DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GLEE BUT THIS STORY I DO!

FILLER CHAPTER AHEAD, ENJOY :)

The noise in the bar was at an all time level due to it being March Madness, but for Sam, it didn't bother him one bit as he sat back in the booth, nursing his fifth beer as he watched the man in front of him, his own focus glued to the game, while his thoughts were on a couple of weeks ago. Vegas was a mess, and not on the fighting side because he had ended up winning but on a personal one. He couldn't believe it went downhill like it did with Mercedes. And to make things even more unusual, he haven't seen or spoken to her since and he was okay with that for whatever reason.

Mike turned his eyes away from the game to grab his water, looking over at his best friend. Sam had invited him to come, thing was, he hasn't said a thing all night. He knew what had happened between him and Mercedes, and quite honesty, he thought it was the best thing for them both, "So, you're just going to drink yourself into a downward spiral?"

Sam shrugged as his eyes stayed on the screen, "Might as well."

Mike rolled his eyes at him, but before he could say something again, the other man spoke, leaving him in confusion at his statement.

"I think I'm going to go back to Chicago for a minute."

"Why?"

"Need some time away from here."

"You're running away from your problems again." He pointed out as he watched as his attention settled back on him, "And it's time to stop doing that."

Sam scoffed as he looked away, the place getting louder as the game was winding down in its final minutes. Deep down, he knew that they all were right, but his stubbornness wouldn't let him logically think. Therapy wasn't for him and never would be, so he'd wish the conversation surrounding it would just die. If it looked like he was running away from his problems, so be it. He didn't care what anyone thought, he wasn't going to be force into something he didn't want to do, "Just for the summer."

"Well, don't contact me."

The statement didn't even come as a shock to him. He heard them before and he knew how true they were. Mike was indeed his best friend and always was there for him, but when he did stupid shit, kept on with defiant behavior and didn't listen to him at all, his friend had his boundaries set up, "You're turning your back on me again?"

"More like an ultimatum." Mike stated as he stared at him before getting up from his seat, "You need help and if you don't get it and go back to that place you were, you're going to lose everyone you love."

Sam watched as he tossed the money on the table before turning around and headed out the restaurant. He grunted as he leaned back in the bottom and placed his hands over his face.

The next few days were a blur, but it wasn't a road block in Sam's decision to go to Chicago. After he left Mike that night, he went home and started packing. The morning after, he had made a trip to the gym, thankfully not running into anyone, and slid an envelope under Henry's door before disappearing out the building. He didn't know when he would be coming back, if he did, but he was going to make sure that he knew, even if this was the cowardly way out.

Unfortunately, his flight that night wasn't as peaceful as he thought it would be. There were four babies that were in synch with their crying, a woman in front of him sick but still decided to fly and the man next to him was complaining about everything and it took almost everything in him not to knock him out. He thanked God for the woman in the window seat finally having enough and cussing him out, resulting in him not saying another word.

Luckily, in his tenor in Chicago, he didn't have to find somewhere to stay. Sam didn't get rid of his old apartment, always keeping for when he came in town. He climbed up the stairs to the third floor, heading to the end of the hall, his arrival not going unnoticed by someone as he put the key in the door. Once he got in, he sat his bags down on the floor, his eyes glancing around the apartment as he turned the lights on just as he heard someone clearing their throat. He turned around and found the woman leaning against his threshold with her arms crossed, giving him a smile.

"I knew you'd be back soon."

A smile twitched on his lips as he put his head down, "You always could read me like a book."

"Always."

Sam watched as she smirked before she pushed off and closed the door behind her, a relieved ball of emotions setting free on his part. This was exactly where he needed to be in this moment.

A/N. Yeah, I left you on a major cliffy for who knows how long! Sorry babes for this filler chapter lol!