CH.15

They were about 10 hours and halfway when Yuri received a message from his old comrade. Ansfrida had sent him an e-mail which he eagerly opened. It was short and to the point just as she would be in real life. She simply requested that her son had accepted the invitation on her behalf and had only informed her recently of their coming. She prudently stated that she was retired from such madness and would prefer to decline from his offer.

Yuri was sad to know that she wouldn't come to her old friends need but he was even sadder that they had wasted so much time! He had to inform Sami of course about the change of planes. She was to say the least less than pleased. "Are you kidding me? What a selfish cow! After all this and she didn't even think twice about telling us no!" Yuri sighed "I'm sure she thought it through a little" Yuri lied. "Shoot! I had a plan to refuel there. This thing doesn't just run on sunshine you know!" Sami said

Yuri pulled one of his paternal tricks he'd picked up over the years of looking out for Sami.

"Listen lets head for Alkmaar, Call your brother and have him round up the girls and meet us half way. Then we can head back to America more quickly." Sami huffed but Yuri's words made sense "Yeah, fine."

Yuri took a moment to appreciate this moment and get a few questions out "So what exactly is going on with you and Doyle? I'm not prying I just think I should know." Yuri asked. "I want to say we're sort of in hibernation. I think that we've found a place to be for now that isn't to intimate." Sami said not looking at Yuri. "Well may I ask why you can't be intimate now?" Sami tried to think of a good answer but in truth she had none. In her own heart she knew that it was only foolishness that was stopping her. Sami was the only one not to realize it, but he never really changed on the inside.

Her silence was enough of an answer for Yuri "Exactly!" He said before he left her to take care of business

Later that night after they'd landed and she contacted her brother Sami slipped out. She went to sit up alone at the stars. As she reached the top she realized she wasn't alone. Alamimo was quietly sitting looking up at the sky. "Hello, do you mind if I join you?" Sami asked nicely. Alamimo smiled brightly and nodded for her to come closer. They sat for a good ten minutes till Alamimo spoke "Sami what happens to me after this?" He said it very seriously like a child who had no real understanding of the world. Sami tried not to look to sad as she replied "I'm not sure, what do you want to happen?"

"I want to go some place where I can fly for miles and maybe some where peaceful where I can have a family." He said

"Well what's stopping you? After this you could do that." Sami said with some encouragement.

"I don't have any evidence of my existence, how am I supposed start a life if it's not written anywhere that I excise."

"I never thought about that. Well if you can promise me you want be too much of a pervert and stick with us I'll reward you with an identity!" Sami said trying to cheer him up.

Alamimo smiled "That sounds fair enough, deal!"

Sami realized for the first time that Alamimo was actually good at heart and there were parts of him that she could be friends with. They stayed up on the roof for a good hour or so. They talked about their lives where they came from and what they wanted out of life.

"You know" Sami spoke "I really like you." Alamimo jumped "Fantastic! I like you to we should stick together and have babies!" Sami quickly punch him in the arm. "No way! I meant that you're a good friend! Besides I can't have babies anyway…"

Alamimo understood that it was a soft spot that wasn't to be discussed any further.

"Listen it's late, have a good night." Sami said it seemed she wasn't angry about it but Alamimo wouldn't push it.

Ch.16

I do, I don't, I have to!

Sami rolled around under her covers; she was reluctant to wake up to what would probably be another day full of disasters. It was no use though, so she rolled herself out of bed and went about her usual morning routine. This morning however she didn't have to start pushing people out of bed. Her brother was meeting them half way. She crept around the ship careful not to rouse anyone. She gathered up her purse and her camera. Sami thought that she'd use the time to actually do her job and try photographing something's.

Just as she was about to leave she saw that someone was already standing at the door. "So, where do you think you're going so early in the morning" Doyle said with a smirk. "Well I figured I should catch up on some work and maybe look around while we've got time" Sami said. "Sounds like a plan lets go." Doyle said walking out Sami just rolled her eyes. It would be impossible to tell him to stay put.

Sami took some photos after which she and Doyle roamed around the town. For the first time in forever they actually acted like a couple. Making Sami realize that the only thing she was ever fighting was herself. Though neither of them would say it out loud but they were thrilled to be walking around holding hands and laughing. It was like there was nothing wrong in their life; they even managed to squeeze in a few sincere kisses. "Oh hey let's stop here for a minute" Doyle said as he tugged her into a jewelry store. "Oh Doyle…" Sami said exasperatedly. She never wore a lot of jewelry beyond a ring on her thumb and the necklace that had recently been destroyed. "No, come on don't start besides now that your necklace is gone I'm sure you could use something else" Doyle said as he pulled her in a little closer. "Alright." Sami said and Doyle smiled lightly before giving her a very warm kiss. Doyle actually had something a little more endearing than just a replacement necklace planned.

He knew it would be a long hard struggle to find the perfect ring. Sami didn't really like gold so that was out. Then he remembered that she thought diamonds were gaudy, she preferred amethyst. He let her roam around a little on her own. Then he founded it, the most perfect ring in the world. Purple amethyst cut in the shape of a heart and set in a silver ban. Simple and perfect just like his Sami. "Hey come here for a sec what do you think of this one" Doyle said pointing to the ring inside the case. "Oh wow it's beautiful!" Sami said in quiet aw. Doyle smirked 'do I know my girl or what' he thought to himself and Sami whom he didn't know was listening grabbed his hand and replied 'yes you do, you know me better than anyone'. She looked at him as she gave her telepathic reply and Doyle knew that it was now or never.

He laid his arms around her waist "Will you marry me?" he asked. Like everything Doyle says it was blunt and unrefined but very endearing. Sami hid her face in his chest so no one would see her blush. "Yes" her reply was muffled into his shirt. He understood her but he wanted anyone else who was around to hear it to. "Oh! I'm sorry I can't hear you, what was that" Doyle said loudly. "Yes!" Sami said as she gave a little jump of jubilation. With his arms still around Sami he leaned down so that he could almost kiss here "Yes, what?" He asked letting his lips slid into a smirk. "Yes, I would love to marry you." Sami whispered as she pulled him in all the way for a kiss. They had the ban sized correctly there in the store. Doyle was lucky Sami speaks twenty different languages or he and the jeweler would have been tied in a shouting match all morning.

As they walked back to the jet Doyle and Sami we're too involved in them to sense a percents that had been following them. They were just outside the ship when Alamimo came swooping down on them. "Get inside!" He commanded them then quickly moving in on the stalker. Alamimo had them by the thought. It was kyoko "Oh baby how sweet of you to remember I like it rough, but I don't do PDA's!" she said before freeing herself and throwing him down face first. Sami and Doyle, who-of course- hadn't left and ran to his rescue. "So you finally decided to see me in person." Sami said venomously while staying on guard. Kyoko walked up to her sister slowly and gave her a little kiss. "Let them die Sami and come with me" She said as she grabbed her sister by the hands like when they were children. "Between watching them die and helping me kill Tatsuya I will have punished you enough. I would be able to forgive you and you could stay with me always" Kyoko smiled sweetly. The rare and beautiful smile she would only give Sami or her son.

Sami was in and endless swirling of emotions. "No" Sami said firmly as she tried to make a hit on her sister. Kyoko was unable to avoid it and fell to the ground with blood leaking from her mouth. Any kindness or trace of the woman she used to be left her eyes as she got up.

Like a bolt of lightning Kyoko rouse and lurched at her sister. Fast than any of then what seemed possibly she had Sami by the throat. Kyoko had no desire to kill her, well not yet anyway, so she just slammed her into the ground. Not hard enough to kill her but enough to knock her out.

Doyle stood horrified at the surreal scene that had unfolded. He pulled out a few grenades and attempted to take Kyoko out. She didn't seem to move from where she was standing and once the grenades went off he was certain that he had killed her. Once the dust cleared though there was no body to be seen. Then a chill ran down his spin as her heard a twisted little laugh behind him. He never even got a chance to turn his head.

Kyoko seized him behind the neck and sent an electric shock down his spin. Doyle quickly fell to the ground. Kyoko sauntered around him like a vulture till she was certain he was immobile. Then she knelt down in front of him She was about to speak but then she realized that everyone was here. All together again gust 'like old times' she thought bitterly. They were all there like dominos waiting to be knocked down. "How wonderful" she said with an edge of insanity.

The fist to make a move was Joel. Kyoko laughed at herself because he still looked beautiful to her, like a new toy for her to destroy. He sent a wave of sound her way and she was unable to doge it. She skidded back a few feet but then quickly sent back a bolt of lightning. It managed to take out Clifford and Fiona who had followed Joel in the attack. Kyoko sent them flying in different directions. She stopped to laugh with delight at her handy work. In that moment she felt something was wrong. She couldn't move and then a voice chimed in her head. "Well isn't this cozy un!" Shawn said inside of her. She forgot about the extent of his ghost like power. "Now Yuri!" Shawn said using Kyoko to usurer his command. Yuri sent a spiral of flames at her, she was utterly defenseless. Shawn left her body before the fire could consume him as well. That split second after he'd left was time enough to create a small bolt that split the flames around her. Without hesitation she shocked Yuri so aggressively that his body became unrecognizable.

Sami and the others came to after some residual energy passed through her. Sami let out a shriek as she saw what had to have been Yuri's body crumble to a cinder. "No!" Sami sent every bit of energy she had at her sister. Whatever love was left between them was gone now; Sami was aiming to kill. Doyle watched not really knowing what else to do. He looked over the scene and saw that Erik had created a thermal shield around himself and Ani. Then he saw a clump of ash. Something fell apart inside him; he couldn't let Ani suffer any more. And he couldn't let her see another death. Something bubbled inside of him and he let that something fly free at Kyoko and Sami. It was like starlight that had been collected and it was strong enough to send both women flying. Alamimo shouted across the way "what the hell is wrong with you that could have been her shot. It could have ended all this you fool!" Doyle looked straight at him but said nothing. Of course it would have ended things but at what coast. Kyoko stumbled around and looked at Doyle. Fear and madness mixed across her face she made a quick retreat.

Ch.17

Who's baby am I

The team or what was left of it patched each other up and did their best to collect what was left of Yuri. They decided to set his ashes over Shashas grave so they could rest together. After the discussion over Yuri's remains Sami noticed that Ani wasn't in the room. Poor little Ani ran off to weep alone. Sami followed the sound of sobs to Zaks room. She was curled up on the bed with her hands over her eyes. Sami didn't say a word she just took her in her arms and held her. Once Ani could speak she asked a very difficult question, like most children do. "Why did Daddy die?"

Sami took a moment to think of an answer. She hoped the truth would be a good answer "Because someone evil needed to be stopped and your daddy tried to stand up to the evil and stop it."

Ani sniffled "Daddy did a good thing so he should be in heaven right with my Mommy?" Sami pulled her tighter into her chest and stroked her head.

"Yes, baby he did a good thing so he's in heaven with your mommy watching out for you." Sami whispered kindly into her ear.

"Will I have to go away all by myself now cuz mommy and daddy are in heaven?" Ani asked quietly.

Sami didn't even think twice before she spoke "No, you're going to stay with me and Doyle. We are going to take good care of you from now on" Ani was grateful to hear her say that and held Sami tight until she fell asleep. Sami tucked her under the covers and left the room after she was certain it would be alright.

Doyle was still in the front of the ship looking around outside trying to keep it together. Everyone else had dispersed to grieve as they saw fit. Sami Snuck up behind him and gently wrapped her arms around him resting her head on his back. He let his hands slide across hers. He felt the ring on her finger and that put a little bit of light back in his heart.

He undid her arms so he could turn around to face her. "I'm sorry I should have let you end it" Doyle said apologetically. Sami placed a finger on his lips and said "No, you did the right thing I wouldn't have been able to live with my sister's death on my shoulders. There has been enough death already." She looked down then and just let herself cry. Doyle let his feelings out, sort of, by holding Sami so tight she'd probable have some kind of bruising somewhere.

One short hour later Sami's brother was at the door alone. Sami thought this was a curious thing considering he was supposed to bring two young girls with him. She let him in "Not that I'm not happy to see you but where are the other two?" Sami said. Then her brother turned to face her. He had one black eye and one very red cheek. Sami smiled thinking to herself Yuri would have loved this. The marks on his face defiantly had a good story. "Let me guess, you were involved with one of them and got caught with the other one." Embarrassed by the success of his sister's guess Ren looked down at his feet. Sami sauntered up to him and carefully held his face "That is quite the shiner eh." Sami led him to the kitchen and placed an ice filled napkin over his eye. Ren looked around and noticed it was very quiet. He was still pretty young when he'd first met everyone but he remembered how loud and friendly they could be. Silence was only something that came when they had a disaster. "What happened" Ren said flatly to Sami. She sat down on a stool in front of her brother and explained that Yuri had been killed. "NO!" Ren shouted and tears feel from his eyes. Sami brought him in to her chest and let him work out his grief.

After the ship was refueled Sami and Fiona prepared a nice meal so they could hold a small vigil. Every one gathered outside the ship on blankets that had been laid out. They also lit every candle they could find and placed them on the blankets. Before they ate they each took their time to say something about Yuri. They mentioned what a good father figure he was even when he didn't have the answers. That he was a good leader because he valued the lives of his team more than the success of the mission. Most of all the mentioned how much they loved him and how much they knew he loved them back. Ani also said a tearful goodbye "But don't worry daddy Sami will take good care of me because she loves me as big as you do." Alamimo even said a few kind words and he pledged to look after Ani as well as the rest of his sue do children. Ani was particularly happy to hear that her new found friend would remain by her side. It was a beautiful and bitter sweet vigil. Sami hopped that it would put the minds of the others at ease. Which it seemed to because they spent the rest of the evening reminiscing and laughing about all the things they could remember about Yuri as children. Ani played with Alamimo until she fell asleep in his arms.

As he looked at her little sleeping face a single tear fell from his eyes. At first it startled him than he realized that it was the guilt weighing on him that made him act so strangely. He leaned in and whispers in to Ani's ear "I'm sorry for not defending you from this madness my little friend." He sat rocking her for a long while till most everyone had gone to bed. Sami had been watching them the whole night "You're welcome to tuck her in if you'd like" Alamimo smiled "That sounds nice but I think that's a job for her new parents" and he laid her in Doyle's arms. Doyle stood there awkwardly at first but then he looked down at her sweet sleeping face and something just clicked. She felt like a perfect fit in his arms. Like this should have been the life he chose instead of wasting time with people like Van Rook. He looked back at Alamimo and Sami could see the two men had found the connection they needed to be comrades.

Doyle placed her down gently and pulled on the covers. He pushed back her mousey brown bangs and kissed her forehead. Sami gently stroked the sides of her face and placed little kisses on both cheeks. The two tip toed out of the room and made sure the door closed quietly. "You know I'm grateful that we finally have a child but I'm sad that it had to happen like this" Sami said. Doyle nodded "Yeah I know what you mean. I can't believe that I'm responsible for another life. I'm the last person most people would look at and think of as a family man" Sami placed a hand gently on his shoulder "yeah that's true but your stepping up to the plate just fine" Sami said. Then she gave him a reassuring kiss which was followed by one of her famous looks and they crept down the hall to Doyle's room and reconnected.

Sami curled up tightly against his chest and he gently patted her hair. "Well you definitely haven't lost your touch" Doyle purred into hair. She just giggled and gave him a few of her signature kisses.