While the others were doing their own thing, Sam sat outside on the grass drawing one of the tall trees right in front of her. She was glad no one was there to bother her. And drawing was the only thing that really calmed her down.
When walking down the stairs, Lucas looked out the window and spotted the girl sitting down on the grass. He stepped closer and realized that she was drawing. But from where he was at, he couldn't see, but he was very curious.
He quietly opened the door and walked over to Sam. Standing right above her, he was able to see the tall tree she was drawing. "Looks pretty good." He complimented.
Sam flinched in fear, but calmed down when she realized it was Lucas. "You scared me." She sighed.
Lucas cracked a smile and sat down next to her. "Sorry, was just curios." He apologized. "You're pretty good."
"Thanks. Drawing helps calm me down." She smiled.
"Have you always liked drawing?" Lucas asked.
Sam nodded her head. "Ever since I was a kid, drawing and painting was all I ever cared about. Every Christmas my parents would always get me a new sketch book, or paint, even color pencils. Drawing was an easy way for them to keep me distracted. I always used to have my brother stand on the table and pose for me. He hated it." She laughed.
"Then why major in chemistry if you like art more?" Lucas asked.
Sam's smile dropped as she dropped the pencil she was holding. "Compared to Wes, I didn't come from a rich family. I was pretty poor. My parents struggled to support me and my brother. In high school, my parents died when they were in the army, leaving me and my brother alone." She said.
Lucas suddenly felt sad for her. He wasn't really sure how to comfort her, see as how her mood dropped so suddenly.
"My parents always said that no matter what, they'd try to help me pay for college, even if we didn't have a lot of money. They just wanted me to be happy and to do what I love. But I couldn't have that anymore."
She closed her eyes and let out a small sigh, trying her best to hold in the tears. "Not long after, it was just me. Wes was nice enough to let me stay in his mansion. And the closer my graduation was coming, the more panicked I became. Then apparently his father had been looking through my grades, and saw how I could possibly better his company. And knowing about my past, he let me stay to make people think he was a good person. He offered to pay for my schooling or to get me a scholarship if I were to major in chemistry so that I could someday work for him."
"And you took it?"
Sam nodded her head. "Wes was a bit mad at us, mainly his father. He didn't like how I was throwing away my own dreams to work for his father. But he came to realize that it was the only choice I had. I couldn't do anything."
"But you're still young. You have so much time to do whatever you want." Lucas said.
"Maybe so, but at the time I wasn't thinking. And now I feel like it's too late to turn back. If I were to suddenly change majors, I'd definitely get kicked out of the house. And Mr.Collins always refused me to get a job, so I have no money and nowhere to go."
Lucas grabbed her hand and held it tightly. "Maybe one day you'll finally get that chance. I know it'll come."
Sam squeezed his hand in return. She felt so much happier spilling all that out. And it was nice having Lucas comfort her. If anything she wanted to be there with him longer. "I'm not sure. I've completely given it up long ago. Drawing is more of a hobby nowadays." Sam sighed. "But it was thanks to Wes that I started martial arts. Without him, I wouldn't have a happy place. Or somewhat, at least."
The two heard the door open behind them. Sam quickly closed her sketch book and put it in her bag. She turned around and spotted Wes. He gave her a disappointing look as he tapped in his watch. Sam sighed and stood up. "Looks like it's time for me to go." She said.
"Where you guys headed?" Lucas asked.
"Breakfast with my father." Wes answered. "We'll be back later."
"Have fun." Lucas waved off.
"I'll try." Sam scoffed.
Lucas cracked a smile as the drove off. He looked down at the floor and realized she dropped her other sketch book. He opened it up a looked through the pages. There were a few small sketches here and there, and they were beautiful.
He then found sketches of him and the other Rangers. He cracked a smile seeing at how good he looked in the drawing.
He closed the book and held it under his arm as he went back inside, placing it in a safe spot for no one to find. He was sure she wouldn't be happy if someone found it.
~
After breakfast, the all headed back to the limo with Wes' father, him mainly talking to his son the whole time. "Now of course, you will be taking my place at Bio Lab. I want you to be ready. And Harvard's an excellent university. But son, listen to me. There's no substitute for experience. Listen-"
The kids playing baseball at the park ended up hiring the ball on the car, causing Mr.Collins to turn to them angrily and annoyed. He grabbed the ball and tossed it around in his hand. "Sorry, mister." The kid apologized.
"You know what I think? I think I'm going to keep this. Let that be a lesson to you."
Sam rolled her eyes as the kid frowned and ran back to his group of friends. She glared at the man. Phillips shook his head at her, motioning for her to not do or say anything.
"Dad, he's just a kid." Wes told him.
"If he's just a kid he'll learn a good lesson. I'll see you both at dinner. Throw this in the trash." He tossed the ball to Wes and hopped in his limo. Both watched as he drove off.
"Let's go home, I want to take off his dress." Sam sighed.
"Just a sec." Wes said. He looked at the ball and turned to the kids. "Hey kid!"
The kids looks back and saw Wes wave over at them. They all walked over and Wes handed them back the ball. "Hit a homer." He said.
"Thanks." The kid smiled, and they all cheered as they got their ball back.
"Told you you're nothing like your father. Compared to him, you have a heart." Sam smiled, poking his chest.
"Thanks." Wes cracked a smile. "Now let's get outta here. This suit is uncomfortable."
~
They didn't want to go back home to the mansion, so they just went back to the tower to get dressed there. "We're back." Wes sighed as he took of his tie.
"How was it?" Jen asked.
"I hate talking business with him. It's all that ever is." Wes complained.
Sam walked over and grabbed her bag with her clothes. Lucas walked over and stood next to her. "How was it for you?" He asked.
"It's always Bio Lab this, Bio Lab that. I hate it. It gets tiring. And this dress is the worst." Sam complained. She grabbed her hair tie, and began putting her hair back up in its ponytail.
"But you look beautiful." Lucas complimented.
Sam looked down at the floor, hiding the sudden heat she felt. No doubt here cheeks were all red. "Thanks." She cracked a small smile, still trying her best to hide it.
"I'll let you get changed now." Lucas said awkwardly, walking back over to the group.
Both Sam and Wes changed back into their original clothes, but Circuit picked up an emergency the second to eh got back. "Emergency! Mutants on the old highway!"
"Let's move!"
"I just got back." Sam whined.
~
They all morphed into their ranger suits and hopped on the bikes. They quickly caught up to the bus with all the children in it. Once they reached the bus, the mutant opened the door and grabbed Lucas, Jen, and Sam, holding them up in the air before dropping them to the floor. "Ouch." Sam groaned. The others others went chasing after them.
Lucas stood up and walked over to Sam, helping her off the floor. "Are you guys alright?" Jen asked.
"Yeah, we're fine." Sam answered. "Let's catch up to them."
They hopped back onto their bikes and caught up with the he other three. They all stood next to Wes as he picked up the price of paper and read the note. "If you ever want to see these kids again, bring ten million dollars to the fountain at noon." He read.
"Ten million dollars?" Jen questioned.
"By noon, that's impossible!"
Wes crumbled up the paper and threw it on the floor. "Come on, Sam." He said.
"Where are you going, Wes?" Trip asked.
"You guys try and go find those kids. We're gonna go get that money." Wes said. The two hopped on their bikes and took off, leaving the others confused.
~
"Do you really think he's going to do it?" Sam asked.
"Most likely, no. But I'm hoping that maybe he will this time." Wes said. "I just need you by my side for now, will you do that?" He asked.
Sam nodded her head. "Sure."
Wes grabbed her hand and led them into his fathers office, where he was already having a meeting with three other people. "Dad, excuse me, I need to talk to you." Wes begged.
"I'm sure it can wait." Mr.Collins brushed off.
"No!" Wes exclaimed. "I mean, it can't."
Both him and Sam looked at him with pleading eyes. The man sighed and closed his book. "Excuse me." He said.
He walked over to both Wes and Sam and brought brought them away from the room. "I hope you know right now that I'm in the middle of a major business deal." He said.
"Dad, the kids at the park have been kidnapped." Wes said. "The ransom is ten million dollars."
"Ten million...well you don't expect me to hand it over, do you." The man asked. Sam looked at him shocked, anger washing over her. "No, this is a problem for the police. This is not for me."
"Well there's no time. Dad, you're their only hope." Wes begged.
"Mr.Collins, they need you." Sam said. "Please."
He held up a finger to them and shook his head. "No. The police, not me." He walked back into meeting, ignoring how both of them felt.
"I hate him." Sam muttered.
Wes took her hand and led the away. She sat down on the chair while Wes began to do some thinking. Just then, Phillips can I'm the stairs with a tray of tea. "Do you need anything, master Wes?" He askedz
"Yeah. Yeah, I do need something. But it doesn't look like my dad is gonna give it to me." Wes sighed.
Sam sat leaning over with her elbows resting on her knee and chin resting on her hand, and angry expression plastered over her face. Once she couldn't bother to hide.
"You know Phillips, I always thought I'd follow in his footsteps. Now I don't know. It's like I wonder if..."
"If maybe you want to make your own footsteps?"
Wes cracked a small smile. "Exactly." He said.
"Only you can decide that. Follow your heart. You'll do what's right." Phillips smiled at the boy before walking over to the office.
Wes looked back at Sam, the angry expression suddenly turned sad. "Are you okay?" He asked.
"I think I just realized...I'm stuck here." She scoffed.
"What are you talking about?" He asked.
"Phillips is right about you. You can decided your own path. You can do whatever you want. But I think I've already dedicated my life to being here."
"Sam, you can also do whatever you want. We can both get out of here whenever we want."
"Not necessarily." She cut off. "Your father will come to terms that what you want to do is for your own good, and he'd support you. If I were to leave, I won't have anyone to support me."
Tear begin to trickle down her cheeks. Wes lifted up his hand and whiled the tears away. "You have me for support. You have the other rangers. We're all her to support you. You're not alone." He sat down besides Sam and pulled her into a hug.
"I love you, you know that?" She asked.
"I love you too." He kissed the top of her head and hugged her tighter. "We'll get through this together. I'm not leaving you. I promised that a long time ago."
Sam cracked a smile. "Thanks. You're the best."
"I know."
"Cocky much."
"You love it."