Chapter 19

The rest of the week had gone by fairly quickly and smoothly. Sam and Martin had been getting on well as friends, learning and re-learning little things about the other. Things were still a little bit tense between Martin and Rick, although the hostility was mainly coming from Martins end, but that was something that wouldn't be rectified until they'd spent some time together getting to know each other.

It was now Sunday and Sam was glad she wasn't working. With everything that had been happening over the last two weeks she'd pretty much forgotten the most basic chores, like laundry and grocery shopping. They were at the top of her to do list. But as Danny and Em had gone out for the day, Sam had the place to herself and all she wanted to do was to relax and enjoy the space

She was stood in her room looking at the mountain of laundry there was to do. Sighing Sam started sorting the lights from darks. If she didn't do it today then she'd be left with virtually nothing to wear except the oldest and scruffiest of clothes and underwear.

She had just shoved all the light garments in to the basket to carry down to the basement when she heard a knock at the door. She frowned slightly wondering who it was as she headed towards it.

"Hi" Martin said slightly nervous as Sam opened the door.

"Hey" She replied smiling. "What are you doing here? Not that it isn't a nice surprise to see you, cause it is but…uh" Sam looked at the floor laughing nervously realising she was rambling.

Martin's smile grew seeing her flustered. "I was just passing and wondered if maybe you'd like to do something. Maybe go for a walk or see a film or something? I mean I can't spend all day sitting around in a hotel room and some things are much more fun with good company than alone." He said lightly not wanting to put any pressure on her.

"Oh, well I'd love to but I kinda have other plans. Nothing with anyone if that's what you're thinking." She added seeing his disappointment.

"No its fine" He regained his smile but it was slightly forced now "I should have called or something first. No worries. I'll see you at work then." He turned to leave but Sam reached out for him to stop him.

"Or you could keep me company instead?" She asked her hand still on his arm "See I kinda got behind on laundry and I gotta do some grocery shopping. Boring as hell but it needs doing. Danny and Em are out for the day so maybe instead of me keeping you company, you can keep me company and try and make the chores less boring? If that's at all possible!" She laughed.

"Well they are extremely boring tasks. I might be better off just going ahead with my plans by myself." He pretended to seriously consider it.

"Jerk! Sam slapped his arm lightly pretending to be upset, crossing her arms across her chest and pouting.

"Hey!" Martin laughed. "Alright, alright if it saves me being beaten up then I'll stay. But no promises about making anything more interesting. Of course if I do this for you than you owe me big time! Especially because you hit me!" He joked trying to keep a straight face and be serious. "I might even have to make you come apartment hunting with me for it." He added looking all innocent.

Sam laughed not buying the innocence for a second. "Well then I'll just have to make sure I treat you well today then so you don't feel the need to put me through that kind of hell!" Martin cracked and laughed with her.

"Come in." Sam moved out of the way and held the door open for him.

"Thanks" He said brushing past her although there was enough space that he could have walked past her without touching her. "So where are we starting? Laundry or groceries?" He asked walking in to the room further.

"Laundry." Sam answered going to her room and grabbing the now full basket. "Come on. Machines are in the basement. Can you grab the door?" Sam asked.

"Sure" He held it open, eyes following her.

"Oh keys! There on the table can you grab them please?" Sam asked turning sharply and nearly crashing in to Martin.

"No problem. Good thing you remembered now!" He smiled grabbing her keys and closing the door behind him.

"Shut up. Unless you wanna get hit again?" She jokingly threatened. Martin laughed as he hit the down button for the elevator.

They put the clothes in the washer and then went back upstairs to get the second load. They decided to wait for the laundry to finish before going back upstairs. They spent the time talking about films, which ones they had seen and wanted to see and what they thought of them. The conversation was flowing easily and they were playfully arguing over certain points or opinions on films.

Martin had come over hoping to spend some time with Sam, just Sam, without the rest of the team around. He wanted to be able to talk with her without everyone else watching him closely in case he screwed up. But he wasn't expecting things to be this easy with them. He was really enjoying her company and they hadn't stopped laughing and messing around since he showed up.

"So how does it work with you, Danny and Em all living together?" He asked curious.

"How do you mean?" Sam asked pulling the clothes out of the dryer.

"I mean like groceries, rent and just generally living together. I mean what are you guys gonna do when they get married?" He elaborated.

"Well we take it in turns to get the groceries, and any extras we need we just buy ourselves. Rent and other bills get split three ways. And it works well the three of us together. I've actually been living with Danny since I left hospital after the accident. Although I was doing better I was still getting tired quickly and was in a deep depression so the doctors said I wasn't allowed to live alone so Danny made me move in with him.

"A week or so after he and Em got engaged, they came in after being out for the day and said that we were moving. They'd gone and found an apartment and signed a lease for it without my knowledge. They both thought that it would be better that way. I still had a lot of recovering emotionally to do and the best way for them to help with that was to allow me to continue to live with Danny.

"Also Em and I had developed a friendship of sorts and because she was dating Danny she became a lot more involved in my recovery than just as my physical therapist. And it's defiantly worked out for the best. As for when they get married, I'll move out. And I'm okay with that too. This has been what I needed but I need to get on with my life alone again.

"Besides It will be fantastic to have my own space again! Don't get me wrong I love them both to bits but if I have to walk in on them in the middle of a heavy make-out session on the couch again, I'm gonna kick both of them out!" Sam laughed and Martin joined her.

They continued to talk about the two lovebirds as they folded the clothing and Sam kept telling Martin little stories about the two which some times had them both close to tears with laughter.

Sam was really enjoying having Martin around. They smoothly went about sorting her laundry as if they'd been doing it for years. There wasn't any awkwardness between them Sam was surprised to realize. She was really glad he had come over and that they could spend some time alone. She knew that the others meant well but they, Danny especially, were being a little over protective so it was nice to be free of that tension and find that they really didn't seem to have anything to worry about. Yet anyway.

As they re-entered the apartment, arms full of clean laundry that now required ironing, Sam realised it was lunch time already and that she was hungry.

"I'm gonna grab lunch and leave the ironing for later. Do you want anything?" She asked "Or is that a stupid question?" She smirked remembering how he always used to be hungry and eat anything around.

Martin laughed, eyes shining and Sam felt her knees go weak. She'd forgotten just how good this man made her feel. Tearing her eyes off him and hiding her blush she busied her self with putting thee laundry out the way in her room. "I'll take that as a yes, that was a stupid question." She managed to get out.

She managed to get herself under control and went back out in to the kitchen. She pulled the refrigerator door open and looked inside as Martin leaned on the counter beside her "Only problem with my plan. No food. Hence the needing to go grocery shopping!" She added closing the door and looking at Martin. "Any ideas?"

"Well why don't we grab a sub or something and then get the groceries?" Martin suggested.

"Only if you're buying" She replied giving him one of her cheeky smiles that made him forget where he was. She headed for the door grabbing her keys and the shopping list. It was only when she was stood at the door waiting for him that he realised he hadn't moved. Quickly he moved toward the door and grabbed his coat keeping his head down hoping she didn't see the effect she had on him.

They began talking again once in the car and again the conversation was flowing well. Sam told him about the first time she met Rick and about some of the times Rick had helped her out. Martin realized that he had probably misjudged Rick and his actions. He realized he would need to get to know him better and that he would probably be a good guy to know. Sam was playing with him when they were shopping and they were laughing about everything else again.

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Sam climbed in to bed that night with a big smile on her face. She had had a really good time with Martin. They had talked about a lot of things but not mentioning 'them' or Anna. There had been a few moments through out the day when they had brushed hands or bodies when doing the chores and getting lunch. Every time it happened it sent shocks through Sam's body and made her gasp slightly. From what she could tell it did the same to Martin. They would look at each other for a few seconds until one of them continued the conversation they were having.

She had so desperately wanted to reach out and kiss him so many times. Her whole body was tingling from his presence. They had talked until 10.30 when Danny and Em got in and Martin decided it was probably about time he left seeing as they all had to work the next day.

The way they went about all the chores was as smooth as if they'd been doing together for years. Things were comfortable between them and Sam wanted it all to stay that way. She knew they had a way to go to being together again and for everything to be ok but she thought they were doing well so far.

She fell asleep that night dreaming of him. Dreaming of a future with him, of a life falling asleep in his arms and waking up in them instead of alone. She dreamt of his beautiful blue eyes and his smile and the dimples she loved so much. She slept soundly her dreams only of him.

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Several blocks away Martin was lying in bed at the hotel unable to sleep. He had only left her about 45 minuets ago but he was already missing her. He had really enjoyed himself. He was actually glad that she was busy with laundry when he showed up. They had a really good chance to talk without any pressure. There was no way what they had done could be seen as a date so they could spend the day as friends and not worry about 'them'.

He had wanted to kiss her so badly but knew they had a lot of things to go through be fore that would be a good idea. Still it had proved to be a real battle to not. His body was still tingling from the close contact he'd had with her. Every time he'd touched her, always deliberately, it had taken every ounce of willpower he had to not kiss her.

He was glad things were comfortable with them and he knew it was important for them to be friends first and to work on that. But he wanted more and he wanted it now.

He finally fell asleep dreaming of her, of being with her again, of falling asleep with her in his arms, of waking up with her in his arms. He slept dreaming of a future with her, of her deep, liquid brown eyes, of the way her smile lit up her face when she laughed and of the way her long blonde hair fell in soft waves over shoulders. He slept soundly his dreams only of her.