Sam woke up to a kiss on her cheek. She heard a soft voice calling her, "Sam. Sam wake up." Her eyes fluttered open and there was her mother with a warm smile.

"Hey you." Brooke said hoarsely.

"Hey." She grumbled.

"You gotta get up for school. I'm taking you."

Brooke started picking up some clothes that were scattered on the floor and putting them back in their respective places.

Sam watched her and half listened to her at the same time,

"Sam, I cleaned this room right before you got here. How do you already have clothes all over the floor?"

'Because I was frustrated and I threw them on the floor.' Sam thought.

But just then mortification filled her when she quickly realized that she had regressed the night before. 'Oh no. Is she going to bring it up?" She thought.

In an effort to steer away from an uncomfortable conversation Sam threw herself back onto the bed, "I don't want to go to school. Can I just stay for one more day?" She whined half asleep and half annoyed at her mother's presence.

Brooke turned back over and looked deeply at Sam, "And I don't want to go to work today either. I'd much rather stay here with you" Her tone turned more sober, "but I think you'd be better off with your friends than with me."

Sam's shoulders drooped. She would much rather be at school than be alone with her mom. "Yeah, I guess. I don't wanna fight anymore anyways...It's getting old"

Brooke frowned, "Me neither Sammy."

There was a silence between them, Brooke cleared her throat, "ahem, well, Okay. I'll let you get to it." She said with a feigned smile.

Sam felt instant relief. Brooke wasn't going to address whatever happened yesterday. It was as if they never argued, she never regressed, but she knew that Brooke was just giving her the time to calm down and regroup. She watched as her mom walked out and closed the door.

Sam was throwing on her clothes when something came into her view. It was a little note on her desk, and it said, "To my Samson."

She rolled her eyes, but opened it anyways. The message written was short,

"I'm glad I get to have such a wonderfully courageous and thoughtful girl as my daughter. You're the best Sam.

Love,

Dad"

She was red faced with embarrassment at his cheesy and childish note, but it still made her feel better and guilty about their fighting.

After reading and re-reading the note, she came out of her room and saw Brooke on the phone. She stood hesitantly in front of Brooke. Her hands subconsciously playing with the hem of her shirt.

Brooke rose her eyebrow at Sam as she was on the phone. She could tell Sam was nervous and even a little scared.

"Uhm hey Jonathan. We can continue this once I'm in the office, I have to take my daughter to school."

She hung up the phone. "Sam is something wrong?" She asked with concern in her voice.

Sam put a hand in her pocket,

"Go ahead sweetheart. Tell me." She coaxed.
"I-I umm just wanted to let you know that all that stuff I said last night, when, well you know," She didn't want to say it, she hated admitting her vulnerability,

Brooke nodded, "I know Sam."

"Well, you know that I meant all that stuff. It wasn't just 'cause I was scared or anything…right?"

"I know baby." Brooke reassured.

"And all the mean things I said before that, well, it was stupid and you guys didn't deserve it."

"Don't worry Sam, we're not mad at you." She said standing up to give Sam a hug.

Sam cleared her throat, "But I'm not done."

"Okay. What else?" Brooke asked, while racking her brain of what else Sam was going to possibly say.
"I still don't regret what I did. I needed time, and you guys should've given it to me. You and dad really embarrassed me, and I'm pissed about that, like you have no idea."

"Sam wait." Brooke interjected.

"I'm not finished." Sam said a bit more confident.

Brooke folded her arms across her chest, and waited for the rest.
"You and dad overreacted. I was gonna come back on Friday."

Brooke took a deep breath, "Samantha you didn't just leave to any friends house. You ended up on drugs and alcohol, and who knows what else. Is that your definition of time?"

"Oh come on mom! Not that again! " Sam said throwing her arms up in frustration.

"No Sam." She said gently, but firmly grabbing Sam's arm and putting it back down. She waited until Sam locked eyes with her.

"I let you talk, now it's my turn." Her voice rose slightly, but she was still calm.

Sam wanted to yell, but realized how counterproductive it'd be.

"Do you think that's an adult way to handle things?" Brooke pressed once more.

Sam shrugged and stared at her tattered Converse.

"Sam, come on." Sam looked up at her mother.
"You're going to be fifteen in a week, and I know you can tell the difference between a rational, responsible action, and one that is not. Right?" She said with a hint of frustration.

Sam rolled her eyes, and grumbled out a "yes."

"So I'll ask you again, do you think that's an adult way to handle things?" She asked again.

Sam gave in, "No, I guess not."

Brooke shook her head up and down in agreement, "It wasn't. And THAT's why we're punishing you. It was irresponsible. You could've hurt yourself! Something could've happened to you! And I wouldn't have been there to protect you Sam."

Sam clenched her fists, "Well what about all the crap that you and Julian did before. Why do you think I ran away?!"

Sam immediately took her words back, She bit her lip, " Shit, sorry."

Brooke took Sam's hand and sighed. She led a reluctant Sam to a chair and then kneeled to her level, "Samantha, then why don't you just tell me? Tell me why you had to leave. I'm here. I'm listening.."

Sam looked at her, "Mom, it doesn't even matter anymore. I'm here, I'm better. and I'm...I'm gonna be late for school…let's go?" She said changing the subject. She stood up and headed towards the door.

Brooke watched her incredulously, but followed suit, "Fine. Let's go then." Both were tired of trying to pry information from the other. Although not blood-related, Sam was definitely her mother's daughter. Both equally as stubborn.

… … …

Sam went to her locker knowing Jack would be there. He saw him and ran to him, "JACK!" She yelled. He smiled, "SAM!"

They hugged and he held her, "I missed you." He said soothingly, "I missed you so bad."

Sam just nodded, "Me too." She kept repeating, "Me too."

He let her go slowly and his smile turned into a stern expression. She noticed, "What's wrong babe?" Sam asked.

"You were in pretty bad shape. You okay now?"

Sam shrugged, "I mean, I'm glad we've got to talk about it, even if it is just through the phone. I'm doing alright."

Jack grabbed her hand as they made their way to class, "Brooke still mad?"

"Nah, neither is Julian. Just disappointed I guess. I feel real bad about it."

"Are we actually going to class today?" He asked with a smirk.

Sam all of a sudden felt so normal, "yeah, let's go." She said grabbing onto his hand.

As they were walking Sam ran into Sawyer and Michael.

"Sam?!" Soy said excited.

"Hey Soy." She said chuckling as Sawyer attacked her. "Dude I missed you!" Sawyer let her go, her excitement then turned to a burst of anger, she pushed Sam.

"What the hell?!
Sam said as she recovered.

"How could you be so stupid?" Sawyer asked. Michael put his arm on her, "Soy calm down."
Sam bit her lip, "Soy I've gotten crap from everyone lately. I don't need it from you too. Can we just be cool?"

Jack and Michael looked at each other with apprehension. Soy stared Sam down, "Whatever, fine. I was just worried, okay?"

"I know, and I promise, I'll never leave like that." Sam responded meekly.

Their moment was cut off by a voice, "You four need to GET TO CLAAAASSS...Right now, come on." It was Haley. She enveloped her arms around Sawyer and Sam. She looked over at Michael and Jack, "Michael get to your first period, you don't want to be late. Jack, come on, English awaits you."

Then with both arms around her nieces she whispered to them, "I'm glad to have both of you girls back. Please, please, let's make this time last."

They both blushed as they headed back into class.

As Sam went throughout the school day, back into her old routine, she realized how accustomed she had grown to it, and a sense of belonging came back. In Tree Hill, she had parents, a boyfriend, and a best friend. She realized that her old life was exactly that her "old" life, it was past.

Sam realized she could've turned to so many people, instead of just running away. She took a deep breath, as she watched everyone come and go. She felt someone hug her from behind. She felt Jack's kiss on her cheek and she couldn't resist but to turn around and allow herself to be wrapped in his arms.

"What do you think of us, living here and now?"

Jack looked at her quizically, "Are you really asking this now?"

"We have time, it's lunch." She responded simply.

He sighed, he took her hand and found a place to sit. An empty table, "Soy and Michael are sitting with us."

Sam put her bag down, "Fine, but don't change the subject."
He took a deep breath, "I'm happy where I am. Aren't you?"

Sam chipped off some of the peeling paint on the table, "yeah. I like it here."

Jack was waiting for something else, "But?"

She shrugged, "But nothing. I'm happy here."

He was pleasantly shocked, "Really?!"
She gave him a playful punch, "I know how to be happy Jack. Geez. You Jerk."

Michael and Sawyer came up from behind them and sat down. Sam stared at Michael with suspicion. She hadn't really met him, and she wanted to make sure that he wasn't some loser like Justin.

"Hi Sam." He said to her, "...It's Sam right?"

Sam broke from her trance, "Sorry, yeah it's Sam."

"Soy's been talking a lot about you lately."

Sawyer blushed, "Ahem, yeah, but it's 'cause I missed you dude."

As they were talking to one another Michael got a phone call. His face turned grave and he quickly left the table and answered the phone.

"What was that about?" Jack asked.

Sawyer fidgeted in her seat and the word "homeless" came to mind.

Michael came back to the table a few minutes later. His eyes were red and he looked much more solemn. Sawyer touched his shoulder, "Michael what happened?" She said with concern.

He rubbed his face with his hands quickly, trying to compose himself, "Nothing. Nothing."

Sawyer suddenly felt slighted, "I'm not an idiot. What's wrong?"

Jack and Sam stared at them, but then Sam spoke up, "Do you guys want privacy?"

"No, no. It's fine." He said, realizing that this was a group that he could trust.

He took a deep breath, "You know how I said that I was homeless?"

Sawyer shook her head yes, while Jack and Sam tried not to look surprised."

"Well one of the reasons why we struggled so much is because...my mom, well, my mom, she's, she's undocumented. And immigration has her detained. Ummm, they might, they might send her back. I don't know! But, umm, she said that they're looking for me, to place me in foster care."

Sam and Jack both looked at each other suddenly sympathizing deeply with him.

"I don't want to go!"

Sawyer grabbed his hand. He looked at her, and spoke desperately, "Soy can I crash at your place?!"

"W-what?" She said hesitantly.

"Just for tonight please! Let me just sleep on your floor. Your parents don't have to know."

She stayed quiet, then looked at Jack and Sam.

"Jack, can't he stay with you?"

"I'm sorry Soy, but I'm currently sharing a room with my foster mom's brother."

"Michael, you can stay with me."

Michael's face lit up at Sam's response. Sam was uneasy in her response, knowing that she'd probably get in even more trouble, but she couldn't let Michael suffer.

Sawyer stared at Sam. She couldn't let her take the fall again, "No!"

"What?" They both said, "Stay with me for the night. We can, we can alternate nights or something. At least until you figure something out Michael."

He nodded in agreement, "I-I can't thank you guys enough."

Sawyer and Sam glanced at each other with worry in their eyes.

Jack spoke up, "So, how did your mom, or, I mean what do you mean "undocumented"?"

"She was born in Mexico and came here when she was 20. She had a one night stand with some guy...his name was Michael. She thought he'd come back, so in some stupid attempt to appease him, she named me Michael."

"So what happened?" Sam asked.

"He never came back. She married someone else when I was three, but he was a jerk and abusive. We moved from Eastland to Tree Hill. My mom's been working as a housekeeper, and we managed to get an apartment, but we couldn't pay for it, so we've been staying at different places."

"Hey Michael?" Sam said tentatively.

"Yeah?" He asked.

"We're all here for you. I know we don't really know each other or anything, but we stick together man. Okay?"

He nodded, "Thanks."

Sawyer grabbed onto his hand under the table. He turned to look at her, his heart skipping a beat.

"What's gonna happen to your mom?"

He sighed, "She has an immigration lawyer working pro-bono for her. We'll see what happens."

All four of them looked down at their food, but had no appetite to eat it.

Hi guys! I'm back! :)….What do you think? Sam and her parents? Are the kids taking on too much with the Michael situation? Please review, so I can get back into my groove!