Chapter 5: Come Back, Sam

"So now I know about Eric. But that still doesn't explain why you're here in the middle of the desert, Sam," Danny said.

"Well, I got the news a few days ago, that Eric got hired as the new mechanic for the Montecito. I was going to try and get through it, really I was. But I was breaking down that entire day, and he didn't even work there yet! So I realized that if I can't get through one day knowing that he was coming, how would I cope with him actually there? That's when I packed my bags and told Ed I had to leave. I couldn't be around Eric. The Montecito and all it's employees are my family. I couldn't be there with him there. It just wouldn't be the same. So I left. I came here."

Danny, feeling sympathetic, said, "Sam, Sam, Sam, why didn't you give Ed a chance to speak?"

"I've never been good at goodbyes Danny. I didn't want him to talk, I didn't want to hear his voice again. I didn't want to have to think about it. I figured if I just said goodbye and left before he had a chance to say anything, it might be easier. Besides, what difference would it have made?"

"It would have made a BIG difference, Sam! Ed wasn't going to say goodbye! He was going to tell you that you've been at the Montecito for much longer and he'd rather lose Eric than you! Compare it… mechanic, or the best casino host in Vegas?"

Sam felt really foolish now. She didn't know what to say. She should've given Ed the chance to talk before she stupidly stormed out of his office. She thought to herself, 'God, if I didn't act so arrogant and dumb, I could still be there now! What did I do!"

Danny interrupted her train of busy thoughts.

"Come back, Sam."

Sam thought long and hard. "I can't come back now, Danny! I just can't! I'd be too embarrassed. Besides…" She said, now giving herself an excuse, "I'm already here, and I like it. I like the thought of not having to work. No whales breathing down my neck all the time. Its kind of nice, peaceful, relaxing."

"Sam quit trying to convince yourself to stay. You know you want to come back as much as we all want you back… As much as I want you back."

Sam was startled at this. 'Did he really just say that he wants me back?' Heck, Danny even surprised himself at saying it. 'Did I really just say that out loud?' There was a long silence. Sam finally said, "Danny, I would love to come back…" Danny's heart jumped inside, but then stopped again at the sound of that one dreaded word… but.

"But I'm not going to. I've made up my mind. I just need to start over. I think it would be a good idea if you just leave."

"Sam, I can't leave."

"Why the hell not, Danny! You're making this hard enough!"

"Because one, Ed said I better not come back without you, and two, I don't have a car. I came in a cab and there isn't a working phone out here."

Sam was now getting aggravated. "Ah ha! You planned this all along! You did this on purpose so I'd have to take you back! Nice one McCoy, but I've got you on this one!"

"No, Sam. It's not like that. I didn't take a cab so you'd have no choice but to bring me back. I took a cab because I assumed you'd be willingly coming back with me, as in moving back, and staying back, So we'd just be going home together. But now it looks like you're not going to have a choice."

"Well, I got news for you then, Danny McCoy, I refuse to take you back. I'm not going back to Las Vegas."

"Well then I've got news for you too, Samantha Jane Marquez, either you're taking me back, or I'm stuck here with you."

"Fine then," she yelled, "I guess you have a new house! Don't bother making yourself at home!"

Dusk was falling and Sam was just sitting in her room thinking. Danny was still in the living room, trying to come up with ways to get her to come back. Then Sam came into the living room and tossed Danny a pillow and blanket and said, "I'm already tired, so I might as well give you these now before I fall asleep. You can sleep on the couch."

True, Sam was tired. But she couldn't fall asleep. As angry as she was with Danny and his little scheme, she couldn't help but get a thrill from the thought that her long time love was sleeping down in her living room. Sam didn't sleep at all that night. She just stayed awake thinking about Las Vegas, The Montecito, her friends…about Danny. What was she doing? Why was she here? Why couldn't she go back?

Before she knew it, the early morning desert haze was gently making her room glow. She really liked it when the mornings were like this. So… peaceful, calm… just pure nothingness.

That's when she realized it. Yeah, she loved these barren desert mornings greeting her through her window, but she loved waking up and looking out of her window to the strip welcoming her even more. Of course she liked the peaceful and calm nothingness. But what she really loved, more than anything was the nothingness that Las Vegas wasn't. Sure, being alone is pleasant. But what she discovered right then, was that she loved being around people, around the big city and all of it's lights, she loved Las Vegas!

Danny was down in the living room just waking up. Relaxed, yet still amazed that he just spent the night in the same small house as Sam. But he was depressed. He was facing the facts that he couldn't just stay at the little bungalow with Sam forever. He had to get back to Vegas. But she probably wouldn't be going with him. He had to face that he might have to live a life with out the beautiful Samantha Jane Marquez. His silent thoughts were broken when he heard the gentle voice of a woman a few feet from his head.

"Um, Danny?"

He turned around and looked at the little Sam, still wearing the tiny pair of rolled up boxers and the wife beater. "Yeah, what is it?" He thought he was about to be kicked out or something.

"I changed my mind."

Danny's gorgeous eyes widened with curiosity, "Changed your mind about what?"

"I want to go home. Back to Las Vegas. Back to the Montecito," she said. Danny's heart jumped 10 feet in the air. "Okay! We'll leave today!"

"Great. Just let me pack my things."

"I'll come help you!"

As they were packing, Danny couldn't resist asking. "So… what made you change your mind?"

"Well, I guess I just realized how much I love Vegas, and all of you guys… And how much I need it."