Title: Prelude

Series: Breakthrough (Part 7)

Author: Alan Hitchen

Email: darkmere2000@yahoo.co.uk

Archive: http://www.realmoftheshadow.com/alan.htm

Disclaimer: Popular is the property of Touchstone Television.

Pairing: Sam/Nicole

Rating: PG-13

Information: Follows on from Far From The Tree. Contains direct quotes from 'Lord of the Files' by Oliver Goldstick.

Summary: The weekend continues.

"I thought we could make up a picnic and go for a drive."

"Great! Where do you want to go?"

"Fontana."

"No."

"No?"

"No! What are you thinking, Sam? That we go to Fontana, ask at the hospital, find my birth-mom, have a happy reunion and picnic on the grass? Not gonna happen." The en-suite bathroom door slammed shut behind her and Sam was left alone with her thoughts.

Later, in the breakfast room and having calmed down, Nicole explained her reasons as Janet served them. "I know you mean well, but you don't know all the facts. Doesn't a good journalist get all the facts before they write the story?"

"You got me there," Sam agreed. "So what are the facts?"

Nicole motioned for Janet to leave them before she began. "Okay, this is what my mom told me. Before you ask, I realise she could have been lying but I can't see why she would. Sheryl was a 16-year-old cheerleader who fell pregnant by the star quarterback. He claimed it wasn't his, her parents disowned her, and it was too late for an abortion. Her plans for college were shot, so she ended up working in some greasy spoon diner and nearly gave birth to me there. Mom was looking for an instant baby with the right looks and I fitted the bill. Mom gave Sheryl enough money to get back on her feet and to go back to college so she get on with her life and forget about me. And, as far as I know, that's just what she did. Face it, Sam, I nearly ruined her life. Why would she want to see me now?"

"Well, when you put it like that... but aren't you even just a teensy bit curious about her?"

"Course I am. But I owe mom. She can't afford to have this made public. It would ruin her political chances, and as much as I hate her sometimes I can't do that. You see... she loves me. Although she can't show it, I have to believe that somewhere deep inside she does love me."

Sam flashed her a comforting smile. "I'm sure she does. So what about that picnic?"

Nicole brightened in reponse. "All taken care of."

As they neared the garage Sam asked, "Your car or mine?"

"Yours," said Nicole, but then made for the red convertible and got into the passenger seat.

Sam grounded the picnic box. "What's going on?"

"Take a look at the pink slip."

Sam did. "It's in my name."

"It's yours."

"But I can't accept this... what is it?"

"It's a 1971 Karmann-Ghia Cabriolet. A design classic. It looks sporty but underneath it's a 1600 Beetle just the same as your car, so it's practical as well. It's completely restored and the engine's been blueprinted so it's got a full 60 horsepower and does a genuine 90."

"Wow, Nic, I didn't know you were into cars."

Nicole suddenly seemed flustered. "I'm not. I'm just repeating what the dealer told me."

Sam pushed her tongue into her cheek. "Right. And I'm thinking how cute you look when you blush."

Sam threw the picnic box to Nicole, got into the driver's seat, buckled up and turned the key. The familiar flat-four burble that came from the rear confirmed Nicole's statements. Selecting reverse she backed out of the garage, then engaged first. "Wagons roll!" she yelled, and hit the accelerator hard, squirting gravel as she shot down the drive like a rocket.

...

Brooke brought the cup to her lips but did not drink as her mind drifted into another reality.

"You have question?" asked the Oriental sage.

"I do," she replied, kneeling before him. "To be master of my realm I'm supposed to go after what makes my heart race, right? But what if I want something that belongs to someone else?"

"If this something is person they cannot be posessed like object."

"I know, but..."

"What you want from this person?"

"I want him to be happy... with me. Only me.

"Brooke," said Mike, interrupting her reverie, "going out somewhere?"

"Um, yeah, to Cranky's."

"You got all dressed up to visit Sam?"

"Uh-huh, ah, no, I'm gonna meet someone."

At Cranky's Sam was manning the till. Nicole had tried to persuade Sam to blow off the late shift, but she'd only just got the job and didn't want to lose it. Besides tonight was going to be special, Harrison's debut performance as a singer.

"Okay, is it just me or do you smell major disaster?" Lily said with a little smile.

"Did I just give that guy the wrong change?" Sam asked anxiously.

"No, I was talking about Harrison. Where did he get all this musical mojo from anyway?"

"Oh, that's Emory's doing. He dug up some old school report that said that Harrison was a mini-Mozart or something. It's a complete crock but Harrison seemed to buy it. I think he thinks it'll impress Brooke."

"And will it?"

Sam shook her head. "Not a chance."

Just then Calvin Krupps entered the music store with Brooke and they began to look at and animatedly discuss various CD's with each other.

"What's that all about?" asked Lily.

"Remind me to get kicked out of Tai Chi more often," Sam replied with a grin.

"Hey," said Lily and Sam to Josh and Carmen as they came in and approached the counter.

"What's he doing here?" Josh asked of Calvin Krupps, pointedly not mentioning his smiling blonde ex hanging on the Vice-Principal's every word.

"Apparently he's Brooke's date," said Lily.

Sam, suddenly realising this was no accidental meeting, shot her a warning glance. Brooke was still gunning for Josh.

"What?"

"Maybe we should get some seats?" suggested Carmen, trying hard not to be bothered by her boyfriend's obvious jealousy.

The small audience sat down to listen and the MC briskly introduced the first act. "The next dude is making his first appearance here at Cranky's so let's hear it for John Harrison!"

Harrison stumbled onto the tiny stage, squinting into the bright lights, took his seat on a stool and adjusted his guitar.

"Hi, it's Harrison John actually. Okay, I was going to sing one of my own compositions but then I had a better idea. As you're all gonna laugh anyway, I thought it'd be best you laughed with me, not at me. So here's something that was written by Mac Davis, I hope you like it. Okay," he said, then plunged straight into the chorus.

"Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me. I must be a heck of a man. Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doing the best that I can."

The audience chuckled appreciatively so he pressed on with the first verse.

"I used to have a girlfriend, but I guess she just couldn't compete, with all of these love-starved women, who keep clamouring at my feet. Well, I could probably find me another, but I guess they're all in awe of me. Who cares? I never get lonesome, 'cause I treasure my own company. Ohhh..."

Emory led the sing-along chorus with a pointer and an outsize lyric sheet and everyone joined in with enthusiasm. The second verse went down even better.

"I guess you could say I'm a loner, a cowboy of law, tough and proud. Well, I could have lotsa friends if I wanted, but then I wouldn't stand out from the crowd. Some folks say I'm 'egotistical', hell, I don't even know what that means. I guess it has something to do with the way that I fill out my skin-tight blue jeans. Ohhhh... Come on now."

They all roared at that and joined in the chorus once again before Harrison wound the song up.

"One more time, what are we doing? We're doing the best that we can. Yeeehaw! Give yourselves a hand!"

The audience clapped and cheered and whistled their approval. A hand tapped Sam on the shoulder. She turned to find it was Nicole standing behind her.

Sam smiled. "How long have you been here?"

Nicole smiled back. "Long enough. He's not bad is he?"

While his friends were busy congratulating Harrison and Emory was trying to sell pre-recorded tapes of his protege to everyone else Sam took Nicole by the hand and led her to a back room.

"When do you think Harrison will realise that Emory has a massive crush on him?" asked Nicole.

Sam laughed, she'd noticed that too. "Maybe never." She paused. "But I think what you really mean is when will I notice how you feel about me."

Nicole was thrown for a second. "Well... yeah," she finally admitted.

"Well, I've noticed and..." She kissed the blonde with a tenderness and warmth that took Nicole completely by surprise. "...I think I like the idea."