***Thank you all for your love for the story. The reviews are amazing and make me want to write everyday! Enjoy & Tootles!
***Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or the characters.
Chapter 4
Sam and Puck sat on the pale blue couch in the waiting room of the hospital, spent with worry. Sam was running his hands through his hair and Puck was bouncing his left leg nervously. Mercedes and Tina were in a private room at the hospital with the doctor. The guys had been waiting for atleast 30 minutes without any word on Tina's condition. Finally, Mercedes walked into the waiting room with her cellphone glued to her ear. She was talking to someone frantically as she approached the couch.
"Sebastian, I know that! What did you want me to do? Let her give birth in my dressing room. Just tell them I will be there as soon as I can. Got it? Just do it!" Mercedes ended her call, shoved the phone into her purse and threw in on the couch. She was so frustrated by the conversation she didn't even acknowledge Puck and Sam's presence. It was until Puck cleared his throat that she lifted her eyes to look at them.
"Oh, you're still here?" She asked surprised, as she walked around them and plopped down of the rocking chair next to them. Sam shook his head, pissed at her dismissal of them and took a deep breath.
"Of course we are still here. What do you think we were just going to drop Tina off at the door of the hospital and just take off?" Sam asked in frustration. Mercedes eyes were shut as she rubbed her temples.
"Hmm? Yeah. She's fine. She is only a couple of centimeters. I called her husband and he is taking the red eye here. He should actually be here," Mercedes opened her eyes and looked at the clock on the wall, "in about two hours." Mercedes closed her eyes again. Puck breathed a sigh of relief and told Sam he was going to pick something up at the gift shop downstairs.
"Oh, some Tasmanian Rainwater, lukewarm." Mercedes called out. Puck looked at Sam and mouthed "Is she talking to me?" Sam nodded and shrugged. Puck laughed as he walked out of the lounge. Sam glanced back at Mercedes. He noticed that her hands were shaking like a leaf. She was gripping a photo that seemed to be folded in half. His face softened as he walked toward her and sat on the couch adjacent to her chair.
"Are you ok?" He asked softly. Mercedes opened up her eyes and Sam saw the tears that filled her eyes and threatened to fall. Her eyes were puffy and red.
"Um," she barely whispered, "I don't think I've ever been that scared before."
"She's ok." He responded quietly. Mercedes nodded her head.
"I know. I do. It's just…she's my best friend, you know." One lone tear slipped from her eye. Her chin began to tremble. Sam quickly grabbed her hand and squeezed it firmly.
"Sshh. It's ok. Don't worry. She's going to be fine." He whispered confidently to her, with a small smile on his face. They both looked down at their entwined hands and then back into each other's eyes. Although the room was silent, they both felt like an explosion had just detonated. Mercedes could feel her chest heaving at the energy the she was coursing through her. Her body was experiencing something, but she could not describe it. Unbeknownst to Mercedes, Sam was experiencing the same thing. He was feeling a wave of emotion from just holding this woman's hand and wanted it never to end. It was electrifying. The moment was only broken when Puck walked into the waiting room carrying a gigantic yellow bear.
"Hey what do you think?" A voice asked from behind the bear. Mercedes and Sam quickly moved in opposite direction, Sam walking toward Puck and Mercedes walking to the venting machine, shoving the picture into her pocket.
"Puck, is that really you?" Sam asked as he walked toward the 5 ft tall stuffed animal. He eyed Mercedes from the corner of his eye. Puck put the bear down on the couch and talked Sam about how he came to the selection of that particular bear. Sam was only half listening, as his eyes kept drifting toward Mercedes, who was pushing buttons of the vending machine. Mercedes was having a hard time at the vending machine as well, feeling overwhelmed about the moment that just passed. She was couldn't shake the feeling that she was experiencing.
"Mercy!" A voice called from the hallway. Mercedes snapped to attention when she recognized the face and voice. It was her agent Sebastian. Mercedes ran to Sebastian, wrapping her arms around the familiar face, hoping to put the feelings she just experienced behind her. Sam watched them as he half-listened to Puck. She's awfully familiar with him, he thought, as he watched Sebastian hold Mercedes firmly while stroking her hair. When Mercedes pulled away from Sebastian, she turned her head toward Sam. They both locked eyes with each other and then quickly looked the other direction.
Sebastian went over to Puck and Sam, extending his hand to them.
"Oh Man, thank you guys for helping Tina. You were true lifesavers." He gushed as he grabbed both Puck and Sam's hands and shook them fiercely. Mercedes walked behind him slowly, her arms crossed.
"Hey no problem. Tina is a great person and we'd do anything to help hot mama here." Puck answered smiling at Mercedes.
"Don't call me that." Mercedes answered flatly. "You guys were a help, I guess. Even if all you did was drive."
"And all you did was bitch." Sam added, with one eyebrow raised.
"I'm the one who got her down here, no thanks to your "around the world" driving directions." Mercedes snapped, rolling her neck.
"Well, if I took your directions we would still be in the middle of the expressway right now!" Sam yelled back and rolled his neck.
"Uh, did I miss something here?" Sebastian asked Puck as he pointed to Mercedes and Sam, who were currently glaring at each other. Puck smiled and gave a nervous laugh as he went behind Sam and started massaging his neck. He whispered into his ear, "This is the guy who is going to pay your salary, so Chill."
"No problem," Puck stated loudly. "These two just need to get to know each other better. By the time time tour is over, they'll be like kissing cousins." Both Sam and Mercedes rolled their eyes at the same time. Sebastian looked confused and then pointed to Sam.
"Are you Sam Evans?" he asked. Sam broke his stare with Mercedes and pasted a smile on his face as he turned to Sebastian.
"Yes sir. In the flesh." Sebastian grabbed Sam's hand and started shaking it fiercely.
"Oh man! I am a big fan. I loved the stuff you wrote for Carrie Underwood. What was it….Desert Heat! Yeah. Man, that was an awesome song." Sam smiled broadly.
"Thanks. Thanks a lot man. I wrote that about two years ago. I got the idea-"
"Uh, who cares!" Mercedes interjected her hands on her hip. "Are you going on tour with me or not, Billy Ray? I don't have all damn day." Sam balled his fists and took a deep breath.
"The name is Sam and…yes. I'll take the job." Puck rubbed Sam's shoulders, and gave him a wink. Sebastian clapped his hands.
"Great. Our bus leaves tomorrow at 8am. So make sure you have your stuff on the bus at the latest 7:45am. Our first stop will be Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena and then we are off for the ride of our lives until August." Sam lifted up his hand, as concern covered his face.
"August?" I thought we are going to be done in July? Two months?" Sam looked back at Puck who was wincing and mouthing "Oops." Mercedes was digging in her purse looking for her cellphone, as she responded to Sam.
"Uh yeah, Ryan Reynolds. Adele just added some new dates, so we will be joining her. You know, that's how we get paid and all. So just get someone back home to tend your sheep or cows or whatever the hell you raise back home. " Mercedes made a small noise of happiness when she found her cellphone and walked to the corner to make a call. Sam stared angrily at her, grinding his teeth. He turned abruptly to Sebastian.
"Is she always like that or do you have some tranquilizer darts that you give her?" Sam asked annoyingly. Sebastian nodded his head.
"I know… she's a little wound up today. Probably because of Tina. Believe me, she is all bark and no bite. Well, except for that one time, but she didn't actually pierce the skin of that guy." Both Puck and Sam gasped slightly. "Anyway," Sebastian continued, "Trust me- this will be great." Sebastian lifted a finger as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He motioned goodbye to Sam and Puck as he walked down the hallway of the hospital. Sam slowly turned to Puck.
"Am I making a huge mistake, Bro?" he asked worriedly.
"Nah. It's five and a half grand remember?"
"Wait, I thought it was six grand?"
"Yeah, you know minus my commission." Puck grabbed Sam by the shoulder and led him down the hallway. "This will be a tour to remember, Bro! Let's drop this bear to Tina and hit the road." Sam nodded as he turned to pick up the bear. He glanced at Mercedes who was still on the phone, whispering into the phone. Her face was visibly upset. She looked up and locked eyes with Sam. Sam quickly looked away, carrying the bear out of the waiting room. Mercedes watched him as he walked down the hall.
XXXX
Tina's face lit up with she saw the bear stick its head into her room. She was wearing a gown and robe, leaning on the side of the hospital bed as she stood in the private room.
"Oh my god! That's so freaking cute!" she exclaimed. Sam and Puck jumped from behind the bear and walked into the room.
"Glad you like it, Hot Tee! I saw it and thought you and Mike would get a kick out of it." Puck exclaimed as he plopped on the chair by the door.
"I wish you could stay and see Mike, Puck. We missed you at the wedding." Tina smiled back at Puck. Puck and Mike knew each other since highschool, teammates on the football team. Thanks to Mike, Tina always used Puck's agency to employ crew and stagehands for Mercedes' gigs. Sam moved close to Tina and rubbed her lower back gently. Tina gave a deep moan at the soothing feeling it gave her.
"Ooooh, Sam… don't stop." She moaned deeply as she gripped the bed. Sam laughed.
"Never thought I'd hear that coming from pregnant woman that I hardly know?" Sam giggled.
"How did you know to do this?" she asked.
"My mom had my brother and sister while I was in highschool. I did this for her during her labor with them." He explained as he continued rubbing. After a few minutes, she asked him to help her back into bed. Before she laid her head down, she held on to his hand.
"Are you taking the job?" She asked cautiously. Sam frowned.
"Unfortunately yes." Tina smiled and laid her head on her pillow.
"Great. You are exactly what she needs." Sam raised his eyebrows.
"You got to be kidding. That beast despises me." Tina laughed.
"No she doesn't. If she despised you, she would never have trusted you to take me to the hospital. You just got to know her."
"Do I have to?" Sam brooded. Tina squeezed Sam's hand.
"She is more fragile than she looks. Take care of her for me, ok?" Sam tilted his head.
"Is she in danger?"
"No, not really. Her fans are becoming a little harder to control, which is why I wanted a bodyguard/personal assistant. Bu it's not her physical safety I am worried about. You'll see once she lets you inside."
"Inside what?"
"Inside her heart. You'll see." Tina winked at Sam, as he looked at her puzzled. The room door opened and floor nurse asked the guys to step outside.
"See you guys," Tina shouted as she waved them goodbye. "Sam, call me if you need me. Anytime, ok?" Sam waved back and gave her a thumb up sign. As he and Puck walked toward the exit, Sam looked into the waiting room and saw that it was empty.
XXXX
Sam walked thru the empty Las Vegas arena for the third time that day, to make sure everything was prepared for the concert that would take place in four hours. He looked over the lighting schematic and the equipment staging, in addition to making sure Mercedes' dressing room was stocked with all of her "necessities". Sam realized how much he missed the "music business"- the hustle, the drive. It was incredibly addictive. His face saddened as he wished he could share this experience with his family. His sister Stacey would definitely get a kick out it, considering she was a major Mercedes Jones Fan. Sam learned that in his last letter from Stacey, where she went on and on about how amazing Mercedes' new CD was to her. Sam hoped he could snatch an autographed copy of her CD that Mercedes usually threw out into the audience at the close of her concerts. He didn't dare ask her himself, dreading owing her any type of a favor.
Their relationship since he joined her team has been strained, with her piling massive demands on him and answering him with grunts or nods. Her attitude was already driving him nuts and its' only been three days. Tina gave birth to a bouncing baby boy the day that the tour bus left, yet she still managed to text Sam different agendas and scheduling that she figured Mercedes would not share with him. Tina was definitely a life saver and helped Sam tremendously. Sam was so lost in his own thoughts that he almost tripped over the blond woman stretching on the floor.
"Damn, I'm so sorry. I was caught up in my own head."
"No worries. I do that alot too. I find its best when you just don't think." She said with a vacant look. Sam started to laugh, but stopped when he looked and saw the confused look on her face.
"That was a funny joke you just- you know what, never mind."
"You're Mercedes new PA right? Sam?" she asked as she continued to stretch on the floor. She was slim, but extremely well-toned. It was obvious that she was a dancer by the size of the muscle in her calves. Sam couldn't deny that she was an attractive girl, but something didn't seem quite together about her.
"Yeah. Sam I am and I do not like green eggs and ham."
"Really why not?" she asked seriously.
"No, that just part of the saying."
"Which saying?"
"Dr. Seuss. Can in the Hat? You know what, never mind."
"Oh okay. My name is Britney." She answered with a youthful giddiness. Sam had to smile had her naive simplicity.
"Hi, Britney. You're a dancer with Adele?"
"Yep, joined her group last year. Are you married?" Sam was surprised by her boldness.
"Uh, no."
"Dating?"
"No."
"Great." she said with a smile. "We should go out. Have some fun." Sam shrugged his shoulders.
"Maybe. I'll let you know."
"Ok. Bye Sam." Britney stood up, grabbed her bag and walked toward the exit." Sam walked to the other side of the backstage, shaking his head at the strange conversation, when he saw Mercedes standing by the corner refreshment table watching him. Sam noticed that she was wearing her signature black skinny jeans, that hugged her perfectly. She matched it with a 3/4 metallic bronze jacket with black heeled boots. Sam liked the ensemble on her, but shook off the thought when he noticed her face. The expression of her face was a mix of anger and something else. Sam couldn't put his finger of it.
"Hey, what's up?" He asked nonchalantly. She walked up to him with her arms crossed and seemed very tense.
"Well for starters, Rhinestone Cowboy, why don't you remember why you are here in the first place. You are not here to get some ass or flirt with my employees. You are my PA. My bodyguard. That means you find out what the hell I need and jump to it. I don't pay you to get your mack on with some blond chick shaking her ass in front of you." Sam threw his pad on the ground and sneered at her.
"First of all, I know what my damn job is and I have been doing it. Second of all, your precious ass is supposed to be in the hotel, resting up for this concert and sipping the fucking green tea I had steeping for you. Third, I am your bodyguard, not your babysitter. So stop worrying about whose ass I am looking at, stop acting like a spoiled brat and go do what the hell you are supposed to do."
"I go when I want, where I want, with whomever the fuck I want and you just follow my lovely ass." Mercedes smirked.
"Sorry sweet cheeks. Ain't going to happen that way. Now let's go." Sam pointed to the exit door to the left of them.
"And suppose I'm not ready to go?" she challenged.
"Then I'll throw your ample ass over my shoulder and carry you to the hotel. Because you need to rest your voice, your body and my damn nerves."
"You wouldn't dare touch me." She warned him. Sam took a step toward her that let no space between them. Their noses practically touched and their lips were less than an inch from each other.
"Darling, don't ever dare me. You will always lose." The moment was full of a highly charged sexual tension. Mercedes tried to stay focused on Sam's eyes, but her own eyes betrayed her when she involuntarily looked down at Sam's lips. They were the sexiest, most seductive things Mercedes had ever seen. She was afraid to flinch in fear that her body would unconsciously move towards the pillowy magnets. Sam's eyes were betraying him as well as he imagined the feel of the velvety lips that were in front of him. When Mercedes bit her lower lip, Sam felt a stirring in his body. Finally, Mercedes took a step back, turned her body left and walked out the exit door. Sam stood at that spot for a moment, realizing this was the second time today that he was confused by an encounter with a woman backstage.