It's been a while (Johnny Cruz/Joonas Parkkonen) - Santa Cruz -

Bubble bath

"So I'm going home now. Call me if you need me or something happens.", Johnny said, hugged Sammy and bro hugged Middy.
He hasn't left the hospital for 3 days because he would've felt bad for leaving Sam all alone.
Now that Middy came here he asked her to go home with him but she insisted to stay.
First there was awkward silence again.
Sammy couldn't think of a situation with just Middy in the same room.
Well technically they weren't alone because Archie was there too.
"So..", he started and played with the laces of his black converses awkwardly, "I don't want to like.. get too personal but I saw you two almost... well are you something like a couple now?"
Sammy knew exactly who he was talking about.
And what he meant with the 'almost'.
Johnny and her agreed to keep it a secret for now so it was kinda dumb to almost kiss in public.
"Shh Archie can probably hear us.", she answered to avoid the question.
"Do you think so? I don't really think he can..."
Middy stared straight at Archie as if he could read the answer from his body.
"I don't know. Maybe he can."
Middy nodded and turned towards the window.
"Please don't tell Archie about this when he wakes up. Johnny and me, I mean."
"Don't you think he already knows? I mean it was quite obvious."
"Was it? We weren't even together back then.."
Sammy sighed and sat down on the edge of Archie's bed.
"It was. I mean he told me that he kinda liked you before but the way you two acted when you were in one room.. I think it was very obvious."
"Wait he told you he liked me?"
That was surprising.
"Yeah a couple months ago.. I'm quite surprised he didn't tell me about you being together yet."
"That's because we wanted to keep it a secret. You are basically the first one to officially know it."
"Oh..."
He already opened his mouth to say something else but he was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Uh hey."
A brown haired guy stuck his head through the door gap and smiled weakly.
Middy nodded towards the guy.
Just then Sammy realized who it was and immediately started smiling.
"Jordan oh my god!"
They hugged each other and let go after a minute or so.
It's been ages since they've seen each other the last time.
"How is he doing?", he asked and walked towards the bed to eye Archie.
"He's stable.. they have no idea when he will wake up again."
"God, I'm so sorry, Sams."
There weren't many people who were sorry for her lately.
Well ever since the accident she hasn't left the hospital for more than a few hours and the only people she had seen were Middy, Tazzy, Kira, Johnny and now Jordan.
Johnny was right.
Archie wouldn't want Sammy to sit here all day and night and end up feeling like a wreck but she had no idea what to do if not stay with him.
She barely slept within the last days and she was nearly going crazy.
Being in the same room for days with nothing to do can be torture.
But she can't leave.
What if something happens?
She had to be there for Archie.
"Sammy? Are you okay?", Jordan interrupted her thoughts.
"Hm?", she slightly jumped when he put his hand on her shoulder, "Yeah... well.. I'm okay I guess."
Jordan nodded.
He knew that it was a lie and that she wasn't okay but he has known her long enough to know when to keep quiet about things.
"How long have you been here already?"
"Ugh don't ask.."
Jordan sighed but then laughed lightly and took her hand.
"Come, let's go get some fresh air. I bet you haven't been outside for days."
He led her outside to the park next to the hospital and sat down on the grass.
"So are you the one who stays here all the time or are the guys letting you go home too?", Jordan asked and threw a bunch of grass towards her.
"I'm staying here as long as possible. Don't worry the guys are literally begging me to go home and do something to distract me. Especially Johnny.. he is here with me most of the time but he thinks I'll go crazy if I don't leave the hospital anytime soon."
"And have you ever considered the fact that he might be right?"
"Jordan, I don't care if I go crazy. If I have to I'll stay here for the rest of my life..."
Sammy plucked a bunch of grass madly an threw it back at Jordan.
"I don't think you'll go crazy.."
"Thanks really appreciate to have you on my side.", Sammy smiled now.
"I think you already are crazy!"
Oh how fast a smile can fade.
She raised and eyebrow at him and stood up.
"Think what you want. I'll go back inside."
Jordan sighed at her sudden madness.
"Sams, don't be mad now. You know I'm right. Go home, have a nap."
Pissed, she just kept walking and ignored him.
"Heeey!? I'll come with you if you want to. Just give your body a chance to rest. You're so fucking tensed and you look done as fuck."
He grabbed her arm and turned her around to look at her.
"Please. If not with me then call Johnny or whoever. Just rest, please."
"Fine. I'll call Johnny to pick me up. You stay with Archie then. And tell me if something happens."
Jordan knew that she just agreed because he wouldn't stop asking anyways.
"Deal."
He waited with her until Johnny came.
Even though Sammy was a bit mad she hugged Jordan to say bye.
Johnny wasn't surprised when he saw Jordan next to Sammy.
First he was, when she called but now that he knows Jordan was with her it's more logic.
"I still got a sandwich at home if you're hungry.", he said to break the silence in the car.
"I'm not but thanks."
"Have you eaten something for lunch?"
"Johnny, stop worrying. I eat when I'm hungry and I can take of that myself."
He sighed, barely hearable but still Sammy noticed.
"I'm sorry. I know I act like an asshole. I'm just so done."
Tears raised in her eyes but she wouldn't let them fall out.
"No, you don't have to apologize. I understand you. I don't feel very well myself either. I just try to not let the depression take control of me. Somebody needs to keep a clear head and make sure the others are okay."
Sammy smiled at that and took his hand.
"And that's what I love about you. No matter how hard life fucks up at the moment, you are always staying calm and support your people."
"Aww. Well, you know you'll have a huge bubble bath now and I cook something a'right?", he suggested as he stopped the car in his driveway.
"Sounds good to me."
To be honest, Sammy was so glad that she was finally able to rest or maybe take a nap too.
This whole situation exhausted her in every way possible.
She completely missed out to eat, rest or even take a second to say thanks to the people who try to help.
"So I think you're fine on your own.. If you need something just scream.", Johnny got her a towel from the closet and left but not before giving her a warming smile.
The bath was amazing as expected.
Sammy even drifted away for a couple of minutes.
The smell of food though brought her back to reality.
She quickly blow dried her hair and ran downstairs.
"So what have you prepared?", she asked excitedly and tried to catch a look at it over Johnny's shoulder.
"Noodle casserole. Hope you like that.. how was the bath?"
He didn't look up from cooking so it looked like he was totally uninterested in the conversation but Sammy knew he was by the way he just asked the question.
"Great. Haven't had such a great bath in a long time. And by the way this smells fucking amazing!"
"Well I'm glad you liked the bath and also that you are so excited to try my bad as fuck cooking skills."
He laughed jokingly and placed a plate in front of her.
She didn't even care that Johnny just watched her instead of eating something too.
"This is the best fucking thing I've ever tried.", she mumbled with a full mouth.
"Thanks a lot!"
"Umm never say anything about your cooking skills being bad ever again because it's a lie."
He smiled thankful and left the kitchen.
After Sammy finished she put the plate in the sink and looked for him in the whole house.
At long last she found him where she expected him the least.
In his bed.
A beautiful light brown Taylor acoustic guitar in his hand, he was totally absorbed in the songwriting and playing.
Sammy watched him for quite a while until he looked up and noticed her in the door way.
"Oh hey how long have you been watching?"
"A while.."
She walked into the room and sat down on the big bed too.
"Sounds good."
"It's just an idea... nothing special."
"Yet."
The both smirked and just looked at each other.
"You know what I really want to do?", Johnny asked and looked at her furious.
"What?"
For some reason she whispered now.
He leaned the guitar against the wall and climbed back onto the bed and shifted closer to Sammy.
"Well I wanted to do this last few days but kinda missed that out."
He lifted his hand to her cheek and pressed his lips onto hers.
Sammy kissed him back immediately but it wasn't a passionate kiss.
More a slow, emotional kiss.
All the feelings and emotions they had to suppress over the last couple of days.
Slowly but surely the kiss heated up and their tongues fought for dominance.
Johnny's fingers danced over her waist, her hand was somewhere in his hair.
"As much as I would love to keep going... I am super fuckin' tired and my eyes will close in one minute or less.", Sammy said im between deep breaths.
"I know, me too. Let's get some sleep."
He pulled her closer and Sammy cuddled her head against his neck.