Chapter 4

Sami awoke with a start. She heard laughter outside her room and walked out to see Lucas and Will having breakfast. Without thought, she ran straight to him and wrapped her arms around him, crying and laughing.

Will hugged her right back. "I'm O.K. mom, I swear."

After a moment, Sami sat down next to them. "Did you tell your father what happened to you?"

"Just that Brandon found me in some dark cell thingy and saved me. I don't know how I got there-who took me or anything. Just that I was there."

He thought he saw a sigh of relief in Sami's eyes, but Lucas couldn't be sure. He did know that Sami knew something. Something she didn't want anyone else to know. And it bothered him. It bothered him a lot.

He wanted to talk to her but he couldn't think of a legitimate reason to get rid of Will. However, his son picked up on the tension between the two of them and said, "I should probably take a shower." With that he was off.

"It's like he wasn't even phased."

"No," Sami argued. "He noticed the tension between us and left like he was always does. Being kidknapped does have an effect no matter how hard you try not to let it show."

Lucas knew Sami was thinking of herself so he reached out and grabbed her hand. He felt his heart beat when she didn't jump away. Then he chided himself; Sami was with E.J. and he was married to her sister. A scowl formed his face as he thought of that.

"What's the matter?"

"I was thinking of Carrie," he decided to be honest. "I can't believe how fooled I was by her all these years."

"She does have that affect on people."

"That she did. But no more."

"I truly am sorry Lucas."

"It's funny," he said after a moment, "I'm not hurting as bad as when I thought you and Brandon had slept together the night before our wedding."

At that Sami did tense. "What is it Sami?"

"It's nothing." She got up and started putting things away, avoiding his gaze. "It's in the past, right?"

"Obviously it's not. Come on, Sami. Just look at me, will you? Please?"

She had never been able to resist his pleading so Sami took a quick look at him. It was enough for Lucas to see her tears.

"What's wrong?" He moved over to her and held her.

"Why didn't you believe me? I don't cheat. You know that. You know how much it has cost me. And you never once even entertained the idea that I was innocent. Why?"

Lucas held her in amazement as she lost it. He had no idea that she was still hurting so much and that she had even been hurting that much at all.

"I am so sorry Sami. I never meant to hurt you."

"Why? Lucas why? Why couldn't you just believe in me like you promised? You were supposed to be different than everyone else."

"What the hell is going on here?"

They broke apart and Lucas felt himself tense and Sami tense even more. "Mom."