WEBB AND SAM: COMMITMENT ISSUES
Author's note: Habanera from Carmen is also known as L'Amour est un oiseau rebelle – Love is a rebellious bird….
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It has been a few weeks since the baseball game.
SAM'S APARTMENT
Sam was cleaning out her closet, something she rarely did. She had Bizet's Carmen playing and was sauntering around to 'Habanera', while she tired to find the mates for different shoes. As she pulled a box down from the shelf, the baseball rolled off and banged her on the head. She picked up the baseball and threw it back; it rolled off and hit her again. She picked it up and threw it on top of some sweaters, where it stayed.
"Sam, where are you?" Ashlyn called out as she walked in.
"Right here," Sam groaned as she walked to the living room rubbing her head.
"What's wrong?" Ashlyn asked.
"Stupid baseball," Sam grumbled.
"What?" Ashlyn laughed.
"I was pulling a box down and that damned baseball rolled off the shelf and hit me on the head." Sam said.
"Did it knock some sense into you?" Ashlyn teased.
"Very funny," Sam said.
"Well since you brought up the baseball, how's Clayton Webb?" Ashlyn asked.
"Who knows?" Sam replied. "I haven't seen him."
"Why not?" Ashlyn asked. "After that kiss, I figured you'd see a lot of him."
"That kiss was all wrong," Sam said.
"It looked like he was doing it right to me," Ashlyn teased.
"Shut up, you know what I mean." Sam said.
"No I don't, explain it to me." Ashlyn said.
"It changed everything." Sam said. "It's no longer just a fling."
"Ok, I think I see where this is headed." Ashlyn replied.
"All of you were there; you're all couples except for him and me." Sam stated. "It happened in the heat of the moment."
"People don't share a kiss like that because of the heat of the moment." Ashlyn stated. "What happened after the kiss?"
"I left," Sam replied.
"You left? Why?" Ashlyn asked.
"What else could I do?" Sam replied. "I don't think he's the settle down type."
"I could think of a few things." Ashlyn smiled. "You want to settle down?"
"What ever, it just wouldn't work." Sam stated.
"Why wouldn't it?" Ashlyn asked. "You finally found a guy who can match wits with you."
"Oh please he couldn't match wits with a bar of soap." Sam stated. "Why are we even discussing this?"
"Because you have something to say," Ashlyn replied. "So say it."
"What do you want me to say? That for the first time in my life my career isn't the most important thing to me? That running all over the place for a story doesn't matter? That I just want to settle down and be a couple?" Sam asked.
"Sounds good to me," Ashlyn smiled.
"You want me to say that he is the most incredible man I have ever met?" Sam stated. "I cannot be in a relationship."
"You already are." Ashlyn smiled. "Oh and by the way, you're in love with him."
"Oh please, I was having sex with him," Sam said. "We were having a good time."
"I know you, you've been keeping this a secret because you are in love with him and you don't know how to handle that." Ashlyn advised.
"I am not in love with him." Sam stated firmly.
"He's a nice guy." Ashlyn said. "He's handsome, smart and most of all, you're crazy about him."
"He is rather tasty," Sam replied with a smile.
"Sam if you love him you better tell him, before it's too late." Ashlyn advised.
WEBB'S APARTMENT
Clayton Webb was in his apartment listening to Tchaikovsky and reading. He finally had a quiet Saturday where he could just relax. Not that the 1812 Overture was relaxing, but it did have a soothing effect on him. As the canons blasted in the final movement, he thought he heard someone outside his door.
"Webb, open up. It's Harm." He said banging on the door.
"What is it Rabb?" Webb said opening the door.
"Where've you been?" Harm asked.
"Working," Webb stated as he stood in the door.
"Would you invite me in?" Harm asked, showing Webb a six pack.
"Come on in." Webb said rolling his eyes. "Why are you here?"
"Mac has a fitting this afternoon, so I thought I would stop by." Harm informed him.
"We don't socialize, why are you here?" Webb asked.
"Sure we do," Harm said. "You came to the game with us."
"Alright Rabb, say what you came to say." Webb sighed.
"I just thought that day was very interesting." Harm smiled and opened the beers.
"Rabb do you want to get to the point, or are you going to make me endure this male bonding session longer than I have to." Webb said with sarcasm.
"Fine, what's going on with you and Sam Danaher?" Harm asked.
"Nothing, worth talking about," Webb replied. "Was there anything else?"
"Clay, we have all known there was something going on between you two. The kiss just confirmed it." Harm informed.
"The kiss was in the heat of the moment." Webb laughed. "We were surrounded by couples. All of whom were trying to set us up. That kiss was a mistake."
"You don't kiss a woman like that unless there is something there." Harm stated.
"Fine Rabb, what do you want me to tell you?" Webb asked.
"Nothing, but let me tell you something." Harm began. "I wasted seven years of my life. Seven years that I can't get back. Seven years that Mac and I could have been together. Don't waste time."
"I am not wasting time. She and I were just having a good time." Webb replied.
"Clay, you don't have good times." Harm laughed.
"Well, I can tell you I'm not having a good time right now." Webb said.
"How long has it been going on?" Harm asked.
"About six months or so," Webb replied.
"For six months you kept the relationship a secret. Why?" Harm asked.
"It wasn't a relationship, we were just getting together." Webb said, "Jeez Rabb, why am I telling you this?"
"You tell me." Harm replied.
"Tell you what? That I want to throw my career out the window, take a desk job, play it safe, settle down and be a couple?" Webb asked.
"Sounds like a plan." Harm smiled.
"You want me to tell you that she is the most amazing woman I have ever met?" Webb asked.
"That's a start." Harm replied.
"I can't, I just can't be in a relationship." Webb announced.
"Why not?" Harm asked.
"My job," Webb replied. "It's not the kind of job where you get involved with someone."
"You just said you would throw your career away and take a desk job." Harm reminded him.
"I never said that." Webb stated. "Is there a point here?"
"The point is, you obviously care about her. That kiss confirmed it." Harm stated.
"I just can't care. And if you recall after that kiss, which stands out in your mind, she left." Webb reminded him.
"So you opened up." Harm said.
"And she walked away." Webb stated.
"But she got you to open up." Harm said.
"And she left me standing there." Webb replied.
"Maybe you should have gone after her." Harm stated. "From what Ashlyn has said; Sam has always pushed away from serious relationships. Maybe she was scared?" Harm offered. "Maybe she wasn't sure if you were the one who could give her what she wanted. You don't really come off as the settle down type."
"Did you get a psychology degree when you passed the bar?" Webb asked sarcastically.
"Clay have you ever been in a committed relationship with someone?" Harm asked.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Webb replied.
"Have you ever put anyone before your job?" Harm asked.
"There's never been anyone worth it before." Webb stated.
"Well what do you know?" Harm smiled.
"What?" Webb asked.
"You're in love with her." Harm laughed.
"I am not in love with her." Webb protested.
"You're in love and you have no idea how to handle it." Harm laughed louder.
"Rabb, you have no idea what you're talking about." Webb said.
"You found someone who can go toe to toe with you." Harm stated. "And not back down."
"And?" Webb asked.
"Do I need to spell this out for you?" Harm asked.
"Harm, there is nothing to spell out." Webb replied.
"She's a great woman," Harm said. "Smart, pretty and most of all you're nuts about her."
"She is beautiful," Webb smiled.
"Clay if you love her you better tell her, before it's too late." Harm advised.
