Ali closed her laptop and focused on the morning light breaking over the cityscape. Beside her, Sam shifted in his sleep, kicking one leg out from the comforter. Resisting the urge to wake him, to see those jade eyes clear of the black pools from the drugs Victoria had slipped him, Ali turned her eyes to the ceiling.

The dawning light made a pretty pattern on the plain white surface, offering Ali hope for a new day.

She had spent the night researching. First, she got more of an education than she ever wanted on the types of drugs Victoria could have used on him and their side effects. Fortunately, most seemed to leave the system quickly and have very few lasting effects. Disorientation was definitely something Sam was suffering.

However, the drugs initial results were stronger, often leaving the victim anywhere from slightly sleepy to catatonic. Ali's stomach rolled at the thought of Sam helpless in Victoria's house. In her bed. She did not want to consider what might have happened if Victoria had had more time with him.

It seemed ridiculous to be grateful for Victoria's need to want to break her and Sam up. If the sick woman hadn't desperately wanted to put on a show for Ali, Victoria could have spent the night with Sam. Like she had in the past.

This train of thought brought on her second wave of research. Prosecution. Ali knew from her volunteering at the shelter proving sexual assault was difficult in and of itself. Victims were seldom believed even if there was evidence. And most cases were against men. Information on women accused of assaulting men was few and far between. It seemed it was another under-reported issue. Of the few brave men who came forward, they felt they were met with confusion or judgement on how they could let it happen to them. Or simple disbelief - if their body responded didn't that mean they enjoyed it?

Ali wiped away a tear before it could escape. How could this have happened to Sam? Her dear sweet Sam who only tried to help people. How could Victoria have turned his kindness against him like this?

Thoughts of Victoria turned Ali's tear of sadness to one of frustration. Sam would not like it but something would have to be done about her. She was obviously not mentally stable. Still, they had to stop her from ever doing this again.

"Ali?" Sam's whisper brought her back to the room. Sliding down in the bed, Ali turned on her side to meet Sam's gaze. Clear green eyes met hers.

"Hey. How are you feeling?"

The little crease so prominent on Sam's face when he was concerned came to life. "I'm so sorry."

Her night's reading floated before Ali. "You've nothing to be sorry about."

"I...I should have paid more attention." Sam gripped the edge of the comforter.

Ali was not sure what they were talking about. Did he mean Victoria's actions? "You couldn't have know what she...was doing. Who would have suspected?"

"What? No...not that." She saw him swallow hard. "I...don't want to..."

"It's okay Sam. We don't have to talk about...anything you don't want to." It was meant as a kindness but seemed to only agitate Sam more. Feeling lost, she did not know what to say next.

But Sam did. "I mean I should have paid more attention to you. I've been so stupid. Please. Give me another chance. I won't screw it up this time. Things got out of control and I was trying to hold it all together. I failed. It's a lame excuse but it's true. Let me try again. I'll do better. I promise. From this moment on you are my top priority. I'll do whatever you want."

Sam's pleas were like little daggers to her heart. She could barely keep up with them. Reaching out, Ali gently pried his hand from the bedding and entwined her fingers in his.

"I'm sorry I left." Sam's mouth opened, probably to protest, but Ali kept going. "It was selfish of me. I see it now. I didn't think..."

Sam interjected, "No, I made you do it. I needed the lesson."

Ali shook her head. Sam's words did not make sense to her. What lesson? Taking a deep breath, she tried again. "Sam, you didn't force me to leave. I got..." she searched for the right word, "scared."

The dent deepened.

"No, my love. Don't think that. Not of you. Never of you. I was afraid of what was happening to us. I love you so much and it felt like you were slipping away. It hurt. I didn't handle it well. I ran when I should have stayed. I shut you out when I should have opened up to you."

Ali paused, looking for some sign of understanding from Sam. It was not there. She tried again. "You see you have a life here, one with purpose, one surrounded by friends and family. So much family. It's amazing. I've never had that. I got...jealous maybe ... of all the other people who demanded your time. It turns out I'm not very good at sharing you."

Sam was listening attentively so she kept going. "And when you where... off with others, I started doubting myself. I had too much time to overthink everything. I don't know anyone here so I was alone a lot. Too much. It reminded me of before. With Jack. I know you aren't like Jack." She rushed on before he could stop her. "You didn't do anything on purpose. I can see now the pressure you have been under. What I'm trying to say here, rather badly, is that I should have said something. Tell you how I feel.

"I'm sorry."

Ali wished Sam would stop saying sorry. This was not about blame or the need to apologize. It was about understanding, finding their way back to each other. She began to protest but Sam insisted it was his turn to talk.

"I made you come here. I promised I would always be honest with you and I see now that only hours later I broke my promise when I struck the deal with my father without you. I...I was just so desperate to get Jack out of your life. To keep you from leaving me. I could only see that goal. I didn't think about what I was agreeing too. What it meant for you...for us."

"It's okay Sam."

"No, no it is not. I didn't give you a choice."

"I'd go anywhere with you Sam."

"But did you want to? I did exactly what your ex-husband did to you." Sam leaned in closer. "I decided for you. Then I made you live in my world without any consideration for your needs. I didn't take care of you."

"You didn't make me do anything I wouldn't have done gladly. I choose to be with you."

Sam rolled on to his back, seeming to stare at the ceiling. "Why Ali? All I do is cause you pain."

Ali sat up, adjusting the bathrobe she was still wearing. "Don't be ridiculous. You're the best part of my life."

"For now," Sam mumbled.

His admission was like a shock to her system. In the past, Sam had made little remarks like this, referring to their relationship like it had some looming expiry date. Passing them off as some kind of self-deprecating humour, Ali had not given them much thought. But here in this moment, it hit her that maybe there was some substance behind those throwaway comments.

"Sam. Why would you say that?" She reached out and brushed a golden lock away from his forehead. Sam turned away from her, her hand landing on the back of his head. Making gentle circles on his scalp Ali begged. "Talk to me."

"It's nothing," he replied.

Ali didn't want to push him to talk. But one question kept trying to surface. She needed to know.

"Sam," Ali tried to keep her voice level. "Why didn't you come to the gallery yesterday?"