Sam waited at the patient discharge station for Rose to arrive. She had told him to be ready by five o'clock by the exit to the hospital. Glancing at the large clock in the entrance, he saw that it was already five after. "I'm sure she'll be here soon." He told himself, hoping that his ride hadn't gotten cold feet. He still needed her signature before he was allowed to leave the hospital without supervision, so he waited.
Five minutes later, Rose arrived through the double doors, running to the checkout desk. "I am so sorry I am late." She looked into Will's eyes as she signed her name on the patient discharge form that had already been laid out for her.
The moment she entered, Sam smelled the lavender lotion that hit him with a gust of wind that blew in from the open double door. The scent complemented the blouse she wore. It was the first time he had seen her in actual casual clothing except for during their runs. He wanted to call her beautiful, but didn't think such a comment would be appropriate talk for just getting out of the hospital. "You look nice." He said instead, a smile warming his face.
If she was embarrassed, she didn't show it. Instead, she moved a lock of her curly hair behind her ear as she finished up with her paperwork. "I had a few things to do around town before I came here." She finished with a flourish which had to be her signature smiled sweetly. "Are you ready to go?"
Sam looked at the exit to the hospital, then looked back at the staff which had appeared to see him off. He waved a hand to them before turning to the door. "Yeah, lets get out of here.
Walking to the parking lot, Sam looked at the cars, trying to pick out the one he thought Rose would drive. He saw a lambourgini and thought it wasn't her style. Then he picked out a Hummer and almost lost it when he thought of her sitting in the drivers seat.
Before he could consider any more, Rose took out her keys and unlocked the door to a blue Honda Civic that looked to be only a few years old. "Don't mind the mess." She said as she got into the driver's seat. "I don't have much time to clean." She said apologetically. She tried to clean her whole apartment for him, yet she had done nothing with first impressions with her car.
When Sam got in the passenger side, his feet kicked a pile of styrofoam coffee cups that must have accumulated for a week. He didn't mind though, he was used to far worse from his soldiers. They would have full or half cans of chewing tobacco with a bottle of coke as a receptacle. Some would even have Mc Donald's bags from weeks past in the back seat. Compared to what he was used to seeing, Rose's car could have been clean. "I don't mind." He smirked as he remembered the vehicle inspections he had to do before sending his squad on leave.
Rose left Sam to his thoughts as she put the key in the ignition and drove away from the hospital.
It wasn't long before they drove into the driveway of her condo. If Sam was impressed, his eyes showed nothing. "I really want to thank you for this." He smiled as he looked into her eyes. "I want you to know, you won't regret this."
In that moment, she didn't realize it but he had made a promise. Something he didn't take lightly. In the coming months, whatever he had to do, he would help take the pressure off of her for allowing him to stay.
She stared into his eyes for a moment, as if reading the silent message. "Welcome home." Smiling, she turned off the car and they went inside.
As she opened the door, Sam caught his favorite scent of lavender wafting from the inside and inhaled deeply. It was this scent that he woke up to, and the scent he longed for when he slept. The apartment was full of the aroma, nothing more could scream home with such feeling than this.
He looked at the living room, complete with television and a sectional against the wall. The dining room was visable from the front door. He saw the accumulated mail and newspaper that piled the top of the table.
Rose gave the grand tour of the apartment, which included all two rooms and bathroom. She embarrassingly pointed out the dining room table which he had already seen. When they had gotten to his room, his eyes lit up. "It's not much." Rose couldn't help but say. "My kid brother stays here every once in a while."
The room consisted of a dresser, desk complete with chair and a twin sized bed. All a kid under eighteen would need.
"It's perfect."
Rose looked at him with an eyebrow raised. At first, she thought he was kidding, but she could see a shine in his eyes, as if the place were a palace. "Well," She rolled her eyes to take the tension off. "Did you already eat dinner?" She asked as she put her keys on the counter, leaving Sam at his room.
"I had something before you came." He nodded as he sat on the matress, testing its firmness.
"Good." She sighed in relief. "I didn't have anything planned for dinner, and I just went to get a bite before getting you."
Sam left the bedroom and rested his hands on the counter. "What time will you have to leave for work tomorrow?" His eyes turned business as he waited.
"I usually leave by six, why?" She was taken off guard by the question.
"I was just curious." He said with a smile.
Sam did his nightly workout routine outside the screen door while Rose pretened to watch a movie. She couldn't help but watch him go through exercise after exercise. Four months ago, she had to lift him to the bars of a walking platform, now she didn't doubt he could lift her. No, he could probably bench press her. She blushed at the thought. It didn't help that Sam had chosen not to wear a shirt while going through the routine. His muscles stood out in the moonlight.
"What are you watching?" Sam asked as he walked back inside, sweat clung to his body, making his lean figure stand out even more.
"What?" She asked as her attention went back to the television. "It just ended." She saw the scrolling credits as
Sam went to his room, picking a white t-shirt out of the dresser and a clean pair of pajamas. "Mind if I use the shower?"
"No need to ask, Sam." She smiled as she tried to look anywhere but at him. "This is your home now too." She could feel the heat rise to her cheeks as she looked at the ceiling. Hearing the door to the bathroom shut, she released a breath she didn't know she was holding. "This is going to take some getting used to."