Sam didn't know where the words had come from. All she knew was that she wanted them back, especially when he didn't say them back. And not just in an immediate kind of way. She was on the couch now and he was in the kitchen getting them something to drink. He had said he made a killer pink lemonade. She hadn't said it, but she had a feeling he had stashed some Kool-Aid in the cabinets.

"You can't hide in there forever." She muttered under her breath just before he returned to the living room and handed her a glass. Clamping both hands around it to keep them from shaking, she brought the glass to her lips and drank vigorously, her eyes trained on the rim.

"So I have more info on the new case. Let's go over it." He tried to not sound as nervous as he felt. The words she had said on the balcony still echoed in his head. They were the last three words he ever expected to hear her, of all people, say to him. The best thing to do right now was to keep moving until it somehow felt real and normal. Then maybe he could begin to deal with his own feelings.

Sam resisted the urge to punch him in the nose. "What have you got for me?" She tried to sound bored.

"Not much. Seems cops get made pretty easy. Leader's a snot named Vermin. Nasty piece of work to match his name."

"Vermin have a first name? Or is it like Cher?"

"Right now it's just Vermin. Cassidy is working on finding out more."

"Cassidy?" The name sounded somewhat familiar, but if he wanted to play this game with her, she might as well make him work for it.

"The original primary. He fucked up somehow and got demoted to babysitter. He'll still be around, so look for him. A good guy. He'll protect you."

"He might be the new PCPD babysitter, but he's not going to be mine." Sam assured him.

"So you'd prefer I follow you around all day? I'm flattered Samantha."

"Is he cute?"

"Not your type. He's very by the book."

"Maybe I need a change." Sam threw back haughtily.

"If you want to look like you're dating a high school senior, be my guest. Just don't expect me not to make comments when he picks you up at the door in his momma's car."

"I could teach him so much." Sam grinned.

Harper matched her grin with one of his own. "I don't know how much teaching you would get done. I mean a roommate on the couch tends to put a damper on that sort of thing doesn't it?"

"I doubt it stopped you." Sam took another sip of her drink.

"I guess you'll find out soon enough." Harper sat down across from her in the chair. "I'll be packed and out of Kimes's place by end of shift tomorrow."

"That's too bad. Where will you be living?"

"Right here." She had scared him to death today and he wasn't about to let her out of his sight again. Cassidy could handle watching her in the field, at least he better if he wanted to continue on with the squad, but he was not going to let her stay here, by herself, not with who they were targeting.

"Excuse me?" Sam asked in a pitch only dogs could hear.

"That's right Gorgeous. We're going to be roomies again."

"No."

"Yes."

"No. Find someplace else to live. Someplace with a bed for you to sleep in."

"I like this couch. It's good for my back."

"I won't let you." Sam decided.

"Too bad it's my name on the lease." Harper pointed out.

"Then I'll just leave."

"No. You'll stay here."

"I don't know who has been lying to you, but you aren't in charge of my life."

"I don't pretend I am. But where would you go Samantha? And before you answer that, just know I plan on protecting you just like always, so where you go, I'll go."

"Then I just won't tell you. You have to sleep sometime."

"You volunteering to tire me out?"

"Fuck you."

Ignoring her last statement, Harper continued with his point. "Besides, I'm an investigator. Even if you did manage to give me the slip, I would still find you."

"Only if I stayed in Port Charles. Maybe I'm tired of this town. I could just decide to leave and you'd never find me."

Harper leaned closer to her, ignoring the anger that was flaring in her eyes. "Trust me on this much. Wherever you go, whatever name you try to hide under, I will find you. I will always find you Samantha."

"Why?"

Silently he cursed himself. Well he walked right into that one didn't he, he mused. "You know why."

"I don't know anything." Sam countered with a wave of her hand. "I know the sex is great, but that hardly seems like a good enough reason to put yourself through this."

"I'm not here just because of the sex." Harper argued.

"You wouldn't know from where I'm sitting." Sam folded her arms.

"What do you want me to say? That I'm here for you? That I can't get enough of you, all of you? Is that what you want to hear?"

"It'd be a nice change."

"Samantha..." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "You are the most infuriating, fascinating, exasperating, amusing woman I have ever met."

"So I have nice personality. Thank you."

"That's not...that's not what I meant." He let out a frustrated grunt. "I'm not good with relationships."

"Is that what this is supposed to be?"

"You're the only person I see. The only one I want to see. What does that make it to you?"

"A passing amusement."

"I don't think so."

"Explain it to me then."

He took a step toward her, reaching out and holding her arms with his hands. "I think whatever this is it's not what I expected at least. A passing amusement is something you forget after it's over. You're not someone I'm going to forget."

"Thank you." Sam took her glass to the sink to wash it out and stood with her hands out in front of her.

He followed her into the kitchen, carefully putting his hands on her shoulders. He buried his face in her hair and nuzzled the chestnut strands with his nose. "You doing ok today?"

"Perfectly fine." Her shoulders shook as the truth made itself known. She bent her head over the sink and closed her eyes.

"Come here." He murmured softly as he turned her to face him and pulled her into his arms.

"Why did he have to die?"

"I don't know. I wish I did, but I don't."

"It isn't fair. It should have been me."

"No. No it shouldn't have." He protested. "Don't say that."

"I made the decision to date that monster. I brought him into our lives. Yes. It should have been me."

"You didn't make the decision to hurt Vincent. He did. And you made the decision he would never hurt anyone else."

"The pain won't dull. It's been three years, David. What will it be like after five? Ten? Still as sharp? Still as unbearable?"

"I can't answer that for you. But you're strong Samantha. And you're not alone."

"Can I tell you something? You have to promise not to freak out."

"Try me."

"When you found me out on the ledge..."

"Yes?"

"I wasn't trying to kill myself."

"I know you weren't."

"There's only one thing keeping me alive and that's the knowledge that if I commit suicide..." She had to take a deep breath before she could go on. "I won't ever see Vincent again."

Harper had never held much stock in religious beliefs. God hadn't helped him when his mother and sister danced through abusive ass after abusive ass, all the while drinking themselves into a stupor. But if belief was what got Samantha through this, he wasn't going to argue with her. "What do you need me to do?"

"You don't have to do anything where I'm concerned." Sam could tell her answer surprised him once she met his eyes. "If you need a place to stay, you can stay here. I don't care."

He knew he was probably pressing his luck, but still he leaned his head down to press a kiss to her forehead. "What do you say to pizza and cards?"

"I say pepperoni only and I'm dealing."

Previews:

"Cameron, leave the nice man alone." Lisa urged.

"He doesn't bother me." The man promised. "It's good to have someone to talk to."

"Why don't you talk to yourself?" Tony suggested.

"Well that'd be silly, wouldn't it?"

"It would." Cameron agreed.