☆☆☆☆☆☆Sammie's POV☆☆☆☆☆☆

The thoughts of today we're washed out, thanks to the sight of a gun. Sammie's moved forward with only one thing on her mind. Alex.

She stopped short when she heard the familiar laugh behind her. She gritted her teeth, ignoring the laughter that was the only one she heard nowadays.

Shoving her way past the onlookers, Sammie raced toward her door. As she got closer, she could hear Alex's voice, all but drowned out by Angela's yelling but not in anyway less angry.

And a third voice?

"Please, let's all calm down and be professional here."

Angela's tall body had blocked her from view, but now Sammie could see Melissa on the other side of the door entry. The guilty on her as their gazes met spoke volumes. It didn't take long for Sammie to draw the connection.

She'd thought she was talking about...

Oh, god, no!

Why else would she and Angela be here, with Angela yelling like she's hell bent, and looking so murderous?

It was all she could do to keep herself from barreling into the pair of them, to drive them away by force. One day. She couldn't keep her word for one day. What kinda doctor is she? She's horrible with the doctor-patient confidentiality. Sammie wanted to scream at her. Her magic strained to form something, anything, and it was an effort to push the impulse down. She was afraid for Alex and afraid of herself.

Oh, and the people here. I guess..

"Angela!" Sammie managed to halt herself before she made the mistake of actually running into Angela. She knocked her sister unconscious once before, and she would do it again.

Wait... No.. Bad thought!

She stood shaking, trying to pull her sister away. Angela gave her a quick glance, grimacing. "Well, fuck."

"Calm down, this is for your own good." Melissa muttered, and took a few closer to Sammie. This unintentionally put her between Sammie and Alex.

"Babe?" Alex stared at her from the gap between Melissa and Angela. He didn't look relieved, or happy, to see him. "What the fuck's going on? What did you tell them?"

His eyes were pained, Sammie's heart ached.

"You don't have to answer that, Samantha," Angela snapped, whipping around to face him. "Just stand back; I'm handling this."

"You're fucking delusional," Alex said, drawing her attention again. "I'm the one who told you about her goddamn bruises and cuts in the first fucking place!"

"Real clever, too," Angela said, practically growling. "Trying to throw me off. Abusers like you are good at covering your tracks."

Sammie moved, reaching out to move Melissa out of the way. "Angela, you need to leave now."

The sound of distant voices carried as the crowd whispered. Sammie wanted to yell at them, tell them to mind their own business.

"Take it easy, babe," Alex said, gently. "Take a deep breath. Calm down, okay?"

"Don't tell her what to do!" Angela shouted.

Alex shoved his way to Sammie. He couldn't get past Angela, who blocked his way.

"Stop shouting before you set her off, fuckhead! Go away!" He yelled back at Angela.

"Don't try to get to her! Or I swear to god, it will be the last thing you fucking do!" Angela yell, her voice drowning out the chatter of the neighbors.

"I told you! It's not me, you have no fucking clue what you're doing!" Alex retorted.

"You're never touching her again, you slimy piece of shit! Those burns were from you, and you know it!"

Alex bristled. "We told you, that was an accident! Nothing to do with me!"

Sammie could see him flinching, possibly remembering how he used his magic on her.

Deep breaths. She had to keep it together, or someone would get hurt. Sammie poured every bit of her remaining strength into pushing down the magic, making sure nothing could escape.

She glared at Angela, who was still looming over Alex. Her heart in throat, she reached for Alex. Not that Angela would let her get to him.

"Leave us alone," Sammie said, voice shaking. "You're making a big mistake."

"See?" Alex snarled, gesturing at Sammie. "I don't know where you got that stupid fucking idea, but you're way off base. Get off our property now, or I'll make you fucking leave."

"Oh, wow, threatening an officer? That's really making you look better."

"No, what's making me look better is the fact that you have zero grounds to arrest me," Alex snapped, pulling away from Angela. Angela looked ready to kill him. She moved to get him, but he moved further down the hallway. His eyes giving away his anger.

"Are you just rolling with the first shitty idea your tiny fucking brain thought of? I didn't do it, they were accidents."

"Yeah, I bet they're all 'accidents,' aren't they?" Angela sneered down at him. "Maybe you don't even remember doing it, shit, it's no secret you're the town drunk. You spend more time at the bar than you do at your job, not that you do anything but slack off when you are there. If it weren't for Sam, you probably wouldn't even have a roof over your head."

"Angela, stop!" Sammie said, boiling over at the awful things she was saying. "Stop it!"

She took a step forward, tears flowing free. She had to stop this but how?

"I get you're upset, Sam, but you need to get out of this area," Angela said, giving her a stern glare. "Hate me if you want, but I'm your sister and I'm doing what has to be done. So help me god, he ever did anything yo-"

"Why the fuck do you think I'd hurt her?" Alex yelled, his eyes looked glossy. "Why would I ever do something like that? She's the only good thing in my entire fucking life."

"I think that's exactly the reason you're doing it," Angela hissed. "You're a loser, and you know it. She doesn't need you. You can't stand the thought of her moving to the cottage, being with that Samuel guy, and leaving your ass alone, can you?"

Alex was going to the yell, but Angela pulled out her gun. Facing it him, she continued, "and you know she is too damn terrified of your 'frailness' to hit back, so you were just gonna keep her too scared to get away. Cowards like you disgust me."

Alex rolled his eyes, but his fingertips curled tighter on his hoodie. "Wow, you're a cop and a psychologist, too?"

Angela gestured him to get on his knees. Sammie tried to move forward but Melissa held her shoulders. Melissa shook her head, and whispered, "Please don't. It's not safe."

"You don't even know me." Alex yelled, refusing to moved.

"Obviously not," Angela said, her gun still aimed at him, "or I'd have figured out what a piece of shit you are a long time ago. Who knows what else you did to her!"

Alex turned to look at Melissa. "Mel, come on," he said, pleading. "We're friends, aren't we? You know I'm not like that."

"I'm going based off what I'm told," Melissa staring fixedly at Sammie. This was going way too far. Sammie caught herself as she tried to move closer again, chest tight and mind racing.

"Ang, you both have this all wrong. Alex would never do anything to hurt me." Why wasn't she listening?

Still eyeing her, Melissa coughed. "Then who is it? You said there was someone, so it has to be..." She cast a quick glance at Alex then back to Sammie. "Someone."

"Babe?" Alex blinked, realization dawning. Worry and deep hurt dragged over his features. He took a step in her direction. "Is that true?"

Alex looked over to Angela, who's gun was aiming at him, as if he wanted to run to Sammie. Like he wanted to hold her. But couldn't.

"Why didn't you say anything to me?" He said, his eyes looking for something in Sammie's face.

Sammie couldn't look him in the eyes. She couldn't look at anyone. Why? She wanted to say his name, but she couldn't.

Samuel, she thought.

"It's not Alex.." She said.

"Well, 'not Alex' isn't the answer is want." Angela growled. She glared at Sammie, her eye burning. Sammie could almost swear that Angela could make flames, too. "Who is it? Give me a name, Samantha Hale. I want a fucking name."

All three of them stared at her. Samuel, say it, she thought. Sammie's mouth opened, but couldn't make a sound come out. There was only one name she could say. She couldn't say it.

They were in danger. Angela was here. Melissa was here, Alex was here.

She heard the soft laughing behind her, he's here, too.

They were out in the open, along with more than a dozen people who didn't deserve to die..

This had to be a nightmare.

Tears filled her eyes. Her voice deserted her. It took off, leaving her alone.

Angela stared down at her, her mouth a flat line. "Exactly because it isn't anyone else, is it?"

Shaking her head, Sammie took a step back. Straight into Melissa's arms. Her mouth didn't work. Why didn't it work?!

"Sammie," Alex croaked, he was much closer to them now. His eyes pleading Sammie. But she was voiceless. "Babe, please, just tell the truth."

Angela noticed how close he suddenly was. Her eyes seemed to glow, ready to strike him down.

"That's enough from you. In fact," She grabbed Alex, who wasn't fast enough to move away. Putting her gun away, she pulled him with her. The crowd's murmuring grew to a dull roar as she dragged Alex outside.

Alex cried out as he was yanked off balance, kept upright only by Angela's hard grip on his arm. He struggled against her. "Get off me!"

The panic in his voice bypassed every rational thought left in Sammie's head, calling straight to something primitive, something angry and it was ready to answer.

Stay wit....NO!

Sammie held it down, fists clenched hard enough to hurt. That would only make things so, so much worse. Tears ran down her face, she felt Melissa hold her. She wanted to run, both away and to Alex.

"Angela, stop!"

Again, she was ignored. Why didn't anyone listen to her?

"Alex Smith of Misaburn, you're under arrest," Angela said, steely and cold, "for domestic battery, assaulting a officer, threatening a officer, and resisting arrest."

Alex stared up at her, mouth agape. "You can't be serious!" He looked to Sammie. "Samantha!"

What could she say? What could she do? Sammie froze.

Angela turned her attention to Sammie, and read her lack of response in the worst way possible. "It's okay, sissy," she said. "I promised you."

"Sammie...?" Alex stopped trying to twist his arm free, his eyes cutting deep into Sammie. His breathing uneven. "Why won't you...?"

Trembling, he reached his free hand out, as though Sammie would take it and pull him to safety. Just like..

Just like.. that day.

Sammie remembered of a time when they were little kids. Sammie had insisted they go in the forest in the rain to go on a frog hunt, even though she knew he was frail.

She didn't really understand what that meant yet. Frail. She thought it was another word for his features, or something.

He could barely walk through the forest with all his coughing, yet she dragged him along after her. He was grinning, so she figured he was alright.

Once there, she tried to catch a huge brown frog but with no avail. She ended up tripping and falling. Her head hurted, and her eyes was covered in mud.

"I got it!" Alex yelled, trying to run after that very frog. But Alex hadn't noticed the deep ditch and he had fallen into it.

She hadn't noticed that he fell at first. She was stupidly still trying to find the frog that got away. It took some time before she heard his crying.

When his cries rang out, she got really scared that he was lost. She nearly fell in too when she found him. When she finally pulled him out, he was cold and terrified. He had dove into her arms, crying.

His breathing was terrible, and his coughing got worse. She didn't think he was that sick. It was then she promised the only promise she knew she had to keep. Not like the small ones she made to Auntie Mia about not eating cookies.

This one was one she'd keep forever, until she died.

She could still remember how she held him tightly, promising he'd be safe with her. No matter what happened.

"I'll be like your guardian angel!" She beamed.

"I'm sorry," Sammie said, choking on the words that finally found there way to her. Much too late now. How could she have let this happen? Why couldn't she stop it? Why couldn't she think?

Angela headed through the crowd. Alex stumbled along behind her, no longer fighting.

Sammie followed them, still held by Melissa. Watching as Angela opened the back door to her squad car. Alex looked back at Sammie, lost and utterly broken. He let himself be shoved inside, and Angela shut the door after him.

Angela walked back over to where she stood. She laid a hand on Sammie's shoulder. For a moment, she just looked at her little sister, frowning and thoughtful. Angela looked back at Melissa, who was still holding Sammie.

"I need to take him in," Angela said. "Melissa, can you keep an eye on her? If you don't think you're up to it, I'll have to take her with me and have one of the deputies watch her."

Melissa nodded. "Don't worry, I can do it." She took Sammie's limp hand in hers and squeezed.

She didn't squeeze back. Her attention remained fixed on the car, looking at Alex. His head down.

Angela leaned into her line of sight. "Hey," she said. "I know this is hard. I'm sorry it had to go down like this. To be honest, I'm really hurt that you didn't trust me enough to come to me with this. Did you think I was gonna haul off and kill him, or something? I'm not a thug."

Tears still fell down her face. Sammie's face dropped, she let them fall. How could she convince them it wasn't him? Angela place a finger under her chin, lifting it back up.

"Alright," Angela went on. "If you give Melissa any trouble or pull anything while I'm gone, I will place you under protective custody, got it?"

Sammie didn't respond. What was the point of words if they didn't help you in anyway?

"Nod for me if you understand." Angela said.

Sammie nodded, not really listening.

"Good girl. Don't let her out of your sight." She told Melissa.

Melissa nodded. "I won't."

Angela broke up the crowd as she left. Sammie could hear her yelling at them, cutting off questions and shooing everyone home.

Sammie and Melissa were left standing side by side in front of the complex.

Sammie didn't know how long she stayed like that, absent and staring at nothing.

"Alright, let's go in. You look frozen." Melissa pulled her up the stair. Sammie let herself. She had no will. No soul. But yet she had magic..

"Should we run you a bath? You're practically an icicle." Melissa asked, once inside her apartment.

"I don't care." Sammie shook her head. She couldn't feel cold, heat, anything. So this must be how Samuel always feels..

"Fine, then at least I'll make you some tea, or coffee." Melissa had turned to Dr. Turner without Sammie noticing.

It was warm and bright and normal inside the house. Alex was in town jail like an criminal.

"I just want to sleep." She headed to her room, but was stopped by Melissa.

"I'm not supposed to leave you alone."

Sammie shrugged.

Melissa looked up at her, smiling ruefully. "I'm sorry that you had to deal with such a traumatic experience. I'd hoped Angela would have been more subtle. But it's already over, so now you're free."

"You're making a mistake." How many times had she repeated that sentence? What was even the point?

"I thought so too, when we first got here. I didn't think it could possibly be him, he's so funny and I thought he was in lov-" Melissa stopped. "But if it were someone else, you'd say so. You wouldn't just have let this happen if he hadn't done anything."

Sammie said nothing, sitting on the couch. Tears threatening to fall again.

Melissa kept on talking. "I know this is hard. You still love him, but it'll only get better from here," she said, laying her hand on Sammie's arm. "After all, Angela and I will be with you every step of the way, I promise."

"I know what your promises are worth." Sammie said, pulling her arm away. Melissa gave Sammie a look that she had never seen. It was like Dr. Jekyll turning to Mr. Hyde.

"You hurt Angela," she said, her voice quiet but angry. "She was so upset when I got there, she honestly couldn't believe you did her like that on purpose."

Only now did it occur to Sammie how much she must have frightened Angela, doing what she'd done. The last time she'd been rough with Angela it hadn't ended well. And then she'd left her alone, like she didn't even care if her own sister was okay.

"Look, I'm sorry I told her, but she needed to know." Melissa said. This disaster, including everything leading up to it, had been Sammie's own doing. She had failed completely.

If she'd kept a leash on her magic..

If she hadn't panicked with Angela..

If she'd kept quiet at the clinic..

If she'd been smart enough to come up with better cover stories..

If she hadn't let Alex see the burn in her arm..

If she'd been more careful...

"You're not okay. We had to do something. Please, understand that."

Sammie stared up at Melissa's worried face. Sammie felt so close to sparing Samuel the trouble of killing Melissa and taking her out herself.

No.. Stop it.

"I'm going too bed." Sammie stood up.

"I'm not supposed to-"

"Where would I go?" she snapped, glaring up at her. "I'm not going to break him out."

Melissa sighed, debating it internally.

"Fine," She agreed with Sammie, "But I will check in on you."

Sammie nodded, looking her in the eye.

As soon as she was inside her room, Sammie made a beeline for the window.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Sammie was heading into the woods when her phone rang. She frowned at the number on the screen, and answered. "What."

"Where are you?" Melissa asked, her voice shaky.

"None of your business," Sammie said, flat and cold.

"Wait! Samm-"

She hung up, blocked her number and her social media profile.

Not far past the treeline, her phone started ringing again, from Angela's number this time. She didn't bother answering, just blocked it and moved on.

She had to end this now. There had to be a way..

..to do what? Alex was in jail, nothing would help now.

As time passed and she moved deeper into the forest, Sammie glanced at her phone again, noting how little battery was left. The one person she wanted to call her...didn't.

She had to try. She'd regret it if he didn't.

After what felt like endless ringing the call went to voice mail. It was hard to listen to the outgoing message. He was so goofy and happy
He had the same dumb voicemail message since forever. Would she ever hear him that happy again?

Would she ever hear him again at all?

Sammie wasted a few seconds after the beep, working up the nerve to speak. "Alex, I'm sorry, I can't fix this. I didn't mean for any of this to happen believe me, and I'm sure must hate me now."

She took a deep breath.

"Look, I need to go away for a while. Please, please don't do anything stupid. You're safe where you are, so just wait, please." She was babbling; this wouldn't even make any sense but she didn't care. "Alex, I'm so sorry. You didn't deserve this, and I know you didn't do anything wrong. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I love-"

The phone switched off. No more battery. Sammie swung back and threw the phone as far as she could. Listening to the crack of plastic and twigs as it fell through low branches and into the underbrush didn't make her feel any better.

Her magic stirred in her only to die back down.

There was nothing she could do.

It really was over..

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆Samuel's POV☆☆☆☆☆☆

Samuel hadn't laughed that hard in in what felt like forever. Poor Sammie, she was surrounded by idiots. Between Captain Idiot, Dr. Fuck-up, and Clingy-dumbass, she must surely need help. And here he was to assist her.

God, those idiots couldn't figure out what was happening if he himself showed up at their doors with a fucking sign.

Angela and Dr. Turner were so desperate to play the hero that they turned on Alex at the mere suggestion of a reason. Like the monsters they are. It was beautiful.

Watching Sammie unsuccessful help was funny as hell. Her only making it worse was an extra treat. He was trying not to laugh in the crowd, who were all in shock. It was impossible.

It was like a horrible Mexican soap opera, just full of over the top drama. It was hilarious.

And now his favorite was here waiting for him. Perfect.

Samuel sat by Sammie, smiling wide.
She was staring straight ahead.

"Crazy shit, huh?" No response. He stretched up a bit, making his pullover rise up. "What's the plan, hmm? Now that you're out here, what happens?"

"No plan," she said, her brown eyes dull and lifeless. "Just had to...had to..."

"Had to come see me?" Samuel grinned. "Had to come ask for my help? Or maybe," he said, "my forgiveness?"

That cut through some of the shock. Sammie blinked. She eyed him, her face confused.

"What do you mean?" Sammie played dumb so smoothly that Samuel almost bought it. Well, it wasn't exactly a difficult role for her, now was it? She was just as big of an idiot as the rest of them sometimes.

"Oh, I think you know exactly what I mean." Samuel wound his arm around waist, just in case she tried to run. She wouldn't, but still. Principles.

He didn't dare think about how he enjoyed how her skin felt under his fingertips. Soft and warm. Definitely something he could get used to. He felt himself steal her magic. He grinned, looks like he didn't need to wait for her to give him magic. He could just take it.

"You blabbed to that dumbass doctor, didn't you? I thought you looked guilty."

Sammie cringed. "N-no, I didn't, I swear!"

Poor Sammie. Once her composure slipped it was right back to her bumbling old self. His grin widened.

"Now is not the time to lie to me, Samitch," Samuel said, grin firmly in place. "What did you tell her?"

Whatever she had given away must have been quite vague. Dr. Turner was perhaps the one of the few people in the Misaburn who wouldn't immediately assume Sammie had gone insane if she told her the full truth. Melissa was as smart as they come, but just too damn insecure to get anywhere in life.

"I...I honestly didn't say anything," Sammie said, shielding herself with her arms as if it would matter. "I really didn't!"

Gently, Samuel tugged Sammie's wrist, pulling her arms away from her face. "Lying to me again, huh?"

He leaned in closer. His face was right up to hers. Her soft breath was tickling his nose. Cinnamon, he mused, her breath smelled of cinnamon. If it weren't for Samuel's grip on her wrists and hip, Sammie would have toppled over backward off the log trying to lean away. He just ate it up. Her fear was amazing

"I never said anything about you!" She was shaking. "Honestly! Just...she asked...she asked whether someone else were involved, and I did say yes, but that's all! Nothing about you, I promise! I...I had to tell her something, or-"

Samuel burst out laughing for the second time this evening, making Sammie jump at the sudden noise. He let go off her wrist to cup her chin.

"Please," the smaller girl said, half-hysterical. Her brown eyes wide with fear. "She promised she wouldn't tell anyone else. I thought that-"

"Well, I suppose if she promised!" Samuel quelled his laughter, with an effort. God! How stupid can she be?

"Did you make her pinky swear? Or was it a spit swear?" he cooed. "Did she cross her heart?"

What an idiot. All this work, and Sammie still trusted too easily. Once a fool, always a fool. It was her downfall, her fatal flaw. Samuel supposed the saying was true: you really couldn't save people from themselves.

He could feel Sammie shaking in his grip. He held her to him tighter.

"I'll take that as a 'no.' You know, Samitch," he said, "I could get you on a technicality, here. But since it led to the funniest thing I've seen in years, I'm willing to go easy on you this time." He smiled. "Just this once."

The shaking stopped, though not because Sammie had relaxed at this news. Samuel could see her gritting her teeth, bracing herself. Samuel made a face.

"Oh, come on! You act like I enjoy hurting you." He'd gotten sick of that a long time ago, though not for a reason he wished to share. "I'm not going to burn anything. I'm going to give you a test! If you pass, I'll be happy with you and we can forget about your colossal screw-up."

Slowly, Sammie unclenched. "You'll leave Melissa alone?"

"I'm surprised you're so worried about her. It's thanks to her that your roommate's in jail and in so much trouble, isn't it?"

Then again, once someone showed Sammie a hint of acceptance, a hint of affection, there was virtually no limit to what she would tolerate for them. Some part of her would always stay a doormat, it seemed. She was desperate for love, even more so then hi- Enough thinking.

"I can't make any guarantees," he said, shrugging. "That's really up to her. Unless she goes sticking her big nose into our business again, I suppose I'll have to let her be."

His favorite seemed to perk up at that. Sammie nodded, eager to please now that a scrap of hope was being dangled in front of her. She was just his pet, his toy. He supposed she'd do anything for him now.

"Okay," she said, as though this were a deal she could agree to or reject as she pleased.

Samuel smiled brightly. "That's the spirit, sweetheart! The test is very simple. Why, even a child could do it. Ready?"

"Anything you want," Sammie said. Samuel chuckled an thought, wasn't that a dangerous offer to make? Ha.

"Good! We'll worry about it tomorrow, though, huh? You look all worn out."

That was novel, too. Sammie was one of the most energetic people Samuel had ever met, (he suspected she had ADHD) but his toy's batteries had ran out. At several points during these months, Sammie had suffered episodes where she shut down, too overwhelmed to work with.

Interesting. Samuel wondered how long this mental state would last, and whether it would make his favorite toy more receptive to tomorrow's task. Wouldn't that be something? A feat never before accomplished in any of his 'friendships'.

Carrying her bridal style, he carried her to his hiding spot in the old burnt out town. She seems to let herself be manhandled, unresisting.

When he got there, he placed her body on an old mattress. Pulling an old blanket out he covered her. Laying down with her, he wrapped his arm around her waist, gathering the smaller girl close to him.

Sammie laid a hand on his arm which was around her waist. Not scratching or pulling at it, just acknowledging that it was there. Samuel didn't precisely feel a warm glow of satisfaction at that, but he was satisfied nonetheless. Whether it was because she was simply too tired to bother or she actually wanted the contact, Samuel didn't know or care.

Why didn't he care if she touched him? He never tolerated it before...

"There, there," Samuel said, resting his head atop of Sammie's like his own mother used to when she cuddled him after a nightmare.

"What should I do?" Sammie asked, barely above a whisper. She sounded as if she wanted to cry.

Samuel grinned, genuinely. "About what, sweetheart?"

Why hadn't he thought to try this weeks ago? Sammie responded powerfully to affection and reassurance, he knew that. Look at how badly she clung to the others that she got attention from.

He took a moment to lament all the extra progress he might have made. Oh, well. He would remember his mother's tactics for the future.

"About Angela and...and Alex."

Satisfaction curdled into something Samuel couldn't name. Something he didn't want to name.

"Oh." He said. Sammie couldn't see his sour expression, so he didn't try to keep it hidden.

"Well, sweetheart," he said, sweetening his voice, "I don't think there's much you can do. Angela isn't very smart, and now that she's made up her mind about your friend, nothing's going to change it."

Sammie sighed, a heavy sound from such a small body. She shook slightly.

"Is it really so horrible?" Samuel gave Sammie a light squeeze, an approximate hug. "We'll have to be more careful during practice, of course, but no one will ask any more questions! The mystery is solved, as far as Angela and Dr. Turner know, and word will spread to everyone else who only sort of cares about you. They're all safe." He laughed, stopping himself by pressing his mouth to her head. "I guess your roommate isn't completely useless."

A thready whine scraped through clenched teeth, and Sammie tightened her grip on Samuel's arm.

Samuel shushed her. "Oh, Sammie, it's alright. I'm sure he'll be okay. So his life is ruined! I mean, it's not like he was doing a whole lot with it to start with, right? He's not losing much, if you think about it."

God, it was so funny. What a loser! Alex hadn't even tried to defend himself, at the end.

Oh, boo-hoo-hoo, I'm garbage and my love doesn't care for me, might as well give up... It was pitiful. How could she care about a worthless sad-sack like that?

Sammie let out an agonized wail. He hated how she sounded when she cried, though strangely it wasn't because he found it annoying.

Curious, Samuel tugged her closer, and Sammie threw her arms around his chest, burying her face against it as she cried her eyes out. Big, wracking sobs shook her hard enough make him shake, too. A couple minutes in, the hiccups started, right on cue. Biting down on a snigger, Samuel nuzzled the top of Sammie's head in what he calculated to be a comforting manner.

"Shhhh," he hushed, and had to take a second to collect himself before he started laughing again for real. "I'm sure he will be fine. The town jail cells are really nice. They're clean, dry, and warm. There's cots to sleep on and the jailer brings food nearly every day! Your roommate will be right at home down there. He can nap and sit around doing nothing as much as he wants, with no one to nag at him."

Sammie clung on harder, much to Samuel's amusement. He tried not to laugh again.

"You're going to make yourself sick at this rate, sweetheart." He tighten his grip on his favorite, both to be extra-reassuring and to keep her in place. Getting a numb arm was worth it for some hug insurance. He hadn't been hugged in quite a long time, long enough that the act had regained some of its interest.

All the noise aside, this was pretty nice, for some reason. Sammie was being desperately uncool, clinging to Samuel like her life depended on it. Messy sobbing wasn't something a tough monster hunters did, but somehow it wasn't annoying like it should have been. Instead, it was sort of...special. Gratifying. She smelled of dirt and cinnamon, but it was her smell. He felt like won a prize that all those other idiots were losing out on.

So he let her cry, holding her with a strange sense of triumph. He didn't even get impatient when it took nearly an hour for Sammie to calm down. Sammie was asleep when Samuel thought to check again.

Strange. Interesting.

"Maybe you'll be good from now on, huh?" She was breathing in shallow breaths. Still asleep, obviously. The slight motion of her chest breathing against his. It was supposed to be annoying. But he found it didn't matter.

Samuel gave her a squeeze. "You'll make it up to me tomorrow, and then we can move on."

Sammie softly nuzzled her face in his chest, still asleep.

"Unless," He sighed, relaxed, "you want to live out here in the forest with me forever. You're my favorite. Out of everyone down here, I like you best. As long as you do as I say, I'll get you through anything and everything, sweetheart. You'll always have me."

Samuel shifted, rearranging Sammie into a slightly more comfortable position.

Samuel usually didn't sleep, but he also had nowhere to be. Petting his favorite toy with his hand, he chewed over the events of the day, thinking on his next moves.

Samuel sighed. Win some, lose some. He had nothing but time, and increasingly little to fill it with. Besides, this cool toy he had was more important than the game. As long as he had Samantha to play with, he was content, no matter the outcome.

For now, he would do his best to enjoy the ride, maybe even indulge in a bit of recklessness. Maybe leave this town behind, since Sammie had run away she can come with him. He had still much to use her for. Leaving her behind was not an option.

Samuel had no idea what was going to happen next, but he knew it was going to be wonderful.

It was then, in between his thought and her warmth, that he finally fell asleep...