Chapter 21

Sonny insisted on breaking. He made a mess of the board, managing to sink only one ball. He missed his next shot, only adding to the mess. Sam managed to sink the 6, but it was a struggle. She sank the 3 next, but the 12 slid in behind. Sonny smiled and took aim. Sam studied him, again he sank nothing, but created more chaos on the table. Sam missed completely. She was embarrassed as the crowd started to dissipate. Sonny shot again, and as the balls flew around something clicked in Sam's head.

"You aren't even trying!" She accused. There was no way he was this bad at pool.

Sonny smiled. "That depends on what you think I'm trying to do."

Sam took her shot, again she missed. She was never this bad. Somehow she knew this was all Sonny's fault.

"You play pretty well," Sam stared at Sonny. "When you break and take control of the table. And even if you miss once or twice the other guy is so determined to beat you, that they don't throw any obstacles in your path."

Sonny bent down and cleared the table in three shots.

"Big deal, you beat a little kid at pool…you must be so proud." Sam spat and tried to walk away casually.

"You need to be ready Sam…ready for what the other guy sends your way….ready to not be in control…that's the only way you can win."

"Dinner's ready!" Bobbie called out. Sam stood in silence as Sonny walked by her and joined the others at the table.

"Sam you've hardly touched your plate." Bobbie admonished.

Sam was startled by the address, she'd spent most of the dinner trying to be invisible…it had worked mostly, though she was sure Sonny was staring at her. "I'm, I'm not real hungry."

"Alexis told me to make sure you ate."

Now Sam was annoyed. She had way too many people telling her what to do. Judges, lawyers, doctors, Alexis. She stopped herself just before snapping at Bobbie. She took a breath…courtesy. Bobbie deserved it, she'd been nothing but kind to Sam. "I guess I filled up on the appetizers and cookies."

Bobbie raised an eyebrow. "Sam you had a glass of punch and two cookies when you first arrived."

The hell? Was she living under a microscope now or what? She couldn't eat…was that a crime now…her stomach was in knots. Before she could come up with another excuse, she saw something that caught her eye.

"Boss" A man approached Sonny. "Robin says he's asking about the little girl."

Sonny said something Sam couldn't hear.

"No, not yet." The man answered.

"Then no."

"But Boss…"

"I'll explain to Robin." Sonny stood up and stretched. "I've got to make a phone call, I'll be over in 5."

"Sam…" Bobbie prodded, she must have been waiting for Sam to reply.

Sam watched as Sonny went up the staircase, anger consuming her. Stone wanted to see her, and Sonny said no…he had no right. Sam stood up suddenly, knocking the table as she did. "I've got to go."

"I don't think..."

"To the bathroom, I'll be right back." Sam faked her way to the hall, then circled back, ran out of the penthouse before Bobbie could see her. She went directly to the guard at the door. "Hi! Sonny told me Stone was ready to see me now." She said with a bright smile.

The guard sized her up with a doubtful gaze. "I don't know…"

"Look, I don't want to keep Stone waiting." Sam said solemnly. "That won't score you any points with Sonny."

He looked across the hall, but saw no one. "Okay."

"Thank you and Merry Christmas." She added for good measure.

The livingroom was empty, devoid of any signs of Christmas…or life in general. Sam climbed the stairs slowly. Robin met her halfway up.

"Hi Sam, where's Alexis?" Robin had black circles under her eyes and Sam could tell she'd been crying recently.

"Oh, she'll be here in a minute. I heard Stone wanted to see me."

Robin nodded, but looked around…"Maybe we should hold off for a little bit."

"Please, I won't stay long."

"He's not really himself right now. The pain is pretty intense and the meds don't seem to be helping much. It's hard for him to talk." Sam felt a little dizzy. "He can't see…" Robin's voice trailed off, and Sam realized the older girl was crying. "I need to catch my breath, but if he asks, I'll be right back up okay?"

"I'll tell him." Sam passed Robin quickly, before she could change her mind and entered the room.

She could hear Stone's labored breathing from the door. The lights were off, she could barely make out the bed. When she was close enough to see, Stone seemed to be sleeping. She sat quietly and grabbed his hand. He turned toward her and opened his mouth to speak. What came out was barely a slur and Sam had no idea what he was saying.

"It's okay Stone, it's just me…Sam," she added, not sure he would recognize her voice, she barely recognized it herself, it was so shaky and small. "Robin will be right back."

She squeezed his hand, and he seemed to relax. She wanted to say something, but nothing came to mind. She wanted to comfort him, somehow, but she wasn't. She wanted to run, but she didn't.

The minutes ticked by in near silence. Stone's raspy breathing and the soft whirl of machines the only sound. It seemed a year before Robin came back. Sam stood instinctively and offered her the seat she'd been in.

"No, that's okay." Robin said as she climbed into bed with Stone. She kissed him on the cheek and closed her eyes.

"Should I go?" Sam asked.

Robin opened her eyes again. "It's up to you. He's asleep again."

Sam didn't ask, but she honestly didn't know how Robin knew that.

"Did you have a good Christmas?"

Sam nodded stupidly. Not fully comprehending the question.

Stone groaned loudly, and his arm started to twitch, then his side, then all of him. Robin was up instantly, forcing something into his mouth then holding his face. "It's okay Stone, it's okay, it's almost over."

Sam didn't remember standing up, running down the stairs and out of the apartment. And she didn't have the first idea how she ended up here. The roof was covered with a couple inches of snow. It was dark and probably cold. She didn't notice. She wondered if Stone was dead. She wondered if it hurt to die. Sam let her eyes close.

She heard someone step onto the roof and speak cryptically . "On the roof." He didn't approach Sam, but he didn't leave either.

A few minutes later she heard a familiar voice. "Shit…what the hell happened?" Sonny barked.

"Sam, Sam, honey open your eyes." Alexis shouted. Sam tried to comply, but it was too hard. She felt arms lift her and pull her off the ground, something warm covered her.