CHAPTER 7
EXTRA! EXTRA!
I had a little time to write this. Hope you all enjoy it!
Sam was standing just outside the room where Jay was sitting down with his lawyer and everyone else participating on his trial. Looking to the right he saw Andy putting on her jacket ready to leave.
"You're sure you don't want me to stay? Call anyone?" she asked one last time.
"Yeah, I want to do this alone."
"Okay then, I'm a phone call away." She gave him a quick peck on the lips and a hug. One of those big warm hugs and that helped Sam feel a little lighter. "Go burry whatever demons you have to burry. I'll be here whenever you want me."
He watched as she walked away and smiled at her when she turned around to give him one last glance. The connection between them was so strong that being apart was almost painful.
Taking deep breaths Sam took the door knob in hand, but stopped when he saw someone running towards him. Sarah had made it to their dad's trial. She made an effort to show up to this and why wasn't he surprised. He could live with her not hating Jay, but if he got released she'd be able to understand and see the horrible person their father was and the fantasy she build of the dad she had would come crushing down on her. He didn't wish that for her, but it would happen eventually.
"Hey." He said looking at her.
She had gotten ready. Full on dress and make-up mode and that wasn't like her, so he wondered if it was all a show she wanted to put on for Jay. How did he let things get like this in the first place?
"Hi, Sammy, let's go, we're late." She said in a hurry.
"You look nice." He said looking at her and she fussed with her hair for a second. She was nervous too, but for a different reason. She was looking forward to an approval and all Sam wanted was to make sure Jay knew his place. Far away from him and Andy, out of his life for good.
They stepped inside the room and Jay turned to see them. He didn't express any emotion and acted as though strangers had walked in. Sarah seemed to not notice as she held on her serious face and sat next to Sam in the back of the room.
For a good amount of time they were discussing how his behavior had changed. From explosive and violent to tolerant and calm within the years he had passed in prison. The physiologist that evaluated all the inmates gave him a clear report that supported his release given the sections they had he couldn't conclude why he would be a threat to society.
Sam lost count on how many times he wanted to jump up and say 'I object', but that wouldn't be accepted and he probably would just be thrown out of the room. So he kept his butt glued to that chair and his lips shut. Sarah seemed to be doing the same. Not once did they talk to one another.
By the end of his trial it was conclusive of what he already knew. Jay was a free man, but had three months of probation. He was supposed to stay on the address he gave the prison and have a phone they could contact him by. Once a week or more there would be a visit and so on they listed what the protocols were.
Everyone started to leave the room and Jay stopped in the hall to trade a few words with his lawyer, after that he left and Sam and Sarah were left alone with Jay.
"So, kids, nice to see you all again." He said sarcastically.
"Hi, dad." Sarah said as she stepped towards him to give him a hug he didn't give back.
"What are you two doing here?"
"I came to see you. It's been so long since we saw each other." She said as she let him go.
Sam was the one standing in the back. He wanted to know what his father wanted and then make clear that they had no business left to discuss. Their relationship and contact with one another would end today.
"It's been a while, true, but I don't need this. Family and shit, that ended a long time ago." Jay said and looked right at Sam. "I didn't get out to go back to playing house. That story was over the moment I was sent to prison."
"You made your bed now lie in it." Sam said. "It may not have been the one you went down for, but you weren't there long enough to pay for all you did to me and to mom. To the family you had. If you don't have anything now, then that is all on you. Don't try to put the blame on me, just because you're not happy with how it all played out."
"So you got my message and came to see me?" Jay asked.
"I got your message alright. What do you want?"
"Just wanted to let you know that I meant what I said. I don't forgive you. There will never be a time or a day where I will. I'll make sure you pay somehow for all the years I had to be in that prison. Now the roles changed. Instead of being feared out here, I am in there. It all went wrong in my life and you are the one to blame."
Sam wasn't scared. Before he really did believe the main reason he didn't want to see Jay was because he was afraid of him, but now he knew that what he really felt was extreme anger. Sam was so angry he had to control himself so he wouldn't jump at the chance to hit his dad in the middle of the court house with his sister as witness.
"You better not cross me. I'm someone you do not want to mess with. You'd do well in reminding yourself that I'm not a scared teenager anymore. You try something and I'll make sure you end up somewhere a lot worse than where you were." Sam said as he turned around to leave, but he was stopped by Sarah.
"Don't go. Come on, were supposed to be a family. Mom died and now we only have each other. Can't you guys talk it out and work your differences?"
Sam looked at her like he couldn't even understand if she heard their conversation.
"Sarah, it's over. He's not the dad you once knew and then you made him to be. He was never a really good dad. You'd be saving yourself the pain to just accept it now rather than let him hurt you. You're a grown woman and I won't try to talk you into anything, but you're still my sister, so whenever you need me all you have to do is pick up the phone. Unlike some people, I've never tried to abandon you." He said and after saying all those things it was like a weight was lifted and he breathed a little better.
He turned around and didn't give them a second look, all he wanted was to have Andy come pick him up and leave this place. He didn't want to talk or to think about Sarah right now. It felt like he did what he needed to do. Buried his demons and now he got to move on with his life.
The sound of his truck stopping just by his side on the sidewalk startled him at first.
"Where were you?" he asked since she got there so fast.
"I was buying Leo a present." She said smiling at the big box sitting on the back seat.
"His birthday isn't until two months." He stated while getting into the passenger seat.
"Yeah, but I had to buy it. It's a race-car track that with five lanes."
Andy started to explain to him the different cars and models they had by the store she went in and Sam couldn't help but laugh. She was like that, he wasn't feeling so well and cheerful, but she came along and changed it all with a simple conversation like race-car track.
"I feel less masculine next to you right now." He said laughing
"You're laughing now, but wait until you see it set up at his birthday party and all his friends will be jealous and it will be the best birthday gift Aunt Andy has ever given in her life!" she said happily.
Making their way home Sam checked and there were no messages of Sarah. Maybe it was for the best that he gave her space to think things over. He made it over to the couch and turned on the TV to a new episode of Chicago Fire.
"Finally a new episode! Why do they need such a long hiatus?" Andy said sitting down next to Sam giving him a beer.
Sam ignored her fangirl moment and relaxed as she sat next to him holding onto one of his hands. He knew he had her support no matter what he chose to do and for now all he wanted and all he needed was to be at peace with her. When he was ready he'd talk to her about the threat his dad had made and how his sister was still so blind to it all, because he knows she'd listen to him.
