Fighting Fire - s.k.

Chapter Nine

Jake decided he wouldn't bring anything up to Stevie or anyone about the conspiracies swirling in his head. At least not right now anyway. He wanted to wait and see if any one of the three of them would say something to him first, but as the day passed, the more discouraged he felt about that possibility.

On the other hand, Sam decided that after the threat to throw Stevie in the pool, he would finally back off for a bit and let her actually spend time with Jake how she saw fit. He found it to be difficult since he could flirt with her all day, but he knew that if he didn't stop making passes at her, he was going to make everything worse and Sam would be damned if this whole thing blew up because of him.

During their pool day, Sam latched onto Josh quickly, talking to each other about his experience with therapy and playing silly games together like they were children again. He also spent a lot of time hanging out with Rosie, racing her as they paddled around the pool.

Stevie had stuck by Jake's side while he grilled and they hung out in the shallow end of the pool together, talking and making jokes to one another the rest of the time they were out there. Stevie had of course been reflecting on her time with Sam earlier, but she was tunnel vision on Jake until late that evening.

Sam groaned loudly at Jake and Stevie who were on the couch, chatting about new music they enjoy and he threw a pillow at Jake.

"Hate to ruin the party," Sam said, "but how am I supposed to get some sleep if you guys won't get off my bed?"

Jake grabbed the pillow and threw it on the floor, rolling his eyes and standing up, "Come on Stevie, the princess demands."

Stevie laughed and stood up too, "Oh! We can go through that stuff I have for you if you want! Meet me in my dad's room and I'll grab it."

Jake smiled and nodded but turned to Sam and glared before he turned around and headed up the stairs. Stevie listened for the door upstairs to close before she turned to Sam.

"Are you going to be okay down here?" she asked and Sam grunted, settling on the couch and Rosie resting in her bed on the floor beside him, "No, but you already knew that."

She sighed and walked to him, stooping down to kiss him, "I'm sorry, but thank you for taking one for the team. You honestly really impressed me today."

"Mhmm," Sam rolled his eyes, "The team against me, but sure."

Stevie narrowed her eyes, "Stop. Nobody is against you."

"Yeah," Sam rolled his eyes, "Whatever you say."

"Sam," Stevie pestered, "Don't be mad."

"I'm not mad," he assured, reaching his hands to her hips and pulling her on top of him, "Not really."

She yelped but she stayed for a moment, "You know I can't stay."

"I know," Sam kissed her temple and he groaned, "Jake's waiting for you."

Stevie laid her head on his chest and sighed, savoring it for a moment before reaching up to kiss him again, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Sam smiled, "See you soon."

She stood up and shook her head, "In your dreams!"

Stevie walked away and looked back at him with a smile as she watched him call Rosie up onto the couch with him before she rounded her way up the stairs. She headed to the study first, grabbing the box that was labeled with Jake's stuff and met him in her room.

"Hey," she said as she found him sitting on the bed, looking at the stuff that she still hadn't cleared away.

"This is so weird," Jake admitted, "It looks so different in here."