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What if I was good to you?

What if you were good to me?
What if I could hold you till I feel you move inside of me?
What if it was paradise?
What if we were symphonies?
What if I gave all my life to find some way to stand beside you?

- Rob Thomas, 'Lonely No More'

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Chapter 32

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While it was early afternoon the bedroom was dimly lit in gray light in large thanks to the dark sky outside. The snow was still falling but the flakes were lighter and fell slowly. Sam lay on her back looking at Martin who was lounging on his stomach, his arms wrapped around a pillow. He was watching her with an adorably stupid grin on his face so she asked, "What?"

He shrugged and replied, "I was just thinking about how beautiful you are."

"Flirt." Sam replied as he ran her fingers through his short hair before resting it on his cheek. Martin reached up to grab her hand and gave it a kiss.

After their shower they wandered back to bed feeling happily satiated and took a nap. Now they lingered in the warm bed just enjoying the proximity of one another. Sam rolled onto her side so she could get a better look at Martin's back and his bruise. She ran her hand along his back and saw him wince when she reached the part of his skin that was a deep shade of purple. "Sorry, did that hurt?"

"No, it's just a little tender." He replied before reaching out to touch her equally bruised forearm. "How about you, does your arm hurt?"

"Same here, it's just a little tender." She replied, enjoying just being able to touch each other freely. "We make quite a pair don't we?"

He smiled at her before he kissed her bruise and released her arm. "I think you still have me beat in the injuries department." He replied as he moved his hand under the blanket and ran it along her thigh until it reached her bullet scar. With soft gentle eyes he asked, "What happened?"

Sam sunk her head into her own pillow and began, "It was during a hostage situation but it was actually more of an accident." Then she proceeded to tell him about Barry Mashburn and the ransom drop-off that went terribly wrong; from the Good Samaritan thinking he was helping by trying to return the bag to the moment Jack traded himself for her.

"Jack must be pretty gutsy." He commented as he caressed her thigh.

"Yeah, he is." She wondered if she should tell him about her history with Jack but quickly decided that the worst place to tell one lover about another was in the bedroom.

"Does it still hurt sometimes?" He asked; his warm hand still on her leg.

"No but it does get a little achy when it rains." She commented as she moved both her hands under her cheek that rested on the pillow. Then she grinned and added, "Do yourself a favor: don't get shot, it's not all it's cracked up to be."

He laughed softly and replied, "I'll try my best."

She heard footsteps, or rather paw-steps, clicking down the hall and Milo appeared in the doorway. He stood there watching them for a few seconds before walking across the room to his pillow in corner. He circled a few times before finally plopping down and closing his eyes as he fell asleep.

"It looks like it's a lazy day for everyone." Sam commented with her eyes on Milo's sleeping form. She turned to look back at Martin who was watching her bemusedly when her cell phone started ringing. She groaned at the interruption and she sat up glancing around the room trying to remember where she had left her phone.

Martin leaned up and stilled, listening for where the ringing was coming from. He suddenly crossed over her body, his torso resting it on her legs and reached down to the floor beside her.

"Here it is." He moved back and handed it to her.

"Thanks." She replied taking the phone and flipping it open. "Spade."

"Agent Spade," Alexander Olczyk's crisp voice greeted her. "Malone informed me that you have been unavoidably detained in Chicago."

Sam sat up and leaned against the headboard, Olcyzk's voice was a jolt of reality penetrating the safe haven of Martin's bedroom. "Yes sir. We weren't able to make it out before the snowstorm hit."

Martin sat up, studying her change in demeanor. She gave him a tight smile and mouthed, "Work." He nodded his head in understanding.

"That was a very convenient occurrence considering you and Agent Taylor were needed back here in New York." Olcyzk replied coolly. "Nonetheless, I need to speak with you about the Spaulding case and Agent Dunkin's involvement."

"Yes sir, I'd be happy to talk with you but I am in the middle of something. Can I call you back?" She asked as she pulled the sheet over her chest and started to get off of the bed. Martin watched her disappointedly but made no move to stop her. While she wasn't shy in front of Martin, she felt self-conscious being nude while talking to Olyczk.

"I'd like to get this taken care of as soon as possible so I can hold." Olyczk replied a little too irritably.

"Yes sir, just a moment." Sam pressed the mute button on her cell and as she moved around the room gathering her clothes she looked at Martin and said, "Sorry, I really have to talk to him about the situation back in New York," Martin propped himself up on his elbows and listened. "And I think it would be easier to do in privacy – and being fully dressed."

"Sam, I'm not sure how up-to-date you are on technology but he can't see you through your cell phone." Martin replied with a humorous grin.

Sam stopped in the middle of the room holding up her clothes and the sheet in one hand and the cell phone in the other. "Ha. Ha. I know that. I just need to feel professional while I talk to him."

Martin nodded his head and got up out of the bed. He was completely nude and didn't even attempt to try and cover himself in front of her. He walked to his dresser, pulled out a pair of trainers and said, "Okay, then I suggest you get dressed and take the call in the office. I'll run down and get started on lunch." He pulled on a long sleeve t-shirt, walked up to where she stood and gave her a quick kiss. "Good luck."

She started getting dressed as walked out the door. As soon as she had her jeans and sweater on she clicked 'Talk' and said, "Thanks for holding, sir. What do you want to know?"