How To Protect Sam & Mason's Secret Son?


Mac'IlleMhìcheil Estate – Heather Room

Jules paced the room and watched as Jim checked Sam once more before heading off to bed himself. Sam had a slew of visitors in and out of the room tonight. Marsaili's family had taken to Sam and it seemed as they all claimed him as one of their own once they knew Sam was distantly related to Ailis.

By extension that included her. So many people came to check on her as well as Sam. It felt good on one hand to see so many people care about him and her.

But on the other it sucked. She wanted them all to leave them the hell alone. She wanted to curl up next to Sam and lay her head on her favorite pillow, the left side of Sam's chest. She needed to hear his steady beat and the air moving in and out of his lungs.

Loving Sam came with a price. One she thought she could bear but tonight had put that in question. She had prepared herself for losing him in the line of work. But normal mundane things never, NEVER, ever entered into her realm of thoughts. To lose him that way would actually be more painful than if she lost him while on duty.

Losing him to illness, disease or a god damned whelk just wasn't in the cards and would be nothing short of a damned waste. She wanted to scream in frustration. She wanted to rage at something but how do you rage at illness, disease or whelks?

Jules had tried raging at disease before. She hated cancer with a passion. Her mother fought long and hard and it still won. It took indiscriminately and without warning. At least on duty they were aware of the risk and they could take actions to mitigate them.

But whelks? Irrationally, she did know it was irrational, she wanted to annihilate all whelks off the face of the earth so Sam could never be harmed by one again. What if he tried a dish at a new restaurant and someone inadvertently added whelks or what if they prepared whelks for another customer and then prepared Sam's food and cross contaminated his food? How do you mitigate those risks? How?

Jules turned away from the bed and let the tears drip again. She angrily wiped them away again. No more tears she had told herself several times tonight. But the pang of fear hit her over and over. She wanted to grow old with Sam. She wanted to beat him in wheelchair races. She would too.

The fear of what her life would be without him surged again. It would be empty and lonely. She had promised herself she would never be like her father if something happened to Sam. But damn, after tonight she wondered if she would be able to keep that promise. Right now she doubted she could.

Jules placed a hand to her abdomen and thought I don't even have a piece of him to watch grow like Dad had us five. If Sam died now, nothing of him would live on. The desire for a baby was all consuming at that moment. She wanted a child with Sam so very badly.

She turned back around and looked at Sam. He looked like his normal self now. All the hives had faded, almost as quickly as they had appeared. He was breathing normally like his throat had never swollen shut. If someone hadn't witnessed what happened at dinner they would never know anything happened by the looks of him now.

But she knew, god she knew and it scared the hell out of her.

How could she protect Sam? That drive to protect him had increase a thousand fold when she saw his eyes telling her he was sorry and that he loved her as he struggled to draw a breath in. She needed to figure out how to protect him from whelks.

But first she needed to touch Sam.

Her dull eyes bored into Jim's back without him being aware. Mentally she was compelling Jim to just leave.

She wanted, no NEEDED, Sam all to herself right now. It was jealous and petty but she didn't give a damn what anyone else thought at the moment. Sam was hers and she wanted only him right now.

Her mind conjured and image of Sam's panicked eyes and showed them to her over and over.

It burned the pit of her stomach. Fate was so fucking cruel to him, to her. One moment taking her to the highest of highs and then plunging her to the deepest depths. The yo-yo of emotions was wreaking havoc with her emotional stability right now.

Jim finished with Sam's vitals "You look and sound good as new. Though I suggest you just rest tonight instead of coming down for the entertainment."

Sam nodded. His eyes kept darting to Jules as she paced. He could tell her emotions were running the gamut right now. It didn't help that their room had become grand central station. It was only good manners as a guest in this house that kept him from shouting get the hell out I want to be alone with my wife right now.

He sighed "Can you facilitate my rest by letting everyone know that I'm sleeping and not to visit?"

Jim understood without Sam spelling it out. He would feel the exact same way. Jim would want to be alone with Heather after coming that close to death.

"Yeah Sam. I'll tape a note on your door stating not to knock that you are sleeping. I'll let the guys and Lady Ailis know too and she can spread the word. No one else will be coming by tonight. But if you need me I'm just three doors down" Jim stated.

Sam nodded.

Jim rose and turned to Jules "If you need anything …"

Jules cut him off and spoke brusquely "You are three doors down. I heard."

Then coming to her senses a bit and remembering that all Jim was doing was taking care of Sam she softened her tone and said "Thank you for everything Jim. Thank Heather too. I owe you a great deal."

Jim strode over to Jules and pulled her into a quick hug "You owe me nothing. You get some rest too." Releasing her he went to the door and then said "Goodnight. Tomorrow will be a new day."

He closed the door quietly behind him and softly sighed. It never got easier with Sam. It was like he had to be tested over and over. Sam's life would never be an easy one. Jim had accepted that long ago.

Jim knew he would do what he could to ease his path and mend him when necessary. He blew out an exaggerated breath. Then Jim headed to his room to get a piece of paper to tape the note to Sam's door.

When the door closed Sam opened his arms "Sweetheart."

Jules rushed to the bed and fell into his arms. Her head lay above his heart. She heard it beating. She felt the warm wisps of Sam's breath on the top of her head. The tears and sobs would not be contained any longer. Jules cried and clung to Sam.

Sam held Jules tightly and gently stroked her back. He hated that she had been so frightened tonight. Sam comforted her. She comforted him too just by being in his arms.

There were no words to say. He knew Jules just needed a safe harbor to weather the emotional storm. He would be that harbor. For as long as he was on this earth he would always be Jules' safe harbor.

Sam heard her cries diminish and stop but he could tell she was not asleep.

Jules finally pulled away from Sam and said "I'm going to take a shower now."

"You want company?" Sam asked.

She bit her bottom lip and shook her head "No. Not this time."

He forced a smile to his face and brightness to his voice he did not feel as he replied "Okay. I'll be right here."

Sam watched Jules turn and slowly head into the bathroom. The look in her eyes was withdrawn and analyzing. It was almost like she was working on a puzzle. Like she was trying to find the right piece and it was eluding her. He'd seen that look before and knew she needed time to sort out things in her head.

He rearranged the pillows and laid down. Sam intended to stay awake until Jules was out of the shower and then get one himself. But the stress on his body demanded he sleep. His eyelids got heavier and heavier until they closed and Sam drifted into sleep.

Jules took a very long shower. She had to get a hold of her emotions. The warm water cascading down on her head and down her back had eased the tension from her muscles.

Once she relaxed her mind started righting itself. By the time she got out of the shower she was of rational mind again. She knew she would be able to puzzle out a plan to keep Sam safe from allergic reactions to foods. She just needed a bit of time to let her mind work on the problem.

She dried off, dressed and brushed her towel dried hair. Jules returned to the bedroom intending to let Sam know she was feeling more herself. But that did not happen.

Jules exited the bathroom and looked at the bed. "Awww" softly wisped from her throat. Sam was sound asleep. He always looked so young when he slept.

She quietly turned off the light and crawled into bed next to him. She felt his arm instinctively gather her close to him. Jules heard him sigh in his sleep as he buried his face into her hair.

This felt so right, so good.

Jules would take every moment she had to spend with Sam on this earth and cherish it.

Together they would fight against the cruelties of fate and win. Together they would do all in their power to keep each other safe so they could race wheelchairs in the old folk's home.

Rahmiel whispered in Jules' ear "Stay in the light and rejoice. You will be tried time and time again and endure pain and worry. But you will get to race Sam in the wheelchairs. Oh and yes you will definitely win."

Matt laughed "Um, I beg to differ. Sammy is gonna win."

Rahmiel grinned "Matt go renew yourself, you're looking shabby again. I have them covered tonight."

"I shouldn't leave" Matt responded.

Rahmiel floated over to him "But you must. You need your strength for tomorrow."

Matt groaned as he remembered tomorrow was the tug-o-war event. He faded to renew. Rahmiel was right of course, as always.

He relied on Rahmiel so much. Rahmiel had been a guardian angel for eons and Sam was his first charge. Matt was the rookie. Matt laughed, a very experienced rookie. He had more experience with Sam these past few years than some GA's have in hundreds of years.

But Matt really did appreciate everything Rahmiel did to help him. He had made some serious mistakes along the way and Sam was harmed but he was learning. And quite frankly, between them they had their work cut out for them with these two.

After Matt faded Rahmiel floated back over to Jules who was just in the first stages of sleep. The perfect time to whisper, charges tended to hear better just before falling asleep or in their dreams.

So Rahmiel whispered in Jules's ear again "This is how to protect Sam from whelks …"


Day 5 – Mac'IlleMhìcheil Estate – Breakfast Room

The group all gathered in the breakfast room in the morning. Everyone asked Sam how he was feeling and he just smiled and said great and I'm looking forward to the day. They all accepted that and conversation quickly changed topic to today's events with no one wanting to dwell on what happened at dinner last night.

As Sam sipped his coffee between bites of his favorite oatmeal he quietly watched Jules. She was glowing today. Jules' hair was pulled back into a pony tail in preparation for the tug-o-war games. Sam was glad to see the spark back in her eyes this morning.

Last night she had been withdrawn; him almost dying from eating whelks was the cause. Sam knew without a doubt that if he had quit breathing completely that Jim and or Heather would have performed an emergency tracheostomy to facilitate his breathing. He had tried to reassure Jules of that this morning but she just smiled and said she knew that.

But then Jules had declared that all of Team One was going to add an EpiPen to their uniform pocket that contained the pressure dressing. Additionally, she stated that she would carry one in her purse and put one in the gloveboxes of both their vehicles. And when he went camping he was to pack five pens. That way they would be prepared if he ever had an allergic reaction.

Jules then laid down another condition and told him that for his safety he was also to ask what was in new foods before simply eating them. That way he could mitigate the risk of having an allergic reaction. Jules stated that it wasn't foolproof but that's how she could help protect him.

When she was done she crossed her arms and gave him a look. Sam thought that her look was reminiscent of his Mom's when she was in protection mode. He could see Jules would fight him tooth and nail if he disagreed and she would win in the end. Sam could also see it was very important too Jules.

So he had agreed just to make her happy. Sam rubbed his throat feeling a ghost of an itch. Well maybe not just to make Jules happy, he never wanted to experience something like that again. It had been too damned close and he was bound and determined to remain feeling great. If that meant carrying EpiPens then so be it.

Sam turned his thoughts away from that wretched memory and forced himself to think of something different. Sam smiled recalling that Jules also declared that he could eat dessert first anytime he wanted.

His internal thoughts stopped as a lovely young woman entered carrying a cute little boy with a shock of auburn hair and bright smiling brown eyes. There was something about that boy, he looked vaguely familiar. He didn't have to wait long to realize why he looked familiar when Mason looked up from his third omelet and promptly pushed out of his chair.

Mason saw Calaminag and Lachlann and immediately strode over and enveloped them in a hug then asked "When did you get here?"

Cala answered "We arrived late yesterday afternoon. But we stayed in our room. Lachlann was over tired from the flight. Sorry I missed you at dinner last night."

Mason said "No worries." Then he lifted the little boy from Cala and hugged him as he crooned "And how are you Lachlann?"

Lachlann grinned and held out the small plane he was holding to show Mason and said "I flied. Big plane Daddy."

Mason and Cala locked eyes and froze. Marsaili who was walking over to greet Cala stopped dead in her tracks. The rest of them stopped whatever they were doing and stared; some with dropped jaws. Daddy?

Sam looked at Mason and his thoughts mirrored Blaze's, Jim's and Winds' thoughts. How the hell had Mason kept a son secret? For that matter, why? And by the look of Marsaili this was news to her too. Did the shit just hit the fan?

Cala broke the dead air in the room with a nervous laugh as she said "Oh Mason that is so cute. Lachie called you Daddy. You don't mind do you?"

Mason's face broke into the biggest, broadest grin any of them had ever seen. "Mind? How could I mind? Are you okay with that?"

Cala nodded her head "I would love for Lachie to call you Dad. Every boy needs a father figure."

Mason turned to Marsaili "Do you mind if Lachlann calls me Dad?"

Marsaili's face was bright and smiling "Mason I think that would be wonderful and so very fitting."

By this time everyone but Calaminag, Mason and Marsaili were totally confused.

Blaze cleared his throat "Mason, is there something you want to tell us?"

Mason turned to the room of people and saw their confused looks. He laughed when he realized what this must look like to them.

His smile was broad as he said "Everyone, I'd like to introduce you to my baby sister Calaminag, she goes by Cala and her son Lachlann."

"Sister?" Heather asked still perplexed.

Blaze, Winds, Jim and Sam all smiled. They had heard Mason talk about his sister Cala before. But none of them knew she had a son. They all stood to go welcome Cala.

Mason took Lachlann to the buffet and filled a small plate for him. He picked out Lachlann's favorites. He loved this little guy with all his heart. Well he wasn't so little, he was big for his age. Lachlann was taking after the Srònaich'O' Naoimhín side. Well scratch that, Mason wasn't sure. Lachlann could be taking after his father's side but they would never know that.

It had surprised him when Lachlann called him Daddy. But he guessed at least until Cala found a man she wanted to marry that he would be the only father figure the boy had even though he was technically Lachlann's uncle.

Sam joined Mason at the buffet and said "So Lachlann is your nephew?"

Mason grinned "Apparently now I'm his dad too."

Lachlann turned and showed his plane to Sam "I flied. Big plane."

Sam saw Mason trying to juggle the plate and a pour a glass of orange juice. He said "I bet you had fun. I'm Sam. Can I hold you while your Dad gets your breakfast?"

Lachlann nodded.

Mason said "Thanks Blondie."

Sam lifted Lachlann out of Mason's arms and held him while Mason poured the juice. Sam asked "So how old are you Lachlann?"

Lachlann looked confused and held up various amounts of fingers. Lachlann settled on two then smiled and pointed to the black pudding "Burfday cake?"

Mason looked at what Lachlann was pointing at and answered "Not birthday cake."

"Uh huh. Want burfday cake" Lachlann pouted.

Mason looked at Blondie and chuckled "Kiddo loves birthday cake ever since Cala's birthday two weeks ago." Mason relented and put a small amount of the black pudding on Lachlann's plate.

As they walked to the table Mason said "Lachlann is about a year and a half old. He's big for his age and very talkative too."

Jules looked on as Sam engaged in conversation with the little boy until Mason was settled at the table. Sam put Lachlann in Mason's lap then took a seat next to Mason and the three were laughing as Mason tried to explain to Lachlann that black pudding was not chocolate birthday cake.

She had to stifle a laugh when Lachlann took a bite and promptly spit it back out declaring "Yucky burfday cake."

Poor Lachlann, black pudding was not cake. Heck it wasn't even pudding. Blood pudding was made from pigs or sheep blood mixed with oats and chunks of fat that was packed into a casing then boiled or fried.

Jules watched as Sam gave Lachlann a bite of his oatmeal making sure there was a raisin in the spoonful. Lachlann smiled and said "Yummy, like cookies."

Sam was so good with children and it looked like he had a new convert to his morning oatmeal. Her hand went to her lower abdomen again and felt a pang of longing. He had a natural ease with children more so than with adults. She could see the innocence and joy reflected in Sam's eyes when he was with a young child. She imagined that was probably how he was like as a little boy with his sisters.

Jules' attention turned to the women as Cala was telling Heather a bit about herself. Jules learned that Cala was Mason's youngest sister and she lived in Montreal near her parents. Cala was a free-lance architect that loved to work on restoring old homes but took any job that interested her.

Heather innocently asked "Cala did Lachlann's father pass away?"

Cala looked at Heather and heard the sincerity in which the question was asked. Normally she would say it was none of her business. But all these people, were people Mason cared about and considered his family.

So Cala said "I don't know really. He might be. I don't really know who he was or is."

Jules tensed and given her line of work her mind jumped to the conclusion she must have been raped. But she held her tongue.

Heather said contritely "I'm sorry, I should not have asked such a thing. Please forgive me. Lachlann is a beautiful boy."

Cala smiled "Nothing to forgive and yes he is. Thank you. He looks a lot like Mason did at that age based on the family photo album."

Then wistfully Cala said "I wish I could remember what Lachlann's father looked like. I have a vague thought that his name might be Lachlann. But I really don't know. Even though I cannot prove it, I thought it was such a strong name I chose it for my son."

Seeing the perplexed looks Cala expounded on a topic she rarely talked about "Lachlann is a child made from love. He is a gift from god as far as I'm concerned even though some would condemn me for my actions. My family never did though. They embraced Lachlann and have cherished him from the moment I told them I was pregnant."

"A little over two years ago I was on fact finding business trip to Scotland. I was in London meeting with a client and when he outlined what he was looking for I found a reference home in Inverness. I decided to travel to Inverness via a sleeper train. It sounded romantic and I'm a sucker for romance and history."

Cala's eyes took on a faraway look "I met him on the train. I swear it was love at first sight. That is the feeling I have when I think about it and try to remember. But I only remember bits and pieces or think I remember. It could just be my mind trying to fill the void. I think I met him in the dinner car."

"We must have hit it off because I slept with him. I know Lachlann was conceived on the train because I was a virgin and saving myself for marriage. There must have been something very special about the man to cause me to sleep with him."

"Anyways, I don't recall anything because of the train crashed. When the train was about an hour outside of Inverness several cars jumped the track. I'm not really sure what caused it."

"I was found in my sleeper compartment all alone. I suffered a head injury, a broken leg and internal bleeding. I was in the hospital for nearly two months. I recall boarding the train but nothing past that point other that vague feelings. What I know was told to me by my family and from reading the news reports."

Cala's gaze turned to Lachlann "I was four months pregnant before I realized I was with child. All during my pregnancy I worried so much that the trauma my body suffered and the drugs I had to take to control the pain would have damaged my baby."

Her grinned increased "God blessed me with a perfectly healthy boy. My family, especially Mason have been so supportive. My dad and Mason tried for months to locate anyone on the train named Lachlann."

"They found a few but none could even remotely be Lachlann's father. One was an old priest. Another was of African descent, which my Lachlann clearly is not. The only other Lachlann was nine year old boy."

"Lots of people were hurt and several people died in the crash. There were four men that died. I looked at their pictures in the newspaper. Nothing registered. No one from the train came looking for me. So either he was one of the dead and I got his name wrong, it was just a one night stand to him or he suffered a head injury like me and doesn't remember."

Her voice was light and airy "But like I said I'm a sucker for romance so I choose to believe it was love at first sight and he either died or doesn't remember just like me. At this point it really doesn't matter because Lachlann is loved dearly for who he is not who his father may or may not be."

Marsaili placed a hand over Cala's hand "You are so right Cala, Lachlann is so loved. But I have to say it makes my heart happy that he wants to call Mason Daddy."

Cala hugged Marsaili "I knew I liked you the moment I first met you Marsaili."

Marsaili laughed "Well you might not like me after I tell you I signed you up to be on my tug-o-war team. We needed five and were one shy. I was hoping Lizzy might make it but I understand perfectly that she needs to be home with Sammy."

"Tug-o-war, that sounds fun. Who else is on your team?" Cala asked.

Pointing to Jules and Heather, Marsaili said "Jules and Heather, you and me and my cousin Wynfreda. Wynfreda will be along in a while. She is a late sleeper."

Jules had listened and thought it was beautiful the way Mason's family supported Cala and Lachlann. She could see where Mason came by his big heart. She knew without a doubt that in Mason's heart there would be no difference between any natural children he and Marsaili would have and Cala's son. His heart was big enough for all of them.