Chapter 7

Dwight walked out into the barn watching as Sam cut wood for the fireplace. He watched his son angrily chop at the helpless wood. Sam chopped a big piece right in half with a grunt.

Dwight jumped out the way as a piece of wood flew towards him. "Hey Sam, you good?"

Sam looked at his dad and shrugged before grabbing another piece of wood. "Peachy."

Sam swung that axe splitting it in two and reaching to grab another one. Dwight leaned against the wall. "Sooo taking out your aggression? Figured you wouldn't be so frustrated with Mercedes being here, the way I heard it, you two can barely keep your hands off each other.

That pulled more anger and frustration out of him causing him to move faster. "She won't talk to me!" He said slamming down on another piece of wood. "She hates me!" He sliced another one. "And all I can do is take it!" Another. "I was wrong. I know that but dammit! Why the hell was Quinn even here!" He sliced another and yelled in frustration.

As Sam caught his breath, Dwight put his hand on his shoulder. "I know things look rough, but you can't fix anything if you don't talk to her."

Sam looked at his dad. "I don't even know what to say."

Dwight nodded. "How about you finish up out here and give me time to figure out how to help your situation."

"You're gonna help me?"

"Yeah, I love you son, and if you think she makes you happy then I want you happy."

Sam nodded as Dwight walked away. He really hoped his dad could help him.

Mary stared out the window looking at Mercedes as she fed one of the horses. The girl perplexed Mary. She had expected one or two things to happen between Sam and Mercedes. Either Mercedes would be so upset and offended that she would finally be out of Sam's life and let Roz protect her, or She and Sam would make up and she would have to try again to pull them apart. But that didn't happen, yes it seemed she and Sam were distant, but Mercedes still wanted him to be her protector. It didn't make sense.

Dwight came up behind her. "Who are you spying on now?" He looked past her. "Ah, what is Mercedes up to?"

"She's been out there for about 10 minutes, feeding beauty."

"And our son?" He asked knowingly.

She motioned to the barn where Sam was pretending to clean but he was really just staring at Mercedes. "She's been avoiding him, and he's been avoiding me…guess you were right."

"You shouldn't have interfered."

Mary laughed. "I didn't make him run after Quinn."

"No, you just called her. You may not agree with them being together but the fact that you for all intended purposes broke them up, you took his head out of the game and right on her. How is he going to protect her if all he thinks about is how she hates him, and how he hates you."

"She doesn't hate him, she keeps stealing glances at him too."

Dwight walked away from her and opened the door. "Hey Sam! Can you come in here?"

Mary looked at him. "What the hell are you doing?!"

"You and your son need to talk. So talk to him, and then after you apologize, you help him make things right with Mercedes."

"And why would I do that?" She asked, folding her arms.

"Because I spoke to him earlier, he doesn't know you called Quinn, if you don't want him to find out, you need to fix this."

Mary raised an eyebrow at her husband as Sam walked through the door.

"What's up dad?" Sam said avoiding looking at his mom.

"Your mother and I think we found a way for you and Mercedes to make up."

Sam gave him a skeptical look and Dwight nudged Mary. She hesitated before nodding. "Take her out on a trail. She's been eyeing beauty since you got here. Take her there with a picnic and talk to her, actually talk to her."

Sam folded his arms across his chest. "Why are you even helping me? Pretty sure you are dancing the jig cause we are on the outs."

It was true, but at the end of the day she really loved her son. "Oh I would prefer it if you stayed apart. But believe it or not I really want what is best for you and if you think she is then I have to respect it. Sam I love you. Yes you are an amazing agent, but more than that you are my son and being that, you make me proud every day."

Sam was shocked considering he had never heard his mom say anything like this, she was as hard as a rock.

She moved towards him and did something she hadn't done since he was 15. She hugged him. Sam hugged her back, feeling like maybe she was honest and really wanted him to be happy.

Sam pulled away with a sigh. "Thanks mom but she won't talk to me…I hurt her even if she pretends I didn't."

"Look Liz is in the kitchen making dinner, pack up dinner and take her on a ride."

"Again how am I gonna get her to go with me?" Sam asked.

His mom looked at her husband and sighed. "Trust me she will gladly go with you, go on with your dad, he will get you the blanket and the basket."

Sam sighed heavily, looking out the window, she was beautiful standing there petting the horses mane. And in that moment he knew what he needed to do.

Mercedes sighed contently, rubbing the horses mane. "You are so beautiful, and sweet…but stop trying to get me to give you another apple, I'm not allowed."

Beauty neighed and Mercedes laughed. "Don't get huffy with me, they will only let me give you one."

Beauty neighed and nudged her closed hand. "Hey! Don't do that! What if what was in my hand was not for you?"

Beauty neighed and she grinned taking over her face as she handed the horse a cube of sugar. "Spoiled."

"That she is." Mary said from behind her.

Mercedes turned and frowned then turned back to Beauty. "Came out here to gloat, your plan worked."

"My plan?" Mary asked.

"Please, I am a woman, I am not stupid. Plus you and your husband would have had to let Quinn in so it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that you sent Quinn up to screw things up and she did. But it still doesn't work for you, because I still want Sam to protect me. I don't have to sleep with him for him to do his job."

Mary looked at Mercedes and realized that she was so much more than she realized. "So, you care about him enough to remove all feelings then?" She asked.

Mercedes rolled her eyes. "You know for someone who's the best in the business you really can't tell when you've won." Mercedes replied, looking at the woman before sighing. "Sam has to be able to protect me and he also has to take down the men that are hunting me. How do you suppose he will achieve that if his only goal every half hour is to make me scream his name?" She added.

"Seems you are right…" Mary said softly. "I never wanted Sam to follow in my footsteps, I wanted him to go off and get married then give me some grandbabies. I made him hate me to the point he ended up doing just that and I'm afraid if I don't make things right with you, I'll lose him again." She admitted.

Mercedes let out a humorless laugh. "So you're using me to get what you want and you expect me to just fall in line like him? Well I hate to burst your bubble but I'm no one's pawn, so if you want back in his good graces you might want to humble yourself and apologize."

Mary couldn't hide her amusement. "Seems you're right about that… just like I'm right about what's about to happen."

"And what is that exactly?" Mercedes asked.

Mary smiled. "I am sorry for my actions and I hope one day you'll forgive me." She replied before walking away and leaving Mercedes slightly annoyed.

Sam watched as his mother spoke with Mercedes before heading back inside, he could tell by Mercedes' body language that she was annoyed and shook his head because it was just another thing he would have to deal with.

"What did you say to her?" Sam asked his mother.

"Do you have everything you need?" She countered and Sam huffed.

"I swear if you went out there and made things worse…"

Mary let out a laugh. "Trust me, I could've gone out there and shot her in the foot and she'd still go with you. You don't have to worry about how she feels about you, just go out there and be honest with her."

Sam side eyed his mother, staring at her for a long moment. "Why are you doing this?"

"Sam, my number one goal in this life is to protect you and your siblings, nothing else matters. But in trying to protect you, I might have destroyed your chance at something real. So I am trying to rectify that."

Sam sighed. "I guess I better get out there."

Sam took a breath as he made his way to Mercedes with the picnic in his hand. "Hey Mercedes."

Mercedes didn't look at him, she just kept petting Beauty.

"I was hoping we could talk…there is some place I want to show you, we can take Beauty if you'd like."

Beauty heard her name and neighed. Sam laughed while Mercedes shook her head. "Traitor."

Sam moved into Mercedes line of sight. "Please…we at least have to be around each other and I think this will help."

She turned towards him. "Fine, but only because I want to ride Beauty, even if she is a traitor."

Beauty nudged her and Mercedes smiled shaking her head.

Sam smiled but didn't push it. He moved to the stable to grab the saddles and within 20 minutes they were on the trail. Mercedes riding Beauty and Sam on Taffy. Sam rode beside Mercedes, making sure he could act fast if she needed him. He showed her the stream he and his siblings went fishing in with their dad, showed the path he and his dad built.

As much as she wanted to pretend like she wasn't having a good time, she was enjoying the peacefulness of it all. Enjoying Sam being so excited to show her his world.

As they made their way down the trail, Mercedes couldn't hide the surprise as a cabin came into view.

"We wanted a tree house but my parents wouldn't let us build it near the actual farm because of the Animals, so they built it out here, though it was just a cabin, the Evans all glad to enjoy it.

As they arrived, Sam tied the horses, to where they could roam safely and drink from the trough. Helping Mercedes down from her horse, he grabbed the basket and walked inside with her. As Mercedes looked around Sam went to make a fire.

"For a cabin in the woods this place is surprisingly clean."

Sam laughed. "Yeah someone cleans it once a week just in case…"

Turning to her Sam cleared his throat. "Thanks for coming here…"

"You said that you wanted us to get along, so I am here." She said, sighing as she watched him.

Sam turned towards her. "I know I apologized, but I want you to know that I really meant it. I didn't mean to leave you I just, I wanted to know why she thought it was okay to just walk into our room…"

"Sam its like I said I want you to protect me but when it comes to you and me I just-"

She stopped talking as Sam stalked towards her kissing her deeply. She whimpered against his lips wanting to fight him but missing the way his lips felt on hers, missing the way his body felt pressed against hers. It would be so easy to give in but she couldn't. Pushing Sam off of her she moved away from him. "Sam…no. I told you…i can't do this with you."

Sam sighed nodding. "Okay, I understand, sorry, when i get near you…Mercedes you mean something to me. And I want to protect you, and do everything in my power to make sure that you are safe from these people. But I can't just be your protector when I want so much more from you."

Mercedes swallowed, staring up at him. "Sam you can't just sit here and kiss me and think that this solves everything. It doesn't!"

"I know it doesn't. I was an idiot, I can admit that. But Quinn doesn't mean half as much to me as you think she does."

"And I do? You barely know me! And if someone you've know for as long as you have known Quinn means nothing to you, then how can I mean anything?"

"Mercedes you just do okay?"

She shoved him away from her. "No not okay. I am not going to sit here and be the shiny new toy until something shiner and new comes along."

"Is that what you really think? That I am just here for a good time?"

"Isn't that all I am? A good time to be had? Its barely been two weeks since we have met and maybe its the protection of it all. You are my hero and I am a new challenge. When then is all said and done and we all calm down are you still gonna want me? Or are you gonna go back to her, or to something else that's new and shiny."

Sam ran his hands through his hair. "I have never felt like this. Not for Quinn, not for a woman I dated years ago when I thought I was in love. Maybe its been two weeks, but I know what I feel. I was stupid I can admit that, this is all so new to me. I know what it looked like. Like I was running after Quinn because she was hurt seeing us. But I was so upset that she would intrude on us, that I just angrily ran after her. But I should have stayed with you. And for that I am sorry."

Mercedes sighed heavily. "Sam you ran out in the middle of sex, do you even get how that made me feel?"

"I am still new to this Merce, just give me a chance. Please. I don't want sex, just enjoy this picnic with me. Please?"

She was about to say something but her stomach growled. Rolling her eyes she sighed. "Seems like my stomach has betrayed me. I am starving."

Sam nodded as he set out the food and smiled. "Thank you."

Mercedes sat down taking the plate of fried Chicken and Mac and Cheese from Sam. Playing with her plate she looked up at him. "Why did you decided to follow in your mom's footsteps? Why not do something else?" It was a question that had been on her mind since his mother spoke to her.

Sam sighed before thinking over his answer, he'd never really told anyone the reasons behind him joining the agency. "Honestly, I wanted to get away from my mom and I knew that this would keep me away. She did some unforgivable things when I was younger and I vowed to never be like her but ended up doing it anyway." He replied.

"What is your relationship like with your siblings? Are you guys close or are you distant with them like you are with your mom?" She asked taking a bite. This was safe, talking, if they were talking they weren't doing anything else.

"I love my siblings." He said smiling. "They're the best and we're pretty tight, they didn't have the same mom and I did… she was softer with them than she was with me."

She looked up at him. "Do you think its because of who she is? Her career? Her life?"

"My mom burned a lot of bridges and there was a lot of people who wanted her dead… she was protecting me but she forgot to turn it off and kept treating raising me like it was an assignment. She would make me run drills and rode me hard about my schoolwork, I guess a piece of me envies my siblings because they got the mom I wanted." He answered, shaking off the anger that was resurfacing.

She reached out and took his hand, she had seen this situation but only as it started out with the students in her class, Sam was the grown up version of them and it spoke to the nurturer inside of her. "Sam…she loves you, I know she wasn't the mom you wanted or needed but I see it in her I saw in her, she's a piece of work and I do not blame you for your mommy issues but, eventually when you are ready, if you are ever ready to forgive I am sure she may not want to hear this, but she needs too."

Sam moved his hands from her, shaking his head defensively. 'I don't have mommy issues, Mercedes. That woman that you saw, the woman you met is my mother and I've accepted it a piece of me knows she did what had to do to keep me safe and piece of me wishes I didn't understand as well as I do but if she hadn't been that way with me you'd be dead right now. All of my assignments would be, so I take the good and the bad. I won't ever get Mary Evans, homemaker by day and secret agent by night and that's fine." He said looking down at his plate before pushing it away.

Mercedes held her hands up defensively as he pulled away, she saw the anger and regret in his eyes, he deserved a mom and didn't get one, then had to watch his siblings get the love he wanted. Things were falling into place for her, the more she talked to him the more she learned. "Sam, you are right, I would be dead without you, its why I trust you even now. I know you will do everything in your power to protect me. You are a really great guy and not just as an agent. I hope you know that." And she meant it, in truth pulling away from Sam the way she did only had a little to do with Quinn, his apology his words they were understandable, but Mercedes just couldn't wrap her head, her practical head around the fact that she was falling for Sam Evans, and there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it.

Sam looked at her before nodding. "It's cute, you know?" He asked, smirking when he saw the slightly confused look on her face.

"What's cute?" She asked putting down her plate.

"You trying to get information out of me, my mother used to do it all the time so I would tell her exactly what she wanted to hear." He replied nonchalantly. "Did you get what you needed?"

She scoffed standing and shaking her head. "You're an asshole." She turned walking away from him, comparing her to his mom was a low blow.

Sam shook his head before getting up and going after her. "You take me comparing you to my mother as an insult but it wasn't... " He said when he caught up to her standing by Beauty.

She folded her arms across her chest, "Then what was it?"

"You met my father and has the thought ever crossed your mind how they are even together?" He questioned, gently turning her around to face him.

She let him turn her and stared up to him. "Considering your dad is down to earth and funny, I know it wasn't because he was working with her…was he like me?"

Sam smiled. "He was her assignment yes, but he was a lot like me… a stubborn asshole that-" He stopped before finishing that sentence. "An asshole that needed a woman to kick his ass."

"And you think I am that woman for you? The ass kicking woman of your dreams?" She teased with the hint of a smile ghosting her lips.

"I think you are more than that…" He answered honestly.

Chewing her bottom lip she looked down to the ground. "You read my file, I don't have much luck with men…they are either gay or intimidated but me. I am good at teaching, and helping. Put me in a Church Choir and I am right there singing with conviction. But this…this is scary." She looked up at him sighing as she realized the saddest part is she wasn't as scared of getting shot as she was of actually being with Sam.

Sam looked at her and knew that look before taking a step back. "You don't have bad luck with men, you just have bad timing. I have the same problem…" He said knowing he'd have to let her go at the end of this because there was so much fire in her eyes but he saw behind that, he saw the fear. His job was nothing but facing fear head on and putting her in the position of waiting for him to come home from missions was something he couldn't bear.

When Sam stepped back that fear was fully realized as rejection set in, they had chemistry and heat but it seemed that was all it would be. If they were going to get through this, if she was going to survive then that would have to do. "Well I guess that settles that then." She stepped closer to him holding out her hand. "Soo friends I guess?"

Sam tilted his head before looking down at her hand then back at her. "We could never be just friends." He said with a sigh. "But I'll try."

She let her hand fall to her side and nodded. "I guess that's better than fully rejecting me in more ways…should we head back inside and eat because I am still starving that one bite did nothing."

Sam shook his head, saying a silent prayer before pulling her into him and kissing her.

Mercedes was taken aback by Sam kissing her, she wanted to deny kissing him, but the moment his lips fell upon hers she was a goner. "Sam." She whispered against his lips, resisting the urge to pull him closer.

"Shut up and let me do this." He muttered, kissing her deeply and pulling her even closer, if that was possible. He needed her to know that he wasn't rejecting her, he hoped it showed that he was already falling hard for her.

"Stubborn ass." She moaned as she wrapped her arms around his neck, running them up and through his hair. Before she knew it, Sam was backing her into the cabin and onto the couch, she straddled him, whimpering as she felt him growing beneath her. "Sam… what are we doing?"

"I… something that feels good."

He was right, it was something that felt good, and she was powerless to stop him. She pulled away long enough to remove his shirt, running her hands down his chest as her lips pressed against his neck, and ear. Softly biting his neck.

Sam let out a groan before lifting her sundress over her thighs and gripping them. "You keep that up and I am gonna have nothing but marks on my neck. "He groaned.

Mercedes laughed. "Would that be so bad?"

"Not if I can return the favor." Sam thrust up to meet Mercedes hips, groaning as his lips met hers.

Tongues mingling together, Mercedes bounced in his lap, feeling everything Sam had to offer and more, she wanted this, needed this and it seemed Sam did too. He poured it all into that kiss, making Mercedes melt into his touch, melt into his body.

"The things you do to me baby." She moaned.

Sam flipped them over so he was on top, kissing down her neck, to the swell of her breast. His tongue lapped over them, tugging her dress down and swirling his tongue around her nipple. Mercedes arched up letting her fingers thread through his hair.

"Sam…."

"What baby? What do you want?" He asked staring up at her. In that moment if she asked for the sun he would get it for her.

"You…" She whispered. "Just you."

Sam moved up capturing her lips in his, there was no way he could ever let this go, even if he knew he had too. Sam thrust his hips towards her, letting her know just how ready he was for her, when his phone went off. Sam groaned. "Its Stevie…that's his ringtone."

She nodded kissing his neck as Sam answered.

"Hello?"

"Get decent I am coming in." Stevie said.

"Coming in where?"

There was a knock on the door and Sam shot up. "Wait!" he looked down to Mercedes. "My brother's here."

"Your brother? Stevie right?"

Sam nodded as he sat up and pulled her with him, he helped her fix her dress as he put his shirt on and stood tall. "Fair warning, Stevie is…my dad and me all wrapping in his crazy shell.

Sam moved to open the door and smiled pulling Stevie into a hug. "Little Brother! What are you doing here?"

"Mom said you were her so I-" He stopped talking and pushed Sam to the side. "Oh my- beautiful are you okay?"

Mercedes looked at him confused. "What? Is something wrong with me?" She looked around and Stevie laughed.

"No beautiful I only ask because it must have hurt when you fell from heaven I am sure I need thoroughly check you out to make sure you are good."

Sam walked between them and moved Stevie from Mercedes. "What do you think you are doing?"

"Wooing a beautiful woman. How you doing beautiful?"

"Oh my- Umm…."

Sam shook his head. "You are gonna stop flirting with my-"

Mercedes looked at Sam and so did Stevie. "With your what, big brother?"

Mercedes giggled and Sam rolled his eyes. "You can't flirt with her, she's off limits."

Stevie huffed before sitting down next to Mercedes and looking at her intensely. "I just want to say, I am the better brother in every way and if you let me, I will prove it in matter of weeks."

Mercedes looked at Sam before looking back at Stevie and slowly nodding. "Well, you remind me of one of my students. He's been asking me to marry him since the first day of school." She replied with a soft laugh.

Stevie smirked and nodded his approval. "Smart man, too bad he won't get that chance since I'll be taking it."

Mercedes laughed again. "He was never going to get that chance because he's six."

"Does that mean that I get that chance?" Stevie said, leaning into her.

Sam moved between them. "That's enough of that!"

Stevie smiled. "I think he's jealous, Mercedes. Are you jealous Sam?"

"Stevie, how long are you here for?" Sam gritted out.

Stevie smiled. "A few days." He looked over to Mercedes. "A few days to convince you that we should go out…"

Mercedes blushed and shook her head. "Well you'd be a few steps ahead of your brother considering he hasn't asked me out yet." She teased.

Sam stared at her with a crooked smile. "What do you think this is? Horseback ride, picnic…" He looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"It's you making up for messing up, this is not a date." She clarified before turning her attention to Stevie. "Don't be like him, if you're gonna ask, make it worth it."

Sam cut his eyes at Stevie. "He isn't gonna ask you. And couldn't this have been both? An apology date?"

Mercedes thought over his question before shaking her head. "No, you'll need to do a lot more to make up for what you did… and since it's now been twice we've been interrupted, I need to consider all options." She replied with a sweet smile.

Stevie leaned over Sam, to Mercedes. "And what did big brother do to make such a beautiful woman like you upset?"

"You wanna tell him or shall I?" Mercedes asked Sam, trying to hide her amusement.

Sam frowned, shaking his head. "It was a stupid mistake that I have apologized for."

"I wouldn't do anything stupid…they call me a pretty smart man at school." Stevie said, smirking up at Sam.

"Well we'll just have to see if what they say is true, now won't we?" Mercedes quipped, winking at Stevie.

Sam stood shaking his head. "Nope! Look, Mercedes I was wrong, really wrong but I promise if you accept my apology I will do my best to never let it happen again."

Stevie sighed. "I give it a 6, maybe a 7 but it lacked details and charisma…what do you think Mercedes?"

Mercedes nodded. "I agree, there's no real begging or groveling… maybe you can convince me?" She said to Sam, biting her lip.

Sam bit the inside of his mouth. "Maybe I'll convince you tonight." He replied and Stevie rolled his eye, letting out a chuckle.

"That's my cue, I'll tell the rents you two are still… making up." He said before being bold and gently turning Mercedes' face to him. "Should you need convincing to leave him." He added before placing a fervent kiss to her lips, he looked at his brother then quickly left before his brother killed him.

Mercedes smirked until it turned into a laugh shaking her head. "Looks like you all got that Evans Charm."

"He better be glad I refuse to leave you again or I would kick his ass for kissing you."

Mercedes giggled. "Let's just finish our food. I am so hungry." She teased.

Sam cut his eyes at her playfully and moved to her side as they sat in front of the fire.

"You and your brother, remind me of these twins in my class last year. Everyday they tried to outdo each other for my heart. They drew me photos, they brought me flowers. One of them gave me a diamond necklace from their mom's jewelry, then his brother gave me the matching bracelet. I had to finally sit them down and tell them why neither of them would win my heart."

Sam laughed handing her a glass of sparking cider. "Well is this you sitting me down and telling me that I can't win your heart?"

Mercedes took the glass and smiled shyly. "This is me telling you that I am not a prize or a new toy to be won. If you want this, really want this, then you need to show it. You need to not run out on me in the middle of sex, you need to not let your mother or anyone else, interrupt us, this." She took a sip and Sam took her hand in his.

"I am not perfect, far from it, I am a mess sometimes, and I do stupid things. So I can't promise that I won't mess this up again. I won't hurt you so bad that you feel like I don't care about you. I don't know what this is, but I really want to find out."

Mercedes stared at him for a moment. "Okay, I think I can accept that for now. Now again I am starving let's eat."