Melt Your Heart

Thanks for your reviews on the previous chapter. Glad you're still enjoying it. I'm having fun writing it, but I do wish they'd hurry up and kiss already ;) This chapter is like 95% fluff, which felt good to write after all of the angst currently going down in "It Takes a Village". Hope you enjoy this chapter too! xxx

Chapter 6: First Aid

It was not exactly Sam's favourite day of the year, but it was one of those things that he'd been talked into when he was new in town and now he had no way of getting out of it. It was just one day of the year, he reasoned and it was a good cause. If it meant that the parents and teachers learned enough to potentially save a child's life or at least prevent them from having to go to hospital, then in Sam's eyes it was a day well spent. It might get him out of whatever Martha had planned for him for Halloween if he was lucky, but he doubted it. It didn't matter how resistant you were, Middleton seemed to have a way of dragging you in. In the years since Sam had moved there, he had learned not to fight it and when to just grin and bear it.

He arrived at the school early to make sure that the room was all set up and ready. He had made his own coffee at home that morning, he hadn't been able to face the Bistro and the knowing looks from the other patrons. They would only try to be encouraging, but socialising before having to stand up in front of a group of people all day was not something Sam wanted.

The groups were usually pretty small, but Sam was still not a fan of having all of the attention on him. It was different at the hospital when he was presenting a case to the other doctors and medical students; but they knew and respected him as Doctor Radford. He often saw the same people each year on the course as they looked to brush up on their skills, and there usually weren't more than a dozen of them. He looked at the list of names that the school receptionist had printed for him. He was familiar with most of the name until he got to the end of the list and saw that one more named had been added in pen at the bottom of the print out: Ms Cassie Nightingale.

Of course she'd be here. Of course she'd be the kind of parent to be attend something like this. He wondered if she be surprised to find that it was him who was leading the course, but Cassie seemed to have a keen sense about these kinds of things and it only seemed to be getting stronger the longer she stayed in town. Maybe he just wasn't as mysterious as he liked to give himself credit for. But then Abigail was very similar; she always seemed to know when he might want to share a beer after a tough shift at the hospital.

People began to file into the room, helping themselves to coffee or water from the table at the back. Sam felt a little nervous as they took their seats and looked at him expectantly, but he knew it would pass once he got started. It always did. He was just getting ready to address the room when he saw Cassie slip in and take a seat near the back. He caught her eye and they shared a smile.

Cassie looked around at the other people in the room, trying to see who she recognised. It also meant that she didn't have to look at Sam. He had caught her on the backfoot this time, which didn't happen often and if she wasn't mistaken he looked a little bit smug about it. It also explained Abigail's absence at breakfast time, even though Cassie was making banana pancakes for the twins. She must have already known. She spotted Lori in the front row and they shared a warm smile, but the rest of the room were still strangers to Cassie.

Sam spent the first hour making introductions, going through the fire drill procedure and talking them through the basics of first aid. They paused for a comfort break, and then it was time to start the practical aspects of the course. He would need a little help with this part.

"I'm going to need a volunteer," he said.

Those words that struck fear or joy, depending on your personality. Only one hand shot up in the air and Sam nearly winced. He looked around the room, steadfastly trying to ignore Sally Atkins' raised hand. He had been on one date with Sally, and it had ended with her trying to slide her hand down the front of his jeans. The memory always made Sam shudder, but hadn't seem to have cooled Sally's desire for him. A bolt of inspiration hit him.

"Hey, have you guys all met Cassie Nightingale," she subtly shook her head at him, but Sam would not be deterred. "She's just moved to Middleton, she's living at Grey House with Abigail Pershing," a few mutters acknowledged that people knew there was a newcomer in town. Of course news travelled fast in Middleton. "She has two children, twins James and Catherine who just recently started here at Middleton Elementary. Come on up here, Cassie."

He knew he was probably forfeiting ever tasting anymore of her wonderful cooking but if it meant avoiding being up close and personal with Sally Atkins then it was a sacrifice he was going to have to make.

Uncomfortable with all the eyes on her, Cassie carefully got up from her seat and made her way to the front of the room. She hoped the look in her eyes told Sam that he would be paying for this later. She was putting some serious thought into hitting several more baseballs somewhere more painful than through his upstairs window.

"I'm glad you've all come suitably dressed today," They all had, except Sally Atkins who was wearing a tight purple pencil dress which accentuated her slim, toned figure but would probably not survive laying on the classroom floor. "You'll all be pairing off soon to practice this together."

Cassie did as she was instructed and laid on the thin carpet, comfortable in her black leggings and long mint green sweater. "I'm going to show you how to put somebody into the recovery position." He looked down at Cassie. "Okay?"

The intensity of his gaze was something else and it was all she could do to nod in reply. Why did this weird reaction to him have to creep in every now and then? Yes, she could admit that he was an attractive man but attractive men didn't usually make her feel like she was sixteen again. She realised she was holding her breath as he moved her into the correct position, showing the others how to do it properly and what mistakes to avoid. It was awkward being there on display while the rest of them carefully watched what Sam was doing, but she'd be lying if she said she wasn't enjoying the gentle, careful way he touched her and checked in that she was okay. Not for the first time she was surprised that he wasn't married himself. Sure, he wasn't a fan of children but plenty of married couples decided not to reproduce. Maybe it was just better if she didn't take too much of an interest, after all he was only her neighbour, right?

Sam stepped away from Cassie and addressed the room again.

"Now you've all seen how it's done, I want you to partner up and have a go at it yourself. I'll be wandering around shortly to check your progress." He watched as the room paired off and found space so one of each pair could lay on the floor. Then he turned back to Cassie and offered her his hand, pulling her back up to her feet.

"I'm sorry for putting you on the spot like that," he said, before laying down on the floor himself and letting Cassie practice what she had just learned on him. He closed his eyes, willing himself to focus on anything but how her hands felt on his body.

Cassie was glad he'd shut his eyes. Even though she tried to fight it, her hands were shaking as they moved over his body, checking for broken bones. But when she had finished, she was satisfied that she'd learned something important today. Being a single parent was a series of challenges every day, but knowing this potentially lifesaving information might help quiet some of the worries she had about caring for her twins. Maybe it was pretty handy having a doctor living next door after all.

The course ended at lunchtime, and Cassie was glad to step outside into the cool autumn air. It had become stuffy inside, all of those bodies crammed in one room and the scent of stale coffee in the air. She was deep in thought as she started to walk back towards Grey House, she almost didn't hear Sam calling after her.

"Hey Cassie, wait up." She turned and stopped, waiting for him to catch up. "Look, I wanted to properly apologise for earlier. It wasn't my intention to embarrass you in front of everybody."

"It's okay, Sam." She assured him. It had been kind of uncomfortable, but it had broken the ice and hopefully meant she could start to make friends with some of the other parents and faculty members.

"I should have given you a choice though, not manipulated you into it."

"It's really okay," she found herself laughing but she thought there must be more to it than that.

"Can I be honest with you?" He still looked pained.

"Always."

"I don't know if the name Sally Atkins means anything to you..."

Cassie smiled. "The blonde who seemed very keen to be your volunteer?"

Sam nodded, but he didn't smile back. "That's her. She persuaded me to go on a date with her last year,"

"Oh,"

"Yeah. It was fine, dinner was good and we found things to talk about but..."

"The spark wasn't there?" She guessed.

Sam did smile this time. "Exactly. She wasn't on the same page, though. We left the restaurant and she tried to kiss me," he stopped, looking at the ground and wondering why he was even telling Cassie this. He hadn't told anyone else, he had been too embarrassed but he felt like he could trust her. Something about her made you want to confide in her. "Not only did she try to kiss me, but she tried to put her hand somewhere where, old fashioned men like me would rather not be touched in public on a first date."

Any amusement she had been feeling fled from Cassie. She lightly placed her hand on his arm.

"Oh Sam, that's terrible. I'm sorry that happened to you."

He covered her hand with his other hand and gave it a quick, grateful squeeze.

"Thank you, Cassie. I didn't intend telling anyone ever, but I didn't want you to think I was singling you out or trying to humiliate you today."

Cassie shook her head, sending her dark hair flying around her shoulders.

"I didn't think that at all. I wasn't necessarily thrilled when you made me get up there in front of everyone, but I was the one who got one on one training with the actual medical professional, so I'll call that a win."

"Are you always this positive about everything?"

Her expression changed and Sam cursed himself. He'd managed to do it again.

"Shit, Cassie. That was a stupid thing to say to you."

"It's okay," they continued to walk, without a destination in mind. Sam was working the night shift so had the afternoon free and Cassie didn't have any plans until she had to collect James and Catherine from school at three.

"No, it's not. I always seem to put my foot in my mouth whenever I talk to you."

Cassie smiled. "I'd noticed that."

"Of course you have," he stopped and turned her. "Please let me buy you lunch as an apology."

"You don't need to do that, Sam."

"Apologise or buy you lunch?"

She laughed. "Either."

They were almost outside the Bistro now and Cassie realised how hungry she was. She hadn't eaten anything but an oatmeal cookie since breakfast with the twins.

"Come on, we can sit at different tables if you don't want to be seen with me."

Cassie was laughing when Sam pushed open the door and led the way inside the Bistro. Across the street in the flower shop, Abigail looked up from where she was tying a ribbon around a beautiful bouquet and smiled.