Chapter Thirty-Five: Daisies
It is the day of Lucas' execution. Maggie, Billie, Jack and Jennifer are attending as witnesses. Lucas sits in a holding area, waiting to be served his last meal. "Oh boy," he thinks to himself, "surf and turf!" When the guard comes in with his meal, however, it's not steak and lobster, but rather a McNugget Happy Meal, which they all thought was more befitting his maturity level. Lucas gets upset, but grabs the Happy Meal from the guards anyway. "Hey!" he exclaims, pouting, "they gypped me on my toy!" The guards chuckle. "If that's the worst thing that happens to you today, buddy, consider yourself lucky." Lucas frowns, then shrugs and thinks, "At least they got me chocolate milk."
Sami and EJ sit in a limo in the parking lot of the prison. EJ flashes a quick glance at his watch. "Forty-five minutes," he comments, looking over at Sami, "What shall we do to kill the time?" He scoots over on the seat closer to her, looking down on her with innocent inquisitiveness. Sami looks up at him, one eyebrow raised, "Gee, I wonder," she says sarcastically, climbing onto his lap. She pushes his jacket off his shoulders. EJ leans forward slightly so she can pull it out from behind him. He plants butterfly kisses in the crook of her neck while she unbuttons his shirt and runs her hands over his chest. EJ sucks in his breath and leans his head back on the seat, closing his eyes. Sami uses his momentary distraction as an opportunity to gain advantage. She whips his tie from his collar and quickly puts her hands around each of his wrists, forcing them behind his back and tying them tightly together. He looks back up at her, smirking. "And just what purpose does this serve, my dear?" Sami leans into him, running her tongue lightly along the rim of his ear. "I like you helpless, and in my power," she whispers to him. He turns his head slightly to get a better view of her face. "You had me there a long time ago."
Lucas is led into the chamber and strapped to the bed. He turns to face his onlookers with tears in his eyes. "Any last words?" asks the warden. Lucas begins to sob, "This isn't right, I don't deserve this! Please, please don't do this!" The spectators have to turn their heads in shame. Jack thinks to himself, "I've died at least eight times and I've never acted so undignified on my deathbed." They run the IV and Lucas thinks back to what Sami told him…
*flashback* When they give you the Pavulon, it paralyzes you. Your body freezes up on you. Tightening. Your lungs feel like lead weights in your chest and you can't take a breath. You want to scream in agony but you can't make a sound. You cannot imagine the torture..."
Lucas begins to freak out. "I can't breathe!" he screams, even though they had yet to administer the shot. "Fighting it makes it worse," they tell him, and press the button to release the injection. All of a sudden his body feels heavy and aches like he's been beaten. He tries to take a breath but can't. His eyes widen with horror, but his scream goes unheard. Then his scream dies with his body.
Jack sees a limo in the parking lot as he and Jennifer walk to their car. He knows immediately who's inside. "Give me a second," he tells Jenn, walking away from her towards the limo. He knocks on a window and a few moments later it rolls down. Jack clears his throat and leans in slightly. "I just thought you'd want to know, it's over." He walks away and the window rolls back up. Sami looks over at EJ and they lock eyes for a moment. Then they both smile. EJ pops open the champagne they were saving for just that moment and pours them each a glass. "What shall we toast to?" Sami asks excitedly. "Comeuppance?" EJ suggests. Sami arches a brow and smiles. "Ah, yes. Because payback's a bitch," she says. "And so is Samantha Brady," EJ finishes, clinking his glass to hers with a smile.
The day of Lucas' funeral was a dreary gray with a light drizzle misting the air. Sami and EJ were in attendance, but stood back away from the rest of those in attendance. The light drizzle began to build into a torrential downpour and people rush to their cars. Finally, EJ and Sami are the only two left there. He takes her hand and leads her over to Lucas' grave. Sami stands looking down for a few moments, then turns back to look at EJ. She unties the belt of her trench coat and lets it drop on the wet ground, revealing a beautiful red dress. EJ smiles at her somewhat sardonically then offers her his hand. "May I?" he asks, pulling her to him. Sami looks up in EJ's eyes and the two of them slowly begin to dance to the music of the thunder and the rain.