DISCLAIMER: The setting and characters belong to CBS, a production company or two, and pretty much anyone who isn't me; I do this for fun and not profit and I only really own Sam and Ellie. Well, that and a new addiction to 'Moonlight'. ;O)
For those of you who've been asking, I've based Fred on Malcolm McDowell; a wonderfully eccentric person and a brilliant actor.
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
Summary: Fred's visiting and Josef turns up to make Sam go with him to New York. Ah well, at least Fred's there to stop them killing each other. But what if he leaves?
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COMPLICATIONS
Chapter Ten – Sorry
Sam was chatting with Fred when Josef arrived at the door with plan B to get her to New York; Fred was on his way home after a night visiting some friends. It was dawn, and Sam knew he would have to leave soon to avoid the worst of the sun.
"I bet you'd love the winters in England, Fred – we have lots of dark days." She smiled.
The older vampire chuckled "I have lived there actually; you're quite right of course, but I'm afraid I was worried about getting rising damp from all the rain."
Sam chuckled just as someone began pounding on the door, she rolled her eyes "that will be Josef."
She went to answer it "what is it; you want to ignore me at weekends now too?"
He didn't respond to the taunt "can I come in?"
"If you have to."
He followed her in; his eyes narrowing as he saw Fred sitting at her table. "How'd youget in, I've been sitting out front for the last half hour……?"
"There is a back way Josef, not that that's any of your business; my apartment, my friend."
"You're coming with me; you and the monster – to New York." His tone brooked no argument. He should've known better where Sam was concerned.
"No, we're not. Not only have I got Ellie to think of, and we've made plans this weekend, but I also have Dopey and Mischief to organize. Oh and you are so lucky they're in with Ellie; or you would be being hissed and growled at bigtime." Her eyes sparked anger.
Josef merely looked bored "oh wow, lucky me – to be spared a hissing cat and growling dog; how did I survive such terrors for over four hundred years!"
"Don't you mock my pets – that hissing and growling is just a warning of impending biting." Sam glowered.
"Listen, if they bite me; I bite them – and they will come off worse, trust me!" he glared back.
"You do that and I would stake your sorry heart – remember I know what being staked does to you lot. There you'd be completely helpless, while I did whatever I wanted to you."
She was still glaring; but the more erotic association with what she was saying, had him standing very still as he endeavored to get his suddenly renegade body parts under control.
"What? What is it?" she eyed him suspiciously.
"What?" he tried not to sound tortured.
"You look like you're in pain." He could see concern flaring in the depths of those deep blue eyes.
"In a fashion" he managed to grind out, cursing his treacherous body.
Sighing as if exasperated more with herself than him, she dragged him to the table by an arm; pushed him into a seat and then headed for the window "Archie? Hey Archie!"
The large black man exited the car and stared up at her "Yeah?" He suddenly looked worried "you haven't killed him, have you?"
"What?No! God no, I just…..wait, why is everyone so obsessed with whether or not I've killed him?"
"Because you threaten it so often, they're in danger of believing you?" Josef offered helpfully; a little happier now he was getting his rampant libido under control.
Sam shot him a glare before calling down to her friend once more "go home Archie; we won't be going until later, if we go at all, so you'll be better off with your Shirley."
He smiled gratefully at Sam "awww, thanks……." There was the briefest of hesitations "you sureyou ain't killed him?"
Sam rolled her eyes "positive; cross my heart and everything." She did the accompanying gestures.
Archie grinned and got back in the car; moments later he was gone.
"He'smy driver – I get to say when he goes." Josef scowled.
Sam flipped open her phone, moments later she handed it to her boss; Josef could hear Archie's voice "its fine, Archie – Sam hit the wrong speed dial."
Archie sounded a little nonplussed "Oh, okay Mr Konstantin. Well, I'll be at home,; phone when you need me."
Josef flipped the phone shut "very amusing; you're so funny I don't know why you don't do stand up."
"I keep being told that" she shot a grin at the clearly amused Fred "maybe I will one day."
Fred rose, sensing the mistrust and dislike radiating from the other vampire "I'd better go Sam" he kissed the young woman on the cheek and ignored the barely audible growl from Josef "I have a nice bed that's calling me."
"I thought you slept in a freezer?" Sam frowned slightly.
"Ah, but it's a very luxurious one." He smiled at her.
She laughed and slapped his arm as she showed him out. The moment the door was shut she strode back in "you growled at him…….I heard you growl!!"
Josef frowned "it was your dog."
"My dog is in with Ellie – it was you! Why in God's name did you growl at him?"
"I didn't; but even if I did, he kissed you."
"Youdid - and he did, on.the.cheek; so what's your point? He's a friend; he's been more of a friend than you have. Take the last few weeks, take last week even. Fred and Mick were round here every night, making sure I was okay, cheering me up when I cried…."
Josef, who'd been studying the floor, suddenly looked up "you cried? You never cry, I mean not ever……well, not that I've ever seen….I…"
Sam hurtled up to him "what do you know about it? What would you see these past few weeks when you wouldn't even look at me Josef?!" Angry tears flooded her eyes and the vampire could feel the hurt radiating off her "I had a bad cold last week and I bet you didn't even notice; you've treated me like I don't exist and I don't even know what I've bloody done!"
Before he could say anything she slapped her forehead "oh wait I do; how stupid of me, I drive you crazy! That's what I do wrong, 'cept I don't know what I do to do it!"
He was on his feet "I'm sorry, all right I'm sorry!" he scraped a hand through his hair "I…it's just that you…..look, come to New York, bring the monster. I'll explain then, alright?"
"No, it's not bloody alright!! I can't just up and leave….I….." the tears spilled as her anger faded; her voice fading to a whisper "you hurt me Josef, really hurt me and I was your friend and I liked you and….."
He had her in his arms before he even took another breath. He hugged her so tight that she couldn't breath; held her body tight against his, his lips close to her ear as he muttered "I'm sorry Sam, honest; I'm sorry."
His lips drifted briefly to her neck – the fire raging through him, left him unable to think straight. He'd seen the tears on her cheeks, felt her hurt and now her confusion….but it was all swept away……..his lips moved slightly over her neck...
"What are you doing to my aunt may I ask?!" came an indignant little voice from the across the room; followed by hissing and a deep growl…….