Possibly Sam
Chapter 3
I do not own the characters or situations from Moonlight. I just can't get them out of my head. Thank you and Bless you, Powers that Own, for not objecting to Fan Fiction.
I told Beth over the phone that I was going to fly to New York with Josef this afternoon. Before I could ask if she wanted me to come over so I could explain and say goodbye, she asked if there was a problem.
"No problem that you don't already know about. It's Sarah."
A moment's pause on her end -- "Is she…did she…?"
"Neither. Her condition hasn't changed. Can I come over?"
"Of course. I'm at work. I'll be waiting for you." Curiosity and concern filled her voice. I wasn't sure which was strongest but with Beth, it's always a toss up. I called Josef and told him to pick me up at the corner of Spring Street and First Avenue. I'd call him after my visit with Beth. I drank down a quick breakfast, packed for four days and called a cab to take me to the DA's office on Temple Street. I sure wasn't going to leave my Mercedes in that neighborhood to get stolen or trashed.
Beth must have been standing at the door to her office. The minute I was announced, she came rushing out to greet me. She looked great, but Beth looks great in sweats. Her pale hair was pinned up, very business-like. "Let's walk," she said. She smiled to her secretary. "I have to step out. I'll be back in half an hour or so. Tell my 1:15 appointment to wait. Thanks, Bonnie."
It was sunny on the steps. I suggested we take a walk on the shady side of Temple Street. I took Beth out for dinner last night before Josef came over so she was up to date until then. "What's this all about?" she asked. I was tempted to say, 'I'm fine. How are you?' but Beth wasn't one for small talk.
"You remember Sam?" I asked. "My Sam, not your Sam, the computer wiz."
She stopped short. "The medicine man?"
"Shaman. Drummer. Mohawk. You can give him a few more descriptive nouns while you're at it, but don't make him sound old or like something out of a Karl May novel. He's only 25."
"Only 25? Now, you're making me feel old," Beth said.
"Don't forget whom you're talking to," I reminded her.
"Okay. Drop that. What's this all about?" she asked me for the second time.
I took her arm to keep her from walking into the crowded street. She gets something in her mind and the world fades out. "Thanks," she said. We waited for the light to change. Did I mention Los Angles is congested?
"Sam can read minds. I told you that already." She gave me a slight nod, her eyes on the cars until we were on the sidewalk again. "Scary," she said.
"Very," I agreed. "I nearly bailed when he mentioned that, but I'm glad I didn't. I think he can help Josef communicate with Sarah."
She stopped. Her eyes opened wide and she turned to me. "You think he can wake her up?" she asked.
"I didn't say that. I just said 'communicate'.
"What? Talk to her ghost or her spirit?" She made a sound halfway between a snicker and a giggle.
"Exactly. Come on. We're blocking the sidewalk traffic now." I took her arm to get her moving again.
"It's voodoo," she said.
"I think he tried that already, but it didn't work. He's already planning on being disappointed. He needs me along to introduce him to Sam and hold him together. He won't say it, but he's nervous. Sam doesn't even know what we're going to ask him to do yet, but he said he'd do anything he can for me. Not for Josef. That's the other reason I have to be there. You know I don't like to leave you, especially now. We're just starting to be a couple. Aren't we?" I asked, hoping for reassurance. I didn't want to come across as too strong or taking her for granted. She was a little fragile since Josh's death although she wouldn't admit it. I didn't want to push her away.
She stopped again and pressed my hand. "Yeah. We are," she said quietly. "I think we can start heading back now. Sam and you must have gotten pretty close if he said he'd do anything for you."
"Anything he's able to do. Yeah. We did get pretty close. I'm pretty close with Josef too. That has nothing to do with us. You understand that, don't you?"
"I never thought I'd get to keep you all for myself. How long do you think you'll be gone?"
"We'll both be back before the dedication of the Sarah Whitley Memorial Stadium at Hearst College. Josef has to be there because he's the guest of honor, and he's making the dedication. They can't hold it without him. I have to be there because we have a date, our fourth I believe."
Beth's face took on a peculiar expression. "The pertinent question now is whether Sarah will be there too," she said.
I almost walked into a car myself at that. "It's dangerous hanging out with you, Beth," I said. "I hope you know that."
"Just a giant thrill ride, isn't it?" I didn't answer. She loved to throw my words back in my face. "I hope all goes well," she said seriously. "If it doesn't work out, Josef will be all right, won't he?"
"You're really concerned for him, aren't you?" I asked, but it was a rhetorical question. I knew she was. I walked her back to her office and gave her a goodbye kiss, short enough that if someone walked by, Beth wouldn't be embarrassed. She worked with the people here. "I'll call you," I promised.
"Good luck," she said softly and walked in, leaving me in the hallway to call Josef. I told him I was ready for him to pick me up. I'd be waiting on the shady side of Temple and First Avenue.