Chapter 54

A taste of caviar, a bite of lobster, a lick of chocolate cake from his fingers, in a whirl they indulged in the party, doing it all in merely an hour. Artie was an excellent date, attentive, funny, daring, he braved the dance floor twice, showing off his abysmal dancing skills with a smile on his face. He made her laugh, telling her stories about life in LA, and all the Hollywood types he'd grown up with. Maybe it was too much of the champagne she shouldn't have been drinking, or simply the fact that for first time in the whole night Sam wasn't on her mind, but Quinn felt free, lighthearted. She had fun.

Artie had come through again saving her from drowning in a pool of her own misery. When he first took her case, his infectious energy and sheer belief in her right to be free, helped Quinn cling to hopes that had been swiftly fading. Sam may have ultimately been the one to pull the strings to get her released, but without Artie she would have been too much of an emotional mess to actually leave the hospital. Just like tonight, Quinn had been letting Dwight's deal, the prying eyes of the media, and Sam's cold shoulder, get her down, making her lose sight of all the positives in her life, like her freedom and her ability to even have the right to be at a party dancing with her horribly uncoordinated lawyer.

Leaning back against the wall, the sounds of the party more muted in the foyer, Artie smiled at her, without saying a word, his blue eyes sparkling in a way she had never noticed before. It looked like her attorney might be just a little bit drunk.

"I think we've managed to give your friends the slip," declared Artie his words slurring slightly.

"They are not my friends. Kitty Wilde and Jacob Ben Israel used to torment me in high school."

"Seems like they are keeping the tradition alive. That Kitty was oddly eager to share the news about our 'relationship'." Artie made quotes in the air with his fingers as he said the word.

"Jacob is a reporter for the Sioux City times."

"Ah it all makes sense now."

"I could just hug you. In fact, I'm going to," Quinn said wrapping her arms around Artie. "You saved my life tonight. I don't know how to repay you."

"What'd I do?" he asked with a goofy grin.

"All the stuff with Kitty, you were great."

Artie rubbed her back, accepting the hug for a moment, before giving her one last squeeze and stepping away. "Shutting Kitty down was a pleasure. I used to know girls like her in high school. And here I thought LA had the market cornered on fake tasteless women."

"Lima has a fair share."

"I can see that. The Midwest has a reputation of being filled with sweet, warm girls, the kind you settle down and marry. What happened in this town?"

"Lima still has Mercedes. According to just about everyone on earth she's the sweetest, warmest, bestest little wife. Sam got himself a catch when he married her." Quinn rolled her eyes. "If I hear another word about her I just might scream."

"It is her house." Artie shrugged. "People have to be nice."

Quinn disagreed, if people were going to kiss up to anyone, it should be Sam. "It's Sam's house. His family's home."

"Mercedes is a part of his family. Did you know if anything ever happened to him she stands to inherit this house?"

"Dwight would never let an outsider have ownership of this mansion."

Dwight barely even liked houseguests. Quinn could remember in vivid detail her torturous stay at the house. Although there were some good points she couldn't forget, like finally making love to Sam after years of downplaying their attraction. Being with Sam in that way was worth the pain of facing Dwight Evans at breakfast.

"The way Burt tells it, Dwight's will leaves practically his entire estate to Sam. Sam married Mercedes with no pre-nup, and his will leaves the bulk of everything to her."

"I had no idea she had that much to gain."

Mercedes really set herself up well. She was in a position to bring Sam to his knees. Quinn couldn't help but wonder if this was her plan the whole time, ingratiate herself into the family, earn their trust, then bilk them out of millions. She used to con men all over California, something like this wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for Mercedes. The big question was how did Sam let himself get trapped by her? Sam was usually so shrewd, even if he had a tendency to lead with his heart, he rarely let his love affairs impact his family or his business, but this marriage to Mercedes had done exactly that.

"If Mercedes ever divorced him she could really clean him out, especially with the infidelity and the baby, and…"

"And me back in his life. No wonder Dwight's working so hard to keep them married. He doesn't want to lose a cent."

Quinn should have known this was ultimately about money. Dwight never cared enough about Sam's personal life before to go to such an extreme as this deal. There always had to be something in it for him. Dwight never did anything that didn't bring him personal gain.

"What's Dwight up to now?" asked Artie distaste evident on his face.

"Besides orchestrating my entire release in exchange for Sam's promise to stay married to Mercedes?" Quinn threw it out there. She had to confide in someone and Artie was the only person that she could trust to be discreet.

"Are those the conditions you were going to tell me about before?"

"Yep. Sam has to stay married to Mercedes for nine months and I get to be free. Yippee." Saying the terms of her release out loud made her heart sink. Sam would be basically giving up another year of his life just for her. Quinn couldn't help but feel guilty about the sacrifice he was making.

Artie rubbed his hand over his dimpled chin, pondering what Quinn disclosed. "All things considered, that's not too bad."

"It is when Sam and I want to be together. We want to get on with our lives, be a family with Beth."

"You can't be with Beth yet anyway so…"

"I know." Artie was right of course. It wasn't like she and Sam were going to be able to be together right away. He had a marriage to consider and she had the very real task of getting her life straight so she could be with Beth again. "It is just the principle of the matter though. Who is Dwight to tell us what to do?"

"He got you out of the hospital. I say let him dictate all he wants. Nine months is nothing in the grand scheme of life. You'll be working to get back Beth and before you know it the months will have passed."

Quinn smiled at Artie. "So logical, must be what makes you such a good lawyer." It was turning out to be really nice to have someone so sensible in her life.

"What Dwight came up with is twisted, but at least he isn't forcing you into indentured servitude or banishing you to Wyoming."

"True," Quinn sighed in agreement. "Things could be worse. I don't mean to sound ungrateful. I really am so happy to be out of the hospital, but I guess, it's just that tonight's been rough for me and Sam. It's hard being in the same room with him and not be able to talk to him. I don't know how we're going to make it through all these months."

Sneaking around wasn't an option, she didn't want to be his secret fling or his mistress, but enduring this night where she was on the outskirts of Sam's life, all those convictions about being a good person and morally upstanding were flying from her brain. Morality be damned, she loved Sam and she didn't want to miss another moment with him. Not being able to talk to him just these few hours was maddening, she couldn't even imagine what it would feel like to be shut out for months.

"You're strong, smart, and determined. You are going to rebuild your life and you don't need Sam to do that," said Artie as he patted her lightly on the shoulder.

Once again Quinn was floored that someone that barely knew her could see so much in her. Did she really exude those attributes, when inside she felt weak, scared, and foolish?

"I'm not that strong. Look at all the things I've done. I sunk so low these past few months. I don't think I can pull myself out of this hole without him. Sam's my anchor, my support. I need him in my life."

It sounded pathetic even to her, but Sam had brought her through losing Puck, her pregnancy and her time in the hospital. He had been a force in her life without even being conscious. Quinn wasn't ready to give up something so powerful, not when she still had so much farther to go.

"Stop selling yourself short. I know you can do this." Artie turned Quinn to face him. "I have complete faith in you, and I don't put my faith in hopeless causes. I remember the first time I saw you. I was sitting on the couch in my apartment in Chicago, channel surfing after a long day in court, a beer in one hand and Chinese takeout spread out on the coffee table. You came on my TV screen and stopped me in my tracks."

"I thought you said you hadn't heard of my case before coming here."

Artie looked away with a sheepish smile on his face. "I might have altered the truth a little there. I didn't want you to feel weird that I saw you on TV and volunteered to represent you."

"Volunteered?" Quinn stepped back in shock. "Do you mean you're working for free?"

"No. No." He chuckled. "A guy has to eat, but I did call up Burt that night I saw you on TV, and I asked if I could help. He promptly turned me down of course, which was understandable. I was a pretty inexperienced attorney offering up my services like I was Johnny Cochran. I am surprised Burt didn't hang up on me."

This all was sounding a little strange, like something out of a movie. Artie had actually sought her out, wanting to help her with her case.

"So if Burt turned down your help, how did you get on my case?"

"Oddly enough a couple of weeks later I got a call asking me to take on your case. I guess it was meant to be for us."

A chill ran through Quinn's body, unnerved at the strange way Artie had revealed he'd come into her life. This story he told her made it clearer that Artie was some sort of miracle brought into her world by a higher power. Quinn looked down at their joined hands. How did that happen? Somehow during their conversation they had ended up connected.

"It sounds like it. Who hired you Artie? You said before it wasn't Puck."

"No not Puck. Who hired me isn't important. It only matters that I took the job and was able to help you in some small way."

Quinn let him evade her question for now, hoping that in time he would trust her with all the answers she sought.

"You helped in a big way. I only wish I could thank my anonymous benefactor as well."

"You using your freedom to the fullest will be thanks enough. That's why I need you to start thinking positively and think of these nine months as a gift, a second chance to make things right with your baby, and create a new future. I'm not saying it will be easy, it won't be, but don't you ever think you're alone in this. I'm not going to let you stay down in that hole. I am here for you, whenever you need me."

"I can't even begin to find the words to thank you." Quinn hugged him again, she couldn't help herself, the man was incredible.

"No need," he grinned. "This is what attorneys slash fake boyfriends do."

"You're a good friend."

Friends were such a rarity in her life, especially male friends. The men she knew were usually exes or just pretending to be platonic in the hopes of building a romance down the line, but Artie was different, he was on her side because he wanted to be, because he believed in her, no ulterior motives seemed to be directing his actions at all.

"Finally she gets it. That's what I've been trying to tell you all along. Friends help each other. Let Sam worry about his end of things, and we'll focus on you getting Beth back. Together."

"That sounds really good. I can't wait to get Beth back and away…" Quinn's voice faded as she saw Beth carried into the foyer by her nurse.

"Okay mom petit, votre fête est finie," said Marcel to the baby.

Quinn watched from the far end of the foyer as the really tall nurse Marcel buckled Beth into her car seat. The baby squirmed and kicked her feet giving the man a hard time with his task. Marcel talked to Beth in French saying what Quinn suspected were words to quiet infant down. Beth wasn't hearing it, adding squeals to her repertoire. Quinn was sure Beth would start bawling at any moment.

"Let's go," said Artie tugging at her elbow.

Quinn stepped away from him, moving toward her daughter. She was so close to her. How could she just leave and not acknowledge her baby?

"She's fussing," Quinn whispered.

"I know, but we need to go." Artie was right beside her, urging her back.

"I can't leave her like this. She needs me. No one's here. I will just be a minute."

"Quinn you can't," he called out.

Ignoring Artie, Quinn walked over to Beth and Marcel. The nurse looked up from his kneeling position, a blank expression on his face.

"I'm Beth's mother," Quinn announced, unsure if Marcel knew who she was.

"Oui. I know."

Quinn knelt beside him, unable to stop herself from grabbing one of Beth's little waving hands. The baby instantly stilled when she touched her. "Hey there my sweet princess, it's your mommy."

"You cannot be here. Mr. and Mrs. Evans…"

"I won't be long," said Quinn cutting him off. "I just want to kiss my sweet baby goodnight." Undoing all of Marcel's work, Quinn unhooked Beth from her car seat and picked the baby up in her arms. Rising to her feet, she held her daughter close, swaying her gently as she walked around the foyer with her. "How's my sweet girl? I've missed you so much tonight." Beth looked up at her with wide eyes, her whining ceased now that she was in her arms.

"Quinn if anyone catches you with Beth," said Artie coming over to her. He rubbed his hand over Beth's head. "Things could go very badly for you, if you are caught," he said at a lower volume.

"I just want to hold her. I'm not going to hurt her. I swear." Quinn kissed Beth's head the way she longed to since watching Mercedes do the same earlier in the evening. It wasn't right that another woman got to be mother to her child, while she was forced to stand by and watch it all from the sidelines.

"CPS doesn't see it that way. We need to abide by their rules. The fact that you're even in the same house as Beth is a violation."

"How can loving my daughter be a violation?"

"Quinn there's nothing wrong with loving her. That's a good thing in fact. It will be the driving force as you fight to get back to her back, legally, the right way, but this sneaking hugs in the Evans house is definitely not right. You have to give her back."

"Just a few minutes more," Quinn pleaded, moving away from Artie toward the front door.

"Mademoiselle, I must take the bebe home now," said Marcel reaching out to take Beth from Quinn. Instinctively she recoiled as if Marcel were a threat, in a way he was, he was the one trying to snatch her own baby from her arms.

"Quinn give him back the baby," said Artie looking suddenly stressed as he guarded the door that led to the party with his body. "Someone could come through this door at any second."

"Look she's not crying. She likes being with me. Look at her Artie."

"Quinn," he began softly. "I promise we'll find a way to reunite you two, but it can't be tonight."

"Sam let me see her before. Sam won't care if I hold Beth for a bit."

"Sam doesn't know the truth," said Artie bluntly. "We don't know what Sam's real reaction is until he knows everything."

"He knows a lot Artie. I told him things. Sam understands." She was starting to cry, her emotions overflowing unexpectedly. For the first time in a really long time she realized she didn't want to let Beth go. She wanted to take her baby home and care for her. She wanted to be her mother again, for real this time.

Artie was beside her again, his hand on her shoulder, speaking to her in a gentle coaxing tone. "I will work on you getting supervised visits as soon as I can. Monday morning. You'll see her again. I promise." Artie grabbed Beth under his arms, attempting to pull the baby from her.

Quinn tensed, feeling cornered. Jerking away she tightened her hold on Beth and edged even closer to the front door.

"I don't want to give her back. She's my baby, mine and Sam's. We should be the ones raising her, not Mercedes. I don't want her to go back to Mercedes."

"Mercedes has been taking good care of her. Isn't that right?" Artie asked turning to Marcel.

"Oui. Mrs. Evans is an excellent mother."

"She's not her mother!" Quinn yelled with tears streaming down her face. Beth's head shot up at the noise, her green eyes grew wide, and filled with large tears. Within seconds the baby began to cry.

"I heard yelling. What is going on out here?" Sue asked rushing through the door into the foyer. "Marcel? Oh my God! What is she doing? She's not supposed to be near the baby."

"Oui Mrs. Sylvester but..."

Sue lashed out angrily. "No buts you'll lose your job again over this."

"Quinn was just about to give her back," said Artie.

"I thought you were an officer of the court. Are you in on this too?"

"There's nothing to be in on," said Artie stepping in front of Quinn. "She was telling her child goodnight, not perpetrating a heist."

"Why is she by the door like she's going to leave with her? Step aside right now so I can get my granddaughter."

"I'm not letting you anywhere near my client. I know your reputation."

"Brave and stupid, the way Quinn likes them. If you know my reputation then you know to get out of my way," said Sue as she shoved Artie aside. "Quinn hand over the baby."

Quinn had pressed herself against the wooden door trying to shield herself from Sue and comfort Beth at the same time. Beth continued to wail in her arms, no matter how much she rocked her or hummed in her ear.

"She's my baby Sue," Quinn said contemplating her options from her trapped position. There was no way Sue would let her get around her with the baby. Opening the door and stepping outside might be her only means of escape.

"Please don't make me get violent in front of a child. I will have Marcel go get Daley or one of the other guards."

"We don't really need to go there," said Artie trying to get Sue to see reason.

"I think we do. She's a threat to my grandchild."

"She's her mother," Artie persisted, totally clueless how hopeless it was to talk to Sue rationally. "Quinn would never hurt her and deep down you know that's the truth."

"Sue doesn't care about the truth. She's only out to get me."

"I don't give a damn about you Quinn. You're a lying slut that has done nothing but bring misery down on my sons. I don't need any guards, I'm tired of playing with you. Give me back my granddaughter!"

Taking Quinn by surprise Sue pushed her hard against the door, the carvings in the wood scratching Quinn's back, then swiftly she yanked Beth away.

Beth was shaking and red as she screamed in Sue's arms. Quinn wanted to close her eyes and cover her ears to block out the horrible scene.

"Why did you have to be so rough? Can't you see you're scaring her?" asked Quinn.

Sue gave Beth a kiss and handed her over to Marcel. "Beth will be fine. She's tough. She survived your attempts on her life. This was nothing."

"Quinn, I think we should go," said Artie.

"Why do you keep throwing what happened in my face? I was sick Sue!"

"Stop hiding behind excuses. Until you admit that you were a drunken, crazy, slut and a poor excuse for a mother, I'm going to keep bringing up what you did. I'm not going to let you or anyone else forget what you did to my granddaughter, because Beth's life depends on it. I'm not letting anything like that happen again."

"She's in treatment, she's basically cured," said Artie.

"Oh don't let this pretty package distract you, so many men far smarter than you have made that fatal mistake. Quinn's not even close to being cured. Are you Quinn?"

"I've been released from the hospital. I'm feeling better. I've paid for my crimes."

"You think a few months in a mental ward is payment? You should be tied to a tree and left for dead, just like you did to my grandchild."

"I didn't mean to hurt her." Quinn sniffed back her tears.

"She was an innocent and you unleashed your crazy on her. My baby was in a coma fighting for his life and you turned on the one part of him that we had left, his own flesh and blood, you tried to wipe his daughter off the face of the earth." Tears poured from Sue's eyes, which she dabbed at furiously with a napkin clenched in her hand. "I will never forgive you for that. Never. I don't care what Dwight says or if Sam passes out again, I'm not letting him go another minute without knowing what you did. I'm telling Sam."

Sue turned fast on her heels only to run straight into Sam who had just appeared through the door, no jacket, shirt sleeves rolled up, hands stuffed in his pockets.

"What are you telling me mom?"

"Sue, wait," said Quinn stepping forward, swallowing the knot in her throat. "I should be the one to tell him."

"Tell me what?" asked Sam looking from Quinn to Sue. "Someone needs to start talking here."

"I don't trust you bitch," Sue said bitterly. "You'll distort the truth to make yourself look better. So here it goes…"

"Sue!" Quinn yelled in a last attempt to stop her. Sam didn't need to hear about it all this way, so abrupt and cold, in the middle of his birthday party.

"Sweetie," said Sue taking Sam's hand. "This is about Beth and what happened to her."

"Just say it mom. What happened?"

"Quinn tried to kill her. That's why she was locked away."

"What?" Even at a distance, Quinn could see Sam's eyes clouding, the rims growing moist with tears. Just the thought of something happening to Beth was killing him. "No. She left her alone, she forgot about her but…"

"Sam," Quinn stepped in front of Sam, blocking Sue from his view. His eyes were so open now, in shock and maybe horror.

He was processing all he had heard trying to make sense of what probably sounded like lies. She had made things so much worse on him, on them both actually, by telling him tidbits of the truth. Sam deserved more than that. He needed to hear it all, so that they could move forward and work through it together.

Shaking with fear she touched his cheek, slightly shocked when he welcomed her touch, leaning into her palm. She guessed all that tension from earlier about Mike had disappeared now. Sam seemed open to her again. Hopefully that wouldn't change now that he was going to know everything that was hidden between them.

"Quinn, is what my mom saying true?" asked Sam leaning in closer to her so only the two of them could hear.

"Yes, it is true," she said slowly. "I hurt Beth. I almost killed our baby."
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