Chapter Sixteen

Sam woke up to find the other side of her bed empty; she was surprised that Steve wasn't beside her. It was a relief to find him gone. Getting out of the bed her whole body ached. She went over to the mirror to inspect the damage. There was a huge bruise on her back from when Steve had pushed her forcefully against the wall. That was all, there was no other damage; no other visible damage anyway. Her head and legs ached. Sighing at her reflection, she walked away and went downstairs to the kitchen.

On entering she saw an unusual sight; Alex was helping Steve make breakfast. It was a sight she never thought she'd witness. Steve caught sight of her and smiled.

"This was meant to be a surprise," he said.

"Yeah," Alex added, "Dad and I were making you breakfast in bed, we figured you deserved it. I thought it'd be nice since you're pregnant and all. Dad even got you a bunch of flowers."

Sam looked over at the bouquet that sat on the table. It all made sense now, Steve was back to his old tricks. Beat her and then act like the best boyfriend in the world the next morning, while promising that it would never happen again. He'd never change.

"Don't you like them?" Alex asked going over to her.

"I think they're lovely," she replied, "and I think it was a great idea." She smiled down at him, she couldn't fault her son.

She sat down at the table; the smell from the flowers was strong. He had gotten her lilies, she hated lilies; every time Steve beat her and got her flowers it was always lilies. Steve served up the breakfast and they all sat together as a family.

Alex was so happy; he had never had this before. He had never had his parents together like this before; and he felt like he finally had a family. He hoped that his dad meant it this time and wouldn't leave like he always did. He ate his breakfast and made a silent wish that just this once his dad would keep his promise.

Sam didn't say much, just went along with the little play that Steve had staged for her benefit. His usual, 'look I am a good guy', play that was never convincing. He was the perfect, dotting boyfriend; making sure every was just right for her and kissing her on the cheek. After what he had done the night before, it just made her want to throw up. Steve was no gentleman, and watching him trying to pull it off only made him seem creepy.

Steve managed to escape the house without having to talk to Sam alone; he was taking Alex to the park for an hour or two and then dropping him off at his friend's house for a sleep over. Sam waved them off and hoped Steve didn't do anything stupid or careless with Alex. He seemed fine enough today and she knew he'd be careful about how he acted for the next few days; it was all part of the pattern; beat you, have sex with you and then act like it was a huge mistake that you were truly sorry for and will never repeat. She had witnessed the pattern way too much.

Carter burst through the front door, exhausted from travelling. He resisted the urge to call out 'Honey I'm home!' he wasn't sure what Sam would make of that.

"Anyone home?" he yelled instead while hanging up his coat.

Sam came out into the hall and walked up to him.

"You're back. How was the trip?" She asked giving him a big hug.

"Horrible, that's the family business for you." He had spent most of his time thinking about her, worrying about her. "How have you been? Did you miss me?"

"You know I did," Sam laughed, "without you I had to do everything in the house all by myself."

"Glad to know I'm good for something."

"I did miss you, you're a good friend." She replied, "Come on, I'll make you some coffee."

Carter followed her into the kitchen, bringing his luggage with him. Her last statement has stung, "you're a good friend", friend, that's all he was to her. It wasn't exactly news, but it still stung to be reminded of the fact. He was stuck in the dreaded friend zone; he didn't want more friends.

"So, did you meet any drop dead gorgeous woman in New York that made it hard to contemplate coming home?" Sam asked placing a mug of coffee in front of him and sitting beside him at the table. She was half joking, half being hopeful; she'd feel better if Carter met someone else and got over her.

"Well, I was fighting the women back with sticks but there was no-one in particular." Not when I have you to come home to, he added silently in his head.

"The women in New York aren't that great anyway, very over rated if you ask me." Carter added, "So how about you, did you hit it off with some hunk while I was gone?"

"Yeah, cause you know how much those hunks love single mothers!"

"I take it that it's a no then?"

"Yep," Sam nodded, "Steve, Alex's father came back so even if there are been some guy, I wouldn't have had a spare moment to see him."

"Why didn't you tell me this before? I would have come home early."

"I think I can handle my ex," She lied, if last night was anything to go by then she had quite some ways to go before she could truthfully say that.

Carter let the topic drop, he had never met Steve but from what he had seen he wasn't impressed. Changing the subject completely he opened his bag and took out a small gift bag.

"Here, I got you something" he said handing it to Sam.

Sam opened it up and found a white gold bracelet imbedded with diamonds.

"Carter," she gasped, "I can't accept this."

"Why not?"

"Because, it's too much. How much did it cost?" She couldn't believe he had gotten her such an extravagant gift, she was sure her eyes must have popped out of her head when she looked at it.

"Like I'm going to tell you how much it cost; let's just say it wasn't that much."

"Carter, we have different opinions on how much is too much. I really don't think I can accept this, I feel bad taking it from you." She handed the bracelet and the box it was in back to Carter.

Carter took the bracelet out and leaning forward in his seat proceeded to fasten it on her wrist.

"Nonsense," he said, "I'm not going to wear it, so you might as well."

Sam stared down at the bracelet on her arm, it was beautiful, and put Steve's flowers to shame. Carter was obviously not going to accept it back; she may as well keep it. She just wished he had gotten her something less expensive; if he had really felt the need to get her something.

She went over and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." The gift may have been a bit too much, he knew that, but the look on her face alone was worth it. She had been so shocked and overwhelmed, and now seeing her look happy; it was most definitely worth it.

"Hey Sam, thanks for coming," Susan greeted Sam who had arrived with Carter to Cosmo's birthday party a few minutes before.

"No problem, I wouldn't miss Cosmo's first birthday," Sam answered handing Susan a present for the little boy.

"Thanks, if he could talk he'd much appreciate it." Susan took the present and placed in on the table beside her. It was then she noticed the bracelet on Sam's arm.

"Wow," she said grabbing Sam's wrist, "where did you get this beauty?"

"Carter brought it back from New York for me," Sam replied sheepishly.

"It's gorgeous! It must have cost . . ."

"I know," Sam cut her off, "I tried to give it back to him, it was way too much, but he wouldn't hear of it."

"Why would you give it back? If he was crazy enough to give it to you, I say keep it."

"Good point," Sam said laughing.

"That's the spirit." Susan replied. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Cosmo trying to fit a building block into his mouth.

"Cosmo!" She yelled running over to him.

Sam laughed as she watched Susan struggle with the toddler; it would seem that Cosmo was winning the battle. Chuck came over to help her, and it took the two of them to take the building blocks away from Cosmo, who refusing to view the blocks as anything other than food. In the end Chuck took Cosmo away to get him some food hoping that it would distract him.

Susan was getting back onto her feet when Carter came over.

"That's one feisty kid you've got there"

"That's my boy for you," Susan replied.

"He must have gotten it from you."

"I'll take that as a compliment." She answered. "By the way Carter, what were you thinking buying Sam that fantastic piece of jewellery? It's not something you buy for someone who is just a friend!"

"She deserved it, after everything she's been through. You should have seen her face when she opened the box."

"Carter, how much of your time away did you spend thinking about her?"

Carter didn't answer the question; he didn't think that Susan would like the answer given that he never stopped thinking about her.

Susan sighed looking at her friend; it was obvious that his feelings for Sam were just getting deeper.

"How much did the bracelet cost?"

"You don't want to know." Carter knew that Susan would not like to hear the price, if she was unhappy about it now then knowing just how expensive it had been would only make her worse.

"She's not going to run into your arms you know."

"I do know." Carter sighed.

"No, John, I don't think you do. She's carrying Luka's baby, a fact I feel the need to repeat to you over and over; just try to remember that."

"Yeah, she's carrying his child and where is he? He's clearly forgotten her, why can't I have her. I obviously care about her more." He was trying very hard not to yell, he didn't want everyone else that was there to hear their conversation.

"I went to Luka's apartment yesterday. He's a mess John, I've never seen a man so broken in all of my life; it's like he's just given up. And the place stank of alcohol, he hasn't forgotten her. He hasn't forgotten her at all."

Carter just stared at Susan, there was nothing more to say. He knew that if Luka really was that broken up over losing Sam they should do the best to get them back together. His heart was telling him different, Sam was fine with him. She didn't need Luka, she was happy.

He looked over to where Sam was standing beside the table which had Cosmo's presents on it. She didn't look happy. For the first time since he had come back he really looked at her; she didn't look happy at all. If anything she looked tired, wrecked. Susan was right, she wasn't going to run into his arms; there wasn't going to be a happy ending for them.

Susan watched Carter, watched as he watched Sam. She could see the lost look in his eyes; nothing about this situation was good. It was hurting her friends, and there was nothing she could do. She shook her head and saw Carter go over to Sam. It wasn't her job to fix this; and right now she just wanted to focus on her son's first birthday. She went into the kitchen to get the cake ready; it was almost time for Cosmo to blow out the candle.

Sam looked up and saw Carter was now beside her, forcing a smile she looked up at him.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," she answered knowing that she was anything but, "I'm fine."

Carter could tell she was lying, but now was not the time to get her to discuss her feelings. They were at a child's birthday party.

"Come on," he said putting his arm around her, "they're about to do the cake."

He gave her shoulder a little squeeze and noticed her wince in pain. He moved his arm to her lower back and noticed that this time she seemed in even worse pain. He wondered what had happened to her, it was like she had been battered. It wasn't the right time to press her for details; he took her hand and led her over to where everyone else was gathered. Some things were better left unsaid.

They walked through the front door in silence, both tired from the day. Carter took Sam's coat and hung it up with his own. She stayed where she was, as if she could no longer move. He decided that it was now or never; he hadn't been able to get the look of agony on her face when he had touched her back out of his mind.

He went and stood behind her and gently lifted her top, revealing her back.

"What are you doing Carter?" Sam shrieked trying to move away.

Carter kept her in place and looked at her back, there was a huge purple bruise covering most of it.

"Jesus Christ," he gasped, "What happened to you?"

Sam turned around to face Carter; she was barely able to face the look of disbelief on his face. He had caught her off guard, there was no way she would have let him see the bruise otherwise. She tried to speak but there didn't seem to be anything to say. She could hardly tell him she walked into the door. Even if, by some miracle, he believed it, it was too much of a cliché.

"I'm such a klutz," she said finally, "I bumped into the edge of the counter in the kitchen yesterday. It was just a silly thing." It sounded like a pathetic excuse, even to her.

"Sam, do you expect me to believe that?" Carter reasoned, he didn't believe her and suspected he had every right not to. "I've been living in the same house as you for over a month now and you are no klutz."

"It was nothing Carter, just leave it."

"Tell me what happened to you Sam" He was almost pleading with her.

"I told you," she retorted.

"No, you told me what you want me to believe happened, you didn't tell me what actually happened."

"I told you the truth, why are you so adamant that I'm lying?"

"I think the question that needs to be asked is why you won't tell me the truth."

"Don't push this Carter, please."

The look in her eyes was almost enough to stop him. She looked at him with puppy dog eyes, eyes that begged him to leave the topic alone. He was too worried about her; the bruise looked like it was from being pushed against a surface. But who would do that?

"Steve, Alex's father came back"

She had said that earlier, and from what he had heard Steve was not a nice guy. Did Luka mention him beating her up before?

"Did Steve do this to you?" Carter asked gently.

Sam was surprised; she hadn't expected Carter to ask outright if Steve had caused the bruise. She didn't know what to say; to tell the truth or to not tell the truth, that was the question. Why should she cover up for Steve? But, it was never Steve she was covering up for; she didn't want people to view her as weak.

"I . . . He . . ." Sam started to say, she didn't get the chance to finish though.

Steve came out into the hallway and coming up behind Sam put his arms around her.

"Hey babe," he said kissing her on the cheek.

Sam looked like a rabbit caught in headlights; Carter knew the answer to his question then. If it wasn't true, Sam wouldn't have looked so terrified. Resisting the urge to punch Steve, he chose instead to introduce himself. He was afraid of what Steve might do to Sam if he punched him; it was the only thing holding him back.

"You must be Steve," he said, "I'm Carter."

"The infamous Carter pleased to meet you." Steve answered. "Alex is upstairs in bed; Austin's mom had to cancel the sleep over so I stayed here with Alex."

"Thanks," Sam managed to say.

"Carter is it okay if I stayed here again tonight?" Steve asked, "My friend, Max, has gone out for the night and I don't have a key, I don't have anywhere to sleep now."

Sam took in a breath; her eyes were going wider by the minute. Carter felt trapped; he had no good reason to say no to Steve. Sure the fact that the guy had bruised her seemed like a great reason, but he knew that if he mentioned it Sam would just deny it and he'd be left looking a fool. But at the same time, it was obvious Sam was scared of him staying the night.

"Sure, you can stay." He replied feeling guilty when he saw Sam's face. "You can sleep in my room, I'll bunk with Sam."

He knew he had done the right thing; Sam's face was suddenly flooded with relief. Steve had no option but to accept, he knew that. He had noticed the bracelet on Sam's arm, a present from the man who was going to share her bed that night; he had no doubt about that. Sam had said that she wasn't fucking this guy, Steve didn't believe that now. He was jealous and angry all at the same time. As long as she didn't sleep with this guy with him sleeping just a few doors away he'd be able to hold it in for now.

Later, when Sam was in bed with Carter she clung on to him for dear life, as if she was afraid he'd leave her in the middle of the night. Carter's blood was boiling, Steve was a real jerk. With Sam clinging to him like a young child afraid of the monsters under the bed, he wanted more than anything to protect her from everything. He knew that it was too late in many ways; whatever Steve had done couldn't be erased. And that fact hurt him the most.

TBC