SEVEN

Martin was bored. But then who wouldn't be sitting in the reception room of a highly unbusy law service. Sam had arrived, managed to steal an hour with Patrick Schmidt; an hour that was now close to two.

Sam had spent the entire car trip in silence, her hair down and sunglasses on so that no-one could recognize her. All she had been thinking about was escaping him. Jack's betrayal had hurt her too much. Never mind the fact that she was beginning to feel something for Martin and a part of her wanted to be with him, she had to allow herself to be free of him.

Martin stared up at the ceiling, thinking of different scenarios of life. He kept trying to force his eyes to see through the walls around him, and see her. He couldn't believe he was doing it again.

One of the reason's he'd left Seattle was because he started to have feelings for one of his neighbors, and it didn't help that she was married and had a twin toddlers. Sure he could have easily moved, but at the time he felt he couldn't do that with the knowledge that he could still see her at any moment.

Getting the transfer to New York was one of the best things that could have happened to him. He'd managed to erase the feelings, and was now certain that if he ever saw her today, he would simply smile, say hello and that would be it.

Sam sat in Schmidt's office, waiting for him to return with the drafted papers. Her body was shaking with the knowledge that she was taking the first steps towards ending her union with Jack.

She'd been thinking about him in the car.

Flashback

They'd gone traditional. A beautiful wedding within one of the many beautiful churches in New York, surrounded by their closest friends and family.

Sam was now sitting at the bridal table in the reception hall. She couldn't wipe the smile from her face as she spoke with her sister. Sam was so happy that her sister and her mother had come to her wedding. It meant so much to her.

She turned her head and looked up as she heard Jack clear his throat.

"I know I'm not meant to offer a speech, at least yet, but I just wanted to say, that Samantha, before you, my idea of marriage was a life of arguing and bitterness. But somehow you have changed that, even though we have only been married for three hours." A light laugh went round the room. "I guess I just wanted to tell you Samantha, don't expect me to go anywhere, run away with my receptionist; Judy, I'm sorry." He looked out to the room, at a table that had most of their colleagues. The eldest on the table, a woman who appeared to be in her early 40's raised her glass and smiled.

"I'm here for the long haul Sam." Jack went on. "Everyone in the room can know, that I would never do anything to hurt Sam, or the people in this room." Jack leaned down and softly kissed Sam as she wiped a tear from her eye.

End Flashback

She had felt bile rise in her throat as the memory had entered her conscious thought, swallowing on a number of occasions to keep it down.

"Here we go Samantha." The man re-entered his office, immediately heading for his desk. "Now you do understand that this is a draft and that you will have to come back in a week to collect the final papers?" He placed a manila folder on his desk, opening it and handing her the first few pages.

"I do understand." Sam sighed. "I just want this whole business over." She moaned looking over the first page.

"Now I must say that I am dreadfully sorry about this, but I'm expected in court in half an hour so I must dash." He said standing.

"I'm just glad you had time to see me." Sam smiled lightly as she gave him back the papers, he stored them in the folder before handing the folder back to her.

"These are copies. Read over them so you know what you're in for and I'll see you in a week. You can make an appointment with Jacinta on your way out." He showed her to the door, briefcase in hand.

Sam walked ahead of him down the hallway in the direction of the reception area. She gave a little wave to Patrick as he walked past in the direction of the elevators.

"That go well?" Martin asked her joining her at the counter as she made an appointment for the following week.

"Yeah, it did." She smiled, sharing a look with him a moment longer than would have otherwise been appropriate.

"11 o'clock next Tuesday." The woman smiled, writing it down on a card, handing it to Samantha, glancing at her and Martin.

"Thank you Jacinta." Sam smiled, leading Martin out. "Is it too dangerous for us to go for a walk in the park?" Sam asked as they waited for the elevator.

Martin glanced at her, a 'yes it is too dangerous' look on his face. Sam looked to the floor a little disappointment. "Any other time I'd say sure, but until we have Jack and Rodriguez, and anyone else that might hurt you, it's not safe." Martin apologized.

"That's okay. As long as I can borrow a movie, because I saw all the movies that you have and I must say I'm not really that interested." They entered the elevator as Sam spoke, but she slowed down dramatically when she saw someone through the closing doors.

"You okay?" Martin asked her as the elevator began moving, not really caring that she insulted his movie collection.

"I thought I saw someone." Sam whispered feeling a chill. She knew that man, she recognized him from somewhere but she couldn't pick it.

"What do you mean?" Martin asked her confused. There were a number of people down that hallway and on that floor.

"No I mean, someone who shouldn't be there. I know him from somewhere, I'm not sure whether it's from the office or from around my apartment, but I just don't believe it's a simple coincidence that we share the same lawyer." Sam looked at Martin. He could see the fear in her eyes and knew that now was not the time to get a movie.