AN: Hey here is part two of chapter three as promise. Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter. Thanks for all alerts, and adding to favorites. I enjoy writing for you all so much. There is a small dark part in the chapter so beware but it was necessary for it to happen. Sorry for any errors and I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Remember review and tell me what you think so far. Flashbacks in Italics.

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or its characters if I did Mercedes would have kissed Sam instead of pinching his damn cheeks. Just saying.


Chapter 4: Haunted Pt.2


Mercedes was nervous. She practiced the words she was planning on telling her parents in the mirror for half an hour. She had expected her day to be a completely uneventful but got the surprise of a lifetime when Sam showed up at the park. He didn't explain his reasons for coming back and to be truthful she really didn't care, all she knew was her best friend was back and she needed him. He rushed her home and told her to find a way to clear up the rest of the day so he could take her somewhere special. He swore to explain everything once they got to where they were going. After finally getting dressed, she checked over herself in the mirror once more before finally heading downstairs.

"You are looking good today Sissy." Candace said as she made it to the bottom of the stairs.

"Thanks Candy." She smiled at her sister.

"Going somewhere special today?" Her father asked.

"No not really just though I would walk around town do some sightseeing see what sparks my memory." She said nervously. "I mean it is such a lovely day."

"That sounds like fun." Her mother said getting up. "Let me get my wrap and I will go with you."

"No!" Mercedes said a little too eagerly and was praying her mother didn't get suspicious. "I want to do this alone you know some quality me time."

"I don't think that's such a good idea." Her father said concerned.

"I agree you aren't ready for this." Her mother cut in. "Going to the park and to the library are small baby steps plus they are both right around from the house. Walking around the town that is too dangerous and I don't think you should go."

"I am not a child mom for Christ sakes I am just going for a walk. I know that I am ready for this plus Emma agrees also."

"Well if you think you are ready than-". Her father began to say only to be cut off by an angry betrayed look from his wife.

"No you aren't going by yourself."

"Mom she doesn't need you to hold her hand." Candy said and Mercedes gave her a grateful smile for coming to her aid.

"And I didn't ask for your opinion did I Candace? So do us a favor and stay quiet. Mercedes now if you want to take a walk that is fine but I am going with you. Better yet if it is the fact that you feel crowded around me than Candace will go but that is the only way you are leaving this house understood?" Her mother folded her arms in front of her to let her know she wasn't going to budge from her answer so Mercedes knew she had to put her foot down harshly in order to get results.

"No I was trying to be nice by asking and informing you that I was leaving but obviously you aren't taking the hint." She placed her hand on her hip and stood firmly in front of he mother. "I am twenty years old and I do need your permission to leave the house so I don't mean any disrespect but I am leaving and going for a walk by myself and I will be back before dinner."

"Mercedes I-"

This time her father was the one to cut her mother off. "Delia let that girl go." Her mother opened her mouth to object but her father gave a glance to let her know this was the end of the discussion. "You have your phone right, call me just in case you get tired and need me to come get you."

"Thanks dad." She hugged her father as her mother huffed and left the room. "You staying for dinner Candy?"

"Yeah Noah is coming also."

"Good I'll see you both later." She smiled and walked out of the front door.

Before Mercedes made it halfway down her street she saw Sam pull beside her in his jeep.

"Hey you wanna ride?" He smiled as he hung an arm out of the side.

"My mother always told me not to take rides from strangers." She said innocently.

"Ok." He said simply and drove off.

Mercedes stood there with her mouth opened as she watched Sam drive off slowly. She saw him come to a stop a couple hundred feet ahead. She smiled as she started walking again not stopping when she reached his jeep. Sam had the biggest grin on his face when she passed by. He put his jeep in park and hopped out to trail Mercedes.

"Hi I'm Sam. Sam I am and I do not like green eggs and ham." He said as he stepped in front of her with his hand held out.

"Shaniqua. Shaniqua Jenkins." She said as she shook his hand trying to hold back a laugh.

Sam laughed. "Shaniqua really? That was the best name you could come up with at least I gave you my real name."

Mercedes let out the laugh she was holding in. "It was the first name that came to mind."

"Come on silly girl get in the jeep." He opened the door and helped her climb in and then walked around to the other side and got in himself.

Mercedes enjoyed the drive to wherever Sam was taking her. They didn't talk but she enjoyed the sounds of the city. She closed her eyes and basked in the warmth of the sun shining down on her face. As the wind blew her bangs around she felt at peace. Sam couldn't help but steal glances at her as he drove. She looked so beautiful, young, and carefree like the Mercedes he always knew. As they turned on a long driveway Mercedes opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. There were trees galore all along the curvy driveway. An abundance of colors from the different flowers that started to bloom. As they got closer to the end she could see the large white and yellow house in some of the pictures she owned and in Sam's scrapbooks. She looked over at Sam and smiled widely.

"I know where we are."

"Do you now?" He asked.

"Yes. This is your grandparent's house. I remember it from our photos."

"Congratulations Miz Jones you are correct." Sam said as he slowed the jeep to a stop then shutting off the engine.

He made his way around to her side just in time to catch her as she absentmindedly leaped from her seat.

"Thanks Sammy." She smiled at him as he sits her down. She reached up and fixed his messy wind thrown hair and he sweep a few loose strands of hers away from her face. He grabbed her hand kicking the door shut with his foot and they made their way to front door. The inside of the house was breathtaking. The living room was decorated in white and gold. There was a pearly white marbled fire place with gold accents, a fluffy white couch with old fashioned gold legs, and thick gold buttons along the sides. All the other little pieces of furniture were a mixture of the two colors. Everything in the house was from a different era but to sticking to a classic elegant theme.

"You hungry or thirsty?" Sam asked as he watched her take in the house. She was smiling and looked happy. She didn't look like the girl he pictured from all of those sad phone calls and voicemails he had received.

"No, I'm perfect." She said to him.

"Anything starting to look familiar to you?"

"Not really but I do remember some photos of us in front of this mantle."

"Yeah. That's good. How about I show you the rest of the house."

"Ok sounds nice."

He took her on a tour of the rest of the house holding her hand the entire time. She laughed as he explained parts of each section while doing his best tour guide voice. When they finally made it back down stairs he asked her what she wanted to do next.

"Anything I don't care."

"Wanna take a walk?"

"Sure."

Sam led Mercedes outside and onto a small stone path. They walked slowly at first, in case she had any questions. The path led to all different parts of the estate. The particular trail they were on took them to where all the fruits trees were.

"Remember we use to run wild through these trees?" Sam asked her as they turned down the entrance.

"I read something in my journal about it. There was one I read recently about a game of hide and go seek and you saved me."

"Yes yes I recall that." Sam led her to the middle of the forest of trees. It was a huge oak tree there and it was noticeably the tallest one of them all.

"Here this is the one." He said as they came to a stop in front of it. "It was the summer and we were both 11." He began.

"Why do I have to be it you cheated?" Sam said with a pout.

"Oh don't be such a baby Sam I won fair and square."

"Did not! You leaned in and told me you had this big secret to tell me and then you whispered in my ear "not it"."

"Ok and how is that cheating?" Mercedes asked smiling at her best friend.

"Because because it just was."

"Stop crying and count Sam."

"Fine." Sam grumbled as he turned around and began to count backs from twenty-five.

"Catch me if you can." She whispered softly in his ear causing him to smile.

Mercedes took off sprinting through the trees to find the perfect hiding spot. She looked to the sky as she ran, she always imagine that the sun was chasing her. She finally decided to hide behind the big oak, sat down and waited for Sam to find her.

By the time Sam made it to ten he got a funny pain in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't quite shake this feeling that something was wrong.

"Mercedes." He breathed as flew through the trees his mind thinking the worse.

"MERCEDES!" He screamed. "Where are you!" He ran blindly through the trees not really paying much attention hoping to spot her pink and purple outfit but instead all he saw was the different hues of oranges, reds, yellows, and greens from the hundreds of fruits that were starting to grow. He yelled her name again but still no answer. He glanced and saw his grandfather's hoe leaning again a plum tree and his conscious yelled for him to grab it. Thoughts of where could she be rummaged through his mind, and he looked towards the sky asking God for a sign. In the corner of his eye his saw the oak tree.

"Please be there." He said and made his way over.

He saw her frozen still in fear against the monstrous tree. She stood there silently sobbing as tears ran down her face. He called her name and there was no answer he followed her eyes which trained at her feet and he notices a snake wrapping its way around her feet. He told her not to move or panic and she stayed still like a statue. With one quick swing of the hoe he cut part of snake's end. When the grip around Mercedes feet loosened he pulled her to side and chopped the snake twice more making sure it was dead.

"You okay?" He asked her but she was still in a trance. "Mercedes?"

She threw herself into his arms and wept lightly into his neck. He dropped the weapon and wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace.

"I was so scared Sam I panicked I didn't know what to do." She said still holding on to him for dear life.

"I knew something was wrong I felt it." He said rubbing his hands up and down her back. "I don't know how but I did."

She looked up at him and smiled. "Thanks for saving Sammy, for being here."

"I will always be here to protect Rogue no matter what. You mean so much to me and I don't ever want to lose you." He kissed her cheek and she burrowed her head into his chest.

"Promise." She said muffled.

"Promise." They stayed wrapped in each others arms for a minute and then Sam spoke breaking the silence.

"Hey Rogue?"

"Yeah?"

"You're it." They both laughed.

"Wow that was weird." Mercedes said as her and Sam leaned against the tree. "You just had a feeling and you came looking for me."

"Yea." Sam said.

"I am glad you came and rescued me. Who knows what would have happened if you hadn't showed up in time."

"It was a close call but it all worked out. Want to go for a ride on the four wheelers? I can take you to the lake."

"Ok." He grabbed her hand as they ran laughing and playing back up the path. He stopped at the house and fixed a couple of sandwiches and grabbed some sodas and fruit from the fridge.

They went to a small garage at the back of the house and Sam went in and pulled back out on a red and black four wheeler. Mercedes hopped on the back and they headed left of the garage towards the lake. Once there Sam led her to the bank and they sat and watched the water and had a small picnic. She asked him plenty of questions which he gladly answered. She learned that she was actually pretty good at fishing and she even won a tournament that was held the summer before she was taken. After an hour or so of spending time by the lake they headed back to the house.

You look tired how about we sit down for a minute." He asked as they approached the steps of the porch.

"OK. But only if we can sit on the porch swing."

"After you." He smiled at her and gestured his hands towards the swing.

Sam let her sit down first and once she was comfortable he set beside her. She scooted closer to him closing in the distance between them and placed her head on his shoulder as he slowly pushed the swing forward with his feet. They started off slow and set in silence for a few moments and just listened to the sounds of the country. Every now and again Sam would rub his arm that was wrapped around her waist up and down her side. She closed her eyes at his touched and thought about how much she really missed him the past few days. Thinking about this made her remember to asked him what she wanted to earlier at the park before he rushed her off home.

"So why are you here right now Sammy?" She asked not looking up.

"Because my best friend needed me." He simply said.

"But what about school?"

"I dropped a class or two and I am going to do the rest of them online ever now and then when something requires me to go to the campus I will simply make the four hour drive. It won't be that difficult I have it all figured out really."

"Sam this isn't right." She said sitting up to look at him. "I can't let you rearrange your whole life because of me."

"This is right and it was my decision. Like I said I have everything figured out so you don't need to worry your pretty lil head."

"I feel bad I mean you had a life before I came back and I am so happy that you have come back for me but I can't help but feel guilty and selfish." She said hanging her head down.

"Mercedes look at me." He said lifting her chin with his finger so that she could look him in the eyes. "You were pulled out of my life for almost eight years and I haven't wanted anything more than to be able to spend time with you. When you called me I felt bad because I couldn't answer but when I heard those voicemails you left the sound of your voice did something to me. It broke me and made me feel like I had let you down. I had to something because I couldn't live with myself if I knew I didn't at least try to make sure you never sounded like that again."

"Are you sure?" She asked as tears where starting to slowly run down her face.

"I have never been so sure of anything in my life. You are one of the most important people in my life and believe me when I tell you this that list is very, very, short."

"Thanks so much for coming back to me Sam." She smiled at him.

"I always will." He said as he wiped tears from her cheeks.

"Wait where are your grandparents?" She asked after a few moments of quiet.

"Well my grandfather passed away in 2007 and two years later my grandmother died also."

"I'm so sorry to hear that Sam I wish I could have been there for you."

"It not your fault."

"I'm sorry about all of it."

"All of what?"

"I heard about your dad." She said apologetically.

"What about him." She felt his hold on her stiffen.

"My parents told me he died. That he was killed by a drunk driver. I hate that you lost so much and I wasn't here to support you."

"Mercedes why…I don't understand…never mind forget it can we talk about something else please." She watched Sam as his jaw clenched and his whole mood changed. She figured he was still having a hard time dealing with his father's death because it happened not to long ago.

"You said you were in the Glee club right? Will you sing something to me?"

"Sure." He said still a little tense.

Sam began to sing the first couple of words of You Are My Sunshine and Mercedes laughed.

"What you use to love it when I used to sing it to you before." He sounded offended but a smile played at the corners of his lips.

"I did? Well if you say so then by all means Mr. Evans please continue."

He picked up where he left off and Mercedes snuggled comfortably in his arms within a few minutes she was sound asleep. He decided to move her to one of the guest rooms downstairs and when he placed her gently on the bed she stirred for a second and smiled at him in her sleep. He traced his finger along her face stopping last at her lips and placed a soft kiss on her forehead before leaving the room so she could sleep in peace.

OOOOOOOOOO

Mercedes opened her eyes and was inside of a extra small dark space a tire was poking her in the side so she assume she was in a car trunk her legs and arms bond and tape was covering her mouth. She closed her eyes and prayed that he weren't taking her somewhere to kill her. For just a split second she did however think about how much easy it would be if he did just kill her. She wouldn't have to go through this constant torture and she wouldn't have to live her life knowing that someone had complete control over her wellbeing. But them she remembered the things that she had to live for. She had parents who loved her unconditionally and a sister who sometimes yes got on her nerves but was also more like her best friend. Then there was Sam she promised herself that if she made it out of this alive she wouldn't be afraid anymore to tell him how she really felt and she would confess her love for him regardless of the consequences. Going through this has made her realize that life is too short and she would learn to seize the moment. As she finished her last words of her prayer she felt the car come to a stop and her breath caught in her throat. She wanted to live, so if the plan was to kill her indeed she would do whatever it took to see that that didn't happened.

The trunk flew open and she was snatched out roughly. There were no words, just a deafening silence as they walk on what seem to be a dirt road. Their journey seem like it took forever and after a few minutes they stopped. She jumped slightly when she heard an object hit the ground.

"If I take off your tape will you promise not to scream?" The man asked.

Mercedes was scared the brave front she put on in the trunk quickly dissolved. She didn't know what to expect but she knew this wasn't usually how things went. He never asked her nicely. He would always threaten her with some form of punishment if she ever were to scream.

"Mercedes do you promise?" He asked again.

She nodded her head slowly as coherent thoughts left her mind. She did know that she loved this person talking to her. They had been a part of life once before and she couldn't fathom why they would go through such extreme measures to hurt her. He removed the tape slowly, carefully as not to hurt her. Once the tape was removed he apologized and rubbed his thumb across both of her lips. Ok weird thing number two he was always more of a rip the band aid type never this gentle.

"You always had such soft perfect lips." He said then kissed her sweetly.

"Why?" She asked quietly, but didn't get an answer.

They removed her blindfold next and she squinted her eyes trying to adjust to the light but soon realize there wasn't any. It was dark and besides the flashlight her chaperone was carrying there wasn't any type of light.

"What are you going to do to me?" she asked frighten. Still no answer instead he just stared at her.

"Please?" She pleaded softly as they cupped her face moving closer to her.

"You were always so beautiful Shell and I will never forget you." He sounded sad which heighten her fear.

"Please let me go I swear not to speak a single word. I won't tell a soul if you just let me-"

He placed his fingers on her lips and shushed her. "I am not going to hurt you." he said rubbing his hand through her hair his face inches apart from hers and the flashlight was angled just right for her to see his face. He was quite handsome. She recognized his face but just like his voice she couldn't remember from where. His eyes were sad, cold, and his hair was a light sandy brown he couldn't have been more than five years older than her but his face showed signs that he lived a hard life. He kissed her gently on the forehead and she shuttered at his touch.

"Turn around." He told her.

"What? No!" Mercedes was scared. "Can we just go back home." She tried to sound sweet innocent. "I just want to relax while you hold me." She hated his touch when he would hold her like she was a baby, but she would do whatever he wanted if meant them leaving this place.

"I am going to cut you free, now turn around." His face looks sincere almost trusting and against her better judgment she slowly began to turn around. She could hear him moving behind her and heart started to rapidly beat through her chest.

"Don't be afraid everything is going to be okay." He didn't sound so close to her anymore and she thought maybe he was retreating and was keeping his word on letting her go.

"I'm sorry Mercedes. I will always love you." He said once more and she turned her head in suspicion. Before she could fully see what was going on she saw an object fly towards her head, a sharp pain shot to her temple, and the next second her body was on the ground.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

Mercedes woke out of her sleep in tears. She was so shook up she couldn't speak let along breath. She was gasping for air and her chest felt as if someone had reached in and grabbed her lungs. She was panting loudly while she clutched her chest. Sam worried from the sounds he heard from the living room rushed in and saw Mercedes hyperventilating in the bed. Sam sat in front of her in the bed and placed his hands one on each side of her face.

"Mercedes, Mercedes look at me. You have to breathe come on please Mercedes, baby please breathe." He shook her lightly. She was still gasping for air. "Mercedes you were having a dream it is me Sam please calm down breathe. Look into my eyes come on inhale, exhale just breathe." He was so scared. He didn't know what to think but he knew he had to remain calm for her.

She stared into the beautiful green eyes staring back at her and she listened to his voice as she tried to do what her was saying. She inhaled slowly then exhaled. She repeated that action several times as let Sam's smooth voice calmed her down. She hugged him, climbing onto her friend straddling his lap.

"Oh Sam it was seemed so real." She started bawling heavily in his shoulder.

"It's alright nobody is going to hurt you I got you. I swear on my life you are safe." He assured her.

When she finally calmed all the way down he got her a glass of water and asked her to explain what happened. She told Sam all about her dreams she had been having since he had left. She told him how the men looked familiar and that she had seen them somewhere before but she didn't know where. How one had left her for dead and how she tried to escape a couple of times. When she finished telling him, Sam face had an indescribable emotion on it. He looked sad, angry, betrayed, confused, and guilty all at the same time. He didn't say anything for some time and the silence was killing her.

"Sam say something please. What's going on?"

"I'm sorry." He said after a few more seconds of silence.

"For what it is not like you did this to me. I just wished I did know so they can stop haunting me." She said as she took another swig of water.

"Mercedes?"

"Huh?"

"Something you said earlier has been bugging me." Sam said nervously.

"Ok..."

"Your parents told you my father was killed by a drunk driver."

"Uh yes. They said a couple of months before they found me your dad got hit by a drunk driver coming home from work. I asked them a couple of weeks ago about it again because I felt bad. I wanted to go visit his grave but they said they didn't know where he was buried so I asked around town and I found the location of his grave. My parents took me there a few days before reconnected again to put some flowers on his grave and pay my respects."

"THEY DID WHAT!" Sam was livid and his hands shook with anger. "I can't believe they let you do that. What the hell were they thinking? Who in their right mind would do such a thing?"

"Sam what? What's so wrong about that?"

"Mercedes I have to tell you something." He looked directly at her and he looks terrified.

"Tell me." She took in his expression and it was scaring her. "Sam you are really starting to freak me out what's wrong?" She touched his face and he rested his head in her hands and closed his eyes.

"My dad wasn't killed by a drunk driver. Your parents lied to you."

"What? That doesn't make any sense why would they lie?" She said snatching her hand away.

"Because… well… I really don't know. But you were lied to."

"Fine, say my parents did lie how was your dad killed?" She said defensive. Her parents wouldn't lie to her about something like this and she couldn't believe that Sam would make such an accusation.

"He was stabbed to death."

"No, no, this can't be right. My parents wouldn't lie to me Sam you don't know what you are talking about."

"What I don't know what I am talking about1" Sam was angry now. "How the hell are you going to tell me that I do not know how my fucking father died? Who do you think went to identify the damn body, me! They found his body floating down the Lima canal but the coroner said he was already dead when someone dumped the body. He was stabbed twenty six times Mercedes. I saw the stab wounds with my own eyes."

Mercedes put her hands over her mouth in disbelief she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Why would they lie like that?"

"There are things that you don't know and I can't be the one to tell you." Sam said shaking his head. "I just know that your parents have not been truthful with you."

"What does that mean I need to know what the hell is going on? Tell me what is going on I am so sick and tired of everyone walking on eggshells trying to protect my feelings I just want to know the truth."

"I am sorry I can't, you need to talk to your parents Mercy."

"Fine!" She said getting off of the bed. "Let's go talk to them then."

"What now?"

"Yes now!"

"You want me to drop you off at home and you can call me later?" He asked following her out of the door.

"No you're going in with me and we are going to get to the bottom of this once and for all."

"Mercy I don't think that's a good idea." Sam said stopping on the front porch.

"GET IN THE GODDAMN CAR SAM NOW!" She yelled slamming her car once she was inside and Sam locked up the house. He drove Mercedes to her house without another word.

When they pulled up to her front yard he asked her one more time if she was sure but she just jumped out of the jeep and stormed to her door. Her parents, Candy, and Noah were already in the dining room getting ready for dinner when she walked in.

"Hey pumpkin just in time." He dad said placing silverware on the table.

"Mom dad could you make room for one more we are going to be having a special guest joining us for dinner?" She said calmly trying not to tip anyone off.

"Oh really who?" She heard her mother say.

"Sam. Sam Evans." She said just as Sam appeared behind her. The looks on everyone's faces told her just what she needed to know. There were some secrets that they were definitely hiding and she damn sure was going to get to the bottom of this.


AN: Dum Dum Dum. I bet Sam was the last person they were expecting to see at their dining room table. What do you guys think is going to happen at this dinner and what all secrets do you think everyone is hiding? How do you think our Mercedes is going to react when she finds out the truth and what do you guys think about her day with Sam. Please review and tell me what you think I am looking forward to it. Peace and love
Tdminor