A Fresh Start
Chapter Fifteen
They had only been asleep for a few hours when Sam rolls to her side. Reaching for him she finds the bed empty. Slowly waking up, she looks around the room but doesn't find him. "Jeffrey." She calls, but he doesn't reply.
Pushing the covers back, she leaves the bed, walking down the hallway, she glancing into the kitchen as she passes. She doesn't see him, so she continues on into the living room. The apartment is freezing. Glancing at the window she notices that the window is open. Walking over, she closes the window as she glances out the window, she notices the frost on the glass and the snow on the fire escape outside the window, and in the back of her mind she wonders why there is snow when it was late June.
Turning, she finally spots Jeffrey sitting in the chair, next to the television set. The room is dark except for the faint moonlight that streams weakly through the curtains and window.
"Jeffrey." She says, walking over to him.
Reaching out she shakes him. When she let him go he slumps over. Reaching for the light on the table beside the chair, she flips it on. That's when she notices that he is staring at her blankly, a small hole in the center of his forehead, and she starts to scream.
Jeffrey is sleeping soundly when he feels Sam begin to thrash as she starts to scream. He is instantly awake, fighting to hold her still as he tries to wake her
"Sam, it's okay. Wake up Beca, shhh." He says softly in her ear as she continues to fight, screaming at the top of her lungs "Sam, come on, wake up." He says, finally able to get her to stop fighting him. He gently rubs her back, holding her as she starts to shake, her tears soaking his chest as he holds her. "It's okay, I promise. It's okay." He says softly, holding her while she cries for several minutes. When she is finally calm, he releases her. Pushing her hair back, he waits for her to collect herself before he asks. "What happened?"
"We were in an apartment and I rolled over and reached for you but you weren't there so I got up and I went to find you. At first I thought I was in the loft and then the apartment in St. Petersburg. Anyway I was walking through the apartment and it was freezing cold.
When I reached the living room, I noticed that one of the windows was opened so I went to close it. As I was closing the window I noticed that the window was frosted over and there was snow on the fire escape and I wondered why because it was late June. And then I turned and that's when I saw you sitting in a chair, by a television set." Sam says, starting to cry again "I said your name as I walked over to you, but you didn't answer me. So I reached out and I shook you, trying to wake you. When I let you go, you slumped over so I reached for the lamp sitting on the table beside the chair and I turned it on and that's when I noticed that you were looking at me but there was a blank stare on your face and then I looked up and a noticed the hole in… your head… where you had… had… had been shot." Sam finished, crying harder as she relived the dream.
"Shhh." Jeffrey says, laying her head on his shoulder. "I'm here, and nothing happened." He whispers, wrapping his arms around her, holding her tightly as she moves onto his lap, pressing against him as she wraps her arms around him, clinging to him. "Shhh." He whispers softly, gently rocking her. "I'm not going to go anywhere, and no one is going to shoot me in the head. We're okay."
"I don't want to leave you."
"Shhh, you're fine, we're fine." He says, pulling her arms from around his neck and leaning back. "You did this same thing in Belfast and we were fine. I'm not going anywhere, I promise you I'm not." Jeffrey says, moving so he can look her in the eye. "I promise I'm not going to leave, no one is going to hurt me, or you."
"I'm sorry." Sam whispers, wrapping her arms around his neck again and hugging him.
After a couple minutes, he suggests. "Why don't we lie down?" She nods. Lying back, he holds her as they roll to their sides and softly he begins to hum in her ear. After a few minutes, he feels her breathing deepen and he knew that she had fallen back to sleep. He holds her for several minutes, softly humming until he falls asleep again.
Later that morning, Jeffrey is lying on his side watching her sleep as she slowly opens her eyes. "Hi." She says softly as she moves closer to him and he rolls to his back.
Holding out his arm, as she moves to lay her head on his chest, one arm resting on his stomach as she lays one leg across his. "Are you okay?" He asks, kissing her on the forehead while she nods. "No more bad dreams." He asks as she shakes her head no. Leaning back until he can look into her face, he asks. "You know that nothing is going to happen to me?"
"Yes. It was just a dream." She says, leaning up on one elbow and looking down at him. "I'm sorry if I scared you last night."
"You didn't scare me, but I don't want you to think something is going to happen to me. "
"After I left Russia I never believed that I would be with you again. And now, you're here and I'm here. And you know how I am. I find it hard to believe in happiness."
"I know. But I'm going to be here for a very, very long time." Jeffrey says, leaning up and kissing her softly. Lying back down, he gently caresses her face. "What do you want to do today?" He asks
"I don't know." Sam replies, lying down beside him.
"We can go to Company and get some breakfast and then we can go to the lake and hang out for a while."
"Company sounds good, but I don't know about the lake. I want to spend the last of this weekend alone with you." Sam says, idly drawing patterns across his chest.
"We don't have to go to the lake. We can come back here and hang out and make love all day." He says, turning his head and kissing her forehead.
"Umm, that sounds nice." Sam says, laying a kiss in the center of his chest.
He becomes instantly aware of her hand lying on his stomach, just above his navel. Moving to his side, so he can lean over her he watches her for a couple seconds before he leans over and kisses her.
Sighing softly, she reaches up and wraps her arms around his neck. Burying her fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck, as his tongue slips between her lips slowly caressing her mouth as he moves closer to her. Laying one leg across hers he pushes her legs apart as he breaks the kiss.
Looking down, he watches as she struggles to control her breathing. Leaning over, he begins to nibble along her jaw to her ear. Sucking the lobe of her ear into his mouth, he gently nibbles as his breath washes down her neck, heating her body and making her desire burn hotter.
Moving down her neck with gentle kisses and little nips along her shoulder he presses his lips against the pounding pulse, hammering against the base of her throat. Arching her neck, she holds him for a couple seconds until he begins to move. Moving down the center of her chest, he places a soft kiss between her breasts. Slowly moving up to her left breast, gently licking her nipple before his mouth closes around it, sucking it into his mouth. He hears her moan softly. Reaching over, one hand closes around the nipple of her right breast. Softly squeezing, as he feels her arch her back, pressing her hardening nipple against the palm of his hand. Switching from her left to her right breast, he gently caresses her until he feels her move. Breaking the kiss, he looks up. "What Beca, what do you want?" He asks, as he leans over her.
Rising up on her elbows, she presses her lips against his. He only allows the kiss for a couple of seconds before he presses her back against the pillows. Slowly he moves on, lightly kissing her, nibbling across her stomach as he moves his leg, pressing hers farther apart. She can feel the coolness of the air washing over her forcing a moan from deep inside her. "J" she cries softly, resorting to a nickname she called him before.
Smiling, he moves down her body, stopping for a couple seconds to dip his tongue in her navel. She feels heat and desire flood her body, settling in the pit of her stomach as he moves to kneel between her legs. Slowly running his hands down her thighs, he watches as she opens her body to him. He can see the moisture clinging to her skin as he imagines the feel of her closing around him. He nearly collapses under the intense wave of desire that rushes through him. Leaning over her, he kisses her as his hand moves up her thigh, settling at the crux of her thigh. Reaching up, she wraps her arms around his neck, deepening his kiss as she tries to pull him back down but he refuses.
Breaking the kiss, he sits back. Slowly he moves his hand from her thigh, his fingers slipping inside gently caressing her as she arches her back the moment she feels his touch. "Oh J!" She cries, closing her eyes as he begins to caress her. Watching her desire grow with each stage of arousal feeling male pride as he realizes that he is the one taking her there again, leaning over her, he whispers in her ear. "You're hot and tight, so tight." He voice husky with pent up desire.
Reaching for him, she slowly runs her hands down his chest, scratching him as she opens her eyes, their gaze locking as her hand reaches between his thighs, closing around him, caressing him. He feels that first caress and the wave of desire washing over him. After a few seconds, he feels himself starting to loose control. Looking up, he reaches for her hand, stopping her caress as he kisses her softly before he moves back and lying down between her legs. The scent of her desire is intoxicating as he moves closer to her.
"Jeffrey!" She cries, the moment she feels his lips touch her. Arching her back, she buries her fingers in his hair, holding him to her as he kisses her deeply, his tongue slipping inside her, caressing her before he sucks her deeply. He feels her beginning to loose control. Using his tongue he begins to tap against her desire. "Oh! Yes, yes, yes." She screams, arching her hips, reaching for his mouth as he feels her desire wash over him. When he feels her begin to relax, he moves away from her, lightly kissing his way up her body until he reaches her mouth. Kissing him, she can taste the remnants of her desire on his lips and it makes her want him again. "Please." She whispers, reaching for him, her hand closing around him.
He nearly crumbles when he feels her guiding him inside her. Slowly he slips inside. As he slides inside, he reaches for her mouth, kissing her and swallowing her moan as their bodies connect so intensely. Breaking the kiss, he looks down as he begins to thrust, slowly at first.
That first caress feels so good. Arching her back, she takes him deeper as she wraps her arms around him, reaching up and holding him tightly as he continues to thrust, slowly building in intensity. "Oh darlin, you feel so good." She whispers, her southern accent washing over him.
Pushing against him, she adds her own caresses to each of his. "Je'taimé, mon Dieu, Je'taimé." Jeffrey whispers, laying his forehead against hers, driving them higher with each caress until he feels the desire rushing through him spin out of control, flooding him with intense release.
"Oh yes, Darlin, come for me." She whispers as he thrust a couple more time and then collapses in her waiting arms
Slowly the realization hits him that she hadn't. "I'm sorry." He mumbles as he struggles to catch his breath
"Shhh." She whispers, holding him "I like watching you loose control."
After a couple minutes, he rolls to his back bring her with him. Pushing her up, he kisses her for a couple seconds before he lays back and looks up to her. The look in his eyes, burning into her and she feels desire building inside him again. Slowly she rocks against him, sliding her hips back and forth, as his hands settle at her waist, holding her tightly as he watches the desire building.
"Oh yes Beca." He whispers, as he holds onto her tightly.
"You feel so good." Sam gasps. "I love you." She sighs, leaning over as she braces herself against his chest as she begins to rise and fall. "Oh God YES!" She cries as wave after wave of desire crash against her soul. Thrusting one time, he fills her again with his desire, wrapping his arms around her, as she collapses in his arms.
"You make me feel so much." Sam sighs, as she kisses his shoulder.
"I feel it too." Jeffrey sighs, holding her tightly. After a couple minutes, Sam moves to lie beside him as he rolls to his side. "I don't know what I'm going to do when you leave tonight."
"I know, but I'll be back next weekend."
"Next weekend is the fourth of July."
"I know, and usually I take extra shifts at the hospital but this year I won't, because I have other things I can do." She says turning to look at him with a smile as Jeffrey's stomach started to growl. "I think you're hungry."
"Yes, someone took all my energy this morning."
"All your energy, what about me, you instigated that last session."
"Are you complaining?" He asks, reaching for her and pulling her to him.
"No." She says, kissing him. After a few seconds, she moves back. "I think we need to get dressed so we can get to Company."
"Why don't we call and ask them to deliver the food, that way we don't have to get dressed." Jeffrey says, as he sits up
"They deliver."
"Yes."
"Alright." Sam says, sitting up and reaching for his t-shirt from the night before. Slipping it on, she pushes the covers back.
"Where are you going? The idea is for us to stay in bed."
"I know, but I need to go to the bathroom." She says leaning over she kisses him quickly before she heads towards the stairs and he gives a soft whistle. "You're bad." She calls, smiling as she starts downstairs.
Jeffrey lays there for a couple seconds before he pushes the covers back and sits up reaching for his boxers and jeans he pulls them on, buttoning them as he walks towards the stairs. When he reaches the kitchen, he reaches for the phone as he turns the water on to fill the coffee pot as he dials the number for Company.
"Thank you for calling Company. How may I help you?" Marina says, as she pours a refill
"Hey Marina, I need to place an order." Jeffrey says
"Okay." She says, walking over to the counter. Putting the coffee pot up, she asks. "What can I get you?"
"I need two eggs, over easy, bacon, toast, and hash browns. Hang on a minute." Jeffrey says, flipping the coffee pot on before he walks across the hall to the bathroom and taps on the door. "Darlin, what do you want to eat?"
"Ah, get me a bagel with cream cheese, fruit and yogurt and a glass of orange juice." Sam calls.
"And I need a bagel with cream cheese, fruit, a scrambled egg, yogurt and a glass of orange juice." Jeffrey says, as he walks into the living room. "And can someone deliver that?" He asks as he sits down on the couch.
"To the Beacon."
"No, to my loft."
"Your loft, what's the address?"
"3032 Spring Street #303." Jeffrey replies, as Sam walks out of the bathroom and into the kitchen
"It'll be about twenty minutes. I have to wait till Ashley comes in."
"Okay." Jeffrey replies, putting his arm across Sam's shoulders as he hangs up the phone.
Twenty minutes later, someone knocks on the door. Sam is upstairs packing, so Jeffrey gets the door. Opening the door, he smiles as Ashley hands him the bags of food.
"How much?" Jeffrey asks, putting the food on the table by the door and reaching for his wallet.
"$10.74." Ashley replies.
"Here's a twenty and keep the change."
"Thanks." Ashley says, taking the money. "Have you heard anything about my Mom?"
"No, we're still looking into it. I'll let you know before we do anything."
"Thank you, and thank you for the tip." She says, taking a step back and turning as Jeffrey closes the door. Sam is coming downstairs with one of her suitcases as he closes the door.
"Who was that?" Sam asks, as Jeffrey walks over and takes the suitcase from her.
"Ashley, with breakfast." Jeffrey says, taking the suitcase and putting it by the door as he nods towards the table.
"Oh, good. Food, I'm starving." She says, sitting down on the couch. Taking the food out of the bags as Jeffrey walks over to her.
"What are you going to do while I'm back in Washington?" Sam asks, as she takes the food over to the dining table that looks over downtown Springfield and the surrounding farmland all the way to the Beacon and the lake.
"I'm going to be busy being Mayor and I have the investigation I'm heading up for the Governor."
"What's that about?"
"The governor wants me to look into the DA's office to see if there's any wrongdoing between the DA and Mr. Spaulding."
"Phillip Spaulding, of Spaulding Enterprises."
"No, his father, how do you know about Phillip Spaulding?"
"One of our agents was contacted by a Ross Marler about a year ago about Phillip, nothing ever came of it."
"Nothing will, Ross was killed about a year ago." Jeffrey says, taking a piece of toast
"Oh, I'm sorry." Sam says, taking a piece of fruit. "So, why are you investigating Mr. Spaulding?"
"Let's just say that there have been some things that have happened in the last few months that raised the suspicions of the Governor and he asked me to look into them."
"And it involves the DA."
"Yes."
"Have you found anything?"
"We've found a few leads, but nothing concrete yet. What's the next step for Richard?" Jeffrey asks, taking a sip of coffee.
"We continue with the physical therapy."
"When will he be out?"
"If he continues like he's been doing, he'll probably be out before Labor day. He's using a walker regularly now and they've started working with the cane. I suspect before long he'll be walking on his own. It simply amazes me."
"What does?" Jeffrey asks, looking over at her.
"How easily and quickly the human body can heal itself when it wants to?" Sam says "I mean just a few weeks ago he was in a coma and now he's up and walking." Sam finishes, reaching for the orange juice. "A lot has to do with the patient's state of mind, but he's on fire. The only thing that worries me is when we have to tell him about Tammy and Jonathan, from what Cassie told me, he and Tammy were really close and he always regretted not being a part of Jonathan's life."
"He talked about Jonathan a couple times when I was in San Cristobel, about how much he wished that he could be apart of his life, but when he and Reva made the decision they did because they thought it was the one best at the time, even if it didn't turn out exactly that way."
"What do you mean?"
"Jonathan's life was completely different after Richard and Reva left him in San Jamar. Jonathan's adoptive father was an alcoholic and he took his anger out on Jonathan most of the time, sometime's on his wife. Jonathan was a very angry young man when he came to Springfield, hell bent on making Reva and her family, pay for everything that Alfred had done to him. He seduced Tammy, without telling her that he was her cousin when he first came to town."
"He seduced his own cousin."
"Yes. That put him instantly at odds with Cassie. There was an even greater shake up when they started dating and brought their relationship public, but at the end they were married and happy. It was such a waste, Tammy being killed and then Alan cut a deal with Doris, or we think he did and all the charges were dropped against him. Cassie was a wreck for the first half of this year. Richard waking up is the best thing that could have happened for her." He says, as they clear the boxes and put everything in the trash before they go into the living room.
"It's really is like a soap opera."
"In more ways than one." Jeffrey replies, sitting down on couch as he reaches for the remote but then he puts it down turning to look at her.
"Go ahead." She says, sitting down beside him and reaching for the paper and comics.
Jeffrey turns the television on, tuning into ESPN to watch the New York and the Cubs play. Sam moves over beside him. He puts his arm across her shoulders. About an hour later, he looks down and realizes that she has fallen asleep again and he smiles. Leaning over he kisses her forehead and then tunes back into the game.
For the rest of the day, Jeffrey watched a couple of games and then when Sam woke up, they made love again before she goes upstairs to finish packing while he plays around with some new music. Around four she gets in the shower, which lasts a little longer than she thought because Jeffrey decides to join her, and they made love again, turning the water off just as it starts to turn cold. Jeffrey left her to get dressed and afterwards he carries her stuff down to the truck.
When he comes back, she is standing at the windows, walking over to her. He wraps his arms around waist, pulling her back against him as he kisses the side of her neck, holding her as he asks "Will I see you this weekend?"
"Yes." Sam replies, nodding. "And you'll call me every night?" She asks, turning around and clasping her hands behind his back.
"Every morning and every night." Jeffrey says, leaning over and kissing her. "When is your flight?"
"Eight." Sam replies, laying her head against his chest. Glancing over at the clock, he bends down and lifts her up as he turns away from the window. "What are you doing?" Sam asks.
"I want one more time with you." He says, kissing her as he starts towards the stairs.
"Jeffrey, we don't…"
"We have time." He says, walking up the stairs to their bedroom.
An hour later, dressed and satisfied. Jeffrey puts his arm across her shoulders as they leave the loft. Opening the door, he helps her into the truck before he climbs in beside her. "Do you have everything?" he asks, as he starts the truck.
"Yes, if I missed something. I'll get it next weekend."
"I like that." He says, as he pulls away from the curb.
"You like what?"
"That you'll get it next weekend, I like knowing I'll see you again and again." Jeffrey says, as they stop at a red light a couple blocks from the loft, leaning over he kisses her. The blaring of the horn from the car behind them breaks them apart as they start to laugh. Reaching for his hand, she intertwined their fingers as she lays her head on his shoulder.
It takes about ten minutes for them to drive to the airport. After parking; Jeffrey gets out and takes her suitcases as she grabs her purse, and backpack. Locking the door, they start towards the terminal. Security is backed up, when they reach the terminal, which they don't mind because it means that they can spend more time together. After about ten minutes, Sam looks up at him.
"I know." He says, hugging her tightly.
"I'll be back this weekend."
"Okay." He replies, swallowing to keep from tearing up.
"I'll call you when I get home."
"You have someone picking you up."
"Yes, Dr. Frost dropped me off and he said he'd be there to pick me up. I left my car at the agency so I'll get it and then I'll be on my way."
"And no stopping to check on patients, you're going to be exhausted by the time you land."
"I'll go straight home, I promise." She replies leaning up she kisses him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he pulls her to him. After several seconds, she steps back. "I have to go, their going to start boarding and I have to get through security."
"Okay, I love you." He says, holding her for a couple more seconds.
"I love you too." She says, leaning up to kiss him before she reaches for her purse and her backpack. "I'll see you next weekend, I promise." She says as they walk towards the security gate.
"Be careful and call me when you get home." He says, leaning over and kissing her one more time.
"I will." She says when he steps back. Squeezing his hand, she releases it and walks towards security. Just before she walks through she looks back over her shoulder and waves. Retuning her wave, he watches until she disappears into the terminal and then he turns around and leaves. He has just made it to the truck when his cell phone starts to ring.
Pulling it from his pocket, he glances at the screen and smiles. Flipping it open, he presses talk and says, "I just left you."
"I know, but I wanted to hear your voice one more time."
"You're not making this easy." He replies, opening the truck door and climbing inside.
"Good, I don't want you to forget me." Sam replies, as she sits down in one of the chairs in front of her gate.
"That's something that I can never do." Jeffrey replies, as he hears her flight being announced over the loud speaker. "That's your flight."
"I know. I'll call you when I land."
"Okay, be careful."
"I will, I love you darlin." She says softly, pulling her ticket from her purse as she stands up with the rest of the passengers.
"I love you too. I'll talk to you later." Jeffrey replies, putting the key in the ignition and starting the truck.
"Bye, darlin." She says as she hands her ticket to the agent.
"Bye." Jeffrey replies, pulling out of the parking space. "I love you."
"I love you too." Sam replies. "I'm starting to board, so I'll let you go."
"Okay, bye."
"Bye, darlin. I love you." She says, just before she hangs up, walking down to the plane.
15.10