A month went by, and Sam felt as though she could breathe steadily at times. It would still take a long recovery. But, a new apartment, another online column to write, and an outline for her first novel would help her as she went on her way.
One Monday, she received a text asking her to meet at her old place of employment later that morning. The number was blocked, but the text was simply signed "J". Curious, Sam arrived early and was greeted happily by Eva the moment she walked through the door. Eva hugged her awkwardly, her pregnancy belly made any type of embrace strange and unruly.
The shop was empty aside from the employees and Sam, who followed Eva up to the counter. Even Shane was out front, checking on one of the machines. He nodded curtly to Sam, who had to stop herself from making any obscene gestures at him.
"I'm sorry I haven't seen you in a while," Eva said sadly. "How are you doing?" The question was loaded.
"I'm – " Sam thought more on the question. "I'm awake. I'm standing here, talking to my friend. That's basically all my brain can process."
"I get it," Eva nodded in understanding.
"Have you picked out a name, yet?" Sam asked, smiling.
Eva scowled. "Leo is insisting on something in Star Wars. I told him the only one I'd settle on was Ben. But then he said it would have to be Ben Kenobi Jefferson, which is not going to happen as long as I'm alive."
Sam burst out laughing. Eva always made her laugh. It was a great feeling to have.
"Eva? You can have your social time after work," Shane waved his pen at her and at the door as a couple new customers walked in.
Both girls rolled their eyes, and Sam moved to one of the tables and sat down, taking out her phone.
The bell on the door jingled again.
"Be with you in a minute," Eva called from the counter.
John took the seat next to Sam at the table.
"Angry Birds," he muttered, gesturing to the phone in Sam's hands. "I never could get into that."
Sam nearly snorted. "No, it doesn't seem like your kind of game."
"How are you?"
"I'm awake and talking to you," Sam said with a smile.
"Good. It'll get easier. That's what they tell me anyway."
They fell silent. The game on her phone went ignored as she waited for him to explain why he asked her to meet him here.
"So?" She said, putting her phone away.
John shrugged. "So?"
"Why did you want to meet me here?"
"Well, first I have some bad news, but I figured you'd want to know anyway."
Sam tensed up.
John looked into her eyes very seriously. "Elias is out of prison."
"What? How?" Sam said, shocked.
"The charges against him are about as long as my leg, but the evidence turned out to be insubstantial, and no one will testify against him. They had no choice but to let him go."
Sam growled and muttered something under her breath.
Her remark made John smile a bit. But he shook his head. "You might want to think that one over."
"Well, my fantasizing about it won't do anyone any harm."
"That's true."
"Was there anything else?" Sam said after another silence.
Eva finished with the two customers and stepped out from behind the counter, grinning from ear to ear at John and Sam.
"Well, I was actually hoping to talk to Shane."
Sam looked at him suspiciously. "Why?"
"I know you're not really looking anymore, but him firing you like that after what you went through wasn't very nice. Wouldn't you agree, Eva?"
"Absolutely," Eva laughed.
"John, don't you dare!" Sam gripped onto his arm as if she'd somehow be able to stop him.
John chuckled softly. "I'm just going to talk to him," he said innocently.
"You and I both know that you're full of crap."
"Yeah, well don't spread it around," John stood up, dragging Sam with him.
"You can't do this, John. He's a weak minded idiot. You'll scare him!"
Eva followed them to the counter as another customer walked in.
"Shane?"
Shane turned and smiled his Customer Service smile. "Yes sir, what can I do for you?"
"May I have a word with you for a moment?"
John pointed to the corner of the shop. Sam sighed and gave up. The two men stepped away and Sam waited by the counter.
"… all the money in the register and your tips, now!"
Sam whipped around. Poor Eva, her hands quaking in front of her, stared down the barrel of hand gun. The man who held it had most of his face covered with a pair of sunglasses and a hood. When he realized he had Sam's attention as well he yanked the weapon over, pointing it at her. He held it sideways. Sam never understood the reasoning behind that particular stance.
"You're honestly going to hold up a pregnant woman? That's so low."
Eva was in the middle of opening the drawer.
"Shut up!" he shouted at her.
For a reason that Sam could not grasp, she wasn't afraid of this man with the sideways gun. Holding her hands up in the air as anyone else would have done never even occurred to her.
His shout must have gained the attention of the others in the shop. Sam felt a comforting hand upon her shoulder and smiled.
"Is there a problem here?"
"Get on the floor, all of you, now!"
Shane hit the floor hard. Eva was about to go down when the gun moved toward her again. "Just get me the money and I won't hurt you," he demanded.
Eva nodded, tears in her eyes, as she pulled out the cash drawer.
John moved past Sam like a ghost. He wrenched the gunman's arm up, and the weapon fired into the ceiling. Sam stepped back as John disarmed him, and nearly maimed him in just a few seconds.
"Call the police," he told Eva, who was gaping at him like a fish.
John took the gun, sliding it into his coat pocket. "A pregnant woman? Really?" He gave the man one more kick as Eva called the police.
"Sam. I am so sorry!" Shane wailed as he got to his feet. "If you want your job back, it's yours." He glanced at John. "With a raise!"
"Don't worry about it," Sam said.
"What did you say to him?" She asked John, following him out onto the sidewalk.
The sun was shining brightly through the cool, crisp air, hinting that winter was close by.
"Just a few points of logic that I was about to support when we were interrupted."
"You know, it's really useful, having you around," Sam said, unable to contain her smile.
"Finch told me about your… request," he said.
Sam's smile broke and she shrugged. "You protect all of these people, John. There aren't many watching out for you."
"Oh, Finch does all right. And I have a couple detectives on my side… once in a while," John mused.
"I can always be on your side," Sam blurted, surprising herself.
John looked at her, mild interest in his expression. "For the record, I would have let you. Without the handcuffs." He kissed her on the cheek and gave her a quick wink before slipping on a pair of sunglasses and moving down the sidewalk.
Sirens approached the corner as Sam watched Mr. John Reese move into the crowds and disappear.
John's phone rang in his pocket. He put his earpiece in and answered.
"Hello John," said a calm and familiar voice.
"Elias," John replied.
"I hate to admit it, but it is nice to hear your voice."
"What do you want?"
"You never were one for banter," Elias said with disappointment. "I have been told that you were involved in a little incident that took place about a month ago."
"Incident? Three innocent people died," John said, working to keep his voice calm.
"Come now, John. I would hardly call that Tudin boy innocent. And you neglected to mention my former employee."
John didn't reply. He continued walking down the street, keeping his anger at bay.
"I'm going to be honest with you. I regret the events that happened over there. Nothing like that was supposed to take place."
"It didn't seem like a very well planned operation," John said reluctantly.
"I'm glad you agree. You see John, in spite of what you think, I do have a good set of standards. When that young man wanted to join my little group, I considered telling them to turn him away. But he showed such promise, you understand."
John dug his fingernails into his palms, the need to hit something began to grow as Elias continued.
"As you are already aware, I rely on loyalty and high pay rates. I already knew of the, shall we say, renegade who wanted to bring chaos into my order."
"You gave Scott Tudin the assignment to get rid of him. So he could prove himself to you." John finished the sickening story for him.
"Well done, John." Elias sounded pleased. "I want you to understand that I never meant any harm to those people, or his sister. Reckless killing is pointless and a waste of time. But, you can't win them all. Isn't that right?"
Elias paused. When no response came, he continued, "I understand that Tudin's sister is the one responsible for ridding me of my… burden?"
John didn't reply.
"I'll take your silence as a confirmation. I'd like to repay her somehow. Having also lost my parents, can understand what she is going through. She may need someone like that to talk to."
John knew Elias was baiting him, but he couldn't stand it. "She has nothing to do with anything, Elias. Leave her alone."
"Of course, John. Like her parents, she's not involved. If she were to become involved in some way, though – I can't really help that, can I?"
"Elias," John warned.
"Come to think of it, you don't have to be involved either, John." The line went dead.
John continued walking.
Thanks to all of you for reading and posting your reviews! They were all very much appreciated. :)
I have a continuation to this already in the works, so stay tuned!