It was Sam's fourth week with Brooke and Lucas. She finally had a bed with Lucas, which had become a running joke amongst the dysfunctional three, and she was getting used to Brooke's sometimes hectic schedule. As she lay in her bed she imagined what Tamara was doing now. It was midnight, she had probably snuck out of the group home to go with Marcus. She laughed silently thinking of the times she had gone with her. She suddenly got nostalgic and swallowed the lump in her throat. It wouldn't be the same between them. She wished she had Tamara to lay with in bed. She remembered crawling in with her in the small twin bed at Clydesville. Luckily she was small, so she could squeeze in with her. Sam tightened the embrace she had on her blanket.

Her door slightly opened and she saw a female figure come into her room. She sat up, "Peyton?" She asked confused. "Hey kid." Peyton whispered, "Mind if I crawl in with you?" the bed was big enough, and Sam did want some company, but what was Peyton doing? She would've thought that her and Lucas would be….getting busy. "Uhh, yeah sure. Why aren't you with Lucas?"

Peyton walked towards the bed and Sam slid over, "Oh, you know." Sam smirked, sitting up slightly and laying her head on her hand, "Actually I don't, why don't you tell me about it?"

Peyton just grinned, "Hmmm, I don't think your father would appreciate me talking to his daughter about our sex life." She stopped dead, having given it away unintentionally. Sam burst out laughing, "OH MY GOD! You totally just told me. So you're not having sex, huh?"

Peyton narrowed her eyes, "Not a word to Lucas."

Sam nodded and then frowned, "Wait, you guys aren't fighting or anything, right? Are you mad because of Brooke?"

Peyton felt her muscles tighten. What about Brooke? That hadn't even crossed her mind, "No, that's not it." But now her mind was racing. If Sam had noticed something, there was obviously something there. "Look Sam, it's late and you have school tomorrow, so let's go to sleep."

Sam laid her head back on the pillow, "You know about a month ago, I would've probably been out right now with friends."

Peyton rolled to her side so she could look at Sam, "Well sorry to burst your bubble kiddo, but that's not how it works here."

Sam turned and closed her eyes, "I know. I'm just saying."

When the morning came, Peyton was surprised to wake up to Sam wrapped around her, Sam's blanket and teddy bear tightly fastened between the both of them. She looked down and smiled warmly. She didn't want to wake her up so she slowly peeled her from her waist, and got out of bed. She got ready, then headed to the kitchen to make some coffee. Lucas was already in the there making some eggs.

"Hey baby." He said giving her a kiss. Peyton didn't respond, "What's wrong?" He asked her. Peyton poured some coffee into her cup, unsure of how to confront the "Brooke" situation, "You didn't even care that I got out of bed last night."

Lucas lowered the fire on the stove, "Peyton, you were the one that kept wanting to have sex. I told you, we couldn't. So you got mad and left the bed. I wasn't going to chase after you, especially with Sam asleep. I didn't want to cause a scene."

Peyton rolled her eyes, "You know you keep using Sam as an excuse. I hope that you really mean it, and you're not trying to hide something else." She spoke harshly.

Lucas felt attacked. He looked at her surprised, "Peyton what the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Just as Peyton was to respond they heard feet patting on the stair's carpet, "How's Brooke, Julian?" Peyton said in a whisper before Sam made an appearance. Lucas's heart almost stopped. How much did Peyton know? Sam walked out to two angry looking adults, "Am I interrupting something between you guys?" She said pointing to the both of them.

Peyton poured Sam a cup of orange juice and patted the counter, "No Sam, we were just…talking. Come, sit down. Lucas made some breakfast." She walked towards them apprehensively, "If you say so." She said still pretty sure they were arguing.

"Did you sleep well?" Lucas asked her, handing her a plate.

Sam nodded, "Yeah, Peyton came in with me."

Lucas turned to Peyton. He thought she had slept on the couch. Peyton tensed. She hoped to God she wouldn't mention their short conversation. Sam realized that her comment probably wasn't the right thing to say.

She took a drink of her juice, "It was nice. Thanks Peyton."

Peyton relaxed, "Of course Sam. Any time you want me there, I'm there in a jiff." Sam loved how open the new adults in her lives were. It was crazy to Sam how their relationship to her wasn't predicated on the relationship they had with Brooke or Lucas. They genuinely cared about her.

Peyton then checked the time, "Crap, I have to go. Meeting with a potential signer." She gave Sam a kiss on the cheek, "Bye kiddo." She then turned to Lucas more seriously, "Lucas." He glared right back at her, "Peyton."

"We'll talk later." She said with a hint of anger in her voice. Sam stared at the two, "Could you guys be any more obvious?"

"Don't worry about it." He said.

She laughed, "Hah! I'm not. I'm just saying, it looks like both of you need to take a breather from one another." Lucas started washing the dishes. Sam didn't even know the half of it, and he was glad she didn't.

Their drive to Sam's school was quieter than usual. Lucas wasn't babbling off about his basketball team, and Sam wasn't poking fun at him for being such a dork. They were both inside their heads. Lucas turned around and saw Sam looking out the window, " What's up champ? You seem pretty quiet."

Sam turned around, "So do you."

He thought about what he was going to say, "Yeah I guess so. How 'bout you tell me what's up, and then I'll tell you what I'm thinking."

She chuckled, "Really?"

"What's so funny? Yeah, I'm being serious."

"Usually adults lie about that stuff. You're not just trying to get inside my head?"

He loosened his hands on the wheel as they came to a red light, "Do you trust me?" He asked.

Lucas might not have meant it as a weighted question, but to Sam that question held so much meaning. No one she had ever put trust in except for Thrice, Tamara, and Jack had ever proven themselves worthy of her trust. "Don't ask me that question." She answered in a very serious manner. Lucas gave her a puzzled look. "I'm serious Luke, don't ask me that question."

Lucas knew he pushed the wrong buttons, "Sammy I didn't mean to-"
"It's fine. Just forget it." She answered sadly.

He sighed and put his attention back on the road. Once they got to her school, she felt Lucas lean in and gently give her a kiss on her forehead that he now gave her every day when he dropped her off. "I'm sorry Sam. I didn't think it'd upset you." He said hoping to make her feel better. Sam bit her lip, "I was thinking that we haven't gone to Ralph's in two weeks." She said answering his question from fifteen minutes back.

"You wanna go to Ralph's afterschool?" He offered her, not sure if that was exactly the problem.

She shook her head, "It's just, I thought, I thought we were kinda doing that as a weekly thing you, me, and Brooke. But we haven't. Are you guys fighting? Is it because I was giving you guys a hard time about all the rules you guys gave me? I'm really sorry, I won't do it again."

He put his hand on her knee, "No, Sam, no. That's not why." He hated that she thought they stopped going to the ice cream shop because of her. In reality, he had asked Brooke for the past two weeks, but she had refused. She couldn't, there was too much chemistry between them. So for two weeks they had avoided each other, only talking through text.

"Sam, nothing is your fault. Ralph's will be our weekly treat. L'emme talk to Brooke, and we'll get it figured out."

"Promise?" Sam asked. Lucas smiled. That was her word. It held so much weight to Sam, and he knew it. He knew by now, that to agree to a promise with her, was to sign a binding contract. He didn't want to know what it meant to break a promise. He held his pinky out, "I pinky promise." He said. Sam locked her pinky with his. Then returned the kiss that he gave her with a kiss on his cheek and a quick hug around his neck, as she did for the past week. "See ya later Lucas." Lucas loved that moment, where he felt her small body cling on him. He had missed so many years, but he wouldn't give up these small moments if it killed him.

"Wait, am I picking you up?" He asked her as she was about to leave.

"Nah, I'm gonna hang with Jack and T."

"You got your phone with you?" He asked knowing that Sam tended to forget the device they had just given her.

She patted her pocket, "Yup, right here." With that she closed the door and headed into school. She ran into Jack and Tamara, "Took you long enough." He mumbled.

"I was talking to Luke." She answered giving him a gentle nudge. Tamara rolled her eyes. These two had been in puppy love for the longest time, "Are you two ready to ditch this joint, or are you guys just gonna stare longingly into each other's eyes?"

They both blushed. "Can we skip during fourth period?" Jack asked, "I got a test in third, and I'm kinda failing that class."

Tamara groaned, "Damn it Jack, fine. L'emme call Marcus and tell him to pick us up then."

…..

Lucas got on his phone and dialed Brooke as he drove his way to work. He wasn't going to take Ralph's away from Sam.

"Hello?"

"Brooke, can we talk?"

He heard Brooke sigh, "Lucas, now is not a good time."

"I don't care. You've been saying that for two weeks now. You can't keep hiding from me, and I can't keep hiding from you. We have a kid together Brooke. We need to work this out." He was now becoming increasingly frustrated.

"Damn it Lucas. You're the one that's making this so hard!"
"Me!?" He said offended, "Don't deny what you feel Brooke."

Brooke wasn't about to argue with Lucas, yet again, "God Luke what do you want? Just spit it out already."
He parked his truck, "Sam want's to go to Ralph's."

"You called me to tell me that our daughter wants to go to Ralph's?...So, take her Luke. What's the problem?" She didn't understand why it was such a big deal.

"As in she wants to go with the both of us." He answered back, "Brooke, she thought that it was going to be a weekly thing, and she really liked it. She thought we stopped because for some reason it was her fault."

Brooke frowned, "Why would she ever think that? Of course it's not her fault."

Julian sighed, "She thought it was because she gave us a hard time about the rules we set."

Brooke saw Millie desperately calling her over to get back to her meeting, "Luke, I gotta go. But we can set a time. Let's do it tomorrow at 6?"

"That works, see you then." He answered. Brooke leaned on the wall for a bit, ignoring Millie, "Shit." She whispered. She knew she couldn't keep ignoring Luke, but there was something about having all three of them together that made her want to just take Luke into the bedroom and forget that they ever had other people keeping them from one another. But she'd do it, for Sam. Although she couldn't kid herself it was a little bit for Luke too.

"Brooke, let's go!" Millie pleaded.

"Alright, I'm coming!" Brooke said getting up from the wall.

…. …. . …

Later that afternoon, Brooke sat in her office and stared at the potential intern. The young man was so elated to be in front of Brooke. "So, Josh what made you want to intern, here with me?"
Josh smiled widely, "I just love your work. And I think I can learn so much from you Ms. Davis."

Brooke nodded. She was great at being intimidating, and that was her role right now, the intimidating boss. "Okay, but you could learn from so many others. What made you want to work with Brooke Davis, the line."

Josh swallowed, "I, uhm, I don't think there's a line that can appeal to high end celebrities, and normal people. People like me."

She gave him a very slight smile, "Good answer."

But just as she was about to ask the next question, something caught her sight. The local news had Southside High on display. She sat up, "Josh pass me that remote, please." He looked at her confused. Her demeanor had changed so quickly it gave him whiplash, "Wait, what?"

"The remote, hurry up!" He got it from the table next to him and handed it to her.

She put up the volume, "A local highschool, Southside high, is on lockdown. A man was shot just outside the school. It was purportedly a gang fight, and it's rumored that the shooter is currently in the school. We don't know if he's an active shooter, but parents please be aware of the situation, and be on the ready to pick up your children."

Brooke got up quicker than she could think, "Oh my God!"

Josh couldn't understand why she was so worried, "That's school's full of criminals Ms. Davis, why are you so worried?"

Brooke felt her heart race, "That school has my daughter in it!" She hissed, "Get out of my office."

"I didn't-I didn't know. I'm sorry."
"Out of my office Josh. I'll call you, about your status with me later. Now, LEAVE."

He scurried grabbing his portfolio. Brooke, with hands trembling, dialed Sam's phone. But it only went to voicemail, "Shit, shit, shit!"

She left her office looking horrifyingly worried. Her three employees plus Millie looked at her concerned, "Brooke, what's wrong?" Milie asked. "Sam's school's on lockdown. She's not picking up her phone!" Millie turned on the news and sure enough Southside was on the news. "I have to go there, I have to go there now."

Millie turned to her, "What about your meeting, with Vogue? About you on the cover?"
Brooke looked at Millie repulsed, "Who cares about Vogue Millie, Sam, she's in there, right now!" She said pointing to the screen. Her employees got out of her way as she rushed around, "Just, just call them, tell them to reschedule, or just say yes. I'll be on their damn cover."

Millie nodded, "Go Brooke, go. I'll handle everything here." She assured her.
Brooke drove, thinking of all the possible outcomes. When she got to the school, Lucas's car was already there. It looks like they'd be seeing each other before tomorrow night. She ran to him. "I was just about to call you." He said. She ran into his arms, "What's going on?" Are they okay? Does Sam have her phone? I've tried calling her!"

Lucas held her arms, "It looks like the shooter's just hiding in there. All the kids are locked in the classrooms."

"He can just shoot the damn door!"

Lucas pulled her into a hug, "She'll be fine." He whispered.

"Why isn't she calling back?!" Brooke asked. "I, I don't know. We'll talk to her about it, afterwards." Lucas offered as a sad attempt of comfort.

They waited for around an hour, until they saw as police rushed into the school. "What, what's going on?" Brooke said, a nervous wreck. One of the administrators walked out, "The shooter is running. He's no longer in the school. You'll all have to sign out the students. Please make a single file line!" He yelled, as the parents hurriedly made a line.

"See, everything worked out." He said with a weary smile on his face. Brooke just leaned on his shoulder. It was finally their turn. "Sam, Samantha Walker. That's her name." Brooke said quickly.

The woman behind the desk checked the system. It said she was present. She called the teacher. Brooke watched her intently. "She's, she's not in the classroom."

Brooke's heart dropped, "What? What do you, what do you mean? Where is she?"

The woman didn't have any answers, "M'am, I'm sorry. Let me call her previous teachers."

As they waited Lucas felt more and more worried. He was about to lose it and so was Brooke. "M'am it looks like she was in her previous classes."

The principal walked over, "What's the problem here?"

Brooke narrowed her eyes, "Your damn school is the problem?! Where is my daughter?! She was in all her classes until this period!"
The principal swallowed, nothing was worse than a mother's scorn.

"Let me talk to the police." He went over, but Lucas and Brooke didn't stay back.

The police turned to look at the two parents, "There's a small possibility that your daughter might've gone with the shooter. We only saw him running, but one of the teachers claims they saw someone with him."

Lucas lunged at the police but the principal stopped him, "You don't want to do this now sir!" He said. "You fucking left a little girl to go with a shooter!?" His voice was a half sob.

"Sir, we can't confirm this. I'm only letting you know it's a possibility. Please try and get a hold of your daughter, now." Brooke attempted to call once more.

Sam saw her phone and turned it back on. She had left it off, so she could enjoy her times with friends. But when she turned it on she saw the rush of text messages from both Lucas and Brooke, as well as the tons of phone calls. "Shit."

"What?" Tamara asked. Sam disregarded her, and then saw another incoming call. She nervously picked up, "H-hello?"
"Sam!" Said the relieved Brooke, "Sweetie where are you? Please tell me you're okay."

"I'm fine. I'm in school right now, can we talk later?"

Brooke then smiled knowingly. She knew exactly what was going on. Her face flushed, and her fists tightened. She had also done this in high school, but hell would freeze over before she ever let Sam turn into the type of persons she was in high school, "Actually Lucas and I are at your school right now. There was a lockdown. But you, Sam, are not. You are actually no where to be found."

Sam knew she was caught. There was no way she could lie herself out of this one. "Brooke, I-"

Brooke pushed her purse back up and started walking out. Lucas followed leaving the confused police officer and principal alone.

"Here's what's going to happen Samantha. You're going to tell me where you are, I'm going to pick you up, and you will not argue with me about it. Is that understood?"
Sam had never heard Brooke sound so determined. She was a little afraid, "Brooke."
"SAMANTHA WHERE ARE YOU?!"

That was enough to scare Sam into submission, "I'm at Marcus's."

"You have no idea, Sam. No idea how worried we were. You better be ready by the time I get there." She hung up the phone, not caring to hear Sam's response.
Lucas looked at her, "What happened?"

"She skipped Lucas. She skipped and is at Marcus's. She wasn't here for any of this! She had us worried out of our damn minds!"

Lucas rubbed the back of his neck, "Damn it Sam."

"Come on, I know how to get there." They both went into their respective cars, and started their short journey to Marcus's house. As they walked into the apartments Lucas jogged to catch up to Brooke, "You've been here before?" He asked in awe. "Why is everyone so surprised when they find that out?" She asked.

He chuckled breaking the tension for a moment, "It's just, you're you. And this, this is definitely not you."

She didn't respond, instead turned the corner of the apartments and burst into 110c. He saw Sam sitting with Jack and Tamara. Marcus was in the kitchen. Lucas surveyed the scene. He saw Sam's remorse written all over her face. "You. Up. Now." Brooke said pointing at Sam and talking through gritted teeth.

Brooke watched as Sam walked out and headed down the stairs, not daring to say one word. Brooke then turned back to her friends. They didn't want to look into Brooke's angry eyes.

She bent down slightly, "I don't want to hear that Sam is skipping any more. I suggest you all stop your stupidity, and actually try and succeed in school. It'll do you well." Jack looked up, "We're sorry." Tamara just scoffed, "Whatever."

Brooke picked up Tamara's chin, "You out of all people, need to set an example for Sam." Those words made Tamara look up at her with hurt eyes, but she looked back down.

When Brooke walked out she saw that Sam was already in Lucas's truck. She was glad, she'd get a chance to calm down before they had to discipline Sam for the first time. The thought made her shudder. Was she ready for this? Was Sam ready? But she knew it had to be done.

… …. ….

Sam didn't know what to do. They were going to send her back for sure. She'd tried to be good, but this was it. She turned to Luke, his face was stern, and wasn't even attempting to look at her. "Luke?" She said quietly.

His lips twitched, "You just think about what you're going to tell us when we get home. Not one more word out of you."

She sunk into the seat, and held back her tears. She had to be strong. When they got to his home, Luke finally turned to her, "Living room. Now." She got up, grabbed her bag, and headed into the living room. She sat in the middle of the couch. Lucas and Brooke came in at the same time like vultures toward their prey, at least it seemed like it to Sam.

Sam looked up nervously. Brooke had her hand on her hips as she strode the living room. Lucas sat down and leaned towards her direction with his hands folded. "How long have you been doing this?" Brooke asked out of nowhere.

"Doing what?" Sam sassed with an attitude that Brooke did not appreciate.

In a flash Brooke bent her knees so she was eye level with Sam, she grabbed Sam's chin so she could be face to face with her. Sam had never felt so chastised in her life.

"How long have you been skipping school since you've been with us?" Brooke asked more pointedly, "I don't want to hear anything but the truth young lady."

Sam brought her legs up onto the couch and crossed them, "Once….or twice a week." She whispered.

Brooke let go of her chin and stood back up, "So you've been lying. Strike one."

Sam wanted to cry, but she wouldn't. She wouldn't show weakness. Lucas felt betrayed. She had seen her go into school every single day. He looked dejected, and Sam saw it instantly. "I'm sorry." She said sincerely.

"Why didn't you pick up your phone?" Lucas asked her, "Do you realize, each of us called you more than five times? We got you that phone so we could have constant contact with you Samantha. Did you not think of that?!" He said now standing up.

Sam sat up, "I had turned it off, I'm sorry!'
"Why was it off?!" He said frustrated with the girl sitting petulantly before him.

Sam wanted to be swallowed by the earth, "I-I always do that when I, uhh, ditch."

"Irresponsibility and carelessness, strike two." Brooke added.

Sam hated these strikes, what would happen at strike three? This was pointless.

"Samantha there was a shooter at your school. We thought you were with him!" Brooke said trying to get Sam to understand their anger.

Sam crossed her arms, "Why would you think that?! I'm not dumb. I wouldn't let someone take me."

Lucas shook his head over and over, "You're a fourteen year old girl Samantha! As strong as you think you are, you're not! Any pervert could pick you up off the street. So don't go telling us that you wouldn't allow it, because you know nothing about that!"

Sam looked away from both of them and only huffed with anger, "Whatever." She said tired of this scene.

Brooke had enough, "No, not whatever Samantha. You disappointed us today. We thought we lost you for a moment. But you obviously don't care."

Sam rose to meet Brooke's glare. She did care, but she just didn't know how to do this. "Look, I ditched all the time before you guys, don't take it personally. My grades are still fine. It's not a big deal! I'm sorry that this happened. I didn't know there was going to be a lockdown today!" Her lips quivered, which almost broke Brooke's glare…almost. "I didn't mean to scare you guys." She said, her voice cracking.

Lucas sighed, "Congratulations Samantha, you're grounded with a nine o clock bedtime." That's when Sam knew that they were in it for the long haul. She'd never been grounded before. Past foster parents had attempted it, but they were half assed attempts and she knew it. This time around, it just felt different.

Brooke spoke up, "Two weeks, you're going straight home from now on. I'm taking your phone after school, and you'll only use your computer for homework. And don't even think about ditching anymore I'll be calling your school to make sure they call me when you miss a period."

"Am I in prison? Damn this sucks." Sam grumbled.

Lucas shot her an annoyed stare, "No, you're in trouble, so I suggest you watch what you say." Sam suddenly had the urge to hear him say champ, but it didn't come. Her face hardened.

Sam didn't really care for her electronics, but it saddened her that she wouldn't be able to hang out with Jack and Tamara. But she said absolutely nothing. As far as she was concerned she didn't need to speak to them for the next two weeks. Brooke could tell Sam was shutting down. It would be a difficult two weeks ahead of them.

"Alright Samantha, upstairs, and straight to bed." Lucas said too upset to try and say anything else.

But something broke Sam's willful silence, "Wait, are we still going to Ralph's tomorrow?" She asked them both.

Brooke sighed. She didn't understand why Sam was asking something so trivial. "Not tomorrow, Sam. That's a treat, you really think you deserve that right now?" Brooke said.

Sam's eyes widened, this time with anger. She looked straight at Lucas, "But, BUT you promised Luke!"

Luke was a little surprised, "I know I did, but this is different."
Sam became very upset, more upset now than she had been about anything else that had just transpired, "No, it's not!" She was yelling now, "You promised me! You're not supposed to break promises!" In her mind, the two people in front of her were her lifeline. They were her stability. She was slowly learning to trust them. Every promise they made was like gold to her. "You're a LIAR! You lie like all the rest of them."

"Samantha." Brooke said concerned. She walked closer but Sam pulled herself into the couch. "Go away!"

Tears, the ones she tried so hard to hold back, were now streaming down her face, "You promised me Luke! You said we'd do it weekly!"

Lucas saw her desperation, and he looked helplessly to Brooke. She put his arm on Lucas. As much as she wanted to swoop in, it wasn't her place, not yet. "Lucas, go to her." She whispered.

He went toward his hysterical daughter, "Hey, hey Sam." He said trying to calm her down. She pushed him away, but he didn't bend. He grabbed her and picked her up in his arms. As he held her she pushed at his chest, "Put me down, you're a liar!" She was sobbing. "I'm not putting you down, now come on." He said with her still in his arms and Sam still fighting him.

They got to her room and he set her down on her bed. She kicked at his legs, "Leave! LEAVE! You're going to anyways! Just like all of them do! You're a liar!"

Lucas sat down, avoiding her kicks. He grabbed her arms gently but still firmly, "Samantha, I can't talk to you when you're this upset. Calm down, please."

She finally got the courage to look at him, "No, no, NO!" He did the only thing he could think of he pulled her into his embrace. "LET ME GO!" She was still sobbing.

He held her close, "I'm not leaving, I'm not." He finally felt her give some slack and fall into his arms. "But you lied." She still said crying.

Brooke walked in quietly and sat on the other side. Lucas rubbed her back, "I didn't lie. I told you it was our weekly treat. It will always be that, a treat. And treats don't always happen if a certain someone is acting up." He said soothingly. Sam stayed quiet as she processed what he had said. Her sobs were slowly turning into hiccups, "I'm sorry." She finally whispered.

Both Brooke and Lucas realized that Sam wasn't like any other kid. There were certain things that set her off, in ways that they couldn't possibly truly understand, but they had to be there for her, and at the very least try to understand.

"Sammy, I'll try my best to never break my promises." Lucas said and held her until she let go. Sam hadn't noticed Brooke walk in.

Brooke smiled warmly at her, then pushed her hair out of her face, "We love you Sam, I'm sorry I know you really wanted to go, but punishments aren't always fun."

Sam wiped her tears with her sleeve. Lucas spoke up, "Champ, are you calm enough to go to bed?" It was only seven, but Brooke and Luke knew what a tired kid looked like they had spent enough time with Jamie, and Sam was definitely tired.

Sam only nodded. She was embarrassed and exhausted. She wanted to sleep it all off.

He gave her a kiss on the top of her head, "Goodnight Sammy. I'll be right here in the morning, 'cause I'm not going anywhere." He said with a wink. Sam was glad for his reassurance.

When Lucas left the room Brooke quietly handed Sam the shirt that she always borrowed from her to sleep in, "I washed it, that's why it wasn't in my drawers." She said softly as Sam took it. Sam blushed sheepishly. How did Brooke know she had looked for it? "You just had it in your purse?" Sam asked still with remnant hiccups coming out.

Brooke smiled as she took out some wipes and gently started wiping Sam's cheeks and nose, "I was planning on bringing it to you after work."

When Brooke finished Sam looked down at her hands, "Brooke I really didn't mean to scare you. Are you guys mad at me?"
"I know you didn't, Sam. And we were mad. I think now it's just a bit of disappointment. But we can talk about it later, for now, I want you to go to sleep."

But Sam felt tears fall again. Damn it! Hadn't she cried enough already? Brooke wiped Sam's cheek; "Hey now, my little peanut." She cooed gently, "Don't worry Sam. We'll work it out. I love you, okay?"

Sam nodded wiping the fresh tears. She picked up the shirt and headed into the restroom to change. Sam found it comforting; it had Brooke's scent. It helped her feel safe.

When she came out, she was surprised to still see Brooke there, but didn't say anything of it. She just climbed into the bed. Brooke got up, she was holding Sam's blanket. Sam watched her nervously. Was she going to take her blanket away? She needed that. But instead Brooke walked over and placed it between Sam's hands, "Here you go Sammy." She bent down and kissed the top of her head. Sam quickly sat up slightly and wrapped her arms around Brooke, "Night Brooke." She said softly. Brooke patted her back. It wasn't every night that Sam was so loving, and Brooke took it all in, wishing that this happened every night. "Goodnight Sammy."

"Wait, Brooke!" Sam said before she walked out. Brooke turned back around, "What is it?" She asked.

"Thank you, I mean, for bringing your shirt." She truly was glad that she brought it; it was just what she needed.

"You're welcome Sammy."

Brooke walked out closing the door. Lucas was sitting on the couch. Brooke sat next to him exhaling loudly. "Damn." She said, looking at him. They were both tired. Lucas agreed, "Damn is right."

Brooke stared blankly at the turned off tv. "What happened today Brooke?" Lucas asked her. He was still trying to process it.

"We learned a lot about Sam." She said looking at him. "I guess we need to be more attentive." She said dismayed.

Lucas frowned, "Do you think we'll ever understand what she's gone through?" He asked now looking at her. Brooke felt a pang of guilt pass through her, "I, I don't know."

Lucas passed his hand through his hair, "I've never seen someone that small that upset before. It scared me Brooke, really." She got closer to him. This time, she was the one that advanced. "It scared me too." She said softly. He felt Brooke lay her head on his broad shoulder. He kissed the top of head, "Soooo…this is parenting."
Brooke smiled, "It's gonna be a long ride, Lucas."

He hugged her tightly, "At least I got you with me."

Brooke said nothing. Would they have each other? She loved two men. This would not end well for one of them.

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