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"There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm." Willa Cather

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Chapter 14

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"Thanks Viv." Sam snapped her phone shut and leaned back in her chair. She rubbed her eyes and looked at her watch that read: 7:15 p.m. She glanced around at the now nearly empty office. Most of the team had headed home when they reached a dead-end on information about Carl Battarbee. The only ones still here were Danny, Louisa and Martin.

"What did Viv have to say?" Danny asked from the table where he was shuffling papers together.

"She was right. The neighbor who tipped her off about Carl did give Erica the money to disappear; three thousand to be exact." Sam leaned over and picked up her now warm soda to take a drink but it was empty. "It seems the neighbor was another one of those lucky ladies who was a victim of domestic abuse and she wanted Erica to get out after she confided in her that she was pregnant."

"So Erica gave the money to Valerie to 'pay it forward' so to speak." Danny commented as he stood up to get his jacket.

"Yup." Sam asked as she stood up to stretch. "Are you leaving?"

"Yeah, we aren't making any progress here and my new friend, Courtney, has one more day of layover so….." Danny trailed off.

"Layover? How appropriate." Sam commented. "Well, lover boy you better plan on taking a cab because I am keeping the car today."

"Can't you catch a ride with your little fling over there?" Danny asked with a nod to Martin's empty desk.

"No, I've decided against it; bad idea. The keys please." Sam demanded with her palm outstretched.

"Damn, and here I thought I was helping things along this morning." Danny sat on the edge of the table next to Sam and handed her the keys.

"Oh yeah, thanks for that by the way. I totally humiliated myself in front of him this morning." Sam complained as she tucked the keys into her pocket.

Danny's lips turned up into a wide grin before he started chuckling. "Is that why you got mad at me and left that angry voicemail and then volunteered me to go on dumpster detail?"

Sam looked at the wood on the table knowing that she was unjustly angry at Danny for something that happened that was beyond his control. "Maybe."

"That's so wrong. I get covered in slime just because I was trying to be helpful and speed things up between you and Marty." Danny said.

"Yeah well stop it."

"So how did you humiliate yourself exactly?" Danny asked genuinely curious.

Sam told him about the incident in her hotel room and the icy sidewalk. If she was looking for someone to comfort and reassure her it definitely wasn't Danny.

"Ha Ha. That's priceless." Danny laughed.

"Shut up. I'm completely mortified." Sam remarked.

"Believe me. You have nothing to be embarrassed about." Danny reassured before adding, "Any guy would happily sneak a peek at a woman's lingerie any day of the week. Helps feed the fantasies."

"You're not helping." Sam retorted as she considered the fact that she might be a guest star in Martin Fitzgerald's fantasies.

Danny looked at Sam and gently asked, "What are you so afraid of Sam?"

She considered her words carefully. Danny didn't know that she had slept with Jack so as far as he knew the bad choice in men she had was with Kellar. And while he may understand her being gun shy because of Jack she liked that he didn't know. While Viv never treated her badly for being a mistress she wasn't sure Danny wouldn't treat her differently if he knew. So she decided to opt with a vague answer and said, "I just need to start being more careful about who I get involved with."

Danny looked her over before smirking and saying, "I didn't say marry the guy – just sleep with him."

Shaking her head she replied, "I don't think it's that simple Danny."

"Yes it is." Danny leaned forward and put a hand on each of her shoulders and whispered, "Sam, I saw this as your friend. If anyone in this world needs to get laid it's you."

Sam shoved him and he almost fell off the table as he shouted, "Hey! I'm just speaking the truth!"

"What truth?" Martin's winsome voice asked as he returned from the tech room where he was working with Theo to try and see what other information they could glean from the video.

"The truth is Danny has to get going." Sam replied matter-of-factly.

Danny regained his composure and started towards the door. "Yeah, I got a hot date. See you guys later." Sam noticed that as he winked at Martin as he walked past.

Sam walked to where Martin stood and asked, "Any luck with the video?"

He had a confused look on his face as his eyes followed Danny out before turning back to look at her. "Uh, no. I'm beginning to think it's a lost cause." Martin gave her a small smile before walking to his desk. "How about you? Any word from the IRS on where Carl Battarbee might be working?"

"No and the last time I called to ask they told me to not expect it until morning." Sam replied. She was mourning the loss of his light and playful bantering with her. She knew that she needed to talk to him and make him understand that it had nothing to do with him but it was all about her and her miserable relationship history.

"Then I don't think there is much more for us to do today so we might as well head home too." As he said the words he started gathering his things off of the desk. With his back to her he asked, "Do you need a ride back to the hotel?"

Sam knew that she had to make things right. "No Danny left me the car. Felt guilty I guess. Thank you though."

Martin squared his shoulders and turned around to face her. "So I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight."

"You know, it's late and neither one of us had dinner yet." Sam uttered nervously. She knew that she needed to stall for time since she couldn't possibly explain herself in the short drive to her hotel. "And I haven't been to Chicago in ages and I would love to go grab a bite at Ann Sathers and I'd really love some company."

She could see Martin warring on whether or not to join her but in the end he relented and gave her a small smile and replied, "Sure. I could eat."