Chapter 33

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Sam glanced out the foggy windshield at the bright red 'EMERGENCY ROOM' sign and turned the heater up a notch. She couldn't believe she was spending another New Year's Eve in a car. Of course, last year was a lot more fun.

She was tempted to call David and see what he was up to but they had had only the one date and while she had a great time it seemed a bit too soon to do the midnight phone call. So she would just have to look forward to their next date on Tuesday.

David turned out to be a really nice guy. He was funny, gentlemanly, and extremely handsome. It did not escape Sam's attention that by being with him she was the envy of every woman at the restaurant.

He grew up in West Virginia where his father worked in a steel mill until the day he died. His father valued education above all else so he made certain David and his brothers excelled at school and went to college. He was still close to his brothers who were both married with five kids between them. She wondered if she should ask him what his opinion was on marriage and kids but quickly decided against it, she was on a first date after all.

After dinner he walked her to her car. They stood next to her car and talked for awhile when Sam decided that she wanted to kiss him. So she did. And he was a good kisser, great in fact. But as much as she enjoyed it she couldn't help but make small comparisons to Martin. How differently they both tilted their heads, the texture of their lips, the pressure, etc. A part of her was grateful that David didn't kiss like Martin while the other part felt sad that she would never experience Martin's kisses again.

The passenger door swung open breaking Sam's reverie as a gust of cold wind blew into the car and Danny sat down. He rubbed his hands together before snapping his seatbelt into place. "Okay, we can go now."

She smiled at him as she turned the key in the ignition. "Was Dr. Close able to get your prescription filled?"

Danny looked at her with a devilish grin and replied, "Yes."

He had insisted that they stop at the hospital on their way back to the federal building. Sam tried arguing with him but he was adamant to not let his first New Year's with Emma get off on the wrong foot.

Sam laughed when from the back seat of the car a gruff voice shouted, "I still think this little pit stop violates my rights."

"Shut up!" they both shouted back to the prisoner they were escorting before they just looked at each other and laughed.

As Sam pulled the car into the street she stole a glance at Danny who was grinning from ear to ear. She couldn't help but recall that she felt that happy this time last year as well. She just hoped that 2006 worked out better for him and Emma than 2005 did for her and Martin.