Enjoy!

Chapter 14

Mercedes took a shaky breath after placing the test down and setting the timer. "I can't believe… what am I going to do? How do I tell him?"

Mia sighed looking over to her sister. "Merce, I may not know much about Sam, but I see the way he looks at you, protects you, I see the way he smiles when you enter a room. He will be happy with this news, I know it, so just tell him."

She sighed, shaking her head. "I haven't even known him that long… God this would happen now. What if he doesn't want kids? What if he doesn't want them with me?" Mercedes asked as she started pacing.

"No way that's gonna happen Merce. He will want them with you, I know the freak out part is normal I went through it too, but in the end I felt so much relief just getting it off my chest. And you will too. And Sam will kiss you and tell you he loves you and all that good stuff." Mia said walking over to hug Mercedes.

"There you two are! I went to check on the kids and figured I would find you two in…here…" Diane trailed off seeing the pregnancy test on the counter, then looked at her daughter's. "Okay, so am I becoming a grandmother again? And if so, which one of you are pregnant, I need to gauge just how angry your father will be." She said unable to stop the smile from forming.

Mia snickered. "I'm done having kids so…" She said nudging Mercedes.

"Mia! Way to throw me under the bus!" Mercedes gasped.

Diane moved to Mercedes and pulled her close. "My baby is having a baby! Oh I am so happy I can't even…"

Mercedes pulled away slightly. "I don't know for sure and I would still need to talk to Sam…" She said nervously. "It's so much crap going on still and me telling him this might not be something he wants to hear."

Diane nodded, taking both her hand and Mia's. "Mia said the same thing when she first got pregnant. And I am gonna tell you what I told her. Life happens while you are busy making plans. Baby girl you have wanted to be a mom since I can remember. All you would talk about was how much you would love your child and do this and that. Sam may not be ready to hear this, but I think he is, i think he will be overjoyed, and if he's not. You are not alone."

Mercedes smiled knowing everything her mother said was true. She'd always wanted to be a mom and even though she and Sam hadn't talked in great lengths about life in general, she knew deep down he'd be the best father. "Moma-" She started right as the timer went off.

She looked at her mother and sister before walking over to the counter and flipping the test over, she let out a small gasp. "Wow…"

Mia tried to look over her shoulder. "Well? What does it say Merce?"

She turned, looking at them with watery eyes and a smile. "I'm pregnant."

Stevie checked the time, he was glad to get out of the house and talk to a friend. He hadn't been able to reach anyone in his family and it was scaring him. He knew what his mother and brother did, and while he respected their choices, he really wished they would pick safer cases. Ones that wouldn't put them in danger.

"Hey can I get a beer?" He asked the bartender. "Whatever's on tap."

The man in front of him nodded, going to get Stevie his drink, and Stevie sent Sam another text.

Stevie- Sam where are you! I need to know everyone is okay."

He sighed, putting his phone down and taking the drink. Something had to give, he needed to make sure they were okay one way or another.

Quinn walked in, scanning around the bar before spotting Stevie. She quickly pulled her phone out letting her men know that he was there. She walked over and tapped him on the shoulder, giving her best somber expression when looked up at her.

"Quinn, hey!" He said standing and giving her a hug. "Wow, how are you?"

Quinn sat down next to him, ordering a shot of gin. "I'm as good as I can be, it's been a long time." She answered and he nodded.

"I know, you look great by the way. Blue was always your color."

She smiled, taking the shot before ordering another. "So… tell me about this lucky lady of yours."

Stevie blushed. "Yeah, she's the best. Real down to Earth and I think you'd like her but that's not the only reason why we're here… you okay?"

Quinn frowned looking at him. "I am trying to be, I don't want to bring you down with my sadness over losing your brother."

Stevie shook his head. "Nonsense. We all need someone to vent to, so vent."

Quinn nodded knowing she needed to buy some time, distract Stevie so the bartender could do the job she paid him to do, slip something into Stevie's drink. "Well, when your mom called me over I thought, I thought Sam came to his senses, that he was going to admit that he loved me, but I…I walked in on him and her, making love." She let a single tear fall, not bothering to wipe it. "He moved on and I get it, that woman is gorgeous and I am just… me."

Stevie took her hand in his. "Quinn you are gorgeous, you two may not look alike but you both are hot in your own ways, my brother found someone and I can't be mad at him for that, but I am mad that it wasn't you. You deserve happiness."

Quinn gave the signal to the bartender, by putting her hand on Stevie's shoulder. "You really mean that?"

"Of course, there is a man out there who is perfect for you."

Quinn nodded. "I guess." She looked at him with as much vulnerability she could muster, knowing if she played this right he would suggest they toast. "New beginnings are a good thing right?"

"Its a great thing, in fact." He turned to the bartender. "Two shots we are celebrating here."

Gotcha! Quinn sung internally as the bartender placed Stevie's shot in front of him, then gave Quinn hers and tapped the bar top twice. Quinn lifted her glass. "To New Beginnings."

"Here here!" Stevie said taking his shot and smiling. "I am really glad we did this."

Quinn put her glass down. "Oh you have no idea what you have just done for me Stevie. You are saving me tonight."

Stevie stared at her feeling a little light headed. "What do you mean?"

"Why I thought I lost Steven, but see then you popped into my mind, pour gullible Stevie."

Stevie shook his head trying to stand but losing his balance and falling back onto the stool. "What are you…what di…"

"Shhh don't worry, I won't hurt you, that bad. See you are a means to an end, I want Mercedes Jones and Sam may care for her but he will do anything to save his baby brother."

"N-N-No!" Stevie managed to get out.

"Yes." Quinn smiled moving towards him and helping him up. "There we go." She put his shoulder over hers and looked at Mason who was at the next table. "Excuse me sir, can you help me get my friend to the car, he had one shot too many and I can't lift him alone."

Mason nodded. "Sure. I can help." He said excusing himself from the table of ladies and helping Quinn, it was a ruse to decrease suspicion and as no one even so much as watched them remove Stevie from the bar they knew it worked.

Mason helped Quinn push him into the back of the rented van, and shut the door with a smile. "Meet you back at the Lair?"

"Yes, and be careful, he's precious cargo." She laughed, walking to her own car. "Now, let the games really begin."

Mercedes took a breath before turning the knob to her room, she smiled seeing Sam walking into the bedroom with just a towel on.

"Hey gorgeous." He said, smiling back at her.

"Hey… have a good shower?" She asked, walking over to him. "You look good."

Sam smirked. "I look better naked…" He teased, wrapping his arms around her.

She giggled. "I actually need to tell you something… it's pretty important." She replied.

Sam tilted his head, looking at her worriedly. "Are you okay?"

"Well, I'm fine… it's just that-" She started right as his phone started to ring.

He sighed. "Sorry, it could be my mom." He said pulling away and answering the phone. "Hello?"

"Samuel." Quinn said sternly. "We need to talk."

Sam huffed. "Why? What the hell do you want?" He asked.

"I have something for you, something really…important to you."

Mercedes shot him a look. "I doubt you have anything I want and we both know I don't like games so get to the fucking point."

"I'm sorry did I say something, I meant someone I am about to video call you, you should answer, you and Stevie have a lot to talk about." Quinn hung up the phone and immediately video called Sam, waiting for him to answer.

Sam quickly answered the video call, seeing Quinn standing in front of someone who was hunched over. "What the hell did you do?"

"What I had to do! You know who I want, and you know the price you have to pay for not handing her over when you were first told to, so now you have a choice. Your brother, or that bitch, and if I were you I would choose wisely, little brother isn't looking too hot."

Sam looked over at Mercedes before looking back at the phone. "Quinn… you don't want to go down this road." He warned.

"Oh I don't?" Quinn pulled out her gun and pointed it at Stevie. "Hmmmm where should I shoot him Sam, his leg? Arm? Foot? I'll let you choose."

"Sam… just-" Mercedes started before he shook his head.

"I won't do your dirty work for you, you wanna shoot my brother, do it and stop playing games." He replied, gritting his teeth. "Stevie, I know you can hear me, so listen close. Breathe through it, you know how it feels to be shot don't give her the satisfaction of reacting."

"Blah blah blah I am tired of this conversation, maybe you didn't hear me so hear this." She aimed at Stevie's leg and shot him.

Stevie groaned at the pain but took Sam's words to heart and sat back up staring at her. "That all you got?" He said through gritted teeth.

"Damn that's hot." Quinn said to Stevie. She turned back to the phone. "That was a warning shot. You have two hours to bring me the Jones girl. After that I will shoot him every hour she is not here." I will text you the address." With that she hung up.

Mercedes wrapped her arms around herself, shaking her head. "Sam… you can't let anything happen to your brother." She said, letting out a ragged breath. "Maybe we could just…"

"How the hell did she bypass our system!" Diane screamed as she ran down the stairs, interrupting Sam and Mercedes.

Mercedes looked at her mom. "What's happening?"

"DIANE!" Mary screamed as she burst through the door looking at Sam, Mercedes and Diane. "We need to talk!"

Diane rushed into the living room coming face to face with her old friend. "What the hell are you doing here?" She asked, seeing the anger in Mary's eyes.

"Well lets see, why the hell am I here? You and your family are the reason I am here! All you had to do was give them what they wanted but no, God Diane when did you become so self righteous! So selfish!"

Diane looked at Mary like she was crazy. "Give them what they wanted?" She asked, taking a step closer to the woman. "You mean give them my damn children to save yours? Is that what you're referring to Mary? You bit off more than you can chew and you expected me to save you by risking mine! HOW THE FUCK DOES THAT ME SELFISH?"

"DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY LIVES MY FAMILY HAS SAVED!" She yelled back. "HOW MANY PEOPLE WHO WOULD HAVE DIED DIDN'T BECAUSE OF MY FAMILY ALONE! WE COULD HAVE PROTECTED HER! WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN HER OUT SAFELY AND NOW THEY HAVE MY SON!"

Diane let out a humorless laugh. "Please! You couldn't protect her, she was shot at, almost kidnapped and is still in danger because you forgot how to play this game! Your family has saved no one, or are you forgetting the people that have died at your family's hands? Have you forgotten that I used to do a great deal of pro bono work for the families affected by the old Mary Evans?"

Mary stepped closer to her. "How dare you! You, you ugh I can't believe I was ever friends with someone like you! And let's call a spade a spade your daughter was put in more danger because she couldn't keep her legs closed. Like mother like daughter huh?"

Diane flinched at her words, shaking her head and taking a step back. "He… he told you about that?" Diane asked softly.

Mary laughed. "No, but you just did." She shook her head angrily. "I knew it…I knew something went down but I trusted you!"

"Mary, I… it wasn't… it was college and you two weren't… is this why you've been this way with me? Because of one night that…"

Mary looked at her angrily. "You can't even say it didn't mean anything, can you?"

"It did but that was so long ago and that shouldn't constitute you using my flesh and blood as pawns for your own personal gain!" Diane replied, shaking her head. "You won't make me feel like shit for protecting my kids when you can't do the same for your own!"

Mary angrily slapped Diane in her face. "My sons are both in this situation because of your daughter.

Diane slapped Mary back. "They are in it because of you! They are in danger because you got caught in a web! You put your own daughter in danger all for a bust you could've had a year ago! Yeah, I still know what's going on and I still have connections. I am not the selfish one, you are! You put your son and my child in harms way and now… now you're asking me to let you take my child who is carrying our grandchild off to be tortured."

"Wait… what?" Sam asked looking at Diane then to Mercedes who shot her mother a look. "You're pregnant?" Mercedes opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out.

"Oh you have got to be shitting me!" Mary shouted. "You…"

"Mom… you're pregnant?" He asked again and Mercedes simply nodded. "Shit."

"Look, I know this situation isn't ideal and I know we don't know each other that well but…" She stopped trying to figure out what she wanted to say.

"Samuel, your brother was taken by that crazy bitch, we don't have time for this shit!" Mary spat and Sam looked at his mother shocked.

"That shit is my child, I understand Stevie is taken but I can't ignore this!" Sam spat.

Mercedes sighed heavily, this was not how she wanted Sam to find out. "Look right now a lot is happening and we all need a breather. Let's take five minutes to get some air and then come back ready to save Stevie."

"Five minutes? You expect me to wait to save my child?" Mary asked stepping towards Mercedes but Diane moved in front of her shooting her a warning glance.

"Yes." She said trying to control her emotions. "Now excuse me." Mercedes said walking past everyone and out the door.

Sam folded his arms across his chest. "Mom, when Mercedes comes back in here, I expect you to treat her like the mother of your grandchild and not some big inconvenience." He turned to walk towards the kitchen, needing to gather his thoughts. He was going to be a dad.

Mary eyed her son and turned her nose up at Diane as she walked out of the living room.

Mercedes closed her eyes, letting the air hit her face. "I don't know what to do…I wish I knew how to save everyone." Mercedes whispered tears falling from her eyes.

"You my dear have caused quite the stir." Mary said from behind her.

Mercedes turned around and saw Mary. "I didn't mean to." She said softly. "I just learned what all this was about. I didn't do this to your family, if anything you did this to mine."

Mary nodded. "Maybe so. But right now my son is bleeding out somewhere because Quinn has lost her damn mind."

Mercedes looked down to her stomach, "You would do anything for your child…as you should."

"I would, and you would do anything for Sam and your child wouldn't you?" Mary asked.

"I would. I really would. I know its only been six or seven weeks but I really care about him." Mercedes confessed.

Mary walked to her, taking Mercedes' hand in hers. "Then help me Mercedes. Help me get my son back. Help me get Sam's baby brother back."

"How? Sam is not going to let me risk my life for his brother."

Mary nodded. "Sam doesn't have to know. We go, trade you for Stevie then my team bursts in there, you will only be alone with her for like five minutes."

Well... this was some shit! Send up all your thoughts!