Chapter Three

Daniel lay wide awake while next to him Samantha slept peacefully – as she should, given how much sedative she'd been given. It had been the only way to calm her down after she'd made her confession about Jacob's paternity.

Ever so often, Daniel stifled the urge to shake Samantha awake and demand the truth – why she had denied paternity for so long? And it wasn't like she had passively denied it, either. She had told him she'd taken a blood test, that Jacob was John's son – he wondered if that counted as fraud. What were father's rights these days?

He glanced over at Samantha and knew he wouldn't have the heart to prosecute her anyway. She had gone through hell with Richmond, and come to him for help. He had said he'd be there for her if she needed him. Well, she needed him and he was here. With a sigh, he quelled his anger towards her and vowed to be patient when she woke up. In the mean time, he had some bonding to do with his son.

Jacob seemed like a great kid. He was shy, but what would you expect from a nine-year old who had grown up in the shadow of John Richmond? Already he had started to open up – he had really taken a shine to Ashly.

Daniel pent a pang of conscience when he thought of his on-and-off lover who now looked to be permanently off. He had never promised Ashly anything but he still felt bad.

He seemed to be making a habit of fucking up when it came to the women in his life.

But was it really his fault? Samantha had been the one to walk away from him, after he'd suggested they take things slow (after she had called her dead lover's name while climaxing, no less!), Samantha had been the one to go ahead with a marriage after the incredible night they'd spent together – Samantha had lied to him about Jacob not being his son.

He loved her, but every time he thought about his nine-year-old son that he barely knew, his heart burned. Samantha, whatever her reasons, had allowed his son to spend the first nine years of her life being raised by John Richmond. He looked at the little boy and he barely knew him.

He sighed. He couldn't confront Samantha about it right now, he knew. No matter how angry he was at her right now, she had been through hell and had come to him as a friend. It was enough for the moment that she had come to him.

There was a knock on the door that Daniel took to be Ashly returning with Jacob. " Hey, pal, " Daniel said uncertainly. How did you address the nine-year-old son you never knew? " You have fun? "

Jacob's eyes sparkled. Ashly was a brilliant teacher, and she'd treated him like an equal. The weather here was much hotter then Washington, but already he would rather be here then back home.

Daniel smiled. " I bet you're hungry, " he said. " Your mom's sleeping right now so why don't we go get something to eat and leave her in peace? " He held out his hand encouragingly, not so much to steady the boy but as a tentative form of communication with him. Jacob hardly knew him. Daniel hoped he would trust him. At the moment, he'd settle for being a favourite friend of the boy's mother.

Hesitating for a few seconds, Jacob's curled his fingers around Daniel's hand. Though he felt loyalty for the father who never showed much interest in him, he really liked this man that was his mother's friend. His mother didn't have many friends. Jacob's face screwed up in concentration as he tried to remember his mother having any friends. Well, Daniel was a good start. With a child's intuition when it came to adults, Jacob liked Daniel, knew Daniel wasn't like his father – and in a good way, too.

Jacob wondered if Daniel had any children, and if he played with them and helped them do their homework and read stories to them at night. He felt a twinge for jealousy for this imaginary children. Yes, he definitely liked Daniel.

Daniel was pleased that Jacob seemed to be warming up to him over a lunch of hamburgers and fries. He asked the boy a few questions about school which Jacob answered in great detail once he realised Daniel was truly interested. Jacob didn't want to brag about his achievements, but he had done quite well at school, particularly at Maths and Science. That didn't surprise Daniel.

" When I worked with your mother, she was always making the rest of us feel stupid. She was so smart, " Daniel recalled fondly, in a way that made Jacob feel like being smart was a good thing, not a bad one. " I bet you're going to be just like her. "

Jacob squirmed with secret happiness. This was more attention then his father had ever given him. Suddenly he felt guilty and disloyal.

Daniel sensed his conflicting emotions immediately. " You feel bad because you're having fun without your father, " he said.

Jacob nodded, and Daniel's heart burned. Once more he had to quell the urge to wake Samantha up. How could she have done this to him and Jacob?

" I'm not trying to take your father's place, " Daniel kind-of bent the truth. " I just want to be your mother's friend – and a friend to you, too, if you'll let me. "

It was exactly the right thing to say to the confused boy. Jacob squirmed again with happiness and to hide it, he tucked into his hamburger. Daniel watched his son wistfully. He wanted to be more then a friend to Jacob – he wanted to be a father.

He had to bide his time, Daniel knew, a little resentfully, but there was no other way. As far as Jacob was concerned, John Richmond was his father. Daniel would have to earn the boy's trust before he and Samantha could spring that little gem on the boy. I suppose better late then never, he thought.

He made arrangements for Jacob to sleep in a small caravan that had been recently vacated by an excavator that had left the site. Daniel would have loved to have his son stay with him, but his caravan was definitely a one-person thing. Samantha could stay with him, but in his heart of hearts he knew it wasn't appropriate for Jacob. Tomorrow he'd see about getting a caravan with a partition. That was, if Samantha wanted to stay. He hoped she did.

" If you want anything, anything at all, just come and knock, " Daniel said, and Jacob knew he meant it. He let Jacob spend some time with his mother, who was still sleeping. Mostly Jacob wanted to be reassured that he mother was OK. Though she was asleep, she seemed to be calm. Although Samantha wasn't aware of it, Jacob knew how fitfully his mother slept, especially after a bad time with his father.

And he was reassured by the gentle way Daniel stroked her hair. He knew he shouldn't be, because this was his mother and she was married to his father, but he knew Daniel cared for his mother and would take good care of her. He gave his sleeping mother a hug and a kiss which Daniel found touching, and rewarded his mother's friend with a smile that melted his heart.

Ashly put Jacob to bed, and then came to spent a few minutes with Daniel. It was obvious he cared deeply about Samantha Carter, about as obvious as the fact she was on the run from an abusive husband.

" He's your son, " she stated the obvious. " Don't give me that look, Daniel, and say he looks nothing like you. He's got your eyes. "

" Sam has blue eyes too, " Daniel pointed out, a little miffed he'd been caught out.

Ashly laughed, a little humorously, a little sadly. " You don't give me much credit, " she said dryly. " You think I can't tell any other colour blue from your eyes? They're exactly the same colour. "

Daniel squirmed. " Look, Ash, he doesn't know and I'd like to keep it that way for the moment. I need to earn his trust before I tell him. "

Ashly rolled her eyes. " I'm a little hurt, Daniel, that you think you can't trust me, " she said.

Daniel sighed. " I'm sorry, Ash. It's just – a little crazy at the moment. Sam swore to me Jacob wasn't my son and now – well, it's a lot to deal with. "

" You're angry at her, " Ashly noted the obvious.

" Damn right I am, " Daniel said with more vehemence then he intended. A battered wife couldn't be held entirely responsible for her actions. He sighed, realising just how crazy things were at the moment. " I'm just so angry – I have a nine-year-old son that I don't know, who thinks this complete asshole is his father. Everytime I think about it, I want to wake Sam up and demand she tells me why the hell she would do something like that to me – and our son. "

" But you still love her, " Ashly noted again, although her voice was more emotive this time. She wasn't about to cry or beg for Daniel's affections but it cut her deeply, seeing how much Daniel cared for that woman.

Daniel realised how Ashly felt, and that she was trying to hide her feelings. " I'm sorry, " he said. " I shouldn't have – " he paused, trying to work out exactly what it was he shouldn't have done.

Ashly waved her hand impatiently for Daniel to stop. " You didn't promise me anything, " she said. " If I hoped for anything more from you, well, that was my own fault. I won't make a fuss, if you're worried about that. "

Daniel smiled. He knew how much integrity Ashly had. He hoped they might still be friends, after a fashion. " I wasn't, " he said.

Ashly squeezed Daniel's hand affectionately. She was glad Daniel knew her well enough to know she wasn't the vengeful type. She loved him and respected him and was too professional to throw that away on some slight that was her fault anyway for hoping for too much. Daniel had never promised her anything but his body, and if she were honest with herself, she would admit she had always known there was someone else in his heart. She hoped they might still be friends, after a fashion.

She patted his hand magnanimously. " Go on, she needs you more then I do, " she said. She left Daniel to his thoughts, and after a few minutes he crept into his caravan to a sleeping Samantha.

She was beginning to stir ; the sedative was wearing off. " No, " she sobbed in her sleep. " John, no. NO! "

Daniel slid into bed beside her, cradling her from behind. " It's OK, Sam, " he whispered. " I'm here. You're in Egypt. John can't hurt you anymore. "

Slowly Samantha woke up fully, and it took her some time to adjust, despite Daniel's soothing words. His caravan, while spacious by recreational vehicle standards, was cramped and foreign by her own standards. Daniel's smell was completely foreign to her – it had been too long – and few a few seconds her memory scrambled for the answer : Where am I.

I'm in Egypt, with Daniel. I left John. Daniel knows Jacob is his son. She bolted up in bed, the remnants of the sedative completely worn off at this recollection. She hadn't meant to blurt out Jacob's paternity to Daniel like that.

" Welcome to the land of the living, " Daniel said dryly. " You were dead to the world. "

Samantha glared at him groggily. " You gave me that – whatever it was, " she complained.

" You were hysterical, " Daniel said defensively. " I thought you could do with some real sleep. I, uh, figured you weren't getting much of it at home. "

Samantha felt guilty. Daniel was only trying to do the right thing by her. " I'm sorry, " she said. " I was just thinking about Jake – "

" He's in another caravan, I didn't think it was appropriate for him to stay here. " He smiled. " He seems to like it here. He's really taken to Ashly."

At the mention of the other woman's name, Samantha felt a stab of jealousy. Without even seeing Ashly and Daniel together, she knew there was something between them. She had known from the look Ashly had given her, first when she introduced herself as an old friend of Daniel's and then after she had come back with Daniel's OK to let her on site. She wondered if Daniel was serious about her. He couldn't be, the way he kissed me, Samantha told herself, but she was having a hard time believing it. After all, Ashly was beautiful, and an archaeologist – well, trainee, from what Samantha could gather – and Samantha knew she looked like shit.

She couldn't help but comment, " You and Ashly seem close. "

Daniel paused for a moment, as if contemplating the meaning behind Samantha's words. He smirked. " Are you jealous? " he asked.

" No, " Samantha said shortly, too shortly. She started to feel foolish. She had come here on the hope of Daniel's love, and found him involved with someone else. Well, what did she expect? That he had spent the last ten years patiently waiting for her to leave her husband?

" You don't have to worry, " Daniel said. " We were together a few times, but mostly we're just friends – now we're just friends. She always wanted more, I think, but she knew I couldn't give her what she wanted. " he held her gaze for a second more then he meant to, then averted his eyes. It was best not to go down that path yet.

Samantha's body ached and she was aware of what a mess she was – physically and emotionally – but she still couldn't help being aware of the sensation that passed between her and Daniel when their eyes met.

The silence between them turned awkward. Then issue of Jacob's paternity lay between them heavily. Finally Samantha said, " I guess you must be angry with me. "

Daniel raised one eyebrow. That was the understatement of the century." You think? " he said, trying unsuccessfully to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.

Samantha squirmed. " I'm sorry, I didn't know what to do, " she said.

Daniel had had no intention of bringing it up until Samantha got better, but since she had brought it up – " I don't know, Sam, Jacob's you're son would have been a good start – nine years ago. My God, you let my son be raised by that asshole. Who knows what Richmond could have done to him! " There was real fear in his voice, and Samantha felt insanely guilty, Whatever reasons she'd had at the time, their legitimacy evaporated under the force of Daniel's sense of loss and betrayal.

" John was never violent towards Jacob," Samantha said quickly, hoping that would placate Daniel.

It didn't. " I'm supposed to feel better, just because he didn't hit my son? " Daniel asked. " It doesn't matter – how do you think it would have been for him, growing up in an environment where his dad was always beating up his mom? Did you really think that was healthy for him? He's so introverted, I bet he's scared of Richmond. You put my son in that environment, Sam. You took my son away from me and let Richmond in his life. "

Daniel was near tears. Samantha reached out to him but he jerked away. " Don't, " he said. " There's nothing you can say to me right now that will make me feel better. And it can't be doing you any good either. You need to get well. Just promise me you aren't going to take my son away from me again. " The reality was, he had absolutely no rights – every country's law, weather here or in America, would recognise Richmond as Jacob's father. Samantha could walk out with the boy and Daniel would have no say in the matter. The idea scared the shit out of him.

Samantha's eyes glistened with tears – guilt, rejection, she didn't know – but vowed not to make things worse by being emotional. Daniel was feeling angry and cheated, and he had a right to be. He needed time – time to get over his anger, and time to get to know his son. It was the least Samantha could do for him, and it wasn't like she was going anywhere soon. " I promise, " she said. She added, " he needs time to get to know you before we tell him. "

" I know, I already thought of that, " Daniel agreed, his body language softening as the fear of being separated from his son again dissipated. He smiled wistfully, thinking about the time he'd spent with Jacob. " He seems to be warming up to me. "

Samantha could easy imagine Jacob taking a liking to Daniel. " He has your eyes, " she thought out loud. It was something she had noticed every time she looked into her son's eyes. John had bought her story about Jacob taking after her – which said a lot about the last time he'd taken a good look at either her or Jacob – but Jacob's eyes were a deeper blue then Samantha's. They were the sparkling crystal blue that Samantha knew so well – in Daniel.

" Ashly said the same thing. "

Samantha felt a stab of terror. " You told Ashly? " she asked.

" Relax. She guessed herself. She's very insightful. She won't say anything, you can trust her. " Because she didn't have much of a choice, Samantha decided that was the best thing to do.

There was a long pause between them. Finally Samantha said, " Do you want me to stay somewhere else? "

Daniel stared at her. He was angry with her, but still loved her. " No, " he said. " Not unless you want to. I'd rather you stay with me. It makes me feel better, knowing you're close. "

Although Samantha knew Daniel only meant it as a friend, she still felt a warm feeling inside to know he cared for her. It had been a while since anyone had cared for her. Since Daniel, really. You owe him a lot, Sam, she told herself. Ten years, and a hell of a lot of answer. Well, time would give Samantha the opportunity to pay Daniel everything she owed him.

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A few weeks went by and Samantha physically improved. She was reluctant to see a phycologist though, which worried Daniel, but that was something he'd give time before he started pressing her. He was more concerned about her internal health.

" Sam, " he began hesitantly one day. " I know I said I wouldn't push you, but I think it's really important that you see a doctor."

" I'm fine, Danny, " she said. " I feel better every day. Nothing was broken, just a bunch of cute and bruises. I don't need a doctor. " Her voice sounded hollow.

Daniel felt the blood rushing to his cheeks. Why couldn't she make it easy for him. " I meant… you should see a doctor… in case… Richmond's… given… you… something. "

Samantha paled at the thought. Of course it had occurred to her, but she hadn't wanted to deal with the possibility. Daniel saying it out loud made it real – too real. She turned away from Daniel, shaking.

Daniel came up behind her, his hands on her shoulders, but didn't try to turn her around. If she didn't want to look at him he wouldn't make her. " Sam, " he said softly. " I didn't want to bring it up, but it's important. Given how much he played around, there's a strong possibility he got something – and passed it onto you. "

Samantha shuddered involuntarily. Daniel's tightened his grip on her shoulders. He was relieved when she leaned against him ; she wasn't pushing him away. " If you have something, it's best they pick it up early, " he pointed out. Of course, there was every chance he'd passed something to her years ago. Daniel decided not to mention that.

A few days later, Samantha agreed to see a doctor. She didn't request it, not wanting to look like a weak woman, but Daniel booked her some time with a female doctor, one of the ones who had come as part of the team to the dig. The other women felt more comfortable with her then the local doctors.

He volunteered to go with her, if she wanted – only if she wanted. Samantha tried not to look relieved. She was dreading the experience, and she had wanted him by her side, but hadn't wanted to look like a weak woman in asking for him.

Daniel knew her well.

She was tested for every possible disease or infection, poked and prodded, jabbed with needles and gave samples. It was an invasive experience, and she hated it. It reminded her of just how much Richard had debased her.

After the tests Daniel spent the rest of the day and evening with her. She felt dirty to the very core of her being. It was a very real reminder of the nightmare that had been her marriage.

" I should have left, I don't know what I didn't, " she said sadly. " I should never have married him in the first place. "

" No, " Daniel agreed, " You shouldn't have. " He was aware of what Samantha was going through, but he wasn't letting her off the hook for separating him from his son so easily.

Although to be fair, Samantha had encouraged Jacob to open up and become close to Daniel. The boy barely seemed to remember Richmond. He enjoyed Daniel's company, and seeing her happy. She laughed a lot more these days, and encouraged Jacob to laugh.

And Daniel played with him, and helped with his homework (Samantha insisted he keep up with his studies), and read stories to him at night. He'd had part of his caravan converted into a space for a bed, and installed a sturdy partition around it (what did one guy need such a huge space for anyway?) and commandeered the use of a smaller caravan so Jacob had his choice – he could have his private space with Daniel and Samantha, or he could have his own caravan. He switched between the two, depending on how he felt that particular night. Sometimes the boy felt independent and slept on his own, and other nights he liked to have his mother close by. And he liked Daniel's company, too.

Daniel had made no attempt to move things along with Samantha. He desired her, but there was still so many unresolved issues between them. He couldn't start a relationship without that being sorted out first.

" So are you gonna tell me why you left? " Daniel asked one day. Samantha knew he was talking about why she'd left him, not John.

" You left me, " she reminded him. " When I woke up, you were gone. "

Daniel stared at her. " And after the night we spent together, it didn't occur to you how I felt about you? I told you I loved you, for Christ sakes. How could you have married him? And when you knew Jacob was my son, how could you have kept that from me? You lied to me, Sam. You told me he wasn't my son. "

" I'm sorry, " Sam whispered. " I was messed up – confused – if I admitted Jacob was your son, then I would have had to admit I'd wasted my life with John. "

Daniel sighed. He wanted to be angry at her, he had a right to be angry, but when faced with what she must have gone through with Richmond, he couldn't stay angry at her. Whatever she had done to him, Richmond had done to her much worse.

He pulled Samantha into his arms. He realised he'd forgiven her ages ago. What was done was done, and she'd made her best effort to see father and son reunited and bonding. " We'll get through this, " he said. " Just so long as we're all together we'll get through this. "

Samantha felt instantly relaxed in Daniel's arms. Oh, Lord she had missed him. She missed the sound of his heartbeat as she lay with her head on his chest. She missed the way he ran his fingers through her hair. She missed how he was so easy to talk to and made her feel loved and safe. She had been a fool to leave him. " We're here, " she whispered, for the first time in ten years feeling a real sense of hope for the future. " We're both here and we're not going anywhere. "

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A week later Samantha's test results came back. She had tested positive for Gonorrhoea.

She felt like her world had collapsed. Finally, things seemed to be going right for her, and then this happened, a reminder of her husband and had badly he'd used her.

Privately Daniel was grateful it was only Gonorrhoea, and that it had been caught in the early stages so she could be treated without any long-term effects. Given Richmond had probably been screwing around their entire marriage, it was a wonder she hadn't caught anything years ago – or caught something that wasn't treatable, like HIV.

He didn't mention that to Samantha. She was devastated enough.

She was beyond devastated. She felt dirty, she was being punished. Hadn't she exposed her son to John Richmond, and deprived Daniel of the joy of watching his son grow up? She spent two hours after telling Daniel she wanted to be alone, crying hysterically before Daniel found her. He mentally berated himself for leaving Samantha alone, even though she'd said she was OK. He should have known better then to believe her.

He held her while she alternatively cried and raged, resisted her attempts to push him away – physically and emotionally – soothed her wounded ego while she worked though her emotions. Richmond had really done a number on her. It frightened him to think of what might have happened if she'd stayed, even for just a few months longer.

" I feel like some gutter whore, " Samantha cried in his arms. " I don't know what I did to deserve this. "

Daniel stroked her hair. He had never been able to forget the sensation of her hair through his fingers – or a lot of other things, for that matter. Although he would never admit it to her, he liked her with longer hair. It was more feminine, it suited her. " An error in judgement, that was all, " he said. " You're not responsible for what he did. He should be castrated for abusing someone like you – anyone, for that matter, but especially someone as amazing as you. "

Like he always did, Daniel had a calming effect on her. Not for the first time, Samantha regretted that things had gone so badly between them. If only she'd given him the time he needed – they needed – for her to get over Jack.

She looked up at him. " I'm sorry, " he said with sincerity that touched his heart.

" For what? "

" For everything. For not giving you time after Jack… for marrying John… I should have trusted my heart but I was so proud, I wanted to show you it was your loss… we could have been happy ten years ago… so I'm sorry. "

Daniel's smile was full of love and forgiveness. " Better late then never, " he said softly as he lowered his lips to hers.

His kiss was as opposite to the last kiss they'd shared in her office as kisses could be. Where that one had been full of animal passion, a base desire, this kiss was soft, gentle, loving. Electricity passed through them but neither wanted to rush it. Gently he pried her mouth open with his tongue and explored the inside of her mouth, slowly, deliberately, until she was shaking from the experience. She had never had a kiss affect her like that.

She reached up her arms to wrap them around his neck, her fingertips brushing his skin so delicately, so intimately that he shivered involuntarily. He snaked his arm inside her shirt, his fingers trailing along her back until she whimpered. " Daniel… " she whispered. She couldn't think of anything else but being with him eight here, right now. Everything in her life had seemed to lead up to this point. " Daniel… "

There was a knock on the door. Daniel growled and reluctantly disentangled himself from Samantha.

It was Ashly. " Hey, sorry to interrupt you, " she said. " There's an American guy here to see you. He's interested in funding us but he wants to talk to you personally. "

It was quite odd for them to get sponsors trek all the way out here just for an audience for Doctor Daniel Jackson, even if he was the wonderboy of the archaeology. " Did he say what his name was? " Daniel asked.

" Richmond, " Ashly said immediately. She had been thoroughly impressed by the wealthy, suave Senator. He couldn't certainly put on a facade when he wanted to, it was why he'd been so successful in politics. " Senator John Richmond. '"

Daniel's blood went cold. He supposed he had been naive to think Richmond would just let his wife go. Well, he was on Daniel's turf now and no way in hell was Daniel letting him have Samantha and Jacob. " I'll see him, " Daniel agreed. " But first can you find Jacob. I want him here where I can see him. "

" OK, " Ashley said, looking curiously at Daniel. She was dying to know the details, but it was clear he wasn't going to give them. She left to find Jacob.

" Daniel… " Samantha said, her voice full of fear. " Is John here? " She was visibly shaken. She never anticipated John would come all the way to Egypt to find her.

" I'm afraid so, " Daniel admitted. " But it's nothing to worry about. He's a politician, he has to keep face – what's he going to do? This is my turf, I have a lot of esteem here. He'll demand that you come back, make threats when you don't, and leave. I hope you don't want anything out of the divorce settlement, " he said wryly. Men like John Richmond were usually reluctant to part with their family fortunes in divorce settlements, especially when his ego had been wounded as badly as his had with Samantha leaving him, and finding out that his son wasn't actually his son – that was how he would see it, anyway.

Samantha shook her head. The money and jewels she'd cleared out of the safe were a drop in the ocean of the Richmond wealth – he wouldn't miss them, and he was welcome to keep the rest of his ill-gotten gains. Samantha considered what she'd taken payment for a miserable marriage – and an STD. She felt her skin crawl again at the thought of the disease in her body. The doctor had reassured her that it was fully treatable but she still felt like something from the gutter. John had done that to her. Like hell she would ever go back to him. She got a small measure of satisfaction from the anger John must be feeling over finding out Jacob wasn't his son. Thankgod for that. One less Richmond in the world.

Just to be on the sage side, Daniel retrieve his pistol and tucked it into the back of his pants. Things were pretty secure at the site, but you always got a few people who tried to steal your finds from underneath your nose. A gun deterred most of them.

Jacob came into the caravan, his blue eyes sparkling at his latest discovery. He was developing a healthy tan from days out in the sun. He seemed to have inherited both his parent's natural intelligence, as well as their passions. Any of Richmond's influences on the boy seemed to have been eradicated. " Mom, Daniel, " he said in breathless greeting.

A shadow fell over the three, and Jacob turned around to see Richmond. " Dad! " he said, the emphasis in his voice more from surprise then excitement. In the time he'd been in Egypt and away from his demanding, dominating father, he'd never been healthier or happier. But he was still his father – Jacob's loyalties were torn between Daniel, who knew him so well, and his father, who was his father. Tentatively, Jacob took a step towards Richmond –

Who whacked the boy on the side of his head with his own pistol with so much strength Samantha flinched at the sound of metal connecting with skull. With a cry, the boy fell to the floor, automatically drawing his hands to his head.

Richmond turned the gun to Samantha. " Did you think I wouldn't find you? " he asked with a sneer. " You weren't even very clever about it. The first person I thought about was your lover. " He turned to Daniel, hate in his eyes for the man who had managed to steal his wife and son in one clean move. " I assume then, that you're the happy father of this bastard? " He spoke contemptuously as he gestured to Jacob on the floor. " I should have known – no way could he have been a Richmond. He's too much of a sissy. "

Samantha moved to go to her son, but Daniel restrained her. He wasn't letting her any closer to this monster. " She's not going back to you, so why don't you leave? " he suggested as calmly as he could. He wanted to choke the man's life out of him. He reached for his own gun.

Richmond looked coolly into Daniel's eyes. Foolish man to think he could take something that belonged to John Richmond. He would kill him, but that would put him out of his misery too soon. No, what Richmond planned was much worse.

" I have no intention of taking back a whore, or her bastard son. " He nudged Jacob roughly. " Do you know what a bastard is? " he asked. " It's the worst a person can be. It means your mom is a whore who sleeps around and gets pregnant without being married to the father. " He kicked the boy again, even roughly. " In your case, she spread her legs for Daniel here. " He snorted with derisiveness. " She could have had me, but she gave herself to him. She's stupid as well as a whore. " He aimed the gun at Jacob.

Instinctively Daniel withdrew his own gun and aimed it at Richmond.

Richmond looked at Daniel with contempt. It had wounded his ego beyond description that his wife had chosen this man over him. He was a sissy, a geek who dug things up whereas John Richmond was from Old Money, and would be President one day.

In his own way, he had loved Samantha, as one would love something that they owned that was precious to him. She was beautiful, and she had born him his only son. If only she hadn't been so rebellious – she could have been the ultimate trophy wife, she could have put Jackie Kennedy to shame. And he had loved her, in his own way – as he loved all his most treasured possessions.

And liked all his treasured possessions, if he couldn't have her, or the boy he'd thought was his son, no-one would. Especially not this sissy archaeologist.

Richmond pulled the trigger on his gun, and Daniel pulled his.

From outside the caravan, a shot could be heard, followed by a woman's scream as the bullet that fired hit its mark with deadly accuracy, causing instant death.