"I'm sorry," Mercedes stated as she walked into Sam's home. "I just needed..."

"Couldn't wait until tonight?" Sam teased, he had answered the door despite the fact that he was only in a pair of grey sweats, a towel around his shoulders and his hair tousled from being dried. Mercedes couldn't help herself, despite everything she burst into to tears. "Have a seat." Sam offered kindly, as her sobbing continued. She took a seat on his battered old leather sofa, and he sat down beside her and wrapped an arm around her.

"What's happening Cedes'?" He asked her looking extremely concerned.

"They arrested Ryder and Marley's dead." She responded.

"Marley Rose?" Shock was evident on his face. She nodded. "What happened to her?"

"Dad thinks she was murdered."

"Murder?" Sam looked pale. "Oh Marls." He sighed. "Poor girl." He added, pulling Mercedes closer.

"I just can't go back to the hotel right now." She told him, sniffing a little.

"You can stay here for now." He told her with a small smile, she was clearly distressed and he tried to hide his own sadness at the news.

On Lima Island everyone knew everyone, and Marley Rose was no exception. Sam thought of her mother, who had died at Schuster's hands all those years ago, Marley was the last member of her family standing, his own siblings Stevie and Stacie had been sent of the island after the Schuster attacks to live with an uncle, but he remembered Marley playing with them when they were all kids. Stacie had wanted to be like 'Larley' as she'd called her.

Worse then that, Sam knew Mercedes didn't believe Ryder had done it, but Sam wasn't so sure. Mercedes had been away a long time, there was a lot she didn't know.

Rachel Berry sighed, one of bridesmaids Kitty Wilde, had sent a note to say her dog had been injured and that she'd gone to the mainland, and the scavenger hunt had been draining when Unique and Rory had argued so much that after a storm off Jesse had ended up chasing after Rory and she had chased after Unique. She'd wanted to spend the day with her fiancé, instead she'd spent it listening to Unique rant about Rory.

What she needed was a nice warm bath, Jesse would be in any moment and she knew he might even join her in the tub, if she played her cards right. She closed the white curtains, that led to a small balcony before she stripped and then covered her self in a see though silk robe, an engagement gift from Kitty, and rummaged through the draws of the oak dresser beside the King sized bed, her and Jesse shared for the week.

Finally finding a towel and a packet of complementary bath salts she wondered into the bathroom and towards the tub, blood lined the floor, which made her shudder. Had Jesse cut himself and not bothered to clean up? If so she'd be having words.

Cautiously she took a step towards the bath tub and let out a scream, she heard the hotel room door open and Jesse rushed into the room, stopping in his tracks as he saw what she was looking at.

"Fuck." He cursed, wrapping an arm around her and taking in the sight. In the bath tub lay the head of a deer, eyes wide open staring at them, it was surrounded by blood as though someone had preformed the decapitation in their bathtub. "Fuck." He repeated.

As darkness set in, Mercedes sat on Sam's couch, head in hands, still in disbelief at what had happened. Sam placed a steaming mug of hot chocolate on the glass coffee table in front of her.

"I'm sorry." She stated as she noted the hot drink in front of her, lifting her head from her hands and focusing on the wooden laminate floor. "I can't stay." She sighed, beginning to get to her feet. Sam gently pulled her back down, wrapping an arm around her. "No Sam," She turned to face him, taking in his green eyes which were studying her carefully. "I have to get Ryder out."

"Mercedes," Sam sighed, thinking for a moment before he carried on. "I know how much this is going to hurt, but he may be guilty."

"No." She snapped at him. "No Sam." She snapped again. "He is innocent." Sam knew better then to argue back. "That boy is many things Sam, I'll be the first to say that. He's rude, he's arrogant, he can be a class A dick and yes he's a pain in the ass, but Sam he has a good heart underneath it all and he sure as anything is not a killer." She looked at him, eyes narrowed. "So I'm going to convince my father to let him go, and you can come with me or you can stay here, but I don't want to hear another word about Ryder being anything but innocent."

Sam sighed. "Okay Cedes'," He got to his feet. "let's go free Ryder."

"Good grief," Sherrif Jones looked over the edge of the bathtub. "What a sight." He sighed looking to the officer beside him. Officer Karofsky nodded his agreement.

"Looks like a warning chief." Karofsky observed.

"I can't argue there." Was the response. "I don't like this." He stated.

"What sir?" Karofsky asked, he didn't think a deer's head could cause that much trouble.

"First Marley Rose dies with that ink in her eyes, then Emma Pillsbury calls to say the reverend has gone MIA and now this," He gestured to the bathtub. "it's all too familiar." He sighed.

"Sir," Karofsky looked a little apprehensive. "Ryder St James couldn't have murdered Marley Rose, put the head in the bathtub and made it back like the witnesses said."

"Yes I know." The sherrif sighed.

"I'm getting you out of here." Mercedes stated the second she saw Ryder Lynn through the bars of the cell.

"Hey Cedes'." Ryder gave her a small smile, he looked like hell. His eyes were red rimmed and he looked exhausted.

"I'm getting Jesse and Rachel and we'll call a lawyer and..."

"No need." Mercedes turned to see her father stood behind them a set of keys in his hand. "He can go." Her father spoke. "For now." He added coolly.

"Dad." Mercedes responded, what was she supposed to say to him after his actions seven years ago?

"Daddy no." She cried, as he lifted her suitcase and walked out the house with it. "You can't make me leave." She bit her lip, as tears formed.

"Mercedes get into the car." Her father instructed, she thought about arguing but then she saw his face and did as he asked.

"Do I not get goodbye?" She asked, as tears trickled down her face. "What about my friends dad?" She sobbed. "What about my life?" She asked as they reached the islands main road. Her dad remained silent. "Daddy please." She sobbed. "Please Daddy." He said nothing. "I need you." She sobbed. He remained wordless.

She studied her father now, seven years later looking run down and exhausted from being sheriff for years, from losing his wife and daughter and from sending his second child away. She couldn't decide whether she thought he deserved it or not, but she spoke anyway. "Dad we need to go," She all but snapped, shooting her father a look. "Ryder, Sam." She turned to the men either side of her, and gestured to the door.

"Cedes'," Her dad made her pause for a moment. "could we," He looked pained. "can we have a coffee together?"

Feeling guilty she nodded. "Yes daddy I'd like that." The smallest of smiles flickered on his lips as she turned and walked away.