Sam's face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sam made her way into the kitchen fighting the tears that threatened to fall. She

felt like a tight band was closing around her chest. She prepared the ice for

Riley's split lip. When the image of Riley as she'd looked when she first opened

the door filled Sam's mind her tears started flowing. " What have I done?" she cried to herself. " This is all my fault. If I'd just left her alone none of this would've happened." She dried her eyes and splashed cold water on her face before

heading upstairs. She didn't want Riley to know she'd been crying. I need to be

strong for her, she reminded herself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sam stepped into the doorway of the bedroom and stopped in shock. Riley was

standing as if she was frozen in the middle of the room. The place was a mess.

All the drawers were open with clothes hanging out of them. The covers were

pulled off the bed and lying in the floor.

"Riley?" Sam called quietly, not wanting to startle her.

"Why would she do this? What'd she think she was going to find?" Riley cried.

Sam stepped over closer to Riley. "Who? Who did this?"

Riley turned to face Sam. "My aunt. When I came home, my uncle was waiting

for me in the living room. I thought she hadn't come with him. Then she came

down the stairs to join us. She must've been up here... doing this."

Riley looked so lost standing there staring at the wreck of her bedroom. Her

eyes seemed to go dull and vacant.

Sam walked over to the bed and quickly pulled the cover back up and onto the

bed. Riley never moved from her spot in the middle of the room. When she was

done Sam took Riley by the hand and led her over to the bed. Riley just stood

there making no move to sit down.

"Sit down." Sam gently instructed pressing lightly on Riley's shoulders when she

didn't receive a response.

She carefully placed the towel with the ice inside against the side of Riley's face

and lip. She lifted Riley's hand and placed it against the towel urging her to hold

it in place. Sam was starting to get scared by the vacant look in Riley's eyes.

Maybe she should've let Jess come with her. She left Riley sitting on the bed

and went around the room pushing clothes back into drawers. Once she had the

room back into some semblance of order she went back over to Riley.

Kneeling down in front of her, she gently stroked her uninjured cheek. "You okay

Baby?" she inquired softly.

It took several moments but Riley's eyes regained their focus. She looked at

Sam then around the room. "Oh Sam, you didn't have to do that."

"Don't worry about it. How about you get into some PJ's and get ready for bed

then we'll talk."

"Okay," Riley agreed. She opened a drawer and pulled out a tee shirt and pair of

boxers before heading into the bathroom.

Sam once again approached the bed and quickly finished her remake job. She

kicked off her shoes and propped a pillow against the headboard; situating

herself with her long legs stretched out.

She'd just gotten settled when Riley stepped out of the bathroom. Riley's eyes

widened for just a second at seeing Sam in her bed. She made her way across

the room and quickly climbed into the bed on the side opposite Sam. Her

expression was so open and wounded that Sam instantly opened her arms

offering whatever comfort she could. Riley threw herself against Sam's chest

burying her face between Sam's breasts. Sam held Riley tight murmuring

soothing words into her ear as she rubbed her back. Sam spent long moments

holding her. Riley finally relaxed in her arms.

"Want to tell me what happened?" She asked.

Riley took a deep breath before she began. "My uncle was waiting for me when I

got back from lunch with you. I guess they'd left a message on my machine

saying they would be here today but I never checked it. As soon as I walked in

the door, my uncle demanded to know where I'd been. I told him I'd been out

with a friend. He seemed really upset which is strange for him. He never shows

his emotions. He sneeringly asked if it was the same friend that had been

hanging around the hospital. That's when I knew what it was all about. That

bastard Stevens must've called him. I tried to change the subject and avoid the

confrontation. I always knew they'd take finding out I was gay poorly. I guess

that's why I didn't admit it to myself for so long. I wanted them to be proud of

me." Riley started to get choked up then shook her head refusing to cry. "That's

when he told me he wouldn't have his reputation tarnished and be embarrassed

in front of his friends by such deviant behavior and forbid me to see you again.

My aunt threw in her two cents telling me that they knew I wasn't 'that way' and

would get me help."

Sam struggled to keep a hold of her anger knowing there was more to come.

She knew if she lost her temper Riley would never tell her what else had

happened.

"I told them I was gay and the sooner they got used to it the better. I'm 35 years

old and it's time I chose my own path. My uncle was furious. He stormed across

the room and demanded I do what I was told. He said no niece of his was going

to be a queer. It's the first time in my life I've ever stood up to my uncle. My aunt

then proceeded to tell me how ashamed my parents would be of me."

Riley couldn't hold back her tears anymore. The comments about her mother

had truly wounded her.

"Is that when he hit you?"

"No. He told me that my mother manipulated my Dad and that she was just

some white trash slut. He said if my Dad had stayed in LA he'd still be alive."

Riley was sobbing now making it hard to understand her. "I told him my father

loved my mother and had left LA to get away from him. That's when he slapped

me and told me I was the same white trash as my mother and...." Riley was

sobbing so hard Sam couldn't understand her. She cradled her to her chest

trying to calm her. Her words suddenly became clear. "He said I should've died

with her."

Sam was in shock, this man is supposed to be her uncle?" she thought

incredulously. Her temper flared at the pain the bastard had caused Riley.

"Then they left?" Sam questioned praying it was the end of the horrible

encounter.

Riley laughed bitterly. "Oh no, then he told me that I was no niece of his and to

never contact them again. He added not to expect any money from the family

estate. I laughed in his face and told him I didn't want any of his fucking money.

That's when he hit me the second time. I told them to get out before I called the

police and I demanded my condo keys back from my aunt. Then they left."

Sam was torn between guilt and anger. The guilt won out and tears began to trail

down Sam's face. Riley felt Sam's body began to shake and looked up to see

the tears running down her face.

"I'm so sorry, this is all my fault. If I hadn't pressured you into getting involved

with me none of this would've ever happened." Sam tearfully apologized.

Riley was shocked. How could she possible blame herself for this? Riley felt her

anger rise. It was one thing for her uncle to hurt her but now he'd hurt Sam. She

couldn't believe Sam could blame herself for this. She'd set her straight right

now!

Sam took Riley's silence as condemnation. When Riley pulled out of her arms,

Sam's shoulders slumped and her head dropped to her chest, her tears dripping

onto her shirt.

"You listen to me Samantha McKenna!" Riley demanded angrily.

Sam's head popped up at Riley's angry tone. For the first time since she'd

entered the condo, Riley's eyes were full of life and sparking with her anger.

"This is not your fault! I was already dating women before I ever met you. It was

just a matter of time before my uncle found out or I told him. I'm only going to

say this to you one more time! You...didn't... pressure... me... into... anything!

Riley punctuated each of her words with a sharp poke into Sam's chest.

Sam couldn't help it, she grinned helplessly. Riley was just so damn cute when

she was mad. "OK... OK...I get it!" Sam said rubbing her chest where Riley had

repeatedly poked her.

"Good." Riley exclaimed as she settled back into Sam's arms.

Neither woman spoke for some time they just savored the feeling of safety and

comfort offered by the other woman. As the tension of the night finally caught up

with Riley, she yawned widely wincing at the pulling on her split lip. Sam

caressed Riley's hair as she yawned again.

"Maybe I should go. You need to get some sleep."

Riley tightened her hold on Sam. "Please don't go. I don't want to be alone."

Riley pleaded.

Sam slid further down into the bed drawing Riley closer to her. "I'll stay 'til you

fall asleep then I'll crash on your couch...okay?"

Riley pressed against Sam's side and looked up into her eyes. Her lower lip

stuck out in a pout. "No, stay here... in my bed with me." Riley could read the

hesitation on Sam's face. "Please," she added.

Sam couldn't resist the plea in Riley's voice. "Sure Baby, whatever you need."

Riley hugged Sam tight.

"I'm not sure I have anything that would fit you."

"That's alright; I'm fine like I am."

"You can't sleep like that Honey. Let me see what I can find." Riley said climbing out of bed over Sam's protests.

She rummaged around in several drawers before coming up with an oversized

tee shirt. She held it up to herself and it came down to her knees. She pressed

the shirt into Sam's hands. Sam had learned to recognize that particular

stubborn look on Riley's face and knew there was no sense in protesting further.

She headed for the bathroom to change. Riley followed her pointing out where

the towels were and getting her a spare toothbrush. Once Riley was gone Sam

set about getting ready for bed. She stripped down to her bra and boxers.

Changing her mind, she removed her bra before slipping the shirt over her head.

It fit more like a tee shirt on her. It was slightly tight across the shoulders and

chest and did nothing to hide the outline of her breasts. The shirt that had gone

to Riley's knee's barely made it to the top of her thighs and her boxers stuck out

from under the shirt. Shrugging her shoulders she made her way back into the

bedroom.

Riley had turned off the overhead light leaving just the bedside light burning.

She'd removed the comforter leaving a sheet and light blanket on the bed. She

pulled back the covers invitingly when Sam approached. Sam swallowed hard

still not convinced this was a good idea. Buck up McKenna, she chastised

herself, look at her she needs you. She slipped into the bed and settled on her

back. Riley turned off the light. Even though the bed was a queen, there wasn't a

lot of space between them. Sam wasn't a small woman like Riley. Sam glanced

over at Riley. She could just make out her face in the moonlight coming in from

the open drapes. Her eyes were open and she appeared to be staring at the

ceiling.

"Come here Riley." Sam said lifting her arm up.

Riley didn't have to be told twice. She immediately came into Sam's arms resting

her head on her shoulder. Sam's arms came around Riley.

"Good night Riley." Sam whispered softly.

"Night Sam. Thank you for staying." Riley said sighing quietly.

She pressed the length of her body against Sam's side. It wasn't long before

Sam felt Riley relax and her breathing even out. Sam lay for a long time enjoying

the feel of Riley in her arms. She too eventually drifted off to sleep.