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"Every step I took since the moment I could walk was a step toward finding you." Garrett, 'Message in a Bottle'

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Chapter 9

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Martin snuggled deeper under the warm covers as he lay splayed on his stomach. He rolled over and squeezed his pillow as visions of a blonde with lopsided smile and brown eyes filled his dreams. He was enjoying his little dreamscape rendezvous when he heard some heavy breathing that was not his own. He cracked open one eye to find a familiar pair of warm brown eyes watching him.

He stretched, lifted his head a notch and said, "Good morning." He was rewarded with a wet nose in his face. He affectionately rubbed his furry companion's neck and mumbled, "You know, I'm pretty sure cats let their owners sleep in."

Milo jumped off the bed and made small jumps of excitement as he waited for him so they could go on their daily morning ritual. Martin rolled out of bed, rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and said, "Alright, I get it. I'm up, I'm up."

He padded across the room and pulled open the drapes to try and decide if he could go on a run or not. The snow had stopped sometime during the night and only about four inches lay on the ground. He turned away from the window and headed to his closet to put on his running clothes and sneakers. Once he was properly dressed the two made their way downstairs. Martin entered the kitchen, started the coffee, put on his running jacket, his beanie and stuffed his cell into his pocket. Milo jumped up and down in eager anticipation. Martin put on Milo's collar and latched on the leash. "Let's get to it."

He opened the door and the two of them made their way through the cold winter morning. Martin jogged at a slow pace to allow Milo time to inspect the bushes and lamp posts along the way. They rounded a corner when Martin's cell phone rang.

He stopped and pulled out his phone while Milo sauntered over to a fire hydrant covered in snow and started sniffing. "Fitzgerald."

"Hi Martin. It's Danny Taylor."

"Hi, what's up?" Martin watched as Milo marked his territory as the warm yellow liquid melted the snow on the hydrant.

"Listen, I need a favor."

"A favor? You and I hardly know one another." Martin started walking slowly down the sidewalk so Milo could continue his morning ritual. "I usually need to know a guy for at least a week before I'd do a favor for him."

"Very funny. Come on, man. Help me out." Danny's voice had an almost desperate tinge to it before he coolly said, "Besides, you grew up in Washington right? You know how it goes. You scratch my back, I scratch yours."

Milo stopped and started sniffing around an iron fence as Martin replied, "Yeah, I have no interest in touching your back or any other part of your body for that matter."

"Come on, I need your help with Sam." Danny pleaded.

This caught Martin's attention. "What's the favor?"

"So when I ask you give me a hard time. I mention it's for Sam and suddenly….."

"I'm hanging up now." Martin retorted.

"Alright, alright!" Danny anxiously replied. "Listen, the car is stuck in a snow drift and it looks like I won't be able to get it out for another hour. Can you go by the hotel to pick up Sam?"

"You're not at the hotel?" Martin asked as he fished out a plastic baggy from his jacket pocket to retrieve Milo's sidewalk gift.

"No. I didn't quite make it back last night." Danny smugly answered before checking himself. "And she will kill me for not being at the hotel and having to fend for her own ride again."

While Martin was not particularly inclined to help out this smart-ass agent, he was not about to refuse an opportunity to see Samantha again so in the coolest tone he could muster he replied, "Yeah, I guess I could do you this favor. Where did you tell her I would meet her?" He walked to the corner of the street and tossed the baggy into a trash can.

Danny hesitated before saying, "Well, the thing is, Sam's not really a morning person and I'd hate to call her so early." Martin remained quiet wanting Danny to continue in his litany of explanations. "Besides, she's probably already going to be a little irritated with me so why don't you just go up to her room at eight. It's room 915."

Martin shook his head amusedly and said, "I'll do it but you do realize that this means you are now in my debt."

"Yeah, sure, I owe you one. Just don't be late. Sam hates being left waiting." And with that Danny hung up the phone.

Martin sighed heavily, shut his phone and shoved it back in his pocket. With a smile on his face he tugged on Milo's leash and headed in the direction of his house. He had to get ready to go see Sam.

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A/N: This was just a little post to let you guys know I am going to start updating sporadically. Things are a bit hectic here so I'll just write and update when I can - it might be every other day or not for several days. I'm doing my best but life is demanding a lot of my time right now. Fear not, the story is outlined from start to finish and it will absolutely be completed. Just gotta hang in there with me. ;) Thanks.