FATED

(Chapters 119 - 125)

Chapter ONE HUNDRED & NINETEENThe Man With the Plan

Whoever said anybody has a right to give up?
~Marian Wright Edelman~

EJ opened his eyes the next morning, convinced he was actually dead - although to be fair, death probably would have been less painful. The mid morning light seared his sensitive retinas and EJ groaned shakily, quickly closing his eyes again. Groaning like that caused agonising reverberations in his head and EJ regretted it immediately. His bed felt strangely hard for some reason and a second cautious opening of his eyes told him the reason for that was that he was actually lying on the rug in his living room floor. EJ had a bad taste in his mouth to go along with a few other interesting aches and pains as he lay there and prayed that his head would simply come away from his shoulders and give him some sweet relief.

"Perhaps you should have thought about using that head to think things through a little more rather than killing perfectly functioning brain cells with the amount of alcohol you consumed last night?"

The advice given out in such a knowing tone was a cold comfort to EJ right then.

"Die," he mumbled to his tormentor.

"Do you mean I should die or you want to die?" asked Sam with interest as she sat down on the coffee table near where EJ was laying.

"It's a toss-up," said EJ flatly, managing to look up her blearily now and smacking together his dry lips together.

"And to think our girl ran from all this–" Sam said and made an expansive gesture to indicate EJ's lolling and unkempt length, "I can't imagine why."

"I'm never drinking again," EJ groaned the pledge into the rug.

"That would be good," said Sam with a twist of her lips, "You know how some people become the life of the party and are great fun when they're drunk Elvis? Yeah well you are not one of them. You are a mean drunk."

"At least I'm not some wannabe seductress who is as appealing as she is quick witted," said EJ bitterly.

"Hey look at that," said Sam with a roll of her eyes, "You are mean sober too."

EJ had a sudden memory of last night and his stomach tightened painfully at it. He looked up at Sam perched on the end coffee table, a disapproving expression on her face. It was a bit hazy and he was having trouble distinguishing dream from reality, not that these visits from Sam could exactly be called reality per se but EJ knew he'd acted very, very badly towards Sam and felt sick at the thought of how brutal he'd been to even a facsimile of Sami.

"Sam," he began, uncertain how to even begin to apologise for his metaphysical assault, "I was upset, I didn't mean to hurt you – I don't even know if I can hurt you because I still don't know what the hell you are but if I did... last night... when I... ahh..."

"It wasn't me," Sam interrupted his stumbling apology.

EJ blinked and blinked again at this new piece of information. His dream was still pretty bleary to him but he did know that he'd acted extremely badly and it was odd but he was glad it hadn't been to Sam. Although that revelation did pose another slightly more troubling question for EJ he discovered.

"Oh god," he said faintly, flopping back down on the floor and instantly regretting it as the throbbing in his head worsened even more from the action, "How many of you do I have running around in my head?!"

"Let's just say that during our weekly get together there is standing room only," said Sam in amusement.

"This is it," said EJ morosely, rolling over so he was face down on the floor, it had been going to be an attempt to sit up but he'd lost interest in the idea halfway through, "I've lost my mind. I'm going to be shipped off to a lunatic asylum by my rather ironically lunatic brother the first chance he gets."

"God this is pathetic," said Sam with a roll of her eyes.

"Leave me alone," groaned EJ, intent on wallowing in his own self pity, "Why don't you just let me die already!"

"If I wanted you dead I would have left you face down in your own vomit," said Sam unsympathetically.

"I didn't vomit," grouched EJ, at least glad he was spared that indignity.

"Turn your head my love teapot," Sam informed him, "That spot on the carpet by your head isn't a funky new design I'll have you know."

EJ did as she instructed and was instantly assailed with the smell of drying vomit.

"Oh god!" he groaned and immediately sat up quickly to get away from it.

His shirt seemed to be stuck to the ground and it was then EJ realised to his horror that he'd been lying in his own vomit and it had dried, sticking his shirt to the floor. He quickly pulled the offending item off over his head and scooted along on his backside and putting some distance between himself and the congealing mess.

EJ gave another groan and leant back against the sofa behind him as he sat on the floor.

"I know," said Sam with a wrinkle of her nose, "Festy"

She looked at the sorry state EJ was in and shook her head.

"It's hard to believe that Sami wouldn't want a piece of this," she said in amusement.

"Buggar off," EJ grunted as he rubbed his eyes and grimaced as it felt like there was sandpaper on the inside of his eyelids.

"I see you are over the contrition thing then," said Sam wryly.

"It was just a dream," said EJ dourly, feeling a flash of mortifying shame at what he'd done but trying to ignore it.

"There is a darkness coming for you Elvis," said Sam knowingly.

"What did you say?" asked EJ, whipping his head around and staring at her intently at the familiar words.

"I said there is a darkness inside of you Elvis," said Sam evenly.

"No you didn't," EJ frowned, "You said a darkness was coming for me. What do you mean by that?"

"I said no such thing," she dismissed easily, "You're imagining things my custard flavoured iguana."

"No I'm not," scowled EJ, sitting up straighter, "I know what I heard!"

"Of course you do because you have such a tight grip on reality right?" she pointed out mockingly, "As he has this conversation with his imaginary friend."

EJ rubbed his head and then shook it, wincing at the pain the action caused him.

"I'm letting that crazy woman get to me," he muttered.

"Who me?" asked Sam brightly.

"No," said EJ shortly.

"Sami?"

"No."

"Kate?"

"No."

"Your mum?"

"NO!" said EJ loudly and then had to wait a moment for his head to be done with exploding before continuing on, "Celeste - Celeste and her stupid predictions."

"Oh yeah," said Sam thoughtfully, "The Celeste telling you that you are going to die soon thing."

"Thank you for all that concern at that thought," EJ grumped, "And that wasn't what she said. She said I'd be no more."

"So what are you thinking?" asked Sam, crossing her legs and looking at EJ in all seriousness, "Some kind of sex change dealio?"

"I am not getting a sex change!" bit out EJ, frustrated that she never seemed to remain on task for more than a few minutes and wishing she'd just go away if she was going to carry on like this.

"Just as well," said Sam, looking relieved, "You'd make one butt ugly woman with those bony knees of yours."

"There is nothing wrong with my knees," said EJ flatly as he gingerly hauled himself up onto the sofa and then had to take a moment to collect himself after that mammoth effort.

"Absolutely not," agreed Sam whole heartedly, "The camel that you stole them from was probably thrilled with them."

"Do you have to kick me when I'm down?" asked EJ, looking up at her in annoyance.

"Well no, I don't have to," said Sam with a sweet smile, "But it is a lot of fun and you never take me anywhere nice nowadays so what are you gonna do right?"

EJ flopped back in the sofa and shook his head in disgust at her.

"Alright, alright," said Sam with a roll of her eyes, "If you want me to help you then I'll help you."

She straightened up and fixed EJ with a determined look.

"You need to get to Switzerland to see Sami and to do that you need to get this monkey off your back," she said knowingly.

"The murder case," nodded EJ, his face darkening.

"Well I was thinking Tony," said Sam with a shrug, "But yeah, okay."

"Tony is the murder case," said EJ flatly, "What I need to do is to get this murder investigation out of the way so the police will leave me alone while taking care of Tony. Then I can deal with what is really important – Samantha."

"I don't know," said Sam sceptically, "Someone setting you up for murder kind of feels important too Elvis."

"I can handle Tony," said EJ confidently, "He's tipped his hand and I'm going to take full advantage of that."

"He said mysteriously," said Sam with a roll of her eyes.

"I'm going to make sure Tony has nothing left to hold over my head and then expose him as the lunatic he is to my father," said EJ forcefully, "He's a loose cannon and as soon as I show that to my father then he isn't going to be a factor any longer."

"Hm," said Sam thoughtfully at that, "And then you can show Sami a big sign of your love for her I guess."

"Absolutely," nodded EJ emphatically, "I'll choose her over my father by telling him I don't want anything to do with the DiMera business."

"Oh," said Sam in surprise, "I was thinking of you getting something protruding from your body pierced but I guess that works too as a sign of your love for her."

"You say the most ridiculous things sometimes," said EJ flatly to which she just shrugged, clearly unconcerned.

"Well it sounds like you've a plan then," nodded Sam in agreement, "Although I don't think you should completely rule out a nipple ring, just as a backup. But can I also just put a plug in for you having some kind of decontamination process before you start your nefarious machinations because right now you look and smell like something Moby Dick dislodged from the back of his throat after a hard night of sex, drugs and rock and roll."

"Why can't you just say – take a shower EJ?" he asked, unimpressed with her description of him, "Why do you always have to be so descriptive?"

"I think I'm a frustrated writer," said Sam, taking his question seriously, "When all this is done and I've finally got you sorted out I'm going to write a book about you."

"This is insane," said EJ with a roll of his eyes and deciding that shower sounded like a very good idea right about then.

He hauled himself off the sofa and started to unsteadily teetered towards the bedroom but Sam wasn't done yet.

"I'm thinking of calling it – 'Probing the Black Hole of Elvis DiMera'," she called out after him, "What do you think?"

EJ gritted his teeth and refrained from answering, continuing walking.

"Not a fan eh?" she said thoughtfully, undeterred by his lack of response, "How about this then – 'Elvis DiMera – An Exploration of all of his Dark Crevices'?"

EJ just kept walking without looking back, fantasising about drowning Sam in the shower and having some peace at long last.

"HEY!" bellowed Sam from the living room, "I heard that Elvis!!"

EJ just smiled, unconcerned. His focus and determination was back and he was going to use both to good effect to get his woman back by his side where she belonged, despite Sam's 'help'.

oooOOOOooo

Six days later EJ was reading the newspaper headline with no small amount of satisfaction when there was a knock at the door.

He was still in his dressing gown but that didn't stop him from getting up and answering the door, having a sneaking suspicion that he knew who his early morning visitor might be and not wanting to miss out on this. He opened the door, a big smile on his face.

"Why Captain Brady!" said EJ delightedly, "How lovely to see you. You'll have to forgive my appearance, I'm a little indisposed this morning."

Roman made a little grunting noise at EJ's obviously good mood.

"So you've read the paper I suppose," he said dourly.

"Indeed I have," nodded EJ with a big smile, "You know normally I find the Salem Spectator somewhat of a yawn but this morning I found it quite the cracking read. I suppose congratulations are in order Roman, you must be thrilled."

EJ paused then and pursed his lips.

"Although you don't look thrilled," he pondered that thoughtfully, tapping a long finger to those pursed lips, "I wonder why that is?"

"I'm always happy when justice is served," said Roman tightly.

"Then you must be ecstatic this morning," said EJ blithely, "I guess you're just not much of a morning person eh Captain? Is that is why you are sporting such a surly pout?"

"You think you're real clever don't you?" asked Roman flatly.

"I little bit of an abrupt segue from the conversation we were having," noted EJ in amusement, "But I will admit to having my moments, yes, thank you for asking Captain Brady."

"I don't know how you did this but I just want you to know that I know," growled Roman.

"Oh," said EJ teasingly, "Now I know you know but what it is that you think you know but I also know that you don't know everything that you think you know... no?"

"You're day will come DiMera and when it does I'm going to be sure and have a front row seat for it," said Roman darkly before turning on his heel and marching off.

EJ poked his head out of the door after him.

"Well goodbye then Captain Brady," he called out after him, "Call me and we'll do brunch one day soon."

There was no answer to that but it was probably just as well because EJ doubted that it would be a polite one. He closed the door and leant back against it, allowing a happy smirk to come to his lips.

"So who looks pleased with himself then?" asked Sam in amusement as she sat in a chair looking up at him.

"Why not?" shrugged EJ, his grin widening, "I think it was a rather masterful stroke myself."

"And we all know how much you enjoy stroking yourself," said Sam cheekily.

"It it feels good do it, is my motto," said EJ unapologetically as he went and sat back down on the sofa.

He was in a good mood in that moment, happy to feel like he had control back over his life. EJ had been totally adrift since Sami had left town with nothing so much as a note to tell him why. Of course EJ didn't believe a word of what she'd written but being confined to Salem had nearly done his head in. Every instinct in his body was screaming at him to pack up and go and see Sami and that was exactly what he was going to do. She might be able to write him a letter and not answer her phone but experience told EJ that she wasn't going to hold out long against him face to face. What he really needed to find out though was why she'd run in the first place and so far away.

"Well it must feel really good to have old man Brady bend over and take it then," said Sam with a laugh, bringing him back to the here and now.

"More than it should," agreed EJ happily and picked up the paper again, re-reading the headline, "It was a flash of genius on my behalf, you have to admit that Sam."

"Yeah, yeah," said Sam with a roll of her eyes, "You're the next Albert Einstein to be sure."

She tilted her head and looked at him intently then.

"So I suppose your next stop is Switzerland now Albie?" she asked him.

"I'm leaving in two hours," nodded EJ emphatically and stood up, walking to the bedroom to get changed.

Sam sat there and thought about what he'd just said and waited for him to come back. When he walked back in the room, doing up his shirt now she continued on talking with him.

"And do you have a plan other than just showing up at the runaway faux girlfriend's doorstep and a couple of promises about Daddy?" Sam asked curiously.

"Once we are breathing the same air again then everything will fall into place," said EJ confidently as he pulled on his jacket.

"Because it has in the past right?" asked Sam sarcastically.

"It will be different this time," said EJ tightly as he did up his tie now.

"You keep saying that but it never is," said Sam in exasperation, "It always ends up with you and your hand getting jiggy with it when she slams the door in your face and goes back to Lucas!"

"Samantha has been intimate with me a lot more then she has been with Lucas," said EJ, his good mood evaporating now at Sam's logic.

"What good does that do us if she ends up Lucas at the end of the day still?" asked Sam, throwing her hands up in disgust, "I think she is going to need a little bit more than 'I chose you' if this latest bout of scampering is anything to go by. Tell me you've got some kind of plan other than what you've been doing in the past Elvis?!"

"I don't have to tell you anything," EJ growled, frowning fiercely at her.

He'd been in such a good mood after his encounter with Roman; he didn't know why Sam felt the need to ruin it. The truth was he was still in agony that Sami had even found the strength to leave him in the first place. EJ knew he could never have done that to her and every time he thought about her doing that it turned the knife that seemed permanently lodged in his chest.

"I'll take that as a no then shall I?" asked Sam dryly.

"This has nothing to do with you," said EJ sharply, "So just butt out will you?!"

"I'm just worried about you my little dung beetle," said Sam with a shrug, "You are still really angry and upset with Sami amongst other things and you probably need to get in touch with that a little more before you go facing her."

"Everything will be fine when Sami admits what we all know is true," said EJ doggedly, "That she loves me."

"And if she doesn't admit to it?" asked Sam with an arched eyebrow, "What's plan B?"

"Kidnap her and take her back to Ara Caman," said EJ and realised as he said it that it wasn't a bad idea.

"Hm," said Sam sceptically, "I don't think this situation calls for brute force somehow Elvis. Why don't you rub those two remaining brain cells together and come up with some kind of plan that involves getting to the bottom of what is really going on with Sami?"

"I fully intend to do that as soon as I see her," said EJ confidently and then turned his head as he heard a noise out in the hallway.

He looked back at Sam and threw here a defiant look.

"In fact I'm going to get started right now," he said, "It sounds like Lucas is up and about and I'm going to go and drill him for information."

"Ug," said Sam, wrinkling her nose, "There is an unpleasant visual I could have lived without."

EJ ignored her, intent on cornering Lucas and extracting as much information as he could from the other man. He opened the door and walked out of the apartment but all the breath left his body when he saw who it was standing facing the adjacent apartment's door.

"Samantha," he rasped, wondering if this was another trick of his anguished psyche or if this was real.

She turned around slowly and looked up at him and EJ knew that this was no dream...

Chapter ONE HUNDRED & TWENTYA Battle of Wills

Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it?

It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your hear and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defences; you build up a whole suit of armour, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life...

You give them a piece of you. They didn't ask for it.

They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you and then your life isn't your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so simple a phrase like 'maybe we should just be friends' turns into glass splinter working its way into your heart.

It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the mind.

It's a soul-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart-pain.

I hate love.

~Neil Gaiman~

Sami walked out of the elevator of her apartment block full of nervous trepidation. It had been nearly three weeks since she'd last seen EJ and all she could do was pray that it was long enough for her to have regained some measure of her composure around him. She had no idea of what she would be walking back into now that she was back from Salem and her stomach tightened in dread. She didn't know if EJ was going to be angry, sad, undeterred or just simply done with her. Sami didn't know which of those she dreaded the most.

Of course logically she should be hoping against hope that EJ had finally given up on pursuing her because it was going to be the only thing that saved his life but the thought that she'd hurt him so much that he no longer loved her broke Sami's heart. She hoped that he'd be angry with her because that at least gave her something to react against because despite her time away in Switzerland to collect herself Sami knew it was going to be incredibly hard for her to control her wayward emotions around him.

She loved EJ, completely and utterly and that hadn't changed at all since she'd been away. In fact Sami felt like those feelings grew every minute of every day and she was in agony every minute she tried to hide those feelings away but she knew it was something that had to be done. Sami knew she could suffer through anything as long as she knew EJ was going to be safe because of it and that was why she'd decided to come back to Salem now. She wanted this first encounter over and done with, the anticipation was killing her. Lucas hadn't picked her up from the airport and Sami wasn't sure why because he also hadn't answered any of her phone calls so that was why she just wanted to get home and check he was alright and just pray that she could avoid EJ for a little while longer.

"Samantha?"

Sami was at her door, key in hand when she heard his warm voice behind her. Despite herself a chill ran through Sami's body at the sound of her name on his lips once again. She turned slowly around to face him and let the bag she'd had slung over one shoulder drop to the ground. He was standing there in the corridor, even more handsome then she remembered if that was even possible and her stomach began to immediately churn nervously. Sami's finger's curled into her palm, her nails nearly drawing blood as she steeled herself to stay where she was rather than simply run to EJ and throw herself into his arms. She braced herself, expecting his anger and unable to read his expression. Suddenly EJ was closing the distance between them, pulling her into his arms and burying his face in her neck.

"You said you'd never leave me again," he told her, his voice ragged and uneven as he reminded her of the promise she'd made him after she'd frightened him by accepting the lift from the bikers, "Oh god sweetheart it was like a living death without you, you took my soul, my reason for living away with you."

EJ's sweet and poignant words ripped a hole in Sami's chest because she knew now she had to stomp all over those beautiful words to try and save his life. It was the hardest thing in the world but Sami managed to keep herself stiff and unresponsive in his arms. EJ didn't let her go for the longest time but as she continued to offer no encouragement to him he eventually had to. Sami immediately took a couple of steps back and looked back at him with what she hoped was a disdainful look.

"I thought I made myself clear in my letter EJ," she said coldly, "I don't want you around me anymore, I don't want you touching me or thinking you can say those kinds of things to me."

"Why are you doing this Samantha?" asked EJ, his eyes narrowing but not before Sami saw the flash of pain in them which cut her to the quick but she tried her best not to show it as he looked down and seemed to collect himself.

"I told you in the letter," she said, determinedly making her voice devoid of any emotion, "I don't love you EJ and I'm certainly not going to risk everything in my life just to get some sex. I can have the life that I want with Lucas and that is what I'm going to do."

"Can you hear yourself?" asked EJ bitterly, "You're talking about loving a life style and not a man. You're not the kind of woman who can settle Samantha, you want it all!"

"You're right EJ and that is why I'm not settling for you," she said flatly, "I want a family and friends around me. A life with you would guarantee me none of those things."

"That's insane!" protested EJ hotly, "We would make our own family and friends together Samantha, it's not a one or the other scenario!"

"Don't be naïve EJ of course it is," she said coldly, "I hate your family and you hate mine. Any emotion between us will eventually be eroded away by that fact and I can't see the point in getting involved in a relationship that is doomed to fail."

"And yet you can see the point in getting involved with a man that you barely have any feelings for at all because of the convenience factor!" said EJ tersely, "Have I got that right Samantha?"

"Just leave me alone EJ," she said coolly, "I'm done with our dramatic little encounters. It's getting old and I just want to be happy again and you don't make me happy EJ, you never have."

"Oh I've made you happy sweetheart," said EJ, an eyebrow quirking challengingly, "I have made you happy many, many times over and left you begging for more happiness I might add."

"Poor dumb EJ," said Sami shortly, praying that her brutality was going to have some effect sometime soon because she didn't know how much longer she could keep this up for, "Mistaking sex for any real emotion or connection."

She saw that barb had hit its mark as a muscle in EJ's jaw ticked wildly as he held himself tightly in check. He looked away, obviously collecting himself and Sami held her breath, bracing herself for the onslaught he was about to unleash on her but yet again he surprised her. He looked back at her then; his eyes suspiciously bright with what Sami could only assume were unshed tears that just about broke her heart.

"Don't ever go away again and not tell me Samantha," his voice was raw and tense and there was a vulnerability to his eyes that she hadn't expected, "You promised me you'd never do that again."

"I… I needed to see Will," she managed, her own voice uneven and not what she'd been practicing at all for their first meeting.

This would be so much easier if he was yelling at her. This gentle longing on his behalf was doing her head in.

"You needed to be away from me, from us," he corrected her raggedly, "Because you can't handle what there is between us."

"There is no us," she said weakly, looking up at him and feeling herself beginning to fall again, all her hard earned resolves fading like they always did in his presence.

"There is only us," he corrected her achingly, his eyes riveted to her lips as she wet them nervously.

Sami closed her eyes, trying desperately to harden her heart against EJ and his soft, loving words. EJ saw her internal struggle and his eyes flared to see it, searching her face to see if it meant what he'd been hoping for so long from her now. He saw her pain, answering it with his own.

"Don't ever leave me again Samantha," he begged quietly, his voice low as he pleaded with her again.

Sami came to her senses then, realising how dangerous it was what she was doing. Tony no doubt had spies everywhere and all they had to do was report back to him this moment between them and EJ's life would instantly be in danger. The thought that she might lose EJ permanently and the terror that knowledge brought gave Sami enough strength to find the courage to do what she must to save EJ's life.

"I'm not leaving you EJ because we never were anything," she said, forcing as much coldness as she could into her words as she stepped back away from him, "We screwed each other's brains out but that was all it was. It was nothing more than satisfying a biological urge and to tell you the truth I'm bored with it and you now so if you'll excuse me, I've got things to do."

"NO!" yelled EJ, grabbing her arms and his fingers bit into the flesh of her arms but Sami determinedly didn't show him any kind of reaction.

She was fighting to save EJ's life here and it gave her previously untapped stores of reserves to do what had to be done. She might be able to live in this world, just, without EJ by her side but Sami knew she wouldn't be able to survive at all if she knew she'd let him die. It would kill her and Sami used that fear of EJ's death to drive her to do what had to be done.

"I'm not going to let you do this to us again!" said EJ angrily, grabbing both her arms now and hauling her up against him.

Sami panicked then being this close to him again. His maleness surrounded her, overpowered her and all Sami wanted to do was surrender to it, throw her arms around him and beg EJ to kiss her and make this pain inside her stop. To have him so close again made Sami almost forget that she would be signing EJ's death warrant if she let that happen but then the reality of the situation came back to her and she fought with all of her strength against him and more importantly against herself. She lashed out at him, pummelling at his chest with her small fists as though she was in a fight for her life or more correctly, for his life. EJ staggered back, looking at Sami in shocked disbelief at her frenzied attack. There was real fear in her eyes and she could tell EJ was horrified at the prospect.

"Samantha," he said unsteadily, taking a step towards her again, his hands out stretched in a calming manner, "Sweetheart I wasn't going to hurt you. Please darling, don't be afraid of me."

Sami gave a choked sob at hearing that even though he'd completely gotten it wrong. Sami was terrified to be sure but not of EJ but rather for him. If one of Tony's spies reported back to him that she and EJ were even talking then that might be enough to set that maniac off and order EJ dead. The thought galvanised Sami into action and she gathered all her internal fortitude to do what must be done.

"If you ever touch me again I will go to my father and tell him that you raped me," said Sami, her heart pounding wildly in her chest as she did this awful thing that was for EJ's own good, "I'll tell him that you've been threatening me and blackmailing me for months now."

"Why would you do such a thing?" asked EJ, his face darkening as Sami made something beautiful that had been shared between them into something very ugly.

To save your life was the despairing answer in Sami's head but she knew she couldn't say that. She needed him to hate her even though the thought of him doing that damn near killed her.

"So you'll get the message that we are well and truly over and leave me alone," said Sami harshly, feeling herself beginning to shake with the self control it was taking her to say these things, "I'm warning you EJ, stay away or I'll make you stay away, one way or the other."

Sami would rather have EJ behind bars then on a morgue slab and even though she prayed it wouldn't come to that she had to let EJ know she was serious this time. She kept her face set in stone as she bent down and picked up her bag and turned around, keeping her back resolutely to EJ and unlocked the door to her apartment and walked inside.

Sami was a bundle of nerves, half expecting EJ to grab her at any moment and drag her back to his apartment but he didn't. It seemed like she'd really rocked him with her reaction to his advances and Sami wasn't sure why that was but she was going to take advantage of it anyway.

She stepped through into her apartment and quickly locked it behind her and was yet again surprised when EJ didn't start knocking on the door. Sami dropped her bag and looked around, a frown coming to her face at not finding Lucas, suddenly remembering his failure to pick her up at the airport again. Her thoughts were so consumed with EJ nowadays it was hard to remember to think about Lucas and Sami felt very guilty about that fact.

"Lucas?" she called out but there was no answer.

It was only just after nine in the morning but Lucas was usually an early riser. She walked to the bedroom, starting to get worried now, especially when she saw the sink full of dirty dishes. Lucas hated to leave the washing up; it was one of his bug bears and usually would be taking her plate to start cleaning up as she swallowed her last mouthful. The fact that they were still sitting there obviously from the night before was a big concern to Sami. She hurried into the bedroom to find Lucas in the bed, completely still. Sami felt a knot of concern tie up her stomach as she walked over cautiously to where he was lying.

"Lucas?" she said softly but there was no response and Sami was really worried now.

She put her hand on his shoulder and gave it a little shake.

"Lucas!" she said more loudly and to her relief he gave bit of a snort but didn't actually wake up.

Sami shook his shoulder harder and he eventually began to come awake, looking up at her groggily.

"Sami," he rasped, staring at her in confusion, "What are you doing here?"

"You were going to pick me up at the airport remember?" asked Sami with a frown at how disoriented he was.

Normally Lucas woke up really sharp and alive in the morning. He was what you called a morning person, something Sami found endlessly annoying truth to told.

"What time is it?" asked Lucas, obviously still struggling to make sense of what was going on around him.

"It's after nine," said Sami in concern, "Lucas are you sick? What's wrong? I've been calling you and calling you and you haven't been picking up."

"I must have slept through it," he said groggily.

"You never sleep through the phone ringing," fretted Sami, putting a hand to his forehead, "I think we should go to the doctor."

"I don't need a doctor Sami," said Lucas a little crankily as he swatted her hand away, "I just overslept; there is no need to go into panic mode."

"Sorry for giving a damn," said Sami a little stiffly as she straightened up, "I was just worried is all Lucas. This-"

Sami made a sweeping gesture at the untidy room and the fact that Lucas was still in bed.

"This isn't like you Lucas," she said unhappily.

"It's not a big deal unless you go ahead and make it a big deal Sami!" snapped Lucas, clearly the extra sleep not affording him an improvement in his mood.

"Right," said Sami flatly, "Right."

She turned on her heel, tears welling up in her eyes as she left him to it. Sami was already emotionally drained from having to say goodbye to Will and then her confrontation with EJ and the realisation that this was going to be even harder then she imagined to harden her heart against him. To have Lucas be like this and for no apparent reason was just too much for Sami. The worst part was she knew she actually deserved being treated like this by Lucas even though he didn't know it.

Every time Sami thought her life couldn't get any worse she managed to prove herself wrong somehow...

Chapter ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY ONE - Rearranging Deck Chairs on the Titanic

Where you used to be there is a hole in the world,

Which I find myself constantly walking around in the daytime,

And falling in at night.

I miss you like hell.

~Edna St. Vincent Millay~

It was nearly a week later and Sami was at her wits end. She couldn't sleep, she couldn't stop crying all the time and having to find somewhere private to do it just added to the stress mind you. EJ was still making his presence felt although he seemed vaguely distracted by something which was fine by Sami, anything to take the heat off her. Things were strained between herself and Lucas despite him apologising profusely for not picking her up and speaking to her that way. Sami had told him it was fine but there was still a tension between them and Sami knew she was the main reason for that.

She felt guilty every time she looked at Lucas and knew that she was using him as a shield against EJ and just felt terrible about it. Sami didn't love Lucas, not like she was meant to anyway and it was all kinds of wrong for her to not be honest with him about that fact. The trouble was if EJ knew she and Lucas had broken up then he would never give her a minute's peace and even worse Tony might see that as her reneging on her deal with him and that was the last thing Sami wanted.

When she was at her lowest ebbs Sami kept consoling herself with the fact that she was doing all this for EJ, that she was keeping him safe. To have made them suffer through all this for no reason was too much for Sami to think about right then. So there she was, fending off EJ's advances to save his life and Lucas' because she just couldn't bear to have any other man than EJ touch her again. It made for a very hard life for Sami right then but she didn't know what else to do other than to keep going and try and maintain the status quo. It was so painful though because on top of everything else she just missed EJ, unbearably so and it was hard to know how it was that she was still functioning while this sad.

"Sami what is it?" asked Lucas with a sigh as he came to stand beside her in the kitchen as she cut up a salad for their dinner that night and seeing how sad she looked.

"I forgot to get tomatoes at the market," she said unevenly.

"That's not what is upsetting you," said Lucas firmly, obviously wanting to get this sorted between them, "Are you still upset about the airport thing?"

"No," said Sami with a shake of her head, "It's not that."

"Sami I want things to be alright between us again," said Lucas earnestly, putting his hand on her arm and it was all Sami could do not to flinch away from him.

"It's not you Lucas," said Sami quietly, feeling everything press in on around her.

She looked at Lucas was emotional tears filling her eyes.

"I'm just so worried," she said unevenly.

"About what?" asked Lucas in concern.

"Everything," said Sami in desolation, "Mom and John, Will being on the other side of the world – I just feel like my family is falling apart right now."

"I know things are not great with your Mom and John and I don't like Will being so far away from us anymore than you do Sami," said Lucas sincerely, "Tell me what you want me to do honey to make this right."

Sami looked at Lucas and had a sudden idea. It wasn't right she knew that but she needed so desperately to remove some complications from her life and Sami didn't know what else she could do. If something didn't change in the very close future she knew she was going to lose her mind, unable to handle all this pressure coming at her from every side.

"There-there is one thing," said Sami unsteadily, hating herself for doing this but feeling like she had no choice, "One thing that would make me feel better about all this."

"Name it Sami," said Lucas confidently, "And it's done."

Sami gave him a tremulous smile for that and then took a deep breath before telling him...

oooOOOOooo

"Mind if I join you?"

Tony had to crane his head right back to look up at the person who asked the question but EJ was already taking a seat across from him at the coffee shop, crossing his legs in front of him and regarding his older brother with a cool smugness.

"By all means Elvis," said Tony dryly, folding the newspaper he'd been reading in front of him and looking back at the other man calmly.

"Anything interesting in the paper Tony?" asked EJ coolly.

"My stocks are doing well," said Tony, drawing this out, "Thank you for asking."

"How about the front page?" pushed EJ, "Anything catch your eye there at all?"

Tony made a great show of opening up the paper and looking at the front page again for EJ's benefit.

"The Salem PD have solved a crime," he said mildly, scanning the article although he'd already read it very carefully before EJ had come in, "I suppose an unprecedented like that warrants some front page space."

EJ just smiled coldly at Tony's mocking, highlighting the Salem PD's incompetence not the most pressing issue he had right then.

"You'll be pleased to see I'm exonerated of the crime," said EJ, arching an eyebrow at him, "You must be very relieved to hear that my freedom has been secured by justice being served."

"A justice that sees a dying man going to prison for a crime he didn't commit," commented Tony wryly.

As soon as he'd read the headlines Tony had immediately made a few phone calls and investigated what had actually happened. The thought that the Salem police department had arrived at this erroneous conclusion of their own hapless accord seemed unlikely to Tony. They seemed incapable of pinning a murder on someone whether they did it or not. No, as soon as Tony had seen that head line he'd know that EJ had finally started to get in the game and had worked some fancy footwork of his own.

Several phone calls later Tony had learnt that Albert Hillman was a career criminal who had probably only paid for half of his crimes throughout his long and glorious career on the wrong side of the law. Albert Hillman had also been diagnosed with a brain tumour not two months ago and told he had only three months to live back then. Clearly EJ had found the perfect fall guy for his own ineptitude of sending Bart to do the work their father had told EJ to do.

"Apparently his family came into quite a windfall recently," said EJ evenly, holding Tony's gaze steadily, "They are set for life now so I don't think Mr Hillman is too bothered by his surroundings in the last few weeks of his life. Prison feels more like home to him anyway as he's spent most of his adult life there."

Tony gave a half little smile at hearing that.

"Oh Elvis," he said with a sigh and a little shake of his head, "Still playing both sides of the fence I see."

"I have no idea what you are talking about Tony," said EJ calmly.

"I mean you sit there, all puffed up and pleased with yourself because you have managed to side step the responsibilities laid on you but all you've really done is proven your inability to make a decision," said Tony with a little shrug.

"I handled the situation," said EJ with a cold little smile, "A situation I might add created by you brother."

"Actually brother it was created by you when you sent someone else to do your dirty work because you would rather have been canoodling with that Brady woman then taking your responsibilities of being a DiMera seriously," said Tony curtly.

A fresh fury washing over him as he considered how off handed EJ continued to be about all that had been given to him so easily when Tony had worked so hard for all that he'd gotten.

"Our father asked you to perform a task and you could not be bothered so you handed it over to an incompetent and ended up having a mess on your hands," said Tony with a challengingly look at the other man.

"A mess compounded by your involvement," said EJ, leaning forward a little angrily now, "But your petty games aren't going to get you anywhere Tony, I'll make sure of that!"

Tony arched an eyebrow at the defiant look on EJ's face. This pup still thought he could best him when he didn't know the half of what was going on around him and it took a lot of will power on Tony's behalf not to throw the deal he'd made with Sami in the younger man's smug face but that would have defeated the purpose. Even Tony was careful enough to think twice about what the combined forces of Sami and EJ might cause him in the way of problems.

"A threat Elvis?" asked Tony mockingly, "From a man who always takes the soft options to solve his problems? A real DiMera would have thrown Bart to the wolves and made sure he never saw the inside of a courtroom with a quick, merciful bullet to the head."

"And you see Tony," said EJ just as mockingly, "It is thinking such as that which has made our father chose me over you. You have the finesse of a sledgehammer."

"But the job gets done and results are hard to argue with," said Tony tersely.

"Your way of seeing jobs get done will ensure our father's empire crumbling and turning to dust Tony," said EJ, leaning back in his chair and giving the other man a challenging look, "You are a man who does not appreciate nuances and cannot move with the times."

"Once you have enough power the times have to move with you little brother," said Tony coldly.

"Wow," said EJ with a mocking laugh, "And you call me egocentric and spoilt. At the risk of reducing this conversation to that of a school yard one – it takes one to know one brother."

Tony's cell phone ringing interrupted his retort and he simply reached for it, flipping it open and showing no outwards sign of emotion as he saw who it was.

"It's me," said a woman's voice tersely.

"Well hello there," said Tony evenly, "What an unexpected pleasure."

"I'm just ringing you to tell you that I've done what you said and it's been nearly a month now," said Sami tightly, "I've kept my word now I want you to keep yours and promise me that nothing is going to happen to EJ."

"I think I can see my way clear to do that," said Tony, giving a little smile at EJ who was looking at him, impatient for him to finish his phone call so they could finish their own conversation.

"You'd better!" said Sami harshly, "Nothing had better happen to EJ!"

"I see," said Tony easily, giving nothing away, "And what would the consequences be in that case I wonder?"

"If anything happens to EJ then I have no reason to keep quiet about what you've done," said Sami bitterly, "I'll let anyone who'll listen know that you were behind what happened to EJ and you'll never know freedom again!"

"Oh my but that is interesting," said Tony and smiling at EJ who was getting a little impatient now as he waited for him to be done with the phone call.

Tony had to admire the Brady woman's spunk but it was also time to put her in her place and remind little Sami Brady who it was exactly who was calling the shots.

"Now I only wish I had a multitude of family to share that information with," said Tony smoothly, "You know, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents and children – I'm sure they'd all be very interested in what you were telling me."

Tony let his thinly veiled threat hang between them, allowing Sami to absorb his words. The impetuous of youth always amused him. Sami had flung down the gauntlet in a heated moment thinking it was only EJ she had to lose and Tony had so enjoyed just reminding her then that there was so much more at stake than just her lover's life.

"You bastard!" she hissed at last, "I hope you burn in hell."

"Oh well I'm sure you do but maybe next time eh?" said Tony calmly, "Goodbye and thanks for the call."

He hung up then, enjoying his little victory. It helped counteract the annoyance of the smug look on EJ's face as he sat across from him, enjoying his own supposed little victory. Tony gave him an innocent smile.

"My stockbroker with a red hot tip for me," he lied easily, "Such a shame I couldn't take him up on his offer really and that I don't have very much family to pass it on to."

"Riveting," said EJ flatly, clearly not interested in talking about stocks right then.

He straightened up in his seat then and fixed Tony with a hard look.

"I just want you to understand something Tony," he said dourly, "You accused me of treating all of this as a game once before but let me tell you, those days are gone. If you continue to push me then I promise you I will push back twice as hard, make no mistake. You're not as invulnerable as you'd like to think – just remember that eh brother."

With his threat delivered EJ stood up abruptly and left Tony to it.

"Oh young Elvis," sighed Tony when he was gone, "Still so much to learn about the art of war I see."

Tony pursed his lips then, looking thoughtful.

"Mind you," he muttered to himself, "Forewarned is forearmed. I might be due a little recognisance mission I'm thinking."

Tony have a cold little smile at that thought before taking a sip of his coffee, his mind already racing with possibilities.

oooOOOOooo

Sami walked out of her apartment in a bit of a daze, on her way to visit with her mother and John. It was probably why she didn't see EJ standing around the wall until it was too late. She gave a visible start when she saw him standing there, lounging against the wall with a little smile on his face.

"Given up shaving I see," she said flatly, obviously taking in the scruff he was currently sporting.

She moved to get past him then but EJ put up his foot, blocking the narrow hallway and stopping her from moving on.

"I seem to recall you quite enjoying my beard," said EJ with a quirk of his lips, "From memory you seemed to find it quite - shall we say edifying – when put to good use."

EJ enjoyed watching the flush colour Sami's pale cheeks as he reminded her of their past trysts. He'd just come from rubbing Tony's nose in his little coup d'état regarding the murder frame up and despite himself it felt like a rather hollow victory but then everything felt hollow without Sami. EJ found he couldn't sleep, couldn't even think particularly straight without Sami, even his food was tasteless nowadays. He'd sorted out one nuisance in his life and now it was time to move on to the thing that really mattered – Sami. He couldn't help but be annoyed that she was still persisting with this act of indifference she was presenting to him. They both knew by now that it was a complete act so it was frustrating to EJ that she persisted to do it. He had a sudden urge to just break through all of her nonsense and remind Sami just exactly what it was they'd shared.

"That was in the past and that is exactly where I want it to stay EJ," said Sami, her jaw hardening now, "I keep telling you that I don't want this – why won't you stop?!"

"I'm not going to stop because you don't want me to stop," said EJ confidently.

Sami threw up her hands in disgust and looked up at him angrily now.

"You and I had a few ill advised hook ups," she said, her eyes flashing fire at him, "That's all they were EJ. I was sad and lonely and you were just always there, whispering in my ear and I gave in to all that pressure. I am so ashamed of what I've done there are no words. I'm horrified that I've done something so disgusting to Lucas and I look at him and just want to die for cheating on him. I hate that you've made me into a cheater EJ! I hate it! Lucas doesn't deserve that! He's a good man and I love him so much that it breaks my heart every time I think of what I've done. I know I should confess everything to him and beg his forgiveness but I'm so afraid of losing him and even worse, hurting him that I can't do it! But I want to make this work between him and I and I will spend the rest of my life making it up to him if I have to! Lucas loves me EJ, this isn't a game to him like it is for you and I won't let you ruin my life or his!"

"Are you done?" asked EJ grimly, hating to hear her say all those things, "Nothing you just said was true Samantha, nothing do you hear me! You love me as much as I love you and I don't know why you are pushing me away but you don't have to do that. Whatever it is we can face it together."

"You only ever hear what you want to hear don't you?" asked Sami flatly, "I don't love you EJ; I don't want to share anything with you or even have to look at you ever again. It's Lucas I love and not you; get that through your thick skull why don't you?! The only thing I want from you is to leave us alone so we can be happy, that's it! You will never be the man Lucas is-"

"Thank god," said EJ bitingly at that, her words wounding him deeply, "Lucas doesn't know how to make you wrap your legs around his body and scream to the high heavens for more now does-"

Sami's hand connected with EJ's face painfully, cutting off the rest of his sentence. She looked up at him angrily.

"So we're back to the rough stuff eh sweetheart?" asked EJ tightly, wondering what it was he could do to shake her out of this latest bout of delusions,"Is that it?"

"We are back to you staying the hell out of my life!" hissed Sami, "I don't want to hear any of the disgusting things you have to say or think about that ever again! I love Lucas with my whole heart and we are going to build a life together. He's the great love of my life and I won't have you destroy that EJ! Lucas and I have a future together and that is all I want!"

"I am never going to let you settle for that moron Samantha," bit out EJ as he leaned in closer to her, his own eyes angry and dark, "You know that I will do what it takes to see Lucas out of your life and thrown to the curb like he's done to you so many times!"

"Is that some kind of threat EJ?!" asked Sami, drawing back in horror.

"It's a promise Samantha," said EJ, his jaw tightening, "Lucas doesn't get to have you sweetheart and I'll do what I have to, to make sure that you come to your senses about that man."

"Don't you dare hurt him EJ!" said Sami, her eyes wide in distress now, "You promised me!"

"We have both said a great deal of things to one another sweetheart," said EJ sharply, knowing he was going about this all wrong but he seemed to have some left over testosterone flowing through his veins after his encounter with Tony and Sami was getting the worst of it, "You can say what you want to me but I know what you really want is for me to rescue you from that idiot and if you won't leave him then maybe I'll just have to make him leave you – one way or the other."

"You wouldn't dare!" gasped Sami, looking up at him in distress.

EJ let Sami see in his eyes that he was fully willing to tell Lucas everything if she really fought him hard on this and he could see Sami believed him.

"You bastard," she whispered.

"I'm determined Samantha," he told her with a little smile, "And I always get what I want."

"No matter who gets hurt?" asked Sami bitterly.

"Who is getting hurt?" asked Lucas, overhearing the last of their conversation and walking up the hallway from where he'd been taking out the trash.

"We were just talking about some business," said Sami quickly, throwing EJ a pleading look.

"Indeed," said EJ smoothly, a cold little smile on his lips, "Some very important business as it turns out."

"And now we're finished," said Sami brightly, giving EJ a pointed look as Lucas slipped his arm around her waist.

"For the moment," said EJ evenly, giving Sami a mocking look.

"Well run along Elvis," said Lucas with a bit of a smug smirk, "Me and my girl have some special time planned and you know what they say - three is a crowd."

"Isn't it more like two and a half?" asked EJ sweetly, unable to help himself taking a cheap shot at Lucas' height.

The way he was feeling right then it was either that or just take an actual shot at Lucas and EJ knew he'd done himself no favours with that last conversation already and didn't need to add to his mistakes.

Of course EJ had no way of knowing just then how true and far reaching that observation was going to be and how soon he was going to start paying dearly for it...

Chapter ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY TWOIt Takes Two To Tango

I see myself holding you close to me
Squeezing your body tight.
But for all I see as I daydream-
I know I'll get tenfold tonight.

Running my palms across your breast
As you tremble and bite your lip.
Feeling your hands upon my chest
The softness of each fingertip.

Tasting your neck so sweet, so soft
And slowly lowering my kiss.
Over pert nipples, across your navel
And finally into pure bliss.

Looking upon your face from below-
As you tilt back your head.
Feeling your fountains begin to flow-
As you ease back on the bed.

Your "innocent little devil" look-
Crying insatiably with the sensation.
Lip to lip lapping up every drip-
From the well of your creation.

The way you pull me up by the hair-
To the heat of your mouth, on fire.
No other thoughts, no other cares,
Just the quenching of mad desire.

Riding the tide of passion,
Pushing my love into you.
On the waves of your emotion-
In slow motion, so sweet and true.

Pulse pounding in resounding rapture,
Taken to the hilt, then just past.
Rhythm growing, faces glowing,
The climax coming fast.

That heated, illicit look-
Of ecstasy across your eyes.
The culmination nearing-
Within your undulating thighs.
Echoing throughout the heavens-
On overindulgent cries.

The sultry look upon your face-
In reaching that gyrating gush.
The way you bite my fingers-
When I try to make you hush.

Your arching back, your fingernails,
Your perfume mixed with sweat.
The way you keep rubbing against me-
With your insides already so wet.

The way when I'm beat dead and ready-
To fall face first to the floor,
You put your sweet lips to my ear-
And whisper, "I want more! "

~ "More!" by Michael Anderson~

"So tell me what is so great about this Samantha then?"

EJ turned his head to look at the tall, dark haired woman looking at him with interest. He'd come into the little bar come restaurant on a whim, sick of being home alone and obsessing about Sami. So now he was in a bar obsessing about Sami so the change of scenery was nice he supposed. He'd been almost immediately approached by a woman named Estelle, a beauty in a red dress and he'd offered to buy her a drink. After that they'd gotten to chatting and of course it hadn't taken Estelle long to figure out EJ's problem.

"Well she's stubborn, gorgeous, maddening, captivating, stubborn-" EJ began.

"You said stubborn twice," pointed out Estelle indulgently.

"Yes well," said EJ with a grimace as he finished off his scotch, "This woman is extremely stubborn. To do her justice I should really throw a third stubborn in there – at least."

"She sounds like a lot of work," commented Estelle evenly.

"Estelle my dear you have no idea," said EJ dryly, putting his empty glass back down on the bar.

"So you're planning on winning her back by getting drunk in a bar, is that it?" she asked him in amusement.

"Oh no," said EJ with a definite shake of his head, "I'm not getting drunk tonight or any other night in the foreseeable future. I have it from a very reliable source that I'm a mean drunk."

"Oh I see," she said but EJ doubted if she really did see but didn't want to get into a discussion about Sam and his most likely tenuous grip on his sanity right then.

"I'm just looking for a little distraction from my woes tonight Estelle so I can formulate a new plan for winning the hand of the fair maiden," EJ told her evenly.

"And do you have any thoughts on how you are going to do that?" asked Estelle, intrigued despite herself.

"I'm leaning towards kidnapping myself," admitted EJ blithely.

"Isn't that illegal?" she asked in amusement.

"I have it on very good authority that it is only illegal if they catch you," said EJ with a twinkle in his eye and then was distracted by the couple that had just walked through the door, "I don't believe it!"

"What?" asked Estelle, looking over her shoulder to see a dark haired man with a slight limp walking towards the restaurant area of the bar with an attractive blonde woman on his arm.

"It's her," said EJ with a roll of his eyes as Estelle looked back at him in bemusement, "My intended kidnap victim."

"She's gorgeous," commented Estelle admiringly.

"That she is," sighed EJ, "And a complete ball breaker - if you'll excuse my turn of phrase Estelle."

"That's a lethal combination," she said with a little laugh.

"Don't I know it," grumbled EJ, "And I've got the scars to prove it."

He watched Lucas and Sami being led to their table by a waiter and felt a wave of helplessness wash over him. It was clear to EJ that he was never going to be free of Sami even if he wanted to be.

"See that?" said EJ with a resigned sigh, "This happens all the time, fate keeps drawing us towards one another, no matter what we do."

EJ shook his head and couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"Of all the gin joints in all the world she had to walk into mine."

"So do you have a plan for this situation?" asked Estelle curiously as she watched EJ not take his eyes off the couple across the room who were being led to their table, "Other than not getting drunk of course?"

EJ managed to tear his eyes of Sami, looking over at Estelle and trying to control the jealousy that was currently ripping the sinew from his bone at seeing Lucas hold out Sami's chair for her. All he wanted to do was storm across the restaurant, beat Lucas into a satisfyingly bloody pulp, throw Sami over his shoulder and just take her off somewhere so he could just have her. The current mood he was in EJ was pretty sure that he'd only make it as far as the car park before this desperate need to be inside her again that was currently building at a frightening rate in him would over take him. When he'd seen Sami smile at Lucas it had snapped something inside of EJ and he just wanted to make her feel the same kind of pain that she'd inflicted so mercilessly on him.

"Tell me Estelle," he said with a calm smile, "Have you ever considered a career on the stage and do you have any aversion to taking money from strange men?"

She arched a dark eyebrow at his question.

"You know I'd almost think that you were about to make me an indecent proposal if I hadn't seen the way you were just looking at that blonde," she said with some amusement.

"It is somewhat of an indecent proposal," agreed EJ readily enough, "Are you game?"

"I'm game for just about anything," Estelle grinned, "But save your money EJ, consider this a freebie."

"You know I have always relied on the kindness of strangers," said EJ with his own grin and deciding he was rather going to enjoy this.

It was time Samantha Brady knew what it felt like to have the love of your life with someone other than you EJ decided grimly...

oooOOOOooo

"I'm glad we are doing this," smiled Lucas.

"Me too," said Sami with an answering smile after the waiter had left with their orders.

Lucas picked up her hand and kissed the back of it, his smile becoming wider.

"I'm so glad that we found each other again," he told her sincerely, "I feel like a lot of things have been in our way but we still ended up right here, right now – you know, like it was meant to be."

Sami gave a tremulous smile at that and wishing with all her heart that it was true. How much easier would it be if she did actually love Lucas like she should Sami wondered in despair? That didn't matter now, right now she was intent on keeping the two men in her life safe and Sami knew she just had to do what she had to do now and get through it.

"I'm glad too," said Sami a little unevenly, "I don't want us to hurt each other anymore."

"A fresh start," agreed Lucas with a determined nod, "Nothing that has happened before this minute matters, only what happens next."

Sami wished that it was as simple as that but for Lucas it was and she had no choice but to go along with it.

"Agreed," Sami smiled, employing all of her acting skills that she'd learnt over the years to get through this.

She knew at some point that she'd have to let Lucas down easily but doing that right now was impossible. Still, the solution she'd come up with would buy her some time Sami decided and she'd take.

"I don't believe it!" scowled Lucas, looking over Sami's shoulder.

"What?" asked Sami curiously, turning around to see what Lucas was looking at and immediately feeling her stomach drop into her shoes.

EJ was at the bar, some woman draped all over him and looking up at him like he was the cleverest, most riveting man she'd ever met which to her dismay Sami knew he probably was. EJ was leaning in towards her now, whispering something in her ear, making the woman throw back her head and give a throaty laugh which EJ joined in on. The sound was like a knife in Sami's heart and her fingernails dug into the wooden table they were sitting at. EJ seemed to feel their eyes on him and he turned his head, looking surprised to see them there before smiling and whispering something else in the woman's ear and to Sami's horror they both got up from the bar and walked over to Sami and Lucas' table.

"Well fancy seeing you two here," said EJ with a smile, "Small world eh?"

"Microscopic," said Lucas flatly, clearly not impressed at the other man's presence.

"Estelle," said EJ smoothly, "These are two dear friends of mine and in actual fact my neighbours, Lucas and Samantha. Everyone, this is Estelle."

"Hi," said Lucas with the barest of smiles for the woman, just to be polite, "Nice to meet you."

"Hello," said Sami shortly.

She looked the other woman up and down. EJ was six feet four inches tall and Estelle had to be at least six feet tall because she could practically look him in the eye with her heels on. She had long, black hair with matching dark eyes and a tanned complexion. Basically everything Sami wasn't and then some.

"So is it date night for you two kids?" asked EJ brightly as he pulled up a chair to sit at the table without being invited but could only find one so he pulled Estelle into his lap, not that the other woman actually seemed to complain mind you.

Sami gritted her teeth to stop herself from lashing out and slapping the happy looks on both of their faces. She knew he was just doing this to annoy her but Sami couldn't help the pure, pulsating jealousy that was ripping through her at seeing the way EJ was looking at the other woman. It was one thing to hypothetically imagine EJ with another woman but being confronted with the reality of it was another thing entirely. She watched as EJ absently stroked the woman's arm with a long finger as he spoke to them and remembered all the little touches and gestures he'd done with her and hated Estelle with the fire of a thousand suns for being on the receiving end of the same now.

"In a manner of speaking," said Lucas, looking over at Sami as she gave him a strained smile, "We wanted to do something special."

"That sounds rather ominous," commented EJ with an arched eyebrow, "Why all the sudden need for specialness I wonder?"

Sami held her breath, not particularly wanting Lucas to answer that and give EJ any ideas but he was going to know soon enough anyway so what did it matter now.

"I'm going on a little trip," admitted Lucas a little reluctantly.

"Really?" asked EJ, sitting up straighter in his chair, "Well I'm intrigued, aren't you intrigued Estelle?"

"I think you should leave these two alone," she said huskily, pressing herself up against EJ more fully, "And then maybe you and I could have our own little... trip."

"Well that does sound like a hard offer to say no to," said EJ cheekily and it was all Sami could do not to scream.

"Lucas is going to Switzerland to be with Will," volunteered Sami, not even knowing why she did that but just wanting to draw his attention away from the other woman, "We were going out to dinner before I have to take him to the airport at nine o'clock tonight."

She'd asked Lucas to go and be with Will, telling him that their son needed his father. It was true but rather guiltily Sami knew it would give her one less man to worry about and juggle and she needed that right now. They hadn't decided on how long he'd be away for, that would depend on Will but Sami was taking the reprieve gratefully. She knew she'd have to face up to Lucas about what she'd done at some point but everything was so tenuous at the moment she couldn't risk it – too many lives hung in the balance.

"Is he now?" said EJ distractedly, grinning as Estelle whispered something in his ear and nodding, "Isn't that nice."

Estelle stood up then and EJ kissed the back of her hand and gave her a seductive look.

"I'll be right with you darling," he said throatily, "Order me another of the same will you – I'll just say my goodbyes to Lucas."

"Don't be long EJ," she said with a sultry little pout before nodding at the others, "Nice to meet you."

With that she turned around and headed back to the bar with a sway of those very female hips.

"Isn't she a treasure?" asked EJ delightedly, watching her leave.

"I know I'd like to bury her," muttered Sami under her breath.

"What was that Samantha?" asked EJ innocently.

"So how long have you two known each other for?" asked Sami sweetly.

"Oh we only just met," said EJ easily, "But sometimes you meet someone and just click right away, you know how it is."

He looked between Sami and Lucas then and pulled a face.

"Hm," he said thoughtfully, "Maybe you don't, forgot who I was talking to for a moment. What was it fifteen, sixteen years before you two managed to decide that there was no one else left to settle for?"

"Sami and I have known each other for a long time sure but that only means that our connection is even deeper because of it," said Lucas, putting an arm around Sami and pulling her closer to him, "It's something a guy like you just wouldn't understand Elvis."

"Oh well," he shrugged, "Whatever you tell yourselves to sleep better at night I suppose is fine with me. Meanwhile I have a rather gorgeous woman dying for a little more of that DiMera charm sitting over by the bar."

"How odd," said Sami mockingly, "Because usually people just die around the DiMera's, with a whole lot less of the charm."

"I always assumed charm wasn't high up on your list of qualities you looked for in a man considering your past choices Samantha," said EJ straight faced as Lucas' face darkened, "So perhaps it is best you don't judge something you have so little experience in eh?"

"Well I'm sure Enid over there has had more than her fair share of men charming her," said Sami snidely as she and EJ battled it out to have the last word, "And you'd better not keep her waiting, I have a feeling a girl like that charges by the hour so I wouldn't want you to be out of pocket on our account."

"That is very considerate of you Samantha and I think I will be getting back to Estelle," he said with a quirk of his lips, "And I'm quite confident we'll both be able to exchange a significant amount of charm with each other before the night is out. I'm rather banking on it being more than once in fact. I find myself with some excess energy to burn for some reason."

He looked at Lucas then who didn't look happy at being ignored throughout that exchange between EJ and Sami and gave him a big smile that didn't reach his eyes at all.

"Good luck with the flying old boy," he said jovially, "I hear only thirty percent of planes fall out of the sky nowadays so I'm sure you'll be fine."

With that last dig delivered EJ stood up and sauntered off.

"He's such loser," said Lucas dourly, "Only thirty percent of planes my ass. If there was any justice in the world one of those thirty percent would land on his smug, superior face."

He looked over at Sami who was trying not to watch as EJ walked back over to Estelle and began to nuzzle her neck.

"Hey," said Lucas, putting a hand on her arm, "Don't let him upset you okay, that's what he wants. All he can do is belittle and mock things he's too shallow to understand, like our love for one another. EJ DiMera's opinion about us doesn't matter one little bit, remember that okay?"

"I know," Sami sighed, looking away and shaking her head, "I'm just so sick of having to deal with him all the time and having him around. I don't know how much more of it I can take."

She suddenly realised she'd said too much and looked at Lucas worriedly, concerned what he'd make of such a revealing statement.

"As soon as I get back from Switzerland you and I are moving out," Lucas promised her, "I don't care if it means we have to go and live with Mom for a while."

Sami blanched at that thought but Lucas' cell rang and interrupted her response. It was probably just as well because Sami was in no mood to be polite.

"Oh," said Lucas in surprise, "Hi Mom."

He mouthed 'speak of the devil' to Sami and Sami rolled her eyes.

"And the devil appears," she commented sourly, the intrusion of Kate capping off a complete wash out of a night.

"Hold on Mom I can't hear you," said Lucas, "He did what? Who? Wait, you're breaking up – hold on."

"Something is going on with Phillip and Mom is in melt down mode," said Lucas with an apologetic grimace, "I have to take this but I need to go outside to get better reception."

"That's fine," said Sami with what she hoped was an easy smile, most of her attention still focused on EJ and Estelle that she could see cuddling out of the corner of her eye.

"I'll be as quick as I can," said Lucas.

"It's Kate," said Sami dourly, "There is nothing she loves more than monopolising your time so I won't hold my breath shall I?"

"Sorry," said Lucas with another grimace but that didn't stop him from hurrying out of the restaurant with his cell phone to continue his conversation with his mother.

"Why can't I hold any man's attention for more than five minutes?" Sami muttered the question unhappily even knowing she was being grossly unfair to EJ.

She didn't care at that moment though as she fully stared now at the couple at the bar who had their backs to her but nonetheless Sami saw EJ put his hand on Estelle's back, very low down so that his long fingers were almost cupping her backside. He gave her a little squeeze which sent Sami's blood pressure through the roof before giving the other woman a quick peck on the cheek and heading towards the bathroom facilities.

Without letting herself think about what she was doing Sami got up and followed him, intent on giving him a piece of her mind for his childish display. She walked down the corridor out of the restaurant to where there were two doors – one for the ladies and one for the gentleman.

Obviously EJ disappeared into the men's bathroom but that didn't bother Sami. She stalked down the corridor towards the men's room, finding the blue light they'd chosen to light these back rooms with only added to her annoyance. She supposed they were meant to add to the mood seeing as this was indeed a blue's bar but it wasn't helping her mood any. She burst into the bathroom and only after she'd done that Sami was belatedly relieved to see EJ was the only one in there.

"Ah – I think one of us is in the wrong room sweetheart," he said in amusement at seeing her there, "And the urinals rather suggest to me that it might be you Samantha."

Sami ignored his attempt at humour, in no mood for it right then.

"You are being so pathetic!" hissed Sami, "It's totally obvious what you are doing!"

"I'm having a nice night out with a new friend," said EJ, practically dripping with innocence as he turned around to face her properly, "I'm not really seeing the problem here sweetheart."

"You're rubbing that-that slut in my face!" spat out Sami.

"I don't believe I am doing that at all Samantha but if anyone would be an expert at doing that kind of thing I'm thinking it would be you sweetheart," said EJ mockingly, "You've done nothing but that from the moment we first met with good old Lucas."

"That is completely different!" said Sami angrily, "Lucas and I have been a couple for a long time!"

"Now that's not strictly correct now is it sweetheart?" asked EJ with a quirk of his lips, "I mean you've known Lulu for a long time but you only got together once you'd both exhausted every other possible avenue for a romantic liaison with other people."

EJ gave a little smirk then.

"Mm sexy," he purred mockingly, "It's so strange that Disney hasn't done an epic movie based on your love story of leftovers."

"We're not talking about Lucas and I!" said Sami defiantly but not exactly denying it, "We're talking about the spectacle you're making of yourself with that tramp!"

"And why is that exactly I have to wonder Samantha?" asked EJ, giving her a pointed look, "I believe you urged me to move on in your letter and in more than one conversation. I thought you'd be happy I was doing as you asked."

"You're such an ass!" bit out Sami angrily at EJ's logic.

"I'm a jerk when I don't do as you ask but yet I'm an ass when I do," said EJ, pretending to be very confused now and enjoying how flushed Sami was getting, "Help me out here sweetheart if you can."

"I can't because you are a jerk ass!" yelled Sami and then must have realised that didn't make much sense and tried to correct herself, "I mean an ass jerk!"

EJ wrinkled his nose thoughtfully.

"Is that any better sweetheart?" he asked her innocently, "I'm not sure there is any such thing as an ass jerk or a jerk ass for that matter."

"I'm so sick of you EJ!" she raged.

"And yet it is you following me into a men's room," commented EJ sarcastically, "Tell me Samantha, do you ever say what you mean I have to wonder? You know I'm just completely ecstatic to have found a beautiful woman in Estelle who seems to know her own mind and isn't afraid of showing me a little affection and letting me in."

Sami had heard the expression 'seeing red' before but she'd never experienced it before right then as a fine film of red passed before her eyes at EJ's words. A part of her knew that EJ was just trying to push her buttons and was doing this intentionally but there was a feminine rage building in her for him to compare her to the other woman and seem to dismiss her so easily. EJ was hers, they both knew it but he was intent on trying to say otherwise and the jealousy that flooded through Sami at that thought blocked out all logical thought on her behalf that she'd done the same thing to him from the day they'd met. The whole point of her pushing him towards other women and away from her was to keep him safe but in that moment Sami forgot all that and all she wanted to do was prove to them both who he really belonged to.

"And is that what you wanted all along EJ?" she asked him bitingly, moving closer to him, "An easy lay?"

"Perhaps just a more appreciative one sweetheart," returned EJ sweetly, "I'm sure Estelle will be very grateful for the skills I bring to our little trysts and won't say differently the next day either."

"So a compliant woman huh?" Sami said tightly, "One that doesn't give you any bother – is that it EJ? Is that what turns you on now?"

Before EJ could answer her Sami moved right up close to EJ and cupped him through his trousers, catching him completely off guard. Sami was a little shocked at herself but the look on his face made her want to keep going, to have the upper hand again. She gave a growl of satisfaction at finding him already aroused, knowing that their fights always got him hard just like they always got her wet.

"So is that for her or for me?" she challenged him, losing all of her reason as she succumbed to her jealousy and her all consuming need for him.

She tightened her hand on him, making EJ squeeze his eyes shut and moan helplessly. Sami felt a surge of confidence at seeing the power she had over this man and couldn't help herself. She slipped her hand down the front of his pants and past his boxer to find him fully, wrapping her hand around his thickening length. EJ's eyes snapped open as she touched him properly, squeezing him tightly.

"So her or me?" she asked him huskily, feeling her own arousal beginning to build to almost bursting.

"You," EJ rasped; his voice raw with his sudden need for her, "It's always you Samantha."

"Prove it too me," she said throatily, knowing that she'd come this far that she wasn't going to stop now.

As always this was complete madness but that didn't stop either of them. Sami began to stroke him confidently, enjoying how quickly she was getting him hard. EJ meanwhile had pulled his shirt off over his head and Sami immediately latched onto one of his hard nipples, biting and nipping at it in punishing pleasure and making EJ groan helplessly. His hands were at the zipper of her dress and suddenly Sami felt it pooled around her ankles. It was a dress that hadn't required her to wear a bra and she pressed her breasts against his chest, rubbing her own hardened nipples against him, knowing how much EJ loved that. She was left only in stockings and lacy panties now and Sami didn't give a second thought to that as she kissed her way down his suddenly sweaty and tightly muscles stomach. Meanwhile she'd deftly released him from the confines of his pants and underwear and without hesitation she immediately took his swollen length into her mouth.

"Samantha!" EJ cried out, bucking up at the feel of her wet, hot mouth encasing him and beginning to suckle hungrily, "OH GOD!"

EJ threw back his head as his hands went to the back of Sami's head, fingers sinking into her soft blonde hair. Sami had barely started on him before EJ was dragging her back up again and Sami knew his control was hanging by a thread, as was hers. He lifted her up off her feet and managing to pull aside her panties and impale Sami on his rigid manhood at the same time.

Sami cried out loudly as he invaded her, the three weeks apart making it even more of a thrill for them both. EJ however at least seemed to remember where they were as he pinned her up against the bathroom door to prevent anyone walking in on them and covering her mouth with his hand to stifle her cries. Sami clamped her walls tightly around him and now it was EJ's turn to forget himself and give a hoarse cry. Sami covered his mouth with her hand and then he began to move inside of her.

EJ wasn't starting slow; they were both too worked up to have anything but a frantic coupling this first time back together as they clung tightly to one another. EJ's wild strokes were so hard and deep into her that Sami almost immediately began to climax, taking him with her and she had the satisfaction of feeling him helplessly pump his seed deep into her and Sami almost cried with how much she'd missed him doing that. She never felt more alive than when EJ was climaxing noisily inside of her, filling her with his maleness and making her feel unbearably loved and desired and gloriously beautiful.

"More," he said raggedly into her sweaty neck, moving restlessly inside of her as soon as he was done, "God but I want more so badly sweetheart."

Sami knew what he meant. Their release had been too quick, too violent to truly satisfy and she was aching for more and knew EJ would be feeling the same way. The reality of their situation washed over her then and made her shudder. She was in a bathroom with EJ deep inside of her, up against a door while their respective dates were probably waiting for them. Sami wished she could feel more ashamed by that fact but right then all she felt was the deep satisfaction of a woman who had claimed her man, marked him for everyone to see who he belonged to.

As soon as she thought that though a crippling fear ripped through Sami as she realised what she had done. The last thing she wanted was for everyone to know who EJ belonged to she realised too late. The whole point was to keep EJ at a distance and thereby keep him safe, not screw his brains out against a wall in a public bathroom. Tony's spies could be watching and reporting back as to their absence together even now or worse, have been listening at the door. The thought galvanised her into action as she struggled against him.

"Put me down EJ," she said tensely, pushing against his chest hard in a desperate attempt to put some distance between them which would have been pretty funny considering what had just happened between them if it wasn't so deadly serious.

oooOOOOooo

Sami finished brushing her hair in front of the mirror, the whole apartment eerily quiet now that Lucas wasn't there. She'd somehow managed to get back to him at the restaurant just as he was returning from his phone call with Kate and act as though nothing had happened. Sami had been in abject terror that EJ was going to say something and expose what had happened between them in the bathroom but he hadn't said a word, just gone off with that brunette whore of his. There was an unsatisfied ache between Sami's legs that had been set off by their frantic coupling that screamed at her for some completion and she couldn't help but wonder bitterly if EJ was getting his own ache attended to by that tramp right then. The thought made her want to vomit but what could she do, this was what she'd told him to do from the very beginning and how could she blame him now? The trouble was that Sami didn't know if she'd actually be able to endure what she herself had set in motion.

Lucas had known immediately something was up, quizzing her all the way to the airport. He knew that EJ had upset her in some way but Sami certainly wasn't going to be telling him exactly what had happened. In the end Lucas had decided that EJ was trying to bully her into a relationship with him again and Sami had let him think that because it was easier. After all, EJ had made no secret of his desire for her and had been very forward despite the presence of Lucas or even Austin for that matter. It wasn't going to do anyone any good for her to go around telling Lucas that she was the one who actually threw EJ up against a bathroom wall and had her way with him. Sami felt a fissure of fear that someone might have seen she and EJ going into that bathroom or leaving it, even though she'd insisted they do it separately. She was playing with fire in more ways than one and Sami didn't know how much longer she could keep all this up for.

Desolate, she walked from the bathroom and into the bedroom, not bothering with turning on any more lights then the bedside table lamp she'd left on. As she walked back into the room though she immediately saw the silhouette of a man standing in her bedroom doorway, the one that joined on from the living room. Pure adrenalin exploded into every pore of her body at seeing the figure there before she managed to recognise who it was, knowing those broad shoulders so well by now.

"EJ!" she gasped, her hands clutching at her stomach at the terrible fright he'd just given her.

In her startled state Sami couldn't even work out how it was that he'd gotten into her bedroom but right then she couldn't even be bothered to think about that right then.

"No," she said unsteadily, looking at him wide eyed in the low light as he took a step closer to her and she could see the determined look in his eyes.

Sami was in horrified dread because she knew what he was here for...

Sami was in exquisite ecstasy because she knew what he was here for...

"No," she whispered shakily again, this time the denial was more for her sake then his but he didn't have to know that.

"Shut the hell up Samantha," he told her grimly, advancing on her.

He came right up to her and then he reached out one hand and took a hold of the thin material of the neck of her tank top and then Sami felt him begin to rip it from her body, the delicate material giving away effortlessly to the force of the man in front of her...

Chapter ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY THREEThe Rock and the Hard Place Meet (Monday)

There would be no passion in this world if we never had to fight for what we love.

~Susie Switzer~

EJ's eyes swept hungrily over Sami's breasts that he'd just exposed by tearing away at her tank top. He licked his lips in anticipation and watched in appreciation as her nipples hardened under his scrutiny, begging for more of his attention. EJ was going to more than willingly oblige them but first things first.

"Undress me," he ordered her, his voice already rough with his rapidly growing arousal.

"No," she groaned and shook her head at him even though the pink of her cheeks and unsteady breathing told EJ that she was just as heavily aroused as he was already.

She'd taken the initiative at the restaurant and now it was EJ's turn.

"You don't get to say that to me again tonight Samantha," he said grimly, done with being patient because he knew as he always had that her need for him was as great as his for her, "This is your punishment for all that you've put us both through this last month."

"Please EJ," she said shakily, her eyes wide, "You don't know what you are doing."

"Oh I beg to differ my darling," said EJ silkily, "I know exactly what I am doing-"

He picked up her hands and put them to the front of his shirt, moving them to the buttons. EJ leant forward then, his lips against her ear.

"I'm doing you my darling girl," he purred into her ear and was gratified to feel the shudder that ran through her at his words.

If Sami was half as worked up as he was after their tryst at the restaurant then being this close to one another must be causing her an agony of want and need because it was all EJ could do to contain himself. For whatever reason Sami had put Lucas on a plane to Switzerland and EJ was going to take full advantage of having her all to himself again. The man was a nuisance and EJ was glad to see the back of him but even more intriguing to EJ was why Sami would let him leave. He knew she used Lucas as a buffer against her feelings for him so EJ had been beyond excited when she'd told him that Lucas was leaving town.

He took it as a good sign for them and if it wasn't EJ was determined to make it into one. EJ's heart leapt for joy in his heart as Sami wordlessly began to unbutton his shirt, offering no further resistance; sure that she must be able to hear his heart because of how loudly it was beating in his chest. Once done unbuttoning his shirt she pushed it from his shoulders and he shrugged out of it, letting it drop to the fall, heedless of where it fell. Her small hands went to his trouser's fastenings without any prompting on his behalf and EJ was nearly fainting from his need for her.

"Like before sweetheart," he prompted her, the waver in his voice hinting that his control over this wasn't quite as iron tight as he was trying to portray.

Sami looked up at him through her eyelashes at his breathy request and didn't say anything, just finished removing that last of his clothing, shoes and all. EJ wanted to be the one in control of this encounter but he couldn't help himself from moaning loudly as Sami dropped to her knees and took his now turgid manhood into her mouth, working on him just as enthusiastically as she had done earlier that night.

Fortunately he was near a wall and he put out a hand to steady himself as his knees went weak at how good she was making him feel. Her hands were now wrapped around his length, squeezing and pumping him each time Sami pulled back a little before taking him back into his mouth. EJ was in a bliss that defied explanation and while it went against every one of his instincts he had to get Sami to stop too soon.

"Enough," he said gruffly, helping Sami to her feet, a more complicated sentence beyond him right then.

EJ pressed his raging hard on up against Sami as he pulled her closer to him, letting her feel the length of his naked body against her.

"Don't EJ," Sami moaned at him when she felt his hand go to the little boy leg panties she was wearing and begin to pull on them, the thin material already beginning to give.

EJ had to wonder if Sami was even sure why she was even protesting after what she'd just done for him.

"You're not going to need them anymore sweetheart," he informed her throatily, his breath hot against her neck, "From now on you're going to be in my bed every night and I want you naked in that bed. I need you so badly Samantha I can't contain myself to undress you each time."

EJ tightened his hold on Sami with his arm around her waist, dragging her back against him more tightly and letting her feel just how bad his need for her right then really was.

"In fact," he growled in her ear as he tore her panties roughly from her body and threw them away carelessly, "I may never let you get dressed again Samantha, in my bed or out of it."

A helpless shudder ran through Sami's body at his actions and words and EJ knew there would be no more protests from her that night.

"Kneel on the bed for me sweetheart," he instructed her, his own voice beginning to shake a little now.

Sami wordlessly complied and after all the ways she'd fought him for so long that compliance was an aphrodisiac in of itself. She knelt on the bed, on all fours, her knees right on the edge and feet hanging over the bed. EJ groaned loudly to see the gorgeous sight of her pale backside and swollen womanhood on display for him. He couldn't resist tasting her, his mouth watering in anticipation. EJ placed a hand on her backside before bending down and placing his face level with her sex he breathed in the heady scent of her arousal before plunging his tongue deep inside her core. Sami whimpered helplessly against him but EJ drank his fill before he straightened up again. With the decadent taste of her in his mouth EJ nudged Sami's legs apart and came to stand between them, needing to be inside her now.

"I'm so big," he groaned his warning, as one hand went to his aching hard on and guided it to her once again dripping core, "You need to relax sweetheart so you can take all of me."

After their tryst at the restaurant EJ had done nothing but want her again, then ripping the clothes from her body had been a very stimulating affair and of course and Sami on her knees in front of him, his manhood deep in her mouth as she suckled eagerly away on him ensured that EJ was the biggest he'd ever been before attempting to penetrate her. He was beginning to sweat in anticipation of how good this was going to feel but was also conscious of hurting her, the horrors of his nightmare still fresh in his mind.

"Yes," said Sami breathlessly, her backside moving eagerly for him to begin.

EJ thrilled to hear the impatience in Sami's voice and guided his swollen tip to her opening before feeding the first couple of inches into her. He felt her hot juices sear his tip and went taunt; trying to stop himself from exploding inside her already before she'd taken him completely.

"More," she moaned excitedly, "I want more EJ!"

"Oh god," said EJ unevenly at hearing her pleas and slide another couple of inches into her.

Sami cried out as he stretched her to near breaking point and even though EJ didn't like to think she was in pain right then the way her walls were clamped so tightly around him right then as she struggled to accommodate his vast size was nearly his undoing.

"Samantha!" he said urgently, his hands tightening on her hips as the urge to simply ram himself home becoming almost impossible to resist but he couldn't bear the thought that he might hurt her, "Do you want me to stop?!"

Sami looked back over her shoulder at him, her face a picture of exquisite arousal, cheeks flushed, mouth slightly open and panting softly. EJ felt himself get even harder at the sight making them both groan as he waited for her answer.

"You told me I wasn't allowed to say no anymore," she gasped, her eyes a mix of coquettish seduction as she gave him a little innocent smile, knowing what her words would do to him and the way she was accepting his dominance.

"Shit!!" hissed EJ in a rare use of the word as his body took over completely at her titillation of him and his hips jerked forward of their own accord and forced her to take the last couple of inches of his distended length.

Sami squealed at the forceful intrusion and it was all EJ could do not to orgasm at the sound of that.

"Oh god but you're so tight like this!" he said weakly, his head spinning, "Samantha...?"

His concerned query was met with a groan as she dropped to her elbows on the bed.

"Just make me come EJ," she begged him urgently, "I need to come now so badly."

EJ prayed he could hold on long enough to make that happen for her but he was shaking so badly now from trying to delay his own release that he wasn't sure if he could. He began to hammer his aching rod into her, unable to believe he didn't have more control of himself considering his recent release but he didn't. Sami's excited moans weren't helping him any either as she continued to cry out his name.

"EJ," she whimpered deliriously, "Oh god yesss, don't stop, I need more... oohhAAHHH!"

EJ began to vary his angles of penetration, looking for that sweet spot deep inside of Sami, needing to make her come very, very hard like he knew he was going to.

"Oh yes THERE!" screamed Sami when he hit it perfectly, "OH MY GOD!!! OOOOHHHHHAAH!"

"Samantha!" EJ roared, unable to contain himself any longer at hearing her cry out like that and with one final hard thrust he was pumping himself into her, sobbing from the force of his own release.

Sami began convulsing around him right away, her walls frantically milking him and making EJ howl even louder. He looked down at their joined bodies, picturing her ripe body taking his seed and holding it deeply inside of her and creating a child in that moment. It was the most intimate thing two people could do on this earth and he wanted that so badly for him and Sami. EJ wanted to see Sami grow heavy with his child, to see her body nurture the life they'd created out of so much love and for the entire world to know that she was his forever now. He groaned shakily even as his body continued to spasm erratically inside of Sami, falling forward so he was kneeling over the top of her, hands on either side of hers as he kept his place inside of her.

"I love it when we come together," he moaned unevenly into her ear, "I love filling you to overflowing Samantha."

Sami clenched tightly around him at that confession, causing EJ to hiss loudly.

"This feels so right," he groaned, dropping his head so he could press one sweaty cheek against her equally slick back.

"This is impossible EJ," she told him achingly even as she still shuddered under him but EJ was undeterred.

"Nothing is impossible for us Samantha Jean Brady," he promised her, his voice raw from the force of his release.

He withdrew himself from her body and they both grimaced at the feeling of loss but EJ was far from finished with this encounter. He put his hands to Sami's hips and moved her further up the bed and turning her onto her back. EJ then moved onto the bed, kneeling between her legs before sitting back on his haunches. He leant over her then, reaching for the lamp on the bedside table and switching it on as well.

"I want to see you," he told Sami unevenly, leaning back and admiring the flushed gorgeousness of her body.

His eyes swept hungrily over her body, still craving her despite his recent climax, the aftermath of which was making his body throb pleasurably. Sami seemed suddenly self conscious under such close scrutiny and went to cover herself with her hands but he stopped her, hands encircling her wrist and pulling them away from her body.

"You don't get to say no to me remember?" he reminded her raggedly.

"EJ," she moaned, moving restlessly and obviously finding his words to be quite arousing.

"I'm going to make to every perfect inch of you," he vowed, bringing her still trapped hands up to his lips and beginning to kiss each of her fingers in turn before starting to kiss his way down one of her arms.

"EJ," she sighed happily under his ministrations, her now free hand going to the back of his head, her nails raking his scalp pleasurably.

He worshiped at the altar of her body for a long time, until both of them were so heavily aroused again that every movement was a pain filled pleasure. EJ went back to kneeling between Sami's legs and placed his engorged tip against her opening, running it back and forth over her swollen fold's, slick with the juices of her own arousal.

"You get so wet for me," he growled in appreciation of finding her absolutely dripping for him, "No other man ever gets you this wet does he Samantha?"

"You know they don't," she groaned helplessly.

"That's because you are mine Samantha," he told her knowingly, his voice strained from his own arousal as he rested his tip against her opening now, "You always were and you always will be."

It was killing EJ not to simply thrust into her now, knowing how hot and tight she would be right at that moment but he held off. Sami was beginning to make little whimpering noises of need for him to complete their union.

"EJ please!" she cried out in frustration as he continued to linger over this final act.

"What do you want sweetheart?" asked EJ shakily, seeing her so eager for him only adding to his own pleasure.

"I want you EJ," she grimaced hopelessly, "God I want you so badly!"

EJ thrilled to hear her say that but wasn't done playing with her yet.

"Tell me how much you want me Samantha," he asked of her thickly.

"I'll show you," she said defiantly, rising to his challenge and making EJ's heart hammer away in his chest even more violently at the promise that was in Sami's eyes.

Her hands went to his buttock cheeks, her nails digging in pleasurably as she dragged him closer to her. EJ succumbed to his fate willingly, beginning to mount her slowly but Sami had a little surprise for him he found to his exquisite delight. She had clamped down all the muscles of her walls so that trying to enter her was an exercise in mind altering delirium. EJ cried out at finding her that tight for him but Sami continued to drag at his backside and making him continue in his penetration of her.

Her walls were bearing down so powerfully on him that EJ thought she might snap him in two from the force of it and could hardly bear the pleasure. He'd never been with a woman with as much muscle control as Sami and he didn't know if it was because she'd had a child and frankly he didn't care. All EJ knew was that this was the most intensely pleasurable penetration of a woman he'd ever experienced. When the last of his aching manhood finally slide all the way home into her rigid heat EJ practically collapsed against her, drawing in ragged breaths of air as he fought to keep himself in check.

"Don't come yet," she begged him frantically, obviously able to feel the way he was shaking helplessly against her and being able to hear the gasping grunts of delirium he was unconsciously making.

"Oh god," he said weakly, his voice muffled against her neck as he struggled to stay in control.

Sami relaxed her walls around him and EJ had to hiss noisily at the sweet pleasure even that gave him.

"Don't move sweetheart," he pleaded with her, knowing even the slightest movement from her would have him exploding inside of her now after that delicious ordeal.

Sami complied but let her hands wander slowly up his back, her nails dragging pleasurably against his spine.

"Can you feel how much I want you now EJ?" she whispered throatily in his ear, "How ready I am for you, how wet and-"

"Don't!" he asked of her desperately at her sultry words, "You're going to make me come Samantha! Please, I can't take anymore!"

He heard Sami give a purr of feminine satisfaction at his strangled confession but didn't care. If she started to say those kinds of things after what she'd just put him through EJ knew he'd be climaxing quicker than a sixteen year old boy during his first time. Sami remained obediently still and quiet underneath him while EJ dragged in uneven but calming gasps of air. It took him awhile but eventually EJ trusted himself to begin to moving inside of Sami. He started slowly, his strokes unhurried and measured but still causing them both to groan loudly in spine tingling gratification.

oooOOOOooo

Tony knocked on the door of the apartment, cocking his head to one side as he listened intently for any signs of life inside. He knocked again, calling out this time.

"Elvis?" he said quite loudly, "Elvis are you in there?"

There was no answer and Tony pursed his lips thoughtfully. He'd come round for a late night chat with his little brother, always finding that catching people off guard with unexpected visits could yield some interesting results. Tony wanted to make sure that he had the nuisance of EJ firmly under control and he wasn't going to be dealt any unexpected blows from out of the blue. Of course EJ not being home right then presented Tony with another interesting option.

"Well we are family now aren't we Elvis?" he mused to no one in particular, "And family should always be hospitable and you are always inviting yourself in at our Father's place-"

A little smile touched Tony's lips.

"I'm sure you wouldn't mind me letting myself in to your home little brother," he said, his smile widening.

Tony pulled a Swiss army knife from his pocket and promptly flicked through the attachments until he found the one he was looking for. He deftly picked the lock and with a last quick look around he let himself into EJ's apartment.

"Ug," said Tony, wrinkling his nose in disgust as he looked around the apartment, "The boy who would be king lives in a shoe box."

Tony shook his head at his surrounds, tutting away to himself. Nonetheless he began to root around EJ's apartment, being careful to keep his gloves on, looking for anything that might be of interest. EJ always was rather careless when it came to a lot of things so it wouldn't surprise Tony to find a notebook full of nefarious plans left out in the open for anyone to find. After a little poking around Tony then noticed the lap top sitting on EJ's desk and his face brightened.

"Well hello my lovely," he said cheerfully, walking up to the desk and pulling out a chair to sit down on, "What secrets do you hold I wonder?"

Tony turned on the computer and checked through the doors of the desk while he waited for it to start up. On finding nothing of consequence in the drawers Tony turned his attention back to the computer which had now loaded. He began opening different files and then found one that really caught his attention.

"And what do we have here I wonder?" muttered Tony curiously as he clicked on the icon.

Immediately the computer screen split into different screens and it only took Tony a minute to realise he was looking at Sami's apartment.

"Oh dear Elvis," he chuckled, "Who's a naughty voyeuristic boy then? Perhaps you do have some DiMera blood flowing through those veins after all."

Tony clicked on the different screens, enlarging them and when he got to the bedroom one he got a little bit more than he bargained for. EJ was on the bed, completely naked with his back to the camera, moving back and forth over the woman underneath him grabbing at the bed head behind her. The woman was almost completely obscured by EJ's body but Tony didn't need the flash of blonde hair he could see against the sheets to know that it was Sami Brady's legs wrapped around his brother's.

"And they say there is never anything good on television anymore," smirked Tony as he watched the two young lovers move together in unison on the screen.

He leant back in his chair, tapping a manicured finger on the arm rest thoughtfully. It appeared Sami's interpretation of keeping her distance from EJ was a little different to his Tony mused. Well in a lot of ways this made things a lot simpler he decided. He should have known better to trust in the will power of a Brady and he supposed EJ could be persuasive when the mood took him. Tony didn't care that much about the reasons but he did care about an alliance between EJ and Sami and the plans Stefano had for them both. He'd warned Sami about the consequences of not cutting all ties with his brother but it appeared that she hadn't taken him seriously enough about that. Well she would soon enough he decided grimly, both of them would. Nothing and no one was going to be taking what was rightfully his from him.

"He hath given his empire up to a whore," Tony muttered under his breath as he closed the screen and immediately began to plot what would be his revenge for Sami's betrayal.

oooOOOOooo

The lovers were oblivious to the oncoming storm though, only knowing one another in that moment.

"EJ," whispered Sami emotionally as he began to really drive himself into her, both of them racing towards a momentous end.

"Oh god but you're so perfect!" cried out EJ in anguish as he felt himself fall ever deeper into her, his body taking over completely as he frantically pounded away inside of her, her legs wrapped around his waist urging him to go harder, deeper with each thrust.

Sami's only answer was a moan that seemed ripped from deep inside of her as she clutched at his shoulders, sinking her teeth into his shoulder and biting down hard as she began to climax around him. EJ started to howl out his pleasure at the feeling of her convulsing around him and the sharp pain in his shoulder drove him over the edge as he began to peak with her. His aching balls tightened, eager to deliver their load into her and then it was happening, EJ feeling his seed course through him as he jerked and spasmed wildly on top of Sami, flooding her with all of his hot maleness. Because they had laboured so hard for this orgasm it went on for a long time for the both of them and it felt like decades had passed before either one of them was in control of their bodies again.

With the last of his strength, EJ rolled to one side, taking Sami with him as he now lay on his back on the bed; Sami's sweating, heaving body on top of him. They lay like that for a long time, neither one moving except for a combined shuddering in their attempts to catch their breaths again. EJ couldn't bring himself to leave her body so they stayed like that until the sweat was cooling on their bodies. Sami finally found the strength to lift her head, her blue eyes tired from spent passion. It didn't stop her from uttering a single word that just made EJ's heart leap for joy because it just proved how totally his she truly was.

"More."

Chapter ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY FOURThe Rubber Hits the Road

Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.
~Winston Churchill~

Sami woke up the next day, every muscle in her body protesting as she rolled over onto her back. For a moment she couldn't quite remember why that was and then she gasped, sitting up in bed and looked in trepidation to the space beside her. But that was all there was – space. Sami groaned and flopped back on the bed, covering her hands with her face.

What had she done she wondered in despair?

She'd just totally lost her mind last night and EJ could well pay the price for that now. How was she ever going to get him to leave her alone now after last night? She'd been such a willing participant in last night's encounter that Sami blushed beet red to think about it. Sami looked over to the space beside her and saw a note lying on the pillow next to her.

Sami sighed and picked it up, beginning to read it and knowing EJ wouldn't have let her off that easily.

Good morning my love.

Forgive me for leaving you but I had some business that could not wait unfortunately.

Meet me in the park by the library at ten today and I will make it up to you, I promise.

EJ

Sami read the note and closed her eyes with a groan. She knew that if she didn't go and meet with EJ he would seek her out and no doubt make a scene. A public place was her only hope of the two of them not ending up going at it like rabbits again but a public place also meant that it would be easy for one of Tony's henchmen to see them and report back to him. Sami lay back on the bed and swallowed hard at her impossible choice.

"Oh EJ," she said in quiet anguish as she stared up at the ceiling unseeingly, "You're killing us both."

oooOOOOooo

EJ leant against the corner of the community library and watched Sami undetected for a moment. It had bothered him that he'd had to leave her so abruptly this morning when he'd had far more pleasurable pursuits in mind then organising some urgent legal documents for his father. EJ was looking forward to the time that he and Sami's time would be their own and no one else's. As soon as he'd sorted out whatever this latest holdup with Sami was EJ intended to go to his father and tell him that he was no longer going to be involved with the family business. It would be hard because he didn't want to disappoint his father and EJ would be lying if the thought of handing the business over to Tony on a silver platter didn't rankle him somewhat but Sami was more that worth it, EJ was more sure of that then anything else in his life.

A little smile came to his lips as he watched her nervously adjust her clothes and smooth her hair and knew exactly the excited anticipation she was feeling because he was feeling the exact same way. He wondered if there would ever come a day when the sight of Sami wouldn't make his heart skip a beat and couldn't for the life of him imagine that ever happening. Suddenly EJ couldn't stand being this far away from her any longer. Their time together last night had been magnificent and soul wrenching but EJ had been disappointed that Sami hadn't told him that she loved him despite the many intimacies that passed between them. Or that she hadn't kissed him which to EJ's way of thinking was the same thing.

He knew that first kiss, after so long without would be the thing that bonded them together forever and would signal Sami's giving over of herself to all of her love for him. His smile widened at how close he was to that breakdown of that final barrier between them. EJ walked up to her as Sami turned around to see him coming. He went right up to her; confidently leaning in to kiss her hello on the cheek but Sami jerked away so violently that she actually stumbled backwards and fell down on the soft grass behind her. EJ's eyebrows shot up at that.

"That was a little bit of an overreaction don't you think sweetheart?" he asked her mildly as he bent down to offer her his hand.

Sami ignored it and quickly scrambled to her feet, looking embarrassed.

"I wasn't about to accost you, you know," he said indulgently and then waggled his eyebrows at her suggestively, "Unless you'd like me to of course."

"Why did you force me to come here EJ?" asked Sami shortly, glancing around herself self-consciously as she brushed the back of her pants free of grass.

"Did I force you to come here?" asked EJ in surprise at her turn of phrase, "I merely left a note for my lover to read when she woke up asking to meet. I'm not sure how you got 'forced you to meet' out of that darling."

"You would have hunted me down if I hadn't," said Sami shortly.

"Is there some reason you seem intent on playing the victim to my scoundrel today sweetheart?" asked EJ in amusement, quite used to Sami's back tracking by now after a passionate encounter, "You didn't seem all that fussed by it when we were in Lucas' bed last night and I was claiming you over and over again."

"Oh I get it," said Sami tersely in a tone that told EJ she was about to pick a fight, "Lucas' bed!"

"Ah," said EJ patiently as he enjoyed the fire flashing in Sami's eyes, adoring their fights almost as much as their lovemaking, "I'm going to need to buy a vowel my love to understand what you are taking umbrage at this time."

"So this is what all this is about?" asked Sami angrily, ignoring his humour, "You getting one up on Lucas, is that it EJ?"

"This is about you Samantha," said EJ intently, holding her gaze unwaveringly, not letting her deflect like this, "It always has been for me, from the first moment our eyes met in that hallway. Everything is about you and all the other things in my life are a trifle."

"Including your father?" she challenged him defiantly.

"Compared to you," said EJ, hardly able to believe he was saying this particularly as it was the utter truth, "Yes."

Sami turned abruptly away from him then, from the truth in his earnestly spoken words and the sincerity EJ knew must be written on his face.

"I choose you Samantha," he told her quietly, "Over everyone else in my life, I choose you. I know that no matter what happens from this moment on you will always be first and last in my thoughts every day for the rest of my life and my last breath on the face of this earth will be used to say your name."

"Don't!" exclaimed Sami, whirling back around and catching EJ off guard at how distressed she looked at his last comment, "Don't say things like that EJ!"

"Samantha, sweetheart," said EJ earnestly, taking a step closer to her, "Please tell me what is wrong, what is going on with you?"

"You won't leave me alone!" she said sharply, "That's what is going on."

"That isn't it," said EJ confidently, "You want me as badly as I want you."

"You are so full of yourself EJ!" said Sami tartly, "And you don't know the first thing about what I want!"

EJ looked away briefly, collecting himself. It felt like they'd had this conversation a thousand times by now and he just had to wonder how many more of them were in their future. It didn't matter though, EJ knew he'd never give up on getting Sami to admit her love for him; he just couldn't – for both of their sakes. They'd never know happiness in this world if they weren't together, EJ was sure of it.

"Do you know how hard it was for me to leave you this morning sweetheart?" he asked her roughly, looking back at her at last, "All I wanted to do was stay there beside your perfect naked body and make it mine over and over again."

"Stop it EJ!" said Sami sharply, turning away from him again but EJ couldn't let it be, not now, not ever.

He could see how precarious this wall she'd set up between them was, see how hard Sami was struggling to maintain that distance between them and EJ knew all he had to do was keep on reminding her of their connections and it would crumble under its own weight soon enough. He stepped up so he was standing behind her, dropping his head and continuing to talk, wanting to shake Sami out of her denial.

"I'm getting hard right now just thinking about the things you did to my body last night Samantha," he told her throatily, "That thing with the clenching you did practically snapped me in two-"

"EJ!" exclaimed Sami, her cheeks heating to a bright red as she whirled around again and took a couple of steps back to put some distance between them, "Stop saying those things! We're in public!"

"That can easily be fixed," he said blithely, "Give me fifteen minutes and I can have you back at my apartment, in my bed and ready for more of the same."

"It isn't going to happen again!" hissed Sami to which EJ just gave a confident smile.

"I seem to remember having this conversation before Samantha," he told her in amusement, "On more than one occasion and yet we continue to end up in flagrante delicto as it were on quite the regular basis. So excuse me if I don't take that statement too seriously."

"God but you are impossible!" Sami raged, throwing up her hands at him, "Why won't you get the message and leave me alone EJ?!"

"Possibly because last night you were begging me to take you?" suggested EJ with a quirk of his lips, "I listen to you Samantha and I get the message loud and clear, despite what you might say with your lips your body tells me an entirely different story."

"Stop saying those things!" Sami said in embarrassment, her blush returning as a middle aged woman walked past them, giving them a sideways glance as she did.

"Come," said EJ, taking her arm lovingly and guiding her to a nearby bench, "Take a seat darling, you look fit to burst you do. Sit down and take a few deep breaths eh and calm yourself down."

Sami sat down on the bench, looking suddenly defeated as EJ took a seat beside her.

"I hate you," she said faintly, looking at a patch of grass in front of them.

"I hate you too Samantha," he told her warmly, "So very, very much that I think it will be the death of me."

Sami looked up at him at that statement and shook her head.

"Why don't you take anything I say seriously?" she asked him a little bitterly.

"I take every word that falls from your lips with the utmost seriousness," he told her firmly, "Everything about you matters to me Samantha, everything. Every thought, every feeling and all I want you to do is share them with me like I'm longing to share mine with you."

He cocked his head and looked at her intently then.

"Perhaps a good place to start is your impromptu trip to Switzerland and that letter you wrote me," he suggested, "Care to give me an explanation on those two matters sweetheart?"

"The letter said it all," said Sami flatly, avoiding meeting his eyes.

"The letter told me exactly nothing," said EJ calmly, "Of course other than you being too frightened to face me yourself."

"Don't be ridiculous EJ," said Sami shortly, "Why would I be too frightened to face you?"

"Did you know that when you lie you do this thing of answering a question with a question?" asked EJ, looking at her indulgently, "It's terribly cute I have to say."

"I do not!" said Sami hotly.

"Alright then just tell me why you wrote that letter and then ran off to Switzerland?" said EJ evenly, patient with her denials.

"Why do you keep asking me that?!" said Sami unevenly.

"That was another question to counteract my question in case you were wondering darling," said EJ with an amused smile at her answer.

Sami frowned at that and EJ could see that she was surprised that he'd caught her out in doing something she never knew she did and loved her even more for that.

"You're so adorable," he said huskily, going to stroke her face.

"Don't!" Sami hissed, knocking his hand away and looking around herself nervously.

"Who are you looking for sweetheart?" asked EJ curiously, turning his head and looking around the near deserted park area as well, "Lucas is an ocean away remember? Of course I'd prefer him to be a little further away then that again but an ocean is a start. So I'm not sure who it is that you think might be watching sweetheart?"

"I don't want you feeling me up in a public place EJ," said Sami, glaring at him, "A lot of people in Salem know me and what would they think?!"

"First of all that was another question to my question so I think I'm on to something here with what this is really all about," said EJ, his eyes brightening as he finally began to make sense of Sami's erratic behaviour towards him.

She was frightened of someone finding out about them and interestingly enough that someone wasn't Lucas. It explained all her desperate attempts to keep him at arm's length because EJ had known for some time now that Sami really did love him and had admitted it to herself if not to him. He didn't know how he knew that but he did, it was what gave him the courage to continue on in the face of such relentless opposition from her. Of course the next step was to get Sami to admit it to him but it had finally occurred to him that it wasn't him that she was frightened of any longer but someone else. EJ couldn't believe that he'd been this dim for so long about what was holding Sami back from telling him how she truly felt. It was clear to him now that someone else was involved, most likely Kate and was blackmailing her into keeping him at a distance.

EJ felt a delicious joy sweep through him at having finally figured out what it was that was keeping them apart. He didn't have the details yet but he would soon enough. He'd known for a long time now that Sami was his and once he got the details of who was interfering in their lives from her then they'd be able to sort that person out once and for all. EJ was so deliriously happy in that moment that he couldn't stop himself from playfully teasing her a little. He decided Sami owed him at least that much for putting him through all this unnecessary angst when all she had to do was come to him with the problem.

"And second of all," he said, an impish smile spreading across his face that carried a new lightness after his epiphany, "That wasn't feeling you up-"

EJ sidled closer then, putting one arm along the back of the bench behind Sami and leaning into her, burying his face in her neck and hooking one of his legs over the top of hers while his other hand brazenly cupped her breast.

"This is feeling you up," he said huskily against the soft skin of her neck.

"EJ!" squawked Sami in horror, her whole body going stiff as her hand went to his wrist and tried her hardest to dislodge it from its resting place but EJ wasn't to be budged.

"Tell me you love me," he implored her, his breath wet and hot against her neck.

"Let me go EJ!" said Sami, trying to squirm away but he held her firmly in his embrace, not letting it happen.

"Tell me you love me Samantha and I'll let you go," he informed her throatily, his lips at her ear now.

EJ's thumb began to move back and forth over her nipple as he gently massaged her breast and it immediately beaded for him.

"God but you get so hard so quick," he said with an approving groan back against her neck, "Just like me."

EJ saw Sami's wide eyed gaze slide down to his lap and couldn't help but enjoy the look of anticipation in her eyes.

"You have two options open to you Samantha," he told her huskily, "You can tell me who it is exactly that has ordered you to keep your distance from me and why-"

Sami's eyes just about fell out of her head at that and EJ felt a stab of satisfaction that he'd been right about his speculations. Her face told him all that he needed to know, that it wasn't her choice that they were apart and EJ's heart began to beat wildly in his chest at knowing how close he was to her being completely honest with him.

"Or," he continued on, thrilling to how much he loved her in that moment, "I can have you on this park bench right now and then you can tell me who is doing this to us and why."

EJ's hand tightened on her breast that Sami was still trying to get him to let go of.

"Your choice sweetheart," he growled, "But I'd really like to put a plug in for option two if I may."

"Not here EJ," she said and he could hear the definite undertones of panic in her voice, "Please EJ, you have to let me go and we'll go somewhere else, I promise."

EJ pulled back a little bit and regarded her through narrowed eyes, trying to see if this was another stalling tactic on her behalf. She looked back at him wide eyed and desperate and EJ had to relent, unable to bear seeing her this upset.

"Samantha," he said gently, just wanting to gather her up in his arms and hug away the tension he could see in her face.

He moved his leg from hers and his hand from her breast and Sami immediately leapt up and moved away from the bench. EJ stood up; following her more slowly but still came to stand in front of her.

"Samantha," he said evenly, "My darling girl – trust me. Whoever is doing this to you, to us – we can deal with them together, you have to know that."

"EJ," she said, her eyes full of emotion and he could see that she was weakening, wanting to let him in but still afraid.

"Trust me sweetheart," he implored her again, his heart beating wildly in his chest as he knew the moment was finally here, Sami was about to be completely honest with him, he could see it in her eyes, "Tell me the truth Samantha, I'll keep you safe, I swear to you."

EJ saw the last of her resistance melt away at his promise to her. It was all EJ wanted, for Sami to know that she could rely on him no matter what, to trust him and let him into her heart. He watched as she took a deep breath, seeming to come to a decision.

"The truth is EJ-" began Sami shakily but that is as far as she got when EJ saw her suddenly lurch to one side.

For a split second he didn't know what happened and then a searing pain began to rip through his back and he realised it wasn't Sami who had suddenly moved but it was him when he'd fallen to his knees and to one side. He hit the ground hard, finding that he could barely breathe and couldn't seem to move. EJ looked up to see Sami looking down at him in abject horror and it looked like she was screaming but all he could hear was blood roaring in his ears.

EJ blinked and tried to say Sami's name, having no idea what had just happened and wanting to make sure she was alright but everything was going slowly dark around him and then there was only nothingness.

oooOOOOooo

Tony watched the unfolding drama in front of him from his position behind a tree in the park with interest. People were quickly gathering around the screaming Sami as she cradled EJ's body in her lap. Someone must have already called 911 because off in the distance was the distinct wail of a siren. Tony quietly pocketed the gun in his hand so as not to draw attention to himself before looking back at dramatic scene. He pursed his lips, finding this to be all very interesting.

"So wise so young, they say do never live long," he murmured to himself as he watched the blood stains on EJ's shirt begin to spread in ever greater circles on the material.

The sirens were closer now and joined by a different one which meant the police were also hot footing their way over to the scene of the crime as well so Tony decided that discretion was the better part of valour and made good his escape. The walk back to his car was a quick one but not without its benefits Tony was to find out. He got to his car and climbed in, sitting there for a moment, thinking of all that he'd just witnessed. A smile broke out across his face and he began to laugh a laugh of real amusement, the unfamiliar noise filling the car. Still chuckling away to himself he put the car in gear and drove off, thinking he might catch an early lunch and celebrate today's good fortunes before having to play the part of the devastated brother to EJ's fate.

Today was turning out to be even more fun than he thought it would be...

Chapter ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY FIVEOut Damn Spot, Out

We seek the truth and will endure the consequences.

~Charles Seymour~

"So you're sure you are alright?"

Sami dragged her eyes off where the paramedics were frantically working on EJ to stabilise him to look at her Uncle.

"Yes Uncle Bo," she said distractedly, "I'm fine, really."

"And you didn't see the person who shot EJ at all?" Bo quizzed his niece, "You don't know who might have done this?"

Sami of course knew exactly who had done this or at least ordered it to be done but she could hardly tell Bo that without endangering more people that she loved. Tony had made it very clear during their phone conversation that would it was not only EJ in danger if she didn't do as she was told. It was impossibly complicated and all Sami could think about right then was being by EJ's side.

"I didn't see anything," said Sami, choosing to answer the first part of his question rather than the second, "I was just standing there talking to EJ and suddenly there was this bang bang noise and EJ was falling to the ground."

"You were really lucky that you weren't caught in the crossfire Sami," said Bo with a frown, "It looks like EJ was shot twice in the back."

Sami didn't feel lucky right then as she watched over Bo's shoulder at the ever growing pool of blood around EJ as the paramedics fought to save his life. She'd let this happen to EJ and the thought was a near crippling one as she watched him struggle for his life.

"So what were you doing here with EJ in the first place?" asked Bo, his frown deepening.

Sami forced herself to look back at Bo, her mind racing to try and cover for herself.

"We were just talking about some business about Mythic," she lied easily.

"In the park?" asked Bo, looking sceptical now.

"We just happened to run into each other here," said Sami distractedly, her eyes going back to EJ now.

"This kind of thing is the reason no one in the family is happy you being in business with EJ DiMera Sami," said Bo with a note of concerned censure in his voice, "That could have easily been you lying on the ground there."

"I wish it was," whispered Sami, knowing that would be so much easier to bear then the knowledge that she'd done this to EJ by her own lack of will power.

"What was that?" asked Bo with a scowl.

"Nothing," mumbled Sami, looking away.

It was hard for her to concentrate on anything else other than what was happening with EJ in actual fact. As soon as the paramedics arrived on the scene they'd made her get out of their way which even though Sami hated to leave EJ she knew she had to. Of course then Bo had arrived and bombarded her with questions but she'd made sure that she kept EJ in eyeshot at all times. Sami couldn't even bear to think about what she would do if the paramedics couldn't save him, it was all she could do to not start screaming and never stop.

"S'mttha."

Sami's heart leapt with joy as soon as she heard EJ's slurred voice call her name and without a second thought she hurried over to him, leaving Bo standing there, looking after her worriedly. She dropped to her knees beside him, trying to keep out of the way of the paramedics who were still working on him. Sami took his hand and squeezed it tightly.

"I'm here EJ," she said shakily, "I'm here, they made me leave you but I was never far away, I promise you, I'll never leave you again, I swear to you."

Sami knew she was babbling but couldn't seem to stop herself, she was just so happy that EJ was talking; it gave her hope that everything really was going to be okay. EJ was young and strong and he could come through this Sami told herself desperately. EJ looked up at her wide eyed, concern written all over his face as he put a shaky hand to her face.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice strained and wispy, not sounding like him at all, "Samantha?"

"I'm alright EJ," she said quickly, putting her hand over his as it cupped her face, her heart filled to overflowing that his only concern would be for her in that moment.

Sami saw the relief flood EJ's face and tears burnt her eyes as she wished with all her heart that she had been the one to suffer Tony's wrath and not him. After all it was her weakness that had brought this down on him. Sami knew she had been playing with fire but had been unable to stop herself around EJ, not matter how hard she tried and now he was paying the price for her failures.

"Smthaa."

He mumbled her name and Sami was barely able to make out what he'd said and she had a million things she needed to tell him, was desperate to tell him but EJ's eyes were sliding shut now and his hand dropped from her face.

"EJ?" she called his name anxiously, "EJ!"

"He's losing pressure," one paramedic said to the other, the two of them exchanging concerned looks, "We need to get him into surgery, fast."

"What is it?" asked Sami in anguish, "He was just talking to me! What's happening?!"

"He's bleeding internally," said the first paramedic grimly, "And there is no way of telling what damage those bullets have done until they open him up. There are no exit wounds so those bullets are still in there."

"We've got to move," said the other paramedic urgently, the one who had been monitoring EJ's blood pressure, "Could you step aside please miss?"

The man gently but firmly pulled Sami away EJ so he could gain better access to him as they both deftly loaded him onto the trolley, strapping EJ in an putting an oxygen mask on him. Sami was nearly sick with fear but she knew breaking down wasn't going to help EJ any right now.

"I want to go with him," she told them.

"You don't have to do that Sami," said Bo, suddenly appearing by her side, "I can get one of the uniform guys to go with him."

"No!" said Sami sharply and Bo gave her a funny look for her vehemence but she couldn't bring herself to care right then, "I-I should go with him. I was with him when it happened, I feel responsible."

"EJ DiMera isn't your responsibility Sami," said Bo grimly, "His family will take care of him I'm sure."

"It wouldn't be right to abandon him now," said Sami, looking her uncle squarely in the eye, "No matter what his last name might be."

Bo regarded the determined set of his niece's jaw knowing it well and nodded finally.

"Alright," he said, "I'll meet up with you at the hospital though, I need to go over your statement again and I want you to get checked out while you are there as well."

"I'm fine Uncle Bo," said Sami hurriedly, not wanting to waste time like that.

"I want to be able to tell your dad that a doctor signed off on that Sami," said Bo determinedly, "This was a close call today, you could have been seriously hurt and I want to make sure that you are okay."

Sami had to wonder if she was ever going to be okay again if EJ didn't make it but she pushed those thoughts from her head. She wasn't even going to think of the worst happening; instead she was just going to pray like she'd never prayed before that God would intervene and make this right again. Sami mumbled her acquiescence to Bo's request, just wanting him to leave her alone so she could be with EJ.

"We're leaving now," one of the paramedics informed her, EJ now safely on board, "Are you coming miss?"

"I am," said Sami quickly and glanced up at Bo, "I'll see you at the hospital Uncle Bo."

She didn't wait for an answer from him but instead just hurried over to the ambulance and climbed into the back of it, leaving her uncle looking after her worriedly. The paramedic riding in the back with them indicated a little seat Sami could sit at that was at EJ's head and she sat down, leaning over him and looking at his upside down face.

"Everything is going to be alright EJ," she whispered to him, stroking his face that still had the oxygen mask on, "I'm here and we are going to be at the hospital soon, you just have to hang in there okay? I need you to hold on EJ."

Large tears dropped from Sami's eyes and splashed down on EJ's increasingly pale cheeks and she brushed them away as the fear that she was about to lose the love of her life gripped Sami. It was like Colleen and Santo all over again only this time around she was Santo. Sami couldn't bear the thought that she might lose EJ as Santo had lost Colleen and she had to stifle a broken sob.

"Don't leave me EJ," she begged him unevenly as the ambulance began to speed towards the hospital, sirens blaring, "Stay with me EJ, please."

oooOOOOooo

Sami sat on the hard, cold plastic seats, staring dully at a spot on the floor. She'd been checked out by the doctors and given a clean bill of health which Sami knew would be the case all along and then answered more of Bo's questions until he finally seemed placated – for the time being anyway. Sami had been doing everything on auto-pilot since she'd gotten to the hospital and they'd whisked EJ away immediately. The doctors were still in with him attempting to stabilise him before taking him to surgery. Every minute that ticked by just made Sami realise how precarious EJ's grip on life must be that it was taking this long to get him stabilised.

"Would you like a cup of coffee Sami?"

Sami looked up and gave a weak smile at the man standing in front of her. She knew him vaguely as Ned Roberts, one of her dad's new recruits at the station. He had a pleasant face and was always polite to her when she visited her father. Ned was currently smiling down at her sympathetically, seeing she was still in no small measure of shock.

"No thank you," she said quietly and then tried to give him a reassuring look, "You don't have to stay with me Detective Roberts, really, I'm fine."

"Your uncle asked that I hang with you for a bit until he can get back," said Ned with an easy smile, "It's no problem and the names Ned."

Sami gave him a little nod and what she hoped was a smile but her whole face felt very numb so she couldn't be sure. She didn't need this man hovering over her right now. Sami knew Bo was perplexed about her concern for EJ and why it was that she felt the need to stay at the hospital but in that moment she didn't feel the need to give him an explanation for her behaviour right now. She was a grown woman Sami argued with herself and she didn't have to justify to her Uncle or anyone else in her family why she was doing this. As soon as she thought that Sami was shocked by it. That was the first time she hadn't thought first of what her family reactions to something she was doing would be and feeling guilty over it. There was a sense of freedom that came with that but also a painful pang that quickly accompanied it when she realised it was bought at EJ's expense.

"You know you really don't have to stay Sami," said Ned easily, "We'll be keeping an eye on Mr DiMera's condition and he's in good hands here at the hospital."

Sami gritted her teeth and tried not to show her annoyance. She was sick and tired of people telling her to leave EJ because that simply wasn't going to happen, not now, not ever again.

"Have you told his father yet?" asked Sami grimly, ignoring Ned's suggestion, "EJ should have his father here."

The words practically choked Sami but she knew it was true. As much as she didn't want to face it EJ loved Stefano and if his presence here in anyway would be a comfort to EJ Sami knew she'd endure the evil old man for his sake. Ned's answer to that question became redundant though as Stefano burst through the waiting room doors, looking nothing like a man nearing the end of his life. EJ had told her Stefano was sick and dying but he certainly didn't look either right then. His dark eyes were spitting fire as he looked around himself.

"Where is my son?!" he bellowed, making everyone within earshot stop and stare at him, "Where is Elvis?!"

"Mr DiMera," said Ned, quickly moving over to the older man, "I'm Detective Roberts, we spoke on the phone-"

"This?!" roared Stefano, waving his hand at Ned in outraged disgust and not letting him finish, "This pup is who they send to investigate the attempted murder of my son?! Is my son's life worth so little?! This is typical of the Brady's – one law for them and one for everyone with the name DiMera! I demand to speak to Captain Brady – this is a travesty! My son is fighting for his life and they send a twelve year old to look for his would be assassin!"

He grabbed at a young female doctor who had just hurried out of the room they were working on EJ in and almost shook him.

"What is happening with my son – I demand to know?!"

Stefano's shouting was drawing attention and what looked like a male nurse came out of EJ's room to go to the aid of his colleague.

"Sir let go of Doctor Singh or I will have to call security," said the male nurse, moving to remove Stefano's hold on the young woman.

"Where is my son?!" bellowed Stefano, obviously having worked himself up into a right state now and not listening to anyone who was trying to quieten him down.

"Mr DiMera-" began Ned again but Stefano jerked away from him.

"Unhand me you whelp!" growled Ned, throwing off his touch, enraged.

"Stop it!" yelled Sami, so loudly that she surprised them both, "Just shut the hell up Stefano!"

Stefano turned to look at her, a fierce look on his face at being spoken to that way but Sami was undeterred.

"You yelling and ranting and throwing your weight around like a crazy person doesn't help anyone Stefano!" said Sami angrily, "Least of all your son! Now if you really want to help EJ just let the police do their job and stop getting in their way! You making a scene just stops everyone from doing their jobs, the doctors included! You're wasting precious seconds EJ might not have by carrying on like this!"

By now everyone within earshot had stopped and stared at Sami after her outburst as she glared at Stefano, too scared about EJ's fate to have enough left over to be frightened of Stefano.

"EJ's life is hanging in the balance," said Sami, her voice shaky but determined, "Just sit down and be quiet and the doctors will tell us both when there is something to tell."

Sami didn't know where all of this self possession on her behalf was coming from other than she knew EJ needed her to do her utmost to keep the situation under control so he could get the best care possible. Stefano nodded slowly, her words seeming to have gotten through to him when no one else could.

"Ms Brady is right," he said slowly and let go of the doctor, looking at her seriously, "Do what it takes to save my son – I can wait for the answers to my questions."

The last past was given with a hard look at Ned, clearly still very unimpressed with the young man seemingly being in charge of his son's case. Sami went and sat back down on her seat and Stefano followed suit, sitting beside her. Ned gave her a worried look and Sami just smiled at him reassuringly.

"On second thought I think I will have a coffee thanks Ned," she said evenly.

Ned looked reluctant to leave her but she just gave him a confident nod.

"I'll be fine," said Sami easily.

"Alright," said Ned, giving Stefano another sceptical look before heading off to get Sami her requested coffee.

Sami and Stefano sat side by side silently for a long moment, both of them keeping watch over the cubicle EJ was still in, the doctors fighting to stabilise him.

"You were with my son when this happened?" asked Stefano, the two of them staring straight ahead.

"Yes," said Sami fighting the feeling of how surreal it was to be keeping a vigil with Stefano DiMera of all people.

"Thank you for not leaving him," said Stefano simply.

"I don't need your thanks Stefano," said Sami grimly.

A little smile touched his lips.

"Now I know why it is my son loves you so deeply," said Stefano at last.

Sami looked at him then, a frown on her face. She wondered if EJ and Stefano had talked about her and tried to work out how she felt about that. Finally Sami realised she didn't care. So what if they had she asked herself? Stefano was a part of EJ's past and she was his future. As soon as he was well enough they could begin their life together, wiping the slate clean of all that had gone before them, she was sure of it. Sami had an instinct that there were still more things EJ was hiding from her but the thought of that didn't daunt her like it used to.

That split second before EJ had been shot Sami was ready to put all of her faith in EJ, for them to face the spectre of Tony together and for her to be completely honest with him about her love for him. Even though the crazed jealousy had bubbled over and caused Tony to do this horrible thing to EJ Sami knew that the decision she'd made hadn't changed one iota. She and EJ were meant to be and nothing and no one was going to stand in the way of that. Before Sami could formulate a response to Stefano's statement one of the doctors immerged from the cubicle EJ was in. Both Sami and Stefano stood up quickly as he walked up to them.

"He's stable," said the doctor dispensing with formalities and Sami tried not to look at his scrubs that were covered in blood – EJ's blood, "For now anyway but his condition is very tenuous. We are prepping him for surgery now – I'll need you to sign permission slips Mrs DiMera so we can get him into surgery as quickly as possible."

"We're not married," said Sami unevenly and wished for all the world that she hadn't been so stubborn for this long because she may well have been able to give a different answer if that had been the case.

"I am his father," said Stefano quickly, seeing the distressed look on Sami's face, "I will sign what you need me to so that my son's life can be saved."

Sami looked down, feeling suddenly incredibly tired and even a little weepy but she steeled herself, knowing EJ didn't need her tears right then. Stefano signed the doctor's forms while Sami became lost in her own thoughts for a moment.

"Can I see my son before he goes to surgery?" asked Stefano and that brought Sami's attention back to the here and now as she looked at the doctor with the same expectant face that Stefano was wearing.

"There is no time," said the doctor with a shake of his head, "I'm sorry but we really don't have a minute to spare if we are to save this man's life."

Sami's stomach muscles contracted painfully as she looked into the doctor's eyes and saw how truly dire the situation was. Stefano nodded silently, obviously seeing the urgency in the other man as well. They both watched as he took the consent forms and hurried back to the cubicle EJ was in, leaving them standing there, both with their own dark thoughts.

oooOOOOooo

Sami leant back in her chair, not even noticing how uncomfortable it was, instead just glad of a few minutes by herself. She and Stefano had been keeping a vigil in the waiting room for the last two hours, waiting on news of how EJ's surgery was going. Stefano had gone to make a few business phone calls and that had seemed to mean that Ned felt it was safe to leave her alone for a few minutes while he went to the bathroom so Sami was sitting there alone, enjoying her brief solitude. She closed her eyes, fighting back all of her fears.

"Please God," she prayed, her voice little more than a whisper, "Don't take him from me, please – I couldn't bear it."

"Samantha Brady praying to God," a voice mused above her head, "I would have thought you'd have used up all of your wishes with that particular genie long ago my dear."

Sami's eyes snapped open at the sound of the mocking voice and immediately felt a huge surge of anger.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" she asked him bitterly, hating the way Tony was so casually longing against the desk, as though he didn't have a care in the world.

"Why I've just gotten word that my little brother's life is hanging by a thread," said Tony, feigning a wounded look, "Where else would I be Samantha?"

"You sick, twisted animal!" spat out Sami as she stood up and faced off against him, "You're the reason this happened to EJ! You did this!"

"Samantha," tutted Tony, giving her a mock wounded look, "What a thing to say and so loudly, with so little regard for the consequences of your slander I might add."

Sami's eyes narrowed at his thinly veiled threat.

"So am I too late?" asked Tony and there was no hiding the eagerness on his face, "Has my poor little brother already passed onto a better place?"

"He's in surgery," said Sami through gritted teeth.

"Oh," said Tony, pursing his lips thoughtfully, "We'll that's good news now isn't it? I was so very worried."

"You make me sick Tony," said Sami bitterly.

"Well just as well we are in a hospital eh?" he said with a little laugh, "It's worked out nicely all the way round don't you think?"

"I'm going to wipe that smug smile of your face-" Sami began angrily but Tony interrupted.

"How?" he asked her with a chuckle, "By revealing what it is you think I've done – is that it my dear?"

"I don't think I know!" said Sami harshly, "And I'm going to make sure everyone else knows as well!"

"I promise you Samantha," said Tony with a little knowing smile, "If you pursue this you will regret it in ways you never dreamed possible."

"You're really getting off on this aren't you?!" asked Sami in disbelief, "This is how you get your jollies isn't it, creating pain and destruction wherever you go?!"

"It's a dull boy who doesn't have a hobby," replied Tony in amusement, obviously finding her outrage very entertaining.

"You are so sick," said Sami in disgust, "You're a sociopath Tony!"

"You say sociopath I say someone who is highly goal orientated and a go getter," said Tony mockingly, "But call it what you will I think you understand by now just how serious I am about all of this."

Sami didn't say anything, not giving him the satisfaction.

"So my dear," continued on Tony almost conversationally, "I hope for your sake and the sake of everyone else you love that you are better at keeping your mouth shut then you are your legs-"

Sami gasped in outrage at his disgusting rudeness but Tony continued on unconcerned.

"Because just remember even if Elvis makes it through surgery which we are all praying he will of course," said Tony smoothly, "Hospitals are dangerous places to be in what with all the infections that are floating around. If my brother survives this surgery he is still a long ways from being out of the woods and in such a very vulnerable state. His only real hope is you Samantha and I'm sure he would like to think he can count on you."

Sami didn't say anything, not trusting herself to speak right then but Tony seemed pretty confident he had all the angles covered and obviously didn't feel the need for her agreement.

"Well that's settled then," said Tony happily and gave Sami a confident smile, "I do so enjoy our little chats Samantha, very edifying I must say."

"This isn't over Tony," she said flatly, not going down without a fight.

"Oh I beg to differ Samantha," said Tony, straightening up smiling down at her, "That is exactly what this is. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go and comfort my grieving father. It's so very important to have family around you in trying times like these I find."

Sami watched in disgust as he shoved his hands in his pockets and started to amble unhurriedly off down the hallway in search of Stefano and leaving a seething Sami in his wake.