Part Six

"You're going away?" Chloe asked, her voice small.

John nodded. "I'm afraid so, kiddo." It was Tuesday evening, and John's flight to Buffalo was the following afternoon. "But I'll call you, okay?"

Chloe nodded sadly, her eyes watching the floor. "I just don't understand why you have to leave." She paused before looking up at him. "I don't want you to go."

Sliding off the couch to sit next to Chloe on the floor, John pulled her into a one-arm hug. Chloe wrapped her arms around his waist and he kissed her on top of the head. A moment later he whispered, "I know, little one. I don't want to go either."

"Then don't," Chloe said, her voice muffled by John's shirt. "Stay here with me and Mom."

John sighed, and blinked slowly. Telling Chloe was as hard if not harder than telling Sam had been. "I wish I had that choice," he said almost imperceptibly.

That night, John tucked Chloe in by himself. "You promise you'll come back?" she asked when John was sitting on the edge of her bed.

John smiled. "Wild horses couldn't keep me away."

Chloe yawned, and blinked slowly. Sleepily, she said, "Don't forget. You promised."

"I won't," he whispered, standing up.

"Love you," she breathed, losing the fight to stay awake.

John smiled, remembering the first time she had ever told him that. "I love you too, little one." After her eyes drifted shut, John walked over to stand in the doorway. Looking back at Chloe, he whispered, "I promise, Chlo. Only death itself could keep me away."

***

From where John stood next to the door, he could see the uncertain look on Sam's face. "So this is it," she said, crossing her arms.

"It's not good bye, Sam," he said, reaching out his hand. He pulled it back, however, when she flinched at his touch. Not knowing what he could say to make it better, he pulled his bag over his shoulder. "I better go."

Sam nodded, but didn't say anything. The more time she had to think about what was happening, she found herself alternating between hurt, sad and angry. "Then go," she said, immediately regretting the harsh edge in her voice.

John nodded, understanding her anger. However, during it all, he kept reminding himself that it was for the best. "I love you, Sam."

Overcome by the urge to laugh, she bit back the humorless noise. "Do you?"

"More than life," he said, walking through the door.

Sam watched as he climbed into his car and drove away. In a battle of emotions, stubbornness won out over despair. Closing the door, she said, "You have a funny way of showing it."

***

John had been gone for two days when he called Sam and Chloe for the first time. He was scheduled to begin his chemotherapy treatments the next morning.�

Chloe answered the phone. "Hey there, kiddo."

"Hi John," she said, sounding down.

John clenched the phone tighter, and replied quietly. "What's wrong, Chlo?"

"I wish you were here," she replied, curling up on one end of the sofa. "Can you tell me where you are yet?" she asked when John didn't say anything.

"Not yet." Trying to change the subject, he asked, "How's school going?"

Chloe grinned. "I made an A on my math test!"

"Good for you," John cheered. "I knew you'd do good on that."

Chloe waited for a minute before asking, "There's a basketball tournament in a couple of weeks. Will you be back in time to watch me play?"

John smiled, remembering the Sunday afternoons that they spent in the driveway working on her shots. "I doubt it, but I'll try. I can't promise though, okay?"

"Okay," she replied. "Just as long as you keep your other promise." Before John could reply, he heard Chloe put her hand over the mouth piece. A second later she asked, "Do you want to talk to Mom?"

"I do if she wants to talk to me," he said, still remembering the look on her face when he left.

"Okay, here she is," Chloe said before handing the phone to Sam. "Love you," she added at the last second.

A moment later, Sam took the phone. "How's everything going?"

"Fine so far," he replied, non-committally. "How are you?"

"I'm fine. Chloe and I were fixing to watch a movie."

"Really? What are you going to watch?" John asked, grateful for the diversion.

Sam smiled. "Star Wars, actually. I let her pick."

"And to think you never wanted to see that," John kidded. "Now you're renting the video."

Laughing softly, Sam replied, "Strange things happen, huh?"

"Yeah," He grinned sadly. "Like us."

Sam's smile faded. "Is there still an us?"

"Always, Sam," he replied. A minute later, he said, "I better go, it's getting late and you have a movie to watch."

"Good night, John."

"Sweet dreams, Sam," he said, a wistful look on his face. Hanging the phone up, he climbed into bed.

***

Sunday night John had planned to call Sam and Chloe. However he underestimated how quickly the chemotherapy would begin to affect him. Instead, it was later that week before he was able to call and talk to them.

During the next few weeks, John was in Buffalo, suffering through the side-effects of the chemotherapy, and Sam continued working in Atlanta. He called when he felt well enough to hide the pain in his voice, although at times it was hard to find the chance.

Through the long nights, when it felt like the cells of his body were tearing each other apart, John focused on the memories he had from the few short months he had been apart of a family. Laying on his side one night, he saw the moon hanging high in the sky and smiled, remembering the night he held Sam outside the cabin.

For Sam, every once in a while the ring on her hand would catch her attention. For a few seconds each time, she wouldn't be able to tear her gaze away from the three sparkling stones. In a way, it had always seemed to symbolize the three of them, she, Chloe and John. Now she didn't know what to think.

The longer John was gone, the less often he called. She didn't have the number where he was at, but she wasn't sure she would call him if she did. Almost a month after he had left, and her heart, when she would let it, was still a fight between angry stubbornness and confused hurt. It was only made worse by the fact that each time she did speak with John, he sounded different. She couldn't place the odd sound to his voice, but couldn't help thinking that he sounded sick.

Sitting at her desk, she glanced at the calendar, and remembered that it would be Valentine's day in two days. It was supposed to be their first Valentine's together, however, she had to wonder if they would even speak.

The trip to buy Valentine's cards had been John's first chance to leave the treatment center since beginning his chemotherapy. They had put him on an aggressive treatment schedule, and most of the time he didn't have the energy to leave.

He pulled a worn ball cap over his stubble-like new hair. His chemotherapy was over for about a week, and his hair was beginning to grow back. He was scheduled to meet with the doctor in just over a week to find out if the treatment had worked.�

Pushing that out of his mind, he set out in search of the perfect cards. Glad for the chance to be away, he spent over an hour scouring the various cards until he found just what he wanted. Just the year before, he had thought all of the Valentine's cards to be over-sentimental and over-done.

He still had to laugh at some of the sappier cards, and was happy when he found the card that captured both the serious thoughts he wanted to convey, yet had the hint of humor that was truly his. Finding a card for Chloe was easier, and his search for a silly card that he knew she would like didn't take half the time.

He purchased the two cards, and on his way back to the treatment center, he dropped them off at the post office. He knew it was taking a risk giving her the postmark. However, he wanted her to know that he was thinking of her, even though he hadn't been able to call her lately.

By the day before Valentine's day, John hadn't called in over a week, and Sam had the sinking feeling he wasn't going to call again. Pushing the thoughts of what might have been out of her mind, she forced herself to concentrate on the work that needed to be done.

When she got home from work, she checked the mail and was surprised to see a bright red and a pink envelope in the mailbox. Pulling them out, the first thing she recognized was the scribbled script on them. One was addressed to her, and the other to Chloe. She searched the cards for a return address, but was forced to settle for a postmark: Buffalo, New York.

***

"I don't understand, Grace," Sam said, after Grace had walked into her office the next morning at work. "First he says he has to leave, but he calls. Then he stops calling, but he sends Valentine's cards." She looked up at Grace's sympathetic eyes and sighed. "It doesn't make any sense."

"I'm sure he has his reasons." She was fighting herself over whether or not to tell Sam the truth about what she knew. "Or he wouldn't have left."

"Ran away, you mean," Sam said, tilting her head to the side.

In the moment that followed, Grace made her decision. She could only hope that John forgave her. "He did have a reason, Sam."

"What?" Sam asked, not following what Grace was saying. "How do you know?"

Grace lowered her gaze, but looked back up at Sam. "I know why he left, I found out by accident."

Sam blinked slowly. "If you knew, why didn't you tell me? Why didn't he tell me?"

"He was scared of hurting you," Grace replied. "He made me promise not to tell you."

A thousand different scenarios passed through Sam's mind. "Why did he leave, Grace? I need to know." However, she wasn't prepared for what Grace said next.

"John's sick, Sam." Grace watched as the reaction played out on Sam's face.

Shock hit her first. "He's sick?"

Grace swallowed, and walked over to lean on the corner of Sam's desk. "He found out over four months ago that he has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma."

Sam's eyes widened. "That's almost the entire time we've been engaged." She paused, and looked at Grace. "He never told me."

Grace nodded. "I know. He loves you Sam. He thought if he kept it a secret you would be hurt less."

"Do you know where he is?" Sam asked, her voice steady. "All I have is a postmark."

Shaking her head, Grace stood up. "Let's go see what George can do."

***

"I found him," George said a couple of days later, walking into Sam's office.

Sam looked up from the papers she was reading for the third time. "Where?"

"Buffalo was right," George replied, sitting next in a chair next to Sam's desk. "He's at the Tucker Treatment Center there. The reason I was hitting a wall is that he's using his grandmother's maiden name. It was Grace who gave me the idea, actually."

Sam nodded. "Thanks, George."

"Anytime," he replied. He looked at Sam for a moment. "He shouldn't have handled it this way."

A faint smile on her face, Sam said, "Now I just have to convince him of that." Standing up, she glanced toward their boss' office. "I need to go talk to Bailey about taking the next couple of days off."

"Good luck," George said with a smile.

A few minutes later, Sam was knocking on the door to Bailey's office. "Sam? What can I do for you?" Bailey asked after she walked in.

"I need to take a couple of days off to fly up north," she said, not sitting down.

Bailey nodded. "George found out where John is hiding?"

Sam nodded in reply. "He just told me. I have to go see him, Bailey."

"I know, Sammy." After a pause, he added, "Take all the time you need. Just bring our wayward boy home."

Smiling, Sam responded, "Thanks, Bailey."

"What about Chloe?"�

Sam turned to leave. "Grace said she could stay with them. Chloe's looking forward to playing with Jason."

Bailey grinned for a second. "I can imagine, but have you told her about John?"

"Not yet," Sam replied, shaking her head. "I'm hoping we'll do that together."

***

Early the next morning, Sam was on a flight from Hartsfield International Airport to Buffalo. It had only been a few days since Grace had told her the real reason John had left, although it felt more like a few years.

During the flight, she remembered any number of little things that should have been hints, only she over looked them. In truth, she forced herself to admit, there was no reason she would have placed them. However, knowing that didn't make her feel any better.

In her mind, she replayed the last time she had seen him. She flinched as she remembered the cold way she had acted, lashing out from hurt. Playing with the ring on her finger, she waited impatiently for the plane to land so she could see him again.

After renting a car in Buffalo, she managed to find the Tucker Treatment Center using the address George had given her. Driving through the busy streets, she tried to decide what she would say, but couldn't make up her mind.

When she pulled the car into a parking spot in front of the building, designed to look like an apartment complex, she sat in the car for a few minutes. After taking a deep breath she got out and walked into the front building.

Walking up to the front desk, she asked the receptionist, "I'm looking for John Chambers. Is he still in apartment twenty-three?"

The receptionist consulted her computer and nodded. "Yes, ma'am. Are you a relative?"

Sam nodded. "You could say that."

"I'm sorry, ma'am. Mr. Chambers has relatives only visitation."

Growing impatient, Sam held up her hand. "Do you see this ring?" When the receptionist nodded, she continued. "I think I'm allowed to see my fiance."

The woman's eyes widened, and she nodded. "All right." She stood and pointed to the left. "Apartment twenty-three is just down the main walkway. It's on your left, you can't miss it."

"Thank you," Sam said with a nod and walked away.

The closer Sam walked to number twenty-three, the slower she walked. No matter how badly she wanted to see him, she was still nervous about what would be said.

Finally, when she was standing outside a door marked twenty-three, she raised her hand and knocked. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard John's voice. "Yeah?" he asked, pulling the door open.

For a moment, neither one spoke. John couldn't believe who he was seeing, and Sam was relieved to see him in one piece.

"Sam . . ." he managed, unable to tear his eyes away from her. He had convinced himself that he would never see her again. Blinking his eyes, he stood to the side and held the door open. "Come in."

"Thanks," Sam managed, following him into the apartment. For a minute, they just stood there. Then Sam asked, "How are you doing?"

"Better," John replied honestly, but tugged on the ball cap he always wore. When Sam nodded, he asked, "How did you find out?"

Sam sighed. "Grace broke down and told me." She paused, looking around the warm apartment for a moment. "The question is why didn't you?"

"I couldn't." John dropped down onto the couch.

Sam sat down next to him. "I would have been there for you, John. That's what commitment is about."

Nodding, John replied, "I know."

His breath caught when she pulled the cap off of his head. "How are you feeling, really?"

"I really do feel better," he said, gazing into her eyes.

She smiled faintly, moisture filling her eyes, and brushed the spiky hair. "It looks like I won't have to give you a haircut any time soon."

"You should have seen it a couple of weeks ago," he said, a glint of humor in his eyes. "Looked like I was worried it would before you cut it the first time."

"I've missed you," Sam said, blinking back the tears in her eyes.

John nodded. "You can't imagine how much I've missed you, Sam." He paused, and looked away, only to look back into her eyes. "You and Chloe were always the last faces I saw before I went to sleep."

Sam smiled sadly. "She sleeps with the bear you gave her." She laughed before she added, "Even though it almost knocks her out of bed, she won't take it off of the bed."

"That's my kiddo," John smiled, leaning over to brush a lock of hair behind Sam's ear. "Stubborn just like her mom."

Closing the distance between them, Sam leaned forward until their lips met in a soft kiss. Weeks of loneliness and fear melted into the contact. John felt her shake with a pent up sob, and he wrapped an arm around her. When they pulled back, John rested a hand on her cheek, wiping away the single tear that had escaped. "I love you," he whispered, resting his forehead on hers.

"Then come back to Atlanta with me," Sam said, looking into his eyes.

"Sam, I . . ." he was interrupted by the phone ringing. "Just a second," he said to Sam and picked up the phone. "Hello?"

Sam watched as he spoke on the phone and hung up once he was finished. "What's wrong?" she asked when he sat back down.

"My test results are back."�

Sam placed her hand on his arm. "Well?"

"I have to go and speak with my doctor," he said, standing. "You can wait here, if you want," he said distractedly.

Standing up, Sam replied, "I want to go with you. If that's okay."

John looked over at Sam's face and smiled faintly. "I don't want you to be hurt, Sam."

"Then don't shut me out any more," she said, taking his hand. "Now let's go see how you're doing."

John leaned down and kissed her. "Thank you," he whispered.

***

"I've got good news for you," the doctor said once John and Sam were sitting across from him. Sam squeezed John's hand. "Your test came back clean."

John smiled, shocked relief showing on his face. "You mean I'm in remission?"

The doctor nodded. "Congratulations."

"For how long?" John asked, blinking slowly.

The doctor shook her head. "There's no way to be certain. However," she added, "there's no reason to not be cautiously optimistic."

Sam smiled, and blinked away the moisture in her eyes. "That's great, John. You're going to be okay."

"Thanks, Sam." He squeezed her hand.

Referring to John's chart, the doctor said, "Of course, you'll have to still have check-ups occasionally. I would say start with every three months, and after a year extend the time in between appointments."

"Would he have to stay here?" Sam asked, glancing over at John.

"No." The doctor shook her head. "There's no reason you can't return to Atlanta, John. Doctor Thompson can see to your check ups."

John nodded. "It's something to think about." He paused for a moment before standing and shaking the doctor's hand. "Thank you, Doctor Hallum."

Still holding Sam's hand, he waited as she said, "Thank you, doctor," before turning to leave.

Once they were back in his apartment, she looked at him. "Do you not want to come back to Atlanta?"

John shook his head, and poured each of them a glass of water. "It's not that, Sam. I do want to come back."

"Then why don't you?" she asked, taking the offered glass. "You're well, take advantage of that."

Taking a drink of water, John thought for a moment. "There's no guarantee I won't get sick again, Sam."

"And there's nothing saying you will," Sam countered, looking into his eyes. "You have to make the most of this second chance, John."

John sat his glass down on the counter and taking Sam's hand, led her over to the couch. After they had sat down, he said, "Sam, I know how much losing Tom hurt both you and Chloe."

"John . . ." she tried to interrupt, but was silenced when he placed a finger over her lips.

"Please let me finish, Sam." Taking a deep breath, he continued. "The last thing I ever wanted to do was to hurt you like that. That's why I left. I don't want to be responsible for hurting the two of you like that again."

"Then let me be there. We'll talk to Chloe," she said, and cupped his cheek in her hand. "Together."

John thought for a moment, and smiled. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"

Sam grinned. "I'm sure I'll think of whatever it was sooner or later."

John laughed, and kissed her. "Then let's go home."

***

It was the next day when Sam and John flew back to Atlanta. When they pulled up outside of Sam's house, John thought for a moment. "I wasn't sure if I'd ever see this place again."

Sam got out of the car and unlocked the trunk. Picking up two of their bags, she said, "I was wondering the same thing the last time you were here."

"I'm sorry about the way I just left, Sam," John said, getting out of the car and closing the door. Reaching into the trunk, he pulled out the remaining bag.

"I know," Sam said, looking into John's tired eyes. "And I'm sorry about the things I said when you left." She closed the trunk. "But that's in the past. It's the future we need to be thinking about right now."

John nodded in agreement. They were walking up to the door when John asked, "So when is Chloe getting home?"

"I called Grace from the airport," she said, unlocking the door. "So she should be home in thirty minutes or so."

They walked into the house, and Sam dropped the bags by the door. She turned and looked at John with a smile on her face. "I believe that you're due a welcome home kiss, Mr. Grant."

"Oh really?" he asked, smiling. He placed the bag on the floor, and said, "Is this a new one no one told me about?"

Sam wrapped her arms around John's neck. "Must be," she said with a small smile before their lips met.

John was upstairs unpacking when Grace arrived with Chloe. "Mom, you're home!" Chloe said running into the living room.

Giving Chloe a hug, Sam smiled. "Did you have fun with Grace and Jason?"

Chloe nodded, grinning. "He's getting big!"

Upstairs, John heard Chloe and smiled. Placing the suitcase in the closet, he walked downstairs quietly. Walking into the living room, Grace's eyes widened and she started to say something, but he held a finger in front of her lips, and she stayed quiet.

Stepping up behind Chloe, he kneeled down and put his hands over her eyes. "Hey there, kiddo."

Chloe's face broke into a grin and she reached up and pulled John's hands from her eyes. Turning around quickly, she gasped. "John!" she exclaimed, and threw herself into his arms. A second later she pulled back. "You kept your promise!"

John smiled and nodded. "You knew I'd come back to see you, little one."

"Are you back for good?" Chloe asked uncertainly.

Glancing up at Sam, John smiled. "I sure hope so." Standing up, he ruffled Chloe's hair and turned to Grace. "Can I talk to you, Grace?"

Grace smiled. "Sure. I'll wait for you on the back porch." Smiling at Chloe, she added, "It was fun, Chlo." Turning, she walked through the living room and out the back door.

Kneeling down in front of Chloe again, John said, "I'm going to go talk to Grace for a little while, okay?"

Chloe nodded. "Okay. I'll stay in here and talk to Mom."�

John pushed the door closed behind him as he stepped out onto the deck. "Hey, Grace," he said, catching her attention.

Turning, she smiled and met him half way across the porch. For a moment she didn't say anything, but instead pulled him into a hug. "I'm glad you're home," she said when she pulled away from the embrace.

John grinned. "Well, I'd say you had something to do with it."

"Are you angry?" she asked, leaning against the rail of the porch.

Shaking his head, John's eyes were serious. "Never."

Grace smiled. "Good, because I'd hate to have to beat you up." She paused, her smile fading. "How are you feeling?"

"The best I've felt in a long time, Grace," he replied seriously. "I just hope it lasts."

***

After dinner, Sam and John took Chloe into the living room. "Sit down, sweetie," Sam said. "We need to talk to you about something."

Chloe dropped into an oversized chair. "What's going on?"

John sat down on the couch and held out his hand. "Come over here, will ya, kiddo?" Grinning, Chloe jumped up and in a second was sitting in John's lap. "I wanted to talk to you about why I went away."

Sam had just sat down next to them when Chloe asked, "Does it have something to do with why you're wearing a baseball cap?"

John nodded, but it was Sam who replied. "John had to go away because he found out that he was sick."

Chloe nodded, her eyes serious. "Are you better now?"

"Yeah, little one, I'm better now," John said with a smile.

Smiling, Chloe replied, "I'm glad, I missed you."

"That's good." John smiled and ruffled her hair. "I'd hate to think you might get tired of me anytime soon."

"I wouldn't get tired of you."�

"Well, I guess that's settled then," he said, laughing as he tickled her.

Sam watched, smiling, while Chloe and John laughed. "Do you have any more questions, Chloe?" she asked when Chloe was catching her breath.

Chloe thought for a minute, grinning she asked, "Does this mean the two of you are going to live happily ever after?"

"I don't know, Chlo," Sam said with a smile. Winking at John, she added, "I'm not sure I want to see John try to ride a white horse."

***

"Hey, buddy," George said when he saw John walking toward the briefing table. "Welcome back."

John grinned. "Thanks, George."

"How was your first few days back home?" he asked, leaning back in his chair.

Dropping into a chair next to George, John rubbed a hand over his face and laughed. "Exhausting. Chloe won't let me out of her sight."

"Do you blame her?" George asked with a grin.

John shook his head. "I guess not." After a pause, he asked, "How's everything been around here?"

George smirked. "You always were the one to change the subject." He rolled his eyes when he said, "Busy, but that's not that abnormal." John nodded and George asked, "When are you coming back to work?"

"A couple of weeks, I hope," John said, tugging on the ball cap absent mindedly. "I'll probably be on desk duty for a while after that, though."

George nodded. "You're better and you're back, John, that's what counts."

John spotted Sam walking toward the briefing room and smiled. "You know, George? You're right."

Grinning, George jokingly replied, "Nobody says that nearly often enough."

"Hey, there," John said when Sam walked up and sat next to him.

Sam smiled. "Hey there, yourself. What are you doing here so soon?"

"Now, Sam," he laughed, "How could I possibly stay away from George?"

Shrugging, George dead-panned, "Must be my magnetic personality."

"And here I thought you wanted to see me," Sam said with a wink.

"Really?" John asked. He titled his head to the side and pretended to think about it. "No, I don't remember planning to run into you."

Play-punching his arm, Sam laughed. "You're awful, John Grant."

"Yep," he said with a smirk. "But I'm yours."

"So I've been told," she grinned.

George watched the couple joke around and smiled. "It's good to see the two of you together again. And laughing, no less."

John's grin faded for a second before he put it back in place. "Now, George. You sound like you missed me."

"Only your ego, buddy," George kidded with a laugh. "'Cause it sure wasn't your looks."

"Ouch," John said with a grin.

Sam laughed. "That's just as well. I' m the only one who's allowed to talk about your looks."

"That I like the sound of," John said with a wink. Glancing at his watch, he added, "I better go, I promised to pick Chloe up at school."

Sam nodded, and smiled. "I'll see you tonight."

John nodded and walked out of the briefing room. After watching him go, George looked over at Sam. "You two seem to have fallen back into a groove."

Sam nodded. "He seems determined to make up for being away."

"For not letting you be there, you mean," George said, as if reading her mind.

Tapping her pen on the table, she replied. "Something like that."

***

Two weeks after returning to Atlanta, John was cleared to go back to work. The first morning he walked into the briefing room to find a banner hanging over the table. Laughing he pointed at it. "Whose idea was that?"

Smiling, Grace replied. "Mine actually. So shut up and pretend you like it."

John grinned. "I wouldn't imagine doing anything else." A second later he took his seat next to Sam. "Thanks, Grace."

"I figured I would embarrass you while I had the chance," she grinned. "Any other time you'd try to get back at me."

Glancing over at Sam he winked. "Well, you never know, Grace. Just when you least expect it . . ."

"We're all glad that you're back, John," Bailey said, smiling as he interrupted Grace and John.

John nodded, looking over at the older agent. "Thanks, Bailey."

"Okay," Bailey said, bringing the meeting to order. "Where do we stand on the Anderson case?"

"I should have the latest tox results this afternoon," Grace said. "I'm betting it shows the same mixture of drugs that the last two did."

Bailey nodded. He looked at George. "Tell me that you've worked some magic, Georgie."

"As a matter of fact," George said, typing in a command on his keyboard. A few clicks later, a photo appeared on the view screen. "This is Max Schilling. He lives within two blocks of where the bodies were found," George explained. "And he owns a blue Ford Taurus, although it's registered under another name."

Sam thought for a moment. "Are you sure that it does belong to him?"

"Positive," George replied. He grinned when he added, "Just don't ask how I found out."

"Usually a good piece of advice to remember," John said with a laugh.

Bailey grinned. "Now there's that irreverent humor we've been missing."

"I missed you too, Bailey," John said with a grin. "This place must have been so . . . orderly."

"Dull is more like it," George chimed in, earning him a barely managed stern look from Bailey. "Oh like you didn't think so, too," George laughed.

***

That night, Sam and John had just finished putting up the dinner dishes when she asked, "So how did you like your first day back?"

"Like I'd never been gone," he replied, grinning. Placing his arm around her waist, they walked into the living room. "It was nice to be back."

"Really?" Sam asked, a smile on her face.

Grinning, John relented. "Well, most of the day. Although," he conceded, "desk duty has got to go. I'm going to be bored out of my mind."

"We can't have that, can we?" Sam replied. Sitting down on the couch, she motioned for John to join her. "I wanted to ask you something."

Sitting next to her, John grinned. "You have that look on your face that Chloe gets whenever she is up to something, Sam."

"Where do you think she learned it from?" Sam asked with a laugh. A moment later, her face was serious when she pulled the engagement ring from her finger. "I want to talk to you about this," she said. Taking his hand, she uncurled his fingers and placed the ring in his palm.

His face fell slightly. "I know what you're going to say, Sam," he began before she interrupted him.

"I don't want you to get any ideas into that remarkably thick skull of yours, John," she said, cutting him off. A second later, when he didn't respond, she put her hand over his, with the ring lost in the middle. Taking a deep breath, she asked, "Will you marry me?"

John blinked, his gaze alternating between Sam's face and their joined hands. "Sam . . ." he began, and licked his lips. "I'm not sure we should."

"Give me one reason anything should change," she said, holding her head high.

John reached up and brushed her hair away from her face. "I don't want to make you a widow as soon as I make you a wife."�

"You don't know that you will," she replied. "Stop worrying so much about me, and enjoy what you have. What we have. For all either one of us knows, you'll live to be a hundred."

John laughed. "And I thought Chloe was stubborn."

Searching his gaze, Sam asked, "So? Will you still marry me?"

Taking the ring from their hands, he slipped the band onto her finger. "I will."

Smiling, Sam wrapped her arms around John's neck. "I knew you would see it my way."

"Don't I always?" he joked, leaning forward to kiss her.

Sam laughed. "Let's not get into that particular argument right now."

"I'll be good," John replied with a wink.

"You know," Sam said, "Chloe is spending the night at Amy's house."

Kissing her again, John laughed. "And you say I'm awful."