By: Kalynn
Rating: PG
Keywords: SJR. It's humor and some sap, folks :-)
Spoilers: Nope, none, nadda.

Author's Notes: Okay, I know I've been quite for a long time and to end my little hiatus *g* I'm submitting this little fluff piece. And that's basically what it is, just a little Sam John story in a universe where they are already a happy dating type couple *l*. Anyway, I hope this helps tide y'all over till Saturday! :-)

Disclaimer: All characters belong to NBC the new producer(s), the name slips my mind at the moment. Long story short: They're not mine, I'm just playing with someone else's toys. I promise to return them sooner or later *l*

Sam Waters looked up from the paper work she had been filling out when she heard a knock on her office door. Seeing John Grant standing there, she waved him in and placed her pen down on the desk. She smiled and watched as he crossed the office and sat on the edge of her desk.

"What's up?" she asked after he sat and simply stared at her.

John smiled, "Forget already?" At her lost look he shook his head and laughed. "You, me, lunch, 12:30? Any of these strike a bell?"

Sam glanced at her watch. A mischievous glint in her blue eyes, she replied. "Let's see. I do seem to recall that there was something I had planned. Was it lunch with you? Must have slipped my mind."

"Did it now?" John asked, playing along with her game. "Guess I'll be eating that Italian meal by myself. Oh well, more left overs for the bachelor pad then."

Sam laughed. "Touche. Italian? And I thought you only went for Chinese."

"Well," John stood as he spoke and held out his hand, "I thought I'd try something different. Can't have you getting bored now can I? What ya working on anyway?"

Closing the file, Sam turned her attention back to John. "It's just some papers for Bailey on the Benton case. Now, where were we?" She paused, and took John's offered hand. "Ah yes, lunch."

John's stomach chose that moment to growl loudly. "Yeah, lunch. Or I'm gonna be forced to eat my chair. You wouldn't want that, would you?" Giving Sam the most pitiful look he could manage, he tugged on her hand. "Come on . . ."

"Put those puppy dog eyes away, Grant. I'm ready, quit pouting already. Besides, I'm only fifteen minutes late."

Finally reaching the door, John remarked, "Yeah, only fifteen minutes. That's forever when you're hungry."

Sam rolled her eyes as she closed and locked her office door behind them. "All right, let's go."

"Cool. Anyway, I thought we could go to that little place over on . . ." John was interrupted when Sam's beeper went off. Giving him an apologetic look she pulled the device out of her purse and read the display. Concern crossed her features when she saw the number. Lunch forgotten, John asked, "Sam? What is it?"

Turning to unlock her office door, she replied, "It's Chloe's school." A moment later she had punched in the number. "Yes, this is Samantha Waters. Did you just page me?" John listened, unable to make out the conversation on the other end of the line. "Thank you. I'll be there in twenty minutes. Good-bye."

Sam looked over at where John was standing, a troubled look on his face. "Sam? Chlo okay?"

"She's sick. Her teacher said she's running a fever. Probably some kind of twenty-four hour bug. I hate to back out on lunch, but . . ."

John walked over to the door. "Don't worry about it. Chloe should come first."

Sam smiled and walked over to stand in front of John. "Thanks. I'll make it up to you. How about dinner? My place? That way I can keep an eye on Chloe, too."

"That sounds great." John smiled and leaned forward to give Sam a quick kiss. "I'll come by, say about seven? Do you want me to come with you now?"

Sam nodded, "Thanks for the offer, but I doubt Bailey would care for that idea. One of us off work is enough. In fact, I need to run by his office before I go." John opened the door and waited for Sam to leave the office before following her into the hallway. Over her shoulder she added, "We'll see you tonight, okay?"

"Wouldn't miss it," John replied.

***

By five after seven, John was in the elevator, riding up to the loft and carefully balancing a sack of take-out in his arms. When the doors opened, he took a small step inside and paused to see where everyone was. "Sam?" he called out softly, so as not to wake Chloe up if she was asleep.

Just then Sam walked out from the direction of Chloe's room. She smiled at seeing John, "Hey there. I thought I heard you out here."

John smiled in return, it was still rare to see her dressed in sweats and a tee shirt. "Yep, just me." Holding up the paper sack, he said, "I bring food." Laughing he added, "I thought you might not want to bother cooking. There's even chicken broth for Chloe."

Taking the offered food, she grinned. "Thanks, that's sweet of you."

"Well," he shrugged, "just don't let it get around."

Walking into the kitchen, she looked over her shoulder and said, "Oh, never. Who'd believe me anyway?"

"Sam, I'm hurt," he responded with mock annoyance which was betrayed by the smile that lit his eyes.

Sam's voice echoed from the kitchen. "Stop whining and come eat, Grant."

Walking into the kitchen, John retorted, "Yes ma'am." John moved to stand behind her and put his arms around her waist, "Anything I can do?" She turned around in his arms and closed her eyes as he pulled her into a kiss. "Sorry," he whispered, "couldn't help myself."

"'S okay," she smiled softly, "but we better keep an eye out for Chloe." John smiled and stepped back. "As for something you can do," Sam said with a grin, "get some plates from the cupboard, you could start dishing out the food. I'll get the silverware." Sam pulled two forks and knives out of a drawer. "Here you go," she said, placing the utensils on the table. "I better put Chloe's soup in the refrigerator." She picked up the container and placed it inside the refrigerator.

"All right," John said, clapping his hands, "let's eat!"

For the next five minutes they sat at the kitchen table eating the cooling food and talking.

"So, then what did you do?" Sam asked, laughing at a story from John's college years. She had found herself drawn in by the lighthearted story. For someone that had known so little happiness in his life, Sam was relieved to know he did have a few happy memories.

John rubbed his hand over his eyes, "Well, first I apologized for nearly breaking her toes those two times, and then I asked if she wanted to dance again anyway."

Finding herself caught up in the tale of a party gone wrong, she appealed, "And? Did she?"

Sighing melodramatically, he replied, "'Fraid not. The patented John Grant charm wasn't enough."

The phone rang, interrupting the conversation. Sam grabbed the phone after the first ring. "Hello? Oh, hi Bailey." She paused, listening to what the other agent had to say. "Sure, no problem. Just give me about half an hour. Yeah, I'll be there."

Hanging up the phone, she looked at John. "What's up?"

Sam picked up her plate and walked over to the sink. "Bailey needs my help to clear up some problems on the Benton case. Apparently something was wrong with the paperwork. Now that I think about it, part of it is still on my desk from this afternoon. I hate to do this . . ."

John threw his hands in the air playfully. "What does a man have to do to get a meal around here?" Standing he walked over to Sam, "Seriously, it's not a big deal. Why don't I stay here and keep an eye on Chloe?"

"You don't have to stay."

He shook his head and placed a finger over her lips. "No, I don't have to stay. I want to stay with her."

"Thanks," she smiled and gave him a brief kiss. Looking at what she was wearing, she commented, "I really ought to change before I leave."

Laughing John replied, "Nah, I think you look great just like that. In fact, you should dress like that more often. I'll wear my jogging clothes and we'll match."

"Just do Chloe and me a favor and wash them first," she said, walking into the living room to find her car keys.

Standing in the kitchen still, John looked at the ceiling. "I bring dinner and what do I get? Insulted."

"Baby," Sam muttered under her breath.

From the kitchen doorway, John rebutted, "I heard that." A noise came from the hallway, and they looked to see Chloe standing there. "I heard her, too." Sam gave him a look, but he ignored it. Walking over to Chloe, John kneeled down in front of her. "Hey, how ya feeling kiddo? Better?"

Chloe nodded sleepily. "Hi John." Rubbing her eyes, she looked over at her mom. "Where are you going, Mom?"

Sam crossed the room to stand beside John. Feeling Chloe's forehead for a fever, she said, "Bailey needs me to run down to the office for a little while. What do you say to John staying with you while I'm gone?"

Chloe nodded her head and looked over at John. "Cool! Can we watch Quest for Camelot? It's this movie about a girl that wants to be a knight, and a boy, and a two-headed dragon and a . . ."

Ruffling her hair, John laughed, "All right, kiddo. All right. You've convinced me." Looking at Sam he grinned, "Like mother, like daughter, huh?"

Watching as Sam went into the living room, Sam commented, "Well, I'd say somebody is feeling better."

"As much as I hate to say this, shouldn't you get going?" Sam nodded in response and walked over to the elevator. John walked with her to the elevator. "We'll be here when you get back," and he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Bye," he added quietly.

"Bye, yourself," she whispered back. "Bye, Chlo," she called out toward the couch.

Chloe went over to her mom and gave her a hug. "Tell Uncle Bay hi, Mom." Taking John's hand, she pulled him toward the couch. "Come on, John. The movie's about to start."

Sam stepped onto the elevator as John and Chloe got settled down onto the couch. John noted with amusement when Chloe started singing along with the characters, and had to admit the two-headed dragon did a mean Elvis impersonation. However, before it was over, he could hardly keep his eyes open. By the time the credits started, he was snoring softly with Chloe curled up against his side.

That was how Sam found them when she got home from work. Walking as softly as she could across the hardwood floors and she placed her purse down onto an end table. She smiled when she saw Chloe and John curled up on the couch. She picked up an afghan and placed it over them.

Slowly Chloe opened her eyes and smiled at her mom. "Hey, Chlo," Sam whispered.

Placing her finger in front of her mouth, Chloe whispered, "Shh. You'll wake up John."

Sam smiled, trying not to laugh. "We wouldn't want to do that would we?" Chloe shook her head seriously and Sam kept smiling when she added, "Come on, let's get you back to bed." Picking her up, she carried Chloe into her bedroom. As she tucked her in, she felt her forehead. "Still feeling better?"

Chloe nodded, "A little bit."

"Just a little bit?"

Yawning, she replied drowsily "Um hum."

Sam leaned over and kissed her on the forehead, "Sweet dreams, honey."

"Night, Mom," she whispered just before falling asleep.

When she walked back into the living room, Sam saw John sitting up on the couch looking half-asleep and confused. "Sam? When'd you get back?"

She laughed softly and sat beside him on the couch. "Just a few minutes ago. I just put Chloe to bed. She didn't want to wake you up." She rubbed her hand on his cheek. "You know that you're cute when you're asleep. What happened?" Sam unsuccessfully fought her laughter when she saw the surprised look on John's face. "Kidding, I'm kidding. Although, you are adorable when your hair is sticking up in all directions like that."

Subconsciously, he raised a hand up to his hair. "Well, be glad I didn't drool on your pillow," he answered sarcastically. Turning so that Sam was leaning back onto his chest, he asked, "So, did you get all of your work done?"

Sam nodded, "It wasn't that hard, just took longer than I expected. Did you like the movie?"

"Well, what I saw of it, I guess. Chloe seemed really to like it. It was great, she kept singing all of the songs," he laughed.

Sam angled her head so that she could see John's face. "Guess I managed to ruin both our meals together, huh?"

"Nah," he smiled softly, "Who needs to eat anyway? I think I like this more."

"Yeah," she said, "I think I do, too. Thanks."

John looked puzzled, "Thanks? For what?"

"Just for being you. I love you, you know." Sam rested her forehead against his as she spoke.

"I've never told any woman that I loved her," he breathed, "after my mom died I was too afraid to make the commitment. I wasn't sure if I could love someone like that." He paused, leaning his head back and running his fingertips along the side of her face as he looked into her eyes. "But I do. Thanks, for letting me love you."

Sam blinked back the tears that sought to fill her eyes at John's heartfelt words. Seeing her reaction, John leaned forward and kissed her smiling lips.

fin