Chapter 4

"…She was to turn 100 the next day, but crossing the road with her daughter to go to her own birthday party, her wheelchair was hit by the truck delivering her birthday cake. I'm not kidding, I swear! I've been told this story by Jon Maddox from the Homicide Investigations Unit" Danny said with a grin, "Crazy, huh?"

Sam couldn't help smiling. Danny had this way of acting when he was telling stories or jokes that always made her smile, even tonight.

"Oh my God, is that a smile? No, I'm not dreaming, it's really a smile!" Danny told Samantha who rolled her eyes but didn't stop smiling.

"I'm sorry Danny, I know I've been morose all day long." Sam replied, taking a sip of her club soda, "I just had a bad night…", she didn't want to give further explanations even if she knew for a fact that it was the reason her co-worker had taken her to that bar. She ran a hand through her hair and changed the subject, "How do you feel since Elena left?". She felt bad not to ask this question before but she had been too overwhelmed by her own problems .

"Not that bad…It didn't break my heart if it's what you're worried about. You know, she kind of used me and I let her do because I was desperately looking for stability in my social life. I wanted to be in love, to wake up every day by the same woman's side, to finally have a family but I was only fooling myself. We both realized we weren't in love with each other and we stopped the relationship before a cute little girl I know become too attached to me. We couldn't hurt Sophie…I loved that girl, I would have treated her like my own daughter but it won't have worked because I wasn't in love with Elena.. I'm gonna miss them but it's better that way. I guess." Danny sighed slightly, looking blankly at his half-empty glass.

"You're a great guy Danny and I'm sure you'll find the right woman, you'll have a bunch of children and they'll be proud of their Dad." Sam said truthfully, she really hoped the best for him.

"I had already found the right one…" Danny murmured to himself as his mind started travelling back over the years.

"What?"

"Nothing" Danny shrugged then turned his head to Sam and looked deeply in her tired eyes, «How are you Sam?" He wasn't gonna give up so easily, he was determined to know what was wrong with her co-worker.

"I'm Ok" Sam answered nonchalantly, but she didn't manage to fool Danny.

"Since when have we known each other?"

"…Ehm…seven years now, why?" Samantha frowned.

"And do you trust me?"

"Of course Danny, you're my partner and you saved my butt a lot of times!"

"No, I mean, do you consider me as a friend?"

"Sure, more than a friend, you're a brother to me." Samantha said truthfully.

Danny couldn't help smiling, touched by what Sam had just told him.

«So tell me sis, what's wrong? And don't tell me you're fine" Danny told her tenderly and sternly in the same time. Sam sighed twice and looked away. After a few seconds, she eventually spoke:

"I think I'm pregnant."

It took Danny several seconds to react. He opened his eyes wide, then shook his head.

"You're pregnant" he repeated incredulously, "I…I didn't know you had a boyfriend"

"I haven't" Sam started blushing, there was nothing in her social life she could be proud of.

"Oh…oh…" were the only words Danny could say.

"Yes."

Silence. Only the beautiful song of Ben E. King that was aired in the bar could be heard.

If the sky that we look upon

Should tumble and fall

Or the mountains should crumble in the sea

I won't cry, I won't cry

No, I won't shed a tear

Just as long as you stand

Stand by me…

"So, ehm, how come?" Danny eventually spoke.

"You want know how to make babies, Danny?" Sam smiled faintly. As he didn't answer, she carried on, "Well, I met that guy Brian, we had a few drinks and…Come on, I don't have to tell you how a one night-stand works!"

"You ever hear of something called condom? Oh Sam, you're smart, how could you have done such a thoughtless thing?"

"I was wasted OK?" Sam raised her voice, "And I don't think it's the right time to criticize me, I feel bad enough"

"You have to take a STD test" Danny said, a serious look upon his face.

"I know, but there is another test I have to take before" Sam replied, "and I don't wanna take it alone"

Danny looked at her and put a few bucks on the table. Twenty minutes later, he opened the door of his apartment and let Sam in.

"You want something to drink, to eat?" he asked her, taking her coat and hanging it on the coat rack.

"No, thanks…I think I'm gonna take that test now or I won't have the strength anymore"

"Yeah, sure. The bathroom is still at the same place" he told her kindly. As she went past him, he grabbed her arm and squeezed it gently. He said nothing but she could read all his support in his big hazel eyes. Her lips mimed a thank you and she headed towards the bathroom, holding the pregnancy test kit tightly in her right hand. Three long minutes later, Danny saw her walking out of the room with a indescribable look on her face.

"Danny…" her voice broke.

Danny rushed towards the blond woman and wrapped her strong arms around her. She buried her face in his chest and cried all the tears she had been unable to cry for the last few days.

"I…I can't be pregnant …Not like th-this…not now…I can't be a single mother…I…." she said between two sobs.

"Shhh...It's gonna be Ok sweetheart, you are not alone…Shh calm down" he told her kindly, stroking her hair and rubbing her back. He felt so powerless right now. He kept holding her for a long time till she managed to calm down and accepted to have some rest in Danny's room. She was much too tired to talk about what she was going to do in the future. Danny stayed with her until she fell asleep, then stepped towards the living room. He lay down on the couch, crossed his arms behind his head and stared blankly at the ceiling. He knew he wouldn't sleep that night.