Uncharted: A Thief's Legacy

Chapter XVI - There Was An Idea

"Sam, what are you planning?" Elena leaned against the door frame of the spare room. Sam sat on the unfolded futon with one leg tucked under him and the other stretched out. He had his laptop open, and various notebooks and loose papers strewn around him. His head snapped up at the sound of her voice.

"Nothing. Just...researching," he said, shaking his head and immediately directing his attention back to whatever was on his laptop screen.

"Researching what?" she pressed.

"Stuff," said Sam, clearly distracted.

"I see where he learned it." Elena 's voice was cold. She crossed her arms, refusing to take her eyes off of him.

"What?"

"Nate." Sam looked up again.

"What about Nathan," he asked hesitantly.

"Before you came back and he gave all this up, whenever he got obsessed with a new treasure hunt, I could never get through to him. It was all he could think about. He'd shut himself up for weeks and bury his nose in books and then leave without telling me for this exotic country, or that one. Usually with Sully in tow." For the first time in a couple weeks, she sounded amused. "The first time we worked together, he and Sully left me on a dock and took off looking for Drake's treasure. I can't believe I stuck with him after that." Her face briefly twisted into a wry grin.

"Yeah, well..." Sam wasn't sure what he was supposed to say. "Sorry I made him such a lousy husband. Now, can I help you? I'm busy."

"I'm just worried about you," she said. Sam raised an eyebrow.

"I thought you hated me." Elena's expression softened. In reality, it was hard not to feel sorry for the bedraggled man before her. His hair looked unkept and in want of a trim, and he badly needed to shave. His shirt draped like a tent on his slight frame and Elena noticed for the first time how much weight he appeared to have lost over the past several weeks.

"I-" Elena let out a sigh and looked at the ceiling for a moment, before locking eyes with him. "I don't hate you. You're family and I don't think I could live with myself if I shut you out after how much Nate cared and fought for you, and after everything we've been through."

"You have every reason to hate me," he said, a dark expression flashing across his face.

"Yeah," she replied. "And I thought I did, for a while. I wanted to. I needed someone to blame and you were the easiest person to take everything out on. But I've been watching you ever since you and Cassie came back and I'm worried. And...I see that you're grieving every bit as much as us and I don't want you to be alone."

"That's a nice sentiment," Sam said. "But I'm doing just fine."