A Second Chance

Goodbye Samantha

Chapter 38

Caden was standing outside in the rain. It was a bad day for rain or maybe it was perfect since it fit his mood. It was not raining hard so he did not mind the little trickles of water falling on him.

Samantha's funeral was yesterday and Caden did not attended but it was not because he did not care. It was because he cared to much. He was invited by everyone in her family, and none of them were mad this time, but maybe he just could not face them for a second time in a similar circumstance.

Still, he gave Samantha his word when she asked for a red rose. So here he was after everyone was gone, standing in front of her grave stone that was placed right next to Tammy's. He left the rose right on top of the stone.

He remembers her asking about Tammy's last mission, wanting to be sure it was not for nothing and it was not. Samantha was the same way. There was still a lot he needed to figure out about that night but one thing was sure, and that was the fact she died so Cadence would not have too, and so Lexi did not lose her sister.

Caden half smiled, looking down at the graves placed side by side. They both had called him a hero. It seems everyone at his work has at least once. What made it so different about them was that fact they were just as much of a hero as he was.

"Goodbye Samantha." It was something he had told all his partners but none of them have been around to hear it. Although there was something about saying it that gave him some peace.

It was actually 7:00am and Caden was on his way to work now. One good thing about Anderson ignoring him was now he could not tell him to take time off he did not want.

He pulled into his normal parking spot and walked into work.

"Good morning Caden." Daniella never forgets to greet him.

"Good morning." He greeted back like he mostly does.

He walked straight to his office to avoid all the pity glances people gave him. Honestly he just wanted to sit in his office in the quiet without people telling him how sorry they were. He knew they had good intentions so he never said anything but it sometimes gets on his nerves.

Caden leaned back relaxing in his office chair. He picked up Samantha's pair of glasses that she gave him and just looked at them. He smiled trying to remember how many times she wore these on missions, it amazed him they never had gotten knocked off.

If Samantha had taught him anything it was when someone you cared about is gone, don't depress yourself because their gone, but to be happy about the memories that you'll always have. He was going to be as positive as he could but it could not make the sadness go away completely, and it could not make his guilt leave either. He still had that one thought he could not make leave.

Samantha Palmer is gone..

His office door opened and Caden was about to question who just walked in without knocking. It was not like he really cared but when you were upset like he was, it only takes little things to annoy you.

As the person walked in Caden was silent though, suddenly not having a single word to say about the matter.

"Anderson?" Caden asked.

He avoided calling him for months and now here he was, walking into his office to discuss who knows what. Maybe he was going to fire him? Caden suddenly felt anxious about whatever his reason for being here was.

Anderson did not say anything at first. He just stepped forward and closed the door behind him. He did not look angry like the last time they talked, but he did not exactly look happy. He looked regretful.