Chapter Five
"Please let me be right on this," Brandon peered through his snow covered window as his car skidded along the road. While Lucas hadn't been clear on where Samantha would be, Brandon thought back to the night they'd first made love. She'd been so happy in that room as their hearts were at last joined as one and this was his only hope. He just prayed that he wasn't wrong as this snowstorm had truly begun to spin out of control. Forcing his wipers on high, he slowed the car a bit over a patch of ice as he thought of Samantha. What would he say to her if he found her? How would he be able to keep her from running away or worse shutting him out again after what she'd said the previous night? He'd wanted nothing more than to hold her, to be with her, but what if she really was telling the truth and felt the same way? Damn Lucas for getting in the way last night. If he hadn't been around maybe just maybe Samantha would've listened.
"Don't dwell on what happened," Brandon reminded himself with a sigh, "just think to what might be," he urged as he noticed a bright light up ahead nearly blinding him from the side of the road, "What the...." he squinted trying to make out the source of the light as he noticed a car had gone off the road into the embankment. Thinking about his desire to find Samantha, Brandon let out a reluctant sigh as he pulled his own car over knowing he couldn't just leave the abandoned motorist out in this much snow. He just hoped in helping out, it wouldn't prevent him from locating Samantha.
Stepping out of the car, he zipped his jacket up further as the winter winds whipped over him. He looked around noticing that the road was quickly piling up with snow and soon would no doubt be unbearable to drive in. He could easily see how the car ahead of him could've spun out of control with the ice and snow, but now all that mattered was making sure the driver and the passengers--if any, were alright. As he moved in closer to the vehicle, a chilling feeling passed through him as he instantly recognized the car.
"No," he blurted out running over to the car fearing the worst as he tried to make his way over to the driver's side door. He looked down realizing the car was teetering over a deep cliff and he drew in a breath seeing the blonde head pressed smack against the top of the steering column.
"Samantha," he called out to her hoping she'd respond to him as he tried to circle around the car, "Samantha, can you hear me?"
Brandon watched as the car began to teeter a bit with the winds and he knew time wasn't on his side as he crossed over to the passenger side of the car trying to open the door only to find it locked. He wiped away at the snow realizing that this was no time for precautions as he balled his fist up into glass window shattering it with one force blow. The sting in his fist was nothing in comparison to the ache in his heart as he saw Samantha unconscious behind the wheel of the car, a line of blood trickling down her face as he called out to her again.
"Samantha," He reached inside the car attempting to open the door from the inside out, but it was frozen by the storm much to his dismay as he reached into the car once again, "Samantha...."
****
Lucas Roberts stood in the center of his apartment sipping on his hot cocoa as Greta stepped out of Will's room. She looked over at him seeing the contemplation behind his eyes as she moved in behind him placing her hands over his eyes as a smile swept over her features.
"Guess who," she teased keeping his eyes covered.
"Hmm....this might be a tough one," Lucas joked back feeling his mood lighten just a bit as he set his mug down carefully on the window sill, "I can't at all imagine who could be here with me."
"I'll give you three guesses and the first two don't count," Greta offered up with a soft smile.
"Hmm, in that case, could it be the great love of my life," he questioned as he turned around to face her, a smile over his handsome features.
"I told you that the first two didn't count," she couldn't help but laugh as he wrapped his arms around her, "you do realize that, don't you?"
"Why waste my time playing games when I know what I have right before me," he leaned in to kiss her forehead gently, "how's Will?"
"Other than being completely lost in the Zombie Murder Mayhem marathon going on, he's doing just fine," Greta explained with a tiny laugh, "I'd had my fill of blood and guts for the moment, so I thought I'd check on you since you'd mentioned going for popcorn and somehow we lost you in there."
"I was just thinking about that encounter I'd had with Brandon," he admitted after a moment, "the guy's a real jerk."
"He does tend to be lead around by impulse, but then again so is Sami," Greta pointed out after a moment, "that tends to be part of their connection."
"Still when impulse leaves me hanging in the air with the guy trying to choke the life out of me, I have to worry," Lucas frowned again.
"He did that?" Greta shook her head, "Lucas, you didn't mention that before."
"I didn't feel I had to," he shrugged, "but now with the storm out here and the way I urged Sami to leave..."
"You can't help but worry," Greta noted.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Lucas, you don't have to pretend that you aren't concerned about Sami," Greta gave him a serious look, "I know you well enough to know when you're worried about something, you tend to dwell on it."
"Like you don't," he gave her a pointed look, "you know if I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to turn this around on me, so we didn't have to talk about what was bothering you earlier."
"Lucas, I already told you, I'm fine," Greta turned away moving over to the sofa and fluffing a toss pillow to keep from showing how far from the truth that was.
"Greta, look I know about your history with Nicole and about what she's done to you in the past," Lucas frowned again as he stepped towards her, "with her still being my wife, maybe it's time we talked."
"Lucas, really I understand," she started as he touched her shoulders.
"Greta," he turned her to face him, "please don't pretend it doesn't bother you because we both know it does. I know how hurt you were when we met up in Africa. I know how your heart was broken when you'd found out that Jack lied to you..."
"Jack was in love with Jennifer and while I'd had a crush on him, that's all it was," Greta reminded him, "you know that."
"I do, but I also know that you've been burned in the past," Lucas pointed out, "first Eric, then Austin and even Jack..."
"I guess you could say I was unlucky in love for a while there," she offered up a light smile.
"Perhaps, but the way I see it," he touched her cheek, "you were just taking the long way to happiness," Lucas met her dark eyes seeing so much behind them as he continued, "Greta, I'll be the first one to tell you that love never worked for me. When I fell for Carrie, she wanted Austin. Sami and I teamed up to tear them apart and we did so many things, things you probably couldn't even begin to understand, but out of it came Will and I wouldn't trade that for the world."
"Will's a wonderful boy," Greta admitted softly, "I love spending time with him especially considering he's one of the few people who honestly appreciates my wacky side."
"He's not the only one," Lucas couldn't help but steal a quick kiss from her, "but seriously Greta, as I was saying, love never worked for me even when I wanted it to. With Nicole, I wanted her so bad that I did things, stupid things in the hopes of making her like me, but even when we were married and that was only because my mother paid her five million dollars to do it, all she cared about was destroying me. She never wanted or needed me and the more time I spent with her, the more I realized that I'd made a terrible mistake. Nicole Walker was anything but the woman I wanted to share my life with..."
"Lucas, you don't have to do this," Greta began again.
"No, I do," he urged reaching for her hands and squeezing them, "Greta, when I met up with you in Africa, I was really surprised at how well we connected. Back here in Salem we had a few moments that left me thinking about what if, but then it was like our paths never crossed. I still remember that day at dot.com when you and I ran into one another and had our talk. Of course when it ended up with us doing our monkey dance out of the place, I knew in an instant that we clicked, but I was too stupid to do anything about it."
"You really thought that while I was making a fool of myself?" Greta raised a curious brow.
"Are you kidding?" Lucas blinked back at her, "I thought you were adorable."
"Adorable?"
"And charming," Lucas offered up again, "too incredible for words."
"Now you're kissing up," Greta teased as she leaned into his touch.
"Okay, maybe a little," Lucas conceded, "but the point is that I care about you and this thing with Nicole, well the sooner it's over, the better."
"Lucas, I know you mean it when you say there's nothing between you and Nicole," Greta squeezed his hands, "really, I do. I know how she hurt you and believe me I don't think for a second that you still want to be married to that witch."
"That's a good word for her," Lucas grinned, "it seems to suit her perfectly."
"I'd like to think so," Greta confessed with a tiny laugh, "I'm so tired of taking the moral high ground where Nicole is concerned."
"So don't," Lucas urged with a hint of mischief behind his eyes, "why should you have to?"
"Dare I ask if this is Lucas Roberts encouraging me to lose my good girl image and get down and dirty with Nicole Walker?" Greta raised a curious brow.
"Well hey, the way I see it baby," Lucas wrapped his arms around her, "she's given you more than you deserved to take from her and this is our time to show her that while she'll always be a miserable person, you and I have something that she can never get with Victor or any other man. We're happy and it's about damn time the whole world knew it."
"Oh I like that," Greta giggled leaning into his touch, "we'll shock everyone in Salem because they honestly won't see it coming."
"I can't wait to see the look on their faces when I announce that you and I are getting married," Lucas beamed with excitement, "they're all going to flip. Even Sami was shocked to hear the news."
"Shocked, but okay with it, yes?"
"She was surprised, but then again, who wouldn't be?" Lucas couldn't help but smile, "even I have to admit I never thought I'd wind up being this lucky in my life. I kind of always thought of myself as a loser, never the guy who got the girl."
"It was that part of you that didn't realize just how incredible you are that won my heart," Greta confessed, "you are just so wonderful in your own ways without seeing it and I think that's what drew me in to you."
"Come on now. Let's be honest," Lucas teased, "you fell for my killer massages and my campfire tales, didn't you?"
"Well that one about the Zombies on the Prairie did have an effect on me after you and Will worked to scare the life out of me," Greta thought back.
"It served it's purpose as I got to hold you in my arms that night," Lucas couldn't help but smile at the thought.
"Well, I have some news for you," she leaned in towards him, "if you play your cards right, you'll get to do it again sometime very soon, but first," she winked at him, "let's get that popcorn so that we can get back to Zombie Murder Mayhem."
"You're on," he gave her a quick kiss thinking about the night ahead for him and his newfound happiness as he hoped that somehow Sami was experiencing the same thing in her time away from Salem.
****
"Brandon....." Sami murmured from behind the steering wheel.
"I'm here Samantha," Brandon reached out to her, "I'm right here."
"Brandon....." she let out a pained cry, "I can't feel my legs."
"Samantha, give me your hand," he urged reaching out to her as she grew silent once more, "Samantha."
"I'm stuck," she replied lifting her head up as a groan spilled over her lips.
"Samantha, look at me," Brandon pleaded with her as she slowly raised her head up from the steering wheel and he saw the line of blood running down her forehead, "thank God," he let out a breath of relief as he leaned in over attempting to unhook her seatbelt. Much to his surprise, it did manage to unhook and he touched her side gently urging her to meet his gaze once more, "Samantha, give me your hand."
"Brandon, I'm just so tired....." she whispered closing her eyes as her fingers slowly traveled across the seat.
"You're almost there," Brandon urged as he reached out to her capturing her hand in his as he managed to pull her from the car. Feeling her in his arms, he could see that her head injury was just the beginning of it as he carried her back towards his car and the snow pounded down upon them, "just hold on Samantha," he pleaded with her as the storm continued to spiral out of control around them.
"Brandon," she murmured breathlessly, "I thought....I thought I'd never see you again...."
"I'm here with you," he promised carrying her to his car as he hoped he could find her the help she needed in the middle of this storm. Opening the passenger side door, he eased her slender form into his car, carefully placing her inside as he moved around to the driver's side, "just hold on, Samantha," he pleaded with her as he attempted to start the car, discovering much to his dismay it wouldn't start, "no. Not now," he attempted to start it again, but it was the same response.
Brandon let his eyes fall over her once more and he realized she was slowly slipping out of consciousness as he reached out to her, "Samantha, stay with me. Samantha...."
"Brandon, I don't feel so well," she closed her eyes as he touched her cheek gently.
"Samantha, please just look at me," Brandon started, "I need to go and get us some help. My car won't start and if we stay here, well I don't want to leave you here, but I need...."
"No," she pleaded with him opening her eyes again, "Brandon, don't leave me. Please, please don't leave me here..."
"Samantha," he started looking out into the winter storms as he wondered just what he'd find out in the middle of no where, "Samantha, you need medical attention."
"What I need is you," she reached out for him, "please don't go."
"Samantha," he sighed reaching for his cell phone and seeing that once again this was yet another strike against him as it was out of range. Tossing the phone aside, he looked to her again, taking his scarf from his neck and wrapping it around her head wound for the time being before they braved the winter storm surrounding them.
"Please let me be right on this," Brandon peered through his snow covered window as his car skidded along the road. While Lucas hadn't been clear on where Samantha would be, Brandon thought back to the night they'd first made love. She'd been so happy in that room as their hearts were at last joined as one and this was his only hope. He just prayed that he wasn't wrong as this snowstorm had truly begun to spin out of control. Forcing his wipers on high, he slowed the car a bit over a patch of ice as he thought of Samantha. What would he say to her if he found her? How would he be able to keep her from running away or worse shutting him out again after what she'd said the previous night? He'd wanted nothing more than to hold her, to be with her, but what if she really was telling the truth and felt the same way? Damn Lucas for getting in the way last night. If he hadn't been around maybe just maybe Samantha would've listened.
"Don't dwell on what happened," Brandon reminded himself with a sigh, "just think to what might be," he urged as he noticed a bright light up ahead nearly blinding him from the side of the road, "What the...." he squinted trying to make out the source of the light as he noticed a car had gone off the road into the embankment. Thinking about his desire to find Samantha, Brandon let out a reluctant sigh as he pulled his own car over knowing he couldn't just leave the abandoned motorist out in this much snow. He just hoped in helping out, it wouldn't prevent him from locating Samantha.
Stepping out of the car, he zipped his jacket up further as the winter winds whipped over him. He looked around noticing that the road was quickly piling up with snow and soon would no doubt be unbearable to drive in. He could easily see how the car ahead of him could've spun out of control with the ice and snow, but now all that mattered was making sure the driver and the passengers--if any, were alright. As he moved in closer to the vehicle, a chilling feeling passed through him as he instantly recognized the car.
"No," he blurted out running over to the car fearing the worst as he tried to make his way over to the driver's side door. He looked down realizing the car was teetering over a deep cliff and he drew in a breath seeing the blonde head pressed smack against the top of the steering column.
"Samantha," he called out to her hoping she'd respond to him as he tried to circle around the car, "Samantha, can you hear me?"
Brandon watched as the car began to teeter a bit with the winds and he knew time wasn't on his side as he crossed over to the passenger side of the car trying to open the door only to find it locked. He wiped away at the snow realizing that this was no time for precautions as he balled his fist up into glass window shattering it with one force blow. The sting in his fist was nothing in comparison to the ache in his heart as he saw Samantha unconscious behind the wheel of the car, a line of blood trickling down her face as he called out to her again.
"Samantha," He reached inside the car attempting to open the door from the inside out, but it was frozen by the storm much to his dismay as he reached into the car once again, "Samantha...."
****
Lucas Roberts stood in the center of his apartment sipping on his hot cocoa as Greta stepped out of Will's room. She looked over at him seeing the contemplation behind his eyes as she moved in behind him placing her hands over his eyes as a smile swept over her features.
"Guess who," she teased keeping his eyes covered.
"Hmm....this might be a tough one," Lucas joked back feeling his mood lighten just a bit as he set his mug down carefully on the window sill, "I can't at all imagine who could be here with me."
"I'll give you three guesses and the first two don't count," Greta offered up with a soft smile.
"Hmm, in that case, could it be the great love of my life," he questioned as he turned around to face her, a smile over his handsome features.
"I told you that the first two didn't count," she couldn't help but laugh as he wrapped his arms around her, "you do realize that, don't you?"
"Why waste my time playing games when I know what I have right before me," he leaned in to kiss her forehead gently, "how's Will?"
"Other than being completely lost in the Zombie Murder Mayhem marathon going on, he's doing just fine," Greta explained with a tiny laugh, "I'd had my fill of blood and guts for the moment, so I thought I'd check on you since you'd mentioned going for popcorn and somehow we lost you in there."
"I was just thinking about that encounter I'd had with Brandon," he admitted after a moment, "the guy's a real jerk."
"He does tend to be lead around by impulse, but then again so is Sami," Greta pointed out after a moment, "that tends to be part of their connection."
"Still when impulse leaves me hanging in the air with the guy trying to choke the life out of me, I have to worry," Lucas frowned again.
"He did that?" Greta shook her head, "Lucas, you didn't mention that before."
"I didn't feel I had to," he shrugged, "but now with the storm out here and the way I urged Sami to leave..."
"You can't help but worry," Greta noted.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Lucas, you don't have to pretend that you aren't concerned about Sami," Greta gave him a serious look, "I know you well enough to know when you're worried about something, you tend to dwell on it."
"Like you don't," he gave her a pointed look, "you know if I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to turn this around on me, so we didn't have to talk about what was bothering you earlier."
"Lucas, I already told you, I'm fine," Greta turned away moving over to the sofa and fluffing a toss pillow to keep from showing how far from the truth that was.
"Greta, look I know about your history with Nicole and about what she's done to you in the past," Lucas frowned again as he stepped towards her, "with her still being my wife, maybe it's time we talked."
"Lucas, really I understand," she started as he touched her shoulders.
"Greta," he turned her to face him, "please don't pretend it doesn't bother you because we both know it does. I know how hurt you were when we met up in Africa. I know how your heart was broken when you'd found out that Jack lied to you..."
"Jack was in love with Jennifer and while I'd had a crush on him, that's all it was," Greta reminded him, "you know that."
"I do, but I also know that you've been burned in the past," Lucas pointed out, "first Eric, then Austin and even Jack..."
"I guess you could say I was unlucky in love for a while there," she offered up a light smile.
"Perhaps, but the way I see it," he touched her cheek, "you were just taking the long way to happiness," Lucas met her dark eyes seeing so much behind them as he continued, "Greta, I'll be the first one to tell you that love never worked for me. When I fell for Carrie, she wanted Austin. Sami and I teamed up to tear them apart and we did so many things, things you probably couldn't even begin to understand, but out of it came Will and I wouldn't trade that for the world."
"Will's a wonderful boy," Greta admitted softly, "I love spending time with him especially considering he's one of the few people who honestly appreciates my wacky side."
"He's not the only one," Lucas couldn't help but steal a quick kiss from her, "but seriously Greta, as I was saying, love never worked for me even when I wanted it to. With Nicole, I wanted her so bad that I did things, stupid things in the hopes of making her like me, but even when we were married and that was only because my mother paid her five million dollars to do it, all she cared about was destroying me. She never wanted or needed me and the more time I spent with her, the more I realized that I'd made a terrible mistake. Nicole Walker was anything but the woman I wanted to share my life with..."
"Lucas, you don't have to do this," Greta began again.
"No, I do," he urged reaching for her hands and squeezing them, "Greta, when I met up with you in Africa, I was really surprised at how well we connected. Back here in Salem we had a few moments that left me thinking about what if, but then it was like our paths never crossed. I still remember that day at dot.com when you and I ran into one another and had our talk. Of course when it ended up with us doing our monkey dance out of the place, I knew in an instant that we clicked, but I was too stupid to do anything about it."
"You really thought that while I was making a fool of myself?" Greta raised a curious brow.
"Are you kidding?" Lucas blinked back at her, "I thought you were adorable."
"Adorable?"
"And charming," Lucas offered up again, "too incredible for words."
"Now you're kissing up," Greta teased as she leaned into his touch.
"Okay, maybe a little," Lucas conceded, "but the point is that I care about you and this thing with Nicole, well the sooner it's over, the better."
"Lucas, I know you mean it when you say there's nothing between you and Nicole," Greta squeezed his hands, "really, I do. I know how she hurt you and believe me I don't think for a second that you still want to be married to that witch."
"That's a good word for her," Lucas grinned, "it seems to suit her perfectly."
"I'd like to think so," Greta confessed with a tiny laugh, "I'm so tired of taking the moral high ground where Nicole is concerned."
"So don't," Lucas urged with a hint of mischief behind his eyes, "why should you have to?"
"Dare I ask if this is Lucas Roberts encouraging me to lose my good girl image and get down and dirty with Nicole Walker?" Greta raised a curious brow.
"Well hey, the way I see it baby," Lucas wrapped his arms around her, "she's given you more than you deserved to take from her and this is our time to show her that while she'll always be a miserable person, you and I have something that she can never get with Victor or any other man. We're happy and it's about damn time the whole world knew it."
"Oh I like that," Greta giggled leaning into his touch, "we'll shock everyone in Salem because they honestly won't see it coming."
"I can't wait to see the look on their faces when I announce that you and I are getting married," Lucas beamed with excitement, "they're all going to flip. Even Sami was shocked to hear the news."
"Shocked, but okay with it, yes?"
"She was surprised, but then again, who wouldn't be?" Lucas couldn't help but smile, "even I have to admit I never thought I'd wind up being this lucky in my life. I kind of always thought of myself as a loser, never the guy who got the girl."
"It was that part of you that didn't realize just how incredible you are that won my heart," Greta confessed, "you are just so wonderful in your own ways without seeing it and I think that's what drew me in to you."
"Come on now. Let's be honest," Lucas teased, "you fell for my killer massages and my campfire tales, didn't you?"
"Well that one about the Zombies on the Prairie did have an effect on me after you and Will worked to scare the life out of me," Greta thought back.
"It served it's purpose as I got to hold you in my arms that night," Lucas couldn't help but smile at the thought.
"Well, I have some news for you," she leaned in towards him, "if you play your cards right, you'll get to do it again sometime very soon, but first," she winked at him, "let's get that popcorn so that we can get back to Zombie Murder Mayhem."
"You're on," he gave her a quick kiss thinking about the night ahead for him and his newfound happiness as he hoped that somehow Sami was experiencing the same thing in her time away from Salem.
****
"Brandon....." Sami murmured from behind the steering wheel.
"I'm here Samantha," Brandon reached out to her, "I'm right here."
"Brandon....." she let out a pained cry, "I can't feel my legs."
"Samantha, give me your hand," he urged reaching out to her as she grew silent once more, "Samantha."
"I'm stuck," she replied lifting her head up as a groan spilled over her lips.
"Samantha, look at me," Brandon pleaded with her as she slowly raised her head up from the steering wheel and he saw the line of blood running down her forehead, "thank God," he let out a breath of relief as he leaned in over attempting to unhook her seatbelt. Much to his surprise, it did manage to unhook and he touched her side gently urging her to meet his gaze once more, "Samantha, give me your hand."
"Brandon, I'm just so tired....." she whispered closing her eyes as her fingers slowly traveled across the seat.
"You're almost there," Brandon urged as he reached out to her capturing her hand in his as he managed to pull her from the car. Feeling her in his arms, he could see that her head injury was just the beginning of it as he carried her back towards his car and the snow pounded down upon them, "just hold on Samantha," he pleaded with her as the storm continued to spiral out of control around them.
"Brandon," she murmured breathlessly, "I thought....I thought I'd never see you again...."
"I'm here with you," he promised carrying her to his car as he hoped he could find her the help she needed in the middle of this storm. Opening the passenger side door, he eased her slender form into his car, carefully placing her inside as he moved around to the driver's side, "just hold on, Samantha," he pleaded with her as he attempted to start the car, discovering much to his dismay it wouldn't start, "no. Not now," he attempted to start it again, but it was the same response.
Brandon let his eyes fall over her once more and he realized she was slowly slipping out of consciousness as he reached out to her, "Samantha, stay with me. Samantha...."
"Brandon, I don't feel so well," she closed her eyes as he touched her cheek gently.
"Samantha, please just look at me," Brandon started, "I need to go and get us some help. My car won't start and if we stay here, well I don't want to leave you here, but I need...."
"No," she pleaded with him opening her eyes again, "Brandon, don't leave me. Please, please don't leave me here..."
"Samantha," he started looking out into the winter storms as he wondered just what he'd find out in the middle of no where, "Samantha, you need medical attention."
"What I need is you," she reached out for him, "please don't go."
"Samantha," he sighed reaching for his cell phone and seeing that once again this was yet another strike against him as it was out of range. Tossing the phone aside, he looked to her again, taking his scarf from his neck and wrapping it around her head wound for the time being before they braved the winter storm surrounding them.