A Fresh Start
Chapter Two Hundred Thirty Seven
The soft light of the sunrise flows through the windows. Rolling to his side, Jeffrey wakes up. Sam is beside him, still asleep. Reaching over, he brushes her hair back and watches her smile. Leaning in, he gently kisses her forehead before he pushes the covers back and gets up. Walking into the closet, he gets dress and before he leaves, he pulls a pad from his nightstand and leaves a note for Sam. "Gone for a run, I'll be back before you go to the office. Love J" He lays it on his pillow before he leaves the room.
An hour later, he's walking up to the house when a man approaches him. "Colonel O'Neill." Agent Palmer says.
"Yes." Jeffrey says, looking up.
"I'm Agent Palmer. I was sent here by the director."
"I know. I asked for the protection. Why are you on the doorstep? Why didn't you knock?"
"I did, but no one answered."
"What do you mean no one answered?" Jeffrey says, walking up the steps.
"I knocked twice and rang the doorbell once and no one answered." Agent Palmer says, as Jeffrey unlocks the door and walks in.
"Sam." He calls, as she coming down the stairs.
"I'm right here and you said you would be back before I went into the office." She says, looking behind him.
"Why didn't you answer the door when Agent Palmer knocked?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear the knock."
"He rang the door bell as well." Jeffrey says, as he closes the door behind them.
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear it. I was in the shower. How do you do?" Sam says, holding out her hand.
"Good, ma'am."
"It's fine to call me Sam."
"Yes, ma'… Sam." He says, as Jeffrey turns to him.
"Were you briefed on the situation before you left Chicago?" Jeffrey asks.
"J, you need a shower. You've got a meeting in an hour." Sam says, as Jeffrey looks at her. "I can tell him about what's going on."
He looks at her and then turns to Julian. "No matter how much she'll try to down play what's going on. It's extremely important…."
"I think I can impress upon him the importance of the situation." Sam says, as Jeffrey looks at her.
"I can't argue the point with you right now because of this meeting. I'll see you at one for the doctor's appointment."
"Yes."
"Good. I am trusting you with the two of the most precious things in my life, my wife and our unborn child." Jeffrey says, turning to Julian.
"There's no pressure or anything." Sam says. "Go take a shower before you freak him out."
"I'll come down before I go and be sure to eat before you go down."
"Yes, father." She says, teasing him.
"I love you, therefore I protect you."
"Shower, go." Sam says, pointing towards the stairs.
"Are you sure you don't want a hug before…?"
"Don't you dare, I just took a shower and I don't have time for another one and neither do you have time to continue playing." Sam says, pointing towards the stairs as he smiles, leaving them alone as he heads upstairs. "Alright, so what do you know about why you're here?"
"I know it's a protection detail, ordered by the director because your life was threatened by someone close…."
"First, my life hasn't been threaten, not officially. Jeffrey believes that my brother will try to keep me from testifying to help a woman that brought her daughter to me for treatment. She was arrested for kidnapping because she didn't return her daughter to her father when the time came. She brought her to me instead. Jeremiah sent in a man to demand that I return the girl to him. I refused and the man as arrested. After which, I treated the girl. I gave my statement on the girl's injuries to Frank Cooper and social services were called in."
"Can we get to the part where your brother threatened me?"
"Let's be clear about this, Jeremiah hasn't actually threatened me, not in so many words. It's all in Jeffrey's imagination."
"If it's only in Colonel O'Neill's imagination, why did the director order me here?"
"Likely because my brother is already under investigation for various federal offenses, I spoke with a man shortly after all this happened, and I volunteered to testify in the mother's court case pertaining to the girls injuries. This man wanted to speak to me about that and I made an appointment with this man to meet at Company this past Monday."
"What happened at the meeting?"
"Nothing, the guy never showed up. Jeffrey thinks that he spooked him by being with me."
"Is there reason to believe that this man was a threat to you?"
"There are a few indications. We spoke with the victim's mother and she told us that the man we were to meet was a man paid to be muscle for my brother. Jeffrey thinks that he was coming after me to kidnap me for my brother."
"I don't know why he was coming for you, but he was coming for some reason and given the fact that he tried to force you to leave on our wedding day and the fact that he's moved his entire congregation to a town north of here, is an indication that he wants to do something to you." Jeffrey says, walking into the living room.
"Why did your brother try to force you to leave on your wedding day?"
"Do we really need to go into that? It has no bearing on this."
"It goes to his possible motivation." Agent Palmer says, as Sam looks at him.
"You want to know his possible motivation. I'll tell you what his motivation is. I've lived my own life. I turned my back on everything I was taught growing up. I'm an agent of the US government and my family, well we've never been too fond of the US government, since let's say 1865. I haven't done what he and…" She stops for a moment, and then turns away.
"Sam."
"I've got to go. I'll be downstairs."
"Sam, wait." Jeffrey says. He turns to Julian. "We'll be right with you." He says, before going after Sam. She's standing in the middle of the laundry room. Jeffrey stops when he reaches the room. "He only asked…."
"I know why he asked the question. I know what he wants. I've asked that question every time I've been assigned a protection detail." Sam says, turning to him.
"He needs a little history."
"I've given him history."
"Sam."
"I'm not going to make this about my father and his desperate obsession to hold onto everyone that came in contact with him. Jeremiah wants to control me again, bring me back into the fold, whatever you want to call it. I'm testifying. Jeremiah is going to try and stop me so therefore I need a bodyguard."
"We don't have to make this about your father. But he does need background into Jeremiah and what he's thinking."
She looks at her watch. "We can tell all of this to him later. You're late for a meeting and I need to open the office." She says. "We'll tell him, just later." She says, at his look.
"Alright, he doesn't need your life's story right now." He says, reaching for her hand, which she takes. They walk into the living room together.
"I'm sorry." Sam says, as they walk up.
"It's quite alright. I didn't mean to bring up painful memories."
"They are painful, but that's no excuse to go off on you like that. I know the reason you asked the question, suffice it to say that me and my brother have been at odds for many years for various reason. Right now, it's because I'm testifying for someone that he counts as a traitor, which leaves me as a traitor as well because of my testimony. He'll likely try to stop me." She looks at Jeffrey. "In my current condition we're both worried about anything he might be able to do, so you are here to guard me. I have patients that I will need to see at the hospital. I have patients here everyday. I know that my brother is currently under investigation by the Justice Department and IRS. That will make him more desperate too."
"Will you be okay?" Jeffrey asks.
"You need to go." She says, looking at him.
"I really do. I've got a meeting with two council men and I'm running about ten minutes late."
"Go, I'll see you this afternoon at the hospital." She says, leaning up to kiss him.
"I'll see you then and I love both of you." He says, pulling his coat on.
"We love you." She says, as he walks to the door. When he's gone, she looks at Julian. "How long have you been with the agency?"
"I'll be in a year in a few months, ma'am."
"You'll be in a year in a few months and don't call me ma'am. It's Sam, Dr. O'Neill or Mrs. O'Neill. Being that you're protecting me, I think Sam would be fine." She says, walking towards the laundry room.
"Where are you going ma… Sam?" He asks, following her.
"Downstairs, my office is downstairs. I need to unlock the doors and open up the office for my staff."
"Ma'am, Sam. I need to go ahead of you to secure the site." He says, walking around her.
"There's no…." He looks at her. "Alright, go ahead. But there's not need to do this. No one has gotten in."
"You don't know that ma'am." He says, walking in front of her.
"Actually, I do. The whole house is set to an alarm. It's set every night after the staff leaves. If someone breaches the alarm, believe me we would've known about it."
"Unless, they bypassed the security alarm." Julian says, as they reach the bottom of the stairs. "Please wait here while I confirm the room is secure. If anything…."
"I know what to do. I'm not helpless." Sam says, looking at him
"Yes ma'am." He says, smiling.
"Don't smirk. You're dealing with a pregnant lady." She says, as he opens the door to the break room.
"It looks clear. I want you to stay in this room until I've secured the rest of the office." He says, walking towards the door.
"Before you go, you might want me to turn the alarm off." Sam says, as he steps into the hallway.
"Why?"
"I have a state of the art system." Sam says, stepping around him and into the hallway. "It's set with motion detectors." She says, turning to the wall behind her. "You move through the office without turning off the alarm and it sets them off." Sam says, punching in the code.
"If you have this much security, why do you want me here? And why do you have this much security here?"
"There's a high demand for prescription drugs for illegal use, as well as I have extensive private information in my patient's files." She says. "Now you want to go through every room before I let my staff in."
"I will follow you." He says, as Sam turns away. "With this security system, why do you want me here?"
"I'm not afraid of what my brother could possibly do while I'm in my home. I feel very safe here. It's the daily errands I have as Jeffrey's wife…."
"You're also first lady of Springfield."
"Well, yes I am. Although I don't have much business as the wife of the mayor."
"Why not? Don't you support your husband's job as mayor?"
"Of course I support J but he was mayor before I was in the picture." Sam says unlocking the front door and opening it for Leah. "Good morning Leah, this is Agent Julian Palmer. He's here for our protection." She says as she closes the door.
"Are we in danger Doctor?"
"No, I don't think so, but Jeffrey and I brought him in as a precaution until the trial for Arianna's mother is finished."
"Is it because of the man that came here when she was brought in?"
"No, that gentlemen came back and explained to both Jeffrey and myself why he was here and he never meant any of us any harm."
"How do you know that ma'am?" Leah asks.
"I know because he's an agent for the government and undercover. Agent Palmer, here are the rules while I'm with patients." Sam says, turning to him.
"Rules?"
"Yes, you can walk the hallway, the lobby and office area. You can stand out side the door when I'm examining a patient. There's no need for you to be in the lab…."
"If I'm not able to patrol the building…."
"Patient privacy, I must protect it." Sam says, looking at him.
"I won't know what's going on, Dr. O'Neill."
"I still can't allow it. You can check the room in the morning and at night, but during the day, you can't go in." Sam says, walking back to her office. "This is my office, when I'm in here, you can clear the room when I first enter but after that stand guard outside. I don't mind if you stand in the hallway while I'm with patients." She says, as Leah walks up. "Yes."
"Are you ready to look over yesterday's patient files?"
"I'll be right there. The back door is opened for the other girls?" Sam asks, as Leah nods. "Good, Agent Palmer." Sam says before she turns and walks away.
"Where is this back door?" He asks.
"Around the corner from the break room." Sam replies and he leaves.
"Why do you have an agent here?"
"J felt that I should have one until this case with Arianna is over."
"And who is threatening you?"
"My brother." Sam says, walking over to her desk. "Let me see Ms. Cutter's file." She says, as she sits down.
"Here is her file. Your first appointment is in about ten minutes."
"Thank you, I'll look these over and make notes."
"Yes ma'am." Leah walks out of the room, nodding to Agent Palmer
"Dr. O'Neill." He says from the doorway. Sam looks up. "Until this matter is settled I feel it would be best if you kept the back door closed and locked. It will allow all traffic to come in through the front."
"Only my employee's use the back door."
"It's still safer this way."
"Alright, I'll let them know."
"Yes ma'am. I'll be in the hallway." He says, as Sam nods.
Rolling to her side, Cassie wakes up. Richard isn't in the bed beside her. Sitting up, she looks around as he walks out of the bathroom. "What time is it?"
"A little after eight."
"Eight! What about the boys?" She asks, pushing the covers back.
"The boys are fine. They are at school."
"You got them up and ready for school."
"Yes and I let you sleep later since today will be a very long and busy day."
"I've got to go to the Beacon and oversee the preparations for the announcement tonight." She says, stretching.
"I know, but I want you to promise me something."
"I'm not leaving…."
"I wasn't going to ask you to do that anyway. I knew you wouldn't, but would you please take a moment to rest and let Reva handle some of the preparations."
She looks at him and smiles. "I won't over do it." She says, as she gets up. "Where are you going?"
"To City hall for a quick meeting with the company from Little Rock and then I'm headed to meetings with Miles to polish up the speech and get everything in order at my headquarters."
"Alright, I need a shower and then I'm on my way to the Beacon."
"I will see you this evening."
"We're bringing the boys with us tonight?" He asks, as she walks to the bathroom.
"I thought we would. Do you not want them there?"
"No, I do. I was only asking." He says, walking over to her.
"Alright, I'll see you later." She says before she leans up to kiss him. Stepping back, she says. "Good morning, Mr. Mayor."
"I'm not mayor yet."
"Oh, but you will be."
"I love you, both of you."
"We love you too. Have a good day."
"I will. And be sure to eat something before you leave."
"I will." He leaves and Cassie goes into the bathroom.
"You'll feel better in a few days Ms. Harper." Sam says as she comes out of the exam room.
"Thank you Dr. O'Neill." She replies, before she turns to leave.
Sam turns around and walks back to her office. Laying a file on her desk, she leaves again. Julian is waiting for her. "I'm going upstairs to get my purse and coat. Leah will lock up the office and we'll leave from upstairs." Sam says, walking towards the break room.
"Where are we going?"
"To Cedars, I have a doctor's appointment and then I have to see about a patient. Jeffrey is meeting us at the hospital."
"What's the appointment for?" He asks, as Sam looks at him. "Ah, okay that was a dumb question. "I'll need advanced notice before your next appointment."
"No you won't. You're not disrupting the operations of Cedars to guard me. I will send you back to Chicago right now. I agree for you to guard me."
"And part of that is to sweep wherever you are for security breaches."
"Agent Palmer, listen to me. As your superior, I'm giving you a direct order. You will not disrupt anything at Cedars. You will accompany me to hospital to see patients, for my own doctor visits and any errands I have around town, that is the extent of you security detail, is that understood?"
"Yes ma'am, however I'm not sure your husband…."
"I'll handle my husband. I agreed to a guard to be with me, nothing else." Sam says, walking upstairs with Chris behind her.
"I would rather you leave with from one exit." He says as she reaches the living room.
"Upstairs, is secure. Leah will secure the office and I'm pregnant. I'm not walking back downstairs so that we can all leave from one exit." Sam says, walking over to the table by the front door. Reaching from her coat, she slips it on and then her purse. "Are you ready?" She asks, turning to him.
"Yes ma'am." He says, walking over to the door. "Wait while I check the area."
"This is…."
"I'm here to protect you. That means I check the area before you leave a building and you walk no more than a few feet in front of me and when we're on the street, you walk to the inside of the sidewalk."
"Check the area." Sam says, standing back as he opens the door. He does a quick check and then steps back as she sets the alarm before she steps out and he closes the door behind them. She locks the deadbolt before she turns to him. "We can go now?"
"Yes ma'am. At some point ma'am, you will need to give me the codes for the alarms." He says, as he follows her down the steps to the sidewalk leading to her car.
"This is your car? And this is how you park it?" He asks, as staring at the mustang.
"Yes, this is my car. It was a gift from my grandfather. And this is how I park it." Sam says, as she opens the driver door.
"We will have to find some way of securing your car, ma'am." He says as he walks around the car. Getting down on the ground, he looks under the car while she looks at him. "I will drive, ma'am." He says, starting around the car as he holds his hand out.
"No, you won't. I'm perfectly capable of driving myself and no one, not even my husband… well he's only driven this car once and it was only because I was exhausted after an emergency in DC." Sam says, getting in the car. She leans over and unlocks the passenger side door. "Are you coming?" She asks, as he walks back around the car to the open door. Getting in, she starts the car and then backs out. "And for your information, the car has a state of the art burglar alarm on it. It's not available to the general public."
She says, as pulls out onto the street. "If anyone so much as brushed the car while the alarm is armed, they'll hear it in Chicago."
"I brushed it several times. I touched when I got up from the ground."
"And I had disarmed the alarm as we walked up." Sam says, jingling her keys.
"Alright, I'll give you that one. But I would still prefer that your vehicle be locked in a garage."
"Well our garage is falling down right now and there is no way my car is going in that building, so you'll have to depend on the car alarm."
"May I ask how you got agency grade car alarm installed on your car?"
"The director used my car in an op. It was the only way I would let the agency use it. So, I got the alarm and they got to use my car to bring in a gang of car thieves."
"So it has remote access to it?"
"Yes, among other things." Sam says, pulling up to the hospital. She parks a few spaces down from Jeffrey. She gets out as he walks up.
"Hi." He says, leaning over to kiss her.
"Hi." She replies, stepping back after kissing him.
"How are things going?"
"We're working things out." Sam says, slipping his arm around his waist.
"Sam!"
"I've agreed to let him guard me. I'm only setting the rules. Now we have to go, because we're going to be late." She says, turning for the hospital. Jeffrey and Julian follow her after a few seconds.
When Cassie walks into the ballroom, Kevin is standing in the middle of the room. She walks over to him. "Good Morning, Mr. Harrison."
"How are you Mrs. Winslow and please call me Kevin."
"I'm fine. What's going on?"
"I stopped by to look over the staff as they set the room up per our discussions. Do you know if Richard has written his remarks for the announcement?"
"He has. He was up most of the night with Miles working on it. Miles will likely be with him today after his meetings to polish it up."
"I certainly wish he would use a local speech…."
"He feels that Miles will be better suited for the position. They worked well with each other in San Cristobel."
"That's what concerns me. We will have to address the fact that he is from another country. Do you know if he's mentioned it in his announcement?"
"I haven't read it, but I'm sure he realizes that it's something that will have to be addressed. Is there anything you need me to do?" She asks. He starts to say something and then stops. "What is it?"
"I would like you to speak to him about limiting the schedule to a six day schedule."
"I'm sorry but I can't do that."
"Ma'am…."
"He's running for Mayor, but his first priority is his family. That will always be his first priority. That was his first priority when he was Prince. That was his first priority when he President and he will not change now."
"He's running in an election that some might consider him an underdog."
"My husband has never been the underdog, Mr. Harrison. He might come in at a slight disadvantage being from San Cristobel, but he's a born leader and a born politician. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to the kitchen to speak with the head chef about the menu for tonight." Cassie says, turning to walk away.
"Everything is progressing very well. The baby is growing and nothing seems to be amiss." Dr. Sedgwick says. "Your health seems to be doing well. I would like a little more calcium intake. But other than that, pregnancy seems to suit you, Sam." She says, as Jeffrey helps her up. "How are you doing?" She asks, looking at Jeffrey.
"I'm great." He says with a smile.
"Do you have any questions?"
"No, we're both fine."
"I noticed the gentleman that is in the lobby." Dr. Sedgwick says, looking at them.
"It's simply a precaution." Sam says.
"I don't have to remind you what stress will do to a pregnancy, Sam. Whatever is going on, you have to make sure that you stay as stress free as you possibly can."
"I'm fine. Agent Palmer is only here as a precaution and he won't be here for long." She says.
"I hope not. Alright, I will see you in a month and at that time we'll do your last ultrasound before the birth."
"Good." Sam says, as Jeffrey helps her off the table. "Thank you Dr. Sedgwick."
"You're welcome and remember what I said, whatever this is that's going on, keep it as stress free as possible around you."
"We will." Sam says, as Jeffrey nods.
"Then we'll see you in a month." Dr. Sedgwick says, opening the door for them. They walk out. "I have another patient."
"We know the way, thank you." Jeffrey says, slipping his arm around Sam's waist as he holds his hand out.
"You're welcome." She replies, as they shake hands. She goes the other way as they turn for the front lobby.
"You realize that you just lied to her." Jeffrey says, as Sam looks at her.
"Agent Palmer is here to keep the stress away from me, is he not? Isn't that why you wanted him here, because it's not that you don't believe I can protect myself."
"It's a little of both." He says, as she looks at him. He opens the door and she walks out with him following her.
She turns to the receptionist as Agent Palmer stands up. She finishes making her next appointment before she turns to Agent Palmer. "Could you go to the car? I would like to speak to J alone."
"Ma'am…."
"He won't leave my side and he'll deliver me to my car before he leaves. Not to discount your skills, but he can protect me better than you can."
"Yes ma'am. I will be waiting in the lobby ma'am."
"Thank you." Sam says before Agent Palmer walks away. "Would you explain what you meant when you said it's a little of both?" He looks at her and then he turns away. "J?" She says, reaching out and stopping him.
"I'll explain, just not here." He says, leading her out of the office. They stop in the lobby beside the elevators. "I know your training and I know you can defend yourself. I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about you not being physically able to. I'm worried about someone coming up behind you and over powering you and there will be nothing for you to do because they've plastered a rag over mouth with chloroform and knocked you out. And then I worry about if that happened what it would do to him and you. I know you can handle yourself. I've seen you do it. I don't want you to have to. You're already having small problems with movement…."
"I'm…."
"You cover it, but as the time goes on and the more he grows, it will slow you down and that's just the type of advantage someone trying to kidnap you will exploit. And your brother is not above trying to kidnap you."
"Alright, I understand what you're saying. I don't like that I have to depend on someone else, but I told you that I would and I will."
"Good, now do you want to go see Blake?"
"Yes." She says, as they put their arms around each other.
\ Jeffrey pushes the button for the elevator. They step to the side to let everyone off when it arrives and then they walk on. He pushes the button for the sixth floor without Sam telling what button to push. "You've been to see her." Sam says, as she moves into the corner.
"I've came by a few times since it happened."
"Did you talk to her?"
"I wanted to, but didn't really know what to say. She was poisoned because of me." He says, glancing at her.
"Ditkin's poisoned her, not you."
"But he tried to poison me because I wouldn't drop out of the race. I wanted it redemption and it almost cost her, her life."
"You deserved to move on and Ditkin's is responsible for her being poisoned, not you. And you should talk to her. It might be part of the reason that she's still in this condition." She says, as the elevator stops and the doors open.
Standing in front of them is Dr. Jasper. "If it's not the glorious Dr. O'Neill."
"Dr. Jasper." Sam replies, as he moves out of the way.
"You know you have no business getting Mrs. Reid's hopes up." He says. "We both know that there is no way to bring a patient back from coma medically."
"Outside stimulation has proven to bring coma victims back." Sam says, turning around.
"With varying results."
"As it happens with every new medical treatment."
"I wonder did you take over the care all the patients in your previous hospitals."
"What threatens you, Dr. Jasper, the fact that I'm a woman or the fact that I might be right about Mrs. Marler's care?"
He steps closer as Jeffrey steps closer. "I don't like being upstage and I certainly don't like you stealing my patients away from me." He says, as Sam smiles.
"Good day, Dr. Jasper." Sam says, turning to leave. Jeffrey follows her after he takes a long look at Dr. Jasper.
They walk down the hall to Blake's room. "Can you wait out here?" Sam says, turning to Jeffrey.
"I'll be right outside the door." He says, moving to stand against the wall.
"I love when you go all body guard on me." She says, leaning up to kiss him.
"I protect what's mine." He says when she steps back.
"I'll be out in a moment." She says, as she pushes the door open. She finds the room much like she found it the first time she came to see Blake. Sighing, she walks over to the blinds, pulling them open before she turns to the bed. She walks over to the bed. "No more hiding, Mrs. Marler. It's time you came back to living." Sam says, turning the TV on and the volume up, not loud enough to be heard all over the floor but loud enough to dispel the quiet in the room. "Your mom has asked me to take over your case. She and your kids are anxious for you to come back to them. You've missed a lot since your attack." Sam says, looking over her chart. "I'm going to speak to the nursing staff about your situation and we're going to bring you back. So be prepared to face the world again."
Sam puts the chart down and then does a quick exam. "Alright, I'll be back tomorrow and we'll see if we've made any progress." Turning away, Sam leaves the room.
Jeffrey stands up as she walks out. "How is she?"
"The same, but that's going to change. I've got to stop by the nurse's desk to speak with the head RN and then we can go."
"Do you want to have lunch after you're finished?"
"That's fine." Sam says, as they walk towards the nurse's desk.
"May I help you?" A nurse asks as they walk up.
"I need to see the head nurse." Sam says.
"That would be me, Ali Jasper. Everyone calls me AJ."
"Alright AJ, I'm Dr. Sam O'Neill."
"Yes ma'am, you've taken over the Marler case."
"Yes I have. I wanted to speak to you about that. I was just in to see her and everything was back to how it was when I first consulted on this case a few days ago."
"Yes ma'am, Dr. Jasper…."
"I'm not concerned with Dr. Jasper. But from now on, I want her room kept exactly as it is now. I want the nurses to talk with her when they go in to check on her. She needs as much stimulation as possible."
"Yes ma'am, I'll tell the nurses about your orders."
"Thank you." Sam says. "I'll be back tomorrow to see her. If anything develops this is my numbers. You call me day or night." She says, pulling out a car.
"Yes ma'am." AJ says.
"Thank you and have a good day."
"Yes ma'am." AJ says, as Jeffrey and Sam turn to leave.
Julian is waiting for them as they step off the elevator. "We're going to lunch." Sam says, as they walk up.
"Yes ma'am."
"Now you remember what I told you about my car."
"Yes ma'am. You've only let the mayor drive the car once and that was because you were too tired to drive yourself."
"That's right." Sam says, taking out her keys. "If there is so much as a scratch, a chip of paint off that car…."
"I'll need the bodyguard."
"You said it not me." Sam says, handing him the keys. "I mean it. So much as…."
"Sam, come on. It's just a car." Jeffrey says.
"It's just a car! Take it back." She says, turning to him.
"What?"
"Take it back."
"You're over-reacting, just a little bit."
"Take it back, or that thing you like to do so much when we're alone, we won't be doing that very much."
"I take it back." Jeffrey says, as Julian takes her keys.
"I will guard her like she was you." Julian says.
"That's a good analogy. Once we've finished lunch, J will drop me off."
"I will be there." Julian says, before turning to leave.
"You're really going to let him drive your car?"
"Yes, I am. You however have been grounded on driving privileges." She says, walking out of the hospital.
Shortly before five, Julie pulls up to her mom's house. She and the kids get out as Maggie opens the door. As they walk up, she says. "I wasn't sure if you would actually bring them."
"I don't have anyone else. Missy is busy with the baby and it's better if they don't go with me." Julie says, as the kids run for the living room. "There is one rule." She says, turning to her mother.
"What's that?"
"You can not take them to see Richard, or his family. I don't want them confused."
"I'm not going to promise that and you don't have anyone else to watch them, so go to Chicago and we'll discuss this when you get back." Maggie says, standing at the door with it opened.
"What do you have planned for this weekend?"
"I don't know. You have to leave."
"Mom."
"I believe Jacob is waiting for you."
"Do not take them to Springfield." Julie says, walking out the door.
"We'll see you when you get back." Maggie says, as Julie looks at her and then out to the car.
Maggie closes the door and then she walks into the living room. "Are you and mom fighting?" Mason asks.
"It's nothing to worry about. Now are you guy's hungry?"
"Yes."
"Good get your coats, we'll go get something to eat and then we're going to a party." Maggie says, as they all get up from the floor.
"Is it a birthday party?" Mj asks, as she slips her coat on.
"No, this is not a birthday party. But you can't say anything to your mom about this party. Remember our secret." Maggie says.
"We can't tell Mommy that we've seen Uncle Richard." Martin says, as Maggie zips up his coat.
"That's right. You can't say anything to her."
"Why is Mommy mad at Uncle Richard? She was never mad at Daddy and Uncle Richard looks a lot like Daddy?" Mj asks, as Maggie opens the door.
"I don't think it that she's mad at him. She's afraid of him."
"She's scared of Uncle Richard! He wouldn't hurt anyone." Martin says.
"We know that and your mom will know that too, but for now we can't tell her that we went to his party tonight and we can't tell her that you've saw him at his office."
"We're going to see Uncle Richard tonight? Will Aunt Cassie be there and what about Will and Rj?" Mason asks.
"I'm sure they'll all be there. But do I have your promise, you won't…."
"We won't tell mom." Mason says, as they all get into the car. A few minutes later, they pull out of the driveway.