Whitening Toothpaste

Whitening Toothpaste

Chapter Ten: A Dozen Roses

By: Eve Karma

Disclaimer: I don't own them, so please don't sue me.

Spoilers: 17 People.... at least I think that's the one with Josh and Donna and the flowers, right?

Other: This is the last chapter of Whitening Toothpaste. I hope you all liked it. Enjoy the chapter. Thank you for reading. :)

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I was hearing things...that local news anchor with the bad toupee babbling...and someone knocking on the door...

Very quickly, I drifted back to consciousness. The TV was still on. My face was pressed into the carpet. Sam was curled up on the floor next to me, still sound asleep. And someone was knocking on the door. I got up, stretched, shuffled over to the door, and opened it. Toby strode in, but stopped in his tracks and looked around the office.

"What?" I asked him, oblivious, still not totally awake.

He was staring at my chest. The jerk. You think he'd be more polite.

Then, I looked down. Sam's tie. I was still wearing Sam's tie!

"Did I interrupt something?" Toby asked with an edge to his voice.

"Um, no, Toby, really, I guess we just fell asleep and...." I trailed off, realizing I was rambling. I walked over to Sam and crouched next to him, gently shaking his shoulder. Toby was leaning against the doorway, looking amused.

"Sam. Sam, wake up," I whispered.

"Huh...what is it..." then, "Oh, god," as he took in the scene playing around him. He clambered to his feet and ran a hand through his hair, in a feeble attempt to make himself look presentable.

I slipped out of the room, leaving Sam to talk to Toby. After going to the restroom to change into my work clothes, I got some coffee for Sam and I, and stopped in to talk to Donna. I sat on the edge of her desk and sipped my coffee while she organized some files.

Josh walked in just then and, without acknowledging either of us, pointed at Sam's cup of coffee that was on Donna's desk.

"Is that for me?"

"A "Good Morning, Donna and Kate," would be nice, Josh." Donna scolded him.

"Sorry." He rolled his eyes. 'Morning-now, is that for me?"

"No," I shook my head, "It's for Sam." I noticed that the coffee was getting cold fast and made it a point to leave soon.

I expected Josh to disappear into his office, but he stood there, peering at me like a curious stranger.

"Is there something wrong, Josh?"

"Um...no, there's not." He walked into his office and closed the door behind him.

"That was weird," I thought as I threw out my empty cup of coffee, picked up Sam's, and left the office.

~~~~~

When I walked into my office, I jumped in surprise. There was a glass vase on my desk. A glass vase that held a dozen roses.

I heard Donna calling my name and approaching. "Hey, Kate, do you know where-oh boy." She stopped and stared at the flowers. "Those are gorgeous! Who are they from?"

"I don't have a clue." I told her as I began to look for a card. I finally found it and read it aloud.

"Kate-Congrats on a great first week. Glad to have you around-don't know what I'd do without you."

I stopped and looked up. "Donna, they're from Sam!" I informed her, holding out the card so that she could read it.

"Wow," She gasped.

Just then, Josh walked up, looking for Donna. When he saw the flowers, he said, "Oh, shit! What did he do?"

Donna whacked him upside the head with the manila folder she was holding.

"Ouch! Donna, I was just asking!"

"Ugh!" Donna groaned, holding up her hands.

Sam walked in, blushing when he saw the roses and the crowd.

"Sam, thank you so much for the roses! They're beautiful!" I told him, smiling widely. "You shouldn't have."

"Really, you shouldn't have." Josh told him, which prompted Donna to slap him again with the folder.

I remembered that I was still holding Sam's cup of coffee and handed it to him. While Donna and I admired the flowers, Sam pulled Josh over to the corner to show him a memo.

***

"Sam..."

"What, Josh?" Sam asked impatiently.

"She looks just like Lisa."

Sam's head jerked up. "Who?"

"Kate. She looks exactly like Lisa."

Sam watched the young woman, realizing it was true.

***

Later that day, I caught Sam as he entered his office alone. "Really, Sam," I said him from my desk. "You didn't have to give me flowers."

"I know." He answered. "But I did."

His gaze lingered for a long time. I didn't mind.