It was 12:30am and Sam was tossing and turning restlessly in her bed. After the day's events, there was no way she was getting any shut eye. After they had sorted everything out with the cops, Brooke had taken a reserved and quiet Sam home, made her dinner, and been very gentle and comforting with her the rest of the day. Now that it was night, Sam was left alone with her thoughts, and she couldn't seem to get her mind off of that dark closet and Xavier's promise that he would "teach" her to have sex sometime. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to push everything aside and fall asleep, but it was no use. All she wanted was to go wake up Brooke and cuddle with her, but she forced herself to stay put.
You're not a baby, Samantha. You don't need to go crying to Brooke in the middle of the night.
She stayed strong for another 15 minutes before the sick feeling in her stomach got the best of her and she got up to wander into her foster mother's room. Sam pushed open the door slightly and lingered in the doorway for a couple of seconds, working up the nerve to approach the bed.
"Sam?" Brooke sat up to see a shadowy figure standing in the doorway.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up," Sam blushed.
"Don't apologize, it's okay," Brooke's voice was filled with sympathy. "Come here."
The teenager hesitantly made her way to the bed and slipped in next to Brooke.
"I couldn't sleep either," Brooke said softly. "I was awake when you came in." Brooke could tell that Sam was embarrassed for coming to see her in the middle of the night, and she tried to make it as comfortable and shame free for the girl.
"I'm scared," Sam said, barely above a whisper. It was humiliating to seek out comfort like this at 15 years old, but she couldn't help herself. She knew Brooke would make her feel better.
"I know, honey. Today was really scary, but I promise you're safe now. No one can hurt you." Brooke pulled the covers more over the two and wrapped her arms around her foster daughter drawing her in closer. Sam leaned her head against Brooke's chest and took a shuddery breath.
"He was going to have sex with me," she said quietly, on the verge of tears.
Those eight words sent an icy shiver down Brooke's spine. The police had questioned Sam about this at the house, and she'd informed them that a rape kit was not necessary. However, the fact that it would have happened had Brooke not shown up made the mother feel an overwhelming amount of fury towards X and sadness and fear towards Sam.
"Oh sweetheart," Brooke's voice cracked with emotion. "I'm so sorry." She paused for a second letting her words sink in. "But you said he didn't though… right?"
"No, no. He didn't." Sam reassured her quickly. "But he just- he basically told me he wanted to."
Brooke stroked the girl's hair. "That monster will never go near you ever again." Tears sprang to her eyes, but she forced herself to remain composed for Sam's sake. "Do you want to tell me in a little more detail what happened?" Brooke asked gently. She wanted to get to the bottom of this, but she also didn't want to pry if Sam wasn't ready to talk.
"Not right now."
"That's okay," Brooke kissed her forehead and continued rubbing her back.
Sam buried herself further into Brooke. A comfortable silence overtook the room for several seconds before Sam spoke again.
"I'm sorry," she finally said sadly.
"Sorry?" Brooke questioned. "Sam you have absolutely nothing to be sorry for."
"If I didn't say all those mean things about you, you wouldn't have been attacked, and none of this would have happened… and I'm just so sorry Brooke. I love you and I never meant to hurt you and this is all my fault," she felt her throat constrict and she swallowed back a sob. She was so upset that she didn't even realize the words that had just escaped from her mouth. "I love you."
Brooke felt her heart skip a beat. Hearing a genuine "I love you" made her feel elated inside despite the day's horrific events. Sam had never directly said that to her before, and Brooke had been too scared to say it herself as well.
Brooke pulled Sam off of her chest and hooked a finger under her chin to bring her eyes to meet hers. "Samantha, I need you to understand that none of this is your fault," she said seriously. "You are not responsible for what happened to either one of us. I am not upset over what you said about me, and that doesn't even matter because nothing you possibly could have said justifies that psycho's actions. Do you understand?" She asked firmly, but kindly.
"Yes," Sam said meekly as she continued staring into Brooke's eyes.
"Good." Brooke pulled her foster daughter back up against her. "I love you too."
Sam felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Hearing Brooke validate what she'd gone through and tell her that she loved her was the best thing to come of this situation.
In a matter of minutes, the two girls had peacefully fallen asleep together, with Sam still nestled into Brooke, and Brooke's arm wrapped tightly around her.
I know this chapter is short, but I hope you enjoy!