Homesick

Sam would never understand Cade's love for danger. Sam watched as Cade skimmed through the latest issue of National Geographic and talked about how badly she wanted to go completely off-grid in Asia to work with tigers up close. She was trying to be the Jane Goodall of tigers.

"Do you even hear yourself? Do you know how crazy that is?" Sam emphatically waved his arms.

Cade rolled her eyes. "Sam, I grew up in Australia. I'm used to dealing with wild things. Besides, how else am I supposed to make any discoveries?"

"In a safe lab like everyone else! Or better yet, just read about it online!" Sam crossed his arms. "Field work is dangerous. I just don't want you getting hurt is all."

Cade sighed. "I appreciate your concern, but I can make my own choices. And I'd like to point out that I never said I was actually going anywhere. I'd jump on the opportunity if it presented itself, but I've been so busy with university that I haven't had time to look into any study abroad opportunities."

"You don't need to study abroad. You can find anything you need to right here in New York."

"Here? New York is nice and all, but it's no Australia. I miss the wilds, Sam. New York's craziest beast is a disease ridden rat."

"Have you seen the size of those rats? They're the size of dogs!"

Cade frowned and started to fiddle with her charm bracelet. "I'm just not fit for the city. I like it, but I miss the stars and the sound of animals in the night."

Sam studied Cade with a sorrowful expression. He knew she missed home, but he never knew how much. Was living here that hard for her? They had just started attending college together last fall and Cade was loving the vast amount of opportunities presented to her for furthering her knowledge.

Sam sighed and adjusted his glasses. "I have to get to class, but I'll catch up with you later, okay? Don't run away to the wilderness while I'm gone."

Cade smiled up at him as he gave her a quick peck on the cheek and left to go to class.

Sam nervously held a large box out in front of him. It rattled in his hands and more than once the lid almost popped off.

"Would you stay still? I promise you'll get out soon." Sam pushed the lid back down and set the box next to his desk. "Just stay quiet until Cade gets here." The box stilled and Sam sighed with relief.

There was a knock on the door. Sam opened it with a smile to find Cade standing on the other side. He stepped aside to let her in.

"Ready to lose again?" Cade smirked at him.

Sam rolled his eyes. "You got lucky last time."

It was date night, and date night for them meant trivia competitions. The winner got one of Cade's delicious imported Australian candies and a kiss from the looser. It may not have been the most romantic of things, but they had fun together and that was all that mattered to them. They liked to test each other's knowledge and occasionally threw in a challenge to keep it interesting

Cade plopped down on Sam's bed in his small dorm room. She pulled out her cell phone and opened up a trivia game. "What is the atomic number of plutonium?"

Sam sat down next to her. "Ninety-five."

Cade shook her head. "Ninety-four."

"Ninety-five," Sam insisted.

"Ninety-four." Cade tapped the screen on her phone. It dinged indicating that she was correct. "You're off to a bad start here, Sam." She reached into her bag and pulled out a TimTam, one of her favourite candies from back home. "Pay up." Cade winked at him.

Sam smiled and rolled his eyes. Laughing, he gave her a lingering kiss.

"We need more date nights." Cade grinned and skipped to the next question on her phone.

"We do this once a week."

"I know." Cade paused and looked to Sam. "But it's the only time I can get you to kiss me."

Same frowned. "That's not true."

"Yes it is. You're so shy in public. Not that I'm trying to change who you are or anything, but a few extra kisses wouldn't hurt now and again."

Sam pushed his glasses up his nose. "Sorry. I didn't think it bothered you that much."

Cade sighed. "It just seems like you're ashamed or something."

"What? No! I like being with you!" Sam grabbed Cade's hand.

"Then show it a little more?" Cade offered him a pleading smile.

"I'll try." Sam gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

The box near Sam's desk chose that moment to start jumping around again.

Cade started. "Uh, Sam? Your box is dancing."

"Huh?" Sam turned his head over his shoulder to see what she was talking about. "Oh, yeah! I almost forgot." Sam quickly hopped up and went over to his desk. He picked up the dancing box and went back to Cade. "Here. I got you something."

"You did?" Cade looked at him quizzically. Tentatively, she opened the box. Cade's hands flew to her mouth as she gasped with delight. "Is that what I think it is?"

A furry light brown head popped its head out. It blinked its large black eyes at Cade and made high-pitched chattering sounds.

"Sam!" Cade beamed and clapped her hands. "It's adorable! I can't believe you got me a wallaby! Where did you even find one?"

Sam smiled. Cade's happiness made his heart flutter. "There's an exotic pet shop nearby. I saw him in the window and I knew you had been missing home lately, so…"

Cade laughed and picked up the wallaby. "He's perfect! The zoos here don't even have wallabies. I haven't seen one since I lived down in Australia!"

"Yeah, well, you know…" Sam sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "You seemed so homesick earlier. I figured this would help."

Cade scratched behind her new pet's ears. "I wasn't homesick. I just want to get out of the city more often."

"Maybe you and I should go camping sometime?"

Cade burst out laughing. "You? Camping? You wouldn't last a day."

Sam crossed his arms. "Yes I would."

"No you wouldn't."

"You also thought that I couldn't be spontaneous. I proved you wrong with that didn't I?"

Cade giggled. "Yes, yes you did."

"So what are you going to call him?" Sam nodded to the baby wallaby. It was now sitting on Cade's lap, nuzzling her.

"Tesla. After the greatest inventor ever." Cade winked at him.

It was an old argument for them. Edison versus Tesla. Sam was a fan of Edison's work, while Cade favored tesla. They debated back and forth on the topic often.

Sam wasn't in the mood for debating. He wanted Cade to stay happy for as long as possible. "I think it's a great name."

He tilted Cade's chin up to him. He pulled her in for a deep kiss. Letting his hand run through her hair. Maybe this wouldn't make up for Sam not kissing Cade enough in public, or even for Cade being stuck in the city, but it was a good place to start.

A/N - This is a little Sam/Cade one-shot I've been meaning to write for a while. Especially since their relationship hasn't gotten much of the spotlight yet in my series. Wallabies have a long lifespan, so Tesla will be around for a while. ;)

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