Title: Rain Falling in Times Square

Author: Kate Anderson

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters

A/N: The encouragement that I've received is the best that any author could ever hope for. :)

**

The black umbrella was big enough for two if the two in question were standing close enough that barely a gap was visible between them. The rain seemed to almost drown out the other noises of the city. The rain and his quiet, even breathing were all that she could hear.

"Do you think we'll find her?"

"I don't think she wants to be found."

How many times had they had a conversation like this one. Idle words to pass the time -- neither of them really paying attention to how they replied. It was standard, it was hardwired into their brains.

"Do you think it's ever going to stop raining?" She asked the question just as she put her foot into yet another puddle. Her new shoes were ruined.

"It can't rain forever, Samantha."

The lights -- oh all those lights -- reflected in the puddles on the ground. The rain falling in the puddles distorted the lights. So surreal.

His elbow brushed hers as they turned the corner. Walking away from the lights. Away from the changing crowds. The night crowd was out now -- same faces, different clothes.

"Are you hungry?" His voice was barely audible over the siren of a passing police car.

"Starving." The police car had splashed water onto her. "Not to mention that I wouldn't mind drying off a bit."

He glanced at her, his lips turning up into a smile as he took in her wet jacket and pants. "I guess that you don't need this anymore." he said, moving the umbrella off of her.

The rain fell into her hair and a drop trickled down her nose. "Hey!" She laughed and grabbed his arm. The umbrella covered her once more.

In front of a small diner they stopped, noses pressed to the glass. A few scattered patrons, one waitress writing on a pad of paper with a stub of a pencil.

"Looks good to me." he said and reached for the door. A bell jangled as he pulled it open. "After you."

She stepped inside, feeling his hand rest on the small of her back. Briefly. Almost intangibly.

He closed their umbrella, giving it shake. The water droplets landed on his face and hers. "Sorry," he said, but not really meaning it.

He then slipped it into the white plastic bucket with a few other umbrellas. "Hmmm," he said and picked up a pink one. "We should pick up this one on the way out."

She grinned and small chuckled escaped her lips. "Give me your jacket," she said and without waiting for his reply, slipped it from his shoulders. She hung it up beside hers.

"Do you really think she doesn't want to be found?" she asked as they slipped across the vinyl seats of the booth.

"I don't know, Sam."

It was the little things. Like rain falling in Times Square.