Author's Notes: Thank you all so much for your kind words about my story! I am glad that you are all enjoying and I hope you will enjoy this chapter as well.
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or any of its characters.
The Beholder's Eyes
Chapter 4
When Sam re-entered the plane cabin and took his seat Mercedes had that look of fear in her eyes again.
Sam: Would you like another drink? You look nervous again.
Mercedes could not tell him that it was not for the reason that he was thinking.
Mercedes: Yes, may I have some more wine please?
While Sam got up to give her another glass she asked him.
Mercedes: If you don't mind my asking what did Ryder say?
Sam: He said we may go through a little bad weather the closer we get to Paris and he wanted to know if I wanted him to go through it or to circle around above it for awhile.
Mercedes: What did you decide?
Sam: Well, since you seem to be a little apprehensive about my flying I told him to circle.
Mercedes: That will make our flight longer though won't it?
Sam: If you get tired you can sleep on the bed in the back.
Mercedes: Have you ever slept in that bed?
Sam: Of course! Don't worry its comfortable.
Mercedes was not sure if it was the comfort-ability she was worried about; the thought of sleeping in a bed he had slept in left just too much to the imagination.
Mercedes: Sam? You said this trip was about your anniversary and I don't think that your anniversary has anything to do with business; so why did you need to bring me?
Sam: I didn't need to bring you; I wanted to bring you. There is a difference.
Mercedes was glad at that moment that he was a doctor because she was sure that her heart stopped at that precise moment.
Mercedes: I don't quite understand?
Sam: Mercedes, I am very intrigued by you. You are unlike any of the women who usually walk into my office and I desired to know you better. I wanted to understand your self-confidence; which is quite appealing by the way. I am used to meeting women who are desperate to be anyone but themselves and no matter how I try to talk them out of certain procedures; they will not hear of it. I like the fact that you don't fall into to the trap of desiring to fit in to the quote un-quote standard definition of beauty; because personally I do not believe in that standard.
Mercedes: But you make your living as a plastic surgeon?
Sam: Well, that is not entirely true. My living, or my lifestyle is paid for by the interest of a familial inheritance which goes back several generations. I became a plastic surgeon in the hopes of helping people who had been severely disfigured in accidents to have a life again; but unfortunately most of the people who walk through my doors are just women who would like to look more desirable and no matter how I try to discourage them; they seem to become more and more adamant about it. So the money I make from my practice goes into running the business; paying the employees, and given to charities.
Mercedes: I really don't know what to say Sam; you have a really good heart.
Sam: Are you surprised?
Mercedes: Well, let's just say that I am intrigued; but if we are going to be honest here and I suppose that is what we are doing. I never said that I had not fallen into the trap of believing what the world called "the standard definition of beauty"; but eventually I just had to learn how to crawl my way out of it; for my own sanity.
Sam stared at her for quite a bit of time after she made that statement; and then he spoke again.
Sam: Well, if you trip and fall into that trap again; I will be there to quickly pull you out of it.
Mercedes understood now that she was dangerously close to a line that if she crossed she would need to quit her job. So she decided to try to bring this conversation back to business as usual.
Mercedes: Uh Sam, I should ask you, do you have a specific agenda that you would like to follow while we are in Paris? Are there any meetings that you would like me to confirm or any hotel arrangements that need to be made? Should I request a car to pick us up?
Sam looked slightly saddened at what he perceived as a complete about face from where their newly forming relationship was going. Yet, he also thought about it and would not want to try to take advantage of any situation here.
Sam: Well, once we land at Charles De Gaulle airport my driver will already be there to pick us up and take us to my home.
Mercedes: You have a home? In Paris?
Sam: Yes, I have several homes really; they are spread out and about. (He said in a very non-chalant manner)
Okay, focus Mercedes! (She thinks to herself) Focus!
Ryder again made an announcement over the loud speaker advising the passengers that he was cleared for landing at the Charles De Gaulle airport.
Sam: That's my cue! I am going to land this baby! I will see you again once we are on the ground.
Mercedes: Sam? Remember what I told you.
Sam: I know Mercedes you don't want to die; I get it.
And with that Sam was out of his seat and on his way back to the cockpit.
After Sam landed the plane at Terminal 2A of the airport he proceeded to give Ryder instructions on refueling the plane and a guest-imated time of return; but warned him not to hold him to it too stringently.
Sam and Mercedes then left the airport and met up with Sam's driver. Once they got into the car Sam instructed him to drive to several shops so that they may pick out clothes for Mercedes.
Mercedes: Sam, I really do not feel very comfortable about this and I prefer to go shopping alone.
Sam: You don't know Paris, French, or even the rate of exchange why would you go shopping alone?
Mercedes was really starting to feel self-conscious. She knew that she did not understand French but she could pretty much figure out that these stores were not big on plus sized clothing and this could become really embarrassing very quickly. Now she had really wished that she had done her own laundry two days ago.
Sam: I will not here of it!
Mercedes was really starting to panic; what was she going to do now?(She thought) It is one thing to realize that this is your boss and you understand completely that nothing can ever happen between you two; but it is quite another to be embarrassed by trying on clothes in front of him and absolutely nothing fits.
Sam spoke to his driver.
Sam: I want to first stop at Jean Marc Philippe, then Kamino Paris, and then Elena Miro to start. I am sure Mercedes that you will be able to find some things there that you like.
The driver circled around and stopped in front of Jean Marc Philippe; once they reached the store Mercedes tried one last ditch effort to prevent him from going in with her.
Mercedes: Sam shouldn't you call Heather and tell her not to come in for the rest of the week at least? I forgot to do so and you need someone to reschedule your patients for the rest of the week too; I only concerned myself with today's patients. Make the call from inside the car where it will be quiet. I will just run in quickly and see if there is anything I like and you can follow me in afterwards.
Sam thought about what she said and conceded the point that it would be unprofessional not to take care of business at home because he forgot the anniversary.
Sam: You're right. I will call her and I will come in behind you in a few minutes.
Mercedes jumped out of the car and practically ran into the store. The styles of the clothes were not bad but she wanted to talk to a salesperson quick to get an idea if anything would fit her.
Mercedes: Um, EX CUSE M WA?
Saleslady: Oui, Mademoiselle?
Mercedes: Uh, Clothes Del Grande?
Saleslady: Que veux-tu?
Mercedes quickly looking over her shoulder to see if Sam was coming inside; she then started pulling at her clothes that she was wearing; stretching them out to show the size as large.
Mercedes: Big, English, And Big!
Saleslady: Je ne comprend pas.
Mercedes was shaking at this point.
Mercedes: SIL VU PLAY!
Mercedes started to pull her clothes really tightly against her body, normally showing rolls was not permissible in her world but she had to get them to understand.
Mercedes: Grande! Big! Large! English!
Saleslady: Je ne comprend pas.
The saleslady continued to shake her head but in a very sympathetic manner.
Mercedes quickly looked over her shoulder again and it was over Sam was entering the building.
Mercedes: Oh good God just shoot me now! (She said under her breath) It's over. Well, I suppose I can charge a flight back to LA and remove my stuff from the office while he is still here in Paris. (She started thinking to herself)
Sam walked in happily and said.
Sam: I feel much better now; I spoke to Heather and took care of everything she will re-schedule the other patients for the rest of the week. Did you see anything you like yet?
Before Mercedes could answer Sam spoke fluently in French to the Saleslady for a few moments; who then simply said.
Saleslady: Oui, Monsieur? And then hurried off to the back of the store.
Mercedes was boiling.
Mercedes: (Thinking to herself) Oh yeah now its "We monsewer!" When I needed your help where were you? Trick.
Sam then gestured to Mercedes
Sam: Have a seat she is going to bring you some outfits to try on.
Mercedes sat down and waited for the animated saleslady to return. Once she did with two handfuls of clothing. Mercedes took the items and then took the slow death march into the fitting room.
She stood there staring at herself in the mirror for a few minutes.
Mercedes: You know some days I really hate you Mercedes Jones.
Sam: What? Did you say something Mercedes?
Mercedes: No!
Mercedes took the first outfit and tried it on and surprisingly it fit. She actually thought she looked nice in it. Then Mercedes tried on the second outfit and that fit too. She stopped to pinch herself.
Mercedes: (Whispering) Could this really be happening? You really do love me Lord!
Mercedes tried on the third outfit and still it fit perfectly.
Sam called out.
Sam: How are they? Are you going to come out and let me see any of the clothes?
Mercedes: There fine and uh no!
Sam was puzzled but then again he realized that he felt that quite a bit about Ms. Mercedes Jones. He just laughed and picked up a magazine and began reading it.
Once Mercedes had tried on all the outfits and found out that they all fit she picked them up and brought them outside.
Sam: So did they fit or would you like to see some others?
Mercedes: No, they all fit but I just was not quite sure which ones to take.
Sam turned to the saleslady and spoke
Sam: We will take them all!
Mercedes: Sam she doesn't understand Engl….
Saleslady: That's fine Mr. Evans sir.
Mercedes: OH HELL TO THE NO! No, she did not just speak English! (She thought)
The saleslady rang up the purchases and Sam signed off on them. As they were walking out of the store the saleslady spoke again.
Saleslady: Enjoy your stay in Paris, Mr. Evans and you too miss. (As she smiled sarcastically)
Mercedes was fuming but she did not know any curse words in French so she had to let it go.
Sam: We can hit one of the other stores now.
Mercedes: Sam, this should be enough really. I don't know how long I will be working for you for free until I can pay this all back.
Sam: You don't have to pay me back.
Mercedes: Sam, I am not one of your charity cases.
Sam was a little hurt by that remark.
Sam: I did not think of it as charity; I thought of it as a gift.
Mercedes: Sam I am not used to these types of gifts. This kind of stuff happens in the movies; some dashing rich man takes this woman away to some exotic location and buys her all types of things. I am not the same type of girl so I don't believe that I should be getting the same type of treatment. That is a fantasy and I have never been a fantasy.
Sam suddenly hugged Mercedes and lifted her off the ground and then put her back down suddenly.
Mercedes was stunned.
Mercedes: What was that?!
Sam: You looked like you were falling into that trap again and I had to lift you up out of it. Are you saying that because you don't look like those so called "fantasy" type girls from the movies that you somehow deserve this treatment less than any of them would? That is preposterous! You are entitled to have someone treat you with kindness and respect just like any of those women were treated. Don't start believing that just because the movie industry did not cast someone who looked like you in the role that you somehow don't deserve the same treatment from someone. You are not less than Mercedes!
There she was again unable to breath because of something Dr. Sam Evans had said to her.
Sam proceeded to take her bags from her and started walking to the car. Mercedes followed behind and got in. Sam told the driver to take them to an address which Mercedes could only assume was Sam's home. Once they were driving Mercedes finally got the courage to speak and ask the question she had wanted to ask all day.
Mercedes: Sam? What is this the anniversary of?
Sam: My death.
Author's Notes: Please review!