A few months later…
The cops had never come. Sam had lived each new day expecting the flashing lights to appear at her door.
More importantly, Danny hadn't gotten a call, text, letter - nothing ever from Valerie.
There was still time for her to try and make contact again, but for now, Sam was glad to see that Danny, though he admitted he wondered about her sudden silence, was starting to relax.
And yet, to Sam's disbelief, there was still something missing. A broken chain in the link. Danny wasn't smiling yet.
And so, Sam wouldn't smile, either.
It was a cool day in November and it felt so nice out that Sam took Danny by the hand and led him out to the grass in his backyard. Together, they lay on their backs and tried their best to concentrate on the clouds in the sky.
Sam's mind began to drift for a while.
So much had gone by in the past year and a half. This was not the way she expected her young twenties to turn out, but it was happening nonetheless.
Oh, if only. The phrase that kept rewinding through her mind all day, every day.
There was an aching inside of her gut that appeared after her confrontation with Valerie, which she hadn't spoken a word about to Danny. She was too afraid he'd get upset to the point of seeking out Valerie's forgiveness, and that was the last thing they all needed. He just needed to take it easy some more… No further emotional disturbances. Besides, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had betrayed his love for Valerie by doing what she did.
She turned her head to look at Danny. Her eyes wandered over his face with tenderness. A mixture of maternal feelings and an overpowering sensation of fear and love overwhelmed her and she scooted across the grass to cuddle into his side. She rested her head on his chest and hoped he wouldn't mind. Even though Danny still loved Valerie, Sam just knew she'd always love Danny.
"Sam," he murmured questioningly, still staring up at the sky, "does the colder weather make you feel different?"
She blinked softly and watched the far-off distance, pondering the question.
"I've never told anyone this because I thought it was kind of pathetic, but when the first signs of cold weather appear, I feel some sort of inner completeness. I cannot describe it in words, but something inside of me just feels content," she replied in a gentle tone.
He only exhaled a small sigh in reply, and a little bit of her heart sunk. She had almost hoped to hear him agree with her and smile, acknowledging that he understood what she meant.
"I've been thinking…" he explained, clearing his throat a tad. "I should take a quiet vacation. Soon there'll be too much snow to bother with traveling. So I asked Tucker last night and he said he'd like to take me on a fishing trip in Wyoming."
Sam bolted upright, feeling a burst of energy coursing though her body. For Danny to be interested in some fun activities meant that he was getting some of his old personality back…right?
"I think that's a great idea," she told him repeating her thoughts out loud with a toothy grin. "You and Tucker need to hang out more anyway. Get away from ghost fighting, get away from public, get away from me."
Danny was quiet, but shifted his gaze towards her.
"Thank you, Sam. For not giving up on me. I'm going to need you."
He sat up and gave Sam a big hug, burying his face in the crook of her neck. Sam felt a few sparks of hope flare up in her belly - yet at the same time, something inside of her died.
"I'll always be here," she whispered, feeling tears heat up her face.