Chapter 19
Sam looked around and sighed when she saw Jason wasn't there yet, but she knew he would have to go and handle Manny. After she lay Rose down on the couch she sat down with a sigh. Rose had fallen asleep on the way home in the car, and Max walked in with the bags, ''thank you Max, I appreciate it,'' she thanked the man, because if he hadn't been there, she had to walk back to the car to get them.
''You're welcome Sam, you know I'd do anything for you and by the way, I'm glad you finally got your daughter back,'' he replied, and she nodded at him with a smile. She hadn't seen him since Jason and her had come back from Kirsten, but she had texted him to let him know she was alright.
''Do you know when Jason will be home?'' she asked, and he shook his head and went back to his post. She sighed again and turned around, looking at her daughter. She was sleeping peacefully and Sam was glad she was – what a handful she was. Even though she didn't know why she hadn't thought about it, Sam was exhausted after spending the day shopping with her daughter. They hadn't even spend a lot of time in the stores, because Rose wasn't a difficult child, but she'd wanted to go to Kelly's, and after that she'd wanted to go to the park. Sam didn't mind, because she loved spending time with her, but she was tired. She got up and lay down beside Rose on the couch. When Rose snuggled closer to her in her sleep, she smiled, feeling good, and she fell asleep next to her.
##########
Jason couldn't believe it. After they had grabbed Manny, they had let him alone for a moment and he escaped. He didn't understand how they could've let him go, and he knew he had to get back to Sam right away. Manny would find out they had taken Rose back, and he would come after them even more so. He would want to hurt them and get Rose back, and Jason hoped he could protect Sam and Rose. He would do anything if they were safe. He opened the door and wanted to slam it behind him, when he saw Sam and Rose asleep on the couch. He relaxed a little, feeling better just seeing them together, and he closed the door softly behind him. It didn't matter though, because Rose started to stir, and then looked up at him with those big brown eyes of her. She looked tired, and he sighed as he made his way over to her and held a finger to his mouth to let her know she had to be silent. She looked at Sam and nodded, and then held out her arms so he could pick her up. ''Mommy tired,'' she whispered, and he nodded. Sam looked like she had been walking all day, and he couldn't believe she had done that.
''Mommy is really tired, we're going to the kitchen and start dinner,'' he whispered back, and Rose nodded. He took her to the kitchen and set her down on the counter, looking at her. ''Did you have a nice say with mommy?'' he asked her, and she started rambling. He smiled, thinking she was more like Sam then any of them thought, and listened to her.
''And then we went to the park,'' she finished, and he nodded.
''That sounds like a great day, baby,'' he replied, and he started dinner while talking with her.
##########
Sam woke up and shot up when Rose wasn't with her anymore. She felt panic rise and she grabbed her stomach, not ready to lose her again. She knew she would never be ready but she didn't like the idea – then she heard something in the kitchen and she got up slowly, not knowing what to expect. She made her way over there, and closed her eyes when she spotted Jason talking with Rose while he made dinner. Rose was on the counter talking with Jason and she could see she was having a great time handing him what he needed and she sighed.
''Mommy!'' Rose exclaimed when she saw her, and she tried jumping off the counter but Jason held her.
''Don't do that angel, we don't want to get hurt do we?'' he said, and she nodded and smiled at him. He turned around with Rose in his arms and handed her to Sam. ''She woke up when I got home, and I didn't want to wake you so I took her,'' he told her, and she nodded.
''Well, next time I think it's better to just wake me because waking up like this isn't really ideal either,'' she mumbled, and he nodded. She understood why he didn't want to wake her but she didn't like it, and he could see it in her eyes. He could see the remainder of the fear and panic in her eyes and he nodded again.
''I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you,'' he said, and she looked up at him. He was truly sorry and she didn't doubt it, but she could see something else in his eyes too. She opened her mouth to ask about it and he shook his head before she could, looking at Rose. She understood right away and turned her attention to the little girl in her arms. As Jason continued cooking Sam started a conversation with her daughter, and soon Denise walked into the kitchen.
''What happened with Manny?'' she asked, and Sam shrugged while Jason turned around and shook his head. ''He escaped didn't he?'' she asked, and Jason closed his eyes and sighed, while Sam gasped and stared at Jason.
''Did he escape Jason?'' she asked softly, and he nodded. She closed her eyes and sat down with Rose in her arms, while Denise sighed and cursed softly.
''I knew it – and now he's going to come after us right?'' she snapped, and she walked out of the kitchen. Jason leaned against the counter and sighed, while looking at Sam with Rose.
''Sam, I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, but I didn't – you know,'' he told her, and she nodded, ''I didn't think he could do it because I had guards on him, and they – well they lost him,'' he told her, and then she looked at him and nodded at Rose.
''We'll talk about this later,'' she replied, and he nodded. He finished dinner and Denise walked back in with a tear-streaked face, and Sam decided to go and talk to her after dinner. Jason put plates in front of everyone and he helped Rose eat, while Sam took Denise's hand under the table and squeezed it. ''It'll be alright,'' she whispered, and Denise smiled weakly at her as they started to eat.
#####
Sam followed Denise after cleaning the table and noticed she was going outside to the roof. ''Denise,'' she whispered, and Denise turned around with wide eyes. ''I'm sorry, I didn't meant to scare you but I wanted to talk to you,'' she said, and Denise nodded.
''Rose is his isn't she?'' Denise asked, and Sam nodded, knowing she was talking about Manny. ''When I saw her I thought so, and when I saw Jason I knew she couldn't be his. Manny told me she was his bus I didn't really believe him,'' she rambled, and Sam nodded.
''Jason and I haven't been together that long,'' Sam simply replied, and Denise nodded.
''Well, I did know she wasn't Jason's and I love how he accepts her. Even though she's not my daughter I want the best for her and I think Jason is an amazing guy and he would be a great father to her and your new baby,'' Denise replied, and Sam nodded. She thought the same thing when she saw him with Rose this morning and when she woke up before dinner. ''Manny wanted her alone and I didn't have a choice, but when he didn't come for her he came for me,'' Denise said, and Sam nodded.
''What did he do to you, Denise?'' she asked, even though she could guess; she did know what Manny had done to Denise.
''He came into my room one night and he raped me, and after that he came every other week – he didn't come for Rose every week, and at some point I just knew when he was going to come for me. Don't worry, he never did anything to Rose – I wouldn't let him,'' Denise said, and she sounded detached. Sam made her way over to her, not knowing if she should hug her or just be there, and she made the choice to hug her. When she did, Denise broke down. Tears rolled down her cheek and even though she tried to wipe them away, they kept coming.
''Let it go sweetie, just let it go,'' Sam whispered, ''you're safe now,'' she added, and kept on saying it. She felt the tears well up in her own eyes and soon she was crying with Denise over everything Manny had done to both of them.
''I'm sorry,'' Denise said after some time, and Sam shook her head, but when she wanted to say something Denise stopped her, ''I know what happened between you and Manny, he always bragged about it, and I'm sorry I placed all this on you,'' she added, and Sam nodded.
''It's ok, Denise. I don't mind, and god, what Manny did to you was just as bad as what he did to me, so don't think for a second I mind – I mean yeah it's hard hearing…'' Sam stopped for a second to regain her thoughts, and then looked at Denise. ''If you ever want to talk about it, I'm here for you, and don't let what happened to me hold you back, ok?'' she said, and Denise stared at her for a long time before nodding.
''Thank you Sam, and it's the same for you – whenever you want to talk…'' her voice faded and she sniffled, and then smiled at Sam. ''I never thought I'd find someone I could talk to, and now I have you, and I cant tell you how much that means to me,'' she said, and Sam nodded.
''And you have Jason, because he cares about you too – you helped Rose survive and we are both so very grateful for that,'' Sam whispered, and she hugged Denise again. They sat there for a long time and Sam jumped when the door opened. She looked up and was relieved to see it was Jason standing there, and she smiled at him.
''I put Rose to bed but she wanted a good night kiss from her mommy,'' he told them, and Sam nodded. ''And she wanted to say goodnight to Denise because she is used to that,'' he added, and Denise nodded too.
''We'll be right down,'' Sam replied, and Jason nodded and made his way back down. Sam looked at Denise and smiled at her. ''Are you ok?'' she asked, and when Denise nodded she winked.
''I'm fine, thank you Sam, for being here. I didn't think I'd find someone who could understand everything I went through,'' she whispered, and Sam nodded as she got up. Denise got up on her own even though Sam offered her hand, and they made their way down to the penthouse in silence.
''Rose is waiting for you upstairs,'' Sam said to Denise, who nodded and made her way upstairs while Sam stood looking at Jason. ''Jason, can you tell me what happened with Manny?'' she asked him, and he nodded as he made his way to her.
''I had gotten a call before we went to get Rose that he had been captivated and they told me they would stay there until I arrived,'' he told her, and she nodded. ''When I got there this morning he was gone, and they told me one of the guards left his post and the other was sleeping in the other room, so he could escape. I'm pissed at both of them, fired them right away and the problem is that Manny is free to get to you and Rose now, and I don't know if I can be there to protect you every second. So I know you don't like it but as of a couple of hours ago I set Max to guard you and Rose wherever you go, and if you go away without Rose I have another guard on her. Just please don't argue about this because it's-''
''I'm not going to argue because I want her safe,'' she whispered, and he nodded and held out his arms. She stepped in his embrace and sighed in relief when she felt his arms wrapped around her.
''I'm glad. And the guards – don't lose them ok?'' he said, and she laughed softly.
''I won't. I want Rose to be safe and I'm not going to let her out of my sight. I love her too much and I love you too much to lose any of you,'' she whispered, and he nodded and kissed the top of her head.
''Rose is asking for you,'' Denise said from the bottom of the stairs, and Sam nodded and looked up at Jason. He nodded to her and she made her way upstairs.
##########
Jason looked at Denise and smiled, knowing Sam and her had been talking about what happened on the roof. He hadn't heard anything but seeing them together like he had he just knew. ''How are you feeling?'' he asked, and she shrugged.
''I'm fine. I mean I'm scared, but I know I'm safe here,'' she replied, and he nodded.
''I put some guards on all of you. Sam and Rose and you, because I want you to be safe, and I would like it if you didn't – I mean if you didn't lose them,'' he said, not knowing if she could.
''I would never do that, because I wouldn't want Manny anywhere near any of us. I know you'll find him,'' she whispered, and he nodded. It went silent and when Sam came down he smiled, seeing she had changed into something more comfortable.
''I'm going to sleep, I'm exhausted,'' she told them, and Jason nodded. When she went back upstairs he followed her, and he heard Denise follow him.
''Good night, Denise,'' he said, and she smiled at him.
''Good night,'' she replied, and she disappeared in the guest room. Jason made his way to his room and smiled when he saw Sam was already in bed, and he took off his clothes and lay down behind her. He pulled her in his arms and rested his hand on her stomach, and she took his hand in hers on her stomach.
''Jason I love you,'' she whispered, and he nodded. She turned around and smiled at him, and then kissed him on his lips. It wasn't a kiss what would go further, it was a goodnight kiss.
''I love you too, Sam. Good night,'' he whispered as he broke the kiss, and she smiled at him.
''Good night,'' she replied, and then she fell asleep. Jason smiled as he watched her, and he vowed he would make Manny pay for what he did to all of them. Just after that, he followed Sam's lead and fell asleep.