Sam skated to her house as tears were being whipped away by the wind rushing past her. When she got home the quiet pleased her. Nobody was acting worried, nobody expressing sympathy. It was perfect. She laid her things on the floor and headed towards her room.

When she opened the door she almost jumped out of her skin. There, on her bed was Jack. He was dirty, bruised, and his shirt was ripped. Sam felt herself run to him,

"Oh my God Jack!" She couldn't form any more words.

"I-I had to see you." He stuttered with eyes wide like a deer in headlights.

He got up, but she took a step back. It was all so unreal.

"Shut up." She whispered.

Jack grabbed onto her and kissed her over and over and over again.

"I missed you Sam." He said in between breathing, kissing, and hugging. "I missed you."

Sam held on tight to him as if letting him go meant allowing him to disappear into nothingness. Her heart ached with happiness. Her eyes filled with tears.

Jack laid both of them down. The top of his head touched hers and he continuously pushed her hair back. They dared not stare away from one another.

"Where were you?" Sam whispered. Talking in anything above a whisper seemed so inappropriate.

Jack smiled at her, "He wasn't any worse than usual. He beat on me, but that wasn't a surprise. We just kept running. He overdosed yesterday. I called the police and ran. Don't know if he's alive or not."

Sam just closed her eyes imagining everything. Jack put a hand on her cheek. "Shhh. Babe don't you worry about it. I'm fine."

She opened her eyes once more, "I dreamed about your stupid face almost every night." She said smiling.

Jack chuckled, "Well I dreamed about a beautiful face that can brighten up my day no matter how bad it was."

Sam played with his hand, "Oh really?" She said questioningly, Then it must've not been mine." She mumbled.

Jack looked down at Sam's hand that was grabbing onto his pinky, "You're right. It wasn't beautiful." Sam looked up at him confused. He laughed, "It was gorgeous!" He said laughing. She punched him in the arm.

.Jack enveloped her and held onto her, "I love you Babe."

There in Sam's bed, in the middle of the day, they held onto each other. Refusing to let go.

Brooke left work early, leaving her assistant to the final meeting of the day. She had gotten a call from the police. They found X and he had overdosed. He was in the hospital, but Jack was not with him. She needed to figure out how she was going to explain this to the already distraught Sam. She thought being home, by herself would give her space to think.

She sighed heavily as she opened the door to her home. She turned to put her coat on the rack and found Sam's book bag on the floor.

Brooke took a deep breath, 'Damn it Sam.' She thought to herself. She dropped her things and pushed her hair back, "You're killing me Sam. You're freakin' killing me." She whispered as she headed towards Sam's room clearly annoyed and nervous at the same time.

Brooke opened the door, "Look Sam I know that you're going through a lot but I can't have you skipping school understood? I'm getting really tired of all this Samantha, I'm sorry, but-"

She looked to the bed and stopped dead. She let go of the door and her jaw dropped. Sam and Jack were both asleep on her bed. First rule given to Sam: No boys in the bedroom. But this was Jack and Jack was here. And Brooke was so, so confused. She folded her arms and all she could think of was clear her throat and just go from there.

Sam woke up first. Her shuffling woke Jack up. They both looked at Brooke. Jack looked scared, but to Brooke's surprise Sam smiled at her with great sincerity.

Her words shook, "Jack's back momma. Look. He's right here. He's not dead!" She said slowly more hysterical.

Jack turned to her, "Sammy hold on. Calm down okay?"

Brooke steeled her self and gave a brief nod and a half-hearted smile towards her daughter. Jack stood up, "umm Brooke-"

"Ms. Davis or Mrs. Baker. NOT Brooke." She said seriously.

He nodded, "Umm sorry..Ms. Davis. Look, I ran when he overdosed. I, I had to see Sam. I'm sorry. It's not her fault. I came in through the window and waited."

Sam sat on the edge of the bed with her legs dangling. She looked up at her mom, who didn't look as angry as she expected.

Brooke was about to say something but Sam's words stopped her. "Umm mom?" Sam said.

Brooke took a deep breath and looked at her, "Samantha we'll talk later okay?" She said sweetly. Surprising herself with how composed she sounded. She turned to Jack, "I'm calling your parents bud. I'll give you two time BUT the door is staying open."

She came out and sat down on the couch relieved and frustrated at the same time. She took a couple minutes before calling Jack's foster parents.

Jack and Sam talked with one another. Sam telling him all that she had felt while he was gone.

Jack lifted her chin up, "Sam talk to Brooke. She loves you."

Sam rolled her eyes, "Yeah, I guess so."

Jack's foster parent's burst into Sam's room and whisked Jack away from the bed. Brooke gave Sam a sympathetic shrug, knowing well that Sam wanted more time with him. Jack turned to Sam and gave her a wink, "I'll see you tomorrow at school Sammy." He said before going away with his parents. Sam smiled at him.

Brooke watched from the front door as Jack went away. "Finally...he's safe." She said to herself.

… … …

Sawyer went straight to Haley's classroom afterschool. She wanted to finish her tutoring fast because cheer practice was going to be half an hour earlier.

"Aunt Haley!" She ran in yelling. Haley turned to look at her taken aback by the enthusiasm by which her name was called.

"Soy what's wrong?" She asked.

Sawyer took a breath and realized who was standing in front of Haley. It was Michael. 'Oh just freaking great.' She thought to herself.

"Soy!" Haley sad louder.

"Oh! Umm can we start our session now? Cheer starts half an hour earlier and I need time to get ready and stuff. Please!?"

"Haley sighed, "Can you wait ten minutes? I'm talking with someone right now."

Sawyer nodded hurriedly, "Yeah sure, no problem. I'll just sit over here."

Michael stared at Sawyer, "Can you sit on the bench outside?"

Sawyer thought he was just being rude, "Sure thing Michael." She said annoyed while picking up her things.

Suddenly he felt self-conscious. He was about to explain his "homeless" situation to his English teacher, like he was doing to all his teachers. And suddenly the girl of his dreams was right there ready to witness it. He wasn't ready.

"Nevermind. I'll talk to you later Mrs. Scott." He put his head down and brushed past Sawyer. She scoffed and turned to Haley who looked just as confused. She walked out towards him, "HEY JERK!" She said tired of his game.

Michael took a deep breath and turned around, "What?" He said through his teeth.

"What's your problem? Why are you so rude to me?!" She asked sincerely searching for an answer.

He scoffed and turned back around, "You're so naïve! Go back to cheer and your little popular crowd!" He walked out.

"UUGHHH!" She yelled exasperated. Who did this guy think he is? She did absolutely nothing to him.

She went back to Haley's classroom. Before Haley could say anything she put her head down, "Don't ask Aunt Haley because I don't know!" She was so mad that a guy she barely knew could rock her emotions so much. Was she crushing on him? 'Oh God.' She thought.

Haley sat in front of Sawyer and held her hand, "Soy?" She asked sweetly. A tone of voice that she absolutely missed hearing.

"Yeah?"

"How's everything going for you?"

Sawyer shrugged, "My dad talks to me. He'll tuck me in sometimes. My mom and me on the other hand.."

Haley nodded knowingly, " We aren't really on talking terms. We can't seem to stop arguing with each other."

"Baby I'm here for you. I know it's felt like boot camp lately. And everything's just been horrible. How about we take a break today? Go get some ice cream or something before practice?"

Sawyer smiled, "That'd be awesome."

It was pretty cold outside and as they were walking to the parking lot they found Michael waiting by himself. Sawyer saw him and Haley nudged her, "Go." She whispered. Sawyer listened and went ahead.

"Umm Michael." She said bitingly.

He was shivering a bit, "Wh'what now?"

Sawyer steeled herself for any oncoming insults, "My aunt can give you a ride home if you want. I can stay back if my presence bothers you."

Michael laughed at her comment, "Sorry, for being a jerk. I'm just, well…"…'Should I say it?' He thought to himself.

One of the cheerleaders passed by Sawyer, "Hey chick!" the girl said joyously, "See ya at practice in a bit girly."

Sawyer's smiled widened at the girl, "Seeya babe!" She said giggling with her.

She turned back to him, "So what's up?" She asked him, "You were saying that you're just something."

He kicked the dirt, "I'm just having a bad day is all. And your presence doesn't bother me."

Sawyer chuckled, "Alright. Apology accepted."

"Umm can Mrs. Scott drop me off at the shelter?."
Sawyer raised an eyebrow.

He recovered, "I'm just not done with that newspaper piece."

She shrugged, "Yeah sure. Come on."

'She's too good for me.' He kept on thinking to himself.

… … …

Julian came out of Sam's room, "She's not very hungry." He told Brooke who frowned at his statement. "That's fine. She can come out when she pleases." Brooke said disappointed.

Julian rolled his eyes, "Brooke she's embarrassed. You should talk to her."

Brooke looked at him, "I told her that Julian. I told her I'm right outside when she needed me."

He smiled, "I don't know. She may actually feel remorse for breaking your sacred rule."

"Well then maybe I should go in and congratulate her." She said sarcastically, "You're right though. I guess she needs her momma more than poppa bear."

"Oh whatever." He said taking a bit of his food, "I'm the one that always gets her to talk first."

Brooke kissed him on the lips, "I'm joking." She whispered, "She needs you just as much."

She walked back into Sam's room, she was watching TV, and texting. Presumably Jack or Sawyer.

"Samantha-" Brooke spoke up.

Sam looked up, "No boys allowed in my room. It won't happen again." She recited.

Brooke raised an eyebrow, "Is that all you think I'm good for?"

Sam sat up, "Umm sorry what do you mean?"

Brooke folded her arms, "Laying down the law. Every time I come in here you're saying sorry for something before I even say a word,

Sam just stared at her unsure on how to respond. Brooke put her arms down in resignation, "It's fine Sam nevermind. But about Jack."

"I'm sorry mom. I just saw him on my bed and I thought I was never gonna see him again. And I got excited, I thought I was dreaming. And I know I shouldn't of left school, but everyone was being so nice and annoying and…" she trailed off into tears, but quickly wiped them away and looked down. Brooke sat down next to her and put an arm around Sam, "I know it's been hard. And I know how excited you felt today. But you should've talked to me about how you were feeling. You should've called me today Sam."

Sam shrugged, "I just, I'm tired of being such a kid when it comes to these things." She mumbled embarrassed, "But umm, it's nice to know that you and dad are here."

Brooke smiled. "Sam you are a kid. You're allowed to break down. Even I'm allowed to break down. That's what makes us human you knucklehead." Brooke said giving her a soft shake.

Sam chuckled and gave in to the urge of hugging her mom. Brooke kissed the top of her head, "Hey there it is." She said quietly.

"There's what?" Sam asked confused.

Brooke gave her a squeeze, "Your smile. I've missed it."

"You're such a dork you know that?" Sam said embarrassed at the attention.

Brooke stood up, "Whatever. You love me and you know it. After all, everyone loves Brooke Davis." She motioned Sam to follow her. Reluctantly Sam got up.

"Yeah I guess so. I'm sort of warming up to you." She said as Brooke grabbed onto her hand.

So this was written with me half drugged and in pain (my eye is swollen shut and totally massacred on the inside), but I just had to write! My surgery went well, although it'll be six weeks until my vision returns completely.

:(...I hope you liked this chapter! Please review! Suggestions, ideas, anything :)..