"No? Donna, did you just say 'no'?" Sam looked up at her, almost trying to convince himself that he had heard her wrong. Her face however proved differently. The tears of a few hours before quickly returned and Donna's hand moved up to her face, wiping them away as fast as they fell.

"Oh, Sam. I don't want to hurt you, but I can't marry you. I hope you understand."

"I don't understand." Sam stood up and adjusted his gaze to look down upon Donna. He placed the ring box on the table, turned around, and walked out of the restaurant.

For the rest of the night Donna tried to call Sam, and had knocked on his door several times, but each time she tried to contact him she was met with silence. Finally, she lie down on her bed and fell asleep. When the wakeup call went off the next morning she was still dressed in the outfit she had worn to dinner the night before. Donna undressed and showered, then after redressing proceeded to pack her bag. She and Sam were scheduled to return to DC that morning. Donna again tried to reach Sam over the phone, but there was no answer.

As the time neared for she and Sam to leave Donna made her way to the lobby and handed the desk attendant the key to her room. She turned around and saw Sam sitting in the lobby, also dressed in the same clothing he had worn the night before. She tentatively walked over to him, and knelt down in front of him. "Sam, we have to go. Why don't you go back up to your room and shower. I can pack for you while you're doing that."

"My bags are already packed. I never really unpacked. It's an occupational hazard." He finally looked her in the eyes, and Donna saw just how hurt he really was. It made her want to cry all over again, but she had had enough tears to last her for quite awhile. They would figure everything out when they got back to DC, but right now she needed Sam to just focus on something other than his heartache.

"Sam, go take a shower. I'll wait here for you."

Donna sat down in a chair opposite Sam's bedraggled figure, and got comfortable. Sam pulled himself from the chair and walked toward the elevator. His head slung low, and his hands thrust into his pockets, Donna observed that she had never seen Sam more pitiable, not even at Josh's funeral. Donna's thoughts started to spin. "Did I really do the right thing in turning him down?"

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