A/N I'm so, so sorry its been so long since I have updated! I have had serious writers block and been ill, and things have been very hectic at work as there are major changes going on. And I apologize to those of you who I told it would only be a day or two before this chapter would be up, life got in the way! I'm hoping to get more up before I go to New York a week on Friday but as things are still pretty hectic here I'm apologizing in advance in case I don't! Hope you enjoy this and please r&r!

Chapter 21

"Hey guys" Danny greeted as he opened the door to Rick and Matt a few days later.

"Hey yourself!" Matt smiled brightly as he walked in and made himself comfy on the couch with Rick beside him. "Sam and Em around?"

"I'm right here. You're blind as a bat!" Em laughed leaning over the back of the couch and wrapping her arms around Matt's neck. "How you doing honey?"

"I'm not too bad thanks." He frowned and raised his arm that was still in a cast from the crash, "Apart from this that is! It doesn't hurt but it's annoying as hell not being able to do anything with it!" He looked around hearing a door open and close as Sam came through from her room and he smiled brightly again. "There's my other favourite girl."

Matt reached his good hand and pulled Sam down on to the couch next to him and he gave her a half hug holding her close to him. Sam smiled at him, "Good to see you." Sam and Matt had taken a while to become friends. Matt was loud, hot headed, had a quick temper and was not afraid to share his opinions. Sam first met him about 8 months after meeting Rick. They had gotten in to a heated argument that night and things got worse before they got better because both were so stubborn. But he had turned out to be a sweetie once she got to know him and they had become close friends. Although they did still get in to the odd fight about something that could go on for days they would still be friends through out and laugh with each other about other topics.

"I can't stay I'm afraid guys" Sam said apologetically as she pulled out of Matt's grip and stood "I'm on my way to the gym. See you later Matt." Sam smiled tightly as she left, gym bag in hand.

"See ya." Matt smiled "Well that was a quick exit. Did I do something wrong?" He asked jokingly. Rick had told him things were a little strained between Sam and the boys because of Martin, who he was curious to meet, but he didn't think things were too bad. But he had a feeling he was about to be proved wrong.

Danny looked down briefly before speaking "I have a feeling it's me she's mad at" He admitted.

"Really?" Em said in mock surprise, "I wonder why that could possibly be?" She grinned "I'm just gonna run to the store and pick up a couple of things. I won't be long." Em gave Danny a quick kiss before looking pointedly at Matt as she said "Be good while I'm gone."

Matt held his hands up in mock surrender, trying to look innocent as if to say "You mean me?" Em just laughed as she left.

"Wipe that smirk off your face Taylor. I ain't a trouble maker!" Matt said barely able to contain his own laughter as Rick and Danny laughed at him. "So tell me about Martin. And what's going on between him and Sam." He turned serious as he suddenly changed the subject.

Neither Danny or Rick was surprised by Matt's sudden topic change or his directness with it. Matt didn't do subtle or gentle. "What exactly is it you wanna know?" Danny asked.

"Everything. Just tell me all the detail of what happened between them just before he left and everything that's happened since he came back. None of your thoughts or feelings on it. Just the facts for now." Matt said.

Danny told him about Martin leaving, what happened the day he returned, all the details of their talk in the elevator and everything else that had happened since his friends return. Rick added what had happened with Martin in the car as well.

"So are you still friends with him Danny?" Matt asked.

"Yeah I guess so. I do still like the guy. I just don't trust him not to hurt Sam and screw up again. I can't see her hurt like that again. I know how she feels about him and everything they've been through and I want her to be happy but," He hesitated looking down briefly "I just don't trust him with her after the way he left. I believe him when he says he loves her."

"But the past is making you very protective of Sam. Particularly because of the accident and her depression. Very understandable, you're her big brother. You're meant to look out for her." Matt stated. "Rick?" He questioned turning to him.

"I think he's trying. I don't think he's just gonna jump in to anything with her, not so soon after leaving Anna. I also don't think any of his feelings are because of finding out about the baby he and Sam lost. But I'm also not sure about them getting back together. I don't wanna see her hurt by him again." Rick said with a slight frown.

"She's so happy he's back and they're getting closer everyday. She was so devastated when he left and I don't think she could handle it if they didn't work out again." Danny added.

"Why is there tension between you two and Sam?" Matt asked getting more and more curious.

Danny and Rick exchanged a look. "Uh, well," Danny started a little unsure of how to explain what had happened, "I asked her something and she got a bit, uh, worked up about it and I said something gin response that made her mad at me."

"And I made the mistake of not getting involved. I just watched the conversation and didn't say anything but she lashed out at me regardless." Rick said with a slight curve to his lips.

Matt knew that Sam wouldn't have normally said anything to Rick in that situation, so instantly realized she must be overly sensitive on the subject because she had her own doubts about being with Martin. However due to wanting to be with him, she felt she had to defend herself or Martin against whatever it was Danny said and she was overcompensating. "What did you say?" He asked

"Well, despite my reservations about them being together they both clearly want it and I want them to be happy. I asked Sam why she and Martin were still just friends and if it was because she was enjoying playing hard to get with him. She got kinda flustered and said it was just because they were taking things slow and rebuilding their friendship first. Because of the way she reacted I wondered if there was more to it so I told her she I thought she was scared of being with him again because of what happened."

"Let me guess, she didn't take it too well!" Matt said, more of a statement than a question, knowing Sam wouldn't react well to a comment like that.

"No. She didn't." Danny continued, "She said that she wasn't and said what was wrong with working on their friendship first. Then she turned on me and said that I wasn't being a lot of help because one moment I'm being over protective of her with him and the next urging her to be with him."

"She turned on me as well at that point and accused me of the same before saying we should make up our minds as to whether or not he's a good guy and whether we want her to be with him or not." Rick said.

"Then I continued to make matters worse by saying that I though that if he made her happy then they should be together but it doesn't erase the past so I stand by my right to be over protective and to snap at him to quickly. She said fine, be like that. She repeated that she wasn't scared to be with him again and that they were quite happy just taking their time. Then she stormed off." Danny finished.

Matt looked between the two for a moment before laughing "You're such an idiot sometimes Taylor." Then he looked at Danny seriously. "You're not wrong though. She is scared of being with him again. I don't think she would have reacted like that other wise."

"No me either." Danny agreed.

"Look, I know how much none of us want to see her hurt again, or stop being protective of her, it sounds like he makes her happy." Matt started. For all his hotheadedness and quick assumptions, he was usually pretty accurate in analyzing situations. "It also sounds like he's trying and being good about waiting till she's ready, not pushing it. But Sam being Sam, she's doubting herself, over thinking the situation and thinking the worst. Yes she does need us to look out for her but I think she also needs us to be supportive and let her see that it's not a bad idea to be with him again, and that it's ok to be cautious about it at the same time. I don't think the tension between you guys is there because she's mad or because you're wrong, but because you're right and she's not sure enough in your support of her being with Martin to admit it and talk about it. And I think she's right about that.

"Guys, maybe both you and she need to remember that all relationships require an element of risk and trust, whether you are embarking on a new one or revisiting an old one. She will have to overcome that if she is ever going to be happy, and as her friends you need to be supportive of that regardless of your opinions. She needs you to push her along that road, not pull her back."