A/N: This fic contains potentially triggering subject matter including but not limited to: suicidal references, gun violence, sexual trauma, homelessness, drug abuse, depression, homophobia, and cancer. It may contain inaccuracies. No copyright infringement intended. Thanks for reading!

BOOK THREE - PART ONE - CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVEN

"Good afternoon! Thanks for flying with…"

"Too late," Sam muttered. She hadn't intended to leave, anyway. She pulled Cat back down into her seat and stared straight ahead. There was a strange glaze to her eyes, which were gradually growing more and more pink.

Finally, Cat couldn't help herself anymore. She reached over and cupped Sam's cheek, turning her to face her.

"What?"

"Are you high?" Cat recognized this look from before.

Sam attempted to look innocent. "What are you talking about?"

"Turn out your pockets."

Sam chuckled nervously, but didn't comply with the demand.

"Now, Sam."

Sam sighed deeply and pulled out the contents of her pockets. One was empty. The other one had four or five small, individually wrapped pieces of candy.

They were brightly colored and sugar-coated, but Cat knew better. "Where did you get those?" she whisper-yelled at her.

Sam flinched a little. "I bought them a couple days ago. From the dispensary around the corner."

"Are they, like… marijuana?" Cat asked very quietly, already knowing the answer.

Sam laughed. "They're edibles, Cat. It's just weed. I thought they might help me get through the plane ride a little easier," she explained. "I can't believe I got 'em through security so easy. You wanna try one?"

"Absolutely not," Cat answered, frowning. "Just—stop being high. You can't look like that when we get picked up."

"Uh, it doesn't exactly work like that," Sam informed her. "Don't worry. I'll definitely have come down by then. Are you actually upset?"

Cat sighed and placed her hand on Sam's knee. "No. I know it helps you. Just try to act sober, please."

An hour later, they were up in the sky, and their laps and the floor were littered with food wrappers. Sam had gotten the munchies, and Cat had splurged on the in-flight menu. Now they were both leaning back contentedly, rubbing their stomachs.

"See? Coach isn't so bad," Sam joked.

Cat finished off her last cookie. "Yeah, it could be worse, I guess." She took a deep breath. "I can't believe we're actually doing this."

"What?" Sam asked lazily.

"Well… I've never brought someone home to meet my family," Cat explained. "I'm a little nervous."

"If they know who I am, they're probably not gonna like me," Sam told her. "I'll just keep my distance."

Cat sat silently for a minute, then spoke up again. "Sam?"

"Uh-huh?"

"I'm scared they're gonna say something that makes you mad," Cat admitted. "I have a really… complicated relationship with them, but I don't want them to get hurt."

Sam was usually proud of her ability to inflict damage, but this time it stung that Cat would even consider her capable of something like that. "I would never hurt your family, Cat. I don't know what your situation is with them, but… I promise I'll only get physical if it's to protect you."

"I know, but there was the whole Nona thing, and the lamp—"

"I threw it at a wall. You know I could've just as easily thrown it at her face. But I didn't," Sam grumbled. "I thought I did the right thing."

"You did do the right thing. I was really proud of you for restraining yourself," Cat replied. She put the armrest up and leaned into Sam's side. "I'm just scared someone'll say something that's… too much. You know?"

"You can trust me," Sam stated seriously. "I just wanna be here for you."

"Just… be careful, okay?"

"Uh-huh." Sam paused awkwardly, then drawled, "So…"

"Yes?" Cat asked.

"I'm staying with you at your parents' house, right?" Sam took a deep breath. "I just feel like it's only fair if you finally explain your whole… situation to me. It doesn't have to be in detail."

Cat was uncomfortable, but she knew Sam was right. "Situation? Well, um… I have a brother named Frank. He's three years older than me. He has a lot of mental health issues, so my parents were always busy taking care of him while we were growing up. Eventually, they just moved away and left me in LA."

"So… do you not get along with them, or..?"

"They always treated me like the second priority. I was baggage, 'cause they had their hands full with Frank," Cat explained. "I was never good enough for them. Especially after the accident."

"But they love you, right?"

"They're Christian, and they're really, really conservative," Cat mumbled. "They disowned me when I came out to them a couple years ago. Things have gotten a little better since then, but I'm not really sure if they love me anymore."

Sam took Cat's hand. "Well, I love you. I know it's not much, but…"

Cat giggled. She leaned in and gave her a lingering kiss. "It's enough for me."