Chapter 2

The Night on the Docks

John and Sam's eyes met yet again as they exited the kiss. Both speechless. It was a sensation that gave Sam a déjà vu scenario, yet still felt new. John looked at Sam with a pleasure filled look. "You don't know how much I've missed you" he said still gazing into her dark brown eyes. "It's been too long."

Sam, still memorized by everything that just happened was still speechless. Not knowing what to say or what to do next. Finally some words come to mind. "It's only been two weeks John." John gives her a little grin. Just the way John spoke took Sam's breath away. She had never seen this side of John before. Intrigued yet scared of everything Sam gets up to leave. "Sam!" John urges in a sweetened voice. "Don't go."

Sam looks back not knowing what to expect. "Please" he asks again. "Don't go." Wondering if she'll later regret her choice, Sam decides to stay.

John starts to talk again. "For so long, I've felt like something was missing from my life. I've stayed up half the nights trying to find some kind of happiness" John pauses. "And for a while I thought I did….. Until I met you." Sam's face turns pale. "You are my happiness Sam." John looks out to the water. "The last thing I want to do is scare you away" he continued. "But I can't deny what I feel for you."

Still white as a ghost Sam try's to take in his confession. John's face starts to fall when he sees her struggling. "I should go." Sam then looks up to see John walking away. "Wait" she calls out. John looks back at her with that look in his eye he gets when he's mad at himself. "We both know we've had a strange connection since the first time we met."

*Flashback to John and Sam at the church*

"We never did figure that out did we?" he asks cracking a little smile in the process. "No" she says. But I do think….. we have something." John's face begins to lighten up. "And everything we've been through since the time we met has kept me wondering what that something is…. But if I never take the chance…" she says walking over to him. I'll never know." John just stares at Sam waiting to see what she says next. But instead of words, action takes over. Sam puts her hand on John's cheek and looks gazing into his beautiful blue eyes. "I want to know." Sam pulls John in closer. Their lips touch and in a second all the beautiful sensations return.

Sam and John again pull away at the exact same time. "Sam?" John asks. "Would you want to come to my place for dinner tomorrow night?" John had a puppy dog look on his face that would be impossible to say no to. Sam smiled at John. "I would love to" she answered. John's little grin turned into a big smile.

Sam's face then dropped. "Oh I forgot!" she said in a disappointing tone. "Tomorrow I don't have anyone to watch Danny. I could barely get ahold of Spinelli tonight and tomorrow Molly has a book signing." Still determined John has an idea. "No problem. I could come to your place and cook you a wonderful dinner. What are you in the mood for? Chinese from Noodle Buda? Or maybe a little Italian?" John's humor made Sam give out a little laugh. "Ok" she answers. "It's a date."

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow night." he says. "I guess so…" Sam says smiling. Starting to walk away Sam stops and looks back at an unusually happy John then continues walking. Before she's out of sight John looks up to see a last glimpse of Sam.

Alone on the docks John walks along the water, soaking in the feeling of happiness and the sounds of the water crashing up against the side of the pier. The sounds of the passing ships relax him as he thinks about his date with Sam.

All of the sudden a noise comes from behind. John stopped and looked around. "Sam?" he calls out. No answer returns his call. "It was probably just a cat" he convinces himself. John then continues his walk. After about 20 minutes, John realizes he's walked all the way down to pier 52. Everything is calm and quiet, as if the world was put on mute. The silence overcame everything except for the creaking noise coming from the few ships docked nearby. Within seconds the rare peace is interrupted by the sound of a cell phone. John looks down to see who it is. John reads the caller ID. Sam.

Before he can even answer, a sharp pain strikes John over the head, causing him to fall to the ground unconscious.