Chapter 6
Five Finger Death Punch
Sam turns back to see the gas station looted of all its necessary items like chips, drinks and some personal grooming equipment that Night Rider was too embarrassed to tell him about. He then turns to a pick up, loaded with bags from the station, fully filed up with gas along with some jerry cans in the bed. The truck was a Jet Black Ram 2500 with a brown leather interior and modern stereo system. He had claimed driving first just to mess around with the system controls since Ram was one of his favorites next to Chevy. He jumps off the tailgate and walks into the station, grabbing a whole plastic bag full of cigarettes and walks back to the truck
"Smoker huh?" Night Rider appears next to him, leaning against the truck
"Tried to quit after being deployed but..."
She nods and smiles, stealing a pack from Sam "Just not near Sapp, I don't want her thinking it's a good idea"
Sam nods and tosses her another pack, hopping into the truck along with Sapp; Night Rider in the bed. She bangs on the hood as an indentation that she's ready to roll. Sam turns the key to the truck. A loud, thundering roar emerges from the engine as he shifts gears into drive, the truck rolls forwards as the roar gets louder and the grin on his face grows wider.
"Sir? What's your name?" Sapp turns to face Sam
"My names Samuel, Sam for short. What about you?"
"Sapphire, but my mommy calls me Sapp" she shifts in her seat and straps her seatbelt
"Your mother taught you to do that?" He asks, his attention on the road
"Mhm, she said that I could get booboos if I didn't wear it and I don't like booboos because they hurt"
Sam chuckles and puts on a pair of sunglasses, opening a bottle of sweet tea "so, do you mind if I ask where your father is?"
Sap goes quiet and looks down "I don't know who he is, Sir. Every time I ask mommy about him she gets really upset and talks about something else"
Sam sighs "yea I understand. I'm currently looking for my girlfriend. I came back from Afghanistan, which before everything went down was once a country that we were at war with for a long time. I came back and was driving to her house when I got into an accident and woke up in the hospital"
She pouts and hugs his arm "it's going to be okay, I know you'll find her!" She giggles and opens the clove compartment "what's this for, sir?"
"It's to hold important document for your vehicle. And you can call me Sam" he smiles and takes a chug of tea
"Can I call you Yogi?"
Sam goes silent, his hands slightly shaking as he looks over at her. "Why Yogi?"
She smiles and pokes him "because mommy calls me booboo so I want you to be my Yogi!"
Sam goes looks at the road and takes a deep breath "of course I'll be your yogi" he said through his teeth, suppressing a panic attack inside
"Hey! Pull off on exit 87, I need to pee!"
Sam looks at Night Rider through the rear view mirror "Fine" he looks at Sapp "you need to go potty?"
She softly nods and wiggles in her seat
He pulls off the exit and stops at a rest stop, Night Rider jumps out and opens Sapp's door "cmon baby, let's go potty" She holds out her hands as Night Rider picks her up and carries her to the rest room. When they were out of sight, Sam broke. Tears stream down his face, hands shaking violently. He reaches for a pack of cigarettes. He packs them and lights one up, stepping out of the truck and leans against the bed. With each puff he took, he felt his anxiety lessen and his mind get clearer. As he took his last puff, the two came out of the bathroom and walk up to Sam
"Are you ready?" Night Rider asks him
"I have to go too, I just wanted to watch over our stuff" he steps away from the truck and walks up the path
"Mommy?" Sapp asks Night Rider
"Yes Baby?"
"I like Yogi" she giggles and hugs her leg
"Who's yogi?" She asks, petting Sapp's head
"Sam! He's nice and he makes me giggle"
"Well I'm glad to hear little Girl, just make sure you don't get too attached"
Sapp nods and sighs "Yes I know"
"Having a family huddle I see?" Sam walks out looking refreshed
"Yep!" Sapp calls out and smiles
"I found a FFDP CD in the restroom if you don't mind having Sapp listening to rock" Sam asked Night Rider
"FFDP?"
"Five Finger Death Punch. I listened to it a lot when I was deployed"
"Sure, I don't mind" She shrugs and pats Sapp's head
"Mommy? Will you sit with Yogi and Me?" Sapp giggles and looks up at her
"It's Yogi and I, and of course I will"
"Yay!" She jumps into the truck and sits in the middle seat in the back, Followed by Night Rider in the passenger seat and Sam driving. He starts up the truck and they're on the road again.
