Chapter 5

Andy sighed as she pulled the blanket higher and burrowed into the cushiony warmth of Sam's bed. She knew without opening her eyes that he wasn't there. The heat that stemmed from him was missing.

But he was around, he was close. She knew that without a shadow of a doubt too. He wouldn't leave her side, not today.

Her body still ached, but it also felt deliciously alive after Sam's very effective and scintillating overnight efforts to help her forget about any discomfort she might have.

She had spent so much time at Sam's lately that her own place was starting to feel like a spare room. She probably should have taken that key he offered; but she feared that if she did something awful might hijack their wonderful fairy tale life right now.

The aroma of fresh brewed coffee infiltrated her nostrils, and she took a deep inhale to savor the richness of the Arabica beans Sam always ground from scratch. Her ears picked up the rustling noises of movement downstairs. She also heard the soft gentle tones of strings and air instruments pervading the air.

Sam must be relaxed but pensive. She knew him well enough now to know that something about the calm ballads in Baroque music stoked reflection in him.

He had been visibly shaken by her latest remarkable brush with death last night. It had been written all over his face for God's sake. He had made love to her last night with such sweet, patient intensity, ever careful not to press or hurt her weathered body.

God how happy and thankful she felt to have him in her life. It felt so good to be loved by Sam Swarek. So good.

Her stomach growled. Damn she was ravenous. It seemed like an eternity since she ate! She remembered reluctantly swallowing some powdery, dry and tasteless crackers Sam had found in the kitchen at 15 last night. They hadn't bothered with food after that, neither were hungry, and by the time they got back to his place it was too late to think about food.

Her stomach growled again.

She pushed up in bed and swept her legs hastily over the side. She needed coffee, food and Sam! She needed all of that now, and not necessarily in that order.

"Don't go anywhere," Sam said stepping timeously into the room just then. "Just stay in bed. I brought you something to eat."

She sat back down as Sam approached carrying a small platter. There was orange juice, yogurt with fruit and granola; and coffee with lots of milk in it, just the way she liked it.

"Ooh yum!" She exclaimed rubbing her palms together in enthusiastic anticipation, as he lowered the feast to her.

"How do you feel?" He asked looking into her eyes.

"Great," she breathed softly. His eyes brightened as he smiled at her. Then he bent to kiss her on the lips. He lingered a little holding the tray so it wouldn't tip. He pulled his lips away from hers to sink a warm intense kiss on her cheek.

"Thank you for bringing me breakfast. You are actually sweet sometimes Sam do you know that?" She teased pressing her cheek into his soft lips so his morning stubble prickled her. God help her but she loved how that felt.

"In spite of all my efforts." He teased with a dimply smile.

"This is quite possibly the first time you've brought me breakfast in bed." She replied enthusiastically as she grabbed the glass of orange juice and took a few sips, savoring the refreshing tang as it trickled down her throat.

"But it's not the first time I've brought you juice to bed," he growled smiling almost wickedly at her as he sat opposite her.

"Hmm that was a pretty great morning," she quipped mischievously at the memory of their first morning together in his undercover apartment. It was hard to believe that was almost four years ago now. It had been madly passionate and outrageously romantic.

"We can make this a great morning too," he challenged running his fingers over her arm seductively.

She giggled and savored a spoon full of her yogurt parfait. Sam had mixed it all up with honey and she relished the sweetness of it.

"Tempting as that is, this is just too delicious to go to waste," she laughed swinging her clean licked spoon back and forth before his face.

"You must be starving. You didn't eat much yesterday," he nodded watching her scoop more yogurt and granola on her spoon. While she ate he brought her free hand to his cheek and brushed it over his stubble before kissing the tips of her fingers one by one. It was extremely distracting, but she managed to eat her breakfast none the less.

"What time is it?" She asked lazily after she had devoured the entire bowl.

"About ten thirty." He responded taking the tray off the bed and pressing up close to her.

"I guess you got the day off today." Her fingers reached out to play with his hand lifting and dropping it onto the comforter between them.

"Oh more than the day," he chuckled clinging to her fingers as she moved them about.

"What do you mean?" Her face pinched into that bemused, puzzled expression she had when something eluded her.

"I mean how would you like to take a vacation?" He loosened his hand and began to trickle his fingers over her back gently. His touch tickled and tantalized her, and she didn't want him to stop.

"I say damn straight I want to." She blurted out, demanding answers from him.

"I got off the phone with Oliver a short while ago. He said his fishing cabin up in Muskoka is ours if we want it." His voice was soft. His eyes glinting with a hint of excitement and tease.

She sat up immediately bringing her legs beneath her. Her eyes became round and sparkly, her body literally shimmied with anticipation.

"Seriously!" She exclaimed like a child in a toy store.

"Seriously. He figures the station won't be functional for another two weeks or so. Some of the Division are working out of 27 until then. I told Shaw that if you were interested, we probably wouldn't be back for three weeks."

She looked so radiant and star struck that he started to laugh at her infectious exuberance.

"We can leave today if you want. Just pack a few things here, stop by your place and then pick up the keys and off we go. We will be there before nightfall. Oliver even told me about this awesome diner place on the way. Apparently they make the best fries and burgers on the planet!"

"Sam this has to be like your best idea ever. What the heck are we waiting for?" She moved off the bed scrummaging for her sweat shirt and hastily pulling it over her sleeping t-shirt and boxers.

"Ow!" She exclaimed as her shoulder hurt with the movement.

"Take it easy Andy, the idea is to get you all healed, not more injured." Sam cautioned lightly.

"I guess you like the plan!" He added moments later with a smug smile.

"It's a great plan you idiot," Andy retorted playfully as she grabbed a pillow and threw it lightheartedly into Sam's face.

"I love the plan and I love you Sam." She threw her arms around him and held him as tightly as she could even though it made her ribs hurt like hell.