Author's note: Oh my, thank you so very much for the reviews!

And LoopyLu1 and Clare B you need to read the fic before The Other Side (The Other Side is a continuation) I think if you read Affinity (the first part) you'll see some things that's obviously confusing for you such as Sam's past. you can read it here: ?storyid=1721898

M-S

Chapter Eight

M-S

I blinked. No tears. I sniffed. No tears. I think all the water in my body had ended and I wouldn't be able to cry for the rest of my life. I held Martin's hand more firmly and brought it to my chest, linking his hand with my own. He snuggled more into my back and nuzzled my neck. His other arm was under my body so he was embracing me by behind and he tightened his arms around me, pulling me closer.

"You feeling all right?"

"I'm sorry." I said instead of answering him.

"For what?"

"For being a baby."

"Don't be silly. You're the strongest woman I know. If you were crying like that you had a good reason to." He placed small, gentle kisses on my neck a few times and breathed in deeply. "Being together doesn't just mean good sex and laughter. It means that I have to be with you when you need me, just like I'm sure you'd be with me if I needed you. And I love you."

"I love you too." I breathed out, trying hard to hold the tears after hearing his words. It touched me really deep in a way I couldn't even explain myself. I sighed and closed my eyes a bit. I was so tired. I needed to sleep even if for a little while... "She was here." I didn't say anything further.

"Who?"

I cringed as her despised name ran in my head and held his hand stronger. "My mother. I don't know how she found me but she did and she was here." Fucking hell... I thought I could no longer cry... Damn it.

"Why? What did she want?"

"I don't know and I don't care. I closed the door on her face."

"Maybe she needed some kind of help, didn't you..."

I turned harshly in his embrace and shot him a hard look. "No! Don't even! I don't even want to hear any shit you're going to..."

In the middle of my rant he put a hand on my lips and stopped me. "Ok, ok. I'm sorry, all right? I'm not mentioning this again. I'm sorry." He took his hand away put his lips over mine instead and kissed me softly, very softly. "I'm sorry." He said again after he had pulled away.

I nodded and sighed as I slowly closed my eyes. "That's ok. I didn't mean to be harsh. I'm sorry too. It's just, this issue is painful."

"Shhh. Let's not talk about this anymore, OK? Let's make a deal, you're going to change into something more comfortable, try and stay calm and I'll be back with that vanilla ice cream I talked about, OK?" I let out a tired sigh and nodded weakly then turned my head down to look at my twsting hands. "And hey," I looked back up and he smiled. "I even bought strawberry syrup." He winked and left the room.

I never thought one single person could be enough to stop such enormous pain, to make everything easy and make forget about the world around me. I never thought I could even feel this deeply towards someone. I think Martin came along in the right time and things happened in their right time.

I got shot in the right time.

It was the catalyzer to my real feelings and put everything in order. Of course it didn't put ALL in order because after such a traumatic event like having a bullet in my leg I had to sort things out on my own and realize that Martin was the one for me.

I'm sure he was the one for me, it could only be because when I am with him I feel whole, I feel worthy, everything feels perfect and right. I had waisted too much of my life already, regreting too many things I did and didn't do, but now it didn't matter anymore. All that mattered to me now was Martin and only him. I couldn't care about people anymore because everything I need I already have with me.

M-S

I slowly opened my eyes, blinking to the morning light as it dared to tentatively reach my sore eyes. I sighed and when I had gotten used to the daylight I opened my eyes fully and let mylsef enjoy the warmth laying beside me. It was so good, having him so close and with such intimacy was so wonderful, but despite Martin's warm body wrapped around me, I shivered. He had told him he loved me, in so many words, before I fell asleep...

Martin mumbled something in his sleep and moved against my body, his arm wrapped around me, pulling me to him too. For a moment all I wanted was to drown in his skin, his hair, his smell, his muscles and sinew. Get lost in our own personal world and forget about all the pain outside.

But before I could even think about what to do first, a wave of dizziness washed within me and I felt the overpower necessity to throw up. I thought that after a good night's sleep it would make me feel better, but obviously I was wrong and I needed much more than one night with Martin beside me to easy a pain that grew for so many years.

Stealthily, I wiggled out of Martn's grasp and he flopped onto his back, mumbling something incoherent and I didn't really care at the time about what he said and walked to the bathroom as fast as I could, not having time to cast a backwards look at the man still lying in my bed, though I knew it was a pretty picture.

I clutched the side of the sink and watched the last of my regurgitated dinner - what was that ice cream - swirl down the drain with the flow of water. I cupped handfuls of the cool liquid on the sink, bringing it to my lips and rinsing my mouth. I turned the faucet off and let myself fall to the floor, sliding along the tiled wall and pulled my knees to my chest wrapping my arms around it in a very obvious protective position.

A few seconds later there was a tentative tapping at the bathroom door and Martin entered offering me a glass of ice water which I gratefully accepted. He bent down and sat beside me then enveloped me in a warm hug as he softly kissed the side of my head. "You should stay home today." He whispered with a small and sweet voice.

I shook my head and snuggled more into him, pushing my body as close to his as I could. "I can't."

"I'll call you in sick and Jack will understand."

I shook my head again, more veehement and looked up at him. "No. I'm fine."

He sighed and I watched as he gave in, probably deciding he'd never win this conversation. "Ok, fine, Sam." He said with a tone of voice I knew very well he didn't agree with me but said he did anyway. He cupped my face and gave me a quick kiss. "I'm going to make breakfast, ok?"

I smiled and nodded taking one of his hands from my face and putting it over my lips so I could give it a small kiss. He kissed the top of my head and carefully got up, leaving me there. I sighed loudly after he had left and slowly got off of the floor.

I looked around trying to decied what to do and when my eyes found the shower I thought a bath was very deserved. I took my pajamas off and threw it uncarefully on floor, making a mental note to take care of it later. I turned the shower on and stopped inside and while standing under the hot needles of the shower, I let more of my equally hot tears drop from my eyes.

It's been too long, I thought, too long I hadn't even heard of my mother and now she suddenly pops up in front of my door. I wandered how she had passed through the janitor and gotten into the building without being noticed. The janitor would never let someone strange get in, as much as the person insisted.

But now the mess was done and I had seen her. It didn't matter, I wouldn't let her mess my life again, not this time, not after everything and all I was building, all I had with Martin. I wouldn't let her mess it up. I wouldn't.

"Ready?"

"Yeah." I said with no emotion as I pulled my coat on then took my hair from the inside of the coat.

"Samantha?" The single asked word held much more than its visible meaning and that special cord ringing in my ears made me look immediatly at him.

"What?" I sighed not daring to really look him in the eye or otherwise I'd see all his love for me and not be able to hold the tears anymore.

He gently placed a hand on my cheek and moved my head so I was looking at him. "I love you, ok?"

I bit my lip trying hard to stop my tears and nodded. "I know." I whispered since I couldn't find voice enough to speak. "I love you too." I whispered again and gave his lips a soft kiss.

He smile and caressed my cheek with his thumb then it moved and found the back of my neck and he pulled my mouth to his again, I nearly gasped at the sensation of my lips against his, full and soft and tasting of cinnamon tea. I let out a soft whimper, one I couldn't stop, and opened my mouth to him, my tongue venturing to tentatively touch his. I remembered the first time we had kissed like that, tongues touching, slightly brushing against each other. It felt like my very first real kiss, really.

Before I kissed him I had never known that an entire universe could be contained in a single kiss.

He pulled away before the touch of our lips hand't been enough to me. "Kiss me again." I demanded in the greedy tone of a child and again, I was reminded of a universe contained in a kiss. It was a full bore assault on my senses, the feeling of him biting and suckling at my lower lip and plunging his tongue into my mouth. I had to fight to keep my eyes closed, to not drink in the vision of Martin kissing me with abandon.

He pulled away when the necessity to breath became stronger and kept staring at me with those loving eyes of his. I let a small pleased sigh escape between my lips and then it turned into a satisfied smile. He placed his lips on my forehead and kissed it softly. "I love you very much."

"Me too." I said back and smiled again then he opened the door for us to go to work.

M-S

I brought one hand to my eyes and rubbed them, trying to, this way, restrain the tears that were threatening to fall. I didn't want to cry anymore but I couldn't stop it since so many painful memories forced their entry in my head and forcefully danced after my eyes and, unfortunately, the feelings came along with the images so I was forced to feel everything again. And to complete this perfect the dizziness I felt earlier was hitting me again, thought this time I didn't feel sick.

I put my hand on my forehead and let my elbow rest on my desk so I could support my head. I tried to diminish the dizziness letting my eyes closed and breathing in and out very slowly. God, I wished she hadn't come to my home. I wished she hand't found me. Things were going so well. Everything was so perfect and now this...

I sniffed and furiously wiped away a couple of tears that found a way out of my eyes. Damn it, I didn't want people to see me crying. I really didn't need that, I didn't need anyone's pity. Damn... well, at least the dizziness was going away. Oh, God, how I wanted Martin with me right now...

"Are you feeling ok, Samantha?" I felt a light squeeze on my shoulder as I heard the voice I didn't recognize right away. I looked up startled and a bit out of me and my eyes met Viv's.

"Huh, yeah, I'm fine."

"You sure? You look a little pale."

"Yeah. I was just a little dizzy but I'm fine now." I tried to give her a smile but I think I failed because I didn't feel my mouth turning up the way I wanted.

She smiled and squeezed my shoulder one more time before taking her hand away. "Do you want me to bring you something? Coffee? Tea?"

"No, Viv. I'm fine, really. Thank you."

"All right. I won't insit." She gave me a sweet, small smile, one of those that somehow make your eyes shine and make you look brighter, or the people around feel brighter. "But anything I'm here if you want to talk."

I nodded and this time I was sucesfull on giving her a smile. "Ok. Thanks, Viv. Again."

Viv smiled again and turned to go but, in the middle of taking her second step she turned back with a start as if she had remembered something. She gave me a curious smile and a nervouss and concerned look. "It's not... Martin, is it?"

What? Martin? Of course not. I think I must have looked really surprised. "No! No, of course not. We're great. It's not that."

"Ok. Just checking." She smiled yet again and finally left.

Was that worry that I saw? It didn't matter because this was something she'd never see, she'd never have to worry about, ever. Martin and I'd never have fight that could make me feel even close to what I was feeling because of the woman who should've only given me happiness but didn't. Martin was a kind of person that would do anything to keep me happy before thinking of arguing. He'd think very carefully first than say the words to me and this meant he'd never say the wrong words. He'd never hurt or sadden me. Never.

Now, the dizziness was gone but a big headache was kicking in. Damn it. Damn it, damn it, damn it.

M-S

"I'm going to bed." I mumbled without emotion since I wasn't feeling anything as I threw my coat over the nearest thing, though I didn't really care if it ended on the floor and walked with heavy steps to my bedroom. It had been like that for a few days now, me coming home and going to bed with a kick ass headache and that stupid dizziness, throwing myself on the bed still in my work clothes only to get up later even more upset and change into pajamas.

I heard him sighing softly as I walked away and something in my heart tingled. I didn't mean to be mean at him, to be like that, but when you are pissed off at something you're always mean at people who doesn't have anything to do with it, even not wanting to be. You don't have control over this, you only regret later the way you acted when people didn't deserve you acting that way.

I closed the door softly behind me and this time I took off my clothes and put pajamas on before throwing myself on the bed. I wouldn't eat again, I wasn't hungry and anything I put in my stomach would come out later anyway, so I'd just prevent that uncomfortable situation. Especially if it gave me a reason to need Martin when I was feeling so bicthy. I would end up fighting with him and I didn't want that.

All I wanted right now was to creep under the covers on my cold sheets and let my head rest for a while, hoping that the headache would go away soon. And wishing I would stop feeling so depressed. And that I would stop making Martin feel bad for something that wasn't his fault, something he didn't do because I was already regretting that.

I sighed and took two aspirins from the bottle inside the bedside table drawer and gulped it down on dry then lay down. My head was pounding and throbbing and it was irritating me. I was starting to feel hungry but the hesitance of throwing up and of facing Martin stopped me from getting up to eat. I just lay on my side and closed my eyes. Even hungry sleep would come eventually.

I was hovering on the first plane of sleep when the give of the mattress awakened me. "What?" I mumbled, disoriented, unsure of where I was for a moment. Opening my eyes, I saw Martin's face hovering above mine, shadowed in the dark of the room.

His lips pressed against my own after a second of hesitance, tasting of tea and something sweeter. Chocolate, perhaps. I was too sleepy to make out any tastes... "I didn't mean to wake you," he whispered in my ear as he lay beside me.

It still wasn't quite registering with me that we were now living together. I'd wake at night sometimes and ask to myself what Martin was doing in my bed until I was sober enough to remember. Remember that we had well and truly crossed the final border a while ago. It was a realization that still filled me with a small fear, one of the unknown, but also a new twinge of hope that was foreign to me for so long before Martin. "Hey," I said in a lazy, sleepy voice. "I'm sorry if I'm being too rude with you"

Martin brushed away strands of hair that had fallen across my face and kept staring at me for a few more seconds. "You're just depressed and you're doing this to punish yourself. For what exactly I'd like to know, but you should stop. This will only make you more hurt. We don't want that." He whispered with that sweet and smooth tone of his just before kissing my forehead. That voice that always made me believe everything was right and lulled my to sleep.

A brief survey with my hands on his body revealed he had come to bed in his boxers and nothing else and this made my heat rise, my wanting for him grew bigger. It's been days already, I thought to myself. "I'm sorry I made you miss the excitement for so long."

He chuckled and soon his hands moved down the front of my pajama top, deftly unbuttoning as they went. "My, what sexy sleepwear you have here, Sam."

I poked him in the side, producing a satisfying yelp from him and said with a vitorious smile on my face, one that I'm not really sure he saw. "Any more cracks about my pajamas and I'll never show you what I have in the bottom drawer of my dresser."

He said nothing, but carefully pulled apart my pajama top, revealing my skin and he brought his head down, placing small kisses along me neck and shoulder. I let my head rest against the pillow and shut my eyes, only feeling him, the only thing that mattered.

It really sucked to be in such a bad mood and force Martin to live with it. To put up with my bitchy side and snapping at him for no real reason. I felt bad for doing this when I went to bed tonight and heard his sigh. But now it didn't matter anymore because we made up and for the first time I'd know how it was make up sex with him. People say it's better.

Who am I to disagree? Shall I try then.

M-S

End of this chapter! Three more chapters to go and this sucker is done! Review!