<span style="color: #0040FF"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Samuel Richard Johnson</span></div><br/><div style="text-align: center;">Sergeant Johnson; Sammy</div></span><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://covermenmag.com/niklasnilsson/pixInt/h.jpg">[ img ]</a></div><br/><br/><div style="text-align: justify;">Sam had to bite his tongue. He could understand Lana's concern, but her grin did not ease the upset in his chest. He had been clean for years, would never be willing to go back to the life he had. It bothered him that Lana made him feel terrible for telling her the truth. He was being honest, and he was rewarded with lectures. He couldn't blame her for it, but it still hurt. It was as if she didn't have any faith in him, not that he should he mused. They had known each other for a few hours and already things were looking dim. Lana was amazing, but she was more harsh than she thought. <br/><br/><span style="color: #0040FF">"I wouldn't dream of touching any drug. I don't even take aspirin,"</span> Sam tried to assure her. It upset him that she could even think that he would ever put Lilly in danger, especially to feed old addictions. It was rather insulting. He didn't need or want lectures from anyone, not anymore. Those days were over and he didn't deserve it. He told himself that Lana was just covering her bases, and it helped ease the irritation in him some. Still, she needed to be aware, <span style="color: #0040FF">"Listen, I know you mean well, but I have been clean for years--I already went through lectures and warnings and threats...and when you say things like that, imply things like putting my sister in danger after I have only given you the truth as you have asked...well, it doesn't really make me want to open up, especially if all I get in return is judgment and criticism. I understand your feelings, and I know you don't mean to insult me or anything like that--but that's how it comes off and it really hurts." </span><br/><br/>If Lana couldn't understand what he had tried to explain, then maybe they weren't meant to be. He couldn't be with someone who would always ask for the truth and then get upset or angry about it. He didn't expect her to be happy about his past, but he definitely didn't think it warranted a warning about his own little sister that he had taken care of countless times before. The only girl who had his heart totally and completely.</div>