Chapter 3: Sunday
Jason stared up at the ceiling, he hadn't gotten much sleep last night, the decisions he had to make weighed heavy on his mind and heart. If he said a word to Edward…then he could end up in jail. Even if he proved himself innocent, AJ fought dirty and as he said 'money makes the world go round.' But if he didn't say anything AJ would continue to milk the company for what it's worth and possibly use this blackmail to get whatever it was he wanted out of him. Or AJ might just go to Edward instead, show his grandfather fake documents to incriminate him. His mind fell back to Lila and Sam…he had lost so much time, missed out on so much of his family…for a job he still questioned. And now the situation with AJ…will not only destroy everything he has worked so hard to accomplish. But it will also take away his opportunity to build a relationship with his daughter. As for Sam…his heart still ached for her…his body still yearned for her touch…but he had done too much damage to even consider asking her to take him back, and he didn't expect her to. He knew that no apology could excuse his negligence or lack of sensitivity. Jason let out a groan of frustration as he sat up and leaned his back against the headboard.
"Just when things were going smoothly, something like this had to happen." He said to no one in particular while he ran his hands through his hair. Jason glanced down at the clock on his night stand. It was 8:30 am, he said he would see Lila today…and he planned to do just that.
"Lila wake up honey…your dad is going to be here in two hours." Sam said softly as she brushed back her little girl's hair from her face. Lila turned her head, away from Sam's hand and fell back into her slumber. Sam gently tapped her daughter on her shoulder, and continued attempts to wake her. Until finally she groggily woke up with a yawn. "Come on I know it's earlier than usual, but you want to spend time with him don't you?" Lila nodded in response as she began to rub the sleep from her eyes. "Okay, then you need to wake up and get ready." Sam quickly got up and began making the bed moving Lila to the other side to finish, before jogging to the kitchen and making breakfast.
"Is the food good, sweetie?" Lila looked up from her plate of eggs and bacon and nodded her head slowly. "Okay, I'm going to hop in the shower, if you hear a knock on the door, use your step stool to look through the peep hole and ask who is it. It should be Nana but remember safety…"
"Safety first." Lila said before Sam could finish. She gave a quick peck on the top of her daughter's head before heading back into her bedroom.
Thankfully she didn't have to get to work until 12:00 pm, seeing as how her ex had a problem with time she called her mother over to watch Lila until he finally did arrive, and who knew when that would be. Sam rolled her eyes before going into her adjoining bathroom and turning on the shower. Alexis arrived an half an hour later and sat in the living room patiently while Sam got Lila into the bath and then began getting prepared for work.
"Thanks so much for coming over on such short notice." Sam said with an appreciative smile as she sat next to her mother on the couch. "I can only imagine how angry Ric is for making me break another one of your lunch dates." She added while she slipped her feet into her white crocs.
"Sam he's not mad, if anything he can't wait to see Lila, and he asks about you girls all the time." Alexis replied.
"How are you two by the way?" Sam asked her mother curiously. Both Rick and Alexis were hard working lawyers, yet they seem to always have time for each other. Sam felt a pang of envy as she looked at her mother's glowing face.
"Were good...and happy, it's only been a year but I feel I can grow old with him." Sam remembered that feeling. She just hoped that it actually worked out for her mother. She quickly got up from the couch and began heading to the bathroom to check up on Lila. Every time she got that little girl in the tub, she would stay for hours, doing lord knows what.
"Jason should be by soon, he said 10:30 but…he never is on time." Sam said over her shoulder. She was pulling her hair into a pony tail, when she heard the doorbell ring. Sam eyes immediately looked at the clock on the cable box. 9:40 am, she wasn't expecting anybody. And she knew Maxie would never come over to her house without calling first, plus her friend was working the morning shift today. Alexis gave her a look which Sam returned with a shrug as she walked over towards the door and peered into the peep hole. She checked the peep hole again to make sure her eyes weren't deceiving her, and to Sam's surprise they weren't. She quickly opened the door, and looked Jason up and down to make sure that he was real and she wasn't dreaming. If she's wasn't dreaming, she would have to mark this day down on her calendar.
"Hey." Jason said as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
"You're early…earlier than the time you said you were coming." Sam said astounded, her eyes glued to Jason's face. Never had he ever been on time, yea in college but after working for ELQ he took on that fashionably late notion.
"Are you going to lecture me about being early now?" Jason asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice. He never seemed to do anything right. He was more annoyed with himself instead of her reaction. How did they get here? Jason asked himself. It was as if his brain had been asleep while someone else had taken over his body, and when he finally returned he saw the damage the other person left in his wake.
"No...It's just…no, come in." Sam said as she moved aside to allow him room to enter. She mouthed oh my god, before closing the door quickly behind him. She had to be dreaming, she had to be. Sam reluctantly turned around to find him still standing in her hallway. Her eyes racked over his body in complete shock, she wasn't dreaming at all.
"Is there a reason why you're staring at me?" Jason teased as he raised a curious eyebrow. Sam quickly shook her head in attempt to wake her brain up and get it functioning again.
"I just can't believe you came early." She cleared her voice and began walking in front of him into the living room.
"Well I heard that when you're on time you're late and when you're early you're on time." A slogan he definitely didn't follow. Sam thought to herself.
"A motto you clearly do not follow." Alexis replied pointedly. What could she say, she is her mother's daughter. Sam glared at Alexis and mouthed 'be nice.' Still to this day her mother never accepted Jason, and still to this day she never said why. Every time she would ask, Alexis would say 'there's just something about him, that I don't like.' And it wasn't as though Sam had told her mother of the problems in her marriage. If she would have told Alexis, then she would have a good enough reason to dislike him, other than the fact that 'something about him seemed fishy' as she would say.
"Alexis…how rude of me not to acknowledge you." Jason replied sarcastically as he gave a fake wide smile in Sam's mother's direction. Alexis returned a similar gesture before bringing her attention to her daughter.
"Honey, do you need me to stay?" Sam's mother asked as she stood up from the couch and began walking towards her.
"Oh… um… no it's okay, thank you though…mom." Sam said as she walked her mother in the direction of the door.
"Okay sweetie I'll talk to you later." Alexis placed a kiss on Sam's forehead before staring at Jason blankly. "Jason…" Alexis nodded.
"Alexis." She didn't bother waving goodbye to him she walked out of the door and within five minutes they heard her car pull off. There was a long awkward silence that filled the air, for a good minute, it was Sam who spoke first.
"Lila should be done with her bath… you know where everything is and lock the door on your way out, okay." Sam said as she avoided eye contact and headed towards the door.
"Sam..." Jason called after, she stopped in her tracks. "I feel like I should explain why…I dropped Lila off last night." He watched as her shoulders tensed.
"It's okay… really, it was important business that you had to take care of…I understand." Sam said as she barely looked over her shoulder. "Make sure you lock up okay, tell Lila I love her." Sam whispered before quickly opening the door and closing it behind her. He let a loud sigh before going to check up on his daughter.
Jason couldn't remember a time when he had laughed or smiled so much. His daughter's innocence and imagination astounded him, how such a small person could create a world of her own. She was only 7 years old, but her spirit felt much older. After they practiced soccer for two hours, they had lunch while they worked on her homework. Which Lila didn't need much help on. He took her to the Bronx Zoo and then the Aquarium, and just watched her interact with the animals. Talk to them as though they understood what she was saying. Even though the situation with AJ had opened his eyes, it was spending the day with Lila that made him realize how much he had taken for granted… and how much he had missed out on. Now as the day came to a close…he couldn't help but regret how unappreciative he was of the life he once had. Jason looked down at his daughter, who sat snuggly within his arms, her small hands rested on top of his. He could feel his heart swell with the unconditional love that he had when he felt her kick, while she was in Sam's womb. He always loved his family, but because he lost sight of what was important, it caused him to miss a big part of her life.
"Okay it is time to go to bed." Jason crouched down and allowed Lila to climb up on to his back, when she was secured, he then walked in the direction towards her room.
"Can you read me a story." Lila asked as Jason allowed her to jump from his back and on to her bed.
"If I do, you have to go to bed after wards okay?" Lila nodded her head as he tucked her in.
"Alright…what story shall I read?" Jason handed her the pile of books from the bookcase and watched as she shook her head while skimming through them. "At this rate I don't think I'll be reading any story Lila." Jason teased before tickling her under her chin. She let out a loud giggle.
"Dad." Lila pushed his hand away, a wide smile still present on her lips. "Fine then, tell me how you and mom met." Jason remembered that day like it was just yesterday. "Was it love at first sight?" Her bright blue eyes sparkled as she stared up at him.
"It was anything but love, at first sight." Jason replied with a chuckle as he felt his mind slowly falling back into the past.
FLASHBACK SCENE
September 6th, 1999University of Vermont: Parking Lot
It was the start of his 2nd year at U.V.M he was somewhat excited to be back at the college, to get away from his family once again. After his summer interning at ELQ, he wondered why he was even bothering going to school for business. He knew it like the back of his hand, and it sent chills up his spine every time he watched his Grandfather close a deal. But as much as he loved the feeling of power and the confidence that he received from having knowledge on business and marketing, he still hated it at the same time. The pressure, expectations, the stress…and though it came with these issues he still found himself addicted to it. Jason's mind was off in another world. So he didn't see the car swerve in front of him and steal the space he had intended on parking.
"What the hell?"Jason shouted as he slammed on the breaks. But it was too late, the drivers car had already connected with the front part of his car, scraping along his left headlight. Jason march over to her.
"You're telling me, your stupid car scratched up my baby." Sam yelled as she pointed to the large rugged scratch on her red 1993 protégé mazda.
"Well your piece of crap mazda just put a dent in my car and nearly took off the left headlight."
"I'm still trying to see how this is my fault."Sam placed her hands on her hips as she glared at him.
"You cannot be serious."Jason let out a laugh of disbelief while he shook his head in shock.
"I was the one paying attention buddy, you weren't."Sam said before she crossed her arms over her chest. And that makes it okay? Jason asked himself.
"That still doesn't change the fact that you put a dent in my car." Jason said through clenched teeth. He was having difficulty keeping his anger and annoyance under control.
"From the looks of it…you have insurance…let them handle it, alright."Sam gave a roll of her eyes before turning on her heel and walking away. What did she mean from the looks of it? Jason asked himself, as he turned to look at his car briefly before looking back in the girl's direction. She was gone, Jason shook the thought away and rushed off to his first class that he was already five minutes late to. He knew the professor, and the man would not be all too happy to see Jason arrive late. After his second class, he had time to kill so he went into the library to start early on the homework assignment that was due next week. He was 20 minutes into his homework when he felt a tape on his shoulder.
"Hey there stranger." Courtney said when Jason turned around. She gave him a long wet kiss. Which he wanted to wipe off his mouth, but felt it would be rude to do it in front of her. "Haven't heard from you in awhile."
"Communication goes both ways Court…and I've left you plenty of messages…and always answered when you called." She rolled her eyes at his insinuations, that the reason for his 'sudden distance' was more her fault then his.
"Can we not fight now…we just got back…and I wanna catch up." Courtney said as she bit her bottom lip flirtatiously. He knew what she meant by catch up. They would catch up alright…he was ending this before it got worse.
"Sure…" Jason said as she pecked him on the lips.
"I'm done for the day so come by when you get out of class." Jason nodded his head and gave her a wave before turning back to his computer and finished the last of his homework. When his free time was over he went to his last class, and then headed towards Courtney's dorm room. When he knocked on the door, no one answered, and he knew that meant either the door was unlocked or Courtney stepped out for a minute. He turned the knob and it miraculously opened. Jason stepped into the room, he could hear the sound of the shower running. He figured she would be in there for a while, so now was the best time to prepare for what he was going to say. He couldn't decide if he wanted to ease into the conversation or just get it over with, quick and easy like ripping off a band aid. This was going to be a difficult conversation if she was standing in a towel. Jason thought to himself when he heard the water suddenly turn off. He took a deep breath , he decided he was going to go into this head first. The sound of the bathroom door opened and he quickly got up from her bed.
"Courtney… look I think we should see other people." Jason said as he looked up from the ground. "Oh….wow…you're definitely not Court." He stared at a shocked, Sam dripping wet with a towel barely covering her.
"What the hell?"Sam shouted as she tightened the towel that was wrapped around her naked body. "Are you stalking me now?"Jason stared at her confused, his eyes every now and again looking at her covered chest.
"Stalking you…no..."He replied defensively. Hell he had forgotten all about her a few hours ago.
"Then what, you came to find me because you desperately want your money for the dent in your car?"Sam threw another question at him.
"Okay can you stop throwing assumptions…I didn't know you dormed here…my girlfriend." Jason paused as he thought of the label of his present relationship. "Is your room mate." He added before continuing with his train of thought. Courtney was soon to be his ex girlfriend. With the summer break that they had, they didn't really keep in touch. And his mind was focused more on his future than on the relationship that he had with Courtney. Now with the beginning of the new semester, he wasn't sure if he still wanted to be in the relationship. He needed to put all of his focus on himself, and maintain his name on the president's list.
"Well obviously she's not here… so if you don't mind." Sam pointed to the door and gave him a tight lip smile.
"Fine…whatever, can you just tell her that…I stopped by?" Jason said over his shoulder as he headed towards the door, with Sam right behind him.
"Hey…next time you knock…and if no one answers then don't take it as an invitation to just let yourself in." Sam lectured before closing the door on his face. Jason rolled his eyes and imitated Sam before turning around and heading towards his dorm room. That wasn't the last he saw of his ex wife, turned out that he would be seeing her every Tuesdays and Thursday from 9am-11:30 am for Statistics. Even then she still didn't speak to him or even look his way. It was when they were forced to partner up for a project in that said class, that they realized they had similar views on life, and similar tastes in music. He wouldn't say they were inseparable, until the two months after that. They hung out more often, spent a good portion of their time at the student lounge, his room or the library. And the more time he spent with her and got to know her, the more he liked her and admired her.
December 12th, 2000 University of Vermont: Park
After a month, a week and five days, there was finally snow. While most people whined about the cold weather and the freezing snow, Sam was acting like a little kid on Christmas Morning. She was jumping up and down, as she pointed outside the window.
"Look Jason…it finally snowed." Sam exclaimed as she ran past him and started looking through her closet. When she turned around to face him, she had her snow boots and black parka draped over her arm. He watched as she slid her feet into the big snow boots that came up to her calves. Then she pulled on her parka and put her hands in her gloves.
"Wait Sam…you shouldn't leave without a hat." Jason said as he put on one of his beanie caps, folding the left over fabric.
"You aren't going to come with me?" Sam asked as she wrapped a scarp around her neck loosely.
"Snow isn't really my thing." Jason said as he walked back to Sam's bed and picked up the magazine he was originally reading.
"Oh no you don't Quartermaine…you're coming with me… whether you like it or not." Sam said with a smirk. And as usual…Sam got her way. Though they had started off on the wrong foot in the beginning, they gave each other a chance and got to know one another. And though it only had been a year now, Jason could honestly say that Sam was one of the friends he never had; honest, care-free, head strong, and brave. There were more words to describe her, hell he could write a book about it, but that would probably take all of eternity. After having a small snow ball fight on the campus, they walked to the small student park located north of UVM College, and sat on a hill, a few feet from a frozen pond.
"I've been here for two years…and I've never seen you before."Jason said as he looked over at Sam.
"It's a big school."She replied with a chuckle as she continued to flap her arms against the snow, making half of a snow angel.
"No…I would have remembered your face."He saw a small smile began to rise on her lips, as she turned to stare at him before turning her attention towards the stars. Jason did the same, he watched as each star twinkled in the dark navy sky.
"I transferred here from Harvard."He turned his head quickly to look at her, she was just full of surprises.
"You went to Harvard Law School?" Jason asked as he sat up, Sam began to do the same.
"Yes…I did…but I didn't do so well and my heart wasn't in it. I was only there to please my mom...to make her proud. Until I realized me making her proud was taking away my freedom, my choices and happiness." Her story reminded him of his…his life was already planned out by the age of five. He didn't get a chance to choose or think of other options. His father either said medical school or the family business. And Jason didn't want someone's life in his hands or someone's death on his conscious, so he chose something he thought would be easier. But it wasn't, especially if you have your father breathing down your neck at every turn and on every decision.
"How did your mom react when you told her about wanting to switch careers?"
"We aren't on speaking terms as of now." Sam glanced down at her hands briefly, before looking back up at him. It wasn't a smile, but it wasn't a frown either. He watched as she hugged her knees to her chest and stared at the frozen pond a few feet away from them. From the looks of it, it hurt her to know that her mother was reacting in such a way. Jason had thought of not doing business too, but after being prepped for it since he was in junior high, that was all he knew. And if he was to go through with leaving UVM and doing something else, his father would react worse than Sam's mother. Even when Jason does everything that his father asks of him, expects of him, and then some…it still is never enough.
"And how do you feel about that?"Jason asked curiously. He wanted to know how she was able to get passed the feeling of her mother's disappointment. Sam shrugged as she looked at him briefly before turning her attention back to the frozen lake.
"I know that she loves me…and wants the best for me…but at the end of the day…it's my life and I get to have control over it not my mother or anyone else." Jason was envious of her, that she could be so confident and aware of who she was. He still was trying to figure that part out and as for control over his life he didn't have much of that. Each choice he made was under the influence of his family or based on the outcome and reaction of his family. He never did anything to please himself or make himself happy.
"I envy you…You had the courage, the faith and belief, to do something that many cowardly people are too afraid to do." Jason mumbled as he began playing with the snow in front of him.
"You sound like you speak from experience."Sam said softly as she rested her head on her knee caps and looked at him.
"I do." Jason replied while he nodded his head slowly. "Would you believe me if I told you that…I am intimidated by you?That…I have never had to try so hard to earn a person's respect?" Well one that is a female or relative that is. Jason thought to himself. He couldn't believe he was admitting feelings…he never did that before. There was something about her that made him feel like his emotions were accepted, and respected. But most of all he felt he could trust her. Trust…was something he didn't give out easily.
"So you like me because I'm the first person that said no?"Sam asked as she eyed him curiously. Her eyebrow was raised and half a smirk was present on her full lips.
"It's more to it than that. You challenge me…I mean I'm used to challenging myself and pushing myself but as for everyone else well they expect that. You're not expecting me to be someone that I may not be. But at the same time…you're making me attempt to be…the person that I would hope and like to be, in the future."He saw her blush and look away from his intense stare briefly before bring her attention back to him.
"And who is that guy…that you hope to be?"Sam asked as she rested her chin on her knees.
"I hope to be the guy who can think for himself, have confidence and believe in himself. Know who he is and try not to live up to others expectations, but to his own. The guy I want to be…will put his family first…which my father never did…" Jason answered, he had been
"You will be…but my guess is…you already are." Sam said softly. Jason stared at her and he felt his heart flutter. It still surprised him how strongly he felt for her within only one year of knowing her. But falling for her had been that easy. From her care-free persona, her heart of gold and the strength that she conveyed. It was hard not to fall for her, even harder not to kiss her or tell her how he felt. He didn't want to lose their friendship but he also didn't want to miss the opportunity at building something more than that.
"You're a rare Jem Sam, rough around the edges, but exotically beautiful when you take a closer look..."Back then it had been so easy for him to express his feelings to her. He can't remember why he had stopped. Jason moved closer towards her, and Sam began to do the same.
"Go on."She replied encouragingly her smirk spreading fully.
"You are extremely independent, which I find incredibly sexy. You think for yourself, and like to take daring risks."
"Go on." Sam said as she moved closer, her eyes never leaving his, a mischievous smirk spread across her face.
"And you have the most amazing and intelligent mind I have ever seen."
"Go on."
"And I would really…truly...like to kiss you right now."Jason looked deeply into her dark brown eyes and saw behind that shield of confidence was anxiousness and fear with a hint of thrill. The same feelings that were coursing through his veins and pumping in his heart, a feeling he had never experienced before.
"Is that a question?"Sam teased as she slide her arms around his neck and moved her body closer, making it clear that he had her permission.
Jason pressed his forehead onto hers while whispering huskily. "No." Before claiming her lips and wrapping his arms around her waist securely, so she couldn't pull away. But she didn't, Sam opened her mouth wider to allow his tongue access, and his heart began beating faster. The rush he felt was unlike any other and he knew that it wasn't lust or just fatal attraction. It was more than that.
END of FLASHBACK
From that moment on his heart belonged to Sam, and still to this day that hadn't changed. The only thing that did change was himself. Jason's eyes glanced down at Lila's face. She had fallen fast asleep. Spending time with his daughter was the best therapeutic thing ever, being in her presence made him forget all the problems and decisions that he still had to face. He took a moment to stare at his daughter's peaceful face. He didn't know what he would do if he lost her. But what he did know was that he refused to lose another person that he loved. Jason leaned down and kissed Lila's cheek before pushing a few stray strands of hair from her angelic face.
Sam could feel the stress from her argument she had with Jason the other night and the awkward interaction she had with him this morning disappear, as she climbed out of car and stared up at her house. She felt a feeling of peace and contentment, from knowing that her home was her safe haven from the outside world. Sam unlocked the front door and walked in silently, her feet screaming in pain with each step that she took. She couldn't wait to get out of her scrubs and to get into a hot warm bath. Her thoughts were put on hold, when she saw her ex emerge from their daughter's room.
"Hey" Sam stared at him confused on why he was here, early, again. She didn't expect them until later.
"Lila is fed, she is bathed, and her homework has been looked over, so you have nothing to worry about." She couldn't remember a time when Jason was home early, taking care of their daughter. When Lila was first born of course, but when she got older and he moved up in the ranks at ELQ. Well let's just say her happy ending didn't come. Sam had been so engrossed with her thoughts, that she didn't realize she had been staring so intensely at Jason. "Plus seeing as how tomorrow is her last day at school, you have less to worry about now." Well he was wrong about that one. The summer was always harder than the school year, mainly because it involved getting a babysitter. And seeing as how Kristina is away at college, Sam wouldn't have anyone to watch Lila during the days she worked long hour shifts.
"Are you okay?" Jason asked concern consuming his voice and forming on his features. She nodded her head slowly, before blinking her eyes. She could feel the sliver of guilt from the argument they had yesterday, suddenly rising. Sam let out a loud sigh before finally speaking.
"Look about yesterday I—" Jason cut her off before she could finish.
"You were right…I made a promise, to put Lila before work and I broke that promise." Sam didn't know what to say, she was shocked. She wasn't sure if the shock was from the fact that he admitted that she was right or the fact that he wasn't making up a lame excuse to justify his action.
"Still, I ...overreacted." She had, she was more disappointed and hurt then angry at him, yesterday.
"You had every right to." Sam gave a small smile before walking in the direction of her room. She stopped when she heard Jason clear his throat. Sam turned around slowly to face him. "Now that I've apologized, will you let me explain, why I had to drop Lila off yesterday?" This was a new one…something was definitely wrong….this wasn't the Jason she had come to know over the past few years of their marriage that had gone sour. This was the Jason she had met in college. Well, a glimpse of him anyway.
"Jason you don't have to…" Though a part of her wanted to know, another part didn't want to be bothered. She honestly could care-less about what was going on at ELQ, as long as he knew that he was in the wrong and that he apologized, then she could move past it. And hopefully she could see the real Jason return, not the robot edition.
"No, I do Sam, you deserve an explanation." By the sound of his voice, there was no getting out of this conversation. She nodded her head slowly and mouthed okay before walking back into the living room and sitting on the couch. He didn't speak at first his mind seemed to have been in another place.
"Is…everything alright?" Sam asked as she moved closer to him, giving him his space but staying close just in case he needed her support.
"AJ…has been stealing money and selling narcotics to some company."
"How did you find out it was AJ?"
"Well I caught on first when I noticed shipment of our narcotics did not arrive on time to a few of the companies that we have been in business with. The shipment had an unauthorized delay, but supposedly 'Edward' called in and gave the okay. When the shipment did arrive, it was missing some packages of narcotics. Yet in the inventory we write down the amount that is delivered and the amount that is received, it all added up, there is no error. That threw me off until I realized that money was adding up incorrectly, we had decreased in our scores that has never happened in the past 10 years." Sam's mind began putting the pieces of the puzzle together.
"That's where you went last night?" Jason nodded his head before responding.
"Yes…I knew if I would have waited until Sunday or even Monday that he would have been gone before I could even confront him about it. If I thought that he would have been here longer than I wouldn't have ended my week with Lila…and I wouldn't have gone back on my promise." She didn't speak she sat there silently and allowed him to continue. "I was trying to decide if I should go to Edward."
"Jason, what AJ is doing is wrong, and to keep this from your grandfather…" She stopped herself. Sam knew Jason well enough, to know that he wouldn't sit on his hands and allow this to happen. Plus he wouldn't be sitting here deciding he would have called Edward the minute he found out this information. And by the tension that was rolling off of him in waves, there was more to the story that he wasn't telling her. "What aren't you telling me?" Sam asked firmly.
"I don't know if you should get involved."
"Jason…I'm already involved now that you've told me." Jason let out a frustrated sigh...this was being more complicated than he had hoped.
"I know…I know..I just didn't want you thinking that I didn't care or that I haven't been listening to what you've been saying about priorities and putting Lila first." Jason replied as he intertwined his fingers and stared at Sam briefly before looking down at the floor.
"Is it that bad?" He covered his face with both hands and let out a long exasperated sigh, before nodding his head. "Could it land you in prison?" Sam asked worry and fear consuming her voice. He nodded again as he his hands ran through his hair. "What are you going to do?"
"There's not much I can do Sam…I just have to find a way to fix it." She stared at Jason's hands and noticed the open wounds on his knuckles.
"What happened to your hand?" Sam asked as she scooted closer to him, to get a better look.
"It's nothing." Jason replied as he tried to hide it, but Sam stopped him. Her delicate small hands skimmed over his wounds gently and he flinched.
"Sure as hell doesn't look like nothing. " Sam replied as she scolded him, he avoided her glare. She rolled her eyes and let a frustrated sigh before adding. "And I'm sure you didn't even bother to clean it, let me go get my kit." Sam said as she got up from the couch and walked over to her kit that was lying on the kitchen counter. "Give me your hand." Sam said softly.
FLASHBACK
October 16, 2001 University of Vermont: Sam's Dorm Room
"I can't believe you punched Geoffrey Johnson in the face."Sam said between laughs, while she closed the door behind them. You know what happened tonight is going to spread like wildfire." He shook his hand repeatedly hoping the pain would go away.
"He had it coming."Jason replied through clenched teeth, his anger still reeling from the confrontation and he tried to pace back in forth in the little dorm room. But it wasn't helping much, he felt like a wild animal caged at the zoo.
"Easy there incredible Hulk, the fight is over… you won." Sam said as she placed her hands on his tense shoulders and began caressing it firmly. "Come on take a deep breath…and just focus on my voice." Jason did as Sam instructed and then slowly he felt the tension dissolve. "Just to let you know…I could have defended myself."Sam said as Jason turned around to face her.
"I know, but I just… I didn't like what he said or they way he treated you."He watched as Sam took off of her coat and draped it over the back of her chair.
"The guy was drunk off of his ass, plus I think he didn't like getting beat by a girl at pool."Sam said as she smiled victoriously.
"Still doesn't give him any reason to call you that…word." Jason couldn't bring himself to say it, it would just fuel the anger that was slowly starting to rise again.
"Being called a thieving bitch wasn't the highlight of my night, but watching you sock Johnson in the jaw…definitely was." Sam said with a wide proud grin. "Though I do not condone violence I will let this slide seeing as how it was in my defense…also I was close to giving him a good punch myself, particularly in the nose." Sam said as she jabbed the air in front of her.
"Which is why I took it upon myself to hit him for you, I didn't want you to risk your beautiful delicate hand."Jason said as he held up her hands and kissed both of them slowly. Sam's smile dropped when she noticed the opened wounds on his knuckles.
"Give me your hand let me clean that up for you."Jason did as Sam had instructed. And watch as she gently pressed the puffy, red, and irritated skin that surrounded the blisters. He immediately winced. "Such a big baby." Sam teased Jason gave her a glare. as she opened her kit and began putting rubbing alcohol and then some ointment on it. When she finished wrapping his hand with the gauze she kissed each knuckle gently before saying. "There….now does that feel better."
"It does…but I know something else that would make me feel better."Jason picked Sam up, and she immediately wrapped her legs around his waist.
"Really...and what's that?" Sam said between a fit of giggles. Without warning they fell onto her bed, she let out a loud laugh, and Jason found himself laughing too. The confrontation with Geoffrey Johnson now erased from his mind.
"Do you still have that…nurse's costume from last Halloween?" Sam hit Jason on his shoulder, before pulling the collar of his shirt.
"Why…are you in need of medical care." Sam asked with a mischievous smile before capturing his lips. He never did get the chance to answer the question.
END of FLASHBACK
Jason watched as Sam cleaned each knuckle before placing ointment on it and then covering it with four small band aids. Even back then when she was just starting to know me…the me that seconded guessed himself, the me that had a sense of humor…the me that was human… even then she took care of me. She deserves someone better…someone who doesn't rely on work to define who he is. She took risks she knew who she was…and she was okay with making mistakes, but he wasn't. He didn't know how to be.
"There we go all done." Sam replied with a stiff smile. She ran her thumb and index finger over the band aids to smooth out the creases. Her hand had lingered on his before suddenly moving away from his. "I still say you should have wrapped your hand in the medical gauze, but it's your choice." Sam rambled her eyes met his briefly before falling to the floor."It's getting late." Sam said as she picked up the wrappers, bloody cotton balls and started heading towards her kit to put away the supplies. Jason suddenly grabbed her hand, causing her to stop in her tracks. "Jason…what..." She didn't finish, she just watched in confusion as he pressed his forehead into the back of her hand. He felt her hand move away and rest on the top of his head causing him to lean his head on her waist. He could still smell that distinct scent of vanilla that her skin had, he inhaled briefly. He had missed that smell, and having it brought back to his senses only increased his desire to move closer, but he didn't.
"I can't…and I refuse to allow what is going on with me to affect you and Lila." Jason mumbled into her waist. The vibrations caused Sam's breath to hitch and a flutter to erupt in her heart. "And I wish I could tell you...what's going on…but I can't take that risk." Jason slowly stood. "I just…wanted you to know that." Sam nodded her head slowly as she stared into his eyes. She could feel his worry and other mixture of emotions pouring out of him.
"Okay." She whispered softly. He nodded his head, his eyes distant as though his mind was somewhere else now. Jason turned around and began walking towards the door when Sam heard her own voice call out to him. He stopped and looked at her. "I uh…..um…thank you…for telling me." She gave an appreciative smile which he returned before saying 'your welcome'. They stared at each other briefly until Jason quickly opened the door and left Sam standing there confused out of her mind.
"What in the hell just happened?" Sam asked herself as she placed her hand on her pounding heart.
