*I apologize for the long delay in updating. I will confess it was due in part to the lack of reviews as this indicates to me that there is little interest in the story. However, I have one fan who assures me she is still interested in the fate of Sam and Mike. So this one's for you krazyk25!!!! Thank you so much for your support and encouragement!
Now, on with the tale.
Chapter 12
Life and Love
Life took on a semblance of normalcy for Sam and Mike over the next several weeks. He had several days of sick time and vacation accrued that he insisted he use to usher her around to various doctor's appointments and social services. She was fortunate enough to qualify for several services to help offset the cost of her hospital tests and stay. Until she and Mike were married, she had no claims on his insurance, and as she was not employed she had none of her own. As it was, she still owed a hefty amount in back rent and utilities at her old apartment, and she lamented that she had no idea where to squeeze another dime from.
Mike just waggled his eyebrows and offered a few lewd suggestions. She laughed and slapped at him playfully. "Get your mind out of the gutter and help me! This is serious…the management company for the apartment complex wants to take me to court, Mike." Her brow furrowed.
He pulled her to him in a comforting embrace, "I offered to give you the money…" she snorted, "I know, you won't take money from anyone, even if you were starving. But sweetie, it's just money. You can pay me back if it makes you feel better, hell, I'll even charge interest. I want to help you."
She pulled his face down for a quick hard kiss. "I know you do, but I live life by my set of principles…I need to, after living with my mother. Mike, she had no principles; she'd take money, drugs, sex, anything from people…just take and take and take, until they had nothing left to give. I won't live like that, please don't ask me."
He looked into her beautiful green eyes and saw…himself. Living by his own iron-clad set of rules, right is right…wrong is wrong, left is left…right is right. Nodding his head in agreement, he took her into his arms for a gentle embrace. Sometimes iron-clad principles were forged in the fires of suffering.
When Bobby and Sam went out for their weekly 'date' for coffee and pastry, she broke down and told him of her financial woes. Almost losing her before he'd given her a chance weighed heavily on his heart, and he began the long process of regaining her trust soon after her release from the hospital. Over the last few weeks she'd come to look forward to their time together at the café outside PP1.
He had some good advice and some connections. "May I speak to the landlord, Sam? It's possible something might be worked out."
"Maybe I should be the one to speak with him, surely it would look better if…"
He gathered her small hands in his big ones, squeezing gently."Under normal circumstances, yes…however, in your case I believe the presence of an officer of the law may turn the tide in your favor."
It was so hard for her to lean on someone else for a change. For so many years she was the only person she had who was trustworthy, and that is what made it difficult now to let go and trust Bobby to do what was right. She was coming to believe, however, that he truly had her best wishes at heart.
"Sure, big brother…why not?" by the look of contented joy on his face, she could surmise that both her capitulation and her nickname for him, had both surprised and pleased him.
A week and a half later she opened a letter from the Winston Group and Associates and turned to Logan with a confused smile. "They've dropped the law suit. They say I don't owe any money at all…I…I don't understand…" Logan smiled tenderly back, but chose not to enlighten her. In fact, the entire unit at the PP1 pooled together and covered her actual debt…minus the amount the landlord was attempting to steal from the management company of the apartment complex. Both he and Bobby had paid the asshole a 'friendly' visit and persuaded him that it would be in his best interest to cease all extortion practices or certain sensitive details would be strategically leaked in undesirable places. As Goren had ferreted out all of his less admirable business practices, and to whom he owed large debts…the landlord proved to be a most wise and prudent man.
As soon as that mess was cleared up, Sam felt an enormous weight lift from her shoulders. Even Mike sensed a change in the dynamics of their relationship; she was more easily affectionate in public, more confident in private, and able to say the words 'I love you' with frequency, in spite of his inability to give her them back. God, I wish I had your strength…the thought of losing her because of his own stubborn pride snuck through his mind like a thief, stealing his resolve to keep his heart locked up tight against rejection and pain. He compensated by showering her with gifts and coddling her until she had to escape to Bobby and Alex's just to get some alone time.
"Don't get me wrong," she hastily explained to her quietly listening sister-in-law, "I love him dearly, and am happy to be waited on hand and foot…on occasion! He takes it to the extreme!"
Alex chuckled. "Come on sweetie, how bad could it be? The Mike I know couldn't be bothered to fetch a female a cup of coffee, unless he wanted into her pants."
Sam snorted, then nearly choked with laughter at the mental picture of her fiancé offering some blonde bimbo in lock up a cup of coffee and saying, with a lewd grin, 'sooo…come here often?'
"God, that's a picture I'd like to see," she gasped, trying to catch her breath. "Seriously, he makes me breakfast in bed every morning, whether I want to stay there or not…sometime I'd like to eat on the patio…he follows me around the house asking if I feel alright and do I need anything…Alex, he practically followed me into the bathroom! I had to literally turn him around and physically push him out the door! I'm being smothered to death!"
Alex shook her head, smiling. Mike had it bad. "Honey, I'll have Bobby talk to him and find out what's going on. It sounds like he's scared of losing the two of you. Did you ever think that this could be a demonstration of just how much he cares for you?"
Sam grew very still as the shock of that statement sent a jolt throughout her system. Could it be as simple…and wonderful as that? Joy flooded her as the thought permeated her entire being, and Alex blinked at the radiance shining in her eyes.
"No…no I hadn't. Do you think he does care deeply?" her question was tentative but hopeful.
As a woman who was both deeply loved and freely returned that love in spades, she felt confident in stating "Yes Sam, I believe that the signs are there. He loves you…he just doesn't know how to say it, so he shows you. Bobby was the same way, but he learned how." She didn't tell her that Bobby learned how to say the words only after she was very nearly killed while they were investigating a case.
Sam sighed. "I wish I had your confidence. I love him so much, Alex…but I now know, it will never be enough for the both of us…I don't know if I can go through with this wedding…"
Alex looked at her with shock.
