Chapter 5
Small warning - This is a chunky chapter. Super chunky. If the others are around 5k words, this is 15k.
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"You're a hero Sam. I made sure of it."
If Sam could facepalm without hurting himself, he would.
It had been a few days since the 'event'. An attempt for Sam to speed up the narrative. A failed attempt at that.
"You really shouldn't have. I don't want the attention."
"Yes, well… think about it as marketing."
"Wait, when did you tell the media?"
"Just before coming in here… Why?"
Sam made a quick call to his lawyers to stop it.
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The power of money was powerful. No one would be allowed to refer to me without a legal team breathing down their neck. Sam gave Kester a strong talking too.
"Let's just say that I wouldn't want the kids to even hear about some Ice Truck Killer."
"I know that isn't the truth, but your right." Kester sat on the bed next to him for no reason other than to be annoying. "How is it?"
"What, the hole in my gut? Just fine."
"Why were you even out there in the first place?"
Sam looked towards the door. It was a single room and he had been there for two days. He had woken up yesterday after his surgery.
Now Sam had no plans to tell anyone, let alone Kester. It just wasn't going to happen.
"I'm just trying to protect you. I can't tell you at all."
"So this is connected with why you won't talk to me anymore." He stood up cupping his chin into his hand. "You did start around October. That was-" A creepy smile appeared on his friend's face. He leaned into Sam's ear. "Are you the Ice Truck Killer?"
"Wha- No! Never! Why would you think like that?" Then Kester started laughing. "Don't do that to me."
"You have to admit that it looks suspicious. You come to Florida to 'get away'." Kester put emphasis on the 'get away' part. "Then as you start working at a police station, a serial killer pops up. Cutting people to shreds."
"Just shut up. No! I would never do that." Sam wanted to be angry at his friend, but it was partially his fault his best friend was acting out like this. He wasn't the only one feeling the pressure. "Also what was up with your face there? What do you want me to be that sicko?" A part of him thought of the actor and not the character. It was just a novel, a tv show. It wasn't really real. Yet, these people around him were real. The whole world was in 2006. Reality differed from what it should be.
"Sam, I know you wouldn't ever do that. I doubt you could even hurt a bunny. I'm sorry about that. You just don't talk to me like you used to do. I want to know what I've done wrong so I can fix it. I want us to go back to the way we used to be. Friends." Kester was pleading with him.
"I… I can't. Not yet. I do have things I need to take care of first." Sam sighed. "If you go back to Montana or if you want to go on vacation, I will give you all the money you need to relax. Just get out of Florida for now." Especially now that he was involved in the narrative. He had no intentions of losing his best friend.
"I'm not going to leave you. Look at what you got yourself into. It's a complete mess. You know without me, the cops had believed that you were involved with the Ice Truck Killer. I already called your lawyers about that and they took care of it. Seriously, what are you thinking."
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Due to what he had done, Sam did have to be questioned by the police. Not that he had to answer them at all, but he had to be present.
He did assault Deb, but his lawyers claimed he did that in self defense. Which was true. All he did was run. While suspicious, it wasn't a crime. Also they claimed that he had been out and about after work to go on one of his runs and that was the whole reason he was there. Shouting caught Sam's attention and then he happened to be stabbed by Neil Perry. Scared and fleeing, Sam ran away not knowing what to do. It was an easy win with thousands of dollars an hour. Technically they were on retainer, but it didn't really matter.
"But you have to admit Mr. Zillo. Right after your shift at the police station, you just happen to be at the same place where the Ice Truck Killer is located?" Deb was there questioning him along with Angel.
She did bring up a good point. It was suspicious, but not illegal when he thought someone might be in danger on private property.
The worst part was that his lawyers knew this wasn't true, but the police wouldn't be able to prove anything either. However, because there was an active investigation, he wouldn't be able to go into work.
"Can I ask why a children's book writer decided to come to Florida?" Angel didn't like the nice guy he usually was.
Again, Sam didn't have to answer. His lawyers did all the talking. After all just because he was rich, didn't mean he wasn't allowed to get a job as a janitor.
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Sam hated jello. The texture was just all wrong. Red and… weird. He hated it. Thankfully being rich and having a VIP room did allow him to get some a bit more reasonable.
"Yogurt… yum."
The knife didn't hit anything vital. Actually other than going into his skin, it didn't hit anything. Sure his muscles were a big hit, but all-in-all he was fine. The only reason he had surgery was a piece of fabric had gotten stuck. Antibiotics to take care of the rest.
Now the only reason Sam wasn't freaking out, was that he wasn't at the same hospital where Tony was being treated. If Brian had been in the same hospital as Sam, he would have freaked out.
Not everything was sunshine and rainbows either. He stood out in a big way. Not only did he not hide his identity, they now believed him to be working together with the Ice Truck Killer. Actually he could have sworn Debora thought him to be the mastermind and Neil was his minion.
A rich guy finds and tries to silence his partner before he is caught by police. It was a worst-case scenario and made sense with how Debora and Angel asked their questions.
Either way Dexter now knew about him. It would be naïve if he didn't. Brian would too and depending how he felt, Sam could easily be killed. His only advantage was that he knew about them and exactly who they were. If cornered, telling them personal information would give him a chance to get away.
"That was how they did it in the movies, right?"
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"…sorry about that. I'll make it up to you. Pick whatever place you want, I will get you a spot. You can even bring your grandchildren."
"No need for that Sam."
"Jorge, you've done a lot for me. I just want you to know that I owe you."
Sam had been on the phone with Jorge. Other than the obvious that he was quitting his job, Sam decided he would repay the man who stuck with him. Honor wasn't really the word he was looking for, but he thought it fit. 'A brotherhood?' Same thought about the word he wanted to use.
It didn't matter about the word he realized. He respected the man who gave him a second chance when the world fell apart around him. If he could, he would give him whatever he needed.
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Without a job, Sam's apartment became his home once more. With lawyers, he made sure that now more than ever, the building owner increases security. It was what they offered, but they were a bit relaxed. It felt like bullying, it was, but he needed it to survive. It should make leaving the only time he could be attacked. Which made it very difficult to push himself to go outside.
Then again he had stitches on his stomach that needed to be healed, so rest was the best thing for himself right now.
News told him about another murder that took place. At first he thought it was related to the Ice Truck Killer, but they were separate stories. So he ended up focusing on the fact that Neil Perry was the current Ice Truck Killer. A case was being built against him, but for now he was locked away. It was for the best.
That brought up another thought. His goal was to remove Neil Perry from being the Ice Truck Killer so that the investigation could go faster. That was if he got caught alone. That plan did fail, but he could make some efforts to change that. The problem was how to tackle it.
He couldn't go in person and suggest Neil Perry being the killer. Not only would no one listen to him, but they were going after Sam because how could he have that information. Plus even if he sent in that information anonymously, no one would take it seriously until after the fact.
He could send a message to the FBI and get their attention. Actually he could use his money to influence them into sending the big guns to Florida. That could end this whole 'season' of events quickly. After all, even Dexter was fearful of the FBI. Then again it could just make Brian leave Florida until things cooled down. Sure he was obsessed with his brother, but it was a risk Sam didn't want to take.
If he needed to do something within the plot of the show, then Sam needed the plot to stay close to his memory. But he was at the point where he wanted to risk it and end this whole thing before it goes any further. So there was some risk he was willing to put in.
Of course he had his taser next to him at all times in case anything did happen.
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Once it hit the news, Sam smiled.
His next plan of action was a much less stressful and high risk situation.
Of the main cast, who could he talk to. Dexter and Brian were out of the question. Two head honchos that would and could kill him. Debora was another that fell into that category as her mouth let loose plot conveniences for Dexter. James Doakes was another that was best left untouched. He was a bit too lawful for this whole thing anyways.
Maria and… "Masuka?" the other forensics guy. His timeline was in his room and Sam just didn't want to get up and confirm his name. Those two were also out of the question as he just wouldn't be able to really talk to them.
That left Angel Batista as his only hope. It also was a good point of 'attack' too. Doakes shot and killed a man. Sam knew him to be the war criminal or whatever, but the news didn't know that yet. That meant Angel was having doubts about the man. Blue brotherhood over integrity. In the show he ended up choosing integrity. Of course it came at a small cost, but in the end everything was all good.
Sam would be able to meet with him, alone if he was careful, and talk to the guy. His main goal was to make sure Neil Perry wasn't the Ice Truck Killer. They needed to speed the search up for Brian. Doing so should allow the narrative to pick up.
Now Sam did hate himself quite a bit. He was going to be intentionally manipulating a man. Well he planned to hit him when he had the advantage, but it was all the same. Like his ambush on Perry, Sam wasn't entirely sure how to go about it either. Well he thought he was right the first time… now he wasn't as confident. Having a hole in his belly really dealt a heavy blow to him.
He did have an idea in mind, he just happened to be hesitant.
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It's late at night. Crickets are making their noise outside. There were a few cars left that night. Thankfully only a few people knew about Sam, so he was able to hide behind a pillar.
As a janitor, he knew how to get access. Sure what he was doing was illegal, but trespassing at worst. Plus all he had to do to not make it seem like he was a killer himself, Sam just had his red and black flip phone against his ear.
A fedora passed by and Sam made his move.
"Detective Batista, nice to meet you again." Sam was a good distance away and there was no one else around, but it didn't surprise Sam when the man in front of him reached for his gun. "Not here to hurt you."
"You got a lot of nerve sneaking up on a cop." Should Sam consider that a growl when he had the man in front of him cornered… so to speak. Sam was sweating himself. He was putting up a façade just to move the narrative along.
"Look, I don't want any trouble. All I want to do is to help." Sam held out a business card with one hand while the other was above his head. "Read this. Don't read it out loud. If you find that it interests you, then meet me there. Wear something nice though… It would be easier that way."
Angel looked at him and around the area. It was a police station, but due to recent events, it wasn't a home field advantage. In the end he took the card.
"Really?"
Sam wanted to be cool and had already left by the time Angel read the card, but he didn't get too far before being spotted. Sam just waved back.
All he wrote other than the location of the next meet was that he had information on Neil Perry. If Dexter got wind of it, then it might get him off the trail, but he should be with his brother at his dad's house. It gave him some time to deal with this whole thing.
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Was Sam nervous? Yes, he really was. Was he also excited? Indeed.
The restaurant was thankful to have his money. He bought it out, just so he could have dinner with Angel. Rather than a romantic dinner, he was aiming for a mob boss type dinner. He had to have a little fun with this. One he was never going to be able to do something like this again and it was calming his nerves. Other than the manager and cooks, Sam could talk to Angel without worry.
It was getting late and honestly, he really didn't expect Angel to arrive. That actually was a lie. He prepared everything to be like this in hope that he did come to the restaurant.
Thankfully Angel did come. Dressed normally or better yet casually, which kind of irritated Sam, but he was fine with it. Although his expression wasn't the best.
"Come, sit detective." Sam stood up and pulled out the chair for Angel. There was a hesitance in his steps, but eventually he sat down.
Sam took his seat and the manager came over to take their order. Sam could only have simple foods still, recommended by his doctor, so Sam had the soup with water. He told the detective to order whatever he wanted and that he was paying. Again the same hesitancy, but an eventual falter.
"What is this about?" Exhausted wasn't the right word.
"It takes it you talked to Internal Affairs." It was a statement and anger flared in Angel.
"How did you know?"
"Well you see…" Sam tried using an Italian accent and it failed. "Look, I understand you don't trust me."
"That's right, I don't." Frustrated, Angel whispered to him. It was fair given the circumstances.
"Yes…You're a good cop. That is the one thing I know about you." Sam took a deep breath. "I can't tell you everything, but understand that what I will say can help you."
"About Neil Perry?"
"He isn't the Ice Truck Killer. Actually, Maria should already know about this or should be coming to the same conclusion."
That got Angel to think. Thanks to the dim lighting and fancy atmosphere, Sam felt comfortable. The heat was no issue and the biscuit, because he didn't want to risk eating more than one, was wonderful. He was comfortable. Better than he had been for the past two months. It might just be an illusion his mind had created to get through this ordeal, but Sam couldn't help but lean back in his chair.
"How did you come to that conclusion?" He was thinking about it, Sam could see it. "You know who the real one is then?" Sam's face failed him. "You do?" Maybe it was a guess and not really something he believed, but Sam tried his best to sway him away from that line of thinking.
Careful not to tear his stitches, Sam leaned forward and whispered to Angel. "Even if I did, which I'm not saying I do, that would be very dangerous to my health if people knew." As Sam settled back in his chair, he finished what he needed to say. "I want this over with Detective. You can agree on that, can't you."
Even though Angel was speaking Spanish, either cursing or adding on to his thoughts, Sam was still able to understand him. Not just the words either, but the emotions. Drained might be that word he was looking for earlier, but this had gone on long enough. He wanted to see his family.
Food arrived before Angel could speak. He ordered a full meal with a hearty prime rib. A big bottle of wine accompanied it. Though Sam ordered the wine. Even if he couldn't drink it, he was going to give it to Angel. He was going to need it after what he did.
"Why were you at Perry's home?" Just before he took a bite, he had asked this.
"…" Sam didn't answer right away. His mouth opened and closed, but he didn't know what to say. "I can't speak about that situation Detective. My lawyers would scold me for speaking about that." It was the best thing he had.
The meals were eaten and no more words were said. Honestly he didn't want to say anymore or things could get really ugly. Then again, he needed an ace. Just in case this went on too long, he had to offer something to Angel.
"If you verify with Maria, then give me a call. You should have my number on file." Sam stood up, ready to leave. "Detective, I'm on your side. Think about it. Just whatever you do though, try not to mention my name to anyone. I would like to be healthy, if you understand."
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Sam went through that whole night in his head. He couldn't make heads or tails if that was the right thing to do. It was like he was pulling his hair out at the absurdity of the situation.
He made light of the whole thing. "Why 'mob boss' Brain? I knew it was a bad idea. I should have never listened to you!" He should have just stated the facts and left before the food arrived. It was so awkward.
Anyway it should give Angel time to figure things out. That was two days ago, so now that it was December fourth, Sam knew the end was coming soon. "Ugh that sounded so terrible. The entire world wasn't ending…" Actually now that Sam thought about it, he just assumed as soon as his job was done, he would go home. But if that happened what happened to this world? Actually he still didn't and couldn't know if he would. Would the world end, never to restart? Like a VHS stuck at the end of the show, but no one ever rewinds it again to start over.
Sam decided that he had to stop that train of thought right there. If he went further he would just become what he truly hated… jello.
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The news showed Sam something that he both enjoyed and hated at the same time.
"Earlier today, Miami Metro hazardous and material response showed up to Marina View Hotel. We have unconfirmed reports as to what happened, but for now the area is locked down. We should have an update later today for you."
As Sam enjoyed the show 'Dexter', what was currently happening was his favorite part. Dexter would go into a hotel room, filled with blood, and end up collapsing. In a daze he would head outside as he collected himself.
It was hard to enjoy that when it was happening for real and he was working off vague info from a weird brain. His timeline though helped him understand that it was due to remembering his childhood, when his mother was killed.
This event meant that like the days of the month, things were coming to a close.
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Later that night, Sam's phone rang. He could hear music in the background.
"This is Sam." He answered.
"How did you get that information?" It was Angel.
"What specifically?"
"That Neil isn't the Ice Truck Killer." Sam's heart beat fast.
"I cannot tell you my source, Detective. But understand that I am aware that you just spoke to a woman who had a prosthetic with interesting fingernails." The phone call ended after that. "Did I push him too hard?"
Sam then put himself in Angel's shoes and realized how creepy that would have sounded.
The worst part was that depending on how Angel acts, his life could be in danger. In the show he survived. Nothing really bad happened, but with Sam's interference, things could change and he could die.
"Oh no…" This was not at all what he wanted.
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Stalking.
It was something Sam abhorred. He had it happen to him and he saw it happen to people close to him. He would never want to do that to another person.
Now, he had taken it upon himself to do just that. Angel was going to be attacked. If he was to protect the man, and make sure he didn't die, Sam needed to be ready.
The worst part that other than hiding from who he planned on stalking, Sam needed to hide from Brian too. Actually now that he thought about it, he was going in the lion's den in a sense. He was just a mere third party to upcoming events and if Brian got a whiff of him, it was all over. Sam would be killed by even intervening.
Children's books about playing a hero. Sam wasn't a fighter, he knew that much. He was now going to end the narrative on his own terms. It was strange to him that he let the story go on this far as an observer, only to take action and intervene. Shortly after that, then he brings the end upon himself.
Thankfully Sam had a couple advantages on his side. One was if the original attack location stayed the same. He knew it was in a parking area, maybe underground, but he didn't know where and if the story would lead to that point. Second was that he had his taser and knew who the attacker was. It wasn't much, but again it would give him an advantage. The third and best one he had in his fight, his phone was ready to call nine-one-one at a moment's notice. Reinforcements were only a call away.
Sam was far away from his target. He couldn't be sure if he had been seen, but it was going to take ten seconds at a full sprint to get to Angel. In the open he would be able to spot an attack.
Following in a cab, Sam noticed that Angel stopped at a grocery store. There he picked up bags and returned to his car. After that he stopped to get gas and then he drove into a parking garage. The attack could be today and Sam was ready. Exiting the cab, he ran after Angel. As he saw the car turn to the left, Sam hid along the wall. If the narrative stayed the same, Sam would have his chance.
The car came to a stop. Sam moved low and in closer. The place was bright, but it didn't help Sam. It gave the place an eerie vibe. That might be just based on the situation. Sam's heart was working over time that it actually became hard to hear. As soon as Angel was out of his car, Sam was within range. As long as Brian thought he had the advantage, Sam would stop him.
A darkly dressed individual stepped out from behind a pillar. He was all black, including his face. This was it. Sam moved to intercept as he let his phone call the police. He held down his taser and ran at Brian. The noise from the taser must have caught him off guard, but he moved to dodge. Sam didn't need to hit with the taser itself. He tackled him to the ground as he received, not just a punch to the face, but a knife to the gut. He could feel it dig into him this time. He was aware of what would happen, but he wouldn't let go.
"Give me back my family!" Sam went into bit Brian who was about to wiggle out of his grip. All he got in return was a headbutt in return. Sam couldn't even be sure his taser connected, so he was at a complete loss in this battle.
Thankfully he could hear Angel yelling at him to get on the ground. Sam just watched from the ground as Brian had stopped moving and kneeled on the ground. However the worst came to pass.
Two men came into the parking garage causing Angel to stop for a moment. Brian took that chance to run away. Sam wanted to scream, not for the physical pain he felt, but the emotional one. He failed.
Brian would either find him and kill him or he might just run away. It was over. He failed. It was going to end.
As blood flowed out of him, Sam watched as three people stood over him. He knew they were there to help, but he felt broken. Nothing would change it now. "What was I supposed to do?!" He yelled in anger at… God? Gods? The stupid narrative must have fixed the world after him. Maybe he was never meant to interfere. This was just a joke to mess with him and ruin his happy life.
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"Uncle Sam, read more!?"
"Just call me Sam, Maxine. Why do you keep calling me Uncle Sam anyway?"
"Momma call you Uncle Sam."
Sam sighed, he would have to tease his sister for this. After Christmas for sure.
"Get some sleep, Maxine. Tomorrow will be a special day. We can read more tomorrow."
Spent a little more time with her, as she didn't want to sleep. Eventually she did fall asleep and Sam turned off the lights to the room, except the night light.
Once he was outside, he went to the living room where Sarah and Max were drinking wine.
"Thank you Sam." Max called over to him and then stood up handing Sam a glass himself.
"It was my honor to help the little princess fall asleep. You can rely on me Sir." Sam bowed, playfully being a butler. He would like to be one for Halloween one year. It sounded fun. "But I have to decline. I need to get home. Got a few things to work on, but I will be back tomorrow morning."
"Are you sure you don't want to stay the night? It's really coming down outside." Sarah looked concerned. Of course she was after what happened so long ago. Snow and the mountains never really sat well with her. He was like his sister, but it was just hesitation on his end, not anxiety. Anything could happen, but like everyone else he just had to take the right precautions.
"I'm good. Plus I wouldn't want Santa Claus to come to my house and not have any cookies or milk to have." Sam started putting on his jacket and then winter coat. He moved to his boots as well. "You guys take care, have a good night!" He waved them goodbye. As the door closed behind him, Sam opened his eyes.
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Hospital.
It wasn't the same one, nor the same room. Probably they don't know who he was yet. The worst yet, Angel was there by his bed.
"No…"
"Hoping I'd Maxine?" He said with a smirk. Obviously he had no idea what he was talking about. It just meant he spoke in his sleep.
"Shut up!" Sam threw in a few curses in there to get his point over.
"I'll get the doctor, but thank you. I know what you did back there." Did Angel really know what Sam did? Could be some misunderstanding. It didn't matter as Sam's life was over. Even if he wasn't killed by the two brothers, he was stuck in the world still.
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After doctors came and checked up on him, Angel came back in.
"We got a man named Kester asking to meet you?" Sam could already hear his best friend worrying about him.
"Tell him I died and to go back home." Sam was done. Plus he wasn't wrong. Borrowed time… Tick Tock.
"You're a piece of work, you know that?"
"Oh…" Sam coughed. Thankfully Angel was there with some water. "Doesn't matter anyway." He had to lean his head forward, but Sam let the bed angle his head higher.
Sam was tired, more than last time. It was probably because the knife stabbed his stomach. Just a single poke. Big no, no. The fact he was awake at all was… not a miracle.
"You knew I was going to be attacked?"
"Not like it matters anymore."
"I can't understand you man." Not the exact words he used, but who really cared anymore. "Trying to help me, even put yourself out there and took a knife for me. Now, what do you give up?" He got very close to Sam's face. "What about your family?"
"What?"
"You screamed that during the fight against the attacker. We only found prostitutes killed, never a family. However in your file, it says your parents died. No siblings. Yet I talked to Jorge and he told me that this is your family." He held up the photo of him leaving for Florida with Sarah, Max and Maxine.
"Please give that to me." Angel slowly handed the photo to Sam.
"You know the killer's identity." Either it was the situation Sam was currently in, including the pain, or Angel had changed from what he remembered from the show. It was difficult to tell when he was living in the world itself. "Tell me his name so we can end this." He must have seen the hesitation in Sam, because he continued. "Our blood splatter analyst already took samples from the scene and your clothing. We will have his name shortly if any of his own blood was left behind."
Sam was dead. It didn't matter. More than likely Dexter saw him. He knew him now. It was all over.
"You know I thought I could get back. I really did. There had to be a problem. Something that needed to be fixed. There had to be, because it was all I could think of." Despair. "There was nothing. I'm just stuck here until I die. I can never go back." Sam looked directly at Angel. "You killed me Detective. It's all over now. What does it matter anymore."
"Who's the Ice Truck Killer, we can protect you."
"Wow… sure. Like I would believe that." Dexter could get him from anywhere on the planet. "Why don't you go ask your favorite amputee doc? What's his name again? Rudy? He knows exactly where the killer is." Sam couldn't even feel satisfaction from finally remembering that name Brian used.
"He's the killer?"
"Great detective work there."
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Angel left right after that. It wasn't long until Sam was alone.
"He changed… probably worse than what he could have been if I didn't get involved." Sam felt worse and worse. A little time to think got his mind to let him know what he had done. "Also what was that? It was like I was the bad guy holding back information before the commercial hits. Just so they could have a big reveal. Is the narrative messing with me?" Sam started to have a whole existential crisis.
A knock came from his door. His best friend walked in. Sam just wanted to sleep, to die. Let everything wash away. He just didn't have the capacity to handle anything else right now.
"Stabbed again. What was it this time? Playing hero?" His best friend walked in.
"It doesn't matter Kester. None of it does. It's all over. Just get away before it ends."
"Want me to run away… leave you behind huh?" His best friend flared in anger. "Not going to tell me anything? Just want me to run away huh? Are we even friends?" It just seemed so wrong. Sam knew it was his own fault. "I mean, your right. I don't even know what I'm doing here. I don't know what happened to you man, but your right, it's over. Find a new agent… a new friend, I can't do this anymore." He could see his best friend's eyes start to turn red as he turned around.
There was just one last moment, Sam only had time to say one last thing to his best friend before he was lost forever. Yet in that moment, Sam had only one thing he knew that would guarantee his friend's safety.
"Just get out of here."
That was it. It was really over. If anything, Sam would die knowing he saved his friends from the breeding ground for serial killers in Florida. If Kester distanced himself, he would even be safe from any further effects of the narrative.
"Goodbye Sam." Those were Kester's last words to him. For a split second before Kester was out of eye sight, he could see a similar version of despair on his friend's face. But there was more there too. That anger had grown within the last half a minute or so to full on hatred.
Of course Sam knew it was his own fault.
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"Thank you uncle Sam!" Maxine came running over to him holding a copy of his new book. He sighed when he heard her call him that and when he looked at his sister who just rolled her eyes at him. Probably for getting her a copy of his own book, rather than something she actually needed, like socks.
"You are very welcome Maxine. You can have your mommy and daddy read that to you tonight if you behave." If he was going to turn to the dark side, now was better than ever.
"Will you?" She had turned around looking at her parents.
"We'll see. Why don't you open your other presents Maxine?" Max came to the rescue.
Maxine dropped the book, then ran to the next present. All the adults in the room shared a look and sighed.
Later after their big meal, Sam moved over to talk with Max while Sarah watched over Maxine who was now falling asleep on the couch next to the fireplace. Christmas was truly a wonderful time.
"So you are heading over to your parents tomorrow still?"
"Yes. Are you sure you can't come with me?"
"Unfortunately I have a lot to take care of. This was the only day I could really get off. Yet when I get home I will be working through the night." It was stressful, Sam could feel it, however this wasn't the first time this happened. "Planning anything exciting? Sarah had mentioned you planned on sledding down the big hill in their backyard."
"Yea, still planning that. Actually got two new sleds for those two over there." He pointed with his open hand, while the other held a glass of wine. "Though we will just be relaxing and taking it easy. Well if our troublemaker behaves." He smirked at that, knowing full well that being a parent was a tough thing to handle.
Sam stood there next to him. The fire crackled and beckoned him to come over to it. It wanted him to lay down in front of it and to soak up the heat. To lull him into a sense of safety and security. Where he could fall asleep without worries. To stay there for the rest of his life. Content.
"Found anyone yet?"
"Huh?" Sam's thousand yard stare got cut off as Max spoke to him. Their meal was wonderful, even the wine. He just needed to stay awake so he could make it back home.
"Sarah mentioned that you were looking for a special someone?" Max decided that it was a good idea to move his eyebrows up and down. Sam did not agree with that. They were just too bushy. It seemed awkward.
Sam gave a small chuckle before speaking. "No, it was her idea. I'm not really interested in what you guys got. I just like creating and to do that, I need time. A relationship would just hold me back."
"Not even a hookup?"
"Nope."
Their conversation died out after that. He understood Max's curiosity, but Sam just didn't want to talk more about it. What he said was true and he liked it like that. If he had a type, it was women, but that seemed wrong at the same time. He just didn't really care. It was his stories that really made sense to him. That carried him through life. A romantic relationship, in any level of one, was just something he didn't want. However, before they moved back over to the others, Sam wanted to ask something of Max.
"This spring, are you interested in a camping trip?"
Sam really wanted to find a point where they could get together again. He really enjoyed watching Maxine grow up and wanted to help out the two parents in front of him. If he could fund and join them in a 'paid vacation' he would do whatever he could so they could enjoy their time together.
"Sounds like a fun idea. I'll talk to Sarah and get back to you."
'Yea, that would be fun.' Sam thought as he moved with Max over to a chair on the side of the couch, while Max moved closer to his family. It was a plan for the future. Something they could look forward to, together.
That was something Sam wanted. He would do anything he could to help them. That was just who he was.
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As Sam woke up, he got to work. He might die, he might not. It was a risk and there would be a reward. He had little time left before the end of season one. There was something, there had to be. Any thoughts that deterred him from that positive thinking was not needed. Sam could do it, he had to.
Sam made a series of calls. The first was a delivery of a police officer costume. He would need that for later. The second call was to his lawyers letting them know what happened and to make sure no police could stop him from previous events. He had a goal that needed to be achieved. The third call was… "Should I?" Sam decided it was best not to actually. Kester needed to leave. Plus if he succeeded, it wasn't like the version of Kester he knew in the real world would remember this stuff. At least he hoped. "Don't think like that. Be positive." Instead his third call was to a cab to pick him up. The last one would come later, because he would only call when he was ready.
As a VIP patient, the doctors really did not like the fact a 'twice' stabbing victim was trying to leave the hospital early. Last time was alright, but now that it happened again within a short amount of time, they were not happy. Then again lawyers and money made them step back.
Thankfully they were 'understanding' and gave him medication for the pain and a cane to walk with. Sam was having some trouble walking. Blood loss hindered him. A haze of dizziness clouded him as he moved through the hospital. The only thing keeping him on his feet was positive thinking.
"Are you Sam Zillo?" The cab driver had been waiting at the hospital entrance.
"Yes." The wonders a credit card can do. "You have the route I talked to you about." The cab driver nodded and they moved into the vehicle. The first stop was to grab the police costume, which the store employee who had to find it was standing outside waiting. Once Sam grabbed it, he changed in the cab. Money is nothing more than a tool to keep things going. Like a cab driver who has seen worse.
"Are you alright?" The driver commented when his shirt was off and there were bandages on his body.
"Don't worry. We're almost there?"
"Yea."
Now Sam made the last call.
"Sam?"
"Jorge, sorry to call you, but I need a favor. Can you let me into the building?" Even if Jorge said no, Sam would have his ways. More roundabout than anything.
"Shouldn't you be in the hospital?" A thick accent filled with worry. Sam's heart hurt at hearing a friend hurt like that.
'Maybe I should call Kester?' Sam shook his head. He couldn't, not yet at least. Once this was all over. "It was a scratch, nothing more. Look, I need some help from you. Trust me it isn't anything bad or illegal."
Once they stopped at the police station, Sam told the cab driver to wait for him.
"I'll be right there." Jorge really came through for Sam.
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Inside the police station, Sam used his cane to move through the hallways at a brisk pace with Jorge beside him. Once he had seen Sam's condition, he understood the 'scratch' was a complete lie. Livid was a better descriptor for Jorge there. Things calmed down with Sam, vaguly, explaining what he had to do.
"It's not illegal?" Doubt was already in Jorge's voice, this had increased with the question. One that he had already asked about three or four times. Sam didn't really know as he was moving fast.
"Trust me, it is important."
"Does it have to do with what you are wearing?" A police officer costume. Came with a few bells and whistles that looked real. That was all Sam really needed out of it. He could get more in the police station. "Sam, sit down and let's talk this out." The older man was pleading with Sam.
Sam's breathing had become ragged and he was in agreement that he needed to sit down. For just a moment. He had a feeling things were getting close to ending and he needed to hurry.
"Okay."
So they moved into one of the secondary closets that had room where a janitor could sit if need be. Sometimes equipment needed to be put together and taken apart, so sitting down helped the one handling it get it done.
Sam sat in the chair, while Jorge stood at the door and over Sam. Jorge stayed quiet while Sam caught his breath, but it was going on longer than he thought it should be. Jorge was waiting for him to talk and explain things. Sam didn't have time to lie, so he would just come out and say it.
"This is going to sound crazy but you need to trust me. Really trust me." Jorge was waiting for more than his word. It made sense. The trust that Sam had with Jorge, had run dry. "I know who the Ice Truck Killer is. The police do… or will know everything by tonight, but I need to make sure he gets caught. I have to be there when he does to make sure it all ends." Jorge's face didn't move. It was hard to tell what he was thinking.
"What makes you think you should be there?"
"I have to be. If I don't, things might end how they should. I just need to use the computers and find the location of the house. With that the Ice Truck Killer will be found and his reign of terror will end."
"Sam, why do you need to be there? You're not only injured, but also not an officer. Even if you dress like them, you are not. So why?"
Shooting up from his seat, Sam yelled. "I have to be alright!" He looked at Jorge who was impassive. "Sorry, but I have to be. Destiny… I don't know. It's the only way I know how to end this or whatever. I just have to do it." Would that be enough? Sam needed Jorge's help, now that he could barely move without falling over.
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Sam had no idea what Jorge was thinking. The whole time Sam had been in the police station, he couldn't believe the fact Jorge was helping him. Now he was starting to believe that Jorge was under the narrative influence. There was just no way an honest man would help someone he met a few months ago use private police computers, steal a police issue toolbelt, and a radio to go with it.
Then again with a positive attitude and avoiding anything that would lead to Sam breaking down into 'a not good place', he wormed his way back into the cab. Thankfully the driver didn't ask about anything when he was already getting paid five hundred dollars and would get five hundred more once everything was finished and settled.
They made their way towards the home of 'Rudy Cooper'. It was next to a small beach. Sam wanted to say it was closer to an industrial warehouse from the outside, but it would be incorrect. Then again, it didn't matter. Telling the cab driver to park down the street and to wait, Sam made his way towards the home. Of course he left his cane behind as it would just break the subtle illusion he hoped to achieve.
Sam was holding a stack of blank papers. It would be used for the illusion along with the ID tag that he still had as a janitor. As long as no one looked too closely, Sam had his way in.
As he made his way to the front door, he could see two police officers there talking to each other as they stood guard. 'One foot forward and breath normally. You are just a rookie getting to work. Nothing out of the ordinary.' Sam tugged on his hat and nodded to the two. He didn't make eye contact and just kept walking. As he was through the door and into the hallway of the building, he made his way towards the apartment of 'Rudy'.
Sam followed the hallways and no one stopped him. Not that he looked at anyone to know if they were suspecting him. His breathing was growing tired and he was sweating. The heat didn't help and his injury was tugging at him. It felt like his insides were going to rip out.
His main goal was to check one thing and that was if Dexter was there. He heard the police were already searching Rudy's home. His radio was buzzing with information like that every so often. Of course when he entered the building, he turned it down. So since Sam knew they were there, Dexter would be going there himself sooner or later. The last search for the Ice Truck Killer was intense. Dexter wanted to find someone like him and to save his sister. If Dexter was inside the building, then that meant he was on the hunt for 'Rudy' and that would mean the narrative would be following what Sam knew about the show.
Suite twenty three. He entered the door that was already opened. Everyone was busy either looking towards objects in the center of the main room or along the walls. Forensics were all over the place. The problem for Sam was that as soon as he entered he saw quite a number of main characters. None of them were looking at him in the span of a single second, but because of how small the room was, they would soon be. He lowered his head.
The toughest one he had to avoid was James Doakes. That man could sense Dexter, so it wouldn't be far fetched to say he could sense the fear and anxiety in Sam. Maria was next to him and she knew who he was. If he even slightly made eye contact with her, it would be all over.
A person he knew shouldn't be there, Angel, was there and he was looking around. That man should have been the one in the hospital, but Sam had to jump in there. A quick decision that left him in pain. Pain that was coming in full force now that he was thinking about it.
So Sam kept his head down and looked to the left. That way he wasn't looking at anyone else. But there was one thing that bugged him, no one was wearing a hat. That meant he would be standing out. It didn't help his nerves.
Sam didn't see Dexter, that meant he needed to check the freezer and there he had to be extremely careful. If Dexter sees him there, any chance that Dexter wasn't already going to kill him, would drop to the good ol' goose egg.
The officer in front of the freezer opened the door and nodded to Sam. Either he wasn't paying attention- 'Focus.' Sam smacked some sense into himself in his own mind.
The room was small, but the smell wasn't. Artificial cold making machines, freezers, had a distinct scent. He couldn't put his finger on what it actually was, but it didn't help that there was an ever present faint blood smell in the room. Sam gagged immediately for three reasons. Blood, being the obvious one. Two nausea and dizziness had hit their height in power because of the first reason. His body just couldn't take much more. Then the last one was Dexter on the ground looking away from him at the moment. Fear and anxiety went through the roof. The only saving grace that Sam held onto was the fact if he didn't act normal he would die and Dexter was looking away. Immediately looking away, Sam went over to the woman next to him and asked a simple question so he could leave. He had all the information he needed.
"Do you need anything in here?" His voice was shaking, he couldn't help himself on that. He just didn't make eye contact with anyone, even the woman next to him.
"Actually we need an extra box of gloves in here." Sam just nodded and left.
As he walked back out, he kept his head low. Hoping no one could use magical senses or magical plot to see him. Narrative influence needed to just go fly, fly away and never come back. Sam held his breath, because if he kept breathing, it would draw attention. He was halfway when he heard his name. He paused for just a second before moving on.
"…. Sam Zillo. Check to see if he has any connection to Rudy Cooper. It might lead us to where Rudy is holding Debora." It was Maria talking to Angel. Sam didn't know if she was talking to anyone else, because he refused to look anywhere else. The only reason he knew it was Angel, was due to the fact he spoke next.
"I don't think he's involved. Something is bugging me about how he knew about Rudy, but the man saved me."
"How do you know it wasn't an act?"
"You had to see him. He was a mess, like what he had done was wrong. I don't know how to explain it… in the hospital." Angel paused just as Sam was about out the door. "I'll go check up on him at the hospital. How is Dexter doing?"
That was that and Sam left. He moved a lot faster as he couldn't hold his breath any longer. As soon as he was outside, he was heaving trying to get air in his lungs.
"First time?" One of the officers came over to him. His heart was in his ears so it was tough to hear the guy who was patting him on the back. Sam just nodded with the papers in his hands and walked away.
No one stopped him. He didn't have the heart to turn around to see if anyone was following him either. All he knew was that the narrative, the one he knew, was still on track. Dexter was going to find out about Rudy/Brian and should find the house of where his mother used to live. That was the next location Sam was heading. If there was an analogy that he was able to use to perfectly explain this situation, it would be going into the lion's den. Except this lion was a serial killer and waiting for his serial killer brother to come home to kill the fake sister… "Breath…" Sam spoke to himself.
"Where to 'officer'?" Sam really didn't need to hear the sarcasm in the cab driver's voice.
Sam pulled out a paper with the address for the house. "Drop me off about a block away. As soon as you do, you will get that five hundred in cash."
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As they were just about to the house, Sam heard over the radio a family of three had been found inside their home dead. That made him gasp silently. Three people dead wasn't just some mugging gone wrong. It was a tragedy. There was a murder out there.
The thing was, Sam felt like it was the Ice Truck Killer. Brian might have taken his anger out on some random family after his ambush. The narrative might have changed things more than he wanted. If that was the case and Brian had done that, then Debora might be dead and he wouldn't even be there at that home… Then again he could have done it, while transporting Debora there. He wanted Dexter to join in the 'family' business and changing that would defeat his goal. Sam did have a chance as long as he didn't worry about all the random things being said over 'cop radio', to which he promptly turned off.
"Thank you for your help. Take care and have a good day." Sam got out with his cane and paid the cab driver. "I got it from here."
"I'm pretty sure that is what I'm supposed to say, but the customer is always right, right?" He grinned and then drove off quickly.
What Sam was wearing would gather attention, but he had to hope that he could stay unnoticed. He kept his head up and looked around. The neighborhood was quiet. Not eerie or anything like that, but there was no one around.
It was Wednesday, kids were in school and parents were at work. Dogs barked in the background here and there, but nothin near him. It was the perfect place to commit a crime. Probably the biggest reason for that was due to the neighborhood he was in. Sketchy without the silence.
As he looked down the street he turned on to, he looked at the different home numbers. The further he got, he saw what he was looking for. "One-two-three-five." That was it. The home of two serial killers. One with a code and another… more of a normal serial killer. Both who would kill him on sight if either saw him.
Thankfully the house had a lot of vegetation in front of it. It gave him cover from Brian who might see him by looking outside. That would be the end of his life.
The costume he still had one offered him protection for later. Sure he had his taser, but another knife in his gut would kill him. Two times and it was clear that Sam didn't have the capability to fight another human. Even when he had the advantage two times in a row. Also the police belt did have a baton, but even with more range, it wouldn't really help him against an attacker skilled in the art of cutting up humans.
Looking for an opening, Sam slowly moved towards the home in front of him. The front gate is a big no. So he would need to go around and hop the fence from another yard. So he moved around another street up ahead. No one was around, no one looked at him. Not that he saw any way.
As he pushed into one yard, he went through the fenced gate into the back yard. Sam looked through the vegetation covered fence into the yard of the home he wanted to be in. This was the end, the place where the majority of the story ended.
Well Brian does get away in the TV show, but eventually Dexter catches him and kills him. It is just this location where the last choice is made. Does Dexter go with his 'blood' family? Or does he keep his code and stay with his 'fake' family? In the show he protected Debora and kept her safe. If the world Sam was living in… anything could happen. Sam believed that this would be where everything came together. That he needed to be here and that was what he was going to do.
Being dizzy and in pain didn't help Sam climb the fence. The fact he needed to be silent didn't help. A crash or bang came from the side building. To which Sam froze on the spot. He didn't move or breathe. A dull thud was heard after that plus some other noises. Either way Sam moved his booty as silent as possible and made his way behind the side building. Now that he realized it was the garage, he knew Debora was in there. If he remembered correctly, she was tied up in there.
Sam wrapped around the side that was closest to the fence. There was no way he was going to get closer to the actual house building.
As he passed by the building to go around the side, he saw a metal sliding door chained up in the back. That wasn't something he had seen back in Montana and it wasn't something he cared about, but he did not do it just in case. The whole area was something his mind was working over time to comprehend in case he had to make a run for it. It was just that he didn't want to be stuck inside with no way out.
The side of the building just had vegetation. Nothing stood out to Sam and knew full well he was going to be spending quite some time there. He needed to be close, yet out of sight. He could hear movement inside the garage, so as soon as he was able, he knelt down on the ground with his back against the wall. There were only two ways to get to him, so if anyone spotted him, like a serial killer, then he would know right away. Plus the foliage beneath his feet would alert him right away. Then again he didn't make much noise himself because he was trying to be sneaky.
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Minutes. Hours. Sam had to go pee. Hiding really did not help his bladder. The pain in his abdomen was at brutal levels now. Sam was forced to breath through his mouth from the pain he felt. Thankfully no one was there to spot him as it got closer to night time. Though a part of that was due to his anxiety so it felt later than it actually was.
At this point Sam fell over as soon as he heard someone yelling, "Debora!" It was Dexter, he knew from the voice. That meant the narrative was on point. The brothers had met.
It wasn't long before the noises went silent. Sam knew it wouldn't be much longer until he found out what he had to fix. It was almost over. He was about to win. He had to win.
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"I've prepared her just the way you like." Sam was now listening to Brian talk to Dexter. The darkness outside probably matched what the brothers were. This was more than a finale to Sam, this was everything. Whatever wasn't right with the original, Sam had to fix it. "This time we'll do it together."
There was a long pause. Sam knew he couldn't remember their exact words, but he knew their amicable relationship would turn sour the moment Dexter confirmed his 'love' for his fake sister. Not like it is love, but he had a certain relationship with her. A longer one than the short one with Brian.
"Does it have to be Deb?"
"It's the only way."
"But she's my-"
"-fake sister. I know."
It brought back those memories of watching the show with his family. Here and there his father and sister would join for an episode, maybe part of it. It wasn't really for them, he understood that. He knew it himself that it was harsh to watch himself at some points, but it was an enjoyable series. Now it was anything but.
"Tell me something… your victims, are they all killers?"
"Yes."
A family conversation. Sam never had asked his sister if the people she killed were killers either. It would be funny if he wasn't crouched outside the building where the two people he was most afraid of were talking over the body of a drugged woman.
"Harry teach you that?"
"He taught me a code… to survive."
Sam wanted to survive himself. To make it back. 'So it would be great if you all could just tell me what was wrong so I could fix it and go home!" He slammed his fist against the ground. The crunch of the leaves sent immediate regret into Sam. His breathing halted.
"…absurd avenger?"
"That's not why I kill." Dexter responded and nothing sounded out of the ordinary. Sam caught himself a breath and then another.
"You could be yourself around me."
"Who. Am. I?"
"A killer." There was a pause and Sam knew it was just about there. The choice had already been made. Hesitation existed, but Dexter knew what he was dealing with. "Without reason or regret. Free."
"You could be that way too."
"But the code."
Sam got up. Things would be heating up and if he remembered right, the police would be there soon. He would need to be ready to leave as soon as possible. But as Sam moved to a more favorable position close to the front of the garage, away from the metal door in the back, the words inside were making his heart sink.
"…We can take this journey together." Brian was speaking his sweet words to his brother.
"I can't… not Deb." That was it there. The same one he made in the show. Earlier it was hidden in subtext and now it was in the open. No more room for Brian to sway him to his side.
"No, no. Don't say that." Everything Brian had done was for nothing. Sam knew that he knew, killing Deb was the only way to stop little brother Dexter from having those kinds of thoughts.
"I'm very fond of her."
"You can't be a killer and a hero." Then Brian yelled in anger. "It doesn't work that way!" Even Sam jumped at that. He wasn't really prepared when it had been so quiet moments before.
He could hear fighting inside. Nothing had changed, the story/narrative stayed the same. Maybe none of it changed even with his influence.
"No there has to be." Sam rushed around the building as blue and red flashed in the distance, a very close distance. There was a door where they had to walk into. Sam ran right into the door. The door didn't budge, but he heard Brian stumble on the other side from his use of a curse.
"In the garage!" Dexter was yelling.
Police behind him were already coming through the fence. Sam barged in. Maria and James were right behind him as Dexter told everyone that Brian had gone through the door to the other part of the garage building. No one was looking at him, but Sam was out of place. He didn't even get to do anything at all.
So as to not stand out, he kept his breathing steady and nausea away from the forefront of his mind and took his keys out of his pocket. He used them to cut the plastic wrap covering Debora. As soon as the top was off, he used his jacket to cover her up. Dexter was using the knife he was holding to work on the other side. Dexter kept his eyes on his sister the whole time, so in a way that made Sam feel safer. If only a miniscule amount. Maria was nearby too, so that very much didn't help his anxiety.
The whole situation gave Sam immunity to everyone around him. For whatever reason, no one questioned him. Though if that was a narrative influence of the fact he blended in real well, Sam didn't know. Also it helped that again, Dexter was only focused on his sister. Probably blending in so he could think of a way to take care of Brian.
Once the EMT got there, they 'suggested' Deb be carried to the ambulance, but she toughed it out and walked on her own two feet. Sam fell back from the crowd, found his cane behind the house and started walking home. He dumped his hat somewhere along the road after he was far enough away from the house. His black shirt soaked in the moonlight as he walked.
In his head though, Sam was devastated. The world no longer meant anything to him. If season one was going to finish like normal, even though he was there, then what was the point. He had no intention of waiting months or years. Definitely not that ten year time skip after the ending of season eight.
Sam pulled out his phone and made a call. To the only person he could call and should have called before.
"Kester?" There wasn't even an answer on the other end. "I wanted to thank you for being my… best friend. You've helped me through the toughest of times when I couldn't even talk to Sarah." Sam broke into tears. "I guess you never met Maxine huh… you would have loved that little troublemaker. In another world… huh. Kester, thank you for everything. I'm sure the real you is enjoying life right now, but you who came to Florida with me, thank you. More than anything, it actually meant a lot to me. I'm so sorry for the way I treated you."
Sam let his phone drop to the ground. Kester didn't need to hear anything more from him and Sam didn't want to say anything else either. It was over.
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Sam walked throughout the night towards his home. It wasn't like a ditch would have been a worse choice, but it was just the fact he didn't know where to go. The sun hadn't yet come up, but he could see hints of it on the horizon.
He was close to his home, about ten minutes to go. The worst part Sam couldn't think. His thoughts were just memories of his time with his mother and father and then of Sarah and her family. In a way it was like his whole life passing in front of his eyes, yet just focused on those he loved. Even the moments where Kester joined in on the fun.
Sam was holding the picture. The one and only picture Sam cared about. His eyes were glued to it. Focused on a single point in space, yet his memories saw the time he spent with them. Over and over again.
Pain.
Instinctively Sam lost the photo as his hands reached the wire around his neck. He could see it fly away in the wind. He was pulled into an alley as he tried gasping for air.
"Sam, what a way to go huh. This is what you wanted right?" It was Kester? "Those before you got the punishment they deserved."
"Wha-" Sam lost his footing and the wire gripped his neck tighter.
"You made me angry Sam. You know how much I care about you." Sam used his weight to slam into the wall next to them. "Geez you're speaking nonsense to me. Sarah your girly friend? I'm right huh? You know I just don't see you and her living a happy life." Kester was struggling to speak. Sam wasn't going to make it easy, he had to find out what was going on. He expected Dexter or Brian, but Kester? Was it-
"Kester… the world- Narrative is messing with your mind. This isn't you!" Sam got his pointer finger on his right hand under the wire. It gave him enough breath to speak.
"You've really lost it huh. I guess this is for the better." Kester was right next to his ear. "I loved you Sam. We could have lived together forever."
"That's… right… we're best friends." Sam felt like he was breaking through to Kester. He just had to get rid of the narrative influence. "You can break free!" That got a knee into his back.
"Friend… really? I guess you don't understand me. It's a shame, but I can't have to die on your own. I'll help you along." He kicked Sam's legs out from under him as they slammed into a wall. "I love you… my Sam. I just wish you hadn't made me do this."
Sam couldn't get a grip. He was losing it. Air. Words. Thought. Reason. Legs twitching- *Bang Bang* Coughing. Air. "Ahhh!" Tears spilled from Sam's eyes. His hands and feet were shaking. "What…" He looked around and found Angel there with the gun aimed behind him. Sam turned around. "No… No! Kester! Don't go!" He turned to Angel who was standing there. "The world was making him do it, it wasn't his fault. It-" Thoughts poured into Sam's mind.
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After about a year after Sam hired Kester, there was a moment they shared. An agent and their muse to say. They were on Sam's balcony in his home, standing there enjoying the night air while Sarah was talking to a special someone named Max.
"What do you think?" Kester asked Sam.
"About what?"
"About going away for a while, just the two of us? We could go hiking or to the beach."
"I don't know, I got work to do. We really don't have time for that."
"We could make time." Kester had gotten a little too close. Sam could tell he was probably more than tipsy.
"You and your jokes. Maybe another time."
That was the first moment Sam remembered. There were a few more like that, simple and easy. Nothing crazy.
Then as Sam came to Florida, Kester was different. At first Sam attributed it to the fact that the world was of the 'Dexter' universe. Then it was his feelings on the issue that really affected Kester. To an extent he still believes that. However, if Kester did have feelings for him, romantic ones, then it made more sense. He was trying to look out for him in a way Sam didn't understand. With everything going on, it had to have hurt him.
'What did he mean 'those before him'?' Sam thought as he started to put together a pattern. During the harsh times, when he was absolutely horrible to Kester, the news would talk about murders that had taken place. At first he thought it was just the world fleshing itself out as something 'real'. Of course there would be more murders, even when there was a serial killer out and about.
But the timing of those killings. How they lined up with events surrounding Sam. Especially the last one he heard on the radio. A family of three killed after Sam had essentially thrown away his best friend… a best friend who wanted more.
"But to kill… Why?" Sam asked the dying man next to him.
"Sam, you should know. Lovers need to be together. Don't you love a good story?" Then a knife found itself in his stomach once again.
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Kester was dead. As sudden as his appearance… "He's gone…" Sam cried for his best friend, for his sister, Max and Maxine. "They're all gone." It was selfish, but he hated being alone like that. Everyone he knew was now gone and he hadn't left the world of 'Dexter'.
Kester was a man Sam admired and respected, but didn't love. The version of his best friend still lived on in his mind. He wasn't a serial killer, not the real one at least. Then again if his feelings were the same in the real world, Sam needed to address them. That was if he could even make it back and Sam didn't know how to.
His best friend's DNA was found at crime scenes in Florida as well as other states including Montana. The same states where he went for book signings. There might have been killings in other countries too, but Sam couldn't find any progress on that. The main thing Sam wanted to know was why. "Why? Because he was frustrated with his feelings? Or was it the narrative?" Neither really made sense. If he was having trouble coming to terms with who he was, why did he go straight into killing? Then on the other side, if it was the narrative, there were some situations that happened in the past before Sam even arrived.
He wouldn't ever know or be able to get back to where those he cared about were still alive. Sam found himself planning a funeral that no one else cared about for a friend that was an irredeemable killer.
"Speaking of killers…" Sam thought back to his 'meeting' with Dexter. A face to face… well in a way. After calling for backup, Angel had officers set up a perimeter. Sam was taken to the hospital, sent into surgery again and set up to receive blood transfusions. While he was in a bit of a daze from the loss of blood a few familiar detectives showed up to ask questions that Sam couldn't do at the time. So they let their forensics team take pictures of his injuries. One of them happened to be Dexter Morgan. Sam had his eyes opened and even though he was tired he almost jumped out of his bed at the sight of Dexter. He thought it was the end, even considering the situation.
Days later Sam wondered if he had a target on his back. Sure the killer of killers wouldn't target him, but that didn't matter when rule number one of the code came into play; Don't get caught. So if he felt threatened after going through his metamorphosis after the events of the first season, Sam would die easily. The only thing he heard Dexter say to him was, "Can you turn your head to the left?" But nothing happened. Of course there was the added security money could buy and cameras that helped Sam's recovery of his mental state if only a little bit.
There was one funny part Sam got to laugh at when the detectives showed up. His black hair and green eyes became a topic of discussion from James and Angel. "Are you related to the Ice Truck Killer?" Since Brian had the same features, they thought he might be his brother. At the cost of pain, he essentially laughed them out with the power of lawyers.
They did come back later when it was found out that he had been near where Debora had been kidnapped. "How did you get your jacket and ID…" Sam loved the money he had in this world. He could spend it so freely that nothing really mattered to him. Legal teams were just able to say one magical word, 'speculation'. Sam could have done that himself and yet it cost him thousands of dollars.
However there was a cost to the whole thing. The FBI moved into the Miami Metro Police Department. It was to help staff the police while they investigated the two closely tied serial killers in Miami. Also one had crimes located outside the state so it was just used as a central location. He was able to find out that the agent in charge, Frank Lundy, was planning on meeting Sam. It was something he had to do, but thankfully that could wait until he healed as his doctors were persistent on that.
That didn't just put pressure on the police though, the janitorial staff also had a lot to catch up with. Working overtime at a crazy pace that they were hiring just for this whole event. Jorge didn't really have time to meet with Sam, which he understood. It was probably better that way. He didn't want to make it difficult on the man who helped him out. Of course for his help in the police station Sam wanted to give him a send off gift. A few million dollars for his family, but with the FBI involved it would bring a lot of unwanted attention that Sam didn't want to bring on the man.
So they weren't going to have their last lunch.
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"Mr. Zillo, nice to meet you. I'm Special Agent Frank Lundy. Just wanted to talk to you about the event prior to the 15th of November." He spoke casually, even setting down a drink for Sam. "Thank you for letting us talk without the team of lawyers you have outside." He smiled knowingly. "I heard you had still yet to recover. So I will try to be brief. It's just a formality anyway."
Sam had asked that it be the two of them to speak alone. His team of lawyers had insisted that it was a terrible idea, but he could get away with it for now. "I understand."
"Very well."
Frank started going through Sam's time in Florida. From being a janitor to an associate of a serial killer, one of the two that were operating at the same time. For the most part Sam told the truth. He was only in Florida to relax. His job as a part time janitor in the police station was just something to pass the time as he learned about how the police operated so he could write a book about it.
"Yes, an author and illustrator. Teaching children around the world and helping them learn and grow. That's an altruistic occupation." It was a compliment, yet Sam felt slightly scared by how it was said. From what he remembered about the man from the show, he spoke truthfully for the most part. While it sounded like he had an ulterior motive, it probably wasn't anything of the sorts. Then again the fear of the unknown really strikes at the nerves.
They then spoke about how Sam intervened in the story. From his first stabbing with Neil Perry, the second by saving Angel Batista, and the third with his best friend Kester. "We can stop for now Mr. Zillo if this is too hard for you."
"No- Uh… I'm good." Sam choked up when Kester was brought up. Memories foreign to this world flooded his mind. Those with his best friend and his sister playing a racing game on the couch eating pizza.
"Well it is quite the coincidence that you were there during those dates. The same day the detectives of Miami Metro get a location for the false Ice Truck Killer, Neil Perry, you happen to go out on a walk within the area. Carrying a taser no less. Some could say you were prepared." Frank paused a moment as he flipped through his papers. "Then again when you happened to be in the area where DNA evidence puts the real Ice Truck Killer at the scene. You put your own saftey at risk to protect Detective Batista and foiled an attempt on his life. Quite the hero."
"Coincidence." Sam through it in as it was his only defense.
"I'm sure it was also coincidence that a man close to your description had been at the scene Brian Moser was holding Officer Morgan in captivity." No had mentioned before that he was seen there. Sam found himself sweating.
"Even if that were true, I would have heavily medicated after being stabbed twice. Doctors said I was lucky to be alive."
"So you were there?"
"No, I didn't say that."
"Forgive me, I'm getting old in age so it is sometimes hard for me to hear." He then gestured to the empty cup in front of Sam. "Would you like some more tea?"
"No, thank you."
"Mr. Zillo, I have a testimony here of Detective Batista who says that you were the one who told him about 'Rudy Cooper' at the time before DNA evidence had proved the connection between the alias and the Ice Truck Killer. I was wondering if you could elaborate on how you had come up with this information." Sam took a deep breath after he heard that.
"I might have said things to the detective at the time, but due to the medication I was taking for the pain, my mind must have been clouded. If I had said that, it was a total coincidence."
"So you do remember the moment I'm speaking of?"
"No, just remember speaking to detectives recently when I was in a hospital bed. "
"That is some coincidence… I understand." He was nodding his head like it really did make sense. "It seems you are quite lucky to have all of these coincidences happen around you… or should I say unlucky considering the price you paid for them." A frown found itself on Sam's face.
"That is how I see it."
"I'm sure. Should we talk about Kester-"
"Frank… can we not go there. Is that all that you wanted to talk about?"
"I do have more questions, but that can wait until later."
"Then this sounds like a good place to end things for today. However before I leave, could we speak off the record." Sam used his eyes to point to the little recorder on the table.
"Of course." He took it and paused the device.
"We're not being recorded correct?"
"Indeed that was the terms of this whole meeting."
"Before I head back to my home in Montana, I wanted to leave you a present." A part of Sam knew that this might backfire and he would be forced to stay in the place that took everything from him, but Sam wanted to do at least one good thing. "There is a man you are looking for." Sam paused as he took a piece of paper and wrote on it.
"Who might that be?"
"The trinity killer." It got Frank's interest easily. "He is currently in Florida or I should say that is where he lives. I don't know his name or exact location, but if you put his face in front of me I could tell you who he is exactly."
"That is some 'coincidence' there Mr. Zillo. As I haven't spoken about the case I had been working on, let alone the name I call him by." Sam passed Frank the paper he had. It was a general description of the actor in the show plus a few other things to note.
"I ask that you don't tell anyone that I knew about this, but…" Sam had a feeling that Dexter was now after him. No, he knew it. The hospital held him back with the security, but now he was heading to the airport and flying back to Montana to have the funeral for the ones he cares for. Dexter will probably follow him and kill him. He had to make this count for something. In the show Rita was gone too soon and he hated the fact she was killed. It seemed silly to save someone that his enemy cared for, but it was what he wanted to do. 'I'm not long for the world.' Sam thought, but continued out loud. "This will have to do. He lives with a family. A wife and two kids, I think. I know he has a son. I think he works in construction, but I just can't remember it in detail. Something about houses. He was in… no never mind. I hope this helps you." He was going to say the actor was also in 'Third Rock From The Sun', but that wouldn't help the universe.
"And how would you know this information? Where are you 'remembering' it from?"
"That is something terribly difficult to explain and I have no intention of talking about it. Believe me or don't, but he will be starting again in a few years. You don't have long and he… well I hope you believe me."
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Sam decided that a private Jet would get him killed before the funeral, so Sam decided to take the highly public travel in the air. Not even first class when his wallet could easily afford it. He wanted to be surrounded by people. Yet the moment he got on the plane, a fear of Dexter or someone else hiding in the crowd came to mind.
But he had to hold back those fears. There was no way he was going to be killed on the plane. He had a high chance of being safe in the crowd. He could do it.
The flight was at night and after staying up the whole day for the flight after the meeting with Lundy, Sam was exhausted. Didn't help that he was still healing from his injuries either.
He turned off his flip phone and pocketed in his jacket pocket. Sam leaned back into his seat by the window and let his eye watch the lights blink on the dark runway. Another half hour and he was in the air. After the initial jolt, things evened out and Sam slowly closed his eyes. No one was around to bother him. He is going home.
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Author Here!
This is the end of the story. This was always going to be a shorter story. I did what I thought was best, so I hope you all enjoyed it. Even if you didn't let me know. Did it suck? Ending terrible? Felt cheated? Was that one part interesting? Did you feel on the edge of your seat or any other emotion? Let me know!
Now where to go from here. Since I got a job, I will probably put anything I write on hold for a while. Not that I was consistent before with what I wrote, but now it will be even more sporadic.
I did have three different ideas where to go with this story, if you wanted to know. First was to leave it here. This is the end and to not mess up what I currently have, other than any mistakes that get pointed out to me, I will just leave it as is. The second idea is to continue where I left off and go through season two of Dexter, although that would be a hard cap on the story. I will not go past season two. The bay harbor butcher, plus what happened in the fan fic here, would spice things up. Although I don't have a perfect idea of where to go with it, it is a possibility. Then the third idea, one that I am slightly partial too, if I didn't already know how difficult it would be, I would take this character and everything that happened to him and throw him into the first season of the Mentalist. Afterall I chose Dexter between the two. Although that would be the most difficult in terms of writing ability when the whole show has a lot more smart people and as I stated before, Patrick Jane could easily see everything about my character and insta-kill him. Not the best way to word it, but yea, it would happen.
I guess that is it. I hope you all have fun and I'm sure there are some of you coming to find fanfics because of the upcoming Dexter Miniseries. Enjoy and stay safe out there!