I slip out of my work clothes and slide between the sheets for a night of peaceful sleep.

*******

As morning breaks, I roll around, too tired to awaken just yet. I glance at the clock and realize its quarter to noon.

I slowly manage my way out of bed and into the shower to freshen up. I slip back into my wrinkled attire and figure on checking out later if not tomorrow, since I already slept through the checkout time.

I make my way outside, noticing Danny's car gone and likely Vivian left with him. I slip inside my vehicle and head for the hospital. I glance down at my watch and feel my stomach grumbling.

I head for the cafeteria, grabbing a bagel and taking it up to my father's room. I stand outside the doorway, taking a bite of breakfast as I see his family inside with him.

What am I doing here? Do I even belong? I let out a breath, contemplating if I should just go on home.

I feel warm hands on my hips, pulling me in close from behind. "What the-- ?" I turn my head back to see Jack standing right there beside me.

"Vivian called me," he whispers into my ear. "It seems you forgot a change of clothes." I turn around in his embrace.

"You didn't drive all this way to bring me something to wear." I eye him intently.

"You're right," he nods and takes my hands in his. "I wanted to be here for you."

"Jack--" His eyes cut me off as he glances down at my quivering lips.

"Viv told me about last night."

"Yeah, well--" I shrug with a sigh, "after all this time, I have nothing to say to him."

"You could start by meeting your half-sister, Morgan," he answers.

"I'm not sure that's such a good idea," I respond wearily.

"You came all this way." I feel his hand on my lower back, holding me close. "Besides," I feel his breath on my ear, "I'll make it worth your while." I eye him, curious of his intentions.

"Jack?"

"You didn't check out of your hotel room yet, did you?"

"No," I pause and let out a soft breath eyeing him.

"Why don't you give me your key. I'll take your clothes back to your place while you talk to your father?"

"I don't think so," I laugh softly. "You're not leaving me here, alone."

"Oh, come on. An hour ago you didn't even know I was coming."

I grip onto his hand. "Now that you're here, though, I'm not letting you out of my sight." I apprehensively take a step inside the hospital room, with Jack attached to my hand.

"Remember when I told you about Samantha?" I hear my father's voice speaking to Morgan.

The young girl turns around, curious as to whom I am. She looks me over and then glances towards Jack.

"Who are you?" She stares him down, as his hand stays linked with mine.

"Jack Malone," he takes his free hand, putting it out to introduce himself.

Morgan stares at it and then glances towards her dad. "Are you going to leave me?" I can tell she's hurt by what she's been told and I'm curious how much is true.

"Never," he answers as she moves over to give him a hug and then slip out the room.

"I truly am sorry," Stephen tells me, as I feel Jack trying to gently push me deeper into the room.

I let out a soft breath, not sure if I can forgive him for what he did.

"You shouldn't lie to Morgan," I eye him sternly.

"What are you talking about?"

"Telling her you'll never leave her. You promised me you'd always be there. You promised me you'd be listening and if I needed anything you'd come for me. You promised me a lot of things--" I trail off, feeling my voice break.

"I'm sorry, Sam."

"No, you're not."

"I am. Do you know how long I've lived with the guilt of what I've done? I wanted to make it up to you, I still do--" he pauses and lets out a soft breath. "I know that anything I say won't make it right, though."

I let out an annoyed breath, not having an answer to give him. "Sam," I hear Jack's voice in my ear and lean back into his embrace as he stands slightly behind me.

"I didn't come back here to forgive you."

"Then why are you here?" My father's eyes meet mine.

"I have a half-sister outside," I point out. "She has a right to know what you did and about the family you left behind."

"I was a child, Sam," his voice pleads with me. "I didn't know any better."

"You must have, or else you wouldn't feel guilty about it!" I retort, turning around and ready to exit the room when I feel Jack's body in the way. My eyes glare at his to let me go. He steps out of the way, letting me storm by him as I head to the hall to get away.

I can only imagine what Jack's saying to my father, and I feel a hand on my shoulder. "Don't cry." I hear Vanessa's soft voice beside me.

I let out a breath, biting down on my lower lip. I turn around to face her, but my eyes study anything but her face.

"It's ridiculous," I answer, sucking in a breath to keep my tears from falling.

"What is?" she says as she eyes me curiously.

"This," I gesture, "finding him. I don't think I'm cut out for it." I shake my head as I see Jack slowly making his way down the hall towards us.

"I can't imagine what you're going through," Vanessa tells me. "He's a good man, though, even with what he did in the past." Her eyes meet mine, "Don't forget you're still his daughter, even if he did run out."

"He has another daughter now," I remind her. "He doesn't need me in his life."

"You're wrong." I eye her curiously. "Not only does Stephen need you, but so does Morgan. She's your half-sister, and whether you realize it or not, right now she's feeling some of the same emotions that you are---she's terrified he'll leave."

"I can't lie to her and tell her he won't."

"You don't have to," she answers, nodding towards Morgan who's sitting on a chair in the lounge area. "Just be a friend and a sister, because that's what she needs."

I let out a soft breath and head for the lounge. I eye Jack to follow me and feel his hand on my lower back, escorting me to sit down.

"Hi, Morgan." I smile over towards her, as she glances through a magazine.

"Hey," she whispers with a sigh, her eyes on the ground and her face sullen.

"Your dad's going to be all right," I tell her with a half-smile.

"Yeah," she nods with a shrug and then after a minute or two of silence between us, she glances up and into my eyes. "So, you're really my sister?"

"Half-sister, yeah," I nod gently. "You're how old--fifteen?"

"Thirteen," she answers with a sigh. "I wish I was fifteen. Then I wouldn't be so far away from driving and getting away from this crappy town." I can't hide the smile on my face. "What?" She eyes me curiously.

"Sounds familiar," I respond.

Jack and I spend most of the afternoon with my father and his new family, getting acquainted with everyone. As evening progresses onward, my father is released from the hospital and I walk with him down to the front door, with Jack at my side.

"If you need anything," I eye my father sternly, "don't be a stranger," I tell him with a soft smile.

"Tell your mother I'm sorry."

"Maybe you should tell her." I eye him intently.

"I know she doesn't want to see me. Not after everything I've put you both through."

"You never know," I answer softly. "I'm going to stop by tomorrow; it'd be nice if you joined us."

"Sam," his voice is low to keep everyone else from hearing, "I don't belong there."

"You can't tell her you're all right?"

"You can." His eyes meet mine.

"I suppose I could, but I thought you were looking for forgiveness?"

"I was looking for you," he answers.

My eyes watch his as I let out a soft breath a minute later. We step out front and I see Vanessa pulling the car up. "Take care of yourself," I say, embracing him with a hug. "And make sure Morgan knows that if she needs anything to call me."

"She knows," he nods softly. "She likes you."

"Who doesn't?" Jack quips.

"Take care of her," my father tells Jack, as they exchange handshakes before he heads into the car.

I feel Jack's hand on my lower back and his lips beside my ear, "Ready to head home?"

"Can you take me back to the hotel?" My eyes meet his.

"Sure," he nods with a soft smile and escorts me to the car.

"You can go home if you want." I glance in his direction as we head for the hotel.

"Sam, I want to be here with you."

"Thanks. You think you can put up with another day of meeting my family?" I tease with a warm laugh.

"You want to see your mother?"

"It'd be nice."

"I should come; I owe her an apology." My eyes rise in amusement. "For sending Vivian and Danny to talk with her. It might have helped but I have the feeling I scared her."

"Why do you say that?"

"I talked to Vivian," Jack's eyes meet mine before heading back to the road.

"And?"

"I think your mother's worried about you."

"Yeah, it's been awhile since I've seen her."

"Or called." Jack points out.

"I've been busy," I shake my head. "Whose side are you on anyhow?"

"Yours," he answers as we pull into the hotel parking lot.

I slip out of the car, digging in my pocket for the key to the room. I feel Jack's presence behind me as I open the door and notice him carrying my duffel bag.

"Thanks," I tell him as he places the bag on a chair and I take a seat on the edge of the bed.

Jack moves over towards me, his legs brushing against mine as he stands in front of me. "Do I need to get my own room for tonight or--" his voice trails off with a hint of shyness and a soft smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"I think you should get your own room," I answer with a smile forming on my lips. He nods with a slightly disappointed look in his eyes as my hand moves to his chest. "I was thinking we wouldn't disturb anyone next door then," I tease as I lean up towards him, capturing his lips with mine.

My lips beg to be kissed as his tongue brushes against mine. My hand encompasses his body, pulling him closer and down against my body, wanting to feel all of him.

Our legs hang off the bed as Jack's lips nip at my neck and his hands tease through my hair.

"Jack," I breathe out in a deep throaty voice. My hands tug at his belt buckle, forcefully pulling it from him and ripping at his clothes.

"Sam?" His eyes meet mine with a look of amusement on his face as I pull at his shirt and toss it to the floor. I scoot back on the bed, and begin unbuttoning my blouse. "Let me," he tells me, moving onto the bed and hovering above me. His mouth kisses its way down my neck, while his fingers tenderly work on the buttons.

My breathing grows deep as my hands claw at his chest.

"Are you always this feisty?" Jack questions with a smile as he continues kissing down my breasts and over my stomach, peeling back my blouse. "Don't you ever just want to savior the experience?"

"Yes," I breathe out, feeling his tongue dip into my navel as his hands work on pulling my pants down.

"Good," Jack answers as I feel my eyes slip close and his fingers on my inner thighs. A gasp of air escapes my lungs, as I groan out and roll around, resting my body above his.

"You know I like to be in control," I remind him, grinding my hips into his as his eyes slip closed and he stifles a moan. "Let it out," I answer, leaning down and moving my mouth to his for a juicy kiss.

I let all worries and pain cease to exist as we become one for a short time. His hands, lips, and body take me to the ultimate high as our kisses pleasure one another.

"Sam," his voice is soft in my ears, as I feel him clinging to my body.

I roll onto my stomach, lying flat against the mattress as I feel the bed shift and Jack rest on his side, keeping me warm.

I feel the cool air settling into the room and slip between the covers to keep warm. Jack joins me, his arm resting along my back as I lay on my stomach with my head turned towards him.

His hand softly draws circles over my skin as I close my eyes momentarily.

"Tell me again about the night your father left." Jack's voice is soft and warm but the words he speaks cause my heart to split in two.

"It's not a very good bedtime story."

"Then I guess we'll have to stay up," he answers, rolling towards me to press a warm, inviting kiss to my shoulder blades.