Chapter 20
It had been two weeks since they found out Manny had escaped and all were on edge. Jason knew Sam was scared and he wanted to find Manny just because of that, but he had gone into hiding and Jason hadn't found him yet. Sam however had told him she had the feeling he was close, because she had felt like she was being watched before.
Rose didn't even notice the change in the house, and Sam was glad. She knew Rose would want to know what was going on when she did notice, and she didn't want to deal with it yet, because her daughter was still so young. Jason understood perfectly, and somehow they managed to act normal around her, act relaxed. Even Denise didn't act like herself, but around Rose she did. Denise had been experiencing panic attacks, and Sam had tried to be there for her, but Denise was shutting down. She didn't want anyone to see her like that and Jason could understand, but on the other hand she needed to talk about it or it would only get worse. So that was why he stood in front of the door of the guest room – she had just gotten upstairs after one of the more difficult conversations between Denise, Sam and him, and he wouldn't back down this time. He knocked on the door and then opened it without her consent even though he didn't like to do that, and stepped inside. Sam followed him, and he was glad Rose was with his mother.
''Denise, you need to face it,'' Sam whispered, and Denise glared at her. Sam didn't back down though, and Denise sighed.
''Just go away,'' she whispered, and Sam shook her head. Somehow Jason got the feeling it was going to get hard for both of the women and he was glad he was there.
''You don't want to talk about what he did to you? Well, I'll tell you something Denise,'' Sam snapped, suddenly not feeling very nice anymore. ''What you went through – it's hard. I know; because I've been there, remember? When he stalked me, and when he raped me in my own home, I couldn't tell anyone because when I did, no one would believe me,'' she told Denise, and Jason closed his eyes, not really wanting to hear everything she had to say, but he had to. ''He followed me around for months, Denise, and then he broke into my home and raped me, over and over again, until I couldn't scream, until I couldn't even open my eyes, and then he left – but not really. He didn't leave, he came back and you know what he did next, right? He kidnapped me, and then he stole my baby from me!'' Sam screamed at the end, and Jason wanted to hold her. He didn't though, because he knew it would only make it harder for her.
''I know, Sam, I really am sorry for-''
''You know, Jason was the first person I told about this, because even when I found out I was pregnant I didn't tell anyone what happened and you know they thought I was a slut, and I didn't care because I didn't want them to see how weak I was,'' she snapped, and Jason closed his eyes again, ''Even my grandmother or Max, my best friend, knew what had happened to me, and I tried to hide the pain, and I tried to hide the fact that it did happen, but I couldn't and when he stole my daughter, everything changed, you know?'' her voice became softer, and Jason looked at her and saw the tears in her eyes. ''I broke down, and at the moment everyone thought it was because I lost my baby, but it wasn't just about that and I knew it,'' she added, and Denise walked over to her and held out her arms. Sam broke down in Denise's embrace, and Jason didn't know what to do with himself. Should he stay, or should he go?
''Sam, you know I don't like-'' Denise started, and Sam interrupted again.
''I know you have a hard time telling about what happened, but if you don't talk about it, you'll never feel safe again because every time you think you are over it something happens that'll make you fall back to this again - and you shut us out every time, even though we try to help you!'' Sam said, and Denise looked down.
''I know, Sam I know. You know I told you about the times he came to me – I made him promise,'' she whispered, and Sam nodded. Denise looked at Jason and sighed, ''I made him promise to leave Rose alone if I didn't struggle,'' she added, and Sam closed her eyes, tears starting to roll down her cheeks.
''You protected Rose by giving him what he wanted from you,'' Sam said, and Denise nodded.
''I didn't – I mean in the beginning he just came and took it, but after a couple of weeks I couldn't – I knew he was planning on doing what he'd done to me when Rose was older – and I couldn't risk it so my made him promise, every time he came to me,'' she replied, and Jason sighed.
''So every time he came he used that against you, and you thought he would really do as he promised,'' Jason said, and Denise shook her head.
''No, I didn't really believe he would, but as long as he had me be didn't need Rose, Jason, and it was the best thing I could do at the moment,'' she snapped, and Jason nodded.
''I'm going to go – I'll leave you two alone,'' he stumbled over his words, ready to get out of there.
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Sam listened to Denise tell her what happened, and why everything happened the way it did. She didn't know if she should say something but she didn't, because she didn't want to stop Denise. Even though it was hard listening to it without remembering that night with Manny, she didn't stop Denise because of that. When Denise was done, Sam looked up and noticed Jason wasn't in the room anymore and maybe it was for the better. Even though Denise hadn't gone into all the details Sam couldn't imagine what happened.
''Now I just – I just want to be alone if you don't mind,'' Denise said, and Sam nodded and got up, but suddenly felt dizzy and held on to the bed. ''Please, Sam,'' Denise said without looking at her, and Sam made her way to the door swaying. She understood Denise's need to be alone. Once she was out the door she leaned against the wall, and took a couple of deep breaths. After everything Denise had told her, her own nightmare resurfaced. She didn't know what to do to make it stop. Suddenly she heard Jason call out her name, and she looked up.
''Sam, are you ok?'' he asked, and she nodded even though it only made her dizzier. ''Come on, let's get you down because you don't look ok,'' he said, and she nodded again. He lifted her in his arms and she smiled weakly at him, knowing he would do anything to make sure she was ok, and when he got to their bedroom she sighed of relief.
''I was – I am just a little dizzy,'' she said softly, and he nodded as he lay down beside her.
''Let's just rest, ok?'' he said, and she nodded again, feeling better just being with him. She sighed and turned in his arms so she could look at him.
''Who's with Rose?'' she asked, and he smiled at her. She knew he'd send Max with her daughter because she felt like she was safest with her friend.
''Max is with her, and I told him we would come and get her later – I don't want him to come back here with her without us knowing they would come home,'' he told her, and she nodded. She loved that he thought about everything and she loved that he had listened to her. After he had told her he would put guards on them she insisted he put Max on Rose, because she really thought Max was the best and she wanted the best for her daughter.
''Thank you,'' she whispered softly, and suddenly she felt exhausted. She yawned and closed her eyes, not wanting to move, and Jason smiled at her. It didn't take them long to fall asleep.
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''Jason, I'm just going to pick her up alone – with Milo, he never let's me out of his sight so I'm perfectly safe,'' Sam said for the second time, and Jason rolled his eyes and sighed. Sam looked at him and he could see she really wanted some time alone with her daughter, and he nodded.
''Ok, just because I just know Milo and Max are there to help you when something happens, ok? And this will only happen one time because I don't like it!'' he told her, and she nodded with a big smile.
''Thank you!'' she said, and she hugged him tightly. ''Denise hasn't come down yet, Jason,'' she whispered, and he nodded. She had noticed it before, and she didn't like it one bit.
''I'll check on her later,'' he said, and she nodded. She grabbed her coat and smiled at him again, and then kissed him gently. She waved at him and made her way out the door, and smiled when Milo followed her right away. She knew he was used to everyone leaving at every second, and she loved that she knew him.
''I'm just going to go and get Rose and go home, Milo,'' she told him, and he just nodded with a smile. She didn't say anything else because she didn't want to talk, and when they got off the elevator she made her way to the car. Milo stepped in and drove them to the park where Sam told him to stop for a moment. ''I need some space, Milo,'' she whispered, and he nodded and took a couple of steps back, giving her the space she needed while still being able to see her. She stood on the bridge; the bridge she had been standing on earlier, and she loved the view. She looked around and took a deep breath, just as she felt someone come up behind her and grab her.
''I know you are smart, Sweetness, but this was a little dumb,'' she heard Manny say in her ear, and she felt her heart stop. ''You're coming with me,'' he told her, and she shook her head. He turned her around and grinned at her.
''I;m not coming with you! Milo!'' she called out, but there was no answer. When she looked around Manny she could see him unconscious on the ground with two men standing beside him.
''You are coming with me, Sweetness, and only because I have your little girl – isn't she pretty?'' he said, and she shook her head. She didn't believe he had Rose.
''You don't have her, you're bluffing!'' she called him out, but when she saw the look on his face she could see he wasn't. She felt tears prick in her eyes and she nodded. ''I'll come with you but you have to let her go, Manny,'' she whispered, and he nodded.
''I'll think about it,'' he said, and he held out his hand, but when she looked at it he pricked her with something he held in his other hand. She felt everything go dark and she looked at him, and he smiled at her before everything faded away.
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Jason sighed and looked at the clock. Denise still hadn't come down and Sam left half an hour ago. He made his way up and opened the door softly, and sighed again when he saw Denise on the bed. She was awake, he could see it.
''What are you doing?'' she asked him softly, and he walked over to her and kneeled down beside the bed.
''I was worried about you. You've been up here a long time and you haven't eaten yet. So I was wondering if you wanted something,'' he told her, and she shook her head.
''I'm not hungry,'' she told him, and he nodded. ''Where's Sam? Is she picking up Rose alone?'' she asked him, and he nodded.
''She needed some time alone and Milo is with her,'' he told her, and she nodded. ''She told he she would just pick up Rose and come home, but I know she will go to the park before – she really needed some time alone and after what happened when she left this room I can understand,'' he said, and Denise looked up.
''What happened?'' she asked, and Jason frowned.
''She didn't feel so well, she was leaning against the wall when I came up and I didn't think she could even walk because she was so dizzy,'' he said, and she closed her eyes and cursed.
''She was dizzy, when she was in here, and when I told her to go she went, but I didn't pay any attention. She listened when I told her to go but I didn't even bother to look at her and see why she didn't go right away,'' she rambled, and he frowned. ''You know when she left she got up and held on to the bed – but I just wanted alone time and I sent her away without looking at her,'' she told him and he nodded.
''It doesn't matter anymore because when she left she felt a whole lot better,'' he said, and he looked at his watch. ''She should've been back by now,'' he said softly, and Denise sat up and widened her eyes. Jason could see what she was thinking and he could feel himself tense. Then his phone rang and he picked it up, ''Morgan,'' he said in the phone, and waited.
''Loverboy, I believe I have something of yours,'' he heard, and he cursed as he realized it was Manny. ''Now they are both perfectly fine but I want something from you,'' he added, and Jason nodded.
''What do you want?'' he asked, and Manny laughed. ''Give Sam on the phone,'' he demanded, and Manny laughed again but he heard him move, and then he heard Sam.
''Jason? Jason come get Rose – he-'' Jason heard a slap and he felt his anger rise.
''Manny, you bastard! Don't hurt them or I'll kill you!'' he yelled, and Manny laughed.
''Come here, tomorrow night around midnight, and you'll have them back. I will call you for instructions tomorrow,'' Manny said, and then he disconnected the line. Jason cursed, and Denise paled.
''He has them hasn't he? Oh my god I knew he would get to them – now he's going to come after us!'' Denise panicked, and Jason stopped her.
''Don't, Denise. Don't even think about it. I'm going to get them home,'' he said, and he made his way down stairs to get everything ready and going for tomorrow.