Chapter Text
“Dad, why do you have to go?” Sam asked, tears falling from his eyes.
“You know why, Sam. I have to. For our country.” Kent looked down upon his son and hugged him, hoping to remember the feeling.
“Bye Bye Daddy! Have fun!” Vincent waved from his mother’s arms.
He couldn’t have known better. He was only four years old. Still, Sam despised how naive his brother was about this. Their father was going to war and here he was, smiling and waving.
“We’ll miss you, Kent.” Jodi said as she put Vincent down and ran to her husband for a parting kiss. “Be safe.”
“I’ll try.” Kent boarded the bus meant to take him to the city and train him for war.
Back in their house, Sam laid in his bed. He let the tears pour out of his eyes as he stared at a photo of the family together. They were so happy then. Now his father was going off to war and might not even make it back.
“Sam, sweetie, there’s someone here to see you.” Jodi said, opening his door slightly.
“I don’t want to see anyone right now!” Sam grunted, wiping away his tears and sitting up on his bed.
Then a boy walked into his room. Sam’s spirits lifted slightly when he saw the boy’s telltale black sweatshirt.
“Sebastian!” Sam gasped, standing up.
“Hi, Sam.” Sebastian said with a pitying smile
“I’ll leave you two boys alone, Robin’s here too.” Jodi closed the door and left
Sebastian stared at Sam for a moment before he walked over to sit next to him on his bed.
“I know it’s hard. Losing your dad.” Sebastian said, looking up at Sam’s puffy eyes.
“Don’t say that. Don’t say that I lost him. He’ll come back. I know it.” Sam spat at Sebastian.
“Yes, sorry. I just wanted to let you know that I’m here for you. So is Abigail. Heck, even Haley would be there for you if you needed her.”
“Heh…” Sam stared down at the ground for a moment. “Seb…”
“Yes?”
“I’m scared. I’m so scared. I don’t want him to die in a war he didn’t need to fight.”
A voice came from outside Sam’s door, “WHAT?!?!”
Sam bolted up and ran to his door.
“DADDY MIGHT DIE?!?!” Vincent cried to Jodi as he ran from Sam’s door.
“No, no, honey, he won’t die. He’ll be just fine. He’ll come back and have all sorts of fun stories to tell about his adventures!” Jodi said.
She glared up at Sam.
“Robin, will you take him for a moment?” Jodi asked as she handed Vincent off to Robin.
“O-Of course.” Robin held Vincent and tried to calm him down.
Jodi walked over to Sam and into his room. She turned around and slowly shut the door behind her.
“What we’re you thinking?!” she whisper-yelled at Sam. “You can’t say those things with your brother around! It’ll scare him! He doesn’t need to hear that!”
“I-I’m so sorry, Mom!” Sam looked down.
Jodi continued to whisper-yell at Sam as Sebastian stood up and walked to Sam’s side.
“With all do respect, I encouraged Sam to talk. He was feeling… down, and I wanted him to feel better. If you’re going to yell at anybody you should yell at me.”
“No, Seb. Mom, I’m sorry, but it was Vincent eavesdropping on my conversation. It’s his own fault.”
Jodi brought her hand up and rubbed her eyes, “You’re right, I’m so sorry, Sam. I know this must be difficult for you and I want you to be able to talk. I’ll try to keep Vincent away from your door from now on.”
“Thank you, Mom.”
“Sebastian, I think it would be best if you and your mother left.” Jodi looked at Sebastian.
“Oh, of course. Sorry.” Sebastian looked at Sam one time before he left and patted his shoulder, then he and his mother left.
Later that night, no one in Sam's household could sleep.