Chapter 6

Sam stood in the middle of his room shocked. Did Khandi really just kick him out of the house? Sam shook his head and started to pack his bags. If she wanted him gone, then he was gone. Although, he really had no idea where he was going to go.

Khandi had showered, changed, and checked on Sammy and Katie before she left to go back to the hospital. She was gone before Sam came out of his room with his bags. Cosmo walked up to him. "I'm really sorry, Sam."

"Yeah, well, this wouldn't have happened if you kept your big mouth shut." Sam snapped.

"Hey, don't blame me. This whole thing never would have happened if you had of respected Khandi's feelings about everything."

Sam didn't say anything. He just turned away and left the house.

//Sam's Car//

He put the bags in the trunk and sped off down the street. Sam didn't know where he was going but a half hour later he found himself in front of Casandra's apartment building. He sat behind the wheel for a few minutes when he noticed her coming out of the building with suitcases and a few boxes.

Sam got out of the car and walked over to her. "Hey, you going somewhere?" he asked.

"I don't know where to go." she said, tears running down her cheeks. "The landlord fixed the door and left me an eviction notice."

Sam helped her with her things. "Did he say why?"

"He said he couldn't put up with that kind of violence and said I wasn't welcome there anymore."

"This is all my fault. I never should have kicked your door in." Sam said feeling guilty.

"No, if you hadn't..."

Sam understood. He didn't want to think about what the outcome would have been either. "Well, I'd say you could stay with me but..."

"I know, I'm not exactly the most popular person among the Cavalry right now. There's no way in hell Khandi would ever let me stay there."

"That's true. But I was going to say, I don't have a place for you to stay with me. Khandi just kicked me out."

Casandra looked at him, now feeling guilty herself. "I'm sorry, Sam. After all that's happened, I should just go back to Dallas."

"No. Come on, right now, we have to find a hotel to stay in tonight. Separate rooms of course." Sam smiled.

"Of course." she smiled back.

Sam placed her things in the backseat of his car and they set out to find a place to sleep.

//Desert Palm Hospital//

Dr. Stewart walked in to check on Jim. "I see you have a visitor." Dr. Stewart said looking down at a sleeping Little Jimmy.

"Yeah, he's my son. He came to see me and didn't want to leave." Jim said.

"Well, it's okay if he stays here. He doesn't seem to be any trouble. Anyway, I had a look at your current set of tests and everything seems to be great. No sign of infection, so that's good news. And if all stays well, you can go home within the next couple of days."

"That's great news. I don't want to be here any longer than I have to be." Jim said.

"I understand. Get some rest and I'll check on you in the morning."

"Thanks, doctor."

"Sure thing." Dr. Stewart said and left the room.

Five minutes later Khandi showed up and smiled when she saw Little Jimmy asleep next to Jim. "Has he been asleep the whole time?" Khandi asked.

"Yeah. Poor little guy was tuckered out." Jim said. "Dr. Stewart was just here."

"I hope he had good news."

"He said my tests were great, no sign of infection and I should be able to go home in a couple of days."

"That's great." Khandi smiled.

"So, how is everything on the homefront?"

Khandi looked down at her feet. "Not so good."

Jim sighed. "What happened now?"

"I kicked Sam out."

"You what!?" Jim asked shocked.

"Jimmy, he okay'd her transfer. And he did it behind my back."

"Khandi, that's still no reason to kick the man out. Now, come on, this petty, childish bullshit has to stop."

"Jimmy..."

"No! So, he okay'd her transfer. So what? Let's move on with our lives. It's not the end of the world because somebody new joined the department."

"I can't believe you're saying this."

"Honey, think back to when you first came on here. How would you have felt if you were treated this way?"

Khandi sat down in the chair and looked at Jim. She knew he was right. There was no way she would have stayed in Vegas if everyone treated her horribly. But this was different. This woman was here to replace the man that Khandi loved more than anything in the world and she'd be damned if she was going to work side by side with her.

//Vegas Hotel//

Sam went to his room, where as Casandra went to hers. She set down her suitcase on the bed and looked around. She had to say that her life since Dallas has sure taken a turn. Maybe as Bugs Bunny would have put it, 'I knew I should have taken a right turn at Albuquerque.'

She walked over to the window and looked out at the bright Las Vegas lights. Up here they seemed beautiful but when you were down in the middle of it all it was overwhelming. All Casandra wanted to do was run and not stop until she reached Dallas. But then she promised Sam she would stay for a month and see how things worked out.

"What was I thinking? Exactly why am I here? I am such an idiot." She mumbled to herself.

Casandra was unaware that Sam had entered the room and was standing behind her. "You're not an idiot." he said.

Casandra jumped almost out of her own skin and spun around to face Sam. "Holy fuck! Don't ever do that again." she yelled.

Sam laughed. "I didn't mean to scare you."

Casandra looked at him. "Can I breathe now? I think my heart is still beating." She cursed as she tried to catch her breath.

Sam was still laughing at her. "Come on it's good to be scared now and again. It let's us know we're alive."

"Sometimes I wonder." She said shaking her head. "Next time you do that you'll be on the floor."

Sam took a step back from her. "I don't doubt that for a minute." he said holding up his hands in surrender.

She smiled, and slightly laughed. "I said next time. Not this time."

Sam returned the smiled. "I'll remember that. So, how are you holding up?"

"About as well as to be expected I guess. How about you?"

"Okay, but I've had better days." Sam said and sat down in a chair by the window.

Casandra didn't move she looked at him. "I'm sorry about Khandi kicking you out. Maybe I should talk to her…"

Sam interrupted her. "I appreciate that, but I don't exactly think that's a good idea. I mean given the current circumstances and everything."

"Okay, listen. If I never came here to begin with this shit would have never happened. The last thing I want to see is you living out of a hotel, with a bottle of liquor in one hand, and a cigarette in the other, with Jerry Springer yelling on the TV. And to boot, sitting in your underwear."

Sam smirked. "Hmm. You're picturing me in my underwear? Although, why picture it when you can see the real thing." he winked at her.

Casandra was thankful she was not drinking anything. Cause it would now be at the other end of the room. Which is good distance, through her nose. She was speechless. And she was hoping Sam didn't notice.

Sam stood up and walked over to her. He looked at her and smiled. "I can't believe you don't have anything to say."

She shrugged. "Consider yourself lucky, Sam. You're the only person that has made me speechless."

"I'll take that as a compliment." he said and started to lean toward her.

She smirked. "Maybe it was."

Sam continued to lean forward and just as their lips met there was a pounding on the door. "Lieutenant Gerard, are you in there?"

Casandra and Sam sighed. She rested her head on his chest. "Perfect timing." She mumbled.

Sam let her go and walked over to the door. He opened it and saw two uniformed officers standing on the other side. "What's going on guys?" Sam asked.

Just then a head popped into the doorway. It was Cosmo. "Hey, Sammy."

Casandra went over to Sam and looked out the door. "Take your sticky pad with my name on it and shove it up your ass Grim Reaper."

Cosmo looked at Casandra. "Hey, I came here to try and help you two."

"What do you want Cosmo?" Sam asked annoyed.

"I was thinking maybe we could all go to the hospital and talk to Jimmy."

"About what?" Casandra asked.

Cosmo sighed. "Maybe talking to him about this whole fucking mess might get it sorted out."

Sam looked at him. "Are you nuts?"

"Cosmo. Think about it. Maybe he just might have the same thinking as his lovely dear wife." Casandra said looking at him like he really was nuts.

Cosmo shook his head. "It's worth a shot isn't it. Unlike Khandi, I know Jimmy will be willing to listen."

Casandra shook her head. "I don't think this is such a good idea. God knows that Khandi is going to be there, since it is her husband we are going to talk to."

"Look, I know it's going to be difficult but if we're going to resolve any of this shit we all have to be in the same room to do it." Cosmo said and felt like he was getting nowhere.

Sam thought for a moment. For once Cosmo was right. "Casandra, Cosmo is right, for once. We should talk to Jimmy. If anyone can, maybe he can see it our way, and get Khandi to understand."

"Are you all nuts? You two are the only ones who know what really is going on. Khandi doesn't get it, and she right now is like God trying to strike me down. You can't be fucking serious." Casandra said walking to the bed and sitting down, frowning.

Sam followed her and sat down beside her. "Okay, if you don't want to go then we don't have to go." Sam said and glanced at Cosmo.

Cosmo shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Are we going to be the three outcasts of the Cavalry now?"

"It wouldn't exactly be considered The Cavalry than, would it Cosmo?" Sam stated.

"Huh?" Cosmo asked confused.

"You need more than one person to be considered a Cavalry." Casandra said.

Cosmo was getting frustrated. "Can we cut the crap, and just go talk to Jimmy?"

Sam looked at Casandra. "What do say? You willing to give it a shot?"

She looked back. "What's the worst that could happen?"

//Desert Palm Hospital//

Jim was laying in his hospital bed asleep, along with Little Jimmy, who was starting to snore a little. Khandi came back to the room with a glass of ice water for Jim. When she saw he was asleep she set the glass down on the table beside his bed and laid down on the cot that one of the nurses had brought in for her.

Unfortunately that was about as peaceful as it was going to get. Cosmo, Sam and Casandra walked up to the hospital room. Before they entered, Casandra stopped both of them. "Now what did I tell you. God is a female who is laying in the cot contemplating my death."

Sam took Casandra by the shoulders. "Okay, just take a deep breath and then go in there and wake them up."

"Me? You go and wake them up." she said looking into Sam's eyes.

Cosmo decided to take the lead and went into the room first. "Rise and shine." he said.

Khandi looked up from the cot and when she saw Casandra she jumped up. Only she had forgotten that she was wrapped in a blanket and fell flat on her face.

Casandra started to laugh and Khandi looked up at her. "Glad you think this is so fucking funny." Khandi snapped.

"I'm sorry, are you alright?" Casandra asked.

"I'm fine." Khandi said, got up and untangled herself out of the blanket.

All this had woken up Jim and Little Jimmy and they were laying in the bed looking at the scene unfolding around them. "What the hell is going on here?" Jim asked.

Sam shrugged. "Sorry about that."

Casandra ventured a little farther. "Cosmo's idea for us to come down here and talk to you."

"Me? Why?" Jim asked.

Cosmo sighed. Just his night. "Because, we need this shit of a fucking mess sorted out so that we can all get fucking along is why!" He said trying not to lose his temper.

Little Jimmy stood up. "Uncle Cosmo. Don't use bad language."

"I guess he told you, Cos." Jim laughed and then turned serious again. "But you're right, we do need to straighten this whole mess out."

Casandra looked at them. "Don't tell me. I have to be here."

Sam looked at Khandi. "Can we call a truce on this whole matter?" he asked.

Khandi looked cautiously at Casandra. "Long as what you all are saying is true."

Casandra sighed. "Like I keep saying. I am not here to take over Jimmy's job. God! I feel like a fucking recording."

"I've explained that to her." Jim said.

"And I heard you." Khandi stated. "That's why I'm considering dropping the matter."

"Really?" Sam asked.

"Yes, really."

Casandra sighed. "Thank God. Now maybe we can move on and get to work."

Just at that moment Khandi's mom, Jennifer, walked into the room. Khandi saw her and walked over to her. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see how Jim was doing." she replied and then noticed Casandra standing off to the side with Sam. She turned her attention to Casandra. "Cassie, you're here."

Casandra looked at Jennifer and the two women enbraced. "I'm glad you're here, mom." Casandra said.

"What the hell did you just call her?" Khandi yelled and tried to lunge at Casandra.

Cosmo grabbed her and pulled her back. "Hey, take it easy, there's probably a good explanation for this."

"Really? I'd love to hear it." Khandi snapped.

Jennifer let Casandra go and turned her attention back to Khandi. "I don't think the hospital is the place to discuss this matter. Maybe we should go to your house."

"No! We're not going anywhere until I find out why she's calling you mom." Khandi was beyond pissed.

"Khandi, really this is not the place to discuss the matter. We should go someplace else." Jennifer said.

"Fine. Let's go outside." Khandi said. She and her mom left the room followed by Casandra. Khandi turned to look at her. "Where are you going?"

"I'm a part of this." Casandra said.

"Like hell you are!" Khandi yelled.

"She's right, Khandi, she is a part of this." Jennifer said.

Khandi stopped far enough outside Jim's room so they wouldn't hear the conversation. Then she turned her attention toward her mother. "Okay, so let's hear the story. I can't wait to hear the explanation."

"Do you want the short or long version?" Jennifer asked.

"Give me the short version."

"Okay, the short of it is, is that Casandra is your father's daughter."

"WHAT!?" Khandi yelled. "No, I don't believe it!"

"I think you better give her the long version, mom." Casandra said.

"Don't you dare call her that!" Khandi yelled.

"Listen, Khandi, I know you're angry but let me explain." Jennifer said trying to calm her daughter down. "It was a long time ago and your father was undercover. He had a moment of weakness and it happened to have produced a child."

"How could you stay with him after that?" Khandi asked shocked.

"Honey, in those days wives looked the other way at their husband's indiscretions. I forgave him and we moved on with our lives. I hope you can forgive him too."

"No, I worshipped him and now I find out he was a lying cheat."

"Khandi, that's enough. He was still your father."

"Yeah, right. God knows how many other kids he has running around. Once he found out you'd forgive him for cheating on you, do you really think he stopped?" Khandi asked.

Jennifer didn't want to listen to any more of what her daughter had to say. She slapped Khandi hard across the face. "I will not tolerate you speaking about your father in that manner."

Khandi looked at her mother in shock. "That's fine!" Khandi yelled. "You'll never have to hear me say anything. I never want to see or talk to you ever again!" Then Khandi took off down the hallway and disappeared around the corner.

TBC...