Rating: PG-13
Author's Notes: Many thanks to Sweatergirl for the betaing. A big hello to the resident genius ;) and of course Maple Street and it's crew. This chapter is short and not so sweet.
Sam could see Addison but rather heard his approaching footsteps. He was slowing down in front of her hiding position. Her leg was killing her and she was beginning to notice a slight tremor in her hands but she was not going to let anything defer her from her plan. With force she sprang out of the brush and threw her body weight at Addison.
Addison fell, dropping his gun and flashlight in the process. His knees hit the hard earth causing an anguished cry to emit from his lips.
Samantha took the opportunity to put his head in a nice chokehold, effectively cutting off the air supply. Addison was not giving up though; his now free hands, searched for her face, clawing it the best he could with short nails. She used her free arm to try to push the hands away but he grasped at her wrist; twisting it, and creating dancing stars in front of her eyes.
Sam loosed her hold. In a flash he pushed backwards so that she was now the one on the ground. He turned quickly and grabbed one arm tugging her along. She greeted him with a nice kick to the shin but his boot came effectively down on her face.
The wind was knocked out of her, all motion and feeling stopped.
She watched like some audience member instead of a participant. Addison picked her up. Even in the dark she could see the gleam in his eyes. He threw her and she felt her body falling in slow motion almost as if she were standing above watching it happen. She hit the ground hard and rolled, grass, branches, and rocks swiping at her. Then finally she stopped. Everything hurt. Her eyes closed involuntarily and sleep quickly took over.
She dreamt. She dreamt of Jack smiling at her. She dreamt of Jack kissing her. She felt happy and then the dream changed.
She was standing at the bottom of a gully yelling for Jack. He was above her looking down, shaking his head. He was dressed in a black suit. Marie was at his side, a shawl obscuring her face. His daughters were there, too. Suddenly the daughters vanished.
"Jack, what's happening?" Sam yelled up.
His eyes were dark. "They're dead. You killed my kids with your stupidity. I'll never forgive you."
"No, they can't be dead." Her heart was racing.
"It's your fault Samantha. I am going to stay with Marie. We need each other now." They turned away from the gully, Jack's arm on Marie's back. They walked out of sight.
"No!" Sam yelled. "I love you, don't leave me here. Jack, come back, please. Come back to me. I'm so sorry about your daughters. Jack!"
There was no response.
Dawn brought much needed vision to Jack. He had gone around in circles for some time but finally had reached a new path. Sweat trickled down his shirt making it stick to him. He approached a clearing and his eyes gasped onto a sight. "Oh, God…"
To be continued…
