***Disclaimer: Twilight and it's characters are the creation of Stephenie Meyer. I just like to play with them for my own enjoyment. ***
*** AUTHOR'S NOTE***
Warning Lemon ahead.
And for my guest reviewer who though I was taking the Emily too far is really going to hate this chapter. She is the baddie in the story.
Everyone else I hope you enjoy!
CHAPTER 8
Christmas was only a week away and Sam's dining room was looking like Santa's work shop exploded in there. Not only was he keeping all Cooper's presents there for Liz, but Jared and Kim had their kid's gifts as well. The Saturday after Leah showed up to the ED, Cooper had a play date with JJ. It was in trade for her taking JJ and Katie the following day. The plan was to get all the gifts wrapped and ready for Santa to deliver.
She dressed Cooper warmly and packed extra dry clothes. Jared was going to meet up with Paul, so they could take the boys to Fork's winter carnival that included sledding. She dressed comfortably in an over-sized beige sweater with leggings and her brown knee-high boots
She knocked on Sam's door at 10am. He answered the door in just a pair of sweatpants slung low on his hips, showcasing is sculpted chest, 8 pack abs and that tantalizing V at his hips. He had his t-shirt in his hand.
"Good morning, Beautiful Girl. I just made some coffee." He smiled as he stepped aside for her to enter.
She brushed past him swallowing thickly. "That sounds great, thanks."
She followed him into his kitchen. He pulled his shirt on as he walked. His muscular shoulders flexing making her mouth dry. She leaned against his counter as he pulled out mugs and poured the coffee. He had been switched to evening shifts this week, so they hadn't seen each other much since that day in the hospital.
"How was the rest of your week?" he asked as he added cream and sugar to her mug.
"Thankfully uneventful." She said making him chuckle. "I did end up interviewing and hiring a new unit secretary and he will start next week."
"That's good. No more drama?" He asked handing her the coffee he prepared for her.
"Monday was little drama. More enlightening." She mused as she sipped her coffee.
They were silent for a couple of minutes, enjoying their morning caffeine.
"Where do you want to start?" he asked.
"Deciding what is from each of us then do the Santa stuff. Did you get the wrapping paper like I asked?"
"Yeah, I just hope it's enough." he mused as she followed him into his dining room.
"Sam, is there more in here than last time?" she admonished as she eyed the pile of unwrapped gifts in Cooper's designated corner.
"Maybe?" he said sheepishly.
"This is all too much." She scolded
"We can save some for his birthday?" he suggested.
"I may have to disable your amazon account to keep you in check." She sighed.
"You may have to." He agreed grinning.
"You are shameless." She rolled her eyes at him.
"It's my first Christmas with him. I have 4 and a half years to make up for." He defended himself.
"I know, I'm sorry." She said quietly.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. "Circumstances beyond our control. We're all her victims, babe." He said quietly into her hair.
"I know, and I hate it. It kills me the time you and Cooper missed." She whispered unable to speak louder due to the tears that have started rolling down her face.
"I missed that time with you too. We missed that time together and the opportunity to be a family."
"Would you have wanted that? If we hadn't lost contact?" She sniffled.
"I never wanted to leave you. I was working on relocating to Tacoma to be with you. I was ready to ask you to live with me, to marry me. I was and still am head over heels in love with you, my silly, beautiful girl." He said cradling her face in his hands. He used his thumbs to brush her tears before continuing.
"I love you Elizabeth Marie Swan. I fell for you sitting in a diner at 2am arguing over chocolate in coffee. I tried to protect you from the shit storm my life turned into by staying away when every atom in my body was screaming in pain being away from you. I fell in love with you all over again standing in your brother's kitchen as soon as you turned around. I fell more in love with you getting to know our son and seeing in him just how incredible of a mother you are. Just as I always knew you would be. I fall deeper in love with you each day and it kills me that you are dealing with all this shit with Emily. I ached to hold you and kiss you. Selfishly, I can't pull away, even to protect you. I can't be away from you anymore."
Before she could respond, Sam's lips were on hers. They were soft at first but as she responded, he deepened the kiss. He kissed her with all the pent up want and need he had been feeling since he saw her in the kitchen that night. His hands slid into her hair, holding her in place. Her arms wound around him, and she fisted his shirt in her hands against his back. They kissed until they were both gasping. He rested his forehead against her with his eye closed.
"Please don't push me away again. Please let me hold you. Let me love you." he begged in a whisper.
"Sam… "She managed to whisper before his lips captured hers again.
She moaned into his mouth. She pulled him closer and ran her hands under his shirt and up his back scraping gently with her nails making him moan. He pulled her harder against him and she could feel his erection pressing against her stomach. When their lips parted for breath, he started kissing and nipping at her neck as his hands slid down her back until they were cupping her ass. He jerked her up and her legs automatically wrapped around his waist as his lips crashed hungrily into hers again. He ground his hardness against her making her gasp.
"Sam, please." she moaned.
"Please what?" his lips brushed her neck as he whispered.
"Please stop, I can't think." She whispered
"Do you really want me to stop?" he asked pulling away and looking her in the eyes.
She bit her lip and shook her head. "God, no." She admitted quietly.
He kissed her again briefly. "You taste so good. You feel so good back in my arms." He whispered against her neck as he trailed kissed down to her collarbone making her whimper in response. "What do you want Beth?" he asked again.
"You." She whispered. He pulled his head up and looked in her eye again.
"Are you sure?" he asked panting. She nodded, biting her lip.
He swiftly carried her upstairs to his bedroom. He set her gently on her feet next to his bed. She ran her hands under his shirt, running her hands over his back muscles as he leaned forward and kissed her again. She started pushing his shirt up and he reached over his shoulder and hauled it up breaking their kiss long enough to pull it over his head. His hands went to her waist and started hauling her sweater up and over her head. Discarded it with his shirt before running his hands up and down her back.
"You are so beautiful." He whispered in her ear before trailing kisses down her neck. He unclasped her bra and slowly worked the straps off her shoulders. He continued kissing across her shoulders. She buried her hands in his hair and tugged his hair until he raised his head, so she could kiss him again. He walked her backwards the few steps until the back of her legs hit the bed.
She broke the kiss and trailed her lips down his neck and across his chest making him moan. "I need you." She whispered against his skin.
"I need you too." He murmured pushing her to sit on the bed. He knelt in front of her and quickly removed her boots before raising to kiss her again. They continued kissing as he gently maneuvered her to the middle of the bed and hovered over her.
"Are you sure?" he asked again, searching her face.
"I love you too, always have. Make love to me, Sam." She smiled up at him.
He smiled back before kissing her hard. They quickly rid each other of their pants. His hand cupped her mound and his fingers slid between her slick folds, make them both moan. He settled between her legs. Their eyes locked as he surged forward sliding into her. They both gasped as they were joined after so long. He stilled, savoring the feeling of her surrounding him and kissed her gently. She shifted her hips under him and he started a slow rhythm of thrusts and she moved with him.
They started slowly but soon his thrusting sped up making her cry out. She wrapped her legs around his hips and she held him close, nails digging into his back.
"You feel so good" she moaned in his ear and he groaned in reply before kissing her again. He worked his arms under her and hauled her up as he sat back on his haunches. He continued thrusting up into her making her gasp. He buried his face in her neck sucking on the skin there.
"You feel amazing." He panted into her neck. They continued moving together. The change of position had her rushing toward her climax. She screamed his name as the waves of ecstasy crashed over her. Her walls clamped down on him pushing him over the edge and he yelled her name as he released inside her.
He held her close, face in her neck as she stroked the back of his neck. She was still shaking with the after-shocks of her intense orgasm. They didn't talk as their breathing calmed. Once their breathing returned to normal, he gently laid her down on the pillow and withdrew from her making them both hiss. He shifted until he lay with his head on her chest, his body still nestled between her legs. She pressed a kiss to the top of his head and ran her fingers through his hair.
"I love you." She sighed.
Sam lifted his head to look at her, his chin resting on her breastbone. "I love you too." He smiled at her.
She returned his smile as she continued combing her fingers through his hair. He laid his cheek oh her chest and listened to her heart pounding in her chest.
"I have missed this." He sighed closing his eyes.
"Me too." She agreed.
He popped is head up again and looked at her.
"What?" she asked.
"You missed this?" he asked
"Yes. I missed you. I missed us. I missed the feeling of being in your arms." She answered.
Sam shifted again and laid next to her, pulling her to him to rest her head on his chest. "I missed all that too babe." He kissed the top of her head.
"I wasn't doing well staying away from you. I kept making excuses for you to come and spend time with Cooper, so I could see you." She admitted quietly.
"And I was coming up with excuses to see him, so I could see you after that first night." He chuckled.
"I hate when my brother is right." She sighed and turned her head placing a kiss on his chest.
Sam laughed. "He will gloat." He agreed.
Liz shifted so her chin was resting on his chest and looked up at him. "Worth it." She said smiling making him laugh. She sat up and looked down at him.
"As wonderful as it feels being back in your arms and in your bed, we do have work to do." She said looking down at him.
"I am not quite ready to let you up just yet." He growled as he pulled her back down to his chest. He her kissed her deeply as he rolled them over. "We have a lot of time to make up for." He murmured after he broke the kiss and started trailing his lips down her neck.
Liz groaned and arched her back as his mouth captured her nipple. He teased the right before making his way over to the other one. He made his way back up to her lips as he slid inside her again making her gasp. Their pace was slow with him pulling back until just the tip of him remained at her opening before surging forward, filling her again. Languidly they rocked together sharing deep kisses and soft caresses letting the sensations build until their pace quickened and they shattered together.
He rolled to the side pulling her with him, holding her tight as they recovered. Liz took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of his cologne. He placed soft kisses all over her face. She sighed content in his arms and he hummed in approval. They didn't speak, happy to hold each other in post-coital bliss. The faint sound of her phone ringing broke the quiet. It was still in her purse in the dining room, downstairs. Sam groaned as she pulled away.
"No, no leaving this bed." He groaned trying to pull her back, but she slipped through his arms laughing. She didn't make it to her phone of course. She went into the master bath to clean herself up. After tossing the washcloth in the hamper she came back out into the bedroom to start locating her clothes and redressing. She threw Sam's clothes at him where he still lay on his side with his arm propped on his hand watching her.
"You are beautiful." He said smiling up at her as he fastened her bra behind her back.
"And you are gorgeous. Now get up, we have work to do." She smiled at him as she pulled her panties back on.
"Yes Ma'am" Sam answered as he swung his legs off the bed and started to pull on his boxers. As he stood and pulled them up his phone on the nightstand rang. Liz pulled on her leggings and was trying to locate her sweater.
"Uley" he answered as he grabbed his shirt of the bed. "Whoa, whoa, Whoa, Slow down Jay. What about Coop?"
Liz looked over with a frown. Sam froze, and his eyes met hers.
"What do mean he's not there. Where the hell is he?" Sam asked the color draining from his face.
Liz rushed over and grabbed the phone from him.
"Jared what happened?" she demanded. Sam pulled the phone from her and hit speaker so they both could hear.
"We were in line to get snacks for the boys. Paul took JJ to go bathroom for me. I turned to pay the girl and when I turned back Coop was gone."
"What do you mean gone?" Liz demanded
"He was right next to me then gone. I'm so sorry guys" Jared's voice broke. She could hear Paul in the background then suddenly he was on the phone.
"I already called Charlie. His guys just got here. Get down here now."
Sam swore as the call ended. He quickly strode over his dresser and yanked the drawers open. He started to dress as Liz stood frozen.
"Beth, finish getting dressed babe, we gotta go." He said when he noticed she wasn't moving. He looked at her and rushed to her catching her just as she collapsed.
"Baby, I know, I know but I need you to hold it together and get your boots on. We gotta go, we gotta go get our boy?" he said gently as he sat on the edge of the bed with her lap.
"Who… Why…" she stammered, tears streaming down her cheeks
"I don't know but I intend to find out. Come on Babe." Sam answered swallowing back tears of his own as he kissed her head.
They quickly finished dressing and rushed out to Sam's truck. He drove at breakneck speeds toward Forks High School where the winter carnival had been set up. Every cruiser on duty was there with their lights on. As they pulled up two state trooper vehicles arrived as well. Liz jumped out of the truck and ran toward the scene screaming for Charlie. He rushed forward to meet her and pulled her into his arms.
"We'll find him Lizzie. I promise you, we will find him." He whispered fiercely in her ear. She nodded numbly and allowed Charlie to lead her over to where they had set up a temporary command center. Paul looked up as she approached and rushed over to her and pulled her into his arms
"I'm so sorry, baby sister. I swear we won't rest until we bring him home." He swore quietly, his voice breaking. They clung to each other crying quietly. Sam head straight for the command post and started barking out questions and orders.
Charlie pulled him aside. "Sam, you know you're the best I got but I cannot have you working this case."
"What? Why?" Sam demanded.
"Sam, you know this. You are his father. You cannot work this case. Neither can I. We must maintain a professional and neutral investigation for any charges to stick. You know this. I've called in the state police and my buddy Johnston has gotten himself assigned to the case."
"Dammit Charlie. I just want to find my son. What happened?" Sam growled.
"Come on, let's go talk to Jared and Paul." Charlie sighed.
The went over to where Jared, Paul and Liz were standing with the State police detectives. Charlie made the introductions and Detective Johnston informed them that he would be leading the investigation. He had one of his guys and Smith go organize the volunteers to search the immediate area.
Paul kept his arm around his sister as he and Jared repeated their statements for the detectives.
"I have to ask." Detective Johnson said looking at Sam and Liz uncomfortably "Are there custody or child support issues we need to be aware of?"
"What? No, of course not." Liz sputtered.
"Detective, are you suggesting one of us was behind this?" Sam asked.
"Officer Uley, you know we have to cover all our bases" the detective said apologetically.
"No custody issues. No support issues." Sam said looking over at Liz.
"How could you think we would do this? We were together when he went missing." Liz asked
"What were you doing?" The other detective asked
"I dropped Cooper off at Jared and Kim's and went over to Sam's house." Liz answered
"To do what?" he pressed
Liz shot a pointed look to JJ in his father's arms. "Preparing for the holidays." She answered coldly.
"And you were there all this time?" he persisted.
"Yes, we were." Sam answered. The detective opening his mouth again and Sam shot him a glare. "I have a security system with cameras that you can check. It will show her arrival and the cars in the driveway. I give my permission for you to access it."
The detective nodded, and Johnson motioned with his hand for him to join the troopers who just arrived on scene.
"I apologize for my partner. Good cop, shit personality."
"Just keep him in line.' Charlie muttered.
JJ was somber in Jared's arms. He looked up at Sam.
"Uncle Sam, you always telled me that if someone scared me to tell you." He said quietly. All the adults looked at the small boy.
"That's right, bud. You can always tell me anything. Even stuff you are scared to tell your mommy and daddy or Uncle Paul."
JJ put his arms out to Sam and Jared passed the boy over to him.
"Well I saw the mad lady. You know the one that yelled at you and mommy and daddy before Chief Billy said she can't come to La Push no more." Sam nodded, encouraging the boy to continue. "I think she was following me and Coop. She sawed us with Daddy and she was mad. When we was on the horses, she was watching us. I sawed her behind us in the line for popcorn when Uncle Paul took me to go potty. She was looking at Coop is she looked really, really, mad. She is not a nice lady. She scares me."
"Who is this lady the boy is talking about?" Detective Johnson asked as Charlie whipped his phone open and stated scrolling. He stepped away as he made his call.
"Emily Young. My ex-girlfriend." Sam explained as he handed JJ back to his father. He ruffled the boy's hair. "Thanks Bud. You did a real good." He smiled then jerked his head to the side. Jared nodded and took JJ over to get a drink.
"You think this Emily may have taken your son?" the detective asked
"She would be my prime suspect. She has been a one-woman wrecking crew on my life the last couple of years." Sam nodded. Liz let out a sob and Sam reached over and pulled her into his arms.
"Sam, do you really think it was her?" she sobbed into his chest.
"I would not put it past her." Paul muttered, "How did I not see her?"
"Wait, Emily Young. I've heard that name. Yeah, Charlie told me about that situation. We definitely need to take a good look at her."
Charlie returned to the group. "I have had a PI on Ms. Young since my niece moved to town. We had a feeling there could be trouble. Cooper was added to a restraining order than Sam has against Ms. Young. She is not to be within 500 yards of either one of them." Charlie explained. "My guys said that Ms. Young just tried to buy 3 tickets to Boston leaving tomorrow morning."
"3 tickets?" Liz asked
"Yes. Tickets for herself, Edward and Cooper Cullen. The card she was using belongs to Edward, but it triggered a fraud alert."
"Son of a bitch!" Sam exclaimed.
"I have officers headed to her place, the hospital, his home and his parent's home." Charlie nodded.
Liz was already off. She knew the schedule and she knew Edward was scheduled for the day shift in the ED. Before anyone could stop her, she was in Sam's truck speeding toward the hospital.
Charlie, Sam and Paul scrambled to his cruiser in pursuit. They made it to the hospital to see her jumping out of the truck that was parked haphazardly in front of the ED entrance.
Liz tore through the halls searching. She saw him as he exited the staff break room, slipping his phone into his pocket as he did
"Where is he?" she screeched. All activity around them ceased. Edward's head snapped to face her. "Where did that bitch take my son?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about." He snapped.
"Wrong answer," she snapped and punched him as hard as she could right in the face. She felt his nose crunch as she did. "Tell me where she has him."
Sam arrived and grabbed her from behind as Paul grabbed Cullen by the collar.
"You are crazy, you're all crazy! I want her arrested for assault" Edward demanded, holding his nose.
"I would be more worried about the accessory to kidnapping charges coming your way." Charlie said coldly.
"I have no idea what you are talking about?"
"3 tickets to Boston on your credit card for you, Emily and Cooper." Charlie informed him.
"I just got a call from my credit card company about that transaction." Edward reached into his pocket and handed his phone to Charlie. "I did not authorize the charges. She must have stolen my credit card number." He turned to Liz. "I swear to you if she took your son, I had nothing to do with it. I haven't had anything to do with her in weeks."
"If I find out you were involved in any way..." Paul growled
"I learned my lesson with that crazy bitch. I would never do anything to harm a child. Shit, he is still recovering from his surgery."
Edward was taken to the station for official questioning and to make a complaint against Emily for credit card theft with Detective Johnston. The rest of them returned to the scene to aid in the search for Cooper. Not long after they arrived, Liz collapsed under the strain and Paul took her home.
News of Cooper's disappearance had spread through the reservation. In the short time they have been there, they had been embraced by the tribe. Cooper made friends everywhere he went. Any able-bodied man was in Forks searching and the women of the reservation responded by cooking. Neighbors and acquaintances dropped off dishes for the family, so they didn't have to cook and focus of the search for the boy. Kim, Billy and Sue Clearwater were at the house greeting the visitors and directing those who wanted to help.
When Paul carried a sleeping Liz into the house, Billy quickly sent everyone away and asked them to spread the word to let Liz rest. Sue left to go to the diner and organize some of the women to help her feed the search crews. No one noticed JJ follow Paul upstairs to Liz's room.
Paul laid Liz gently on her bad and turned to see JJ in the doorway watching him. The boy was uncharacteristically solemn and silent. He was looking a Liz with his little brow furrowed looking like a mini Jared.
"Hey Bub." Paul said quietly.
JJ looked up at him. "Is Cooper's mommy going to be OK?" the boy asked timidly.
"Yeah Bud, she'll be okay. She just got so worried about Coop that she made herself tired." Paul explained as he approached the boy.
"Is it my fault?" JJ whispered.
"Your fault? Why would you think that?" Paul asked as he knelt in front of the boy. Liz stirred on the bed and heard the next part.
"My fault the mad lady took Coop cuz I asked you to take me to the potty and not Daddy." JJ said with tears in his eyes.
Liz jumped off the bed and rushed over, startling them. She scooped JJ up and hugged him tight.
"Don't ever think that, JJ. It's no one's fault but the person who took him. You did nothing wrong. You helped Charlie and the police by telling them about the mad lady. That was very brave." She assured him as the boy started to cry.
"I want by bestest friend back." JJ cried into her neck.
"We all do sweetie. Uncle Sam and Charlie will bring him home." Liz soothed. She was trying to convince herself as much as the boy in her arms. Paul rubbed the boy's back while she rocked him back and forth. Eventually his sobs quieted as he cried himself to sleep. Paul took him from her, and they all went downstairs. Paul settled JJ on the couch and they went to the kitchen with Kim to wait for news.
