Chapter 14 – A Late Night Call
Friday Night, May 28, 2004

Martin crouched on the floor in the lobby of Samantha's apartment building. He had a clear view of the entryway, but was sufficiently hidden by darkness from those coming and going. He didn't know exactly who he was guarding Samantha from since the three guys were still in jail, but he felt protective of her and he wanted to stay close in case she called upon him. It was still early evening and he knew he was in for a long night.

Martin saw several people enter using their own key and a few who were buzzed in; he paid special attention to them. It didn't take long and he saw a familiar face; Jack had been buzzed through the doors. Martin's mouth fell open, but he quickly realized that he should have expected it. He had heard the concern in Jack's words early at the hospital and although Samantha had told him that she wasn't 'with Jack' he knew the old feelings were coming back to her.

Jack carried flowers and did not even glance in Martin's direction. He impatiently waited for the elevator and punched in Samantha's floor when it arrived. Martin sank lower into his hiding place and thought about how stupid he was to still be there, waiting for a phone call he knew would never come. But still he waited; his aim had changed though, he wanted to know how long Jack stayed rather than who was going to come after Samantha.


Samantha had been surprised when Jack buzzed, but she let him come up. What choice did she have, she couldn't order him to leave when he was at her front door. She let him in when he knocked and saw the flowers he had to offer. Reluctantly she took them from him as she gestured for him to come in the room. He moved to kiss her on he check and she stopped herself from backing up at the contact. Then she looked up at him and wanted to express the confusion she felt about him to him. "Jack, you didn't have to come tonight. You should be with Hannah or something."

Jack protested, "Yes, I was with Hannah, but now I have something more important. I have to make sure that you are OK. Did you have dinner, can I get you something? Was Martin able to bring you home? Are you OK?"

Samantha didn't know which question to respond to first. "Yes, I've eaten, Martin made a wonderful dinner and I was just watching a movie. I was about to go to bed Jack and I think I do need my rest." She tried to encourage him not to stay.

"Oh, I'm sorry, sure you need to rest, I guess I shouldn't have come, but I, I wanted to see you, to know that you're alright. And I wanted you to know that I, that I wanted to be with you tonight. I'm sorry that I couldn't be." Jack tried to apologize for not being there for her.

Samantha responded, "I know you want to be here, to be with me, but Jack, I don't know if that's what I want. With everything going on I haven't had anytime to think about us and you being here just complicates things." She wanted to say that it was too confusing for her when Jack was around, but that when she was with Martin everything was comfortable and that's what she needed now, comfort. But she reminded herself that it wasn't fair to Martin to talk to him about her feelings for Jack, so it would unfair to do the same to Jack. Also, Jack wouldn't take it well if she told him she'd rather be with Martin now. So she remained silent.

Jack heard Samantha and was pained, he didn't want to complicate her life, he just wanted to be with her and he thought that that would make things better, not worse. He didn't know what to say.

Finally, Samantha spoke, "Jack, I know that you care and you want to be here with me, but I really need to rest and not think, about anything, right now. Thank you for caring, but it's better if you leave."

Jack tried not to feel hurt or scorned, he reasoned that Samantha was not trying to upset him. Though he tried to sound understanding he knew he failed, "OK, I'll leave, tonight, but it's not because I want to, it's because you are asking me to."

Samantha nodded her head and walked to the door to emphasize that she would not back down. He followed her and leaned in to plant a kiss on her lips this time, but she turned away and allowed his lips to brush across her cheek. He was angered by this dismissal and turned to leave without another good-bye. Samantha closed the door behind him and chastised herself. She didn't have to turn away from him, it isn't like she's never kissed Jack before, but it just didn't feel right. "Probably the assault has affected me," she thought, but a small part of her knew that that was only an excuse.


Martin had not taken his eyes off the elevator and became tense and excited each time its doors opened. Finally, he was rewarded as Jack came out of the elevator and looked upset. Martin took a perverse pleasure in knowing that Samantha had pushed him out of the apartment tonight too, although he knew that he wanted Samantha to be happy. He just hoped that her happiness didn't include being with Jack. Jack's leaving the apartment building renewed Martin's resolve to stay put to protect Samantha so he turned his eyes once again to the building entrance.
Martin must have dozed off, but the ringing of his cell phone woke him with a start. He glanced at the identity of the caller and quickly rose to his feet. He punched the elevator button while he answered the call. "Samantha, what is it? Are you alright?"

A frightened Samantha answered, "Martin, I'm scared. I think I had a nightmare, it was so real, it felt like, like I was out there, but you weren't there, no one was there to help me and these guys …"

Martin kept punching the elevator call button, where was this thing he thought. He decided to take the stairs. He spoke calmly and softly to Samantha, "It's OK, it was a nightmare. You know we were there for you, you know we wouldn't have let anyone get you." Finally the elevator arrived and he pushed her floor. "Get up, get out of bed," he commanded. "Go into the kitchen and turn on all the lights in your apartment, I'm on my way."

Samantha heard Martin's words and they jarred her to get out of bed. She immediately turned on the bedroom light and looked at the clock, 3:30 am. She had barely made it into the kitchen, still clutching the phone, when she heard a knock at her door. She let out a scream, afraid of who could be at her door at this hour.

Martin heard the scream and realized that Samantha was still on the phone even though he was waiting at her door. "Samantha it's me at the door, let me in."

Samantha started for the door, but was confused at how Martin had gotten there so quickly. She opened the door and Martin, breathing heavily, immediately embraced her and she forgot all about questioning him about his quick arrival.

Martin wrapped his arms around Samantha and she felt so cold and small. He turned to secure the door and then picked her up in his arms. She was so light and she clutched him tightly. He walked her back to the bedroom and laid her down. He covered her up and lay down next to her and held her while she cried and replayed her nightmare to him. He shushed her and rocked her until she fell back asleep.

TBC