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Sam clenched his steering wheel as he slowly counted to 10 for the fifth time. He had been sitting in the parking garage for the last 10 minutes alternating between replaying the conversation with Matt in his head and counting to ten to let the subsequent rage subside. Who did that motherfucker think he was? Sam and Matt had always had a love/hate frenemy relationship that probably would have escalated into full-blown hatred years ago if it hadn't been for Matt being there for him when he needed someone the most. For a while Matt was all he had and even though Sam had a strong desire to push him off a cliff at the moment he would always appreciate Matt from saving him from himself all those years ago. However, that was then and this is now. Now, Sam didn't need saving but Matt was going to if he didn't stay the hell away from Mercedes.

"If I want to fuck your secretary…guess what I'm going to do?"

Just hearing Matt's mocking voice made Sam's blood boil all over again. He knew that Matt was serious, if he got it into his mind to sleep with Mercedes then he wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted. Normally, Sam wouldn't give a damn about what random chick Matt decided to screw but this wasn't some random chick. Just the idea of Matt's hands roaming all over Mercedes' delectably curvy body was enough to get Sam's blood pressure rising again.

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After getting done counting for the sixth time Sam laid his forehead against the steering wheel. This situation with Mercedes was driving him crazy. He had prided himself on not being weak emotionally when it came to women. He had made that mistake once in his life and it had almost broken him. Ever since then he had always kept himself emotionally distant from all the women in his life with the exception of Emma. That had been the plan with Mercedes but somewhere along that went to hell and he didn't even know when or how it happened. He had only known the woman for two weeks for god's sake! She had wormed her way under his skin and now he couldn't get her out and he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to. The whole thing was quickly turning into one big mess but it was a mess he was confident he could fix…as long as Matt stayed away. Matt was a wild card that Sam hadn't been anticipating and to be honest he was a little worried. Matt was handsome, made a good living for himself, and could charm the habit off a nun. Women fell for him all the time and only ended up heartbroken in the end. Sam knew he wasn't much better that Matt, in fact, he may have been worse but the idea of Mercedes getting the 'Matt Rutherford treatment' made Sam sick to his stomach. He knew he could chalk a big part of that up to good old-fashioned jealously but there was also a part of him that didn't want to see Mercedes get hurt. Hearing Matt refer to Mercedes as just another notch on his belt or as someone he would just discard bothered the hell out of him but he didn't want to delve into why too much. All he knew was that he needed to keep Mercedes the hell away from Matt. In fact, what he needed to do was get with Mercedes and tell her a few stories about his good friend Matt. He figured that by the time he got through with recounting old stories of Matt's womanizing ways she wouldn't even be able to look at him, much less let him touch her.

Pleased that he finally had a plan Sam decided to put it into motion right away. It had only been about 15 minutes since he left the office so he figured that Mercedes would still be there. He would go back upstairs, apologize for being an ass, and invite her out to lunch. With the amount of Horndog Matt stories he had in his arsenal he guessed he would have Mercedes thoroughly disgusted before the appetizer even arrived. Sam was just getting ready to step out of his car when his phone started to ring. He cursed under his breath before pulling it out of his pocket and looking at the caller ID. He didn't recognize the number so he considered not answering but curiosity got the best of him.

"Hello?"

"Um…hi….is this Sam?"

"Yes. Who is this?"

"It's me…it's…it's Quinn."

Sam sat in stunned silence for a moment, it had been so many years since he had heard that voice it was no wonder he didn't recognize it at first.

"Sam? Are you still there?"

"Yes…" Sam cleared his throat, "Yes I'm still here."

"I know it's been a long time, but I…how have you been?"

How had he been? That's all she had to say to him after almost 8 years?

"What do you want Quinn?"

Sam knew his voice was harsh but he couldn't find it in himself to feel sorry.

"I…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called."

"No, you shouldn't have but you did so what do you want?"

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

"Well…what do you want?"

"This was a mistake…just forget that I eve—"

"Cut the bullshit Quinn, why did you call?"

"I'm pregnant!"

Sam felt all the air whoosh out of his lungs. A feeling of déjà vu fell over him as he was taken back to another time and another place where those same words by the same person shattered his universe.

"Sam…please say something."

"What do you want me to say? Congratulations? We haven't talked in almost 8 years and when we finally do the thing you want to tell me is that you're pregnant? Fuck you, Quinn."

"Wait! Don't hang up. I didn't tell you that to rub it in your face or remind you of…before. I called because I need your help."

Sam laughed bitterly, "Un-fucking-believable. Quinn Fabray you will never change will you? So what happened you were stupid enough to get knocked up by some dumb fuck again who doesn't have two nickels to rub together? Let me guess Daddy wasn't too happy about this bastard child either was he?

"I wouldn't know, Daddy died two years ago."

Sam felt genuinely sorry to hear that, Quinn's dad may have been a little too conservative and overtly religious for his taste but he was still a good man.

"I'm sorry to hear that Quinn."

"Thank you. Look, I didn't randomly call to ruin your day, I do need to talk to you about something but I'd rather do it in person, can we meet somewhere?"

"Uh, yeah there's a new sushi restaurant I had plans to go to today, we could just meet there. I'll text you the address."

"Okay…is it just sushi?"

"No, they have other stuff, why?"

"Pregnant women aren't really supposed to eat sushi."

"Oh, I didn't know that." Sam felt like an idiot, "We can go somewhere else."

"No it's fine, I'm sure I'll find something to eat. The sushi place sounds good."

Because Quinn's hotel wasn't too far away the made plans to meet at the restaurant in 10 minutes. As Sam was pulling out of the parking garage onto the busy street he felt a moment's regret that he wasn't able to take Mercedes out for lunch. He was curious to find out from Quinn what was so important that she couldn't tell him over the phone but he still would have preferred to be spending time with Mercedes.

Once he got to the restaurant he quickly got through the valet and was surprised to see Quinn waiting for him at the entrance. She looked almost the same except she had a fuller face and the long blonde hair that he remembered was gone in favor of a short chin-length bob. His eyes instantly fell to her stomach in search of a bump but she just laughed softly and told him it was too early for her to be showing. As the faced each other awkwardly neither one of them quite knew how to react. After what seemed like the longest 30 seconds ever they both decided that a quick hug would be the best course of action. After the semi-awkward embrace was over Sam escorted her inside the restaurant and they were quickly seated. As Quinn perused the menu Sam took the time to study her face. Years ago he thought she was the most beautiful thing in the world and he swore up and down that if the only thing he could see was her face for the rest of his life he would die a happy man. Now, he realized how foolish a sentiment that was. That pretty face hid a calculating and devious mind. That pretty face was a mask that hid the not-so pretty woman inside. Sam was going to give Quinn the opportunity to tell her story but he already had his defenses raised. He wasn't the young foolish man that he used to be that could be easily swayed by a pretty face and fake promises. For years other women had to pay for the damage she caused. Quinn Fabray was going to find out real quick that the Sam Evans that she used to know didn't exist any longer.

"May I take your drink order?"

Sam was brought back to reality by a young waiter standing over him.

"Oh yes, I'd like a Manhattan and the lady will have…" He glanced at Quinn.

"A water, thank you."

The waiter jotted down their drink order and then asked if they wanted appetizers. They both declined and ordered their entrées instead. Once the waiter was gone Quinn turned to Sam with raised eyebrows and said,

"It's a little early in the day for a Manhattan, isn't it?"

"I figured I needed some type of alcoholic beverage for this conversation."

"Touché'"

Sam sat back in his chair, crossed his arms, and gave Quinn a challenging look.

"I'm ready when you are."

Quinn started to fidget with the knife and fork in front of her. She opened her mouth several times like she was preparing to speak but no sound would come out. Sam was quickly becoming impatient but he didn't want to rush her so he busied him by looking around at the other diners. He was just getting ready to bring his focus back Quinn when his gaze passed over an African-American couple sitting in the corner. He wouldn't have paid them any attention if it hadn't been for that quick sizzle of electricity that passed through him when he saw them. At first he was confused because he only felt that type of spark when Mercedes…

"That son of a bitch!"

Quinn looked shocked at Sam's outburst but he didn't care. He couldn't believe his eyes. At first he had hoped…prayed that he was mistaken but there was no denying the electricity or that tight leather skirt. Sam stared holes into the back of Mercedes' head and he knew she felt him because she grabbed her neck before looking behind her. What in the hell was she doing here? And what was he doing with Matt? Sam groaned when the realization that he had left Matt standing in the parking lot right in front of the still open elevator that led to his office hit him. Why was he so fucking stupid? After the way he acted in the elevator he pretty much dared Matt to go after Mercedes, but he never thought he'd work that fast. Sam was sure that he would have had enough time to pour some poison in Mercedes' ear about Matt but instead it looked as if Matt was going to do it to him first. Sam needed to get Mercedes alone but short of walking over and snatching her out of her chair and storming out the restaurant he didn't know how to do it. Luckily for Sam, his sizzling connection with Mercedes took care of that problem for him. He knew she knew he was there and he knew she could feel him. As he watched her fidget around in her seat he knew she would only be able to handle it for so long before she had to get away from it and he was right. After rubbing her hands furiously up and down her arms, Mercedes excused herself and headed towards the bathrooms. As soon as she was out of her seat Sam jumped up as well and muttered a quick, "I have to go take care of some business," to a stunned Quinn before hurrying after Mercedes. As he was headed to the bathrooms he saw a sign for private rooms available for dinner parties only and a sly smile crept across his face. He quickened his pace and he caught Mercedes by the hand right before she reached the bathroom. His assumption that she realized he was at the restaurant was further proven correct by the fact that she didn't act surprised or attempt to fight him as he tugged her towards one of the private rooms.

Once there he pushed her gently inside the dark room and followed behind her. He quickly shut the door and then grabbed her and spun her around so that she was pressed against the door. He leaned into her and took a moment to just let himself feel her. Even though she was quite a bit shorter than him, even in heels it was like they fit each other perfectly. He leaned his forehead against hers and just allowed the strange, inexplicable electricity that flowed between them run its course. Sam could have easily stood there with her for hours, not moving an inch but he needed to know what the hell had happened to bring her there.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

That came out harsher than Sam had intended but just thinking about her there with Matt was infuriating.

"Matt brought me. He said that you bailed on him to meet some woman and you told him to come take me out to lunch instead."

Sam saw red.

"WHAT?"

That lying, manipulative bastard! Sam ignored Mercedes' small squeak as he pushed himself away from her and started pacing back and forth.

"That slimly, piece of shit...I can't believe that fucker played me like that...you just wait until I see him-"

Sam was on the way to working himself into a frenzy but Mercedes' quiet, "Mr. Evans?" brought him back to reality. It was suddenly very important that he let her know that what said was untrue.

"Listen to me, I never told Matt to take you out to lunch. In fact, I would NEVER tell Matt or any other man for that matter to do that. Also, I didn't bail on Matt to go on a date. I bailed on him because he's an asshole and I didn't want to spend time with him."

After Sam finished talking he realized that he had just explained himself to a woman which was something he swore up and down he would never do. He waited for the irritation to come, but it never did.

His attention was brought back to Mercedes when he felt her soft breath against his face as she told him that she thought he and Matt were just friends.

"We were, but if he keeps doing what he's doing that's going to be a thing of the past."

"I'm not trying to come between you and your friend."

"You're not...well you are but it's not your fault. Don't worry about it, ok?"

"Ok."

Once again, Sam was shocked by his need to make sure that Mercedes was okay. If it had been some other woman he would have told her it was her fault that he was about to lose a ten-year friendship over her and he wouldn't have felt the least bit guilty about it. With Mercedes he didn't want her to know that she was the sole reason for this rift with Matt because he knew it would make her feel bad and he didn't want that. When exactly had he become such a pussy?

All thoughts of losing his Man Card quickly floated away as he focused on the sparks that were igniting again between him and Mercedes. Was this normal? He had never felt anything like it before, even when things with Quinn were at their absolute best so why now? Why her? He had to know if she felt it too, because the idea of the sparks between them only being a one-sided thing was almost unbearable for Sam.

"Can you feel it? Please tell me you feel that?"

Sam realized he was begging but he didn't even care. He needed affirmation that this thing between them, whatever it may be, was a two-way street.

"Yes…"

At Mercedes whispered word Sam felt like a weight had been lifted off his chest. He leaned forward and cupped her soft cheek. Even though he couldn't see it he could almost envision the way her chocolately dark skin would look under his slightly tanned hand. He imagined it was beautiful.

"What the hell is this?"

"I don't know."

Sam didn't blame her, how could she know? Maybe the two of them needed to be studied because this thing between them was unreal.

"I want to kiss you so bad, Mercedes. Can I kiss you?"

Sam felt like a schoolboy asking that question but it felt like the right thing to do. He knew that he could have just leaned forward and taken the kiss but he wanted her permission. He wanted to know without a shadow of a doubt that she wanted him. He wanted them to both go into their first kiss knowing exactly what was going to happen.

Sam felt Mercedes nod her hand under his hand but it wasn't good enough.

"Say it."

"Yes."

"Yes, what?"

Sam realized he was being a little ridiculous at this point but for some reason he needed to hear her say his name.

"Yes, Mr. Evans you can kiss me."

Sam didn't like hearing Mercedes call him Mr. Evans, especially not in that moment. At work he insisted on it in the office but that was only because he was trying to keep some of the control that was steadily slipping from his grasp. However, they were no longer in the office and he wasn't worried about who had more control. All he wanted was to see her as a woman and for him to see him as a man. He didn't want that moment to be about anything other than the two of them in their most basic forms.

"No, say my real name. Please."

Sam held his breath waiting for her reply.

"Sam…"

The sound of her voice whispering his name was almost Sam's undoing. All sense of being gentle and sweet flew out the window because all he could think was that he needed her and he needed her NOW. He pressed his lips against hers and he instantly moaned at the contact. He had kissed his fair share of women but not a single one of them had lips like Mercedes. He pressed his tongue against them and she quickly granted him entrance. As he sank further into her mouth Sam couldn't help but think if he died right at that moment he would be the happiest man on earth. Mercedes mouth was perfection and never wanted to stop kissing her, unfortunately for him his lungs required a little bit more than just Mercedes lips to function so he was forced to pull away before he passed out from a lack of oxygen. As Sam struggled to catch his breath he continued to slide his hands over inch of her body he could reach. Her breasts were tantalizing but her ass captivated him. He was like a kid who goes to F.A.O Schwartz during Christmastime, he didn't know what to grab first. He decided that since her breasts were right there he should start with them. He had to open about five or six buttons before he was able to pull the shirt apart and get to her bra. He remembered the edgy red lace from that earlier that day and he briefly contemplated turning on the light so that he could see the full thing. The feeling quickly passed and he decided that today touching trumped seeing. He yanked the bra cup aside and instantly latched onto her nipple. The feeling of her stiff peak in his mouth had Sam hard as a rock. As he swirled the nipple around with his tongue he listened as Mercedes let out the most appealing moans as she begged him to do something to make the ache go away.

"What do you want me to do baby?"

He expected an answer but instead she just grabbed his head and pulled him up and kissed him. At first they were just little tiny pecks, but it once again escalated into a full blown make-out session. Sam was so hard at this point that he literally felt if he actually bumped into a wall he would ram a hole in it. He needed to be inside Mercedes and he needed it now. He regretted briefly that their first time was about the be up against a door in a packed sushi restaurant but he promised himself that he would make it up to her over and over and over again later.

Sam trailed his hands down to Mercedes hips and he gave her leather skirt a sharp tug. When nothing happened he actually thought for a second that he had just imagined pulling the skirt up. After the third or fourth time of pulling on the skirt he finally realized that the damn thing wasn't moving.

He knew that leather skirt was going to be the death of him.

"Is this thing welded on?"

Sam was so frustrated that he grabbed the skirt again and tugged it until he had lifted Mercedes in the air. By this time she was trying and failing miserably to hide her giggles. Even though Sam wanted to punch a wall or ram his incredibly hard dick into it all he could do was laugh as well. As it turned out, Sam wasn't going to have to feel guilty about having sex in a sushi restaurant after all.

As their laughter slowly subsided Sam bent down and hugged Mercedes' body to his. He settled his face into the crook of her neck and he was immediately enveloped in that unique smell of hers. This was definitely nice but there was something else he would much rather prefer doing at the moment.

"Now you see why I told you not to wear that damn skirt to the office."

He listened to her giggle quietly as she played with the hair at the nape of his neck.

"I would promise not to wear it again but I look fucking fantastic in it."

Truer words had never been spoken.

Sam began to run his lips lightly up and down the side of Mercedes neck and he softly stroked her back. He had never been the one for cuddling but there was something about having Mercedes in his arms that felt so right. Sam refused to start trying to figure out how a woman he had only known for two weeks had somehow wormed her way into his mind to the point that she was in every waking thought.

Sam thoughts were taking a turn he was nowhere near comfortable them going so he turned his focus back to the glorious woman in his arm that was emanating the most intoxicating smell.

"What is that?"

"What?"

"That smell?"

He felt Mercedes jerk back in his arms but he was too busy trying to figure out what the hell that smell was to pay too much attention.

"Is it some type of flower...or is it a fruit...I can't place it."

"Oh that? That's my soap. My friend Kurt knows this kooky hippie chick that makes and sells homemade soaps. She refuses to tell anyone what's in them so your guess is as good as mine."

Sam's business mind immediately went to all the untold millions that could be made of that hippie's soap. If she can make all women smell as delicious as Mercedes then it would be the equivalent of finding the fountain of youth.

"Hmmmm...Well, whatever it is you smell good enough to eat."

Sam went back to rubbing his nose along her skin but it was short-lived when he felt Mercedes gently push him back. He looked at her quizzically even though he knew she couldn't see him.

"I've got to go."

As soon as she said that Sam's mind instantly flashed to Matt. He had almost forgotten all about that asshole but now all that rage that had dissipated during his little make-out session with Mercedes came rushing back.

"Fine, let me pay my tab and we can go."

He knew that he was being deliberately obtuse but there was a small part of him that hoped that Mercedes would play along and just go with him.

"I have to go back to my table. I've been gone too long and Matt's probably wondering where I'm at."

He hated the way she said that, he hated that she was brushing him aside to go back to Matt of all people.

He stepped away from her and reached past her and flicked on the light. Finally seeing Mercedes after everything they had just done was something Sam wasn't prepared. Some of his angry drained away as his eyes roamed her body. Her usually impeccable hair was all over the place and her dark red lipstick was smeared all around her mouth. As his eyes drifted lower Sam bit back a groan after he noticed that Mercedes top was still undone and her left breast was out. It was still glistening from his mouth and it took everything in Sam not to latch onto it once again. When Mercedes started to fuss with her hair he grabbed her hands and stopped her. He created the mess so it was only right that he should fix it. He regretfully tugged up her bra cup until her breast was covered and then he buttoned her shirt until her beautiful brown skin was gone from his eyes. He turned his attention back to her full lips and rubbed her lips until the dark lipstick was gone. He stepped back and gave her a quick once over. She was decent enough to be seen in public but he still didn't want her around Matt looking like she had just been thoroughly fucked. The more he thought of it, the madder he got. She wasn't going back there! She could be mad at him all she wanted but he'd be damned before he let her go back out there to finish her 'date' with Matt.

"My car is in valet, I'll give you the ticket and you go straight there and wait. I will go get your belongings from Matt and give him your apologies. You are not to go back to that table. Do you understand?"

Sam knew by the look on Mercedes face that he was about to have a fight on his hands but he didn't care.

"No, Mr. Evans, I don't understand. I was invited to lunch and I accepted the invitation. I'm not just going to back out of that because you said so. You have no right to dictate who I spend my time with."

Oh, so he was Mr. Evans again? Sam narrowed his eyes at her. He didn't want to hurt her feelings but she needed to know the score when it comes to Matt.

"Don't you see he's playing you? He doesn't care anything about you he's just doing it to get back at me."

Sam watched as a variety of emotions crossed Mercedes' face. She didn't seem hurt so much as irritated so Sam breathed a sigh of relief that he hadn't hurt her feelings. As she continued to ponder Sam's hopes began to lift…maybe she was going to choose him after all.

"Look, Sam maybe you're ri—"

RING! RING! RING!

Sam started at the sudden loud noise and vibrating that was coming from his pocket. Who in the hell was calling him now? As Sam jerked the phone out of his pocket he didn't even bother looking at his caller ID, a mistake that he would regret for a long time to come.

"WHAT?"

"Sam? It's me Quinn. Where the hell are you? I've been sitting at this table by myself for the last 15 minutes. Your food is getting cold."

Oh. Shit.

Sam had completely forgotten about Quinn.

Because of the ridiculous speakers on his phone he knew that Mercedes heard and his suspicion was quickly confirmed when the hurt look that Sam was praying he would never see started to bloom on her face. He had just gotten through with warning her about Matt hurting her and 5 seconds later he was the one that ended up doing it. What kind of shitty irony is that?

He quickly murmured to Quinn that he would be out there soon and to eat without him before hanging up the phone. He watched as Mercedes angrily swiped away the tears that had sprung up in her eyes.

Fuck, he felt guilty. He knew Mercedes wasn't his girlfriend and he knew his lunch date with Quinn was anything but romantic but he still felt bad because he knew what she thought.

"Please let me explain."

"No. It doesn't matter, what's done is done. It was a stupid mistake that won't happen again."

Sam felt his blood run cold at the sound of her robotic, detached voice. He needed to make her understand.

"Don't do this Mercedes," Sam said angrily, "you need to listen to me, it's not what you think."

"NO! I don't need to do anything for you except do my job efficiently. I will continue to do that as long as you stay away from me."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"It means if you touch me again I'll quit."

Bullshit. Sam refused to believe that was true. He knew she needed his hands on her as much as he needed hers on him, there was no way that they wouldn't touch again.

"I'm not going to let you quit."

"You can't force me to stay."

"Fine, I won't touch you. But what if you touch me first?"

"Trust me, that's never going to happen."

"We'll see."

Even though Sam was shaken by Mercedes steely gaze he knew that she couldn't resist him, she would cave eventually no matter how strong her convictions were at the moment.

"I still have a little bit of time left on my lunch break so I would like to enjoy it before I have back. Please, tell Quinn I said hello."

That was a low blow, but it was one he deserved. He didn't say another word as she turned sharply on her heel and stalked out of the room. He watched her make her way toward and he figured he had a few minutes to have a little chat with Matt. He wasted no time making his way back into the dining room and he didn't stop until he reached Matt's table.

"I never realized what a slimy bastard you really were."

"Well, hello to you too Sam. I must say your taste in restaurants is impeccable, this place is incredible."

"Cut the bullshit Matt, what the fuck are you doing here with Mercedes?"

"The better question is what the fuck are you doing here with Quinn? You know, when I told Mercedes about you dumping me to meet up with some chick I had just pulled that out of my ass. Leave it to you to end up looking like an asshole because you're so damn predictable."

"Fuck you, Matt."

Matt laughed quietly and took a slow sip of his drink.

"So where's my flighty date? I was going to check on her but it was clear my concern was unnecessary. That red lipstick looks good on you by the way."

Sam wiped at his lips hastily but he wouldn't let Matt change the subject.

"Alright Matt, you had your fun but now it's time to cut Mercedes loose. You've made your point. I've got it. Now leave her alone."

"Why do you care so much?"

"I don't."

"Liar."

"Why are you doing this, Matt?"

"Because it was done to me."

"What the fuck are you even talking about?"

"Figures you wouldn't remember." Matt shook his head disgustedly.

"Look I don't have time for this, just—"

Sam felt a sharp tingle and he looked up to see Mercedes making her way over to them. He wanted to say more to Matt but he wasn't about to say it in front of Mercedes.

"We're not done, Matt."

"Oh, trust me. We're just getting started."

Sam felt dread creep up his spine at Matt's words. He had no doubt that he meant it.

"Are you okay Mercedes?"

Sam snapped back to reality at the sound of Matt's sickly sweet voice and he rolled his eyes at the fake concern he heaped on Mercedes.

"Actually I don't feel so well. I was hoping you could take me home."

Sam couldn't believe what he was hearing. Mercedes was supposed to be going back to the office, not heading home. Making his peace with Matt taking her back to work was hard enough but the idea of him going to her house was too much for Sam to handle.

"Home? I thought you were going back to the office to prepare for tomorrow's meeting?"

"I was but while I was in the restroom I realized that I just didn't feel up to being in an office today. Besides I got most of the stuff done already and anything that I haven't gotten yet I can do at home."

She was full of shit and Sam knew it. She wanted to get back at him for the Quinn thing and she was doing a damn good job of it.

You do look feverish, Mercedes," Matt said, making things infinitely worse. He waved a waiter over to bring them to-go boxes and Sam watched with clenched teeth and Matt barely hid his smug smirk.

"She looks fine to me." Sam growled out.

"Well, you're not a doctor so you can't make that call now can you, friend?"

At this point the only thing keep Sam from launching himself at Matt's throat was the fact that it would probably upset Mercedes to see him choking his former friend to death.

"Look, Mr. Evans I promise that everything for the meeting will be taken care of and it will run smoothly. Can I please go home?"

Sam could feel the muscles in his jaw start to twitch. Between the Mr. Evans crap and knowing that he couldn't justifiably demand that Mercedes go back to work without looking like an asshole, Sam was at his wit's end.

"Fine, Ms. Jones. You may have the rest of the day off."

He hated to do it, but he knew that he would just have to take this loss, regroup, and pray that Mercedes had enough sense not to let Matt into her apartment.

Sam watched sulkily as Matt paid the bill and left a tip. His mood further darkened when he heard Matt say,

"Are you ready to go home, beautiful?"

That asshole knew exactly what he doing and it was driving Sam fucking crazy. Thankfully, Mercedes wasn't impressed by his little dig and she gave him a look to let him know it.

Mercedes turned her body slightly towards Sam's but she still wouldn't meet his gaze.

"I'll see you first thing tomorrow, sir."

Sam barely acknowledged the greeting because he was so busy trying to convey to Matt that he would fuck him up if he touched Mercedes. Matt just smirked in response.

"You remember what I said."

"Yeah, you remember what I said too."

Sam had finally had enough and he shot one more glance at Mercedes before making his way back over to a perturbed Quinn.

"Where in the hell have you been? I've been sitting by myself for 20 minutes and I had to eat alone and you know how much I hate eating alone!"

The ridiculousness of Quinn's statement was hilarious to him and he began to laugh. Was she always this vapid and grating? Maybe the stress of the day had finally hit him and he was having a mental breakdown. Whatever it was it took him a good five minutes to finally calm down. When he finally wiped the tears of laughter from his face he was met with a very unamused Quinn Fabray.

"Are you done?"

"Yes…and I'm ready to go so how about you tell me about your important news."

"First tell me about her."

"Who?"

"The black woman you were getting into a pissing contest with Matt over."

"It's none of your business so stay out of it."

"Touchy, touchy. I was just going to tell you that she's a very beautiful woman. I hope she is smart enough to realize she is a pawn in one of you and Matt's games."

"Fuck you, Quinn. As usual you don't know what you're talking about…but then again maybe you do. Is this your clever way of telling me that you fucked Matt in college? After everything it wouldn't surprise me, so if it happen then just spit it out. I promise I won't care."

"You can be so crude sometimes."

"And you can be a bitch, what's your point?"

"Look, I didn't come here to fight with you…I came because…I…I need help."

"What kind of help? Money?"

"No, not money. I need help with my baby's father. I…I love him and I want him to be in the baby's life but he told me that he didn't want it."

"Are you fucking serious?"

"Sam, keep your voice down!" Quinn said in a stage whisper.

"After everything you did to me, you come to me of all people and ask for help with baby daddy #2? Why don't you go to baby daddy #1 and ask him for help?"

"Me and Noah don't talk…not anymore. Not after what happened to the baby."

"Yeah, I know what happened to your baby and I am sorry. I wasn't in the place back then to be gracious and I should have swallowed my pride and given you my condolences."

"It's fine, Sam. Nobody expected you to come to my bedside after I had a stillborn baby with the man I cheated on you with."

The cheating comment stung even after all this time.

"I know, but still…I'm sorry."

"Thank you." Quinn said softly. "Believe me Sam, if I could have went to anyone else I would have but there is no one else and I'm desperate."

"Quinn, I honestly don't know what I can do to help. If they guy doesn't want kids then maybe it's best he's not involved."

"No." Quinn said firmly, "I love him and I know he loves me, he is just being stubborn. We could be a family…I could finally have my family."

Sam regarded Quinn worriedly, she had an unhinged quality about her that he didn't really notice before. It was clear that this baby was important to her but he feared it was for the wrong reasons.

"Look Quinn, maybe you should just give the guy time. If he truly loves you then he will find his way back to you eventually."

"I don't have time…I will be showing soon and I…I just don't want to be alone with this pregnancy. After what happened with the first baby I'm terrified about everything and I want, no I need, someone there with me."

"Quinn…"

"All you have to do is talk to him, that's all. I know you'll make a difference."

"Why me? Why will I make a difference?"

"Because he looks up to you and he'll listen to you. And because this baby will be your niece or nephew."

Sam felt the blood begin to drain out of his face. No, that can't be right…he must have misunderstood.

"What?" He whispered weakly.

"The baby's father is Stevie."