Okay, okay… so Chapter 8 is up now, rather than Wednesday. Mainly because I knew Gater would kill me if I didn't ;)
Disclaimer: I do not claim to own these characters, but I do claim to own this story, yada, yada, yada…
Notes:The lyrics contained in this chapter are from the song "Can't Cry Hard Enough" by Williams Brothers
Chapter 8 – Alone
"A few times I've been around that track, so it's not just gonna happen like that, 'cause I ain't no hollaback girl! I ain't no hollaback girl!"
Sam reached forward and twirled the radio dial in Luka's car, trying to find a different tune. The last thing she needed right now was Gwen Stefani's infectious brand of perky pop.
"Let me see ya 1, 2 step… I love it when ya 1, 2 step… everybody 1, 2 step…" Ciara's silky smooth vocals echoed through the vehicle, making Sam cringe.
I'm not much in the mood for R&B, either.
Getting increasingly agitated, she continued to twirl the dial.
Gotta find something to keep my mind off it.
"Since you've been gone… I can't breathe for the first time" –
Spin the dial.
"Bit by bit, torn apart, we never win, battle rages on for toy soldiers" –
No.
"I'm you're girl, you're my girl, we your girls" –
Fuck. Sam switched rapidly from song to song, trying… trying…
A hand reached over, gently covering her now quivering fingers on the knob.
"Sam." Luka's voice broke through her thoughts. Briefly tearing his blue eyes from the road, he smiled sadly at her. "Stop."
She tore her hand away from the controls, collapsing back into the plush leather seat. Resting her chin in her hands, she stared out the window. A knot had formed in the pit of her stomach that refused to subside.
Alex. Why did you do this?
Luka kept his hands steady on the wheel, his eyes fixed on the road.
Not Alex. Don't do this to me again, he cursed God. Not again.
Spotting the exit for the school up ahead, he peeled off the highway and continued down the road.
He snuck a glance at Sam as he made a sharp turn into the entrance of the school. She was hunched up against the window, one arm curled around her middle as if she was trying not to be sick.
Luka parked quickly, killing the engine. He grabbed the keys from the ignition, watching as Sam tore her seatbelt off and scurried out of her seat.
Luka hurried to catch up with her. Once he had, he stood by her side, careful not to resist the now familiar urge to take her hand. They hastened up the steps of the school, and stepped inside the building. The absence of laughing children left the place eerily quiet.
"Miss Taggart." Principal Phillips stepped out of a nearby classroom and approached the couple. He reached out and gripped her hand, shaking it heartily. "So nice to see you."
He turned to Luka. "Ah, Dr. Kovac. It's nice to see you again. Still subscribing to Maxim, are we?" he asked, chuckling at his own mirth.
"With all due respect, Principal Phillips," Sam said, acid creeping into her tone, "my son is missing. Not a great time for jokes." This guy hasn't got a clue. I mean, I get that he's trying to soften the blow, but honestly. She gave Luka a fleeting look and saw that he, too, was scowling.
"Of course, Miss Taggart. And let me assure you, the teacher supervising the children's dismissal has been severely reprimanded," he informed her pompously.
Sam resisted the urge to laugh out loud, despite the gravity of the situation. She had always been a hapless victim of schadenfreude. But seriously, this guy might as well have 'don't sue' stamped across his forehead.
"Whatever," Sam replied, waving a hand. "Just tell me what the hell happened." She tried desperately to keep the hysteria out her tone. Be strong, Sam. She felt Luka flinch slightly beside her, and she could tell that he was becoming as panicked as she was.
The principal seemed to deflate slightly. "Of course," he said, gesturing down the hallway. "The inspector is in my office."
Luka and Sam followed him to a small conference room, where a bespectacled policeman sat, scribbling on a notepad. He jumped to his feet as they entered, extending a hand to the couple. "Inspector Robert Marsh," he introduced himself, shaking Sam's hand firmly. Taking in her anxious visage, he said reassuringly, "It's okay, Miss Taggart. We'll find your son. I promise."
Uh-huh, Sam thought dully. In how many cop shows have I heard that said, and then a couple of scenes later, they're telling the grieving parents 'we're so sorry for your loss'? She felt tears begin their pinprick behind her eyes.
Dick Wolf, you have a lot to answer for, you bastard.
"Have a seat." The inspector gestured towards the two seats adjacent to him. They both sat, Sam with her hands clasped firmly in front of her to stop the shaking.
Luka sat as if made of stone, his expression troubled.
Principal Phillips leaned back against the wall, observing the proceedings. He tugged nervously at his tie.
Inspector Marsh turned his eyes to Luka. "I'm guessing you're the stepfather?"
Luka jerked, taken aback, and glanced at Sam. Her dark eyes were wide and stunned, and she fumbled for an answer.
"He's – well, he's…" she started, looking helplessly at Luka.
"He takes an active role in child-rearing." Principal Phillips' mocking voice answered from behind them. His salt-and-pepper eyebrows were raised slightly, and he shot Marsh a look as if to say, "God knows."
Sam balked as her eyes flashed with anger. Why the fuck do I send my son to this school? she asked herself. Getting to her feet, she stalked over to the surprised principal.
"Listen, Mr. Phillips," she barked, staring him straight in the eye. "If you're going to stand here and be an asshole, that's you're problem, not mine. Just make sure you've got a good lawyer." It was an empty threat, but Sam was livid. She had no intention of suing the school, but her bluff seemed to work nonetheless. The principal's eyes flickered with fear and he anxiously re-adjusted his jacket.
"I apologize, Miss Taggart," he told her, his upper lip now beaded with sweat. "Perhaps I should leave you two to discuss this with the inspector in peace." He made a feeble attempt to recover his composure, before turning on his heel and exiting.
Luka fought the urge to stifle a smile. He should have been here the day she decked that Dean guy. His smile faded, however, as he thought of Alex. All alone in the streets of Chicago.
Sam took a seat once more, her anger fading.
Inspector Marsh's face bore a stunned expression, but he tried to conceal it. "Miss Taggart, do you have any reason to believe your son might have run away? We've interviewed the teacher on-duty extensively, and she swears she didn't see anyone approach Alex. Is it possible that he could have left of his own accord?"
Sam nodded her assent, the knot in her stomach growing tighter. "There's – there's been a lot of stuff happening at the moment," she told the inspector. "Alex's father… came back recently, but left again. He was very upset." She avoided looking at Luka, not wanting to inform Marsh of the rest of the saga.
Glancing down at his notepad, Inspector Marsh asked, "I see. Can you describe your son for me? In as much detail as possible?" He held his pen tightly over the page, poised to take down all of her remarks.
Sam took a deep breath, trying to swallow the tears that threatened to erupt. "He has brown eyes… he's five foot two… about sixty-five pounds. He was wearing jeans and-and a red t-shirt." Her voice caught in her throat. "His hair… it's kind of a combination of blonde and brown, you know?"
"Uh-huh," Marsh mumbled, jotting down her words. "And does he have any distinguishing marks? Scars, anything like that?"
"Just one." Luka accented voice broke through the quiet. "It's about an inch long, up his leg. From skateboarding."
Sam turned to him, loving him more in this moment than ever before. She looked deep into his eyes, hoping he knew how badly she wanted him, how sorry she was for everything that had happened. "That's right," she affirmed, not looking at the inspector.
"Okay." The inspector breathed out slowly, glancing over his notes. "Does Alex have any medical conditions we should know about?"
Sam recoiled as if she had been shot, whipping her head around to face him. Oh, God.
His diabetes.
He's out there all alone.
His blood sugar could be low… he could get hypoglycemic.
He could lapse into a coma.
Oh, God. How could I not think of that?
Sam swayed against Luka, feeling as if she was about to pass out. "He's a diabetic," she choked out.
Luka reached out and squeezed Sam's hand, trying not to panic himself. You have to be strong.
You have to be strong for Sam.
Oh, God, don't do this to me again. Don't take away someone else I love.
The inspector paled slightly. "Well, the sooner we find him the better, then," he told them, trying to keep his voice neutral.
Reaching into his pocket, he fished out a card. "Here's my number," he told them, passing the information to Luka. "Call me if you think of anything else that might help us."
Sam's head snapped up. "That's it? We're just supposed to sit here and wait for you guys to call?" She knew she sounded hysterical, but she didn't care. "This is my son!"
Marsh tried to remain calm. "I understand that, Miss Taggart. Believe me, I do. I have two children of my own." He stood and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "But trust me. The best thing you can do now is to go home and get some sleep." He pulled away and straightened. "I'll be in touch."
Giving Luka a sympathetic look, he exited the room.
Sam couldn't take it anymore. Every single fear, that she had kept inside her until this moment, erupted. Tears begin to spill down her face, and she made no move to wipe them away. Luka pulled her to him, wishing so very badly that none of this had ever happened. That he and Sam were okay. That Alex was safe with them.
"I don't think I can do this alone, Luka," she sobbed into his shirt. "I'm not asking you for anything, and I know that things have changed, but… I just can't."
Luka tilted her chin to face him and wiped away her tears with tender fingers. "I know," he said, looking deep into her eyes.
"You don't have to."
He continued to hold her as she cried.
I can't cry hard enough
No, I can't cry hard enough
For you to hear me now...