Todd Wants Key's Face

Doctor: <:/ ...

meanwhile

Harry: What do you mean what? What's going on? D;/

Claire: I'll tell you in a second--Sarah, what HAPPENED?!

Sarah: I-I-I found him in this bank of snow, h-he was freezing to death--you should get down here. D:>

Claire: We'll be there as soon as possible--thank you so much for calling. *hangs up* We have to go to the hospital, Harry.

meanwhile

Sarah: *hangs up* ...They're on their way... How is he doing? <:/

Harry: ... Why?

meanwhile

Doctor: We were able to quickly diagnose him with a severe case of hypothermia. Ms. Huntings... he may die. I just wanted to tell you that beforehand, so that if he DOES, it won't be a surprise...

Claire: I'll tell you in the car, but right now, we need to GO. *quickly helps Harry outside and into the car, then gets in and DRIVES*

meanwhile

Sarah: *holds back a sob, putting a hand over her mouth* A-Alright... Is he awake? C-Can I talk to him?

Harry: *rides in the car with Claire, silent. Soon he wonders where they are going* ...

meanwhile

Doctor: He's not awake, and even if he was awake, he'd be delirious with fever... but you can go see him.

Claire: *as they drive* ...Harry, Sam's been put into the hospital. Sarah found him in the snow... it sounds like he was left there to die.

meanwhile

Sarah: *nods, responding in a tiny voice* Thank you... *goes into the room*

Harry: OH NO! Oh no! Oh no...!

meanwhile

Sam: *his limbs are zip-tied to the bed. In his sleep he twitches and shivers all over. He slept under an electric blanket while an ice pack was carefully placed on his head. His was still a bluish color, his fingers and toes only slightly less purple than before*

Claire: I hope he makes it... I really hope he makes it...

meanwhile

Sarah: *almost can't look at him without wanting to cry--in a way, she felt like she was at least partly responsible for this. if she had stayed, then maybe this wouldn't have happened... and if he died, she wouldn't be able to live with herself. she approaches the bed, looking down at him, appalled by the shade of blue his skin was. a dreadful question arises in her mind--How in the world is he going to survive this?*

Harry: *is jittery and worried*

meanwhile

Sam: *groans a little. He tries shifting a bit, but the zip-ties stop him*

Claire: *DRIVING* ...

meanwhile

Sarah: !! S-Sam? D:>

Harry: ... He's going to be okay... Right?

meanwhile

Sam: *hearing his name, his eyes flutter half-open, and he slowly looks around the room until he finally finds Sarah. He still twitched and shivered*... S-S-S-Sarah...

Claire: *nods, trying not to think of the alternative*

meanwhile

Sarah: Sam... *lightly touches his cheek with her fingers, forcing herself not to pull away when she feels how dreadfully COLD he is* ...I'm so sorry...

Harry: *tries to convince himself of this*

meanwhile

Sam: *relaxes a little when Sarah's warm hand touches his cheek... though he still shivers. Now he notes that his muscles felt extremely sore - it hurt even to move them a little, and they ache if he is to keep them still* ... I-I s-s-s-s-still l-l-l-love y-you S-S-S-Sarah... d-d-do y-y-you s-s-still l-l-love m-me...?

Sarah: *her voice falters* I-I do... I still do... a-and I'm so sorry for leaving you there... it was a s-stupid thing for me to do...

Sam: ... *quietly* I-I-I s-s-still l-l-love y-you... *he shuts his eyes tightly, trying to stop his shivering* I-I-It's s-s-so c-c-cold in h-here... I-I-I'm s-s-so c-c-cold...

Sarah: *rubs his cheek with her thumb, wishing she could do more for him* You're going to be fine... Y-You just have to hold out a while longer...

Sam: *he looks around the room again, somewhat confused as to where he was exactly* M'I-I in a-a hosp-p-pital...?

Sarah: Mhmm... They brought you here after I found you... do you remember how you ended up in that alleyway...?

up

Wind: *a strong wind picks up as soon as Sarah exits the apartment, snow swirling around her then going off in the direction of the alley where Sam is buried*

meanwhile

Sam: *still in the snow, with only a small tuft of hair poking out, he shivers and shakes, unconscious, his fingers and toes purple, everything else blue, a fever burning his brain*

Sarah: *has a very bad feeling--she goes in the same direction the wind blows, until she reaches the alley. She sighs a little bit, remembering that moment her and Sam shared there... when she notices a little black spot in the snow. she wades through the deep snowdrift, and brushes away a bit of the snow surrounding the black spot... and her confusion quickly turns to pure horror when she realizes what it is. She desperately starts digging through the snow, scooping it away by the handful, praying to whatever god exists that Sam was still alive*

Sam: *is still alive as Sarah has hoped, but very, very sick, his shaking becoming more severe when the weight of the snow is lifted from his body*

Sarah: *When his full torso is revealed, she takes off her jacket and puts it on him hoping it will help him warm up at least a BIT... she continues trying to dig him out, too shocked and terrified to speak--only a single thought repeats over and over in her mind: "oh my god oh my god oh my god"*

Sam: *his body is stiff from the cold. Stiff and numb. He doesn't feel Sarah digging him out. In his suffering, he doesn't even know she's there, or where he is, or what on earth happened to him*

Wind: *swirls around Sarah a bit*

Sarah: *completely ignores her own shivers, only focusing on digging Sam out. Once she frees him from the pile of white, she pulls him closer to her and hugs him tightly in an attempt to share body heat, ANYTHING to make sure he lives. She pulls her phone out of her pocket and dials 911*

Man: *on the other end he picks up* Hello, please state your emergency.

Sam: *lets out the tiniest, weakest groan he has ever made in his entire life*

Sarah: *almost starts crying when she hears this* I-I--My fiance, h-he--I just found him buried in a pile of snow, I-I don't know how long he's been here, but he l-l-looks like he's FROZEN... *her voice breaks at the last word*

Man: Ma'am, please stay calm for as long as you can and keep your fiance warm - an ambulance will arrive at your location shortly - we've tracked down where you are with your cell phone's signal. Just hang on.

Sam: *shivering and shaking, suffering and freezing*

Sarah: O-Okay-- *wraps her arms back around Sam, slipping them inside the jacket just so she can pull him closer, scared by how COLD he was...*

*soon and ambulance arrives and the paramedics cart Sam into the back, letting Sarah come in as well. "Anything to make you feel more comfortable" they say. They drive*

Sam: *Even in the warmth of the ambulance, where three layers of blankets cover him, Sam lies on the gurney, still shaking uncontrollably and unconscious*

Paramedics: *watch him carefully*

Sarah: *watches him, biting her lip anxiously--he HAD to make it, he HAD to... she wouldn't be able to live with herself if he didn't. she would hate it if his last memory of her was her leaving him at the alter...*

Sam: *strangely, when Blood Puppet stripped him naked and threw him in the snow, Blood Puppet let Sam still wear his engagement ring - the RING of all things... but that is how Blood Puppet is. Polite. In a way he was also somewhat considerate of other people. And this is why Sam still has the ring*

*they continue to drive*

Sarah: *notices this, and looks down at her own hand--she hadn't taken off hers either. she put her hand over his, squeezing it gently, whispering* I never should have left... I'm sorry.

Sam: *his hand is stiff and cold, and he doesn't not respond to Sarah*

*they arrive at the hospital. Sam is taken to the emergency room where a doctor has to make sure Sam recovers all of his body heat as well as keeping his fever in check. Soon the doctor comes out of the emergency room to meet with Sarah*

Doctor: ... Does he have any relatives of any kind, Miss?

Sarah: Y-Yes, his parents... Harry and Claire Gatzsky...

Doctor: Could you call them and tell them what has happened to their son if if you know their number?

Sarah: *nods* O-Of course. *pulls out her phone and quickly dials Claire's number*

meanwhile

Claire: *hears the phone ring, and picks up* Hello?

Sarah: M-Mrs. Gatzsky?

Claire: *is a bit surprised* Sarah? Um, If you're looking for Sam, he's--

Sarah: No no, that's not--Sam's in the hospital right now.

Claire: WHAT??

up

Sam: *utters the first word he's said in a couple of days, his voice weak from disuse* ... Can't...

Celine: I'll help you with that, then. *jabs a needle into his neck, and injects a significant amount of the illicit substance into his system--not enough to kill him, no, but enough to leave him completely helpless*

Sam: ...Nnuggh... *he nearly faints, crashing his head onto his desk, though not feeling it, as the drug only allowed him to feel bliss*

Blood Puppet: *enters through the window carrying a bag filled with things* Did you see how deep the snow is outside? Like an ocean of white...

Celine: I DID notice, actually... How, may I ask, do you plan on getting him out of here?

Blood Puppet: Through the window in the bag I brought. We're going to throw him in the snow and let him freeze to death. That way his flesh won't rot as quickly and you'll become the new lieutenant. Now then... *he stands Sam up*

Sam: *looks at Blood Puppet through glassy dazed eyes, too drugged to understand what's going on*

Blood Puppet: *strips Sam completely nude, then binds and gags him*

Celine: *watches silently, waiting very patiently* ...Isn't there a faster way to kill him?

Blood Puppet: Any faster way would make it easier for people to track me down. And if they track me down they'll wonder who let me in. And if they wonder who let me in, they'll learn that the only other person in here would be you. And then the execution comes - treason is always such a nasty thing. Now help me get the Lieutenant into this bag. *starts doing so*

Sam: *groans*

Claire: *is not fond of doing dirty work such as this (usually, other people do this FOR her), but she helps Blood Puppet stuff Sam in the bag*

Blood Puppet: Good. You stay here. Can't risk you being spotted with me - I always care about the well-being of others... as long as I'm not planning on eating them, or if I'm feeling the need to murder someone. *he takes the bag, able to lift it and climb out the window thanks to his inhuman strength gained from infection. From there he takes the bag to a random alley - not knowing the significance of it, the moment between Todd and Key shared there, as well as Sam and Sarah - and dumps Sam, who is still bare naked, into the deep snow. Blood Puppet then covers him up with the snow and runs off*

Celine: *sits back down on the desk, and resumes working on paperwork. If anyone asked, the Lieutenant simply left home early today. Hopefully, Blood Puppet would inform her when Mr. Gatzsky was dead*

That Night, In Sarah's Dream

Todd: *approaches Sarah for the third time, a graveness now in his expression*

Sarah: *notices this, and doesn't like it* ...Dad, what's wrong?

Todd: ... ... Do you know where Sam is, Sarah?

Sarah: ...He's probably asleep at his apartment... at least he SHOULD be...

Todd: ... He's cold, Sarah... I know he's cold... so very cold...

Sarah: ...What do you mean? Like, cold as in "I need a jacket" cold, or "i'm freezing to death" cold? D;>

Todd: *he only looks at Sarah, that same grave expression becoming even graver (if that is even possible), then disappears*

Sarah: *wakes up the next morning feeling like she really HAD to go out and look for Sam--she dresses quickly, throwing a coat on over a tshirt and heading out*

up

Todd: *raises a brow* ... Perhaps you should find out for yourself.

Sarah: ...I can't talk to him, not NOW... not after THAT...

Todd: Well, so be it then, Sarah... I'm sorry I can't help you as I am now... <:/ *he disappears*

Sarah: No, Wait--! ... *looks down, feeling extremely guilty. she had assumed too quickly, she hadn't given Sam a chance... and so she went and broke his heart. she couldn't face him, not after this...*

The Next Morning, Military Outpost

Sam: *depressed, he can't function - especially with the striking soldiers outside his window. He just sits at his desk, staring at the untouched stack of papers blankly* ...

Celine: *sees this, and grins inwardly, her expression only showing concern* ...Mr. Gatzsky, I think you should go home for the rest of the day. You don't look too well. <:/

Sam: ... *he nods slightly. Shaking, he gets up and lumbers out, not entirely connected to the world at the moment, trapped and drowning in his emotions, in his head. He manages to safely head home*

In The Outpost

Blood Puppet: *climbs in through the window* I thought he'd never leave.

Celine: *raises an eyebrow, but isn't all too surprised* To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you here, Mr. Hobbes?

Blood Puppet: I would like to inform you, madam, that you are in a very... odd situation. Some would call it FRIGHTENING, what, with being in the presence of a murderous being such as myself. How very odd to see you so calm... but perhaps you have had contact with murderers before, Miss Gris. I know what you've been doing to the Lieutenant. I know what you want.

Celine: *sits in Sam's chair, smirking* Am I that easy to read? I know what you want as well.

Blood Puppet: To eat people? That much is obvious. If we work together, we can both get what we want... your power, and the Lieutenant's flesh. To combine our talents as one... hahaha...

Celine: *her smirk only widens* What did you have in mind?

Blood Puppet: I will come at 3:00pm tomorrow. Have him thoroughly drugged by then. I will then explain.

Celine: *raises an eyebrow, but doesn't ask any questions* Alright, then. Don't be late.

Blood Puppet: Never - that would be quite rude, after all... *he then leaps out of the window and runs off*

Celine: *watches him leave, but doesn't get up from the chair--she rather likes sitting there. Soon enough, this seat of power will be hers.*

*the next day, Sam works in the Outpost (or rather, fails to), depressed as ever. It was soon nearing 3:00, Sam completely clueless to what would soon happen*

Sam: *sits at his desk* ...

Celine: *walks around the desk so she's behind him* Lieutenant, I really think you should get some rest...

up

Harry: Why would she do that...? I thought Sarah was a sweet little girl... Sam always played with her...

Claire: ...? *realizes that Harry's got the time periods a bit mixed up* ...I don't know... Apparently she thinks Sam's got eyes for someone else. <:/

Harry: ... But Sam doesn't like any other girls... does he?

Claire: I don't think he does... I think it might just be one big misunderstanding.

Harry: Yes... Sam's a good boy... *manages to open the door to the bedroom and walks in with Claire*

Claire: That he is... *sits down on the edge of the bed with a tired sigh* ...I was hoping today would be a happy day...

Harry: I forgot what I thought today was gonna be... *he climbs into bed, laying down into a comfortable position*

Claire: *gets into bed as well* I'm sure you would have agreed with me... Goodnight, Harry.

Harry: G'night, Claire... *he quickly falls asleep*

meanwhile, in Sarah's mind

Todd: *he approaches Sarah, a disapproving look on his face*

Sarah: *sees him coming, and quickly looks away, biting her lip nervously--she knew she was in for a tongue-lashing* ...

Todd: ... Sarah... you've really hurt Sam. Do you know that?

Sarah: ...He hurt me first. He cheated on me.

Todd: *he shakes his head sadly* ... Sam's a nice young man. I could tell how much he wanted to be closer to you before. LONG before. I saw how he looked at you. And... I really do approve of you and him... because I know Sam's a nice young man. I know he'd never hurt you, Sarah. I know he'd never cheat on you.

Sarah: But he DID--I SAW him!

Todd: I saw too. It wasn't him. You can refuse to believe me all you want, but that's the truth.

Sarah: ...But... Why would he l-let her...?

Todd: The woman's deceiving him. He'd never let her do the things she did to him. Especially if he knew what she really is.

Sarah: What she is... what are you talking about?

up

Sam: M-maybe you were just... seeing... things...? D8>

Sarah: Ah. Aha. Ahaha. You're pretty fracking hilarious sometimes, you know that? We're done.

Sam: Wh-when you say we're "done", y-you mean done talking, r-right? Like we're not... DONE done, right...?

Sarah: I dunno, I'm pretty sure you're smart enough to interpret that on your own.

Sam: *he tries to say something, but nothing comes out. Instead, he stands in silence for a while before leaving, feeling heartbroken again and quite numb. He gets back into his parent's car*

Harry: Oh - what are you doing in our car, Sam? D:

Sam: ...

Sarah: ... *sits back down on the couch, her thoughts blank--she didn't really want to think about anything right now* ...

meanwhile

Claire: Sam, what happened?

Sam: *he stays completely silent, tears soon forming and trickling down his face* ...

Harry: Sam? D;>

Claire: D:> ... *realizes what must have happened* Harry, shh... *drives back to her and Harry's house*

Sam: *he stays silent the entire time, still numb, not really thinking about where he is at the moment, or who he's with, or what any says. Trapped in a whirlpool of depression, he can only think about how everything has been ruined*

Harry: *wonders why Sam is so sad, but figures that it must be something that he can't remember*

Claire; *parks when they reach their home, and goes around to help Harry get out--she wonders if Sam will get out of the car on his own*

Harry: *is helped out, he grabs his cane to help maintain his balance*

Sam: *he does get out, but stands still on the sidewalk, still silently crying to himself*

Claire: <:( ... *goes over to him, and puts an arm around him, leading him into the house* Come on, Harry...

Sam: *with his mother's help, he drags his feet*

Harry: *follows them with his usual limp*

Claire: *leads Sam inside and sits him down on the couch. she speaks in a hushed, soft tone* ...Do you want to talk, or do you just want time alone?

Sam: *he doesn't answer her for a while. He just stares blankly. After a minute, he speaks, his voice cracked and quiet* ... I j-just... j-just need to be alone...

Harry: <:/ What happened, Sam?

Sam: ...

Claire: *gives Sam an sad and sympathetic look before switching her attention to Harry* We can talk about this upstairs... come on. *helps Harry up the stairs*

Harry: *is led upstairs* So... so what... happened...? D:

meanwhile

Sam: *with his parents out of sight, he lets himself sob loudly into his hands*

Claire: ...I don't know how much you remember, but.. Sarah basically left Sam at the altar.

up

Sam: ... Y-yeah... okay...

Harry: Do it right now! D:

Sam: ... R-right now?

Claire: *nods* Now would be a good time.

Key: *comes up to them, and hands Claire back her phone* She wouldn't pick up... I'm sure she made it back home, but she refuses to answer...

Sam: ... ... I guess I'll g-go, then...

Harry: Oh! Why are you here, Key? :/

Key: Don't worry about it, Harry. <:/

Claire: *nods* Then let's go, I'll drive you there.

Sam: *quietly* Thanks, Mom...

Harry: Wait... whah...? D;>

*they go*

Sam: *gets out of the car and walks up to Sarah's apartment alone, biting his bottom lip, anxious*

Sarah: *was checking the phone. there were over a dozen missed calls, and almost the same amount of voicemails, all from concerned friends and family, her mother comprising most of the messages. she sighs--maybe she should start calling people back... but she didn't know what she would say!*

Sam: *he sucks in his breath and knocks on the apartment door, shaking somewhat with fear of what will happen next*

Sraha: *jumps when she hears the knock (oh god oh god oh god). against all normal judgement, she goes to look through the peephole, and is dismayed to find Sam there--she... she couldn't talk to him, not after THAT...!* ...y-yeah?

Sam: S-Sarah... please open the door... we really need to talk. <:(

Sarah: *she knew he was there to try to get her to come back, but...* N-No.

Sam: "No"...? S-Sarah... PLEASE... please don't do this...

Sarah: I-I know what you want to say, Sam... I can't believe you'd invite her to the WEDDING...!

Sam: Who's "her"?? What did I DO?? D8>

Sarah: She was THERE, Sam! I SAW her, sitting there, along with EVERYONE ELSE--How did you not expect me to NOTICE??

Sam: Who are you TALKING ABOUT?? WHO was sitting there?? D8>

Sarah: *is getting rather sick of his innocent act* That dog you were cheating on me with!

Sam: D8> ?? ... No...? I never invited that woman, and I didn't see her there...

Sarah: *through her teeth* She was there, sitting on your side of the fracking aisle. She was THERE, GRINNING at me like she KNEW that SHE had you instead of me.

Sam: The only people on my side of the aisle were my parents and and some people who work at the outpost...!!

Sarah: So you're telling me she SNUCK IN somehow? You've got to be joking.

up

Presence: *wraps itself around Sarah*

meanwhile

Sam: I-I thought... I-I-I thought she wo-wouldn't... I-I-I thought... I thought she loved m-me...

Harry: Who loves you...? Wait - where are we? D;>

Sarah: *can't bring herself to take the ring off--she merely closes her eyes and tries to hold back the tears. she loves him, she truly does, but this was going to lead to heartbreak, just like every other time. there was enough proof for her to be sure*

meanwhile

Key: *repeatedly calls Sarah, becoming even more and more concerned when she doesn't pick up*

meanwhile

Claire: Harry, shhh... Sam, I KNOW she loves you, I can tell just by the way she LOOKS at you... now, SOMETHING made her hesitate, and I think we need to find out what that was.

Presence: *continues to wrap around Sarah, trying to comfort her*

meanwhile

Sam: *quietly* ... I-I think I already know...

Harry: Whuh...? D;

Sarah: *only cries more as the reality of what she had just done sinks in (so many people there--disappointed.) But she couldn't go back, not after THAT... she vaguely notices the phone ringing, but ignores it*

meanwhile

Key: *gives up on calling her, and heads back into the church to try to sort out this mess*

meanwhile

Claire: ?? Well, say it!

Presence: *whispers incoherently in Sarah's ear*

meanwhile

Sam: ... S-S-Sarah th-thinks I-I'm cheating o-on her...

Harry: D8 ...

Sarah: *holding back sobs* I-I don't... I can't understand you...

meanwhile

Claire: ?? Why on Earth would she think THAT? D:>

Presence: ... sssss... *wraps a warmth around her*

meanwhile

Sam: ... A-a woman drugged and sexually assaulted me TWICE... a-and BOTH times, Sarah c-came in at the wrong m-moment...

Harry: Sexually assaulted?? Assaulted you?? D8<

Sarah: *strangely feels both unsettled and somewhat comforted. at least she knew ONE person who wouldn't leave her...*

meanwhile

Claire: What!? Why didn't you say anything?? When did this happen?? D8>

Presence: *continues giving Sarah its warmth*

meanwhile

Sam: I-I don't... I just... I-I couldn't...

Harry: I will beat this woman up. >:(

Sarah: *eventually stops crying, her quiet sobs reduced to sniffles. she wipes the tears away with the back of her hand, and stands up. she needed to get out of this dress*

meanwhile

Claire: No no, that's not the right way to fix this... D; Sam, you need to find Sarah and talk to her...

Presence: *doesn't follow Sarah*

meanwhile

Sam: No... no I can't... I can't after today... she hates me, now...

Harry: We need to beat that woman up. D:<

Sarah: *suddenly feels cold again when she enters her room. she stands with her back to the mirror, twisting around to try to undo her dress--it was nearly impossible to do, but with some effort, she finally frees herself from the gown* Guh... *sets the dress down on her bed, and puts on something more comfortable, then goes back out to the living room area* ...

meanwhile

Claire: Harry, shush--Sam, you'll never know if you don't try. <:/

Presence: *gone*

meanwhile

Harry: YEAH! D8<

Sam: Dad, do you even know what you're agreeing to?

Harry: ... ... beating a woman up?

Sam: ...

Harry: Didn't we agree on that?

Sarah: ... *sits down on the couch with a depressed sigh. looking back, that was quite possibly the stupidest thing she could have done...*

meanwhile

Claire: No, Harry, we didn't. *to Sam* I'm serious. You should at least TRY to talk to her...

Sam: And what do you think'll happen?? She'll immediately forgive me for this horrible thing she thinks I did and everything will be sparkles and rainbows? D8>

Harry: ... ... yes.

Claire: You'll never know until you try--You just have to prove that what she saw wasn't what she thought it was... if it WAS assault like you said, then Sarah has no reason to mistrust you.

Sam: Sarah has PLENTY of reason to mistrust me... that woman came back a week ago and did the same thing to me AGAIN - like she's TRYING to ruin our relationship... and I can't even remember what she looks like.

Harry: I can't remember what she looks like either. D:

Claire: Have you considered asking Sarah what she looks like? If it affected her that badly, I'm sure she'll remember her face.

up

Harry: *he smiles back at Claire*

Sam: *comes out fully dressed in the suit* How do I look?

Harry: ... Like I did...

meanwhile

Presence: *places its hands on Key's shoulder's from behind*

Claire: *nods* Very handsome. :) Sarah had better be pleased when she sees you in that church. :P

meanwhile

Key: ...! *nearly turns around to see who was behind her. she slowly lifts a hand up to her shoulder, wondering if that feeling there was just her imagination*

Sarah: ...

Sam: *rubs his neck, somewhat embarrassed* It'll be fine... ^^; So this thing's at, what, ten? So I better be getting over to the church with you guys! D:

meanwhile

Presence: *continues holding onto Key*

Claire: Yep! We need to finish setting everything up. D:

meanwhile

Key: ...

Sarah: ...he's here. Trust me. <:)

Key: ... *nods* I believe you.

Sam: Right! Let's go! D:

*they all leave to help set the wedding up*

meanwhile

Presence: *wraps its warmth around Sarah*

Sarah: *smiles and closes her eyes, enjoying the warmth* ...

Key: ...He never really left, huh?

Sarah: *shakes her head* Nope... he's still got something left to do.

Key: *smiles sadly* Right. We should probably get going...

At The Wedding

*everyone is there, smiling, waiting for Sarah, the bride, to show up. A few high ranked generals were also present, being close friends of Sam's*

Harry: *waits, happy*

Sam: *waits at the altar* :)

Claire: *waits next to Harry, just as happy*

Key: *waits excitedly*

Sarah: *is behind the closed door at the end of the aisle. she takes a deep breath to stop her hands from shaking* Okay... okay.

Man: *opens the doors*

Sarah: *steps forward, bouquet in hand. The first thing she sees is Sam by the altar--and right after that, she sees HER*

Celine: *is sitting at the end of one of the pews, watching, smiling along with everybody else--but when Sarah's eyes met hers, the smile turned into a devious smirk*

Sarah: *completely freezes. (Why is she here? WHY? I DIDN'T INVITE HER, NO ONE--) The knowledge that her soon-to-be HUSBAND invited the woman she's caught him with TWICE before made her stop right in her tracks*

Everyone: ...??

Sam: *quietly, anxiety hitting the pit of his stomach* ... Sarah...? D:>

Harry: *suddenly grips his wife's hand tightly*

*the air grows silent, as well as cold*

Claire: *watches and waits anxiously, squeezing Harry's hand reassuringly* ...

Key: *bites her lip nervously--what was wrong...??*

Celine: *never stops grinning. nobody notices this, as their full attention was given to the bride*

Sarah: *Doesn't know what to do--the implications that action held were simply too much to ignore... but could she...? she could. she turns and runs back out the door, dropping the bouquet on the way out--she refused to be heartbroken again*

Wind: *a huge gust of it suddenly blows against Sarah's front, while a presence tries pulling her back - it had been so close - so CLOSE! She can't just leave!*

meanwhile

Sam: *stands there, his heart shattered, staring at the bouquet on the ground in silence* ...

Everyone: *stares at Sam, also silent* D8 ...

Harry: D8> ...

Sarah: *nearly loses her balance, but she fights against the pull, determined to get as far away from that church as possible as quickly as she can. she ignores the stares she gets as she runs down the street in her dress, she ignores the tears that stream down her face, she just keeps running*

meanwhile

Everyone: *stands in a shocked silence*

Celine: *satisfied, she allows a mask of concern to settle over her features, looking just like everyone else in the crowd now*

Key: ...this can't be happening...! D8>

Claire: *has no words to express her shock* D8>

Presence: *continues trying and trying to pull Sarah - ANYTHING to get her back to the church, whispering to her, begging her to turn back "turn back"...*

meanwhile

Sam: *he continues to stare at the flowers on the ground, silent, until he finds hot tears form in his eyes. He quickly covers his eyes and quickly walks down the aisle over to the men's bathroom where he could cry in peace*

Harry: What happened...? D8>

Everyone: *silent*

Sarah: *ignores the voices, continuing to press onwards--with some difficulty, she manages to reach the apartment building and get up the stairs to her own apartment*

meanwhile

Key: ...Claire, I need your phone--go talk to Sam. D:>

Claire: *nods and hands her cell phone over to Key* Come on, Harry. *takes Harry's arm, and rushes after Sam as quickly as she can*

Celine: *waits along with everyone else--her job was done*

A Pillow: *is thrown at Sarah in frustration*

meanwhile

Sam: *he sobs against the door in the men's room*

Harry: *is pulled by Claire and keeps up as he can with his cane* D:>

Sarah: *angrily bats it away, screaming at the air* STOP IT!

meanwhile

Claire: *stops in front of the men's room and listens just to make sure he was in there* ...Sam... Sam, can we come in...? D:>

meanwhile

Key: *rushes out of the church and hastily dials Sarah's home number, praying that she'll pick up*

*A quiet moan is heard*

meanwhile

Sam: *still sobbing* ... No...!

Harry: We'd like to speak to you, Sam. D:>

Sam: *goes silent, then opens the door, trying to hold back a sob and failing. His eyes are puffy and red from crying*

Sarah: *angry and hurt, she sits down on the couch, staring at the ring on her hand. her furious expression suddenly becomes full of pain, and she only stares at the ring while tears flowed down her face. why would he do that? why would he DO that? WHY?? she doesn't notice the phone ringing*

meanwhile

Key: *waits, then groans in frustration when the phone goes to voicemail* Sarah?? Sarah, it's mom, please pick up! D:>

meanwhile

Claire: Sam... *puts both hands on either side of his face, wiping the tears away with her thumb* Sam, I don't know what happened just now, but we're going to find out, okay?

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Sam: Sarah, the only thing that's changed about me is that I've grown to LOVE you - I've had YEARS for that love to develop, and throughout that time, I've never loved ANYONE ELSE the way I love you - not ANYONE ELSE, Sarah! Do you really think I would so readily give up THAT for some woman I don't know?? D8>

Sarah: *opens her mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. he... he wouldn't* ...

Sam: *quietly* ... You've gotta believe me, Sarah...

Sarah: ... *nods* Okay. A-Alright.

Sam: ... Okay... let's head home... *he finds his motorcycle and gets on it*

Sarah: *gets on the motorcycle behind him, hanging on tightly* ...

Sam: *he drives home, shaken by what has happened. Home, they go, and Sam opens the door for Sarah, holding it for her* ...

Sarah: *walks in, mumbling a thank you as she walks past. She was just as shaken as he was, maybe even MORE so--she believes he's withholding the truth, but... there's no way for her to be sure... and he's never given her a reason not to trust him... emotionally exhausted, she heads to bed*

Sam: *deciding to give Sarah some time alone, he lies down on the couch, immediately trying to just sleep*

Sarah: *notices that Sam hasn't followed her inside and briefly considers going back to get him, but decides against it and simply gets into bed, trying to fall asleep*

Sam: *he eventually falls asleep, shifting around a bit in his sleep, worry plaguing his mind*

Sarah: *takes much longer to fall asleep, though she eventually does. she has a dream in which she relives every single time a man has left her, the most painful of which hasn't even happened yet--Sam leaving her for another woman. she unconsciously cries in her sleep*

One Week Later, The Day of the Wedding

Sam: *he lets Sarah know that he'll be over at his parents' house so that he could properly get ready - he didn't want her to see him looking nice until the wedding, really. That would make it special. He knocks on his mother and father's front door*

Claire: *opens the door, grinning widely* Hello, Sam. Ready for the big day? :D

meanwhile

Sarah: *had a similar idea, and goes to her mother's house to get ready (needed help putting the dress on anyway) Everything was going as planned, but she still had her doubts... why was she doubting so much? there was no reason to doubt... she stares at herself in the mirror, at that gorgeous white dress her mother had insisted on buying her, and sighs. she could do this. everything would be okay*

Sam: Pretty ready, yeah. :D

Harry: *he limps over to the front door with his cane in one hand and a suit on a hook in another* ...This's for you...

Sam: Oh! Dad... I-I didn't think you'd be up... this... uh... early. D:

Harry: It's... ... I forgot the time, but maybe it's later than early.

meanwhile

Presence: *wraps its cold hand around Sarah's*

Claire: *steps aside to let Sam in* Oh, your father can be up anytime he likes. Besides, he's just as excited to see you go as I am.

meanwhile

Sarah: *doesn't flinch away from it, already recognizing the presence as her father's. she looks down, away from the mirror* ...I hope everything goes alright...

Sam: <:/ ...

Harry: *pats Sam's shoulder as best as he can while trying to hold on to the suit* ...

Sam: *smiles a little at him and takes the suit, then walks into the house* I'll go... uh... change into this. Thanks for all this support. <:) *he walks into the bathroom to change*

meanwhile

Presence: *rubs the back of her hand with his thumb, reassuring her*

Claire: *watches him leave, shutting the front door. she sighs happily* He's finally getting married... I was starting to think I'd never get to see it. ^^;

meanwhile

Sarah: ...Yeah. Yeah, I'll be fine... *nods, as if to reassure herself* Right...

Key: *comes into the room* I found the veil. :D *stops to look Sarah over* ... *sighs happily* I wish I looked this beautiful when I got married...

Sarah: *laughs a bit* As far as I remember, you did. :P

Key: That was a compliment, silly... :P

Harry: *smiling* I feel happy... more happy than I've been in years...

meanwhile

Presence: *creates a warm feeling around Key*

Claire: *gives him a warm smile* I'm happy to hear that, Harry... <:)

meanwhile

Key: ...? *closes her eyes, and sighs happily* ...I wish your father was here to walk you down the aisle...

Sarah: Oh, I think he'll be okay with it. <:)

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