Episode Fourteen

The Dance

"I can't believe David started a fight," Maria said, standing next to Aaron.

"Not like Jamie did much to stop it," Aaron countered. "Wanna dance?"

Maria looked at him, incredulous. "He tried to walk away. And no. You know I don't like these stupid mushy overly sentimental songs."

Aaron rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll find someone else to dance with."

Maria stared after him in disgust, then walked over to the refreshment table and got herself a cup of punch. She smiled when she saw Matt standing there. "Hey, what's the matter, girl's not falling at your feet?"

"They're obviously blind and deaf," Matt replied, grinning. "How come Aaron isn't dancing with you," he asked, gesturing to where Aaron and a red haired girl in a slinky dress where dancing close.

"Because he' a jerk?" Maria replied.

"And how long have Diego, Jamie, and I been telling you this?"

"Oh shut up," Maria said, laughing.

Bowen Apartment

Mike stood in the doorway of Jamie's room, just looking around. After a long moment he walked inside and sat down on the edge of the bed. "I screwed up, shorty," he whispered. "But you disappearing didn't exactly make it easier for me to talk things out and fix things."

He looked around the room and spotted the row of pictures along a shelf. Pictures of Jamie with Mike, with Maria and Diego, and one of Jamie, Maria, Diego, and Matt all together. Tucked into the frame of the picture was a small picture of Summer.

Mike stood and took a closer look at the photos. After a second he spotted another pushed towards the back. The picture, in a silver frame that was tarnished slightly, was of Mike, Jamie, and Elizabeth. Mike smiled at the memory of the day the picture was taken.

The family had gone up to the cabin for Christmas, and Ginny Bowen, Mike's mother, had joined them just as they finished a snowball fight. Ginny had raised her camera and captured the happy moment between the family. It was only a few short weeks later that Elizabeth had been murdered, and things had been destroyed. Ginny's death the next summer had left an even bigger hole in the family.

"I'm going to make things right," Mike promised, staring at his late wife and his son's faces.

Reed-Roberts home

Sarah sat on the bed with the small stick in her hand, staring down at it. She heard the front door open and knew her husband was home.

"Sarah?" Julian called.

"I'm upstairs!" Sarah called back, still staring down at the stick.

Julian entered the room, smiling. When he saw the troubled look on Sarah's face his smile faded into a frown. "Sarah? What's wrong?"

Sarah held out the stick to her husband. "Take a look."

Julian took it and looked, sighing deply. "It's okay," he said, sitting down next to her and embracing her as she started to cry. "We'll try again."

"After all the drugs, the procedures, all the hell we've gone through, I still can't have a baby. We'll never have one," Sarah cried.

"Yes we will, someday," Julian assured her. "I promise, we'll have our baby."

"How?" Sarah asked, pulling away. "How when I can't seem to get pregnant even after paying thousands for in vitro! Damn it, Jules! There's something wrong with me!"

"No, there isn't," Julian replied, pulling her close again. "We could try a surrogate, or we could adopt."

Sarah nodded slowly. "But I don't want a child who'll hate me later," she said. "Not like I hate my parents."

"Yours refused to tell you anything about your real parents, angel," Julian replied. "We would never hide that from our child."

The Cabin

Jamie pulled his jeep up in front of the cabin as the snow started falling harder. The ground was all ready coated in at least 2 or 3 inches, and it was getting deeper. "It's gotta let up soon," Jamie said before jumping out and running around to help Summer.

"Thanks," Summer said as she almost slipped getting out.

Jamie nodded and quickly helped her to the door. He unlocked it and ushered her inside. "I'll be right back, I'm gonna go start the generator so that maybe tonight I'll have heat other than the fireplace," he told her before going back outside.

Summer nodded and waited in the dark livingroom, shivering slightly from the chill. She was relieved when Jamie returned. "Will it get warm soon? And will we get lights?" she asked.

Jamie grinned and turned on a small battery powered lantern. "There's the light, and give me a minute to get a fire started and we'll have heat until the generator gets the heater going!" Within a few minutes Jamie had a fire going in the fireplace, and was spreading a blanket out on the floor for Summer to sit on.

"Thanks," Summer said as she sank down, holding her hand to towards the fire to try and warm them.

"So, what do you think of my bachelor's pad?" Jamie joked. "Ice cold, no power, no running water... paradise, huh?"

"I like it," Summer replied, edging closer. "And we could find a way to stay warm," she suggested.

Jamie smiled and put an arm around Summer's shoulders. "Like this?" he asked.

"Mmhmm," Summer replied, snuggling closer and resting her head on his shoulder.

"Yeah, I feel warmer already," Jamie replied, then he blushed. "That sounds... off."

Summer giggled and tilted her head up. "Oh, I'm warming up plenty, too," she said.

Jamie looked down at her, and slowly lowed his head down to kiss her gently. "You really do look amazing," he said.

"And you look beyond handsome," Summer said, reaching one hand behind Jamie's head and kissing him again as her other hand tugged the edge of his dress shirt up and slid under it, rubbing his lower back.

"You're so beautiful," Jamie whispered as he wrapped his arms around Summer, splaying one hand against her side.

Summer removed her hand from his back and pulled his shirt all the way out of his pants, splaying her hand sagainst his stomach and chest. She pushed him slightly so he was laying down, kissing him again as she unbuttoned his shirt.

Jamie loved the feeling of her hands on him, the softness of her lips, but he couldn't stop the images from entering his head.

"You're amazing," the man said, pushing him down and tugging his shirt up.

"Please, stop," Jamie sobbed.

"Not until we have our fun," the man replied, kissing the teenager as he rubbed his hands along Jamie's chest, touching him, making him feel filthy.

"No!" Jamie yelled, sitting up and pushing Summer away.

"Jamie? What's wrong?" Summer asked, staring at him in surprise. "Jamie?" she repeatd when she saw how unfocused his eyes were.

Jamie's mind snapped back to the present at the fear in Summer's voice. "Summer?" he whispered uncertainly.

"Jamie? Are you okay?" Summer asked, reaching out to him.

"No, don't touch me," Jamie repeated, scooting backwards.

"Why not?" Summer asked, hurt. "Did I do something wrong? I mean, I thought guys liked it when girls were easy."

"No, Summer," Jamie said. "I mean, you're not easy."

"Come on, we've gone out on like 6 dates, I get you to take me to your private cabin and I unbutton your shirt? How much easier can I get?" Summer asked. "And... why didn't you want it? I mean, I didn't think any guy would stop me when I pretty much saying come have sex with me. What's wrong with me?"

"No... it's not that, Summer. You're beautiful, you're perfect. I just..."

"What is it, then?"

Jamie looked at her, not sure what to say. Slowly, his face crumbled and he hung his head. "I... 2 days before we met, I went to a party with Laura and David. Then went off to get high, make out, probably have sex, and I stayed at the table. After a little while I started feeling really weird. I felt sick to my stomach, and my head felt all fuzzy... so I got up and went outside, to puke in the alley. And... I was standing there, leaning against the wall feeling like I had the flu or something, and this man showed up. I don't even remember his face, but he... he started telling me to get in the car, so we could have some fun. He grabbed my arm and I tried to make him let go, I yelled for help and no one came. I... I must have passed out because I can't remember anything else until... until we're in a hotel room. He got me on the bed and he... he was pulling at my shirt and touching my chest... and he just kept... he kept saying I was perfect and touching me and... he wouldn't stop. It hurt so bad and he wouldn't stop," Jamie said, the words falling from his lips quickly. His shoulders shook as he let out a sob of remembered pain.

"Oh God," Summer whispered when he had finished. "Oh my God."

Jamie looked up, wiping at his face. "I... When you... I remembered more of it and... I... I'm sorry," he said, stumbling over the words. "I'll... I'll take you home now. Just... please don't tell anyone. Please. No one knows except you and I don't want them to... please."

Summer stared into his face for a minute then raised one hand to touch his cheek. "I didn't ask to go home, Jamie."

"But you..."

""You just told me someone... did something to you... and I... oh God, I don't know what to say to make it better," she said. "But I don't wanna run away from you. Not now."

Jamie reached up and placed his hand over hers. "You mean it?" he whispered.

"Of course," Summer replied. "It'll be okay, Jamie, I'm here, always."

"I just... it hit me. We can't... It's still possible the guy... it' possible he gave something to me. I could be sick. I could give you something... I could never forgive myself if I did."

"It's okay," Summer repeated, rubbing her thumb over his eyebrow. "It's okay, Jamie."

Jamie tried to smile, but started crying again.

Summer pulled him close and held him while sobs wracked his body. "I'll be right here," she promised again. "Whenever you need me."

End Of Episode Fourteen