have another chance to be with you…"

"You told me you couldn't forget seeing EJ and I in bed together, what do you think this child will do? This baby will be a constant reminder to both of us for very different reasons about that night and you don't deserve to have to live with that kind of choice you are making, you aren't thinking about things down the road, you're just thinking about the here and now and I've got to think about the future for all my children. I've already lost Will. I don't think he will ever forgive me for all the things I have done and I just can't bear the thoughts of the rest of my children turning their back on me too."

"Sami I'm sorry I ever let Will leave," Lucas said, missing his son daily for the rash actions he took to punish Sami when she had decided to marry EJ to end the vendetta.

She brushed away her tears, "Will is better off without all this craziness to deal with, he has stability for the first time in his life with Austin and Carrie, something he never had with either of us and while it breaks my heart he doesn't want to come home, I can finally say that I understand why he wanted to leave Salem."

"Are you sure you won't at least think about it?" Lucas asked, maybe Sami would change her mind given time.

"You are incorrigible," Sami shook her head, she wasn't going to accept his offer even if it would be an easy out to what seemed like an impossible situation ahead of her.

"No my dear, that would be you," Lucas stood up, extending his hand to her to help her up also. "Just think about it for a few days, you might change your mind."

"Goodnight Lucas and thank you for everything, I meant it when I said I will never forget your willingness to help us out."

"I still love you Sami, I guess I always will no matter what happens," he gave her a quick hug and departed leaving her to contemplate his offer a bit more.

I wish I still loved Lucas the way he loves me, Sami thought thinking she was a bit more like her mother than she had ever thought herself to be before not realizing the Nicole had heard their entire conversation she and Lucas had with one another in the garden. Thinking she heard something she turned around, but there was no one in sight. She laughed it off guessing it was her jangled nerves playing tricks on her and she left to go back to her bedroom, all the while doubting sleep would come to her anytime soon.

"I don't know how EJ and Lucas can both love that bitch," Nicole spat aloud in the darkness of the garden, coming out of her hiding place in the alcove, glad Sami hadn't realized she had eavesdropped on them , her anger mounting over the realization Sami was pregnant with EJ's baby also. Nicole patted her stomach and vowed right then and there that she would make Sami's life a living hell before she ever let her get her hooks back into EJ again.

Whisper
Chapter 8

EJ had searched most of the mansion trying to figure out where Nicole had went since Rolf had informed him that sadly Ms. Walker had not left the premises. EJ did a double take after hearing Rolf's candidness regarding Nicole.

"You don't like her much, do you Rolf?" EJ asked thankful for a few moments reprieve from the bombardment he felt over finding out Nicole was pregnant along with Sami's reaction to the news.

"My opinion doesn't matter," Rolf replied stoically, thinking that like Stefano all EJ was interested in was his serving the household to their satisfaction.

"Yes it does Rolf, you are part of this household, a part of this crazy dysfunctional family," EJ stated emphatically, "and I'd really like to know your opinion of Nicole."

"It is not wise to speak ill of guests of the house," Rolf said, not giving EJ a real answer beyond what he was giving him by his latest response.

"Not wise or is that just your way of telling me to mind my own business?" EJ asked his interest piqued even more by Rolf and his impressions he got from being such an integral part of the running of the entire household.

"Maybe it is a bit of both Master EJ," Rolf said still leaving EJ to guess about his true feelings regarding Nicole. "If that is all you need of me I am going to take my leave to check on the wee ones."

"You do love the children, don't you?" EJ asked seeing how Rolf's eyes and entire demeanor changed when he was around the twins.

"They are delightful children especially when they are not crying," Rolf said trying his best not to break into a smile.

"Yes, they are delightful," EJ agreed wondering exactly what Rolf would think of the news that Nicole would also be bearing a DiMera heir sometime in the future.

"I am so glad young Miss Allie is back home with us. It makes her mother very sad when she has to go away to spend time with her father." Rolf added before quickly saying, "I'm sorry Master EJ, I didn't mean to overstep my boundaries. I'm sure you know how upset Miss Samantha has been concerning Allie."

EJ felt ashamed suddenly realizing that Rolf was more in tune with what was going on with Samantha and her life then he did at the moment. He wanted to rectify that situation, but he had to talk to Nicole too. His life was spiraling out of control right before his very eyes and he felt helpless to stop it.

EJ knew he needed to go find Nicole, but he paused to ask Rolf one more question, "Do you like Samantha?"

"She is a fine woman, one with a kind heart and who truly loves deeply, why anyone with eyes can see it although many disregard her emotions completely, only seeing what she allows them to see, but I watch her when she doesn't think anyone is paying her any attention," and with that he turned on his heel leaving EJ to contemplate exactly what he meant, thinking Rolf knew more about them all than he would readily admit.

EJ wanted to ask him more, but he was gone before he had a chance to ask him anything else.

Whisper
Chapter 9

Nicole was furious, why EJ had let her walk off while he, John and Lucas were having a ridiculous conference over who would go see to about Sami and he hadn't even bothered to try to come and find her. Well at least she was slightly mollified to know he wasn't with Sami, but she had never expected in her wildest dreams to learn Sami was pregnant too. It just wasn't fair for once Nicole wanted all the attention and here was Sami trying to steal her thunder.

Why it made her blood boil that Sami thought she wouldn't tell EJ. Nicole scoffed to herself recalling Sami's words to Lucas.

"You're going to be okay," Lucas rubbed her back soothingly, trying to get her to look up at him.

Sami was playing them all, of that much Nicole was sure, why that harlot had done nothing but wreck havoc in all their lives. Sami didn't love EJ; she couldn't love him because Nicole was the one who loved him. She could make him happy; all Sami ever did was break hearts. She was cruel, heartless and selfish, her brother Brandon could attest to that pertinent fact, why he had left Salem to rid himself of her along with Austin and if Lucas wasn't such a moron he'd be long gone too, then again he had went to prison for shooting EJ all because Sami had married him.

These men had no freaking clue how destructive Sami was, but Nicole knew and hated her all the more for it. Somehow she'd make Sami pay for all the bad things she'd done, but she had to make sure EJ would never fall for her crap ever again. It might take her a few days, but Nicole was positive that she could come up with a sure fired plan to have EJ despise Sami more than the rest of the guys she had tried to destroy combined.

No way was Sami going to have EJ. Nicole deserved the happy ending with EJ, not Sami and she was going to do everything in her power to make things work out to her advantage, no matter what she had to do to achieve it.

So lost in thought over her devious plans to bring Sami down, Nicole didn't see EJ approaching her until he was almost to her, causing her to jump unexpectedly over his presence.

"God EJ you scared the life out of me!" Nicole placed a hand over her heart as she tried to catch her breath.

"I'm sorry Nicole, I didn't mean to frighten you, I've been trying to find you for a while now," EJ said in hopes that Nicole would calm down a bit, this couldn't be good for the baby.

"I thought you'd be fighting Lucas over who was going to see Sami first, you or him," Nicole tried her best to sound hurt, knowing exactly how to play upon EJ's sympathies even more now since he knew she was pregnant.

"Nicole, it was just such a shock for all of us," EJ started to explain, trying to make her see that it was going to take some time for them all to get adjusted to this new situation at hand.

"You think this is easy for me? How do you think I feel about you running all over creation for Sami at the drop of a hat when I'm the one carrying your child? Sami doesn't care about you, she never has and she never will," Nicole added the last part to drive home the fact to EJ that Sami wasn't the one for him, whereas she was perfect for him.

Nicole's words hurt, EJ knew Sami didn't care about him, but to hear Nicole voice again his innermost fears over Sami just made it all the worse for him. He was doing them all a disservice, most of all to Nicole.

"Nicole, we'll work this out, we'll make things work, you just have to give me some time to get used to the fact that I'm going to be a father again," EJ tried to his best to smooth things over, right now he didn't know whether he was coming or going. He was so confused and it didn't help matters he couldn't push Sami from his mind no matter how hard he tried. "Listen I'll have Chance drive you home in the limo tonight and we'll talk more tomorrow when both our minds are clear and we've both had a bit of time to get our thoughts in order."

"You mean I can't stay the night here?" Nicole asked in a pitiful voice.

"There aren't any rooms readied for guests after Father commandeered the entire west wing for himself upon his return to the mansion, needless to say between John presiding in the north wing, Tony and Anna taking the entire south wing for them, there aren't any rooms left."

"I could stay in your room," Nicole offered up only to have her hopes dashed when EJ immediately shook his head no before he answered her.

"Let's take things one step at a time," EJ said not wanting to have to deal with Nicole and Samantha running into one another, tonight was bad enough to last them all for quite some time.

"We'll talk tomorrow?" she asked him once more when they had walked back into the mansion and headed to the front door, Chance already pulling the DiMera limo up to the curb to take Nicole back to the Salem Inn.

"Tomorrow," EJ promised giving her a chaste peck on the cheek instead of kissing her fully on the mouth, making her pout slightly, but as she situated herself into the back seat of the limo she knew she was going to have it all now that she was going to have EJ's baby, the DiMera fortune and power were just within her grasp, even if EJ didn't know it yet. Yes, it was only going to take her a little bit more time, but she was going to possess it all and Sami would be left out in the cold for once and all.

Whisper

Chapter 10

As tired as she was Sami couldn't sleep, she tossed and turned for a while before flinging off the bed covers and getting up out of bed. After she switched on the lamp beside her bed she located her slippers and robe, putting them on and headed out of her bedroom.

Her first stop was of course to the nursery, the twins were sleeping peacefully. She smiled as she looked upon them, her sweet babies had graduated to toddler beds earlier this past month and sometime during the night Johnny had crawled into Allie's bed, snuggling up tightly against his sister. The sight made Sami remember all the times she and her twin brother Eric had done exactly the same thing and a pang of longing arose within her to be with him. She needed her brother especially now in the light of recent events. She would call him later on tomorrow, somehow knowing that just by hearing his voice would help her find some kind of clarity.

She leaned down kissing each twin on the forehead and rearranging their blankets so that they wouldn't get cold during the rest of the night. "I love you both," she whispered before leaving their bedroom.

EJ also couldn't sleep, the images of the past day replaying over and over in his mind with a vividness that broke him out in a cold sweat. From the candlelit dinner with Nicole, to finding out Sami had been taken to the hospital, his fruitless search for her and then the ugly confrontation back at the mansion, it was a day he didn't wish to relive.

Finally giving up on getting a decent night's sleep, he decided to go check on the twins, pulling on a tank top to go along with his pajama bottoms, he headed straight for their room only to find their mother already with them.

Thinking it best not to interrupt Samantha's time with Johnny and Allie given the past day's events he watched her with them instead, seeing how she looked at them with such love, leaning down to kiss each one and hearing her whisper how much she loved them. Samantha looked almost angelic in the soft glow radiating around her from the night light that was in the twin's bedroom.

EJ thought Rolf was right; when Sami didn't have her guard up it was plain to see how much love she was capable of giving. EJ vowed to look beyond the barriers she had erected against him to try and find even a fraction of the love she had for the twins that somehow maybe she had some kind of affection hidden in there somewhere for him.

As she left their bedroom, EJ watched her go, thinking she would go back to her bedroom, but instead she turned to go down the stairway. He waited a few more moments and then went into the twin's bedroom, looking at Johnny and Allie asleep in Allie's bed and he smiled as he recalled Samantha mentioning even if they bought the twins separate beds they would probably wind up in one or the other's beds before the night was over. EJ hadn't thought they would do that, but Samantha was right, the twin's bond was stronger than he had given them credit for and now it made him wonder if they missed each other when Allie had to go away for her time with Lucas.

He had tried to force those kinds of thoughts from his mind, along with Samantha's pleas for his help in keeping Allie with her instead of having to share joint custody with Lucas. Now he was seeing why Sami had been insistent Allie needed her mother and that the twins should not be separated, especially after Rolf's keen observation over had sad Samantha had been lately.

"I just wanted you to be there for me, just to stand by me."

Her words haunted him, her fierce streak of stubborn pride usually prevented her for asking much of him beyond some help with the children and for her to admit she had wanted him to be there for her, for him to stand by her side while he had steadfastly refused made him wish he had done things differently a few weeks ago. Why he was no better than the rest of them, proclaiming that Samantha needed to grow up, maybe he was the one who needed to grow up some more too.

He looked at his sleeping children and said softly before kissing each of them, "I'm going to do right by your mother. I'm sorry I've lost my way for a bit, but I'll do better because you all deserve more from me than what I have given you lately."

He straightened up and decided to go down the staircase in search of Samantha, maybe they could get a chance to talk while the house was quiet and everyone else was asleep. All he wanted to do was sit with her for at least a little while, he really didn't know what to say to her, but he knew if they just had some time alone together then maybe he could make her see he never meant to hurt her. The look of disquiet that appeared in her eyes after Nicole had given her the news of her pregnancy was something he never wanted to see cross her features again.

He looked into a few of the rooms, not finding her in any of them and then he thought she might have gone into the kitchen. He hurried on wanting to speak to her anything to spend some time with her, but as he rounded the corner to make his way into the kitchen he stopped, someone else was with her sitting at the table with her. He stepped back, frustrated again as all his attempts to find or either spend a few quality moments alone were thwarted again.

He stood in the shadows watching Samantha and John, wishing he had the ease with her that somehow John who didn't really fit in with hardly anyone had with Samantha.

"You can't have a glass of milk at night without these," John stood up from his chair, scraping it across the hardwood floor and reached upward into a nook in the pantry that apparently was a hiding place for him. He smiled as he took the cellophane blue and white wrapped package and presented it in front of Sami.

Sami gave him an incredulous look, "John, how did you know these were my favorite cookies?"

"Lucky guess?" he shrugged his shoulders, but Sami wasn't convinced.

"Do you remember us sneaking into the kitchen late at night and dunking Oreo's in our glasses of milk?" Sami asked, a look of wonderment dancing across her face. "John, are you starting to remember your past? Oh my god, we've got to call Mom, she will be so excited!"

"Hold on Samantha," John held up his hands, "I don't want to get Blondie's hopes up."

"But you remember how when I couldn't sleep you would fix me a glass of milk and give me a few Oreo's, I can see it in your face," Sami's eyes shone with an excitement that seldom crossed her face anymore these days beyond the time she spent with the twins.

"I just get bits and pieces of things coming to me," John handed Sami a cookie to dunk and then took one for him also, repeating the identical procedure that Sami was doing.

Sami took a bite of her milk soaked cookie, munching on it before asking, "How long has this been happening?"

"More and more since the lock down occurred at the hospital," John said solemnly. "I've been getting headaches and then my vision blurs and viola another disjointed snippet comes into play in my head."

"You need to go to the doctor," Sami reached out to grasp his hand. "You might regain your memories after all."

"No!" John shook his head vehemently.

"No you don't want to regain your memories or no hospital?"

"I hate the hospital," John said with a childlike demeanor that almost made Sami laugh, but she didn't want to hurt his feelings.

Sami smiled a smile of complete understanding, "I don't like the hospital either, but they could help you there."

"Maybe I don't want the help," John offered up as Sami crinkled her brow.

"Don't you want to remember your life?"

John spoke slowly, "I know I was a different man, but I don't know if I can be that man again. Most people want to change me, want me to go back to being someone I don't even know if I like, but I like me now even if no one else does."

"I like you now," Sami said softly, "and you know that Mom loves you."

"This love thing is very complicated," John said matter of fact.

"I totally agree," Sami concurred wishing the road to true love wasn't such a difficult one to navigate, but for her it always had been.

"We're not like everyone else are we?" John asked handing her another cookie which she wanted to refuse, but Oreo's were one of her weaknesses so she took it from him.

"No, most people either don't know what to do with us or would rather we just disappear so that we won't upset their nice normal lifestyle." Sami said dunking the cookie a few more times before taking a bite into it.

John raised his milk glass now cloudy with the residue from the Oreo's and clinked Sami's glass, "Here's to being different."

"I'll drink to that," Sami agreed and took a sip of her milk.

"I guess I'll go to bed now, but I wanted you to know one more thing," John said taking the bag of Oreo's and placing them back into the hiding place of the pantry.

"What's that John?" Sami asked, wondering what he would say to her.

"Just know even if everyone else is determined to give you a hard time I won't judge you and I'll be in your corner no matter what happens." Sami stood up and impulsively hugged John as he awkwardly patted her back, "I'm still not to used to hugs either."

"That's okay," Sami smiled and backed away from him. "I think the more you give them it gets easier with time." Her voice breaks slightly before adding, "Thank you John for your support because now more than ever I am going to need it in the upcoming months."

"Is this about what happened in the foyer earlier tonight?"

"Yes, among other things, but I can't go into it now without falling apart and I need to be strong, I have to be strong."

"I won't let you down. Goodnight Samantha."

"Goodnight John." Sami watched him exit the room, a smile upon her face. While he might not be the man everyone remembered tonight he was the man who remembered how to make a little girl feel better when she couldn't fall asleep late at night.

EJ knew he shouldn't have listened in on their conversation and now after hearing Sami tell John that she needed to be strong he was more confused about her now than even before.