Timeline: Immediately after the 4th season finale. However, I used my author's liberty to start the show on a Monday, despite the show airing on Thursdays.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from "Without a Trace," but the ideas are mine.
A Friendship Blossoms
The cab ride to Samantha's apartment was spent in awkward silence. Martin had made several overtures in the past, but after receiving only brush-offs her invitation was a surprise. He didn't know what she was thinking. He had saved her life tonight, perhaps she was caught up in the moment. Or maybe she was looking for someone to fill a temporary void in her life, after all she had admitted that her feelings for Jack never went away, they had just faded. Martin knew he wanted a relationship with Samantha, he didn't want to be just a distraction for her.
After arriving at Samantha's apartment, Martin took off his jacket and looked around. No pictures of family or friends, it was a cold and impersonal apartment, not what he'd imagined. Then he realized that despite all he'd learned this week he didn't know much about Samantha Spade.
Samantha had disappeared into the kitchen and returned with two beers, one of which she handed to Martin. "Thanks," he said as his mind searched for innocent small talk to break the interminable silence. He asked, "So, big night. You're going to have a nasty bruise."
"Yeah, thanks, again, for saving my life I mean, not giving me a bruise." But she didn't feel grateful, she was upset. Why did he have to bring up today when she had been vulnerable. She was an FBI agent and should be capable of taking care of herself. However, she admitted to herself that she had definitely needed help in the last two years.
And she didn't bring Martin here to express her gratitude, she needed him. Since she had heard the news that Jack was leaving there had been an emptiness within her that ached to be filled. She needed someone, needed to be wanted. She hoped that Martin would fill that need, at least for tonight. She took Martin's beer from his hand and set both of the bottles on the table. She stood within inches of him, her face tilted upward, her eyes focused on his lips. She trembled and wished that Martin would just grab her and kiss her, hard, maybe that would stop the trembling. But he wasn't moving. Not good, but not bad either, at least he wasn't backing away. Here goes nothing, she thought.
Samantha raised herself onto her tiptoes and her lips brushed against his, softly, waiting for a response, any response. Finally, Martin acted, he leaned forward into the kiss and wrapped his arms around her. The kiss was soft at first and then passion overtook them.
After a moment they both loosened their embrace. Martin took a step back and gazed into Samantha's eyes. Samantha stepped toward Martin to close the gap he had created, eager for a second helping, but he held her at bay. "Wait a minute. This is big," Martin stated. "This is really big. What's going to happen after we you know …?"
Samantha moved closer. She didn't want to think about the future, she only cared about the present and the need that she felt inside. "I don't know, does it matter? This feels right, doesn't it? Go with it Martin, be spontaneous for once." She tried again to kiss him, but he backed away.
"No, no it doesn't feel right. Look Samantha, I don't know what I think might happen between us, but I've learned a lot about you this past week. Stuff that showed me you may still have feelings for someone else, someone who's not available. I'm wondering if you're just now realizing that and feel lonely tonight and, and I was there." Breath, breath, he told himself.
Samantha had finally backed away from him. She looked hurt and who could blame her. He'd just told her she was still in love with Jack, a married man who didn't chose her and was instead trying to make his marriage work. In fact, Samantha was hurt and stunned and upset, too upset to realize that what Martin was saying could be true.
Oh, great, that silence again, Martin thought. He tried to wait for her to break the silence and answer his attack, but Samantha remained quiet, in fact it looked like a tear might be forming in her eye. He could hold it in no longer, "I don't want to be a replacement for … for Jack. I want you to want me, not want me just because I'm here."
Samantha still hadn't said a word and Martin feared that he was right, he was just a replacement, in the right place at the right time.
Finally, she spoke and her words were venomous, "Well, if that's way you feel, that I'll use anyone available as my little toy so that I don't feel alone and unloved, then I guess you should leave." How dare he accuse her of still loving Jack, that had been over two years ago, she'd dated lots of guys since then and they weren't replacements. She worked with Jack every day and how could she have done that if she was still in love with him.
Martin recoiled knowing he'd hit a nerve and knowing that he was right. It saddened him though, to know that Samantha was still hung up on Jack and that until she moved on she would not find happiness. He tried to apologize for the way he delivered the message, but not for its meaning, but the words came out hollow.
Samantha went to the door and forcefully pulled it open. Her eyes burned into him as he walked past her, she wanted him out of her apartment and out of her life. He still wanted to say something, to make their friendship right again, for it had gone through many stages in the short evening. No matter what had happened tonight he was still smitten with her and was disheartened by the setback that had started off with so much promise.
However, he left without another word and walked out into the city. It had begun to rain and for that he was grateful, the cold driving rain was depressing, it matched his mood.
TBC
