Hey guys! Hope you have been doing well. Between my new job and Kesh working as hard as ever we are a bit slower but just know that we are working hard in both real life and our fanfics lives! We love you.

Over the next few weeks, Mercedes helped Sam as much as she could with her busy schedule. She also practically moved into the guest room, only going home every so often to grab miscellaneous things. She'd only stayed at her house once, when his family came to stay but it wasn't even the entire night.

She managed to find her way back into the same bed as Sam, she wasn't even sure when she walked over there and got into bed with him but when she woke up she had arm and leg wrapped around him. She'd tried sleeping without him but failed, even napping was difficult without his warmth. She knew she'd fallen in love with him and now coming to his place after studio sessions or meetings had become so routine.

"The team's coming over tomorrow, Mal just texted and told me." She said looking over at Sam.

They were currently sitting in his game room watching movies, it has become a nightly thing. Especially now with him going to physical therapy and his doctors encouraging him to move around often but not too much. So they would go downstairs to his game room and watch movies before going back upstairs to do their nightly routine.

Ever since that first drug induced night, Sam hadn't so much muttered anything about kissing her. She didn't push either, she just enjoyed the company and the consistency but even she could tell it was going to change the more mobile he became.

"That's cool, it'll be nice to see everyone." Sam replied, smiling.

"Mhm, I think he's wanting to have a little cookout for you and a small celebration since you missed out after the big win." She added.

"Mal is horrible on the grill, I hope Mike's cooking. Maybe he'll bring T and you two can hang out." He said pulling on one of her curls.

Sam liked having Mercedes here with him and after she put him on a strict schedule he could feel improvement in his mobility. She made sure he apologized to everyone that he was an asshole with and even made him apologize to each nurse in person before beginning his physical therapy. She also didn't baby him, which made him feel less useless and more determined to get better. Though a piece of him wanted time to slow down so he could keep having nights like this one.

They were sprawled out on the sofa, she was laying with her head on his right leg and he was playing with her hair. He couldn't tell you what the movie was about but he could tell you that this was exactly how he wanted to spend his nights.

"Yeah, I like Tina but I think it's a team thing so I won't be here."

"Why wouldn't you be here? I'm sure everyone else is bringing their sig-" He stopped himself from finishing that sentence. "I'm sure they wouldn't care if you were here…"

Mercedes heard his slip up and wondered if it would ever be a thing for them. "Well, we'll play it by ear. I'll stay if you want me to stay though." She said putting the ball into his court.

"Only if you want to be here when they come." He said and she couldn't help but feel depleted. She wanted him to say that he wanted her here with him but quickly reminded herself this was just friends.

"I'm going to get some more popcorn… Do you want anything while I'm upstairs?" She asked, choosing to change the subject and Sam tilted his head wondering what made her mood change.

"Ah, no I'm good." He answered looking at her intently then watched her as she walked away.

He pulled out his phone and called Mike.

"Hey man!" Mike said when he answered.

"Hey, how's it going?"

"Pretty good, I should be asking you the same thing. How's the healing going? Sorry I haven't been over but T has been off so I've been hanging with her."

"No worries, I understand. It's going pretty good, Cedes has me on a strict schedule but I appreciate it."

"Mhm, so it's true. She kicked your ass and is now living with you to keep you in check?" Mike asked, laughing slightly.

"Something like that. I actually have a question… are you bringing T with you tomorrow?"

"Of course I am, Mal said it's for everyone so if figured it'd be cool."

"Okay good, I was hoping that way Cedes will stay." Sam said, sighing in relief.

"Why not just ask her to stay?" Mike asked.

"I did…"

"Did you ask or suggest? There's a huge difference, trust me I learned the hard way." Mike asked.

Sam thought over his question before face palming himself. "Shit, I don't think I did either… that's why she changed the subject the way she did."

"Dude, you really suck at this. You have a sexy woman literally helping you get better and probably sleeping with you but you're keeping things confined to your place. Have you even asked her out on a date?"

"No…"

"So you're getting free sex, free around the clock care and not showing appreciation?" Mike asked and Sam could hear the disappointment in his voice.

"Bro, we're not having sex and I say thank you."

Mike laughed. "Bullshit, I know you two have been getting it in!"

"Seriously… I haven't been able to even try because… he's not working right now." Sam said in a hushed tone.

"Oh man… is it just in general? Like do you feel ready but he's not rising to the occasion?" Mike questioned.

"I always feel it when I'm around her but he's being stubborn or just broken." He admitted.

"Maybe you should try… seeing if it's just in your head or a real medical condition. Have you tried playing with him?"

Sam ran his hand over his face. "I've tried everything! It's just not… working I can feel a tingle here and there but it's only when she's near."

"Maybe you should let her play with him?"

"Yeah so just whip my dick out and be like can you play with this? Really dude?" Sam said, shaking his head before hearing Mercedes humming. " I gotta go, she's coming back."

"The best advice I can give is, show her you appreciate her and I'm sure she'll help fix him"

"I'm listening to you anymore!" Sam said before hanging up.

Mercedes smiled at him before handing him an ice cream bar. "Figured you want one." She said sitting back down next to him.

Sam looked at her and smiled while taking the ice cream bar. "You figured right, I did want one." He said, taking it. She scooted close to him and he bit the inside of his cheek.

"You know umm if you did want to come to the party, I would really like that." He said avoiding her gaze.

Mercedes looked at him, half chewed popcorn in her mouth. "You want me there?"

He looked over to her and nodded before he took it back. "Yes."

Mercedes wasn't sure what changed in the time it took the pop the popcorn but she could tell he genuinely wanted her to be there and smiled. "Okay, I'll be here then… as your plus one friend."

Sam looked at her. "Or maybe just my plus one?" He hoped she understood what he meant, he was not used to doing the chasing; this was all new to him.

Mercedes turned completely towards him. "Not as your friend? Then what?"

"As my date… I know it's not a real date but I would like to introduce you as such instead of the woman that beats my ass when I get cranky." He said, chuckling.

She hit his arm and laughed. "I accidentally smack you once and you swear I'm abusing you!"

"All I did was pull you closer to me and you slapped the hell out of me!" Sam countered.

"Because you shocked me!" She laughed.

"Oh? Well, let's see." Sam reached and pulled her close. "Oh…no slapping, that's a start.

She giggled, shaking her head. "Boy you are crazy!"

Sam moved her hair out of her eye. "Crazy about you." He said softly.

Mercedes chewed her bottom lip staring at you, she wanted to lean in and kiss him, but the fear of rejection was too much.

Sam exhaled, staring at her, she was beautiful and perfect and he had fought kissing her for weeks he couldn't do it anymore. Leaning in, he kissed her softly at first, but the moment he felt her lush lips against his, he pulled her to his lap kissing her hungrily as she wrapped her arms around him.

Mercedes let out a soft moan, making herself comfortable on his lap and kissing him more deeply. She had been wanting to kiss him ever since that night when he told her he enjoyed kissing her. Mercedes moved her hips, rocking against him and lips never leaving his.

Fear crept into Sam's mind when she started rocking. "Mercedes I can't-"

His words were cut off by her lips on his neck, sucking at the sensitive spot and shooting right down to his shaft which was doing more than just tingling.

"Sam…" she breathed, running her hands through his hair.

The moment she called out to him it was like his body was hers. It responded to her touch, her feel, everything. He moaned out, reaching for her hips and thrusting up. "So sexy." he groaned, gripping her sides.

"I've been wanting to do this since I moved in." She confessed.

Sam nipped at her lips a crooked smile on his. "Really?"

"Yes really." She said as she moved to his waist.

Sam gripped her hands. "Wait.."

She froze looking at him as he continued. "If you wanted this and I… I umm have too.. I just…don't mo-don't move out."

Mercedes looked at him like he was crazy. "Did you just ask me to move in with you, permanently?" She asked and Sam nodded slowly.

"I did." He answered.

"Sam we… I… we aren't even in a relationship and we've never even been on a date… I… are you sure?" She asked suddenly, feeling flustered.

"Then let me take you out for real." He said leaning up and kissing her softly. "Will you go on a date with me?"

Mercedes tried to wrap her mind around everything because it was all happening so fast. "Like a real date?" She asked for clarification. Jesse never asked her out on dates; he just scheduled them and expected her to be dressed and ready.

"A real, I pick you up and take you out, date. Maybe even a good night kiss if I like you enough."

Mercedes bit her bottom lip and smiled. "Okay but nothing fancy, I'm not one of those groupies that are impressed by five star restaurants. My brother treats me to those regularly." She teased.

Sam chuckled. "Fair enough, I'll make sure it's a night you'll never forget!" He said kissing her once more before easing her off of his lap. It had been a month and her sitting on him wasn't making things easier.

Mal was the first to arrive at Sam's and he had heard that his sister was staying there but whenever he would randomly pop up she was always at home so he assumed it was just a joke so when he walked in and saw his sister sitting comfortably on his couch he immediately had questions.

"What are you doing here?" Mal asked, looking her over and seeing she was barely wearing any clothes. "Where are your clothes?"

Mercedes looked down at her shorts and shirt before looking up at her brother confused. "I have on clothes and I'm here because I was invited, why are you here so early?" She questioned.

"I'm here to set up and get the grill going…" He responded, looking around and seeing her laptop on the coffee table and her shoes by the door. "Have you been staying here?"

Mercedes let out a snort and shook her head before signaling for him to come closer. "Yes and we've been breaking in every surface since then." She lied and held in her laugh when horror struck her brother's face.

"Cedie! What the hell!" Malcolm said moving over to her.

She shook her head holding her stomach as she laughed, "Get your mind out of the gutter you pervert!"

"What's so funny?" Sam asked hobbling into the room and Mal turned and narrowed his eyes at him.

"You asked her to stay here with you?"

Sam's eyes grew wide because they hadn't discussed her moving in anymore past him asking her last night. "I ahh.."

"For your information, I volunteered to be here to help him until he was better and if he had asked me to move in, it wouldn't be an issue." Mercedes interjected and Sam shot her a thankful smile.

"No. nope, uh-uh… I said I was okay with you two possibly dating no one said anything about living together!" Mal said, shaking his head.

Mercedes rolled her eyes before getting up and walking over to Sam to help him onto the couch. Mal watched as she aided him and slowly eased him down, careful of his leg. He noticed the silent exchanges between them and how Sam tucked her hair behind her ears when it fell into her face.

"Do you want your leg elevated or is it okay resting like this?" She asked.

"I'll put it up later, I want to sit upright for now." He replied and started to lean in to kiss her but she shook her head he understood.

"I don't have the energy to kick his ass today." She whispered and Sam laughed.

"What are you two whispering about?" Mal asked but they both ignored him.

"I'm only working with one leg so, I'm definitely out but I think you can take him." Sam replied confidently.

"I'm going to get changed." She said but stayed where she was and Sam didn't mind her being so close.

"Ahem, people will be here soon…" Malcolm said and Mercedes rolled her eyes before moving and walking into the guest room to change.

Sam waited for Mercedes to close the door before looking back at Mal. "Dude, I thought you were cool with me and her?"

"I am cool with you liking her, I never said anything about dating her or her living with you." He replied, taking the bags he was carrying into the kitchen.

"Shouldn't that be between the two of us and not the three of us?" Sam asked and Mal snorted.

"No, it's not and until she says to me that she's wanting more than whatever you two are doing right now, I will keep hovering." Mal said as Sam's front door swung open and several of their teammates and their wives/girlfriends followed.

Sam was very happy to see his teammates and couldn't help smiling when they all dog-piled on to him, they were careful of his leg but he felt the love.

"Dude! It's so good to see you're feeling better." Matt said happily. "We were all ready to kick that guy's ass for what he did to you but Mal told us to focus on the game."

Sam chuckled. "I don't really remember the hit but I do appreciate you guys wanting to do that for me."

"We would do anything for you…except cross Mercedes…" Mike said. "About a week ago I tried to come over when you were sleeping, she damn near bit my head off!"

Sam smiled. "Yeah…I tried to leave the house to come to our annual poker game and she did the same thing to me. My girl is bossy."

Mal, Matt and Mike looked at him. "Your girl?" They asked in unison.

"What?" Sam said, looking at both of them.

Mike stared at Mal before looking at Sam. "You just called Mercedes, your girl."

Sam looked at them. "I did? No…did I?"

Malcolm folded his arms across his chest. "Okay Evans spill you got her living here, you called her your girl, I told you I would keep hovering till I find out, and it's clear you know what you want!"

"Hey guys." Mercedes said, walking into the room smiling before it fell. "What?" She asked looking at their tense faces.

"Oh goodness, if Sam and Mercedes are dating who cares and Mal seriously they're grown if they're living together it shouldn't be that big of a deal." Tina interjected. "Besides, aren't you and Q getting a little close? No one is questioning you about that, so let's have some fun and enjoy the fact that Sam is feeling better."

Mercedes rolled her eyes. "Really? Are you guys still on this topic?" She asked before walking over to where Sam was sitting and leaned down, giving him a deep kiss.

Mal scrunched his face up before walking out of the room earning a few laughs from his teammates.

"Now, can we have this party?" Mercedes asked and everyone nodded. As everyone got up to head outside, Sam pulled her back down to him.

"That was sexy as hell, you know that right?"

She shrugged with a blush. "I just wanted to shut them all up, don't read into it." She teased, trying to get up but Sam pulled her even closer.

"Thank you Merce, I don't know if I have said it with sincerity, I drove everyone away because I felt it was better to deal with this alone, but your stubborn ass just couldn't take no for an answer. I wouldn't be healing like this if it wasn't for you." He leaned in and kissed her softly.

"You got all mushy on me Sam." She leaned in and kissed him softly back. "But you gotta do more than that to get rid of me."

The party was in full effect, mostly all the players from Sam's team were there to live it up, along with Stacey, Stevie, Mason, Santana and Quinn. Sam hadn't felt like he belonged since his accident, but tonight showed him that he was still a part of his team, they were still his family.

Stacey moved over to Mercedes. "So we both know that gift basket and gift certificate to a few spa days for me and the previous nurses were because of you. You make him better."

Mercedes smiled and just shrugged. "Your brother knew he needed to apologize."

"Yeah well you gave him the nudge he needed."

Mercedes looked over to Sam. "He's not a bad guy, he was just in a bad headspace. But what I really wanna know is what is going on with my brother and you, Quinn."

Quinn looked at the girls and shrugged. "I mean Mal and I are just hanging out…we aren't living together like you and Sam."

Stacey gasped. "No! Tell me you are not living with my brother?!" She smiled.

Mercedes took a sip of her drink. "It's only temporary… I think and I live right next door so it's not like I'm here all the time."

"So you were there to say… two days ago around 11?" Quinn questioned and Mercedes had to take a minute to think.

"I don't… remember…" She said taking another sip.

"You weren't because I showed up and knocked… called… used the spare key Kurt gave me and to my surprise it looked like no one had been living there." Quinn replied with a smirk.

"I go to my house all the time…" Mercedes lied.

Quinn shot her a knowing look. "For someone who is there all the time, you didn't have any food in the fridge."

Mercedes shrugged. "I dunno, maybe I was out shopping…" She lied again.

"Uh huh…well see that's funny, because I came back the next day and I caught the sight of you and Sam on your private beach…and then you came back to his place… not yours."

Mercedes downed her drink and stood. "Huh look at that I am all out. Maybe I need to go grab another one… actually I am a bit cold, I should go home and grab my sweater."

The girls rolled their eyes as Mercedes stood up and walked out of Sam's place and froze looking at her front door which was wide open. She looked back to the girls who were laughing and shook her head, Quinn probably unlocked.

Walking into her place she went to her room, stopping as she smelled smoke. She walked in further before gasping at what she saw, there were dozens of pictures of her scattered around her room and on her bed. They were all taken off guard and there were even some of her and Sam, recent images of them alone on the beach and some of them in his house.

She shook her head before seeing pictures of her naked, in his Sam's outdoor shower taped on the wall with the words slut, cheater and whore written on top of them.

Mercedes stepped back falling against the closet but screaming as heat burned her hands. She turned watching the smoke come from her closet. She stepped away from it as more smoke came to the bottom and the top of the door.

She needed to get out of there, so turning to her door, she stopped not even knowing when it closed she tried to open it so she could quickly leave, but it was locked. She yanked and pulled screaming in frustration as she tried to open it.

"Help! Someone Help!" She screamed, fearing that no one would realize that she was gone.

Sam laughed, tossing Mal another beer. "Thank God you aren't cooking, we all know you can't grill to save your life."

"Ha ha ha." Mal said, opening the beer. "I bring other things to the table."

"Hey, has Cedes come back?" Santana asked, looking around.

Mal looked at her confused. "I didn't know she'd left."

"Yeah, Q told me she went to get a sweater from her place but that was like ten minutes ago…"

"Sweater? Why would she go home to get that, her sweaters are-" Sam started before stopping when he saw smoke wafting over to them. "Who's on the grill?"

"Mike, why?" Mal asked.

Sam shook his head. "Something's wrong, that's too much smoke…"

"Hey I thought I was supposed to be on the grill." Mike said, walking out of the sliding doors, carrying a tray of raw meat.

"If you aren't on the grill then…" Sam's thoughts were drowned out by Tina running in and screaming.

"Guys! Mercedes house is on fire!"

Sam didn't even think, he just ran, forgetting about the pain, followed by everyone at the party. "Mercedes!"

"Sam you can't be running like that!" Stacey shouted trying to catch up to her brother before she heard the faint cries for help coming from Mercedes' house.