A/N: Humph! Me's not happy with the reviews me's got for the last chapter! Humph! A pouting me's is nots goods for anyones. (The grammatical errors were committed on purpose.)

"I don't want to go!" Belle cried as she clung onto Sam's shirt, her tears causing the white fabric to stick to Sam's shoulder.

"Shh, Belle, it's okay." Sam made the small girl look at her. "I'll call you every week and you can call me whenever you want to – Grandpa has my new number."

Belle sniffled, looking at Sam with big puppy eyes as she said, "Why can't I stay here with you?"

Sam smiled sadly at her niece, "Honey, if you stayed with me, who would take care of Grandpa? He needs you in Russia, Belle. You'll be more useful to Grandpa and me if you're in Russia." Sam's smile grew teary, "Please, baby, I'll see you at the end of the school year."

"But that's so far away."

"Just take it one day at a time, honey. And call me often!"

Sam rose to her feet and gave her father a hug, "I'll miss you, Dad. Keep her safe," she whispered, tears spilling from her eyes stubbornly.

To Sam's surprise, her father's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he pulled away from her embrace. "I will, Sammie. I love you."

"I love you too, Dad." Sam wiped her face, not wanting to let the tears dry, "Now go on, both of you – you're going to miss the flight."

Sam watched the plane fly away until she couldn't see it anymore before turning and walking out to the car her father had given her a few days prior. She started driving to the apartment Jacob had also picked out a few days before.

It seemed so strange to her: she'd gotten her driver's license a year ago, but was only able to drive now; she was going to be living on her own for a year, but still depended on her father's credit card to pay the bills. Her life was such a paradox right then she could barely see straight.

She pulled into her new parking spot, feeling drained and exhilarated at the same time. It was only when she was walking to her second story apartment that she realized just how many women lived in the place. She saw maybe three men total in the gigantic building housing more than twenty separate rooms.

Sam reached her door and was rather shocked to find Jack sitting outside, like a lost puppy waiting to be let in. Sam had to smirk at the look on his face that cried out to her to save him from the 'enemies' in the hallway.

"What are you doing here, Jack?" she asked as she opened the door to let them inside the small, one-bedroom apartment.

"I know that this was officially moving day and I thought you could use a little help," he lied flawlessly.

The look Sam gave him told him perfectly that she knew what he was really doing and she appreciated it. "Come on, Jack, you know I don't have that much stuff. I had a suitcase of clothes and one full of books and…stuff to unpack. The rest of this stuff is as new to me as it is to you."

Jack grinned, pulling out a bag from behind his back, "Well, then, how 'bout some food? Mom made it just for you."

"Jack, your mom doesn't even know me."

"Yes she does, she's just never met you. There's a big difference you know."

Sam giggled at his antics, unable to control herself. He was just such a big kid sometimes it was hard not to laugh. "Okay, then, Jack. You can help me figure out how all these wires go for my new stereo."

"I have to work?"

Sam just laughed at him and pointed to the unopened box.

The day was spent in good humor and good company as Jack helped Sam adjust to the idea of living alone half the world away from her father and niece. And he was a big help because Jack always played the gentleman. He would hold her sometimes when she just needed to feel him there. Silence reigned supreme half the time, while other times they would fill the void with endless silly topics.

"Did you know that Joel's going to rabbinical school in the fall?" Jack asked during one of those times when she needed to hear voices.

Sam raised both of her eyebrows, "Really? Wow, I thought you were Catholic."

"We are. I never said Dad was happy about it, but Joel's still going. It's become one of those things where Mom's thrilled because Dad's angry."

"And what about you? He's the only older brother you have."

Jack smirked, thinking that it was just like the sweet girl in front of him to think about his needs before he even thought of them himself. "I'm proud of him. He's doing what not even I have the guts to do."

Sam looked at Jack oddly, "What was that?"

"Not go into the military. I've already been accepted into the Air Force Academy for next year." At Sam's startled look, Jack was quick to smile, "Let's not think about that right now, I don't want to think about it."

Sam's face held a smile, contented, "Okay." She glanced at her watch, "Jack, it's almost ten! You better be getting home!"

Jack grumbled, "What, you mean I can't stay here?"

She giggled in response. Jack still found the sound like music to his ears, "Not yet."

He raised his eyebrows, surprised at the response. Not yet. Meaning that someday he may ask and she may say "yes". "I can live with that. Night, Sam."

"Night, Jack."

Life slowed down for Sam as she started getting into a rhythm in her new life living alone: she'd make herself breakfast then go to school; at school she did her work impeccably then ate lunch with Jack (much to his delight); after school Sam would do her homework while Jack was in hockey practice; Sam would go with Jack to his house to get something to eat; and finally Sam would go home to call her dad and Belle and go to sleep. It wasn't the most exciting life, but Sam was content for the first time in years…perhaps she was even happy.

Mrs. Sahlberg noticed immediately how Sam and Jack seemed to be spending so much time together (her first major hint was when Jack's English homework started coming in on time instead of when she beat him over the head and gave him one last chance to turn stuff in to keep his grades up). The middle-aged teacher thought it was good for both of her students to spend the time together. She saw their friendship flourish right before her very eyes…but for some reason she noticed that they never did anything about it.

When Mrs. Sahlberg brought it up in the teacher's lounge one day at lunch, she wasn't surprised that all of the other teachers Sam and Jack shared saw the same thing she did. Hell, she wasn't even surprised when all the teachers who'd ever seen Sam and Jack together noticed their behavior. What none of them could figure out, and all had theories on, was why the two weren't dating already.

It was an issue to be handled with the utmost discretion, and after much deliberation the faculty came to a conclusion about what they were going to do: bring in Jack's friends to spy for them.

"You want us to do what?" Gary asked, appalled at the thought that five of his teachers wanted him to spy on his best friend.

Mr. O'Hern sighed, taking of his glasses and pinching the bridge of his nose, he said, "We want you (Mr. Stephan), Mr. Woods and Mr. Berke to find out for us why Mr. O'Neill has not yet asked out Ms. Carter."

Kevin Woods looked at the five teachers in front of him with a glint in his eye, "What's in it for us?"

Mrs. Sahlberg looked at all three of them carefully, "All three of you gentlemen are currently on the border of failing my class. Do this for us, and I'll give you each ten percent extra credit – that's raising your grade one full letter."

Jamie Berke answered for all three boys, "We'll do it."

Mr. Browns grinned triumphantly, "Good. We'll be seeing you three tomorrow after school to evaluate what you have learned."

"But, Mr. Browns, we all have hockey practice after school," Kevin pointed out.

"Would you rather we take away from your lunches once a week?" the historian asked.

"Hell yeah!" the three said in unison. With a glare from Ms. Applegate the three promptly apologized. "Sorry," they said, again in unison.

A/N: So? I'm an evil little pixie, aren't I? Please review and let me know what you guys think!