Mercedes paced around the hotel room as she waited for Sam; she hadn't seen him in a few days, thanks to River messing up her times and work schedule. She had told Brax she would bring him sometime next week so they could figure out what exactly could be done besides kidnapping. She thought about calling in a tip to the Fed's on a weekend where she had Sam, but when she saw the police chief's mask slip from his drunken face, she realized that this place came prepared. And who knew who was on their payroll. She fixed her mask, adjusted the formfitting red dress with a v neck dip, and rechecked the time, frowning as she paced him her heels. She sent up a prayer that River wouldn't come in and try to seduce her again, claiming a mix-up. She was tired of his games. As the door opened, she saw two bodies being shoved in and raised an eyebrow.

Joey didn't know where he was being taken, but Master River had let him know that he wasn't getting a day off; he would be spying on Sam; usually, that meant being tied up and thrown in the corner. So when he was shoved into a room with a blindfold over his mask and forced to his knees, he hoped whatever happened wouldn't destroy him more than he already was.

Sam hated this. He hadn't seen Mercedes in so long, and he felt tired and weak. He hadn't been able to work out properly the last few days because of pain and fatigue. So when they grabbed Joey, too, panic filled him. He would have to protect him now.

Sam waited on his knees.

Mercedes didn't know what was happening, but the guy handed her a note. "Sexy Vixen, here is a gift from me to you. Enjoy. Master River." She read the note to herself. God, she hated that man; even his notes made her gag. Then, crumbling it up, she shut and locked the door like she was accustom to doing and then went right to Sam, pulling him up and in her arms. She knew that even without taking his blindfold off, he knew it was her. "God, I missed you."

Joey waited nervously, he heard the heels on the floor, but that didn't mean that it was a woman; he learned that lesson his first day there. Then, finally, he felt movement and heard a voice talking to Sam. Did she just say she missed him?

Sam felt her pull him up and wrapped his arms around her tightly, resting his head against her. "I missed you too," he managed, squeezing her in the hug as he felt emotions running wild. It had been too long since he saw her. While he knew she would never give up on him, he was nervous something had happened.

After a few moments, he pulled off his mask, and then he turned to look at Joey. "This is Joey."

Mercedes sighed into his arms, holding him as close as she could. Then, when he looked at the other, she nodded and moved to help Joey up.

Joey felt someone's hands on him, and even though Sam introduced him, he was still scared.

"It's okay. I promise I won't hurt you." Mercedes said, removing his blindfold.

Joey wanted to stay scared, but her voice was soothing, and when she removed his blindfold, the beauty he saw was not what he expected. Her kind eyes showed no malice or hatred like the others; she seemed sweet. He looked at Sam. "Sammy?"

Sam moved to wrap his arms around Joey, to hopefully bring him some kind of calmness and reassurance at that moment. "It's okay. This is the woman I've been talking about." He was always careful not to use Mercedes' name when he was within the club's walls. "She won't hurt you."

Mercedes knew better than to push; she only smiled and waited for Joey to say something.

Joey finally realized why Master River was so scared of Sam leaving; from the way the woman looked at him and from what Sam told him about her, she was going to set him free, there was no doubt. He felt sick. "H-hi," he said softly, not moving from Sam's arms. He wanted to believe she wouldn't hurt him, and deep down, he did, but now he was scared for a whole new reason.

Mercedes smiled softly. "You guys look tired and hungry. So, cap, you want the usual?"

Sam nodded and slowly let go of Joey. "Come on, kiddo, let's go sit on the bed." He led Joey over and let him sit down on the comfy bed. Then, glancing around at Mercedes, he nodded. "Yes, please." With that, he turned to look at Joey. "What do you want to eat?"

Joey was floored; the whole time he had been here, no one really treated them right; even the nice ones had an agenda. So when Sam asked him what he wanted to eat, he frowned. "E-eat?"

Mercedes nodded; she had gone through this with Sam, she got it. "Yes, I am ordering dinner for you guys, anything you want."

"T-this, this is an s-set up," Joey said, looking at Sam.

Sam shook his head. "I promise it isn't." He knew that to be accurate but could fully understand where Joey was coming from.

Mercedes sat on the bed, not close enough to touch him but to see her face. "I promise you I won't hurt you; you are safe in this room with me. I..." her voice trailed off. "I only ever come to see Sam, and it's not for the reasons everyone else does. I am not one of them, I promise, and food is just food."

Food is never just food here, Joey thought, but then he looked at Sam and then to the woman and nodded. "I-I will ha-have what S-Sammy is having."

Sam wrapped his arm easily around Joey, holding him close. He offered him a small smile. "Relax, Joey," he whispered. "She won't hurt you."

"T-that's what they all say until they do," Joey whispered to Sam.

Mercedes put the order in then looked back at them. Her eyes roaming over them, taking in how tired and weak they looked. She moved to her bag, pulling it up.

Joey saw the bag and froze. "S-see whats s-she doing?"

Sam rubbed his shoulder. "I know, but she's not like them." He glanced over at Mercedes. He bit his lip and walked over to her.

"Hey," he whispered, low enough so hopefully, Joey wouldn't hear. "He's super skittish. Maybe you could explain what you're doing before you do it? Just until he gets comfortable around you?"

Mercedes glanced at Sam and then at Joey; she nodded. "Yeah, I can do that. And it's just brownies; I remember you said you wanted some last week," The turned to Joey. "I was just grabbing some brownies I made."

"Y-you made them?" Joey asked, raising an eyebrow; people didn't do that where he came from or here.

She nodded. "I know you guys have been through a lot, but I am not here to get anything from you. I just really wanted to see Sam." She said honestly.

Joey looked at her and eyed the brownies. "C-can I have one?" They looked delicious.

She handed it to Sam. "Maybe you should take it to him so I won't scare him." She said so Joey knew she wasn't trying to hurt him.

Sam nodded, grinning when he saw that they were brownies. He loved dessert, and it was not something thru got here.

"Of course," Sam smiled as he approached him with two brownies. "All yours."

Joey eyed them for a moment, and Mercedes smiled. She lifted a random one from the container and took a bite. Seeing this, Joey inhaled the first one Sam gave him, licking the frosting off his fingers before going for the second one.

Mercedes looked at Sam. She wanted to hug him again, hold him, but she knew with Joey there, Sam might not want that, so instead, she handed him his own brownie. "The recipe your mom taught me, I just add my own little flair to it, which is just fudge and icing."

Sam laughed gently as Joey inhaled the brownie before taking a slow bite of his own. "They're amazing."

Mercedes smiled and sat on one of the chairs. "Thanks, I am glad you like it. Maybe I can make more this weekend." She reached her hand over and linked it with his. "How are you?"

Joey watched the interaction and frowned, a small gesture that was so kind and sweet, and it was all because she wanted to do something nice for Sam? He felt an ache in his chest; why couldn't he have that?

Sam held her hand tight and smiled. "I'm okay," he replied softly. "It's been a week, but really I'm okay." He spoke the truth. He was more worried about Joey.

She nodded. "Okay, if you are sure. I-" She stopped herself. She had so much to say, but Joey was within earshot, and she didn't want him to hear. "So what do you guys want to do? I brought some movies we can watch on my tablet, or we can use the hot tub? Whatever you want to help you relax."

Joey frowned and stiffen. "R-relax?" He looked at Sam. "For what?"

Mercedes bit her bottom lip. "Because you guys have been beaten down and abused, and I just wanted to offer a night where you can not be scared. I can even go and just let you two have the room, return right before they come to get you? I don't want you to be scared of me, Joey, so whatever helps, just tell me."

Sam squeezes her hand again and looked over at his closest friend when he spoke. "She means what she's saying, Joey. Nothing bad is gonna happen tonight; you have my word."

Joey nodded, Sam was good at his word, and she really did seem sincere. "W-what do y-you do when you are t-together?" He asked Sam.

"Watch movies, cuddle... hang out in the hot tub." He sighed slowly.

"Cu-cuddles?" It had been so long since anyone, but Sam held him. He looked at Mercedes and then to the bed. He shouldn't even be thinking it.

"Joey?" Mercedes asked, looking at him; she knew that look well; she saw it in Sam when they first met again. "Would you like me to cuddle with you? I promise I am really good at it. Nice and warm and everything."

Sam smiled. "If you want, we could make a Joey sandwich? Just wrap you up in comfort." Sam would do anything for Joey (and he had taken some punishments and clients for him).

Joey let himself smile for a moment. "O-ok." He said, nodding. "C-c-can you both?"

Mercedes nodded, kicking her heels off. "One Joey sandwich coming up."

Sam nodded and climbed into the bed, moving so he was behind Joey and wrapping his arms around him. It was a familiar position for him.

Mercedes moved closer. "Are you okay with me laying down?" Joey nodded, and Mercedes moved to lay in front of him, taking his arms and wrapping them around her waist.

Joey froze for a moment but then inhaled and relaxed. "Y-you s-smell good." he thought out loud and wanted to slap himself.

Sam smiled when he felt Joey relax. "She always smells good," he mused happily.