Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N Be warned a lot happens in this chapter and not a lot of it is fun!

S&M

When Mercedes' father had been alive he believed she should be taught two things;

How to shoot a basket ball

How to change a tyre

She was fourteen when he gave up and decided to just let her sing and dance around the backyard instead. Mercedes had always smiled at those memories, thinking about how her father would encourage her to just be herself. Now as she stood in the cold, Eli slouched on the footpath cursing the heavens, wishing her Dad would have screwed embracing her creative side and forced her to change a damn tyre.

She hadn't noticed she had parked on a nail, but she defiantly noticed how lopsided her car stood as her and Eli walked up to it after leaving school. Blah, she so didn't need this. Margret had run her off her feet and Eli was desperate to get home so his father could pick him up.

Mercedes flipped into survival mode. She opened the boot and pulled out the spare tyre and necessary tools.

How hard could it be?

Honestly, she had survived child birth changing a tyre should be child's play.

It wasn't.

Defeated she called Shane and he arrived two minutes later, fear splashed across his features.

"Are you guys ok? I thought you said you were in a car accident?"

"I said I had car trouble! You so need to get a new phone Shane!"

Shane rolled his eyes and ruffled his son's hair

"Wanna watch me change a tyre son?"

Mercedes stood on the footpath, watching Shane and Eli work on the tyre. This afternoon was going to be tight schedule wise but it would work out. Actually this might be a blessing. Shane would take Eli to his home straight after this instead. That would give Mercedes time to shower and change before starting dinner for her and Sam. It would be flawless, it would be calm.

Sam and Mercedes were officially in week three of dating. They were limited with their 'official dates' due to Eli, but that didn't mean Sam couldn't find ways while they were at school to remind her of his existence. Mercedes loved every minute of it, even if he was a dorky loser who couldn't keep his tongue to himself. Mercedes was excited for tonight….tonight was an at home date. Mercedes couldn't help but remember last time they were alone in a house things got frisky quickly. Mercedes hadn't been prepared last time, but tonight she would be!

"What's going on?"

Speak of the devil

Mercedes smiled up at Sam. Her special 'You are my son's teacher and I so don't want to rip your clothes off' she saved for public. Sam wasn't looking at her, so it probably wouldn't have mattered if she was giving him the finger. His eyes seemed to be trained on Shane and little Eli, who had successful removed the busted tyre.

"Oh I must have parked on a nail; Shane is just changing the tyre"

"I thought Shane was picking him up from your place?"

"He was, but I called him for help"

Sam's eyes finally dropped to hers and she was slightly taken aback from the emotion that swirled behind them.

"So I actually work only 100 metres away and you didn't think to ask me?"

Was he legitimately pissed off that she had called Shane? Who cares who she called; all she wanted to do was go home so she could get ready for Sam and only Sam…isn't that what mattered?

"Are you pissed about this?"

She asked, unable to resist.

"I'm not pissed…I'm just confused why you'd call your ex-husband and not your boyfriend"

There it was.

Mercedes couldn't believe she'd been so stupid. Sam wasn't new age and accepting of her strange circumstances and totally willing to look passed it all to be with her. It hurt, it killed and it was hundred percent worse than anything she had imagined when she thought of Sam hurting her.

"Hey Sam"

Shane greeted, smiling. He was twisting his mouth as if trying to supress a bigger grin. Mercedes knew he was about three seconds away from breaking out into 'Sam and Mercedes kissing in a tree'

"Hey Shane"

Mercedes watched as Shane tried to work out if Sam was being rude. He clearly gave up and announced that the car was fine and he and Eli were going to head off. She smiled in reply and dropped to her knees to give Eli a kiss and cuddle good bye. For the first time in ages he allowed it, as if sensing his mother was minutes away from breaking down.

She watched as they left for Shane's car, leaving her with Sam.

"Sam, you knew the circumstances. You knew what you were getting into!"

What was the point wasting time with small talk?

"I knew you guys get on…I love that…but I thought that when you'd let me into your life, you wouldn't need him as much"

Mercedes just shrugged. She had no idea why she had call Shane. It was probably just habit. Seemingly disappointed with her response Sam grunted and ran his fingers through his hair

"Maybe we should just get a rain check on tonight"

Mercedes stomach dropped to the footpath. Well it was fun while it lasted, she thought bitterly. Clearly when he said rain check, he meant forever.

She shrugged again and slipped into her car. As she drove away and glanced in the rear vision mirror she watched as Sam just stared back.

S&M

"Where is Eli?"

Her mother was standing at her front door when she pulled up and Mercedes was tempted to run her over. Mercedes hadn't spoken to her, let alone seen her since that fatefully night and she really didn't feeling like seeing her now.

"I said where is Eli? I want to see him"

Mercedes pulled her handbag further up her shoulder and sighed

"He is at Shane's tonight. You should have called ahead"

Mrs Jones pulled her sunglasses from her face and Mercedes was treated a full blown classic glare. This felt exactly like the time she had written off her mother's station wagon in high school.

"If you and Shane stuck to some kind of schedule then this wouldn't happen"

"No…if you didn't turn up unannounced then this wouldn't happen"

"Is this our relationship now? Just bitterness?"

Mercedes didn't feel like dissecting her relationship with her mother right at this moment. She wanted to curl up and cry till she passed out.

"Mum, please can we do this another time? I'll call you over the weekend and organise something for Eli"

She knew her mother to well to think that would suffice.

"Mercedes! This has gone on too long"

Mercedes didn't response and stepped up to unlock her front door.

"Leave me alone Mum, please. It's been a bad day. We'll do this later"

She took slight pleasure in slamming the door in her mother's face.

S&M

She filled up her wine glass, filled up the bath and happily accepted that there was no way on earth she was going to work tomorrow. Stepping into the bath, she sunk into the bubbles….actually she doubted she would be in for the rest of the week.

Mercedes checked her phone before resting it on the soap dish. Who would even call her? Sam was pissed at her; her mother was pissed at her….the only people that liked her were happily spending time together without her. Maybe she should call Shane and see if they could meet up for dinner. She sank deeper into the bath. She didn't really want that, she just wanted…..

Sam

She just wanted Sam

The tears came thick and fast as she thought of her afternoon, her mother…..She just wanted Sam.

Her wet hand reached out for the phone and searched for his number.

He answered on the second ring

"Mercedes?"

"Please come over. The key is under the mat"

She hung up before he could reject her and took a lazy sip of her wine.

God, she prayed that he would come.

S&M

Sam was standing in the door of her bathroom fifteen minutes later and with both his dogs in his arms.

"I was walking them….trying to clear my head you know"

Mercedes nodded, watching as he bent down to release them and they raced to her immediately and jumped up to the side of her bath. She blew bubbles on their fluffy faces and they shook their heads, annoyed and rushed back to their owner, who had sat on the toilet.

That sat in silence for a moment and Mercedes mused that the water was getting chilly. Would it be rude to flick the hot water on? Would Sam read that as not taking the situation seriously and being selfish because she would prefer to be warm then talk to him?

She killed two birds with one stone and delicately slid towards the faucet. Turning it on, she said

"So my mother came and visited this afternoon"

She glanced at Sam, who was surprised to say the least

"She gave me a bit of a mouthful. Now I'm sitting here sad, miserable and tossing up wether to drown myself in the bath"

Satisfied with the water temp, she slid back ensuring that the bubbles kept her modest. Mercedes slid her eyes towards him, secretly hoping that he felt bad for the terrible afternoon she had.

He said nothing.

Mercedes had never been on for silence, but she couldn't think of anything to say either. So she splashed a bit of the water.

"Why didn't you call Shane if you are so upset?"

Sam finally said and Mercedes made a point of rolling her eyes at him

"Maybe I should have. He would have been less of a bastard but for some insane reason that I can't remember….I wanted you"

Silence filled the bathroom again and Mercedes had decided that this was a complete mistake. Sam clearly couldn't cope with her circumstances. If the whole ex-husband thing wasn't bad enough, throwing in her mother wouldn't help her case.

"Budge up, would you?"

Mercedes looked back up at him and her eyes doubled as he stood there shirtless. She had seen him like that before….but never while she was naked in the bath. His hands reached for his belt and she diverted her eyes, feeling incredibly shy and she slid forward, allowing him to fit behind her.

"Why are you being all bashful now? You have wanted to get this wet since you saw me"

She chuckled, loosing up at little as she rested her back on his chest.

"Does this mean I'm forgiven? No more raincheck?"

"No more raincheck…as long as I'm always your first phone call when your mother 'visits'….and I want to be the first person you call when you need help with your car"

"What about if the house burns down? That affects Eli too….that would be a grey area"

Sam 'hmmed' thoughtfully as he tightened his knees around her.

"If Eli is home, then ring Shane but if it's just you then ring me"

"Actually I think I should call the fire department….I mean my house is on fire"

"Why? So all the sexy firemen get to you before me? No way. Me before the fire department"

"What if I'm getting murdered?"

"It would be hard for me, especially because I know you love men in uniform but you should call the police first if you are getting murdered"

Mercedes sighed and lent back her head to place a kiss on his cheek. Damn he was crazy, but damn if she thought she didn't need him.

S&M

Her bath was not meant for two people. It was clearly just a throw in, something the landlord thought would boost the appeal of the house. Eli fitted fine, her little short body fitted fine but the combination of Sam's long limbs and she did not fit fine.

"Sam if you don't stop moving or will get stuck"

"I'm trying to get comfortable"

The water had gone cold and the bubbles had all disappeared and Mercedes was starving for two things; Sam and food. Being that close and naked to his hell of body was practically torture but there was no way anything fun could get done in that bath. God bless Sam for trying though. As his hands travelled yet again down her cold wet body she decided enough was enough and they had to get out. Although instead of being patient, her body jerked and in a weird flash they ended up side by side in the tub.

Side by side in the narrowest tub in Lima.

Sam yelped, his back pressed hard against Mercedes'. It was kind of really painful. Panicked they both tried to escape at the same time which only resulted in them beating the backs of their heads against each other.

"I'll go first"

Mercedes said, panting slightly

The dogs were barking and Mercedes shushed them as she pulled herself from the bath. Salt and Pepper were over excited, thinking that she was getting ready to feed them dinner. The combination of the small dogs and the wet tiles, Mercedes ended up sliding across the floor before falling into the shower. A scream and crack later, Mercedes watched dizzily as her hand flopped in totally the wrong direction.

S&M

"So what exactly where you doing?"

"Skateboarding"

Mercedes and Sam replied simultaneously, maintaining complete eye contact with the nurse. The balding man gave them another strange look and finished up giving her directions on how to keep her cast clean. Mercedes just nodded, half listening. She never did anything in half measures it seemed, even bad days.

Sam was rubbing her lower back and the small gesture seemed to be working better than the pain meds she had taken. She felt so bad that he had had to deal with her in that state. When she had realised that something was wrong…and that it freaking hurt…..she had gone into crazy mode and blamed him for everything. What a sight that must have been for him. Naked as the day she was born, full on crazy eyes and a waving a hand around that was totally facing the wrong direction.

"Ok, that'll be it for you guys. Expect a call in a couple of weeks for a reassessment"

She nodded not believing that it was 2013 and she had still wait for bones to heal.

"Mr Evans?"

Quinn Freaking Hudson

She was the only woman in Lima to have ever been on the cover of a Kmart catalogue and reminded everyone of that fact weekly. Mercedes hadn't had much to do with her since graduation till she used Quinn's agency to find a house rental. Now a real estate agent Quinn relished in finding a 'post-divorce' home that would be safe enough for her now 'disadvantaged son'. Mercedes remembered quite vividly why she had hated the girl throughout high school.

Now here she stood, looking like the Queen of Perfection

"Oh hello Mrs Hudson, what are you doing here? Are the children ok?"

Sam's tone ignited something in Mercedes. Was it the familiarity? Was it just her already existing resentment towards Quinn? Or was it the fact that Sam seemed to be acting as nervous as a kid on stage? Turning her attention on Quinn, she watched the woman go into bashful mode before responding…

What the actual fuck?

"Oh, no everyone is safe. I was just picking up a prescription. I worked back late this evening…."

Sam nodded

Had Mercedes turned invisible for the last five minutes? No one seemed to remember that she was standing there…with her arm in a cast. Maybe it was the pain but Mercedes was completely pissed off at the little interaction that was happening in front of her.

"They are working you real estate agents harder and harder if you're working back this late"

Was Sam actually flirting right in front of her eyes? She had broken her wrist. Like actually totally snapped it and here he was flirting away with fucking freaking Quinn.

Quinn giggled and looked down cutely, only she couldn't really pull it off because no amount of mascara could make her eyes doe like…..unlike Mercedes…..

"What are you doing here Mr Evans? I hope you haven't hurt yourself?"

Was this chick for real?

"No, Ms Jones here was skateboarding in front of my house and had a bit of an accident. Thought I'd help her out"

"That was so nice of you"

Oh Sam, the great big hero… is saving everyone. She wished the celling would cave in and he'd try and save Quinn, only to have it collapse on them both.

Wow, she really was in pain.

"Well thanks Mr Evans, I'll see you tomorrow at drop off. Bye Quinn, always a pleasure and yes my arm is fine thanks for asking"

And with that Mercedes fled the clinic.

S&M

"Mercedes get in the car!"

Ergh Sam Evans was the biggest pig on earth if he thought she was getting anywhere near his car. She had made it to the edge of the clinic car park before he caught up with her. Now he was hollering and crying at her from the driver's seat.

"I have no idea what has happened between you getting your cast on and now. Please…today has been the shittest day ever and I just want to be with you"

At that she stopped, spinning around on her heel to face him.

"Really? The name Quinn fucking Hudson means nothing to you?"

Sam honestly looked confused and Mercedes softened…slightly.

"What's Quinn got to do with anything?"

"Oh I don't know Mr Evans, maybe the fact that she was practically gagging for it and you were lapping it up"

That seemed to clear things up for Sam

"Well even if she was gagging for it, it's not like I could say anything. We aren't telling people I'm your boyfriend remember? That was also your rule by the way…."

A loud horn blew and Mercedes gave the driver the finger. Cast and all.

"Go around!"

Sam screamed out the window, signalling to the driver and then Sam flicked his hazards on.

The car blew again and now it was Sam's turn to give the finger.
Beep! Beep!

Mercedes rolled her eyes and yanked the door close.

"Drive"

She said harshly.

Sam obliged and it was three seconds before they both started arguing again. Mercedes couldn't understand him as her voice seemed to bounce around his car.

"Enough!"

Sam roared and Mercedes crossed her arms with a hmpf.

"I'm sorry you felt I was being disrespectfully to you with Quinn, but seriously people think I'm single. I'd scream that I'm with you from the roof tops if I could, but I won't out of respect to you and Eli. I'm in this for the long run Mercedes…I think I've said it enough times but clearly you need reminding"

Mercedes ran a finger up and down her cast. She was going to have a sick day tomorrow…who knows when she'd be able to go back. She guessed not till the cast was off. It was a thing like that that made Mercedes wonder why Sam wanted to be with her so bad. She was a mess. If she couldn't change her tyre she was breaking her wrist. Why was he sticking around? She guessed it was the same reason why she couldn't ever really stop thinking about him or worrying about him or day dream of giving Eli some brothers and sisters with him….there was just something strong between them. Something unexplainable.

"I guess I'm unemployed now"

Sam looked at her as they pulled into a stop at a red light

"Really? That's all you have to respond to what I just said?"

She shrugged, knowing she wasn't being very clear

"Well you said today that you are my boyfriend so I thought I'd be polite and make sure you know exactly what you are going getting into when I tell you this next thing"

"Hmm and what's this next thing?"

"Screw the month thing. Ask Eli this weekend"

S&M