“Sam.”  Sam said nothing; gritting her teeth and fighting back the tears that were brimming in her grey eyes.  “Sam!”  Shane said again with more force this time; and Sam snapped out of her self induced daze. 

            “Brian.  He might have cancer or something worse.  I have to go; we have to go.”  Sam said, her voice totally devoid of emotion.  Shane took a deep breath and looked at Sam as she packed, “I have to go tell them to head for the nearest port or I’ll swim to shore.  We can get a plane and fly there right away, unless you want to go back to LA.”  Shane stopped her from packing and looked at her.

            “I’ll go tell them we are cutting our trip short and then I’ll come help you pack, ok?”  Sam nodded; watching as Shane left the room. 

Six Hours Later.

            Sam was sitting in the seat in first class and was drinking steadily.  Blurring away the Brian‘s announcement, trying to drown it from her brain.  Shane came into the aisle and sat down, looking at her woman, her love.

            “How many have you had?”  Shane asked, looking at the scattered remnants of empty bottles. 

            “Not nearly enough.”  Sam said with a melancholy tone of voice.  Shane began to worry again; this wasn’t good.

            “Sam.” 

            “I can’t lose him, because I just found him.  When am I going to stop losing people I love?  Hmm?  My mom, C.J., you died, like twice and now maybe Brian?  I just can’t handle all this stuff that keeps coming down the pike.”  Shane sat and grabbed her chin, making Sam look at her.

            “You are not going to lose me, ever!  I am here to stay Samantha Leigh Vance, do you understand me?  Brian is one tough dude, and I doubt he’s going to succumb to something as minor as cancer.”  Sam snorted and chuckled, the alcohol taking full effect and making her drowsy.

            “You coming with me?”  Sam asked, as Shane put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close, Sam nuzzling into the crook of her arm.