Ch 10

Samantha slightly jumped when she felt someone sit down next to her. She was about to start yelling thinking it was Hunter or Shawn when John sighed gently nudging her.

"I've been to this house quite a few times and I know for a fact the floor is not the most comfortable place to be sitting especially when there is a nice comfy swing out in the garden. Would you like me to show you?" John asked as she looked over at him with tear filled eyes. "Sami, you don't have to tell me what's going on. We can just sit and enjoy the night air unless you really want to be alone right now then I'll go."

"John, I don't want to ruin your night with my issues," she spoke letting out a deep troubled sigh.

"Hey if I can help get rid of those tears it will make my night," he slowly reached out wiping a tear off her cheek. "Please come with me," he said making his best pleading face.

"Ok," she slowly nodded in agreement not able to ring herself to turn him away.

"Come on I'll help you up," he stood up taking her hand and pulling her up.

"You really keep catching me at awkward moments today. I'm not normally an emotional wreck like this," she said as they walked towards the garden.

"Everyone has a bad day sometimes. Who knows maybe tomorrow will be my turn and you'll see me have temper tantrums for no reason what so ever," John grinned opening the door for her.

"It feels like I've had nothing but bad days since the accident," Samantha sighed about to make her way down the long rock stairway leading into the garden when John grabbed her arm stopping her. "Something wrong?" she noticed he seemed worried.

"Before I do this I'm asking you to please not get angry. I know you're perfectly capable of doing this yourself but it's going to give me peace of mind that you'll be okay especially since you're still shaken up," John looked down into blue eyes seeing them fill with questions.

"You're really confusing me. What will I be upset about?" she asked.

"This," he moved quickly gently sweeping her off her feet sending her crutches crashing to the ground. He carried her down the stairs before she could even protest. "So are you mad?" he smiled carrying her into the garden.

"Hmm you'll have to figure that out on your own," she winked as he put her down on the swing under a rose covered arch. He sat down next to her. "Are you going to get my crutches?"

"Nope, you won't need them. What makes you think I would let you climb up those stairs if I wouldn't let you come down? Just relax and trust that I'll take care of you," he grinned making her blush.

"You mentioned you've been here a few times. How long have you been friends with my Dad?" she asked biting her tongue at the last moment seeing the perplexed expression on John's face. "I'm sorry I meant my Uncle," she softly said letting out a frustrated sigh feeling the tears come to her eyes as the thoughts of what Hunter had just told her crept back into her mind.

"No, you didn't," John saw all the sadness fill her pretty face as he started to put together the pieces of what was upsetting her. "Sami, talk to me. You need to let out what's going through your head right now. Whatever you say tonight will be our secret," he reached out gently cupping her chin making her look at him. "You can trust me."

"I don't want to talk anymore. I can't take much more," her eyes brimmed with tears as she pushed his hand away. She buried her face in her hands letting the sorrow overtake her soul again. John sat silently for a moment wanting to comfort her but afraid of upsetting her more. When she slightly trembled all his hesitations disappeared as he reached out gathering her in his arms. To his pleasant surprise, she didn't resist him. She clung to him burying her face against his chest feeling safe in his arms. He held her in silence for awhile letting her have a good cry.

"Sami, please talk to me," he whispered near her ear. She looked up into his caring eyes.

"John, we just met I shouldn't be troubling you with this. When I agreed to meet you earlier, it wasn't to do this and ruin your night with my uncontrollable emotions," she tried to pull away from him again surprised when he tightened his embrace.

"I don't want to hear one more word about ruining my night. I want to be here with you. I want to help you get through whatever is causing you so much pain," he slowly wiped the tears running down her cheeks.

"Why would you want to do that, we barely know one another," she softly asked trying to ignore the comfort she felt being close to him.

"Sami, I can't explain why. Don't try to reason out what's going on just let it happen if it feels right. Do you want me to let you go?" he stared into her blue eyes as she shook her head no staying close to him. "Did you just find out tonight that Hunter is your father?"

"No, he told me the day of the accident. Just now he told me all about my Mom and what happened to cause him to give me up," she deeply sighed. "I got upset because I keep hearing how everything they did was in my best interest and they didn't want to turn my world upside down. The truth is tearing me up but the fact that if the accident never happened they would have probably never told me the truth is killing me more. I could have lived my whole life never knowing who my biological parents are."

"That's messed up you had to found out this way. Where is your biological mother? Did Hunter tell you how to get in touch with her?" John asked seeing the moonlight glisten off new tears wetting her curly long eyelashes.

"I wish there was a way," Samantha took a deep calming breathe before telling John the whole story about what had happened to her Mom and why Hunter had given Samantha up for adoption. The whole time she talked John listened intently keeping his arm tightly around her. When she finished telling him everything they sat for a moment in silence as she leaned her head against his shoulder. "Now you know my secret John."

"Sami, I won't tell anyone your Hunter's daughter until you decide its time for people to know. I'm sorry to hear that about your Mom. I can't believe Hunter gave you up but still stayed very involved in your life to the point you thought of him as an uncle. There must have been times he wanted to tell you. I don't think he went through all these years not feeling some sorrow watching another man raise his daughter," John said as Samantha shrugged her shoulders.

"I really don't care what he felt."

"I'm hoping one day you will and you will understand why I made the decisions I made," Hunter's voice made her tense as she watched her father come their way.

"Have you been listening to our conversation the whole time?" Samantha tried to stand up almost losing her balance before John jumped up steadying her.

"No, I just came out here to give you this. You left it in the hall," Hunter held out the box containing her mother's photos.

"Thank you," Samantha felt foolish for leaving it behind.

"No problem, are you okay?" Hunter softly asked.

"I will be," Samantha took a deep breathe staring at her father.

"Do you feel up to coming to the game room and watch us play poker? I think we could all use a distraction right now," Hunter asked hoping she would say yes.

"Umm I …," she hesitated not sure she was up to spending time with Shawn and Hunter.

"Samantha, the game doesn't go very long. Dave normally ends up taking us all out within two hours. I bet you've never seen someone lose as fast as I do. I think it took three hands last time, right?" he looked at Hunter.

"It took two because you keep going all in with shit cards. Its definitely entertaining watching John's face when he loses everything thinking he can win with a pair of twos," Hunter smirked seeing Samantha slightly smile at his comment. "Sami, if you feel up to you can play too. Will you come?"

"Ok, I'll be shortly," Samantha said making both men smile.

"Thanks Sami, take your time. John, can I talk to you for a sec," Hunter motioned for John to follow him.

"Will you be ok by yourself for a few minutes?" John touched her cheek as she nodded yes. "I'll be right back," John went after Hunter finding him waiting near the rock stairs.

"John, thank you for taking care of Sami. I guess she told you about our secret," Hunter asked looking back at his daughter looking their way.

"Yes, really took me by surprise. I never suspected you would have a twenty year old daughter. If you worried about me telling anyone, I already promised Samantha I wouldn't," John said as Hunter stared him down.

"It seems like you're getting pretty cozy with my daughter very fast," Hunter rested in hands on his hips.

"Hunter, come on you know me and you know damn right well you can trust me. I like your daughter and whatever happens will happen. I'm not rushing her into anything," John stood his ground not backing down from Hunter's menacing stare.

"John, this isn't about trust. It wasn't that long ago she had her heart ripped out. I'm just worried about her especially since she is vulnerable right now because of everything that has happened to her lately," Hunter rubbed his face in frustration. "I'm sorry I have no right to lecture you."

"Sure you do you're her dad and you're just having a normal response to your daughter possibly starting a new relationship. At least you were nice to me, Shawn on the other hand treats Randy like shit," John said making Hunter nod in agreement.

"We both know Randy doesn't have a past like yours. Randy did have the potential of being trouble. If you were Sami's ex, I would be just like if not worse than Shawn," Hunter said as he heard the back porch door open and Stephanie come out.

"Hunter, I really need your help," Stephanie gave him a frustrated look.

"I'm coming darling," Hunter started up the stairs then stopped a few steps up turning to face John. "I trust you John but if you ever hurt my little girl I will destroy you. Do you understand?"

"Perfectly," John grinned then suddenly something started to bother him. "Hey Hunter, can I ask you a question before you go?"

"Sure ask away," Hunter motioned to Stephanie to wait one more minute.

"Who is Samantha's ex that I keep hearing about?" John lowered his voice not wanting Samantha to hear and think he was prying.

"You're kidding right? You don't know who she was dating? You have never seen her backstage or after shows with him?" Hunter's face filled with disbelief as John looked at him with confusion. "Cena, you need to pay more attention. She was dating Edge until she caught him cheating on her with Lita."

"I had no idea. Thanks Hunter," John said as Hunter rushed off to Stephanie. John paused for a moment watching Samantha rock slowly on the swing looking up at the stars. He saw the sadness on her face as she gazed over in his direction giving him a half smile. In that moment, John felt something overtake him. He was more than determined than ever to make Samantha happy again.