Chapter 12

XXXXXXX

"How is he?" Danny asked as Sam passed him on the sofa on her way to the kitchen.

"Still sick, I have to go get him some Gatorade." Sam replied as she continued walking to the kitchen. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Danny stand up and start trailing behind her. She opened the fridge and pulled out a Gatorade Ice.

"Hey, are those cheese-puffs?" Danny asked, peeking into the fridge behind Sam. "I'm starving, can I have some?"

"Absolutely, it's the least I can do for dragging you guys over here so late at night. I made them myself." She pulled out the cheese-puffs and put them in the microwave to warm them up. She then moved to the cabinet and pulled out a tall drinking glass, filling it half-way with Gatorade before adding water. "I really appreciate Emma coming over to take a look at Martin. I hope I didn't ruin your night."

Danny sat at the table fiddling with the salt shaker. "No problem, we were actually on our way home from the movies."

Sam finished filling the glass before deciding to search the drawers for a straw; it would make it easier for Martin to drink.

Danny casually asked, "So, have you guys had one normal date since he got back?"

"Well, I thought tonight was going well…" Sam trailed off.

"Oh, man, that sucks." Danny chuckled.

Sam turned and threw him a dirty look when Emma walked in. "How is he?"

"He's going to be fine. It's…….the stomach flu. He just has to drink plenty of fluids and rest. It should disappear in about 24 to 48 hours." The microwave dinged and Danny stood up and walked to the microwave, pulling the plate out.

"That's great. Thank you so much for coming over." Sam said, visibly relieved.

"No problem." Emma eyed Danny as he waved his hand over the cheese puffs so they would cool before lifting one up to his mouth. "Danny, what are you eating?"

"Cheese-puffs, Sam made them." He nodded to Sam as he brought one up to his mouth.

"No!" Emma shouted. Both Sam and Danny stopped and looked at her. "I mean, Danny, you know I don't like you eating dairy this late."

"What? But I'm hungry." He brought the pastry back up to his mouth before Emma walked over and took it from him.

"No." She shook her head and narrowed her eyes at him. She turned to face a stunned Sam. "No offense but cheese keeps him up all night with gas."

"What the hell, Emma!" Danny looked absolutely indignant.

"I just don't want you to eat cheese." Emma said coolly. "It keeps me up all night, too."

"Where's this coming from?" Danny raised his voice. "You never said anything before!"

"I'm telling you now. Don't eat those cheese-puffs." Emma replied, punctuating each word.

"Look lady, I don't need or want you telling me what to do. I can do whatever I damn well please and eat whatever I want!" He waved the cheese-puff in her face.

Emma eyed him, looking annoyed and said, "Fine. Go ahead. Eat it."

"I will!" Danny brought another pastry to his lips when Emma jumped forward and knocked it out of his hands making Danny shout, "What's your problem!"

Emma stood there unsure of what to say when Sam quietly answered, "She didn't want you to get food poisoning. That's what Martin has, right? I gave him food poisoning."

Emma turned to her and frowned. "Sorry."

Sam felt awful. She tried to do something nice for Martin and ended up making him sick. "I'll just go take him the Gatorade."

The kitchen was silent as Sam moved to leave carrying the glass of watered down Gatorade. She was almost out the door when she heard Danny say, "I almost ate that."

"Shut up, Danny." Emma replied.

Sam entered the bathroom and saw that Martin was still lying in the middle of the floor. She crouched down next to him and softly said, "Hey, you should try and drink some of this."

Martin took the wet cloth off his head, sat up and took a small sip from the straw. As he moved to lay back down he looked at her crestfallen expression and said. "She told you?"

"No, I guessed." Sam moved over to sit cross-legged next to him. "Did it taste awful when you were eating it?"

Martin closed his eyes and remained silent.

Sam winced. "Why did you eat it then? Why didn't you just tell me?"

Martin stayed quiet for a moment before he opened his eyes to look at her and softly replied, "You looked so proud and happy. I didn't have the heart."

Sam gave him a gentle smile and scooted to the floor to lie down next to him. Once there she quietly said, "If you hadn't been puking for the last three hours I'd totally kiss you right now."

Martin released a quiet laugh as the two just lay there side by side on the floor.