A/N: I hope you enjoy this chapter. I apologize for updating so late. Feel free to leave a review!
Song: Nobody Listen by Lifehouse
Disclaimer: I own nothing from ABC's Scandal or anyone/anything else.
I was sent home Sunday afternoon in a wheelchair with specific instructions to only do what I felt I could and to take it easy. Betty went home, but was already ready to come back when the baby is born. We pulled up to the house in both SUVs to find the gate surrounded by news reporters. I was so thankful for the tint job then, because I hated them being there. It was bad enough that Ben, Chris, and Jones got out and held them all back while we got through the gate. Once they got rid of most of them, Ben came back and helped me out and into the house, while Chris carried my walker and our bag.
We got inside and settled, and as I made my way around the house with the wheelchair, I noticed George and Collin had installed new grab bars all around the house for me. I turned to Ben and smiled, and he seemed to have no clue. I knew he had set this up.
"Thanks for the grab bars, man. It means a lot," I said, and he shyly smiled and shrugged.
"I just didn't want you to worry about anything when you got back, is all," he said. "Need me to do anything yet?"
"Not yet. I'll call if I do. Thanks for everything again," I said, and he nodded as they all went back to their positions.
I went into our bedroom and saw Mellie unpacking our things, about to do a load of laundry.
"Need me to do anything?" I asked, wanting to help.
"Huh? No, I'm good. Thanks," she said softly, going back to gathering clothes. I knew I needed to rest, but I didn't want them to think I was helpless.
I shrugged it off and was going to get on our bed when I noticed it was a lot taller than I ever realized. I didn't want to tackle this feat now, so I went back out to the living room and laid on the couch.
Sam had showed up to the address, but said nothing. Apparently seeing Mellie in person was good enough to satisfy him for a little while. He called back on Saturday, demanding another $100,000 to stay away if he got to talk with her on the phone.
Mellie's phone rang late Sunday afternoon as we made dinner, and she gave me a concerning look, suspecting it was Sam.
"Do what you need to do," I assured her, and she nodded, leaving me to watch over the carrots, potatoes, and chicken. She just wanted him to leave us alone too. I hoped he wouldn't set us back after all our progress.
She took it to the back patio, the warm summer air briefly filling the house. She sat on the wicker couch and answered it, hoping she was doing the right thing. Ben was listening in on the call and helping me finish dinner.
"Hello?" She answered calmly, yet her heart was beating fast.
"Mellie," Sam sighed. "It's so good to hear your voice again. You did such a good job at the address. I was so proud of you. How are you?"
"I'm fine, Sam," she said, trying to keep it short. She could feel his intimidation, even through the phone. He was good at that, trying to manipulate her.
"How is Fitz doing at home?"
"He's fine, too." She knew he didn't care. She wished he would quit asking about me.
"It felt so good to see your precious face again, baby. I haven't seen you in years. You've grown so much since then, into a beautiful woman and wife. You'll be a great mother," he said, trying to make it sound heartfelt, but she saw through all of it. She cringed every time he addressed her and wanted him to shut up with every word he spoke. He brought every bit of this upon himself.
The silence between them was deafening until he found the courage to speak again.
"Were you going to tell me?" He asked, and a tear rolled down her cheek.
"I wasn't planning on it," she said firmly. And that she wasn't.
"Does your mother know?" He inquired, like it was some kind of contest between them to see who could be the best parent. But to Mellie, it was an easy decision.
She didn't answer him, and he sighed, knowing the answer.
"Why not?"
"Why would I tell you when you told me five years ago to choose between you and Fitz, and I chose him. I was done with you then, and still am now. Just like you said you were done with me. Why would I tell the man who haunts my dreams at night that I was having a baby? Now, what do you want?" She demanded an answer.
His heart sank a little, but he stayed focused on the matter at hand.
"I want to meet with you."
"Why?"
"I need to speak with you."
"About what?" She sighed as she rolled her eyes, really getting annoyed.
"I would rather tell you in person."
"I don't want to see you, Sam. Whatever you have to tell me, you can tell me over the phone," she stood her ground.
"I found out some information about Fitz the other day, something he wouldn't-"
"Do you not understand anything, Sam? I love him and he has been nothing but good to me," she explained.
"Do you not understand that his whole life has been fake? He gets up every day and puts on a show for the world to see. He doesn't love anyone, he doesn't care about the issues, and he just isn't good for you, Mellie," Sam told her.
"I don't believe one word of what you just said," she said angrily, standing up and walking around the warm concrete patio, looking down at her feet then up at the stars.
"I just want to see you happy. I want to have you back, to see you often, to be the old you," he said.
"I am happy, and you threw away those chances yourself. There's no way I'm coming back," she told him.
She hated being so straightforward with her father, but she needed him to understand that she was done with him since that night.
"Just tell me one thing," he sighed sadly. She waited patiently for the rest of his question, and hoped she had the strength to answer it.
"Is everything that's been in the headlines the past few months true? Did he really...rape you?" He choked on those words, hating the thought of someone hurting her.
Mellie felt her heart sink deep into her chest and was at a loss for words. He had been keeping up with them. He wanted the truth.
"Mellie?"
"He did," she whispered quietly, ashamed to talk about it. "That's all that happened. Most everything else is false," she said, ready to end this.
Sam felt anger towards Jerry fill his entire body and was glad the man was already dead. He couldn't believe some people in this world, and especially not that they would hurt her.
"I was worried about you. I'm sorry to hear that," he said, sorry it happened, but he wasn't willing enough to help her. He was done with that a long time ago. They sat in silence for close to a minute before he sighed and spoke up again.
"Goodbye, Mellie."
I got our lawyer on the phone and he explained that Sam was going to stop his investigations and spying on us or he would be turned in.
I prayed this was the end of him bothering us.
That night, as I got ready for bed, I realized how hard it was being alone at home. I had already called for Ben once today to help me, and I didn't want to again. I brushed my teeth and rolled back out to our bedroom, where I saw Mellie reading in our bed while she waited for me to come to bed. I used my walker to stand up and it took me a minute to get into bed, but it felt so good to lie in my own bed, beside my wife.
"It's so good to be home," I said, putting my arm around her and kissing her.
"It is nice," she smiled. "How about tomorrow we do absolutely nothing but stay in bed?" She suggested.
"Sounds good, but I got therapy at three. How about until one-thirty?" I smiled.
"That's great," she laughed as she snuggled up closer to me, running her fingers through my hair and kissing my neck.
It was very good to be home.