Chapter 4

In a half-awake state, I felt the bed sink next to me and some cling close to me, "Rosy," I muttered as I turned my body

"I'm scared," a kid's voice answered as my eyes shot open to see Bri cuddled against me and Ben standing at the other side of the bed. "There are noises downstairs but I'm too scared to see who it is," he whispered as a crash sounded throughout the house

"Take your sister and go wake up your parents," I began as I looked around the room feeling the ring press against the scar over my heart. "I'll go see what it is, just make sure they call the police," I whispered, handing Bri off to him. "Everything will be okay, trust me," I added as he hesitated in taking his younger sister, "please work with me, Ben."

He hardened his face into a grim look and nodded taking Bri into his arms and creeping out of the room. "Please don't get hurt Sammy," he said before disappearing

"I don't plan on it," I said with a sigh as I got out of the bed, "Rose, I hope you're with me for this," I muttered as I grabbed a bat that was under the bed. I crept down the staircase as more crashes sounded, eventually I heard the sounds of Renée and Alexis getting up but by that time I had already pinpointed the intruder

"Where is that girl," one of the voices said as a plate smashed to the ground, "the boss needs her because she knows too much."

"I don't know but one thing's for sure she's not in the cabinets of this house just like Miranda's," a more masculine voice answered as another plate hit the ground with a crash. "At least that little girl was fun to play with," he added as my courage built covering my fear

I crouched behind the counter to where the woman was standing going through Renée's cupboards. "I think you successfully found her," I whispered as I used the bat to knock her off her feet and knock her unconscious. "Now where's your partner,�� I asked myself as I heard footsteps creeping around the wall. "He's going to pay for hurting my only memory of Rose," I added as I headed to the side of the wall to hide

"What the," the male voice began but was interrupted by me swinging the bat into his face. He crumbled to the ground just as I heard Renée and Alexis hurry down the stairs and into the kitchen turning on the lights

I held up a finger as I listened, "I think that's both of them unless someone wants me to look downstairs," I said as I kicked the man's head.

Just as Alexis was about to answer there was a thump from below us, "Please," he asked as I smirked and Renée glared at him, "what she knows these people better than we do."

Renée sighed as I rounded the corner to the basement door that could've been mistaken for another closet. As I got there I heard footsteps approach the door before it slowly opened. I turned around to the opposite side of the door the more it opened before pushing it closed causing the person behind it to fall down the stairs. "I sincerely hope I didn't kill him," I muttered as I opened the door to look, much to my dismay, the person had disappeared from the bottom of the staircase looking for another way out. But to my unfortunate luck, this person had left a trail of blood, "They're at least injured," I muttered as I scaled down the stairs looking underneath the wall in case the person shot at my foot. Even though I could balance better than Rose, I'd prefer not to fight for my life on one foot. Once I made it down the stairs I stepped on something hard momentarily losing my balance before grabbing the railing to stable myself. I turned on the lights to look around me before looking at what caused me to almost fall on my ass. At my feet was the intruder's gun covered in something sticky that wasn't blood. "Come out here and face me for real if you're hiding," I yelled as I looked at the trail that led off to my left and into a workroom but the light switch on my right didn't work which led to a reclining area full of toys for Ben and Bri. "Come out of hiding and face me," I growled as I held onto the bat with both hands. Where I stood the assailant couldn't grab his gun without coming in front of me and getting hit in the back with a metal baseball bat.

"Always stood your ground haven't you Samantha," a voice said in the darkness where I had originally thought he was hiding

"When my life is on the line," I began as I looked towards the darkness, "Yes I am. Who are you and what do you want from me," I asked as I readied my bat, "before you order me to do anything, may I remind you two things: the first being I'm not a member anymore and the second I am not moving from this spot for any reason."

"Why do you have to make this just as hard as your boyfriend," the voice asked me as the man's face flashed in the forefront of my mind. "If you remember my voice then you'd know that I was the one who killed your dear boyfriend. I was also the one who sent out the orders to kill your girlfriend but it was accepted by the Williams with more appreciation than I thought of them."

Anger boiled up into my chest as I digested what this man was saying, "I don't care what you have to say to get me off of this perch Matthews," I began as the name finally came to me. "Show your face so I can smash it in as I did with the last two people you brought with you, you'll regret hurting Rose and the Mirandas and you'll regret ever coming after me."

"Brave words coming from someone who stayed in her room after she killed her first two victims," he said with a chuckle as I heard footsteps coming behind me. "You do remember what bosses carry double of when on duty, do you not," he asked as I swallowed. "You'll take your position as the rightful boss of this gang or you'll die as well as the people in this house."

"What keeps your goons from hurting them," I asked, "what keeps you guys from killing me as you did with Nick? Even though I have long forgotten about him doesn't mean I don't forget about the fact that I almost died with him. I never wanted to be a part of this. He was the reason why I was even a part of it and I tried to get him away from it but you killed him before my next attempt."

"You wanna know why he died," Matthews asked as a smile curled on his lips once he appeared in the light holding a pistol that aimed right at my head. "The gang members aren't the only people who have to go through with loyalty checks, he failed his so he had to die."

"Who was his target," I growled as I took a tentative step towards the new boss

"Why it was you, my dear," he said with a smirk as he lowered his weapon, "We'll be sure to excuse your check for a month if you decide to join us once more."

He didn't get to say anything else because the next thing I knew a bullet appeared between his eyes as pain came from my gut. I pressed my hand against it to feel the familiar feeling of pain and the sticky sensation of blood on my hand. I turned to see an officer pointing his weapon at me, "Don't shoot," I said with small breaths as I dropped the bat, "I'm injured."

"Shit," the officer cursed as he rushed down the stairs, catching me before I fell into the jelly that was soon mixed with Matthews's blood. I looked at my gut to notice that I wasn't bleeding. "Ma'am you lied to me," the officer said glaring at me

"I thought I was shot instead of punched with the hand that had jelly on it," I began as I inspected it. "I apologize, officer," I added as I made my way up the stairs before him. "I will not attack you, officer, please take my word for it," I said as the man sighed before following close behind me

"What about the two unconscious people in the kitchen," he asked as I sighed

"I only knocked them out," I began, "could you please send a cruiser to check on the Mirandas, one of them said that they had fun playing with the little girl there."

"How can I take your word for it," the officer asked as we made it into the entryway of the house. "You could've accepted the offer that kid was offering you," he added as I sighed rolling my eyes

"My name is Samantha Miranda," I began, "I am the adopted daughter of Lin Manuel Miranda and Vanessa Miranda. I am also the current caretaker of Rachel Stevens-Miranda who was also adopted by Mr. Miranda after the death of her mother. Do you honestly think I would ask to send a cruiser to their house if I wanted to spread out your force? And do you honestly think that I'd rejoin a gang that admittedly organized the death of my girlfriend and my parents?"

The man paled as I turned to look him in the face, my irritation finally visible after minutes of hiding it. "I'm sorry miss Miranda," he said before speaking into his walkie talkie issuing orders to get a cruiser to Lin's house as the fear settled into my stomach.

"Can we check the theater," I asked Renée who arched an eyebrow, "Rose and I received our gifts from there, hers was more of a gift while mine was more of a death threat from them. If they looked both here and at Lin's they may have looked for me there," I explained as she nodded

"We can do that," Renée answered before turning to the officer, "is it okay if Samantha and I check Richard Rogers before we give all of you an explanation? I'd rather go with her because she's the person who knows these people the best and she can better defend herself."

The officer sighed as one more officer came in, "Yes, but my partner will be following you to make sure nothing happens."

The woman nodded in his direction as her partner checked the pulse of the man that I had knocked out. "Could you at least get another shirt on, I don't want to see that and think that you got shot again," Renée asked as I smiled nodding before I ran up the room to get one of Rose's shirts that fit me a little better than the one I was currently wearing. Before I put it on I looked at my stomach to notice a bruise was already forming where Matthews had punched me.

"Well that's gonna hurt after a while," I muttered to myself as I slid the shirt on over my head and ran back downstairs meeting Renée in the garage seeing that she also had an outfit change. "I'm ready to go," I said as I slid on a pair of Crocs that Lin had gotten me to make me feel better from Rose's death and also to replace the ones that were gone after the gang burned down the house that I used to live in

"Let's go then," Renée said after she hung up the call, "I just filled Pippa in with everything that happened. She said that some sounds were coming from downstairs but she was afraid to check it out by the time I called."

"Did she call the police," I asked as Renée nodded

"You handled them very well," Renée said as I sighed, "I understand if you're scared for us right now but I thank you for doing that. You didn't have to," she added as I smiled

"I don't want anyone else getting hurt because of me," I began, "If there is someone in Pippa's house I don't want her to get hurt. I should check to see if I still have any trackers on me or else they wouldn't know where Pippa lived."

At this point, we were in the car and driving to the theater with the woman's cruiser tailing us. "Look," Renée began, "you're standing up for yourself and being open about all that's happened in case we are in danger. If it wasn't for you opening up to us then we wouldn't have expected this and you would've been in a lot more trouble."

"But they were the cause of Rose's death," I began, "they were trying to get to me by killing the one I loved thus killing one of your adopted daughters," I paused as everything made sense. "Every attempt on Rose's life that happened ever since you brought her to that school and she met me was because of me."

"How would you know that, dear," Renée asked as we pulled over to the side of the road

"I had feelings for Rose when I first met her," I began, "I vocalized that to the one friend that I had throughout the gang and I'm guessing she told Matthews which sent him after her. They knew where to look because of her," I explained as Renée nodded

"We can tell the officers that after you are done checking the theater," Renée began just as someone tapped on her window. "Yes ma'am," Renée began as she rolled down her window

The officer smiled, "Would you appreciate it if I came in with Miss Miranda to investigate the area?"

Renée looked at me as I nodded, "I would greatly appreciate it so you can cover behind me," I said as I unbuckled my seatbelt. "I don't have any ranged weapons to defend myself with, can I at least have your taser?"

The woman hesitated before nodding and handing me the device, "This is the button to activate it and this is the one to shoot it. Be sure to have it an arm's length away from you before you shoot it," she instructed and I nodded, "if you aim it at me I will shoot you."

"I'd rather not have any other gunshots to add to the list of pain that I've had to endure, officer," I said before turning to Renée. "Would you mind unlocking the door for us," I asked as she nodded getting out of the car at the same time as me

"Do you think I'd honestly want that place to be damaged," she asked with a smile as she approached the stage door. "Lin granted only lead actors and actresses keys to the door in emergencies such as this."

"It's a good thing he did," I said as she opened the door, "I certainly hope they're okay over there," I muttered before stepping into the dark theater. "No lights officer, just stick behind me and you'll be fine, we don't want to let anyone know that we're here," I said to the officer behind me as I heard her getting ready to turn her flashlight on

"If you say so Miss Miranda," she muttered as she settled with her gun, "just don't turn on me."

I sighed, "I have a lot of explaining to do with you guys," I muttered as I slowly climbed the stairs to the dressing rooms. Luckily the crocs that I wore didn't make any sound as I crept down the hall looking into every room that had a door still open or a light still on. "Why do some of these people leave their doors open," I muttered as I went back down the hall to check the floor that had the dressing rooms for the female cast members

"Maybe they were in a hurry to go somewhere," the officer muttered as she scaled the staircase behind me. "Where are we going now," she asked me as I stepped into the hallway

"This floor is where the female cast members changed, it's also where I stayed before Lin prepared my room," I whispered then held a finger to my lips as a sound came to my ears at the far end of the hallway where my former bedroom was. With a nod, the officer motioned for me to walk down the hallway, I could hear her checking each room as we passed it, even taking a minute to look in the sister's room. As I got closer to the door I heard talking coming from the room as things were being tossed around. "Please follow my lead ma'am," I began in a whisper, "they tend to hold themselves higher than any other police officer. They may take a minute to realize that I'm not their new boss," I added as the officer's brow furrowed. "I'll explain later," I said as she shook her head

"Not that," she whispered, handing me the gun, "lure them under a false sense of security. If they think you're the boss then they won't attack you, I trust that you know how to use this to defend yourself just do what you have to. I have a body camera on me to see everything that happens."

I smiled, "Thank you, officer," I began, "handcuffs please and forgive me for this beforehand," she nodded as she handed me the cuffs as I put the gun in the waistband of the sweatpants being sure to hastily cover it with my shirt to make it seem like I just disarmed her from behind. I took my leg and swiped it at hers knocking her on the floor with a loud thud. "Stop struggling officer, this'll be quick and easy if you go along with everything I do and say," I said in a rough voice I haven't used in a long time. "Go through the door," I said after I had picked her up off the ground

"What the hell is that," a male voice said as I pushed the officer through the door, "who's there?"

In the time it took me to push the officer onto her feet and through the door I had put the taser in one of the sweatpants' pockets and pulled out the gun to point it at her back. "You really have to think of a better plan to get your new boss instead of breaking into Broadway celebrity's houses to look for me."

As I was saying this I had kicked at the officer's knee so she was kneeling in front of me. "How can we trust you," Stacy asked as she aimed her weapon at me and I slowly reached into my pocket

Where I stood blocked my right pocket where I had put the taser, with the dresser and the officer was the right height to cover any vantage points of my pocket. "How can you trust me," I repeated, "after I brought you one of the officers who took down the last leader and I survived the bullet that killed Nick and lodged itself in my breastbone. I think my question is how I can trust you after your group sent the orders to kill my girlfriend and family," I finished as I pressed the button to turn on the taser

The man lowered his weapon, "If you're on our side then kill that officer," he said nodding to the woman in front of me as Stacy agreed

Stacy was one of the people who were in the gang with me and understood why I left but I didn't understand why she stayed. "Why," I began, "Matthews told me before he died that loyalty checks weren't necessary for new leaders within a month."

"Yes, but you had already ran from us before," the man began, he must've been new. "You could turn on us just as you did with Nick when you ran from his death to your home."

"I was getting patched up because you didn't check the area well enough to see if anyone else was there," I began. "From what I hear there were cops in the whole area after you shot him and that's not normal for a gang who's usually secret. Now you're targeting Lin's family, Renée's family, who you had already targeted by killing Rose, and now you're targeting Phillipa Soo's family? What's next, are you going to take down the whole cast of Hamilton," I asked as the man smirked

"If it comes to that," he said, "now the change of rules states that you need to kill that officer after you ran from us the first time."

I sighed as I readied the gun pointing it at the officer's head just as the man aimed his gun as me and Stacy's had been at her side the whole time. I sighed as I prepared myself to pull the trigger before I did so however I aimed the weapon right at the man shooting him in the chest. "Always hated killing people," I muttered as I aimed the taser at Stacy. "If you don't want to be tased Stacy then put the gun on the bed," I said, "I frankly don't know why you decided to stay."

Stacy chuckled just as the officer stood and she threw her gun on the bed, "Finding the right time," she began, "and you gave it to me, thanks, Sammy."

I smiled as I turned off the taser and returned both of them to the officer, "No problem," I said to Stacy then looked at the officer. "Sorry to give you such a scare ma'am," I began, "I was formerly a part of that gang and my father was a doctor for the gang. Nick was my boyfriend when I was in the gang and he was the gang boss, I understand if you want to take me into custody for shooting him as well as the two other citizens that I had killed during my time there."

The woman's eyes widened as I turned the safety of the gun off before spinning it in my hand and handing it to her with the butt pointing in her direction. "Now it's my turn to ask how can I trust you," she said as I chuckled, "you could've easily turned my brains to mush with this thing but you killed him instead."

I chuckled, "That gang likes to kill people for sport," I began, "I don't appreciate killing people even when I have a reason to. I'd prefer to talk things out if possible," I explained, "I was running from the gang because I thought they wanted to kill me while in reality, the kid that your partner killed was the new boss after my boyfriend died due to a loyalty test and that target was me. They wanted me to be their new boss and I am still declining to join, if it wasn't for your partner I would've been dead at the Goldsberry house."

"Is that where you got this idea from," she asked as she picked up her handcuffs off the ground after holstering her gun, "how can I trust this one?"

I sighed as I sat on the bed, an arms width within Stacy's gun, "She is a normal gang member and they only have one firearm on them unlike the ones in the hierarchy."

"You know her," the officer asked and I nodded, "how?"

"She and I were friends who had frequently discussed leaving the gang," I began, "she was the one who was trying to talk me out of getting Nick to leave with me but I didn't listen which caused me to almost lose my life.��

"Can I see how it almost caused you to lose your life," the officer asked as I looked at the dead body and noticed that I shot him where Nick was shot

"That's if you're okay with seeing me without a bra on ma'am," I began, "there are two bullet wounds on my body there is one on my stomach from the shooting at the school a few months back and then there's the one that almost killed me."

"I don't mind," the officer said as I looked at Stacy who nodded before looking up at the ceiling

I rolled up my shirt and showed her the scar, "The bullet was fired at point-blank range at Nick's chest traveling a few feet before lodging itself into my breast bone. I cauterized it with a piece of metal before I hurried home where my father disinfected it and patched it up."

The officer nodded as she looked at the scar before shaking her head, "Would you mind if I touched it to make sure it's real?"

"Not at all," I said and drew my breath as I felt her hand on the scar in between my breasts. "Your hand is ice cold ma'am," I began, "usually when someone has adrenaline their body heats up, yours must be the opposite."

"I don't think you have a right to complain, Sams," a familiar voice said, "you are the same way."

I furrowed my brow at the voice just as Stacy snickered and the officer drew her gun. "There is no need for you to shoot ma'am," Stacy began as the officer aimed the weapon towards the closet, "she doesn't mean any harm only to surprise people."

"But she's supposed to be dead," the officer said as I dropped my shirt and stood up from the bed. "The doctors told me; I was the one to help Sammy get her to safety after the beating."

"Believe it or not ma'am there are some gangs that try to help people rather than hurt them," Stacy said nonchalantly as I balled up my fists

"But what about me," I asked as the tears rolled down my cheeks, "I cried for a whole month missing you and you never came back until now. How did you even get here," I asked as I spun around to see the woman that I missed the most, "when were you gonna come up to show yourself alive and well Rose?"

Her lips thinned into a line as she thought of what to say, her blonde hair was in a buzz cut making the scar from the crack in her skull visible. "I'm sorry Sammy," she began as she limped into the room only being helped with a cane. "I wanted to come to you guys as soon as I could but they were keeping me from coming. They were saying something on the lines of 'I was a target,'" she paused as she thought about it then looked at Stacy, "did I get that right?"

Stacy chuckled, "Yes you did get that right," she began, "have a seat you two and I'll explain."

"Should we at least get Renée out of her car, I'm sure she heard the gunshot and you probably need to report what has happened here," I said now a little calmer than before. "Besides, I think I remember a thing or two about the both of you not liking the fact that you have to explain things multiple times."

Stacy smiled as Rose nodded leaning on the cane while the officer sighed putting the gun in her holster once more. "Fine," she began, "you get Mrs. Goldsberry while I call in people to get the body out and clean up everything. I will not arrest you but don't be surprised if you're called into the precinct for something like this."

I nodded as I calmed down with a few deep breaths, "Stacy," I began as she looked at me, "take Rose and put her on the couch in the Schuyler Sisters dressing room next door, you can bet your money that I'll be sitting next to her during your explanation."

Stacy nodded, "You got it," she said then looked at the officer, "you can take my gun I will not be needing it anymore. Come on Rose, you need to get off your feet and rest before someone threatens you," she said making my long-missed girlfriend smile

"In that explanation, I expect to hear how to take care of her," I said before turning to the officer. "I expect nothing less considering they were looking for me and broke into multiple buildings that I have been in, now if you excuse me I have to calm Renée down along with surprising her with the fact that her adopted daughter is very much alive opposed to what we thought a month ago."

The officer nodded as she turned to her radio and spoke into it before telling me to go with a wave of her hand. I sped down the hall making sure to turn the lights on before I stepped out seeing the bright sun and sighing. I tapped on the window of the car Renée was in and she cracked it open, "Is everything okay, I heard a gunshot," she asked as I smiled

"Yes, everything's okay," I began, "that gunshot was from me but I'll explain it later, come inside so you can rest somewhere more comfortable and see an old face."

"What do you mean by that Samantha," she asked raising an eyebrow as she stepped out of the car and followed me into the theater

"Just before you say anything I'm just as shocked as you will be," I said as I led her into her dressing room. "Don't go in there right now unless you wanna see a dead body," I added absentmindedly

"You killed someone," Renée asked stunned

"Self-defense," I began as the officer came out of the room

"This girl needs either an Oscar or a Tony for what she did along with her planning," she said before walking away and I blushed

"What did you do," Renée asked as I smiled

"What that kid was telling me before the officer at your house shot him was that they are looking for me to become their new boss," I began as I got closer to the door. "I acted the part up until the man asked me to shoot the officer, I had the taser and the gun. That officer was on her knees with the cuffs on loosely, I held the gun to her head about to pull the trigger but at the last minute I moved my arm to aim at the man who was aiming at me and shot him in the chest."

Renée nodded as I opened the door to her dressing room, "What in god's name," Renée said once she saw Rose smiling

"Hey mom," she said as I walked over to the couch, punched her in the shoulder before climbing on the couch and burying my face into her stomach

"You can explain now Stacy," I said as I soaked up the comfort that I missed for so long and felt the tears of happiness seep out of my eyes and her hand brushing my hair

Stacy chuckled before sighing, "If you would like to take a seat Mrs. Goldsberry I'd be happy to explain how your adopted daughter is alive."

I glanced up to see Renée still standing at the doorway with her jaw open, "I'm as real as you are mom, I'm not going away," Rose said as I tightened my hold on her waist. "Same goes for you Sams," she said as I kept ahold of her

Soon, Renée sat in a chair closer to the couch before I finally pushed myself off of her, "You can give her a hug," I began. "I believe you want to hug her or punch her as much as I do."

Suddenly Renée let out a cry before lunging at her daughter and hugging her, "You're back," she cried as she hugged Rose. "I can't believe it," she added as Rose returned the hug before looking at me

I smiled as I felt the emotions of happiness take over me, I fought the urge to lunge at my long lost girlfriend until she said something, "You can join Sams," she began. "You're as much as my family as Renée is," she finished as I smiled before lunging at her just as Renée did moments ago with the same cry of happiness. "I'm glad to be home," she said as I wrapped my arms around her

Stacy cleared her throat, "I'm pretty sure you two would like to hear my explanation as soon as possible so you can get some rest after a busy day."

That made Renée step away from her daughter, "You're right," she began, "I would love to know why we were told she was dead when she was very much alive the whole time."

"I'm not leaving her side though," I said which made the mother laugh

"I would not blame you for that Sammy," my old friend said before she launched into the story. "There's this gang whose only goal is to maintain the peace as much as possible. They want to help people as much as they can, they're mostly comprised of doctors, peacemakers, abused foster kids, or former gang members who were dragged into this as you were Sammy. I was their spy up until I defected from the gang, I had word that Rose was going to be attacked so I arranged a group of people to help get her out of the hospital while her friend was asleep and so was she. Where we put her was more secure where anybody could stay including you," she paused long enough for me to digest everything. "You can learn at the same pace as you did in school and keep a whole family there."

"Is my family there," I asked her as I turned my head to look at her

"Sadly no," she began, "it was too late to save them, unfortunately, I was unable to save your younger brother as well. But many of his colleagues are there hoping you'll come for safety."

I looked up at Rose who smiled, "Is that why I haven't heard much from Cassie and Mar?"

"Is that your nickname for Maria," Rose asked as I nodded, "yes that is why you haven't heard much from them since my fake death."

"How many people can stay there," Renée asked, "I want to make sure the cast is safe from anyone's digging."

"The whole cast and your families can stay there for as long as you desire, you can still run your shows while staying here once everything is cleaned up," Stacy answered. "Would you like everyone to be moved here even with the injuries that the Mirandas have sustained?"

"How injured are they," I asked bolting up from Rose's side, "I heard one of them talking about having fun with Rachel and I almost snapped."

"She's okay you two," Stacy began as I looked behind me to see Rose's face full of anger. "She's currently looking for the person who had recently replaced her mother as a place for comfort. The family is already at the safe house for us as well as the Goldsberry family and Phillipa herself."

"Are the police officers who helped us a part of this," I asked as she nodded just as a knock sounded on the door. "Come in," I said just as the door was opened

"Would you four like a ride there so we know that no one is following you," the officer from earlier asked

"That's why you didn't ask me to tase her," I said as she smiled, "That would be very much appreciated."

"Okay then," she began, "Let's go so all of you can get some rest and comfort a little one so she can sleep peacefully."

"You were a mother to my daughter," Rose asked as she stood up from the couch to follow the officer

I shrugged, "It was a combined effort for Vanessa and me," I began as she slung an arm around my shoulders. "Besides, what else would I do with the only living memory of you?"

Rose chuckled, "I'm glad you continued to live after the news."

"That letter broke my heart though," I said as I felt the ring on my chest, "why did you have to write something so heartbreaking?"

"I wanted to explain everything that was happening was normal," she began as we walked down the hall. "I didn't want you to die in any case because you were still living for a reason, do you still have the ring?"

With my free hand, I pulled out the two necklaces that sat at my heart, "The two things with memories of you would always stay by my heart. I wouldn't get rid of anything that I connected to you."

"I can see that you have saved some of my clothes," she said with a chuckle

"I just raided your closet," I began then explained to her how the whole event began up until we ended up at the safehouse

"I'm glad Bri and Ben went to you for help and you knew what to do," Renée said as we pulled into an underground garage. "I was wondering why they were saying you told them to get us until I heard the sound of plates crashing."

I smiled, "I wanted to make sure they were safe before I inspected the noises," I said as the car pulled into a brightly lit parking space. "The best way to know whether or not kids are safe is to send them to their parents in a time of emergency."

"That's some good thinking Samantha," the officer said, "by the way, you can call me Beth since I'm probably going to be the officer you talk to during most of this."

"Pleasure to meet you, Beth," I began with a nod as I got out of the cruiser behind Rose. "Thank you for working with me on that," I added as she chuckled

"Thank you for have such a great idea and not turning on me," she said as I smiled

"I wish I could've gotten away with tasing him though," I muttered as I looked around the area. "Very secretive," I said as I looked at the cavern walls that held a close resemblance to a parking garage

"We like to keep it that way so no one can easily find us," Stacy said as we went through a doorway. Alarms went off when Renée and I went through it and guards stood in front of us.

"They're newcomers, let them through so they can get accustomed to this," Rose said with a chuckle. "One of them is my girlfriend while the other is my mother," she added which made the guards part

"Since when did guards take orders from you," I asked as I wove my arm back around her waist

"Everyone here can order the guards around especially if they're bringing new people here," Stacy answered for her as Rose pulled me closer to her with her arm around my shoulders. "She really missed you when she first came here and woke up, her first instinct was to find you."

I chuckled, "Glad I wasn't the only one looking for her partner every time she woke up," I said as I welcomed the clinginess coming from her

"Well you two can calm down Rachel but then your both getting some rest since today was a busy day and I'm pretty sure she's still healing and some doctors will be up her ass for being up and about," Renée said as I chuckled

"They approved this," Rose said with a grin, "they said that it'd help with my physical therapy to move around a lot. I'm not going to rip any stitches out because of this, the most I'll be feeling is exhaustion because I haven't moved in a while."

Renée opened her mouth then closed then opened it again, "Okay," she said, "just looking out for you because I don't want to lose you again. You're spending time with us, tomorrow missy."

I chuckled as I remembered something, "We were supposed to go with Phillipa Soo to get a little girl from Graham Windham, is that going to be delayed by chance?"

Beth shook her head, "I had gotten word that they were going to do this kind of thing earlier in the day so I had gotten permission from the mother to be, to take Amy Wisp here. Every child in the Hamilton family whose house was invaded is here," she finished and I smiled. "Her and Rachel will be in the same room, Amy began complaining about how Rachel was freaking out about everything."

I looked at Rose, "You take care of Amy before surprising your daughter," I began, "Rachel is looking for me and I don't know what Amy has been through."

"You got it, Sams," Rose said with a chuckle as she led the way to a building, "this is where most of the younger kids are kept."

I nodded as we went inside soon finding the room that the two children were, we could tell by Rachel's cries coming from it. "Hey there little one, I'm here," I said as I gently picked the crying form of Rachel Stevens

"Why did their poking hurt Sammy," she began as she wrapped her arms around my neck and started crying. "They spoke of looking for you and killing mommy," she finished as I rubbed her back sitting in a chair next to her bed so I could see Rose singing Amy to sleep

"I know," I began, "they found me but grandma helped me take care of it," I said as I looked up at the mother who was looking at me. "Do wanna see somebody that most of the cast don't know is here yet," I asked as I stood up nodding to the seat I was in momentarily. "Are you ready to let go of me," I asked as she gripped onto my neck, ���don't worry, you'll meet your roommate tomorrow."

"I'm scared," her small voice said into my neck as I felt her tears, "I didn't want to lose you like I lost mommy."

"I'm scared too," I began, "but you'll find comfort in this person just as you found comfort in mommy," I paused as I looked at Rose who had nodded. "Are you ready," I asked once more and the little face nodded in my neck. "Here you go," I said before sitting the child in her mother's lap before looking at the bed that Amy was now sleeping in

"Hello little one," Rose began, "I see that you've missed me."

I smiled just as Rachel cheered, "Mommy."

Rose chuckled as I watched the little arms wrap around her neck, "Has Sams been treating you well?"

"Yes," Rachel began as she hugged her mother that she almost lost for the second time in her life. "Sammy told me stories about how you stood up to two shooters while she was shot in a classroom."

"What brought up that conversation," Rose asked looking at me as I stretched and yawned signaling how some of my shirts ride up on me

"There's a scar on her tummy that I asked about and she told me how brave you were," Rachel said as I came up and leaned on the wall next to her

"You wanna hear something, Rachel," Rose asked as the little head lifted itself off of the young mother's shoulders. "I'm not the only one who's brave enough to fight big baddies," she paused as I smiled, "Sammy just fought off the big baddies that were looking for her without a sweat."

"But she said that she was scared," Rachel said looking at me as I smiled

"I was scared little one," I said as I crouched too, "but just like mommy here I found the courage to fight back and win."

"I wanna know how you fought back," she said bouncing on her mother in excitement

"How about I tell you in the morning," I said with a yawn, "you're not the only one who needs their sleep."

Silence drifted between the three of us as Rachel pouted before letting out a big yawn and rubbing her eyes. "Okay," she began, "could you sing to me though?"

I smiled as I took the child from Rose's arms and she stood up, "How about we both sing to you?"

Rachel nodded as I pulled the covers over her body as I started singing with Rose following. "Sleep well you two," Rose said as I looked at Amy who had turned around in her sleep, "I look forward to meeting you but please sleep."

The small eyes snapped open in shock, "You knew that I was awake," Amy asked as she propped herself up in her bed

"You're not the only one who has faked sleep in this room," I began as I crouched to her bed. "Get some sleep, you'll meet your family in the morning, I'll say for one thing it's a big and caring family so rest easy little one."

In a huff, Amy dropped onto her bed and turned to face the wall, her breathing steading so I knew that she was asleep. "How do you take care of kids so well," Rose asked as I gently closed the door

I smiled, "When you stay with a family that houses two little kids you learn a thing or two," I said with a smile

"What's the story on Amy," Rose asked as we walked across the town like area

"Amy is four years old," I began as I tried to recall what Pippa told me, "she never had a family and has been at Graham Windham her whole life. Pippa fell in love with her when she, Renée, and Jazzy went for a surprise visit for the kids. Amy thought they were only there for the publicity and not to adopt a kid and Pippa wanted to prove her wrong by adopting her because Amy reminds her of a younger version of herself."

Rose nodded as we walked to a bigger building that looked like a dorm or an apartment complex. "What's this that I hear about you telling stories about me," she then asked after swiping into the building with a card as she leaned on me still favoring her leg

I smiled, "Rachel asked me after she noticed the scar on my stomach from the shooting," I began. "I stretched and the scar showed from under my shirt she pointed it out and I explained it to her while telling her how brave you were."

"How was I brave," Rose asked with a chuckle

"Your first instinct was to grab a freaking desk and drop it on the shooter," I said looking at her as we got into an elevator, "you don't think that was brave?"

Rose shook her head, "I never thought myself as brave," she began, "I always thought of myself trying to get out of any situation with as few deaths as possible."

Soon we found ourselves in a room and I turned to look at her," You're crying," I said as I noticed the tears in her eyes, "why?"

"I'm so freaking happy to have everyone back," she said before enveloping me in a hug as her happiness took over

"I'm happy too," I began as I returned the hug, "let's get some rest, you're going to have to explain to the cast how the hell you're alive."

"You got that right," she said before leading me to a bed, "cuddles?"

"You think I've been without you for a month and I don't want cuddles," I asked, making her laugh, "of course I do."

At that point, we had climbed into the bed as I curled into a ball and let my fear take over me as well as the emotions that I had to go through after killing another person. Rose rubbed my hair soothing me as I soon found myself asleep hoping this wasn't a dream.