Mmkay, people. I was touched by your reviews and I decided to give you a little follow up. But I warn you, strict D/S-ers won't like it… This is something I've been longing to do for awhile…

Sam ran blindly though the halls. She had to get away from him. Oh God, why did it have to be like this? Why did she ever have to fall for him? Why did she have to TELL him! Everyone was perfectly content before, were they not?

Tears stormed in her eyes and she couldn't see, so she didn't know who caught her, hell she barely registered that someone's arm was on her waist.

"Woah, Sam. Slow down," came Tucker's voice, which seemed unusually soothing to her. "What's wrong? What happened?" Tucker knew Sam quite well and he knew that would have taken something big to make her cry.

"I-I… damnit, Tucker. I'm so stupid! Why am I so stupid?"

"You're not stupid, now tell me what happened." This was worrying him. Sam did not break down. Sam did not lose composure. Sam certain did not cry. Not in front of him. Not in front of her parents and he seriously doubted that she'd ever cry in front of Danny either. Not even when Danny was seriously hurt, she did not cry. She stayed calm. Always.

"I-I," she stammered again, "I told him! Tucker, I told him!"

He didn't have to ask what she meant. "And… uh… what did he say?" Obviously, it wasn't good, unless this was Sam's way of crying happy tears and Tucker seriously doubted that. He was afraid to ask, but he had to know.

"He's going out with Valerie," Sam spat the girl's name with disdain. She tried to pull away from Tucker as actually saying it out loud had brought on another wave of sobs and tears. She couldn't handle this, not now. Not ever. She couldn't handle losing the only boy she ever really loved to a girl who was always trying to kill him. It was a slap in the face. Danny would rather be with someone who wanted him dead than be with her. And every time that mantra ran across her brain, she felt like dying.

Tucker was shocked at that news. Danny was such an idiot and for the first time, Tucker really felt angry at him for it. Sam didn't deserve to be hurt like this. She didn't deserve to have her heart ripped out and blasted by an ecto-gun. He could feel Sam struggling against him, also for the first time, noticing how strong she was. It was incredible; he was using nearly all his muscle to hold her back. He had to keep her here, in his embrace or else she'd hurt herself. On purpose or on accident. Either way, he was going to keep her in his arms. "Sam."

She turned away from him, her eyes puffy red and her cheeks stained in heartbroken tears. "Let me go. I'm an idiot. I'm an unlovable idiot and I should be dead. Just let me go, Tucker." Sam was used to him giving in, giving her her way. Normally all she had to do was glare at him threateningly, command that he leave her in peace and he was gone. Or at least silent. She was surprised that it seemed strange for him to stop listening to her now. And how was he holding onto her? It vaguely crossed her mind that it wasn't fair that boys were often physically stronger than girls.

He placed his hand on her cheek and forced her to look at him, semi-registering the striking color of her lilac eyes. "You're not an idiot. You sure as hell should not be dead. And you are not," he pulled her closer to him, "not unlovable."

She turned away from him again, partially because she didn't want him to see her tears, partially because she didn't believe him, but mostly because there was something in his eyes that was making it hard to look him in the face.

"Sam," he forced her to look at him again, "do you hear me?"

"Yes," she mumbled.

He pulled her closer again. "You are not unlovable," Tucker kissed her softly. He wasn't sure exactly why… maybe because he wanted to show her that all her insecurities about being ugly and not good enough were way off base. Maybe just because it seemed like something she needed right then. Or maybe just because he wanted to, a little too much…

Sam was sure that nothing could shock her anymore. But there he was, kissing her. Shocking her, in more ways than one. She'd kissed Danny a couple of times, and thought it was wonderful, happy, blissful, perfect. But Tucker's kiss was different. It was comforting. It was soft and reassuring. And that's what she'd needed right then.

Tucker turned her toward the door, his arm around her still because he knew that she needed to be held up or she would collapse. "Come on, Sam, it's okay. I'm gonna walk you home."

-Is immediately shot by all D/S shippers- Okay, don't kill me. I don't apologize for writing this. I like it. I've been toying around with Tucker/Sam for awhile… it's a hard thing to write. It's hard to put Sam with Tucker when you KNOW she doesn't like him as much as she does Danny. But I don't know… sometimes you don't get the person you love most. Besides, Tucker and Sam aren't together at the end of this. She's breaking down, he's comforting her. It happens, mmkay.

Please review, I'm still accepting flames!