A/N So Steve was funny to all? most of you? Good, I'm terrible at writing anything comical for others since my own sense of humour is so odd. Writing this chapter was a bit more difficult than writing anything with EJ in it usually is. I really shouldn't go away for a long weekend when I'm in the middle of a story...

Last week I got a pleasant surprise. MissD had made a trailer with ThreeDs help for this fic and it's the first montage she has made for EJami. I would like to ask everyone to watch it and leave an encouraging comment for her if you haven't done so already. She has a talent that shouldn't be wasted (and no, I don't mean a drunken gift). You can find the trailer at Youtube by searching with words Anam Cara Trailer.

Thank you for reading everyone!

Chapter 25

It was pitch-black and Sami couldn't see anything. She was sitting in the back seat in the car while EJ and Steve were discussing what to do next.
"I'm going to walk around the area and see what I can find. You'll stay here with her and keep an eye on that trailer", EJ said reaching to the door.
"I'll do that", Steve stopped him and nodded to Sami, "I think it's better if you'll stay and keep her safe." Sami expected to hear an objection but witnessed only a silent capitulation. Steve stepped out of the car and closed the door as quietly as possible. EJ took his night sight binoculars and stared through them into the distance. Sami didn't realize she was biting her lip until she tasted blood in her mouth. He was so close and yet so far.

"Do you wan to tell me what is this all about?" she asked finally.
"I don't", he said still avoiding her gaze.
"Tell me anyway." He snorted as he heard her request.
"They were right, these things always come out in a way or another", EJ paused and lowered the binoculars, "I stumbled on a smugglers ring. I asked John and Steve to help. We've been tracking them for few months now and tonight was supposed to be the clean end to that particular scheme."
"Why did Steve say that your plans failed after I told him about Lucas and the twins? Is Lucas involved?!"
"Samantha please, keep your voice down", EJ finally turned to look at her, "Yes, Lucas is involved."
"What are they smuggling?" Sami asked with a trembling voice.
"The less you know, the safer you'll be Samantha", EJ replied turning to watch into the darkness again. Sami wasn't about to give up.
"Lucas has my babies. I need to know what he's gotten himself into." EJ took a deep breath.
"Drugs."
"Drugs!" Sami screamed instinctively, "And you've known this for months! Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't John tell me? I'm the mother of those twins and I need to know if they are endangered by their father!"
"Samantha!" his stern tone calmed her, "I didn't know that Lucas was involved until recently and by then", he stopped and Sami thought she saw pity in his eyes, "by then Lucas was no longer actively involved with the twins. John assured me of that."

Sami took deep breaths. She didn't know what to think. She was worried about her children but just knowing that EJ was helping her to find them, was enough to reassure her.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked. EJ remained silent refusing to asnwer, "Are you doing this to get back at Lucas? Are you doing this for-"
"There's no reason for me to get back at Lucas. I'm just doing the society a small favour. And no, I'm not doing this for you", he had interrupted her and spoken quickly like reciting a mantra. Sami wanted more details than he was giving her:
"If you are not doing this for me, then why are you? Why did you come back and risk exposure if it wasn't for me? Why are you helping me to find Kath and Johnny?" Slowly EJ turned to look at her once again. He waited for her to meet his gaze before saying slowly:
"Because I love them. I love Kath and Johnny as they were my blood, my own children. A piece of paper telling me that there isn't a biological connection between me and those twins isn't, never was, enough to squash my love for them." When he was sure that she had understood him, EJ turned to look out into the distance again. Sami was shaking. Ever since she had learnt that Lucas, not EJ, was the father of her twins she had wished to change it. During those long lonely nights while waiting for Lucas to return home from the arms of one of his mistresses, Sami had dreamed of an alternative universe where her children would be EJs and where they would be together. She and EJ would have a happy family, lovely home and caring friends. Now, EJ had crushed that dream by practically announcing that even if the twins had been his, it wouldn't have been enough for him to forgive her and overlook the lie she told. EJ loved the twins in spite of their true paternity but had still walked away from her. Sami felt a tear running down her face. She wiped it away quickly before EJ had to chance to notice her crying.

"They are beautiful children Samantha", EJ said suddenly, "I've been visiting them at the penthouse when ever I was in town. In case you were wondering, it was never planned. If Marlena wasn't home we met at the penthouse and by coincidence those were the times you preferred to let John spent time with the twins. I was planning to stop before they could tell you about me." Sami was shaking her head and fighting back the tears:
"If you want it, you should keep on seeing them. EJ, I want you to be part of their lives even if you wont be part of mine." Their gazes met in the rear-view mirror. Sami thought that he was about to say something before Steve returned and interrupted them.
"I was right. Lucas is in one of those trailers. I heard the twins cry while he was arguing with his lawyer", Steve smirked, "It sounded like a lovers quarrel to me."
"If she'll have him, he'll sleep with her", Sami replied with a jaded tone.
"She was a he", Steve said waiting for a some kind of reaction. Sami disappointed him by saying:
"Lucas has a new lawyer? Mum didn't say anything." EJ spoke trying to keep the corners of his mouth steady:
"We need a plan."