Chapter 21

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The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas flew by in a blur. The entire team did their best to try and make Viv feel comfortable around them but she couldn't help but notice that they were always eyeing her carefully. Whenever she took her pills, sat down for a long period of time or even sneezed she felt like she was being monitored. It was both incredibly annoying and incredibly endearing.

Today however, she just found it to be a pain in the ass.

"I'm fine," Viv announced from the stall when she spotted Sam's shoes entering the bathroom shortly after her. She knew that the long visit to the restroom might arouse suspicion but she'd had a bit too much eggnog and a mild case of lactose intolerance meant a long visit to the ladies room. Something she'd just as soon not share with her co-workers.

"That's good but I've had a bit too much wine and I gotta pee," Sam replied as she walked into the stall next to hers.

Viv finished up her business and went to the sink to wash her hands. She heard Sam flush and then appear next to her to wash her hands as well.

"Pretty decent Christmas party this year," Sam commented as she lathered her hands.

"Yeah, not too bad," Viv replied.

Sam smiled at her in the mirror. "So, is Reggie excited to open his presents?"

"Yeah, he may be fourteen and act all tough but when it comes to Christmas he's still that little boy whose gifts we have to hide." Viv smiled as she dried her hands.

"I totally admire you. You're a great mom," Sam said as she pulled some paper towels out of the dispenser. "You're a natural."

Viv eyed her with humor and said, "Please, parenting is all trial and error. Everyday I have to learn something new."

"I know I'd be terrible at it," Sam said as she checked her lipstick and hair in the mirror.

"Every mother thinks that." Viv met Sam's eyes in the mirror and knew that she didn't buy it. So she decided to share a secret she'd kept to herself all these years. "I'm going to tell you something I've only told one other person in the world – and it wasn't Marcus."

This got Sam's attention and she turned to look at Viv.

"I dropped Reggie on his head when he was a baby." Viv smiled as Sam's eyes bugged out and her mouth gaped open. "When Reggie was four months old I was changing his diaper and he peed." Sam just looked her questioningly so Viv explained. "See, boys don't just pee, they squirt and they can get some serious distance."

"EW!" Sam cringed.

"Yeah, ew! Now usually I was able to cover him up before he made a mess but I was tired and before I knew it, he had peed all over me." Viv smiled as her friend winced at the memory. "I was twenty-four so of course it completely grossed me out. I jumped back and screamed and before I knew how it happened, Reggie rolled over and fell right off the bed. I rushed over and picked him up. He was crying and I was completely beside myself so I took him to see his pediatrician. The doctor did an exam and said he was fine but to this day I still haven't forgiven myself for it." She turned and headed to the door with Sam at her side. "If you strive for perfection you will always fall short; we just do our best."

"And you never told Marcus?" Sam asked as she and Viv made their way back to the bullpen and the party.

"No! I figured since the doctor said he was fine there was no point in mentioning it. Plus, I didn't want him to blame me if Reggie did suffer some long term effects. You know, like if he failed a test, or didn't do well at sports, I didn't want Marcus to say, 'Well, what do you expect, YOU dropped him on his head.' Who needs that?" Viv laughed and so did Sam.

The Christmas party was in full swing and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Viv spotted Martin packing up his briefcase so she and Sam walked over to his desk. "Are you leaving already?'

He turned off his computer and replied, "Yeah, my flight leaves in three hours."

"You couldn't catch a flight in the morning?" Sam asked and Viv noticed that her voice sounded a little sad.

He looked at Sam, gave her a small smile and replied, "No, I waited too long to book my ticket and all of the early morning flights are sold out. I gotta leave tonight."

"Okay, well Merry Christmas and have a nice flight," Viv said and she gave him a quick hug.

"Merry Christmas, Viv," Martin replied. When they broke apart he looked hesitatingly at Sam before moving towards her and giving her a hug. She heard him whisper "Merry Christmas, Sam."

Sam responded just as softly, "Merry Christmas, Martin."

When they broke apart Viv noticed that they looked at one another for a long moment and she suddenly wished she wasn't standing right next to them. But before she had a chance to excuse herself Danny walked over and asked, "Hey, you leaving already Marty?"

"Yeah, I have to go before things get too crazy at Kennedy. Merry Christmas Danny," he replied as the two men shook hands. "Tell Emma I said Merry Christmas to her too."

"You got it and Feliz Navidad," Danny replied as Martin put on his coat and waved a final goodbye as he headed down the hall to the elevator.

"So, Viviana, what are you up to for the holiday?" Danny asked as he popped a handful of Chex mix into his mouth.

"We're driving to Baltimore to visit my sister. What about you?" She asked sitting down in Martin's vacated chair.

"We're spending Christmas Eve with Rafi and his family and Christmas day we're driving to Ramsey to see Emma's family." Taking equal advantage of Martin's absence he sat down on his desk.

"I thought you were on call?"

"Not anymore, Jack said he'd do it since the girls wouldn't be coming to see him until the day after Christmas." Danny turned and looked at Sam. "So it looks like you and Jack are this year's suckers."

Sam shot him an evil glare but he just laughed it off.

"What are your plans, Sam?" Viv asked. Last year she had come over to her house to celebrate. Come to think of it, so did Martin. How could she have not noticed that they were dating sooner?

"I am going to inflict myself on my neighbors. They have a Christmas party every year." Sam smiled and then took a long drink of her wine. "My mom wanted me to go to Kenosha but I am trying to convince them to come see me. They've never been to New York so I am working on them to visit during Terri's spring break."

Viv sat there chatting with Sam and Danny about the gifts they bought for their friends and family trying not to think about the fact that this was most likely her last F.B.I. Christmas party.