OK THEN...Sorry for the stall on this, small matter of a little smutfic I had to get out of my system...NOW - This chapter is the penultimate to the story...I hope some parts will become a bit clearer but what doesn't should become clear in the next and final chapter.

This one has a it of everything I think...Fluff, fun, angst, hurt, - oh and my first ever partial songfic...(please be kind but I was listening to it and somehow just had to incorporate) words in that ...thank you Pink...Think thats it...so...go for it...

Disclaimer as norm….

FULL DISCLOSURE

ENGLAND, THE NIGHT OF SAMMIES 16TH BIRTHDAY…

The room in the hotel was like another world to them.

Fresh clean sheets, large fluffy clean towels, pretty covers, pretty wallpaper, pretty cushions- pretty everything!

It was a world Cal Lightman wanted for her, for him, for them and the family they would have in the future.

Their first lovemaking was wild and impatient.

The second time was soft and gentle, almost languid.

Then it became playtime!

The bed pillows became weapons as they bounced on the highly sprung bed – the overfilled and highly bubbled bath swamped the floor as they wrestled in it's warmth – the in room bar was emptied of it's contents and the ice was a source of both fun and pleasure.

It was Sammie that was the first to discover the 'porn' channel on the TV, that kept them quiet for hours until they eventually drifted off in each others arms as dawn was breaking outside.

Escaping out of the window later that day was a given.

Neither could afford the bill they had run up with the bar and the pay per view porn.

Cal had booked in with totally false information of course so they disappeared without any qualms of being tracked down.

Now they were back in their own world and reality loomed.

As a last ditch attempt to deny it they sat on the swings in a local kids playground watching the squirrels play.

"There was sumthing I wanted to do back there yer know but time kinda got away from me"

Sammie grinned at him. "You mean there's something we didn't do?"

Cal was nervous for once. He moved to stop her swinging and then dropped to one knee.

"I want us to get engaged Sam, and then just as soon as I can get the money together we'll get out of here, get married, get a house in a nice area"

He produced a ring and thrust it in her hand.

Sammie looked at the serious honesty in his face and then at the ring in her hand.

It was a small solitaire and obviously old. Again checking his face she saw that he had a connection to it – it wasn't something he had picked up at a pawn shop or from a bloke that dealt with 'off the back of a lorry' gear.

"Whose was this Cal?"

"Oh, my grans…mums mum. She gave it to me a while ago and told me to keep it safe until I needed to use it, didn't wanna leave it in the house in case dad found it and hocked it for beer and fag money"

"I…I don't know….I won't be able to wear it openly…if dad saw it …."

"Then hide it. Just wear it we are together."

He got up and they walked hand in hand along the path.

"Sammie, I understand. I know wot that bastards like trust me, that's why I wanna do this fast- I want you outta there, away from him"

Cal knew Sammie's dad knocked her around.

Mostly he never saw any marks, her dad was an ex soldier and knew how to hurt without leaving evidence but every once in a while he got carless, and Cal saw the results.

He always wanted to go and beat the crap out of him but Sammie refused logically reminding Cal that he would probably lose and even if he didn't her father would have him arrested – or just beaten up by friends in an ally somewhere – and she would be locked in the house till she 21.

Sammie slipped the ring on, it was a perfect fit.

"I don't want you doing any more stupid jobs with that idiot Terry, not for this, promise me Cal"

"How I get the money is my business, don't fuss. They've never caught me yet have they darlin?"

She knew better than to argue.

Standing behind a large hedge on the other side of the road from her house they kissed for ever.

"Happy birthday Sammie"

"I'll see you this evening"

"Yeah, our usual garden shed then" he grinned.

They kissed once more and she left.

BACK AT THE LIGHTMAN RESIDENCE…

"I had to go Cal, you don't know what…"

"An I don't care!. Not now, not anymore"

"You do! Don't try that with me – I know you do. It's been eating away at you for all these years hasn't it? …..Let me explain Cal please…before you 'disappear' me – let me explain"

xXx

"Em honey, Ben is on to it now, he's alerted his men and he is making his way over there. I think I should be there as well so I'm going to drop you off at Ria's for a while ok?"

"But…."

"Sweetie you can't come with me…not right now but I promise to ring you as soon as I can"

Pulling a face but understanding Gill's position Emily got her stuff together without another word and followed Gillian to her car.

xXx

"No explanations needed – You left! Disappeared, gone, an I never heard from you again…till now! But it's old history luv, I moved on an I don't need to hear why"

Sammie watched as he turned his back again, the set of his shoulders told her he wasn't going to listen to her words….unless…..

He had always loved her singing to him – a sweet clear honest voice he had always said….seeing it as her only chance she hung her head for a moment and then, slowly and very softly….

Nobody knows, nobody knows the me that sometimes crys

I can pretend that I'm asleep when my tears start to fall

And I peek out from behind these walls, I said nobody knows

Nobody knows…

He still had his back to her but his shoulders had dropped – just a fraction, so she continued, just a little stronger putting as much of the truth of her emotions in to it as she could…..

Nobody likes, nobody likes to lose their inner voice

The one I used to hear before my life, made a choice

But I think nobody knows, nobody knows

Baby, the secret, secret me,

there's no one else in the world that I could ever be.

He suddenly turned and stared at her, his eyes accusatory but sad at the same time.

And baby, don't it feel like I'm all alone,

Who's gonna be there after the last angel has flown

And I've lost my way back home.

Nobody cares, it's win or lose not how you play the game.

And the road to darkness has a way

Of always knowing my name…

His hand flew to her mouth and covered it.

"Shut up! Shut up, get yer things and get out"

The same hand that had silenced her now pushed her backwards and she was facing his back again.

Throwing the now removed ankle tracker on the floor Sammie turned to where her bags were.

"I don't think so Miss Fowles"

Ben walked from the door to where her bags were and picked them up, Gillian appeared just after him and her eyes went straight to Cal's back.

For a moment everyone just stood taking in the scene – silent, wondering who would be the first….

"You don't need to keep her Reynolds, she doesn't know half of wot you lot think she does, and she's no spy or wotever. Her reasons were….purely..personal"

"That's not your decision to make Lightman! We were…I was trusting you to watch her not let her go and disappear again…,"

Cal swung round on him.

"You wanted me to find out what she knew and why! – Well I have, and it's nuffin to do with you or anyone else"

"As I just said…NOT your decision man…"

"STOP IT! – Both of you. Ben, could you please let us have some time together alone – the three of us, I give you my word I won't let Samantha out of my sight"

Ben looked at Gillian's face and immediately caved.

"Just make sure that's the case Gillian – and I'm gonna need some answers at the end"

She smiled and nodded to him.

Throwing Cal one last scowl he let himself out.

"Right, well let's get the kettle on shall we? Then it's time to sit down and talk – about everything ok…I need to know everything from both of you, NO arguments, no stalling – full disclosure"