A/N: Enjoy!

Chapter 9

Sam entered the locker room throwing his helmet against the locker. What the hell was happening!? They went from winning one week to losing this week and sadly as Captain it was his job to make sure there was a unified team, and to make sure they kept on winning. Sadly ever since the party, there was no team unity, it seemed like no one trusted each other on the field.

After getting berated by their coach for 30 minutes, everyone sat around the locker room, looking defeated and tired. Sam sighed, running his hands through his hair.

"Look, we are one game away from being washed out of the Super Bowl. We can't survive another game like this one. We need to get back in sync."

Finn laughed. "Back in sync? The one play I actually ran today, Malcolm didn't even block for me. I got my ass handed to me."

"You lucky that's all you got handed to you." Malcolm spat looking at Finn. "Because if it wouldn't cost me my job I would have stomped your ass weeks ago."

Finn stood and Malcolm followed suit as they moved towards each other but Mike and Anthony stood between them as Sam moved closer.

"This is what I am talking about!" Sam said.

Malcolm stared at Finn. "I could kill you for what you did to my sister. Calling her a groupie and filming her! If that shit would have gotten out you would have ruined her and for what?! You are nothing more than a low down dirty bastard who deserves to get his ass beat."

"Says the biggest man slut of the team? Dude a few weeks before your sister showed up you literally slept with two girls at once and filmed it!"

"They consented, dumbass!" he said moving to swing on Finn but Mike pulled him back.

"Yeah well the way your slutty sister was screaming Evans name I figured she was consenting. You think she would be that vocal with everyone else? Hell, I am still waiting for my turn." Finn said knowing he was poking the bear but in truth he really didn't care.

At that Sam balled his own fists. He really hated Finn, and the man was making it hard for anyone to rationalize not letting Malcolm go.

"Finn, man that's enough. Just stop talking. No matter what we all know you crossed a line." Anthony said. "We are football players and yes that means we get away with a lot of questionable things, but we never cross the line that you did. You filmed someone without their consent and distributed it. You do realize you could have gone to jail if they pressed charges!"

Finn just laughed it off. "Ha well it was well worth it. Giving everyone a chance to see the great Malcolm Jones and his lame ass best friend Sam Evans get what they had coming to them."

Mike shook his head. "You took advantage of someone to get your revenge Finn, how can you not even care about that?"

Finn shrugged. "It's funny how y'all get on me but no one cares how wrong Evans was for screwing Puckerman's girl."

Puck shrugged looking at Finn. "Considering I have done the exact same thing to him, that we all have done the same thing ain't no reason we should get pissed about it. I mean don't get me wrong I was pissed at first, but she and I never made any commitment, we were dating but not together and it is what it is."

Sam knew Puck was probably still a little ticked but the fact that he was trying to push that aside meant he cared more about the team then he did his pride.

Finn shook his head. "Y'all some bitches! Getting pissed at me but letting everyone else off the hook it's that same shit that makes me glad I am up for trade after this season."

"As if anyone would want to pick up a second string player who has barely seen the green!" Sam said, causing a few people to snicker.

Finn angrily looked at him. "All it's gonna take is for you to get hurt and I'll have my spot back." He said, giving him a menacing look.

Malcolm shoved Mike off of him and shook his head. "You the real bitch ass in this locker room, you second string has been. That's why I didn't block for your ass and I won't!"

Finn shoved past Anthony and charged towards Malcolm, who was ready for him. Finn swung on Malcolm, narrowly missing him, as Malcolm's fist came up under the tall man's chin. Finn fell backwards as Malcolm used all of his weight, landing another blow into his stomach.

All hell broke loose in the locker room, as they guys tried to break up the fight. Finn had jumped back, tackling Malcolm into the locker he wildly punched the stockier male, landing very few punches. Malcolm flipped them over and started landing blow after blow. He has wanted to beat Finn's ass and he was not about to miss out on avenging his baby sister.

"Bastard! You tried to ruin my sister and now you think we should feel sorry for you?!" He screamed as Sam and Mike pulled him off of Finn.

By this time security made their way to the locker room as well as the Coach, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. It took a full 45 minutes for the chaos to calm down resulting in Finn getting suspended for throwing the first punch and Malcolm getting fined. Which he said was worth it because he got to at least punch Finn a few times.

Once everyone was out of the locker room, all who was left was Sam and Malcolm. They really hadn't spoken since that night. Seeing Malcolm stretch out his fist, Sam grabbed an ice pack and walked back over to him. "Here man."

Malcolm looked up to Sam and took the ice pack, putting it on his wrist. "Who knew Finn had a hard ass face." He chuckled.

Sam sat next to him. "Look, we haven't talked about what happened and I just wanted to…"

Malcolm shook his head, waving him off. "Don't have to apologize, I know you are sorry for sleeping with her."

Sam shook his head. "That's not what I was gonna say. Mal you are my best friend and I love you like a brother. We have had each other's back for 5 years. And I am sorry that Mercedes got dragged into this mess. But I am not sorry for being with her. Believe it or not your sister is a strong and beautiful woman, inside and out. I liked her and what happened was because we were mutually attracted to each other."

Malcolm side eyed him as Sam continued. "I shouldn't have agreed to not talking to her when I knew how attracted to her I was so for that I am sorry, and for her getting filmed, her being made to feel stupid. I am sorry. But I won't apologize for anything else."

Malcolm took in everything Sam said before sighing. "I get everything you said and I understand you still wanting to be with her but if it comes to me choosing, my sister wins every time. Look at all this shit that's happening, you and her being together isn't good for anyone involved."

Sam shook his head. "All I ask is that you respect whatever decision she makes, I won't fall back and I won't let whatever relationship affect my performance for the team or our friendship."

"I can respect that but you hurt her in any way and you won't walk for a year." Malcolm warned.

Sam chuckled. "I can accept that… Now we gotta get the team together. We're so fucked."

"You have to press charges against Finn, he's not going to stop and we both know it."

Sam shook his head. "Think about the optics, 'quarter back and teammate's sister press charges against another teammate for illegally recording them having sex.' She'll never get to get her music off the ground and she might get dropped by her label. I'm covered, she isn't." Sam said.

Malcolm looked at him impressed before nodding. "So you do care about my sister, you know you fucked up when you told her you didn't right?"

"I know but it was the best thing to do… for now at least. I think we have to handle Finn the old way, without the team."

Malcolm smirked. "He's being traded in a few months, we won't have time to get everything in order."

"We only need you and me there besides, a little old school ass kicking isn't going to hurt his trade. We could always get Santana involved."

"Now you're talking, she's always down for a good fight. When are you wanting to do this?" Malcolm asked and Sam smiled.

"Our annual Super Bowl pregame party, everyone will be there and no one will notice if we sneak off plus I doubt he'd show up after all of this." Sam answered.

"Then it's on."

Things had been going by in a blur since Mercedes' label green lit her song Temporary, she hadn't had a moment's rest and didn't even realize it had been a month since she'd last spoken to Sam or seen Jesse.

She was waiting for Dave to bring the car around when got a text from an unknown number.

Those jeans don't look good on you.

Mercedes looked around not seeing anyone before getting another message.

That shirt and that color… lavender really? You look horrible!

Mercedes felt her hands start to shake, she knew these messages were coming from Jesse and the fact that he could see wasn't her biggest issue. He'd somehow gotten her new number, knew where she was and probably had been following her all this time.

She started to go back inside to wait but her phone started to go off. She ignored the first call but another one came just as quickly, she knew she shouldn't answer it but she also knew he wouldn't stop until she did.

"Leave me alone Jesse!" She said answering the phone.

"Is that anyway to talk to your fiance'?" He teased with a smile she could hear through the phone.

"We're not engaged anymore! I don't know how you got this number but this is the last time you'll ever be able to contact me!"

"Baby, you are getting really worked up, you need to do some of those breathing exercises I taught you. You know, I think I have been very patient with you, gave you a whole month to do you. Its time for you and I to reconcile and fix this. So how about we go to the beach house, have a little dinner, burn that outfit. All the good stuff that we used to do."

"We are never getting back together and if you come near MY house, I will have you beaten and arrested. Leave me the fuck alone!" She shouted right as Dave arrived.

"Baby you are gonna stress yourself out with all this anger you seem to have. Now I have tried to be kind you know, I didn't even get on you for that scene you made by sleeping with a guy you barely know. But my patience is growing thin, you are gonna meet me and we are gonna get back together and I am sure because of one reason. And I know you are drawing a blank so I am just gonna say it for you. Sex Tape."

Mercedes felt tears well up in her eyes but refused to let them fall. "You post that and you'll never get me back. If you care about me the way you say you do, you won't do it but we both know it isn't me you want. It's the benefits of being with me, I mean hell you stole all the money my brother sent me and you think scaring me with a video of me having sex is going to work? Do your worst Jesse but you won't win."

"Maybe scaring you with a video isn't going to work as you say, but do you really think your boy toy would want that scandal? And just so we are clear, you aren't the only one he has had a sex tape with." He lied. Now was the time to sell it. "I have previewed at least 5. Seems like you weren't special. Aww… so you meet me, I delete the videos. Simple." He said watching her, he could tell by her face, by her body he had her. She could pretend she wasn't affected but he knew she was.

"Jokes on you because he told me I wasn't anything special so do what you need to do and leave me the fuck out of it." She managed to get out before hanging up and turning so he couldn't see her cry.

You're gonna regret this.

Mercedes shut her phone off before wiping her face. She couldn't let him see her break so she rolled her shoulders and smiled when Dave opened the door for her. She made a point of looking around so he could see that she wasn't going to break this time before getting into the car.

"Where to Ms. Jones?" Dave asked and she gave herself a minute to compose herself.

"Mr. Evan's please." She answered looking out the window. She didn't want to talk to him but she couldn't let Jesse win by blindsiding him either.

Sam was feeling more and more like him self the closer they came to the Super bowl. Two games was what stood between the Patriots and winning it all. Once they took care of the Finn issue almost everything would fall into the right place. Pushing himself further, he came in off of the beach kicking his shoes off and walking inside of his place, pulling off his shirt.

Heading right into the shower, he let the hot water wash over him as his mind wandered to Mercedes. Working things out with Mal was great, and it was needed, but he couldn't deny that he really wanted to walk next door and knock on her door, just to get a look at her. He really wanted to get to know her better, to tell her how much he regretted what he said to her. He sighed heavily, sometimes you just didn't get second chances.

He stayed under the spray of water until it ran cold. Once he was out of it, he made his way to the kitchen searching for dinner. You would think a quarterback in the NFL would spend his time out partying, drinking, all that stuff but in truth he outgrew that part of his life maybe two or three months after he started. So now his nights were filled with him wondering what he could have changed when it came to dealing with the few women he actually let in his life.

Before Mercedes there was a woman named Penny, it was probably love at first sight because he fell for her and she fell for all the money she would get if she became Mrs. Evans. And he was oblivious until he overheard her and her friends. She liked him but didn't love him, stating that love comes and goes but money is forever. Her logic was flawed and Sam was no fool.

After Penny there was his brief crush on Quinn, but he quickly realized she was more like a sister to him than dating material, and he realized that whether Mal admitted it or not, he had a thing for the blonde female. Pulling out some chicken breast he decided to make chicken Alfredo, he needed the protein and carbs. Cooking was one of his favorite things to do, it took him back to growing up and his mom teaching him and his siblings how to cook. She told Sam the way to a man's heart may be his stomach, but the way to a woman's heart was to learn how to share the load. She really was a smart woman.

Mercedes walked up Sam's steps before taking a deep breath and knocking.

Sam just took the sauce off of the heat when he heard a knock. Looking over to his security camera he was shocked to see Mercedes standing there. Debating if he should answer, the look on her face won out and he went to the front door and opened it. "Mercedes, what do I owe the pleasure?"

'I… I need to talk to you about something, it won't take long." She said, looking at him worriedly.

Sam could tell it was serious and moved aside to let her in. "What's wrong?" He asked after she sat down.

"My ex, umm he's threatening to release the video of us and of the other ones you apparently made…" She blurted.

Sam stared at her, the fact that he hurt her and she was there, trying to protect him, it spoke to the person she was. "I am not sure what video's he thinks he has, but there aren't any other videos, Mercedes." He really hoped that she believed him.

Mercedes nodded. "So just the one of me then, well he might release it, he might not but we both know how you feel about me so you can get ahead of it and I'll do the same. I'll let myself out." She said before standing up and walking outside.

Sam stood and while he should have just let her go he couldn't, following her outside he exhaled. "Wait, we probably should work this out together if we are going to get ahead of it. I just made dinner if you want to join me." He hoped she wanted to join him, in truth he saw this as a chance to try and fix things between them if he could.

She shook her head. "No, I don't think that's necessary and I'm sure we'll have to release similar statements so it's fine. Enjoy your dinner and again I'm sorry that he's dragging you into this." She replied, she gave him a half smile before walking away towards her house.

As she walked away Sam fought the urge to go inside and followed her to her house. "Mercedes, wait!" He caught up with her, she was determined to get away from him, not that he could blame her, she was still pissed at him. "You said we both know how I feel about you. But I don't think we both do."

"It doesn't matter now, you've said your peace a month ago and that was enough to let me know that whenever you get pushed into a corner you'll fold and I can't have that around me. Good night Sam and good luck." She said.

"I was between a rock and a hard place and trying to do right by you by pushing you away. I was stupid I get it, and I am not asking that you forgive me I am not asking that you change your mind about me. But lets get one thing clear. I find you amazing. Smart, beautiful and strong and if I was smart, I wouldn't have let anyone come in between us getting to know each other. Because as amazing as sex with you is." He moved closer to her. "And trust me, we both know it was amazing. My biggest regret is that I lost the chance to really get to know you better." He said honestly.

Mercedes listened to and a part of her wanted to give in but she'd dealt with the same stuff from Jesse. He would make huge proclamations then revert back to his old ways, she was done and she needed to make it clear to Sam.

"Good night Sam." She said before walking inside and finally letting her tears fall.

Sam watched her walk into her house, she had become even stronger in the last month that was clear. And the other thing that was clear to him, was that he screwed up royally and he might have seriously messed up something that could have been exactly what he spent his whole life searching for. Heading back to his place he sighed entering the house. "How the hell am i gonna come back from this?" He said to no one as he walked back towards the kitchen.

Finn waited in the place he was instructed, it had been an hour and still no one had shown up. He was starting to think it was a set up before he got another text telling him to wire the money first. He sent the money and a set of headlights flashed twice, he walked over to the car and waited until the window rolled down.

"You sure you want to do this?"

"Yes and make it look believable too." Finn answered without hesitating.

"Fine but it won't happen until we receive all the money, you have two weeks."

Finn just nodded before walking back to his own truck with a devious grin on his face, he was done being messed with and it was time everyone knew just how good he was.

Welll... what the hell is Finn ass doing!