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Chapter 4: Eve

Sarah woke to a ray of sunshine hitting her in the face, and a pounding headache. She tried to get up before she realized that something was holding her down. Sarah looked over and saw that Adam had managed to coax her into letting him in the bed. Sarah smiled as their little conversation slowly came back to her. Slowly and carefully she got out of bed and walked into the bathroom. As she worked her way into nothing but a towel, drew a bath, and brushed her teeth, Adam knocked on the door.

"Hey, are you decent?"

Sarah could only smile as she let Adam into the bathroom. Bidding each other a good morning, Adam soon started to brush his teeth while Sarah slowly eased her way into the bath water that was just slightly too hot. Adam finished up and sat down on the lid of the toilet. Sarah watched him as he just sat there with his head in his hands. She pitied him. As much as he didn't deserve being in his situation, which Adam thought was his fault, she pitied him. Sarah sighs as she begins washing her arms and shoulders and neck, all while keeping an eye on Adam. After about five minutes Sarah finally spoke.

"What's wrong Adam?"

Adam could only stare into Sarah's beautiful blue eyes. In her eye's Adam inwardly swore he could see pure deep concern about him, as well as another deep feeling that he shared with her.

"Nothing... hey Sarah?"

"Yeah?" Sarah said as she continued to watch Adam's green eyes. In his eyes Sarah could see that Adam was still very full of regret, anger at what he'd done, and, at the same time... relief. Relief that he'd gotten off as easy as he did, 45 hours of community service and the fine. While the fine was still staggering, at least he didn't have to go around telling people that he was an "offender" and ruin his credibility and life. Adam slowly exhales as he looks her in the eye. It was then that she saw it. The feeling that stuck out the most in his eyes.

"I love you, Sarah"

"I love you, Adam"

They both stared into each other's eyes before starting to laugh at how they had said "I love you" at the same time. After a little while, they finally stopped and continued to stare into each other's eyes before Adam got off of the toilet and onto his knees and wrapped his arms around Sarah and kissed her. They sat there for a while, even when Sarah's wet arms and body soaked Adam's shirt. Finally Sarah kisses Adam again and looks at him again.

"I have to go to work," Sarah sighed out as Adam kissed her on her favorite spot... the one that he always kisses when they have a "heart to heart" as Matt always said they have. That spot on her chest, right above her heart. Adam drags his fingers along her arm, along with some water. He holds her hand for a minute and walks out and closes the door. Sarah sighed... she knew it was going to be a long day.

...Burger Empire, Red Ring Road. Five miles from Pell's Gate...

"Hello! How are you?" Sarah greeted her customer with a smile.

"I'm fine, thanks," The customer quietly replied. His face was partially concealed by his hat, which he wore every day.

"What would you like today sir?" Sarah asked using her manners in hopes he would leave her a nice tip.

"I'll take a double cheeseburger and a large fry with ranch dressing please," the customer said as Sarah jotted down the man's order.

"And what will you have to drink?" Sarah asked.

"A large lemonade," The man said.

"Yes sir!" Sarah cheerfully replied. Best to show manners to customers.

Sarah sighed the moment she was out of earshot. That man comes in everyday and orders the same thing everyday. She glances at the clock. Three o'clock. Just two more hours until she gets off. She glances back at the man, who quickly turns his head back to the day's issue of the Black Horse Courier.

"I swear," Sarah mumbled under her breath. It was the same shit every day she came into work. That guy would always sit in her section and ONLY her section. And if it was full, he would wait until a spot opened up. But the thing that creeped her out the most... he would always look at her a lot when on his cell phone. Today was no exception and this time Sarah was lucky enough to hear part of his conversation.

"Hello? Yeah this is Darson. Yeah it's defiantly her (the man, Darson, looks at her again) Yeah, I'll make my move later today. Yes sir."

Sarah turns back to her work and brings this Darson his meal. Who looks her dead in they eye, grins and says "Be careful on the roads tonight. I hear someone is trying to run people off them." Sarah's eyes go wide and she quickly thanks him and walks away. This really was going to be a long day.

...Red Ring Road three minuets from home...

Sarah was on the highway next to a barrier as her turn was on the next left. Everything was good and that was a relief to her. All that changed when a big black truck with a man in a mask pulled up next to her... and started getting closer... and closer still until she could almost feel the wind off of the barrier. Sarah's mind was filled with panic as she saw another part of the barrier coming closer and closer. The truck pulled off just a little bit. Then started to come in fast... Acting purely on instinct, Sarah slammed on her brakes at the last possible second, and the truck missed her and almost clipped the wall. Before Sarah couldn't even glance at the license plates, the truck had sped off into the distance. Sarah silently thanks Mother Mara that nobody was behind her when she pulled her little stunt. Finally she continues on to her and Adam's apartment.

...Pell's Gate Apartments...

Adam had called Dean about ten minutes ago and was sitting on the couch talking to Dean when Sarah walked in the door. At first he didn't think of it when she didn't say something when she came in. But he had to tell Dean to hold on a sec when Sarah went straight to the kitchen and opened up the strongest bottle of vodka they had and took a few large swallows directly from the bottle.

"WHOA WHOA WHOA! Sarah!? What the hell is wrong with you?"

Sarah gives a bitter laugh. "What do you mean? Nothings wrong!" She goes to take another swig but Adam jerks the bottle out from her hand before she even gets half way.

"What the fuck do you mean 'nothings wrong'!? You walk in extremely pale, you don't say shit to me and you come straight into the kitchen and start drinking! And you expect me to believe that nothings wrong!?"

Tears immediately start to roll down Sarah's cheeks as she looks down at the floor. "It's just... I just-"

"Just what Sarah!? Tell me what happened!" Adam pleaded, Sarah was just fine and happy when she left for work and now this?

Sarah went into hysterics as she threw herself into Adam and started to tell him the story and about the guy in the restaurant. When she finishes, Adam walks over to the phone and tells Dean he'll call later. Then he comes back to the kitchen and grabs Sarah by the shoulders

"Why didn't you call the police!?" Adam asked. 'This is so messed up,' Adam thought. 'She doesn't even work but like a five minute drive from here and someone's trying to kill her?'

"I... I... I didn't get a chance to read his tags," Sarah sobbed into Adam's neck.

"That's fine..." Adam trailed off as he slowly let go of Sarah.

Adam takes the car keys off of the counter, puts on his shoes, a baseball cap and a hoodie. Then he opens a closet and grabs a baseball bat and opens the front door. Sarah calls to him..

"Where... Where are you going!?" Sarah asked, confused.

"To find this asshole and kick his ass." As Adam said this, their neighbor from across the hall opened the door and hailed Adam.

"Dude, I heard the whole thing, do you want help?" their neighbor asked.

"C'mon Kevin, let's go," Adam ordered.

"NO!! COME BACK!!" Sarah screamed as Adam and Kevin rushed to the car and drove off on a wild goose chase after Darson. She ran out to the hallway in time to see the tail lights on her car drive off. Sarah drops to her knees and starts crying as a few of her neighbors come up to comfort her and get her inside. Sarah sits on the couch for a second before she is startled by the phone ringing.

"He... Hello?" Sarah didn't bother to mask her feelings this time.

"Sarah! Its Dean, what happened!?"Dean franticly asked.

Sarah tearfully tells Dean about what happened at the restaurant, on the way home, and what just happened.

"Gods dammit Adam!" Sarah was openly shocked. Dean was normally so patient about things. Sarah didn't have to be anywhere near Dean to feel how mad he really was. Dean didn't speak for a moment. Then he addressed Sarah again.

"Get your shoes on. We're gonna go find him before he gets himself killed." Before Sarah could protest, Dean hung up.

...fifteen minuets later...

Sarah was on the couch crying when Dean pulled up. She didn't object when he opened the door and let himself in. Sarah looked at him and then at her hands in her lap. Dean came over to the couch and gave her a small hug. Muttering a 'let's go' they got up and walked out just as Sarah's car pulled back in. Adam and Kevin both jump out and walk forward. Adam was the first to speak.

"We didn't find him." Adam said, leaning on the door.

Dean sat there for a second before slapping Adam upside his head.

"Man, what the fuck is your problem dude!?" Dean shouted at Adam.

"What?" Adam demanded, openly shocked.

"You heard me! I heard everything up until you hung up on me. And yeah I understand that you're pissed but you can't just bail out on Sarah like that!" Dean shouted again... breathing harder than ever.

"Like it's any of your business!" Adam countered.

"It's my fucking business when my cousin, the only family I have left, almost gets killed and her boyfriend goes and steals her car and goes out on a fucking rampage!" Dean snarled. This was the maddest anyone that knew him ever saw him.

"But I..." Adam trailed off, looking down at his feet.

Dean grabbed Adam by his shoulders shoved him into the wall of the building and got into his face. Kevin made a move to break it up when Adam stopped him with his palm held out to tell him to back down.

"You need to think things the fuck through next time. What if you would have found this guy and gotten yourself killed!? HUH!? Did that even cross your fucking mind!?" Dean emphasized by shoving Adam's back into the wall again.

Adam just stared at Dean. There was no point in fighting, Adam was man enough to know his friend was right.

"Look... I know it pisses you off that this happened. And I wish there was a way this guy could have been caught and arrested or something. But, there isn't. I'm sorry that this happened to you guys, really, I am but there is nothing you can do that is safe," Dean slowly explained.

"Sorry man..." Adam said, not bothering to make eye contact. He was too ashamed to.

"It's chill bro. Just think next time, alright?" Dean warned.

Adam just smiled and hugged Dean and called Sarah over. Adam then let go of Dean and held Sarah in his arms. Apologizing profusely to her while she held on to him and cried. After a few minutes they all went inside to cool off and hang out.

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Authors notes: yay... just finished up... now onto something that I don't normally do often

EDIT: I just got done editing everything and then sicking my Beta on it so now it should be better.

to Raven Studios: Thank you... thankyou thankyou thankyou for all the behind the scenes help you've been giving me I appreciate it, truly

to Archsage Soren: thanks for keeping up with and reading all of my works... tis people like you that keep me writing. Not to mention that you're an amazing Beta

to Pete: I know you're out there somewhere man

disclaimer: I do not own TES4: Oblivion or anything else of any minor or major importance... so stop nagging will ya?