Sorry for the long wait! This chapter is more of a filler for the upcoming chapters. Enjoy and I'll try not to keep you waiting too long for the next update.

Chapter 9: Lunch at the Bistro

"Hey, Cassie! Wait up!"

Cassie stilled on the sidewalk and turned to see Sam a short distance away, lightly jogging until he caught up to her.

"Hey Sam," she smiled. "I thought you were going to be at the hospital today?"

Sam sighed, "Well I was supposed to perform a wrist surgery today but my patient had to reschedule, so I had some free time on my hands and who better to spend it with than you," he grinned.

Cassie returned the smile and glanced shyly at the ground for a split second until meeting his eyes again. He still had a light purple bruise under his eye from the events that happened almost a week ago. They tried to keep quiet about it, dodging the questioning citizens of Middleton, and ignoring the glances and stares he received.

They still haven't told anyone the truth about what happened besides Grace, Nick, and the ever so curious Martha Tinsdale who insisted she know every detail, no if's, and's or but's.

So, it really would be no surprise to them if the whole town knew already.

"How are you feeling?," Cassie asked as she brought a hand up to cup his cheek, rubbing her thumb gently across the bruised area. Sam winced.

"Better. It's still tender but at least the color is fading," he said turning to look at himself in the reflection of a store window.

"It's always good to look on the bright side," she offered. "Anyway, I was just on my way to the bistro if you wanted to join me?" She asked, smiling sweetly at him before leaning in to kiss his bruised cheek gently.

"Hmm, how could anyone possibly turn an ask like that down," he laughed. Cassie only grinned and held her hand out to him in which he gladly accepted.

...

"So have you talked to Grace at all since...?"

"We haven't talked about us yet, but we are on speaking terms again which is good."

Sam took a sip of his coffee before setting it down on the table. "It's always good to look on the bright side," he echoed from what she told him earlier.

She gave him a half smile and he reached for her hand across the table, "I'm sure everything will turn out okay, he reassured.

Cassie squeezed his hand, "I hope so."

He looked at their conjoined hands for a moment then looked into her eyes, "How are you doing with the whole Ryan situation?"

Her smile faded, "Honestly, I'm not sure how to feel about it. He's been a dear friend of mine for a long time and I almost feel guilty for making him feel the way he does. Although I feel bad for him, I also can't help but feel upset with him."

Sam nodded, "That's completely understandable Cassie. He made some pretty bad decisions that night and he hurt you, you have every reason to be upset with him."

He took a breath before speaking again, "I also agree with you on the whole feeling guilty part."

"Really?" Cassie said in shock.

"Yeah, I kind of understood for a little while how he must've felt seeing you and me at your store after the anniversary party." He leaned forward in his chair to speak lower, "Seeing you with him in that moment made me feel so many things at once, things and emotions I hadn't felt since Linda."

Cassie covered his hands with both of hers, "I'm sorry you had to go through that again."

"It's not your fault, it's his. He knew that we were a thing and yet he still tried so hard to get you, hurting you in the process which is why I'm so upset with him...if you hadn't noticed."

She smiled, "Oh yes, very hard to tell. It's not like the two of you hit each other to the ground or anything," she said sarcastically.

Sam laughed and looked off to the side, reminiscing about his second favorite part of that night. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting to do that."

"Hmm, I believe those are the exact words you said to Ryan."

"I know you don't like violence whatsoever, but it was bound to happen sooner or later." He shrugged, "It's how the male species communicates and expresses their feelings to each other," he joked.

Cassie rolled her eyes and laughed lightly, "You're right, I do not feel that violence is ever the answer. However, I also know that I wouldn't have been able to stop you two if I tried."

"Again, I'm sorry and I promise to communicate verbally in a calm and civil manner the next time I feel such violent urges."

"Sam, you are not a violent man whatsoever. It's just this particular man that gets under your skin."

He nodded, "I have no idea how I'm ever going to be able to stand in the same room as him again."

"It's going to be tough for the both of us, but we're a good team, I'm sure we can figure it out," she winked.

Soon their meals arrived and they chatted casually while enjoying their lunch together.

As they were finishing up Cassie's phone screen lit up with a text from a friend asking for her at the Bell, Book, and Candle. "Oh, sorry Sam but I'm going to have to run. I have a customer waiting," she said standing up from her seat.

Sam flipped his wrist to look at his watch and waved his hand at her waving off the apology, "It's okay, I have to get going too. You go, I'll pay for our lunch," he said standing up and reaching for his wallet in his back pocket.

"Sam, I invited you so I should be the one paying," she said reaching for her purse.

Sam quickly reached in his pocket for his wallet before she could reach for hers and rushed over to the counter, paying Stephanie for their lunch.

He turned back to face Cassie with a cheeky smirk and shrugged his shoulders, "Guess you're just going to have to be faster next time."

Cassie shook her head, smiling and thanked him. She brushed past him towards the exit when Sam stopped her by catching her hand, pulling her in for a short and sweet kiss which went unnoticed by Stephanie behind the counter and the rest of the customers in the bistro.

He pulled back and smirked, "See you later."

She nodded, "Stop by Grey House for dinner tonight."

Sam let go of her hand, "Wow, you're just on a roll with great offers today aren't you?"

She laughed, "Bye Sam."

Sam watched her walk away for a brief moment until heading to the counter'only to be met by an amused grinned Stephanie.

Sam chuckled, "Just say it."

"Say what? I have nothing to say...only that you two are the cutest!" She gushed.

Sam playfully rolled his eyes and asked for another coffee to go, it was a filing paper kind of day and he needed the extra energy booster.

He stood at the counter waiting while Stephanie made his expresso. "So you and Cassie have certainly grown closer these past few weeks."

"Yeah I guess we have. It's been moving pretty fast but it feels right."

"Well I'm happy for the both of you."

She handed him his coffee, he thanked her and was on his way out when the bistro door opened and he saw a scarred cheek man come through, making his way past the customers' wondering eyes to the counter. Sam stopped in his tracks when he was met by the one person he absolutely did not want to see at the moment.

"Ryan," Sam greeted coldly.

Ryan gave no response. He instead quietly sat three seats away from him and pulled out his phone to scroll through.

This is the second time seeing Ryan since their brawl. The first was the morning after, he had walked Cassie back to Grey House and refused to leave until Ryan was moved and checked out entirely. They didn't speak a word to each other, didn't even look each other in the eyes.

Sam decided not to make a big fuss about his silence and made his way out but stopped short of the exit. He thought about what he told Cassie earlier.

He walked back to stand in front of Ryan and stuck his hand out for him to shake, "Come on, we're not in high school. Let's just settle this feud and move on with our lives."

Ryan looked down at his hand then back up at his face, "No."

"No?"

Ryan stood up and laughed, "You just don't get it Sam, I. don't. like. you. and I never will." He poked a finger to Sam's chest, "This isn't over Sam. Mark my words, you will pay for everything."

Sam scoffed, "And how do you suppose you're going to do that?"

"Give it some time Sam, soon she'll realize you're not the one for her either."

"What's that supposed to mean? You know what, I don't even want to know. Man, why can't you just let us be happy?"

"You just don't get it Sam, you and her ruined my happiness. It's only fair that I return the favor."

Sam felt his blood heating up and it took everything in him to not hit him in his smug little face again, instead he took a breath and sighed, "Ryan, don't turn this situation around on us. It was your bad decision which caused your unhappiness. You seriously need to see someone to help you through this man."

"You're right Sam, I did mess things up and I might not have a chance with her but doesn't mean I can't ruin things for you."

"So that's it? You're going to attempt to tear other people's happiness away just to make yourself feel better?"

Ryan stood up and closed in on Sam, looking him dead in the eyes, "Hey if I can't have happiness and if I can't have her then I'll make sure you can't either."

TBC