Sorry about the delay, but for some odd reason, a paper longer than this
story that was due Friday took precedent. I am now aware that the affair
has been revealed, but don't worry, this is still about the case and how
Jack has to handle it. I want to thank you all (go Maple St.ers) for
reviewing and just being awesome. Next chapter will be more up to date and
valid as it will be very much of a mental, mind game.
Warning: I hated writing this chapter, I feel gross. Hope it isn't too bad.
Enjoy. I guess;)
~~~~~~
Martin paced back and forth, watching Sam talk to Melanie, then glanced at Vivian talking with a psychiatrist. He frowned. They'd been out there for almost ten minutes. Talking. Ten minutes is nothing when you're driving or watching a movie, but when you're 25 stories up, ten minutes doesn't even have a time to which it can be compared. They sat there with their feet dangling off the edge, chatting - who knows.
Danny kept his eyes trained on Samantha the whole time. He was trying to figure out what she was talking about. He was starting to get a headache from squinting west into the sun and it didn't help that the glass from the building was reflecting the bright light either. If it weren't under the same circumstances he'd even think the scene brilliant - the two blond haired women sitting on a ledge with a fireball orange glow setting behind them. He was glad that Sam's harness was on tightly, but the one for Melanie was still hanging on Sam's shoulder, waiting to be carefully placed around the young woman.
He smiled realizing he'd just found out what Melanie said. It was something like -
"It wasn't even that bad, but afterwards, he was in my head. He still is. I can't get him out. Constantly berating me, making me feel filthy. I couldn't even remember what had happened for three weeks. Every time I went back to that afternoon, my mind would blank out."
"Then it started coming back in dreams right?" said Sam.
"Yeah, like I'd feel his hand on my leg, or him unbuttoning my shirt and I'd wake up," she paused, swallowing the lump in her throat. "I'd wake up and nothing would be there, except for Anna. I'd still be able to hear him though. It's like his goal in life is to manipulate people to see what they will do under his influence."
"It's like he hypnotizes you," agreed Sam. "Did he really do everything the way I said it?"
"Basically," she said, pausing to decide whether or not she should continue. "Dr. Raymond came over and handed me the book then he made a comment about my perfume, which he'd never done before. Just the way he said it, like it was a habit of his to note what I wore. He'd always been very - professional before. He went over the door and tried to open it, like he was going to go back to work and it was locked. We tried banging on the door for a good five - ten minutes," Melanie was talking quietly now. For the first time in two and a half months, she was walking through everything that occurred that afternoon.
Her eyes were focused on her feet, unable to look Sam in the eyes. "I remember going to sit on the couch and was looking through the book. He was leaning against one of the bookcases, looking out that small window then he turned on the CD player, and I think he had Vivaldi playing," she paused to look at Sam who nodded in agreement. "He started talking about one of the mothers that we'd worked with at a battered wife shelter. We only briefly discussed cases, never in much detail, but he was repeating this conversation he'd had with her about what her husband would do to her. Stuff like duct taping her to the tub for a weekend and he'd dump fire ants on her. One time, he pulled out all of her toe nails and tied her up to the back of his truck and made her run barefooted for three miles because she didn't make dinner on time," Melanie frowned thinking about the young woman.
"Out of the blue, Dr. Raymond asked me what happened to my parents, and I told him they'd died in a fire. But he didn't stop, he kept asking me more questions like why I didn't go back and save them or why I never woke them up and I started crying, bawling really. He came over apologizing; saying he didn't mean for me to feel guilty, he just wanted me to 'explore my feelings of resentment.' He sat on the couch closer to me than you are now and his voice got really low. He started talking about the first time he'd seen me, he knew I'd be the one to finish his plan," she looked up briefly at Sam, whose eyes were fixed intently on her. "And I was already crying by then, he said so many horrible things that I can't even repeat, I didn't even feel him when he wrapped his arm around me or when he grabbed my hand. I told him I was fine, but he wouldn't scoot away, so I stood up."
She paused for a minute and covered her face with her hands. Sam rubbed her back not trying to pressure the girl in anyway. The last thing Sam needed was for Melanie to kirk out and jump. Sam was going to take it nice and slow.
"You don't have to go any further if you don't want to," Sam whispered. "I know what happened."
"No. It's just that, I can't do it anymore. I can't live. It's so hard. And thinking about it, just telling you makes it feel less oppressive, but it hurts so badly to relive this."
"Take your time. I'm not here to rush you. If you do plan on staying up here for a while though let me know so I can order take out," Sam quipped, trying to make light of the situation.
Melanie smiled briefly, then looked up at Sam and sighed. "He came over to me and kept talking, and he forced me up against the wall - kept saying how I shouldn't have been smoking that night, that it was all my fault. He said I was horrible for Troy, that I wasn't good enough for him. How he knew I wasn't a virgin and I kept asking him to stop, that he shouldn't be doing this. I had a skirt on that day and a blouse. It was a red blouse. I burned it," Melanie's voice began wavering, her eyes filling with tears once again.
"Dr. Raymond swung me over to the couch and he got on top of me and kept running his hand up my leg. I screamed, but all he would do was slap me. He started talking about my hair and how he loved it and he bent down, so close and he breathed in. He started kissing me, unbuttoning my shirt, and the whole time I was trying to push him off. I got him off one time and I went towards the door, but he grabbed my leg and pulled me down to the ground. He started talking about all the women we'd spoken to, the rape victims, and how he would have done every one of them. He even talked about taking one of his patients into the elevator and screwing her right there. All the while he was undoing his belt and unbuttoning his pants," she stopped breathless.
"I can't, I can't, I can't," she emitted an immutable cry and began sobbing. Those on the balcony turned towards Sam and Melanie in fear of something happening.
Sam grabbed her hand and held it tightly. With her other hand, she brushed the tears away that were streaking down her own face.
"I can't do any more. All I can hear is that music and his voice right next to my ear," Melanie said, barely audible. She leaned into Sam as she wrapped her arms around her carefully. Sam let her cry, trying to forget that the cars and crowds below were stopped and watching them, growing impatient with every minute.
After Melanie's sobs quieted and she pulled away, Sam tried working another approach.
"What'd you do after, after it happened?"
"That's what was so weird, right after he was done, he stood up and straightened himself out, told me to get my ass off the ground and walked back over to the bookcase like nothing happened. Two minutes later, Clayton opened the door looking for Dr. Raymond," she paused briefly. "He was so nonchalant, didn't seem to notice a thing. He held the door for me and I flew out of there."
Sam looked at her sharply and frowned. "I can't believe this at all. Did you go to the hospital or anything when you got out of there?"
Melanie shook her head. Sam knew why she didn't go to the hospital. It was the same reason why she herself never went.
After a minute of silence, Melanie looked back at Sam. "I went back to my dorm and slept for three days. I told Anna I had the flu and I couldn't move. Whenever she'd leave I'd go to the showers and scrub until I was raw from bleeding," she motioned towards her lower legs and feet which still weren't fully healed.
"After that, I finished up what courses I had left, then I took off a quarter. I wanted to transfer out then, but I didn't have the money for that and my dorm is paid until the end of the year."
Sam sat quietly, her mind milling over what she'd just heard. A couple minutes later she asked, "So you didn't get any evidence?"
"Evidence?" said Melanie archly. "Oh, I have evidence. Because of that man I will never marry Troy, or share his dreams. Troy wouldn't want me if he ever found out what happened. But now, he would never, ever want me," she said as she started pounding her fist into the granite.
Picking up on what was wrong, Sam asked for the sake of verification. "Why wouldn't he ever want you?"
"Don't you get it? That scoundrel screwed me without a condom. He wanted to get caught. He wanted it so badly that he didn't care if I got pregnant or not. Troy can't marry a whore with a bastard child now can he?" she yelled angrily. Sam sat, unable to offer anything more than a sympathetic glance.
"Why should I live? What's the point? I realize now that there is no hope in anything. All that sunset means to me is another night full of empty hours and horrific dreams. Raymond got what he wanted. He made another girl want to run off again."
"Another girl? How many were there?" Sam asked aghast.
"Including you and me? Five. People used to say every patient that ever died under his care died because he talked them into it. He almost admitted as much. He's probably down there somewhere, waiting for me to fall off."
"Melanie, look at me," she paused waiting to gain her eye contact. "Do you realize that I am here today, from where you were, to what I am now? I was at rock bottom. But I hated that man so much, that I didn't want him to win. I didn't want him to have the control over my life that he thought he had. I did transfer out. I did finish college and got a masters. Then I picked up and moved down to Washington and started over. If Troy loves you as much as I think he does, then he will help you through this. Quitting right here, this way, is not the answer. You'll just be letting him win. Just another tally in his book of experiments," she stopped, somehow unable to finish.
They sat there in all the silence a busy street and frustrated people could offer. Melanie started kicking her feet back and forth, like they were maneuvering the shafts in her mind.
"I can't do it. I'm so tired. I don't want them to hate me, to think I'm dirty," she wiped her nose with her sock, frowning the whole time.
"No matter what you think, you can always start over. Only five people know what happened to me, two of which I still keep in contact with, one is a person at the bureau that I talk to sometimes when things get rough. The others are - Raymond and Clayton," she waited a beat to let it all sink in. "Dr. Raymond is a man of habit. Very meticulous. Despite what happened, I got put back together. I didn't get a souvenir like yours, but you can put the child up for adoption if you don't want to keep it. Troy will help you Melanie, I'm positive that the man waiting for you down there wants nothing more than to hold you safely in his arms," she said quietly, but determined.
"If I get off this ledge, how do you know I won't try it again?" said Melanie.
Not even skipping a breath, Sam said, "Because I will be with you the entire way. You will overcome this."
Melanie's eyes went to Sam's and saw truth and sincerity. She squeezed Sam's hand tightly, as tears began to fall down her cheeks once again.
He wiped his eyes with his fingers. He leaned against the wall of the building, pulling the plug out of his ear. Jack sighed loudly and looked up at the two women. Sam was trying to talk Melanie into putting the harness around her waist. He watched for almost five minutes until the harness was finally wrapped around the young woman. Together, they rose slowly and carefully, holding each other's hands the whole way as they edged over to the balcony. Sam was closest and climbed over while Melanie hugged the wall.
Danny grabbed Sam as she climbed over the sturdy metal railing. She was shaking all over and looked almost as bad as Melanie. Sam pulled away from him and gave him a nod of thanks then walked over as the team tried to coax Melanie over the railing. Sam reached out her hand and grabbed Melanie's. They kept eye contact the entire time as Melanie inched over and was helped up by a few strong men. Danny felt like it was happening in slow motion; Melanie being lifted over the railing, Sam's hair blowing in the wind and the muted sounds of the chaos around him. The sound of a phone broke through his thoughts.
"Is she okay?" Jack asked, walking between rows of cops and their vehicles.
"Yeah, she'll be fine. They're taking her to St. Vincent's," said Vivian, arms crossed and watching the scene through the large glass window.
"Good. I'll let the kids know," Jack paused, trying to find the words to further his sentence, but failing in his attempt.
"She's doing fine Jack," said Vivian knowingly. "The boys are with her and are getting everything cleared up."
"Thanks. Stay up there and make sure everything goes all right, call me for updates. I have to go speak with the chief," said Jack as he neared his destination.
"I got it," said Viv as she closed her phone. Stroking the side of her neck with the antenna, she watched Sam closely as she walked over to Melanie who was now under the care of paramedics.
Sam kneeled in front of Melanie, talking to her very quietly as the medics were checking her vitals.
"Melanie, here is my number - all of them. As soon as I can, I will come and visit you. It may be tomorrow when I can all right?" Melanie nodded, grabbing Sam's hand for reassurance.
"Troy and Anna are waiting downstairs," said Sam. Melanie looked up at Sam with fear in her eyes.
"Melanie, they love you. No matter what happened to you or what you did, they will still love you. Those are two of the best friends I have ever seen. Be happy you have people to look after you, okay?"
"I don't want them to be afraid of me," she said. Sam looked at her closely, her mouth forming a thin line.
"I think all people fear what they don't know. Together, you all can get through this, but don't shut them out," she paused as she tried to express her thoughts.
"The next year, your life will not be yours, but with your friends and your faith, you will survive this. And whatever you do, don't let your hatred and anger overpower you," said Sam.
"Hate is a funny thing. I don't really hate Dr. Raymond. If anything, I pity him," said Melanie with a scratchy voice. "He still lives in the same place he has for twenty years, and still walks around as though he owns the world because he can manipulate others. He deserves to be quartered and hung."
Sam didn't reply. She squeezed Melanie's hand once more as the medics began to take Melanie inside. She felt like fire was being expelled each time that her heart beat. Her emotions were amplified by the adrenaline pumping through her system, and her mind could only focus on one person.
Dr. Jonathan Raymond
Sam glanced around, checking to see that her colleagues wouldn't notice if she slipped away. Fortunately, Martin was helping some men with the safety equipment while Danny and Vivian were speaking with another agent. Sam swallowed back any thought of waiting and walked quickly down the long, white hallway.
Danny's eyes followed Sam as she made her way quickly down the hallway, easily dismissing any thought of going after her as she would most likely want to be alone. He and Vivian needed to get downstairs as soon as possible and wrap things up with Jack. He glanced over at Martin and smiled as he charmed a petite brunette officer.
~~~~
Sam scanned the lobby as she got off the elevator, checking to make sure no one she knew saw her exit the building. She spotted Jack standing down the street, talking with another agent and a police chief. Hastily walking to their car, she got in the driver's side and closed the door. Checking the side pocket for the keys, she smiled as the shiny object waited inside. Realizing that going to Dr. Raymond alone in her state of mind was probably one of her worst decisions, but justice needed to be dealt today and she knew the system too well to know that the case would be jeopardized because of her involvement. However, she contemplated this only for a split second before deciding that now was the time.
Unfortunately, with her animosity and frustration fueling her, there was no holding back. She had unfinished business with a man, actually two men, and she always liked to go to sleep with business taken care of. She took a right turn and headed in the direction of Raymond's apartment, biting her lip as she began thinking up a plan and it's backup.
"Martin, Danny, did one of you move the car?" asked Jack as he met the two gentlemen in the lobby, 25 minutes after Sam's departure.
Shaking their heads in the negative, he looked around for Viv and she held her hands up and shrugged. She couldn't reach Samantha on her phone.
"Sam probably took it to follow them to the hospital," hypothesized Martin.
Jack thought about it and shook his head. "No, I know where she went. We need to get some cops over to Jonathan Raymond's apartment as soon as possible, maybe Clayton Hodges' as well. Martin, go talk to Chief Hart and give him a heads up. Danny, come with me. Jack told Vivian what was going on and she agreed to stay with Martin until they finished up at their current location.
Almost thirty minutes after she'd left; Samantha shut off the engine as she rose gracefully out of the car. She drew out her gun and checked to make sure everything was ready to go and closed the door quietly, returning her gun to it's holster. Walking towards a large, elegant brownstone building, she drew in deep breath then exhaled all of her inhibitions. It was time to finish what she started ten years ago.
TBC
A/N, if this was truly horrible, please don't hold back. I am still high off the X-men glory. Nothing can hurt me now.
~~~~~~
Martin paced back and forth, watching Sam talk to Melanie, then glanced at Vivian talking with a psychiatrist. He frowned. They'd been out there for almost ten minutes. Talking. Ten minutes is nothing when you're driving or watching a movie, but when you're 25 stories up, ten minutes doesn't even have a time to which it can be compared. They sat there with their feet dangling off the edge, chatting - who knows.
Danny kept his eyes trained on Samantha the whole time. He was trying to figure out what she was talking about. He was starting to get a headache from squinting west into the sun and it didn't help that the glass from the building was reflecting the bright light either. If it weren't under the same circumstances he'd even think the scene brilliant - the two blond haired women sitting on a ledge with a fireball orange glow setting behind them. He was glad that Sam's harness was on tightly, but the one for Melanie was still hanging on Sam's shoulder, waiting to be carefully placed around the young woman.
He smiled realizing he'd just found out what Melanie said. It was something like -
"It wasn't even that bad, but afterwards, he was in my head. He still is. I can't get him out. Constantly berating me, making me feel filthy. I couldn't even remember what had happened for three weeks. Every time I went back to that afternoon, my mind would blank out."
"Then it started coming back in dreams right?" said Sam.
"Yeah, like I'd feel his hand on my leg, or him unbuttoning my shirt and I'd wake up," she paused, swallowing the lump in her throat. "I'd wake up and nothing would be there, except for Anna. I'd still be able to hear him though. It's like his goal in life is to manipulate people to see what they will do under his influence."
"It's like he hypnotizes you," agreed Sam. "Did he really do everything the way I said it?"
"Basically," she said, pausing to decide whether or not she should continue. "Dr. Raymond came over and handed me the book then he made a comment about my perfume, which he'd never done before. Just the way he said it, like it was a habit of his to note what I wore. He'd always been very - professional before. He went over the door and tried to open it, like he was going to go back to work and it was locked. We tried banging on the door for a good five - ten minutes," Melanie was talking quietly now. For the first time in two and a half months, she was walking through everything that occurred that afternoon.
Her eyes were focused on her feet, unable to look Sam in the eyes. "I remember going to sit on the couch and was looking through the book. He was leaning against one of the bookcases, looking out that small window then he turned on the CD player, and I think he had Vivaldi playing," she paused to look at Sam who nodded in agreement. "He started talking about one of the mothers that we'd worked with at a battered wife shelter. We only briefly discussed cases, never in much detail, but he was repeating this conversation he'd had with her about what her husband would do to her. Stuff like duct taping her to the tub for a weekend and he'd dump fire ants on her. One time, he pulled out all of her toe nails and tied her up to the back of his truck and made her run barefooted for three miles because she didn't make dinner on time," Melanie frowned thinking about the young woman.
"Out of the blue, Dr. Raymond asked me what happened to my parents, and I told him they'd died in a fire. But he didn't stop, he kept asking me more questions like why I didn't go back and save them or why I never woke them up and I started crying, bawling really. He came over apologizing; saying he didn't mean for me to feel guilty, he just wanted me to 'explore my feelings of resentment.' He sat on the couch closer to me than you are now and his voice got really low. He started talking about the first time he'd seen me, he knew I'd be the one to finish his plan," she looked up briefly at Sam, whose eyes were fixed intently on her. "And I was already crying by then, he said so many horrible things that I can't even repeat, I didn't even feel him when he wrapped his arm around me or when he grabbed my hand. I told him I was fine, but he wouldn't scoot away, so I stood up."
She paused for a minute and covered her face with her hands. Sam rubbed her back not trying to pressure the girl in anyway. The last thing Sam needed was for Melanie to kirk out and jump. Sam was going to take it nice and slow.
"You don't have to go any further if you don't want to," Sam whispered. "I know what happened."
"No. It's just that, I can't do it anymore. I can't live. It's so hard. And thinking about it, just telling you makes it feel less oppressive, but it hurts so badly to relive this."
"Take your time. I'm not here to rush you. If you do plan on staying up here for a while though let me know so I can order take out," Sam quipped, trying to make light of the situation.
Melanie smiled briefly, then looked up at Sam and sighed. "He came over to me and kept talking, and he forced me up against the wall - kept saying how I shouldn't have been smoking that night, that it was all my fault. He said I was horrible for Troy, that I wasn't good enough for him. How he knew I wasn't a virgin and I kept asking him to stop, that he shouldn't be doing this. I had a skirt on that day and a blouse. It was a red blouse. I burned it," Melanie's voice began wavering, her eyes filling with tears once again.
"Dr. Raymond swung me over to the couch and he got on top of me and kept running his hand up my leg. I screamed, but all he would do was slap me. He started talking about my hair and how he loved it and he bent down, so close and he breathed in. He started kissing me, unbuttoning my shirt, and the whole time I was trying to push him off. I got him off one time and I went towards the door, but he grabbed my leg and pulled me down to the ground. He started talking about all the women we'd spoken to, the rape victims, and how he would have done every one of them. He even talked about taking one of his patients into the elevator and screwing her right there. All the while he was undoing his belt and unbuttoning his pants," she stopped breathless.
"I can't, I can't, I can't," she emitted an immutable cry and began sobbing. Those on the balcony turned towards Sam and Melanie in fear of something happening.
Sam grabbed her hand and held it tightly. With her other hand, she brushed the tears away that were streaking down her own face.
"I can't do any more. All I can hear is that music and his voice right next to my ear," Melanie said, barely audible. She leaned into Sam as she wrapped her arms around her carefully. Sam let her cry, trying to forget that the cars and crowds below were stopped and watching them, growing impatient with every minute.
After Melanie's sobs quieted and she pulled away, Sam tried working another approach.
"What'd you do after, after it happened?"
"That's what was so weird, right after he was done, he stood up and straightened himself out, told me to get my ass off the ground and walked back over to the bookcase like nothing happened. Two minutes later, Clayton opened the door looking for Dr. Raymond," she paused briefly. "He was so nonchalant, didn't seem to notice a thing. He held the door for me and I flew out of there."
Sam looked at her sharply and frowned. "I can't believe this at all. Did you go to the hospital or anything when you got out of there?"
Melanie shook her head. Sam knew why she didn't go to the hospital. It was the same reason why she herself never went.
After a minute of silence, Melanie looked back at Sam. "I went back to my dorm and slept for three days. I told Anna I had the flu and I couldn't move. Whenever she'd leave I'd go to the showers and scrub until I was raw from bleeding," she motioned towards her lower legs and feet which still weren't fully healed.
"After that, I finished up what courses I had left, then I took off a quarter. I wanted to transfer out then, but I didn't have the money for that and my dorm is paid until the end of the year."
Sam sat quietly, her mind milling over what she'd just heard. A couple minutes later she asked, "So you didn't get any evidence?"
"Evidence?" said Melanie archly. "Oh, I have evidence. Because of that man I will never marry Troy, or share his dreams. Troy wouldn't want me if he ever found out what happened. But now, he would never, ever want me," she said as she started pounding her fist into the granite.
Picking up on what was wrong, Sam asked for the sake of verification. "Why wouldn't he ever want you?"
"Don't you get it? That scoundrel screwed me without a condom. He wanted to get caught. He wanted it so badly that he didn't care if I got pregnant or not. Troy can't marry a whore with a bastard child now can he?" she yelled angrily. Sam sat, unable to offer anything more than a sympathetic glance.
"Why should I live? What's the point? I realize now that there is no hope in anything. All that sunset means to me is another night full of empty hours and horrific dreams. Raymond got what he wanted. He made another girl want to run off again."
"Another girl? How many were there?" Sam asked aghast.
"Including you and me? Five. People used to say every patient that ever died under his care died because he talked them into it. He almost admitted as much. He's probably down there somewhere, waiting for me to fall off."
"Melanie, look at me," she paused waiting to gain her eye contact. "Do you realize that I am here today, from where you were, to what I am now? I was at rock bottom. But I hated that man so much, that I didn't want him to win. I didn't want him to have the control over my life that he thought he had. I did transfer out. I did finish college and got a masters. Then I picked up and moved down to Washington and started over. If Troy loves you as much as I think he does, then he will help you through this. Quitting right here, this way, is not the answer. You'll just be letting him win. Just another tally in his book of experiments," she stopped, somehow unable to finish.
They sat there in all the silence a busy street and frustrated people could offer. Melanie started kicking her feet back and forth, like they were maneuvering the shafts in her mind.
"I can't do it. I'm so tired. I don't want them to hate me, to think I'm dirty," she wiped her nose with her sock, frowning the whole time.
"No matter what you think, you can always start over. Only five people know what happened to me, two of which I still keep in contact with, one is a person at the bureau that I talk to sometimes when things get rough. The others are - Raymond and Clayton," she waited a beat to let it all sink in. "Dr. Raymond is a man of habit. Very meticulous. Despite what happened, I got put back together. I didn't get a souvenir like yours, but you can put the child up for adoption if you don't want to keep it. Troy will help you Melanie, I'm positive that the man waiting for you down there wants nothing more than to hold you safely in his arms," she said quietly, but determined.
"If I get off this ledge, how do you know I won't try it again?" said Melanie.
Not even skipping a breath, Sam said, "Because I will be with you the entire way. You will overcome this."
Melanie's eyes went to Sam's and saw truth and sincerity. She squeezed Sam's hand tightly, as tears began to fall down her cheeks once again.
He wiped his eyes with his fingers. He leaned against the wall of the building, pulling the plug out of his ear. Jack sighed loudly and looked up at the two women. Sam was trying to talk Melanie into putting the harness around her waist. He watched for almost five minutes until the harness was finally wrapped around the young woman. Together, they rose slowly and carefully, holding each other's hands the whole way as they edged over to the balcony. Sam was closest and climbed over while Melanie hugged the wall.
Danny grabbed Sam as she climbed over the sturdy metal railing. She was shaking all over and looked almost as bad as Melanie. Sam pulled away from him and gave him a nod of thanks then walked over as the team tried to coax Melanie over the railing. Sam reached out her hand and grabbed Melanie's. They kept eye contact the entire time as Melanie inched over and was helped up by a few strong men. Danny felt like it was happening in slow motion; Melanie being lifted over the railing, Sam's hair blowing in the wind and the muted sounds of the chaos around him. The sound of a phone broke through his thoughts.
"Is she okay?" Jack asked, walking between rows of cops and their vehicles.
"Yeah, she'll be fine. They're taking her to St. Vincent's," said Vivian, arms crossed and watching the scene through the large glass window.
"Good. I'll let the kids know," Jack paused, trying to find the words to further his sentence, but failing in his attempt.
"She's doing fine Jack," said Vivian knowingly. "The boys are with her and are getting everything cleared up."
"Thanks. Stay up there and make sure everything goes all right, call me for updates. I have to go speak with the chief," said Jack as he neared his destination.
"I got it," said Viv as she closed her phone. Stroking the side of her neck with the antenna, she watched Sam closely as she walked over to Melanie who was now under the care of paramedics.
Sam kneeled in front of Melanie, talking to her very quietly as the medics were checking her vitals.
"Melanie, here is my number - all of them. As soon as I can, I will come and visit you. It may be tomorrow when I can all right?" Melanie nodded, grabbing Sam's hand for reassurance.
"Troy and Anna are waiting downstairs," said Sam. Melanie looked up at Sam with fear in her eyes.
"Melanie, they love you. No matter what happened to you or what you did, they will still love you. Those are two of the best friends I have ever seen. Be happy you have people to look after you, okay?"
"I don't want them to be afraid of me," she said. Sam looked at her closely, her mouth forming a thin line.
"I think all people fear what they don't know. Together, you all can get through this, but don't shut them out," she paused as she tried to express her thoughts.
"The next year, your life will not be yours, but with your friends and your faith, you will survive this. And whatever you do, don't let your hatred and anger overpower you," said Sam.
"Hate is a funny thing. I don't really hate Dr. Raymond. If anything, I pity him," said Melanie with a scratchy voice. "He still lives in the same place he has for twenty years, and still walks around as though he owns the world because he can manipulate others. He deserves to be quartered and hung."
Sam didn't reply. She squeezed Melanie's hand once more as the medics began to take Melanie inside. She felt like fire was being expelled each time that her heart beat. Her emotions were amplified by the adrenaline pumping through her system, and her mind could only focus on one person.
Dr. Jonathan Raymond
Sam glanced around, checking to see that her colleagues wouldn't notice if she slipped away. Fortunately, Martin was helping some men with the safety equipment while Danny and Vivian were speaking with another agent. Sam swallowed back any thought of waiting and walked quickly down the long, white hallway.
Danny's eyes followed Sam as she made her way quickly down the hallway, easily dismissing any thought of going after her as she would most likely want to be alone. He and Vivian needed to get downstairs as soon as possible and wrap things up with Jack. He glanced over at Martin and smiled as he charmed a petite brunette officer.
~~~~
Sam scanned the lobby as she got off the elevator, checking to make sure no one she knew saw her exit the building. She spotted Jack standing down the street, talking with another agent and a police chief. Hastily walking to their car, she got in the driver's side and closed the door. Checking the side pocket for the keys, she smiled as the shiny object waited inside. Realizing that going to Dr. Raymond alone in her state of mind was probably one of her worst decisions, but justice needed to be dealt today and she knew the system too well to know that the case would be jeopardized because of her involvement. However, she contemplated this only for a split second before deciding that now was the time.
Unfortunately, with her animosity and frustration fueling her, there was no holding back. She had unfinished business with a man, actually two men, and she always liked to go to sleep with business taken care of. She took a right turn and headed in the direction of Raymond's apartment, biting her lip as she began thinking up a plan and it's backup.
"Martin, Danny, did one of you move the car?" asked Jack as he met the two gentlemen in the lobby, 25 minutes after Sam's departure.
Shaking their heads in the negative, he looked around for Viv and she held her hands up and shrugged. She couldn't reach Samantha on her phone.
"Sam probably took it to follow them to the hospital," hypothesized Martin.
Jack thought about it and shook his head. "No, I know where she went. We need to get some cops over to Jonathan Raymond's apartment as soon as possible, maybe Clayton Hodges' as well. Martin, go talk to Chief Hart and give him a heads up. Danny, come with me. Jack told Vivian what was going on and she agreed to stay with Martin until they finished up at their current location.
Almost thirty minutes after she'd left; Samantha shut off the engine as she rose gracefully out of the car. She drew out her gun and checked to make sure everything was ready to go and closed the door quietly, returning her gun to it's holster. Walking towards a large, elegant brownstone building, she drew in deep breath then exhaled all of her inhibitions. It was time to finish what she started ten years ago.
TBC
A/N, if this was truly horrible, please don't hold back. I am still high off the X-men glory. Nothing can hurt me now.