Mercedes' POV (2:15 in the morning)

It was semi-dark in the wide hallway and the air was cool. I wrapped my jacket clad arms around me, my breath the only sound. The first level of my house was dormant as I tip toed down the steps of the staircase. I looked back at my parent's bedroom silently and thanked God that they couldn't detect a thing. I walked down another wide hall, hearing James' room resounding. I didn't know who was in James' old room and I really didn't care, but as I passed it the door opened. I froze suddenly in shock and turned, prepared to tell the lie of my life.

"I-" I started to say then exhaled in relief. Sam was there, standing in the threshold. He looked as surprised as I was previously.

"Mercy." He said. I took in his Superman tee and snug pajama bottoms. I felt like sighing noisily. It sucked that I didn't have time for proper greetings. He inhaled, about to start a conversation of some sort. I held a finger up, shaking my head.

"Sam I can't talk. Sorry."

"Wait," He said crossing the threshold and closing the door behind him. "Why can't you talk?"

Shit, I thought. "I just can't. Sorry."

I walked to the front door and slipped on a random pair of shoes. I didn't know what to expect when I told Sam that. I was hoping that maybe he would go back to bed or whatever he was doing and leave me alone. But of course he didn't. By the time I was turning off the alarm and opening the door he was there, holding it back for me. I turned glancing at him and wondered how he managed to put a hoodie on and shoes that quickly.

"You're leaving?" He asked.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "What else am I doing?"

"Sorry," Sam said following me out the door. "Don't have to bite my head off."

"I'm not." He scoffed, and I stopped walking. "Go back inside the house."

Rather than listening, he walked in front of me. "Where are you going?"

I looked away. "None of your business."

"How is it not my business?"

I stared at him incredulously and started walking again. "How is it your business?"

"Okay." He agreed, "You got me there."

We turned the corner of my walkway soundlessly. "Why are you following me Sam?"

"Why not?"

I squinted at him. "What?"

"I mean, I was originally going to get a drink," He rephrased. "But when I saw you outside my door looking upset I…" He trailed off, shrugging.

"You what?"

"I don't know. I wanted to figure out what was wrong."

"Rest assured, Sam." I told him. "Nothing's wrong. Now go back inside."

Sam just stood there, looking at me. "Call me crazy, but I don't believe that."

I thought of us standing on the driveway of my house at two in the morning, entirely too late for two teens to be out and about. I understood Sam's point. "Okay, something is wrong. Still it's none of your business and you need to go back to sleep."

"It isn't my business. You're right." He said. "That doesn't change anything though."

"How does it not-" I stopped myself. "Why can't you just-"

"Think about it," He interjected. "We've already made enough noise in the house leaving. If I go back in right now, someone's bound to wake up. Then what am I supposed to do?"

"I don't know. Make up something."

"Mercedes, seriously. What could I possibly say that would prevent anyone from wondering where you are?"

I blinked, actually considering this. Finally I said, "Sam if you make this trip any harder for me I'm kicking you out of my car."

"That means I'm coming with you right?"

"Yes." I decided. "It means you're coming with me."

The first thing Sam did once he got in my car was babble on and on about how cool my Rover was. I told him that no music was to be played in my car because I was trying to think and that wouldn't help. In spite of this, he still scanned through my console for music and made a tsk noise at everything he didn't like. I ignored this as I pulled out of my driveway and onto the road. We were barely down the main drive when I saw Sam try to sneak his iPod onto my music plug. Sam was trying to be inconspicuous, brushing his hand across my dash and slinking his fingers to the volume button.

"You are not slick, Sam." I said turning down a back road.

"What are you talking about?"

"No music." I reminded him.

"But I'm bored." He whined.

"Don't care."

"Come on, what exactly do you need to think about anyway?"

I swallowed back an insult. "I'm not just out here for a joyride. I actually have a purpose."

"Speaking of which," He said fingering a CD in his hands, "What are you doing anyway?"

"It's a long story."

"Well we can't listen to music, so you might as well tell me."

I opened my mouth, my thoughts about to be spoken, but decided against it and shook my head. Why was it so easy to spill the beans every time he asked? I focused on the road as I turned onto highway 169.

"I'm going to Santana's grandma's house."

"This late? Why?"

"There's a lot going on right now," I replied. "And Santana may be in trouble. I don't know exactly what's going on so don't ask, okay? That's why I'm out here right now."

Sam waited awhile before speaking again. "I'm sorry you have to deal with this."

"It's not your fault."

"Do you regret being friends with her sometimes?" He asked suddenly.

I slowed down on the highway. "Excuse me?"

"I mean…" He trailed off and sighed. "I'm not insulting her if that's what you're thinking-"

"It sure sounds like it."

"I'm not, though. Trust me." Sam was looking at me so intensely then that I couldn't help but trust him.

"Santana and you are best friends, but there's something weird about it," He went on, "You're always getting her out of trouble and she continues to act the way she does. Like she wants to keep you running after her or something."

"What are you saying Sam?" I asked, getting irritated.

"It seems like she's trying to keep you straddled to her. It looks like that to me. And if she were a boy I would say it's because she's in love you. Or something."

"Sam you don't know me. You don't know her, and honestly if I were you I would shut up because you don't know what you're talking about." I shook my head, turning to the nearest exit.

"Sorry." He said, for like the fifteenth time tonight. "If you don't want to talk about it, I understand."

"Thanks." I drove in silence for a while, slowly and carefully, thinking about his brashness to my situation. There was so much I wanted to say to him, and so much I wanted to ask. Like how could he already guess what my friendship was like with Santana, or why did he want to know so much about me? But this isn't the time or the place and I don't know how I would begin to ask anyway.

"Do you not want me to come in to her grandma's house with you?"

"I don't know. Why?"

"Well," Sam said, "If you're on a mission, you can't have distractions."

"I'm on a mission now?" I asked.

"Yes."

"And in this case, you're the distraction?"

"Aren't I? Look, that's not even the point. The point is your mission and how I don't need to distract you from it-"

"You say this after you shove your company on me and practically blow my cover?" I interject.

"Yeah." He turned to faced me once I got in Santana's neighborhood. "So it's settled. You go into that woman's house and figure out everything you need to know, while I wait for your return. That way you won't have to explain anything to me you don't want to."

I drove on Maria Lopez's driveway, a bit surprised. I pulled the keys out of the ignition and all the lights of my car flashed off. "Sam, you know you don't have to do that."

"Pfft," He replied, waving his hand in dismissal. "It's called being considerate."

I thanked him for his thoughtfulness, found my door handle in the dark and popped it open. "I won't be too long." I say, looking at his shadowed face.

"Okay." He said. I jumped out of the car and sped walked around the driveway toward Maria's house.

Before I get to the front door, the illuminated Lopez residence stopped me. I lingered on the front yard, looking around and feeling my childhood roar back into my mind. I think of the pool parties consisting of Quinn, Kurt, Santana and I, before high school happened and everything changed. I think of putting on a bathing suit that looked good on me – for once – and walking around town, hanging out at the nearby gas station in the heat of summer. I think of the warm summer nights and everything I had before puberty got the best of us. Everything good I had happened here and now I'm coming over for something completely different. I know Sam must be staring at me and wondering if I've lost my mind, so I force myself to keep going.

Once I get to the front door, I raise my hand up to knock, but think against it. It's way too late to be banging on someone's door. I get my phone out of my pocket and text Kurt to open the door. I waited two minutes.

"Hey Cedes. Um…" He says, giving me a once over. Kurt gave me a questioning look.

"Don't say a word." I'm still in my pajamas, so I must look ridiculous. But at three in the morning, I'm not capable of looking my best.

"Wasn't about to."

"Uh huh." I said, looking around the living room. Santana's backpack was leaning up against the couch. I felt my heart wrench. I hoped she was okay.

"How's Maria?"

"Oh." Kurt starts, looking behind us to the kitchen where I'm assuming Blaine and her were. "She's okay, as she will be, I guess. I don't know I think she's tired like the rest of us."

"Tired like the rest of us…?"

Kurt sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was annoyed with me already. "We're tired of Santana and her bullshit, Mercedes. And don't act like you're not sick of it. Because I know I am, and you are too." Kurt was looking at me like I was insane,. As if I was in on this pact against Santana and her fleeting presence, when in reality I wasn't.

"Never mind that, we have to get back to Blaine and Maria." I didn't get a word out before Kurt was yanking me sideways, past the living room and into the kitchen, where Maria was pouring a cup of something that looked like it was for me. I hoped it was, anyway. It smelled delicious.

"Good evening, Mercy." Maria greeted me, walking around the table to wrap me up in a hug. For a sixty-year-old woman, she had a firm grip.

"Good evening, Maria. Sorry we had to catch up like this."

"Well what can you do right?" She gestured toward the table. "Come, drink some of my holiday punch and we'll talk."

"Okay." I looked at Blaine, who was completely engrossed in something on his iPad, so I'd leave him alone for now.

"Hey Mercedes." He said, gazing up at me from his spot at the table.

Guess not. I sat down across from him and took a sip of my punch. It was warm, fruity, and absolutely delectable as always. "How are you?"

Blaine quirked an eyebrow at me. "At three in the morning? I'm alright."

"Okay!" Maria said sitting down beside Blaine as Kurt sat beside me. "Any news?"

"Not really, M." Blaine started as he stared back down on his iPad. "All I know is that she went to a party with her cousins."

Oh God, I think, remembering the text messages she sent me I haven't even looked at yet. I pull my phone out, and scan my inbox.

3:07 p.m.: Hey, Cedes. Just had a cool convo with Sierra. She helped me think through things. I came to a decision. Call me when you get this.

3:25 p.m.: M, WTF I need to talk to you. It's serious. It's about the treatmentfacility.

6:10 p.m.: M, I'm going away with Sierra. I wanted to talk but there's no time now. I don't know when I'll come back. Don't tell grandma this. Tell her I'm staying with Charlotte for a few days. Make sure she doesn't worry. I'll try and keep in touch. I love you.

I feel the holiday punch crawl up my throat. Why didn't I check phone? I want to throw up, but I have to keep my calm. "Guys!" I exclaim.

"What?" Kurt asks.

"Santana just texted me!"

"Thank God." Maria says, placing a hand over her heart.

"Well what did she say?" Blaine said.

I glance around the table at them and scroll through my inbox to feign finding the message. "She told me that she's staying with Charlotte for a few days." I say. "She forgot to let us know since she's at that party. And she says that she doesn't want us to worry."

"Too late for that huh?" Kurt laughs.

"No joke." I reply.

"Well if that's the case I'm going to bed. I really hate to do that to you guys since you just got here, but a woman needs her sleep. Let yourselves out." And with that Maria left the table, taking her mug with her.

"I have to leave too; I snuck out of the house for this." I state, getting up with my mug and heading toward the door. "Bye guys love you."

"Love you too Mercy." Kurt and Blaine said, smiling at me.

"Call me later?" I ask, looking at Kurt.

"Of course."

"What's this?" Sam asks as I hand him my mug of holiday punch.

"It's delicious, drink it."

"Um, okay thanks."

I back away from Maria's house and turn onto the road in silence. I tear through the highway and get into my neighborhood in record time. I don't know how late it is, but I'm glad that I didn't get pulled over by the cops. As we get near my house I slow down so I won't disturb the neighbors, and partly because I don't want the drive to end. I'm hoping he doesn't either. There's something comforting about having a person there to listen to whatever you have to say. And Sam was that guy.

Soon I see my estate coming into view, and the street sign to my right. We pass the houses beside us, and the trees, and then we're home. I slowly creep into the garage and turn my car off. Then we're in the dark again. I didn't know if Sam was about to jump out of the car or what, so I spoke before he got the chance.

"Thanks for coming with me, you didn't have tp."

"No need to thank me, I wanted to come, remember?"

"Oh yeah." We sit there for a moment. I focus on the light spilling out from the door leading into the house. I'm desperate to say something, anything so that this conversation doesn't end right now, but I can't think of anything to say.

"I wish we could've talked more yesterday." I blurt out.

"Me too. It's okay though, we'll get our chance," Sam agrees before giving me a look.

"What?" I ask.

"Are you okay?"

"Um…" I did have a headache, but so what? "I have a headache. But I'm just going to take an aspirin when I get in the house."

"No, don't."

"What? Why?"

Sam unbuckles his seatbelt and leans across me to grab my shoulder. His face and body are all shadows, and I can only barely make out the lines of his body, and feel his closeness of course. I have no idea what he's doing or planning to do.

"You don't have to take an aspirin, I have an idea. Can I try?" I can feel his warm breath on me, we're that close. He smells like boy and holiday punch.

"Sure." I go along with way too much around Sam.

He reaches out suddenly and puts a warm hand on either side of my face, his thumbs resting on my temples. "I um," He looks embarrassed but doesn't pull away. "My mom used to rub my temples when I was younger because it would always make the headache go away."

"Why didn't you just take an aspirin?" I ask, in a daze from smelling and feeling Sam around me.

He coughs nervously. "We didn't have the money."

I felt bad for asking now. "I'm sorry." I mumble.

"No… it's okay." He pulls back a little and I immediately regret opening my mouth. But he doesn't take his hands away from my face, he's searching my face. I think. The thought of Sam staring at me makes my body temperature rise.

"Tell me if it hurts, okay?" He says quietly. I nod.

Sam put pressure on one of my temples and rubbed in a circular motion. When he did, my whole body relaxed. I felt his other hand brush hair away from my face, and could still feel the impression of his fingers long after they returned to my temples. I closed my eyes, and although there wasn't a difference between the dark behind my eyes or the darkness around us, I couldn't help myself from doing so.

Then, I feel his breath so close to mine I swear he's going to kiss me right here, in my car, at three-something in the morning, but he doesn't. I don't know what he's doing. I do know he's just inches away from my face, and I don't want to open my eyes and ruin the moment. So I keep them closed.

He pulls away a bit after that, and stops rubbing. I open my eyes. "Wow. That felt amazing."

"Really?" I feel him perk up. I nod, and as I do I notice he's still cupping my face.

"I don't even have a headache anymore. Thank you."

"Mercedes." That's all he says, and it's more of a whisper that anything. We sat there like that, just staring at each other. Now, I think. He's going to kiss me. But he retracts his hands and runs a hand through his hair instead.

"Well, we better get inside." I bite out, feeling disappointed. I turn and open my car door, sucking in a breath. "I'll see you in the morning."

I hear Sam call my name as I walk to the door, but I don't turn around. I keep going until I'm back in my room with the door shut behind me and safely alone in my thoughts.

My mom has said many times that as human beings, we're meant to be alone. We come into the world alone, and we go out the same way we came. But as God's children, we are never alone or forsaken. He sees us from birth to the end of our lives unwaveringly. I believe in both philosophies. And still, I feel alone no matter where I am or who I'm with.

Hey guys! It's been a while, right? School and working has really gotten the best of me, but I'm back! Please review and tell me what you guys think! Did you like the Samcedes moment? Did you not like it? Will Santana come back or not? Any criticism? Review please!