Love and Marriage

Chapter Thirty-Eight

When Sam got to work the next day she had a message waiting for her saying that Van Doren needed to talk to her, but she was busy with work most of the morning and didn't get a chance to stop by until early afternoon. Since the door was open she knocked on the doorframe. "You wanted to see me?"

"Ah yes. Samantha, please come in and close the door." Paula smiled.

Sam closed the door behind her and then proceeded to sit in a chair. "So what is this about?" She had been curious about why she was summoned here and hoped that maybe Paula had found her a new job.

"Well I've been looking around like you asked me to, and I think I might have found something that you are perfect for." Paula replied.

"That's great!" Sam exclaimed. "What is it?"

"There is an opening on one of the Missing Person's units for a senior agent. You'd be second in command and it would be a significant promotion." She explained the job.

"That sounds perfect." Sam couldn't believe her luck. This new job sounded like something out of a dream. "I'd love a promotion and the chance to work Missing Person's again."

"The only thing about it is that it's not in New York." Paula cautioned.

The smile on Sam's face fell. "It's not?" She should have known that there had to be a catch. "Where is it then?"

"Houston, Texas." She answered.

"Are there any other openings besides that one?" She asked, her hopes crushed. "Maybe something in New York?"

"No I'm sorry. There isn't." Paula replied.

"Oh." She wasn't sure how to feel now. She obviously couldn't take the job in Houston, although it would be her dream job. "Well I appreciate your efforts."

"You can have a few days to think about it but I need a final answer Monday morning."

Sam nodded. "Ok." She started to stand up to leave but stopped when she realized that there was more.

"Last night, Martin came to see me." Paula continued. "I wasn't aware that you hadn't told him about your earlier visit to me and I told him about the Houston job."

So that was why Martin was so mad at her. Oh dear. This wasn't good. She could only imagine how this situation looked to him. How was she going to explain this to him? Then another thought entered her head. "What was he doing here anyway?"

"He wanted to hand in this." Paula replied, pulling out a paper and handing it to her.

Her eyes quickly scanned the document and then looked up at Paula. "He wanted to switch jobs with me?" That was quite possibly the nicest thing that he had ever done for her.

"That's what he wanted to do." She nodded. "Unfortunately the bureau doesn't let people switch jobs with each other."

"Even though we're both qualified to do the other person's job?" Sam questioned. "Even though it's a mutual decision?"

"I'm sorry. I don't make the rules. I only enforce them." She replied.

"This is ludicrous!" Sam exclaimed passionately. If they would allow her and Martin to switch jobs everything would be better. But no, they had to make things difficult. She shook her head and stood up to leave.

Paula watched her leave, calling out, "Don't forget that I need your answer by Monday!"

Sam heard that last statement but kept on walking, feeling the need to talk to Martin. At least now she understood why he was so mad and distant last night. Knowing him he probably saw this as some kind of betrayal or a sign that she wasn't committed to their marriage. He was probably hurt by this and most likely disappointed that his plan of switching jobs with her wouldn't work.

That was a sweet thing to try and do though. He had done many nice things for her over the years but that was the best by far. Just the fact that he would have been willing to give up his job for her was enough to make her fall in love with him all over again. Stepping off the elevator on his floor, she saw him at his desk. He was taking his medicine bottle out from his coat and taking another pain pill. After swallowing the pill he went back to typing furiously. "Hey." She greeted, placing a hand on his shoulder.

He looked over and saw her standing there and knew what her visit was about. She had obviously had that meeting with Van Doren and found out about the job opening in Houston. He couldn't help but wonder if she was coming to tell him that she was taking the job. There was a part of him that believed she wouldn't do that to him or their family but there was another part that wasn't sure she would be able to turn down the job. "Hey. What are you doing here?"

"I was wondering if we could talk for a minute. Can you take a little break?" She asked, hoping that she hadn't caught him at a bad time. They really needed to settle this as soon as possible. She didn't want him to continue to be mad at her or for him to think that she wanted to move away from him.

He looked back at the report he was typing up and then at her. "I guess I can spare a few minutes." They were going to have to talk about this sooner or later and while he had hoped they wouldn't do it at work, he guessed he had no choice.

"How about we go out to the balcony for some privacy?" She suggested, not wanting to talk about it in front of other people. She didn't want it to be spread around the office that she had gotten another job offer.

"Sure." He followed her out to the balcony. It was the same balcony that was the location of some of their best talks and make-out sessions while they were dating. They would come out here and hide within the blind spot in the corner, keeping away from prying eyes and enjoying some private time while working. Though he had a feeling there would be no make-out session this time. He leaned against the railing, keeping his back to her. "What's on your mind?"

She stepped over to his side and leaned up against the railing, grabbing a hold of his hand and linking their fingers together. "I think you know what we need to talk about."

He was silent for a few moments to keep himself from yelling or accusing her of anything. He was determined to hear her side of the story. Maybe she had a good reason for looking at getting a transfer. "You talked to Van Doren?"

"Yeah. I just came from her office." Sam replied. "I heard about what you tried to do."

"It doesn't matter because it won't work." Martin shrugged.

"It matters to me." Sam smiled. "It was a very nice gesture and I appreciate it."

He simply shrugged, not knowing what to say to that.

When it became obvious to her that he wasn't going to take this conversation any further, she continued. "I know that you know about Houston."

"So when do you leave?" He asked quietly, preparing himself for the worst.

She was caught off-guard by his question. He actually thought that she would accept the job—without even talking to him? Did he really think she was that selfish? Thinking about it, she wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer to that question. "I'm not leaving—at least not without you."

He finally looked over at her, searching her eyes for the truth. She looked sincere but there was something that he needed to know. "Why did you ask her to look into a transfer?"

She was expecting that question but still didn't have a great answer for it. "I don't know. I just…Leslie had helped me admit that I hated my job and then when I told you about it you asked me why I haven't done anything about it. That got me thinking about why I hadn't at least looked into a transfer. At the time when I went to Van Doren, we weren't getting along. We could barely be in the same room without this incredible tension and we were constantly fighting. I seriously doubted that we'd…"

"So you wanted a back-up plan?" He finished for her. "You wanted to have a new place to take Claire and start over without me. Right?"

"I don't know." She shook her head. "I just wanted to see what was out there. I was hoping that there would be a job for me somewhere in another New York office. I didn't expect the job in Houston."

"But you want it." He stated, taking his hand and breaking free from her grasp. He knew that she would want the job. Not only would she be back in Missing Person's but she would also be promoted to second in command—something she's wanted for a long time. "Right?"

She looked out at the city, staring arbitrarily at one of the tallest buildings. "I don't know." She lied, hoping to spare his feelings. Of course she wanted the job. It's the kind of job she's wanted for years. But she didn't want to move away from him and wasn't sure that he would move there with her. So why even waste another minute thinking about it?"

"Sam, don't lie to me. Just admit it." He sighed. "You want that job."

"Fine." She sighed, turning to face him. "I want the job. Does that make you happy?"

"No, but at least you're not lying to me." He answered gruffly. "I've got to get back to work."

"We're not done talking yet." She objected.

He continued walking towards the door, not turning around. "I'm done talking about it."

She watched him go back into the building, leaving her outside. Even though she wasn't cold she wrapped her arms around herself. Things were going so well between them and then this had to come along to ruin that. She decided to go back inside and head back up to her floor. She'd try to talk about this later tonight.