Mercedes sighed putting down the book she was reading. She was bored out of her mind but for the first time in a long time she was not scared for her life. It has been a week since she moved in with Sam and he was a breath of fresh air and a real blessing. Santana was help up working on a project that she swore should have been done two weeks ago. She was scared to leave Mercedes alone but seeing Sam step up and take charge put Santana at ease. Mercedes phone rang and she smiled shaking her head.

"Speak of the devil, I was just thinking about you. How are you Tana."

"Finally on a plane with mike to see you. How are you?"

Mercedes sighed getting comfortable. "Safe. I am safe and right now that is all that matters."

"Girl I am sorry that I haven't been there."

"Stop. You had Sam come to the hospital and because of that he might have saved my life."

"Speaking of which, have you heard from him?"

Mercedes sighed. "Nope and I am glad. I got a new phone and new number. The tracker on my car was removed and there is no way he or my parents can get a hold of me. Sam has been handling the case though. He said that Brad mad bail and he is denying the charges, he tried to buy off one of the nurses but hopefully that won't matter. We have to wait for a court date and if it wasn't for that I would have been out last week."

Santana cleared her throat. "Well they are yelling at me to shut off my phone so I will see you in a few hours. I love you Merce."

"Love you too."

Mercedes sighed walking towards the kitchen, she wanted to do something nice for Sam. Since he couldn't cook she had been cooking for him. They went shopping together the other day so she decided to make him baked fried chicken which was a healthier choice but still tasted like fried chicken with homemade mashed potatoes and corn. She would add some biscuits. While at the store, she had already picked up the ingredients she would need. She had soaked the chicken in buttermilk overnight so they just needed to be fried for about two minutes on high heat on both sides then cooked in the oven.

It didn't take her long to finished cooking, she looked at the clock and knew Sam would be arriving in about 45 minutes. She had just enough time to bake something for dessert. Opting to go with some simple double fudge brownies. She had never had the chance to make them with Brad because he wasn't a sweet tooth kind of guy. Sam however had a huge sweet tooth. After taking out the brownies and setting the table, she sat back down shooting off an email to Finn letting her know he was fine. She had just hit send when someone banged on the door.

Mercedes walked close to the door and heard Brad's voice. "Open the door you son of a bitch! You really thought I wouldn't find out who you were? You want to put your hands on me? And where the fuck is my wife!"

Brad banged again and Mercedes felt herself begin to panic. She fell to the ground crawling behind the sofa. She placed her hands to her ears trying to tune out the banging. As she began rocking back and forth a pair of hands grab her and tossed her over the couch.

"You think you can stay here and play house? He grabbed her by her neck and tossed her through the glass doors on the balcony. "You stupid bitch no one leaves me. NO ONE!" He dangled her over the edge and smiled as he dropped her.

She shot up screaming as Sam held her close. "It's ok, it was just a nightmare, and its ok I am right here."

Mercedes opened her tear filled eyes staring back at Sam. It was a dream but it had felt so real, and when did she fall asleep? She pulled Sam to her as he rocked her back and forth.

"Shhhh you are safe. No one is going to hurt you."

Mercedes relaxed slightly. "I am so sorry I just…I was scared and I don't even remember."

"Its ok Mercy I am right here. I will hold you for as long as you need too. But I smell brownies so maybe you could walk with me to grab some."

Mercedes shook her head. "No brownies until after dinner." She said tearfully.

Sam lifted her face to his. He found her more beautiful than any other woman he had known. He smiled slightly.

"Ok fine we can eat first. Are you ok to walk?"

She nodded as they stood and walked towards the kitchen. "I made you dinner to show you how much I appreciate you letting me stay her

"You didn't have to do that, but it smells amazing so I am not complaining."

Mercedes glanced at Sam wondering how a man like him was single. He was not only sexy, he was sweet and kind hearted. She could talk to him for hours and still feel the need to talk to him.

"Well are you ready to eat now or do you want to wait until later?"

Sam hopped on the counter. "I am actually hungry so if you let me hop in the shower real quick we can eat."

Mercedes nodded. "Ok that sounds like a plan.

Sam laid in his bed wondering how he could help Mercedes. She was going through a lot. Wouldn't even leave the house. Sam enjoyed the benefit of her staying in though, she always had dinner ready, and on the weekends breakfast was must. She didn't go to Church out of fear so she watched it online. Her nightmares were getting worse. That bastard did a number on her.

Sam was able to get a restraining or against Brad, and get her number changed. He did everything in his power to keep her safe and yet, he couldn't keep that man out of her dreams. He couldn't stop the power Brad still had over her. And it killed him.

He checked the clock, it was about this time Mercedes would awake from another nightmare, and maybe this was the first night she was going to have a good night's sleep. Sam got up grabbing a shirt and walking to her door. He just needed to confirm that she was ok. Sam walked to her door and peeked his head through not seeing Mercedes in the bed. He opened the door fully and saw her sitting on the window sill bench. He walked over to her and joined here.

"Couldn't sleep?"

She shook her head no. "Not really. I uh just been thinking about a lot of stuff."

"Like what?"

Mercedes smiled. "Like I need to start taking care of myself and not relying on you or anyone else."

"Are you going to be able to do that? With the panic attacks and all?"

"I sure hope so. I know it's crazy to think but I need to make a change. What is gonna happen when I have to leave here? I can't stay here forever."

"And why not. I am enjoying you as a roommate."

"Yeah and how will you explain it to your dates? Oh yeah she is a crazy chick running from her soon to be ex."

"I don't date so you don't have to worry about that."

"Sam I really need to get out there on my own."

"I get that. But would you still stay here?"

"If you let me."

"Of course I would let you. I don't want you leaving here. What would you do anyways?"

"I would teach. I got my credentials before I married Brad. I just have to put an application out there."

"Ok well do it and when you get accepted let's take it from there."

Mercedes smiled widely. "Great so what can't you sleep?"

"I have a big case to win today but I just can't seem to win. Even though we handle mostly divorces, I am working on a malpractice case. And things just won't fall into place."

"Oh what happened? If I can ask."

"I have a patient who went to the ER for her foot. They sent her home and about a week and a half later she went to the Doctors and they told her she had a tear in her cartilage she needed surgery but she can't afford to take off of work. Her doctor told her it could have been avoided if she would have just stayed off it. The attending Doctor said he told her to stay off it. And it is her word against his. Because they felt it was her fault the insurance won't fully pay for it and she doesn't have the money. She lost her job and now she wants to sue the hospital."

"So what's the problem?"

"I can't prove if he told her to stay off her feet or not."

Mercedes sighed. "What about the restrictions?"

"Restrictions?"

"Every time you leave the hospital they are supposed to give you instructions on what you should do. It's usually on the discharge papers. I should know I have been there a lot."

"Wait a minute."

Sam jumped up and went to his office. Mercedes followed him as he began shuffling through the papers on his desk. He pulled out a paper and hit it.

"Mercedes I swear you are a life saver."

"What did I do?"

Sam smiled widely. "Patients instructions: the patient may return to normal activities. Please follow up with your primary care physician in five to seven days if pain continues."

Sam walked over to Mercedes and pulled her into a big hug.

"You have no idea what you just did. I have been racking my head trying to find a way to help her."

Mercedes hugged him back and looked up to him. She loved being this close to him, he made her feel safe in his arms. She smiled up to him as his face descended down to hers. Mercedes tried to ignore the pulling but she found him so sexy and she couldn't resist him any longer. As his lips leaned closer to hers, she pulled him down to her. Mercedes moaned as he pulled her closer to him, his body was built and firm and she loved the way he felt against her. He pulled her down to the couch in his office and she straddled him. As he kissed her neck he grabbed her thighs and squeezed them. His hands went under her night shirt and caressed her back and Mercedes had to admit she hadn't felt that good in years.

She needed more, had to have more but knew this wasn't right no matter how amazing he felt. She pulled away from him staring down to him as his hands still ran up her back. "I am not apologizing for kissing you and I have to warn you I am tempted to do it again."

"I am too Sam, so bad, but I am married and we know this isn't right."

"Really because it feels right."

He pulled her down to him and kissed her again loving how she fit so well in his arms. His lips latched on to her neck and she whimpered under his touch. Sam made her feel beautiful and wanted, she wanted him but knew this wasn't right.

"Sam wait… I want this so bad but we can't."

"I know you are right, but something in me needs to show you how a real man makes love to a woman. I want to show you how a real man touches and kisses a woman."

"Sam…"

He cut her off with his lips taking over hers. Sam kissed her passionately until she was breathless. Then he pulled away from her. "If you don't want me to, don't want this just tell me. I have felt drawn to you, attracted to you since the moment I first saw you. You are broken and as a man, as a good, strong and loving man I feel like it's up to me to fix every single thing that man did to hurt you. So first if you let me of course, I am gonna love every single inch of your body. And then if you give the ok, I am gonna make love to you, the way a man is supposed to make love to a woman. There is no wrong answer, if you aren't ready just say so and I will stop. So my question is can I have you Mercy?"

To Be Continued. I know you hate me and my cliff hangers and I am sorry. There will not be weeks of waiting though. I plan on updating it soon. So fingers crossed I have the time to do it after the Movie tonight. I love you all and you mean the world to me, its fans like you all and your reviews that give me strength to write and write for you so thank you and blessings upon you all.