A Fresh Start
Chapter Two Hundred Fifteen
Sam walks out of her office as Leah walks by. "Leah." She says, stopping her.
"Yes ma'am." She says, turning back around.
"Do I have anymore appointments for the day?"
"No ma'am. The last appointment was Mr. Kelley."
"Alright, I'm going to leave." Sam says, turning to go.
"Can I ask where you're going?" Leah asks, as Sam turns back to her.
"I've got some errands to run." Sam says, turning to go while Leah watches.
She goes upstairs. Changing out of her scrubs into jeans and a loose blouse. She walks over to the armoire. Opening, she takes out a locked box. Sitting it on Jeffrey's dresser, she opens the top drawer and pulls out a small key. She unlocks it. Inside is a 9mm Beretta, beside it is a fifteen round clip. She takes the gun and the clip out and then slips the magazine inside the gun. Making sure the safety's on, she puts the gun on the dresser and then closes the box. Putting it back in the armoire, she returns the key to the drawer before she picks up the gun and walks into the bedroom. Walking over to her purse, she puts the gun inside and then slips the purse on her shoulder as she grabs her keys, leaving a few moments later.
Twenty minutes later, she pulls up to the farm as Cassie gets back from picking up the boys. "Sam." She says, getting out of the car.
"Hi." She replies, as she walks over to her. "Do you need some help?"
"Sure, I'm surprised to see you out here at this time. I figured you would still be at the clinic." Cassie says, as the boys get out of the car.
"Hi, Sam." RJ says, as he walks around the car.
"Hi Sam." Will says, as he closes his door.
"Hello, boys." Sam replies, reaching for one of the bags in Cassie's trunk.
"You guys go put your backpacks away and change and then go do your chores." Cassie says, closing the trunk.
"Yes ma'am." They reply, as they head for the house.
"I left early. I've got some errands I need to take care of." Sam says, as Cassie walks towards the house.
"I saw Jeffrey earlier." She says, as she opens the door.
"You saw Jeffrey." Sam says, holding the screen as Cassie opens the door.
"Yes, I stopped by City Hall to see Richard and they were in a meeting when I arrived. He told me about what happened this morning."
"He did." Sam says, putting the bag on the counter as Cassie closes the door.
"Yes, he's worried about what you're going to do." Cassie says, looking at her. "You're planning something."
"I need to borrow your car." Sam says, as she leans against the counter.
"Why?"
Sam looks at her for a moment before she says. "I'm going to Laurel Falls. I want to talk to Ms. Owens again and I don't want to take my car. It's too conspicuous."
"A '66 mustang, conspicuous." Cassie says, looking at her as Sam smiles.
"It's not dangerous. I only want to talk to her."
"Hand me my purse." Cassie says, as Sam reaches for her purse. Cassie takes her keys out and hands them to her. "You know that he's going to know where you've gone."
"Probably, but I've got to do this. I can't…."
"I know. Just make sure you come back in one piece. He'll be mad at me but furious at you if you do something that gets you into any kind of trouble. Go talk to her, but don't go looking for anything else."
"I'm only going to talk to her. She's the only lead. She knows the people involved."
"How bad was your childhood?" Cassie asks, looking at her.
"On a scale of one to ten, eight, eight and a half. My father was controlling and he liked to make you feel subservient to him. He was especially proud of our southern heritage and he hated anyone that didn't believe what he believed. My mom finally got tired of the verbal abuse. She left and my father made sure that she lost custody of me and my brother and then turned my brother against her. He had a harder time with me."
"Is that why your brother went after you the way he did at the wedding?"
"Part of it, he's jealous of my freedom. At least that's what I like to think." Cassie looks at her. "He's angry because I walked away and I lived my life. I met J and we saw the world and he believes I didn't care what our father thought of what I had done. And he's right I didn't care. He's angry because our grandparents sided with me after Mom died. My mom died of cancer. She could've been saved, but Jeremiah refused to take her to the doctor. He claimed that God would heal her, if it was his will. I better go, if I want to get back before Jeffrey gets out of City Hall."
"Be careful Sam, and don't be surprised if Jeffrey's waiting for you when you get back." Sam looks at her. "Richard told him to go home and see you."
"Alright, I won't. Thanks for letting me use your car. I'll bring it back." Sam says, as she opens the door.
"Be careful." Cassie says, walking over to the door as Sam walks out.
"I will." She says, turning back to her before she walks off the porch and over to Cassie's car, while Cassie watches. She waves as she backing out of the driveway.
An hour later, Sam pulls up to Laurel Falls High. Getting out, she walks into the office. There's a woman sitting at a desk behind the front counter. She looks up as Sam walks in. "May I help you?" She asks, walking over to the counter.
"I'm here to see Ms. Owens."
"Ms. Owens?"
"She brought a young girl to my office… I'm Dr. O'Neill." Sam says, as the woman nods "Anyway, she brought a young girl, a student from here to my office in Springfield this morning."
"Springfield? Why would she bring one of our students to Springfield to see a doctor?"
"I don't know. But she came to my office this morning with a young girl. The girl had suffered a severe shoulder dislocation."
"Who was the girl?"
"An Arianna Jones. She said that Arianna and her parents had just moved into the area and that Arianna arrived at school today, favoring her left arm. One of her teachers…."
"Which teacher?"
"She didn't say. Is she here?"
"I'm sorry but we don't have a Ms. Owens that works here."
"She was the school nurse."
"Our school nurse is Mrs. Elliott. She's only here on Tuesday's."
"Do you have an Arianna Jones registered here?"
"I can't give out that information." The woman replies.
"Do you know anything about a man named the Deacon?"
"I've never met the man, but I've heard of him."
"What do you know about him?"
"Why do you want to know?"
Sam pauses for a moment. "The young girl that Ms. Owens brought into my clinic this morning said that she was injured by this man."
"Are you a police officer?"
"No, I'm the girl's doctor. I want to make sure there aren't others that are being hurt as well."
"Isn't that the job of social services?"
"Do you know him or not?"
"There is a group that moved into the area last summer. They keep to themselves. Even the children here at school do not associate with the other children. They don't participate in schools activities. In fact, a few of the parents have checked their children out of school on days that we have special programs going on. If they send them to school at all on those days. They're all good kids. They just don't associate with the rest of the school."
"Do you know where this Deacon lives?"
"Not specifically."
"Do you know a general direction?"
"North of town." The woman says, looking up as the principal comes in. "I can't really say more." She whispers, as Sam looks over her shoulder.
"Thank you." Sam says, turning away from the counter. She nods to the man as she leaves the office.
When Jeffrey walks into the office. The staff is closing up. "Leah, is Sam here?" He asks, holding the flowers that Stace had picked up for him.
"No, she left a few hours ago, said she had some errands to run."
"Did she say what the errands where?" Jeffrey asks, although he suspects where she's gone to."
"No, she asked if we had anymore appointments. I told her no. She said she was leaving and I asked where she was going and she said she had some errands to run and then she left. Is there a problem, Mr. O'Neill?"
"No, I'll handle it. Thanks. Go ahead and close the office." Jeffrey says, turning for the stairs. When he gets upstairs, he doesn't bother to call for her as he puts the flowers on the table. Walking upstairs, he goes into their bedroom. Walking into the closet, he finds her scrubs laying on the floor where she left them. Sighing, he walks over to the dresser. Opening the top drawer, he takes the key out and then walks over to the armoire. He takes out the lock box and unlocks it and is not surprised when he finds that his gun is gone. "Damn it Beca." He mutters closing and locking the box. He puts everything away and walks out of the closet and downstairs.
Richard pulls up to the farm a little before six. Getting out, he stops for a moment to look at Sam's car before he walks towards the house. Opening the door, he walks in as Cassie is coming in from the living room. "You're home." She says, as he takes his coat off and hangs it up by the door above his briefcase.
"Yes."
"Did Jeffrey leave after we left?"
"I believe so. Is Sam here?" Richard asks, walking over to her. Cassie pauses for a moment. "I saw her car outside."
"She came by as I was getting home from picking up the boys."
"Where's your car?" He asks, watching her.
"She asked me to use it."
"She asked you to use it, why?" She looks at him. "You let her use your car to go to Laurel Falls. Why would you do that?"
"Because this is something she has to do."
"You know what Jeffrey said, he's afraid…."
"He's afraid she'll get hurt if she goes after the people that hurt that girl. She's not doing that."
"Cassie…."
"I asked what she had planned and she said she was going to Laurel Falls to talk to the woman that brought the girl into the clinic. Of course I warned her that Jeffrey would probably be waiting for her when she gets home."
"You warned her. You shouldn't've given her your car."
"She was going to go whether I gave her my car or not. It's better if she's as inconspicuous as possible. Her car would draw a little too much attention to her."
"At least she's thinking about that. You still should've tried to talk her out of going."
"I can't judge her or talk her out of anything. This is something she has to do. She wants to help."
"She should let Frank and social services do their jobs." Richard says, looking at her.
"And that's spoken like a true man. She's not going to raid the compound. She's going to talk to the woman that brought that girl into her clinic." Cassie says, as Richard looks at her. "Could you bring in some fire wood?" She asks, looking at him.
Sighing, he looks at her and nods. "Let me go change. Where are the boys?"
"They are doing their homework. Dinner should be ready in about fifteen minutes."
"It smells great. I'll be right back with the wood."
"Thank you."
"Is it safe to burn…?"
"Yes, the chimney sweep came and cleaned and inspected it this morning after I got back from the Beacon. That's part of the reason I went to town this morning. I thought maybe we could curl up by the fire after the boys go to bed." She says, as he looks at her.
Swallowing, his mouth suddenly dry, he smiles as he leans in and kisses her. "I like your train of thought."
"I thought you would." She says, stepping back.
"I'll go get the wood." He says, walking over to the door.
Sam leaves the school. She heads north out of town. She wasn't quite sure what she was looking for. A compound like the agents raided in Waco, a cluster of house together. She drove for about thirty minutes before she turns around and heads back to Laurel Falls. Glancing at the clock she decides to head back to Springfield. It was already after six, so Jeffrey would be home, waiting for her.
Cassie pulls the door closed to Will's room as Richard walks out of RJ's room. "Is he asleep?"
"Yes, Will."
"Yes."
"Do we get to…?" The door bell rings. "Bloody Hell." He grumbles as Cassie smiles.
"Go get comfortable and I'll see who this is and get rid of them."
"Hurry, the only thing I can think about is…." He says, as she smiles leaning up to kiss him as the door bell rings again. "Go." He says, releasing her.
Cassie heads downstairs as Richard walks into their bedroom. Walking over to the door, she peeks through the shade and then opens the door. "Sam, you're back."
"Yes, I'm sorry it's later than I thought."
"Did anything happen? Did you get to speak to the woman?" Cassie asks, as Richard walks up.
"Sam." He says, as Cassie steps back, letting her into the house.
"Hello Richard, here's your keys." She says, handing Cassie her keys. "I filled up the tank for you."
"You didn't have to do that." Cassie says.
"I used most of the gas. Anyway, thank you for letting me use it." Sam says, turning to go.
"Sam?" Cassie asks.
"I didn't get to speak to her. She doesn't work for the school district."
"What do you mean?" Cassie asks.
"She's not the nurse at the high school. They've never heard of her."
"So you didn't get to talk to her." Richard asks.
"No, I didn't. I spoke with the secretary at the high school. She's never heard of a Ms. Owens. The school nurse is Ms. Elliott. She did give me the same story as Ms. Owens about the group moving in last summer and that they don't associate with anyone in town. That's all she told me."
"Did you ask her about anything she told you about the group?" Richard asks.
"I asked her if she knew the Deacon, she didn't. I really need to go." Sam says, turning for the door.
"Of course." Cassie says.
"Thank you again for letting me use your car."
"You're welcome. We'll talk again soon."
"Sure, Richard." Sam says, nodding to him.
"Good night Sam." He says, looking at her. She leaves a few moments later.
Jeffrey is sitting in the living room when Sam comes in. He turns to look at her before he gets up and walks over to her. He takes her purse and then pulls her to him, hugging her tightly. He holds her for a while before she says. "I'm fine."
"Can I have the gun?" He says, releasing her.
"It's in my purse." She says, as he reaches for it. Taking it, he opens her purse and pulls out the 9mm and then hands the purse back to her. Unloading it, he lays it down on the table beside them. "Cassie warned me that you would probably be mad and waiting for me."
"When did you see Cassie?"
"This afternoon before I went to Laurel Falls, I went to ask if she would let me use her car."
"You wanted to use her car."
"Yes, I thought mine might be a little bit too conspicuous."
"Did you find…?"
"I didn't find the Deacon. I wasn't going over there to see him anyway. I went to talk to Ms. Owens."
"Why?"
"I wanted to know if she knew if any of the other children that Arianna hung out had been hurt."
"And what were you going to do if she did?"
"I might've asked to see them. She has to know where they live."
"You would've gone to their homes." Jeffrey asks, looking at her.
"Maybe."
"You have to know… Sam…."
"Spit it out, J." She says, looking at him.
"Given the reaction of the man in your office this morning, what do you think would've happened if you showed up at their homes demanding to see their children?"
"That's why I took your gun."
"What if they didn't give you a chance? They could've shot you without even giving you a chance to explain why you were there. You and our child could be dead right now and where would I be, right back in Russia." Jeffrey says, getting up.
"J."
"No, Sam. I know all the reasons you're going to give me for you going over there. But it boils down to this, I'm not going to loose you again, I won't." Jeffrey says, turning to leave.
"Where are you going?"
"I've got to get out of here before I say something I'll regret." Jeffrey says, walking over to the door. "Please be here when I come back." He says, turning to her.
"I'm not going anywhere. And I don't want you to go." She says, walking over to him. "I'm sorry."
"It's more than being sorry, Sam. You could've been killed."
"I have to do something."
"No you don't. Frank and social services can handle this. You don't have to involve yourself. You want to involve yourself and I think it's damn selfish of you."
"You don't understand how it feels to be powerless. You've never felt worthless."
"My mother never tried to control me. She loved me unconditionally, but she didn't love me enough to leave, did she? Each day she saw, she knew how bad it was getting and she stayed. If she hadn't, she would be here and I would be able to ask her why she never told me who my father was. You not only put your life in jeopardy but my child's life as well. I won't let you do that." Jeffrey says, holding onto her upper arms.
"What are you going to do?"
"If I have to I'll go with you every where you go. Please, please, don't make me do that. I know you won't be controlled, but I will protect both of you." He says, looking at her. His eyes pleading.
She sighs, looking down. "You don't want me to handle this, I won't. But you have to do something for me." She says, looking up.
"What's that?"
"Talk to Noah, tell him about this and ask him to send agents to Laurel Falls. You do that and I'll stay out of it, I promise, on our son's life."
"You'll stay out of it if I talk to Noah and tell him about it."
"Yes, and I want to see Arianna. I can help her understand."
"I'll talk to Noah and I'll tell him to look into it." He says, as Sam nods.
"When you talk to Noah, tell him that I did find out that Ms. Owens doesn't work for the Laurel Falls School District. They've never heard of her. And tell him that they somewhere north of town."
"Where did you find this out?"
"I went to the school to see Ms. Owens and the secretary had no idea who I was talking about. She did back up what Ms. Owens said about Arianna never socializing with the other kids."
"I'll tell him." He says, taking her hand and leading her back to the couch. "Stay here. I'm going to put this up." He says, picking up the gun.
"Okay." She says, sitting down as he leaves.
Cassie pulls Will's door partially closed, letting a sliver of light from the hallway into the room before she turns for the stairs. Richard is sitting on the couch when she walks into the living room. "Are they asleep?" He asks, as she walks around the couch.
"Yes." She says, sitting down beside him. Lifting his arm, she moves over to him. Laying her head on his chest as he turns his head and lightly kisses the top of hers. "I love all the noise and the running in and out of the house but this has to be my favorite time of the evening." She says, looking up at him.
"It's nice to sit in the quiet." He says, playing with her hair while they sit there for several minutes.
"Do you think Jeffrey's going to be really mad at me?"
"No, he won't like it but he'll forgive you."
"What's in the bottle?" She asks, looking at the table.
"Well, since we can't have champagne, I opened a bottle of sparkling cider for us to drink." He says, sitting up and reaching for the bottle. He pours a glass for her and then hands it to her before pouring himself a glass. Sitting back, he turns to her and says. "Here's to the wonder of kids and the peace of bedtime."
"Here, here." She says, touching her glass to his.
They each take a drink before he sits back and she moves over to him. "You know, that in a few months, it's going to be so much more hectic around here."
"I know. This is going to be so different than when we got Will. We won't have a staff to do all the little things anymore."
"We could hire a nanny to help you."
"No, I want to do this. I did it with Tammy and with RJ, not so much with Will but I want to do it again." She says, taking a drink of her cider.
"I can work from home sometimes."
"You'll be running your campaign."
"I haven't announced my candidacy yet."
"No, but you're going to. Did you talk to Jeffrey about it?"
"No, not yet." He says, as she sits up and puts her glass on the table before she lies down on the couch, laying her head in his lap.
"You know, Sam told me a little bit about her childhood when she was here this afternoon. She didn't have a good one."
"What did she tell you?"
"That her father was controlling and mentally and sometimes physically abusive to them. She said her mom finally got tired of it and she left and after she did that, her father made sure that she lost custody of her and her brother. He then turned her brother against his mother and tried to turn Sam against her, but he didn't succeed. She said her brother resented the fact that she went out and she lived her life away from their father and he resented the fact that their grandparents sided with Sam when she returned from Russia and loosing Jeffrey. Her mom died of cancer within months of her leaving Jeffrey. She's the reason that Sam became a doctor. She had cancer but she didn't have to die."
"So why did she?"
"He brother refused to take her to the doctor."
"He refused to take her to the doctor." Richard says, looking down.
"Yes, her brother believed that if her mother was to be cured then God would save her through prayer."
"That makes no sense. Prayer's important but so is doing everything in your power to make yourself better."
"I know." She says, looking at fire. "You know, Sam and I are a lot alike. We were both raised without a loving family. I think Sam received love from her grandparents, but you know what I mean. She said her father was very proud of their southern 'heritage' and he hated anyone that didn't have the same views as he did. I can't imagine someone being that closed minded, can you." While Cassie was laying there looking at the fire, Richard has been watching her, watching the fire dance on her skin and hair, highlighting it in golden hues of yellow and orange. When he doesn't answer, she looks up and catches him watching her. "Did you hear me?" She asks, as he blinks.
"I'm sorry, I was thinking about something else." He says, running his fingers through his hair. Stirring the air and filling it with the scent of her shampoo.
"What were you thinking about?" Cassie asks watching him.
"I was admiring how the firelight plays on your skin and hair. The way your eyelashes look dark against the shadows of the fire." He says, tracing his finger over her nose and under her eye. "It makes you look incredibly beautiful."
Sitting up, she leans in and lightly kisses him. It was meant to be a simple kiss, but he reaches up and laying his hand against her cheek, he holds her there, deepening the kiss. With a sigh, she moves closer. Laying one hand on his neck, she feels the thrumming beat of his pulse and she feels her heart swell with excitement and desire.
While he had been reading to the boys, she had taken a shower. And while she was telling the boys goodnight, he had changed into his pajamas. She pulls away after another minute. Reaching for his glass, she turns and puts it on the table beside her glass before she turns back to him. Leaning in, she kisses him again. He reaches for her, pulling her onto his lap as she wraps her arms around his neck, burying her fingers in his hair while he deepens the kiss. Slipping his tongue inside, to play with hers.
Heat rushes through her, licking at the veins as the blood swirls through her body. Carrying desire to the deepest part of her body. Slowly she releases him, laying her hands on his shoulders. She moves them down his body, caressing him. He feels the same heat rushing through his body, licking at his veins as the blood sweeps through him, settling and making his body grow with incredible desire. She feels him pressing against her thigh.
Finally, he breaks the kiss. Sucking in a deep breath, he looks into her eyes. Her eyes reminding him of fiery sapphires. She pulls away, tugging on the tie that held her robe in place. He lays his hand on hers as she looks up. He was about to stop her but when she looks at him, he can't resist the fire rolling through her. She tries to move off his lap but he reaches out to stop her. She leans in, kissing him briefly before she stands up. Pulling the belt free, she shrugs out of her robe and then sinks to her knees in front of him. For a moment, she pauses, watching him. He reaches out, laying his hand against her cheek. He holds it there for a moment before he moves it down her cheek as she turns her head and lightly kisses his palm.
The fire burning inside him doubles. He feels a throbbing pulse of desire sweep through his body. "You are beautiful, darling." He whispers, as she lays her cheek in his hand again.
"I want you so much." She says softly, laying her other hand on his shoulder.
His skin feels warm beneath the coolness of her fingers. She feels the heat flooding through them both. She leans forward. Kissing the side of his neck, she moves over to the pulse beating at his throat. She feels him swallow. His breathing becoming more strangled with desire. Her lips feel smooth against his skin. Her breath warms the trail as she moves down his body. Reaching his upper chest, she pauses for a moment, waiting for a moment to feel the rhythm of his heart beat. "Cassie." He whispers, letting his head fall back, closing his eyes.
She stops for a moment, hovering over his heart. Letting him feel the warmth of her breath mix with the cooler air of the room. "Dear god… you're driving me crazy." He whispers.
She looks up and smiles. "This soon." She asks, never moving.
"I need…." She leans forward. Softly licking his nipple. "Cassie." He groans, closing his eyes.
She only stays for a moment and it's not long enough for him. Reaching up, he wants to hold her in place, but she moves away. Lightly kissing his chest, tasting the warmth of his skin and the taste that is uniquely him. Swirling surges of desire, rush over her making her ache for him. Ache for his arms to be wrapped around her. His body joined with hers. The incredible sensations that come when they go as far as they can go. She pulls away. Reaching for the hem of her nightgown, she pulls it over her head as he lifts his head, watching her as she reveals herself to him.
Tossing the gown to the floor, she reaches for his pajamas as he lifts his hips. Reaching to help her as she tugs them down, freeing him. He sighs softly. Relishing the relief until she reaches for him. Wrapping her hand around him, she squeezes him. "Sweet mother of… Cassie!" He groans, sucking in a deep breath.
She stands up as he kicks his pajamas and boxers off. Kneeling over him, she leans in to kiss as she settles over, taking him inside. "Richard!" She moans softly, savoring the feel of him slipping inside. He reaches for her, pulling her to him and wrapping his arms around her. Catching her mouth, they kiss as she moves against him. Slowly at first until heat and pressure presses in on them and she moves away. Moving in earnest while he lays his hands on her hips, holding her to him and refusing to release her
The tension builds and builds. Hurdling them toward the end as they fight the demand of their bodies and try to hold onto it. After a moment, he lifts his hips. The added caress forces a moan of satisfaction from her. He continues, as they both struggle to hold on. There comes a moment when they both realize they have to let go. His hands fall to her hips, holding onto her. Lifting his hips, as she arches her back. Sucking her bottom lip into her mouth to keep from shouting as astonishing waves of release roll over her.
He holds onto her, letting the release sweep through her. Sucking in a deep breath, she sags against him and he holds her for a few moments before he wraps his arms around her. Lifting her, he lays her down beside him and then moving over her, as he slips back inside her. Flutter waves of her release, squeezes him, sucking him deeper. Leaning up, he looks down into her eyes, as he thrusts deep. She sucks in a deep breath, his movement intensifying the soft fluttering waves of her last release. He can't wait for her to savor those feelings. He increases the tempo, pushing them both towards the end until a pulsing wave surges through both of them, flooding her body with each throbbing pulse. Sighing, she leans up, kissing him. "I love you."
"I love you too." He replies, sinking into her waiting arms. After a few minutes, he pulls back and looks down and smiles. Sitting up, he moves her over to her side and then lays down behind her. Laying his arm over her waist he pulls he back to him before he reaches for the throw on the back of the couch. Spreading it over them, he lies down as she snuggles back against him, sighing. Closing his eyes, he falls asleep.
Some time around two, Richard feels someone pushing on his shoulder. "Daddy." Will says, pushing against his shoulder again.
Opening his eyes, he looks up into his five year olds face. "Will, what are you doing?" He asks, reaching to make sure they were both covered.
"I'm thirsty." Will says.
"What?" Richard asks, looking up.
"I said I'm thirsty."
"Okay, go upstairs and I'll bring you something to drink."
"I'm really thirsty." Will says.
"I know, I'll bring it to you just go upstairs." Richard says "Go on and I'll be up in a minute." Richard says, nodding towards the stairs.
"Yes sir." He walks back to the stairs
Once Richard's sure that he's upstairs, he gets up. Reaching for his boxers and pajamas he pulls them on before going to the kitchen for a glass of water. Taking it upstairs, he gives it to Will and then tucks him back into bed before he pulls the door partially closed. Quietly going back downstairs, he finds Cassie still asleep on the couch. Pulling the throw back, he lifts her and then takes her back upstairs. Laying in her in their bed, he runs back downstairs to get the rest of their clothes, returning a few moments later as Cassie's waking up. "Richard." She mumbles.
"I'm here." He says, slipping into bed beside her. "Go back to sleep." He whispers, lightly kissing her forehead before he lies down beside, putting his arm across her waist and pulling her back against him.