A/N: This chapter is a little late because I just couldn't write it for some reason. I have no idea why. Anyway, I just wanted to let you guys know there are only four more chapters after this one left. I want to thank everybody who keeps reading and reviewing this story. It means so much to me that so many people like what I write. I specifically want to say thanks to;

anyaandsoloman97

KatieTheCreeper

Opal

Golden Immortality(no I'm not thanking myself)

Iheartninjago2010

BlackPetals23

There are many more of you, but those are just some of whom I've come to expect reviews from. Thank you to everybody who reads/reviews this story. Now, I'll stop blabbing and you can just read the chapter.

Chapter Eighteen

Written by: TheEquestianWriter

The seconds ticked slowly by on the wall clock in the gray interrogation room of the Reno police department. Jake drummed his fingers on the metal tabletop, blowing out a long sigh. He had spent the night in lockup and an officer had brought him to this room in the morning. He hadn't said much since he was processed into the system. The police were frustrated with his silence and Jake couldn't help but grin at the thought.

He shouldn't be here. He didn't murder anyone. Caleb had kidnapped both Sam and Cody and...raped...Sam. Jake hadn't come away unscathed either, he had the gunshot wound to prove it. His thoughts turned to Sam and how she was doing. Being back home was probably helping her, being around her family and everybody who loves her. She didn't need him, she was strong.

The heavy metal door made a scraping sound on the floor as it opened. Jake looked up and saw a man in his late-thirties come into the room. He wore black slacks and a pressed, light blue, oxford shirt. He pulled out the chair across from Jake and sat down. Jake stared at the manila folder he placed on the table in front of him. He opened the folder and started looking through the papers inside, whistling softly to himself. Jake glared at him, wishing he would stop making that inane sound.

Finally, he looked up at Jake. "I'm Detective Bower," he introduced himself. "I will be overseeing your case."

"You were found at the scene of the crime with the alleged murder weapon, the dead body, and a distraught Samantha Forster," Detective Bower went on to say. "Your fingerprints were also found on the gun. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

"I have nothing to say to you," Jake said, gruffly.

"I would reconsider that," Detective Bower advised. "We have sufficient evidence to try this case as a first-degree murder."

Jake didn't say anything.

Detective Bower leafed through some more pages and then looked back up. "We're well aware that the deceased had kidnapped two minors, including Ms. Forster, but how did you come to be in that hotel. Did you decide to take the law into your own hands?"

Jake glared at him, not taking the bait. At that moment, the heavy, metal door opened again. Jake glanced up and saw a woman about his parents' age come in. Her brown hair was pulled back away from her face and she wore a red suit, and a black, leather bag slung over her shoulder.

"Detective, I hope you're not bullying my client without the benefit of council present," she said, a hand on her hip.

Detective Bower turned slowly around to look at her. When he saw her, he sighed and stood up to face her. "I'm just asking Mr. Ely a few harmless questions." he explained. He glanced back at Jake. "I wanted to give him a chance to tell me what really happened in that hotel room."

"Thank you, but I would like a word with my client now," the woman said. Detective Bower stared at her for a minute and then he picked up the folder from the table.

"Good luck getting him to talk," Detective Bower replied on his way out. The door slammed behind him, leaving Jake and the woman alone in the room.

The woman sat down in the chair the detective vacated, placing her bag on the floor next to the chair. She smiled at him. "Jacob Ely, my name is Carmen Johannes. I'll be representing you in this case." she introduced herself. "I've know your parents for over fifteen years."

"Jake," Jake muttered.

"Okay, Jake," Carmen started. "The district attorney wants to try this case as a first-degree murder case, but all the evidence they have is circumstantial. Why don't you tell me what happened?"

Jake shifted in his chair, avoiding the lawyer's gaze.

"Okay, let's start at the beginning," Carmen tried again. She reached down into her bag and placed a tape recorder down on the table, after pressing a button on it. "The Dalton police department said they tracked Caleb to an abandoned house in Dalton, but they quickly lost him. A day later, your family reported you missing. Did you go to the abandoned house?"

Jake hesitated and then nodded. "Yes," he hesitated again and then explained, "There was a trapdoor under the staircase. It led down to some tunnels."

"Is that where Caleb was hiding with the kids?" Carmen asked him.

Jake nodded again. "Except Cody, he wasn't there," he added.

There was a long pause and Jake fiddled with the handcuff circling his right wrist. It attached him to the table. The memories of that night were coming back to him one by one and he wished they would stay away. He just wanted to move on from that night and never think about it again. But as long as he was locked up, the police were going to keep dredging it back up. Jake sighed.

"Let's move on to the hotel, how did you get there?" Carmen broke the silence, seeing Jake's hesitation.

Jake licked his lips and started. "Caleb had me chained up when he dragged me up to the room. He had paid off the hotel owner, so that he would have the place to himself." he said. "When I got there, Sam was already tied to the bed."

Carmen stayed silent, letting Jake say what he needed.

"He shoved me into a chair, facing the bed," Jake tried to keep his voice steady, but he felt himself losing. He blinked to get rid of the images that came with talking about it. "He was taunting us. And then, he climbed onto the bed with Sam. He started to...I tried..." Jake shook his head, unable to finish. He turned his face away from the lawyer.

Carmen leaned forward, putting her hand over Jake's, the one that lay flat on the table. "Jake, did Caleb rape Sam?" she asked him gently.

Jake looked up at her, his eyes full of guilt and remorse. He gave a small nod of his head, "Yes."

/X/

Sam sat on her bed, staring out the window at the horses milling around the ten-acre pasture. It had been late when they got back, but that didn't stop Ace from whinnying to her from the barn corral, where he was recuperating from the gunshot wound. Sam had wanted to run to her gelding and throw her arms around his neck, but her family had ushered her inside the house before she had the chance. They'd kept asking her if she was hungry, but she'd just wanted to go to bed. She'd curled up under the covers and wished Jake was here.

When she woke up this morning, Jake was still not here. She was worried. Nobody would tell her where he was or even if was okay? What if there were complications and Jake hadn't survived? But surely someone would tell her if Jake had died, right? Sam had to find out.

Sam glanced at her bedroom door. If she stepped one foot outside the door, she'll be bombarded with questions and concerns. Brynna made a point of coming in every half hour with some food or drink, asking how she was, really she just wanted to know if Sam remembered where Caleb had taken Cody. The police still didn't have any new leads on the baby. Sam sighed, she didn't want to deal with them right now.

Standing up, Sam went to her window and opened it all the way. She looked out; her bedroom was on the first floor making it easy to climb out. Sam sat on the windowsill and swung one leg outside when there was a soft knock on the door. She stared at the door, debating whether or not to slip out the window before whoever it was came in.

"Sam, it's me, Jen," the voice on the other side of the door said.

Sam breathed a sigh of relief, at least it wasn't Brynna. "You can come in." she told her best friend, pulling her leg back inside and standing up.

The door opened slowly and Jen appeared wearing pink cargo pants and a yellow and pink flowered shirt. As soon as she saw Sam, Jen ran over to her and threw her arms around her. Sam gave into the hug, gratefully.

"I'm so glad your okay," Jen said. "I was so worried."

Sam didn't say anything as they pulled apart. Jen looked her up and down. She was still wearing Jake's shirt, but she'd pulled on a pair of soft, cotton shorts instead of her jeans and her feet were bare.

"I brought Silly with me," Jen supplied. "I thought, maybe, we could go for a ride, get your mind off of everything."

Sam turned to the window and reached up to close it. "Ace is still hurt," she muttered. The window slammed closed.

Jen jumped a bit at the sound. "I know," she stated. "I thought you could ride Strawberry or another horse."

"Maybe later," Sam muttered again, staring out the window.

"Okay, what's wrong?" Jen asked suddenly.

Sam turned to face her. "Nothing," she shrugged.

"Don't lie to me," Jen told her. "It's not nothing. You said no to a ride, you won't look at me, and you're slumped over like you're hurt. Sam, I know you, something's wrong." She gasped just then. "Did Caleb hurt you?"

Sam started to shake her head, but tears filled her vision. She collapsed down on her bed, tears streaming down her face. She tried to brush them away, but more just came as she looked up at Jen. "He touched me." she managed to say.

"Oh, Sam," Jen sat down on the bed next to her best friend. "Caleb touched you? Did he...I mean...was there more?"

"He raped me," Sam admitted, her voice got quieter at the end and she looked down ashamed.

"Sam, I'm so sorry," Jen said, tears filling her own eyes, but she blinked them back. She pulled Sam into another hug. "If there's anything I can do for you, just ask."

"You can get me Jake," Sam whispered into her friend's shoulder.

Jen pulled back, confused. "What?"

"I want Jake," Sam replied. "Can you please go tell him, I need him? Please?"

"Sam-" Jen started to shake her head.

"No, you have to!" Sam interrupted her, desperation was rising in her voice. She hated the helpless feeling that was creeping over her, but she couldn't help it. "Please! No one will tell me where he is. Something must have happened or he'll be here with me right now. Please Jen, you have to do this for me!"

"Sam, I can't," Jen told her.

"What not?" Sam asked. Now it was her turn to be confused. "All you have to do is tell him, I need him and he'll come."

"Jake can't come, Sam," Jen answered, trying to be gentle. Sam stared at her, eyes wide with unshed tears. Jen took a deep breath and continued, "Because he's been arrested."

A/N: What do you think? Please review!