Chapter 31:
We're Not Friends, Nothing Of The Sort
A/N: I didn't get to many reviews on the last Chapter, hopefully I'll get more reviews on this chapter, it would really be a nice b-day gift. Seeing as today's my b-day. Jess : ) PS: Also, this story is far from over, I got a lot of twists and turns left.
"All rise.", The bailiff announced.
"You may now be seated, judge Amino proceeding.", the bailiff continued.
"This is case number 1389f453 this case is concerning the custody of Ethan Martin Crane and Nichole LeAnn Crane.", the judge addressed.
"Are you okay, Samantha?", Fox asked, noticing how truly fidget she was.
"Not really, Fox, I want you to promise me something-promise me that no matter what that you'll - you'll, please Fox don't ever leave me.", Sam told him.
"What make you….", Fox began.
"Please, Fox, promise me, please promise me.", Sam begged.
"Alright, I promise, Samantha.", he gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
Theresa stared at Fox. 'How dare he do this, how dare he care on this charade with that money grubbing trashy slut.'
"The parties present are Nicholas "Fox" Crane and Theresa Lopez- Fitzgerald Crane, am I correct.", the judge asked.
"Yes, your honor.", Theresa replied.
"Yes, sir.", Fox told him.
"Very well, Mr. Crane you are being represented by Ms. Katherine Crane, am I correct?", the judge asked.
"Yes, sir.", Kathelina replied.
"And, Mrs. Lopez-Crane, you are being represented by Mr. Woodrow Stumper, am I correct?", he asked.
"Yes, sir.", Woody told him.
"Very well. Mr. Stumper would you like to call your next witness?", the judge asked.
"Yes, I'd like to call Ms. Samantha Jenkins to the stand.", Woody told her.
Sam let out a sigh, she knew Theresa hated her was out for blood, her blood.
Sam slowly walked to the stand. "Do, you swear to tell the whole truth, so help you God?"
"Yes, sir.", Sam told him.
"Okay, Samantha Jenkins, how long have you been in town?", Woody asked.
"Not to long.", Sam replied, drawing in a deep breath, she hated the look she saw on Fox's face and she hated the fact she was causing pain to his wife and kids.
"Be precise.", Woody told her.
"A couple of weeks before Christmas.", Sam replied.
"And what exactly is your relationship with Mr. Crane?", Woody asked.
"I work for his family.", Sam told him.
"Is it true you live with him?", Woody asked.
"Yes.", Sam sighed, feeling as if her lungs were about to burst.
"And, why exactly do you live with Mr. Crane?", Woody asked.
"He is a good friend.", Sam told him, her eyes wondered to Ethan and then to Fox and then to Theresa. It was times like this that her guilt about drove her over the edge.
"So, in other wards you and he are sexually involved as well?", Woody asked.
"No, sir. Fox and I have never slept together. In fact, I seriously doubt we even will have a relationship after what I'm about to say.", Sam told him, then drew in breath. She was going to make everything better, not just for herself but, Fox as well. She knew he loved his wife and still wanted there humble little family.
Theresa eyes never left Fox's, she knew something big was about o go down. 'What kind of game are you playing Samantha?'
Sam sighed and then continued, "You see I came to town with every attention of breaking up Fox's marriage. I came here to destroy his marriage and seduce him. It all was a game, I was to do my part then leave, but I never could I never could bring myself to do that to Fox and his family. Fox, gave me something I never had a friend, some one to confide in. And, for awhile he showed me what the word family meant. The way he and Theresa were with their kids truly amazed me. And, that's why I hope, no I pray that Fox don't go through with this, he nor Theresa."
Theresa looked at Fox, he as hurting she knew good and well.
"Fox, I know you probably despise me and want nothing else to do with me and I couldn't very well blame you, but know one thing what we shared was wonderful, you have been a wonderful person to me and I will forever be grateful for the time we had together.", Sam sighed, then waited for the judge to acknowledge her.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Who does that Bitch think she is? She knows better than to double cross me, doesn't she know who I am?", Alistair asked, he hit his fist on the table, causing his lady friend to jump.
"Sera, do I scare you, my pet?", Alistair asked.
"No, sir.", Sera told him.
"Well, you should.", Alistair screamed causing her to jump.
Picking up the phone he called a number. "Yeah, plan one didn't work I want plan two alimented. Samantha Jenkins will die.", he slam down the phone hard. "Make love to me.", he ordered, jerking her to him.
Quickly Sera removed her coat were she was only clothed in a red thong set.
"My favorite color.", Alistair replied, pulling the almost naked girl to him. "I guess your wondering why that is?"
The girl nodded and he continued. "Red is the color of blood and I will not rest till a certain little fiery red head is covered in bright red blood.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Well, I have never had something like this happen. Therefore, I'm calling a brief recess and we will conclude the rest of this trial.", the judge told her.
Theresa sighed then she ran to Fox. She prayed that he would see Sam for what she was a whore. He hoped that Sam's little fiasco had cost her Fox's love and trust.
"Are you okay?", Theresa asked, walking over to him.
"Yeah, I - Sam- I don't get this, Theresa. I mean Sam was…", Fox began. "Well, I guess you're going to gloat hmm, little one?"
"No, I-Fox I don't ever want to see you hurt. I love you.", Theresa told him.
"Theresa, I- I can't do this right now, okay. Sam, has been so….". Fox began.
"Fox, you never loved Sam. I know that, because….", Theresa began before being interrupted by Kathelina.
"Theresa, I'm sorry to interrupt but, I really need to speak to Foxworth.", Kathelina told her.
"No problem.", Theresa replied. "I need to speak to Woody as well."
Kathelina gave her a knowing smile then once Theresa was gone she turned to her brother. "Please, tell me you are not going to go through with this,. Please tell me you learned one thing form Samantha's little performance ?"
When he didn't answer her she went on. "Nicholas Foxworth Crane, please don't throw away your marriage. Sam only used you."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"What in the hell was that about?", Ethan asked, he was more shocked then anybody at this point.
"I had to come clean.", Sam told him. "I couldn't go on like this."
"What the hell, was that about?", Rachel asked, walking up to her and slapping her across the cheek. "I hate you, you have ruined my brother's life. You- You used him, you played him for a fool."
"Rachel, please.", Ethan began.
"No, Ethan, you may still respect that little tramp, but I don't I see her for what she is. And, now Fox sees you for what you truly are. I shouldn't be screaming at you, I should be thanking you. You told on yourself. You lost Fox forever. He'll never ever, ever respect you and he'll never love you. Thank you Samantha. Thank you for coming clean. Thank you for removing yourself from my brother's life."
"Rach, please there's a appropriate time and place for this. In the middle of a courtroom is not the time or the place.", Ethan told her. Rachel sighed then walked off.
"I'll talk to you later Samantha, you can count on that."
"Ethan, I- I ant - I don't need you coming to my defense. Hell, the only reason you like me is because I put out to you. Well, no more. I'm no long going to be your play toy. I'm no long the woman who gets your jollies. If you want sex, call a prostitute, because I maybe a lot of things but, I'm no man's whore."
"Samantha, please don't. Cool it okay. I never used you, baby. My feelings for you are sincere. I never lied to you, I never took advantage of our relationship…", Ethan began.
"What about what Theresa said? Why did you tell her? Ethan you promise to keep my past, my childhood a secret yet, you blabbed to that selfish, manipulative slut.", Sam replied.
Flashback
"Ethan, please stop.", Theresa called after him.
"What do you want?", Ethan asked her, turning to the woman he loved, for so long. The woman he would kill for, Theresa.
"Ethan, why are you covering for her? Why are you willing to let Fox try to kill you, is she that good of a lay?", Theresa asked.
Ethan was silent.
"Ethan, I know you didn't rape her, okay.", Theresa told him.
"Good, cause I don't want to lose you and our friendship..", Ethan told her.
"Ethan, why are you so protective of her? I mean, you let Fox think you…",Theresa began.
"Sam's had it hard. Okay, she's been put through shit. By her family, Theresa they made her prostitute, made her dance at there club, when she was only about 14."
End Of Flashback
"Sam I never meant to tell her, it's just…it slipped, baby. I said it before I thought.", Ethan told her.
"Do you know Theresa will use that against me. She wants me to look bad. She wants Fox to hate me.", Sam told him.
"What does it matter what Fox thinks, hmm? Sam you said you loved me. You said we would be together? Why do you care so much about what Fox thinks?", Ethan asked.
"He's been great to me, okay. He's been my first true friend. Ethan, do you get that, he didn't sleep with me. He never laid a finger on me. All you want is to bonk me.", Sam told him.
"That's not true. Yeah, that's what I wanted at first but, Sam. I love you.", Ethan told her, pulling her to him, there lips were merely inches, apart.
"I love you. The only time I'm afraid Sam is when I don't know where you are or if your okay. I hope and I pray each day that no harm comes to you. And, now I know that now more than ever that you are in danger. Not only from the unknown, such as freak accidents, but in danger of Alistair's evil and cruel wrath. Sam you put yourself in danger and I'll never know why? I don't know if it was to prove a point to me, yourself or him. But, Samantha, you are indeed in danger."
"Pulease, Ethan I was born at night, but not last night. You're just like every other man all you care about is how hot the sex is, you don't get a damn about me. If I was to die tomorrow you'd move on by, finding some other little hot thing.", Sam told him.
"Sam no other girl has set my soul on a blazing fire like you have. Sam you are my everything. You make me so vulnerable. I've never needed no one so bad."
Sam looked at him she wanted so bad to believe him, but she couldn't. "Liar, you are no different than my ex- customers, but they never pretended to care."
"Samantha…", Ethan began his hand traveling up her back sand his hands traveling to the lose hair on the nap of her neck.
"Ethan quit.", Sam told him jerking away form his fiery touch.
"Sam, does that scare? The fact that a simple touch from me sets your body into a raging fire.", Ethan told her.
"Ethan, no man will ever have that effect over me. I don't need no one, no ,my family, not you, no t no one.", Sam told him.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Theresa…", Dylan began, walking over to her.
"Dylan, hey.", Theresa turned around to the mention of her name.
"Where's Janet?", Theresa asked.
"Don't know, don't really care.", Dylan replied. "She's only here to cause trouble and Kat is letting here get to her."
"So, you don't want her?", Theresa asked, smiling to herself.
"Janet left me all those years ago, what in the hell makes you or anyone else think I want her back. Once a snake in the grass always a snake in the grass.", Dylan told her.
"Leopards never change there spots.", Theresa told him.
"Ant that the truth?", Dylan asked.
"What's that mean?", Theresa asked.
"You know Max, right?", Dylan asked her and she simply nodded.
"Okay, Max has this way of uncovering anyone's secrets, well he kind of did a background check on Ms. Samantha.", Dylan told her and Theresa nodded for him to continue.
"Looks like Ms. Jenkins is connected to the mysterious death of her step mother Jacqueline Hansin."
"So, she killed her, step- mother?", Theresa asked.
"Sure looks that way according to Max, Jacqueline died about a year ago. Right, before Sam came to town to be a fact. Sam just all at once left town after her step-mother's body was found in the river. The same river her mother Shannon Dotes was found in about 15 years ago."
"Wow, but, I have a feeling Sam didn't kill her mother, I mean I-Sam is to scared from losing her mother. That's one of the reasons Fox and Ethan are so protective of her. And, besides she was just a little girl at the time."
"True, but, Sam hates Jackie from what I can gather and well why else would she skip town on her sick father and mentally changed brother."
"Whoa, mentally changed?"
"Yeah, Sam brother Franklin Scot."
"Okay, so where's Jenkins come form?"
"That's an alias."
"An alias, her real name is Samantha Scot, Jenkins comes from her old customer, friend, aquatinted, something of the sort. Neil Jenkins, apparently she was so impressed by the man she took up his last name. What gets me is the man is been dead for a good 3 years."
"So, what are you saying that Sam killed him, if so my husband and Ethan both may be in a for a bloody ending."
"No, he was killed by James."
"James Hartford? As in the man who took a shot at you?"
"Yup."
"Wow, so, you think Samantha knows James?"
"For her sake and Fox's as well I hope not."
"Okay, what else is there to know about Ms. Scot, Jenkins, whatever her freaking name is?"
"Okay, this ant a hundred percent accurate but, I think and Max thinks as well that it's possible that Sam and Neil may have been married."
"But, Sam ant that old. "No more 20 at the least."
"19."
"Okay so three years ago that would make her 16,15?"
"She could have had a fake ID, or lived with him or something, cause I don't think Sam would just up and take on Samantha Jenkins."
"I don't know, I just want to keep Fox and Ethan safe from that scum bag."
"Me too. Good luck."
"With what?", Kathelina asked walking up with them.
"The trial, that is if it is going to continue.", Dylan told her.
"Okay.", Kathelina replied. "Theresa, go talk to Nick.:"
"Okay, Dylan I'll see you later.", Theresa replied, walking over to her husband and Julian.
"Okay, tell me this much you weren't talking about the trial was you?", Kathelina asked.
"No, Sam ant who she says she is.", Dylan told her.
"Well, I kind of already know that.", Kathelina fumed.
"That ant what I mean. Sam isn't a Jenkins she a Scot and she's connected to Hartford.", Dylan told her.
"James Hartford?", Kathelina asked.
"Yeah.", Dylan replied.
"Dylan, are Nicholas and Ethan in trouble?", Kathelina asked.
"Could be, Sam is connected to the mob, he ex- lover, husband or whatnot was killed by James's goons."
"Oh My God."
"Don't worry about it, okay, baby. We'll be fine. Sam ant going to hurt Fox or Ethan."
"Dylan, you can't promise me that, I don't only have to worry about you being in danger but, my brothers as well. And, Theresa…Oh My God, what if Sam is one of James sluts? He'll kill her."
Dylan rapped his arms around her. "Shh, babe I think your ahead of yourself here. We don't know that Sam even know him. All I'm saying is Sam was close to Neil Jenkins who was killed by Hartford."
Kathelina nodded. "Okay, but I want you to be careful."
"No problem, I ant leaving you anytime soon."
bang
Kathelina felt Dylan's body go limp on hers and him hit the floor and covered in bright red blood.
Fox pushed Theresa to the ground at the sound of the first gun shot.
"Stay still don't move.", he whispered, using his body like a protective shield over hers.
"Dad, you, okay?", he asked Julian.
"Yeah."
"Okay, stay still both of you."
"Fox, what's going on?", Theresa asked.
"Somebody wants somebody in this courtroom dead.", he told her.
bang
"Ethan I'll never feel anything for you.", Sam told him.
"But, you ant going to deny that my touches set your soul on fire a fire that you don't know how to control and a fire that I'll never understand."
Sam laughed sarcastically "You've been reading to many of your sisters romance novels. Ethan, I will never…"
Sam felt everything go black and her body go numb. Hot liquid ran over her
"Samantha?", Ethan whispered, in a low moan, he was in pain, slowly she looked down, she saw bright red blood running over her arm, automatically she realized that the cool like substance wasn't her blood but, his.
"Ethan, Oh My, please don't die on me.", Sam told him, she could move for the first time in her life fear froze her.
bang
"Ethan, somebody wants me dead.", she whispered, pulling her self together she removed herself from up under him. She didn't know what to do. It seemed as if every man who remotely cared for her ended up 6 feet under, first her uncle now Ethan.
"Go, get Fox, tell him to call an ambulance. Tell him to hurry. And, don't be scared my little Samantha.", Ethan told her, she looked at him remembering her uncles words.
"Don't be scared Samantha, get help. Run get help for yourself."
Ethan looked at her. "I'll be fine, Samantha.", he promised taking her shaking hand to his lips. She striated to her feet and ran through the doors that lead to Fox that lead to help.
"Theresa, are you okay?", Fox asked, helping her to her feet.
"Yeah, are you?", she asked, rapping her arms around her husband, she felt helpless as if she were a small child.
"Fox, please help, Ethan he's been shot. He's bleeding bad.", Sam told him, her words were coming to fast for anyone to understand, he heart was beating fast and she felt as if she could hit the floor at any moment.
"Sam, calm down.", Julian told her. "I know Fox didn't hear a word you said."
"Ethan's shot he's lost a lot of blood, hurry Fox, please don't let him die.", Sam told him, trying to regain control.
"Resa, call an ambulance. Julian go see if anyone else has been hurt. I'll go check an see if the bullets deep, I may have a way to stop the bleeding."
Theresa nodded, then took out her cell from her purse and called 911.
Sam was covered in blood and set there in a daze repeating something she's heard once from her uncle.
Flashback
"What's that?", Sam asked, she hadn't been living long with Neil, but she'd already learn that the man was a strong religious man, he believed highly in God and went to church every Sunday morning.
"The Lords Prayer.", Neil told her.
"How's it go?", Sam asked, she was drawn to the picture.
"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on Earth as it is in
Heaver. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts as we forgive or debtors; and lead not into Temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen."
End of Flashback
Sam sit there saying The Lords Prayer over and over again.
"You okay?", Theresa asked, knowing good and well she wasn't.
"Theresa, I can't lose him. I love him so much. Theresa, he has to live he has to be okay.", Sam told her.
"He will be Ethan has a will to live."
"No, he don't Theresa, I said some terrible things to him."
"He knows that you didn't mean it."
Sam nodded, her head was spinning and she felt as if she was living a nightmare, "Theresa-can-can you tech me-teach me how to pray?", Sam asked her, she knew that Theresa probably hated her, but she needed to find some sort of peace.
Theresa looked at her. 'Is she for real?'
"I never went to church well I went a few times with Aunt Ruby and Uncle Neil.", Sam told her, she knew Theresa hated her right now and probably thought of her as lower than dirt.
"Close your eyes.", Theresa told the girl and Sam obeyed, it was at that moment she understood Fox and Ethan's need to take care of her, she was like a child, yea, she had been exposed to the underworld of sex and drugs and dirty, deceitful men who wanted nothing more than a cute little girl to open her legs to them. Theresa sighed, this was no time to take pity with the girl she had just admitted less than an hour ago that she came to town with attentions of breaking up her and Fox's marriage.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Whitney, are you and Chad okay?", Julian asked.
"Yeah, where's Fox and Theresa?", Whitney asked.
"There fine, Ethan's been shot though, Samantha came to us right after the last bullet was shot."
"Do, you think someone did this with the attention to kill someone?", Whitney asked.
"Sure looks that way. Unless some psycho thought they'd gain fame by shooting my son at his own trial.", Julian told her.
"That, don't seem to be the case. Fox didn't even get shot at, right?", Chad asked.
"They were three shots.", Julian told him.
"Daddy, please help me.", Kathelina cried when she realized he was merely a few feet from her.
"Kathelina?", Whitney asked as her Julian and Chad all ran to her.
"Dylan, he's been shot.", Kathelina whispered, she felt weak.
"Dylan, no.", Janet exclaimed as her and Rachel walked over to the crowd, she threw herself on the ground beside him.
Kathelina sighed and fell to the floor on the other side of him, she would have said something to Janet, but didn't really have the strength.
"Whitney, go fine, Theresa tell her that we need another ambulance. And tell them to make it quick.", Julian told her, and she nodded and quickly ran off to the direction Julian had came from.
"Theresa!", Whitney yelled causing her to hope to her feet, she felt fear move through her, she felt a panic come through her was Fox okay? What had happened, she could tell from the look in her best friend's eye that some terrible had happened.
"Ethan, is he dead, Whitney did he die?", Sam asked.
"No, Sam, I didn't even know he was shot. But, it's Dylan.", Whitney began.
Theresa froze and listened to what her best friend had to say.
"He was shot.", Whitney told her, Theresa felt as if she was about to faint, her Dylan had knew each other a little over a year and thy had become quick and good friends.
"Is he- Whitney is he gone?", Theresa asked.
"No, not now at least, I think he could perish at anytime. Julian is with him now trying to find exactly how deep the bullet is and how much blood he's lost. He sent me with word to call for another ambulance.". Whitney told her noticing Sam's clothing was totally covered in blood.
"Was she shot?", Whitney asked.
"No, she was with Ethan.", Theresa explained. "Whit will you stay with her?"
Whitney nodded and Theresa turned and called for another ambulance.
"Whitney?", Sam asked, catching her attention.
"Huh?", Whitney asked.
"Can you try to find Fox, see if Ethan's still…see if he's not dead?", Sam asked, the last thing she wanted right now was some woman she didn't hardly know play best bud and trying to comfort her.
"Yeah, we need another ambulance at the court house, yeah, there's been a shooting. Please hurry, their lives maybe lost if no one don't get here soon.", Theresa told them then hung-up.
"Where'd Whit go?", Theresa asked Sam.
"To check on Ethan.", Sam told her.
"Oh.", she replied, noticing the girl was shacking.
"Can you teach me now?", Sam asked, she didn't know were she mustard the courage up to ask Theresa for anything.
"Oh, Sorry.", Theresa told her. "Close your eyes."
Sam nodded and did as she was told.
"God, please take care of Ethan let him be okay. Don't let him die. God, you know how much Samantha needs him and how much Joshua needs him. God, so many people need him. And, God take care of Kathelina and Dylan don't let us lose him either and God thank you for keeping my husband safe, cause I don't know what I would do without him and thank you for my children and sparing them from being here. Thank you for everything, Amen."
"Thank you, Theresa.", Sam told her.
"No problem.", Theresa gave her a small smile.
"Fox?", Sam asked, as he walked over to them.
"The ambulance is here, I'm going to ride over with him, uh Theresa take Sam with you to the hospital get her checked out and where's Kat?", Fox asked.
"With Dylan, he was shot to…", Theresa trailed off.
"I know dad told me.", Fox told her. "Uh, I think Kathelina is going to ride with him.", Theresa nodded.
"I'm going to go back to my place and get Sam some new clothes, she soaked in blood and that ant to good on her body or mind.", Theresa told him.
"No, I got to go be with Ethan, he needs me.", Sam told them.
Fox gave her a confused look. "Go with Theresa borrow some clothes, get washed up and then come by the hospital, I think Rachel is going to follow the ambulance up to the hospital then I told her to take Kat home get her changed."
"Okay, Sam, come on lets go back to the cottage.", Theresa told her.
"I want to be there for Ethan.", Sam told her.
"You will be. Fox will go there he'll sit with him till you get dressed and get the blood off you.", Theresa told her.
Sam sighed. "Okay, but can we make it quick I want to be there for him.
"Okay.", Theresa told her, then turned to Fox. "Be careful."
"I will.", he promised.
"And, I love you.", Theresa told him, kissing his lips quickly, then laving to take Sam to the cottage.
Spoilers for Chapter 32:
Things don't look good for either Dylan or Ethan.
Janet and Kathelina fine common ground for now.
Theresa and Fox grow closer.