Enjoy!
Chapter 13
Mercedes coughed again before shouting again for help. She'd managed to make it out of her room but the living room was also engulfed in flames. Her breathing was getting harder and harder, she started crawling to keep away from the smoke but she could feel herself starting to pass out.
"MERCEDES!"
She tried to respond but nothing came out and before her eyes closed she saw a figure coming towards her, she couldn't make them out but she was thankful.
"Move!" Sam shouted when he reached the door to Mercedes' place right as someone came out carrying her.
"Call 9-1-1." Finn shouted and everyone looked at him in shock.
Sam moved over to where they were standing and pushed Finn away from her. "Mercedes! MERCEDES!" Sam shouted before leaning in to listen for her breathing.
"She's not breathing!" He said before he started administering CPR. "Come on baby, breathe!"
Stacey was on the phone with 9-1-1 and the rest of the team was trying to keep Malcolm away from seeing her. Santana ran back to Sam's to grab water and towels so that Mercedes could have it.
Malcolm fought against Anthony and Mike who were holding him back as he tried to get to his sister. "Merce! Don't let her die, Evans!"
Sam continued to perform CPR on Mercedes, counting out loud the pushes before he moved to breath back for her. "Come on baby. Please breathe baby."
Seemed like everyone was holding their breath waiting for some sign she was okay, and when she started coughing, Sam hugged her tightly, tears streaming down his face. "Thank God. That's it, just keep breathing."
Malcolm finally broke free and ran to Mercedes as they heard an ambulance in the distance. "Just like that baby sis, keep breathing you are gonna be okay…" He sent up silent prayers that that could be true.
As the fire truck arrived followed by the ambulance, Sam looked up, heartbreaking to see that Mercedes house was up in flames. "What the fuck happened?"
Mercedes let out a ragged breath before tugging on Mal's arm. "J-jesse." She said before coughing.
"What? I didn't hear you." Mal asked leaning closer.
"It was Jesse!"" She got out in between coughs.
Malcolm grew angry as the paramedics moved towards Mercedes and started loading her up. Sam stepped back, his teammates helping him up.
"Did she just say Jesse did this? Her bastard ex?"
Malcolm clicked his teeth angrily. "I am gonna kill him. I am gonna rip him from limb to limb."
Quinn placed her hand on Malcolm's shoulder. "Mal calm down baby, I know this is a lot but you just need to breathe."
Sam ran his hands through his hair looking over to Finn. "Thank you Finn, if you hadn't gotten her out…God I don't know what I would have done if I had lost her."
Malcolm nodded. "Yes, thank you, that's my heart in that ambulance and she could have died…"
Finn nodded. "I know how much she means to you… I never got to apologize about-"
Mal shook his head. "We're good now bro, you just saved my sister. I think I can forgive you for being a jackass." He said with a half smile.
Mike came up and patted him on the back. "Yeah man, that's the Finn we know!" The rest of the team nodded in agreement and Finn let out a sigh of relief.
"Come on." Santana said to Sam "I'll take you to the hospital."
Sam shot Finn an appreciative look before following Santana to her car. He had a lot going through his mind and the main thing was how he almost lost the love of his life. He hadn't even realized completely until that moment that he was in love with her.
He also realized that his career wasn't going to keep him warm at night and that he needed a back up plan because based on the current shooting pain he had, he was going to need another few weeks to heal the damage he'd just done.
"She's going to be okay." Santana said, bringing Sam from his thoughts.
Sam looked at her and sighed. "San, I don't think I've ever been so afraid in my life." He admitted shaking his head. "Why would anyone want to hurt her? She's… she doesn't deserve this and her place is gone… I know how much that independence meant to her and now it's gone."
"Sam, I think she's not even thinking about her house right now and honestly most of her things were at your place. We need to take this one moment at time, she's going to have a rough night with her breathing, so let's just be present and worry about material things later. It's not like you can buy her another house." Santana replied
Sam nodded, taking a breath. "This feeling, of being helpless, hopeless, its…I don't want to do something stupid San. I can't walk in there I can't see her lying there without mentalling preparing, so what am I supposed to do?"
"Sam, get a grip. She's going to be fine, stop making this moment about you. Can you imagine how Mal feels? That's his only family and he has to go in there and be strong. Be a good friend and put yourself aside for a minute, be strong for him and her." Santana said curtly.
Sam nodded looking out the window, she was right he had to be here for Mal and keep his head up, even if he felt sick to his stomach as the Hospital came into view.
It didn't take long for him to get inside the Emergency Room, seeing that Malcolm and Quinn walked in right after him.
"I need to see my sister! She was brought in here for smoke inhalation or something and I need to see her now." Malcolm said, hitting his hand on the counter. "Please just tell me where she is."
Quinn put her hand on his shoulder, turning him so he could face her. "Babe, you need to let them do what they need to do for her first. They aren't going to let any of us back there until she is in the clear." She said, hoping to calm him down.
Mal shook his head. "That's my baby sister, Q. I have to be there, she needs me in there." He replied.
"I understand that but right now, she needs you to be calm and let the doctors do their job first." Quinn reasoned.
"Quinn is right Mal, you need to let them help her, and then we can go back and see her." Sam said, voice wavering.
"If Jesse really did this, I am gonna kill him with my bare hands." Malcolm said angrily.
Quinn sighed. "Baby listen to me, you can not make those kinds of threats… not here. Let me and Santana do our jobs and you just focus on being strong for Mercedes."
Malcolm stared at her, he knew she was right, but the thought of Jesse taking Mercedes from him, cleared out all rational thoughts in his head.
Sam noticed a nurse walking towards them. "Excuse me, can you tell us anything about the woman who was brought in here, Mercedes Jones?"
She moved to the computer and nodded. "The doctor is in with her now, he will have an update for you soon."
Quinn stepped closer to her. "There is a matter of half the Patriots here, and an up and coming R&B singer being treated. I need you to move us to one of the private waiting areas and I need everyone who has seen or treated her to sign a confidentiality agreement not to disclose why she is here or what happened. We will make a statement when we are ready."
The nurse looked as if she was going to interject until she spotted Santana. Nodding she called for security to take them to the third floor waiting area.
Sam thanked Quinn as they walked towards that elevator. "I didn't even think about us being down there, all I could see was them putting her in the ambulance.
"That's why you guys have me and San, we got your back."
"Exactly!" Santana said standing next to him. "Now I need you to tell me everything you know about Jesse. Why would he try to burn her alive?"
Malcolm was the first out of the elevator. "Because she doesn't want his ass. He and Mercedes were together for a long time and I was sending her twenty thousand a month, twenty thousand she never saw because of him."
Santana nodded. "Do you want the money back?" She asked and Mal snorted.
"I want her to have it, I don't need it. That money was for her to start her own music career and to build her a studio."
"Have any of you seen him here? She could have been delusional or seeing things? If we can't prove he's been in town this might be a little difficult." Quinn asked.
"Brown haired guy?" Sam asked.
Malcolm looked at Sam and nodded. "Smug ass look on his face like he thinks he's better than everyone…very punchable face?"
"Yeah, he showed up at her place a while ago… she looked terrified. I was there and he left but that was when we stopped speaking… I'm not sure if he's come back since then." Sam said.
"Fuck!" Malcolm breathed, running his hand over his head. "He's been plotting this shit?"
"So, has anyone else seen him? How do we know he hasn't been following her?" Santana asked. "I can handle him but I need to know what he looks like and if he has help."
Malcolm sighed pulling out his phone. "She rarely took photos with him, I should have caught on sooner." He said showing the photo to Santana.
"Send it to me, I'm going to step out and make a few calls. Q, keep me updated on Mercedes and remember, none of you are allowed to speak to anyone until AFTER we know everything." Santana said letting out a sigh before looking at Malcolm and Sam. "Neither of you will like this but it'll be better to let this Jesse person assume he succeeded."
Sam closed his eyes. "If I would've known…"
Malcolm patted Sam on the back and shook his head. "I feel the same way, but this isn't our fault. None of it is. And I know its easier said than done but we both have to believe that."
"Excuse me." A man in uniform said walking off the elevator. "I am Fire Chief Tanaka, can I speak with the family of Mercedes Jones?"
Malcolm and Sam both stepped up. "I am her boyfriend and that is her brother." Sam said.
The fire chief nodded, moving closer to them. "We have contained the fire at Ms. Jones place, it does look like arson. We found these." He said handing the photos over to Sam. Sam frowned seeing photos of Mercedes with him, with her brother and with various friends. There were also up close photos of her, looking unaware that she was being watched.
Sam handed the photos to Malcolm. "So she's been watched?"
"These and a whole bunch like them were posted all over her room and spread on the ground in various parts of her house. We have alerted the police and a full investigation is happening."
"Her ex did this. He's the only person stupid and crazy enough to do it." Malcolm said and Sam shot him a look, shaking his head.
"We don't know that for sure." Sam added quickly, taking heed to Santana's words.
"We know it was him! Those photos are proof!" He said growing more and more pissed off.
"We don't know that and we don't need to be pointing fingers at him, especially since we have to keep Mercedes safe." Sam said through clenched teeth.
Malcolm closed his eyes exhaling, he may have been pissed, and may have wanted to skin Jesse alive but he would do anything for Mercedes. "Fine! You're right. But what the hell is taking so long if she's okay?"
"Mercedes Jones' family." They heard, seeing a doctor standing there.
"That's us!" Malcolm said, walking over with Sam, Quinn, Mike and Tina right behind him.
"Ms. Jones suffered some burns to her hands and arms, and smoke inhalation. We have treated the burns and she is on oxygen. We would like to keep her overnight and run our tests again in the morning, then we may be able to release her tomorrow afternoon."
"Can anyone stay with her?" Quinn asked.
"We can allow one person to stay overnight but the rest will only get to see her briefly and I do mean briefly." The doctor answered before walking away.
"Mal you should be with her tonight." Sam said and Quinn shook her head.
"No, he needs to go home and rest. You can stay with her and we'll come back in the morning." Quinn chimed in and Mal shot her a look.
"I should-" He started before Quinn gave him a simple head shake.
Sam smirked but quickly turned when Mal noticed. "I think that's a good idea." Sam said, trying to stifle his laugh.
"Well I don't and I think that I-" Quinn grabbed Mal's arm and forced him to look at her before she whispered something into his ear. "Nevermind… Sam can stay."
Quinn smirked. "I'm going to get the staff to sign these forms and then we can all leave. I'll have Stevie swing by your place and get you and Mercedes a change of clothes."
Sam nodded. "Thanks Q. Mal, you can go check on her first, I will wait here."
"Thanks bro." Malcolm said before following the doctor to Mercedes' room. He took a deep breath then walked inside where he saw her lying there.
"Hey sis." He said softly as he walked next to her bed with a smile.
Mercedes eyes fluttered open drowsily, as she looked over to her brother. "Mal?" She said groggily.
"Yeah, it's me. How are you feeling?" He asked, grabbing her hand.
She swallowed, closing her eyes. "What happened?"
"You scared the hell out of us, that's what happened." He joked. "We can talk about everything when you're feeling better, you scared me to death Cedie."
"I'm sorry Mal… did I get in an accident I didn't mean to scare you I thought…" She closed her eyes again, everything in her mind was jumbled. She couldn't make heads or tails of her thoughts.
"Shh, don't try to think about it now. We will figure it all out tomorrow, Sam's gonna stay with you tonight okay?" Mal said, gently rubbing her hair.
She sighed contently moving towards his hand. "Sam…he's the best…"
Mal nodded. "Yeah, crazy bastard ran on his bum knee trying to get to you."
"Hmmm." She smiled. "That's why I love him…" She murmured.
Mal rolled his eyes. "As long as he doesn't treat you bad, I'm okay with it. I love you Cedie, I'll be here tomorrow with everyone else." He said leaning done and kissing her on the forehead. "Don't ever do that to me again, understand?"
"Never ever…ever…" She opened her eyes looking at him. "Love you…"
Mal shot her a smile. "Get some rest kid." He said before walking out of the room where he was finally able to let out a ragged breath. "I'm going to kill him."
Sam looked over to him. "Mal? Mal what happened, is Merce okay?"
"She's fine, confused and drowsy but fine. I just need to get out of here." Mal said, feeling his anger growing. "You better take care of my sister and I don't mean just for now I mean forever."
Sam stared at him, he pulled Malcolm into his arms, at the end of the day, Malcolm was his best friend. "I will."
Malcolm hugged him back. "She's waiting for you. Me, Q and San will be back tomorrow." He said pulling away and wiping his tear.
"Mal I-" Sam started but Malcolm stopped him.
"Whatever you need to say, you should probably say it to her first." He nodded before walking out of the room holding onto Quinn.
Sam watched them walk away before turning and walking into the room, feeling his heart tighten when he looked at Mercedes. Even in a distressed state she looked stunning.
"Sammy!" She said softly and he couldn't help smiling.
Sam moved closer to her, sitting on the side of her bed. "How's my girl feeling?"
Mercedes smiled. "Tired and foggy." She replied. "How are you?"
"Worried about you baby, are you sure you are okay? Do you need anything?"
"You to get in bed with me so I can sleep." She mumbled as her eyes started to feel heavy.
"Are you sure?" I can sleep on the chair next to the bed."
Mercedes just nodded and smiled.
Sam climbed into bed with her, holding her close. He kissed her forehead. "I am never gonna let you go baby. Never again will someone hurt you." He kissed her softly. "Never again."
WE RIDE AT DAWN!