True Comfort, Needed and Given By mcat – mcat40@hotmail.com April 16, 2004 Post ep for Shadows (how we really wanted it to end)

"Marty?"

Martin and Samantha both looked up at the call. Martin's Uncle Roger was standing outside his aunt's hospital room door. He beckoned his nephew to him.

"You gonna be okay?" Samantha asked, rising with him from the chairs.

"Gonna have to be," he said quietly, quickly wiping his cheeks with the back of his hand. He took a step towards the room and stopped. Turning back to Samantha, he gave her a quick hug. "Thanks, Samantha. For everything today. I really appreciate it."

"Just doing my job," she replied with a quick, but sad smile.

"No, it was more than that. And I do appreciate it." His eyes conveyed the sincerity of his words.

"Go take care of your family," she said, giving him a gentle shove toward the room. "Let me know if you need anything else."

He nodded his head and walked down the hall.

+ + + + + + +

Martin sat with his uncle and cousins, watching his aunt sleep. They'd talked softly, trading stories of their younger, and happier, days. Martin tearfully and joyfully recalled one of the summer days spent with the family when they'd traveled out to Smith's Point Beach, on Fire Island.

"I remember the big juice thermos got knocked over in the back of the station wagon and spilled. With the hot weather and stuff, we all smelled like fruit punch when we got home," he said.

"Mom spent days trying to air out the car after that," Laurie agreed.

Terri looked at her watch. "I gotta go home for a bit and check on the baby."

"Bring her back," Roger said. "I'm sure your mom would love to see her."

"I will," she replied.

She kissed her mother on the cheek and then gave quick hugs to her dad, sister and Martin before leaving the room. The three had just settled back in their seats when Terri opened the door and peeked her head back into the room.

"Marty? There's someone out here to see you," she said.

Martin's face showed his confusion; he did not know who would be there to see him. He rose and left the room. Terri pointed down the hall to the waiting area he'd sat in earlier. Danny was there. Martin felt his cousin's gentle squeeze on his upper arm before she left him.

Before he could stop them, the tears welled up in his eyes once more. He was only able to take three steps forward before being swept up in Danny's embrace.

"I got here as soon as I could, Fitz," Danny murmured, rubbing his hands lightly over Martin's back and head, soothing the quiet cries.

"You're supposed to be in Washington," Martin said, his words muffled against Danny's neck.

"That was before. Now I'm supposed to be here with you."

Martin looked up and met Danny's concerned and loving gaze.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I would have met you at the airport or something," Martin said.

"That's why I didn't tell you. I was already on the plane when you called and told me you'd found Bonnie," Danny replied. "You needed to be here with her, Roger and the girls, not waiting at the airport for me."

"Have I told you how much I love you lately?"

"You just did." After a moment, Danny asked, "How is she?"

"Not good," Martin replied and buried himself into Danny's arms once again.

"Come on, let's go sit down," Danny suggested.

He led Martin over to a soft looking couch and sat him down. He then sat next to him and put his arms around him once again, rubbing his hands up and down Martin's back and shoulders, hoping to soothe, as he let Martin shed his tears again, this time with someone who would cry with him and give him the true comfort he needed.