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Chapter 33 - Chapter 33 -A Quiet Evening at Sam's

Soli had returned to play football with the rest of the guys. He wore three band-aids on his hand. Even though Samuel had healed the cut completely, it was necessary to complete the illusion that he was still injured to Karen.

The indoor pitch had been copied there from the island home. They had elected to play in the tank. Samuel, Soli, Arles and Logan were against Legate, Jake and Jack Harkness.

Genie, Karen, and Ashena sat on the bench outside of the tank.

Jack laughed, "So, who is shirts, and who is skins?"

Samuel put his hands on his hips. "We'll be shirts."

Jack groaned, "Damn. Well, Jake isn't bad to look at-"

"That better be your damn reply to that!" Jake smacked Jack in the chest.

They began to play, all of them helping Soli when they could.

Genie clapped loudly. "Come on! Nutters!"

Ashena laughed. "Who are you actually cheering for?"

"All of them. They all fall under that title."

Karen laughed.

Genie took Karen's hand. "So. What can I tell you about my brother?"

Karen smiled, "I really don't know a lot about him. We've known one another less than a week."

Ashena smiled, "Oh, those are the best romances."

Genie laughed. "Well, I'd love to be all….you shouldn't date him because of this reason or that….but Samuel is a great guy."

Ashena sipped her wine and agreed. "If he's anything like his father, absolutely."

Karen nodded, "He explained to me about how he has a Papa and a Dad."

Genie laughed, "Grand says it makes them sound like two gay men."

"That's what I thought it was!" Karen laughed with Genie.

Ashena looked back at them. "John isn't gay. My father wouldn't have offered me to a gay man."

"Wait. Stop. Your father offered you to my Dad?"

Ashena nodded. "Yes. He told me that he was flattered, but already had his wife. He only wanted one. And, it would have worked out if he had agreed. But, Logan is so….special. I'm grateful it didn't."

Karen looked surprised at Ashena. "That sounds so odd."

Genie shook her head. "She's not from here. She's….from some other place."

Ashena giggled. "I remember the look on your father's face when I told him I had been taught to pleasure a man. I wish I had an image of it."

Genie laughed hysterically. "I cannot even imagine his reaction."

Karen was sure she hadn't heard that correctly. "I'm sorry. You've been taught…what did you say?"

"How to pleasure a man. It's a course all residents take where I'm from. Logan and Legate have both taken one that is similar. It's rather good."

Genie nodded her head. "I would like to take that class. Can anyone take it?"

Ashena shrugged her shoulders, "Certainly. But, I could tell you the majority of it. I mean, it's a man. They are much less complex than a woman."

Karen and Genie both became extremely interested. Genie looked back at Karen, who sat next to her and pat her hand. She moved so Ashena sat between them. "Alright. Tell us everything."

Ashena laughed. "I haven't had such an attentive audience in ages."

Karen held up her finger to tell them to wait as Samuel ran over to the wall to shout through it. "Gene. I forgot to tell you that I'm going to New York for a few days."

"Why?" She asked.

"I'm doing…..a thing." He told her as Jack Harkness ran up behind him to slam him into the wall. Just as he got close enough, Samuel grabbed him and tossed him over his shoulder. Jack landed with a loud thump on the ground.

Samuel shook his head as he looked down at him. "Every time."

Karen had covered her mouth in shock. She was certain Jack was going to hit Samuel. Ashena was still laughing under her breath.

Genie hadn't paid it any attention. Jack and Samuel tossing one another about was nothing unusual for her. "Okay. A thing? What? With Tony?"

"It's just a thing, Gene. I don't want to go into it. But, I'm there if you need me for anything."

"Why do you always have to be so damn secretive about everything?" Genie complained.

He grinned at her. "Makes me interesting." He winked at Karen.

Jack got up and noticed Karen. "Hey, you haven't introduced us."

Samuel pointed at Jack. "Karen, this is Jack."

He smiled. "And hello-"

"Stop it." Samuel insisted.

Karen giggled.

He pointed at Jack. "Don't think I don't know what you-"

"I'm just saying hi, man." Jack defended himself.

Genie rolled her eyes. "Sammy. Are you going by yourself to New York?"

"No. I wouldn't do that." Jack pat him on the back. They both smiled and jogged back to where the action was happening on the pitch.

Genie shook her head. "Okay, whatever with them. Ashena. We need to be educated. Go."

Ashena laughed. "Okay. Where do I start? Okay….first….."

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Later that evening, Karen sat propped up next to Samuel on the sofa in his sitting room. The room's lights were dimmed. Soli sat on Sam's other side and had fallen asleep. Samuel had his arms wrapped around both Karen and Soli. Karen was snuggled into Sam's shoulder, watching telly.

Samuel had run his fingertips up and down her arm for the majority of the program. She hadn't noticed when he had stopped, only when the sensation that they always felt when they touched one another had ended. When she looked over to check on Soli, she found that Samuel was also sleeping. She grinned at him. She had never met anyone who could fall asleep sitting up on a sofa.

He wore a long sleeved t-shirt and a grey pair of trousers. Both of them had taken off their shoes and were barefoot. She still hadn't agreed to try a proper cup of tea telling him that she had drank a bit too much wine and wanted to enjoy that effect just a bit more. Another glass of the wine sat on the table in front of her.

She thought about what Ashena had told her and Genie. She wasn't sure if she could even do half of what she had told her, but was anxious to try. She hoped there would be wine in New York when she and Sam went. She might try some of that they discussed there. She couldn't believe he had asked her to go with him. But, she really couldn't believe that she had agreed to it.

Her mother had given her a long talk about how she should guard her heart after she had told her about Samuel. She had told her that they had known one another for months, but had only started dating recently. That seemed to lessen the blow, even though it was completely untrue. When she had asked to go to the doctor, she was grateful that he Mom hadn't asked why. Although, she was certain she had to know.

Samuel smelled so good. She had never experienced him fresh out of the shower, with his own soap and shampoo. He had taken a quick shower after the football match with the rest of the men who played. Karen couldn't help but be impressed with the school's indoor stadium. Everything she had seen so far was amazing.

The school looked like a castle with its beautiful wood carvings and stonework. She couldn't imagine where the original home even had been before it had been expanded from home to the school.

Samuel's flat was less formal, and made her forget she was even at a school. The beautiful stonework and roaring fire in the encased fireplace made her feel warm, comfortable, and oddly at home.

Karen wasn't paying attention to the telly and was consumed in her own thoughts when her phone rang in her pocket. The sound make Samuel jump awake.

She rubbed his chest, "Shhhh…."

He rubbed his face with both of his hands. "No, I'm up."

She smiled as she quietly answered the phone. "Hello."

Samuel kissed the side of her head and whispered, "I'll take Soli to Arles' bed."

She returned to her phone call, "Yes, Mom. That was Samuel. We're babysitting."

As she spoke to her Mom, Samuel carried Soli out of the room. He returned to the kitchen and made himself another cup of tea. She knew that was what he had done when he returned to the sofa drinking it and rubbing his face. He picked up the remote and turned down the volume of the television.

She rubbed his thigh and thanked him quietly.

Samuel sat down his tea and checked his phone's messages. He replied to one from Tony, telling him to just let Soli stay there tonight. He explained that he had already fallen asleep and had been put to bed. Tony replied his thanks back. Samuel tossed the on the table and picked back up his tea.

Karen smiled at him, "My Mom says that Henry has lost his mind. He must have really liked you."

He grinned at her. "We had a chat while he was here. He's a good boy."

Karen laughed, "He's sitting here drinking tea. I think he's obsessed a bit with it."

"I'm not obsessed with it." He chuckled and sat it down on the table.

Karen continued to listen to her Mom's conversation.

Samuel, ran his fingertip up her neck and started to quietly kiss it.

She closed her eyes tightly and gripped his thigh. "I'm sorry, what Mom?"

He grinned and blew his warm breath on her neck as he continued to run his fingertips across her neck, dipping them into her blouse. He nibbled her ear lobe. He was picking up the tingling sensation from her. From how she was reacting, she was feeling it, too.

Karen smacked the inside of his thigh. He smiled and licked her ear lobe, slowly.

She cleared her throat. "Mom. Can I call you back a bit later?"

He kissed her neck. The electrical current was running through his body and he was sure it had returned to hers. He continued to kiss her. Putting his hand under her blouse, he ran his fingertips across her chest. He could feel goose bumps rise on her skin.

She covered her mouth and squeezed her eyes closed as tightly as she could. "Yes, ma'am. I'll call you later."

She ended the call and turned to him. "I can't believe you!"

He smiled, "You loved it."

She laughed, "Because I love you."

He couldn't believe he had heard it. "What?"

She covered her face. "Never mind. I didn't say that-"

He took her hands and tried to stop her from covering her face in embarrassment. "No, no, no. Don't do that. It's alright-"

"I didn't say anything, Samuel."

"Yes, you did. You said you love me."

"I didn't mean to say it….you were kissing me…"

He grinned, "I think you might have meant it."

"Oh my gosh this is so embarrassing." She insisted as she covered her face.

"Well, hang on-"

"Can we forget it?"

"It's not something you should forget."

Samuel's phone rang. He continued to look at her.

"Your phone is ringing."

He glanced at it to see that it was Genie calling him. "She'll have to try later. I'm busy."

"Samuel. What are you thinking?"

"Nevermind that, what are you thinking?"

She closed her eyes and sighed, "I'm such an idiot. I don't want to scare you off-"

He smiled at her, "You're not."

She threaded her fingers through his. "I love how this feels. I love being with you."

"It's never been like this for me. Whatever that, feeling is…..I find that I only want more of it. The more I'm with you, the more I realize, I want to be around you more."

She smiled as she told him quietly, "I feel the same way. Your sister and your friends are wonderful. They treated me so….they were so nice."

He smiled, "Genie is great. Ashena is fun."

"One day, I'll tell you about the conversation we had."

"I'm not done with this one we're having."

"Tell me though, Genie and Legate?"

He smiled, "They are engaged. It's a secret to most people. Especially, my Dad and Papa."

"They wouldn't approve?"

"We have bets on Dad's reaction. I believe that he'll punch him out. He'll hit him, at least twice. Legate has to lose consciousness and bleed."

"How much money?"

He rubbed his chin. "$5,000…"

"On a bet?"

He grit his teeth. "Yeah, well….there is a big pool. A lot of heavy rollers are going to get involved in that."

"Do you have a gambling problem?"

He shook his head. "What? Why would you say that?"

"$5,000 on a reaction?"

"Well, it's….these people I've grown up with. They bet on….everything. The weather. A game. What's for dinner. Everything. It's how we entertain ourselves."

"That's a hell of a lot of money."

"Mum has $10,000 on it."

Karen was shocked. "$10,000 on one bet-"

"But, she's helping us keep Dad distracted, so I guess it's fair."

Karen shook her head in disbelief. "You guys are crazy. I can't imagine even betting a $1,000 on anything."

"Mum knows Dad better than any of us. So, she'll probably win. She says that he will catch them kissing, hit Legate, and knock him out. Genie will get cross and ….." He stopped talking as he realized Rose's prediction was too clear. She had to have seen a vision of that moment. He mumbled to himself. "Huh. Well, that's just unfair."

Karen laughed under her breath. "All of you are crazy. Just so you know."

He smiled proudly at her, "Completely mental! Anyway. You said that you-"

She put her finger over his lips. "Shhh. Samuel, I need a minute."

His phone rang again.

He spoke from behind her finger out of the side of his mouth, "So, I should probably take that."

"Go ahead."

"Right."

He answered the phone, "Sam."

He sat back on the sofa, "Oh, hey Mum. How are things there?"

Karen rubbed his thigh and sipped her wine.

"No, she's here. We were watching telly." He laughed, "No, ma'am. No chips."

Karen pat his chest and whispered, "Join me when you finish your call."

He nodded at Karen and continued to speak to Rose. "Yes, ma'am. I think it was a good talk. I keep thinking of more questions, but he's asked me to wait and address them with him later."

Karen walked down the hallway to Samuel's room. Her bare feet on the tile floor made her feel comfortable, just like when she was at home in Florida. The tile floor there even looked similar to the one in her parents' home on the beach.

After a quick trip to the loo, she walked back into Samuel's bedroom and opened her overnight bag.

Samuel spoke to her as he walked in the room. He emptied his pockets and put everything on the top of his dresser. "I checked on Soli. He's completely out."

"Who is he? You never said."

Samuel shrugged his shoulders. "He's….umm…Soli."

"That part I got."

"He's my Uncle's son. Sortof. He's…adopted. Nearly. I'm not sure."

"Have you been smoking again tonight?"

"No, I'm naturally this thick." He laughed.

She sat on the side of his bed and giggled. "Soli is your cousin, then."

He nodded, "I have never thought about that. I suppose he is."

"Well, he must be new to you."

"That's the thing, he's really not. Just….well….he sortof is."

"Sure you haven't been smoking?"

"Maybe it's some sort of….haze from how much we did smoke."

"Do you smoke a lot?"

He put his hands in his pockets and shook his head. "No. It was the first time I had really ever done it. We were going to leave that morning, but….we wasn't able to….go anywhere."

She laughed. "Too stoned to drive, huh?"

"Too stoned to do anything. I couldn't believe it." He admitted as he sat down next to her on the large four poster bed.

She turned to him. "Samuel. How do you feel about me? Can I ask that?"

He smiled, "Yes. You can ask anything."

"I just don't want to put you on the spot. Be this, nightmare girlfriend. Pressuring you about-"

"You're not."

"Okay. Well, Genie said-"

"Oh God." He laughed. "Let me get comfortable for this." He lay down on the bed and ran his hands through his hair. "You and my sister. This might not have been a good thing at all."

She giggled as she moved to sit above him. He looked up at her just as she started to run her fingers through his hair.

He closed his eyes and relaxed, "That's nice. Now my head tingles."

"Your sister looks so familiar to me. I love her eyes."

He smiled, "Yeah, not many people have the same color eyes as Gene."

"That's really her eye color? Not contacts or anything?"

He laughed under his breath. "That's her real eyes. They are light brown."

She continued to run her fingers through his short hair, "Genie said that you are a doctor."

He was so relaxed, "I am."

"Like a real doctor?"

"Like a proper, general, put people back together, Doctor. Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

He felt so at ease. The tingle from her touch had relaxed him. Had it ever done that before? "It's just….something. People treat me differently when they find it out."

"You have to go to school for years for that. Don't you?"

"Or study under someone. That's what I did."

She looked confused. "I've never heard of that."

"It's like…an apprenticeship sort of thing. I really never planned to become one. It just…happened." He opened his eyes and looked back up at her running her fingers through his hair. "Are you cross that I didn't tell you?"

"No." She smiled, "I understand why you didn't."

"You do?"

"Well, when were you going to tell me?"

He thought, "Probably tonight. Maybe tomorrow. I mean, how do you begin that conversation?"

She giggled. "Well, let me see. I would recommend, 'Hi Karen'."

He smiled up at her. "Hi Karen."

"I have something to tell you that you probably won't believe."

He laughed under his breath at her. "That's how I'll have to tell you?"

"It would probably help to tell me I'm pretty, or whatever I'm wearing is nice."

He smiled. "I'll keep that in mind."

"So, do you work at a hospital or anything?"

"No. Well, if my Dad needs me to, I'll go and help."

"But, you're so young."

"It's never a problem. He always prepares them if it's necessary."

"So, he's a doctor, too?"

"Yes." He closed his eyes and relaxed. He realized that the voices had stopped speaking in his head as the feeling coming from her hand seemed to move further into his body. "Karen, this is nice."

She smiled and continued to stroke his hair, "You are going to go back to sleep."

"I feel like I might. Come here. Let's get more comfortable."

He took off his shirt and tossed it in the floor. Then, pulled the duvet and sheets back and lay down on the pillows on his side. She lie in front of him and rubbed his chest. He pulled the duvet back over them. He held her back, under her blouse so he could feel her skin. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The current of relaxation began again the more that she rubbed his bare chest. "Oh, that's amazing."

She giggled, "I believe you are tired. Football has taken the rest of your energy."

"What Soli hasn't taken from me."

She giggled. "That little boy loves you so much. He said you are his best friend in the universe."

Samuel smiled. "And he's mine."

He brought his hand up and began to caress her face. He became lost in her eyes, only inches from his, "I can touch you and look in your beautiful, blue eyes. I've waited for this all day."

"As long as you keep your eyes open."

He grinned. "I'll do the best I can."

"Genie said this was that school they are talking about on the news."

"The Maria Carbonell Institute. Yes. She's the Head Mistress. Although, I think 'Institute' sounds….strange. She's talking about dropping that part and it's going to be the Maria Carbonell."

"She's drafted you and Arles?" She asked.

He grinned. "I would have volunteered. She's my sister and I know she needs my help."

"So….you don't want to tell me things because you are worried that I'll treat you differently."

"You'll see me as someone else. Someone, who isn't who I really am."

She continued to rub his chest. "Samuel. The speed junkie."

He laughed under his breath. "Okay. That's a new one."

She started to play with the hairs on his chest. "Relaxed?"

"How does this feel to you?" He asked her.

She slowly smiled, "It's nice. An odd sensation. It's different than before."

"Yeah, for me, too. It's….soothing."

"Yes. Very comforting." She closed her eyes.

He agreed and kissed the end of her nose. "Yes. Maybe we're just tired."

She teased, "Maybe one of us is still a bit…stoned."

He laughed under his breath. "Maybe."

"Samuel. Your Uncle who lives in New York?"

He opened his eyes to lose himself in her eyes as he caressed her cheek with his fingertips. "Yes?"

"You called him Tony."

He closed his eyes tightly, "Damn it."

"Tell me I'm crazy, but the school where he used to live, the car…."

He nodded his head with his eyes closed, "I know what you are on about."

"Is not, is it?"

"Would it make a difference? Would you still like me, because of me?"

"Samuel." She whispered, "You can be honest with me."

He looked into her eyes and considered telling her everything.

"Samuel. I don't like you because of who you are. I love you because of who you are."

His face spread into a wide smile. "You do love me."

"And I don't say that because of this. I really do. I slipped and said it out there, but after I thought about it, I knew I meant it. Samuel, I've never felt like this with anyone. All I can think about is you. I only want to be where you are. I feel like I'm only, truly, alive when we're together. It has to be love. That doesn't scare you, does it? Please, don't let it-"

"No." He told her seriously and kissed the end of her nose. "Karen, I feel the same way."

"You don't have to do that."

"Do what?"

"Let me….just be the one to say it tonight. I don't want you to feel you have to say anything you might not mean."

"But, what if I do?"

"I haven't known you a week! Samuel, I feel like I've lost my mind. You are in my every thought."

He laughed under his breath. "Then we're mad together."

She met his lips with her own and giggled. "Maybe we're too tired to have this conversation."

"I'm enjoying it." He laughed with his eyes closed.

"Oh, go to sleep." She teased.

He continued to laugh under his breath. After he felt her relax in his arms, he whispered, "Karen?"

She kissed his chest. "Yes, Samuel."

"Thank you for buying me that Pina Colona." He said as he started to run his fingertips up and down her back.

She giggled and snuggled back into his chest. "Thank you for sharing your chips."

He kissed the top of her head and they fell into a peaceful sleep.

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