Chasing Power (Hidden Talents) (31 page)

Sam arrived at that moment, holding a plate of nachos and cheese sticks.  She sat down, smiling sweetly at Tess as she held out the basket of cheese sticks, “Want one?” 

Tess shook her head, “Oh, no thanks hon, you need it more.”

Still smiling, Sam took a big bite and nodded, “I guess you’re right.”

Tess frowned sharply.  Lane himself had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing.  Oh, he knew that was mean but he’d be damned if he didn’t think Tess didn’t deserve it a tiny bit.  Still, it was probably time for a distraction.

“Tess,” Lane said, “Do you have any news from N.T.U.?”

She shrugged.  “Not much.  They’re all in a tizzy.  The Corp hasn’t been this openly aggressive in a while.  No telling what inspired it.  But if we can get proof of the alleged attacks, it might give them an excuse to bring some retribution down on the Corp.  But it could be tough,” she said with a sigh, “without credible evidence.  You know how slippery the Corp can be.”

Sam said nothing.  Rather than take the bait and argue with Tess about her credibility—giving Tess the opportunity to shoot her down—she said nothing.  Instead, she chewed her food, staring at the other woman flatly until Tess coughed and looked down. 
Score two for Sam
, Lane thought. 

#

The table fell quiet, until Al, who couldn’t stand awkward moments, broke the tension by making a comment about the song playing.  Tess used this to segue into a discussion of some TV show that they had all watched in college.  That somehow evolved into a summary of all the wonderful times they’d had together—both alone and with Al and Harry in a monologue Sam felt should have been titled:  “College and High School:  My life will never be that totally amazing again.”

“But then we graduated and the good times ended,” Tess concluded with a sigh, confirming Sam’s earlier thoughts, “We parted ways.  I had to go get a job—yuck—and Lane went on to medical school.  But he’s done, now.”  Tess blinked, “And applying for residencies.  He’s applying at Seattle Children’s, aren’t you Lane?”

Looking a little lost in all of the flow of conversation, Lane nodded, and then shook his head, “I don’t know.  Probably.  Maybe.”  He looked at Sam to see how she’d react to this, but she didn’t seem to be paying attention, staring at the bar.

Tess shook her head, “That’s not what you said the last time you came to visit.”

“Life changes, Tess,” Lane said.  Sam turned back to the table in time to smile at Tess again.  She had been paying attention, after all.

Tess shrugged, sighed, “Oh well.  Hey, does anyone know what happened to the waiter?  I’m still waiting for my coke.” 

Lane slid out of the booth, “I’ll go check.”

“Wait up, man,” Al said, glad for an excuse to escape the awkwardness.  “I want more nachos.” 

Harry looked from Tess, to Sam, and back, and hastily followed suit without a single word.  The two women were left alone. 
Oh great
, Sam thought,
here it comes.
 

“Isn’t Lane a sweetheart?  I’m sure you’ve noticed.”

“Lane’s been wonderful,” Sam said, willing to play along, “So supportive.”

“I don’t doubt it.  He always was a sucker for a damsel in distress,” Tess giggled, “But I guess you figured that out.”

Sam stiffened, “I wouldn’t know.”

Tess made a small noise, like a mew, “Hunh.”

Sam wanted, badly, to say something back.  She kept her mouth shut. 

“That’s not what Lane said.  He said he’s bailed you out, oh, hmm...” Tess did a quick tally on her fingers, “Four or five times?”

Sam wanted to refute, to deny, but, looking back, she realized that Tess was right—arguably.  “I’ve bailed him out a time or two myself, you know.”

“Oh, he didn’t mention that, typical male,” Tess said, “But I’m sure you have, sweetie.  Girl power and all that, right?”

Sam felt a flood of heat overcome her, rising up from her feet to the top of her head.  Realizing she was subconsciously drawing energy from the environment, Sam forced herself to stop, pushing the anger away at the same time.  Sam knew girls like Tess.  She’d spent most her life in the public school system, after all.  Creating drama would be playing into Tess’ hands.

But oh, oh how that girl pissed her off.  Fifteen minutes, and she’d already zeroed in on Sam’s biggest button and gleefully pushed it like a kid in an arcade.

Before Sam could formulate a suitable put-down, the guys were back with food and drinks again.  Tess ooohed and ahhed, thanking them.

“Lane’s so caring.  He’s going to make the best doctor ever.  I just know it.”   Tess put her arms around Lane’s neck, giving him a peck on the cheek.

Oh barf
, Sam thought.  The song on the jukebox was “Jolene” and Tess was smiling brightly and caressing Lane’s hand and Samantha couldn’t take anymore.  She needed a breather.  Excusing herself, she went up to the bar.

Standing there, she tried to take a moment to breathe, to pretend she was somewhere else, doing something else.  She ordered a chocolate shake and slid on to a stool.  She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror above the bar and looked down sharply, avoiding her reflection.  This was not her style.  She had fought some of the scariest Talents this nation had to offer and walked away with only a few minor injuries that really weren’t that bad.  OK, so her arm still stung now and then, but she could have had a lot worse.  Why was this spoiled princess annoying her so much?  Could it be jealousy?

No
, the voice of honesty answered,
it’s because Tess was right.
  Sam might have participated in a bail-out or two, but from the outset it had been Lane who’d saved her the most.  Her one bid for independence had been spectacularly foiled by that damn chameleon guy—and she probably couldn’t have escaped from that without Lane’s help, either.

Since the age of twelve, Sam had been able to keep herself safe and independent.  This was the first time in her life she’d needed help.  And oh, how that rankled with her, deep down inside.  It had this whole trip.  All Tess had to do was look at her to see it.  And Tess would know.  The girl might play the sweet ingénue, but she had just as much a feeling of independence as Sam had, even if she expressed it differently. 

The bartender slid her shake over and she took a sip, glancing back at the crowded booth: Al, Harry, Lane, and Tess seemed to fill the space.  They were laughing, happy for the moment.  They fit together, like a sitcom of single friends, like a beer commercial that Sam laughed at.  But this was real.  Something Sam had never had.  Something she would never have. 
I will always be outside,
she thought
.
  And Tess leaned into Lane, the same way that Sam had dreamt about leaning into him earlier.  She turned big brown eyes up to him.  Lane paused, seeing the invitation, and he thought about it.

Sam didn’t wait to see what he decided to do.  She turned back towards the bar, catching the eye of a hot blond guy who smiled at her.  She decided it was time to face some facts:  Was she going to let some spoiled princess get her down, or was she going to go out and have some fun? 

#

Lane didn’t know what to expect when Sam came back to the table.  For some reason, her departure hit him more as a tactical retreat than anything else, a chance to gather her forces before she came after Tess again.  He wasn’t blind to the machinations of the two women in front of him, and Tess’ behavior irritated him deeply.  He just had no idea how to stop it.  Experienced in her own right, Tess could detect and block his talent easily.  He felt rotten using it on an old friend anyways.  And he couldn’t say anything and risk offending Tess, who was their biggest ally in N.T.U. at this point.  Without Tess, they wouldn’t have a chance in the bureaucracy.   

He expected Sam to come back after she got her shake, but instead she pulled her stool closer to the bar, settling in.  That surprised him.  She asked the man next to her a question, and he immediately pulled his stool closer to her.  

That quickly, the competition ended.  Tess had Lane to herself.  Sam, it seemed, had moved on to greener pastures.

#

Two drinks, three.  Sam couldn’t remember the last time she’d consumed this much alcohol.  Actually, she didn’t think she’d ever consumed this much alcohol before.  Or any alcohol at all, period.

To tell the truth, she didn’t care.  Staid, prudish Sam was gone.  And in her place was a freewheeling ball of reckless fun.  She’d show them.  She was no wallflower.  Sam had gotten up, and she had danced, and been asked to dance and currently she was taking a breather at the bar with a very attractive man. 

He’d approached in on her in a way that was altogether adorable—and she wasn’t even using pheromones!—and introduced himself as David.  And he was hot.  With a capital H male model probably waxed his chest hot.  If you were into that thing.  Sam wasn’t sure she was into that sort of thing, but she certainly wasn’t complaining.

She put her hand on his shoulder and leaned into him, “You know what car I really love?  I mean, do you want to know what car I really really really love?”

Dave leaned even closer to her, smiling.  Now they were only about eight inches apart, “What?”

“Kit from Knight Rider.  Oh my god, I
loved
that show.  Didju ever see Knight Rider?”

Sam leaned back, letting her hand drift down his arm as it fell. 
All right
, a part of her mind cheered,
I learned something about flirting after all!

David nodded, “Of course.  I mean, you probably don’t remember it.  You’re too young.”

“Get out!  Of course I remember it.  Classic.  I loved Hasselhoff.  That was the best thing he ever did.  He should have gotten an Oscar.  Hell, that car could act, too.  They should’ve given the
car
an Oscar!”  Sam gasped at the idea and giggled, “Can they do that?”

Shrugging, Dave grabbed a peanut and winked as he tossed it into his mouth.  “For you, they’d do anything.”

“Do you have a car like that?”

“No, no Kit unfortunately.  I’m still pretty proud of it, though.  It’s a ’Vette.  Wanna see it?”

Playing it cool, Sam leaned back, crossing and uncrossing her legs.  “I dunno.  Is this just a trick to get me out to the parking lot?”

“No.  It’s a nice car.  Getting you to the parking lot is just a bonus.”

Sam giggled, “Prove it.”
“Come out to the parking lot and I will.”

Sam giggled again, “Fine!  But don’t get any ideas.” She slid off the barstool, weaving a little bit.  “I’ve got to stick with my escorts, you know.”  She gestured vaguely towards Lane and Tess.

Dave took a look.  “Your escorts look busy.”

“Tell me about it!  But rules are rules.”

Dave grabbed her elbow to steady her.  “I’ll just show you my car, I promise.  Besides, I think you’ll like it.”

Nodding, Sam accepted his help, leaning against him with a sigh as she let him lead her to the parking lot.  “All right.  I do like cars.”

#

If Sam was hoping to get Lane’s attention by acting all fun and dancing and mooning over a strange man, she had utterly failed.  Tess was hell-bent on getting and keeping all of the attention Lane had, and so far, she’d succeeded.  Sort of.  He’d only glanced at the man who had beaten all of the others to Sam’s side when she went to the bar.  After that, he’d worked very hard at not noticing what Sam was doing.  That was, until Al appeared cleared his throat, shaking his arm.

“Uh, Lane?”

Lane gave Al a look that could freeze ice.  “Yeah?”

Al crossed his arms, “I just thought you might want to know that the woman we’ve been trying to keep out of trouble for the last, oh, two thousand miles, is very drunk and about to walk out the door with a psychopath.”

“What?”  Lane didn’t fully believe Al, but craned around to try and catch a glance of Sam.  She wasn’t at the bar anymore.  Lane scanned the room and saw her at the far side, leaning heavily against a tall blonde man.  Wait.  He knew that man from somewhere... “Shit!  It’s Hal!  Al, why didn’t you stop her?”

“I’m afraid of spooking him!  My powers aren’t exactly suited for this kind of combat, dude.  Neither are Harry’s, unless you want everyone within a ten foot radius of him fried, too.  Can’t you reach her, do that mind grab thing?”

Great idea.  Lane sent a wave of panic to Sam, not very difficult as he felt the same emotion welling up within him.  She turned and caught his eye, raising a questioning eyebrow.

IT’S HAL
, Lane mouthed.  Uncomprehending, Sam smiled and twinkled her fingers goodbye, cuddling up to her killer.  Hal glanced over at Sam, his hand sliding from her shoulder to her waist, and pulled her out the door.  Lane stood up, a strange red fuzz fogging his vision.

“I’m going to kill him,” Lane growled.

Al had to run to catch up.  “Let’s hope he doesn’t kill her first.”

Chapter
27

He wasn’t lying when he said he drove a nice car.  When Sam saw the brand new Corvette with custom paint job—black, with metallic red highlights where the light hit—she couldn’t help but let out a little sigh of appreciation.