Part 4

Two weeks went by and Jacob finally coming back from the mission sometime today. Ever since that night at the bar Sam has been ignoring Jack. He left messages on her cell phone, leaving the times that would and wouldn't be good to call him back. She purposely called when he wouldn't answer. Everyday she was feeling more and more guilty about lying to him. She only lied about little things, her age, her family. Nothing big. When she was with him she acted herself, like she would with anyone else. That night at the bar, she explained the facts to the three, but left out the details about anything that would help them figure out she was younger than them. She did keep in touch with Janet. The doctor-to-be was 24 and although she looked innocent and kind when something was wrong she took control. Her voice was also kind, but can turn authorities in a second. Janet informed Sam that is how a doctor in the USAF needed to be so the stubborn soldiers would listen to her. Sam was beginning to feel really good friendship blossoming only if Janet won't hate her when she finds out the truth. Her cell phone ringing brought her out of her thoughts. She looked at the little screen to see who was calling. Jack.

"Aren't you going to answer that?" Jacob asked opening the front door and placing his suitcase on the ground. He knew Sam never let the voicemail get it unless the phone was off. Sam tried thinking of a way to respond. If she said 'I don't feel like talking' her father would want to answer it. Then she remembered she had to tell him about Mark.

"Actually," she started, tuning off her cell to stop the ringing, "I need to talk to you."

"What about?" Jacob asked, sitting next to her on the couch.

"About Mark."

"Look, I know I treat you and Mark different, but it's only that you're my little girl and I don't want anything to happen to you."

"That's not what I want to talk about." she took a deep breath, "Mark's gone."

"What? When?"

"When you were on your mission he said he was leaving to go to college."

"I didn't even know he wanted to go to college, let alone apply to any." he said mostly to himself. He looked back at Sam, "Did he say which one?"

"San Diego University." Jacob stood up and started walking out of the room, "Where are you going?"

"To make a couple phone calls."

"Don't check up on him, dad. He left because he wanted to be on his own. Give him his space."

"Fine, but I still need to make a phone call. I'm supposed to go back on Thursday. I don't want you to be alone."

"I'm always alone."

"Sam-" he warned.

"I know, it came out wrong." she defended. She already knew his line 'I have a duty to the United States Air Force' and 'In the long run he is keeping it safe for her to grow old in'. "It's okay, dad. I know how to dial 911 in case of emergencies."

"Sarcasm will get you in trouble one of these days, Sam."

"Hasn't yet." There was a moment of silence and Jacob looked back at her, worry evident in his eyes. "Don't worry."

"I'm going to be gone for six weeks, Sam."

Sam realized she had to use a different tactic to get her father to see she would be fine. "Dad, you trust me, right?"

"Of course." he replied, with a serious note in his voice.

"If you really trust me you should know that everything will be fine." Jacob thought about it for a while.

"Okay, just promise me you won't get into any trouble.

"I'm on a United States Air Force base surrounded by soldiers. How much trouble can I get into?"

Sam finally got the nerve to call Jack on Friday after talking to Janet. She informed Sam that Jack had been worried about her ever since she stopped calling him back. She was about to hang up when someone answered.

"Hello?"

"Hi-uh-is Jack there?"

"He's not home right now. I could take a message if you'd like." the female informed her.

"Just tell him Sam called."

"Just Sam, no last name?"

"No. Tell him he can reach me on my cell."

"Okay." They said their goodbyes in unison and hung up.

"Who was on the phone?" Jack asked as he walked in and seen Sara hang up the phone.

"Someone named Sam saying you can reach her on her cell."

Jack put down the bags in his hands and grabbed the phone. He dialed the familiar number. On the second ring she picked up.

"Hello?"

"Sam." he stated. Finally hearing her voice after a little over a week he felt anger all over.

"We need to talk."

"Okay. Let's talk."

"Not over the phone. In person." Jack got a bad feeling in his stomach, but before he could say anything she continued, "The sooner the better." she said after a slight pause.

"Well-um-I have plans for tonight. Maybe-"

"It's okay. Just call me when you get some spare time."

"Hold on a minute, Sam. Don't hang up." He pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at Sara. Sam listened to their conversation on the other end of the phone.

"Can we reschedule for another day, Sara? I really need to talk to her."

"Sure, no problem. Greg will be here for about another month." Sam felt a little better when she heard the name Greg. Although she had no right to feel about Jack the way she did.

"Sam?" he asked breaking her out of her thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"I said, I'll meet you tonight. How about nine-thirty on the hill?" he said, obviously not for the first time.

"Sure. I'll see you then. Bye Jack."

"Bye."

She hung up the phone and stared at it. She would do the right thing tonight. She was determined.

End of Part 4. The next part should be up soon. Hopefully. With summer here, I plan to write more now that school is out.