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There and nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the earth for you
Make you happy
Make your dreams come true
To make you feel my love

- Garth Brooks, 'To Make You Feel My Love'

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Chapter 48

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Even with her eyelids closed Sam could feel the light of day assaulting her. She opened her eyes to see the sun breaking through the slit of the curtains. She sighed heavily and sunk deeper under the covers. During the last week time was irrelevant but today the ticking clock was her enemy because as each minute passed her time in Chicago was fading away. She leaned back into the warm body pressed up against her. Martin was spooning her from behind and she could tell by the rise and fall of his chest that he was awake. She didn't want to leave the warm cocoon of the bed but she knew that she couldn't put it off any longer so she rolled over to face him.

His gaze was soft and warm as he snuggled closer to her and whispered, "Morning."

"Morning," She smiled before reaching up and grazing her fingers along the stubble on his jaw line. She suddenly grew very sad realizing that tomorrow morning she wouldn't wake up to find his warm body next to hers. She hadn't even left yet and she was already missing him. She decided to shake off her sorrow – she would have plenty of time for that when she returned to New York.

She smiled as she met Martin's eyes and gently said, "How did you sleep?"

"Not so great," Martin pressed his head further into his pillow and mumbled, "Although I noticed you didn't have any problems."

"Yeah, well, I got pretty tuckered out last night." She replied with a smirk.

He laughed. "Good excuse."

Martin gently strummed his fingers on her hip as they just watched each other. Sam leaned in and asked, "Do you know what time it is?"

"It's a little after nine o'clock." Martin replied solemnly.

"Oh." Sam replied deflated. Her flight was set to leave at one fifteen which once you factor in early arrival at the airport for security checks, etc. that basically gave her less than two hours left with Martin.

"Yeah, oh." Martin repeated softly.

Sam moved closer and rested her head on Martin's chest as he laid his hand on her hip. They lay in bed, just enjoying the proximity of one another for a little bit of time when she finally mustered up the courage to softly say, "I have to get up soon."

He shook his head and whispered, "You know, you don't really have to go."

Sam raised an eyebrow and replied, "I don't?"

"No, you can just stay here…with me." His tone was soft and sincere.

She gave him a gentle smile and said, "What about my job? My apartment, all my friends….?"

"Pesky details."

She traced his eyebrows with her fingers and replied, "Yeah, well, those 'pesky details' are my life Martin." She sighed and continued, "As wonderful as it sounds I can't just up and leave it."

"Yeah, I know you're right." Martin breathed. However despite his agreement he tightened his grip on her waist.

She looked up at his blue eyes that were so pale they reminded her of the sky on a hot summer day. She gave him a forced smile and said, "I need to take a shower." She placed her hand on top of the one rested on her waist and gave it a gentle tug. "Join me?"

He nodded his head and they wordlessly made their way to the shower. She turned on the water and once the temperature was warm enough she stepped inside with Martin following her lead. She stood with her back to him, her eyes closed as the hot water spray pelted her skin. She heard him moving around and a bottle cap open. Moments later his hands were in her hair, moving slow circles around the crown of her head. His fingers were gentle and calculating as he massaged the shampoo into a sudsy lather.

She turned around to face him but they both remained quiet, lost in their thoughts. As he worked she studied his features, memorizing them. The small cleft in his chin, the tiny mole along his jaw line and the other one just below his left eye; the pale freckles on his nose, the wrinkles near his eyes whenever he smiled, his soft pale pink lips that revealed his perfect, straight white teeth whenever he smiled. She was going to miss seeing that smile everyday. Her heart thumped hard in her chest when she realized how precious his face had become to her in just the course of a week.

Shaking off her morose mood she asked, "When do you think you can come visit me in New York?" She realized her voice sounded eager, almost desperate, so she tried to recover by adding, "I mean, just so I can make reservations or whatever…."

Martin bit his lip for a moment but she could tell he was feeling a little more upbeat at hearing her question. The emotion radiating off of him had changed and his shampooing technique even felt more energized. "Um, well, actually I gave it a little thought last night." He looked down at her as he kept moving his fingers through her hair. "How about in three weeks? Charlie will be back by then and it will be a long weekend in observance of Presidents Day. I could fly up on Friday afternoon and then take the red-eye back on Tuesday morning."

Sam grinned and said, "A little thought, huh? That's a pretty detailed plan."

"Yeah, well, I had a lot of time to think last night." He reached past her and removed the handheld shower nozzle and said, "Close your eyes and tilt your head back."

As Martin rinsed her hair she realized just how vested they had both become, it seemed that the 'fling' idea has officially been flung.

Once he was satisfied that all the shampoo was rinsed away he put the nozzle back and Sam opened her eyes. He reached for the conditioner and squeezed a dollop into his hand. As he worked the conditioner into her hair she laid her hands on his slick chest, admiring the look of concentration on his face. She smiled noticing that he had the same look of concentration when he performed other tasks.

"So, three weeks…..." Sam replied as she snaked her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips. "That sounds like a good plan."

He laughed softly and twisted her long hair into a pile on top of her head. "Thanks. I was worried that you would think it is too soon to visit."

"Not at all," Sam grinned shaking her head. She kissed him softly and pulled him to her. She rested her cheek against his shoulder as the warm water rained down upon them and softly said, "I actually think it might not be soon enough."