Mercedes barely slept. She had nothing but nightmares all night. Her dad and Sylvie had to take turns lying with her. By morning she only had gotten about an hour of sleep. But she didn't care. She didn't wake up in that cage, which meant none of this was a dream. Since her dad had to work and cover for her, Sylvie drove her to the Evans. She wasn't sure she should go there. She still felt dirty and ashamed. River's Mark was still on her wrist, and she couldn't help but stare, scratch at it. Once they arrived, Mercedes sat in the car, not sure what to do. Should she get out and make Sylvie turn around? She wouldn't do that anyway, so Mercedes wobbly got out of the car. Her hair was in a messy bun, and she wore an oversized sweatsuit, not wanting any of her body exposed.

Sylvie walked her to the door. She was wary of letting her do anything alone.

Mary answered and immediately went to hug Mercedes but stopped short. "Can I hug you, sweetheart?"

Mercedes swallowed hard when Mary opened the door, not looking at the woman, and when she asked her for a hug, Mercedes nodded but didn't hug her back; she couldn't for some reason she still felt so guilty.

Mary hugged her tightly. "Come in," she smiled. "I made some breakfast if you want."

Mercedes let Sylvie help her in but shook her head when she was offered breakfast; she still couldn't eat.

"Just a bite?" she asked slowly. "Joey's in the living room... Sam... he hasn't left his room."

Mercedes glanced up. "I umm, I haven't been able to eat." She said honestly.

Mary frowned. "Well, you know the fridge is open if you ever feel like you want to eat anything.*

Mercedes took a breath. "Thank you." She still wasn't sure if she should be there.

"Sam's waiting in his room..." she murmured. "He still won't leave.*

Mercedes nodded. "I'm not sure he will want to see me...after what I did." She said softly.

"He wants to. He's just a bit... I don't even know how to describe it."

Mercedes took a breath before looking at Sylvie. "I'll be back..." She said, a bit unsure. "Where is his room?"

Sylvie nodded.

"I'll take you," Mary nodded.

Mercedes nodded, following Mary. "I am really sorry..." She said softly.

"Why are you sorry? Unfortunately, we'll never be able to thank you."

Mercedes closed her eyes. "I should have done more."

"You did too much."

Mercedes wiped her eyes, still looking to the ground.

Mary knocked at the open door. "Sammy..." she called in. "Mercy is here... she wants to see you.*

Mercedes held her breath as she waited for Sam to answer.

Sammy sat up slowly, clinging to a pillow. "Merce?"

Mercedes moved to open the door, hesitating before walking into the room. Then, closing the door, she leaned against it, still not being able to look him in the face.

Sam jumped as the door closed, but he looked over at her. "Come here? Please?"

She shook her head, staring at her feet. Her feet wouldn't move; his voice broke something in her she was trying to hold together.

Sam hesitated and slowly got out of bed. He was in one of Stevie's shirts and a pair of pajama pants. His hair was a mess.

Tears began to fall. "You're real?"

She nodded at his question. A hushed "Yes" left her lips.

Sam fell over his feet to get over there and hug her tightly. Tears eventually soaked through her shirt as he cried.

She froze in his arms, fear encasing her. What if he hated her?

He started full-on sobbing when she froze. "I'm sorry!"

"You didn't do anything wrong." She said softly.

"I missed you. I'm sorry... I missed you so much."

She stood still, shaking her head. "Are you okay?"

Sam held her and didn't respond for a while. "B-betted now."

She wished she could hug him back, but she was too guilty, too ashamed.

Sam continued to hold onto her. Almost as if he needed her to stay upright.

"I'm sorry, Sam. I understand if you hate me."

"Hate you?" He pulled away and wiped at his eyes. "Never."

"You should." She said softly, avoiding his eyes.

"No, I shouldn't. I'm... I'll never ever be able to repay you for what you did."

She wanted to say something, but how could she? After what happened to her, how could he be with her?

Sam looked at her. Was she mad at him? Did she hate him now? She didn't hug him back. "Mercy..."

She finally looked up to him, tears falling, fear in her eyes.

He looked at her, his own tears falling. "I'm... Mercy..."

"Please don't hate me," she said softly.

"Never," he repeated. "Never ever in a million years."

"He hurt me...how could you ever... How could you ever love me again?"

"Because what he did to you doesn't define you... you're still Mercedes Jones, and I'll always love you.*

She shook her head. "You should hate me."

"But I don't. and that's... that's what matters."

She shuttered, looking at him, her hands shaking. "He told me you were dead..."

"I'm not," he replied. "I'm fine. "

She reached for him and finally hugged him.

He hugged her tightly. "I love you.*

That broke her. She started crying, losing the battle against being strong.

He backed up to the bed and held her close. "I got you."

She could barely stand. Crying and letting herself really feel everything.

He held her up and started humming. She needed him to be strong at that moment.

"I'm sorry, I am so sorry." she held him close. "Please...don't leave me."

"I won't. Promise.*

She sniffed, pulling back. "I am so happy you are safe; you don't have to go back."

"I'm happy you're safe. I never thought... that I would hold you again."

She sniffed, looking down at her hands. "I never thought I would get out...but my dad found me."

He continued to hold her. "You're out now. We're all out. That's what's important.*

"I'm so tired...I'm so scared, and it was only a few days. But, what you endured...Sam, you are the strongest man I know."

Sam shook his head. "I wasn't always strong. People... people like Joey made me strong.*

"He tortured me for 24 hours... nonstop... how do you forget something like that," she whispered.

"You don't. You never forget. But... people can help. People... they can help keep you sane."

"I can't...what he did..." she scratched at her wrist.

He grabbed her hands. "What he did is unforgivable. But you can't let him have the power over you when he's gone."

She shook her head and pushed herself off the bed. "He's not gone. He's in my head. My nightmares."

Sam didn't follow suit. "But you're conscious right now. One thing Kyra taught me was that you have power over your conscious thought. Yes, he's in your nightmares, but you're not asleep. You can block him out. I know you can."

She looked at him..."Kyra?"

"She was my rock," he whispered sadly. "She saved me so many times, and I... I could never repay her."

Her heart broke at his words. "Oh."

"She was my big sister in there. I'm... sure she's long gone."

Mercedes nodded. "I'm glad you had that."

"One day... she came in.." his voice was distant. "It was after M-master River, and Master Jericho had a party with me... and she told me I had to be strong and that... she'd come back for me." Pause. "I never saw her again."

Mercedes could see the pain...could see how it hurt him. She pushed past her own pain and moved to him. "I'm sorry."

His hands shook. "Ever since then... I tried to help people in there... people like Joey, that needed that-that support. That's why I'm still sane... why... I'm not a wreck. And now... it's m-my time to help you."

She frowned. "I failed you, Sam. I'm supposed to be your support, and I'm...I think I'm dead inside or dying..."

"No,' he stated abruptly. "You did nothing of the sort. I'm gonna pull you back. Pleased-don't say that."

"I always thought I was strong, that I could, I could handle things, but I was wrong...I was so wrong."

"You are, though... strong. You can't let him win. Please."

"He won, Sam!" She shouted. She shook in sadness. "He won."

"You're standing here... he didn't win. I won't let him!"

She wiped her eyes. "Sam, you deserve the world, and I...I am nothing. Nothing but a worthless whore who isn't good enough for anyone." She looked at him. "Never good enough for you."

"That's not true," he managed. "You are my world. You're not a whore... you're not."

She turned away from him. "No one will want me now..," She looked to the Mark on her wrist. "No one will want me," she whispered. Her mind was heavy, and as much and she tried to push through the memories, she can't.

Sam stood and wrapped his arms around her again. "Am I no one?"

She froze at him touching her, his touch so different from River's, so caring and loving. "You are everything." She whispered.

"Then believe me when I say that... that I want you. I need you."

She closed her eyes. "Say it again... please."

"I need you."

She turned to him. "Even after he...all the stuff he did, you still love me?"

"Of course," he replied. "I love you more than my heart can handle."

"Why? Why do you love me? How do you know it's real. That I am worth it?"

"I just do. I love so much about you. Your laugh, your smile, the way your nose does this crinkling thing when you laugh. I love your heart; I love how much you care and how you give your whole heart to others."

"That sounds like you read my diary on why I love you," she said softly.

"My nose doesn't crinkle when I laugh," he tried to tease.

"No, but your lopsided grin makes my knees weak." She said softly.

Sam managed a chuckle at that. "Yeah?"

She nodded. "You are amazing, Sam, and I am sorry I didn't listen to you."

"It's okay... we're all gonna be okay now."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I have a lot of faith."

She nodded. "I could use some of that. It feels like he stole that from me too."

"We can work on that."

Mercedes took a deep breath staring at Sam. "Can you, can you hold me, Sam." It was a big step, but she needed it.

Sam nodded. "Always... on the bed?"

She hesitated for a moment but then nodded. "Yes."

He backed up and waited for her to make the first move.

Mercedes moved to the bed, slipping her shoes off and laying on the bed.

Sam climbed up next to her and wrapped his arms around her.

Mercedes froze, feeling him behind her; she wanted to get up but stopped and let him hold her; it was baby steps.

Joey walked towards the kitchen to get something to drink and stopped seeing a woman who, for some reason, looked familiar. "Hi."

Sylvie smiled and looked at Joey. "Hello," she smiled.

"Are you a friend of the Evans?" He asked, grabbing bottled water.

"I'm Mercedes' stepmom. Sylvie."

"Mercedes? Have you heard from her?"

"She's here... with Sam. You must be Joey."

Joey's eyes lit up. "She's here?! How?" Joey nodded. "Yes, I am...wow, this is great."

Sylvie smiled at his energy. "We got her out." She didn't say anything more.

"That's good...I have been worried...glad she is here. I just hope she's okay."

"Me too," she sighed, leaning against the counter. "You look okay..."

Joey sighed. "I am trying to be honest. I can't believe that she risked her life for me."

"she's a good person... too good."

Joey cocked his head to the side. "Too good?"

"She cares too much for others at the expense of herself."

Joey nodded. "I can see that...She barely knew me but risked her life for me. "

"You seem very special."

Joey smiled softly. "I haven't ever had a family, and she gave me one...I can't repay her for that."

That made Sylvie smile. "That's so wonderful." She did recognize Joey from a more recent event at the Elite, and she recognized Rose's mark on his neck.

"I like talking to you; Mercedes is fortunate to have you..."

She smiled. "We can talk if you want." She paused. "She's a great person.*

Joey sighed, looking around. "Do you know about...about the Elite and things?"

She nodded quietly. "Yes."

"Have-have you ever been there?"

She nodded quietly. "Yes..." she managed.

"It's a horrible place...be thankful you had no part in it...did she tell you about the Raid tomorrow?"

Sylvie shifted awkwardly. "Yeah." She didn't have it in her to dredge that up. "She did."

"She will save so many lives with that, and I don't think she knows it... I don't think she realizes just how many people are there."

"I'm sure she doesn't."

"Can I ask you something"

"Uh... sure," she whispered.

Joey moved closer to her. "Do you believe in love at first sight?"

She paused for a moment. "I'm not sure," he murmured.

"I met someone, and he just...he made me forget all the bad... I couldn't talk to Sam; he was so hurt, and I feel so bad for him in pain and me liking someone."

She offered him a smile. "Well, that's a positive. Especially coming from a place like the Elite."

"He's never been, and he understands what I have been through."

She looked a bit confused. "I'm not sure what you mean.*

"He hasn't been to the Elite, but he understands that all this is a lot, but he cares."

She smiled. "That's good, though. People like that are rare.*

"I know...but it seems like right now, all I meet are great people. It seems too good to be true."

"There are great people in the world. You're lucky to have found so many."

Joey nodded. "So, what do you do?"

"I help Gerald with work. I don't... I mostly take care of our daughter and the house.*

"Your daughter?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

He nodded. "Gerald and I have a daughter together named Livi. She's about to turn 15."

"Oh wow, she's just a baby. She's lucky; she and Mercedes both are. To know that you are their mom."

She smiled sadly. "She's my baby... my whole world, really."

"I will never understand how some moms are amazing and loving, and some just don't care." He said sadly,

"That's just the way of the world, unfortunately. But you said you have a family now... and that's what matters."

Joey nodded and smiled. "Are you staying for a while?"

"Until Mercedes wants to leave."

"I am going to make a phone call, but maybe we can talk again?"

"Of course. I'll be here."

Joey smiled and walked outside, taking the phone Stevie had gotten him and calling Brax. He hadn't spoken to him in a few days, and he hoped he would answer.