Author's Notes: In the show, Jack didn't have a goatee when he went to the cabin at the end of season 3, but then he had one at the start of season 4 that was supposedly within 24 hours, so I gave him the goatee at the time of the cabin. I'm trying to skew the story, but keep within canon when possible and to try and deal with some of the inconsistancies the show had from one season to the next. Also Malone was shot with a bullet in the show, but I wanted to use a tranquilizer instead, it suits my story better for what's coming. Your reviews are greatly appreciated and inspire me to keep updating. Also, check out my livejournal for some romantic Jack and Samantha wallpapers.
Part 36
Age: 34 Years 7 Months
Sam had been seated in the witness stand for the better part of an hour answering questions for Paul. Every other question, the defense would object on the pretext of one set of grounds or another. As she sat recounting all the various incidents, she found herself wishing she had agreed to a plea bargain for Lucas. Her primary reason for sticking to the trial and having Paul go for the death penalty was because she knew it was expected of her. At the VCTF, her coworkers would have been shocked if Samantha hadn't taken things all the way.
Although part of her strongly disbelieved Lucas was Jack, even if she were positive, by the time the case went to trial, she hardly cared. Her Jack was gone and would never come back, other than that little mattered to her or affected her. The attraction she felt for Ed was the closest to any normal human emotion Samantha had felt in years. Forcing the proper expression on her face, Samantha testified and answered Paul's questions. Redirect wasn't going to be much fun, but to his credit, Paul had prepped her for the worst.
Donald's lawyer attacked Samantha from the get go, demanding, "Isn't it a fact, Dr. Waters, that it took you 7 years to capture Donald Lucas because on some level you enjoyed being the object of the alleged obsession Donald Lucas had for you?"
Samantha paused before denying it with a calm no as Paul had trained her. Rather than anger the question amused her. Truthfully? She enjoyed being the object of obsession of Jack-Of-All-Trades and in her mind, that wasn't the same as being an object of desire for Donald Lucas. Until the day she died, Jack-Of-All-Trades would be a wonderful and awful part of who she was that was both romantic and frightening. Fictional or real, Jack was larger than life in her mind and an indelible part of who she was.
Again the lawyer pushed at Samantha and she parroted an appropriate response, "I didn't enjoy being in prison. I didn't enjoy depriving my daughter of a normal childhood."
Normal childhood indeed! There were times she hated Chloe. Not only because she wasn't Jack's child, but because she spent so much time fussing over trivial things. She hadn't been much older than her daughter when she was married and widowed, granted it was a bit much to expect but Chloe's fussing because she had to stay inside had grated on her terribly. Chloe would never realize how lucky she was that her father had died rather than- Stop Samantha, don't go there, she chided herself. Ah well, at least she'd learned over time that she could evade almost anything by mentioning Chloe.
The defense attorney looked at Samantha expectantly as he continued to question her and she gave the appropriate answer, "We lived our lives in a state of fear with constant threat posed by the defendant."
As Jack sat and watched, he wondered what Samantha was thinking. She seemed to be somewhere else, her emotions and reactions seemed off for the questions that were being asked. There was so much depending on this going off perfectly. It was closing in on time to cue Donald and not a moment too soon. Jack was struggling to keep from killing the defense attorney on the spot for taking that tone with his Samantha.
With a disdainful tone, Donald's lawyer accused, "The fact is he never did pose a threat. Did he?"
How dare he take that tone with his Samantha! One way of another, he would kill Donald's lawyer the second he got and opportunity and it would be painful. He'd killed people for lesser transgressions against his Samantha than the rude and patronizing manner the lawyer was treating her with. Soon Samantha would be by his side and he could see to it that no one ever was in a position to treat his Samantha that way again! Jack thought furiously.
Lucas turned his head slightly to see if Jack was giving him his cue yet, he'd been practicing his lines for days. Before his arrest, Jack assured him that by going through with this Sam would finally know who he was and would always remember him. Jack shot his glance from Lucas to his attorney. Biting the inside of his cheek, Jack could feel rage coursing through his body and felt his cheek tic slightly with fury.
Samantha answered Donald's lawyer, "It created an environment which left me and my daughter psychologically vulnerable."
"To what end?"
Unsure how to answer, Samantha hesitate as the lawyer yelled at her, "To what end!"
Jack gave Lucas his cue when Samantha was struggling, it was the perfect spot and would work well with the lines he'd written for Donald, he only hoped Lucas wouldn't improvise too much.
Lucas stood up and stated, "This is the end. The defendant confesses so that the abuse of the woman will end!"
After that the courtroom was in an uproar and Jack settled back in his seat calmly, chewing his nicotine gum complacently. As the judge accepted the plea and announced when sentencing would occur. No one, save Jack and Lucas had expected the confession. Jack was a little displeased that Lucas had launched into an impromptu speech about his Sunday school days with Samantha, but the judge and the courtroom bought the performance and that was all that mattered.
Samantha was stunned by Lucas suddenly confessing but had little time to think about it, she had to return to Las Brisas to finish out her case and then with a little luck she might finally get a little time with Ed. Again he offered her a ride to the airstrip and they had a few stolen moments. Although she was nervous, Samantha decided that when the case was over that she was ready to sleep with Ed, she cared about him far more than she had Tom or Coop. Maybe she wouldn't love him like Jack, that seemed insurmountable, but Samantha thought she could love Ed in time.
After finishing her business in Las Brisas, Samantha returned for sentencing. Lucas was sentenced to death and as he was lead away struggled for a moment to speak.
"Even in death, I'll be with you always Sam!" Lucas called out to her.
It was over, Samantha realized with relief. As people filed out of the courtroom, Bailey kept hugging her and insisted on taking her to the VCTF. When he paused to give her a hug, she shot a glance over his shoulder at Ed, who gave her a wink and then disappeared. Samantha didn't feel like rehashing the outcome with Bailey and her co-workers; but she knew what they expected. Everyone expected Sam to be shaken and emotional from the verdict.
Walking through the VCTF there was a celebratory air and everyone stopped Sam on her way to Bailey's office. Samantha recited in her mind along with them as they spoke, how brave you are. You must be so happy to have Tom's death avenged. Sam, your nightmare is over. At last you can get on with your life. Why don't you look happier Sam? Ding dong Donald's dead. No more Jack-Of-All-Trades. No more Jack. No more Jack. No more Jack.
Samantha sat in Bailey's office as he spoke, "The story ends with his death as it should have years ago."
"Does it?" Samantha asked in disbelief.
Was it really done? Samantha wondered. Lucas simply didn't feel like Jack-Of-All-Trades and no matter how many times she tried to convince herself that he was, she couldn't. There was no doubt in her mind that Lucas was a killer, but she feared it was much like when they had thought Austin Keller was Jack. Somewhere, Jack was out there, watching and waiting.
Samantha told Bailey she needed some time off and he offered her a friend's cabin. Earlier she'd slipped away and called Ed's hotel, but he had already checked out and so Samantha decided to accept Bailey's offer. Maybe a few days out of town would give her perspective, right now she felt depressed about Ed in addition to both Jacks. A week after the trial ended Samantha left Atlanta.
The trip to the cabin wasn't very agreeable to Samantha. Bailey insisted on driving her and dropping her off at the cabin. Samantha wasn't thrilled at being dropped off in the middle of nowhere without a vehicle. Bailey helped her into the cabin with several bags and went out to his SUV to get the rest. As Samantha was putting the contents of the bags away, Jack aimed a dart gun at Bailey and fired. The fast acting drug rendered Malone unconscious before he could shout and he instantly hit the ground.. Leaving the unconscious man, Jack entered the cabin.
Samantha turned around and looked shocked, as he teased, "What, no hello?"
While she was shocked to see Ed, Samantha was even more shocked by his appearance. Gone was his uniform and even his jeans, in the doorway he lounged elegantly in a tailored suit. Everything about Ed seemed different, it was almost like he was another person altogether. No longer clean shaven, he had a small goatee under his lower lip that gave his mouth a sensual appearance. Ed had an aura of confidence that seemed very un-Edlike.
Uncertainly, Samantha asked, "What are you doing here?"
"I knew you'd be here," Jack told her smoothly, not a trace of Ed's drawl in his voice as he spoke. Then he added, "Don't ask how, it's really not important."
Taking a step forward, he purred, "Look at you."
For a moment, Samantha felt a surge of lust washing over her and her breath caught. Something felt very odd as Ed moved towards her confidently, the tone of his voice very cultured and far from Otis.
"It was really quite a scene in the courtroom, wasn't it?" Jack moved closer, keeping one hand behind his back clutching a bouquet of roses from Samantha's view.
Amused, Jack critiqued, "I thought Lucas was a bit over the top. But what can you expect from a man who's been handed the role of a lifetime."
Role? Oh God. Ed? This isn't Ed, Samantha realized staring wide eyed.
"You know he actually believes he is me," Jack confided with a smile. Then his face became serious as he added, "Poor bastard."
"Jack," Samantha gasped as realization dawned on her.
"That's right," Jack acknowledged and brought the roses from behind his back with a flourish. Adding to the confirmation of his identity, he said her name like a prayer, "Samantha."
"Bailey?" Samantha panicked. If Bailey found Jack here and realized who he was. What's wrong with me, I should be afraid for Bailey and instead I'm afraid for Jack. No wonder I wanted Ed. Oh God! Oh God! Lust, fear, confusion and admiration warred with a myriad of emotions in her heart all at once.
Misunderstanding Samantha's reason for asking about Bailey, Jack growled softly, "You don't need him."
Their eyes locked as Jack told her, "I'm all you need."
Samantha's breath caught, she felt like she was falling as she stood gazing into Jack's eyes without any disguise or pretense between them.
"We're together now," Jack smiled as he spoke.
Together. Samantha stared into his eyes. Dark eyes gleaming with love, with madness, with desire, all for her. Darkness swirled around Samantha as she collapsed into Jack's waiting arms...
