Title: Scenes from a Courtship
Disclaimer: Not mine, I'm just playing.
Summary: A series of scenes from Sam and Martin's relationship. In the same universe as "A Long Weekend."
Rating: If you are old enough to use the internet you are old enough to read this.
Chapter 2
A special thanks to Claire and "she who wishes not to be named" for beta reading.
Telling Everyone
About two months later over dinner at Martin's place, Sam told Martin "Danny has picked up on the fact that there is something between us. He seemed happy about it." Sam seemed a little nervous and unsure of herself.
"Maybe you were right and we should tell everyone or at least the team. We don't have to hide it from anyone else, but I'd rather not put it in the employee newsletter." Sam sighed after saying all that. She felt like she had accomplished something that scared her.
"Great! That's fine with me. I don't need a newsletter article. Does this mean I can tell my parents? My mom is getting suspicious that she gets my answering machine more than usual. Besides that, when she does get me at home there are often sounds of someone else there. She keeps hinting around that I can tell her anything, that all she and my father want is for me to be happy, and so on. I think she might be starting to think I'm gay and haven't told them," rambled Martin clearly excited, but also a little surprised.
Sam laughed loudly and replied, "I think I can safely state that it is not true. Your parents are going to hate me, but they should hear it from you and not from the FBI grape vine."
"Sam, they aren't going to hate you. My mother has finally adjusted to the fact that I will never be a politician and marry a debutante from a powerful family. Besides, right now, I think she will be happy you are female. As for my father, well, I'm past caring what he thinks. Besides, I think my mother has been working on him. She makes him talk to me sometimes when she calls and we have civil conversations. He's not exactly a chatting on the phone kind of guy, but he does it. It seems there is someone Victor Fitzgerald fears after all," Martin replied, laughing because Sam's laughter was contagious.
"I'm skeptical, but they are your parents so it's your problem," replied Sam. "I guess I can tell my mom, but she's kind of indifferent to my life. There is too much history for us to have much more than a cordial relationship." Sam almost managed to keep her regret hidden, but Martin could still pick up on it.
Just then, the phone rang. Martin picked it up with his usual "Fitzgerald. Hi Mom. Yes, I know that's no way to greet my mother. It's habit. How are you and Dad? I'm doing very well. In fact, I wanted to tell you that I'm seeing someone new. Her name is Samantha Spade. We work together. Yes, she's an agent. I guess it's serious. We'll have to see. O.K. I think we can manage that. Yes, I'll wait while you get Dad. Hi Dad. Yes, it's true. She makes me very happy. Yes Dad. No Dad. Actually, I thought Jack Malone's desk would be a good idea. Dad, Dad, calm down. I'm kidding. We would never. I understand Dad. I love you too. Goodbye."
Sam was been sitting in silence the whole time trying to figure what is being said on the other side of the phone. She was confused and the fact that Martin had rolled his eyes at his mother, smiled, seemed annoyed, and then amused in the space of minutes didn't help. As Martin hung up, she asked him "We can manage what? And what were you kidding about Jack's desk?"
"Well," replied Martin smirking, "my mother is thrilled and she wants us to join her and Dad for dinner or something when they come to New York to see something on Broadway. My father was a little more reserved. I think he's trying to make-up for lost parenting time. He reminded me that life is not always easy for women at the Bureau and I shouldn't treat you any differently or compromise your professionalism. He also told me not to get you pregnant or do anything inappropriate even if we thought we were alone in the office. Sam, I swear, he was lecturing me like I was a 16 years-old, so the smart ass in me kicked in and I told him I was planning to take you on Jack's desk."
"WHAT?" Sam yelled clearly horrified. "He told you what, and you told him what? I am never going to be able to look him in the eye again. Does he think I'm trying to trap you into something?"
Martin pulled Sam to him and said "Relax, Sam. He knows I was kidding. He's not worried about you trying to trap me into anything. He was stressing the need for me to be a gentleman and responsible. It was not an unreasonable line of conversation; if I was still 16." Martin shakes his head at his father's awkward attempts to starting parenting his fully-grown son.
Sam settles into Martin's lap and asks, "So your father decided his grown son needed a lecture about the birds and bees? That's so surreal. Didn't you have the conversation many, many years ago?" asks Sam looking mystified by the Martin/Victor dynamic.
"It's even more surreal when you are in the conversation. And no, I never had that particular conversation with my father. Victor Fitzgerald was not really a hands on dad. Other than school, Uncle Roger was the only adult who even tried to engage me in a conversation about sex in my teenage years," replied Martin.
"Well," replied Sam smiling. "I guess our parent's preoccupations spared us that particular adolescent ritual. When is this dinner?"
Martin answered "Sometime next month. She'll call when they have made plans."