I'll Stand By You

Sammy stood with her back against the door frame, watching them.

He expected that. It didn't mean he knew how to deal with it. "What did she do?"

"She..umm.." What did she do? "Just was."

"I don't know. I thought you were the one with a good choice of loftmates. Isn't that what you say?"

"Yeah. The best. I found your ass."

"Right. I don't think any of us could forget that story." He laughed a little and picked up the discarded washcloth. He gave it to Roger with a little encouraging nod. "Have you told Samantha yet?"

"I don't think so. Have I?" He looked over Mark and back at her like nothing had happened.

Sammy shook her head, slowly advancing toward the bed again. "Don't think you have."

"Oh well Marky here got himself into a load of trouble and I-"

"Managed to make everything worse than it already was."

Sammy chuckled softly. "That sounds like you."

"But in the end it all worked out."

"Once Collins got involved."

"And then there was Maureen. That was the first time I ever heard her scream."

"Oh right. She was terrified. I didn't blame her."

"And Benny was just as stick-up-his-ass as always. What was he complaining about?"

"Something about legalities and having no part in it."

"Like I'd have let him take any credit anyway."

Sammy chuckled softly, just listening to them.

"Does she even know what's going on?"

"I don't know. Sammy, care to take a guess?"

"With you, two," said Sammy. "I don't even think you know what's going on in your heads half the time.

"Hey hey," Roger said, "I know what goes on in his head and he knows what goes on in mine. Like right now, he's trying to think of an argument for that, but he doesn't have one."

Mark laughed. He was also thinking that his plan to distract Roger from being mad at Samantha had also worked much better than he expected. He still looked like shit, could definitely do with some food and sleep, but at least his head was in the right place.

"But yeah; Collins and Benny had just gotten rejected for a loan on the loft and Mark was getting mugged and Maureen got into a fight with a male stripper."

"Way to exaggerate."

Roger frowned. "Fine, professional whore with a dick."

"I wasn't talking about that."

"Are you still trying to go with the story that you were making a fair trade with that guy with the knife?"

"Maybe."

"The messes you two seem to get yourselves into," Sammy shook her head.

"Aw, c'mon, it wasn't so bad." Roger chuckled. He straightened out the blankets so they couldn't see him shaking and rubbing at his arms. "Can I go out later?"

"No."

"Sammy?"

"No," said Sammy. "Not gonna happen."

"Just for a little." He moved to get up thinking they wouldn't stop him but Mark held his shoulder.

"No, Rog." His voice was firm.

"Can't let you do that darlin," Sammy drawled gently.

"No, yes you do. You gotta." He grabbed Mark's hand in attempt to pry it off. "Fuck, Mark, stop it."

"We can't Roger. Okay. Do you really want to give up all this an have to start over?"

"You don't know. You don't know shit about this. Fuck off."

Roger was struggling, but Mark was surprised by how weak the attempts. He looked at Sammy from the corner of his eyes.

Sammy moved over to the two and sat down next to Roger. "Darlin," she said softly. "If I let you walk out that door, and somethin' happens to you, I'll never be able to forgive myself."

"Nothin's going to happen. Just let go of me." He pushed Mark away again. "I'm just going for a little bit. I've been outside before."

"No Roger," said Sammy. "You know why we can't let you do that."

"Yeah I know. Shit. Sammy, I can't do it. LET. GO."

Sammy shook her head again. She reached up and gently started stroking his hair. "You can do this Roger, you can."

"Stop. Just, no. I can't. I don't want to do this."

"Roger you can't give up," Sammy pleaded with him. "Please....for me.....please...."

"Stop.. Don't.." Dont.. make him do it. "I don't like this. You don't either."

Sammy hung her head, and something in her broke. She started to cry.