A/N flashbacks are in italics.

Chapter 6

Em closed the door after Martin and Anna left and headed back to the couch collapsing on top of Danny so that her back was pressed in to his chest.

"Well that could have gone worse" She stated surveying the mess of pizza and takeout boxes scattered across the table and floor.

"I think it went okay. Anna seems nice. But I'm still not sure about Martin" Rick said getting up and beginning to gather up the leftovers and stack the empty boxes. Vivian and Elena had left just before Martin and Anna.

"You can't judge him on what you saw today, Rick. And you don't have to do that." Sam said quietly from her place on the couch with Danny and Em.

"You're defending him now? And I know I don't have to tidy up." Rick added. It had become a routine for the agents when they got together that Rick would always be the first to start tidying up even though most of the time they were at Sam and Danny's. The others would always tell him he didn't have to or offered to help but he always declined. They still say it but no longer bother to move, it's just a habit to say it so that they don't feel like their taking him for granted.

"I'm not defending him. It's just that with all you've heard about him and seen today you didn't know him before." Sam continued sounding weary and looking suddenly very tired.

Rick paused and looked at her. "You're right, I'm sorry."

Although he hadn't met Sam until about four months after she woke up from the coma they had quickly become close. Because of this, Rick had witnessed most of her recovery first hand and knew as well as the rest of the team how hard it had been and the setbacks she had suffered. Like Danny he wasn't going to do anything to make it hard for her again.

"Don't worry about it. I know why you think it. And I appreciate you guys looking out for me. I…" Sam hesitated taking a deep breath. Although she was much more comfortable sharing her feelings and being open with her friends, the one thing she still had trouble with was bringing up their involvement in her recovery.

"I just wanna say thank you for everything you guys have done for me in the last three years. I know I wouldn't have survived without you. Elena and Viv helped a lot as well but you three really fought for me and taught me to fight when I didn't want to." Again she paused and took a deep breath.

The others stayed silent knowing she needed to do this by herself. Sam acknowledging their help and support is something Sam's therapist told them would be the one of the final steps in her acceptance to what happened to her and willingness to be fully open with them. But it had to come from her in her own time; that was something both Julia and Lisa had been very clear on.

"I know that the next few weeks, and probably months, are going to be hard now that Martin's back. And I'm just glad I know I can count on you guys for anything, at anytime." Sam sighed quietly in relief at having finally said what she'd been wanting to for several months but hadn't found the courage to.

"You're very welcome. We're just all glad you're okay now and happier." Danny smiled reaching a hand out to place on her shoulder.

"Yeh that and you being well and at work means that we don't have to put up with more rookies and have less paperwork to do!" Rick joked making everyone laugh lightening the mood considerably.

The four friends traded a few light comments as Rick finished tidying before he left to go home.

"Right. Danny you staying in here or going to bed? 'Coz me and Sam have gotta talk." Em said shifting so she wasn't sat in Danny's lap.

"I'll leave you two access to the kitchen for ice cream. I'm going to bed. Goodnight Ladies!" Danny smirked, kissing Em as he got up and headed for his room.

"Well that was easier than usual, he must be learning!" Sam laughed.

"Yeh, lucky for him!" Em replied laughing with Sam.

"So what is it you want me to talk about?" Sam asked the smile slipping from her face.

"Danny called me after you and Martin talked this afternoon. I know what Martin said and that Danny and Rick threatened him. I know you and Martin talked and obviously he apologized but I don't know what was said between you tow and how you feel about it. So fill me in. If you're ready to."

"No problem. We were sat at the conference table and he was mad at me. He was almost shouting at me when he called me a slut, at which point I got up slapped him across the face because I was so mad and stormed off to the ladies room."

"I know that part. Did you slap him because you were just mad or because you were hurt as well as mad and wanted to hurt him too?" Em asked quietly.

"Honestly? I was really hurt as well. I've missed him so much. I've not gotten over him, but I have moved on. I dealt with what happened and accepted that he was out of my life. Now he's back and engaged and I don't know what to think or how to feel." Sam said her voice cracking.

"I know you are hun. I can't understand what you're going through but I am here for you. Why don't you tell me what happened after you stormed off." Em knew by looking at her body language and her tone of voice that Sam was finding this hard. "You don't have to tell me everything you and Martin said to each other, I know some of it will be too private. Just tell me what you can" She gently persisted.

Sam pushed the door to the ladies room open with enough force for it to hit the wall and bounce back. She was angry. How dare he call her a slut!

She was also hurting. All she'd done was to be honest with him.

Tears were freely flowing as she locked herself in one of the stalls. She put the lid down on the toilet and sat down resting her elbows on her knees, her head in her hands as she tried to keep her sobs quiet.

Her brain had vaguely realised that she had pushed past Danny as she ran so knew he and Rick would take care of Martin, then Danny would come looking for her.

She couldn't believe he'd called her a slut, that Martin had called her a slut. She knew he was upset but to strike out at her like that was out of order. She should be pissed as hell at him and want to beat ten rounds out of him.

She didn't. She wanted him to apologize, to tell her that he didn't mean it, to take her in his strong arms, tell her he'd missed her and cry with her over the loss of their child.

But he wouldn't. He was engaged now. To some one else. Sam cried harder at the thought of him being so close to her but not being able to touch him. At the thought of him being happy with some one else.

While he'd been gone she had hoped he was doing better and was happy but now that he was back, she wanted him back with her.

She wanted to feel the things that only he could make her feel and not just the physical things either. She wanted to feel the tingling almost dizzy feeling she got when he looked at her, smiled at her with those dimples she loved so much, she wanted to drown in his eyes the way she used to. But she could only dream about it now, more so than when he was away. Now he was some one else's to get lost in.

Sam heard the door open and close again as Danny walked in calling her name. He sounded worried. She heard him lock the door once he was sure it was just Sam and him in there.

"Can you open the door please Sammie?" He asked gently. She did.

"Oh, Sammie. Come here baby." Danny said seeing her sat there. He crouched down and pulled her in to his arms holding her tight. He held her as she cried just rubbing her back in soothing motions, murmuring comforting words in her ear and kissing her hair.

They stayed that way for about ten minuets before Sam's cry's calmed down.

"I told him it was your decision as to whether or not he still has a job." Danny told her with out moving, staying on the floor with her in his arms.

"I can tell him to go home for the day if you don't want to deal with it now" He added. 'I'll take his head off for you now if you want' he added silently.

"No" Sam replied pulling her self in to a sitting position but still with Danny's arms around her "I have to do this and I have to do it now" She added standing up and beginning to fix her make up in the mirror.

"Okay. I'm right here and anything you need you just have to say it." Danny said deciding it would be better to not question if she should be doing it now and just let her get on with it before she doubts herself to much.

"I know" Sam turned her head to look directly at him. "Thank you"

Danny nodded. He turned and walked to the door unlocking it walking out.

Sam stood there for a couple of more minuets taking deep breaths before following him out and to the bullpen.

When she got there everyone was sat around the table again, including Vivian, working, or pretending to work, quietly.

Sam took another deep breath as everyone's eyes turned on her except Martins. He had the grace to continue staring at the floor looking ashamed.

"Martin," She started her voice as cold and hard as Danny's had been with him earlier. It sent shivers through him "We need to talk"