Waiting for You - Chapter 28 -- The Mike and Carrie Fan-Fic Board

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Date Posted: 19:50:29 11/14/03 Fri
Author: Lakota
Subject: Waiting for You - Chapter 28

Well, after a long rest - another chapter...if anyone's interested.

Waiting For You - - Chapter 28

March 27th, 1944

Sami heard the familiar knock on the apartment�s front door as she finished brushing her hair, choosing to wear it down in a long page boy - the way Lucas liked it. She hurriedly went to answer the door, nearly tripping over the newly braided rug in the hall she had finished the weekend before that was made of scrap material Sami had saved from various sewing projects. It was another way she had learned to save money, help the war effort by not buying new material and having a rug that didn�t look bad if she did say so herself. With Lucas being on duty at the airfield without a pass since their time together in early March, she�d had more time to occupy her hours trying not to miss seeing him. Learning to make the rug helped fill that time.

Barely had Sami opened the door, when she felt a strong arm about her waist pulling her toward the snow-littered military outer coat Lucas wore. He kissed her passionately and in doing so nearly took all her breath. Gently pushing away from his chest after some time though really not wanting to, Sami looked into the eyes she had missed the past two weeks.

�Hi, Baby,� Lucas greeted her with an accompanying smile.

�Hi, �did you find out anything?� she implored.

Lucas�s expression changed from elation to a pout.

�What�no, �Sweetheart, Darling, Baby�..I�ve missed you so much�?�

�Oh, I�m sorry��.Sweetheart, Darling�..I�ve missed��

��.you left out Baby��

Rolling her eyes Sami repeated, �Sweetheart, Darling�.Baby�.I�ve missed you so much..�

��that�s better�.�

��did you find out anything?�

It was Lucas�s turn to roll his eyes as Sami took him by the hand, lead him into the entry way, helped him take off his coat and reached for a hanger. Lifting the silky blond hair, he leaned in to nibble on her neck from over Sami�s shoulder as she hung up his coat on the rack.

�Well, DID you find out anything?� she asked turning to face him.

�Sami�..� he whined and shook his head.

�What?�

�I thought I was sort of going to get your mind off some things and on to a few others. I know what nibbling on your neck usually does to you,� he said with a knowing smirk.

�Usually, that�s true, but we�ve got other things to do that are more important� was Sami�s serious response.

�More important? I might disagree with you on that. I haven�t seen you�.and most importantly on my agenda, touched you for over two weeks. There�s just so much an engaged, lonely tail gunner stuck on an air field can take, you know, before he begins to feel neglected.�

�Lucas, it�s not like I�ve ignored you. I�ve talked to you on the phone nearly every day.�

�Yeah�but nibbling on the receiver is a really poor substitute for that beautiful neck of yours,� he joked.

Sami turned to look at Lucas with a no nonsense countenance.

�Okay, okay�.I guess I can wait a little while longer. Now I�m glad I took that optional survival class after basic training. You learn how to handle deprivation,� Lucas joked.

�Honey, you promised me you�d try to get Mike to open up about what happened with Carrie. We�re working together on this, aren�t we?� Sami asked as she held hands with Lucas strolling to the couch where Guinevere waited for her petting from one or both of them.

�I know�but, my brother is being tight lipped about it. How about Carrie?� he asked picking up the cat and gently rubbing under her chin before sitting down.

�The same. I have tried everything I can to let her know it�s all right to talk about it but��nothing. She won�t even acknowledge anything is wrong though she hasn�t talked to Mike once since that Saturday.�

�Here�s a thought, maybe nothing happened.�

Sami looked at Lucas with disbelief.

�You are kidding, right? Lucas, Carrie�s lower lip is so low it�s a wonder she doesn�t trip over it. She�s quiet�almost sullen. It isn�t easy being around her at all lately. I hear her crying at night through the bedroom wall.�

�Okay, maybe that�s when you should try to talk to her�.maximum defenses being down - that�s when you go in because they�re vulnerable. We learned that in Tactical Ops and apply it to bombing runs. Who�s to say it won�t work on a person. Go comfort her when she�s crying and then maybe she�ll just let it all out.�

�I�ve thought about it�..but�.well,�I think I can�t really.�

�What not?�

�Because, she didn�t do that to me when I first came here. Carrie let me deal with things at my own pace�by myself,� Sami said reaching for Guinevere and holding her close.

�Wait a minute�..you mean right after Christmas?�

Sami nodded.

�You cried at night?�

Sami nodded less noticeably.

�About�.me�.us?� he quietly asked.

Sami looked up and answered with her eyes.

�After I�d go to bed I�d decide to read a few of those letters in the shoebox that you�d written, just to know what you felt and be prepared before I met you at the train. Something you�d written would touch me - - - I couldn�t help it. I know Carrie heard me crying but she didn�t say anything. I kept trying to deny how much I still loved you but I felt so despondent thinking that being with you again was impossible. She just let me deal with it, which was probably the right thing to do. If she�d done anything else, I most likely would have shut her out, anyway. I think that�s where she is, Lucas�..in denial, about whatever it was that happened with Mike. I was really hoping you�d have better luck.�

�Nah�..that doctor�s veneer of being stoic is in overdrive. Kinda of like you, I kept thinking Mike would realize that he could come to his brother and talk about it. God knows I messed up everything with you but somehow we got through things and here we are�.in love and planning a life together. He could see it isn�t impossible to work it out. It�s been harder to judge what his mood is since I haven�t seen him as much with Mike at Fort Dix and me at Langley Field. That�s why I decided to try another approach.�

�Like what?�

�My new brother-in-law.�

�Jack?�

�Yup�..I told him what had happened when he called to let me know Kurt had tickets for tonight�s game. He is family now so why shouldn�t he know? I wasn�t getting anywhere and Jack is on the same post as Mike, plus they�re closer in age. He said Jenn had told him she knew something wasn�t right with Carrie and he�d give it a shot.�

�So?�

�Well, Jack tried meeting him at the base gym�.ate at the mess hall with him a couple of times�.then, pulled out the final trick�.got two passes and took Mike drinking��nothing happened, except Jack had a major hangover for his effort.�

Sami leaned back against the sofa and sighed.

�What are we going to do?�

�I think�..we have to do�.nothing.�

�Lucas!�

�Sami, listen. This is the first time since they�ve been together that they�ve had this kind of trouble. All couples go through it�us being the extreme example. Most don�t take four years to iron it out.�

�The difference, Lucas, is that you and I are more the type to shout about things�.argue�.get it out. The only reason I stayed quiet so long was the promise I made to Kate to not see you again. Carrie and Mike aren�t like that. They bury what bothers them and pretend everything is all right. You kind of have to push them to get a reaction�to make them open up. I really worry that if they don�t get this settled it will be too late. All of you guys will go overseas and maybe they�ll never get it worked out.�

�I wish you wouldn�t dwell so much on us leaving.�

�I can�t help it. Working at the USO, we three girls see it all the time. We work serving coffee and I dance with the guys.�

�Oh, you do, do you?� Lucas said with a small hint of disapproval.

�Oh, stop�I�m doing nothing more than my patriotic duty, Lucas. You don�t have to worry. There isn�t in this whole world another guy for me and you know it.�

Lucas grinned and put his arm on the top of the sofa behind her.

�Anyway, we get to the point where we begin to know the guys�.they�re regulars. Lately, we�ve been seeing a whole new sea of faces�.the others haven�t come in�not once. All of us know, now, they�ve shipped out to Europe and we�re seeing their replacements. They go and we don�t even get to wish them well. I know you can�t say anything but there are constant rumors at NBC that there�s a big buildup going on in England to prepare for perhaps invading the Continent before long. I can�t shake the feeling that one of these times soon, it will be Jack�s, Mike�s or your turn�.maybe all three of you at once. You�ll all be gone. It scares me. I�m absolutely terrified of losing you.�

Lucas pulled her into an embrace with Guinevere�s head popping up between them�purring.

�Sami, I�m coming home�.so will Jack and Mike�..and Eric. You�ll see.�

�Can you promise me that absolutely?�

Lucas pulled back and looked into Sami�s teary eyes. He shook his head.

�No. I never promise what I can�t be certain of. I�m coming home�.that�s all I know. The Nazis tried killing me once and they didn�t succeed. I made it home, didn�t I? Now, I want to go back and finish things. I owe that to my crew who didn�t make it home. I won�t speak for the other three. I only promise for me that I�ll come back to you.�

�I�m holding you to it,� Sami said pushing her right pointing finger into the battle ribbons on his jacket until she noticed something. �What�s that? Isn�t that a new one?� she asked pointing to a purple and white ribbon on the top row.

Lucas looked down on his chest of ribbons to see where Sami pointed.

�Oh�.yeah. I�uh�.got that one about a week ago.�

�What for?�

Lucas looked down at Guinevere as he vigorously petted her. Sami sensed he was avoiding answering her. She waited quietly until he cleared his throat and furtively glanced up into her face.

�A purple heart,� came his barely audible voice.

Sami was mildly surprised at his reluctance to have told her in any of their telephone conversations about being awarded the medal.

�I didn�t know you had been awarded one.�

�It�s�.it�s not a big deal�.�

��Lucas��

�Why should I get a reward for being the only one to get out of the plane alive?�

�They gave it to you because you were wounded in battle, Lucas.�

�We weren�t in battle any longer. We were trying to get home before we ran out of fuel��

��because the Germans had shot up the aircraft. You were the one in your crew who was able to try to help set things up so everyone might get out. I�ve seen the scar on your shoulder, Lucas. Mike finally told me that you had shrapnel removed when they reset your broken arm. You didn�t break it opening the door the way you told everyone. You were hit by some of the flack and didn�t tell anyone. You chose not to tell anyone the truth � why, I�m not sure.

�It wasn�t a big deal, that�s all.�

�Wait�..are you having bouts of survivor guilt again?�

�No�..a little�.once in awhile�.this thing just reminds me of it, that�s all� Lucas said as he glanced at the ribbon before looking away.

�Have you talked to someone on base�.about the guilt?�

�Yeah�.I sent to see the chaplain. It helped. Look, if you�re worried I�m going to do something crazy, don�t be. I have no plans to go to the Grand Hotel and parachute off the patio,�without a parachute. The chaplain and others have told me I�ll have times when for a little while I�ll have an episode - still be dealing with what happened. It�s normal. I understand that.�

�But�.it doesn�t make it easier.�

�No�..but, when it comes over me one thing does make me feel better almost right away.�

�Really? That�s good.�

�Yup, all I have to do is think about your beautiful face�your smile�.and, remember that you love me. I imagine you kissing me and I can handle it.�

Sami smiled and leaned forward to softly kiss Lucas. Pulling back she saw Lucas kept his eyes closed. Seconds later he slowly opened them and stared unblinkingly.

�That�s better than my imagination has ever made it when I�ve thought about you kissing me.�

Sami touched his cheek and lightly giggled.

�I love you, Lucas Roberts.�

�Again.�

�I love you�Lu�

��no, I meant the kiss.�

Sami placed he arms about his neck, having set Guinevere on her lap and drew Lucas into a long, slow kiss before releasing him.

�Lucas, as much as I love doing this, we really need to think about what we can do to get Mike and Carrie back together. I want her to be as happy as I am.�

�Well, I�m fresh out of ideas. We can�t even get them to be in the same room at the same time so even if we did have a plan they�re not co-operating.�

Sami turned slightly away from Lucas but not before he caught her expression. It was one he knew all too well�.when she was scheming.

�What are you up to?�

�Lucas!� she said indignantly.

�What aren�t you telling me�.come on, Baby, come clean.�

�Why do you think I�m up to something?�

Lucas answered her with a smirk.

�All right�all right. Well, you know we have tickets for the NCAA Championship Basketball game tonight between Utah and Dartmouth?�

�Umm�.hummm�� Lucas said with his arms crossed, listening intently.

�Kurt said we could have them because all the tickets sales are being donated and the proceeds go to the Red Cross. It�s a great way to determine the championship, have some fun and help the war effort.�

�Enough with the PR stuff, Sami�..spill.�

�I got tickets for you�.me�.and Carrie since we can only have three.�

�And?�

�And�..I went to Jennifer and Jack�s apartment downstairs and since they could have three tickets�they got�one for each of them and one for Mike.�

�Wait a minute,� Lucas said as he sat up straight. �Do Mike and Carrie know the other will be there?�

�Not exactly.�

�This is your idea of bringing them together?�

�Well, it�s better than nothing.�

�Barely�Sami, I don�t know if springing this on them is such a great idea.�

�Look, we�re going to all be there at Madison Square Garden. It�s a huge, public place. Mike and Carrie aren�t likely to get into a shouting match�.even more so because Kurt and Victoria will be there, too. If there�s one thing your brother and my sister have it�s a sense of decorum. You and I probably would have gotten into a shouting match but they won�t.�

�That�s true. So, you think that just by being with the usual gang of friends, the ice will thaw between them?�

�It�s worth a try don�t you think?�

�I guess. By the way, where is Carrie? �

�Downstairs with Jack and Jennifer. She thought you and I might like to have a little time together before we get over to the ferry landing.�

�Well, just for that alone, I want to do something for her,� Lucas joked. �All right, let�s give it a try. Wait�.aren�t you taking the risk of Mike running into Carrie at the apartment?�

�No, he�s meeting everyone at the Garden. They won�t see each other until we�re inside. In fact, we all agreed that we should just go in and get our seats. If Carrie and Mike saw each other outside they probably would make up some excuse and not go in�this way, they won�t have a clue until we�re inside.�

�Kurt and Victoria are in on this.�

�Sure, well not completely but I�ll fill them in�.I wouldn�t want them to be in the dark.�

�Yeah�right�.like me.�

�I only thought of this plan this afternoon. I didn�t have time to call you. Are you mad?�

�Noooo, I�m not mad. I�m just not sure this is going to go the way you�ve planned it. I hope we don�t regret this, that�s all.�

�At this point I�d regret if we didn�t try something.�

Lucas glanced at his watch.

�Whoa! We�d better get a move on. We need to catch the ferry within the next forty-five minutes.�

�I�ll get our coats. Carrie took hers with her when she went downstairs.�

Five minutes later they were knocking on the door of Jack and Jennifer�s apartment directly below the one Sami and Carrie occupied.

�Hey, there you two are,� Jennifer greeted. �We were wondering if you two were so�..um�involved�you�d lost track of time.�

�No, nothing like that. Hi, Jack,� Sami said feeling the warmth of a blush on her cheeks after Jennifer�s remark.

�Hey, Sami�Lucas,� Jack said, motioning them into the apartment. �Can I get you guys anything?�

�No�no�we�re fine. We�ll eat at the game. Wait, Sami�.where are the tickets?� Lucas wondered.

�Oh, they�re in my purse.�

�Jennifer has mine,� Carrie said with little enthusiasm.

�Victoria called about ten minutes ago. She and Kurt were just leaving for the Garden. As usual, they both were running late. Apparently, Kurt has some photo shoot with the NCAA officials for the Times tomorrow. Putting these Red Cross events together always means they�re on the go,� Jennifer said.

�Hey, this is the first time I�ve seen the apartment since you two moved in,� Lucas said changing the subject.

�We finished painting just this afternoon. Jack has a pass for the weekend so we made the most of it�..fixing the place up, that is.�

�Yeah, I�m sure,� Lucas kidded.

�I like the curtains, Jennifer,� Sami said as she elbowed Lucas. �That material your grandmother sent really worked.�

�I know, it�s perfect. Mrs. Plotkin told me I could change the other curtains when she saw how well these turned out. I still have a lot more to do.�

�It was really swell of Mrs. Plotkin to offer Jack and Jenn the apartment. With the housing shortage, she probably could have gotten a lot more for it by renting it to someone else,� Carrie offered.

�She told me she wanted to keep �her girls� close by,� Sami informed Lucas.

�Well, anyone ready for some basketball?� Jack asked heading for the coat rack.

�I am. You�uh�interested in a small wager, Jack�like maybe five bucks?�

�Oh, honestly, Lucas didn�t you learn anything from New Year�s Day when you lost on the Rose Bowl Game?� Sami asked.

�Not to mention Victoria cleaning your clock at poker, too� Jennifer reminded him.

�That was just a minor setback. So, what do you say, Jack?�

�I say you guys talk about this on the way out.� Carrie joined in as she took Lucas�s arm and pointed him toward the door.

Less than an hour later they stood in line, tickets in hand, waiting to enter Madison Square Garden where the 1944 NCAA Men�s basketball championship would be determined between Dartmouth and Utah with the Red Cross the recipient of the evening�s proceeds.

�Hello, you lovely people,� came a cheery voice.

�Hey, Victoria! Long time, no see,� Lucas greeted. Hugs and handshakes were exchanged among the friends.

�Where�s Kurt?� Carrie asked.

�He�s already inside doing his best to charm some more money out of some sponsors for tonight�s event.�

�Well if anyone can charm people, it�s Kurt,� Jennifer declared.

�Hey, you�re a good luck charm, Victoria, the line�s moving,� Jack said.

Soon the group was hunting for their seats which were three rows back.

�It does pay to have influential friends, huh?� Lucas said as he helped Sami take her coat off.

�Wait! Lucas, I�ll�I�ll sit next to you. Carrie, why don�t you sit next to me on this side � that way Lucas can get out to go get food.�

�What does it matter if I sit there? I�ll be glad to get up when he needs to get out.�

�Welll�..all right. Lucas, I have an idea. Why don�t you take Victoria with you and she can help you carry things back?�

�That�s all right, Jack�.� Lucas saw Sami�s eyes looking toward the upper tier where the walkway was and noticed Mike trying to find the row and seat indicated on his ticket.

�Jack, will be getting food for both of us and Victoria,� Jennifer completed the sentence. �In fact, you guys should probably go now before the lines get longer. You don�t want to miss the start of the game.�

�Jennifer, what are you�.� Jack quietly asked leaning over when it dawned on him what was afoot. ��in the mood for? What do you want to eat?�

�Whatever you want to get me is fine,� she said and winked.

�Jack, let�s head on up to the concession stand,� Lucas suggested grateful he would be out of the line of fire he felt might be coming.

�Yeah, sounds good�� Jack headed out the row leaving Victoria, Sami and Carrie.

�Hey, guys,� Mike said walking down one side of the stairs as his brother and brother-in-law climbed the same stairs.

�Mike - - glad you found us. The�the girls are in the row already. We�re off to get food, anything you want?�

�I�ll go with you.�

�No, no, no, we can handle it,� Lucas stuttered. �See you in about ten minutes.�

Mike noticed Lucas�s eagerness to leave but chalked it up to wanting to not miss a minute of the game. He got to the row indicated on the ticket stub and noticed Victoria animatedly engaged in conversation with Sami.

�Victoria�.Sami�.,� he said some five feet from them.

�Hello, Mike, I�m so glad you could make it. It�s been awhile since we were all together. I�ve missed seeing you,� Victoria said rising to give Mike a hug. Sami stood up at the same time and took her turn for an embrace. When Mike looked over her shoulder, he saw Carrie sitting there staring at him.

�Carrie��hi,� he managed.

�Hi.�

�Did you see the guys?� Sami asked hoping to keep things as normal as possible.

�Yeah, they were on their way to the concession stand. I guess Kurt is here, too?� he said facing Victoria though Mike occasionally looked at Carrie.

�Yes, he should be joining us shortly.� The tension didn�t escape her now that she understood all the conversation that had gone on minutes before.

�Oh, Victoria,� Sami said a little too perkily, �I want a program so I can match the players numbers and names. How about you?�

�Oh�..yes�.absolutely. Look, there�s a fellow selling them right along the front row. Let�s go get them now.�

�Great! I�ll�just get my wallet,� Sami said fumbling in her purse until she produced the wallet and showed everyone. �Well, let�s go. Be back soon!�

Mike watched Victoria and Sami beat their hasty retreat before looking back at Carrie who remained seated � her arms folded before her.

�They�re really subtle, don�t you think?� he tried to joke.

�What are you doing here?� Carrie asked ignoring his attempt to be funny.

�Well, Jack got me a ticket for the game. Kurt told them he could allow three free ones to him, so they invited me��and you?�

�Sami and Lucas had an extra ticket so they thought I should come.�

�What a coincidence, huh?�

Carrie shook her head and looked out at the teams on the court as they warmed up.

�Carrie�..I can leave if you want.�

�That�s not necessary. Stay and enjoy the game. It�s supposed to be a good one.�

�I don�t want you to be uncomfortable because I�m here.�

�I�m not.�

�Okay�.mind if I sit down.�

�Sami�s sitting there.�

�Not at the moment she isn�t.�

Carrie shrugged her shoulders and continued to watch the players. Mike sat down next to her and followed her line of vision.

�Carrie, I think we�ve let enough time go by that maybe we can talk about the situation.�

�The �situation�?, she mimicked.

�All right, OUR situation. I�ve thought about what you said about me making decisions for both of us�.and��

�Mike, if all of this is just a precursor to you telling me that you haven�t changed your mind about anything, then there isn�t any reason to start this conversation. You have to try to understand my feelings, too.�

�Will you let me talk? I want to try to��

�Hey��Mike, Carrie!� Kurt said shouting to them from the end of the row, surprised to see them in conversation.

�Kurt��here�s your program,� Victoria said in a disgusted tone hoping to stop him from interrupting Mike and Carrie�s conversation she and Sami had observed from the edge of the court as they stalled before returning.

�Oh, I�ve got one.�

�Now, you�ve got two,� Victoria said between clenched teeth.

�What?� her confused cousin asked.

Sami rolled her eyes and slightly shook her head realizing Kurt truly wasn�t aware of all the plot she and Jennifer had set in motion with help from Victoria.

�Kurt, it�s good to see you,� Carrie said rising from her seat and walking to the end of the row to give him a generous hug. �I could use one of your extra programs. I didn�t get to ask Sami to buy me one � she left in such a hurry to buy them,� she said glaring at her younger sister.

Moments later Jack and Lucas returned with the food and drinks. Both noticed Carrie was chatting with Kurt�.ignoring Mike, whose eyes never stopped staring at Carrie�s back.

�Anyone hungry?� Jack lamely asked.

�I am starved,� Carrie said surprising everyone. �Tell you what, I�ll sit on the end of the row with Kurt�.�

�But�I thought you�d sit next to me, Carrie,� Sami interrupted.

�Oh, Mike can have that seat.� She started to return to her place when Mike picked up her coat and purse. Handing them to her his hand brushed her arm visibly affecting Carrie before she turned away. Mike stared at the floor and breathed a deep sigh.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

�I can�t believe Dartmouth lost by two points��TWO POINTS!� Lucas said as they walked down the corridor toward Jack and Jennifer�s apartment to have tea and dessert.

�I told you not to bet me, Lucas,�42 to 40�.good game,� Jack reminded.

Mike walked behind them with nothing to say. As they approached the apartment, Carrie pulled her sister back.

�Sami�..may I see you and Lucas upstairs for a couple of minutes before we have dessert?� Carrie ordered more than asked as she remained physically distant from Mike.

�Sure�..what is it?�

�I�ll tell you up there. We�ll see you shortly, Jenn.�

�Okay, I�ll put the teapot on and put dessert out.�

Once Jack and Jennifer entered their apartment, Mike threw his coat onto the back of the closest chair.

�Mike, would you rather have coffee than tea?� Jennifer said deciding to ignore her brother�s gesture.

�Neither�..I want to get something straight��with both of you. Remember when you got angry at me for meddling in your decision to marry Jack?�

�Yes�.what��

�You didn�t like that I tried to impose my feelings on your decision, did you?�

�No��Mike, but I can�.�

�Then, I don�t want you doing it to me�.like you did tonight. Jenn, I know you meant well, but, it was wrong.�

�Mike, there�s a big difference in our getting involved. You were wanting me to keep away from Jack�I�m trying to get you back with Carrie.�

�Meddling�.is MEDDLING! By the way, you shouldn�t have dragged Jack iinto this, either.�

�Wait�Mike�..she didn�t drag me into it�.I willingly volunteered,� Jack said unwilling to let Jennifer shoulder the blame alone.�

�Then, both of you need to just concentrate on being happy in your marriage�fixing the apartment�.and trusting me to decide what�s best for me,� he said quietly, the outburst passed. �I�ll see you later.�

He came to give his sister a kiss and shook Jack�s hand.

�You aren�t staying for dessert?�

Mike shook his head and left.

=============================================

Carrie strode into the apartment and threw her keys on the coffee table. Sami and Lucas followed her at a snail�s pace.

�Of all the stupid, juvenile schemes,� she began. �I know what you two were up to tonight. I can�t believe you really thought it was clever to have Mike and I each arrive at the game and not know the other was going to be there.�

�Would you have gone if you had known Mike would come?� Sami asked becoming defensive.

�I don�t know�.probably not.�

�Then, what choice did we have?� Sami reasoned.

�What choice�.WHAT CHOICE????? To stay out of my personal life and not plot behind my back, that�s what choice.�

�I was only trying to help,� Sami said as she began to cry.

�Sami�..do you remember how angry and upset you were with Belle when you first learned she had been sending Lucas all those letters pretending to be you? You didn�t like her scheming and playing with your life one bit. Well, I don�t either. I would never have expected you to do this after what happened to you.�

�Sami really just wanted to do something for you, Carrie,� Lucas defended.

�I did, Carrie�.I just want you to be as happy as I am.�

Carrie leaned against the back of the sofa and looked up at the ceiling.

�I understand that�.but you need to understand that neither of you can ultimately decide what�s going to happen or not happen between Mike and me. We�re the only two who can do that.�

�But, you aren�t doing that.�

�Sami��..no more planned rendezvous�.no more coincidental running into each other�do you understand?�

�Yes.�

�Lucas?�

�I got it.�

�Fine�let�s hope so. Now�go get some dessert.�

�Aren�t you coming down with us?�

�No, I�m tired. I�ll see you in the morning. Good night.�

Sami and Lucas held hands as they came forward to hug Carrie before leaving for Jack and Jennifer�s.

�Hey, you two�.where�s Carrie?� Jack asked after answering the door.

�She said she�s tired so she isn�t coming down,� Lucas explained.

�Where�s Mike?� Sami questioned as she looked about the living room.

�He didn�t want dessert so he left,� Jennifer said.

�In other words they�re avoiding each other,� Sami bluntly surmised.

�Sami�.� Lucas reprimanded.

�Well, it�s true. God�.what a nightmare this whole evening turned out to be,� Sami declared as she sat down on the sofa and leaned her head back.

�This is just a guess but did Carrie take exception to your little scheme?� Jack asked.

�Oooooooh, yeah,� Lucas said joining Sami on the sofa. �We were read the riot act rather explicitly�especially the paragraph about scheming behind people�s backs.�

�We got the lecture about meddling in his life from Mike,� Jennifer confessed.

�May I just sort of wrap this whole evening up as a disaster none of us are likely to repeat?�

�You said it, Jack.�

�But�Lucas if we don�t��

�No, Sami�..our careers as matchmakers officially ended tonight�.agreed?�

�Agreed,� came the answer in unison from the other three.

Carrie walked over to the window to close the curtain and noticed a familiar figure in his military uniform waiting for a taxi. Mike looked up at the window and stared seeing Carrie�s familiar silhouette looking back at him. For a minute both remained unmoving until the taxi arrived. Mike stepped in and disappeared as Carrie turned her back on the night.

TBC

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Re: Waiting for You - Chapter 28 -- Mike_lover, 20:19:13 11/25/03 Tue