XXXXXXX

Nothing's quite the same now
I just say your name now
But it's not so bad
You're only the best I ever had

- Vertical Horizon, 'Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)'

XXXXXXX

Chapter 51

XXXXXXX

Martin pulled the jeep to a stop in front of Charlie's house. After leaving Sam at the airport he didn't want to go home knowing that he would be all alone in the big house. He took a deep breath, savoring the lingering smell of her perfume in the car. He didn't know how was it possible for him to become so dependent on seeing someone everyday after such a short span of time.

He decided to keep himself distracted by checking up on his recuperating buddy. He stepped out of the jeep and made his way up the sidewalk and was about to knock on the door when it swung open and two little boys slammed right into him.

"Whoa!" He exclaimed as he steadied himself.

"Sorry Mr. Fitzgerald!" Will and Jeffrey, Charlie's sons, apologized before continuing to run past him to the car.

"No problem." Martin laughed when Nadine appeared in the doorway holding their youngest, Melissa, while the other little girl, Dana, ran up to Martin and held out her arms for him to pick her up.

"Hey Martin," Nadine greeted him with a quick buss on the cheek. "Are you here to see my darling husband?"

"Hey," Martin picked up Dana, an adorable 3-year old girl with freckles and red hair pulled into pigtails. She put her little arms around his neck as he said. "I was but if you are all headed out…."

"The kids and I are but Charlie found a game on TV to keep him occupied. He's in the den, just go on in." Nadine finished as she stepped out the house.

"Thanks," Martin replied as the boys hopped anxiously by the car. He eyed her with a grin and said, "Why do I get the feeling you are all running away?"

Nadine laughed and said, "Something like that. Charlie is restless on a good day but when he is ordered to relax he is unbearable. We all love him but after being trapped together during the snowstorm and now this, well, let's just say too much togetherness is not a good thing. I'm actually looking forward to a trip to the grocery store with all these kids."

Martin nodded his head and laughed. Dana gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before he put her down so she could scurry after her mom and siblings. He stood there a moment as Nadine started loading up her brood before he turned to walk into the house and down the hall. He could hear Charlie yelling at the TV as he neared. "Come on! Shoot the damn ball!"

He walked into the den where the family spent a bulk of their time. In the large room there was a large sectional sofa, a coffee table littered with sippy cups and children's books while the carpet was just as cluttered with toy trucks, dolls and building blocks. Charlie was lounging at the other end of the room on his Lazy Boy, his eyes on the television.

"What's the score?" Martin asked as he entered.

Charlie turned his attention away from the TV and looked over where Martin stood. He smiled broadly as he greeted him. "Hey, man."

"How are you feeling?" Martin asked as he went to sit on the sofa. He moved a stuffed teddy bear off the cushion and sat down.

"I feel great but Nadine says that's my pain medication talking." Charlie grumbled.

"She's probably right." Martin replied with a grin. He leaned back on the sofa and looked at the TV. There was a college basketball game on TV. "Who's playing?"

"USC at Washington." Charlie supplied before relaxing back into the chair. The two men watched the game in silence for awhile when Charlie softly asked, "Has Sam already left?"

Martin tilted his head but didn't look at Charlie as he answered, "Yeah."

Charlie nodded his head but remained quiet. The sat watching the game, chatting about player's stats and other random sports related information. Martin was grateful for the typically male method of dealing with anything emotional: avoidance. By the time half-time had arrived Martin had managed to push Sam to the back of his mind – still present but the aching wasn't as strong.

"Hey, can I talk you into getting me a beer from the fridge?" Charlie asked.

"How about I get you a soda? I don't think you should be mixing your pain meds with alcohol." Martin replied with a smirk.

"Okay." Charlie agreed. Martin stood up and was almost out of the room when Charlie added, "Grab a bag of chips while you're at it."

Martin walked into the kitchen to gather the two sodas and a bag of BBQ potato chips. He started back to the den when the doorbell rang. He turned and started to the front door shouting out. "I'll get it!"

"I should hope so! I'm wounded here!" Charlie shouted back.

Laughing Martin came to a stop in front of the door and looked through the peephole to find Anna standing on the other side. Balancing the refreshments in one hand, he opened the door. "Hi."

"Hi, I guess we had the same idea." Anna greeted him as he nodded for her to enter. "I just dropped my son off at a birthday party and thought I'd check up on the patient. How's he doing?"

Martin grinned and said, "Let me put it this way: Nadine and the kids have all run away for the afternoon."

Anna laughed and said, "So he's almost back to normal, huh?"

He laughed and started to lead Anna back to the den. He offered her a can of soda which she accepted so he made a quick beeline detour to get another beverage in the kitchen before they walked into the den.

"Hi Charlie," Anna greeted as she walked over to plant a kiss on his cheek. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm good. I want to go back to work tomorrow but Louisa said she doesn't want to see me for at least two more weeks." Charlie said as Martin popped open his soda and tore open the bag of chips before handing them to him.

"Well, you do need time to heal even if you think you are feeling good." Anna said as she moved to sit on the section of the sofa Martin had already cleared off.

"Yeah, whatever, I just hope Nadine and I don't drive each other crazy in the meantime." Charlie commented as he took a drink of his soda.

Anna laughed in agreement. She turned to look at Martin as he cleared off another cushion so he could sit down. "Hey, how did the big date go?"

"Oh yeah." Charlie commented as he turned in his chair to face Martin. "How'd my man, Tony, hook you up?"

Martin sat down and took a drink of the sugary carbonated drink before replying, "It went really well." He then went on to tell them about the night from dinner to the dancing. It was so strange that it all happened just last night. It already felt like years ago. "She had a wonderful time. I owe you guys."

"I'm just glad that you and Sam had fun." Anna said as she leaned back on the sofa and crossed her legs.

Charlie nodded his head in agreement and stuffed a handful of chips in his mouth.

"We did." Martin replied before he hesitatingly added, "Um, in fact, we have plans to go out dancing in New York in three weeks."

Anna raised an eyebrow and said, "Really?"

Charlie had an equally pleased look on his face and said, "That's great man."

Martin nodded his head and looked at the can in his hand. It was great to know that he would get to go see her in three weeks but there was still this emptiness inside of him that he couldn't explain or even understand. "I know it's good. It's really good but….it just doesn't seem like it's soon enough."

Charlie started brushing off potato chip crumbs and said, "It's only three weeks."

Martin tilted his head and softly replied, "Yeah but I'd rather not have to wait that long just to see her." Charlie and Anna shared a look and then started laughing lightly. Martin looked at them wonderingly and asked, "What? I tell you how much I'm going to miss seeing Sam and you laugh? Some friends you are."

Anna shook her head and said, "It's not that, it's just we're so happy that now you finally understand what we've been telling you all these years." She lifted up the soda can to take a drink as she looked directly at him and finished, "When you find the one you just know it."

XXXXXXXXXXX

A/N: Hey guys, thanks for your patience. I am hoping to spend my Sunday writing so here's a little bit to tide you over. As always, thanks for reading. :)